I went privately on board the brigantine Betsey, captain Goodwin, bound for New York; at this time I pretended to be a doctor, and having two other ships in company, whose hands were very sickly, I was put on board one of them to bleed several of the men, which I performed though with much fear; and one of them that I gave a draught to, gave me four dollars for the service; soon after our own people were taken ill; them I served in [p. 25] the same manner; at length I was taken ill myself, and at our arrival at Sandyhook, was carried on shore, put to bed, and grew so much worse during three weeks, that I was obliged to have the clergy by me, thinking my end at hand: happy had it been so, but God for worthy purposes, and for the good of the world, reserved me for an ignominious death. I had extraordinary good usage of every kind from the gentlemen of this city: indeed, throughout all America their generosity and hospitality are almost bound-less, especially to English people. Though I was by these worthy citizens used in so kind a manner, I made them most ungrateful returns. As soon as well, I enlisted as a serjeant in captain Thompson’s company of rangers, for whom I enlisted several men, but cheated them of their advance money; and went to several stores*, took up linnen, and other effects, in the captain’s name, to the amount of twenty pounds. Then I hired a horse, and set off for Boston in New England; I had been no more than two days on my journey, till I was obliged to hire a chaise and harness, &c. to enable me to go through my long journey; this I did of an old gentlewoman in Connecticut, and took chaise and horse to the end of my journey, had the chaise new painted, and sold it to the best bidder; I also sold the horse and harness. My stay was but short at Boston, I went to Salem, about twenty miles from Boston, where I took lodgings, courted a widow-gentlewoman’s daughter, then took a shop, set up the business of painting, and got several considerable jobs, but all the while run very much in debt with every body. I got acquainted with a gamester in this town; he wanted improvement; we contrived to [p. 26] touch all we could, and then make off. We had great success, several horses, watches, and other things in trust, were the effect of our industry. The people of Salem, are not only the most unsuspicious, but the best dispositioned, humane and friendly, and the most agreeable in all respects, in the whole world. I hired a chaise at Salem, and a single horse, to carry me out for two days pleasure; I went directly to Newport in Rhodeisland, sold the chaise, bought another horse, and with my companion, went as fast as we could for Philadelphia; when arrived, we directly went on the gambling scheme, and had very great luck; but not agreeing in sharing our booty, we parted. He wanted to aspire at my art of dealing; this I chose not to trust with any one, for reasons already mentioned. The gamester took his passage for the West-Indies; I resolved to continue in Philadelphia, and had thoughts of matrimony again, that I might the better be enabled to carry on my designs, get into debt, and in due time run away. I met with a young woman, she passed for a very good fortune, we were soon married, but fortune she had none; tho’ many rich and powerful relations, whose interest was for my wife, and of great service to me, I had credit every where; but being disatisfied with my wife, I told her that I had urgent business at New York, to see a commander I expected from the West Indies; as my business lay all there, I desired her to put up in a large trunk, a pair of sheets, a pillow, and other necessaries that I thought would answer my purpose: I must confess, she was a compleat housewife, and very industrious. My inclination, however, led me for England, the first opportunity: accordingly I set out on my journey towards South Carolina, hired a servant, and on the road, took all my effects out of the trunk, filled [p. 27] it with combustibles of a great weight, raised money on it, and left it in the care of my unsuspecting landlord; hired two horses, and went to Anapolis in Maryland; here I found out my wife’s real character, and that she had a child at nurse, which finding out, I bought some cloaths, and presented to her, in remembrance of her mother. The next morning I set out for Edenton, North Carolina, where on my arrival, I met with some jovial company, that pleased me extremely well: I stayed three weeks with them, constantly gaming: I won more than one hundred and fifty pounds; with part of this money I bought a race horse, intending to run him as opportunity offered, on our journey to the south, which I did several times, and always won. My servant and I agreed very well, he was a trusty fellow, a good servant, kept my secrets inviolable, and without any fear. Before we reached Charles Town, we had got six or seven horses, and sold them about thirty miles from the places they were taken from. I used often to make a halt for necessaries for myself, and to the prejudice of the public.
