Escapes from York Castle 1747

From 30 November 1745 to 1752 some 280 Jacobite prisoners passed through York Castle Prison. At its height on 7th February 1746 there were 251 Jacobite prisoners in the Castle (as well as those charged with civil offences). Because of the fear that “the filth and sickness and close confinement of these wretches may breed a contagion”, this resulted on 3 March 1746 in many prisoners being transferred to Lincoln Castle. State Papers Entry Books record the number as 97, though the Archbishop of York, Thomas Herring, thought the figure was as many as 120, and the local press spoke of it being over a hundred.

On 27 July 1746 when Philip Webb, the Treasurer’s Solicitor visited York to carry out the “lotting” of prisoners (ie, prisoners drew lots to see who would be tried. One in every twenty went on trial) he found 109 men and women awaiting trial.

Only two escapes occurred from York Castle during the period when the Jacobite prisoners were at York. Both escapes occurred in 1747.

William Farrier was an Englishman who had enlisted in the Manchester Regiment. He was captured at the surrender of Carlisle on 31 December, 1745. (S.P.D. 81-88) Official records state he was “taken in actual rebellion”. At his trial in October 1746, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to death, but was reprieved and marked down for transportation to the West Indies. He succeeded in escaping before being transported. Unfortunately, to date, there are no accounts of how he actually did escape. (Ref: Scots Mag., 1746, 483, 543 ; S.P.D., 88-42, 107-74).

George Mills was from Penrith. He had enlisted in the Jacobite army and was captured at the surrender of Carlisle. At his trial in York on 6 October 1746, he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to death. He was reprieved on condition of enlistment in Admiral Boscawen’s force for service in India. He made his escape on 10 August 1747. The Keeper of the Castle did not report the escape at the time, and it only came to light when Lord Stanhope, Secretary of State for the Northern Department, on 17 January 1749 asked the Sheriff of York how Mills had escaped. (Ref: S.P.D.Entry Book, 85-10,106; S.P.D., 109-8, 110-11.)

It was on the day of the York Assizes and Mills had been given permission to visit the Debtor’s prison (he was being held in the Grand Jury Building) in order to have a drink with another prisoner who was being discharged. George, however, did not go to the meeting. He walked through the gate to the Castleyard, which as normal on Assize days was left open, and mounted the back of a carriage which was standing in the eye of York. Since he was wearing a new coat he had received “from a Catholic gentleman of high rank living close by the Castle”, he passed out of the Castle with none of the guards recognising him. The carriage passed down Castlegate and towards freedom. The Keeper of the Castle is said to have ridden over 100 miles whilst making extensive searches for him.

Nothing, unfortunately, is known about his whereabouts following the escape, and he passes out of history.

References:-

Scots Mag., 1746, 483, 543

S.P.D. Entry Book, 82 -42. 107-74

S.P.D. Entry Book, 85 - 90, 106, 108 - 9, 110 - 11