One didn't have to step very far at all over the lines to get oneself hanged! Wow! Makes that think. Doreen ________________________________ From: Trevor via <northumbria@rootsweb.com> To: Trudi Barr <tabarr@shaw.ca>; "northumbria@rootsweb.com" <northumbria@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, September 5, 2014 3:24 AM Subject: Re: [NMB] Execution Records Many thanks for locating that source, Trudi. It's a pretty brutal punishment, eh? Trevor. On Thursday, September 4, 2014, Trudi Barr via <northumbria@rootsweb.com> wrote: > Hi again Trevor, > > Also found this page: > http://www.britishexecutions.co.uk/execution-content.php?key=2914 > which had the newspaper account listed below as well as the place of > execution (Dryburn) and method (hanging). > > *Monday, 15 August 1803 (Newcastle Chronicle)* > > *John Moses* of Durham City, guilty of a burglary in the dwelling house > of Benjamin Jackson on 10^th July 1803: stealing therefrom 70 yards of > muslin (valued at £10), 7 cotton neck handkerchiefs (valued at 10/-), 20 > pocket handkerchiefs (valued at £1) 5 pairs of cotton stockings (valued > at 7/6), 20 pieces of printed cotton (valued at £100) and a harden > wrapper (valued at 1/-). > > Trudi Barr, British Columbia, Canada > > .. > Please quote the minimum necessary to put your reply on context. Please > introduce yourself at the top of every post. > > The NORTHUMBRIA FAQ page is located at > http://www.bpears.org.uk/NorthumbriaFAQ/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NORTHUMBRIA-request@rootsweb.com <javascript:;> with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > .. Please quote the minimum necessary to put your reply on context. Please introduce yourself at the top of every post. The NORTHUMBRIA FAQ page is located at http://www.bpears.org.uk/NorthumbriaFAQ/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NORTHUMBRIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Doreen: I would say the opposite. In the late 18th and early 19th century there was always the threat of hanging if one committed a serious crime, but in fact very few of those who did really were hanged. Some 30 years ago (guess) John Smith published a paper in the Bulletin of Durham County LHS in which he followed up all cases in that period in Durham where someone had been indicted of a capital offence. Some were never brought to court ("no bill"). Others were tried and found not guilty. Others were found guilty of a capital offence but not sentenced to capital punishment - mostly transported. Of those sentenced to death, most were reprieved, either upon appeal or at the last minute before execution. Only about 4% (another guess) of those capitally indicted are known to have been executed. Of course the real proportion may have been higher than that as some cases could not be followed right through and we don't know what happened top the people concerned. However, there were enough cases to be statistically impressive and the result was a number around the 4% I have quoted. It is no doubt worthwhile asking ourselves why the general impression is that hanging was used more often then it really was. I would suggest that some of the answer may be that, in the days of public execution, a hanging was the occasion for a large crowd to gather and effectively a "party" would be held. That is the sort of thing one doesn't forget. It is interesting that, later on, it was Miners' Galas which produced scenes in the streets of Durham which had previously been found only at executions. Hangings were also the occasion for the publication of large amounts of handbills and other ephemera by the opportunist printers of Durham (or Newcastle, wherever the execution was to be). Everything from the prisoners' confession to poems describing his (or her) crime, would be hawked around the crowds for a penny or two. Although intended to serve on that day alone, some of them would be taken home and kept as a souvenir of the great day out, especially by those who could actually read, and understand, them. That would keep the memory of the execution alive until the handbill finally fell to pieces. Geoff Nicholson -----Original Message----- From: Doreen Welch via <northumbria@rootsweb.com> To: Trevor <tjwilliams42@gmail.com>; northumbria <northumbria@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 22:10 Subject: Re: [NMB] Execution Records One didn't have to step very far at all over the lines to get oneself hanged! Wow! Makes that think. Doreen ________________________________ From: