Executions in Sussex 1735-1799

294 death sentences led to 88 confirmed executions and 10 probable ones. Executions were carried out at Horsham unless otherwsie stated.

Assize dateNameCrimeExecution date
1735 – 1 sentence that resulted in death through peine fort et dur
S  2 August John Weekes            Murder          F  11 August
1736 – No executions
1737 – 2 executions
M 14 MarchAlexander Screwens   Horse theft??/March or April
S 30 JulyEdward Daw             Housebreaking ??/August
1738 – 1 execution
M 13 MarchThomas Smith           Housebreaking ??/March or April
1739 – No executions
1740 – 2 probable executions where no reprieves have been traced
M 24 MarchJohn Whatman    Burglary??/April
“Robert Knowlden    Burglary??/April
1741 – 2 confirmed executions, plus 3 probable where no reprieves have been traced
M 16 MarchLawrence Holliday      Murder of Thomas Avann             W  1 April
Hanged in chains near murder spot on Fairlight Common 
“Richard Allen         Burglary??/April
“James Harrison &    Housebreaking??/April
“Thomas Marlen    Housebreaking??/April
S 18 JulyPhilip Dean          Highway robbery F 7 August
1742 – 3 probable executions where no reprieves have been traced
M  9 AugustEdward Farrier &    Highway robbery ??/August
“James Morphey Highway robbery ??/August
“James Horley       Horse theft??/August
1743 – No executions
1744 – 1 probable execution where no reprieve traced
M 19 MarchWilliam Rapley         Horse & sheep theft??/April
1745 – 2 executions
M 18 MarchJohn Vinall  Horse theftS   6 April
“John Wharton           Horse theftS  27 April
1746 & 1747 – No executions
1748 – 1 execution
M 28 MarchBenjamin Killingback   Murder of Henry CollierUnknown
1749 – 15 executions 
7 men tried by Special Commission  at Chichester for the murders of William Galley and Daniel Chater.   
for the murders of William Galley and Daniel Chater.  Hanged at Chichester
M 16 JanuaryBenjamin TapnerMurderTh.  19 January 
“John CobbyMurderTh.  19 January 
“John HammondMurderTh.  19 January 
“William CarterMurderTh.  19 January 
“Richard Mills, Sr.MurderTh.  19 January 
“Richard Mills, Jun.MurderTh.  19 January 
Carter was hanged in chains near Rake, Tapner on Rook’s Hill near Chichester 
and Cobby and Hammond on the beach at Selsey Isle.
1749 – Assizes
M 13 MarchJohn Mills            Murder of Richard HawkinsM 20 March
Hanged in chains on Slindon Common
“Henry Shearman         Murder of William Galley Tu. 21 March
Hanged in chains at Rake
“John Brown          Highway robberyS  1 April
“Robert Fuller       Highway robberyS  1 April
“Lawrence Kent (Kemp)Stole in dwelling houseS  1 April
“Thomas Kent (Kemp)Stole in dwelling houseS  1 April
“Hugh MacCullam         Murder of Richard Hall??/March/April
S 29 JulyEdmund Richards        Murder of William GalleyW  9 August
Hanged in chains on Hambrook Common
“George Chapman         Aiding and abetting murderS  19 August 
All the executions in 1749 (including those at Chichester), except those on 1st April, were of members 
of smuggling gangs
1750 – 5 confirmed executions, plus 1 probable (Maccony)
M 26 MarchThomas Carey           Aiding and abetting murder??/April
“William England        Robbed dwelling house??/April
“John Jeffrey         Highway robbery??/April
“Patrick MacconyStole in dwelling house??
M  6 AugustIsaac Adrian           Aiding and abetting murder??/August
“Patrick Tobin          Highway robbery??/August
1751 – 2 executions
M 25 MarchElizabeth LewesMurder of her male bastard ??/April
S 10 AugustJohn Daw               Burglary??/August
1752 – 4 executions
M 23 MarchThomas Prestwood     Burglary??/April
“John Heath             Highway robberyS  25 April
M 20 JulyAnn Whale &   P/T murder her husband James F   7 August
“Sarah Pledge      Aiding and abetting above murderF   7 August
Both were executed at Broadbridge Heath, Ann Whale being burned at the stake
1753 – No executions
1754 – 2 executions
