Charlotte Gardiner and Lucy Johnson: Black Women and the Gordon Riots of June 1780

By John D Ellis

Charlotte Gardiner

This article focusses on Charlotte Gardiner, an individual of whom much was written in contemporary sources, (e.g. newspaper accounts, the records of Newgate Gaol and Old Bailey Court Reports), and whose role in the Gordon Riots of 1780 has been widely interpreted.

There were a number of prominent London based Black men involved in radical working-class movements during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries: William Cuffay (1788-1877), a man of ‘mixed heritage’ born in Kent, was a leading Chartist. William Davidson (1781-1820), a Jamaican born man of ‘mixed heritage’ was a central figure in the ‘Cato Street Conspiracy’. Robert Wedderburn (1762-1835), the Jamaican born son of a ‘mixed heritage’ mother and a White plantation owner, championed both abolition and radical reform. Wedderburn was imprisoned on several occasions (albeit not always for his political agitation), Cuffay was imprisoned and transported for his beliefs and Davidson executed for his.

The depth of Charlotte Gardiner’s involvement in radicalism was not referenced at either her trial or in contemporary newspaper accounts. However, a woman variously described as “black”, “mulatto” and a “negro” and who was executed for her part in the Gordon Riots of 1780 surely deserves her place amongst the list of Black radicals.^[1]Of the 22 hits for ‘Charlotte Gardiner/Gardner’ in the newspaper archives for July-August 1780, the majority refer to her as either “Black” or “Mulatto”, a few do not reference her … Continue reading It is likely that the extent and importance of Charlotte Gardiner’s role in the Gordon Riots was marginalised due to her gender. Dr Ruth Scobie refers to Charlotte Gardiner and her co-accused, Mary Roberts, as “difficult women” for the authorities of the time – “who could finally only suppress their defiance – their violence, their drunkenness, their audacious insistence on taking possession of houses which were not their own – by hanging them both as an example to others”.^[2]difficultwomenconference.wordpress.com/2014/07/21/like-wild-fire-to-burn-the-world-down-mary-roberts-and-charlotte-gardiner/

Scobie observes that Gardiner and Roberts have been seen as “…the puppets or parasites of the great men who controlled politics and deliberately or inadvertently set off the riots, but these were certainly women with minds of their own, if not with consciously political motives”.^[3]Ibid.

In addition to Scobie, Tony Frazier provides a comprehensive and eminently readable account of the participation of Charlotte Gardiner and two other Black people (Benjamin Bowsey and John Glover) in the Gordon Riots.^[4]Frazier, T. ‘The 1780 Gordon Riots: Black Participation in English Protests’ in “American International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Vol. 5 No 3; September 2019”. 2.pdf … Continue reading

The rights and wrongs of the tactics used by those engaged in historical radical protest are easily judged with the hindsight of history, and few people would now agree with those who, inspired by anti-Catholic sentiment, took to the streets of London to participate in the Gordon Riots of June 1780. There were of course, many other reasons why people decided to protest, such as a domestic economic crisis and war in America. Charlotte Gardiner’s own discontent may have had its origins in either the Transatlantic Slave Trade or in India. As will be seen from the Old Bailey Court Reports, those reasons were not referred to, and instead the ‘offences’ were simply reduced to crimes and against property and the person.

The Gordon Riots occurred in London between the 2^nd and 9^th of June 1780.^[5]Haywood and Seed edit an excellent collection of academic articles, including Dana Rabin’s ‘Imperial disruptions: city, nation and empire in the Gordon Riots’ (in which Charlotte Gardiner is … Continue reading On the 8^th of June 1780, towards the end of the Gordon Riots, Charlotte Gardiner participated in the destruction of a dwelling-house, the property of John Lebarty, an Italian Catholic. There were between twenty and forty individuals (accounts differed), who did “unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously, assemble, on the 8th of June, to the disturbance of the publick peace”.^[6]London Metropolitan Archives (LMA). CLA/047/LJ/13/1780. Transcripts © London Lives, 1690-1800. www.londonlives.org findmypast.co.uk

