This Day in History – 21 May 1722

Execution at Tyburn: Thomas Smith & John Hawkins

On this day in 1722, Thomas Smith and John Hawkins were executed at Tyburn following convictions for violent robbery on the highway—crimes that struck at the very heart of public safety in early 18th-century London.

Both men came from very different backgrounds, yet were united by a shared descent into opportunistic crime, driven by restlessness, ambition, and ultimately, poor judgement.

Thomas Smith – A Drifter Turned Robber

Thomas Smith, around 44 years of age, was convicted of assaulting John Prat under Ludgate and robbing him of his hat and peruke. The crime itself was brazen rather than sophisticated.

Smith had approached the elderly victim before suddenly snatching the wig and hat from his head, fleeing with the goods concealed upon his person. His escape, however, was short-lived. He was quickly pursued and apprehended, with the stolen wig discovered hidden in his clothing.

His life, as he himself described it, had been marked by instability. Never settled in any trade, he drifted between occupations—servant, rag trader, and even, by his own admission, a provider of false testimony in criminal cases.

Despite professing religious conviction, his beliefs appeared inconsistent and unsettled. At times defensive, at others evasive, he offered little by way of explanation for his actions beyond a life poorly governed and lacking direction.

John Hawkins – Ambition, Crime, and the Mail Robbery

John Hawkins’s case was far more serious and far-reaching.

A man of 28, Hawkins had once held respectable employment, even serving as a butler in a reputable household. Yet beneath this surface lay a restless ambition—what he himself described as a desire for “great riches and splendour”—which ultimately led him into criminal enterprise.

He stood accused as part of a coordinated gang responsible for the robbery of the Bristol mail, a crime of national significance. The plan was elaborate:

  • The gang tracked the mail coach route
  • Disguised themselves to conceal identity
  • Intercepted the post-boy in the early hours
  • Bound both him and a companion to a tree
  • Carried off the mail bags to be rifled for valuables

Testimony revealed that Hawkins played a strategic role—waiting at a distance due to his distinctive appearance, before joining in the division and destruction of the stolen correspondence.

The gang extracted banknotes and valuables, discarding the rest. Their actions disrupted not just private correspondence, but the functioning of national communication and commerce.

The Evidence and Trial

The prosecution’s case rested heavily on the testimony of an accomplice, who described the planning and execution of the robbery in striking detail.

Witnesses confirmed:

  • The prisoners’ movements along the route
  • Their presence at inns along the way
  • Their return to London with horses matching descriptions
  • Their suspicious behaviour after the crime

Despite attempts to discredit witnesses and provide alibis, the evidence was overwhelming. The jury returned a verdict of guilty.

Behaviour After Conviction

Following his conviction, Hawkins initially reacted with defiance—challenging the court and jury, and asserting irregularities in the proceedings. Yet this bravado did not last.

In private, his tone softened. He expressed:

  • Acceptance of his fate
  • Forgiveness toward those who testified against him
  • A growing awareness of the gravity of his situation

By the time of his final days, he was described as deeply affected, reflective, and fearful, particularly as execution approached.

Smith, by contrast, remained a more ambiguous figure—less emotionally documented, but equally resigned to the consequences of his actions.

Execution at Tyburn

On the morning of 21 May, both men were taken from Newgate to Tyburn, where large crowds gathered to witness the spectacle.

As was customary:

  • Prayers were offered
  • Final exhortations were given by clergy
  • The condemned were urged to repent and prepare their souls

Hawkins, in particular, showed visible signs of distress—his composure faltering as the reality of death drew near. Tears and solemn devotion marked his final hours.

Shortly thereafter, both men were hanged.

Context and Reflection

These cases illustrate two distinct paths to the gallows:

  • Thomas Smith, a drifter undone by petty but reckless crime
  • John Hawkins, a man of ambition who turned to organised robbery in pursuit of wealth

Together, they reflect the harsh realities of early 18th-century justice, where even a single act of highway robbery could result in death.

Their stories also serve as a reminder of a broader truth often repeated in the Ordinary’s Accounts:
that lives not governed by discipline or restraint could, with alarming speed, descend into ruin.

