DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70301#0344
312 kirby’s wonderful museum.
dating with men, but nevertheless she preserved her moral
character unimpeached. If any person offered to take
liberties with her, she never failed to resent the affront, and
her fist inflicted merited chastisement on the offender. She
possessed great bodily strength, and would dig all the graves
and ring the great bell herself. She died at Kingston, and
was buried February 28, 1746, in the 35th year of her age.
The strength and resolution of this woman were displayed
while she performed the duties of sexton, on the following
occasion.
Philip Wilkinson and William Sweet, two thieves, went
from London to Kingston, with an intent to rob the
church of the communion plate; but not succeeding in this
design, they took the opportunity, after Sunday morning ser-
vice, to conceal themselves in the church, and began to. rip
off the gold lace and fringe that was on the pulpit hangings.
Hester Hammerton, at that instant coming into the church,
to ring the two o’clock bell, and seeing what they were doing,
resolutely seized one of them by the collar, and threw him
over the reading desk into the pew below; when the other
came up to her, and gave her so violent a blow on the head
that it stunned her. She fell and they both made off.
Some time after, a strange boy was seen lurking about the
tower; he was taken up and examined, and threatened to be
sent to prison, if he did not give a good account of himself.
The boy being affrighted, said, that if they would not send
him to prison, he would tell who robbed the church. He
then eave information where Wilkinson and Sweet were to be
found. They were both taken, and tried at the assizes at
Kingston, found guilty, and executed in the market place, on
Thursday the 10th of April, 1735. They both declared
their innocence to the last moment. One of them was a
Roman Catholic, and had a priest to attend him.
Hopkins Switzer, a locksmith in the town, made oath, in
the Town Hall, that on Tuesday evening the 8th of April,
dating with men, but nevertheless she preserved her moral
character unimpeached. If any person offered to take
liberties with her, she never failed to resent the affront, and
her fist inflicted merited chastisement on the offender. She
possessed great bodily strength, and would dig all the graves
and ring the great bell herself. She died at Kingston, and
was buried February 28, 1746, in the 35th year of her age.
The strength and resolution of this woman were displayed
while she performed the duties of sexton, on the following
occasion.
Philip Wilkinson and William Sweet, two thieves, went
from London to Kingston, with an intent to rob the
church of the communion plate; but not succeeding in this
design, they took the opportunity, after Sunday morning ser-
vice, to conceal themselves in the church, and began to. rip
off the gold lace and fringe that was on the pulpit hangings.
Hester Hammerton, at that instant coming into the church,
to ring the two o’clock bell, and seeing what they were doing,
resolutely seized one of them by the collar, and threw him
over the reading desk into the pew below; when the other
came up to her, and gave her so violent a blow on the head
that it stunned her. She fell and they both made off.
Some time after, a strange boy was seen lurking about the
tower; he was taken up and examined, and threatened to be
sent to prison, if he did not give a good account of himself.
The boy being affrighted, said, that if they would not send
him to prison, he would tell who robbed the church. He
then eave information where Wilkinson and Sweet were to be
found. They were both taken, and tried at the assizes at
Kingston, found guilty, and executed in the market place, on
Thursday the 10th of April, 1735. They both declared
their innocence to the last moment. One of them was a
Roman Catholic, and had a priest to attend him.
Hopkins Switzer, a locksmith in the town, made oath, in
the Town Hall, that on Tuesday evening the 8th of April,