The popular image of Richard “Dick” Turpin is of a romantic figure, robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. The truth could scarcely be further removed. Turpin was a ruthless criminal, who left a trail of death, destruction and despair.
The Early Life of Dick Turpin
Turpin was born in Essex in 1705 and, for the first part of his life, there was little to suggest that he would become a career criminal. After serving an apprenticeship as a butcher Turpin opened his own shop in London. It was around this period that he first became involved in criminal activities, notably cattle theft. Under pressure from the law he was eventually forced to leave his shop behind and seek refuge in the forests which surrounded London.
In his twenties Turpin became a member of the Essex Gang, a group of habitual criminals led by two brothers, Samuel and Jeremiah Gregory. Interestingly, the gang also included a female member. They preyed on isolated houses around the outskirts of London. Their raids often involved threats of extreme violence, torture and even rape. Eventually their prolific crime spree came to an end. Gang members were hanged, imprisoned or exiled, but Turpin managed to escape.
Dick Turpin the Highwayman
The first recorded highway robbery carried out by Turpin took place in April, 1735. He soon carried out many more, working together with a variety of accomplices, including Matthew King. Turpin’s relationship with King ended abruptly when the latter was arrested for horse theft. An eyewitness account claimed that, rather than help King, Turpin shot him and rode away, leaving his partner in crime fatally injured.
Turpin became a prolific highway robber, although his targets were probably not the stagecoaches of the day. Stagecoach drivers were usually well armed. Instead, highwaymen preferred to steal from lone travellers, who would offer little resistance.
The Death of Dick Turpin
Turpin hid in Epping Forest after the death of King, while a manhunt was launched. It was while there that Turpin shot dead a forest keeper’s servant who was hoping to claim the substantial financial reward on offer for the highwayman’s capture.
Following this murder Turpin realised it was too dangerous to stay near London, and he fled north to York. Once there he assumed a false identity, using the name John Palmer. It didn’t take long for Turpin to resort to his criminal ways, stealing horses. He instigated his own demise by shooting dead a cockerel and then threatening to murder a witness to the act. He was imprisoned, although the authorities had no idea that they had arrested the most wanted man in England.
Desperate for help, Turpin wrote to his brother-in-law back home. When his brother-in-law refused to open the letter it was returned to the postmaster. James Smith, who had taught Turpin to write as a child, recognised the writing. The authorities were notified and Turpin went to court, where the highwayman chose to defend himself. It was a poor decision, and Turpin was sent for an appointment with the hangman’s noose. The offence Turpin was charged with was horse theft, despite him being in prison on the days the crimes had occurred.
Turpin was taken to the gallows on April 7th, 1739. Huge crowds gathered to see the notorious highwayman make his final journey. The hangman responsible for despatching Turpin was himself a highwayman, pardoned in return for carrying out the task.
The Legend of Dick Turpin
Almost a century after Turpin’s death the author William Harrison Ainsworth had his book, “Rookwood”, published. It was this work which established many of the myths surrounding Turpin. Ainsworth portrayed the highwayman as a dashing and chivalrous figure. He gave Turpin his trusty associate Tom King (no doubt based on the unfortunate Matthew King) and his horse, Black Bess. It was also Ainsworth who concocted Turpin’s famous high speed ride from London to York, culminating in Black Bess dying of exhaustion. Ainsworth’s story appealed to his readers, and the romantic image of Turpin soon became ingrained into popular culture.
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