Index to

The Murder of Jonathan May:

The true story of the murder of Jonathan May which took place near Jacob's Well, Moretonhampstead on 16th July 1835

Told by R.O. Heath from contemporary reports

Moretonhampstead Local History Society,
Moretonhampstead, Devon TQ13 8NX (1995)
ISBN 0-9527232-0-4. 38 pp., fold-put map.

Index prepared by Margaret Bailey

Jonathan May was a well-to-do farmer who was attacked on his way home from the Moretonhampstead Fair on July 16, 1835. He died the next day. In July, 1836, two men were tried and convicted of the murder: Buckingham Joe (Joseph Infield), who first denied and then confessed and was executed, and Edmund Galley, who was one of at least two men at the time who went by the nickname of "Turpin". Both Infield and Galley maintained that Galley was not Infield's accomplice, and Galley's execution was delayed. Eventually he was transported to Australia, despite growing opinion that he was innocent. More than forty years later he was exonerated and awarded damages for false imprisonment, and he lived the rest of his life in Australia as a sheep hand.

In this index:
Turpin #1 refers to the man believed to have been Infield's actual accomplice.
Turpin #2 refers to Edmund Galley.
The trial referred to in many entries is that of Infield and Galley on July 28, 1836.

JM = Jonathan May
MH = Moretonhampstead,

Index Format: Name; Date; Place; Notes; Page No.

Avery, George; winter, 1834; Sowton; Apprenticed to JM/ fired for theft of firewood; 6

Avery, George; before July, 1835; Cornwall; Wrestler; 6

Avery, George; July, 1835; MH; Attended MH fair accompanied by Elizabeth Harris, looking for wrestling bouts for money/ rumored to want revenge against JM; 6

Avery, George; July 17, 1835; MH; Exeter; Arrested and held for a month for questioning in the murder/ found innocent but convicted of felony and sentenced to transportation to Australia/ in prison with William Rattenbury; 10-11, 24

Avery, George; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Testified for the defense; 24

Backwell, William; July 17, 1835; MH; Stonemason who found part of stick used to attack JM, as well as part of a bloody shirt; 10

Backwell, William; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 20

Bellamy, J. (Mr.); July 16, 1835; MH; Landlord, The Plymouth Inn; map

Bennett, Ann; July, 1835; Longdown, Devon; Keeper of the Lamb Inn; 23

Bennett, Ann; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 23

Bennett, W. (Mr.); July 16, 1835; MH; Landlord of The Bell Inn; map

Black Ann; July, 1835; Butcherow, Exeter/ Longdown/ MH; Stayed at Mrs. Marengo's boarding house the week of JM's murder/ companion of Buckingham Joe and Turpin; 4, 30

Black Ann; July 17, 1835; MH/ Exeter; Arrested and held for a month for questioning in the murder; 10-11

Bridgeman, Mr.; July 16, 1835; Fore Street, MH; Attorney (office); map

Bright, John; July 25, 1879; London; Spoke in House of Commons supporting Turpin #2's innocence and Eardley Wilmot's request for a pardon; 36

Buckingham Joe (Joseph Infield, aka Thomas Oliver); c1816; near Buckingham; Birth; 19

Buckingham Joe (Joseph Infield, aka Thomas Oliver); July, 1835; Butcherow, Exeter/ Longdown/ MH; Stayed at Mrs. Marengo's boarding house the week of JM's murder/ companion of Black Ann and Turpin/ attended fairs in Winkleigh, Zeal, and MH; 4, 38

Buckingham Joe (Joseph Infield, aka Thomas Oliver); September, 1835; Dorchester Goal; Served sentence for footpad robbery with violence/ bragged to John Hiscox of attack on JM; 13

Buckingham Joe (Joseph Infield, aka Thomas Oliver; early 1836; Dorchester Goal; Charged with JM's murder/ transferred to Exeter Goal; 13-14, 18

Buckingham Joe (Joseph Infield, aka Thomas Oliver); July 28, 1836; Exeter; Tried for murder of JM/ represented by Montagu Smith and George Wm. Turner/ identified as a file-cutter from Birmingham, born and bred near Buckingham; 19-27, 37

Buckingham Joe (Joseph Infield, aka Thomas Oliver); bet. July 28-Aug 26, 1836; Exeter; Admitted to highway robberies in Dorset, Wilts, Hants, Bucks and other eastern counties; 29

