PE
37266
P? 8
1759
:
バ
​+
THE
DISCOVERIES
OF
John Poulter, alias Baxter;
Who was apprehended for robbing Dr. HAN-
соск,
cock, of Salisbury, on Clarken- Down, near Batb'; anl
thereupon diſcovered a moft numerous Gang of Villains,
many of which have been already taken.
BEING
A full Account of all the Robberies he has committed, and
the furpriſing Tricks and Frauds he has practifed for the
Space of five Years laft paft, in different Parts of England.
Written wholly by HIMSELF.
To which he has added for the Service of the Publick, to
make all the Amends in his Power for his paft Offences,
DIRECTIONS to fecure Houfes from being broke open. How
to prevent Horfes being ftolen out of Grounds, Commons, or
elfewhere. Ufeful Cautions to Tradefmen and others who
travel the Roads, to prevent their being robbed. And to pre-
vent any unwary Perfons from being impofed upon and de-
frauded, an exact Account of the Manner in which Gamb-
lers and other Sharpers impoſe upon People at Fairs, &c.
The Arts the Horfe-Dealers make Ufe of to draw in People
to buy or exchange their Horfes; and the various other Cheats
practifed at Fairs, as giving Notes for Goods, pricking at the
Belt, exchanging Saddles and Great Coats at Inns, &c. In
what Manner Shopkeepers are cheated by Shoplifters: With
every other Trick and Species of Villainy made Ufe of by
Rogues and Sharpers, laid open in fo plain a Manner, and
their Behaviour and Language fo fully defcribed, that every
one who reads the Book, may certainly know them at any
Time, and fo be upon their Guard againſt being cheated by
them.
The FOURTEENTH EDITION.
Printed for R. GƆADBY in Sherborn? ;
And fold by W. OWEN at Temple-Bar, and J. TOWERS at,
No. 111, in Fore-ftreet, Londen, 1769.
L
4.5.7.5-24-35
Provenko
Sauret
1-19-20
16256
The DISCOVERIES
of
John Poulter, alias Baxter
Have followed Gambling and Defrauding thefe five Years
laſt paſt, and lived on the Spoil of other Men's Subftance.
About the Middle of February 1749, I and John Brown
alias Dawson, Mary Brown *, and Mary Davis, met all
accidentally at Litchfield on a Fair Day, and after fome
Ceremony we all agreed to go and drink a Glaſs of Wine; accor-
dingly we went to Mr. William Brook's at the George Inn, in the
faid Town, and were fhewn up Stairs; we had not been there
long, before Mary Brown efpied a large Cheft, and faid here is
a Chance; the Lid being loofe, and her Hand but ſmall, fhe
pulled out of the faid Cheft one yellow Silk Damaſk Gown, one
green Silk Ditto, one brown Silk Ditto, and one black flower'd
Silk Capuchin, which Mary Brown carried out of the ſaid Houſe
in her Apron to the Place where our Horſes were: We all made
the beft of our Way to the B--D--g, near Weftchefter, where we
divided the above Goods among us four. I believe the Goods
were worth about fixteen Pounds; the Landlord and Landlady
of the B----D----very well knew us to be Thieves, and that
we lived by nothing elſe, and alſo knows almoſt all the Thieves
that travel, and harbours them.
But what is very remarkable, at the fame Time I fent for a
Taylor to meaſure me for a black Pluſh Waiſtcoat, and in his
meaſuring of me a Piſtol went off in my Waiſtcoat Pocket, and
the Bullet went under his Arm, and through the Ceiling, with-
out doing any Hurt, which very much furprized the Taylor;
Brown ſtanding by me, I faid, what are you always playing
your Tricks, putting Crackers in my Pocket: But the Taylor
was not to be fo deceived, for he took Home my Pluth and Li-
ning with him, & went to Westchester to the Mayor, & faid he
thought
•
Mary Brown has been tried fix Times within four Years and Half: Firſt was at
the Apollo Inn Weftmorland, with her first Hufband Peter Brown, and feveral
others; but ſhe was acquitted and her Hufband executed; it was in the latter End of
1748. Next at Ruthen in Derbyshire, with John Brown, for picking Pockets. Next
at Shrewſbury, by herſelf for Ditto. Next at Cambridge, with Jane Baily, on Suf-
picion of Dtto. Next at Litchfield in Staffordſhire, in 1752, for picking Farmer
Booth's Pocket of 161. in the faid Town of Litchfield, with Benjamin Shotton and
E. Cummins; the two laft convicted,and ſhe accquitted She was tried by the Name
Mary Robberfon. Next he was tried at Exon, at the Lammas Affizes 1753, with
Mary Baxter, for picking a Farmer's Pocket at Great Torrington; but he was ac-
quitted, and Mary Baxter convicted. She was tried by the Name of Margaret
Dawſon, but now he goes by her own Name, Mary Brown.
(*).
we were all Highwaymen. The Mayor ordered him not to let
me have any Thing, 'till he had fent to fearch the B---D+--g,
and bring us before him; but we did not ſtay for his Coming,
for I made the beft of my Way for Holy Head, through Wales,
and directly went for Dublin, where I took a Houſe in Porter's
Row, the lower End of Afton's Kay; Igave thirteen Pounds a Year
and had good Cuftom, and drew five Barrels of Ale one Week
with another, and lived in good Credit, 'till a very unhappy Af-
fair happened in London, and fo it proved to me. General Sin-
clair had his Pocket picked of his Gold Watch at Leicester
Houſe by William Harper and Thomas Tobin, and they were both
taken and committed to the Gatehouse, Westminster; and that
Day Harper was refcued by a Gang of about 24 Irifhmen, in the
Middle of the Day, and they wounded one of the Keepers, but
Tobin did not efcape. A Proclamation was iffued out with a
great Reward for taking them, when moft of them flew to Ire-
land to my great Grief. One Day as I was ftanding at my Door,
I was feen by one James Field, one of the Gang, who knew me
very well; he came in and called for Liquor very plentifully, &
the next Day he brought with him the Gang to my Houfe; I
defired them not to come to my Houfe, for I would not harbour
them, for if I did I fhould lofe all my Cuftom; for I told them
I could live without them in Credit, and without Fear; but
they would notbe denied, and my Houfe was always full of Thief
Catchers and Conftables, which caufed me to lofe my Cuſtom.
Not long after, molt of the Gang were taken, by one who fol-
lowed them from London, to which Place they were foon tranf-
mitted, but it ruined me, for I was forced to go away by
Night, and leit my Cellar full of Ale for my Brewer to taxe. I
went to Cork, and ſtaid there about three Weeks, but could not
take a Houle to my Liking, fo embarked for Waterford, with all
my Houfhold Goods, and itaid there about fixteen Weeks. I
found I could not live there, for Trade was dead and I but a Stran-
ger. My Brewer fent for me to Dublin, to which Place I went
again, and in a fhort Time took a Houfe at the Shades of Clon-
tarf, about two Miles from Dublin, clofe to the Sea-fide, and
bought a Smack or Sloop for Fiſhing, and Hoy-lightening Ships,
which I followed very hard, and fold Liquors at Home; By
thete Means I cleared three Pounds a Week, lived in good
Credit, and got the Good-will of every Body. I hardly ever
mified a Tide but was at Sea, and found the Pleaſure and Bene-
fit between ill-got Money, and that got honeftly; for the ill-got
I always wafted, and my Spirits were never at Reft, Night nor
Day; "but when I lived by my Labour, I eat, drank and
Eafe, and was not afraid of any Body.
ept
at
The
(5)
The latter End of the Year 1751, Thomas Tobin and-his Wife
(two of the moſt noted Pickpockets in England) came to Dublin,
and found out where I lived, and came to my Houfe; I begged of
them never to bring any Perfon with them, which they promiſed
me they would not, but in a fhort Time half the Thieves and
Thief Catchers in Ireland reforted to my Houſe, and laid a
Scheme for my Ruin, and fo it proved. Gentlemen often
came from Dublin, and payed me for going into the Channel
with them a plovering and fiſhing, and going aboard of Ships in
the Bay; but once among the reſt, ſome of theſe Chaps came
to hire my Smack, to go into the Bay, which I let them have to
my Sorrow; for before they came from Dublin they told the Cuf
tom-Houſe Boat what their Intent was to do, that they might
come and ſeize my Smack. When we were out in the Bay,
trying for ſome Fiſh, the Cuſtom-houſe Boat came and board-
ed me, and faid they were fure I had prohibited Goods, for I had
Smugglers on Board. I bid them fearch and welcome, which
they did to my Sorrow, for they found fix Pounds of Tea, and
twelve Yards of Callico and Muflin, which was fecreted in my
Cabbin by one of the Villains that came on board to go a pleaſu
ring. The Officers feized the Goods, and my Boat was con-
demned. I cannot deny but afterwards I met one of the Perfons,
and beat him very much; but I had no Reſt in Ireland afterwards,
for I was always troubled with Actions, tho' very falfe ones, which
obliged me to come to England again in November 1751.
on the
The latter End of November, 1751, I being at Bath at 7-----
R---ts's, he came to me one Night, and to Richard Branning,
and told us both, that in about a Fortnight's Time he could
help us to about five or fix hundred Pounds if we were both
willing: I faid How, John? He answered on the Scamp, and
the Cull does not come above ſeven Scratches off; i. e.
Highway, and the Man does not come above Seven Miles off. I faid
how do you know John ? He told me the Gentleman came eve-
ry fitting Day from Trowbridge to Bath, to change Bills for Mom
for he is a Gentleman Clothier, and his Money is to pay
ney,
his Men; he has never miffed a fitting Day for Years, and f
have threatened him ſeveral Times before now, but could ne-
ver get any of the Family to do it; Little Dick would have done
it laft Year, but his Partner, when the Day came, got drunk, and
fo it paffed off; but now is your Time to make us all, for it is a
great Deal of Blunt, and worth venturing your Scraggs for;
that is, it is a great Deal of Money, worth venturing your Necks for.
I then told him I had no Piſtols; and he ſaid you muſt go to
T...r's at F...n, and ſend him to Oxford to buy them, and keep
your Horſes there until two Days before the Time; the fitting
Day is Tueſday the 10th of December. Accordingly we agreed,
and fet out for F…………...n to T....r's, and I ſent him to Oxford,
to
1
(6)
to buy me a Brace of Piftols and a Hanger, which he brought,
and we ſtayed there 'till the 8th of December, and told T--r what
we were going to do, and that he muſt fet up all Tueſday Night,
and have two Horfes ready to carry us fixty Miles further; and
we told him we would be there on Wednesday Morning by Four-
6'Clock. It was all agreed, and we fet out for G--'s at Chappel
Pl--r, but we did not truft him with our Defign. I went to
R--ts's on the 9th, to agree what Time we fhould come on the
10th, and for him to fhew us the Way over the Water at Clark-
en Down Mills, which he did. We fagreed to give him four-
fcore Pounds out of the Booty. R...ts faid that he would be the
laft Man that would pay his Excife in at the Bar, and then faid
he, I fhall be able to give you an Account what Money the
Gentleman receives, and where he puts it, and if you come
into the Inn, I will fhew him and his Man to you, that you may
not be miſtaken when you come on the Down. Accordingly I
did as he faid, and about Four o'Clock R...ts met me, and told
me that the Gentleman had changed his Bills, and had received
upwards of five hundred Pounds, and then he fhewed me the
Gentleman and his Servant. My Horfe was left at Mount Plea-
fant, and I did not fhew myſelf there; but just as the Gentle
man was going, he was perfuaded not to go that Night, for it
was juft dark, and a Robbery was committed but on Saturday
before at Stocks-bridge in his Road Home, on a Farmer, and he
was ufed very ill after being robbed, by fome Footpads; which
made the Gentleman ftay in Bath till the Morning. If he had
went Home that Night, he would have loft all if it had been a
thouſand Pounds, for we had made a Place in the Wood, juft
before he came to the Flower-de-luce, to take him and his Servant
into and tie them, but Fortune was not on R.......ts's Side that
Time We both went to F...n that Night according to
our Promife, and found the Horfes ready and our Landlord up,
but he was diſappointed. I adviſe all People that have got a
Charge of Money, or Bills, not to travel after Sun fet.
In March 1752, I, John Brown, alias Dawson, John Allen,
alias Robert Jones, alias Robert Graham, and Thomas Tobin, went
a Journey into the North Part of England, and coming thro' Hal-
lifax, in Yorkshire, we overtook a Minifter; and we rode with
him till we came to the firft Inn, where we defrauded him of
twenty-two Pounds at Pricking in the Belt; he faid it was as
much as his Gown was worth to have it known, and accompa-
nied the Loſs of his Money with this Ejaculation, Alas, what have
I been at ? to which I anſwered, The Sailor has done by you, Sir, as
you would have done by him ; ſo I wish you a good Night. We came
that Night to Stockport in Cheshire, and lay at an Inn in that
Town that Night. The next Morning we left our Company,
and
7
-(7)
went for Weft-chefter on the File *: We stayed on Purpoſe to rph
a Pack-Horſe; accordingly we all went to one ...s R..ts's, an
old Acquaintance of my Accomplices, but none of mine. We
called for Liquor plentifully, and aſked him when the Mancheſter
Carrier came by; he faid, To-night, and they travel beft Part of
the Night; but if you ftay till they come by, I will fhew you the
beft Pack; but have you no Sacks; and turning to Brown faid,
you had three the laft Pack you got. We faid, J..s, vou muſt let
us have three of your's, and we will pay you for them': Accor
dingly, he gave us three old Sacks, and we promifed him half
a Guinea for his Trouble: At Night the Horfe came by, and
he fhewed us all one particular Pack, and ſaid, that's your Mark,
and your beſt Place is beyond the Village, to take him into one
of the Fields, and he will not be miſs'd for an Hour or two after;
ſo that you may get far enough by the Morning. And accordingly
we went after and ftole one of the Horſes, but not the right,
for he was the hindmoſt next to the Man: The Horfe as foon
as the others paft began to wicker; fo that we were obliged to
gag him. We got upwardsof one thouſand Yards of Callimanco
unſcower'd, and rode away thirty Miles that Night before we
baited, when we reached within four Miles of Whitchurch in
Shropſhire, and lay at a Flash Houfe; the next Day we arrived
at the Rock Tavern, near S---r B---e in Staffordshire, kept by
one E..... and M....L..,s, the greateſt Rendezvous in England
for Thieves, and that Night put our Goods into a Grave in their
Barn, where they lay three Days; we then fetched them up to
the Houſe, and cut off all the Marks off both Ends, of the Pie-
ces. We fold E..d and M...t L...s three or four Pieces for Three-
Pence per Yard; we gave them one Piece for their Trouble,
and divided the reſt into three Parts. I fent mine to Bath to F..
R...ts's where it lay for fome Time, 'till he got me a Dyer to
dye it; and the Remainder was left at the Rock Tavern with
our Landlord and Landlady, who never paid any Thing for it
to this Day. Some Time after, I fold twenty-eight Yards of
mine to Mary Brown alias Dawſon, after it was dyed; but when
fhe had made it up, fhe told me he would not pay me for it, for I
had better Luck than her Hufband and Allen had with their's;
they all well knowing the Callimanco to be ftolen, and from
whence; and if we or any Body elfe was to carry the King's
Crown to the Rock Tayern, they would to my Knowledge fecret
it.
