The Newhampshire gazetteer — Exeter, N.H., 1790-12-11 00:00:00, page 1

Saturday, December ii, 1790.]
Sketch of the Life of Joseph Mountain, e
Negro, who was executed at Newbaven, on the
20th da, of Oaober, 1790, for a rape committed on
the 26th da, of May last.
I JOSEPH MOUNTAIN, WAS born on the 7th
day of July, A. D. 175% in the house of Samu
el Mifflin, Esq; of Philadelphia, father of
the prefect Governour of Pennsylvania. My fa
ther, Fling Mountain, is a Mulatto, and now lives
at Philadelphia. My mother is a Negro and was
a Have until she was twenty one years of age.—
She now rives at Reading, in Fennfylvania.:
The firft fct^ecn years of my life were spent
in Mr. Mifflin's family#—As a fervent in the house
J acquired the reputation of umfcal sprightliness
fruct me in th®J>refby,criai ^fodi w@s&, pro
feffed, teach me to read and write, and impress my
mind with sentiments of virtue. Hqw groflly
these opportunities have been neglefted, the fol
lowing story will too fully evince.
In the 17th year of my age, on the 17th of March
1775, with m Y master's consent, lentered on board
the (hip Chalkley, commanded by Joseph Spaic,
and owned by Messrs. James an&hinker of Phi
ladelphia, and on the 20th o&jl,following we
arrived in the Downs. L&teCTitted the vefTel,and
in four days was ftr^i^n^beets of London in
quest of amufeme^d^ipFs fixation, the public
will easily c@^^^||rejld not long remain an
idle not be surprising to find
me fp^^ty^iated in practices difgraceful to
hur^^^^rcj and deftrudive of every moral vir
tuqsCTJnfortunately for me a feene began to open
Which will close only in the shadow of death.
•One day, at an alehoufy in London, I acciden
tally became acquainted with one Francis Hyde,
originally from Migdlefex, and one Thomas \Vil
fon, of Staffordshire in England. They were tra
velling the country, with a hand organ and various
other musical instruments, pretending to great,art
in numerous performances, and really pofleffing
lurprifrj knowledge in every species of juggling.
This was their employment in the day time, for
the purpose of executing more effedually the prin
cipal business of their lives, viz. * highway rob
fa„r.; /ffiiey lbmTO
any impressions, and neither incapable of, nor
averse to, becoming a companion in their iniquity.
We all set out from London about 8 o'clock in the
evening after I had joined them, each armed with
a hanger and a brace of pillols. We had also suit
able dreffesvand a dark lantern. Our landlord,
who kept tavern at the sign of the black horse, at
Charingcrofs, furnifhed.us wjth every requisite for
the expedition. His,name was William Humphry^
The plan this evening was to attack the mail
coach, which would start at 12 o'clock at night,
from the ftiip tavern, between Woolwich and
Gravefend, about 9 miles from London. ,
We were on the spot at. the hour agreed upon,
Mhd disguised ourselves for the adventure, Hyde
and Wilson were drefled in white frocks and boots,
with their faces painted yellow to referable Mu
lattoes,. Mountain was dressed in the fame man
ner, with the addition of a large tail wig, white
gloves and a black mask over his face. When the
stage arrived, I started, and caught the leading
horses by their bridles, while Hyde and Wilson
each presented a brace of pistols in at the coach
window and demanded of the passengers their
money. There were four gentlemen and one
lady in the coach. They denied, having any
money. Wilson said, “Deliver, or death." They
then gave us a bank note of §ol. one other of 20k
And about 60 guineas in /ath. We then retired
to an unfrequented place, fhifted our dresses, and
prepared to prosecute our journey to Chatham in
the County of Kent. - -
In the day time, Hyde and Wilson commonly
played upon their instruments, and performed
various feats of flight of hand, as though that was
their sole occupation. We were also very particular
in making observations upon all travellers, to
learn if they might be touched: (For that was our
word for robbed;)-
In four days aftelU&brmer robbery, we met a
Capt. Hill, at the^ffbf Rochester bridge near
Chatham—He ^fcptain of the marines, and
we had seen hiq^C day time at Brumpton bar
rncks about h^B^ile from the bridge. We
: a lked Xa his horse. Wilson alked
&. Slolti
• The reader <will note, that ivbex ^ use the term
footpad, <we mean him ^bo robs on foot onl, ; high
wayman intends one <who robs on borfeba&
THE NEWHAMPSHIRE.GAZETTEER.