Thank you for reading my writings. If you’d like to, you can buy me a coffee for just £1 and I will think of you while writing my next post! Just hit the link below…. (thanks in advance)

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/assuredeffC

Advice of the Day: Choosing Swimwear

Don’t choose swimwear for comfort or practicality—choose something that raises immediate concern among strangers.

the sage

Swimwear is often selected based on fit, function, or modesty. The Wise Sage considers this a missed opportunity. The beach, after all, is a public stage, and your attire should reflect a bold disregard for expectation and basic engineering principles.

Begin by selecting a size that is confidently incorrect. Too small suggests optimism; too large suggests mystery. Either way, you will create intrigue. Straps should appear to be doing more work than they were designed for, and anything described as “secure” should be treated with suspicion.

Colour choice is equally important. Avoid subtlety. Instead, opt for patterns that can be seen from space—neon zigzags, clashing animal prints, or anything that appears to vibrate slightly when viewed directly. Ideally, your swimwear should make lifeguards uneasy before you even enter the water.

Functionality should be reduced to an absolute minimum. Complicated ties, unnecessary buckles, and inexplicable cut-outs all contribute to what professionals call “aquatic unpredictability.” If you can’t put it on without consulting a diagram, you are on the right track.

For added confidence, accessorise poorly. A snorkel without a mask, flippers on dry land, or a swimming cap worn backwards all signal that you are not to be questioned. Bonus points for carrying an inflatable object that serves no clear purpose.

When entering the water, do so with commitment. Hesitation suggests doubt, and doubt leads to adjustment, which must be avoided at all costs. Once in, remain still for a moment and let the outfit settle into whatever arrangement it deems appropriate.

Finally, remember that confidence is everything. If something appears to have gone wrong, behave as though it is entirely intentional. Onlookers will assume they are simply not familiar with the latest trends.

As always, The Sage accepts no responsibility for wardrobe malfunctions, startled beachgoers, or being asked to leave the premises “for everyone’s safety.”

Thank you for reading my writings. If you’d like to, you can buy me a coffee for just £1 and I will think of you while writing my next post! Just hit the link below…. (thanks in advance)

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/assuredeffC

Quote of the Day: Staying on Course

“We try to prevent failure by taking stock, yet still find ways to throw ourselves off course.”
— The Sage

The Sage has often observed that people are quite good at preparation. Lists are made, plans are drawn, contingencies considered. We take stock of our situation, measure our options, and convince ourselves that with enough foresight, failure can be neatly avoided. There is comfort in this ritual — a sense of control, however temporary.

He notes, however, that the unexpected rarely comes from outside. More often, it arrives from within — a moment of impatience, distraction, or quiet doubt. Despite all preparation, we still manage to throw ourselves off course, sometimes with impressive efficiency. The Sage suggests that this is not a flaw in planning, but a feature of being human.

With gentle humour, he reminds us that life is not undone by a lack of preparation alone, but by the curious ways we override it. Taking stock may steady the path, but it cannot walk it for us. And so, he concludes, wisdom lies not only in preparing well, but in recognising our remarkable ability to ignore that preparation at precisely the wrong moment.

Thank you for reading my writings. If you’d like to, you can buy me a coffee for just £1 and I will think of you while writing my next post! Just hit the link below…. (thanks in advance)

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/assuredeffC

This Day in History – 20 May 1728

Execution at Tyburn: Mary Hendron & Margaret Pendergrass

On this day in 1728, Mary Hendron and Margaret Pendergrass were executed at Tyburn for their part in a deeply troubling case involving the coercion and exploitation of a young woman, Sibble Morris. Though they did not act alone, the law ultimately fell most heavily upon them.

The Victim: Sibble Morris

At the heart of the case was Sibble Morris, a young woman whose vulnerability was ruthlessly exploited. Evidence presented at trial suggested that she was lured under false pretences, manipulated, and effectively delivered into the hands of others against her will.

Accounts indicate that Morris resisted her situation, and her distress became a central feature of the prosecution’s case. Her testimony painted a picture not of consent, but of pressure, intimidation, and calculated deceit, carried out by those she might reasonably have trusted.

The Scheme

Mary Hendron and Margaret Pendergrass were portrayed as active facilitators in the plot. Rather than being peripheral figures, they were said to have:

  • Encouraged Morris into their company
  • Misled her about the circumstances she was entering
  • Assisted in delivering her into a situation where her autonomy was stripped away

The crime was not a moment of impulse, but something that appeared pre-arranged and deliberate—a scheme in which Morris was treated as a means to an end.

