THE LIFE OF JOHN SHEPPARD, &c.
THE LIFE OF
JOHN SHEPPARD, &c.
This John Sheppard, a Youth both in Age and Person, tho' an old Man in
Sin; was Born in the Parish of Stepney near London, in the Year
1702, a Son, Grandson, and great Grandson of a Carpenter: His Father
died when he was so very Young that he could not recollect that ever he
saw him. Thus the burthen of his Maintenance, together with his
Brother's and Sister's, lay upon the Shoulders of the Widow Mother, who
soon procured an Admittance of her Son John into the Work-House in
Bishopsgate-street, where he continued for the space of a Year and
half, and in that time received an Education sufficient to qualifie him
for the Trade his Mother design'd him, viz. a Carpenter: Accordingly
she was recommended to Mr. Wood in Witch-Street near Drury-Lane,
as a Master capable of entertaining and instructing her Son: They agreed
and Bound he was for the space of seven Years; the Lad proved an early
proficient, had a ready and ingenious Hand, and soon became Master of
his Business, and gave entire Satisfaction to his Master Customers, and
had the Character of a very sober and orderly Boy. But alas unhappy
Youth! before he had compleated six Years of his Apprenticeship, he
commenced a fatal Acquaintance with one Elizabeth Lyon, otherwise
call'd Edgworth Bess, from a Town of that Name in Middlesex where
she was Born, the reputed Wife of a Foot Soldier, and who lived a wicked
and debauch'd Life; and our young Carpenter became Enamour'd of her,
and they must Cohabit together as Man and Wife.
Now was laid the Foundation of his Ruin; Sheppard grows weary of the
Yoke of Servitude, and began to dispute with his Master; telling him
that his way of Jobbing from House to House was not sufficient to
furnish him with a due Experience in his Trade; and that if he would not
set out to undertake some Buildings, he would step into the World for
better Information. Mr. Wood a mild, sober, honest Man, indulg'd him;
and Mrs. Wood with Tears, exhorted him against the Company of this
lewd Prostitute: But her Man prompted and harden'd by his HARLOT, D---
n'd her Blood, and threw a Stick at his Mistress, and beat her to the
Ground. And being with his Master at Work at Mr. Britt's the Sun
Ale-house near Islington, upon a very trivial Occasion fell upon his
Master, and beat and bruised him in a most barbarous and shameful
Manner. Such a sudden and deplorable Change was there in the Behaviour
of this promising young Man. Next ensued a neglect of Duty, both to God
and his Master, lying out of Nights, perpetual Jarrings, and
Animosities; these and such like, were the Consequences of his intimacy
with this she Lyon; who by the sequel will appear to have been a main
loadstone in attracting of him up to this Eminence of Guilt.
Mr. Wood having Reason to suspect, that Sheppard had robb'd a
Neighbour, began to be in great Fear and Terror for himself. And when
his Man came not Home in due season at Nights bar'd him out; but he made
a mere jest of the Locks and Bolts, and enter'd in, and out at Pleasure;
and when Mr. Wood and his Wife have had all the Reason in the World to
believe him Lock't out, they have found him very quiet in his Bed the
next Morning, such was the power of his early Magick.
Edgworth Bess having stol'n a Gold Ring from a Gentleman, whom she had