We at length reached Charles Town, where I discharged my trusty servant; enquired after my old acquaintance Mrs. Broughton, found her, and let her know my intentions were for England; she smiled, and told me, she could not believe it, and set forth the danger and difficulty of such an enterprize from the enemy, together with the hazard of the seas. I enquired for her husband, but being told he was gone a voyage to the West Indies, this removed my fears; we drank some bottles of wine together, repeated our old scenes of action, though she had received many a hearty drubbing for what we had done before, which the husband was determined never to forgive; he was a very jealous [p. 28] man, but with great reason he was so; I knew that very well, and therefore was the more conscious of my own and her crimes.
My mind continued still to run upon England; I took a walk to the bay, and met with captain Sclater, bound for England, made a bargain for my passage, told him I had an estate fallen to me, and was going home to take possession of it; got all necessaries for the voyage, took leave of all my acquaintances, and in 1761, went on board; my servant, who still continued in town, begged to accompany me wherever I should go, but being at this time very sick, I was obliged to leave him behind me, tho’ very unwilling. After being on board about three weeks, I began to write; at the same time telling the captain, I had sent the most valuable of my papers home in the West India fleet. We had a long passage of nine weeks, and the day before we made Falmouth, a most terrible hurricane came on, the oldest person on board had never before seen the like: we resigned our selves to the mercy of God, and the mountains of waves; however, we at length put into Falmouth, in a shattered condition. Captain Sclater and I went directly on shore, I then told him my intention of going up to London by land. I had a negroe of his to sell, but could not get my price for him; the gentleman I applied to, knowing my friend, desired me to be perfectly easy, as I might have ten or twenty pounds to carry me to town; I took only ten guineas, and gave him my note for it. I also settled with the captain, and gave him a note for thirty-five pounds, for the payment of my passage, and other matters betwixt us.
I set out for London along with part of the guard that came with the money, brought over in the Lisbon packet; my friend at Falmouth lent [p. 29] me one of his horses; when we came to Exeter I took a post-chaise, but not before I had borrowed twenty guineas of the landlord, who really thought I was a sharer in this fine prize, and master of the packet. The whole sum was imagined to be seventy thousand pounds. I made a bold attempt, and got some of this money, and should have got much more, but for the want of a partner. I put this and the rest of my money into the seat of the chaise, suffered a man to ride behind to the next post town, where I quitted the chaise, put the money in a box, and had it sent to town by the next waggon, and which came very safely to my hands. I was vain enough to think with proper assistance, I could have got hold of the greatest part of this cargo of money. I set out post for town on horse-back; my behaviour all the way was such as gave every body satisfaction, from the genteel treatment they all had from me on the road; they gave me the greatest character, which I turned to the best advantage, and made several little sums by the way. On searching my pockets in London, I found myself possessed of more than one hundred pounds; but thought of having another push at the treasure, which was expected in town every hour; I went to the inn in Friday-street, told the book-keeper all the circumstances relating to the money, and where I had left them on the road, with other descripti
ons that gave him satisfaction; and that my concern in the cash was considerable; he told me, I should be heartily welcome to all the money he had, accordingly he brought me eight guineas; after expressing my concern for giving him so much trouble, I walked away from him.
I did not think of visiting him any more; but went to Mr. Lane’s in Drury-lane, where I hired a [p. 30] chariot, with a coachman and footman, in order to pay a visit to my father, whom I had not seen for fourteen years; my good father was glad to see me, I promised him to go again shortly, but never did more. The misfortunes I have undergone, had been, I am certain, intirely owing to the continual state of rebellion, that I lived in with my dear parents; and God for such unnatural practices, has been pleased to bring me to this most just and deserved punishment, I am now shortly to suffer. Oh! that from my sad fate, children would learn obedience to their parents, which will be attended with every desirable advantage on earth; be a blessing to themselves, and an honour to the human race; the enjoyment of peace and felicity in this world, and the sure and certain hope of enjoying the life which is to come. Were it known to the world, who my parents are, it could give them no satisfaction; I have been a disgrace to them, and would wish disobedient children to be warned from perpetrating those infamous actions, which may in the end work their own ruin; and such deeds, that their unfortunate parents, could neither foresee nor prevent. If children did but properly consider, the very fear of bringing their innocent parents to disgrace and shame, would prevent them from pursuing those wicked practices which end in being publickly exposed to a censorious world, and suffering an ignominious death.
