Drunks, Whores and Idle Apprentices: Criminal Biographies of the Eighteenth Century

by PHILIP RAWLINGS

  Saturday Octob. 17, 1724.

  [p. 56] We shall conclude with what had been often observ’d by many Persons to Sheppard; viz. That it was very Imprudent in him to take Shelter in the City, or the adjacent Parts of it, after his Escape from the Condemn’d Hold; and withal to commit a Capital Offence, almost within Sight of Newgate, when his Life and all was in such Danger. His Reply was general, viz. That it was his Fate: But being ask’d a particular Reason for his not taking a longer Rout64than the City, and the Neighbouring parts: pleaded Poverty as his Excuse for Confinement within those Limits; at the same time urging, that had he been Master at that time of five Pounds, England should not have been the Place of his Residence, having a good Trade in his Hands to live in any populated Part of the World.65

  FINIS.

  ERRATA.

  IN Page 3, 1. 22, read this Eminence of Guilt, instead of to the fatal Tree.

  NOTES

  1 #x2018;Societies’ here refers to the societies for the reformation of manners which flourished from the late seventeenth century to the late 1730s. They published morally uplifting pamphlets and prosecuted people for offences such as drunkenness and prostitution. Defoe, an early supporter of the societies, became a critic of their failure to prosecute the gentry: ‘Your Annual Lists of Criminals appeare,/ But no Sir Harry or Sir Charles is there’ (Review, 7 April 1709, Edinburgh edn). He argued that without a good example from such people it was pointless to expect the morals of the poor to improve. The societies were revived in 1757 with the support of Sir John Fielding, the Bow Street magistrate, and John Wesley, but they collapsed in 1763, following a civil action for damages; a similar society appeared in 1787 with William Wilberforce as its leading light. On the early societies see G.V.Portus, Cartis Anglicana or, An Historical Inquiry into those Religious and Philanthropic Societies that flourished in England between the Years 1678 and 1740, London, 1912; D.W.R.Bahlman, The Moral Revolu tion of 1688, New Haven, 1957; E.J.Bristow, Vice and Vigilance: Purity Movements in Britain since 1700, Dublin, 1977; T.C.Curtis and W.A.Speck, ‘The societies for the reformation of manners: a case study in the theory and practice of moral reform’, Literature and History, 1976, vol. 3, pp. 45–64; J. Woodward, An Account of the Societies for the Reformation of Manners in London and Westminster, And other Parts of the Kingdom, London, 1699; [D. Defoe], Reformation of Manners. A Satyr, London, 1702; Kingdom, London, 1699; [D. Defoe], Reformation of Manners. A Satyr, [D.Defoe], More Reformation. A Satyr upon Himself, London, 1703.

  2 John Sheppard was baptized on 4 March.

  3 His sister died young and his surviving brother was Thomas Sheppard, who was baptized 28 February 1698.

  4 Witch, or Wych, Street was lost, and most of the rest of the area around Drury Lane in which the narrative is set was radically altered, during the nineteenth-century construction of the Aldwych. In other accounts Sheppard was said to have been a servant to William Kneebone (as was his mother), whose house he later broke into, and to have been apprenticed first to a cane chairmaker in Hounsditch, but he died and so Sheppard was apprenticed to Wood in April 1717: OBSP, 12–14 August 1724; A Narrative of all the Robberies, Escapes, &c. of John Sheppard, London, 1724, p. 4; The History of the Lives and Actions of Jonathan Wild, Joseph Blake alias Bleuskin, Foot-Pad. And John Sheppard, Housebreaker, London, 3rd edn, [1725?], pp. 105–6; Parker’s London News, or the Impartial Intelligencer, 18 November 1724.

  5 For Lyon see note 65. According to J.Villette, The Annals of Newgate; or, Malefactor’s Register, 4 volumes, London, 1776, vol. I, p. 255, Lyon was only one of Sheppard’s ‘intimates’, his other favourite being a woman called Maggot, and it was she who encouraged him to commit the robbery on Bains (referred to at p. 50).

  6 For another version of these events see A Narrative…of John Sheppard, p. 5. There it is alleged that the quarrel at Islington was over Wood’s poor treatment of Sheppard and a fellow worker, and that the stick, allegedly thrown at Mrs Wood, was actually aimed at Elizabeth Lyon and her husband, the soldier. The premature termination of apprenticeships by apprentices absconding was not uncommon: see the General Introduction, p. 21.

  7 See erratum at the end of the text, p. 69.

  8 According to A Narrative…of John Sheppard,pp. 6–7, the two thefts from Bains took place ‘about the latter End of July 1723’ and on 1 August. Villette, Annals of Newgate, vol. I, p. ‘about the latter End of July 1723’ and on 1 August. Villette, Annals of Newgate, vol. 255, says that Sheppard’s first theft was from the Rummer Tavern in Charing Cross.

