THE NEWGATE CALENDAR

Edited by Donal Ó Danachair

Volume 1

Published by the Ex-classics Project, 2009 

http://www.exclassics.com 

Public Domain

The anxious Mother with a Parents Care,  

Presents our Labours to her future Heir  

"The Wise, the Brave, the temperate and the Just,  

Who love their neighbour, and in God who trust  

Safe through the Dang'rous paths of Life may Steer,  

Nor dread those Evils we exhibit Here".

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION TO THE EX-CLASSICS EDITION 10 

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 11 

PREFACE To the 1780 Edition 15 

PREFACE To Knapp and Baldwin's edition 17 

THOMAS DUN Head of a Gang of Outlaws, on Account of whom King Henry I. is  

credibly supposed to have built Dunstable. Executed Piecemeal. 20 

SIR GOSSELIN DENVILLE Head of a Gang of Robbers who had the audacity, so it  

is said, to hold up King Edward II. 24 

ALICE ARDEN of FEVERSHAM Executed with her lover Mosbie and Others in the  

Year 1551 for the Murder of her Husband 27 

LORD STOURTON AND FOUR OF HIS SERVANTS Executed 6th of March, 1556,  

for the Murder Of William Hartgill, Esq., and his Son John, of Kilmington, Somerset,  

after an implacable Persecution 34 

THOMAS WYNNE Housebreaker and Palacebreaker, whom Conscience made  

confess a Murder twenty years afterwards. Executed in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth 

37 

ALISTER MACGREGOR Who, for slaughtering the Laird of Luss's Friends, caused  

the Name of Macgregor to be abolished. Executed in 1604 40 

ROBERT CREIGHTON, BARON OF SANQUIRE Executed in 1612 for the Murder  

of John Turner, who had accidentally put out one of his Eyes 41 

SAWNEY BEAN An incredible Monster who, with his Wife, lived by Murder and  

Cannibalism in a Cave. Executed at Leith with his whole Family in the Reign of  

James the First 42 

THOMAS WITHERINGTON, JONATHAN WOODWARD AND JAMES  

PHILPOT Who, in the Reign of King James I. were the first to hear the Exhortation of  

the Bellman of St Sepulchre's 46 

ARTHUR NORCOTT AND MARY NORCOTT, HIS MOTHER Executed in 1629  

for the Murder of the former's Wife after the Test of touching the Body 49 

WALTER TRACEY To whom is attributed a poetic Encounter with Ben Jonson.  

Executed in 1634 after a Robbery on the Duke of Buckingham 52 

SAWNEY CUNNINGHAM An abandoned Villain who inveigled and murdered his  

Wife's Lover, murdered his Uncle, terrorised the Country-side, and was executed at  

Leith, 12th of April,1635 55 

ISAAC ATKINSON A Highwayman who specialised in robbing Lawyers. Hanged at  

Tyburn in 1640 67 

WILLAM BRANDON ALIAS JACK KETCH Who beheaded King Charles the First. 

71 

PATRICK FLEMMING An Irish Highwayman who held Sway near the Bog of Allen  

and, after numerous Murders, was executed on 24th of April, 1650 73 

CAPTAIN ZACHARY HOWARD A Royalist who lost his Estates and turned  

Highwayman. Executed 1652. 76 

CAPTAIN JAMES HIND A Famous Highwayman who robbed Roundheads and even  

made an Attempt on Cromwell. Executed 24th of September, 1652 81 

CAPTAIN PHILIP STAFFORD Whose Patrimony being sequestered by the  

Roundheads took to the Highway and was hanged at Reading 89 

MAJOR GEORGE STRANGWAYES Executed 28th of February, 1658, for the  

Murder of the Man who married his Sister 97 

GILDER-ROY A most barbarous Murderer of his Mother and Sister, who led a  

bloodthirsty Gang of Outlaws in Scotland and hanged a Judge. Executed in April,  

1658 102 

THOMAS GRAY Nephew to the Exeter Hangman, who turned Thief and  

Highwayman, and ended by marrying an Heiress. His Autobiography written about  

1660 106 

JOHN, RICHARD AND JOAN PERRY Mother and Sons, executed in 1661 on the  

false Statement of the First for the alleged Murder of Mr William Harrison, who  

appeared alive two Years later after strange Adventures. 117 

COLONEL JAMES TURNER A Spendthrift London Merchant, against whom three  

Robberies from other Merchants were proved. Executed 21st of January, 1663 122 

MOSES DRAYNE Ostler, hanged at Brentwood in 1667 for the Murder (by a  

Chelmsford Innkeeper and his Family some Years before) of Thomas Kidderminster, a  