Buckingham Joe (Joseph Infield, aka Thomas Oliver); August 26, 1836; Devon County Goal, Exeter; Executed; 30-32, 37

Cann, Samuel; 1835-1836; MH; Innkeeper, White Hart Inn, where JM spent last evening; 3, 20, map

Cann, Samuel; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 3, 20

Carew, John; after July 28, 1836;; Under-Sheriff/ doubted guilt of Turpin #2 and worked for his release/ interviewed both defendants in Exeter Goal; 28

Carpenter, Ann; July, 1835; Butcherow, Exeter; Lacemaker/ stayed at Mrs. Marengo's boarding house the week of JM's murder/ mother of Jane Carpenter; 4

Carpenter, Ann; July 17, 1835; MH/ Exeter; Arrested and held for a month for questioning in the murder, then released; 10-11

Carpenter, Ann; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 22

Carpenter, Jane; July, 1835; Butcherow, Exeter; Lacemaker/ stayed at Mrs. Marengo's boarding house the week of JM's murder/ daughter of Ann Carpenter; 4

Carpenter, Jane; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 23

Clarke, Charlotte; July, 1835; Longdown/ MH; Sold lace, caps and other articles, traveling with a hawker named Dally/ knew Turpin, Black Ann, Buckingham Joe/ attended fair at MH/ used Lamb Inn; 4-5, 30, 38

Clarke, Charlotte; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution against Buckingham Joe, but claimed that Turpin #2 was not the accomplice she had seen; 23, 26, 29

Cockburn, Mr.; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Junior counsel at trial; 28, 34

Cockburn, Mr.; after July 28, 1836;; Doubted guilt of Turpin #2 and worked for his release; 28, 34

Cockburn, Mr.; 1878;; Lord Chief Justice; 34

Cockburn, Mr.; March 16, 1878;; Wrote Home Secretary advising that the case be reopened; 34

Coleridge, J. (Mr.); July 16, 1835; MH; Landlord of The King's Arms Inn; map

Crocker, William; February, 1836; Near Crammer's Brook, MH; Found JM's pocket book; 22

Crocker, William; July 28, 1836; Doddiscombsleigh; Labourer; 22

Crocker, William; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 22

Croot, Betty; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 23

Dally; July, 1835; Longdown/ MH; Licensed hawker/ traveled to MH fair with Charlotte Clarke/ knew Turpin, Black Ann, Buckingham Joe; 4-5, 30

Dodd, Mr.;;; Author of "Thoughts on Death", read by Buckingham Joe before his execution; 30-31

Drew, Mr.; July 28, 1836;; Ruled unable to testify for the defense because he was still serving a sentence; 24

Earl of Devon; July 16, 1835; MH; Owned land; map

Endicott, J. (Mr.); July 16, 1835; MH; Landlord of The Ring of the Bells Inn; map

Featherstone; July 16, 1835;; Lithographer; map

Gaffney, Catherine; July, 1835; Butcherow, Exeter; Lacemaker; stayed at Mrs. Marengo's boarding house the week of JM's murder; 4

Gaffney, Catherine; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 23

Galley, Edmund (see Turpin #2)

Gibbons, Ed; 1834-35;; Met Elizabeth Harris and traveled with her for 8 months until June, 1835; 6

Gray, S. (Mr.); July 16, 1835; MH; Landlord of The White Horse Inn; map

Gregory, G. (Rev.); July 16, 1835; MH; Owned land; map

Harris, Elizabeth; c1814;; Born in Devonshire, possibly South Molton; 6

Harris, Elizabeth; c early 1830s; Burrington district; Worked as kitchen servant at various farms during her teens; 6

Harris, Elizabeth; 1834 and before; Dorchester/ Weyhill; Attended fairs with Buckingham Joe and Turpin; 15

Harris, Elizabeth; 1834-1835; Met Ed Gibbons/ teamed with him for 8 months; 6

Harris, Elizabeth; June-July, 1835;; Sold braces, belts, etc./ met George Avery and traveled with him on and off till July, including MH fair; 6-7, 15, 18

Harris, Elizabeth; July 17, 1835; MH/ Exeter; Arrested and held for a month for questioning in the murder; 10-11

Harris, Elizabeth; February, 1836; Exeter Goal; Held after sentencing for felony/ informed Governor of Devon County prisons that she had witnessed attack on JM, accusing Buckingham Joe and Turpin; 15-18

