Execution of Rebels held at York 1st November 1746 & 8th November 1746 & 15 November 1746

https://archive.org/details/criminalchronol00knipgoog

Execution of Ten Rebels Saturday, November 1st, A.D. 1746. - The following rebels were executed at the Tyburn without Micklegate Bar; viz., - George Hamilton, Edward Clavering, James Spark, Charles Gordon, Angus McDonald, James Mayne, Benjamin Mason, William Dempsey, and two others, who were ordered for execution this day (William Crosby, an Irishman, of Colonel Townley's regiment, an d William Barclay, of Colonel Grant's regiment, having been reprieved), were brought from the Castle in three sledges. But as they were coming down Castlegate, Mr. Duct, one of his Majesty's messengers, brought a reprieve for John James Fellens, who was immediately taken out of the sledge and conveyed back to the Castle. Hamilton, Clevering, Frazier and Gordon were in the first sledge; Mason, Mayne, Conolly and Dempsey in the second; McDonald and Sparke in the last. When they had hung ten minutes, the executioner cut them down, laid their bodies on a stage built for that purpose, and stripped them naked. Captain Hamilton was the first whose heart was taken out, which the executioner threw into the fire, crying out, "Gentlemen behold the heart of a traitor". When he came to the last man, which was Frazier, he said, "Gentlemen behold the heart of the traitor. God save King George." Upon which the spectators gave a loud huzza. Then he scored each of their arms and legs, but did not cut them off, crying, "Good people, behold the four quarters of a traitor," and when he had finished that part of the operation, he chopped off their heads, beginning with Frazier and ending with Hamilton, which finished the execution. The whole of the proceedings was conducted throughout with the utmost decency and good order. Two hearses were ready to receive the bodies of Captain Hamilton, Clevering and Gordon and coffins for the rest. The heads of Conolly and Mayne were set up at Micklegate Bar, and the head of Hamilton was put into a box, in order to be sent to Carlisle; but the rest were put into coffins with their bodies, and were buried behind the Castle.

Saturday, November 8th, A.D., 1746. - The remainder of the rebels were executed at the gallows without Micklegate Bar. Their execution was performed after the same manner as the others last week, viz: - David Row, who was taken at the skirmish at Clifton. He was a volunteer in the Pretender's army, and entered immediately after the battle of Preston Pans. He had formerly been an officer in the customs. William Hunter, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, of Colonel Townley's regiment; John Endsworth of Knottesford, in Cheshire, of Colonel Grant's regiment; John McLean, a Highlander; and John McGreggor of Perthshire; both of the Duke of Perth's regiment; Simon Mckensie of Inverness; and Alexander Parker, of the shire of Murray, of Colonel Stuart's regiment; Thomas McGennis, of the shire of Banff; and Archibald Kennedy, of Ayrshire, both of Glenbucket's regiment, the latter a servant to Colonel Grant; James Thompson, of Lord Ogilvie's regiment; and Michael Brady an Irishman, of Glengarry's regiment. They all behaved with great decency, and good order was maintained throughout.

Finally a third batch of four men was ordered to be hanged on 15th November. Only one, Piper James Reid, suffered; David Ogilvy died, and Daniel Duff and David Wilkie enlisted.

Perhaps the unknown hand which nailed a paper to the door of York Minster caught the mood of the ordinary people best. The writer of the brief verse written on it chose to express his or her feelings on a day which had been set aside for national thanksgiving for the failure of the rebellion. "What mean these vile and idle Pranks To murder Men and then give Thanks? Stop, Preacher, stop, and go no further, God ne'er accepts of Thanks for Murder."

(Ref:- "Damn' Rebel Bitches: the women of the 45" by Maggie Craig Page 97)