Letter

Handwritten letter from Josiah Cadman to Dr. Cotton dated November 21st, 1821. In the letter Cadman thanks Dr Cotton for his 'many acts of favour' Probably written just before his execution. Annotated by Cotton, in pencil, 'Executed for forgery'. Handwritten on two sides of a folded sheet.

After his signature Cadman adds the addendum to the letter 'consign my poor wife into your care dont let them persecute me further by sending her out of the country'. Josiah Cadman was executed on 21st November, aged 26 for passing a forged bank note. Broadsides of Cadman's execution were printed with a letter supposedly written by him to his wife on the eve of his execution. However it is likely the letter was composed by the broadside printer.

The Reverend Horace Cotton was appointed Ordinary (resident Chaplain) of Newgate in 1814. In his Hangmen of England Horace Bleackley describes Cotton as a ‘robust, rosy, well-fed, unctuous individual, whose … condemned sermons were more terrific than any of his predecessors’