  9 For these people see G.Howson, Thief-taker General: The Rise and Fall of Jonathan Wild, London, 1970.

  10 For the trial of Thomas Sheppard see OBSP, 8–10 July 1724. The offence is reported to have taken place on 5 February 1724; Thomas—who had, apparently, been arrested trying to sell the stolen goods—was indicted with ‘John Sheppard, not yet taken’. He was acquitted of burglary, but convicted of felony and sentenced to be transported. When eventually arrested, John was arraigned on three charges, one of which was breaking into the house of Phillips, but he was acquitted on that count: OBSP, 12–14 August 1724; Villette, Annals of Newgate, vol. I, p. 257. Thomas had previously been burnt in the hand in 1723 following two trials for the theft of tools: OBSP 28–30 August 1723; Villette, Annals of Newgate, vol. I, pp. 256–7.

  11 Those who were being held as potential witnesses for the Crown were—probably wisely in view of the communal nature of prisons—kept at New Prison, while their comrades, who were being held for felonies, were put in Newgate.

  12 Leg irons.

  13 There seems to have been no exactly contemporaneous newspaper report of this escape, although it is referred to (without any details) in reports of Sheppard’s first escape from Newgate: The Original London Post, or Heathcote’s Intelli gencer, 27 July 1724; The Weekly Journal, or British Gazetteer, 5 September 1724. According to a later biography the escape occurred on Whitsun Monday 1724: J.Thurmond, Harlequin Sheppard. A Night Scene in Grotesque Characters: As it is Perform’d at the Theatre-Royal in Drury Lane, London, 1724, p. 7. The keeper of New Prison claimed for assistance from the Middlesex justices for repairing the damage caused by Sheppard. Various keepers of New Prison had complained of its ruinous condition from at least as early as December 1720, when John Marwick warned that escapes were likely; the warning was repeated by Marwick in 1722 and by his successor, John Geary, in the following year. Geary and his successor, Joshua Walker, continued the complaints into 1725, the year after Sheppard’s escape, and on into the next decade. The key problem was, who was going to pay for the repairs? Prisons were run for profit by their keepers, so they wished to avoid expenditure; on the other hand, the Middlesex Quarter Sessions, under whose jurisdiction the New Prison came, were equally keen to resist the idea that the local ratepayers should bear the whole cost: GLRO, MJ/SBB/789/1720 December, p. 54; MJ/SBB/1721 April, p. 67 (but, MJ/ SBB/795/1721 October, ff. 126–8); MJ/OC/2/1722 July, fo. 30; MJ/OC/2/1723 August, fo. 84, 85; MJ/OC/2/1723 December, ff. 100–1; MJ/SP/1724 October/ 64, fo. 102; MJ/OC/2/1724 October, fo. 124; MJ/OC/2/1725 April, ff. 10–11; MJ/OC/2/1725 June, ff. 22–3; MJ/OC/2/1725 August, fo. 28; MJ/OC/2/1725 October, ff. 84–5; MJ/SP/1732 July/50; MJ/SP/1732 October/88. Generally, W.J.Sheehan, The London prison system, 1666–1795, unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Maryland, 1975; C.Harding, W.Hines, R.Ireland, P.Rawlings, Imprisonment in England and Wales: A Concise History, London, 1985.

  14 For this robbery see OBSP, 8–10 July 1724, trial of Lamb. Lamb tried to withdraw his confession at the trial on the ground that ‘he was terrified into his Confession’. He was transported to Maryland in 1724: OBSP, 8–10 July 1724; P.W.Coldham, English Convicts in 2 volumes, New Orleans, 1974–6, vol. I, p. 160.

  15 That is, paduasoy.

  16 See OBSP, 12–14 August 1724, trial of Sheppard; OBSP, 14–21 October 1724, trial of Blake. According to Kneebone’s evidence Sheppard had been his servant, and he had suspected Sheppard of the crime, ‘he having committed ill Actions the
reabouts before’.

  17 The robbery was reported to have taken place near the Half Way House on the road to Hampstead. Two soldiers, Benjamin and Francis Brightwell, were charged with the offence and tried at the same sessions as John Sheppard, but were acquitted after providing alibis and bringing a number of character witnesses, including William Hughes, a clergyman, who said of Francis, ‘there was not such another Granadier [Grenadier] in the Universe, he carrying a large Share of exquisite Learning under his Granadiers Cap.’ It was later reported of Francis that the allegation ‘broke his Heart’, and he died a week after the trial: Parker’s London News, 29 July 1724, 31 July 1724; OBSP, 12–14 August 1724; Daily Journal, 21 September 1724 (which also mentions Sheppard’s ‘confession’ of the offence to Wagstaffe).

