- Jack Sheppard-the surprising life, crimes and escapes of an 18th century criminal

Posted: Wednesday, 1st February 2012

February 2012

Jack Sheppard-the surprising life, crimes and escapes of an 18th century criminal

Jack Sheppard

Jack Sheppard (4 March 1702 16 November 1724) was an 18^th century thief and burglar, popularized in a romantic novel by the author Harrison Ainsworth(4February 1805 to 3January 1882), a contemporary and friend of Charles Dickens.

In his short-lived career spanning just over two years, Jack Sheppards exploits were continuously followed by the public. He was caught, convicted and hanged at Tyburn in 1724.

Criminal novels

Jack Sheppard was first published as a serial in the journal Bentley's Miscellany by Ainsworth from January 1839 until February 1840. Interestingly, it was produced at the same time as Charles Dickens Oliver Twist. Akin to Oliver Twist, the journal deals with the moral lesson derived from the attempted corruption of a young boy. In addition, there is a largely fictionalized incident from the novel where Sheppard is apprehended in Willesden churchyard (of St Marys, Willesden, the ancient parish church) when he visits his mother. Following this, Sheppard and the legend surrounding him becomes associated with Willesden.

It also features the infamous criminal and eventual thief catcher, Jonathan Wild (born in 1683) who was also hanged in 1725 after his own villainous double-dealing was exposed. It is widely believed that Wild, a public servant and Thief-Taker General, had Sheppard imprisoned at Newgate Gaol. The novel is sometimes described as part of the tradition of Newgate or rogue novels.

Willesden Green Library has an image in their collection with his title-illustrating the slightly romanticized connection with the history of Willesden.

Harrison Ainsworth

Ainsworth was a local resident at Kensal Lodge, where he entertained Dickens and other literary figures. He produced novels which focused on a historical genre synonymous with villainous heroes including the notorious highwayman Richard Dick Turpin (Rookwood 1834).

Dickens and Ainsworth became involved in the inevitable controversies over the scandalous subject matter of their respective works, some of which detailed criminal life at a time when there were fears about the influence of this on the impressionable general public. When their working relationship came to an end, Ainsworth replaced Dickens as editor of Bentleys.

Ainsworths novel was re-worked for the stage and eight different theatrical versions were produced in autumn 1839, such as the Adelphi Theatres version entitled Jack Sheppard and the Theatre Royal Marylebone version in 1855. The Gaiety Theatre also revived the story with its own production called Little Jack Sheppard in the 1890s. It was adapted as burlesque entertainment in c.1885. Finally, local theatre groups in Brent such as the Madhatters have also staged it in the last twenty years.

Peter Ross talk at the Library on 2 February Peter Ross will delve into the treatment of Jack Shepherd in fiction and how fiction and reality can and have become confused in the public imagination.