I sought out all places of gaming and horse-races, till my money was all exausted. I hired a post-chaise, with an intention of going to Dublin, and went in this manner to Birmingham, where I defrauded a great many tradesmen; and at my departure, hired a horse for Park-Gate, waiting some time for a fair wind, my money running [p. 31] very short; but at length a fair wind springing up, I went on board, and there passed for Maddocks the wire dancer’s brother, who had but lately been cast away in his passage from this port to Ireland. The passengers were much afraid least the same fate should attend us, as did him and his unfortunate companions; one of whom was Theophilus Cibber, the famous comedian.13 But God’s holy name be prais’d, we had a very fine passage, and arrived very safely in the port of Dublin.
I went on shore, and took me a lodging, and went the next night to the Play-House, in Crow-Street, where I made application to Mr. Barry,14 as the brother of Mr. Maddocks, and that I wanted to perform in my deceased brother’s way, though my real intention was only to borrow money of him. Mr. Barry told me he must see some of my performances first: well knowing my own inability in performances of that kind, without broken bones, I desisted from Mr. Barry and thought of making my market of Mr. Mossop;15 but he told me it was too late in the season to engage any performers. Meeting with these two rebuffs, I went to a Goldsmith, to cheapen some buckles; he sent his boy to my lodgings with two pair of Bristol-stone buckles, set in silver: I sent the boy back for two small rings; In his absence, I marched off with the buckles, and sold them at a Bagnio for my own price. The next day the buckles were advertised, and in a few days after I was taken at the same house by the master of the Bagnio; for they were fools enough to tell of their prize to several neighbours, that they had bought two fine pair of buckles very cheap, and found themselves now in danger of much trouble for their simplicity: but the good nature of the [p. 32] master, got me off from any other punishment than that of making them a recompence for their loss. I bought me a regimental suit of cloaths, and visited the milliners as an officer; at one shop I desired them to put up a box of the best sorts of their lace to shew a lady, and send the servant with me, with which the milliner most readily complied; we went directly to my lodgings, where I directly ordered her to go and fetch me some handkerchiefs; in the interval I pushed off with the laces, and sold them all the next morning. I was immediately advertised, and taken by a thief catcher, but at the earnest intercession of his wife, he let me go; I went for the country, and at Thomolin, I was again taken by the description in the same advertisement, and brought back to Dublin; but I made the people robbed, so easy with my flattering behaviour, they did not care much what came of me, so that I meditated, and accomplished my escape, after a good supper, and drinking plenty of wine.
Money was now low with me, so that I was obliged to step into a linnen-draper’s shop, and steal some handkerchiefs, made sale of them directly, and with the money paid for my passage to Park-Gate, where I found a ship bound to the Isle of Man, on which going directly on board, landed at Douglas, but I found nothing could be done here, the people being all as great thieves as myself. So in a little vessel bound for Scotland, I got on board, who landed me at Dumfries; where the moment I got on shore, I paid a visit to the merchants (the meanest shopkeeper is so here) the milliners and others, and picked up enough in defrauding them to support me tolerable. But the town being small, business promised but a short continuance. I made the best of my way [p. 33] to Edinburgh, the horse I brought with me, I sold to a drover for three pounds; and put up at one Browne’s, of whom I borrowed a clean shirt to go to the play, enquired for the manager of the house, which proved to be Mr. Digges;16 I wanted him to engage me on the same terms as I had made application to Messieurs Barry and Mossop, he said I should perform the next week, but that was too late for me. I then went to the Parliament-Close, to a silversmith’s, cheapened some of his buckles, and according to my usual method, desired him to put up two pair and two rings, let his servant go with me to my lodgings; when I sent back for something more, then went out and sold them to Mrs. Japp, at a Bagnio, where I refreshed myself for two days: but by some accident, was taken and committed to the Talbooth-Goal,17 where I lay for three weeks, brought to my trial, and acquitted, but ordered to depart the city in three days. I must say I had very great favour shewn me, as any person could have, which was more than I either expected or deserved. On my being discharged, I hired a horse, and stole some handkerchiefs, and rode away for Berwick, where the horse was sold. I had no opportunity nor time to deal with the good people of Berwick, so went on board a ship bound for London, to which place we had a long and tedious passage: on our arrival, I thought proper to take with me, the bundle of one of the passengers, what suited me I kept, and the rest was sold.
