Page 113 - British Post Office Notices 1666 to 1799

1750-1759

- 5 6 0 7 NEWS (General Post-Office, December 20, 1756)
Whereas the Post Boy carrying the Worcester Mail from hence to Southall, was, on Sunday Morning the 12th instant,
between the Hours of Four and Five of the Clock, attacked and robbed on the Road near Shepherds Bush, by a Footpad,
who laid hold of the Bridle of the Post Boy's Horse, and bid him dismount, and afterwards led the said Horse into a Lane
near the great Road, and from thence into a Field adjoining, and there near to a Hay Rick took off the Mail from the
Horse, opened it, and afterwards the Letters contained in the following Bags, viz. Campden, Chipping-Norton, Eversham,
Burford, Whitney, Woodstock, Oxford, Ludlow, Bromyard, Worcester, Thame, Southall, Ge"ard's Cross, Uxbridge, High
Wickham and Beaconsfield.
Note, The following Bags in the said Mail were unopened, viz. Shipston, Enston, and Tenbury; and the said Foot-pad,
after detaining the Post-boy upwards of two Hours, mounted the said Post Boy's Horse, and rode off with the same towards
Acton, which Horse was found the same Morning about Eight o'Clock near the Turnpike at Hyde Park Comer.
The Person who committed this Robbery has since put off several of the Bank Notes, and indorsed the Name of
James Wilson thereon, to several Inn-keepers on the Road to Caxton, by travelling Post in Post-Chaises with four Horses,
by the Way of Barnet, Hatfield, Stevenage, and Bugden, and returning from Caxton by Way of Royston, Ware, and Enfield
to London, where he was set down at Gray's Inn Gate, in Gray's Inn Lane, about Twelve o'Clock at Noon, on Tuesday the
14th Instant. This Person is described to be rather above the Middle-Size, of a brown Complexion; very thin VISage and
Body, with an effeminate Voice; he had on a Silver-laced Hat, with a Cockade, blue Surtout Coat with Brass Buttons, a
dark brown close-bodied Coat underneath, a Pair of Breeches with Silver Gartering at the Knees, his Wig or Hair, or both
mixed was a dark brown, and tied behind with a Ribbon.
This is therefore to give Notice, That whoever shall apprehend and convict, or cause to be apprehended and convicted,
the Person who committed this Robbery, will be entitled to a Reward of Two Hundred Pounds, over and above the Reward
given by Act of Parliament for apprehending Highwaymen; or if any Person or Persons, whether an Accomplice in the said
Robbery, or knowing thereof, shall make Discovery, whereby the Person who committed the same, may be apprehended
and brought to Justice, such Discoverer or Discoverers will, upon Conviction of the Party, be entitled to the same Reward
of Two Hundred Pounds, and also have His Majesty's most gracious Pardon.
GEORGE SHELVOCKE, Secretary.

-- 5701 NEWS (General Post Office, February 4, 1757)

Whereas the Post Boy, bringing the North Mail to this Office, was, this Morning, between Two and Three o'Clock,
near the New-Bridge, Ten Miles on this Side Royston, attacked and robbed, by a Foot Pad, who took out of the said Mail,
and carried off the following Bags of Letters, viz.
Hull, Lincoln, Stilton, Huntingdon, and Wisbich.
The Person who committed this Robbery is said to be a tall lusty Man, had on a blue Surtout Coat, with a red Cape, or
a red Lining to it, had his Face either blacked, or wore a Mask.
This is therefore to give Notice, That whoever shall apprehend and convict, or cause to be apprehended and convicted,
the Person who committed this Robbery, will be intitled to a Reward of Two Hundred Pounds, over and above the Reward
given by Act of Parliament, for apprehending of Highwaymen; or if any Person or Persons, whether an Accomplice in the
said Robbery or knowing thereof, shall make Discovery, whereby the Person who committed the same, may be
apprehended and brought to Justice, such Discoverer or Discoverers will, upon Conviction of the Party, be intitled to the
same Reward of Two Hundred Pounds, and also have His Majesty's most gracious Pardon.
GEORGE SHELVOCKE, Secretary.

-- 5 7 0 2 NEWS (General Post-Office, March 21, 1757)

WHEREAS the Post-Boy bringing the Norwich Mail from Epping, to this Office, was, this Morning about Four o'Clock,
attacked and robbed on the Road, by the Obelisk, or High Stone, near Laytonstone, in the County of Essex, by a single
Highwayman on Horseback, who presented a Pistol to the Post-boy, at the same Time ordering him to deliver him the
Mail, otherwise he would blow his Brains out, which obliged the Post-boy to unstrap the Mail, and deliver it to the

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