Harris, Elizabeth; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 6, 20-22, 30

Harvey, M. Woolland (see Woolland Harvey)

Harvey, William; 1877; MH; Son of Woolland Harvey/ Solicitor/ received letter addressed to his father from Turpin #2 that Turpin #1 was still in Australia/ replied to Turpin #2/ forwarded letter to Exeter Flying Post/ 34

Harvey, William; 1879;; signed petition supporting pardon for Turpin #2; 35

Harvey, Woolland;;; Father of William Harvey; 34

Harvey, Woolland; 1835-1836; MH; Attorney and close friend of JM's/ active in trying to find murderers/ 10, 12, map

Harvey, Woolland; July 17, 1835; MH; Found the escape route used by the attackers; 10

Harvey, Woolland; late 1835; After threats for his efforts to find the murderers, purchased a gun but injured himself with it; 12

Harvey, Woolland; early 1836; Dorchester; Searched Buckingham Joe's lodgings and found JM's possessions; 13

Harvey, Woolland; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Attorney instructing counsel for the prosecution in trial/ also testified/ awarded a piece of plate by the Gentlemen and Yeomanry of the County; 19-28

Harvey, Woolland; before 1877;; Died; 34

Heath, R. O.;;; Author of "Sparrow Hawk, The Story of Moretonhampstead"; verso

Hiscox, John; April, 1835; Broadway in Dorset; Convicted of fraud; 12

Hiscox, John; April, 1835 - March, 1836; Dorchester Goal; Served sentence for fraud/ trusty of prison ward/ informed on confession of Buckingham Joe to details of the murder of JM; 12-13

Hutchings, R. (Mr.); July 16, 1835; MH; Landlord of The Dolphin Inn; map

Infield, Joseph (see Buckingham Joe)

Jackson, Mr.; July 16, 1835; MH; Owned land; map

Kekewich, Mr.; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Counsel for the prosecution; 19-27

Kentish Youth (see Turpin #1)

Kerslake, John (Captain);;; Father of John H.B. Kerslake; 34

Kerslake, John (Captain); July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Committing magistrate at trial/ believed in Turpin #2's innocence; 34-35

Kerslake, John (Captain); before April 17, 1879;; Died; 35

Kerslake, John H.B.; April 17, 1879;; Letter published in Manchester Guardian re: Turpin #2's innocence; 34

Kerslake, John H.B.;;; Son of Captain John Kerslake; 34

Kerslake, Mrs. John; 1879;; Widow of Captain John Kerslake/ petitioned House of Commons for pardon for Turpin #2; 35

Lambert, Richard S.; 1936; Newnes, London; His book "The Innocence of Edmund Galley" published; 37

Langbridge, Harriet; July 16, 1835; MH; Wife of keeper of The Golden Lion Inn; 23

Langbridge, Harriet; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 23

Langbridge, J. (Mr.); July 16, 1835; MH; Landlord of The Golden Lion Inn; map

Langley (see Turpin #1)

Langridge (See Langbridge)

Luscombe, Henry; July 17, 1835; MH; Thatcher who found part of stick used to attack JM; 10

Luscombe, Henry; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 20

Luxmore, Mr.; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Committing magistrate at trial; 35

Luxmore, Mr.; 1879;; Declared himself in favor of pardon for Turpin #2; 35

Marengo, Mary (Mrs.); July, 1835; Butcherow, Exeter; Kept lodging house; 4, 22

Marengo, Mary (Mrs.); July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 23

May, Jonathan; July 16, 1835; Sowton Barton near Dunsford; Prosperous, middle-aged farmer; 1, 2

May, Jonathan; July 16, 1835; MH; Attended MH summer fair to sell cattle/ made £80/ had tea with Thomas White at Moreton House, collecting £26/17/6 from him for bark for tanning/ paid George Norrish £1/10/3 for boots, repairs/ spent evening at The White Hart Inn/ attacked on way home; 2-3, 9, 22, 38, map

May, Jonathan; July 17, 1835; MH; Died, 9 p.m., at White Hart Inn; 9, 38, map

McGill, Thomas (Sgt.); April 30, 1836; Coldbath Prison, London; Arrested Edmund Galley (Turpin #2) for murder of JM; 18

