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Domestic News February 14, 1798

The New Hampshire Gazette

Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire

What is this article about?

A gang of ten robbers broke into Grenville Temple's house on Greenwich Road early yesterday morning, stealing valuables worth about $2000 including cash, coins, notes, plate, jewels, and weapons. Mrs. Temple bravely confronted the leader, who treated her courteously. No one was harmed.

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Full Text

Another Robbery.

A daring Robbery and Burglary was committed yesterday morning, between 12 and 1 o'clock, at the house of Grenville Temple, Esq. on the Greenwich Road, of which the following are the particulars, as nearly as we have been able to collect:

About the time abovementioned, one of the servant women imagining she heard a noise at the shutters of the window, expressed her fear to Mrs. Temple, that some persons were breaking into the house, Mrs. Temple ridiculed her alarm, as groundless; and would not have taken further notice of the matter had not a few minutes convinced her that the servant's suspicions were but too well founded.

She accordingly dressed herself, and prepared for the consequences.

After the villains had remained in the rooms below for the space of an hour and an half, during which time they had plundered them of every thing valuable, they ascended the stairs joining Mrs. Temple's, and proceeded to the chamber ad-of the women servants lay asleep.

They awoke her, and holding a pistol to her head, threatened her with immediate death if she occasioned the least alarm. Her trunk was in the room, which they opened, and took out 30 dollars. They then enquired of the servant if she was the lady of the house; and were answered in the negative. At this instant Mrs. Temple (with an amiable courage peculiar to herself, and almost amounting to romantic heroism) opened the door and presenting herself to the man who appeared to be the captain of the gang, enquired his business with her, informed him she was the lady of the house, and requested to be treated with delicacy. This the man promised, and most religiously adhered to.

He put coals into her foot-stove, insisted on her taking a cordial which he prepared for her, to prevent her spirits from being too much depressed; assured her she was safe under his protection, and behaved with all the sang froid imaginable.

The robbers then proceeded to the object of their visit; and after taking from Mrs. Temple a purse containing 5 dollars, another containing a quantity gold coins, some Spanish money with holes drilled through, bank notes to the value of 800 dollars, all the silver plate, some jewels, a watch of Mrs. Temple's, a blunderbuss, 2 pistols, and a variety of other articles. in value amounting to about 2000 dollars, they left the house about five in the morning.

Mrs. Temple throughout the whole of these transactions conducted herself with a manly fortitude, and a composure which astonished the villains themselves.

Mr. Temple had embarked for Europe some weeks ago to join his regiment, and no man-servant was in the house at the time when the robbery was committed.

The men had their faces blacked. wore black wigs & waggoner's frocks, and were ten in number.—From their conduct they appeared to have a perfect knowledge of the house, and of the domestic concerns of the family.

Their chief professed to have known Mrs. Temple in Boston, at a time when adverse circumstances had not reduced him to the necessity of following an occupation at once so disagreeable and so dangerous.

What sub-type of article is it?

Crime

What keywords are associated?

Robbery Burglary Greenwich Road Temple House Armed Gang Stolen Valuables

What entities or persons were involved?

Grenville Temple Mrs. Temple

Where did it happen?

Greenwich Road

Domestic News Details

Primary Location

Greenwich Road

Event Date

Yesterday Morning, Between 12 And 1 O'clock

Key Persons

Grenville Temple Mrs. Temple

Outcome

robbers stole items worth about 2000 dollars including 5 dollars, gold coins, spanish money, 800 dollars in bank notes, silver plate, jewels, a watch, blunderbuss, 2 pistols, and other articles; no injuries or arrests reported

Event Details

Ten men with faces blacked, wearing black wigs and waggoner's frocks, broke into the house, plundered rooms below for an hour and a half, threatened a servant with a pistol and took 30 dollars from her trunk, then confronted by Mrs. Temple whom the leader treated courteously, providing her a foot-stove and cordial; they had prior knowledge of the house and family

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