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The Murder of A Young Sailor
I've come across a set of 6 postcards that tell the tale of a young sailor who was murdered by 3 other sailors that he met up with in the, 'Red Lion' at Thursley. Apparently the other 3 sailors accompanied him up to 'the Hindhead Hills' and murdered him and dumped his body in the Punch Bowl. Is this a well known story in local folklore?
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RE: RE: The Murder of A Young Sailor
Hi Barry - there is a caption shown against this photograph on the Frith site, taken from the book 'Surrey Revisited', which gives more information about this:
In the 18th century the Red Lion was a popular stopping point on the London to Portsmouth road before the stage coaches began the long haul up to the wild and treacherous wastes of Hindhead Common, the second highest point in the county. In September 1786 this inn was also a final supping place for an unknown sailor who was subsequently robbed and murdered by his three Irish companions on the heights above. The villains were pursued by a posse of ten or eleven men from the Red Lion, who captured them near Petersfield; they were convicted and hanged on Gibbet Hill, Hindhead in April 1787. The sailor lies buried in Thursley churchyard, while the inn is now a private home.
Comment from Julia Skinner on Friday, 15th August 2008.
RE: RE: The Murder of A Young Sailor
The murder of the sailor at Hindhead has been a tale handed down from generation to generation. My brother was told about it by our Dad, who in turn got it from his Dad. The three villains were not all Irish - indeed, if what my brother was told is correct, one of them was an ancestor of ours!! Their names were: Lonergan, Casey and Marshall (Marshall's name was James). I have a copy of a trial document which I obtained from the National Archives and this prompted me to trace our family tree. As yet I have no definite proof that James Marshall was related to me but there is a strong possibility. Apparently only one of the murderers showed remorse for their crime and I like to think that it was James Marshall. I visited the graveyard at Thursley and found the sailor's stone and also visited Gibbet Hill. None of the murderers were buried - they were left on the Gibbet until all that was left were bones which then turned to dust. Some might say a fitting end but I find it rather gruesome.
Comment from Pauline Baldwin on Saturday, 12th February 2011.