I I - American Memory

[40]
His Father dying fome Years before he left the Coun-
try, his Mother, who then kept a little Ale-houfe at
the Place before-mentioned, being left with a Charge of
Children, he was very dutiful and induftrious in aflifting
her, and by his Labour was very inftrumental in the
Support of the Family; fometimes doing Hufbandry,
Har\'eft, or Labourers Work, according as the fame
offered; at other Times being employed as a Tapfter, in
drawing Drink in feveral Inns in the Country, till fome
few Months before the Murder was committed, he h-id
a Delire to come to London, which he did, and behav'd
himfelf very regularly and diligently in fuch Bufinefs as
he could get, but not being fettled in any certain Place
of Work, he was fearful of being preffed, and remem-
bering himfelf of his Countryman Hayes, he went to
fee him, to whom relating his Apprehenfions, and w.int
of Bufinefs at the fame Time, Mr. Hayes invited him
to come and lodge with Billings, and promifed to en-
quire out for Bufinefs for him : He had not been long '
there before Mrs. Hayes took the Opportunity to pro-
pofe to him the defigncd Intention Ihe had of murd'ring
her Hufband, which at firft he refufed with Abhorrence,
but at laft was over perfuaded by her artful Intreaties,
and his being in a great Meafure intoxicated when the
I'aft was committed, brought him to a Compliance.
There are various Opinions and Conjeftures of '•Tho.
Billings as to his Birth and Parentage ; Mrs. Hayes her-
felf, fome few Days before the Execution, affirm'd him
to be her own Son, lav/fuUy begotten by Mr. Hayes
after her Marriage with him, and that he was 20 Years
of Age at his Execution i that Mr. Hayes not loving
him when an Infant, he was put out to her Relations to
Nurfe, and took the Name of Billings from his God •
father who was of that Name; but as none of Mr.
Hayes''% Relations knew or heard of her ever having had
any fucii Child, and as 'tis certain fhe, even till the very
Time of her Death, prevaricated in feveral Things,
there is little Reafon to believe it to be fo. The only
Account he could give of himfelf was, that he believ'd
himfelf