I I - American Memory

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of a tall Stature, he enter'd himfelf as a Soldier in a
Troop of Horfe Grenadiers, and ferved amongft them
till about a Year or two ago, when he was taken up for
Deer-ftealing, and put into a Country Goal, and having
been detain'd there for fome Time, a Gentleman fa-
vour'd him fo far as to get him difcharg'd ; but he did
not return to the Troop again, but enter'd into the Foot
Grenadiers, wliere he did not attend his Duty, but flrag-
gled in the Country, and would not forfake the Ac-
quaintance he had contrafted with_^Deer-ftealers. A
iliort Time before Chriftmas he became acquainted with
Wheeler the Evidence, Gregory, and fome others of that
Gang, who advifed him to join with them, and break
into Houfes in the Evening, and to rob Country Far-
mers, which he agreed to. He own'd the robbing Far-
mer Laurence in the manner the Evidence had depofed
againft him.
He own'd alfo, that they broke open the Cheft of
Thomas Laurence, Son to Mr. Laurence, and took away
all his Lirnlen, and every Thing that was valuable, and
likewife zo /. in Money ; he alfo confefled, that on the
7th of February in the Night, they enter'd the Houfe
of William Francis, and robb'd and rifled it of all the
Goods they thought proper for their Purpofe, particu-
larly thofe mention'd in the Indiftment. He alfo own'd
that they bound Mr. Francis and his Men in the Stable,
and Cow-Houfe, and that they wounded Mrs. Francis
in the Head, beat the Daughter and the Maid, and
committed a great many other extravagant Aftions. He
alledg'd indeed, that his Companions committed a great
many Cruelties, but it was not in my Prefence, and he
always difapprov'd of fuch Proceedings; and that forae-
times he kick'd them with his Foot, particularly when
he came in upon them, as they were threat'ning to burn
Farmer Laurence alive, if he would not tell them where
he had more Money. He confefled himfelf to have bcea
concern'd in three of thefe Robberies only, tho' it need
not to be doubted but he knew of many moi-e, and that
they took above 350/. and he got his Share of all the
VOL. II. P Plunder,