New Evidence

In July, 1721, six felons under sentence of death in London's infamous Newgate Prison agreed to serve as guinea pigs in a royally sanctioned inoculation experiment, in return for pardons. To lift these six people to dramatic life, I relied on what particulars I could find in newspapers and other sources, filling out their stories with details typical of Londoners sentenced to death for non-violent crimes in that period.

Since writing the book, I have located the trial records of all six prisoners in The Proceedings of the Old Bailey (now available online in a searchable database):

Elizabeth Harrison

· The name "Elizabeth Harrison" shows up a number of times in trial records after 1721. Whether or not these refer to the same woman is unclear: both "Elizabeth" and "Harrison" were common names then, as they remain today. I still like to think that "Lizzie" made the most of the rare opportunity handed to her to climb out of the gutter.

Ann Tompion

· Of all six prisoners, the historical Ann Tompion differs most from the character in my book. As I speculated in my notes, the real Mrs. Tompion seems to have been the famous clockmaker's niece by marriage, rather than his young widow. Her trial was particularly colorful and - as a record of "justice" - disturbing.

Mary North (originally sentenced to transportation)

· Sentenced to death upon her illegal return to Britain

John Alcock (or Allcock)

John Cawthery (or Cauthery)

Richard Evans