Guest. 124 

MARY FRITH OTHERWISE MOLL CUTPURSE A famous Master-Thief and an  

Ugly, who dressed like a Man, and died in 1663. 129 

SAWNY DOUGLAS A Scottish Highwayman who laid England under toll, and took  

a Copy of "Chevy Chase" to Tyburn when he was hanged on 10th of September, 1664. 

135 

JAMES BATSON A Rogue who became a pretty Soldier and saw much of Europe,  

finally dying by the Rope at home in 1666 137 

THOMAS SAVAGE A Profligate Apprentice who murdered a Fellow-Servant, was  

executed twice, and finally buried 28th of October, 1668 149 

THE REV. ROBERT HAWKINS The Subject of a foul Conspiracy on the Part of  

Henry Larrimore and Sir John Croke that failed at Aylesbury Assizes, 11th of March,  

1669 153 

STEPHEN EATON, GEORGE ROADES AND SARAH SWIFT Executed 14th of  

July, 1669, for the Murder of the Rev. John Talbot; their Accomplice, Henry  

Prichard, being reprieved 157 

CLAUDE DU VALL A Frenchman who, coming to England, became by his  

Politeness and Gallantry on the Road the Romantic Darling of the Ladies. Executed  

21st of January, 1670 161 

THOMAS WILMOT A Notorious Highwayman who hated and maltreated Women.  

Executed 30th of April, 1670 168 

THOMAS BLOOD, GENERALLY CALLED COLONEL BLOOD Who stole the  

Crown from the Tower of London on 9th of May, 1671 175 

MARY CARLETON, THE GERMAN PRINCESS A Kentish Adventuress who  

travelled the Continent, acquired several Husbands, and was executed on 22nd of  

January, 1673, for returning from Transportation 179 

ANDREW RUTHERFORD OF TOWNHEAD Executed for the Murder of James  

Douglass, Brother to Sir William Douglass of Cavers, on 25th of November, 1674 190 

GEORGE CLERK AND JOHN RAMSAY Executed 1st of March, 1675, for  

poisoning John Anderson, an Edinburgh Merchant; Kennedy, the Chemist's  

Apprentice who supplied them, being banished 191 

PHILIP, EARL OF PEMBROKE AND MONTGOMERY Tried for the Murder of  

Nathaniel Cony by his Brother Peers in 1678 and found guilty of Manslaughter later 

193 

THE REV. ROBERT FOULKES Executed 31st of January, 1679, for the Murder of  

his newly-born Babe 195 

CAPTAIN RICHARD DUDLEY [Note: The two versions of this man's life given in  

different editions are so dissimilar that they may be two different men. Both are given  

