Folios 39-43. From Thomas Surrupsell and John Steward alias [John] Saunders alias...

Folios 39-43. From Thomas Surrupsell and John Steward alias [John] Saunders alias [John] Harris. (3) Jo [John] Blencowe. To (3) Lord Townsend. Place: (1) Reading [Berkshire] gaol. (3) Marston [St Lawrence], Northamptonshire.

Petition for mercy after sentence of death for a robbery at Chertsey [Surrey], claiming that the prosecutor was 'a known Papist [Roman Catholic]' and the jury, 'disaffected'. Petition seeks six weeks reprieve from execution, scheduled for 12 August [1715]. (1) Petition of Thomas [Saunders] and Jane Saunders, children of John Saunders, recently deceased, apothecary of Hackney [Middlesex], on behalf of their brother John Saunders alias Stewart, condemned at the assizes in Abindgon, Berkshire, for highway robbery, by Justice Blincowe. (2) Certificate in favour of John Saunders, deceased, and his son Thomas and daughter, signed by Peter Newcome, vic [vicar], Charles Cooke, Matthew Holworthy, Samuel Webb, Dan [Daniel] Dolins, and John Prunell. (3) Mr Justice Blencowe's report on the petition, referring to the robbery of Adam Newman on 19 May [1715] in Maidenhead [Berkshire], mentioning the Uxbridge [Middlesex] Road, and the detention of the petitioners in Surrey. Having just 'come off the circuit', Blencowe also petitions to be allowed to continue at his country home. Dated 4 September 1715.