Amongst the individuals held responsible for the destruction of John Lebarty’s dwelling house were Charlotte Gardiner and Mary Roberts. The former a ‘woman of colour’ and the latter a White widow and mother (identification based on ethnicity, marriage and motherhood are of course revealing of contemporary attitudes). Although others were also to stand trial for the destruction of John Lebarty’s property, it is likely that the two women were tried together because of their gender and that both had taken leading roles in the incident.

Black Women in Newgate Gaol

Prior to her trial, Charlotte Gardiner was remanded to the infamous Newgate Gaol. She was probably not the first ‘woman of colour’ to fall foul of the law in London and be incarcerated in Newgate, but to date is one of the earliest identified.^[7]The earliest reference to a Black inmate of Newgate Gaol identified by this researcher is to Joseph Guy, a New York born former soldier and Royal Navy rating who was convicted of highway robbery at … Continue reading She would not be the last.

In London, in March 1792, Mary Hart (nee’ Johnson), “a Black woman” born in Bengal c.1762, an inmate of Newgate, was charged alongside her common-law husband, a White man by the name of Thomas Hart (also an inmate of Newgate), with the theft of furniture and bedding from a lodging house.^[8]TNA HO 26/1. www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t17920329-51-defend538&div=t17920329-51#highlight Mary Hart’s unnamed son was accused of pawning the furniture. After being convicted at the Old Bailey, Mary and Thomas Hart were fined 1s each and sentenced to six months in the House of Correction.^[9]Ibid.

In London, in September 1793, Mary Hanwell (who also went by the surname Jones), “a negro woman” born in America c.1774, was admitted to Newgate charged with stealing a purse and monies.^[10]TNA HO 26/2 and HO 26/56. TNA PCOM2/178 and 179. The prosecution was not pursued, and Mary Hanwell was discharged.

In London, in August 1802, a Black couple, Sophie and John Johnson (born in America and Grenada respectively) were admitted to Newgate charged with stealing £10 from Joseph Howard, a Black sailor.^[11]TNA HO 26/8. www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t18020918-139-defend929&div=t18020918-139#highlight John Johnson and Joseph Howard had served together as seamen, with the latter claiming that he had given the former the money to look after. John Johnson denied this, claiming that the £10 in his possession had been given to him by his brother who had recently been paid off from a man-of war.^[12]Ibid. Both Sophie and John Johnson were found Not Guilty at the Old Bailey.

In contrast, the newspaper archives on findmypast.co.uk reveal that ‘women of colour’ resident in London were more frequently the victims rather than the perpetrators of crime.

At the Old Bailey, in January 1789, a White man, William Woodcock, was convicted of the murder of his wife Sylvia, “a mulatto woman”.^[13]Saunders’s News-Letter, 28^th January 1789. findmypast.co.uk Sylvia was found, severely injured in a ditch, but survived long enough to provide the authorities with an account of the attack which condemned William Woodcock. After his execution, William Woodcock’s corpse was sent for dissection.

In September 1801, William Berry was convicted of assaulting Ann Holman, “a Negress”, and stealing from her a £2 bank note and 14s.^[14]Sun (London), 18^th September 1801. findmypast.co.uk

In London, in October 1804, Maria, “a black female servant” charged her mistress with robbery and assault.^[15]British Press, 18^th October 1804. findmypast.co.uk The mistress’ defence that she had employed Maria, a former slave, out of charity appeared to have persuaded the magistrate that this was a case of ingratitude and Maria’s claim was dismissed with “a severe reprimand for her insolence to her kind mistress”.^[16]Ibid.