Soon after, I and Thomas Tobin went to Grantham in Lincoln-
fhire, and met with one Walter Caubone, and there we defrauded
an old Farmer of fifteen Guineas, at the old Nobb, called Prick-
ing in the Belt. From thence Tobin and I went to Nottingham,
* A Cant Word for Cheating.
A Houfe that harbours Thieves,
where
+
(8)
*
1
where we met with feveral of our Accomplices; but Luck
running bad that Day, Tobin, Hurt, and I went on the Sneak
and ftole a Silver Tankard without a Lid, from the Black-Moor"
Head, and paying Hurst for his Part, we went for the Rock Ta-
vern again; but Money being fhort there, we carried it to
Bgrove in Worcestershire, to G...e T....ll a Shopkeeper there,
and Tobin fold it to him; but I cannot fay he knew it to be
ftolen, for I was not prefent; but I have feen G...e T...ll buy
ſtolen Goods of feveral Perfons, he well knowing the fame to be
ftolen.
Tobin and I went directly for York, and on our Journey into
Yorkſhire, we dined at an Inn, and ſtole a large Silver Spoon; but
where the Houſe is I cannot recollect. We arrived at York, and
went to fee an old Friend and his pretended Wife, and the next
Day went to a Fair and defrauded a young Gentleman of feven
Pounds at the Belt; and came back the next Day to York, being
the Day before the Judges came into Town. The next Day
Tobin and I went on the Sneak to the Black Swan Inn in Coney-
fireet, York, and ftole from thence a Silver Tankard, and a large
Sugar Cafter, and carried them to Chriftopher Fet----one, and
his pretended Wife Sarah C---n, to keep them for us till we went
out of Town, and told them from whence they came. The
ame Day I, Tobin, Fet...one, and Sarah C---n, went to the
fame Houfe on Purpofe to fteal more Plate, but the People had
locked the reſt up, to our Diſappointment. The next Day Tobin
and I went for our Plate, which Sarah C..n brought us; and
we gave her a large Silver Spoon for her 'Trouble, which we had
ftolen, but where I cannot recollect. Then we went directly
to London, where I fold the Tankard and Caſter to a Silverſmith
near Smithfield Bars, in St. John's Street, but he did not aſk me
any Questions how I came by them.
any
I went juft after to J...n R. ..ts's at Bath, to meet the reſt of
my Accomplices at our old Houfe, where I was fure to hear
News and a Welcome into Bath. The latter End of April there
was twelve of us together, all Gamblers and Pickpockets, to our
Landlord's Knowledge. We all went into the Weft for Spam-
ford Peverel, and made three Sets. Two Sets got ten Pounds
a Piece, from two Farmers that had juſt ſold their Cattle, at the
unlawful Game of pricking in the Belt. The Farmer that I was
concerned with, fwooned away for the Lofs of his Money; we
made a Pretence to fetch fome Water to bring him to himſelf,
but went clear off, not regarding whether he lived or died. Two
Setts went to Great Torrington; and one Sett, juſt as they got
into the Fair, picked up a Flat, and got 20 Pounds of him, which
fo alarmed the Town, that the reft came away for Exon, fo all dif-
-perfed
A
(9)
perfed but John Brown and I, and we defrauded a Man in Exon of
five Pounds.
We went to Grewkerne, where we heard at the Green Dragon
that our Accomplices were gone forward: The next Day we
rode out of Town, but promifed to come back the fame Night,
which we did: But juft before we came into Town, we heard
that two Sharpers were taken up at S--1 C---I's, and that their
Horfes were there: So we called, and the Horfes were delivered
to us to take them away for Fear they fhould be ftopt; for they
were both ftolen, one by William C--s, and the other by Willi
am S---w, both then in Cuftody at Crewkerne, for defrauding a
Man at Chard of five Pounds; and one of them had ftolen a
a Great-Coat at Chard; and they were both caft for Tranf
portation at Bridgwater for the fame.
Brown and I took the two Horfes to Bath to John R----s, and
told him what had happened, and that he muſt fell the Gelding,
and Mare: We told him where they were ſtolen from, and he
faid it was far enough off, and afked us what we would have
for the Gelding; we told him four Pounds; he faid that if
we would take a Thirty-fix Shilling Piece, he would run all Ha-
zards; fo we agreed for him: And he told us if any Body afk-
ed what he coft, we must fay four Pounds; for he would fell
him to a Farmer that he bought his Straw of, that never went
five Miles from home.
I left Brown at R---t's with the Grey Mare, whilft I, William,
Elger, and John Allen, alias Robert Fones, alias Robert Graham,
went to the Rock Tavern, to fee his Wife and Child, that was at
Nurſe there; from thence we went into the North of England
to Fairs, Horſe Races, and Cock Matches, on the ſharping Lay,
and won between thirty and forty Pounds at Cards, alias
Broads. From thence we went to Newcastle upon Tyne, where we
got about three Pounds from a Butter-Man at the Belt, or Nobb.
From thence we went into the South again; and we picked up
in our Way Money enough to bear our Expences to Bath for
the Benefit of the Waters, to the great Joy of our Landlord. We
ftayed off and on at Bath about fix Weeks, and paffed for.
Smugglers: We uſed to give Seven Shillings a Pound for Tea,
and fell it again for four Shillings and Six-pence, on Furpoſe to
make People believe we were Smugglers. We went to a Fair
and then in that Time; and if we could not get any Mc-
ney at the Nobb, we would buy a Horfe or two, and give our
Notes for the Money, telling the Dealer we lived at a Town
where we did not. This is called Mafening.
now a
July the 2d, 1752, I and William Elger, John Brown, alias
Dawjon, John Allen, alias Robert Jones, alias Robert Grabam, and
Thomas Walker, went to Blandford Races, where we met Charles
Handy: We went to the Cocking in the Morning, and to the
B
Races
(10)
→
Races in the Afternoon; fome went on the Turn to the Booths,
& others to laying Wagers on the Courſe: A flattiſh Gentle man
laying ſeven Pounds with one of us, they both aſking who ſhould
hold Stakes, one of us fitting on Horſeback juft by on Purpoſe,
fays put it in that Man's Hand, pointing to one of us that was
well dreffed; the Money being fo delivered, the Man winning,
he that held the Stakes rode off the Courfe. After the Races we
all met at Blandford, and agreed to go on the Sneak for any Thing
we could get. In the Dufk of the Evening, we went to the
Crown Inn, and ftole out of the fore Parlour a large Portman-
teau Trunk, and carried it into the Fields to fkin it, i. e. to
ſearch it, when we found in it the following Things, viz. Eigh-
teen Guineas, a Jacobus, and feveral other Pieces of Gold
and Silver Coin, a Gold repeating Watch, with all the Trink-
ets thereunto belonging, a Pair of Gold Shoe Buckels, a Gold
Coral and Bells, a Gold Girdle Buckle, and Necklaces fet in
with green Stones, a great Quantity of Jewels, a fly white
Petticoat, a great Quantity of young Girls Wearing Apparel,
and one Pair of Sheets. Thomas Walker and I carried the Gold
Watch and Jewels to London, and Walker fold them to a Perſon
unknown to me, becauſe I was not with him; but he ſaid, he
told the Man he fold them to, that he got them at Sea in a Prize.
He brought me twenty-feven Pounds for the Watch and Jewels.
We then came back to Popham Lane, to the Sign of the Wheat-
fheaf, where our Accomplices were waiting for us We there
divided the Money equally between us, and came to Bath, where
I fold the Pair of Sheets to J.... R....ts for two Shillings, and
the fly Petticoat worked with a Needle for a Guinea, tho' it was
worth four he fecreted the reft for me in a Cloſet. Juft after
I fold a red Silk quilted Petticoat to M---y G--a, for her
Daughter, for half a Guinea: at the fame Time fhe begged a
laced Cap, with Wire about the Border; and I told her ſhe muſt
not let her Daughter wear it, for it was ftole from a Portmanteau
at Blandford, and that it was advertiſed at the fame Time in
Bath: She faid I need not fear, for it fhould be altered; the well
knowing the fame to be ftolen, and from whence.
I fold the Bells, Seal, Shoe Buckles, and Girdle Buckles, all of
Gold, to ------, a Silversmith in Bath; and he melted them
down before my Face, into an Ingot of Gold, not quite an
Ounce. I told him from whence they came, and he faid he did
not care if they came from the Ruffen (that is, the Devil) I with
we had as much as you and I could put out of Twig or break
in funder.
We went out of Bath to Corfham Fair, about eleven Miles
from Beth; that is, 1, William Elger, John Brown, alias Dawfon,
John Allen, alias Robert Jones,alias Robert Graham, and we ftole a
Silver Tankard from an Inn in Corfham: Ibrought it directly to
F---n
( 11 )
J-n Fd at Bath, who not being at Home, I told his Wife
we had ftole a Silver Tankard from Corsham, and wanted to
melt it down; I then went up Stairs with her, and the faftened
a Pair of Sheers into a Vice, and began to cut it in Pieces; when
her Huſband came in and told us, he had heard of the Tankard,
and where it came from, but he would foon put it out of Twig;
and faid, Betty, go and make a Fire in the Shop, and bring a
large Crucible; which fhe did; and they melted it down before
my Face; and fhe faid, Mr. Poulter, at any Time, if you have
Gold or Silver, I will melt it down for you if my Huſband is
not at Home; but you must not take any Notice to my Bro-
ther of what paffes between my Hufband and you: At the fame
Time ſhe aſked me for a Shilling for her Trouble, which I
gave her. They both knew the fame to be ſtolen, and from
whence.
Brown, Elger, and Allen, bought a Horfe at the Turnpike
near Corfham, of a Farmer, for fix Pounds, but gave their
Note for it; and St--n G--a faid he knew Brown very well to be
the fame Perfon he reprefented himſelf to be, though he knew
at the fame Time they were defrauding the poor Farmer.
October the 26th, 1752, I, with John Brown alias Dawson,
William Elger, John Allen alias Robert Jones, alias Robert Graham,
·
went from Bath in order to rob a Pack-Horfe: We made the
beft of our Way to W---m T--'s at Farringdon, in Berkſhire, and
after. Supper we called plentifully for White Wine Negus;
then we aſked W---m T---r when Charley the Coventry Carrier
came to Morton in the Marth: He answered, on Monday or
Tueſday; and now is your Time, for he takes up the Ribbons
that are left at Stow Fair, and carries them to Bristol this Jour-
ney. To which we replied, how fhall we know the right Pack?
W--m T---r faid, you muft obferve the Pack that has Boxes in
it, that is the right, and is full of Ribbons or Things of Value,
and, if you fucceed, bring them to me, and I will buy them all
of you.
We then told him we had no Sacks, and he ordered
his Oftler to go and buy three new Sacks, for which I paid fix
Shillings before his Face. The next Morning he wished us.
good Luck, and we fet out for Morton in the Marfh, where we got
that Night, and put up at Wm N------'s. He was glad
to fee my Accomplices, but did not know me: After Supper we
afked him when Charley came to Morton in the Marth: Heanfwer-
ed I cannot tell, but will go to his Brother and enquire. When
he. came back, he told us To-morrow Morning; but it will be
late before he gets to Park-Gerner, becauſe he takes up Ribbons at
Stowe that were left at the Fair. We did not ftir out all the
Time we were there; for he faid, if we were feen, it would
be known who did it; for he well knew our Intent was to take
ene of Charley's Packs; and he affured us, that at any Time he
would
( 12 )
go and fwear for us, (as he did for Robert Jones and others at
Warwick,) if Occafion required. We fet out the next Day
for Park-Corner, which Place we reached juft as Charley came
there: Brown then rode before us to detain Charley at a Public-
Houfe, under Pretence of carrying a Letter for him, which he
wrote and gave him: In the mean Time we went forward, and
tried the Packs as T---r had directed us; and catched the Horfe
by the Neck; but he was fo fhy and ftartifh, that he throwed
me and Allen into a Ditch, and got away from us, fo that we
could not get out: But it was remarkable William Elger rode a
Gelding that he gave eighteen Guineas for, and in conveying
along the Pack Horſe, rode into a great Hole, and his Gelding
and he tumbled over, when the Pack-Horfe ran back almoſt to
Park Corner before we could catch him. We tied the Horſe to
a Bufh, and gagged him, whilft we put the Goods up in
our Sacks, and left them in that Place 'till we rode almoft to
Park-Corner before we could get out, and there we ſaw Brown
and Charley going together, Charley afked us whether we had
feen his Horſes, and how many there were: We faid fix, but they
were a Mile before him, and then bid him a_good Night. We
rode round the Park Wall, juſt againſt the Place where we left
our Goods, and the Horfe wickered: I was forced to ftand on
the Horfe's Back to get above the Wall, to throw over the Goods.
We then loaded our Horfes, and made the beſt of our Way to
Chappel Plafter, at which Place we arrived about five o'clock
in the Morning, and called up S--n G--. We stayed there that
Day. I afked S--- G---- to get me a Horfe and fomething to
carry my Goods in ; which he did, for he lent us his own Horfe
that he bought of us fome Time before at Weyhill Fair, and a
Pair of Butcher's Pots, in which we packed all our Goods except
one Piece of Camblet, and twelve Pair of Scarlet Stockings,
which Brown, Allen, and I kept for our Women. We divided
the Piece (I think it was 39 Yards) into three Parts, and the
Stockings into the fame. I gave my Part to M--y G--a to keep
for me, and fo did they, till I came again. The next Morning
we fet out for Farringdon, where we arrived late at Night, it
being fifty Miles from Chappel Plafter. We fent Allen before
to beſpeak Supper for us, and to open the back Gate, and to
put the Oftler out of the Way until we had unloaded our Goods,
which was done. After Supper we drank plentifully of Punch
and White Wine Negus, and the next Morning we fold --m
Tr all the Caps and Stockings; He got us a Box to pack
the Pieces of Stuff in, and we put it into his Warehoufe, with
12
Directions
}
(13)
to be left at W---m T-r's at Farringdon in Berkshire, till called
for. The next Morning we fet out for a Fair at Newberry
in Berkshire, where we defrauded a young Man of his Watch,
Horfe, and four Guineas in Money, at the Old Nobb, or prick-
ing in the Belt. We then went back to T---r's; and when we
came there, he fhowed us a Letter he had received from Mr.
Grosvenor of Bristol for T-- to make all the Enquiry he could after
fuch Goods among all the Shopkeepers about that Country, for
he had loft a Pack: At the fame TimeT--- had bought all the Caps
and Stockings of us, and had all the Pieces of Stuff in his Ware-
houfe, and that to his Knowledge. His Wife H-- came to
me, and defired me to afk her Huſband to buy all the Stuff,
for that he could difpofe of it all; but he refuſed, becauſe it
was advertiſed. H--h T--r faid fhe would buy one Piece of Stuff
for her own Ufe, unknown to her Huſband: Then fhe, and I
went up Stairs, and fhe picked out a large Piece of brown
ftrong Stuff from all the reft, and gave me eighteen Shillings.
for the fame, they both knowing the fame to be ſtolen, and from
whence. If there were not fuch People as thefe to encourage
Thieves, and receive their Goods, there would be no Thieves.
