The murder of
James Perry 1729 

The murder of
Mr James Perry 1729

A footpad, is a robber or thief specializing in pedestrian victims.
The term was used widely throughout the 16th century until the 19th century.
A footpad was considered a low criminal, as opposed to the riding highwayman, who in certain cases might gain fame as well as notoriety

The burial of James Parry (or Perry) is recorded on p15. 

James Perry, of Priors Hall, Widdington, was attacked, robbed 

and wounded by a footpad when returning to his home from Bishop's. 

Stortford Market on the 17th April, 1729. The following account 

of the indecent was published in The Country Journal or the Craftsman 

of the 26th April, 1729: 


"Last week Mr. Perry, a farmer of Widdington in Essex, was

 robbed of twelve Pounds by a single man on Foot, as he was going 

from Bishop's Stortford Market. Mr Perry was surprised by him 

in a narrow lane, and unhorsed, and his throat cut after his 

money was taken away. The Villain made off, thinking probably, 

he had left him dead. The other got upon his horse again, and rode 

back directly to a Surgeon's House at Stortford, about two miles away. 

He lost a great deal of Blood by the way. The wound is so deep, it 

is thought he will not recover. He hath a wife and eight children. 

He was alive last Saturday. "


An account of the attack on James Perry was also given in 

The Weekly Journal: or the British Gazetteer and in Fog's Weekly Journal 

both of Saturday 26 th April, 1729. James Perry's death is recorded 

in The Weekly Journal: or the British Gazetteer of the 3rd May, 1729,