At the Westminster Sessions in April 1807, George Robinson, a Black enlisted musician in the Band of the Duke of York’s Regiment (the Coldstream Guards), was convicted of assaulting Louisa Francis, “a black woman”.^[17]George Robinson was also referred to as George Richmond in some accounts. It has not been possible to identify him in military records. Morning Advertiser, 2nd April 1807. Public Ledger and Daily … Continue reading A long-standing dispute between George Robinson and his wife and Louisa Francis and her husband appears to have resulted in an altercation during which Louisa Francis was thrown down a set of stairs. Whilst George Robinson disputed this version of events, the Crown found for Louisa Francis, and he was sent to prison until he could pay Louisa £5 in compensation. Although, the magistrate did acknowledge that George Robinson’s services were “wanted daily in the regiment”, which reveals the something about the attitude towards violence against women.^[18]Ibid.

Charlotte Gardiner – At Newgate Gaol and the Old Bailey

Following the events of the 9^th of June 1780, Charlotte Gardiner appears to have been ‘at large’ until she was caught and committed to Newgate Gaol on the 14^th of June, charged with “…riotously, tumultuously and unlawfully assembling with diverse other persons, to the amount of 20 or more, and feloniously taking and carrying away two featherbeds and diverse other things, the property of John Leberty of the precinct of St Catherine’s, Middlesex”.^[19]London Metropolitan Archives (LMA). CLA/047/LJ/13/1780. Transcripts © London Lives, 1690-1800. www.londonlives.org findmypast.co.uk

Charlotte Gardiner stood trial alongside Mary Roberts at the Old Bailey on the 28^th of June 1780, in front of Lord Chief Baron Skynner. The transcript of the trial is reproduced below, with only minor corrections:

MARY ROBERTS and CHARLOTTE GARDINER were indicted for that they, together with forty other persons and more, did unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously, assemble, on the 8th of June, to the disturbance of the public peace, and did begin to demolish and pull down the dwelling-house of John Lebarty against the form of the statute, &c.

JOHN LEBARTY sworn:

What are you? – An Italian. I keep a public-house and a shop.

Was your house destroyed in June last? – It was. They began on Wednesday night and finished on Thursday morning. The house was all broke to pieces, and my goods burnt.

Do you know either of the prisoners? – I know the white woman, Roberts; she lived next door to me, some time ago; her behaviour was so audacious, I got the officers of the parish to remove her from me. On that account she had a great spite against me. After the mob had pulled down the ambassador’s house, she came by my house, and said, you outlandish bugger, I will have your house down; you outlandish Papist, I will have your house down. She said so on Monday and Tuesday. On the Wednesday evening she went by my house with another woman. She terrified me.

Mention the expressions she used on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, about pulling your house down? – In the evening she and another woman came by and called me an outlandish bugger, and said my house must come down, that it was a Papist’s house. And used other language of that sort. She was like wildfire to burn the world down. These expressions were repeated on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

You heard these expressions? – Yes, and many of my neighbours. She fulfilled her word; my house was destroyed that night. When I went about three o’clock in the morning to see the condition of the house, I saw her in the room where I lay. She had taken possession of the house; she was leaning out at the window; she had the command of the house.

THOMAS BRUMETT sworn:

I live in St. Catherine’s Lane, the second door from Mr Lebarty’s.

Do you remember the night his house was destroyed? – I do; I saw Mary Roberts there; I knew her many years before; she was fronting my house, carrying away Mr. Lebarty’s beds, pillows, and bolsters. She carried some to one place, some to another.

Did you hear her say anything? – Nothing particularly only hallooing, shouting, laughing, and making game.

Did you see her take more than one parcel? – I did not observe how many parcels, but she was in the mob the whole night to the best of my knowledge.

What were the mob doing? – Pulling the house all to pieces, both inside and out, and throwing the things out at the window. They carried them out to the top of Towerhill, and there they burnt them. It is about fifty or sixty yards from the house to where they made the fire.

ROBERTS: Did you see me take any of the property away?