here] 196 

CAPTAIN VRATZ, JOHN STERN AND GEORGE BOROSKY Foreigners who  

murdered Thomas Thynn, Esq., in Pall Mall, on behalf, it was alleged, of Count  

Coningsmark. Executed 10th of March, 1682 202 

WILLIAM NEVISON A Highwayman who, dying Of the Plague as was thought,  

reappeared as his own Ghost, and was finally executed at York in 1684 205 

JOHN COTTINGTON ALIAS MUL-SACK Chimney-Sweep, Pickpocket and  

Highwayman, who brought off some big Coups. Executed in April, 1655 211 

EDWARD AND JOAN BRACEY Who robbed on the Highway together, the Woman  

being executed in 1685 and the Man being killed by a Gunshot Wound 216 

JONATHAN SIMPSON A Highwayman who was witty with a Halter round his Neck  

and, being reprieved, found that Newgate would not have him. Executed 8th of  

September, 1686 219 

WILLIAM CADY A Highwayman who shot a Woman before the Eyes of her  

Husband for the Wedding-Ring she had swallowed. Executed in 1687 221 

PHILIP STANSFIELD, SON OF SIR JAMES STANSFIELD Executed 15th of  

February, 1688, for the Murder of his Father and for High Treason 226 

JOHN CHISLIE OF DALRY Hanged 3rd of April, 1689, for the Murder of the Right  

Hon. Sir George Lockhart, of Cornwath, Lord President of the Court of Sessions,  

after being tortured under a Special Act 229 

WILLIAM BEW Who practised the Art of Flattery on the Highway. Executed 17th of  

April, 1689 231 

PATRICK O'BRYAN Hanged once for Highway Robbery, but lived to rob and  

murder the Man for whom he had been executed. Finally hanged 30th of April, 1689 

232 

THOMAS RUMBOLD Who, if all the Stories about him be true, was a very notable  

Cheat. Executed in 1689 235 

WILLIAM DAVIS, THE GOLDEN FARMER Who was Farmer and Highwayman  

for Forty-two Years without his Neighbours suspecting. Executed 20th of December,  

1689 246 

JACK BIRD A Highwayman who boxed an Earl's Chaplain for Twenty Guineas.  

Executed 12th of March, 1690 250 

OLD MOBB A Highwayman who took to cheating the Citizens of London. Executed  

30th of May, 1690 253 

TOM KELSEY An audacious young Thief who robbed the Tent of King William in  

Flanders and stabbed a Newgate Turnkey. Executed 13th Of June, 1690 262 

SIR JOHN JOHNSTON Executed at Tyburn, 23rd of December, 1690 , for assisting  

to steal an Heiress 265 

JACK WITHRINGTON One of five Brothers, all of whom were hanged. He earned  

Fame for his Courage, challenged the Captain of his Regiment; turned Gamester,  

Thief and Highwayman. Executed 1st of April, 1691 267 

JACOB HALSEY The Quaker Highwayman, who after being fooled by a "Spirit" led  

a Life of Crime, and was executed at Maidstone in April, 1691 270 

WILL MACQUEER Who stole the Lord Chancellor's Mace and delighted in robbing  

Army Officers on the Highway. Executed at Tyburn, 1st of May, 1691 273 

TOM COX A Handsome Highwayman who robbed the King's Jester and even held up  

men of his own Trade. Executed 3rd of June, 1691 275 

JACK COLLET ALIAS COLE Highwayman, who robbed in the Habit of a Bishop.  

Executed at Tyburn, 5th of July, 1691, for Sacrilegious Burglary 277 

TOM WATERS Highwayman, who held up Gipsies, robbed a Vice-Admiral, and was  

executed on 17th of July, 1691 278 

MOLL JONES Who became a Shoplifter for Love of her Husband. Executed at  

Tyburn 18th of December, 1691 280 

TOM TAYLOR Who, getting literally hooked as a Pickpocket, turned House-breaker.  

Executed 18th of December, 1691, for using Arson as a means to Theft 281 

HENRY HARRISON, GENT. Sentenced to Death 6th of April, 1692, for strangling  

Dr Clenche in a Coach 283 

JOCELIN HARWOOD Highwayman, who committed such Barbarous Murders that  

his Associates gave him up to Justice. Executed in 1692 285 

SIMON FLETCHER A most expert Pickpocket, who captained the Thieves of London.  

