Two page letter sent from York to London making reference to the trial of Dick Turpin in 1739.

DESCRIPTION: Two pages conjoint including address panel from Samuel Baker to his mother in London, ‘In James Street, near Bedford Row'.

The letter addressed ‘Hon’d Madam’ commencing:

‘This Assize Week has been such a time of hurry as not to afford leisure to answer particularly your very kind letter…'.

It goes on to discuss a family dispute perhaps about property and the sale of goods for which he asks his mother’s guidance. The letter is dated York, March 24th 1738 although the actual year must have been 1739. This evidently is either an error or an old calendar date of that time.

There is a post script announcing ‘The famous Turpin is condemned here for horse stealing’.
the York post stamp and date stating ‘March Y 24’.

Comments

Dick Turpin was initially arrested and imprisoned for elsewhere for horse stealing, his true identity not known. When this was suspected and confirmed he was sent for trial at York assizes in March 1739 and subsequently executed there.

Documents with references to Turpin are extremely rare and the sender of this letter Samuel Baker might be assumed a member of the legal profession through the reference to the assize. However, the rather obscure canon of York Cathedral was at this time Samuel Barker who preached a yearly Assize Sermon for the legal assembly.

SIZE: Page Dimension: 203mm x 161mm

CONDITION: Broken seal, two very minor tears at the edge close to the address section otherwise in very good condition.

£450.00

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