  18 The Original London Post, or Heathcote’s Intelligencer, 27 July 1724. Quilt Arnold (History of the Lives and Actions of Jonathan Wild, p. 114) and his wife themselves had been on trial at the Old Bailey in 1723, and, although he was acquitted, she was sentenced to transportation: OBSP, 16–18 October 1723. Jonathan Wild was a receiver of goods and a gang leader, who, playing both sides, also collected rewards offered for the capture of certain criminals: Howson, Thief-taker General.

  19 See OBSP, 12–14 August 1724, which seems to have been the source of this account of the trial. For more detail of the Kneebone charge see OBSP, 14–21 October 1724, trial of Blake.

  20 A ken is slang for a house.

  21 James Harman and John Davis had been convicted of highway robbery in July and were hanged on 28 August: Daily Journal 11 July 1724, 29 August 1724, 31 August 1724.

  22 Prisoners were handed over by the Newgate officers in the Press Yard of the prison. Their fetters were removed, their arms were tied and a halter placed around their necks. They were then put into the cart and taken to Tyburn.

  23 Joseph Ward had been condemned for three robberies and Anthony Upton for a burglary, and both were hanged on 4 September: OBSP, 12–14 August 1724; Daily Post 5 September 1724.

  24 Fowles had been condemned for shoplifting: OBSP, 12–14 August 1724.

  25 Spitalfields.

  26 For reports of Sheppard’s escape see Daily Journal, 1 September 1724, 2 September 1724; Evening Post 1 September 1724; Parker’s London News, 2 September 1724, 4 September 1724; Weekly Journal, or British Gazetteer, 5 September 1724; British Journal, 5 September 1724. For the advertisement offering a reward for Sheppard’s recapture see Daily Post, 4 September 1724; Daily Journal, 4 September 1724; Evening Post, 10 September 1724.

  27 Thomas Martin advertised for information about the theft which took place on 8 September: Daily Post, 10 September 1724. See Parker’s London News, 11 September 1724; The London Journal, 12 September 1724; Weekly Journal, or British Gazetteer, 12 September 1724; Daily Journal, 14 September 1724; OBSP, 4–9 December 1724, trial of Page.

  28 At Page’s trial, Ireton said that on the night of the theft from Martin’s shop he had lost a handkerchief and had accused William Page, who happened to be standing nearby; Page denied any knowledge of the matter, but told him that Sheppard was in the area. Ireton gave chase in vain, Sheppard having hidden under a coach: OBSP, 4–9 December 1724; History of the Lives and Actions of Jonathan Wild,p. 119.

  29 A small prison in which arrested persons were held temporarily.

  30 According to newspaper reports, which described her as Sheppard’s wife, Lyon was arrested on 1 September, the day after his escape: Daily Journal, 3 September 1724; Daily Post, 3 September 1724; Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 5 September 1724; see note 65.

  31 It was regarded as useful for someone seeking mercy to obtain the support of the victim.

  32 See Daily Post, 11 September 1724; Daily Journal, 11 September 1724; Evening Post, 10 September 1724, 12 September 1724; Parker’s London Weekly, 11 September 1724, 14 September 1724; The London Journal, 12 September 1724; Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 12 September 1724; British Journal, 12 September 1724; OBSP, 4–9 September 1724, trial of Page.

  33 Possibly Stourbridge.

  34 The newspapers were in some confusion over what was to be done with Sheppard. Initially, it was reported by the Weekly Journal, or British Gazetteer that he could not be hanged because the Recorder, Sir William Thompson, and his Deputy, Mr Sergeant Ragby, whose warrant was needed, were absent in Bath. The Daily Journal said that the warrant had to come from Windsor where the King was staying, and that a messenger had been sent there in order to obtain ‘his Speedy Execution’, with Monday 14 September being put forward as the likely date, although later the same newspaper said there would be some delay because the warrant had to be signed in Middlesex. It was then reported that there would be a delay not because of the absence of officials, but because formal proof of Sheppard’s identity had to be made in court: Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 19 September 1724, 26 September 1724; Daily Journal, 11 September 1724; 21 September 1724.

  35 See Daily Journal, 11 September 1724, 14 September 1724, 21 September 1724.

  36 According to Daily Journal, 12 September 1724 (also London Journal, 19 September 1724), a file was found in a Bible by the keepers on 12 September, although others (Evening Post, 15 September 1724; Parker’s London News, or the Impartial Intelligencer, 16 September 1724) report Wagstaff as having found it and that it was given him by his brother, Thomas. For the discoveries on 16 September see Daily Journal, 17 September 1724, in which it is said that, ‘when he perceiv’d his last Effort to escape thus discovered and frustrated, his wicked and obdurate Heart began to relent, and he shed abundance of Tears’ (also Evening Post, 17 September 1724).

