{"id":79,"date":"2022-01-22T14:02:37","date_gmt":"2022-01-22T14:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/janehart.com\/jackkirby\/?page_id=79"},"modified":"2022-03-11T17:17:30","modified_gmt":"2022-03-11T17:17:30","slug":"11-mrs-brett-and-mrs-widdett","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/janehart.com\/jackkirby\/11-mrs-brett-and-mrs-widdett\/","title":{"rendered":"8 : Mrs Brett and Mrs Whiddett"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
… and that very night, about ten o\u2019clock we entered the house, and entered the pantry by getting thro\u2019 the pantry window from thence to the wash house, into the fore-room, and up stairs forcing open in our way, four doors which were properly secured with good locks..<\/p>\n

The noise awakened Mrs. Widdet,<\/strong> who thinking the cows were breaking in, called out as loud as she could to Mrs Brett<\/strong>, who was deaf, and slept in the next room. So far from being afraid of a discovery, I could not forbear laughing, when Mutton swore if I did not leave off, he would break my neck down stairs, then in a rage, burst open the door, entered her chamber, and swore he would blow her brains out if she spoke another word, demanding her keys and money, which she, with the greatest terror in her looks, complied with.<\/p>\n

He then took from her two half guineas, two gold rings from off her fingers and about 7s or 8s, in silver; we then proceeded to search the drawers, where we found six silver teaspoons, four table-spoons, and one very large spoon, marked with her father\u2019s and mother\u2019s names. Mrs Widdet<\/strong> earnestly begged to have that spoon returned her, but Mutton swore if he did not find the money he was in search of , she should not have one thing left. Bad as I was, I could not help feeling for the distress I had occasioned, and took an opportunity, unseen by my companion, to throw he spoon to her on the bed.<\/p>\n

We then attempted to enter Mrs. Brett\u2019s<\/strong> room, which was so strongly secured with bolts, locks and chests that we were obliged, by violence, to break through a panel in the middle of the door, when Mrs. Brett shrieked out, \u201cFor God\u2019s sake don\u2019t hurt me:.\u00a0 Mutton told her, is she spoke again he would blow her brains out.\u00a0 She then wrapt herself round in the bed clothes, and resigned herself to our mercy.<\/p>\n

At this moment, a party of smugglers came up to the house, and we began to be afraid of being taken, but placing myself at the head of one of the women, and Mutton at the other, we prevented them from crying out; meanwhile the smugglers (who wanted only refreshment) got off their horses close to the windows, and after staying about a quarter of an hour, mounted again and rode off.<\/p>\n

Finding ourselves out of danger, we began to rifle her pockets, and found 18s or 19s, five gold rings we took offer her fingers and breaking open her drawers found two large silver spoons and six tea-spoons, and at the bottom of a chest, a purse with eight or nine half-crows and a remarkable crown-piece. As we could not find the cash we were in search of, Mutton asked her where the money was she had received that day at Canterbury for the hay.\u00a0 She replied, \u201cI did receive it, but I left it with Colonel Webb<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

We then were resolved to carry off everything that was valuable, and having broken open another chest, found two silver mugs and apiece of India handkerchiefs, returning downstairs we examined the cupboards, and finding some beef stakes and cucumbers, we sat down and made a hearty meal, drinking about half a bottle of gin; we then went off with our booty and buried the plate between some bean rows in the Forty Acres, near St Dunstan\u2019s Canterbury.<\/td>\n

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Mrs. Widdett’s Family<\/h3>\n

Elizabeth Friend was born in 1706. In 1740 (age 34) she married John Widdett a widower.<\/p>\n

John had married Mary Russel in 1737, and they had had 6 children: John (born 1729), Jacob (born 1730), Mary (born 1732), Isaac (born 1734), Mary (born 1737) and Michael (born 1737).<\/p>\n

In 1749 their oldest son, John, died, age 20.<\/p>\n

On September 1752, the following announcement appeared in the Kentish Weekly Post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Kentish Weekly Post<\/h3>\n

