I I - American Memory

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himfelf to be a near Relation to Mrs. Hayes, by what
Means he would not tell; that he alfo believ'd himfelt
to be a Baftard, but had no Knowledge of his Parents,
other that a Shoe-maker in the Country, fince dead, al-
ways paffed for his Father ; that he was brought up
in the Country, and put to School, where he learned to
Read and Write ; that he was afterwards put Appren-
tice to a Taylor in the Neighbourhood, with whom he
ferv'd his Apprenticeihip; after the Expiration there-
of he came to Town, and lodging with Mr. Hayes,
work'd Journeywork in Momnouth-ftreet, and other
Places in the Neighbourhood, till he was drawn in to the
Commiifion of the Faft for which he fufFerM ; that flie
had not told him any Thing of his being her Son until
after her Condemnation, and fome few Days before
their Execution.
But the moft certain Opinion is, that he was found in
a Ba&et upon a Common, not far from where flie
dwelt in the Country, before ftie married Mr. Hayes ;
that he was at the Time of his Execution about 22 or
23 Years of Age ; whereas ihe had by her own Con-
feffion, been married to Mr. Eaye's about 20 Years and 8
Months; that he was put out to Nurfe at the Charge
of the Parifli, to People whofe Names were Billings,
from whence he deriv'd that. Name ; that when of Age
fufficient, he was at the Parilh Charge likewife put out
Apprentice to one Mr. Wetherland a Tayhr, to whom
they gave 40 s. with him. 'Tis poffible he might be a
Natural Child of Mrs. Hayes\, born in her Rambles
(of which we have before fpoken) before her Marriage,
and dropt by her where he was found.
Billings had the Charafter of a fober, honeft young
Man, yet fiiewed too much Stupidity in his Behaviour,
and appear'd too much reftrain'd and infiuenc'd by Mrs.
Hayes, wherefore he was not fo ingenuous in divers
Parts of his ConfelTion after Sentence, as he had beeri
before, but evaded feveral Queftions that were afk'd
him, efpecially in Mrs. Hayes"^ Company ; otherwife he
feem'd to have a very great Remorfe of Confcience for
the