Bristol Execution Controversy and Jonathan Britain Confession
A Bristol crowd witnessed the public execution of Jonathan Britain after his dramatic confession from Newgate. The document, sworn May 14 1772, details his alleged plots tied to the Portsmouth fire and treasonable letters, claiming no accomplice despite naming ministers and drawing constant punishment from public suspicion.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Batrath
Bristol
Jonathan
Bichin
Stz.Michael’s ‘Hill Gallows
Mr. Needham
White Lion
John Osborne
Britains
Britain
Alt
Jonathan Britain
Newgate
Thomas Lawernce
Henry Borgam
Arthur Sandall
Thomas Jones
Portsmouth
St. James’s
Buckingham-house
London
Reading
Earl of Suffolk
Tate
Pupmatee
Lord Mansfeld
Halifax
Lord Faulconbridge
Dudley
A Fraudulent Draft In Bristol Ship Letters 1771
A lengthy Bristol episode recounts Jonathan Britain forging and endorsing drafts tied to a deserted officer and two ships at sea. Arthur Sandall underwrote Britain’s name, and the forged bill passed locally before being exposed. The tale covers letters, remissions, and deceit involving creditors and a supposed son.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Worthire
Mattie
Gigat
Lina
Watson
Lewin
Britain
Bristol
Cowes
Arthur Sandall
Dann
London
Lef
Duan
Jonathan
Dunn
Dunn and Co
Cheapside
Jonathan Britain
Arthur Sand
Indorfer
Von
Mr. Wait
Shipping arrivals and movements in the Downs and Plymouth
A May 17 update lists arriving and sailing ships including the Liberty from Dartmouth, the Sally from St Vincent’s, the Royalty from South Carolina, Mek gellorey from Georgia, Reveley from Dominique, Polly and Hannah from New York, Nancy from the same, Weston from Oporto, Kirby-Hall from Oporto, and the Kingston from Oporto with several at Portsmouth and Falmouth. Wind calm, ships remaining in the Downs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Deal
Liberty
Cole
Dartmouth
Sally
Dyer
St. Vincent’s
Plymouth
Royalty
Skome
South Carolina
Ditto
St. Andrew
Mekgellorey
Georgia
Portsmouth
Colebrook
Reveley
Dominique
Falmouth
Polly
Hannah
Smith
New York
Dover
Nancy
Thomas
Weston, Miller
Oporto
Kirby-Hall
George
Kingston
London News: Ambassadors, Lords, and Trials in Brief
London reports a busy schedule with the Spanish Ambassador meeting the king at Richmond and a six o clock dispatch to Madrid. Royal arrivals include the Duke of Gloucester returning from Italy and the Earl of Chatham at Hayes. Lords debate the Dis senters bill with restricted access, and Commons consider East India Company matters and marriage and death concealment bills. A Plea court verdict favors the Beadle of Shadwell. General Strode is acquitted in a court martial.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Richmond
Messinger
Lord Grantham
Madrid
Harvey
Carpenter
Italy
Kew
Earl of Chatham
Hayes
House of Peers
House of Lords
Commons
Peers
House
East India Company
House of Commons
Dewar
Culloch
Scotland
Court of Common Pleas
William de Grey
Beadle of
Shadwell
Strode
Fire destroys Dutch Playhouse with heavy loss
Reports from Madrid and London describe a devastating theatre fire at the Dutch Playhouse. Many perished amid panic as flames spread through ropes and lights, with the roof collapsing and spectators leaping to the pits. Estimates of deaths range from 150 to 200 as authorities work to identify the wounded and missing.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Holland
Wtrechy
Amsterdam
Keene
Madrid
Vienna
Spain
Lord Grantham
Great Britain
Cadiz
Carthagena
Electorate of Hanovér
London
Denmark
Moscow
York
Iceland
Secretary of State
General Gage
North America
Chatham
Africa
Stephen Kinchin
Feltwell St. Mary
Norfolk
Benjamin Skinner
Duke of Marlborough
Pen Jey
Berks
Waddesdon
Bucks
Whitechapel
Clare
Fleet
Spittlefields Market
St. John’s
Southwark
Maac Lee
Dockhead
Grant
Coventry
Thomas Thomas
George- Arect
Fosterlane
Mary Morgan
Crispin-treet
Spittlefields
Grisdale
Halton Garden
Miss Neal
Canterbury
Hawkhurst
Kent
Samuel Boys
Andrew Parker
Peckham
Hlanby
Brook Street
Holborn
Yellertay
Boad-street and Carnaby-market Names on Local Notice
Fragmentary OCR notes mention individuals Bedells Tanner and Beng Tanz Southwirk with unclear roles. The brief appears to reference a property or estate matter in a historical locality, but details are unreadable and names are fragmentary.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boad
Carnaby-market
Mit
Trumbull
Esq
Deccafedi
Mr. Bedells
Beng
Tanz
Southwirk
Pompous Midlesex Freeholders Dinner Tale at Mermaid Hackney
A Justice of the Peace reports a group of Midlesex freeholders dining with Col Luttrell at the Mermaid in Hackney. He notes the crowd likely did not number more than 68 and recalls Luttrell vowing to resign if needed to defend Wilkes. A diner loyal to Wilkes switched sides, with a wry coat reversing tale as rain fell and a punchline about the coat.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tower
County of Middlesex
Col. Luttrell
Mermaid
Hackney
House of Commons
Wilken
Wilkes
Col. Lautreil
Brentford
Pectoral Lozenges of Tolu by Wt. Greenough Apothecary
An advertisement for COUGHS and HOARSENESSES Lozenges of Tolu prepared by Wt. Greenough at the King's Arms and Pestle and Mortar Ludgate Street London. They claim to contain Balsam of Tolu and aid coughs sore throats and chest symptoms. Counterfeit concerns noted with a court verdict and inscription requirements.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Greenough
King’s Arms and Pestle and Mortar
Ludgate-street
London
Tolu
W. Bayley
Cockspur-street
Haymarket
A. Rothwell
Civet Car
New.Bond-street
Mr. Purdie
North Parade
Bath
King’s Bench
T. Greenoucil
Chymis
Terr
Also Mentioned on This Page
T. Lawrence
Henry Burgum
Thomas Janes
Thomas Lawrence
Arthur Randall
Henry Bright
Pristel
Corke
SS Hip News
Middlesex
Surry
Hertford
Bedford
Cambridge
Huntingdon
Rutland Noarthampton
Leicester
Nottingham
Derby
Stafford
Wiltshire
Oxford
Fee
Suffolk
Lincoln
Durham
Northumberland
Cumberland
Westmorland
Lancashire
Cheshire
Monmouth
Somerset
Devon
Cornwall
Dorset
South Wales
Aseity
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!