Strays .......... Perhaps

by Mrs Joan Turnbull

Historian Vol 7 No 6 September 1987

Recently, while researching for a Canadian cousin, I examined the Christenings, Marriages and Burials registers of the parish of St Sidwell, Exeter, Devon, on film at the genealogical library in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Crawley.

It was noted in the burial registers that many of the men who were executed had 'out of County' names, including a fair sprinkling of Irish ones. Exeter, of course, was a heavily garrisoned city but the registers do not always show if the deceased were soldiers. Others would be victims of the Civil War.

Names have been taken down for the period being researched, which was from the commencement of the records until 1763. Also noted are some of the strange and macabre endings of those poor souls. All spellings are verbatim.

SOMEWHERE, SOMEONE HAS SOMEBODY MISSING ...

Clement Bowden prisoner, executed 29 July 1587.
Edmund Caden prisoner, executed for murder 27 March 1606.
Thomas Tooker sometime sord barer of the cytie of Exeter
and executed at Heavitree for poysininge
of his wife 23 March 1612.
Philip Smyth executed for murder 7 April 1627.

29 July 1598 Richard Savidge executed at the gallows.

Buried 14 Apr 1655 Edward & Mary West alias Hamlyn s & d of William were
scalled with hott liquor brecking out of Mr Roger Cheekes
furnace.
Buried 3 May 1655 Jeremie Whiting s of Herbert being scalled with hott liquor
at Mr Roger Cheekes brewery.
Buried 28 June 1649 William Wills who died with a damp of the well, at the sign
of the "White Hart" in South Gate Street, St Sidwell.
Buried St Sidwell William Herring executed at Heavitree.
17 Aug 1652.

Buried Mr Richard Hossington
8 May 1655 Mr Richard Reeves
St Sidwell Mr Thomas Hilyeard all buried at Sidwell's
Mr Thomas Poulton church and churchyard
Mr Edward Davies after being executed
Mr Edward Willeis together at Heavitree.
Mr John Giles
William Pearce who died in the high gaole being one of the
Company of Gentlemen.
Mr Hugh Groves beheaded in the castle of Exon being one of the company of Gentlemen.

28 March 1666 Mark Branke & Jane Cox executed at Heavitree.

Buried St Sidwells Thomasin Turner the 1st that the bell was told out
7 Aug 1671 for after thar hanging up.

William Vento alias Penton executed at Heavitree 31 Aug 1739.
James Tickner (soldier) executed at Heavitree 31 Aug 1739

Peter Wroe (soldier) shot for desertion 30 Apr 1742.
Daniel Kennard executed at Heavitree (nr Exeter) 30 Apr 1742.

David Gibbons executed at Heavitree (nr Exeter) 17 Apr 1743.
Richard Bond executed at Heavitree 1749.
Thomas Wilson executed at Heavitree 1749.
John Leonard executed at Heavitree 1750.
Edward Murphy executed at Heavitree 1750.
John Leonard executed at Heavitree 1750.
Charles Pendrick executed at Heavitree 1755 15 Aug

Thomas Jone 23 Apr 1756.

Richard Edwards ) executed same day 31 March 1756.

Samuel Dennis ) executed same day 31 March 1756.

Christian Perkins ) executed same day 31 March 1756.

George Lemon ) executed same day 31 March 1756.

Henry Johnson ) executed same day 31 March 1756.

John Reynolds ) executed same day 31 March 1756.

Jonathan Homer ) executed same day 31 March 1756.

John Kellaway ) executed Heavitree on same day 24 Aug 1759.
John Richards ) executed Heavitree on same day 24 Aug 1759.

Thomas Sutton ) executed same day at Heavitree 20 Apr 1759

John Watson ) executed same day at Heavitree 20 Apr 1759

Patrick Butler ) executed same day at Heavitree 20 Apr 1759
Thomas Carter ) executed same day at Heavitree 20 Apr 1759

Patrick Connor ) executed same day at Heavitree 20 Apr 1759

William Goddard executed at Heavitree 16 Apr 1762.
John Sackmore executed at Heavitree 16 Apr 1762.
Thomas Govier (soldier) hanged himself 16 Apr 1762.
Edward Kennedy executed at Heavitree 16 Apr 1762.

Historian Vol 7 No 6 September 1987