I I - American Memory

[ 6]
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^he folkiving is an Account of Catherine
Hayes, voho was executed for being con-
cerned with Thomas Wood and Thomas
Billings, in the barbarous Murder of her
Husband John Hayes; likewife the Con-
feffion of Thomas Wood, and Thomas
Billings, of the ahovefaid barbarous Mur-
der.
CJ THE RINE HATE S, alias Mat/, the kttej
being the Name of her Parent?, was born in the
Yeiir 1690, on the Borders of Wariuickjhire, about four
Miles from Birmingham. Her Parents were of "ftry
jnean Circumftances, with whom llie lived for feveral
Years, but their Ihdigency did not permit them beftow-
ing any Education upon iier, on the contrary they Were
fieceffitatcd to apply to the Pariih for Relief, at which
Charge fhe was maintain'd for feveral Years. She even
in htr Childhood gave all the Signs of a fiery turbulent
1'emper, and an ungovernable Spirit, with an illiterate
Education, or rather none at all, gave a loofe to her
Paifions, whereby Ihe became ungovernable in her Be-
haviour.
In this manner fhe liv'd till about the Year 1705',
when feveral OiEcers being in that Neighbourhood beat-
ing up for Volunteers, and raifing Recruits, the Men
were quarter'd in and about that Neighbourhood.
Whether taken with their ConverTation, or that the
Charms of a Red Coat were fo alluring, or what other
Motive induc'd her to accompany them we know not,
but certain it is, that fhe rambled abroad with them for
fome Time, and to feveral Places; and when they left
Birmingham and its Neighbourhood, fhe accompanied
them