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Tag Archives: Massachusetts

In the Media: Anthony Lamb and William Linsey Follow-up

Read my article on Anthony Lamb, who was perhaps America’s most successful transported convict, in February’s issue of The Readex Report: “‘Human Serpents sent us by our Mother Country’: The Transformation of Anthony Lamb, Transported Convict.” * * * J. L. Bell posted a follow-up to my recent article about the burglar William Linsey on […]

Early American Criminals: William Linsey and the Telltale Candle

Even though William Linsey was orphaned at a young age, this rough start did not appear to have any negative impact on him. Linsey was originally born in Palmer, MA in 1746, but at the age of two he went to live with Phinehas Mixture in Dudley, MA. By Linsey’s own account, Mixture raised him […]

Early American Criminals: Matthew Cushing, the First Celebrity Burglar

All of you who read these Lines may see The sad and dire Effects of Sin: Therefore if Sinners still you’l be, Leave off to read ere you begin. (from A Few Lines) These lines form the opening of A Few Lines upon the Awful Execution of John Ormesby & Matthew Cushing, one of two […]

Early American Criminals: Punishment of the Harvard-Educated Burglars

Note: This post is the conclusion of the story of the “Harvard-Educated Burglars.” In his History of New England, John Winthrop notes on June 5, 1644, Two of our ministers’ sons, being students in the college, robbed two dwelling houses in the night of some 15 pounds. Being found out, they were ordered by the […]

Early American Criminals: The Harvard-Educated Burglars

James Ward and Joseph Welde were positioned for success. Both were sons of prominent Puritan church men who were respected members of Massachusetts society, and both were enrolled at Harvard College, which would help them follow in their fathers’ footsteps and become leaders in their community. One night in March 1644, Ward and Welde burglarized […]