From the American Mercurys
him the time of night. He a.e no reply. Hyde
then caught the bridle; T Ms left hand, ,and
Wilson pretended a pistol to L bread, and said,
“ Deliver, or death.'? ~He a ^d us that he had
no money-worth taking, Wi'% said, “then give
us your watch," which he di. The watch was
gold, and valued at go guineas. We then walked
off about SOO rods towards (L resend, and imme
diately tacked for Rochester, vhere we lodged at
the mariner's inn.. There v^ a great hue & cr,
for us; but the pursuers, feopofing from Capt.
Hill's information, we had >.;e for Gravefend,
entirely mistook our rout. e next morning we
took poftchaife for Londor, • ere we arrived about
6 o'clock in the evening. < - booty was deliver
ed to a.broker whom we on.Qantly employed.
He was a Jew, and lived i& '. Katherine's Row,
ne^- T ^r riir, and if 'me was William
A V . V ^. r hte fc w%4 aim c. N% .Jt °^ 'J t
parts cf England, with whom wChad conkanccci -
munication, and who were perfectly acquainted
with our modes of acquiring property. And after
such a jaunt we thought it advifeable to recruit
ourselves by rioting on our spoils. h
In a few day% it was concluded that Ifhould go
alone, and attempt to," touch" some gentlemen
who frequented the play at Covent Garden ; this,
considering my age and inexperience, v>as
thought rather a bold stroke. Being villain
enough to attempt any thing,! did not hesitate; but
polled myfelf agreeably to direction. My efforts,
however, were wholly unfuccefsful and I returned
empty. The next night I was placed at London
bridge, while Hyde flood at Blackfriars, and Wil
son at Weilminifter. At half past 11 o'clock I
met a Captain Duffield, and alked him the time
of night. He told me. I said, " You know my
profeffion; deliver or death." He stepped back to
strike me with his carte; I cocked my pistol, and
told him to deliver instantly, or death should be his
portion. He then threw me his purse, which con
tained about jo guineas, and a silver watch, which
was valued by our broker at 61. Hyde, the fame
night, obtained about 40 .guineas of Sir John
Griffith Wilson about 30 of a Mr. Burke ; and
each a watch, one gold, the other pinchbeck. The
next day we saw advertisements, describing the
robberies, and offering rewards for the perpetra
tors.
Ihe next night with ° lie d;^=^h, : T mbbed
Hugh Lindfly of 16 guineas, and a gold ring.
Hyde, on the fame evening, tock from Lord John
Cavendilh about 20 guineas, and Wilson robbed
William Burke of 11 guineas.
We now concluded to remain, in London for a
while, gentlemen of pleafare.—The repeated rob
beries had furnilhed us with cash in abundance,
and we indulged in every species of debauchery.
We gambled very deeply at dice cards & billiards,
Hyde and Wilson were very expert at this bufinefs,s
and would almost invariably swindle a Granger
but of his money. .
In March 1776 we went to the city of York,
about 200 miles from London. Here we continu
ed several weeks, waiting iome favourable oppor
tunities to rob at the plays; but none presented;
We went from York to Newmarket, to attend the
famous races which took place about the^firft of
June. .There we found Lord Gore of Richmond,
and Lord Tufton of Sheffield in Yorkshire : We
were much perplexed to invent the most advantage
ous mode-dff* touching" them. It was at length
concluded to attack them at their lodgings, which
weie at an (nn very large & greatly frequented by
various classes of people. About 7.o'clock in the
evening, while the attendants of those gentlemen
were in the kitchens and stables, we entered the
front door, andhaving bribed the porter with a
few guineas, were immediately let into >Lo r nnm
Lords Gore and Tufton, were fitting over a table
at a dish of coffee, and reading newspapers. We
instantly presented our pistols, and demanded their
money. Lord Tufton delivered usone bank note
of tool, and three others of gol; each. Lord
Gore delivered us about ioo guineas^ arid two
gold mourning rings' 4@e quitted Newmarket
next morning, and weri^ in the stage to York;
where Wilson presented his bills for payment. Un
fortunately for us, Lord Tufton, immediately af
ter the robbery dispatched his feryant to the bank,
with orders to stop those bills, if offered,
bills were accordingly flopped,, and Wilson arrest.