We ſet out the next Morning for Salisbury, with the Goods
that were left, thinking to fell them to G--- H---'; but he
was not at Home: So I carried them to Stockbridge, to another
Fence of ours, i. e. a Receiver of ftolen Goods, one R...t L...
a Publican, that always bought the Watches of us we got at
pricking in the Belt, or any other Defraud. I fold him fix
Pieces and an half, which he picked out from all the reft, and
he gave me eighteen Shillings a Piece for them, but he would
have the half Piece into the Bargain. He aſked me where the
faid Stuff was ftolen from; and I told him: He faid he would
fell fome to one and fome to another, in the Country; but we
cut off all the Marks of both Ends of the Pieces, for Fear of
a Diſcovery. He alfo lent me a Box to pack up five Pieces and
an half that was left to ſend up to London to William Elger, whó
was gone to Town to fee his Friends, directed thus, For Mr.
William Elger, to be left at the Swan on Holborn Bridge, London,
till called for, which the faid L--- did fend away, he well
knowing the fame to be ftolen, and from whence; he knowing
us all to be Sharpers and Thieves, and that we had no other
Way of Living but by defrauding and robbing. We went back
to G--a's, and I fold the Piece of Stuff and four Pair of Scarlet
Stockings to M--y G--a: Mary Brown alias Dawſon, had another
Piece, and four Pair of Stockings: I bought the four Pair of
Stockings of Mary Brown again; Frances Allen had the other Part.
The Beginning of November, to the best of my Remembrance,
I and William Elger, John Brown and John Allen, came from Wil-
ton
(14)
#
ton towards Bath, on Purpoſe to break open a Houſe in Wade's
Paffage, which we locked at feveral Times before. We ftole in
our Way from Wilton a large Iron Crow from a Sheepfold on
Saliſbury Plain, on Purpoſe to wrench open the Door of the faid
Shop. We left our Horfes at Mount Pleaſant, while we went a
milling that Swag, i. e. breaking open that Shop: We wrenched
open the Padlock, but could not open the Door, altho' we made
a great Purchafe with the Iron Crow; we made feveral At-
tempts, and in the mean Time the Scout came by, i. e. the
Watch; but BROWN took him off, while we were at Work,
which is eafily done for a Quart of Drink. Brown knew the
Watchman, but I can't fay the Watchman knew him. If all the
Doors of Shops and Houfes fhut as cloſe as that did, it would pre-
vent a great many Robberies in Cities and Towns; for no Doors
ought to have any Play; if they have, they are eaſily broke open.
We tried two Shops in the Church-yard, at their Windows, the
one a Toy Shop, and the other a Watchmaker's, but were dif-
appointed by a drunken Man's coming into the Church-yard and
fitting himſelf down. We had got a fpring Saw to cut the Bolts
alunder, that F--d made for Brown; the Iron Crow I threw
over the Bridge on the Left Hand Side.*
:
The latter End of November, all of us being at Bath, we agreed
to go to Brifol to get fomething towards our Expences; where
John Allen picked up a Countryman near the Mount, i. e. the
Bridge, and brought him into the H.... R...ft near the Back,
which Houſe we had made flafh before hand; the Countryman
had but little Money, which the Sailor knew, and therefore laid
him half a Guinea that he could not borrow ten Pounds in half
an Hour; then Allen and he went into the Fish Market, and he
borrowed the Money of a Shopkeeper, and brought it to the faid
H---R...ft to us, and received the Wager; but we defrauded
him of all the Money in about ten Minutes, at the Old Nobb, or
Belt. A Countryman came juft afterwards to the Houfe to en-
quire for us, but the Landlady hufh'd the Man, and ſaid fhe
knew nothing of him nor us. The Countryman went home
and told in his Neighbourhood he was robbed by three Fel-
lows on the Road. I have feen him feveral Times at Bath Mar-
ket, and have fpoke to him, and he told me the fame: I contradic-
ted him, and faid, I believed he loft it at Gaming: He did not
fee my Face at Bristol when he loft his Money, fo he did not
know me at Bath. The Man keeps Bath Market, and ftands at
the upper End of the Market Houfe, felling Hog's Haflets, and
wears his own Hair,
juft after, about the 18th of November, we were all at Bath:
Then Brian tock the Opportunity at Night to go on the Sneak
by himfalf, to one Mr. Bartlet's on the North Parade, he went into
a Parlour
* This was found lately in the River.
(15)
--
Parlour, where he faw a Candle lighted, and ftole from thence a.
Portmanteau Trunk: The Key was in it, and a Bundle on it;
he took off the Bundle and unlocked the Trunk, and ſeeing it
full of rich Clothes, he locked it again, but took out the Key;
and in the mean Time, a Servant came and looked into the Room,
and Brown hid himfelf behind the Door, and when the Servant
was gone, he took up the Trunk and went into the King's Mead
Fields, and left it there while he came and told us what he had
done; I was in Bed, and fo was Allen, but Elger and he went and
ſkinn'd the Trunk, and put the Things into a Sack, and Elger
ſent his Horſe to S....
.n G... a's that Morning. The Horse
was taken out of R.... ts's Stable unknown to him or his Oftler
until Morning, when R ts knew it, but the Oftler did not.
In the Morning Elger and Mary Brown went on Foot to Chapel
Plafter, to look over the Things, and Allen went that Night to
them: The next Morning we all fet out for the Devizes, to one
7---n A----'s: Elger and Allen did not lie at the faid Houfe, but
· Brown and I did. I went and bought a Deal Box, into which we
put our Things, and nailed it up, and left it under a Bed in a
Room, and told --- A----, the Landlord, to take Care of it. He
faid, if it was Diamonds you know it is fafe in my Houſe. Some
Time after we faw our Landlord, and Brown afked him if the
Things were fafe; he faid yes, I have one of the Advertiſements
at my Houfe, but do not mind that, for no Body will fufpect my
Houſe; he well knowing we lived by nothing but robbing and
defrauding the Country.
We
We went from thence to Saliſbury, to fee a Crop Horſe run over
that Courſe, belonging to Thomas Brooks, of Coleharbour; he was ſe-
venteen Years of Age, and ran nineteen Miles within an Hour :
We could take no Body in at Saliſbury at any Trick, fo we went
that Night to Wilton, to confult what to do. Brooks lay with us that
Night, and the next Day we agreed to go and fteal fome Horfes,
and take them into the North, and bring others back into the
South; we went that Evening about all the Grounds within three
Miles of Salisbury, and could fee none worth taking, but a Colt
worth about fourteen Pounds, and him we could not catch.
went towards Saliſbury, and juft by a Mill in the Marthes we
caught two Galloways, both with cut Manes, but we thought
them not worth taking; we therefore went that Night to Salibu-
ry, and the next to Farringdon, in Berks; we made it Night before
we got to Marlborough, where we ſtole a Black Mare out of a
Ground juft by, in the Road to Farringdon, which we reached
that Night; we lay at W-----m T---r's that Night and the next'
Day, and at Night we went into a Field of Mr. Locke's, at the
Crown Inn, and ftole from thence a Bay Gelding, and I rode all
that
૨.
( 16 )
}
!
3
that Night with the Mare and Gelding towards Highamferris, for
there was a Fair there the next Day; but Brown, Elger, and Allen,
ftaid there that Night to prevent our being diſcovered: They met
me at Highamferris, but we could not fell our Horfes, T.....r,
our Landlord, knew the black Mare, and of our ſtealing the Geld-
ing. We made the beſt of our Way into Yorkshire, and fold the
Gelding to a Baker in Doncaſter, for four Pounds, but he did not
know it was ſtolen. We then went for Wakefield Fair, but when
we came there were difappointed, for there was none. Elger's
Horfe fell fick at Newark on Trent, and he borrowed a Horfe of
the Baker that bought the Bay Gelding; but when we were at
Wakefield, Allen borrowed a Horfe to go to York, and Elger fent
his Horfe back to Doncafter, for we faw in the London Evening
Poft, the Bay Gelding advertized, and made the beft of our Way
to Bantry, but did not come near Doncaster: We fold the black
Mare there to a Man of Rotherham, for one Pound, one Shilling
and Six Fence; fhe broke out with the Greafe. We went the
next Day to a Fair in Lincolnſhire, and picked up a Man on the
dropping of a Shilling, and brought him into the Houfe, where
Elger and Brown were fet on Purpoſe. Elger paffed for a Sailor,
and Brown for a Dealer; the Man had no Money, but Elger
laid him a Guinea he could not borrow twenty Guineas in
half an Hour; I went the Countryman's Halves, and went with
him, and at the firft Place he borrowed Ten, and a Thirty Pound
Bank Note, and in returning he borrowed twelve more; he
went back to the Sailor and fhewed him the Money, on which
he paid him the Guinea, and he went to play at pricking in the
Belt. We made Stakes for 22 Guineas, and feign would
have played for fifty, which the Countryman would not; but
faid if he won he would play again; but the Sailor took Care
not to let him; he pricked, and loft, and was moft terribly
frightened, but he would prick again for thirty; we were afraid
he would make too big a Row when he loft that, that is, a great
Noife, however we made Stakes for the fixty, which was the
Note and our Thirty; he pricked, and loft, and then ſtood as if
he was Thunderftruck for fome Time, with his Back againft
the Door: I feemed to be the fame; but at laſt got him out of
the Room under Pretence of borrowing fome Money, while the
Sailor and Brown went to our Horfes, which Allen had got rea-
dy: I gave the Countryman the flip, and followed after them,
not letting any Graís grow under our Feet for thirty Miles be-
fore we ftopt, and that was at Bantry, at a Houfe of our own
Sort. There was a great Search made all the Country round
for us, but we were at Home. The next Day we made our
Way for the City of CAMBRIDGE, in order to mill fome
Ken, that is, to break open fome Houſes; but we
had no Success there, fo we agreed to prig fome Peads, that is,
fteal
A
( 17 )
!
}
fteal fome Horfes, and take them away Weft: Allen and I went
for Newmarket, and Brown and Elger for Leighton Buzzard. I
and Allen ftole a black Gelding and a Bay Colt, near Brinkley
in the Woodlands, and bought them to Hungerford in Berks, and
fold them to William B--ge, in the fame Place: He did not
know that they were ftolen, but thought they were got on the
Maſon, i. e. for Paper. Brown and Elger ftole a flat headed
Bay Gelding from the Bell Inn in Leighton Buzzard, and brought
him to Bath, and kept him for their own riding. We fold the for-
rel Mare that was stolen from Wakefield to our Landlord J---n
R....ts at Bath; he would not buy her till he knew where the
was ftolen from, but he had no Luck with her, for fhe fell fick
and died in a Fortnight after. Here we divided all the Money
we got this Journey.
About the latter End of December, being all at Bath together,
J....n R..., our Landlord, came to Brown, Elger, and Allen,
and aſked for me; he told them he could help them to twenty
Pounds; juft after I came to his Houfe, when he told me the
fame: I aſked him how it was to be got, & he replied, upon the
Scamp, that is, on the Highway; for, fays he, there is a Man that
puts up at my Houfe, that is going to receive twenty Pounds,
but a great deal of it will be in Halfpence, and it is eaſy to be
napt, that is,taken. We then agreed that I fhouldgo and rob
the Man by myſelf, and they would be at a fmall Diſtance for
Fear of Refiſtance. R...ts helped the Man to tie the Sack behind
him, that the Money was in, I ftanding by him at the fame Time;
the Man went his Way, and we followed him up to the Top of
the Hill; I got on a Collier's Horfe, with Coal Sacks on the Pack-
Saddle, I fpoke to the Man going up the Hill, and when I
got on the Down I let him go on before, and then rode after,
overtook and robbed him; I had a Stick in my Hand, which
R... and my Accomplices gave me, and a Tinderbox inſtead of
a Piſtol I rode the Man's Horſe back again to the Foot of the
Down, where my Accomplices were waiting for me, and we
went directly to J... R....ts. The Money that I robbed the
the Man of, was one Guinca and fome Silver, and thirty nine
Shillings in Halfpence, which we divided between us, and R...ts
had eight Shillings Worth of the Halfpence. The Man came
to R---ts's the next Morning, and faid that he was robbed, and
afked what Timé his Oftler came home, for he fufpected him :
We told him he was at a Friend's Houſe all Night; and we
all laughed to hear the Man fay the Perfon who robbed him
put a Piftol to his Cheek, it being nothing but a Tinder Box.
About the 18th of January, 1753, I Brown, Elger, and Allen,
agreed to go to Bristol on the Sharp, or Sneak; which we did,
C
but
1
( 18 )
1
3
f
but we could not get any Thing on the Sharp that Day. But at
Night we went on the Sneak, firft into Queen Square, and tried
feveral Houſes. At laft Elger jumped the Glaffes of a Gentle-
man's Keen; that is, lifted up the Window of a Houfe at the
lower End of the Square, and jumped into the Parlour, and
brought out five Silver Tea Spoons, and one Pair of Tea Tongs,
with a Delft Server from a Tea Table. We then pulled down
the Window and went our Way': I think the Tea Spoons were
marked with the fpread Eagle. We went directly over the
Draw Bridge for College Green, and tried all the Doors and
Windows there: At laft I went into Orchard Street, to one Mr.
Smith's, a Watchmaker, as I was fince informed. Brown got En-
trance in at the Door, and went up Stairs into the Bed-chamber
whilft the Family was below, and he ftaid about twenty Minutes
in the Houſe; and in the mean while Mrs. Smith came to the
Door, and Elger afked her where fuch a Gentleman lived the
told him and went in, and fhut the Door after her. We all re-
folved if Brown was grabbed, that is, taken, to refcue him but
he foon came out with his Arms full of Men's wearing Apparel,
fuch as follows, viz. Three Coats, two Waiſtcoats, three Pair of
Breeches, a great Quantity of Stockings, and Neck-cloths, and
one Handkerchief. The faid Things I carried to Frances Allen's
Room that Night for her to fecret for us, and accordingly ſhe
did; and I went next Day to Briſtol again, to meet my Accom-
plices. I left with Mrs. Allen a Pair of Silver Shoe Buckels of
Mrs Smith's. We went at Night on our old Rigg; and went
over the Draw-Bridge, towards College Green; Brown went
into à Peruke-maker's Houſe, and went up Stairs, and had got
all the Things in a Table Cloth that was in the Drawers, when
he heard a Noife of the Barber and another Man coming home;
who fufpect.d us, (as having heard of Mr. Smith's Houfe being
broke open the Night before) followed us and fhut his Door:
However Brown got out of a Garret Window, and over the
Tops of feveral Houfes, and got behind a Stack of Chimneys
for the Space of two Hours; he could not get into any Houfe,
but was forced to go back again into the fame Houſe, and come
foftly down Stairs and along the Entry: A Boy heating fome
Body in the Entry, ran to him with a Knife in his Hand, and
call'd him Rogue; upon which Brown told the Miftrefs of
the Houfe, that as he was coming over the Draw-Bridge, a Bai-
liff was in Purſuit of him, and that he came into her Houfe for
Shelter, and had been on the Stairs a Quarter of an Hour,
which the weak Woman believing, bid him ftay for Fear the
Bailiffs fhould be about the Door; but he did not care to ftay
for fear the Malter Thould come home, and fo bade her good
Night and went his Way; but we were at Bath five Hours be-
fore him
The
1
}
}
( 19 )*
·19)
The next Day we divided the Stockings and Neck-cloths
between us four, except fome Thread Stockings and the Hand-
kerchiefs, which Mary Brown and Frances Allen would have for.
themſelves: The two Women kept the rest of the Things for
us till Briſtol Fair Our Landlord R....ts had one of the Bills.
of the Robbery left at his Houſe; and when we came into his
Houfe, he faid, Why will you not let me have fome of the
Clothes, to make my Son fome Clothes? You never let me
have any Thing as you do other Landlords; I think I ought to
"have a Penny's worth as well as they.".
