13 January 1728
Last Monday one James Oviat was committed to Newgate by Justice Gore and Justice Harper, for extorting Money from a Person on Pretence of his being guilty of Sodomitical Practices: We hear this is the third Time the said Oviat hath been committed to that Jail on the like Account, and about twelve Months ago he stood in the Pillory for that vile and villainous Practice. (The Weekly Journal; or, British Gazetteer)
27 January 1728
The Trials of Mr. John Burleigh of Clare-Market, indicted for Perjury; of James Oviatt, for Sodomitical Practices; and John Elliott, for several notorious Cheats and Frauds, were put off till the next Sessions, which begins the 28th of February. (The Weekly Journal; or, British Gazetteer)
14 March 1728
23 March 1728
Some Days since, two Sodomites were taken up in the Hay-Market, and committed to Goal. (The Weekly Journal; or, British Gazetteer)
4 May 1728
We hear that strict Search is making after several notorious Sodomites, occasionally taken Notice of in a Narrative lately published by James Dalton, who is an Evidence against the Street-Robbers to be try’d this Sessions. (The Weekly Journal; or, British Gazetteer)
18 May 1728
On Tuesday last, a Man was committed to Newgate by Justice Gifford, for attempting to commit Sodomy. (The Weekly Journal)
13 June 1728
A noted Shopkeeper in the Hay-Market, is bound over to the Sessions in the Old-Baily, in a very large Recognizance, to answer a Charge of Sodomitical Practice found against him. (Stamford Mercury)
Sunday 25 July 1728
17 August 1728
Thursday last a Man was committed to Newgate, for endeavouring to extort Money from a Gentleman, by threatning to swear Sodomy against him. (The Weekly Journal; or, British Gazetteer)
24 August 1728
Last Tuesday ... Julius-Cæsar Taylor, and one Oakeley, were committed to said jail [the County Jail in Southwark] by Justice Ellis, for Sodomitical Practices. (The Weekly Journal; or, British Gazetteer)
On Monday Night one John Burgess was committed to Newgate by two of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for Westminster, being charg’d with Sodomitical Practices.
31 August 1728
Tuesday at the Sessions of the Peace at Guildhall, two little Boys were convicted of a Misdemeanor for extorting Money from a Person, by threatning falsly to charge him with Sodomitical Practices, and were fined three Marks each, and order’d to be sent to the House of Correction for three Months. (The Weekly Journal; or, British Gazetteer)
7 September 1728
Yesterday being the Anniversary Fast of the Fire of London, the Clergy took Occasion in their Sermons to mention the Increase of that horrid and detestable Sin of Sodomy: The Rev. Mr. Massey preached before the Lord Mayor at St. Laurence's near Guildhall, and recommended to them the Suppression of Vice, Immorality, and Faction, and took Notice of the glorious Example from the Throne, and speaking of her Majesty, said, "Many Sisters had done well, but she had exceeded them all."
This Morning a great many Men were taken up, at an Ale house near Temple-Bar, and carryed [sic] before a Justice, being charged with Sodomitical Practice. (Newcastle Courant)
3 October 1728
On Sunday Evening the City Marshal, assisted by the Willis's, took nine Sodomites at a Geneva Shop near Whitechappel Church, who have been committed to Goal. (Stamford Mercury)
5 October 1728
On Sunday Night last a Constable with proper Assistants, searched the House of Jonathan Muff, alias Miss Muff, in Black-Lyon Yard, near Whitechapel Church, where they apprehended nine male Ladies, including the Man of the House. They were secured that Night in New Prison, and Monday Morning they were examined before Justice Jackson, in Ayliff-streeet; John Bleak Cawlend was committed to Newgate, he being charged on Oath with committing the detestable Sin of Sodomy. One of them was committed to Bridewell, and Miss Muff, with the other Six were committed to New Prison for Misdemeanors. (The Weekly Journal; or, British Gazetteer)
5 October 1728
Jonathan alias Miss Muff, and nine Male Ladies were all apprehended last Sunday Night at his House in Black Lyon Yard near White Chapel Church, carried to New Prison, and examin’d next Day before a Magistrate, when J. Bleak Cawland charged on Oath with committing the detestable Sin of Sodomy, was committed to Newgate, another to Bridewell, and Miss Muff with the other six to Newgate: Two Persons were also catch’d in that horrid Act last Week at Redding [i.e. Reading, Berkshire]; one of whom was immediately pump’d, thrown into a Bog-House, and then rinsed in stinking Ditches; what will come of the other Beast is not said. (The Flying-Post: or, The Weekly Medley)
Sunday 24 October 1728
This Evening 4 Persons were convicted at the Old Bailey of the detestable Sin of Sodomy, upon the Evidence of one Jonathan Perry, who confessed he had committed that Crime with some of them several times; who had a Custom among 'em of Christening by the Names of Nell Gwyn, Geneva, &c. after which Ceremony they are call'd Husband and Wife. The other Particulars are not fit to be mentioned. (Caledonian Mercury)
19 October 1728
On Thursday ... a Bill of Indictment was found at the Old Baily, against one Cowland, for Sodomy.
