The Newhampshire gazetteer — Exeter, N.H., 1791-07-15 00:00:00, page 1

THE CONFESSION OF
THOMAS MOUNT,
Who ^as executed at Little-Refl (Rhoae-
Island) on Friday May 2jth, 1791 —'
'for Burglary.
(Concluded from our last)
Leaving Milford, M'Cormic 2nd
I fat out for New-York, where in
two or three days we fell in with another
of our companions, George Gardiner
(from Greenock, a famous key-maker.)
just before leaving New-York, where
M'Cormic stayed behind, I called to
my brother Adam and received about
four dollars from him ; prepared for oar
journey, we then set out for Philadelphia,
where next day after our arrival, Gar
diner and I opened a barber's /hop
in Water-street with a falfe key, and
stole razors, tooth drawers, &~. next day
I stole feme paper money ; some days
after fell in with John Lipton and
Daniel Kalaghan ; by agreement we
four fat out for Baltimore, upon cur way
through Charlfton, there, with a falfe
key, opened a store, and took about
twenty pounds worth of goods ; we
carried them as far as Sufquehanua ferry
and there hid them, and pursued our
journey. At Bufhtown we attempted to
break open a store, but oere djOovered,
yet we escaped. Arrived in Baltimore,
we fell in with our old friend Holmes,
and on the third day after Holmes and I
went to fetch the goods we had hid at
Susquehanna ferry ; we found them, as I
left them, and returned felling them by
the way. In Baltimore [ ilole a watch
and a furtout cut of the house ; a few
nights after we broke open a house and
stole a large quantity of clothing and a
piece of broadcloth- Gardiner and Ka
jaghan chose to remain in Baltimore,
, whilftl and Lipton should set off for An
napolis,& fell the goodswe had on hand :
At Annapolis Lipton was apprehended
for breaking open the store in Balti
more and imprisoned. Before Meft An
napolis, to mend my luck, I stole some
black ribbond and a few more trifles.
Again Kalaghan joined me, and another
companion (I cannot rememer his name.)
We three fat out for Alexandria, where
J fell in with James Brown ; he and 1
one day Role some silk handkerchiefs and
a beaver hat ; next day Gardiner and
Stewart joined us ; they had fled from
Alexandria, where they broke into a
shop and had taken a large quantity of
. goods, & hid them; next day they vent
for the goods they had hid, and we all
four in company fat out for Dumfries,
where I and Stewart were apprehended
and all the falfe keys found with us.
Gardiner and Brown escaped, Stewart
and 1 were thrown into Dumfries goal,
and thence carried to Alexandria. We
were tried, and nothing found against
us, neve/helefs we were all Sentenced
to lie in gaol a year and a day, or get
some one to be surety for our good be
haviour. In the second week of ourim
prifonment we broke gaol; At Wil
mington, on our way to Philadelphia,
we broke into a dwelling house and stole
a great many things, next day were
apprehended and sent to Newcastle gaol,
from whence in 2er 3 weeks,we escaped.
Arrived at Philadelphia, Ileft Stewart
and took another companion, one Grif
fin, puffed some counterfeit New- York
money, stole some handkerchiefs, a bea
ver hat, a furtout, and.two shawls, from
different shops ; next, in company with
Griffin and one Fogg,in the njght time,
broke into a store and took cheefe,fugar,
coffee, and several other grocery goods.
Fogg was apprehended, Griffin and I
escaped, and quickly leaving Philadel
phia, we fat out for New-York : On our
way, at Perthamboy we stole some black
silk handkerchiefs. Arrived at New*
York, Griffin, John Taylor and I broke
into a store belonging to Mr, Ford, and
Newhampfhire
FRIDAY, July 15, 1791.]
EXETE R, (New-Hamp/hire) Printed and Published by HENRY RANLET, at Nine Shillings per annum.