I made but a short stay in London, hired a horse for Bristol, sold him there, and bought a stallion, with which I went to Cowbridge in Glamorganshire, there sold him, and stole a silver watch, besides some small parcels of laces. I did not like this of all the places I had ever been at; [p. 34] and set off directly for London, where I sojourned but a few days, went down to Portsmouth, took lodgings at a very creditable house, told my landlady I was a dealer in lace, desiring she would recommend me, which she did to several shops, where I got several pieces, went over to Gosport among the silver-smiths, and got some small booty there. I hired a horse in Portsmouth for London: within four miles of Kingston, I came up with two seamen, stopp’d, and demanded their money and watches, they gave me four guineas, and a silver watch; I left them, wishing them safety to London. Between Wandsworth and Vaux-Hall, I stopped a gentleman and lady in a post-chaise, robbed them of thirteen guineas, the post-boy got off his horse and ran away; but after I had secured the money, I rode after him, brought him back, and gave him a hearty flogging: the gentleman then returned me thanks in a very kind and hearty manner, and I wished him and his lady a good night. I went that night to Vaux-Hall, and between the hours of eleven and twelve, I stopped the Portsmouth machine,18 for which I was apprehended, and carried before the sitting justices in the Borough, where they searched me, but found nothing, yet my pistols were in my breeches pockets; I was discharged as they had no proof of any thing I had done amiss: I called for my horse, and mounted, crying out to them, if any one could ride that horse better than I, they might follow me; I went directly into London, and was taken very bad, so that I was obliged to go
through a salivation for one month.19 I then began to be short of money, and was obliged to go a thieving again; accordingly I took a hackney coach, being still very weak, and not able to walk, I went to a miliner’s, or lace [p. 35] shop, near the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, and stole twelve yards of point lace, to the value of thirty-six pounds, which I sold. I began to get strength daily, so one day took a walk to the Park, and so to Chelsea, where I hired a horse to ride about a little while, being tired with walking; I put my horse up at the Horse and Groom, in order to regale myself over a pint of mull’d wine: and seeing there a fine grey mare, with new bridle and saddle, I made enquiry of the owner’s name in the house, and found it was Simpson; in a short time, desired the ostler to put the bridle and saddle on the mare, as I thought Mr. Simpson stayed longer than he promised; the man without the least suspicion brought the mare out, I mounted and rode into London, and at the end of Fleet-Market, was stopped by the owner, he asked if I had not that mare at Chelsea; I very frankly assured him I had, and was going on a very hasty message from the master of the Horse and Groom, into Bishop’s-gate-Street, and was to return with all speed; he said it was very well, and left me to proceed where I would. I went into the Borough, and left the mare in pawn for six guineas. I went the next morning to Hyde-Park-Corner, and hired a Spanish Mare to go to Hounslow, went round the country to Epping, robbed two milliners of some lace, came back to town, and left the mare in pawn for four guineas with the landlord of the Catherine-Wheel Inn, in Bishopsgate-Street. I went out again in a few days, and at the upper end of Tyburn-Road, I hired another horse to take an airing, but went only round to Whitechapel, and left him in pawn at the Chaise and Horses there, for four pounds. A great number more horses I hired in like manner, my method was always to get the names of the stable-keepers, [p. 36] and of all the gentlemen’s horses that stood with them, that I possibly could. I always called them familiarly by their names, thought I might have the knowledge of them, and their mentioning some gentleman that the acquaintance might arise from, I immediately joined with them, in affirming that it was so. I do think I have been advertised near a hundred times, for horses hired in this manner. As I had hitherto escaped, I thought it now high time to leave off dealing with the stable-keepers, and turn my hand to other branches, in which I had not been less successful.
Drunks, Whores and Idle Apprentices: Criminal Biographies of the Eighteenth Century Page 31