The same Morning, two Persons were taken in the Act of Sodomy, in the little Cloisters at Westminster-Abbey, and committed to Prison.
And other Bills are found at Hick’s Hall, against divers other Persons, for Sodomitical Practices. (The Weekly Journal; or, British Gazetteer)
24 October 1728
24 October 1728
Thursday Morning last two Persons were taken in the Act of Sodomy, in the little Cloisters at Westminster-Abbey, and committed to Prison.
And several Bills are found at Hicks's Hall, against Persons, for Sodomitical Practices. (Stamford Mercury)
26 October 1728
Monday the Sessions ended at the Old Baily, when, with what received Sentence of Death last Saturday, there are 16 Capitally convicted, viz. ... John Bleak Cowland for Sodomy ...
John Burgess, for Sodomitical Practices, was fin’d five Marks, and order’d to find Sureties for his Good Behaviour for six Months.
Two others indicted for Sodomitical Practices were acquitted. (The Weekly Journal; or, British Gazetteer)
Saturday last ... one John Mitchel stood in the Pillory in Little Britain, pursuant to his Sentence at Guild-Hall, for threatning to swear Sodomy against a Person, in order to extort Money from him; he is also to suffer three Months Imprisonment. (Weekly Journal, or the British Gazetteer) [This was also reported in The Flying-Post: or, The Weekly Medley.]
9 November 1728
Last Wednesday Night the dead Warrant came to Newgate for the Execution of thirteen Malefactors condemned last Sessions at the Old-Bailey, on Monday next at Tyburn, ...
But John Bleake Cowland, Samuel Lewis, and John Taylor, are respited ’till his Majesty’s Pleasure, touching them, be further known. (The Weekly Journal; or, British Gazetteer) [The Flying-Post on this day also reported that although John Bleak Cowland was condemned for sodomy, he was reprieved and not executed.]
16 November 1728
Yesterday Isaac Milton stood in the Pillory at White-Chapel-Bars for Sodomitical Practices. He was severely used by the Mob, who tore off his Breeches, and whipt him 'till the Blood ran down; He was almost stifled, and afterwards carry'd back to Newgate in a Cart. (Newcastle Courant)
7–14 December 1728
On Friday last a Bill of Indictment was found by the Grand Jury of London against Thomas Mitchell, late of Red-Lyon-Street, Upholster, for the heinous and detestable Sin of Sodomy, and on Saturday he was convey'd from his Majesty's Prison of the Fleet to Newgate; when he was detected of the abominable Fact he attempted, and had near accomplished, destroying himself, in cutting the great Artery of his Left Arm almost asunder; but by the immediate Help of some eminent Surgeons he was preserv'd, tho' at the Point of Death thro' the great Effusion of Blood. (Ipswich Journal)
14 December 1728
On Friday last Week a Bill of Indictment was found by the Grand Jury of London against Thomas Mitchell, late of Red-Lyon-Street, Upholsterer, for the heinous and detestable Sin of Sodomy, and on Saturday he was convey’d from his Majesty’s Prison of the Fleet to Newgate; when he was detected of the abominable Fact he attempted, and had near accomplish’d, destroying himself, in cutting the great Artery of his Left Arm almost asunder; but by the immediate Help of some eminent Surgeons he was preserv’d, tho’ at the Point of Death thro’ the great Effusion of Blood. (The Weekly Journal; or, British Gazetteer. Also reported in the Ipswich Journal)
SOURCE: Various newspapers, as noted above, throughout the year 1728. Most of these newspapers were published once a week, on Saturdays.
CITATION: If you cite this Web page, please use the following citation:
Rictor Norton (Ed.), "Newspaper Reports, 1728," Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: A Sourcebook. 10 August 2002, updated 21 July 2018, 2 September 2020 <http://www.rictornorton.co.uk/eighteen/1728news.htm>.
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