16 September 1752<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whereas Isaac Widdett went away from his Father, John Widdett of Blean Common near Canterbury, on the 17th of August last; if he will return to his Friends, his Faults will be forgiven and kindly received and if any Person will be so kind as to give Intelligence of him to his Father aforesaid, the Favour will be thankfully acknowledg\u2019d \u2013 He is between 17 and 18 Years of Age, much pitted with the Small Pox, of a brownish Complection, dark brown Hair, about five Feet high; had on a light colour Twilly Coat, mark\u2019d on the back with a Horse Shoe; a dark-colour\u2019d Waistcoat without Sleeves, and Canvas Breeches.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

[Small pox was probably the single most lethal disease in 18th<\/sup> century Britain. It killed one-seventh to one quarter of its victims. Those who survived often had significant facial disfigurement (as it seems was the case with Isaac Widdett).]<\/p>\n

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Whether or not Isaac returned home it is not known. He probably did, for what is next recorded is his burial in Blean church a couple of years later in 1755. He was 19 years old.<\/p>\n

In 1758 Elizabeth\u2019 step-son, Jacob, married Elizabeth ANDERSON (born 1737) in Blean.<\/p>\n

In 1776 Elizabeth\u2019s husband John died, and she became a widow.<\/p>\n

In 1788 Elizabeth Widdett died, age 82 \u2013 this would have been a couple of years after the break-in described here. She she was buried in Blean church.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

After we divided the money, Mutton went back to Canterbury, and I returned home. The next morning I was taken in bed by a Constable and carried before a Magistrate, on suspicion of being an accomplice in the robbery ..<\/p>\n

but, while I was there, Mr. Hatton, the Keeper of St Dunstan\u2019s gaol, came in and informed the Magistrate that he had taken Mutton, as his sister\u2019s, in Turn-again-lane, and on searching him, he found a remarkable crown-piece<\/td>\n

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KENTISH GAZETTE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1 August 1786<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Last night, or early this morning, the house of Mrs. Whiddet, on Blean Common, was broke open and robbed of about thirteen pounds and some rings; Mrs. Whiddett and her sister being old and infirm were incapable making any resistance. They saw two men and supposed that two more persons were concerned in the robbery.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

I then turned evidence, told where the plate was hid and every particular relating to the robbery. To confirm what I had said, Mr. Hutton took me to the place where I had mentioned the plate was hid, and found everything to be true as I related.\u00a0 Mutton was then committed to take his trial for the robbery, and I as an evidence against him.<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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KENTISH GAZETTE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1 August 1786<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

On Friday was committed to St Dunstan’s Gaol, near this city, by John Baker, Esq, William Mutton on the oath of John Kirby, late of Blean. labourer, (an accomplice, who was also committed and admitted an evidence, and on the oaths of Elizabeth Whiddett and Susannah Brett, with having burglariously and felaniously broke open and entered their dwelling-house and stealing thereout four gold rings, two silver pint pots, seven large silver spoons, ten silver tea-spoons and a pair of tea-tongs; a crown-piece, two shillings, two sixpences, and four-pence farthing, their property.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

At the next Assizes he was capitally convicted ….<\/td>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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KENTISH GAZETTE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Friday 4 August 1786<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We hear from Maidstone that William Oliver, Joseph Bagley and John Williams charged with highway robberies in this county; John Wragg for the murder of Mary Savin in the Isle of ? and William Mutton for housebreaking have received sentence of Death. Mutton pleaded and complained that Kirby should escape who instigated him to commit the robbery. Kirby committed until he can find sureties in one pounds bond for his future good behaviour.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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KENTISH GAZETTE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Tuesday 8 August 1786<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

GOAL CALENDAR<\/span>
\nSUMMER ASSIZES MAIDSTONE<\/span>
\nMonday 31 July 1786<\/span><\/p>\n

William Mutton for breaking into the dwelling-house of Elizabeth Whiddett and Susannah Brett of Blean, and stealing thereout sundry articles of plate and money. DEATH<\/span><\/p>\n

John Kirby, admitted an evidence against W. Mutton. Remains for sureties<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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…. and afterwards hung on Penenden Heath.<\/p>\n

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I was sentenced to remain in gaol for twelve months, or find sureties for my good behaviour; which being out of my power, I remained in prison.<\/p>\n

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Capital Punishment<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In England in the 17th and 18th centuries criminal justice was severe. It was later termed the \u201cBloody Code\u201d although it was not referred to as such in its own time) due to the sharply increased number of people given the death penalty – even for crimes considered minor or\u00a0misdemeanour\u00a0by 21st century standards.<\/p>\n