Trevor via <northumbria@rootsweb.com> To: Trudi Barr <tabarr@shaw.ca>; "northumbria@rootsweb.com" <northumbria@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, September 5, 2014 3:24 AM Subject: Re: [NMB] Execution Records Many thanks for locating that source, Trudi. It's a pretty brutal punishment, eh? Trevor. On Thursday, September 4, 2014, Trudi Barr via <northumbria@rootsweb.com> wrote: > Hi again Trevor, > > Also found this page: > http://www.britishexecutions.co.uk/execution-content.php?key=2914 > which had the newspaper account listed below as well as the place of > execution (Dryburn) and method (hanging). > > *Monday, 15 August 1803 (Newcastle Chronicle)* > > *John Moses* of Durham City, guilty of a burglary in the dwelling house > of Benjamin Jackson on 10^th July 1803: stealing therefrom 70 yards of > muslin (valued at £10), 7 cotton neck handkerchiefs (valued at 10/-), 20 > pocket handkerchiefs (valued at £1) 5 pairs of cotton stockings (valued > at 7/6), 20 pieces of printed cotton (valued at £100) and a harden > wrapper (valued at 1/-). > > Trudi Barr, British Columbia, Canada > > .. > Please quote the minimum necessary to put your reply on context. Please > introduce yourself at the top of every post. > > The NORTHUMBRIA FAQ page is located at > http://www.bpears.org.uk/NorthumbriaFAQ/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NORTHUMBRIA-request@rootsweb.com <javascript:;> with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > .. Please quote the minimum necessary to put your reply on context. Please introduce yourself at the top of every post. The NORTHUMBRIA FAQ page is located at http://www.bpears.org.uk/NorthumbriaFAQ/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NORTHUMBRIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message .. Please quote the minimum necessary to put your reply on context. Please introduce yourself at the top of every post. The NORTHUMBRIA FAQ page is located at http://www.bpears.org.uk/NorthumbriaFAQ/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NORTHUMBRIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Apologies if I have missed anyone already mentioning this, but for anyone interested in this subject, it is worth doing a search in the Class HO47 in the National Archives catalogue (http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ ). This is the Home Office Judges Reports on criminals. Searching on 'HO47 AND Durham' lists quite a number of reports on sentences from Durham, and many of these items concern pleas for clemency. The list only provides a summary. The actual documents give further details, I have one for a Whitby case which outlines the case, and lists reasons for and against clemency, and a large list of local people supporting the plea. The following is an example from the catalogue: "HO 47/8/58 1789 Aug 11 Report of John Wilson on 2 prisoners capitally convicted/sentenced at Durham Assizes and recommended for mercy on the conditions set against their names: 1. Elizabeth Jones alias Horner, convicted on 31 July 1787 but sentenced on 15 July 1788, for felony and house breaking. Grounds for clemency: served 2 years in prison and 'some favourable Circumstances' have appeared. Initial sentence: death. Recommendation: free pardon. 2. John Adamson, convicted on 15 July 1788, for felony and sheep stealing. Grounds for clemency: 'some favourable Circumstances' have appeared. Initial sentence: death. Recommendation: 14 years transportation." Dave

I looked at it too Doreen, and what I found was so sad was the young age of some of them. I didn’t see any of the names in my family line, but guess you never know when you keep going back. Sheila Crocheters are to be given all the time and stash they require, other's are to pick up the slack these noble people cannot get too. copyright.....by me...the crocheter -----Original Message----- From: Doreen Welch via Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2014 9:46 AM One didn't have to step very far at all over the lines to get oneself hanged! Wow! Makes that think. Doreen ________________________________ From: Trevor via <northumbria@rootsweb.com> To: Trudi Barr <tabarr@shaw.ca>; "northumbria@rootsweb.com" <northumbria@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, September 5, 2014 3:24 AM Subject: Re: [NMB] Execution Records Many thanks for locating that source, Trudi. It's a pretty brutal punishment, eh? Trevor. On Thursday, September 4, 2014, Trudi Barr via <northumbria@rootsweb.com> wrote: > Hi again Trevor, >