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"Caernarfon Jail 1757"
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Sir
I do make so bould on you as rite these few lines to you
in hopeing you will pity my Deplorable case and hard wanting in
my close Confinement I am suffer to the So Point of Poverty as
you ever shee a Man in your day, for any short of crime I hope
Your Honr Greet Goodness of his Majestys Customs to Acquaint
them of my Sat Condition as I am suffer Since the Sixteen day of
April 1756 I am Every Willing to go any wea as their Hon Pleced
for me that I may have my Bread before I starve in Prison, Pray
Consiter what Dificult is to be a bon Short Allowance for One
Week time Which I am ever since I came to Confinement with my
poor Wife and Six unhelbet Chidren if the Honble Commrs Let me
go to one of is Majesty’s Ships of War or any where Else as
the Honrs be Plesat for me to go from my Clos Cnfinement and
hart Wanding of Bread as God shall be my Judge when I Depart
from this World do not know where I shall have any more Bread in
heare I have not a bet to Lea on, Nor any kind of furnutiur But
What I have Allrety Sould to keep me Alive in Prison with my
Poor unfortunable Children, my poor Children (such as are able
to Walk) went about from Door to Door to beck a Morsel of Bread
in Order to keep me Alive in Prison which I refraind Tell everi
farthing Consumeded of what I got in the World Sr I
hope that you will not be Angry to me to Explaine the
Druith, before you of my Condition as I am in I hope the
Government Dus not Order me to be Starve there is (not) any
Short of Allowance for Any One But what I can find myshefe and
that is nothing at Bresent Sr I have Petitision the Honble
Commissioners for my Redemption from my Said Confinement but
never hart not wort ever since I am shower if the Honble Commrs
know of my Extreamity and Miserable Condition as I am in I am
Shower if ther any Christanyty in them that they will Disgarge
me to some Way or theaer to Labour for my Bread if your Honr be
Pleased to Quentet them I shall be in Duty Bound shall ever pray
with you as long as I live
All
from my poor Unfortunate Servt
John Jones
Carnarvon
Goal
Aug
9th 1757
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John
Jones,
This
poor unfortunate chap had been caught smuggling brandy, and was destined
to spend the rest of his life in the slammer. But after this letter
pleading for mercy, the customs in London agreed to his release, and at
the end of the following year, 1758 he walked out of jail, but was far
from being a free man. The condition of his release was, he had to join
the preventive cutter “Pelham Cutter” at Beaumaris Anglesey where he
served on the other side of the fence as it were!!!
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