The 25th of January, 1753, we went to Bristol Fair on the
Sharp; but we had no Luck that Day, fo at Night we went
to milling of Swaggs, that is, breaking up Shops, or Warehouſes:
Accordingly we went to the Bell Inn in Thomas Street, and
broke open the Ware-houfe, and with a dark Lanthorn they
brought out of the ſaid Ware-houfe to me, two Pieces of broad
Livery Cloth, one brown and the other blue, directed for Mr
Hartford of Bath: I ftaid in the Street till the other three went
into a Houfe in Temple Street, juft by the Back of the faid Inn;
where Elger went up Stairs, and opened a Box that was not locked,
and brought out a Piece of brown Stuff, and Linen for a
Gown, & gave it to me: I came to the Lamb Inn at Lawford's
Gate with it, and took Horfe directly for Bath, and delivered the
Goods to Frances Allen to fecret for me, and then I went to Bed.
About Two o'clock in the Morning, Brown, Allen, and Elger
came to Bath with a Pack of Handkerchiefs that they had ſtolen
from the London Ware-houfe in Peter-Street; and they told me
they had loft a good Booty for Want of the Lanthorn that I had
in my Pocket. Elger went forward with the Pack of Handker-
chiefs to Chappel Plaister; and Brown and Allen called for the
Cloth, Stuff, and Clothes, that Mary Brown and Frances Allen
had fecreted for me, and they followed Elger to St...n G's, where
G- - got a Box made on Purpoſe to nail up the faid Goods in.
I went the next Morning to them, and put the Things into the
Box: We ſtayed there a Day or two, and at last we fold St--n
G--- upwards of twenty Dozen of the faid Handkerchiefs, and
four Yards of the blue Cloth, and to his Wife Mary the Piece of
Stuff for a Gown, they both well knowing the fame to be ftolen,
and from whence.
The next Day we all fet out for the Rock Tavern in Stafford-
hire, withour Goods; butit raining we left Brown on the Road
with them, and went forward to the faid Tavern, it being our
old Place of Rendezvous; where we fold a Silk Camblet Coat,
two Pair of Breeches, and a Silk, Cream-coloured Waistcoat, for
one Pound fix Shillings, to Edward and Margaret L----, and
the helped me to cut off the Gold Lace from an embroidered blue
Paddufway Waistcoat, and we burne it before their. Faces, and
..
gave
I
(20)
1
and
gave them the Remainder of the Waiftcoat, and told them from
whence it was ftolen: We fold the Remainder of the Hanker-
chiefs, about nineteen Dozen, to John
and the Mazarene
blue Coat for one Pound, he being at Briffo the fame Time
they were ſtolen, and faw them at G----'s Houſe, but he would
have nothing to do with them there, untill we carried them to
the Rock Tavern.
Brown came to us the next Day, and told us he had fold the
Cloth for 4s. 6d. per Yard, to Mr. Thomas B---, at Goalharbour,
in Gl....r Road; but I cannot take upon me to fware it, becauſe
I was not a Witnefs of it.
The R--- Tavern has been a Place of Rendezvous for theſe
People for thirty Years paft, tho' never detected till now; but all
the Country knew it, and ufed to call thofe who ufed it Thieves
and Highwaymen. The Landlord and Landlady have appeared
at their Trials feveral Times; but once efpecially for Chriftopher
F----fione at Northampton, for a Robbery on the Highway, and
got him off by fwearing him to be at their Houfe at the Time.
When we came to Bath, I fold the Silver we took off the
embroidered Waistcoat to John F--- which was not quite an
Ounce. I told him it was taken off a Waiſtcoat which was ftole
from Mr. Smith of Brificl; but I never got above one Shilling of.
F---for my Silver to this Day. Brown likewife fold the Silver
Spoons and Tea Tongs that were ftole from a Houfe in Queen-
Square, to John F..., for nine Shillings; he well knowing the
faid Things to be ftolen, and from whence.
We all ftaid at Bath to fpend our ill-got Money until March.
R---ts had got one Burk at his Houfe, very poor and just out
of Bristol Goal, whom he kept for a Month at Bed and Board.
On the 11th Day of March, Brown, Elger, and Allen, went to
Abingdon Fair, and left Burk and I at R...ts's, when the latter came
to me and ſaid, “JOHN, will you take Burk with you, for he owes
me Money?" To which I anfwered, "Not I; I am not going
out at all any more:" He faid "Abingdon Fair is To-morrow, &
Burk will fhow you where you may bufs a Couple of Prads, and
fence.them at Abingdon Gaff; that is, Burk will how you a
Couple of Horfes that you may fteal, and fell them at Abingdon
Fair: Accordingly we did fteal two Geldings from a Ground
of Mr. Smith's at the Castle and Ball, one a Black and the other
a Bay, and rod all Night, and the next Morning we got to
Abingdon, where I faw my Accomplices, who had no Luck that
Day. I fold the black Gelding to a Countryman near 'Squire
Difhwood's in Oxfordshire, and we ftood in the Fair all the Day
with the other ; but we could not get our Price for him: At
laft we fold him to a Flath Dealer, one Bishop, of my Accquain-
tance, for three Pounds thirteen Shillings and Six-pence, and
told him where he came from, he at the fame Time very well
knowing him to be worth feven Pounds; and then we had
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no Horſe between us both; but I chanced to go into the Ram
or Lamb Inn, when the Oftler afked me if I wanted my Horfe, I
faid, Yes; when he brought me a fine Bay Gelding, bridled
and faddled: Iafked him what he came to, he faid Five-pence;
but I
gave him Six-pence and rode away, fometimes riding and
fometimes walking. We lay that Night at Lacklade, and the
next Night at Cheltenham in Gloucefter. About a Mile from
that Town, Burk * ftole a Grey Poney, and we rode that
Night to the Rock Tavern, our old Place of Rendezvous.
The next Day we went within three Miles of Newport in
Shropſhire, to another Flaſh Houfe, and the Day after went to
Nantwich Fair in Cheſhire, where fhe met with two Flafh
Horfe Jockeys, to whom I fold the Bay Gelding: Their Names
were John S... and Jofeph S... both Partners, and who
live at N...p...t: They both afked me where the Horfe came
from, and I told them that I ftole him from the Rain or Lamb
Inn, in Abingdon : They ſaid they would take Care what Part
he went to, and then gave me fix Guineas for him, tho' it was
worth fourteen.
We did not fell the Poney at Nantwich, but that Night we
ftole a Black Gelding, Saddle and Bridle, from a Public Houſe
Door; and we rode back to our Flash Houfe, three Miles
from Newport, the Sign of the W-- H--, on the London Road.
1
The next Day we went to our old Houfe, the Rock Tavern
but Burk fold the Poncy to a Stranger on the Road: Then I
carried him behind me to the Rock Tavern ; where we ſtaid
that Night, there being five more there of our Way of Calling.
We went next Morning toward Birmingham, and got there juft
before Night; where we bought two Brace of Piftols, and went
that Night and ſtole a Bay Gelding from a Ground about a
Mile and half from thence; and we rode that Night to Worcef-
ter, and knocked up a Flaſh Landlord at the B... Inn, near the
Bridge Foot, whofe Name is D... The next Night to the Croſs,
to another Flaſh Houſe, and the next Night to Bath, and the
next Morning to St....n G...'s at Chapel Piaifter, where I fold
the Black Gelding we ftole at Nantwich, to a Dealer in Nee-
dles, whoſe Name is Darby, and who came from Bromsgrove in
Worceſterſhire, for three Guineas, and St.... G... vouched for
the fame.
That
*The only Method that I know, to prevent Horfes being ftolen, is
to fend to Birmingham for fome of their Cafe hardened Locks, which
are made on Purpofe; no Thief or other Perfon can get the faid Lock
off the Horfes Fetlock without the Key. They must be lined with Lea-
ther to prevent their galling the Heel of the Horfe, and not have any
Chain to it, for that will fret the Horfe if he has any Spirit. If any
Thief fteals him over Night, in the Morning when they fee the Lock
on him, they will turn him up, for the faid Lock cannot be filed off,
nor broke; and the Expence of it will be but Two Shillings each Lock.
It muſt not be put on too tight, neither too big,
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1
That Night I and Burk went over Clarken Down, towards
Trowbride in Wiltſhire, but not on any Defign of robbing; and
going down the Hill at the watering Place, we met a Poft Chaife,
which Burk fwore he would go and rob: I denied to go with him,
but he still fwoye he would: I afked him as we followed the
Chaife, if he thought I was mad, to do fuch a Thing fo near
Bath, and juft as I came out of a Houfe I was fo well known in,
but he again ſwore he would do it himfelf, if I would not go
with him Then I thought with myfelf if he was taken, I ſhould
be in as much Danger as he, for being with him juſt before; ſo
I confented to go with him. I defired him not to be guilty of
any Miſchief, or hurt any Perfon, for that four Men were as
cafily robbed as one, and that the Sight of a Piſtol unawares, is a
great Terror to any Man; and without they fire at me, don't
fire at them; he told me he would not: Then I rode up to the
Chaife, and bid the Boy ftand; but I believe he did not hear me,
for he kept on. The World may think it is falfe, but I affure
them it is true, as I am not ſure whether I am for Life or Death
If being dark before I got up with the Chaife, I did not know
whether the Windows were up or down, but I ran my Hand thro'
the Glafs, and cut my Fingers all acrofs; and I believe in drawing
my Hand out of the Window, I pulled down the Cock of my-
Pistol, for it went off thro' both Windows unexpectedly; but
I thought at first the Fire came from the Chaife, till I put my
Hand on the Cock and felt it down; and Burk (he being behind
the Chaife) alfo thought the Fire came from the Chaife at me,
as he told me afterwards, which was the Occafion of his firing.
Then we had no Piſtol loaded, for we had fired a Brace just be.
forc at a Mark on the Down. The World hath faid that I threat-
ened the Child's Life, but I declare I had not fuch a Thought,
for Mr. Hancock gave her to me, defiring me not to hurt her,
and I took her in my Arms, and kified her, and then fet her
down: I do not deny but there was very bad opprobious Lan-
guage paffed at first, but at last if any Body had come by they
would not have known what we were at. It was reported we got
above thirty Pounds from Mr. Hancock, but I do affure the World
we got no more than one Guinca and half in Gold, and about
fix Shillings & Six-pence in Silver, his Gold Watch, and a great
Quantity of his Lady's wearing Apparel and Child's Linen.
After this Robbery, we went directly back to St.... G....'s,
but they were all in Bed, except M...y G..., whom I called
down, and the let us in and made a Fire, and got us a Tankard
of Toddy, and thin caled up her. Hufband, who came down
directly, and we told him and his Wife what we had done;
and Burk fetched in all the Things we had robbed Dr. Hancock
of, in order to fhew them, and St.. G... took the Gold Watch in
his Hand: I then aſked M...y G..... to lend me a Wallet (which
the did) to pack up the Things in, and the folded up the Gowns
as
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T
as well as ſhe could; for fhe faid it would fpoil them to rumple
them; and fhe affifted us in putting them into the Wallet: I
then afked St... G. .if he had any Gunpowder to load our Piftols
with, who took down a Fowling Piece that lay on the Rack
in his Kitchen, drew the Charge, and gave me the Gunpowder:
Then I aſked M.... G... for a Spoon and a Pipe to make two
Brace of Balls to load our Piftols with, which he gave me,
and they both affifted me in making them, and in loading our
Piſtols Burk aſked M--y G-- if the was not afraid to fee us
load our Piſtols; fhe faid, "No; they are not the firſt I have
feen loaded by Night in this Kitchen:" She then hafhed us
fome Veal. I bought a Bay Gelding of S..n G-- for fix Pounds,
and then we drank four or five Tankards of Toddy, and paid
our Reckoning; and M-- G-- faid, "I would have you get
as far as you can by Day-light, and tend to us, and we will fend
Word what News there is at Bath "
you
.
We fet out again for Clerken Down, and fo by the Glafs-
Houſe, where Burk ftole a Bay Gelding with a Pack Saddle.
We went that Morning to Wells before we baited, and at Night
to Taunton, and the next Day to Exeter. Burk, as foon as he put
up his Horfe, went to one W... C...'s, a H... in Northgate
Street, and told him what he had done, and gave him his Piftols
to lock up for him, and faid, "Baxter will come and bring his
to you by by;" he faid, "and welcome". Juft after I went to
C...'s Shop, but Burk was not there; when C.... told me what
Burk had told him, and faid, I have locked up his Piftols, fhall
I lock up yours; I faid no, I will not put mine out of my Pockets.
Then I told him I had been on the Scamp, and what I had robbed
the Chaife of; I fhowed him the Gold Watch, and told him
what rich Clothes we had got to fell: He wanted me to change
Watches with him, the Gold one for a Silver one, which he ſaid
was got the fame Way up at the Start, that is, London, and fent
him down as a Preſent by a Family Man, but that it was chrif-
tened before it came, that is, the Name and Number taken out
and others put in. He told me if I would bring a Gown to
his Houfe, he had a Sifter-in-law who fold old Clothes, the
fhould buy it of me, and would fay they were his Wife's Ac-
cordingly he went with me to the Inn, and I fhowed him the
Gown; and I gave him fome of the Child's Caps and à Gown,
and fome other Things, which he carried to his Houfe and kept
for me, he well knowing the fame to be ftolen and fram whence,
and that they were got on the Highway. The faid C.., Brown
and I, were never apart laft Lammas Aflizes at Exon; for Brown
knew him for twelve Years laft in London, and they had been out
together on the Sneak: He is an old Family Man, and left
London on that Occafion, and came into the Country.
The
'
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The 24th and 26th of March, one ------ and his Wife
came to me, and bought a Shirt and a great Coat of Dr. Han-
cock's Servant's, which we ftole from the Chaife; I told him.
he muft take off the Buttons and Lining, which he did accord-
ingly; and when it was afked for, he denied it; but afterwards
it was found in his Cuftody. One of the above two Days he and
his Wife came to the Goal of Exon, and fetched out a Fly Pet-
ticoat and Sack; and fhe put them under her Petticoats, and
faid, Nobody will mind what I carry out of Prifon, becauſe I am
always bringing Things in and out here, and at any Time we
will give you as much as any Body fhall, for any Thing that
lies in our Way: They both well knew thofe Things to be fto-
len.
