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~ WHO'S WHO ~
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George Davenport (1758-1797)
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"The Dick Turpin of Wigston." The Davenport family came to Wigston in the 1570s. They were prosperous and in 1650-1700 they were known as "peasant gentry", owning up to 200 or more acres of land in the parish. A George Davenport who died in 1713, had a personal estate worth �795. 5s. 6d. and crops both growing and in the barn were valued at �420, his livestock was worth �l86. In 1752 Samuel Davenport built a three-storey house in Bushloe End, known as the Elms, but today it is the British Legion Club. Possibly in this house the George Davenport of whom this story tells, was born in 1758. George was baptised at All Saints' Church, Wigston, on 5th November, 1759; it was little thought then the havoc and terror he was to cause later on in his lifetime.
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A small book, published in 1797, stated that his father, who had originally been a farmer, later sold ale in Great Wigston. George was described as a "ready lad" and when he was old enough he was placed as an apprentice to a framework knitter, but this didn't last long; obviously good honest work was not George's forte. According to the book " he associated with young men of immoral and libertine habits, with whom he soon became if not the chief of drunkards, almost the chief of wrestlers, bowlers, jumpers and the like." George now decided to turn his hand to highway robbery and fraud, at which he seems to have made a substantial living.
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His favourite trick was to gain the advance money that was paid to recruits on joining the army. He would find a sergeant and offer to join up, then after a session at the inn with drinks at the sergeant's expense, and money in his pocket, he would "bolt in the night, often on a stolen horse." On his own confession he had deserted no less than 40 times from various regiments. He was once sentenced to 600 lashes for deserting from the 40th Foot Regiment, he received 300 but the Adjutant shouted "Stop, it is in vain to punish him any more - he has no feeling." However, he did serve in the Leicestershire Militia during the American War.
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For 18 years he operated on the highways around Leicester, making a practice of robbing the rich and giving to the poor inhabitants of Oadby and Wigston - a regular Robin Hood. Tradition has it that he used to hide in a cottage on the Leicester Road, and a gunstock and bridle found on the premises are believed to be his. Davenport often dined with a Mr. Ross, of London Road, Oadby.
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He must have been a totally incorrigible chap. Many tales are told of his exploits; he would often rob people whilst they stood drinking at an Inn, after he had made them pay for drinks all round, and then distributed the rest of the money among the poor. On one occasion he went into the Bull's Head, in Beigrave, for a glass of ale. Some men were standing around a poster which was advertising a reward for the capture of Davenport. The men were discussing the best ways of catching George and getting the reward when George, having swallowed down his ale, said, "I am George Davenport, catch me if you can." Immediately he ran out of the door, down the garden, jumped the wall and was soon out of sight leaving the men in the public house wide-eyed and dumb- founded.
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It seems George was a very athletic person, it is said he had no difficulty in jumping a five-barred gate. Just for fun one day, George walked round the battle- ments of a church (which church is not specified). Another time he did a jig on the roof of the Crown public house, in Wigston, calling the dance "Astley's horn- pipe."
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On a further occasion an old man, who was accustomed to attending fairs, fell into conversation late one night with George, little suspecting who he was speaking to. He told George that he always put his money in his shoes. George asked him if he was not afraid to be out alone at nights, but the old man said there was only one person he was afraid of and that was George Davenport. Said George "I am George Davenport: off with your shoes, I must have your money," it was said later that he regretted robbing the old man.
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However, in August, 1797, George was captured; he had stopped on the highway a country butcher, who was returning from Hinckley market, intending to rob him but the butcher proved the stronger and George was handed over to a constable. He was tried and convicted at the Leicester Assizes for highway robbery and fraud.�
He was driven to the gallows at Red Hill, in a post-chaise, accompanied by his brother. To show his contempt for the hangman, he was allowed to draw over his clothes the shroud in which his body was about to be buried, thus cheating the hangman out of his perquisites, which were considered to be all that was found or placed "outside the shroud" of the criminal on his being taken down from the "fatal tree."
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The Leicester Journal for 1797 describes his behaviour at his execution: �His deportment on the morning of his fatal exit was manly and decisive,- nor did his fortitude for a moment forsake him. Dressed in his shroud and surrounded with all the paraphernalia of death he acquitted himself as a humble and penitent sinner looking anxiously forward towards another world for the consolation which his devotional exercises had given him reason to expect. He fully acknowledged the justness of his sentence as well as the crime for which he suffered. After remaining for some moments in prayer he gave the fatal signal and was launched into eternity at about one o'clock in the afternoon."
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He was buried in All Saints' churchyard, Wigston. George left behind a son named William, who became a sergeant in the Royal Marines. Singularly, after his discharge, he obtained the situation of Head Turnkey at the County Gaol, Welford Road. His wife also was Turnkey over the female prisoners.
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This story is taken from the publication "Selected Legends of Leicestershire" by Susan E Green, published by Leicester Research Services, Imperial Building, 4 Halford Street, Leicester LE1 1JB �
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