Thomas Burrows seems to have managed a public house for the entertainment of homosexual men, which was raided, and he was arrested along with at least fourteen other men, some of whom were charged but acquitted, and some of whom broke bail and absconded. For some further details, see the The Trial of Thomas Burrows.
3–5 December 1776
Yesterday at the Public Office in Bowstreet, . . . Thomas Burrows, and James Ottiwell were then put to the bar, charged on the oath of Anthony Loome with sodomitical practices. He gave a long and circumstantial account, too indecent and horrible to be related, in which he said the prisoners, with near 50 other wretches, usually assembled at a house in Nag-s-head-court, Drury-lane, for such abominable practice; and that one man, who had the appearance of a gentleman, who frequented that house, and who keeps his carriage, offered the evidence three guineas to permit him to commit a crime of the highest magnitude, which he rejected with a manly dignity. Positive proof of a capital nature being adduced against Burrows, he was immediatley committed to Newgate to stand his trial at the present sessions at the Old-Bailey: Ottiwell was committed for a misdemeanor, and Loome was bound over to prosecute. (General Evening Post)
Thursday, 5 December 1776
Friday, 6 December 1776
Yesterday 25 Prisoners were tried at the Old-Bailey, three of whom were capitally convicted, viz. Thomas Burrows, for committing an unnatural Crime, at a House in a Court in Drury-Lane, on a Person who, with about 14 others, had assembled for the like vile Purposes; . . . (Daily Advertiser)
Friday 6 December 1776
Yesterday at the Public-Office in Bow-Street, Thomas Burrows, and James Ottiwell were put to the Bar, charged on the Oath of Anthony Loome witih sodomitical Practices. He gave a long and circumstantial Account, too indecent and horrible to be related, in which he said the Prisoners, with near 50 other Wretches, usually assembled at a House in Nag's-Head-Court, Drury-Lane, for such abominable Practices; and that one Man, who had the Appearance of a Gentleman, who frequented that House, and who keeps his Carriage, offered the Evidence three Guineas to permit him to commit a Crime of the highest Magnititude, which he rejected with a manly Dignity. Positive Proof of a capital Nature being adduced against Burrows, he was immediately committed to Newgate to stand his Trial at the present Sessions at the Old-Bailey: Ottiwell was comitted for a Misdeameanor, and Loome was bound over to prosecute. (Derby Mercury)
Saturday 7 December 1776
Yesterday at the public-office in Bow-street, a most disgusting examination of a person, accused of having committed an unnatural crime, took place at this office. It appeared from the testimony of a witness, that a meeting of detestable wretches has for some time past been held, weekly, at the sign of the Harlequin, a publick house near Nag's-head-court, Drury-lane. The witness gave in the names of a great number of persons who frequent this meeting, (several of whom were men of credit, and heretofore unsullied reputation) and related a variety of scandalous and unmanly practices, which he had from time to time been an eye-witness of. He asserted, that one of the prisoners, (named Burrows) was in part the landlord of the house at which these meetings were held, and in the most direct terms charged him with having committed the odious fact alledged, with a man named Brookes, (not yet taken) stating his evidence with such fulness and particularity, that there was not a person present who did not feel a degree of horror at the recital. The prisoner was committed to Newgate, and another man who was set to the bar with him, and accused of some unnatural conduct, was committed to Tothill-fields Bridewell, to take his trial for a misdemeanour. (Ipswich Journal)
Monday, 9 December 1776
In the Bow-street Intelligence of Thursday last, we inadvertently erred, and thence threw a stigma on an honest man, which he does not deserve. It was not at the Harlequin alehouse, in Drury-lane, that the club of unnatural wretches was held, of which Burrows (capitally convicted of sodomy, at the Old-Bailey, on Thursday) was a member. The meeting was held at a house near the Harlequin alehouse. The last mentioned house was therefore spoke of during the examination, which led us into the error. – As it is but just that we should clear up the mistake, we have restated the circumstance, and declare, that the master of the Harlequin alehouse is a very worthy individual, and the house iself in every respect reputable. (Morning Chronicle)
Monday 9 December 1776
Thursday 25 Prisoners were tried at the Old-Baiiley, three of whom were capitally convicted, viz. Tho. Burrows, for committing an unnatural Crime at a House in a Court in Drury-Lane, on a Person who, with about 14 others, had assembled for the like vile Purposes; . . . (Northampton Mercury)
Friday 20 December 1776
Committed from the Public-Office in Bow-street since the publication of the Hue-and-Cry.
