Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-01-19
CURIOUS REVOLUTIONARY DOCU
MENT

We give the following very curious docu.
ment-the confession Of an English Tory-as
affording aspecimen Of the character Of many Of
the men who filled the English ranks during
our struggles for independence. 1t is now we
believe, printed for the first time, and will be
read with INTEREST,"
The Life, Confession, and Dying Words, Of Capt.
n ss CIV sF wsS va. ess
cuted in London, the 10th August, 1871.
I, William Cunningham, was born in Dublin
Barracks, in the year 1873. My Father was
trumpeter in the Blue Dragons and at the age
Of eigh: years was placed with an officer as his
servant, in which station continued until was
sixteen, and being proficient in horsemanship,
was taken as an assistant to the riding master Of
the troop, and in the year ITO was made ser.
geant Of Dragons; but the peace coming the
year following, was disbanded. Being bred to
no profession, took up with woman who kept
a gin shop. in blind alley, near the Cole Quay;
but the house being searched for stolen goods,
and my doxy taken 10 Newgate, thought i most
prudent TO decamp; accordingly set off for the
North, and arrived at Drogheda, where in a few
months after, married the daughter Of an ex.
ciseman, BY whom had three sons
About the year liza, we removed to Newery,
where commenced the profession Of scawban.
ker, which is that Of enticng mechanics and
country people to ship themselves for America,
on promise Of great advantage, and then artfully
getting an indenture upon them, in consequence
OF which, on their arrival in America they were
sold, OF obliged to serve term Of years for their
passage. ] embarked at Newe'y in the ship
Needham for New York, and arrived at tina,
port the fourth day of August, liza, with some
lndented servants | kidnapped in Ireland, but
thou xvcro Tho tad ,,,N NJ, Vail -,
the bad usage they received from me during the
passage In that City used the profession Of
breaking the horses, and teaching young ladies
and gentlemen TO ride !; but rendering myself
obnoxious to the citizens in their infant struggle
for freedom, | was obliged to fly on board the
Asia man.of.war, and from thence to Boston
where my own opposition 10 the measures pur
sued by the Americans, in support Of thei
rights, was the first thing that recommended m,
to the notice Of General Gage and when tn,
war commenced, was appointed Provost Ma:
shall to the royal army which placed me in
situation to wreak my vengeance on Americans
shudder to think Of the murder have bee
accessory to, both with and without orders iron
government. especially while in New York, du
!, ring which time there were more than two thou
= sand prisoners starved in the different churche
! by stopping their rations, which sold.
= There were also two hundred and seventy
five American prisoners and obnoxious person
executed, out Of all which number there wer
: only about one dozen public executions, whic
chiefly consisted Of British and Hessian deser
4 tiers. The mode for private executions wa
|, thus conducted: A guard was despatched fror
the Provost, about halfpast twelve at night,
!. the barrack street, and the neighborhood of tn
upper barracks to order the people to shut the
! windows and doors on pain OF death, after whic
: the unfortunate prisoners were conducted, gag
!, ged, just behind the upper barracks, and hun
without ceremony, and there buried BY the &C
, pioneer Of the Provost.
n At the end of the war, I returned to Englan
e with the army, and settled in Wales, as bcin
9 cheaper place Of living than in any Of the poi
s ulous cities. but being at last persuaded to 3
8 to London, entered so warmly into the diss
!. slpations Of that capitol, that soon found my eli
!. cumstanccs much embarrassed. to relieve whic
= | mortased my half pay to an army agent; b'
that being soon expended. forged draft Il
|. three hundred pounds sterling on the Board
Ordinance, but being detected in presenting
: for acceptance,I was apprehended,tried and col
victed, and for that offence am here to suffer a
ignominious death.
beg the prayers OF AL good christians, ar
also pardon and forgiveness Of God for the mar
d horrid murders have been accessory to.
II VIM. CUNNINGHAM.