M 25 MarchSamuel Shefford        Highway robberyTu. 30 April
M 19 AugustJohn Millet (Mills)         Horse theft??/September
1755 – 1757 – No executions
1758 – 2 executions
S 22 JulyJohn Noyse Aiding and abetting murderTh. 27 July
“John WeakAiding and abetting murderTh. 27 July
1759 – 1 execution
S 4 AugustThomas Ansell          Aiding and abetting murderTh. 2 or 9 August
1760 – 1 execution
M 24 MarchJohn Bulbeck        ForgeryS  19 April 
1761 – 1763 – No executions
1764 – 1 execution
M 26 MarchSarah Young            Murder of her male bastardF 30 March
1765 – 1768 – No executions
1769 – 1 execution
M 13 MarchJohn Ney          Highway robbery S  25 March
1770 – No executions
1771 – 1 execution
M 18 MarchJohn Upperton        Highway robbery       S  6 April
Hanged in chains at Burpham
1772 – No executions
1773 – 3 executions
M  9 AugustWilliam Stemp          Highway robbery M  30 August
“Ambrose Cannon         Aid and abet murder M  30 August
“Richard Bridger        Housebreaking M  30 August
1774 – 1 execution
M  1 AugustThomas Jarrett      Horse theftS  20 August 
1775 – No executions
1776 – 2 executions
M  5 AugustAnn Cruttendon         Murder of her husband, Joseph    Th.  8 August
Burned at the stake
“Richard Tomkins        At largeS  24 August
1777 – 1779 – No executions
1780 – 1 execution
M 20 MarchWilliam Garrett        Murder of his wife, ElizabethTh. 23 March
1781 – 2 executions
M 19 MarchJoseph Soane  Highway robberyS  14 April
F 10 AugustNicholas Vinall        Rape of Martha Thomas (child)M  27 August
1782 – No executions
1783 – 4 executions
M 17 MarchZachariah Smith        BurglaryS   5 April
F 15 AugustThomas Jones &BurglaryS  23 August
“Robert ParsonsBurglaryS  23 August
“John Beach           HousebreakingS  23 August
1784 – 2 executions
M 22 MarchWilliam Darby (30)     HousebreakingS  17 April
“Joseph Varnfield (24)  BurglaryS  17 April
1785 – 2 executions
M 21 MarchBenjamin Kennard       Stole in dwelling houseS   9 April
M 18 JulyJohn Carpenter         Cattle theftS   6 August
1786 – 5 executions
M 20 MarchWilliam Edwards        Highway robberyS   8 April
“Joseph Clark          HousebreakingS   8 April
“William Hartley  HousebreakingS   8 April
M  7 AugustJames Wells    Horse theftS  26 August
“Francis Fowler         BurglaryS  26 August
1787 – 3 executions
Tu. 27 MarchJames Wilder (21)      Highway robbery S  14 April
“Richard Scipio Bristow Robbed dwelling houseS  14 April
“Charles Roberts     Highway robberyS  14 April
1788 – 1 execution
F 11 JulyWilliam Still          Horse theftS  26 July
1789 – 1 execution
M 23 MarchJames Winn            Horse theftS  11 April
1790 – 8 executions
M 22 MarchRichard Grazemark Murder of Jemima MartenS  27 March
“Cooper Goodsiff      Horse theftS  17 April
“George Summer    BurglaryS  17 April
“John Saunders         Accessory to burglaryTh. 29 April
F 23 JulyPhilip Davy            Highway robberyS   7 August
“William Brook          Horse theftS   7 August
“James West  &          Horse theftS   7 August
“Thomas Smith       Horse theftS   7 August
1791 & 1792 – No executions
1793 – 2 executions
M 18 MarchEdward Howell  &Highway robberyTu. 23 April
“James Rook     Highway robberyTu. 23 April
Hanged at Peterdene Lane, near Shoreham, afterwards in chains.
1794 – No executions
1795 – Special Commission – 2 executions
W  27 MayWilliam SansonRiotS 13 June
W  27 MayWilliam SykesRiotS 13 June
1795 – General Assize – 1 execution
F 24 JulyWilliam Midwinter      Highway robberyS   8 August
1796 & 1797 – No executions
1798 – 1 execution
F 27 JulyThomas Hilton          Highway robberyS   11 August
1799 – 3 executions
M 25 MarchRobert Drewitt     Highway robbery              S  13 April
“William Drewitt   Highway robbery              S  13 April
Hanged in chains on North Heath Common, near Midhurst.
F 19 JulyElizabeth Lavender (19) Murder of her male bastardM  22 July


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