She took them after they were thrown into the street, and they threw them at one another. I did not see her go into the house.

ROBERTS: He knows very well I did nothing. I live but five doors from Mr Lebarty’s; the things were thrown at me; they asked if I was a Roman Catholic. They said if I did not throw them into the fire they would smother me, they threw the pillows at me, and I threw them back again.

Where does she live? – About five doors off, I believe; it is at the turning which goes into another street.

ROBERTS: Lebarty removed three days before the rioters came.

ELISABETH FRAZER sworn:

How old are you? – Fifteen years; I live servant with Mr. Lebarty.

Were you at Mr. Lebarty’s when his house was pulled down? – Yes.

When did the mob first come? – I cannot say, I was asleep on the bed when the mob broke in. After the mob broke into the house, when I came downstairs I saw both the prisoners; as near as I can guess it was past eleven o’clock when they broke in. I saw Charlotte Gardiner in my master’s house, very busy amongst the mob. She was huzzaing to the mob; when I met her, she brought two candlesticks out of my master’s dining-room, and called out to the mob, huzza, my boys, well done, down, down with it! When they came downstairs, she was carrying things by loads to the fire, and was bringing things out of my master’s house. When she came back, I heard her cry out, more wood for the fire, down with it, down with it; more wood for the fire!

What were the mob doing when she said that? – Tossing my master’s beds and goods out at the window.

Did you see Roberts there? – Yes, I saw her helping to knock down my master’s bar; I saw her and another drag the bed out; they cut it and tossed the feathers about and dragged it to the end of the lane.

What were the rest of the mob doing at that time? – Tossing goods out as fast as they could. For two nights running before my master’s house was pulled down Mary Roberts said, she would fetch the mob and have his house down.

Did she say anything that night? – Yes, she went by clapping her hands and said, she would go and fetch the mob, and have it pulled down; it was a Papist house and down it should come.

ROBERTS: Where was you when you saw me in your master’s house?

I was just coming downstairs and saw her go up into my master’s place.

ROBERTS: What time was the bar pulled down? I was not there till between four and five o’clock in the morning.

The public-house was almost pulled down; I went in to try to save some of my things, and the mob were pulling the bar down, and Mary Roberts was helping them.

What time of night was that, how long after you got up? – To the best of my knowledge I think it was between twelve and one o’clock.

Had you been out of the house before? – yes, and returned to see if I could get a few of my own things.

COURT: What time was it when they began to pull the house down? – When they first began it was a little after eleven o’clock; they broke the windows below in the tap-room and got in and opened the door.

When did they begin to break any part of the house, such as pulling down the wainscoting? – As soon as they got in they began pulling the wainscoting down; and then they threw the beds out. There was a great deal of brickwork they pulled down.

Did they do that before they pulled down your master’s bed? – They did.

THOMAS MORRIS, junior. Sworn:

I live at Deptford. I was in St. Catherine’s Lane, at about eleven or a little after eleven o’clock, at the time of this riot.

Did you see Roberts there? – Not till about three in the morning. I absconded from the house, and did not return till day-light when the gentlemen of the association came. I saw this woman, Roberts, in the bedchamber. I spoke to one of the young gentlemen of the association, to present his piece at her, in order to intimidate her; he did; she was leaning out of the window and seemed very much in liquor. She said he might fire and be buggered.^[20]The reference to the troops attempting to quell the incident as being “young gentlemen of the association” and “gentlemen soldiers” suggest that they were drawn from one of the auxiliary … Continue reading

Had you either that night or the night before heard her say anything about the riots? – Several nights I heard her threaten Mr Lebarty’s house.

What night in particular? – On Tuesday night, she said, there was a mob in the Minories, and she would go and fetch them to pull down his house. She called him an old Portuguese bugger. I watched her out of the lane, and then I absconded from my house for fear. On Wednesday night I saw her go up the lane, and I think she then used the same expressions.

