The Highwayman's Rest - York Traditional Cache
Barry'n'Shirley: Sadly this has come to the end
The Highwayman's Rest - York
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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The last resting place of John Palmer AKA Richard Turpin
Dick Turpin was never convicted of being a highwayman or a
murderer. He was convicted of being a horse-rustler, something
which we may today consider far less serious. However,
unfortunately for Turpin, in those days horse-rustling was
considered a crime so serious it was punishable by death. On 22
March 1739, 'John Palmer alias Richard Turpin' was convicted at the
Grand Jury House in York of two indictments of
horse-rustling.
Pleas from his father to have the sentence commuted to penal
transportation fell on deaf ears. His father had been cleared a few
days earlier at the Essex assizes of horse-stealing, one of
Turpin's stolen horses having been found at his alehouse.
Between his sentence and execution, visitors frequented Turpin's
cell as though he were something of a celebrity. He was resolved to
meet his death with dignity and calm. He spent the last of his
money, in which he bought new clothes and shoes and hired five
mourners for 10 shillings each.
On 7 April 1739, Dick Turpin rode through the streets of York in an
open cart, being theatrical and bowing to the gawking crowds. At
York Knavesmire (now the racecourse) he climbed the ladder to the
scaffold and then sat for half an hour addressing the crowd in the
manner of an entertainer, chatting to the guards and the
executioner.
Ironically, the hangman was Thomas Hadfield, once Turpin's friend
and a former Gregory Gang member (he had been pardoned because he
had agreed to be the hangman).
An account in the York Courant 7 April 1739 of Turpin's execution,
notes his brashness even at the end, "with undaunted courage looked
about him, and after speaking a few words to the topsman, he threw
himself off the ladder and expired in about five minutes."
He was said to have been buried in the churchyard of St George's
Church, York. However, a short time after the burial his body was
dug up and stolen by body-snatchers working for anatomists, but it
appears to have been subsequently recovered and reburied, this time
with the addition of quicklime to destroy the remains rapidly. His
commemorative headstone is the only one standing in the grave yard
of St George's Church.
The cache is attached to the railings on the outside of the
yard and should only be accessed from the outside.
Although this is a historic site it is also a place where
undesirable items are left. Do not search in hedges, keep an eye on
your children and do not enter the yard at night.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
FI 32