Jonathan Heppell
Founding Member · March 18 at 3:45 PM
Recent discussion with fellow researcher Gil Langfield re the trial, conviction and reprieve of Mary Davis….
[Gil] … I spent some time in the Shropshire Record Office in 2007 ( and also at Kew) looking for the trial and prison documents of Mary Davies/Bishop. I made the following notes:
From the Shrewsbury Chronicle of Saturday 19 March 1785, page 3 ........
At our Assizes, which ended on Wednesday night last [16 March] . . . .
The nine following persons were also capitally convicted and received sentence of death, viz. William Williams for burglariously stealing one hundred and thirty pounds, and upwards, the property of Mr Edward Jeffreys; Edward Edwards, for burglariously stealing a considerable sum of money, the Property of Robert Pemberton Esq.; Sarah Davies for house-breaking; William Griffiths, for stealing a black mare; Mary Davies, Richard Playfield, Roger Phyfield, Mary Boulton alias Bolton, William Evans and William Hotchkiss, for burglaries. The six latter are reprieved; and William Williams, Edward Edwards and Sarah Davies, left for execution - Joseph Owen, for receiving a copper tea-kettle, knowing it to be stolen was ordered to be transported for 14 years . . . . .
[Jon] … I have previously encountered the Shrewsbury Chronicle account, which was reproduced (as still happens in modern times) in The British Chronicle or Pugh’s Hereford Journal, March 31.
http://www.executedtoday.com/…/1785-three-at-shrewsbury-in…/
What disturbed me most about that article was the reported execution, on March 26, of Sarah Davies for house-breaking. Whilst Mary's connection with the Griffith Davies family of the Diddlebury Parish is speculative and unproven, that family comprised of four daughters, Ann, Mary, Sarah and Suzanne. It is horrific to contemplate that Mary had to deal not only with her own conviction, but possibly the brutal death of a sister. We know that an Ann Davies was Mary's co-accused, and that Mary's first and eighth grandchildren were name Susannah. Names DO run in families.
Also evidenced by the article is the confirmation of the reprieve of Mary and others, which undermines a date in December which is touted elsewhere by other researchers.
NOR was this the first criminal enterprise for these Davies/Davis women ….
From the Crown Minute Books ASSI 2/4 at Kew Archives ....
Mary Davis and Ann Davis: for feloniously stealing seven linsey aprons value 6/- one pair of woollen stockings value 2/- goods of Edward Bowen; two woollen bedgowns value 2/-; one linsey petticoat value 2/- goods of Sarah Cound[?] on 30 November 25 George 3 [1784?] at the Parish of Diddlebury.
The 31 March article concludes .... The hangings took place on March 26. I wonder if these bodies, similarly to those executed on the 18th, were also delivered to the surgeons to be anatomized.
Founding Member · March 18 at 3:45 PM
Recent discussion with fellow researcher Gil Langfield re the trial, conviction and reprieve of Mary Davis….
[Gil] … I spent some time in the Shropshire Record Office in 2007 ( and also at Kew) looking for the trial and prison documents of Mary Davies/Bishop. I made the following notes:
From the Shrewsbury Chronicle of Saturday 19 March 1785, page 3 ........
At our Assizes, which ended on Wednesday night last [16 March] . . . .
The nine following persons were also capitally convicted and received sentence of death, viz. William Williams for burglariously stealing one hundred and thirty pounds, and upwards, the property of Mr Edward Jeffreys; Edward Edwards, for burglariously stealing a considerable sum of money, the Property of Robert Pemberton Esq.; Sarah Davies for house-breaking; William Griffiths, for stealing a black mare; Mary Davies, Richard Playfield, Roger Phyfield, Mary Boulton alias Bolton, William Evans and William Hotchkiss, for burglaries. The six latter are reprieved; and William Williams, Edward Edwards and Sarah Davies, left for execution - Joseph Owen, for receiving a copper tea-kettle, knowing it to be stolen was ordered to be transported for 14 years . . . . .
[Jon] … I have previously encountered the Shrewsbury Chronicle account, which was reproduced (as still happens in modern times) in The British Chronicle or Pugh’s Hereford Journal, March 31.
http://www.executedtoday.com/…/1785-three-at-shrewsbury-in…/
What disturbed me most about that article was the reported execution, on March 26, of Sarah Davies for house-breaking. Whilst Mary's connection with the Griffith Davies family of the Diddlebury Parish is speculative and unproven, that family comprised of four daughters, Ann, Mary, Sarah and Suzanne. It is horrific to contemplate that Mary had to deal not only with her own conviction, but possibly the brutal death of a sister. We know that an Ann Davies was Mary's co-accused, and that Mary's first and eighth grandchildren were name Susannah. Names DO run in families.
Also evidenced by the article is the confirmation of the reprieve of Mary and others, which undermines a date in December which is touted elsewhere by other researchers.
NOR was this the first criminal enterprise for these Davies/Davis women ….
From the Crown Minute Books ASSI 2/4 at Kew Archives ....
Mary Davis and Ann Davis: for feloniously stealing seven linsey aprons value 6/- one pair of woollen stockings value 2/- goods of Edward Bowen; two woollen bedgowns value 2/-; one linsey petticoat value 2/- goods of Sarah Cound[?] on 30 November 25 George 3 [1784?] at the Parish of Diddlebury.
The 31 March article concludes .... The hangings took place on March 26. I wonder if these bodies, similarly to those executed on the 18th, were also delivered to the surgeons to be anatomized.