Page 42 - British Post Office Notices 1666 to 1799

1680-1689

* 8 7 0 7 NEWS (Whitehall, August 26, 1687)

Whereas His Majesty has been informed by the Merchants Owners of the Diamonds robb'd out of the Holland Mail
on the 25th of June last past, between Colchester and Harwich, That two of the Persons concerned in the said Robbery have
lately been discovered and apprehended at Paris, with whom there was taken part of the Diamonds: And the said
Merchants having humbly besought His Majesty that (forasmuch as the greatest part of the Diamonds are yet missing) His
Majesty would be Graciously pleased to renew His Promise of a Pardon to the rest of the Persons concerned in the said
Robbery, Provided, and in Case, they Restore their Share of the said Diamonds within Thirty days: His Majesty has been
pleased to Grant the said Merchants Request, and does accordingly hereby Declare and Promise, that in case either or all
the rest of the Persons that have been concerned in the Robbery abovementioned, do within the space of Thirty days from
the date hereof, Return to the Owners that part of the Diamonds which he or they had for their shares, His Majesty will
Grant unto the Person or Persons so restoring his or tpeir Share of the said Diamonds, His Gracious Pardon for the said
Robbery, as also for Robbing the Coaches at the same time, besides a Reward of Ten per Cent. of the value of the
Diamonds that shall be restored, which the Merchants will pay upon the Delivery thereof.
MIDDLETON.
One of the Persons who committed the Robbery on the King's Mail going for Holland on the 25th of June last, and
took thence the Diamonds, is taken and in Prison beyond Seas; he declares, that one THo. HEBDON was a principal Actor
with him in the said Robbery; he is a middle sized Man, well sett, with Pock-holes in his Face, somewhat swarthy and full
Faced, his Hair inclining to red, grey-eyed, and speaks broad like a North-Country-Man. Whoever shall apprehend him so
as he be delivered into the hands of Justice, they shall receive immediately One hundred pound from the hands of Mr. Will.
Atwell, and Mr. Adrian Courtney, Goldsmiths in Exchange-Alley in London; and if the Diamonds be recovered, they shall
have the Reward of Ten per Cent. promised in the Gazette besides.

* 8 7 0 8 NEWS (Whitehall, October U, 1687)
Whereas His Majesty has been informed by the Merchants Owners of the Diamonds Robb'd out of the Holland Mail
on the 25 day of June last, past, between Colchester and Harwich, That notwithstanding His Gracious Promise of a Pardon
to the persons concerned in the said Robbery, Thomas Hebdon one of the Robbers has not yet surrendered himself, nor
restored the Diamonds which he had for his share, amounting to about £4000. Upon the said Merchants humble Petition to
His Majesty, praying that He would be Graciously pleased once more to promise His Pardon to the said Hebdon, or any
other concerned with him provided and in case he or they do within the space of forty days restore the said Diamonds, His
Majesty is Graciously pleased to Grant the said Merchants humble Request, and does accordingly hereby declare, That in
case the said Thomas Hebdon, or any other concerned with him in the said Robbery or Division of the Diamonds, do
within the space of Forty days from the date hereof, return to the Owners that part of the Diamonds which he or they had
for their Shares, His Majesty will Grant unto the said Thomas Hebdon or any other Person or Persons so restoring the said
Diamonds His Gracious Pardon for the said Robbery, as also for Robbing the Coaches at the same time, besides a Reward
of Ten per Cent. of the value of the Diamonds that shall be restored, which the Merchants will pay upon the Delivery
thereof.
MIDDLETON.
Thomas Hebdon is a middle sized Man, well set, Pockholes in his Face, somewhat swarthy, and full faced, his hair
inclining to red, grey-eyed, and speaks broad like a North-Countrey Man, he went on Saturday the llth of September last
from Scarborough in Yorkshire, with his Wife mounted on a dark sorrel chestnut coloured Mare, her Mane half shorn, all
her Feet white, a white slip down her Face, and a white spot on her Buttock. Whoever apprehends the said Thomas
Hebdon, shall, upon the delivery of him into the hands of Justice, receive from Mr. Atwell and Mr. Courtney, Goldsmiths in
Lombard-street, London, One Hundred and Fifty Guinea's Reward; and if the Diamonds be recovered, they shaII have the
Reward of Ten per Cent besides, heretofore promised in the Gazette.

* 8 7 0 9 NEWS [November 17-21, 1687]

All Masters of Ships and others that carry Letters to the Islands of Barbados or Antigua, are to take Notice, That His
Majesty will establish a Post Office in each of the said Islands, of which Captain George Saintlo is Post-Master,. unto whom,
or his under Officers, they are to deliver their Letters, when they arrive in the said Islands.

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