The Man Who Escaped the Gallows

Crucially, the case also involved a male accomplice, widely understood to be the principal actor in the intended outcome of the plot. However, in a striking turn, he was acquitted at trial.

This outcome reflects a recurring pattern in early modern prosecutions:

  • Evidentiary thresholds could differ sharply between defendants
  • Juries were sometimes reluctant to convict where intent was less clearly proven
  • Women, particularly those seen as morally suspect, could be judged more harshly when cast as enablers of vice

While the man’s role appeared central to the scheme, the jury ultimately found insufficient grounds to convict him of the capital charge—leaving Hendron and Pendergrass to bear the full weight of the law.

Trial and Conviction

At the Old Bailey, the prosecution emphasised the premeditation and coordination involved. The two women were depicted not as passive followers, but as knowing participants who helped orchestrate the events.

The jury agreed.

Both Hendron and Pendergrass were found guilty and sentenced to death—a punishment reflecting not only the crime itself, but the perceived moral corruption underlying it.

Execution at Tyburn

As was customary, the condemned women were carried from Newgate to Tyburn in a public procession, watched by crowds drawn to the spectacle.

At the gallows, they were given time for prayer and final reflection. Contemporary accounts suggest they acknowledged their fate with outward solemnity, urged to repentance by attending clergy.

Shortly thereafter, both were hanged.

Context and Reflection

This case reveals much about the justice system of the time:

  • Coercion and exploitation, especially involving women, were treated with severe punishment
  • Public morality played a powerful role in determining guilt and sentencing
  • Outcomes could be uneven, with accomplices treated very differently depending on how their roles were perceived

The execution of Hendron and Pendergrass stands as a stark example of how the law sought to punish not only actions, but the perceived moral failings behind them.

Thank you for reading my writings. If you’d like to, you can buy me a coffee for just £1 and I will think of you while writing my next post! Just hit the link below…. (thanks in advance)

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/assuredeffC

Advice of the Day: Choosing a Football Team to Support

Don’t waste time researching teams—simply support whichever one causes you the most emotional instability.

the sage

Choosing a football team is often treated as a lifelong commitment, rooted in geography, family tradition, or a vague understanding of the sport. The Wise Sage rejects this entirely. Instead, he recommends selecting a team using methods that ensure maximum confusion and long-term regret.

A strong starting point is kit selection. Choose the team whose colours clash most violently with your wardrobe. This guarantees you will never look comfortable, which is essential for authentic fandom. Bonus points if the away kit resembles a highlighter pen or something worn by road workers.

Alternatively, base your decision on a single, deeply unreliable moment. Perhaps you once saw a team win 4–0 on television in 2007. That is more than enough evidence. Commit fully. Ignore all subsequent results, especially if they contradict your initial optimism.

For a more immersive experience, select a team located as far away from you as possible. Ideally, this should require awkward kick-off times, expensive travel, and a complete lack of local support. Watching matches alone at odd hours enhances the sense that you have made a terrible, irreversible decision.

It is also important to develop fierce, immediate rivalries with teams you know nothing about. Upon choosing your club, pick a rival at random and dislike them intensely. Do not research why—certainty is more important than accuracy.

If your team begins to perform well, remain suspicious. Success is fleeting and should not be trusted. Conversely, if they perform badly, double down. This builds character and gives you something to complain about, which is the true essence of football support.

Finally, when asked why you support your chosen team, provide an answer so vague it raises further questions. “It just felt right at the time” is ideal. Avoid clarity at all costs.

As always, The Sage accepts no responsibility for ruined weekends, strained friendships, or loudly celebrating goals that turn out to be offside.

Thank you for reading my writings. If you’d like to, you can buy me a coffee for just £1 and I will think of you while writing my next post! Just hit the link below…. (thanks in advance)

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/assuredeffC

Quote of the Day: Room for Wisdom

“A limited room teaches more wisdom than an endless store of things.”
— The Sage

The Sage has long suspected that space itself is a quiet teacher. A limited room does not allow for excess without consequence. Every object must justify its presence, every addition must displace something else. In such conditions, choices become clearer. What is necessary remains; what is not quietly reveals itself.

He observes that abundance, while comforting at first, can blur this clarity. An endless store of things creates the illusion of importance without requiring discernment. When there is always more space, more storage, more capacity, the need to choose carefully begins to fade. The Sage notes that it is often only when space runs short that value becomes visible.