Were you in St. Catherine’s Lane, at eleven o’clock when the rioters came? – I was.

Did you see either of the prisoners then? – No; I saw the rioters but could not distinguish anybody in particular; I heard her say when she was taken, that she had some of Mr Lebarty’s property.

LETITIA HARRIS sworn:

I live in St. Catherine’s Lane, facing Mr Lebarty’s house.

Were you in St. Catherine’s Lane when Mr. Lebarty’s house was pulled down? – Yes, I was just opposite his house, at my next-door neighbour’s. I was not there when the mob first came down, but I was quickly after. I saw the black girl (Gardiner) lug a bed out of the house on her shoulders; that was at about twelve o’clock. I saw her bringing out things thirty or forty times; she cried out D – n you, you bugger why don’t you work away, the fire will be out; more wood for the fire. They threw out beds and furniture, and she lugged them away to the fire; she worked as if she had been a horse; she pulled off her shoes and stockings.

Had they begun to pull down the house at that time? – Yes; they were at the bottom part then

ELISABETH JOLLIFFE sworn:

I live in St. Catherine’s-lane, opposite Mr Lebarty’s house; the mob came down to his house between ten and eleven o’clock at night.

Do you recollect at that time seeing the prisoner Gardiner anywhere? – I saw her coming down with the mob; I was desired by one of the neighbours to put out lights; when I came down again I heard a great number of people hurrahing, I opened my door to look out; they were facing my door. There was a man with a flag, and another with a bell; and a man with a frying pan and a pair of tongs; and there was a black woman between the men.

How long after that was it before Mr Lebarty’s house was broke open? – I suppose about a quarter of an hour after; as soon as they could break the window shutters, they got in; they hallo’d out huzza! down with Popery, down with Popery.

Did you hear the prisoner Gardiner hallowing? – Yes; before the house was broke open; she hallo’d and huzza’d, and cried out wood for the fire, d – n your eyes, wood for the fire.

Was there any fire at that time? – No.

Do you recollect observing her go into the house, or that she was in the house? – Yes. I saw her going in and out of the house several times; I believe she was the first who got in at the door; I saw her go in and out and bring out a great deal of furniture and carry it to the fire.

Did you hear her say anything at that time? – Yes. I heard her swearing and crying, more wood for the fire, d – n your eyes you bugger, more wood for the fire. She continued there the whole night.

COURT: When did you see her first? – At about half an hour after eleven o’clock when the mob first came; when the gentlemen soldiers came, she dispersed with the rest of the mob.

ROBERTS’s DEFENCE:

I was coming home pretty near eleven o’clock; they were breaking Mr Lebarty’s door open; I could not get to my apartment. The mob asked me if I was a Roman? I said no. They said, if I did not help to carry the things to the fire, they would smother me; somebody threw a bolster over my head, and almost smothered me; a person gave me some paper to take care of. The next morning, I heard there was a fire there; I was not there the next morning that the gentleman mentions.

THOMAS BUDDIN sworn:

Testifying for Roberts. I will speak the truth, which I know between my neighbour. I live as nigh to him as I am now to your lordship, opposite his house. I was at my own door; a great many of the mob came. I rescued as many things as I could from these people for Mr Lebarty. I had a great many of his things concealed in my house before the riot began. I put them with the other things which I had of his. I saw Roberts picking up feathers, the mob had cut beds and were throwing them about the place. I said, how can you behave so when you are neighbours all together. Said she, I will take care of them for Mr. Lebarty when he comes for them, he shall have them. The next day, I believe, she told me the bellman had been about; she gave him notice that she had things in her possession. The bellman told her to keep them till he fetched them, and she should come into no trouble about it. I saved a great many of his goods for him, and because I did not choose to swear to people whom I knew nothing of, he said, they would reckon me among the mob; they told me if I did not come that they should take me up after the session was over and give me three months imprisonment.

