Saturday, 17 February 1739 Thursday a Man of about Threescore was committed to the Poultry Compter, by the Sitting Alderman at Guild-Hall, for Sodomy. (The Country Journal: or, The Craftsman) Saturday, 10 March 1739 On Friday 7-Night the Corpse of – Curtis, Esq; was carry'd in great Pomp from Warwick-Court, Holbourn, and interr'd in Nelson's Burial Ground in Red-Lion-Fields. This Gentleman left handsome Legacies to all his Servants, particularly his Valet, who had been with him many Years, 40l. per Annum. (Read's Weekly Journal) Saturday, 17 March 1739 Dr. Thistlethwaite is arrived at Diep [sic] in France. (Read's Weekly Journal) [See The State of Rome, 1739] Saturday, 12 May 1739
Ipswich, April 26. On Wednesday last our Sessions ended, when one Sherman was set in the Pillory for Sodomitical Practices: It is said that three other Persons have left the Town for the like Facts. (Read's Weekly Journal) Saturday, 12 May 1739 Tuesday John Hanna, Capt. Longden's Boy, was try'd at Guildhall for Perjury, and acquitted. ... Saturday, 26 May 1739 This Day one Devenish, who was convicted a few Days since at Guildhall for Sodomitical Practices, stood on the Pillory at the Royal Exchange, in pursuance of the Sentence pass'd on him for the said Offence. (Read's Weekly Journal) Saturday, 2 June 1739 On Saturday Morning one Davenish the Taylor, an old Fellow near 60, who was convicted at the Quarter-Sessions at Guildhall for an Attempt to commit Sodomy on a young Man, stood in the Pillory before the Royal Exchange and was severely pelted. Just before his Time was expir’d, a bold Amazon mounted the Pillory, cut his Breeches off, and flogg’d him ‘till the Blood came, and his Head was broke in several Places. The Pickpockets were very busy among the Croud, some of whom were taken and committed to the Compter; but two went through the Horse-pond Law. (The Country Journal: or, The Craftsman) Saturday, 2 June 1739 On Saturday Devnish the Taylor, aged 60, who was convicted at the last Quarter Sessions at Guildhall for an Attempt to commit Sodomy on some young Lads, stood upon the Pillory at the Royal Exchange, and was severely pelted by the Populace. Just before his Time was expired, a Woman got on the Pillory, cut his Breeches off, and whipp'd him till the Blood came, and his Head was broke in several Places. During the time of his Standing the Pickpockets were very busy amongst the Crowd, several of whom were taken in the Fact, and went through the Discipline of being well duck'd in the River Thames. (Read's Weekly Journal) Saturday, 9 June 1739 Saturday Night last two Fellows were seized in the Upper St. James's Park, and carried to the Guard Room, being charged with Sodomitical Practices. (Read's Weekly Journal) Saturday, 9 June 1739 On Saturday last the Rev. Mr. Swinton, Fellow of Wadham-College, Oxford, mov'd his Majesty's Court of King's Bench for an Information against the Printer of a Pamphlet lately publish'd, entitled, A Faithful Narrative of the Proceedings in a late Affair, &c. and the Court made a Rule to shew Cause next Term. (Read's Weekly Journal) [See The State of Rome, 1739] Saturday, 18 August 1739 On Saturday last the Assizes ended at Chelmsford, when George Gray, a Plumber and Glazier, and one Francis, a Barber, both of Colchester, were convicted of Sodomitical Practices. 7 September 1739 London, May 29 On Saturday Morning Devenish the Taylor, an old Fellow near 60, who was convicted at the Quarter Sessions at Guildhall, for an Attempt to commit Sodomy on a young Man, stood in the Pillory on the Royal Exchange, and was severely pelted. Just before his Time was expired, a bold Amazon mounted the Pillory, cut his Breeches off, and flogg’d him till the Blood came, and his Head was broke in several Places. The Pickpockets were very busy among the Crowd, some of whom were taken and committed to the Compter; but two went through the Horsepond Law. (The Virginia Gazette) Saturday, 17 November 1739 Friday 7-Night died, at his House in Grub-street, Mr. Thomas Willis, well known for his Informations, and his Services to the Society for Reformation of Manners. (Read’s Weekly Journal, or, British-Gazetteer) [Constable Willis appears in several of the trials of sodomites in 1726.] Saturday, 17 November 1739 We have the following Account of an odd Affair which lately happened on board the Resolution, Captain Bestwick, who sailed from London for Jamaica about ten Months ago, viz. A Man (as was then supposed) was hired, by the Name of John Roberts, to officiate as a common Servant, and the Ship proceeded on her Voyage; but before the arrived at Jamaica, the Cabin-Boy saw something that gave him a Suspicion of his Mate being a Woman, whereupon he acquainted the Captain with his Discovery, who order’d John Roberts to be called, and tax’d him with the Affair, and had for Answer, That she was a Hermaphrodite: The Captain (not hearing of such a Creature before,) to satisfy his Curiosity, searched her himself, and, to his agreeable Surprize, found his Servant to be of the Female Kind, and about 24 Years of Age. Capt. Bestwick has brought her back to England, and made her his Cook; and she swears never more to wear Petticoats, but instead thereof to spend the rest of her Days in a tarr’d Pea-Jacket and Trowsers. (Read’s Weekly Journal, or, British-Gazetteer) [Use the Search facility on this site to find other examples of 'cross-dressing women'.]
CITATION: If you cite this Web page, please use the following citation:
At the same Time one Devenish, alias Devonshire, was tried for an Attempt to commit the detestable Sin of Sodomy, which being clearly prov'd by four Evidences, he was sentenced to suffer six Months Imprisonment, and stand in the Pillory at the Royal Exchange. (Read's Weekly Journal)
Rictor Norton (Ed.), "Newspaper Reports, 1739",
Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: A Sourcebook, 30 December 2005, expanded 27 January 2006
<http://www.infopt.demon.co.uk/1739news.htm>.
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