With gentle insight, he reminds us that limitation is not always restriction — it can be refinement. A smaller room invites intention. It encourages us to keep what matters and release what does not. And in that process, The Sage suggests, we discover that wisdom is not found in what we accumulate, but in what we are willing to leave behind.

Thank you for reading my writings. If you’d like to, you can buy me a coffee for just £1 and I will think of you while writing my next post! Just hit the link below…. (thanks in advance)

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/assuredeffC

This Day in History: 19 May 1743

A Tavern Quarrel Turned Deadly

On 19 May 1743, Gabriel Beaugrand and Lewis Brunet stood trial at the Old Bailey for the killing of Lewis Legier, a cook who had, only hours before his death, been drinking and talking amicably in a London tavern.

What began as a trivial dispute over status at sea—sailor versus cook—ended in fatal violence.

“Brother Sailors”… Until They Weren’t

The encounter took place at the White Bear public house in Newport Street.

At first, the mood was friendly. Legier, who had served as a cook aboard a naval vessel, greeted Beaugrand warmly, calling him:

“Brother Sailor”

They spoke of ships, service, and life at sea. But the conversation turned competitive—then hostile.

The argument centred on a seemingly petty question:

  • Who held greater status aboard ship: a sailor or a cook?

Beaugrand insisted that a sailor outranked a cook.
Legier, with some pride, disagreed.

From there, matters escalated quickly.

The First Blow

According to witnesses, Beaugrand:

  • took up a pewter pot
  • attempted to strike Legier

Legier responded immediately:

  • pulling Beaugrand across the table
  • striking him repeatedly with the same pot

By the time others intervened, Beaugrand’s head was badly wounded, bleeding heavily.

It might have ended there—a drunken brawl, nothing more.

But it did not.

The Fatal Moment

After the initial fight:

  • tensions remained high
  • Beaugrand withdrew briefly
  • Brunet (his uncle) became involved in the dispute

Then, in a sudden and decisive moment, Beaugrand returned to Legier and struck him again—this time with a knife.

Witnesses did not clearly see the weapon, but the effect was immediate.

Legier cried out:

“I am dead”

He collapsed soon after.

The Surgeon’s Findings

The medical evidence confirmed the severity of the attack:

  • three stab wounds
  • one penetrating the liver and major blood vessels
  • another reaching the lungs

The surgeon concluded that the wound to the liver caused instant death.

What had seemed, moments earlier, a tavern scuffle had become a killing.

Brunet’s Role

Lewis Brunet, Beaugrand’s uncle, was accused of:

  • aiding
  • encouraging
  • continuing the fight

He had attempted to re-engage Legier during the altercation and was seen behaving aggressively even after the stabbing.

However, the court ultimately found insufficient evidence that he had participated in the fatal act itself.

Brunet was acquitted.

Verdict and Punishment

The jury reached a nuanced conclusion:

  • Gabriel Beaugrand → Guilty of Manslaughter
  • Lewis Brunet → Not Guilty

Rather than execution, Beaugrand received the traditional punishment:

Burnt in the Hand

This was a branding—literally marking him as a convicted felon, but sparing his life.

A Sudden Descent

This case stands as a classic example of how quickly violence could spiral in 18th-century London:

  • a friendly meeting
  • a petty dispute
  • drink, pride, and insult
  • then, in seconds, irreversible action

No long-standing feud.
No premeditated design.

Just a moment’s escalation—with fatal consequences.

Final Reflection

The law recognised the difference between murder and sudden passion.

Beaugrand was spared the gallows—but not punishment, nor the mark of his crime.

And for Lewis Legier, a man who entered the tavern as a “brother sailor,”
there was no second chance.

Thank you for reading my writings. If you’d like to, you can buy me a coffee for just £1 and I will think of you while writing my next post! Just hit the link below…. (thanks in advance)

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/assuredeffC

Advice of the Day: Where to Keep Your Change

Never waste time searching for loose change—store it in as many unexpected and inconvenient places as possible.

Loose change has an uncanny ability to vanish precisely when needed. The Wise Sage recommends solving this problem not through organisation, but through strategic unpredictability. If your coins are everywhere, they are, in a sense, always somewhere useful.