. . . Thomas Burrows, for being guilty of the detestable crime of sodomy; . . . (Police Gazette)
Saturday 11 January 1777
Committed from the Public-Office in Bow-street since the publication of the Hue and Cry.
. . . Thomas Burrows, for being guilty of the detestable crime of sodomy; . . . (Newcastle Courant)
16–18 January 1777
Yesterday the report was made to his Majesty in council of the convicts under sentence of death in Newgate, when the following were ordered for execution on Wednesday the 29th instant, viz. . . . Thomas Burrows, for committing an unnatural crime at a house in a court in Drury-lane, on a person who, with about 14 others, had assembled for the like abominable purposes . . . (London Chronicle)
Friday 17 January 1777
Yesterday Mr. Recorder made his Report to his Majesty of the Prisoners under Sentence of death in Newgate, when the following were ordered for Execution on Wednesday the 29th Instant: . . . and Thomas Burrows, for the detestable Crime of Sodomy. (Derby Mercury)
Saturday, 18 January 1777
Yesterday the Report was made by Mr. Recorder, to his Majesty, of the Convicts under Sentence of Death in Newgate, viz. . . .
Thomas Burrows, for the detestable Crime of Sodomy with one John Brooks.
When Thomas Burrows, Richard Wright, alias Brent, Benjamin Eyres, John Kelly, Thomas Latham, and Thomas Moreton, were ordered for Execution on Wednesday the 29th Instant. (Public Advertiser)
Monday 20 January 1777
Yesterday the Report was made to His Majesty in Council of the Convicts under Sentence of Death in Newgate, when the following were ordered for Execution on Wednesday the 29th inst. viz. . . . Thomas Burrows for committing an unnatural Crime, at a House in a Court in Drury-Lane, on a Person who, with about 14 others, had assembled for the like abominable Purposes; . . . (Northampton Mercury)
Friday 31 January 1777
Thursday, 6 February 1777
To the Printer of the MORNING CHRONICLE.
SIR,
SO Long a time having elapsed since the trial of the atrocious offender lately executed for an unnatural crime, it has excited some surprise that one Brooks, a common livery servant, upon whom the horrid fact was sworn to be perpetrated, should be suffered to escape. It is a matter also of some speculation, that no public equiry has been made respecting the fourteen wretches proved to have been present at this nocturnal meeting. It would well become the boasted vigilance and disintereted justice of the Police not to suffer this matter to sleep.
It appears that the principal evidence for the Crown was that of the respectable rank of a common soldier. It was sworn also that some servants to gentlemen were engaged in this horrid scene, and if it be really possible that any of their masters, or any thing at all in the form of a gentleman, could be concerned, it is highly fit they should take the credit of it, and the matter undergo a public examination. Such meetings are an enormous outrage to decency; and it is high time that constables, watchmen, and indeed all persons concerned in the administration of Justice, should be taught, that compositions for offences, under any pretences whatsoever, are highly penal and criminal.
Your's,
JUSTICIARY.
(Morning Chronicle)
SOURCE: Newspapers, as cited.
CITATION: If you cite this Web page, please use the following citation:
Rictor Norton (Ed.), "Thomas Burrows & Co., 1776–1777", Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: A Sourcebook. 15 February 2021 <http://rictornorton.co.uk/eighteen/1776bur2.htm>.
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