Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Jarvis Matcham confessed to murdering drummer Jones seven years ago before Salisbury's mayor on June 16. He described travels and a visionary thunderstorm. Companion Sheppard corroborated his distress. Committed to gaol for trial at Huntingdon assizes. Earl of Sandwich confirmed murder details near Huntingdon.
Clipping
OCR Quality
Full Text
On the 16th instant a man of the name of Jarvis Matcham, went before J. Easton, Esq. Mayor of Salisbury, and voluntarily declared that he murdered a Drummer of the name of Jones, about seven years ago. Since that time he had been in various employments as a sailor, in France, the West-Indies, Russia, &c. that he was last on board the Sampson man of war, lying off Plymouth, whence he and his companion John Sheppard, a native of the Isle, in Winchester, were lately discharged. He declared, that excepting this murder, he had at no time of his life, done any injury to society. That on Thursday, the 15th inst. upon the road to Salisbury, they were overtaken near Woodhay's inn, by a thunder storm: in which he saw several strange and dismal spectres: particularly one in the appearance of a female, to which he went up, when it instantly sunk into the earth, and a large stone rose up in its place: that the stones rolled upon the ground before him, and often came dashing against his feet. Sheppard corroborated this part of the story, so far as relates to the horror of the unhappy man. Matcham persisting in the truth of his confession, was committed to the town gaol, and will take his trial at the ensuing Huntingdon assizes.
The Mayor received a letter (whereof the following is a copy) from the Earl of Sandwich, on Thursday, relative to this murder.
To the Worshipful the Mayor of Salisbury,
SIR,
Hertford Street.
Having thrown my eyes by accident on the enclosed article, in a morning print, I take the earliest opportunity to inform you, that the murder of a drummer within four miles of Huntingdon, happened about the time mentioned in the article, and the circumstances appear very similar to those therein described. I must most earnestly recommend it to you to detain the man, and to write to me for further particulars, with which I will take care that you shall be fully supplied. I must beg at the same time, that you will let me know every thing that has appeared on the examination of the man before you, or whatever can be collected from him upon any further investigation. The Drummer was killed, and his body found at a place called Weybridge, between Bugden and Alconbury, in the great north road.
I am Sir, your obedient humble servant,
SANDWICH.
What sub-type of article is it?
What keywords are associated?
What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Salisbury
Event Date
16th Instant
Key Persons
Outcome
drummer jones murdered about seven years ago near huntingdon; matcham committed to gaol for trial at huntingdon assizes
Event Details
Jarvis Matcham voluntarily confessed to murdering drummer Jones seven years prior before Mayor J. Easton in Salisbury on the 16th instant. He had sailed in France, West-Indies, Russia, etc., lately discharged from HMS Sampson off Plymouth with companion John Sheppard. He claimed no other injuries to society. On the 15th inst. near Woodhay's inn, a thunderstorm caused him to see spectres, including a female figure that sank into earth replaced by a stone; stones rolled at his feet. Sheppard confirmed Matcham's horror. Persisting in confession, Matcham committed to town gaol. Mayor received letter from Earl of Sandwich confirming similar murder near Huntingdon at Weybridge between Bugden and Alconbury.