Start by abandoning traditional storage methods such as wallets, jars, or anything labelled “coin holder.” These create dangerous levels of efficiency. Instead, distribute your change throughout your daily environment: coat pockets, sofa cushions, old mugs, plant pots, and at least one location you will immediately forget. This creates a dynamic, ever-evolving financial landscape.

For maximum effectiveness, introduce rotation. Move your change regularly without keeping track. This prevents familiarity, which can lead to complacency. Opening a drawer should feel like a treasure hunt. Occasionally finding £1.37 where you least expect it builds character and maintains a healthy sense of mystery.

Advanced practitioners may wish to adopt “emergency change zones.” These include shoes, the car glove compartment, behind picture frames, or taped discreetly under furniture. While retrieval may require effort, the psychological comfort of knowing coins exist somewhere in your home is invaluable.

When leaving the house, avoid taking all your change with you. This creates unnecessary weight and raises expectations. Instead, carry a single coin of uncertain value and commit fully to whatever situation arises. Adaptability is key.

Finally, if someone asks, “Have you got any change?” confidently reply, “Yes, but not here.” This establishes both honesty and intrigue.

As always, The Sage accepts no responsibility for rattling furniture, accidental hoarding, or discovering a small fortune years later in a shoe you no longer own.

Thank you for reading my writings. If you’d like to, you can buy me a coffee for just £1 and I will think of you while writing my next post! Just hit the link below…. (thanks in advance)

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/assuredeffC

Advice of the Day: Feeding the Ducks

Forget bread—feed ducks whatever you happen to have and let nature deal with the consequences.

Feeding ducks is widely considered a wholesome, peaceful activity. The Wise Sage, however, recognises it for what it truly is: a delicate negotiation with a group of highly entitled water-based opportunists. Success lies not in careful feeding, but in asserting dominance early.

Bread, often suggested by so-called “experts,” is predictable and dull. Ducks expect it. Instead, arrive with a bold and confusing selection—crisps, leftover takeaway, questionable snacks from the bottom of your bag. Variety keeps the ducks alert and prevents them forming organised expectations, which can quickly spiral into mob behaviour.

Distribution is equally important. Do not gently scatter food. Throw it with flair. Height, distance, and dramatic arm movements all contribute to what professionals call “feeding theatre.” Ducks respect spectacle. A well-executed throw can establish you as a figure of authority—or at the very least, someone worth following.

If a duck approaches confidently, maintain eye contact and feed it more. This may seem counter-intuitive, but it reinforces the illusion that you are in control of the situation. If multiple ducks approach, increase your throwing speed and avoid showing fear. Ducks can sense weakness, and will absolutely exploit it.

Under no circumstances should you attempt to leave quietly. Once feeding has begun, you are part of the system. The correct exit strategy is to dramatically run out of food, show your empty hands, and back away slowly while muttering something non-committal. This signals closure while preserving dignity.

As always, The Sage accepts no responsibility for aggressive ducks, missing snacks, or becoming permanently followed by a small but determined flock.

Thank you for reading my writings. If you’d like to, you can buy me a coffee for just £1 and I will think of you while writing my next post! Just hit the link below…. (thanks in advance).

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/assuredeffC

Quote of the Day: Time

“The theft of gold leads to prosecution; the theft of time rarely does.”
— The Sage

The Sage has often noted that society is very clear about what it values — and even clearer about what it punishes. Gold, tangible and measurable, is guarded closely. Its theft is obvious, actionable, and swiftly followed by consequences. Laws exist to protect it, and those who take it without permission are pursued with determined efficiency.

He observes, however, that time — far more valuable in the long run — receives no such protection. It is borrowed, wasted, delayed, and quietly taken in countless small ways. Meetings that should not exist, distractions that multiply without purpose, and moments surrendered without thought — all pass without prosecution. The Sage notes that the loss is no less real, only less visible.

With gentle irony, he reminds us that while gold can be returned, time cannot. Yet one is pursued with urgency, and the other barely acknowledged. Perhaps, he suggests, the true imbalance lies not in the law, but in what we have chosen to measure. And in that quiet oversight, The Sage finds one of life’s most curious priorities.

Thank you for reading my writings. If you’d like to, you can buy me a coffee for just £1 and I will think of you while writing my next post! Just hit the link below…. (thanks in advance)

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/assuredeffC