took a large quantity of shoes, tea, cher
ry rum, &c. next day, for this tranfadi
on we were all apprehended and tried ;
I got clear, my companions were bran
ded, getting the benefit of clergy, and
so were dismissed. Then Ford swore his
life against me, and got me that up in
prison about eight or nine months : I
got cut upon conditions of quitting the
place in twelve hours, and returned to
Philadelphia, where, next day after my
arrival, I dole a piece of chintz And a
piece cf calico, from a store in Market
tlreet ; a few nights after I and David
Griffin, and Logan, a taylor, in
frilhtown, broke open a^welli^g house
in Walnut- firect, and del? a large quan
tity of dry goods ; next day I and Grif
fin were apprehended, the goods were
found where we hid them in a church
then building ; I and Griffin were com
mitted to gaol ; next day after our im
prisonment, a man appeared who swore
high-way robbery again! )me, which I
was innocent of. After being confined
about eight weeks I broke out, and in :
company with George Williams and Da
niel Kalaghan set cff to pass through the
Jerfies; upon our way stole feme money,
about two dollars, from a man ir.ro wHofe
house we had gone to rest ourselves ; and
in.Allenflown we attempted to break open
a store, but did not fuccecd : thence to
Atiddletown,crofted over to Long.lfland;
thence to Huntington ; thence to Nor
walk, where we three broke open a
schooner and stole some clothes ; on the
fame night broke open a store belonging
to 'Squire Lockhart in Ncrwalk, from
whence we took about fevency or eighty
pounds in goods and some silver buckles,
and about two pounds in cash ; next
day we were apprehended and tried, firft
for robbing the schooner; I and Kalaghan
were found guilty and received io lash
es a piece, Williams got clear ; and
then we were all three committed to
gaol,& tried for breaking open the llore,
I took the blame upon myfelf and clear
ed the orher two, and received the pu
nishment 35 lashes and five years im
priionment. Eight or nine days after
my whipping I broke out of the gaol,
and I, Kalaghan, Kennedy and Willi
ams let off for Norwich Landing, with
an intention of breaking open a store,
but did not facceed. Upon the way we
Hole some Shirts and trowfers, and then
we parted, Kalaghan and Kennedy took
the road for Providence. Williams and
I to Norwich-L ending ; and at a dance
in Norwich-Landing 1 took a silk cloak
from a young lady, and fold it about two
or three miles from Pockatanock bridge,
and then fat off for Providence; here I
stayed and wrought a week or two with
Mr. Brownunder the name of Charles
Minor ; then leaving Providence I fat
off for Boston, where 1 fell in company
with James Williams for the firft time of
our connection. I stole some bukles, and
then, in company with Williams, set out
for Newbury-Fort, there I broke open a
schooner & took out of her some clothes
chocolate, and tobacco, and a bottle,
of rum : Williams flood upon the wharf
and helped to take the things; we then
fat off for Portfmruh, and on the way I
stole an axe and fold it for a pair of shoes.
At Portfmoutli I left Williams, and
returned to Newbury-Port, there I fell
in incompany with one Mr, Farrington,
a gentleman thief: Next night we two
broke open a dwelling house, and took
feme silk gowns and womens apparel out
of it ; there I got apprehended on ac
count of robbing a brig in Portsmouth,
having part of the goods with me that
were taken out of her by Williams, 1
was confined two or three days in gaol
and then liberated. Leaving Newbury-
Port I fat off for Boston alone, where I
broke open a fchconer and teck a parcel
of clothes.cut cf her ; from thence re
turnded to Providence, where 1 fell in
company with John Hickccck. Leav-
.caßtab
tf^l^«*?ra%%3i/
T H E
ing Providence in a few days, we two
fat off for Norwich-Landfog, there we
attempted to break open a store, and
while I was. lifting up Hickcock in at
the window, the gentleman of the house
alarmed us and we escaped : From thence
we went to New-London, where we
broke open a store and took some money
twenty or thirty shillings, and some cot
ton and silk handkerchiefs, &c. and then
set oft for Newport and fold some of the
goods in Newport ; here Hickccck and
Weathers broke open a store belonging
to Mr. John Hadwen ; for this 1 was
apprehended and committed to gaol
for two or three day.-, then was cleared,
and lac off for Hartford, upon the way I
attempted to break open a house in
Stonington, but being discovered I fled
out of the town, to Hartford, thence
returned towards Providence ; upon the
way broke open a dwelling house in
Connecticut, and stole some silver and
pewter fpcons, a hat, and tankard.
Carrying the goods with me I arrived
at Providence and fold them, here 1
worked with Mr. Brown a week or two
under the name of Charles Miner ; then
1 stole a pair of faces cut of Mr.
Rogers' fore where 1 had gone to receive
my p a y ; next I went to Nancy Smith
and told her I was a fortune-teller, and
repeating several things that I had heard
of her, die thought I was really a fortune
teller ; then < proposed to marry her,
and she approved of my offer ; then 1
laid 1 wanted to tel! Miss Sally Brown's
fortune,but could not in her father's house,
least I should offend him, and asked
whether it would be agreeabble. to bring
down Sally Brown to her room ; —but
this she could not do unless 1 was dil
guifed ; accordingly I desired her to give
me a cloak and a furtout, but my plan
was to runoff with them. All this while
I was aboard the* Waftrington, Captain
Donalfon, and Nightengale, as he tho't
he knew me, on board the Alliance fri
gate, but was not the purser, trusted me
with money in advance.