COURT: Who said so to you? – Mr. Morris.

COUNSEL FOR THE CROWN: What time of the morning are you speaking of that you saw the prisoner taking care of things? – Three in the morning.

You are certain the prisoner Roberts was taking care of something, what was that? – Loose feathers, which lay down on the ground, and a few wills and powers, which I saw; they came and returned them to Mr Lebarty.

MARY ROBERTS sworn:

Testifying for Roberts. I married Roberts’s brother. I have known her twelve or thirteen years; I never knew anything of this sort of her before. I never heard that she was taken up or in prison before.

Has she a good character? – She always bore an exceeding good character, from what I heard, and worked hard for her living; she was left a widow with one child.^[21]www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t17800628-65-defend845&div=t17800628-65#highlight

Clearly, ill feeling between Mary Roberts and Mr Leberty came to a head during the Gordon Riots, whilst Charlotte Gardiner had no apparent connection to Mr Leberty, and instead was one of the mob who may well have come from the ‘Minories’ (likely, her place of residence). Both women took prominent roles in the destruction of Mr Leberty’s property; with Charlotte Gardiner being the first into the building, and afterwards being observed to organise the removal and burning of both property and wood (from the house). William McDonald, would also be tried for his part in the destruction of Mr Leberty’s property, but not alongside Charlotte Gardiner and Mary Roberts.^[22]William McDonald (also rendered as MacDonald and M’Donald), was a former soldier in the 3rd Foot Guards (the Scots Guards). Discharged in early 1780 and suffering from the loss of use of his arm, … Continue reading Mary Roberts took the stand and robustly defended herself, whilst Charlotte Gardiner did not. The former had two people willing to testify for her, whilst the latter none. Yet, the impassioned defence of Mary Roberts and supporting testimonies proved to be of no avail.

Execution and Burial

News of the trial and conviction of Charlotte Gardiner and Mary Roberts appeared in newspapers in London, and elsewhere, including Chester, Oxford and Stamford.^[23]Stamford Mercury, 6^th July 1780. Oxford Journal, 8^th July 1780. Chester Courant, 11^th July 1780. findmypast.co.uk Their public execution, alongside William MacDonald, took place at Tower Hill on the 11^th of July 1780. The day saw a series of executions of those convicted of participating in the Gordon Riots – a clear demonstration of the power of the Crown. The London Gazette initially published an eye-witness account of all of executions, versions of which were then reproduced in newspapers the length and breadth of Britain throughout July and into August. The Salisbury and Winchester Journal for the 17^th of July 1780, carried the most detailed account, almost certainly taken directly from the original:

Upwards of 12,000 persons were early assembled in this part of the town (Tower Hill) to see the three convicts, for their depredations committed thereabouts, make their exits. The procession from Newgate arrived here about a quarter past one. The prisoners being immediately haltered and tied up to the gallows, Mr Villette went into the cart, and prayed by the, for the space of half an hour, then left them. The man was hanged between the two women, who embraced each other, and he shook hands with them.

They all behaved with great penitence, and wept bitterly, particularly Mary Roberts, who appeared to be much affected at her approaching fate. She was decently dressed and seemed to be agreeable in her person. Charlotte Gardner, a black woman, was almost in rags. M’Donald, the man, was about forty years of age, dressed in a red waistcoat, with short black hair, and very hard featured, his face almost approaching to a mulatto. They were turned off about ten minutes before two o’clock, and after hanging the usual time were cut down, and their bodies delivered to their friends.^[24]Salisbury and Winchester Journal, 17th July 1780. findmypast.co.uk The Kentish Gazette reported an incident that occurred as the cart carrying Charlotte Gardiner and Mary Roberts left Newgate Gaol … Continue reading

The corpses of many executed people were frequently sent for dissection or buried hastily, with few records surviving as to their location. In the case of Charlotte Gardiner, Mary Roberts and William MacDonald the account of their execution was very clear, in that “…their bodies (were) delivered to their friends”.^[25]Salisbury and Winchester Journal, 17^th July 1780. findmypast.co.uk However, Frazier reveals:

“Charlotte Gardiner’s corpse became the subject of some intrigue after her death. A Sheriff Pugh refused to release her body to the friends who claimed it. Several blacks had applied for the body of Charlotte Gardiner, Pugh had heard murmurs amongst the spectators at her execution that the black friends had made plans to display her body at an apartment for money. Sheriff Pugh instead made plans for her internment in the city at St. Sepulchres. The true intention of the friends of Charlotte Gardiner, remains murky, and unclear”.^[26]Frazier, T. ‘The 1780 Gordon Riots: Black Participation in English Protests’ in “American International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Vol. 5 No 3; September 2019”. 2.pdf (cgrd.org)

Whilst the location of the body of Mary Roberts has not been identified, that of Charlotte Gardiner has: She was buried along with William MacDonald at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, London (Saint Sepulchre-without-Newgate).^[27]For the burial of Charlotte Gardiner see: Greater London Burial Index. City of London Burials, 1754-1855. GL Mss 7223/5-7. Copyright John Hanson and Monnica Stevens. Used by permission of … Continue reading

The church was closely linked with both the Old Bailey and Newgate Gaol. Its bells are referred to in the nursery rhyme “Oranges and Lemons” as ‘the bells of Old Bailey’ and were traditionally rung to announce executions. Whilst, an execution hand bell, still in the possession of the church and on display in the nave, was rung outside the cells of condemned prisoners in Newgate Gaol the night before they were executed.

At midnight the gaoler recited a poem which is unlikely to have been an uplifting experience:

All you that in the condemned hole do lie,
Prepare you, for tomorrow you will die.
Watch all, and pray: the hour is drawing near
that you before the Almighty must appear.
Examine well yourselves, in time repent,
that you may not to eternal flames be sent,
And when St Sepulchre’s Bell in the morning tolls,
the Lord above have mercy on your souls.

Lucy Johnson

Charlotte Gardiner was not the only ‘woman of colour’ to be involved in the Gordon Riots of June 1780, although as will be seen, Lucy Johnson’s involvement was less direct. Lucy Johnson, described as “a black” (it is not known if she was of African or Asian origin), stood trial at the Old Bailey in July 1779 charged with the assault and robbery of Robert Hayes. This may not have been her first brush with the authorities: In May 1779, a Lucy Johnson was one of four women who appeared before a Court at Bridewell Hospital, charged with “walking the streets at an unreasonable hour”.^[28]Bridewell & Bethlem Archives. BCB-23 (Box C03/2). Transcripts © London Lives, 1690-1800 (www.londonlives.org) findmypast.co.uk The transcript of the July 1779 Old Bailey trial is reproduced below, with only minor corrections:

Lucy Johnson, (a black) was indicted for that she in the dwelling-house of Hannah Doyle, in and upon Robert Hayes, feloniously did make an assault, putting him in corporal fear and danger of his life, and stealing from his person a guinea, eight half crowns and three shillings and sixpence in monies, numbered, the property of the said Robert, June 5th 1779.

Robert Hayes: Q: Do you know the prisoner at the bar? A: Yes, very well. On the 5th of June, while I was looking at a waistcoat at a clothes shop in the middle of Chick Lane, a woman came up and said she had a waistcoat of her husband’s, who was dead, which she could sell me cheap.

Q: What woman was it that came up to you? A: I do not know; she was a stranger to me. I went with her to the house of Hannah Doyle, to look at the waistcoat. Immediately after I got into Doyle’s house, the black woman (the prisoner) and another woman rushed in and threw me down and almost throttled me. They rent my breeches, and the black woman took a guinea, eight half crowns, and three shilling and sixpence out of my pocket. When they had robbed me they all ran out of the room, and I ran after them. I can only swear to the black woman. They all of them ran away.