•
At the fame Time one and his Wife came to the faid
Prifon; and he told me he would ferve me or Mrs. Baxter at
any Time, and fecrete any Thing for me or her: Accordingly
Mrs. Baxter gave them a great Quantity of wearing Apparel,
which he and the told me afterwards they had fent to Launceston:
and I was forced to hire a Horfe for him, which coft me five Shil-
ings, and two Shillings and Six-pence for his Trouble to fetch
the faid Things back again, they having fent away thofe Things
unknown to me or Mrs. Baxter, at the fame Time both
knowing them to be ftolen, for I told them they were. And if
it were not for fuch People as thofe I have mentioned in this
Treatife, Sharping and Thieving would be but a miferable Cal-
ling; and in fhort, if the World will allow me to be a Judge
of the Matter, I think it but a difmal Profeffion at beft; for I
can ſpeak by experimental Knowledge, that a Man that follows
this Way of Living, can never be at Reft Night nor Day: Such
has been my unhappy Condition for a great while; for as the
wife Man faith, A wounded Confcience who can bear?
I forgot to mention that in Sep. 1752. I and John Brown alias
Dawſon, William Elger, John Allen, alias Robet Jones, alias
Robert Graham, went to Wayhill Fair, where we met Thomas
B...s, & A..m G...g, of Sh....n; and we agreed among us to buy
2 of 300 Sheep of one Mr. Medlicot, of Shefton, a Neighbour
of B...'s and G...g's, and never pay for them; but I coming late
to the Fair, the Sheep were all fold, and we then agreed to met
at Applefhaw Fair, on the fame Purpoſe. We then went on the
fharping Lay, and Allen pick'd up a young Countryman, that
came out of Suffex to buy Sheep, and his Shepherd with him
we defrauded him of fourteen Guineas and his Watch, and drank
plentifully of Wine while we were at work; and when his
Money was gone, took him out at one Door of the Booth, while
the Sailor went out at the other; but the Countryman foon.
returned
returned again, and finding we were gone, the Reckoning
paid, and half a Bottle of Wine left upon the Table,
then diſcovered, tho' too late, that he was bit: However, he bore
it with Patience, and he and his Man fat down and drank the Re-
mainder of the Bottle of Wine before they departed.
4
The next Day we went to a Booth that was Flaſh, (we always
have two or three Booths or Houfes in every Fair Flaſh, as we
generally ſpend a great Deal of Money every Fair Day.) I picked
up an old Man that fold Cheefe, by dropping a Shilling, and took
him into the fame Booth to ſpend the Shilling, where the Sailor
and Capper was; the Sailor aſked the old Man to change a Gui-
nea, and finding he had not much Money, laid him a Guinea
that neither he nor I could borrow fifteen Guineas in half an
Hour: I went the old Man's Halves; but the Sailor ſaid he muſt
not bring any Perfon with him, but muſt come by himself: Ac-
cordingly he and I went out together, and borrowed the Money
of the old Man's Son, and came back and won the Guinea. The
old Man was fo rejoiced at his good Luck, that expecting to
win all the Sailor's Money, he made a Stake for the whole, and
loſt it at the firft Prick. We both went to borrow more, but
when we came back the Sailor and his Companion were gone,
as the Landlord told us, fo we parted. We then went to our firlt
Booth, where I ftaid within, and my Companions that were
out at Work, brought in the Mafter of a Sloop belonging to
Portsmouth, by finding Half a Crown; we laid him the fame
Wager that he did not borrow twenty Guineas in half an Hour;
the Sailor had upwards of one Hundred Guineas in his Pocket;
the Captain went out and borrowed twenty-two Guineas, and
made Stakes for the Whole, and loft: He cried and ftamped very
much; but the Landlord came and turned him and us out of his
Booth, and ſaid we were all a Parcel of Rogues, that we all
came in together, and ſhould all go out together; ſo we all went
out together at one Door, but I and my Companions returned
again at the other, and ftaid and drank very plentifully: We
carried forty-five Pounds out of the Fair.
The Beginning of November, we, the fame four, went to Ap-
plefhaw Fair, to meet B---s and G---g; accordingly we all met
together, and agreed what to do with Medlicott: B---s and G.-g
ſhowed me Medlicott's Penns, and I bought one Hundred and
II Sheep of him, and deſired him to come down to the Iron-Pear-
Tree, where I would pay him for the Sheep: He asked me
what Country I belonged to; B---s and G---s had told me be-
fore to ſay, Brackley in Northamptonſhire, which I did; B..s,
G...g, and my Accomplices, were at the Iron Pear-Tree waiting
for us, and we going into the fame Room, B....s faid, “ How do
you do, Mr. Poulter ?" I answered," at your Service. What, fays
D
66
B...s
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B...s and G...g, here is our old Neighbour Medlicott; have you
bought all, Mr. Poulter? I faid yes, Mr. G...g; but I am in-
debted to you fifteen Guineas: On which I pulled out my Purfe,
paid him the Money and thanked him: He faid, "You are
welcome to all the Sheep I have at any Time: I am forry you
did not deal with me now, but I am glad you have dealt with
our Neighbour. I then went out to give them an Opportunity
of talking; Medlicot afked them where I lived; they told him at
Brackley; that they had dealt with me, for many Hundred
Pounds, and that my Note was worth a thouſand Pounds. When
I came in, one of my Accomplices came & aſked if Mr. Poulter
of Brackley was there; I faid Yes: He faid "If you are the Gen-
tleman, I have a Draft on you for fixty Pounds
: I faid, “ Ve-
ry well, you muſt meet me at Night, and I will anſwer it. He faid,
"Very well" and went his Way. I faid to Medlicott, “ What
doth the Sheep come to ?" He replied, " fixty Pounds and up-
wards "I faid, "I will pay you at Andover Fair: He faid, " you
muft let me have fome Cafh, for I havea great Sum to pay away.
I faid, "How much will do." He replied, Twenty Pounds: I
then faid, "Mr. G---g, can you `lend me fo much ?" He an
ſwered, five Times as much if you want it: " I faid " No; but
twenty." He lent it to me, and I gave him my Note for the
Money; but he had fifteen Guineas of my Money before, when
I owed him not a Farthing, nor never had any Dealings with
him nor B...s, only under a Colour to blind Medlicot. I paid
Medlicott twenty Pounds, and gave him my Note for forty
more, to be paid at Andover Fair: Accordingly we let run the
Sheep, and as B..s and G...g claimed as great a Right to them as
we; we paid them two Parts out of fix. We drove the Sheep
to Penzon, about a Mile from Weyhill, to one Mr. L..'s; and
fent a Man with twenty Pounds for forty Pounds Worth of
Sheep, which we let them have, fo that they two had fo much
as we four: But they faid that they would make it up in the next;
and then they fent to me, and faid Medicott was to be had again
if I would write him a Letter for three or four Score more to
incet me at Luggerfhall; and at the fame Time write a Letter
to G..g, and delire him to carry the Letter to Medlicott, and
fhew him his at the fame Time: I did as they defired, and G..g
went with the faid Letter to Mr. Medlico. G..g afked Mr.
Medlicott if he would fend me the Sheep; he faid "I can't tell.
G..g faid, "I will give you Sixpence a Head for the fixty
Ewes, and fend them to Mr. Poulter myfelf: But Mr. Medlicott
refuſed and faid, "I will fend them to Mr. Poulter, for they are
fit to turn into any Gentleman's Park :" G..g faid, I fhall fend
him fixty, if you are willing. " But all this was done to deceive
Mr. Mediicott, they both having Sheep to come that Way to
Andover Fair, where all the Money was to be paid for the Sheep:
Accord-
7
t
Accordingly I fent John Allen to meet the Sheep Mr. Medli-
cott was to bring to Luggerfhall: Allen paffed for my Man, and
faid I was going to Dorfetfhire for more accordingly he met
Mr. Medlicott with the Sheep: He had a Note from me to Mr.
Medlicott; who delivered the Sheep, on Sight of the Note, to
my Man Allen; and fent me back a Note of Delivery of the
fame, according to my Order. Allen drove the Sheep to me,
where I was waiting on Purpoſe, about a Mile. from Wayhill
We ſtaid there till B---s and G---g came to us, and we fold
them the Sheep which came to thirty-nine Pounds for twenty;
for they ſaid, I ſhould not have had them had it not been for them,
and they ought to have Half; fo they got feventy-nine Pounds.
Worth of Sheep for forty Pounds: And at that Time they ſaid,
"Damn Medlicott, we have not done with him yet, if you are
willing; for he gets Money faſter than we do: If you are willing,
Poulter, you fhall rob him one Night or other; when he has got
a Sum of Money about him, we will ftay him at a Fair or Mar-
ket late, and will come with him, ſo you muſt rob him and us to;
And we will fill our Purfes full of Halfpence on Purpoſe, and ſay
we have loft forty or fifty Pounds: He keeps his Money in his
Boots; for the other Night he was drunk, and I undreſſed him ;
and pulling off his Boots I found upwards of forty Pounds: This
is the Way we may ruin him, if you are willing:" But I would
not agree to thoſe Propoſals at that Time: If I had, I believe it
would have ruined him.
I think fuch People as theſe are wore than myſelf or my Ac-
complices: This is called in the Cant, Maſoning; that is, giving
your Notes for Money, and never defigning to pay it: This De-
fraud was carried on by two of Mr. Medlicott's near Neighbours;
and, as they pretended themſelves, his particular Friends, of the
fame Calling, Sheep Jobbers. T---B--lives at the S--h's Shop,
in the Glouceſter Road between F..e and F...r: A--G--g lives
at S--n in W--e, within three Miles of his Grace the Duke of
Beauford's at Badmington.
I do not think there is one out of ten, of thoſe People called
Horſe Jockeys, but will buy ſtolen Horſes of any Family Man,
tho' at the fame Time they know them to be ſtolen ; and they
will capp to any mafoning Cull for any Horfe or Beaſt of any
Sort, and buy them afterwards.
D 2
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The WAY that Convicts return from Tranſportation, and
the only Way to prevent it.
After they are in any Part of North America, the general Way
Α
is this; juft before they go on hoard a Ship, their Friend or
Accomplices purchaſe their Freedom from the Merchant or
Captain that belongs to the faid Ship, for about ten Pounds
Sterling; fome gives more, and ſome leſs: Then the Friend of
the Convict or Convicts, gets a Nate from the Merchant, or
Captain, that the Perfon is free to go unmolefted when the Ship
arrives between the Capes of Virginia where they pleaſe. But Ţ
never heard of any Convict that came back again in the fame
Ship they went over in; for the Merchant or Captain gives a
Bond to the Sheriff of the County where fuch Convicts go from,
to leave them in America, and they get a Receipt from the Cuf-
tom there; but as there are Ships coming Home every Weck,
if they can pay their Paffage they are refufed in no Ship. Some
Men will work their Paffage back again, and them that cannot
free themſelves, take an Opportunity of running away from their
Maſter, and lay in the Woods by Day, and travel by Night for
Philadelphia, New York, or Bofton; in which Places no Queftions
are afked them. This encourages a great many to commit Rob-
beries more than they would, becauſe they fay they do not mind
Tranſportation, it being but four or five Months Pleaſure, for
they can get their Freedom and come Home again.---I knew one
that never went over, but bribed fome of the Ship's Crew lying
in the Tranſport Hole, Bristol. Her Name was Elizabeth Conner.
I think it was in 1748, fhe was convicted at the faid City for
picking Pockets, and was ordered for Tranfportation, but is now
in England, which I gave an Account of to Mr. Stokes, an At-
torney at Law in Bristol.
To prevent any Convict coming back before their limited Time
is out, is for the Government to lay a Charge or Fine on fuch
Merchant or Captain not to free them before Hand, and for the
Colonies in America to do as they do in the Iſlands in the Weſt-
Indies, that no Perfon or Perfons can go on board any home-
ward bound Ship, without publishing his or her Name on the
publick Croffes fuch a Number of Days before; and for fuch
Perfon or Perfons to bring a Certificate from the Governor, with.
Proof that he or ſhe is not intended, nor a Convict; that would
prevent fuch a Number of Convicts coming back again before
their Time is expired.
A full le
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A full Difcovery of Thieving and Defraud-
ing in all Shapes
FIR
S
T.
To caution all Shopkeepers and Salefmen againſt Shop-
lifters of both Sexes; and the best Way to prevent their
Villanies is as follows:
T
a
HERE fhall be generally three Perfons together, called
in Cant Prigger Lifts, or Files. They fhall go by a Shop
or Standing, to fee if there are any Goods down on the Counter;
if not, one of them fhall go to the Shop or Standing, and call for
Goods of different Sorts to be fhewed him or her, and then comes
in the other two, who take no Notice of the other that went in
before; he or she buys fomething, the Counter being covered
with Goods; one of the two ſhall look over the Goods, while the
other fhall plant a Piece under the reft, not opened, altho' one
or more Perfons be behind the Counter at the fame Time, who
fhall not ſee them by Reaſon they will open a Piece of Stuff and
hold it up between the Owner and their Partner that fits down
with her Petticoats half up ready for the Word nap it; then the
puts
it between her Carriers (that is a Cant Word for Thighs,)
and then gets up and lets her Clothes drop, agreeing and paying
for what they like, and fo walks off, and can walk very well
without putting her Hands to hold it; then going into a Yard
or Entry, their Partner takes it from them: Some in the fame
Manner fecrete Good under their Cloaks, and if fmall Picces,
in their under Petticoats, half tucked up: If it be a Box of Rib-
bons, they will pame a Piece or two in one Hand, while the Shop-
keeper meaſures a Yard or two on the Counter; they have a
Handkerchief on Purpoſe, when taking it up to wipe their Nofe,
they put it with the Ribbons into their Pocket; but you muſt
obferve, if they do not prig any Goods they will not buy any:
But to prevent them, you muft obferve at Fairs and Markets, that
theſe Sort of People call for a great many Sort of Goods, 'till the
Counter is full, on Purpofe, they ſeeming difficult to be pleafed.
All Shopkeepers to prevent this, fhould put by one Sort of Goods
before they take down another.
Files
!
(30)
Files, Pitter Lays, or Leather Lays.
Nama rolls, Jack its like to the Pub or Gap, of run Vile we
Na Fair or Market, where there is a Throng of People, we ſay,
Come Gulls, ſhall us pike to the Pub or Gaff, a rum Vile for the
File or Lift to pitter lay or Leather lay; come let us pike, we ſhall
napp a rum Bit; that is, Come Men, fhall us go to the Throng, or
Fair, a good Town for the Pick-Pockets or Shop-Lifters, to
fteal Portmanteaus or Leather Bags: Come, let us go, we fhall
take a good Bit. Then three or four Perfons go to the Fair
or Market, and put in at the firſt Ken (or Houſe) they come to
in the Vile (or Town) in order to be out of the Puſh or Throng
as ſoon as we have napp'd (or taken) a Bit; then we pike or
glee, if there is a Cull that has a Bit; if fo the Files go be-
fore the Cull, and try his Cly; & if they feel a Bit, cry Gammon;
then two or three of us hold him up, whift fome Prades or
Ratlers come by: If they napp the Bit, they cry pike; then we
go and fiſk the Bit, and ding the empty Bit, for fear it ſhould be
found, and fifk the Blunt, and gee if none is quare; to prevent
à Rapp, it is a Bit of Rige or Wage: Come, let us pike to
glee for Pitter or Leather there is a Cull that has a rum Loag,
gammon Then we joftle him up, and one knocks his
Kelp off, and while he lifts his Hand up, his Loag is napp'd, and
after the Gaff it is chriftened and fenced.
