William Booth was an English farmer turned forger from the Birmingham area of England. My story is set in 1812, and this was called the “Restriction Period.” The quick growth of England’s population, but, more importantly, the many wars England was fighting during that time period, as well as social unrest at home, had the government issuing new, low denomination, and easily-reproducible bank notes. These slip-slap methods opened the door to forgers, some on a small basis and some of the nature of William Booth.
[For more information on the Restriction Period, visit my post today on Always Austen.]
Born near Beaudesert, Warwickshire in 1776, Booth was one of eight children to a farmer and church warden, John Booth. In 1799, he signed a 25-year lease for 200 acres of land that would eventually be known as “Booth’s Farm.” That land was part of the Perry Hall estate in Perry Barr, Staffordshire. Perry Barr is now known as Great Barr and is in the city of Birmingham.
In 1808, William Booth was accused of murdering his brother John, but he was acquitted due to a lack of evidence.
Back at the farm, Booth converted the top floor of the farmhouse into a fortified workshop where he produced forgeries of bank notes, but also of promissory notes, coins, tokens, etc., essentially anything of monetary value.
John Linwood, a constable from Birmingham, led the raid on Booth’s farm. With him were ten special constables and seven dragoons.
Booth was arrested, and charged with five counts:[
- “forging a 1l. note, purporting to be a promissory note of the Bank of England”
- “for making paper, and having in [his] possession and using a mould for making paper, with words ‘Bank of England’ therein”
- “for using plates for making promissory notes in imitation of Bank of England notes, and for having blank bank notes in their possession without a written authority from the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, against Statute of 45th Geo. III.”
- “for coining dollars, against the statute 44th Geo. III.—The indictment charged the prisoners with coining a piece of coin called a dollar, having an impression on the obverse side of his Majesty’s head, and the words ‘Georgius—III. Dei Gratia Rex,’ and on the reverse, a figure of Britannia, and the words ‘Five Shillings. Dollar. Bank of England, 1804.'”
- “for coining 3s. Bank Tokens, against the Statute of 51st of his present Majesty”
Each was tried consecutively, with the same jury throughout, before Simon Le Blanc, at Stafford Assizes over two days. He was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to hang.
Booth’s public execution, outside Stafford jail, on 15 August 1812 was bungled, and he fell through the scaffold’s trap door to the floor. Within two hours, he was hanged again and died.
There is a song by Jon Raven entitled “Twice Tried, Twice Hung, Twice Buried.” [You can find the lyrics HERE.]
For Further Reading: Anon. (1812). The Trial of William Booth, of Perry Barr, In The County of Stafford, For Forgery, At Stafford Summer Assizes, 1812. Before Sir Simon Le Blanc, One of The Judges of His Majesty’s Court of King’s Bench. . Stafford: J. Drewry – via Wikisource.
Lyon’s Obsession: The Lyon’s Den Connected World
Short on temper. Long on pride. True to his word.
Lady Theodora Duncan, daughter and only child of Lord Macdonald Duncan, reluctantly embarks on a London season in hopes of making a suitable match. She had always thought she would marry Lord Alexander Dutton, 12th Earl Marksman. After all, they had been raised together in her father’s house since Duncan became Marksman’s guardian when his lordship was but twelve. Her father’s estate marches along with Marksman’s, and they had shared multiple words of devotion, as well as stolen moments and heated kisses. Yet…
Lord Alexander Dutton always planned to marry Lady Theodora Duncan, but not until he finds his family. His father, long before Robert Dutton became the heir to the Marksman’s peerage, had sold Alexander’s mother and younger sister to the captain of a sailing ship. Alexander has searched for them for some ten years, spending thousands of the Marksman fortune in his desire to reclaim them. He cannot think truly to know happiness until he can share his title and his wealth with them. Assuredly, Theodora understands why he has not made an offer of marriage. Yet, if she does, then why does he constantly find her on the arm of a Sardinian count? He never expected Theodora’s abandonment, but Alexander is finally so close to knowing his real family again.
Must he risk one dream to know another?
Tropes you’ll love:
✔️ Friends to lovers
✔️ Soul mates
✔️ Secret identity
✔️ Fish out of water
✔️ Unrequited love
✔️ Dark secret
✔️ Emotional scars
✔️ Marriage pact
✔️ Innocent cohabitation
✔️ Love interest vs. Missing family
✔️ Honorable marriage
✔️ Marriage pact
✔️ Emotional scars
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Every Woman Dreams... 