Highwayman Peter Rivers

Marlow's history is scattered with a few home - grown highwaymen. One of the earliest I have come across is Peter Rivers.

Peter was born circa 1673 and raised in Marlow by parents able to afford to send him to school and to pay for his apprenticeship to a cordwainer. I have not found his baptism but there is a good chance he was a close relative of the Peter Rivers of Marlow who issued his own trade token in 1667. This elder Peter found himself twice facing suits in Chancery over property in Marlow, at least one of which he lost. 

After completing his apprenticeship Peter junior was free to marry. As a bride he chose Sarah Spicer and the couple tied the knot in High Wycombe in 1698. 

In 1702 Peter, either the elder or the younger, was thrown in jail because he could not pay his debts.

One of the Peters tried his hand at running an alehouse or beershop but had his licence revoked after it was found to have been incorrectly issued and he of too poor character to hold such. Both men had frequent connection to those involved in the brewing trade in Marlow- in terms of both who their friends were and who their enemies were (!)

Peter junior certainly had severe financial difficulties. That he admitted to while he was in jail. So bad were those difficulties that he could not see any way out of them. Peter took another man's advice to "raise contributions on the Highway" - that is become a highwayman. Armed with firearms he and his fellow Marlovian John Carter (a common name but could be the John Carter who lived about then in Chapel Street, Marlow) robbed Henry Howard of 3 shillings 4 pence, a pair of silver buckles presumably lifted from the victim's shoes, and a silver corkscrew (!)

A lack of criminal experience led to Peter's quick apprehension, trial at the Old Bailey and sentence to death for what he insisted was the only crime he had ever committed. The Old Bailey tried him as the robbery occurred on the roads of Middlesex near Uxbridge.

Peter was hung on Friday 17th April 1730. He claimed to be around 57 years of age at the time. Whilst in jail awaiting death he was described as "sullen and morose". He told the staff that he was very conscious of the shame he had brought upon his family by his conviction.

John Carter got a last minute stay of execution following a petition sent to the Secretary Of State from 25 Great Marlow residents. Amongst those supporting John were Marlow's 2 M.PS and wealthy local gentlemen George Bruere Esquire and Sir James Etheredge. Why a petition for John and not for Peter?

For more crime based posts see under Crime on the General Marlow History Index here.

All mentions of someone on this blog can be found on the A-Z person index which covers several thousand people.

To read our recreated 1600s trade directory for Great Marlow and Little Marlow, see here and here

©Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to use this research for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog.

Some sources used:

Http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=186828 (image of Peter Rivers senior's trade token)

Old Bailey Online, Ordinary Of Newgate's Accounts, April 1730. Ref OA17300417.

State papers, Secretary of State. National Archives, Kew. Ref: SP 36/150/1/98

"England Marriages, 1538–1973 ", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJ14-SZZ : 6 January 2021), Peter Rivers, 1698.

http://www.bucksrecsoc.org.uk/QS-VOLUMES/QS5.html

Will Summary Elizabeth Plumridge of Great Marlow 1755

 Elizabeth Plumridge, Widow of Great Marlow. Will both written and proved 1755.

Says she indisposed of body but of sound mind, memory and understanding, praise be to God.

Commends soul to God.

Asks to be decently buried.

Daughter Elizabeth Griffen the wife of Nehemiah Griffen of Ealing alias Healing in the county of Middlesex, waterman gets a freehold tenement with all appurtenances that go with it in Great Marlow. This is in the occupation of testator's son Thomas Plumridge, a cordwainer. Daughter Elizabeth is to give Thomas £5.

All rest of personal property also to daughter Elizabeth who is appointed sole executor.

Makes mark rather than signs.

Witnesses William Rapley, Richard ....ipsley and Simon ?Burritt?

I produced this summary from my transcription of a will held at the National Archives, Kew. You are welcome to use this summary for family or local history purposes, with credit to this blog.

©Marlow Ancestors.  You are welcome to use this transcription summary for family or local history purposes if you credit this blog.

Will Summary Catherine Suthery of Great Marlow 1820

 CATHERINE SUTHERY WIDOW WILL WRITTEN AND PROVED 1820. See research notes below.

Says she of sound mind and whole understanding.

All wearing apparel to her servant Mary Loftin.

After debts and funeral expenses paid everything left equally to John Mossenton cordwainer of Great Marlow and Thomas Rolls draper of the same and their heirs forever. Includes the house where testator lived and a cottage next to it occupied by Widow Davis.

John and Thomas are the will's executors.

Catherine made a mark rather than signed.

Witnesses: Francis Hickman, William Westbrook and Henry Goldsmith.

Research notes:

Catherine was the widow of Chapel Street grocer Joseph Suthery. The cottages referred to in the will were in Chapel Street. Her husband left them to her for life then to his Anderson nephews. It isn't clear then why Catherine leaves the property to Mossenton and Rolls as they weren't within her ability to bequeath. A widow Anderson occupied the former Suthery home in 1833.

Catherine was Catherine Bird at marriage. 

Thomas Rolls had premises in the High Street. John Mossenton was based in Chapel Street. William Westbrook was a Market Square butcher. Henry Goldsmith was an attorney.

More Marlow will summaries indexed here

Transcribed by me from a will held at the National Archives Kew and summarised here.

 ©Marlow Ancestors. You may freely copy this transcription with credit to this blog and a link here.