Executed in 1692 287 

MADAM MARY BUTLER Mistress of the Duke of Buckingham, fined Five Hundred  

Pounds for forging a Bond for Forty Thousand Pounds, and died in Newgate Prison  

in 1692 288 

WILLIAM JONES (ALIAS GOODWIN) AND JOHN BARBER Two Highwaymen  

caught at the same Robbery and &executed together on 26th of July, 1693 289 

JAMES LEONARD Eighteen-year-old Highwayman, who tried to cut the Fatal Rope,  

and died with a Laugh in 1693 291 

EDWARD HINTON Highwayman, who was such a Danger to Society that he was  

condemned and executed on the same Day, in 1694 292 

TOM AUSTIN Highwayman, guilty of unparalleled Butchery. He murdered his Aunt,  

Wife and Seven Children. Executed in August, 1694 294 

JAMES WHITNEY Notorious Highwayman, who believed in dressing well. Executed  

at Smithfield, 19th of December, 1694 296 

GEORGE SEAGER A Rogue of a Soldier, who deserted from Johnny Gibson's  

Regiment and turned Burglar. Executed 27th of January, 1697 298 

WILLIAM JOYCE A Chawbacon who, coming to London, was fleeced, so took to  

fleecing others. Executed in July, 1696 300 

DR FRANCIS SALISBURY AND THOMAS HOUGHTON Executed at Tyburn, 3rd  

of November, 1697, for forging a Sixpenny Stamp 302 

WILL HOLLYDAY Captain of the Ragged Regiment of the Black Guards, which  

Commission he threw up to take to the Highway. Executed 22nd of December, 1697 

303 

JOHN SHORTER Highwayman, who conspired a Revolt in Newgate and saw the  

Ghost of another Malefactor there. Executed 22nd of December, 1697 305 

SPENCER COWPER, ESQ.; JOHN MARSON, ELLIS STEVENS AND WILLIAM  

ROGERS, GENTS. Tried for murder at Hertford Assizes and acquitted, 16th of July,  

1699 306 

TOM ROWLAND Who worked the Highway disguised as a Woman for Eighteen  

Years. Executed 24th of October, 1699 309 

JOHN BELLINGHAM Son of a Justice, who took to the Highway, and was executed  

27th of October, 1699, for Forgery 310 

WILLIAM MORELL A "Cavalier" Doctor and Fraudulent Impersonator, who  

continued his Cheats even after his Death in 1700 312 

JOHN LARKIN Who committed so many Forgeries and Cheats that he had not Time  

to confess them all before he died, on 19th of April, 1700 317 

MICHAEL VAN BERGHEN, CATHERINE VAN BERGHEN AND DROMELIUS,  

THEIR SERVANT, PUBLICANS Executed 10th of July, 1700, for the Murder of  

their Guest, Mr Oliver Norris 319 

GEORGE CADDELL Executed for the Cruel Murder of Miss Price, Whom he had  

Seduced and Promised Marriage 321 

JOHN HOLLIDAY OR SIMPSON Housebreaker and Highwayman, who robbed a  

King at Hertford, and a Church, and was hanged at Tyburn in 1700 323 

GEORGE GRIFFITHS Who courted his Master's Daughter and then robbed him.  

Hanged at Tyburn on 1st of August, 1700 . 325 

THE REV. THOMAS HUNTER, M.A. Executed on 22nd of August, 1700, near  

Edinburgh, for the diabolical Murder out of Revenge of the Two Children of Mr  

Gordon 328 

JOHN COWLAND, GENTLEMAN Who suffered Death on 20th of December, 1700,  

for stabbing Sir Andrew Slanning, Baronet, near Drury Lane Theatre 331 

CAPTAIN JOHN KIDD Known as the "Wizard of the Seas," who suffered for Piracy,  

at Execution Dock, 23rd of May, 1701 333 

HERMAN STRODTMAN Executed at Tyburn, 18th of June, 1701, for the Murder of  

Peter Wolter, his Fellow-Apprentice 336 

MARY ADAMS Executed for privately stealing, 16th June, 1702 340 

MARY CHANNEL Famous for her Wit and Beauty, compelled to marry a Man she  

detested, poisoned him, and was executed in 1703, at the age of 18 342 

TIM BUCKLEY Highwayman, who fell after a hot Battle, and was hanged in 1701 

345 

TOM JONES Highwayman, executed at Launceston, 25th of April, 1702, for robbing  

a Farmer's Wife 347 

DICK BAUF Who executed his own Parents, and from a Pickpocket became a Cat  

Burglar, and then a Highwayman. Executed at Dublin, 15th of May, 1702 349 

ALEXANDER BALFOUR A Man of noble Family, who was convicted for the  

Murder of Mr Syme, escaped from Prison, and lived Fifty Years after the Day fixed  

for his Execution by the "Maiden" or Guillotine 352 

THOMAS ESTRICK Executed for housebreaking on the 10th of March, 1703. 353 

JACK WITHERS A sacrilegious Villain who murdered a Footman and was executed  

on the 16th of April, 1703 355 

JOHN PETER DRAMATTI Executed at Tyburn, on 21st of July, 1703, for the  

Murder of his Wife, who said she was allied to the French Royal Family 357 

THOMAS COOK Murdered a Constable during a Riot in Mayfair, and was executed  

on 11th of August, 1703 359 

MOLL RABY Who robbed many Houses, and was hanged at Tyburn on 3rd of  

November, 1703 361 

MOLL HAWKINS A "Question Lay" Thief, whose End was at Tyburn, on 22nd of  

December, 1703 363 

HARVEY HUTCHINS Apprenticed as a Thief and became an expert Housebreaker.  

