On 6 May 1685, twenty-three prisoners were executed at Tyburn following an Old Bailey session. Despite the Ordinary’s efforts, many remained unrepentant, hoping for pardon until the end. The account reveals a sombre mass execution marked by silence, resignation, and the harsh realities of early modern justice.
Tag Archives: Newgate Prison
This Day in History: 25 April 1746
On 25 April 1746, nineteen-year-old servant Matthew Henderson was executed for murdering his mistress, Elizabeth Dalrymple. His confession shocked London: he claimed he had no clear motive, only a sudden temptation that led to one of the Old Bailey’s most disturbing domestic murders.
This Day in History: 29 January 1695 — Jeane Bates and the Stolen Plate
On 29 January 1695, Jeane Bates, using a false name, stole silver plate and household goods from her employer Peter Courtney. Tried at the Old Bailey, she was identified as a repeat offender, found guilty of felony, falsely claimed pregnancy, and was executed at Tyburn. Her case reveals the harsh punishment for servant theft in seventeenth-century London.
This Day in History: 18 January 1694 — John Edwards and the Broad Cloth Theft
On 18 January 1694, John Edwards, a plasterer of Aldgate, was implicated in the theft of forty yards of white broad cloth. Found guilty of felony, he was sentenced to death. His repentance and execution at Tyburn weeks later are recorded in the Ordinary of Newgate’s account, revealing the harsh realities of seventeenth-century justice.
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