Last words and dying speech of Samuel Smith, who was executed at Concord, in the county of Middlesex, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the 26th of December, A.D. 1799, for the crime of burglary.

Last words and dying speech of Samuel Smith, who was executed at Concord, in the county of Middlesex, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the 26th of December, A.D. 1799, for the crime of burglary.

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Last Words AND DYING SPEECH OF SAMUEL SMITH, Who was Executed at Concord, in the County of Middlesex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the 26th of December, A. D. 1799, for the Crime of BURGLARY.

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Last Words AND DYING SPEECH OF SAMUEL SMITH, Who was Executed at Concord, in the County of Middlesex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the 26th of December, A. D. 1799, for the Crime of BURGLARY.

I WAS born in Middleton, in the County of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, on the 18th Day of January, A. D. 1745.

My Parents were honest, industrious, reputable persons; well instructed and much inclined to the Christian Religion, especially my Mother, who is now living to lament the shameful death of her undutiful Son. My Parents gave me but a very ordinary education, though I often received from them good moral instructions. I have four Brothers and two Sisters now living, who by their good conduct have made themselves reputable in the World, whilst I, by my bad, have brought myself to the Gallows. I have now but a short time to live and make my Peace with my God. I therefore shall not pretend to recollect and publish to the World every particular Crime, of which I have been guilty; for to do this, would require a Month's time, and a Catalogue of my shameful thefts would fill a large Volume. I passed my childhood, as others, pleased with my Toys and Rattles, till age and strength required I should do something for my support: From that time till I arrived to the age of 27, I led an honest industrious life, entirely free, not only from the crime, but without any inclination fraudulently to take the property of another person.

About this time I fell in company with a female of whom I was foolishly and extravagantly fond, but at length, I found her heart was corrupt and the words of her mouth very deceitful. This disappointment, with the loss of two hundred Dollars, stolen from me, which was all I then possessed in the world, led me frequently to the excessive use of ardent spirits, which caused me very soon to commit the crime of theft, of which I was suspected, apprehended and committed to Litchfield gaol; tried, found guilty, and publicly punished.—

After finding my credit and property were both lost, I then with less remorse of conference continued the horrid practice of Stealing, till the commencement of the War, in April, 1775; at which time, I served my Country faithfully. I then listed for the term of three years into the Regiment commanded by C. I. Meigs of Connecticut, who wrongfully kept my bounty money, which gave me such a dislike to the Man, that while the Regiment was stationed at Peek's Kill's on the east side of Hudson's River, I deserted said Regiment, about ten or twelve days before the surrender of General Burgoyne. After I left my Regiment I roved through the States of Connecticut, and Massachusetts, and finally went to the Town of Amherst in New-Hampshire where I tarried several years; during which time I paid attention to a young Lady of a reputed good character, but she proved false to me, which set me again into the habit of roving and stealing; till at length I went to live in the Town of Lancaster in the County of Worcester, where I courted, and on the 11th day of April, A. D. 1782, was Married, to one Sally Pratt, of said Lancaster, by whom I have had five Children, and they are all living, to hear of the shameful death of their wretched Parent. I earnestly pray to GOD, that these my Children, which I am about to leave behind me may take warning and shun those crimes which have justly rendered my name infamous and brought me to this untimely end.

My Wife was the offspring of reputable parents, but her wanton conduct proved to me a source of trouble, and her idleness and profligacy have induced me to commit many and shameful crimes.—Soon after I married I moved to Hollis, in the County of Hillsborough, and State of New-Hampshire, where I lived about fourteen months; during which time I became acquainted with one James McDaniels, a native of Rowley, in said County.—I have ever since been acquainted with, and do now, as a man who expects very soon to enter the eternal World! warn all my fellow creatures, to beware of having any kind of Connection with this same McDaniels, "who is now going about as a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devour." He unlawfully takes his Neighbour's Property: debauches the innocent; has Slander on his Tongue, and Malice in his Heart—He has given me satisfactory Evidence that he was the Murderer of one Stone, in Harvard; likewise the Mean of his own Wife's Death: And he does not hesitate to boast, that he gave the fatal Blow to Captain Ephraim Jones, formerly Goal-keeper in this place.—Over such a Man let Government watch.—I then moved back to Lancaster, where I lived about two Years▪ during which time I used frequently to be guilty of the crime of Theft, and have often purchased Plate, which I knew to have been stolen, out of which I used to make sometimes good, and sometimes counterfeit money.