;
To prevent Men's or Women's Pockets being picked, they
muft not carry their Money in a Purfe or Handkerchief, but
keep it loofc in their Pockets: If Women carry their Money
looſe or in a Purſe, they are liable to loſe it; therefore I advife
them to carry their Money in their Boſom, and no Pick-pockets
will attempt to take it.
To fhew how People are defrauded in Fairs and Markets
different Ways as follow;
Firſt, is the great Trade or knowing Art called Filing; that is,
picking Pockets.
Second is, the Lift or Buckteen; that is, Shoplifting.
Third, is the deceiving Art called the Old Nobb; that is, prick-
ing in the Belt.
Fourth, is the Dealers called Mafons; that is, giving your Note
for Money, and never to pay it.
Fifth, is the Dudders; that is, Sellers of Handkerchiefs.
Sixth, is the Gibbers, Horſe Dealers,
Seventh, is the Turners and Pinchers; that is, thofe getting
Change for Money, and keeping ſome.
Eighth, is the ringing Taggs and Seats; that is, changing great
Coats and Saddles.
The
* For the Meaning of thefe Words, fee the Explanation of the Lan-
guage of Thieves at the End.
( 31 )
The Art of OLD NOBB, called pricking in the Belt.
Τ THERE
HERE is generally four Perfons concerned; that is, the Sai-
lor, called a Legg Cull, to pinch the Nobb; the next is the
Capper, who always keeps with the Sailor; & two Pickers up, or
Money Droppers, to bring in Flats. The first Thing they do at
a Gaff, is to look for a Room clear of Company, which the
Sailor and Capper immediately take, while the Money Droppers
go out to look for a Flat; if they fee a Countryman they like,
one drops a Shilling or Half a Crown juſt before him, and pick-
ing it up again, looks the Man in the Face, and fays, I have
found a Piece of Money, did you not fee me pick it up; the
Man fays, Yes: The Sharper ſays, if you had found it, I would
have had half, ſo I will do by you as I would be done unto, and
fays, come and drink; then taking him into the Room where
the other two are, cries by your Leave, Gentlemen, I hope we
don't diſturb you: No, cries the Sailor, no, Brothers: Will
you
drink any Brandy, for I don't like weak Liquor; then the Sai-
lor afks the Capper how far it is to London, who fays, I don't
know, perhaps thofe Gentlemen can tell you, and then directs
his Difcourſe to the Flat; perhaps they will anſwer a hundred
Miles; the Sailor cries, I can ride that in a Day, and fometimes
fays in four or five Hours; for, fays he, my Horfe will run
twenty Knots an Hour for twenty-four Hours together: Capper
ſays, I believe Farmer you have not got fuch a Horſe as this Sailor
has; if the Farmer laughs and cries, no, then the Sailor fays,
I must go and get half a Pint of Brandy, for I am grip'd, and fo
leaves them: The Capper fays, Gentlemen, it is an old Saying
and a true one, Sailors get their Money like Horfes, and Spend it
like Affes; and adds, I never faw him till now, buying a Horſe
of my Man;
he tells me he has been at Sea, and has got above
four hundred Pounds, Prize-money, but I believe he will ſquander
it all away, for he was gaming juft now with two Boys, and loft
forty Shillings at a ftrange Game of pricking in a String : Did
either of you ever fee it, Gentlemen, cries the Capper; if you
two are willing, I will aſk him to fhow it us; for we may as
well win fome of his Money as any Body elfe: The Flat and
the Dropper cries, do; then comes the Sailor ftaring as if drunk,
and cries, what Cheer, Brothers? I've juft icen a pretty Girl
in the Fair, and went in to drink with her, and made a Bar-
gain with her, and gave her a fix and thirty Shilling Piece, but
an old Woman came and called her away, when the went out
and told me ſhe would come to me prefently; then the Capper
laughs, and fays, Have you got your Money of her again? The
Sailor fays, No; but fhe will come to me Then they all laugh.
This
( 32 )
f
}
11
Ja
is done to deceive the Flat: Then faith Capper, wria
done with the Stick and String, Sailor? He anfwers, What, that
which I bought of the Boys; it is in my Pocket, but I will not
fell it to any of you; and then he pulls out the Old Nobb, and faith,
What do you think I gave for it? I gave but 6d. and as much
B-andy
as the two Boys could drink : Capper cries, it is but a
Piece of Lether; It is made out of a Monkey's Hide, as the
Boys told me, fays the Sailor; and they told me there is a Game
to be played with it, which Nobody can do twice together; I
will go down on board Ship, and play with my Captain, and
I do not fear but I fhall will his Ship and Cargo: Then they all
laugh, and the Sailor makes up the Old Nobb, and the Capper
lays a Shilling, and pricks himſelf and wins; the Sailor cries
you are a Dab, I will not lay you any more; but if you will call
any Stanger, I will lay again': Why if you think me a Dab, ås
you call it, I will get this ftrange Gentleman, or this, pointing
(pointing to the Flat) Done, cries the Sailor, but you fhall not
tell him; then he make up the Nobb, and Capper lays a Shil-
ling, Flat pricks, and fays to him, you fhall go Six-pence if you
will; they win, and Capper fays to the Flat, can you lend me Half
a Crown? on Purpoſe to find the Depth of his Pocket; and if
they ſee a good deal of Gold, he muft win three or four Times;
if no Gold, but twice, and fo go and pick up others. Sometimes
the Flat has no Money; then the Sailor cries I have more Mo-
ney than any Man in the Fair; and pulls out his Purfe full of
Gold; and fays, Not one of you can borrow twenty or thirty
Pounds in Half an Hour's Time for a Guinea: Capper cries, I
have laid out all mine; Farmer, can you, I'll go your Halves, if
you think you can do it: The Sailor fays, you muſt not bring
any Body with you; then the Dropper goes with the Flat, and
fays you must not tell your Friend it is for a Wager, if you do
he will not lend it you. Flat goes and borrows it, and brings it
to the Sailor, ſhows it him, and wins the Wager; then the Sai-
lot pitcheth the Nobb again, and the Capper whiſpers to the
Flat to prick out this Time, faying it will make the Sailor the
more eager to lay; we may as well win his Money as not, for
he will ſpend it elſe upon Whores: Flat lofes on Purpofe; then
the Sailor fwears, pulls out his Money, throws it about the Room,
and cries, No Man can win for ever, and then lays a Guinea,
bút will not let him prick, but throws down five Guineas; and
the Capper urging the Flat, and going his Halves, the Sailor
faith my Cabbin Boy will lay as much as that, I'll lay no lefs
than twenty Guineas; the Capper cries, Lay, Farmer, and
take up the Forty: The Money being down, the Capper
cries, is the Nobb flang'd, Sailor? who fays it is flown,
which fignifies cne End is drop't, and puts out the Flat.
When he has loft, the Dropper cries, come near, and the
Sailor
2
1
曼
​( 33 )
Sailor cries, Miffel the Gloke; then the Dropper takes him by
the Arm and has him out of Doors; and the Reekoning being
paid, the Capper and Sailor follow after, and run another Way:
When they are out of Sight, the Dropper faith to the Flat,
Go you back and play with the Sailor for a Shilling, whilſt Í
go and borrow fome Money; but when the Flat goes to the
Houfe, he finds them gone, and then he knows he is bit, but
not till he has dearly paid for it.
The Deceiving Art talled MASONING.
ASONERS are a Set of People that give Paper for Goods
MASO
there are generally three or four of them that go to a Fair or
Market together, where one appears like a Farmer or Grazier,
and the other two as Vouchers: One is to look out for a Farmer
that has any Kind of Beaſts to fell; and if he thinks he is a
likely Fellow to be taken in, the other Perfon is to aſk the
Price of the faid Cattle, where they come from, what Market
Towns the Farmer keeps, and the Houſes and People's Names-
in fuch Towns; when he finds out thefe, he goes and tells the
Mafoner the Story: The Farmer is then brought into the Houfe
where the Mafoner is fitting paying Money for Cattle, as the
Farmer thinks; and the Mafoner's Man tells him what Money
he has offered the Farmer, and they begin to talk about the
loweſt Price: The Mafoner then goes out, that they may have
an Opportunity of telling the Farmer what a topping Dealer
he is, and where he lives (but it muſt be in fome Country
Place,) and that his Note is worth five hundred Pounds: The
Mafoner foon returns, and fays I can't find the Gentleman I have
a Draft upon, and I don't know what to do for Money to pay
for the Goods I have bought To-day; I muft order them to
meet me at fuch a Place, and mentions the Perfons Names
where he knows the Farmer ufes: The Farmer hearing this,
fays, I know them very well; the Mafoner then afks him whether
he comes that Way, and the Farmer telling him he does,
he fays, that's right then; tell me the lowest Price of your
Cattle; I cannot pay you now, but I will pay you the next
Market Day, at the Place as before mentioned; I ſuppoſe that
will not be any Difference to you, Farmer: No, anſwers the
Perſon that brought him in, your Note is worth a thoufand
Pounds; you will give your Promiffory Note for the Money, &
any Dealer in the Fair will take it, paying a ſmall Diſcount, for.
it's as good as the Bank of England. This generally makes the
Agreement, the Note is taken, & the Cattle are drove away, &
fold directly to another Dealer, Toll-free. There are Dealers wait-
ing on. Purpoſe to buy fuch Goods; for they buy them cheap, bé-
cauſe they know them to coft no Money butPaper. The poor Far-
E
mer
(+34)
}
•
mer goes to the Place appointed, thinking to receive his Money,
but to his Grief finds himſelf bit.
DUDDER S.
THEY are a deer being
HEY are a Sett of People that refort to Fairs & Markets, un-
der Pretence of being Smugglers, and felling nothing but
prohibited Goods; at the fame Time they are ordinary Goods
made in England. They walk about the Fair till they ſee a Perſon
fit for their Purpoſe,whom they tell that they can fell very cheap,
and take him into a Houfe or Booth to fhew their Goods, and
defire him to make Hafte, for Fear of the Excifemen; for if he
fhould come they fhould lofe all their Goods: The Ignorant
are by theſe Means deceived, and generally give double the Va-
lue for the Goods they buy. At other Times they will go to a
Farm-Houfe, and tell the Farmer that they have got a Horfe
or two loaded with rich Goods of all Sorts; if he will fecrete
them, they'll make him a very handſome Prefent, and then they
fhew him an Affortment of the Goods, fuch as embroider'd Han-
kerchiefs, Aprons and Ruffles: Perhaps thefe Things will coft
them forty Shillings, and look worth ten or twelve Pounds; and
they will want to borrow three Times their Value on them, un-
der Pretence that their Goods are left at another Place for a
fmall Sum, and never fetch them again; neither have they any
more Goods than what they have with them. They will fome-
times pretend to leave a Bag of Tea, which generally proves to.
be a Bag of Saw-Duft, with a little Tea at the Top, juſt at
the Mouth of the Bag. This is called a Dumb-Lock.
H
GIBBER S.
$
ORSE-DEALERS. There are generally three of them
together at a Fair; their Method is to buy Horfes that
are bucked, or that have the Sniches, Pipers, or Grogs, on Pur-
pofe to deceive ignorant People in changing them. One fhall lead
a Horſe about, and another thall look out for a Mouth † that has a
Horſe to fell or change; then the other Perſon fhall go and afk
the Price of the Gibber's Horfe, and he afks treble the Value of
it before the Mouth's Face, and the Bidder up fhall bid within a
Crown of the Money that the Gibber afks, on Purpoſe to make the
Mouth believe that the Horfe is worth the Money: The Mouth upon
this is eager to change, fometimes giving & fometimes taking Money
into
*A Horle bucked, is one almoft blind; Sniches, is glandered; Pi-
-pers, is broken winded; grogged, is foundered, jacked; is fpavened.
† An ignorant Perfon:
P
}
(35)
*
into the Bargain, when at the fame Time the Mouth's Horfe
is worth three or four of the Gibber's; they fometimes take in
ſeveral in a Day in this Manner.
勇
​TURNER RS and PINCHER S.
TH
of
WO of them go together, one of whom gets as many
Half Crowns as he can, and goes into a Houfe or Booth,&calls
for Liquor, and then aſks the Landlord or Landlady for Change
of Half a Crown, who generally pulls out a Handful of Silver to
give them two-Shillings and Six-pence, and the other Perfon
fays you need not change; then he fecretes a Shilling between
his Finger and Thumb, and turns his Hand upfide down over his
or her's, & by that Means will get feveral Shillings in a Day. If a
Perfon pulls out a Handful of Silver to give them Change for
Half a Crown, they will afk for a Queen Anne's Six-pence to put
´in a Letter; the Perfon being ignorant of their Intent, lets them
look in their Hand or Purfe; and if there is Gold in the fame
they are ſure to loſe it, by his pinching it between the Thumb
and middle Fnger; they then thank them and go their Way,
the People not knowing they have loft any Thing. I therefore
caution People not to give Change in that Manner.
Ringing T U G GS and SEATS.
to
EOPLE in Fairs or Markets in the Summer, are apt to
give their great Coats to the Maids, and put their Names on
it with a Piece of Paper; the Servant cannot remember every
Coat, and the Sharper comes in and writes his Name on his
Coat that is worth but little, and changes his Note to another
Coat; he then goes out, and comes in prefently and calls for
the Coat with fuch a Note on it, and the Servant delivers it
without Difpute, and they fend another to fetch their old Coat.
They often get fix or feven Coats in a Day with that old one.
To prevent this, the Landlord or Servantought to write two Notes
bath in one Hand, and to deliver one to the Owner, and pin
the other on the Coat: And if the Perfon that comes for the
Coat cannot produce the Note as above, let him not have the
Coat without good Proof, and that will prevent many Dilorders.
Changing of Saddles is done by the fame Sort of People; their
Horfe has a Rugg or Horfe Cloth on it for that Purpofe; they
watch an Opportunity of taking off their own Sadlde, and chang-
ing it for a good one, putting it on their own Horfe, and tying
the Cloth over it with a Sirfingle, and then take their Horfe awa
and put him to another Inn.
E 2
MILLIN
1
( 35 )
MILLING of KEN S.
HOUSE-Breaking is
FOUSE-Breaking is always done in the Night: The Perfons
concerned take a View of the Houfe or Shop the Day be-
fore to fee what is to be taken, and where to make an Entrance; it
is gnerally done at Midnight; and if there are any Scouts, that is,
Watchmen, one of the Gang takes him away, under Pretence to
light him Home, or fhew him fome diftant Houfe, and in the
mean Time the Work goes on. If they get Entrance, they have
a dark Lanthorn, and fall to rifling the Houſe, for which Purpoſe
they carry Sacks, and always know where to fell the Goods before
they take them: The World may be ſure if there were no Recei
vers there would be no Thieves, for they are the whole Encouras
gers of Vice. To prevent fuch Robberies, I beg Leave to acquaint
all Shopkeepers and Houfe-keepers, to put the fore Lock of the
Bolt faft with a good Spring, and to have good infide Bolts to
their Doors, or a Chain acrofs them, and a fmall Bell to their
Doors and Windows, and to keep a little Dog that will bark; you
may be aſſured if fuch Things as theſe be done, of not being rab-
bed, becauſe if a Dog barks or Bell rings, they will not attempt
any further.