Q: Had you ever seen the prisoner before? A: I had seen her two or three times in Chick Lane, but I had never seen any of the others.

Q: What did you do then? A: I laid an information directly at Justice Girdler’s, and the prisoner was taken up last Thursday by Roberts the constable. I gave a description of her at the justices. I should know her from a million.

Q: You are sure the prisoner is the woman? A: I am.

Q: Did you get your money or any of your things again? A: I got nothing again. Somebody came to me and offered to make it up, which I refused.

Q: Who was that? A: The woman of the house where the robbery was committed. I believe she was concerned in the robbery, but I cannot positively swear to it.

Q: Did you know this woman by name? A: No, I enquired. The name she was known by is Black Lucy.

Q: Did you know her by that name before the robbery? A: No, the constable told me that name.

Lucy Johnson: I was in the lane. I saw him come out of the house in a flurry. I asked him what the matter was, he said he had been robbed. We said if he had been robbed, he had better go home.

Robert Hayes: She is the woman that robbed me; positively she helped to throw me down on the floor, and it was she that took the money out of my pocket.

Sarah Howard: The prosecutor lodges at my house. It was near one o’clock at noon when he went out. In about a quarter of an hour he came in, in a flurry. I asked him what the matter was. He was some time before he could speak. He then gave me the same account he has given the court. I live in Chick Lane. He was at my house while he was in town. He is a schoolmaster in Suffolk.

Lucy Johnson: I am innocent. I know nothing of the money. He said if he could not find the women that robbed him, he would take me into custody till they were found, and if they were not found he would make me pay for all. He said that before the alderman.

Lucy Johnson to Robert Hayes: Did you ever say if you could not find the other people that robbed you, that you would make this woman pay for all? A: I never said such a word. I swore the truth. I told the alderman I could swear to her but could swear to none of the others.^[29]www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t17790707-8-defend101&div=t17790707-8#highlight

The trial was reported on by a number of papers, including the Oxford Journal, who described Lucy Johnson as “black”.^[30]Oxford Journal, 10^th July 1779. findmypast.co.uk Lucy Johnson was found Guilty and sentenced to death, with the date of execution date being set for the 25^th of August 1779. Several newspapers informed their readers as the day of execution drew closer, with Lucy Johnson being described as both “a black woman” and “a black”.^[31]Derby Mercury, 13^th August 1779. Reading Mercury, 16^th August 1779. Kentish Gazette, 18^th August 1779. Stamford Mercury, 19^th August 1779. Norfolk Chronicle, 21^st August 1779. findmypast.co.uk Lucy Johnson’s death sentence was respited on the 22^nd of August 1779, just three days before she was due to be executed.^[32]The National Archive (TNA) PCOM2/167. PCOM2/168. Thereafter she remained in custody in Newgate Gaol and was there when it was destroyed during the Gordon Riots in June 1780. Briefly escaping in the confusion, she was recaptured and incarcerated once more. Lucy Johnson was transported to Africa for life in 1781. Thereafter, her fate remains unknown.^[33]www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=t17790707-8-defend101&div=t17790707-8#highlight The National Archives (TNA) PCOM2/167. PCOM2/168.

Alas, the arrest, conviction and transportation of Lucy Johnson appears to have done little to cut crime in Chick Lane, as the Norfolk Chronicle of November 1784 reported:

Monday night a foreign gentleman, in a state of intoxication, was decoyed into a house in Chick Lane by a black woman, who after stripping him of a gold watch, six guineas and some silver, and some other property, left him asleep. When he awakened and discovered his loss, he procured a constable, who took into custody two black women in a house communicating with that where he had been robbed; but being unable to ascertain which of the sable charmers had made the conquest of his person and property, he took no further measures for obtaining a refund of the latter.^[34]Norfolk Chronicle, 27^th November 1784. findmypast.co.uk