After the expiration of the above said two years, I removed to Hollis, where, shameful to relate, I did not forsake my predominent vices, stealing, and counterfeiting the Coin of my Country.

On the 17th day of November, A. D. 1787, I was taken with a Warrant for Stealing three Sheep from Capt. [...] Richardson of Groton, Innholder, and on Trial, before the Justice, I confessed the Crime, and for want of Property, was committed to Goal in Concord.

On the 24th of said November, I was apprehended by a Warrant, and tried before Justice Wood of Concord, for having made and passed counterfeit Money, and ordered to Recognize [...] the Sum of Three Hundred Pounds for my personal Appearance at the Supreme Court in April following:—But my Circumstances and Character were such, that I could not procure Bonds, and was oblig'd to remain in Prison.

On the 29th of February following, I broke Goal and made my Escape, but was soon overtaken, brought back, put into Irons, and confin'd in the Dungeon, and there kept 'till April; at which Time, I had my Trial, and was convicted of the above-mentioned Crime, for which I was sined, set in the Pillory, and had my Ears cropped.

On the 7th day of June. A. D. 1791, I was apprehended with a Warrant in Charlestown, in said County of Middlesex, upon complaint of one Joshua Welcott, for having stolen sundry Goods from him the said Joshua, and was on Trial, before the said Justice, in his opinion, found guilty, and thereupon committed to the common Goal in Concord, and there remained till the next Court of the General Sessions of the Peace, which was on the second Tuesday of the September following; at which Time the said Welcott did not appear to prosecute his Complaint, and I was thereupon discharged. I now say as a dying Man, that I was not guilty of the Crime complained of; and I furthermore declare that the said Welcott did at that Time steal Money from me, out of my Bundle, and for fear I should complain of him, he complained of me.

Sometime in the Month of July, in the year A. D. 1794, I was in Boston, and fell in company with two Old Countrymen, one by the Name of Fletcher, and the other by the Name of Gilbert, who agreed to meet me at a particular Time in a certain Place of Woods about six Miles Southwest from Boston, and there to bring me some Silver Plate, which they said they could procure, by breaking open a certain House. They met me at the Time & Place, and brought a large Quantity of Plate, which they told me they took from Deacon Phillips of Boston. I then told Fletcher and Gilbert, that it was no harm to steal from such rich old Fellows as Deacon Phillips, and that they should go and get some more from some other Person, and bring it to me, and I wou'd work it up into Money, and we would go Shares in the Business. They immediately set out on their second Expedition, and left me in the Woods, where I tarried two Days; and being almost starved to Death, I was forced to quit my Stand to gain Support for Nature, and never afterwards saw said Fletcher, or said Gilbert.—Not long after this, there came a Person to me, who called his Name Flush.—said Flush was an Old Countryman, and appeared to be about 50 years of Age. He told me he had Thirty Weight of Silver Plate he wished me to purchase; and said if I did not buy it, he should be obliged to carry it to New-York, for he should be afraid to expose it for Sale any where in these Parts. I told him that I would give him three Shillings per Ounce for it, provided he would bring it to me at such a Time. He left me and I have never since seen him: but I have good reason to suppose, from what I have since heard, that the Plate, offered to me by said Flush, did belong to and was taken from, his Honor Governour Gill. This is all I know respecting this theft, which many have supposed me guilty of: and I furthermore say, that I never stole any plate in my life. Not long after I saw Flush, I was passing through Groton in the County of Middlesex late at Night, and having some of the Plate which was taken from Deacon Phillips in a pack swung at my back, a person attempting to catch me, seized hold of my pack, which tore from my shoulders, and I made my escape, but was in a few days after, taken with a Warrant for stealing said Plate, and committed to the Gaol in Concord, and from thence removed to the Gaol in Boston, and was thence tried, convicted and sent on to the Castle for fifteen Years—where I tarried about two Years and four Months; at which time, the severity of the Weather had frozen over the [...], when I made my escape on the [...] and after suffering both Cold and Hunger, I arrived in the State of Pennsylvania, where I tarried several Months, and behaved myself like an honest Man.—After which I returned home to see my Family, and found my wife had gone of with another Man, and my Children living wherever any Person would take them. During last Winter I lived in the Town of Dublin, in New Hampshire, and behaved myself like an honest Man. Sometime about the middle of June last, I, in the Night Time, broke and entered the House of one Joseph Richards, in Sherburne, and took therefrom some Bacon, an old strainer, and a pair of Trowsers.

