George Cullum Butts
11 October 1755
27 February – 4 March 1756
The following Sentence . . . to be imprisoned seven Years in Newgate, to be pillory'd twice, to pay a Fine of one Mark, and to give Security for their good Behaviour for three Years . . . was passed on George Cullum Butts and John Wrighte Newerke, for writing Letters to Gentlemen demanding Money, and threatening to swear Sodomy against them, in case of Refusal. (Derby Mercury)
Saturday, 6 March 1756
George Cullum Butts, and John Wright Newark, standing convicted of sending many menacing Letters to divers Gentlemen of Fortune, in order to extort Money from them under various scandalous Pretences, were ordered to be imprisoned two Years, (such the Time of Newark's Imprisonment to commence at the End of the seven Years for which he is ordered to be imprisoned for another Offence) and in the mean Time, each of them to stand twice in the Pillory, March the 15th at Cheapside Conduit, and April the 12th in Fleet-Street, near Fetter-Lane; and, at the End of their Imprisonment, to give Sureties for their good Behaviourfor three Years, and to pay a Fine of one Mark each. (British Spy or New Universal London Weekly Journal)
10–13 April 1756
Yesterday George Cullum Butts and John Wright Newarke stood in the Pillory for the second Time at the Corner of Fetter-Lane, Fleet-Street, and were severely pelted by the Populace. – To prevent their dispersing Libels at the Pillory against their Prosecutors (whom, it appeared upon their Trial, they did not so much as know) they were searched in Newgate; and, we hear, that another Prosecution will be commenced against them before their Imprisonment is expired, for those which they dispersed at their first standing in the Pillory. (Whitehall Evening Post)
Saturday 21 February 1756
On Monday last a certain Person was committed to New Prison by John Fielding, Esq; for attempting to commit Sodomitical Practices upon a Soldier in St. James's Park. (Oxford Journal)
6 March 1756
On Tuesday Night last Information being brought to John Fielding and Saunders Welch, Esqrs. that an Assembly of Men, of the effeminate Kind, were to have a Dance at a Public House, a Warrant was immediately granted to search the same, and was executed by Mr. Hurford, High Constable of Finsbury Division, and his Officers, who apprehended about fourteen Persons of the above Stamp, who were all committed to Bridewell. Some of them had been taken before, and committed by the above Magistrates on the same Occasion. (Ipswich Journal)
9–11 March 1756
Last Saturday Night a Gentleman-like Man was detected in Lincoln's-Inn committing the heinous Sin of Sodomy upon a Boy, whose Cries soon rais'd several Persons to his Assistance, who duck'd the Villain (a Father of Children) pretty handsomely for his Abuse of Nture, and sent him home with the Loss of his Hat, Wig, &c. (Whitehall Eveningn Post)
Saturday 13 March 1756
Last week died, at his lodgings in Ipswich, Mr. Phillips, a Batchelor, who always changed his place of Residence when found out by any of his Aquaintance, chusing to live retired. he has left all his Fortune, which is near One hundred thousand Pounds, to a poor labouring Man, who was formerly his Servant, and who was on Saturday last at the Bank to claim what Money is there. At Mr. Phlllip's Death there was a Ballance of 16000 l. belonging to him in the Bank of England, which has lain there twenty Years without any Interest. By his Will he order'd his Body to be buried next to an old Servant of his who died about seven Years ago. (British Spy, No.212, p.34)
Saturday 3 April 1756
Mr. Thomas Wye, a Lieutenant in the Navy, was found guilty of an Assault with Intent to commit Sodomy, and sentenced to pay a Fine of 6s. 8d. to be imprisoned in the County Gaol for six Months, and to be set in the Pillory at Ipswich for an Hour, on Monday the 19th Instant, between the Hours of Twelve and Two. Saturday 10 April 1756
At the late Assizes at Bury, Mr. Thomas Wye, a Lieutenant in the Navy, was found guilty of an Assault with Intent to commit Sodomy, and sentenced to pay a Fine of 6s. 8d. to be imprisoned in the County Gaol for six Months, and to be set in the Pillory at Ipswich for an Hour, on Monday the 19th Instant, between Hours of Twelve and Two. Heaken and Thompson, who were charged with having been guilty of the Act of Sodomy with Mr. Wye, were discharged for want of Prosecution. (Oxford Journal)
Saturday 31 July 1756
Heaken and Thompson, who were charged with having been guilty of the Act of Sodomy with Mr. Wye, were discharged for want of Prosecution. (Ipswich Journal) [See the report for 21-23 Aug. and 18 Oct. 1755.]
ROBERT DANBROOK.
(Ipswich Journal)
6–13 August 1756
At Winchester Assizes, . . . Michael Moresque, a Frenchman, for Sodomy, was acquitted. (Derby Mercury)
13–20 August 1756
Salisbury, August 9. . . . At our Assizes, which ended on Wednesday Morning, . . . William Yerbury, for Suspicion of Sodomitical Practices . . . was acquitted. (Derby Mercury)
Tuesday 14 September 1756
We hear that a Court-Martial will be held in a few Days for the Trial of an Officer for attempting to commit Sodomy on two Soldiers. (Pue's Occurrences)
Monday 20 September 1756
The Officer which was mentioned in one of our Papers to be tried for Sodomitical Practices, is broke and divested of his Employments which he held under the Royal Family.
In order to put an End to the unnatural Sin of Sodom, some have thought it would be of great Service to cause a Bum Galley to be forthwith built at Portsmouth or Plymouth, and every one convicted of an Attempt of that Nature, should be confined to tug at an Oar in Chains during the Term of his natural Life. No Family, no Blood, must be an Excuse. This Galley would be of special Service in Case of mooring or unmooring of Ships; and if a Sea Fight should happen here in the Channel, this Bum Galley should be sent even on the most dangerous Messages, from one Ship to another, as their Lives being forfeited, no Matter whether they die or live. (Sussex Advertiser)
Saturday 23 October 1756
We hear from Bristol, that an Anabaptist Teacher of that City has been detected in committing the detestable Sin of Sodomy; it having been discovered that he has practis'd upon 26 young People. (Ipswich Journal; also reported in the Oxford Journal)
Saturday 23 October 1756
Yesterday John Avery was committed to New Prison by John Fielding, Esq; being charged with committing the detestable sin of Sodomy upon a boy of about thirteen years of age, and giving him the foul disease. (Ipswich Journal)
CITATION: If you cite this Web page, please use the following citation:
Rictor Norton (Ed.), "Newspaper Reports, 1756",
Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: A Sourcebook, 22 Dec. 2015, updated 30 July 2018, 11 Jan. 2021, 1 Jan. 2023.
<http://rictornorton.co.uk/eighteen/1756news.htm>.