Mills, A. (Mr.); July 25, 1879; London; Member of Parliament for Exeter/ seconded Eardley Wilmot's request for a pardon for Turpin #2; 36

Morgan, Peter; 1995; MH; Landlord of The White Hart Inn; verso

Norrish, George; July 16,1835; MH; Shoemaker/ received from Jonathan May £1/10/3 for boots and repairs; 2, 22

Norrish, George; July 28, 1836; MH; Shoemaker; 20

Norrish, George; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 20

Nosworthy, Dr.; July 16, 1835; MH; Home and/or office; map

Nosworthy, James; July 16, 1835; Cross Street, MH; Toll-gate keeper/ saw JM leave MH at end of evening; 3

Nosworthy, James; July 28, 1836; MH; Keeper of the toll-gate on the Exeter Road; 20

Nosworthy, James; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 20

Oliver, Thomas (see Buckingham Joe)

Palk, Lawrence (Sir); July 25, 1879; London; Member of Parliament for Taunton/ seconded Eardley Wilmot's request for pardon for Turpin #2; 36

Pardew, Arthur; July 17, 1835; MH; Exeter; Hawker/ arrested and held for a month for questioning in the murder; 10-11

Philp; July 16, 1835;; Surveyor; map

Ponsford, John (Dr.); July 17, 1835; MH; JM's family doctor/ second doctor to attend to JM after he was found injured; 9, map

Ponsford, John (Dr.); July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 20

Ponsford, John (Dr.); 1995; MH; House can still be identified; 37

Praed, Mr.; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Counsel for the prosecution; 19-27

Puddicombe, Alfred (Dr.); July 16, 1835; Cross Street, MH; Residence; 9, map

Puddicombe, Alfred (Dr.); July 16, 1835; MH; First doctor to attend to JM after he was found injured; 9

Puddicombe, Alfred (Dr.); July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 20

Puddicombe, Alfred (Dr.); 1995; Cross Street, MH; House can still be identified; 37

Rattenbury, William; after July 16, 1835; Exeter Goal; In prison with George Avery; 24

Rattenbury, William; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Identified by Turpin #2 as having been at Exeter Goal with George Avery and able to provide defense testimony/ did not answer call to testify; 24

Rowe, William; 1835; Dartford, Kent; Ran Windmill lodging house at which Edmund Galley stayed for parts of 1835; 18, 22

Rowe, William; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 22

Russell, John (Lord); July 28, 1836;; Secretary of State, signed pardon for Elizabeth Harris so she could testify at the trial; 20

Sanders, Ralph; 1836;; Devon County Clerk/ doubted guilt of Turpin #2 and worked for his release/ interviewed both defendants in Exeter Goal; 28, 35

Sanders, Ralph; 1879;; Wrote Manchester Guardian asserting innocence of Turpin #2; 35

Sercombe, George; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Juryman at trial/ later wrote to Home office supporting Terpin #2's innocence/ 35

Sherer, Mr.; after July 28, 1836; Junior counsel at trial/ doubted guilt of Tuprin #2 and worked for his release/ traced three men who confirmed Turpin #2's story/ persuaded Secretary of State to get involved, after which Turpin #2 was granted stay of execution; 28, 29

Smith, Mary; July, 1835; Butcherow, Exeter; Lacemaker/ stayed at Mrs. Marengo's boarding house the week of JM's murder; 4

Smith, Mary; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 23

Smith, Montagu; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Counsel for the defense at trial, representing Thomas Oliver; 19-27

Smith, Montagu; after July 28, 1836;; Doubted guilt of Turpin #2 and worked for his release; 28

Splatt, Mary; July, 1835; MH; Owned lodging house near church where Elizabeth Harris and George Avery stayed their first day at fair; 7, map

Splatt, Mary; 1995; MH; Lodging house now the school playground; 37

Stevens, J. (Mr.); July 16, 1835; Ford Street, MH; Landlord of The Union Inn; map

Stone, Mr.; after July 16, 1835;; Identified as able to offer testimony for the defense but ruled unable to testify because he was still serving a sentence; 24

Tallamy, Grace;;; Married to Nicholas Taverner; 8

Tallamy, John; July 16, 1835; MH; Brother of Grace, husband of Mary/attended MH fair; 8

Tallamy, Mary (Mrs.); July 16, 1835; MH; Wife of John Tallamy/ attended MH fair; 8

