John Jermy, hanged for Housebreaking (1724 - 1767)

In the Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley, is a broadsheet purporting to be the confession of John Jermy and George Woodbine, of Wymondham, Norfolk, who were hanged for housebreaking on 4th April 1767 in Norwich. It is one of a number of broadsheets published by printer Robert Newman of Norwich.


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Used with the kind permission of the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. Ref: pff HV6665.67 J41767

I John Jermy, and I George Woodbine do declare the
following account to be nothing but the real Truth.

Witness Tho' Robinson, John Savery and Charles Bennet.
April 4th, 1767.

I JOHN JERMY, was born at Wymondham, of honest Parents, and served my time with John Gay worstead weaver, which time I served honestly and faithfully, & after serving my time, I married one Martha Level, by whom I had seven Children, in which place I lived the remainder of my life until this unhappy affair happened, for which I must suffer this ignominious and shameful death, and hope all good people will take warning by me and refrain from bad company, which is the sole reason of bringing me to this untimely end. And freely I forgive those persons who have cast any reflections upon me undeservedly for the boy that was lost at Ciquefield about three and twenty years ago, but to satisfy the world as a dying man I know nothing of the affair, neither with a just conscience can I judge any other person that was accessory to his death.

As for the fact which I must suffer for, I did receive part of the money that was taken out of Mr. Barkers house, which was divided into 4 shares that amounted to thirty one shillings and sixpence each man, -- tho' was not the person that brook and entered the house as have been reported, and heartliy wish, every one that see me here suffer, may take warning by me and endeaver to work honestly for a living in this world for the time to come.

I GEORGE WOODBINE, born at Wymondham, aged 35 years, was brought up by honest and industrious parents, who were not able to give me any learning, but in my youth endeavour'd to learn the worstead-weaving branch which I have followed all my life, and married a wife which by my instructions learned the same branch of business, and my family increasing every year to the number of six children, called us both to labour very hard, and industrously to get them bread in an honest way. The crime that I must suffer for this day, I know myself clear of being any ways concerned in Robbing, or entering the house of Mr. Barker of Wymondham, nor did not know that they had done the fact until the next morning that William Bouton came to my house calling me out of bed in the morning following, and told me what they had done in the regard of robbing of Mr. Barker, & that they had divided the money into 4 shares, which amounted to 31 shillings and 6 pence each man.

I immediately told him I would have nothing to say, nor do, with the money, which he immediately in a savage manner told me he would enter my body with a knife, and leaving the money upon the table went away in a great passion.

I here am very sorry I should not have the good conduct of going to Mr. Barker and aquainting him of the affair, but hope he will forgive me as I forgive every one that have done me wrong, by false speaking, and hope that the blessed Lord will forgive me my manifold Sins, and desire every one that reads this, will be mindful of the same, and keep good company.

I make this Confession with my own mouth to Thomas Robinson, who have wrote the same as I have told him; and I have sent it to Mr. Newman the Printer, which hope he will as here I have acknowleged, and any thing that is printed by any other printer, is quite a fictious thing, without any foundation, and I hope every one that read this will join in this prayer. O almighty God, who out of thy tender goodness have promised in thy holy Scripture to help the fatherless and Widow, do thou blessed Lord look down with a tender Eye of compassion on my dear disconsolate Wife, who is left in this Sinful World with Six small children. Do thou O Lord bear up her Spirits in this day of my suffering, that they may pray for my poor soul now departed this Sinful World, and blessed Lord shew thou them the light of thy Gospel, that they may follow thy holy Laws, and when it pleaseth thee to call them out of this sinful World, they may dwell with thee, Life everlasting without End. Amen.

NORWICH: Printed by Robert Newman. 1767

With the aid of the few facts stated in the confession it has been possible to identify John Jermy. He was the youngest of seven childen born to Joseph Jermy and Elizabeth Woodbine, and was baptised on 27th December 1724 at St Mary, Wymondham. He married Martha Lebble (or Level) on 27th April 1747, and of the seven children he mentions four were baptised at St Mary, Wymondham between 1749 and 1756. As mentioned in the confession, John was a worstead weaver who worked for John Gay of St Swithin's, Norwich. It appears likely that John's co-accused, George Woodbine, is a younger cousin or close relation through his mother.

I have been unable to find any further reference to the mysterious death of a boy at Ciquefield around 1744, that John mentions. The trial was held at the Norwich Assizes on 12th March 1767 and the executions took place at Norwich Castle.