The Night following the 20th of June last, I was passing through the Town of Natick; and seeing a Light in the House of Esquire Boden, I went up to the Window to see what I could discover.—I there saw a Watch hanging up against the side of the House, and a Woman with a Candle in her Hand, and she very soon went to the Cupboard and took, as I supposed, about a Glass of Spirits, which caused me to think she would soon after retiring to bed drop to Sleep. She very soon went to bed; and I, in about fifteen minutes after, entered the Room, where she and her Husband slept, and took therefrom the Watch and some Money, which I found in a Desk Drawer.

The Night following, I broke open the Store of Deacon Tucker, of Sherburne, which adjoined his Dwelling House, and took therefrom a considerable quantity of English Goods, which I conveyed to the Town of Sudbury, nigh to the House of one [...] Moores, and left them in the Woods during the following day. In the Evening of said Day, I went to fetch the Goods into the Moores House, for the purpose of viewing them, and consuling what place would be best to conceal them—but to my astonishment, when I came nigh the place where I left the Goods, I was seized upon by a person lying in wait for that purpose: Moores was immediately taken and we were both kept till morning, when we were brought before a Justice of the peace, and by him examined, and committed to Gaol in Concord and from thence removed to Cambridge in October following, where we were both indicted for burglary, and tried for our lives. Moores was acquitted of the crime of Burglary, but found guilty of Theft: whilst I, by the laws of my Country was condemned to die—I, in this public and solemn manner declare, that Moores did not help me break said Store. Yet, he was very ready to help me conceal the Goods, after I had taken them—I now in my last moments, say to the World, beware of Isaac Moores and his family. Since I was [...]7 years of age, hard fortune has been my lot; Theft my living, Gaols my habitation, and very soon the Gallows will be my companion—I shall in a few hours be beyond the Grave; and I pray GOD, I may enter that part of the invisible World, where Thieves do not break through and steal. I have now to perform my last Duty to my Fellow-Creatures, which is, to warn them all to shun every Kind of Sin, and in particular, that Sin, which has brought me to the Gallows.

SAMUEL SMITH.

Concord Gaol, Dec. 26, 1799.

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To be sold at Mr. Reuben Bryant's Book-Stor [...] Concord.—Also at the Printing-Office, in Kilby-Street, Boston.

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Information about this book

Title statement

Last words and dying speech of Samuel Smith, who was executed at Concord, in the county of Middlesex, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the 26th of December, A.D. 1799, for the crime of burglary.

Smith, Samuel, 1745-1799.

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI :

Date

2005-03.

ID [DLPS]

N27248

ID [TCP]

N27248

ID [STC]

Evans 36321

ID [NOTIS]

APY8814

ID [IMAGE-SET]

36321

ID [EVANS-CITATION]

99036354

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Series

Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 36321.

Notes

(Evans-TCP ; no. N27248)

Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 36321)

Images scanned from Readex microprint and microform: (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 36321)

Source

— Last words and dying speech of Samuel Smith, who was executed at Concord, in the county of Middlesex, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the 26th of December, A.D. 1799, for the crime of burglary., Smith, Samuel, 1745-1799..

Extent

1 sheet ([1] p.) : ill. (relief cut) ; 44 x 35 cm.

[Printed by Benjamin Edes] To be sold at Mr. Reuben Bryant's book-store, Concord.----Also at the printing-office, in Kilby-Street, Boston.,. [Boston] :: [1799]. (Signed: Samuel Smith. Concord gaol, Dec. 26, 1799.) (Two states noted. The first has imprint as given above, and has a relief cut of a coffin at head of title. The second, without the cut, has imprint: To be sold at Mr. Reuben Bryant's book-store, Concord.----Also at Edes's printing-office, Kilby-Street Boston.) (Text in three columns; printed area, including mourning border, measures 42.6 x 29.2 cm.)

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