Ο
The MORNING SNEAK.
go in a
N this Lay there are two together; one wears an Apron,
and the other a great Coat; they go in a Morning juft as
the Maids open the Doors and Windows, and glee into them,
that is, look into them to fee if there's any Wage of any Sort, i. e,
Silver, that may be left in any of the Rooms laft Darkey; that is,
the laſt Night; they wait an Opportunity till the Maid goes
to make the Tinny, that is, the Fire; when they go in and fifk
all the Rooms for Silver or Tuggs, that is, Clothes or any Thing
that lies in the Way, and puts it in his Apron; and if they find
a Beaufet they take all, and pike directly into the firft Rattler,
that is, into the firft Coach, and fo to their Fence or Lock, and
napps the Blunt; that is, to the Receiver, and takes the Money
for it.
Houſekeepers ought to take Care of their Plate before they
go to Bed, then they will be fure not to lose it, and to keep all
their lower Rooms locked.
T
THE NIGHT SNEAK.
HAT is, three or more Perfons go together when 'tis
dark, fearching of Gentlemen's Houfes, and try the Glafs
if it will jump; that is, the Windows if they will lift up, or if the
Seget is dubbed, that is, the Door locked or bolted; and if they can
get
}
( 37 )
get in Doors, they pike up the Prancers, that is, go up Stairs,
and fifk the Lumbers, that is, fearch the Rooms whilft the Peo-
ple are at Supper in the next Room; two or three ftanding at
the Door for fear of a Grab, that is, for Fear of being taken; and
if ſo, the others will refcue him.
To prevent this, Houſekeepers ought to have ſpring Locks to
their Doors, and no Latch; and if their Windows are fafhed, to
have at the lower End of the faid Window a Spring Ketcher, that
will fnap into the Frame, and fo on the fecond Floor Windows,
which are often got into by the Help of a Jacob; that is, a Lad-
der.
I have known a Sneakfman in the Morning, fetch down Stairs
a Bed tied up in a Blanket, and meet the Mafter at the Door
who faid what have you got there? One of your Beds, Sir, replied
the other, that Madam has fent to the Upholsterer.
A
KIDE-LYE, that is done in Cities and great Towns.
T Night two or three Sharpers go together from one End
of the Town to the other, to meet with fome Prey; one
goes on one Side of the Street, the other on the other; and if they
meet a Man or Maid Servant with a Portmanteau, Box or Bun-
dle, they follow them until they reft it; then one of them goes
to him or her, and fays I will give you a Shilling to carry this
Letter to that Houſe, becauſe I do not care to go myſelf, but
don't ſtay; and in the mean Time they pike with the Booty:
But if they do not reft on the Way, one of the Sharpers will go
up to them, and aſk them where they are going, which ignorant
People will tell, and which the Sharper makes a Memorandum
of as he walks, and then goes and tells his Partner of the fame;
accordingly he goes forward to the faid Houfe, being well dreffed
as they always are; and one fays to the other, Nap my kelp whilft
I ftall at the Jegger to nap the Slangs from the Cull or Moll;
that is, take my Hat whilft I ftop at the Door to take the Things
from the Man or Woman; and juft before he or ſhe comes to the
Door, the Sharper comes out at the Door, if opened; if not he
comes from the Door without a Hat, and cries, What made you
ſtay ſo long? and ſo takes the Things of him or her, and bids
fo
the Perfon go over the Way to that Houſe or Tavern, for fome
Beer or a Bottle of Wine, and fays bring Change for a Guinea,
or elſe I cannot pay you: While the Perfon is gone over, the
Things are bruſhed, that is, gone, to the great Surprize of the
Bearer thereof. If they light of a Countryman or Woman with
the Bundle, aſking the Way, they will go along with them, pre-
tending to fhew them, and carry their Bundle or Box for them;
and whilft one takes the Perfon forward, tae other gives them
the Drop down fome Yard or Alley, they knowing where to meet
again
( 38 )
again with the Booty: In the mean Time while the poor ig-
norant Man or Woman is almoft bereaved of their Senfes.
TH
The PETTER LAY S.
HESE Perfons go three or four Miles out of Town to meet
the Rattlers, that is, Coaches, to fee if there is not a Petter
behind, that is, Portmanteau, or Box; if fo, they will at a pro-
perPlace cut it off: And if it is in the Boot, they will follow the
Coach to the Inn or Houſe: One is dreffed like a Porter, & comes
to help to unload the Coach, whilft the other ftands a little Way
off, to help away with it. It is generally dark in the Winter by
Six o'clock, and that is the only Time for this Buſineſs: They
are the fame Sharpers at this Lay as at the others.
H
The bold Adventure called the S CAMP.
TIGHWAYMEN are generally Perfons that have
been educated in Gaming, and have lived well, and kept
lewd Women Company; and as they live to that Degree, that
they cannot fupport their own Extravagancies, and Fortune at
Gaming running crofs againft them, they think on this laft Shift.
and take to the Road; and after a fhort Time, if fucceſsful in
Bufinefs, they dreſs out fora Gentleman, and get acquainted with
the flaving Glokes of the Inus on the Panny, that is, the Oftlers
on the Road, and fome Landlords to give the Intelligence; which
they very commonly do, by hearing Gentlemen talk that put up
at their Inns. Gentlemen Travellers are apt to call for the
Landlord to fup with them; and then after Supper afking what
News concerning the Roadfmen, and perhaps telling what Mo-
ncy they have, and where they put it and their Notes, and the
Road they are going, and where they lie the next Night, and fo
on, and if they do not tell the Oftler, he will have the Affurance
to aſk them: And when Mr. Scamp comes he calls for a Bottle or
Bowl directly before he afks what News; then if Time permits,
the Landlord repeats it over and over; whereby he hears all the
New of the Day, and which Way is beft to go for Prey, and al-
leaves fomething handfome for the Servants.
wiks
you
For thefe Reaſons many Gentlemen are purfued on the Road,
but fome are met with by Chance. Highwaymen generally crofs
before they falute. But I advise all Gentlemen Travellers not
to divulge what Substance they have with them to any Landlord
or the Gitlers, eſpecially within forty Miles of London; for if
they do, they very oft n truft an Accomplice of the Scamps, and
who very often turn out themſelves againſt Quarter Day, or
Christmas efpecially, or they could not live at the Rate they do,
and
1
1
( 39 )
and hold their Heads fo high. I and my Accomplices have
helped to ſupport a great many of them; and about London efpe-
cially, they are half maintained by Scamps, Prigs, and Files:
But (not to condemn every one, GOD forbid) there are a great
many Shopkeepers in London who cannot pay their Bills, 'till
they have kept Christmas in the Country for a few Days.
HORSE
PRAD PRIGGERS.
WORSE-Stealers. They go together always the Day before
to look over the Grounds for a good Prad or Prads, then at
Darkey, they bufs them out of the Ground, that is, at Night they
fteal the Horfes, then pike thirty or forty Straches that Darkey,
that is, go thirty or forty Miles that Night, towards the next
Gaff to fence them, that is, to the next Fair to fell them; and
when they come there, they fell them to a coaping Cull, that is,
a Horſe Jockey they know, or a Flat. Firft they fell the Horfes
one to another, and get them book'd with their Marks and Ages,
and fome fictious Names and Places, to prevent Accidents; and
to prove that they bought them, they get a Voucher of their own
Acquaintance to vouch for them, and then they are not afraid
to travel with them, becauſe they can prove that they bought
them. There is not one Horfe Jockey out of ten, but will buy
a ftolen Horſe, of any Prad Prigger that they know, if he comes
but forty Straches off, if they know the fame to be ſtolen; and
I think the Receiver as bad as the Thief of all Kinds; for if there
were no Receivers, there would be no Thieves.
SK
SKY-FARMERS
KY Farmers, are People that go about the Country with a
falfe Pafs, figned by the Church-Wardens and Overfeers of
the Pariſh or Place that they lived in, and fome Juftice of Peace,
but the Names are all forged: They go about forty Miles from
that Place to fome eafy Juftice, and get him to fign it, and fo on
to the next, until they have a great Number of Names to their
Brief; and in this Manner they extort Money, under, Pretence
of fuftaining Lofs by Fire, or the Distemper amongst the horned
Cattle; they always appear like Gentlemen Farmers, and have
a Voucher with them. They may be detected by ftrictly exa-
mining them, and keeping them in Cuftody till a Letter is fent
to the Place firft-mentioned in their Brief.
FAWS
}
( 40 ).
FAWS, or GIPSEYS.
IPSEYS are a People that talk Romney, that is, a Cant that
no Body underftands but themſelves; they always travel in
Bodies, Men, Women and Children, with Horfes and Affes, and
never lie in Beds, but in Barns or Hedges, pretending them-
felves to be true. Egyptians, and deceiving ignorant People by
pretending to tell their Fortunes, and are often fent for by Per-
fons of Fafhion. When they are applied to, they pretend they
muft confult with their Books first, and take that Opportunity
to enquire into the Family, that they may be able to give an
Account about what is afked them; and in this Manner they
deceive the World. They are great Priggers of Caunes and Buck-
et-Chats, that is, Sheep and Fowl; and the Way they fteal Sheep
is this, They go in the Night to fome Ground or Sheep-Fold,
and catch a Sheep and break its Neck, and then leave it there
till Morning; when the Shepherd or Owner comes in the Morn-
ing and ſkins it, then the Gipfies beg the Fleth for their Dogs,
when at the fame Time they intend it for their own eating
They are great Priggers of Lulley; that is, Linen, and ought to
be taken up and fent Home as Vagrants.
BEG
GAGGERS.
ge-
EGGARS: They are a very deceitful Set of People in
geral, that deferve a Prifon more than Relief: Some of them
go in a Sailor's Dreſs, pretending they were Galley Slaves, and
that their Tongues were cut out by the TURKS, and their Arms
were burnt in the Row Galleys. To deceive the World, they cut
the Strings of their Tongues, and fwallow it down their Throat,
that none can perceive it, and make their Arms raw by perpe-
tual. Blifters; but if they were taken to the whipping Poft, the
Dumb would ſpeak, and thofe that walk with Crutches would
fhift without them. Thefe Impoftors are a great Nuifance to
the Country, and a Hurt to thofe that are real Objects of Cha-
rity.
CHANTERS, THAT IS, Ballad Singers, will not ſtick
to commit any Roguery that lies in their Way.
BANDEEN'S are Women that fell Laces, Garters, and Rib-
bons.
A
TWUR LE R S.
REa Sort of People that refort to Fairs and Markets with a
round Board divided in eight Quarters, and an Iron ftanding-
in the Middle, that turns round like the Hand of a Clock, which
they play with for Money, and is a great Encourager of young
People
:
1
41:)
People to Vice, who often rob their Parents and Mafters for
Money to play with at this Game.
THE
TATTOGE Y S.
"HEY are People that keep a Money Cloth to play with
Dice; the Chance is very unfair; for fome are loaded
high and fome low, fo that the Chance is ten to one against
you; the Money Chances being all high and low, and the Dice
being thus loaded always run blank, for the Numbers that are
blank is between high and low, which is a great Defraud.
Puttin
Ringing of N E D´S or SIX E S.
Ütting off bad Guineas and Thirty-fix Shilling Pieces: They
give five Shillings for their Guineas, and ten Shillings and
Six-pence for their Thirty-fix Shilling Pieces, and they are
made at the Start, that is, London, by two particular People:
The Sharper being thus furniſhed, goes to a Fair, and when a
Flat receives Money for his Cattle, he is apt to afk the firſt he
meets, if that Money is good; then the Sharper has a quare Ned ·
or Six ready to change, fo keeps the good, and gives the bad one
to the Flat.
Another Way they have got, they will go to a Publick Houfe
and call for Liquor; then they afk Change for a Ned or Six ;
if a Six, they will fay, give me a Guinea, and the reſt in Silver;
and they will give the Landlord or Landlady a good Piece of
Gold till the Change is ready, and then fay I can do without it;
fo takes up the Piece of Gold again and rings it, that is, changes
it for a bad one, and then fay, I thought I could do without it,
but cannot, fo gives them the quare Ned, or Six; and ignorant
People think it is the fame they had firft, and fo give them the
Change. By this Means People are deceived. The Money is
made with Silver double wafhed with Gold.
LONDON BILLS.
my Knowledge there have been Merchants in London,
(when knowing themſelves on the failing Hand) who would
get acquainted with Gamblers and Sharpers, and give to one
five hundred Pounds in Bills, and to another Bills of a thou-
fand, three Months after Date, when at that Time their Notes
are good. The Sharpers' go into the Country to fome Fair or
other, and there dealing for Beafts or any other Goods, pay one
half, and give a London Bill for the other: The Bill is fent to
F
Londen,
(42)
་
London, and the Merchant accepts it; but when the Time of
Payment draws nigh, neither the Drawer nor the Indorfer are
to be found.
An Explanation of the Language of THIEVES, commonly
called CAN T.
PRIGS
RIGS, Files, or Lifts; Thieves, Pick-pockets and Shop-lifters.
To plant; to fecrete. An under Tugg; an under Petticoat.
Nap it; take it. Between her Carriers; between her Thighs. A
Rider; a Cloak. A Lobb full of Glibbs; a Box full of Ribbons.
Palm a Piece; hand a Piece. In your Wipe; in your Handker-
chief. Snitch; Nofe. A rum Beak; a good fuftice. A quare
Beak; a bad Justice. A fcribing Gloak to the Beak; a Clerk to
the Justice. A Hornet, a Scout; a Conftable, a Watchman. A
quad Cull and a dubb Cull; a Gaoler and a Turnkey. A Raſpin
and a craping Cull; à Bridewell and a Hangman. Let us pike
to the Gaff, let us go to the Fair. Will you gammon me ; will
you help me. What Ridge or Lay do you go on in this Gaff or
Vile; what Bufinefs do you go on in this Fair or Town. I'm for the
old Nobb; pricking in the Belt. I'm a Mafoner; buy Goods for
Paper. I'm a Sneak for Chinks or Feeders; I'm a Thief for Tan-
kards or Spoons. I'll rig my Tugg; I'll change my Great Coat.
Prig the Diggers, they are wage; fteal the Spurs, they are Silver.
Petter, in Cant, ftands for a great many Things, as hold your
Tongue, let. it alone, or fland fill, or the like. Nix in whideling;
don't fpeak. Tip us your Fam; give us your Hand. Are you
rum or feedy; are you fout or poor. I am a coaping Cull; I
am a Horfe Jockey. I fence Swaggs; I fell Goods. I am paffing
quare Blunt; putting off bad Money. I turn and pinch Slats and
half Slats; afk Change for Crowns and Half Crowns. I am a
Locker, and Budder, and Fencer of Slop; I leave Goods at a
Houfe, and borrow Money on them, pretending they are Run Goods,
Goods made in London, and fell Tea. I chant, I gagg; I fing Bal-
lads, I beg. I am a Crowder; I am a Fidler. I ftrum and patter;
I play on the Duifimore and fing. A Tattogey; a Dice Cloth. I'll
fcamp on the Panney: I'll go on the Highway. I'll fence you at
Prad; I'll fell you a Horfe. Tip me my Pops; give me my Pif-
tots. Glee the Ratler; fee the Coach. I am grab'd; I am taken.
