20-25 July 1771
On Tuesday night a man, charged with an unnatural crime in Pemberton-row, Gough-square, was delivered up to the fury of the populace, who treated the miscreant with great severity; and, after beating him heartily with sticks, dragged him to the Thames, where they ducked him, till he was almost dead, and then suffered him to crawl towards his own habitation. (General Evening Post)
18-25 July 1772
A tradesman in the Borough has absconded, two warrants being issued against him on a charge of a detestable nature. (The Westminster Journal: and London Political Miscellany; the same report appeared in the Daily Advertiser for 21 July.)
28-30 July 1772
So general is the unpardonable vice of sodomy become in this metropolis, that two houses are absolutely noted for the reception of those villains. One of them is in the neighbourhood of Drury-lane, under the presidency of one —; and the other is in Westminster, under the celebrated —. – It is to be hoped the magistrates, after this intelligence, will be indefatigable in bringing those detestable wretches to punishment.
Tuesday a man was taken up in the Borough for an unnatural crime, and committed to Prison. And this day a tradesman in Shoreditch absconded on the same account. (London Evening Post)
30 July - 1 August 1772
Instead of one tradesman, we are sorry to hear, that several persons have absconded from the neighbourhood of Shoreditch, for a detestable crime. (London Evening Post)
1 August 1772
Yesterday morning three men were taken out of a house in Martlet’s-court, Bow-street, for a most unnatural crime, they were taken before Sir John Fielding, who committed them to take their trials. (The Craftsman; or Say’s Weekly Journal)
1 August 1772
Thursday night a well dressed man was detected, near Lombard-street, in an unnatural crime, and immediately committed to the Poultry Compter. (The Craftsman; or Say’s Weekly Journal)
1 August 1772
By a letter from Southampton we are informed, that one Mr. F—e, an officer in the army, has been apprehended there for an attempt to commit an unnatural crime on a journeyman shoemaker. (The Craftsman; or Say’s Weekly Journal)
8 August 1772
Every evening, from nine o-clock till twelve, the North side of the Royal Exchange is pestered with a parcel of detestable fellows, who are so intolerably impudent, that there is hardly any passing of them without being insulted. – It is hoped, on the Gentlemen of the Ward getting this hint, they will remove the nuisance. (The Craftsman; or Say’s Weekly Journal)
11-13 August 1772
At York assizes a Clergyman was convicted of an attempt to commit an unnatural crime, fined 20l. imprisoned two years, and to find sureties for his good behaviour for two years more. (General Evening Post. The same report appeared in the Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser for 14 August, and in The Craftsman; or Say’s Weekly Journal on 15 August.)
18-20 August 1772
Yesterday a man was brought before the Rotation Bench of Justices, at the Swan tavern in Southwark, charged with several attempts to commit an abominable crime. He was admitted to bail for his answering to any indictment against him at the next sessions for Surry. (General Evening Post)
Wednesday 9 September 1772
Yesterday .. a Man and a Boy were committed to Newgate by David Wilmon, (on the Boy’s Confession) of having been both guilty of an abominable Crime. (Daily Advertiser)
Friday 18 September 1772
Yesterday a Man was committed to the Poultry-Compter by the sitting Alderman at Guildhall, for attempting to commit an unnatural Crime in Little Swan-Alley, Coleman-Street, the Night before. (Daily Advertiser)
19 September 1772
Robert Crook and Charles Gibson, for committing an unnatural crime, were after a long trial acquitted. (The Craftsman; or Say’s Weekly Journal)
19 September 1772
It is said the long-contended mysterious affair of the sex of a certain Chevalier [i.e. Chevalier d’Eon], will now certainly be decided, it having agreed to submit to an examination, on its previously receiving the sum of 6000l. which some persons deeply concerned in the event have undertaken to get subscribed. (The Craftsman; or Say’s Weekly Journal)
26 September 1772
On Friday a tradesman in Southwark hanged himself. The reason of his committing this rash act, was, his having been detected in committing an unnatural crime with his apprentice, a lad of 13 years of age. (The Craftsman; or Say’s Weekly Journal)
26 September 1772
Last Sunday, about half past twelve o’clock, an elderly man, well dressed, was taken up for an attempt to commit an unnatural crime on a boy in Winchester-street, where he was detected by some people who were coming from church: he was delivered up to the mob, who made him undergo a very severe ducking. (The Craftsman; or Say’s Weekly Journal)
17 October 1772
Southampton, Oct. 11. Friday last, at the sessions for the town of Southampton, came on the trial of John Fieldhouse, Esq; an officer in the army, for an attempt to commit a detestable crime on a lad of this town. About twelve o’clock he was brought to the bar, and pleaded, Not Guilty. After a trial of seven hours, the Jury, after withdrawing for a few minutes, brought him in Guilty, and he was sentenced to pay a fine of twenty pounds, and suffer six months imprisonment. It is supposed the Recorder passed this above sentence, instead of the usual one of the pillory, to prevent the dreadful consequences that were expected to ensue, had that been inflicted on him. Mr. Fieldhouse has been in the army many years, and is now on half-pay; appears to be fifty years of age, or rather more, and wore his own hair tied behind, which was entirely grey. His character is said to have been very good till this affair happened. (The Craftsman; or Say’s Weekly Journal)
21 October 1772
Yesterday two young Fellows were committed to Newgate, by the Lord-Mayor, being detected the Night before, in a Court in Coleman-Street, in committing an unnatural Crime. (Daily Advertiser)
26 October 1772
On Saturday a Man was convicted at Hicks’s Hall of an unnatural Attempt, and was committed to Newgate to be imprisoned one Year.
The same Day another Person was convicted of assaulting a Girl with Intent to abuse her, and was committed to the same Gaol for three Months.
The same Day a Bill of Indictment was found against one of the Persons taken the last Week in Coleman-Street with indecent Circumstances, to which he gave Bail to answer at the next Session, and was discharged. (Daily Advertiser)
29 October 1772
Yesterday a Man was sent to the Poultry-Compter, by Alderman Alsop, at Guildhall, for further Examination, charged with attempting to commit an unnatural Crime at a Publick House in a Lane near Cheapside. (Daily Advertiser)
Wednesday 4 November 1772
Yesterday a Man stood in the Pillory by the Turnpike in Shoreditch Road, for an Attempt to commit an unnatural Crime in Moorfields, but was very little pelted. The Prisoner imagining that he should not come alive out of the Pillory, desired that he might be permitted to go to Prayers in Shoreditch Church, which was granted, as the Service was then beginning. (Daily Advertiser)
13 November 1772
On Wednesday at the Public Office in Bow-Street, John Rose charged John Clarke with stopping him near Tottenham-Court-Road, and threatening to charge him with an Attempt of a detestable Kind, unless he would give him Money. The Prosecutor, terrified by the horrid Idea, delivered his Watch and three Half Guineas. Henry Smallwood, a Constable, swore to his taking the Prisoner while he was offering the Watch at a Pawnbroker’s. Mr. Rose was bound to prosecute at the Old-Bailey. (Daily Advertiser)