Taverner, Grace Tallamy (Mrs.); July 16, 1835; MH; Attended MH fair with husband Nicholas; 8

Taverner, Mrs. Nicholas; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 20

Taverner, Nicholas; July 16, 1835; MH; Farmer married to Grace Tallamy/ attended MH fair/ discovered Jonathan May where he lay injured; 8-10, 38

Taverner, Nicholas; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Witness for the prosecution; 20

Taylor, Mr.; after July 16, 1835;; Identified as able to offer testimony for the defense but ruled unable to testify because he was still serving a sentence; 24

Thornton, W.H. (Rev.); April 25, 1910;; Read the paper "Short Devonshire Stories" before the Teign Naturalists' Club; 37

Thornton, W.H. (Rev.); 1915;; "Short Devonshire Stories" published; 37

Turner, George William; July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Attorney instructing counsel for the defense of Thomas Oliver; 19-27

Turpin #1 (Langley, aka the Kentish Youth, aka the Young Hero); July, 1835; Butcherow, Exeter/ Longdown/ MH; Stayed at Mrs. Marengo's boarding house the week of JM's murder/ companion of Black Ann and Turpin/ attended fairs at Winkleigh, Zeal and MH/identified by Buckingham Joe as his accomplice in murder of JM; 4, 29, 30, 38

Turpin #1 (Langley, aka the Kentish Youth, aka the Young Hero); after July 28, 1836;; Identified by Turpin #2/ had already been transported to Australia for a crime in Salisbury; 33

Turpin #1 (Langley, aka the Kentish Youth, aka the Young Hero); 1877; Australia; Identified by Turpin #2 as living in New South Wales; 34

Turpin #2 (Edmund Galley); c1812;; Birth; 19

Turpin #2 (Edmund Galley); July, 1835; Dartford, Kent; According to his testimony at trial, he was employed variously as skittle alley attendent, gardener, and ostler/ went to races and attended Dartford Fair; 18, 29

Turpin #2 (Edmund Galley); April 30, 1836; Coldbath Prison, London; Serving sentence for vagrancy/ arrested for the murder of JM; 18

Turpin #2 (Edmund Galley); after April 30, 1836; Exeter Goal; Transferred from Coldbath Prison; 18

Turpin #2 (Edmund Galley); July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Tried for murder of JM/ not represented by counsel/ identified as if Kingston-on-Thames/ maintained his innocence; 19-27, 37

Turpin #2 (Edmund Galley); after July 28, 1836; Exeter; Transferred from Exeter Goal to the "Ganymede" prison hulk, where he was identified by three men as having been in Kent and Essex on July 16-17, 1835/ transported to Australia for being a rogue; 29, 32-33

Turpin #2 (Edmund Galley); 1877; Australia; Wrote Wolland Harvey that Turpin #1 was in New South Wales; 34

Turpin #2 (Edmund Galley); c1879; Australia; Pardoned; 36

Turpin #2 (Edmund Galley); 1881; Australia; Sheep hand/ awarded £1000 by British Government for compensation for false imprisonment; 36

Turpin, Dick; 18th c; York/ Longdown/ MH; Highwayman/ hanged; 4

Victoria, Queen; c1879;; Signed pardon for Turpin #2; 1, 36

Vidal, Rev.; July 26, 1836; Exeter; Attended Buckingham Joe before his execution; 31-32

White, J. (Mr.); July 16, 1835; Ford Street, MH; Landlord of The Punch Bowl Inn; map

White, Mr.; July 16, 1835; MH; Owned land; map

White, Thomas; July 16, 1835; MH; Tanner/paid off debt to JM and had tea with him at Moreton House; 2, 38

Williams, (Mr. Justice); July 28, 1836; Crown Bar Court, Exeter; Presided at trial; 19

Williams, (Mr. Justice); after July 28, 1836; Exeter; Ruled that Turpin #2 had received a fair trial and was guilty; 32

Wilmot, Eardley (Sir); May 9, 1879; London; Member of Parliament for Warwick/ supported examination of case documents by House of Commons; 35

Wilmot, Eardley (Sir); July 25, 1879; London; Moved in House of Commons to request pardon for Turpin #2 from Queen Victoria; 35

Worthy, Rev.; July 26, 1836; Exeter; Attended Buckingham Joe before his execution; 31

Young Hero (see Turpin #1)

Brian Randell, 18 Sep 2001