  37 According to A Narrative…of John Sheppard, pp. 5–6, the public house was the Black Lyon Ale-house in Drury Lane and was owned by Joseph Hind. Lewkenhor’s or Lewkener’s or Lutenor’s or Newtoner’s Lane was just off Drury Lane: see The Life and Actions of James Dalton.

  38 That is, like Quilt Arnold, an employee of Jonathan Wild, the thief-taker.

  39 Since anything above a bare minimum—and sometimes even that—had to be purchased, prisoners depended to a large extent on various charities and gifts from friends, relatives and visitors. See Harding et al., Imprisonment in England and Wales.

  40 Published in Daily Journal, 4 September 1724; Weekly Journal, or British Gazetteer, 5 September 1724; Parker’s London News, or the Impartial Intelli gencer, 7 September 1724.

  For other such ‘letters’ see Daily Journal, 7 September 1724, 30 October 1724; Applebee’s Original Weekly Journal, 31 October 1724; Weekly Journal, or British Gazetteer, 24 October 1724, 31 October 1724, 14 November 1724; Parker’s London News, or Impartial Intelligencer, 14 September 1724, 2 November 1724, 11 November 1724. ‘App-ee’ is Applebee, the publisher.

  41 Daily Journal, 14 October 1724. Generally, see A.R.Ekrich, Bound for America: the Transportation of British Convicts to the Colonies, 1718–75, Oxford, 1987.

  42 In many respects this resembles the report in the Daily Journal, 9 October 1724 (see also Evening Post, 10 October 1724), although according to that the attempted escape took place on 7 October. See also Parker’s London News, or the Impartial Intelligencer, 12 October 1724.

  43 Wild did recover, only to be hanged in the following year: Daily Post, 3 October 1724, 15 October 1724; Daily Journal, 3 October 1724, 5 October 1724, 7 October 1724, 15 October 1724, 19 October 1724, 22 October 1724; OBSP, 14–21 October 1724, 13–15 May 1725; Howson, Thief-taker General.

  44It seems that the attempted escape took place on 9 October.

  45 A Narrative…of John Sheppard, pp. 19–29; Evening Post, 17 October 1724; Daily Journal, 17 October 1724; Daily Post, 17 October 1724; Weekly Journal, or British Gazetteer, 17 October 1724; Weekly Journal, or Saturday’s Post, 17 October 1724, 24 October 1724; British Journal, 17 October 1724; London Journal, 17 October 1724, 24 October 1724.

  46 This, presumably, prompted the offer of a reward of twenty guineas: Daily Post, 20 October 1724; Daily Journal, 20 October 1724. Gaol keepers were liable to
prosecution if their prisoners escaped. William Pitt, the Keeper of Newgate (1707–32), must have been particularly sensitive about escapes. He had been suspended in 1717 following the escape of some Jacobite prisoners and, although he was acquitted and reinstated, complaints about him persisted for the rest of his period in office. In July 1724 the Keepers were fined £50 for allowing an escape. GLRO, MJ/SBB/823/1724 July, p. 68; Sheehan, The London Prison System, 1666–1795, pp. 204–10 and chapter IX.

  47 The History of the Press Yard: Or, a Brief Account of the Customs and Occurrences that are put in Practice, and to be met with in that Antient Repository of Living Bodies, called, His Majesty’s Gaol of Newgate in London, London, 1717.

  48Newgate prisoners were put in either the Common-Side or the Master’s Side; which it was depended on their ability to pay.

  49OBSP, 14–21 October 1724.

  50 James Figg (died 1734) taught boxing and fighting techniques at his academy in Marylebone Fields, and advertised regularly in the newspapers; Hogarth designed an advertising card for him. It was reported that Figg provided Sheppard with wine in Newgate on the day of his death: Dictionary of National Biography; Parker’s London News, or the Impartial Intelligencer, 18 November 1724.

  51 An Act of Grace was a free and general pardon occasionally given by Act of Parliament to whole categories of prisoners. Such a statute might be passed, for instance, on the coronation of a monarch or the birth of an heir to the throne.

  52 Showy, but worthless people.

  53 This ‘letter’ is chiefly concerned with making puns on names of places in London.

  54 Fees were paid by prisoners to gaolers before their release.

  55 Fleet Prison, a prison for debtors.

  56 Thomas Huggins, or Bainbridge, or Bambridge was the Warden of the Fleet Prison in the 1720s. At the end of the decade he was accused of cruelty and tried for murdering a prisoner; it was his activities that led to a Parliamentary inquiry into the debtors’ prisons: see Harding et al., Imprisonment in England and Wales.