In 1688 there were 50\u00a0offences on the statute book punishable by death, but that number had almost quadrupled by 1776,\u00a0and it reached 220 by the end of the century.<\/p>\n

Source:\u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>,<\/p>\n

Public executions<\/h3>\n

The British Library article,\u00a0Crime and punishment in Georgian Britain<\/em><\/a>\u00a0tells us that\u00a0most punishments during the 18th-century were held in public.<\/p>\n

\u201cExecutions were elaborate and shocking affairs, designed to act as a deterrent to those who watched \u2026<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

(In London) prisoners were transported to the gallows along a three-mile route by cart, often followed by a huge, jeering crowd numbering several thousand people. Prisoners were executed in front of these noisy, riotous audiences and many hangings resembled more of a fair than a solemn legal ceremony.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Other hangings, by contrast, were sombre affairs, accompanied by deep mourning and widespread commiseration for the condemned. White doves were sometimes released by the spectators as a symbol of their sorrow, and executions were accompanied by a hushed silence as the frightening moment of death arrived.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Penenden Heath<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Penenden Heath derives from the Saxon word \u00a0\u2018pinian\u2019 meaning \u2018to punish\u2019, which would date the site as a place for executions before the Norman Conquest.<\/p>\n

The List of Executions<\/a> on Penenden Heath shows that a\u00a0William Hutton<\/strong>\u00a0was executed on 17 August 1786 \u2013 however, names were often mis-spelt back then, so this was surely William Mutton.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe average number of executions was 80 per year with a peak of 219 in 1801. Crimes against property still featured heavily in these lists, with burglary being the crime in 438 cases and housebreaking in a further 70. The move towards abolition of the so called \u201cBloody Code\u201d during the latter part of the period had begun and was reducing the number of executions.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Commencing in 1862 all executions were applied only to those convicted of murder. Abolition of public executions came into force pursuant to the Capital Punishment (Amendment) Act passed by Parliament on the 29th of May 1868. Accordingly, as at that time all executions were moved from Penenden Heath to Maidstone Gaol.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The last hanging took place on Penenden Heath in 1830.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Tho\u2019 I turned evidence against Mutton, and was the cause of his being convicted, he bore me no ill will, and frequently conversed with me in the most friendly terms. The morning before he was executed, he talked with me for nearly two hours, giving me the best advice, and particularly begged of me to leave off going into the company of bad women, for \u201cyou know, Jack\u201d said he \u201cthat keeping their company has brought me to this, and will likewise bring you sooner or later, if you don\u2019t shun them\u201d.<\/p>\n

This was true, for when I worked, I wanted for no money or friends, and thieved chiefly to supply their endless wants. If the Magistrates would seriously endeavour to discourage their nocturnal meetings, it would save them a great deal of trouble, and prevent many a young man from coming to the gallows.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe bore me no ill will\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jack\u2019s story doesn\u2019t quite match with this report in the\u00a0Kentish Gazette:<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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KENTISH GAZETTE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Tuesday 22 August 1786<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

On Thursday morning last William Oliver, James Badly, John Wiliams and William Mutton were taken from Maidstone Gaol, and conducted to Penenden Heath, where after some time spent in prayer, they were executed. The three former had behaved since their condemnation very indecently, and one of them particularly so the place of execution, and were all three hanged their irons, with additional ones round their arms. Mutton behaved became a man in his unhappy situation, and regretted to the last that Kirby should be saved and he suffer for what they were both equally guilty of.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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> 9 : More stealing & house-breaking<\/a><\/p>\n

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Last updated: March 11, 2022 at 17:17 pm<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

… and that very night, about ten o\u2019clock we entered the house, and entered the pantry by getting thro\u2019 the pantry window from thence to the wash house, into the fore-room, and up stairs forcing open in our way, four doors which were properly secured with good locks.. The noise awakened Mrs. Widdet, who thinking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/janehart.com\/jackkirby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/79"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/janehart.com\/jackkirby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/janehart.com\/jackkirby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/janehart.com\/jackkirby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/janehart.com\/jackkirby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"http:\/\/janehart.com\/jackkirby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/79\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":881,"href":"http:\/\/janehart.com\/jackkirby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/79\/revisions\/881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/janehart.com\/jackkirby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}