Leaving Providence with the advance
money, I fat out for Boston, there 1 took
some shawls ; from thence went to New
bury-Port, where I fell in company
with a young sailor going to visit his
friends, carrying force handkerchiefs and
shawls, we walked together about 14 or
15 miles, and at night we put up ai Mr,
Lovet's tavern between Newbury-Port
and Portsmouth*: In the night E robbed
him of all he had, tock about feur cr
five dollars in cash, a piece of calico,
and two or three shawls, a pair of ^ew
flockings, shoes, and buckles, a pair of
new trowfers, a new shirt, and a be^er
hat, a cotton and silk jacket, and a silk
flriped jacket, a pot of sweet pomatum,
two bocks, two letters and a parcel cf
oranges ; frem thence went to Boston by
way of Exeter ; arrived in Bellon, fell
in company with Robert Tieffon and
Thomas Sherridan, where I teck one or
two shawls, and set out frem Bcftcn to
go to Conneaicut, about ten miles from
PomLer, Treffcn and I attempted to
rob a hccfe, but were disappointed ;
then on we went to Pomfret, where we
all three were concerned in robbing a
waggon, ard took two pieces of heme
made beailkin, and on the fame night
broke open a blacksmith's shop, and got
feme tools wherewith to break open a
fore belonging to Lemming Grofver
rcr, teck about no pounds worth in
gecds, and about two or three dollars in
cash, then fat cff to Norwich Landing,
about tuc miles ftgrn N. Landing,
one Meuntfeer lives who is known to
this fort cf business, there we get ap
prehended, and sent to Windham goal ;
Sheridan turned evidence against us, we
were tried ard found guilty, and I re
ceived 40 bribes and to be imprisoned
fix months, Trffen 30, and to be im
prifened three months,'
Gazetteer.
Within the firft two months of our
imprisonment, Robert Treffon, William
Stanton, Gerfhom Palmer, and myfelf,
being all in one apartment, b.oke goal,
Treffon, Stanton, and myfelf went to
Voluntown, there Stanton left us, and
Treffon and I went to Boston, where I
stole two silk jacket patterns. Here
I met with William English, one of or
company, we three set off for Pottf
mouth ; there we attempted to rob a
store, but a fire breaking cut in the town
at that instant, prevented us : hearing
the fire called we ran to where he fire
was, there Treffon and 1 stole a jacket
from Oliver Whipple, Efq.in the pock
ets thereof were a forty pound note of
hand, a penknife and a comb ; next day
we were apprehended on suspicion cf
the fe r ting the house cn fire, bur were
acquitted ; then I fat chalone to Ken
nebunk, in MafTachufetrs, tafiv.?.rcof
Portsmouth, and there brnkec^pen a itore
belonging to Messrs, Coady & (fob,
and stole a large quantity of dry goods
and escaped about 70 miles, aca then
was apprehended, in ccrhe,erce ci an
advertisement, and commuted r o Old
York goal, whence after 3 weeks i broke
out and fat off for Porrirrouth. f he*,
next night after my arrival at Per t
moufe-1 broke cpen the house cf M : -
Chadwick, the gailor, and Hole feme
money and a quantity of mens' and wo
mans' clothes, and gave Tieflon (whom
I found there in prison) par ot the nio
ney and two saws, and then ler oft to
wards Newburyport: Next raoruvn^
Treffon called the gaol keeper and to",
him that it was I that robbed hiri, ^d
had given him two isw and ado "
money wherewith ic <f&& h/s^^''
then the gaoler sent a ptolcer cf ^ %/
who apprehended and carred me b<,\.
Portitaouth gaol, from thercc 1 was :&
ried to Exeter for my trial ; upon
fon's evidence 1 was feurd gcriD,L
[Numb. 2 of Volume 6—•
received no punishment by reason rh^ r
promised to inform cfHl thole period
who received fto en .g r ods, and bes 'he
house was set on fire; and rre:^^
the court adjourned ore n<r<n, at,-
I was carried back to Perdmeutb
gaol hbut before the mcn:h ^l"',,
broke gacl and set off fer Beften, and frh
in company with Joitph Keil) who hac
two coats 2nd jackets re bad four TO
bear cur exper.ces to Newport. ^ Vc
latoff for Newport, aio ir=r -dia^ly
upon our arrival, Kelly fit 1 ^ f 3!a C1
buckles Iron: Mr. -a Jr ", :i;u ?
mylelf beke eper a core '> fre, re get:
tools to break into Mr. Wickhamb foie,
but daylight coring er ve cork. not
complete our business No body ,cn.
ted out the flore to is. ! lad been atc
the day before. Then leaving Newport,
Kelley and I went to Mansfield,, and
there we parted ; th<r I broke open a
Acre belonging to Mr. G Ibert.and took
a quantity of goods, to the% ke of
about twenty pounds, and with # hefe
gccds set off for Voluntown to cue Mr.
Stedman's, receiver of ftcler gooes ;
there I again met with Kelly, and get
ting feme money of Stedman for feme cf
the gccds, I returned to Previderce,
where I got playing cards with a coun-.
tryman, cheated him of some money and
two dressed sheepskins : there Kelly re
commended to ne one Lewis who fop
plied ns with tools, and then Kelly and
I set cut to break Mr. Regers' store and
had almcft completed cur bufrets, but
being alarmed by two or three men,
made our escape, and took a couple of
horses and,rede almost to Voluntown.
At Volunteer we flayed cue day
and the next fell in company with James
IX illiars, who told me he was,going r °
Providence to ge r or beard Mr. Brown 3
Indiaman : 1 ;ft<c him tc gc with me
by the wav cf Stonington, and he ccn
fented ; so Williams, Kelly and myfelf
Hole 3' or 4 block ilk h^nckirelief
frem Mr. WickHr : Tv. K e lly <" d