Dick Turpin

Dick turpin parish register

Turpin Putting a Woman on the Fire

Epping Forest Centenary Walk 2 - Sept 2008

William Powell Frith Claude Duval

Dick turpin murderer

Dick Turpin (1705 – 7 April 1739) was an English highwayman whose exploits were romanticised following his execution in York for horse theft. Turpin's life has been heavily mythologised, and he is often inaccurately portrayed as a sort of Robin Hood-like figure, despite his criminal activities.

Early Life

Turpin was born in Hempstead, Essex, England, in 1705. The son of a butcher, Turpin was apprenticed to a butcher in Whitechapel. His early life was relatively unremarkable, but by the 1730s, he had turned to a life of crime, initially through deer stealing and later through burglary and highway robbery.

Criminal Career

Turpin's criminal activities began with his involvement in a gang of deer thieves, but he soon graduated to more serious crimes. By 1735, he had joined a gang of highwaymen known as the "Gregory Gang," which terrorized the inhabitants of Essex and surrounding areas. The gang was notorious for its brutal attacks on isolated farmhouses, where they would torture occupants for information on hidden valuables.

After the break-up of the Gregory Gang, Turpin turned to highway robbery. He operated on the roads around London, targeting coaches and riders. It was during this period that he supposedly rode from London to York on his famous horse, Black Bess, in less than 24 hours to establish an alibi for a robbery he was accused of. However, this feat is now considered a myth.

Capture and Execution

Turpin's career as a highwayman was short-lived. In 1739, he was captured by Yorkshire authorities after shooting a man who attempted to capture him. He was tried under the name John Palmer for horse theft, a capital offence at the time. Despite attempts to prove his identity and gain a pardon, he was found guilty and sentenced to death.

Turpin was executed on 7 April 1739 at York's Tyburn. His execution was a public spectacle, with Turpin purchasing a new frock coat and shoes for the occasion, presenting himself as a gentleman even in death.

Legacy

After his execution, Turpin's life was romanticised and exaggerated in popular culture, notably in the 19th-century novel Rookwood by William Harrison Ainsworth, where the myth of his ride on Black Bess was popularised. Turpin has since become a legendary figure, often depicted as a dashing rogue, despite the brutality of his crimes.

Cultural Impact

Turpin's story has been adapted into numerous plays, films, and television series, reflecting the public's fascination with his character. He remains one of the most famous highwaymen in English history, symbolizing the romanticised image of the outlaw who defies authority.