Page 66 - All About History - Issue 26-15

Heroes & Villains
DICK TURPIN

Allies

Tom King
Nicknamed the ‘Gentleman
Highwayman’, King’s first
encounter with Turpin happened
when Turpin tried to rob him.
When his attempts failed, the two
joined forces as a crime duo, and
it was because of King’s influence
that Turpin turned away from
petty crime and began his career
as a highwayman.
Samuel Gregory
A blacksmith by trade, Gregory
was also leader of a gang of deer-
stealers, known as the Essex gang.
They were renowned for their
deadly raids on farmhouses and
poaching deer in the Forest of
Waltham. The gang needed a way
to dispose of the deer, and Turpin,
then a young butcher, was the
perfect candidate.

Evading the law for the first time, Turpin’s life
began to change. He went from supplementing his
business by stealing livestock to making a living
as a career criminal. He spent a short time as a
smuggler, curtailed by the intervention of customs
officers. He then joined up with the Essex Gang –
notorious deer stealers in Epping Forest. His crimes Turpin’s infamous ride from
within the gang and alone were vast. London to York on Black Bess
But this was not enough for the ambitious is thought to be fictional
Turpin, who had quickly become leader of
the Essex gang, and soon the group turned to highwayman. This partnership ended, however, Now living under the alias John Palmer, Turpin
housebreaking. They first attacked the house of Mr when Turpin accidentally shot King while they was eventually captured more than a year later, at
Strype, an elderly shopkeeper in Watford, stealing were trying to escape from the authorities. the Green Man Inn in Welton, East Yorkshire, and
all his cash but leaving him unharmed. After much criminal activity, on his own and then lodged in the Beverley House of Correction
Then, on 11 January 1735, Turpin and five gang with his gang, on 4 May 1737 Turpin committed until he was transferred to York Castle.
members forced their way into the house of a man the crime that would bring him to the It was in York Castle jail that Turpin made
named Saunders; they found the family playing gallows. The keeper of Epping Forest the fatal mistake of writing to his
cards. They broke open a desk and chests and had received information that brother-in-law. In the letter, dated 6
grabbed £100 and a quantity of plates. Not content Turpin might be hiding in a cave Although February 1739, Turpin asked that
with their haul, they ransacked the larder and the there. The reward was £900 for his brother provide a character
wine cellar. After helping themselves to dinner and his capture. The keeper sent Turpin’s family reference, signing the letter
drinks, they left and went to an inn in Woolwich Thomas Morris, one of his knew he was the ‘John Palmer’. Unfortunately
to carry on celebrating. Later that night they broke servants, accompanied by a for Turpin, the letter was
into an empty house and stashed the loot. higgler (travelling produce most wanted man in returned unopened as
In the following weeks, Turpin gathered buyer) to apprehend him. thecountry,they his brother refused to pay
information about an elderly woman living in They came across Turpin, the postage, not knowing
Loughton who had significant savings in her who, thinking they were nevergaveuphis anyone living in York. The
home. On 1 February 1735, Turpin and his cronies poachers, said: “There are no location letter found its way to Saffron
broke into the house of ‘the old widow Shelley’. hares in this thicket,” in the hope Walden, where James Smith,
Confronting her, the gang demanded to know they might go on their way. “No,” a former teacher of Turpin’s, saw
the whereabouts of her horde, but she refused to replied Morris, “but I have a Turpin.” the letter in the post office, recognised
tell them. Turpin, outraged, was recorded to have With that he demanded Turpin surrender, but the handwriting and immediately informed
said: “God damn your blood, you old bitch, if you the crook was quick on his feet, and backed into Thomas Stubbing, justice of the peace. Stubbing
won’t tell me I’ll set your arse on the grate!” After the cave to get his carbine. Morris was taken off his opened the letter and Smith’s testimony confirmed
she refused to answer, according to The Newgate guard and paid with his life as Turpin shot him. that John Palmer and Dick Turpin were one and
Calendar, he did exactly that. For the next few The higgler ran, fearing he would be next. the same person. Turpin had used part of his
weeks Turpin had a number of narrow escapes, but A few days later, posters appeared offering mother’s maiden name of Parmenter in an attempt
continued his robberies, and at some point took an award of £200 to anyone who could provide to deceive the authorities. This was the end of the
up with Matthew ‘Tom’ King, another notorious information on Turpin’s whereabouts. road for Turpin; his fate was sealed.
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