11–18 January 1765
Tuesday Noon Fawcett and Bark stood on the Pillory in Cold-Bath-Field, near the Small-Pox Hospital, for extorting Money from the Turnpike Man near that Place, under Pretence of swearing Sodomitical Practices against him, and were severely pelted by the Populace. The above Wretches are to stand twice more; and the first to suffer four Years, and the latter two Years Imprisonment, in New-Prison, Clerkenwell. (Derby Mercury)
24 January 1765
This Day at the general Quarter Sessions of the Peace, in the Court of King's Bench at Guildhall, during the Trial of a Reverend Gentleman, for a sodomitical Attempt, there being a prodigious Crowd, the Flooring gave Way, and sunk several Feet, which threw them all into the greatest Consternation, every one hurrying to make his Escape, some jumping up to the Windows, others crowding out at the Doors, tumbled over each other in the greatest Confusin. The Court was obliged to break up, but happily no Lives were lost. (Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette)
25 January 1765
Tuesday, about Eleven o'Clock in the Morning, came on before the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, Recorder, &c. at the adjourned Sessions of the Peace at the Guildhall, an Indictment against Mr. ——, a Dissenting Preacher, for an Attempt to commit a detestable Crime the 1st of October last in Moorfields; when, after a very long Trial, which lasted till Seven o'Clock in the Evening, the jury went out, and in about a Quarter of an Hour returned, and brought in their Verdict Not Guilty. There was a great Shout as soon as Mr. —— was acquitted, from a considerable Number, amongst the most numerous Assembly that ever attended on such an Occasion. – The Croud was so very great, that between One and Two o'Clock the two main Beams of the King's Bench Room, where the Cause was tried, suddenly crack'd and gave way, whiuch caused the utmost Confusion, as the whole Court-Room was apprehended to be going to fall in; but it fortunately happened that as the Floor (which was supported by a new strong Matting) did not fall or sink down, the People had Time to get away without the least Hurt, except many of them being greatly frightened. The Confusion was so great, that many Persons at a Distance thought there had been an Earthquake; and many Hats, and several other Things belonging to the People there assembled, were lost in the Confusion. The above Affair happened while Mr. Cox was pleading for the Defendant; when the Court was adjourned, adn sat during the Remainder of the Trial in the Court of Hustings in the Great Hall. (Derby Mercury)
2–5 February 1765
At the Sessions held here on Tuesday last, William Wilkinson, and Richard Mallett, were found guilty of sodomitical Practices, and sentenced to stand in the Pillory on Friday next the 8th Instant. – Mallett is likewise to suffer one Month's Imprisonment. They are both upwards of 60 Years of Age. (St. James's Chronicle)
19–21 Febriuary 1765
A man was committed to Woodstreet Compter . . . being charged with an attempt tocommit an unnatural crime on Monday night in Moorfields. (London Chjronicle)
15–22 March 1765
29 April 1765
On Friday Joseph Spranell, of Trowbridge, was committed to Fisherton Gaol, charged on the oath of Thomas Hinton, Shadrack Bennet, and Jacob Bennet, of attempting to commit the detestable crime of sodomy on their bodies at different times. (Salisbury and Winchester Journal)
3–5 September 1765
Yesterday a man was carried before the sitting Alderman at Guildhall, for attempting to commit an unnatural crime, the night before, in the Old Bailey. He is about sixty years of age, stood in the pillory for a crime of the same nature a few weeks ago, at Porters-block, and was but lately discharged out of custody. He was sent to Wood-street Compter for further examination. (London Chronicle)
21–16 September 1765
Yesterday a Master cabinet-maker, and a constable of a parish near Smithfield, were committed to the Poultry Compter by the Sitting Alderman at Guildhall, for attempting to commit an unnatural crime with a young man last Saturday night in a publick house. (London Chronicle)
Thursday 26 September 1765
Bristol, September 21. – Tuesday were also committed David Cummings, a Sailor, born in the County of Kent, aged 35, and John White, late belonging to the Militia for the County of Wilts, aged 20, charged on Oath with having committed the detestable Crime of Sodomy, at a House in Marsh Street, in this City. (Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette)
1–3 October 1765
On Monday night a man genteelly dressed was detected by a soldier, in the Bird-cage-walk, for an unnatural crime. The soldier brought him, amidst a great croud, to the Blue-Ball-yard, St. James's, where he was severely ducked in the horse-pond, to the great pleasure of the spectators. He offered the soldier a guinea to let him go, who would not accept of it. (London Chronicle)
12–15 October 1765
Yesterday at the sessions held before the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, &c. at Guildhall, two men were found guilty of attempting to commit an unnatural crime; one of them, an old man who stood in the pillory a few months ago in St. John's Street, for a crime of the same nature, is sentenced to be imprisoned in Newgate two years, to give security for his good behaviour for two years more: the other is to suffer imprisonment in the same goal [sic] one year, and to give secuirity for his good behaviour for one year; and each to pay a fine of one shilling. (London Chronicle)
Tuesday, 16 October 1765
Yesterday at the Sessions at Guildhall, John Crownfield was convicted of an Assault with an Intent to commit an unnatural Crime, and committed to Newgate for two Years, and is, at the Expiration of that Time, to find Sureties for his good Behaviour for two Years longer. (Public Advertiser)
16–18 October 1765
Yesterday a Milkman was brought before Mr. Alderman Crosby, at Guildhall, for an attempt to commit an unnatural crime, and was sent to the Compter. (Lloyd's Evening Post)
Thursday 17 October 1765
On Monday Night a Man, genteelly dressed, was detected by a Soldier in the Guards, in the Bird-Cage Walk, in an unnatural Crime. (Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette)
Saturday 26 October 1765
IPSWICH, October 25. – On Monday last Joseph Clark, Mariner, was committed to our Goal, being charged on the Oath of John Nunn, a Musician in the 43d Regiment of Foot, with an Attempt to commit Sodomy on the Body of him the said John Nunn. (Ipswich Journal)
CITATION: If you cite this Web page, please use the following citation:
Rictor Norton (Ed.), "Newspaper Reports, 1765",
Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: A Sourcebook, 27 August 2003, updated 24 July 2019, 21 Jan. 2021
<http://rictornorton.co.uk/eighteen/1765news.htm>.