Mill the Cull to his long Libby kill the Man dead. Mill the rat-
ling Cloke; kill the Cochman. The Cull johns me; the Man
knows me. Pikeing to Beak; going to fuftice. Pikeing to Quod;
going to Gaol. Tip me rum Darbies; give me good Irons. The
Buftrap johns me; the Thief-catcher knows me. I've received my
Fatter; Iv'e had my Tryal. I am down for my Scragg; I am to
be hang'd. I am to be legg'd; I am to be transported. I am glim'd
in the Fam; I am burnt in the Hand. I napt the Flog at the
Tumbler;
I was whipt at the Cart's Tail. Mill the Quod; break
+
4
( 43 )
the Gaol. Mill the Keen or Swagg; break the House or Shop. Un-
dub the Jeger, and jump the Glaze; open the Door, or lift up the
Window. Pike up the Prancers, and glee in the Lumber; ga up
Stairs, and look in the Room. The Cull is at Snoos; the Man is
afleep. Nap his Tuggs and Kixes; take his Clothes and Breeches.
Nap the tote, take them all. Fish his Cly for his Bit; fearch his
Pocket for his Purfe. A Bit of Rige or Wage; a Purfe of Gold or
Silver. Loag or Trick; a Watch. A dark Glim; a dark Lan-
thorn. Chant his Tuggs; count his Clothes. Calp, Noll, and
Smith, Hat, Wig, and Shirt. A Wipe or Clout; a Handkerchief.
Upper Shell and under Shell; Coat and Waistcoat. Stomps and
Stop Drawers; Shoes and Stockings. A Mejoge or Hogg; a Shil-
ling. A griff Metoll, or Buxom; a Six-pence. A Winn; a Penny.
A Meag and Jack; a Halfpenny and Farthing. A Reader; a Book.
A Tail and Bleedar; a Sword and Hanger. Bucketchats and
Dunneys; Sheep and Bullocks. A Buffer and Grunter'; a Dog
and Hog. A Jacob and Firb; a Ladder and Stick. A Flogger;
a Whip. Ogles; Eyes. Kid and Kinchin; Boy and Girl. The.
Frow is Kid; the Whore is with Child. Nix in maſoning; don't
traft, don't cheat. Tip me my Snack; give me my Share. Our
Fence is grab'd; our Receiver is taken. He is turned a Puff; he is
turned an Evidence. Pike to the Start; go to London. We are all
in the Chant; we are all in the News. Pike to the Spell; go to the
Play. "Tis a rum, Darky, and Oliver fhows; 'tis à good Night,
and the Moon fhines. Doufs the Glims; put out the Candles. Mill
his Nobb; break his Head. I'll adam that Moll; I'll marry that
Woman. Chive his Muns; cut his Face Stall on the Mount;
Stop on the Bridge. My Homoney is in Quod; my Wife is in Gaol.
Pike to the Ruffen; go to the Devil. Wid rumley; fpeak well.
Tip me your Chive; give me your Knife. Tip us rum Suck; give
us good Beer. Tip us a Driman; give us a Dram. He kaps quare;
he fwares falfe. Tip him a Nedd; give him a Guinea. He falls in
the Stoop; he stands in the Pillory. In the Cloginents; in the Stocks
He ftags my Muns; he knows my Face. I am feedy; I am poor. The
Cull is chattey; the Man is loufey. Pike a Cauney prigging; go a
Fowl-ftealing. A hing'd Dubb; a button'd-up Pocket.
*
It being neceffary that fom: Account fhould be given of Mr.
POULTER'S Birth, (which was omitted in the former. Part of this
Book,) we have thought proper to infert it here, as it was written by
Himfelf.
I
Was born at Newmarket, in Cambridgeshire, the noted Town
for Horfe Races, in the Year 1715, and in the Year 1728, I
went to live with his Grace the Duke of Somerset, in th. Run-
ing Stables, which Place I ftayed in till the Year 1734, and then
went to live with Lord James Cavendish until 1737, and then to
F 2
Colonel
t
(44)
Colonel John Lumley, the Earl of Scarborough's Brother, until 1739,.
and have been in France three Times with Horfes and Hounds;
once to his Grace the Duke of Kingſton, another Time to King
Stainflaus near Stankelne, and once with Captain Rutter. I after-
wards went to Bristol, which Place I have failed out of feveral
Voyages to Africa, and to all Parts of America, and one Voyage
out of Weymouth in a Ship commanded by Captain Tivitoe, and
another Voyage, from London to Jamaica.
A LIST of Perſons informed against by John Poulter, alias Baxter,
before Francis Drew, Efq; and others of his Majesty's Justices of
the Peace at the City of Exon; and before John Halliday, Efq; John
Tripp, Efq; Mayor, and Benjamin Hall, Efq; all of Taunton.
JOHN Brown, alias. Dawfon; John Allen, alias Robert Jones,
alias Robert Graham; Thomas Tobin, Chriftopher Fether-
ftone, Sarah Cagan, John Huṛft, William Elger, Charles Handy,.
Thomas Walker, Elizabeth Ford, Mary Gea, John Small, John
Dean, William Trinder, and Hannah Trinder, John Bifhop,
Thomas Burk, Thomas Brooks, and Abraham Garing. Theſe are
not taken.
James Ramfcroft, in Weftchefter. Gaol; Edward Lines and
Margaret Lines, in Stafford Gaol; John Ford, in Shepton Mal-
let, bailed out; Stephen Gea in Salisbury Gaol, bailed out; Ro-
bert Lyte, in Wincheſter Gaol, bailed out; Jofeph Shotten in
Worceſter Gaol; William Nipps, in. Gloucefter Gaol; Mary
Brown and Frances Allen, in Ivelchefter Gaol; John Roberts,
in Shepton Mallet, dead; John Allen, of Divizes, bailed out.
A LIST of Perfons returned from Transportation, now in England
before the Expiration of their Time.
M
Ary Dawſon alias Brown, from Lincoln, in the Year 1746,
for picking Pockets: Margaret Brown, alias Wilfon,
alias Long Peg, from Lincoln in the Year 1750, for picking
Pockets; Rofey Brown from Lincoln, for ditto, in 1751; fhe
took Shipping from London, and has got a Child at Nurſe
at Bath-Ford, and two at the Bell Inn near Broomfgrove.
*Eleanor Conner, alias Tobin, tranfported from Briſtol 1748,
for picking Pockets; Eleanor Wilfon, alias Sparrow, from
Litchfield, in the Year 1750, for Shoplifting; William Evean
alias Sparrow, and Robert Jones, alias John Allen, from War-
wick, in the Year 1750, on Sufpicion of robbing on the High-
way; John Brown, tranſported in the Year, 1743 fourteen Years
for Houſe-breaking James White, from York, tranfported in
the Year 1742 for picking of Pockets. William Evean, alias
Sparrow, made his Efcape from Ivelchefter Gaol the latter End
of Nov. 1752.
* She was forcibly rescued out of Liverpool Gaol the 15th of November 1753,
and fince retaken and committed to Newgate in London.
I
An
(45)
An ACCOUNT of the Behaviour of JOHN POULTER, alias
BAXTER, during his Confinement under his Condemna-
tion; the Examinations he went through, the Motives,
that made him attempt an Eſcape; and the probable,
tho' ſecret Reaſons, of his being at laſt executed; with
his Behaviour at the Place of Execution.
HIS unfortunate Man, after having made very important
Difcoveries of great Ufe to the Publick, and for much leſs
than which many a Man has not only received Pardon for ca-
pital Offences, but even Rewards, had the Fate, by a Series of
unlucky Circumftances and Incidents, to be brought to fuffer,
after having entertained the moft flattering and affured Hopes
to the contrary. When he first made his Informations againſt his
Accomplices, which was foon after he was taken up at Exeter
for robbing Dr. Hancock of Salisbury, he defired that they might
be kept very ſecret; and particularly he gave a Charge to the
Officer who was ſent to Bath to apprehend his Accomplices,
not to divulge his Errand at his Arrival to any one Perfon there
except the Mayor; becauſe there were ſeveral Perſons there who
lived in good Credit in the Eye of the World, who yet had In-
telligence with his Gang: But notwithstanding this ftrict
Charge, fo much Imprudence was committed, that it was univer-
fally known all over Bath upon what Errand the Officer was come
within an Hour after his Arrival; and the very next Morning
even the Names of all the Perfons, as well those who harbour-
ed in Bath as in other Places, whom Poulter had informed againſt,
was printed and publickly fold. This Affair being managed fo
imprudently (not to ſay worſe of it) his Accomplices had No-
tice of it every where, and confequently Time to efcape, which
they took Çare, efpecially the principal ones, to make Ufe of.
Dr. H---k hearing of the Informations Poulter had made,
and having received back forme of the Things he had been robbed
of, gave him fome Hopes that he would be very favourable to him
in the Profecution; however, when the Day of Trial came, the
Docter acted againſt him with the greateſt Înveteracy, and ufed
all his Intereft to prevent the Judge from granting him any Re-
fpite from Execution; however, one for fix Weeks was grant-
ed him, and he was ordered back to Ivelcheſter Gol. Here he
behaved.
ነ
( 46 ).
behaved very foberly and ſeriouſly; and as the Corporations of
Brift, Bath, Exeter, and Taunton, befides many private Gen-
tiemen, intereſted themſelves greatly in his Favour; and as the
Diſcoveries he had made to feveral of his Majefty's Juftices,
and particularly what he had wrote and publiſhed in this Book,
were thought to be of very great Importance to the Public, and
farther Refpites from Time to Time were given him, not only
himſelf, but every one elfe, imagined that a free Pardon would
at laft be granted, or at leaft, that his Life would be faved. A
very eminent Attorney at Sherborne in Dorfetfhire, by Order'
from above, went over to Ivelchefter feveral Times to examine
him, to whom he declared the fame he had publiſhed in this Book,
without any material Difference or Addition, except only the
Mention of one Perfon, who now lives in good Credit, and, tho
not concerned, knew of the Proceedings of himſelf and Gang,
and could bear Evidence to corroborate all he had declared; but
he defired very earneftly that the Name of this Perfon might
never be mentioned, except it was neceflary to call upon him.
to corroborate his Evidence in a Court of Juftice. But during
this Time he had the Misfortune to have the Ill-Will of the
Gaol Keeper, who treated him with great Severity, and even
feeming unneceffary Cruelty; for tho' he was in a very ill State
of Health, yet he would not let him have, in the fevereft cold'
Weather, any Thing to lie on but Straw, tho' he offered to pay
more than the accuftomed Fees for a Bed. Several Gentlemen
of the County, who thought that the Life of a Perfon, which
was prolonged for the Good of the Publick, fhould not be deſtroy-
ed by Severity of Ufage, wrote to the Gaol Keeper in his Favour,
to allowhim a Bed, but no Regard was paid to their Remonftran-
ccs, till the Sheriff of the County fent a poffitive Order that a
Bed fhould be allowed him. Whether thefe unhappy Differen-
ces with the Gaoler, might not occafion Repreſentations little in
his Favour, to be made to the M--mb---r of the Town, who has
great Influence at Court, is very doustful; however this was,
when every one expected a Pardon for him, it was given out
that he would certainly fuffer on the firſt of March; and Poul-
TER declared in a Letter he wrote to a Gentleman, a little while
before his Death, that the Gaol-Keeper was conftantly found-
ing in his Ears that he would certainly be executed on the firit
of March: This being repeated fo often, firft tempted him to
try to make his Efcape, as from the Gaoler's Reprefentations he
thought, that notwithitanding all the Difcoveries, he had made,
and the great Hopes he had received, he fhould at laft fuffer; ac-
cordingly on Sunday the 17th of February, obferving a fit Op-
portuny, he made his Efcape from the Gaol, in Company with
a Delter, by forcing an Iron Bar out of a Window,
He
!
L
}
1
( 47 ).
}
He was obliged to travel as far at Glastonbury on Foot, with
one of his Irons on, but there found Means to get it off, but his
Legs were fo galled by them, and he was in fo weak a Condi
tion, that he found he was not able to travel with any Manner
of Expedition; however, they travelled forwards on Monday
Night, (having concealed themſelves the greateſt Part of the
Day in a Hay Rick) intending to have fteered their Way to Pill,
and fo have got a Paffage over into Wales; but not knowing the
Country well, about eight o'Clock on Tueſday Morning, they
came into the Parish of Wookey near Wells, thinking they had
been got near Axbridge; Poulter being quite fatigued to Death,
they went into a little Publick-Houfe there, where he went to
Bed, and lay till about Two o'Clock in the Afternoon, then got
up. While they were propofing to fet out again, à Mafon who
was employed on a Building near by, went in for a Mug of
Drink, and knowing Poulter, he immediately went out, and cal-
ling ſeveral of his fellow Workmen, they took him without any
Refiftance, and he was again carried back to Ivelchefter Gaol
on Wedneſday.
As foon as he was brought, a Petition was drawn up by the
Gaoler and fome other Inhabitants of the Town of Ivelchefter,
and fent by an Expreís to their Member, defiring him to uſe
his utmoft Intereft that Poulter might be ordered for immediate
Execution, tho' according to his late Reprieve he had then only
nine Days to live. Accordingly by the Intereft that was made,
an Exprefs was fent on Purpofe from London to Iuclchefter, to or-
der his Execution within twenty four Hours after his Arrival
at Ivelchefter. Thus Refentment, Prejudice, Iutereft, and other
unlucky Cauſes, perhaps contributed to fhorten the Life of a Man,
the Prefervation of whom would in all Probability have been for
the Welfare of the Publick; for it is agreed on all Hands, that
he was fincere in his Difcoveries, that he would ftrenuouſly have
endeavoured to have taken his Accomplices, and that whilft he
was living, his Gang would never have dared to have ftaid in
England, becauſe as he well knew their Haunts, &c. it would
be impoffible for them to have abided any Time here without be-
ing taken.
Poulter received the News of his fpeedy Execution with Sur-
prize, as it was quite unexpected, and fo ihort a Warning, yet he
declared he fhould be very willing to die, provided he could first
fee his Wife; upon which a Meffenger was immediately difpatch-
ed for her to Bath.
After the Receipt of the Dead Warrant, he spent the Day in
fervent Prayer, receiving the Sacrament, &c. and being folemnly
queſtioned about his Book of DISCOVERIES, he declared there
was not a Word in it but what was Truth; and being afked about
the Report that was fpread, concerning the Gaol Keeper's having
received
(48).
received a Sum of Money to favour his Eſcape, he declared, that
it was abfolutely falfe, and that neither of the Keepers were privy
to it. He expreffed very firm Hopes of receiving Pardon from
GOD, as though his Crimes were many, yet he had never been
guilty of Murder, or injured the Perfon of any one.
When he came to the Place of Place of Execution, he behaved
very penitently, but with a decent Refolution. He stood up
in the Cart, and declared three Times aloud, that the Report of
the Goal Keeper's having been privy to his Eſcape, was falſe,
and without any Foundation. Hearing that F...d of Bath
was among the Spectators, he called out for him to come to him,
and then told him that every Thing he had related of him in his
Book 2hr
Plate
cation.
being privy to their Robberies, and melting down
was true: F...d denying this with bitter Impre-
affirmed, that as he was going to appear before
and hoped to receive Mercy from him, what he
He then defired the Spectators to take Warn-
ing by his fad End, and to avoid ill Company, acknowledging
he deferved to die, but moft of his Accomplices much more fe.
kis gre
had fai
**
:
FINIS.
;
W