Executed at Tyburn in 1704 364 

TOM SHARP Resourceful Thief, Coiner and Trickster. Executed in Long Acre on  

22nd September, 1704 366 

JOHN SMITH Who proved that a Peruke-Maker does not make a good Highwayman,  

for his Career lasted only a Week. Executed 20th of December, 1704 369 

EDWARD JEFFERIES Murderer, executed at Tyburn, on the 21st Of September,  

1705. 370 

JOHN SMITH Convicted of Robbery, reprieved while actually hanging upon the  

Scaffold, 24th of December, 1705, and afterwards had two other Escapes from Death 

371 

ROGER LOWEN Executed for Murder, 25th October, 1706 373 

ARTHUR CHAMBERS A Master of Thieves' Slang, who was full of Artful Tricks,  

which, however, did not save him from the Gallows at Tyburn, where he found himself  

in 1706 375 

JACK GOODWIN ALIAS PLUMP A young but expert Thief, who was executed at  

Tyburn in 1706 for Burglary 379 

WILLIAM ELBY OTHERWISE DUNN An Armed Criminal, who was hanged for  

Burglary and Murder at Fulham on the 13th of September, 1707 381 

JOHN HERMAN BRIAN Executed for robbing and burning the House of Peter  

Persode, Esq., St James's Street, Westminster, in October, 1707 382 

JACK HALL Who, with two Associates named Bunce and Low, committed many  

Robberies, and was executed at Tyburn in 1707 384 

DICK LOW Who started thieving at the Age of Eleven. Executed at Tyburn in 1707,  

when twenty-five years old 386 

WILLIAM GREGG Spy, executed at Tyburn on the 28th of April, 1708 388 

JOHN MORGRIDGE Murderer, executed at Tyburn, on the 28th of April, 1708. 392 

JACK OVET An amorous Highwayman, who was executed at Leicester in May, 1708 

393 

ANNE HARRIS Although only Twenty when she was executed at Tyburn, on 13th of  

July, 1708, she was a notorious Shoplifter, and her two Husbands had already  

suffered the Death Penalty 395 

MADAM CHURCHILL Who with three Men committed a Murder, and was executed  

at Tyburn on 17th of December, 1708 396 

CAPTAIN EVAN EVANS Clerk to Sir Edmund Andrews, in Guernsey, and later  

Highwayman in England. Executed in 1708 398 

DICK HUGHES A Robber whose thoughtful Wife bought the Rope to hang him.  

Executed at Tyburn in June, 1709. 400 

CHRISTOPHER SLAUGHTERFORD Executed at Guildford, July 9, 1709, for the  

murder of Jane Young 401 

GRACE TRIPP Convicted of Murder on Evidence of the actual Perpetrator of the  

Crime, and executed at the Age of Nineteen at Tyburn, 27th of March, 1710 404 

DANIEL DAMAREE, GEORGE PURCHASE, and FRANCIS WILLIS Tried for  

High-Treason. 405 

JACK ADDISON Committed fifty-six Highway Robberies, and was executed at  

Tyburn in March, 1711 408

INTRODUCTION TO THE EX-CLASSICS EDITION

The Newgate Calendar was one of those books, along with a Bible, Foxe's  

Book of Martyrs and the Pilgrim's Progress, most likely to be found in any English  

home between 1750 and 1850. Children were encouraged to read it because it was  

believed to inculcate principles of right living — by fear of punishment if not by the  

dull and earnest morals appended to the stories of highwaymen and other felons. The  

editors of one version even included as a frontispiece a picture of a devoted mother  

giving a