ed, and sent to Newmarket to be examined before
a justice of the peace. Upon his examination he
procured Hyde to swear that he was riding from
Newmarket to York with Wilson, and that lie saw
him p ; ck up a pocket book containing those bills. ,
The ^ chman having been pretioufly bribed
Published by H. Ranlet, in,he Main Street, Exeter,
swore to the fame h& Upon this testimony,
Wilson was acquitted; I was not sent for as a
witness at this examination, as 1 understood Lord
Robert Manners was then in Newmarket, and
would probably attend the trial. The reason
why I did not wish to meet his Lordship's eye,
was, that on the night before we left London,
I made a most daring attack upon him. He was
walking unarmed, near Eounflow Heath attended
by his footman. I met him, presented my pistol,
and he gave me 75 guineas, two gold watche , and
two gold rings.—Hyde and Wilson were near at
hand ; but they did not difeover themselves, leav
ing me “ to play the hero alone."
In the latter end of June we again met at th^
old rendezvous in London and divided our plun
der: The property which 1 then had on hand en
abled me to live very freely for feme months. M,
time was spent in that r re und of dissipation which
->-•th. r '> •., . ^ tycu,d 3 vicious a cha
racter and which w# ufrabiy ^" .1 !%r<^c< 'w =
the flock of cash in my own poriWion and that of
my broker. ^1
I now resolved tc quit this course of life which I
had hitherto perfued with so much success. Ac
cordingly I entered on board the brig Sally, as
cook and made two voyages in her to Lisbon.
Upon my return, after exhausting my pay, I made
another voyage in the Fanny, Capt. Sinclair, to
Kingston in Jamaica : Which being finished in
nine months, I again visited London, and con
cluded to relinquifb the feafaring business for the
present. At the old place of refert I became ac
quainted with one Haynes and Jones,both of York
shire. They were partially initiated in the feience
of footpads. They soon proposed that I should re
sume my profeffion, and join them. My former
mode of life, though Angularly vicious, yet posses
sed many charms in my view, I therefore complied
with their request ; at the fame time doubting, if
they were possessed of fufficient courage and (kill
for companions to ode who had served under ex
perienced masters, and who considered himfelf at
the h^ad of the profeffion. Our firft object wa,to
assail the Newcastle ¥> which would be in Tot
tenham Court road at 8 o'clock in the evening.
We were on the spot irt season, and Mountain ad
dressed them thus: " My lads it is a hazardous
attempt—for God's fake make a bold stroke."
Upon the ^rrivzl cf the coach at half past 7 o'clock,
four miles rrotz Luodou, 1 seized the bridles if
the two foremoft horfes^ Jones and Haynes went
to the coach door, and said, " Deliver or death."
Lord Garnick and several others were passengers :
His Lordfllip said, " Yes, yes, I'll deliver," and
instantly difeharged a pistol at Jones, the contents
of which entered his left shoulder: Upon which
he and Haynes made their escape. The coach
man was then directed to drive on.—He replied,
'' There is a man who yet hlds the leading
horses." Lord Garnick then fired at me, but with
!)ut datrige j upon which I difeharged my pistol at
the coach, but to nd effea; Jones was so badly
wounded, that Hayne^and I were obliged tc carry
him into London upon our shoulders. We were
soon overtaken by two highwaymen, who had as
saulted Lord Garnick about 15 minutes before our
engagement, one of whom was badly wounded.
The next day we saw an advertisement offering a
reward.of 60 guineas for the detention of the rob
bers, and informing that it was supposed three
Were killed. This specimen of the enterprize of
my new. associates convinced me, that they were
not adepts in their occupation, and induced me to
quit their society. A .
The business which now seemed most alluring
to me, was that of bigb-wayman^ Considering
myfelf at the head of footpads,! aspired for a more
honorable employment, therefore determined to join
myfelf to the gang rfEghwaymen,whofe rendezvous
were at Broad St.CTKup Holborne,at the sign of
the Hampshire hog, and kept by a William Har
rison, a nativeSf the file of Man; Harrison wal
the fopport, the proteftor arid the landlord of this
whole company; The horses and accoutrements
Were kept and furnilhed by him and occasionally
fo,plied to adventurers. He inquired my name,
and finding that t was Mountain, who was con
federate with Hyde and Wilfon,he readily admitted
me to the fraternity. He alked if I dared take
a jaunt alone; and finding me willing for an,
thing, he quickly furniffied me with equipments
proper for the expedition. Mounted on aver,
fleet horse,& prepared with proper changes of drefy
1 fat out for Coventry about 90 miles from Lon
don. I made a great dispatch in travelling, and
about 10 o'clock the night after my departure, I
met Richard Watts coping out of a lane about
^[Vol. V.— -Numb. 227