The following account reports one of a series of raids made upon
molly houses (taverns where gay men met) arranged by the
Societies for Reformation of Manners in the opening years of the
eighteenth century in London. The agent provocateur
activities of members of the Societies resulted in a notable trial in 1707. The raid in 1709 was based on information received from George Skelthorpe, whose dying words are given in full on another page. The 1709 prosecution
provides evidence that sodomites were regarded by their
contemporaries as a "kind of People" — in other
words, a kind of species much earlier than social
constructionists like Foucault would allow for. It is also clear
from this account that these gay men were part of a subcultural
network, and met regularly at a gay tavern. A contemporary
description of the kind of activities that went on in a molly
house is provided by Ned Ward.
The source document is a single sheet, printed on only one side,
which is incorrectly bound with an unrelated trial in a
collection of Miscellaneous Sheets in the British Library.
Rictor Norton
Notwithstanding the Example made of several of these kind of
People, call'd Sodomites, who in a Beastly way [use] themselves
with one another to the dishonour of God, and the lessening of
Mankind; yet, several Knots, and Gangs of them still Associate
themselves together; and 'tis confidently said that Skelthorp
the Soldier, who was Executed last Sessions, gave a private
Intimation of some of them, and the Houses they met at. He
affirming at his Death, and with his last Dying Words, that he
knew many of them, and had thought in his Lifetime to have
discover'd them, some now say, that this Gang has been discover'd
through his means, others that a Foot-Boy belonging to his Grace
the Duke of O------, gave notice of their meeting, and had them
Apprehended.[Probably James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde,
who would be impeached in 1715.]
So that last Night Officers were order'd in search of them, and
according to the Account given, they apprehended Nine of them,
some at a Brandy-Shop near German-street [modern Jermyn
Street], the Person that kept the said Shop being himself
one of the Gang, who was also Apprehended, as likewise the
Footboy belonging to the Duke of O------, and some of them at
other Places.
Being brought before Sir Henry Dutton-Colt, at St James's, They
were Examin'd, and upon many Intances of the Beastly Fact of
Sodomy alledg'd against them, they were this Day being Thirsday
the 7th instant Committed two of them, viz. the Foot-Boy, and the
Brandy Man and some others to the Gatehouse.
It is also Discours'd that a Discovery is made of many more of
them, for whom Officers are out in search; so that 'tis hop'd the
whole Knot of them will be now Detected, to the great
Satisfaction of all honest People.
CITATION: If you cite this Web page, please use the following citation:
A Notorious Gang of Sodomites in St. James's:
With the Examination and Committment of Two of them
to Newgate, by Sir Henry Dutton Colt.
SOURCE: A Full and True ACCOUNT of the Discovery and Apprehending A Notorious Gang of Sodomites in St. James's, London: Printed for T. Bland near
Fleetstreet, 1709.
Rictor Norton, Ed., "A Full and True Account, 1709",
Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: A Sourcebook. 1 December 1999; updated 15 June 2008
<http://www.rictornorton.co.uk/eighteen/trial09.htm>.
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