Copy.
City of Winchester

The voluntary Confession of James Atkyns, commonly called John the Painter, now a Prisoner in the County Gaol of Southampton, and under Sentence of Death for burning the Dock Yard at Portsmouth, taken this 7th March 1777.

Saith . . . That he was born at Edingburgh 28 Sepr 1752 his Mother now living as he believes. ー Curiosity led him to Virginia in America at the Age of 21 as an Adventurer to seek his Fortune. ー Left America in March 1775.

In October 1775 by the name of Jas Boswell inlisted a private Soldier in 32 Regiment at Gravesend, marched to Chatham next day from whence he soon deserted, was not concerned in the Fire in Temple Street Bristol nor privy to it. ー Broke into Mr Morgan's Warehouse at Bristol alone, no person concerned with him in that or any other accident that ensued in that City. He intended to set fire to two Houses in Portsmouth in order to employ the Engines, whilst the Fire might spread in the Rope Yard. ー Broke into Mr Morgan's Warehouse at Bristol in order to burn it that the Engines might be there employed whilst the Shipping were burning & the Quay, for which purpose he left a lighted Candle burning in the said Warehouse, and because that Fire did not take effect he afterwards set fire to the Warehouses Quay Lane by getting over the top of the Door. ー Mr Dean [Silas Deane] told him when the work was done (meaning the burning Dock Yards at Portsmouth & Woolwich & Bristol Harbour but not the Houses) he should make his escape and come if possible to him at Paris and he should be rewarded. ー As a Reward his own expectations prompted him to hope that he should be preferred to a Commission in the American Army.

When after setting fire to the Rope Yard he left Portsmouth (to wit) the next night being Sunday, he reached London & went to Doctor Bencraft [Edward Bancroft] No 4 Downing Street Westminster, to whom he had a verbal recommendation from Mr Dean, who gave him at Paris the Doctor's name in writing & place of abode, but the Doctor would give him no countenance, and therefore did not relate the particulars of the Mischief he had done, to him but hinted to him, that he would soon see or hear by the Papers of an extraordinary accident that had happened, and he afterwards wrote such an Account in a Letter to him which he left himself at the Doctor's House with a person who came to the Door, which for the sake of truth he relates and without intention of casting any Slur on the character of an innocent Man.

That he saw the Doctor the day following in the Salopian Coffee House & told him that he would do all the prejudice he could to this Kingdom, to which the Doctor replied, he could not be of opinion with him in that respect for that he got his Bread in this Kingdom & therefore would not be concerned with him; And seeing that the Doctor did not approve of his conduct he hoped he would not inform against him, to which the Doctor said he did not like to inform against any man.

When at Paris he was assisted by Mr Dean with 12 six Livre pieces, he asked for no more neither did he receive from him any Bank Bill, Draft or Note whatever.

After leaving London (to wit) at High Wycombe, he broke into a House & took away a few Linnens, consisting of Caps, Handkerchiefs, but nothing of value, he then went to Oxford from thence to Abingdon where he attempted to break into two Houses, Silversmiths or Watchmakers but without effect. ー From thence he went to Fairford where he broke into a House & took from thence a number of Stockings & Handkerchiefs & a metal Watch & near 50 Shillings in Silver & halfpence. ー The Watch he pledged for 16 Shillings in the name of James Hill at a Pawnbroker's in Castle Street Bristol. ー After this without attempting any thing but having prepared some of his Ingredients he went from Bristol to Plymouth with intent to set fire to the Dock Yard there. ー Twice he reached the top of the Wall, but the Watchmen being near he could hear them talk together, especially the last night, therefore-he desisted, he never committed or attempted to commit any Robbery but when he was like to be drove short of Money.

After leaving Plymouth he returned once more to Bristol with a determined resolution then to set fire to the Shipping in the Harbour & in his way to Bristol at Taunton he attempted to break into the House of a Silversmith or Watchmaker without effect.

He attempted the Shipping a second time but on account of the vigilance & strictness of the Watch there kept on the Quay & in the Ships his attempt proved abortive. ー He likewise attempted on the Saturday morning but in vain to get into a Stable or Coach House on the Quay in order to set fire to it, but seeing a Man lying in a Cart near the place he desisted.

On the Sunday morning following he set fire to the Warehouses in Bristol in Quay Lane which he effected in the following manner (to wit) He bought some coarse Flax on the Quay and some Turpentine at another place, but where he cannot remember, & with those & Charcoal-Matches and Gunpowder & striking a spark of Light on Tinder to which he set a paper match he effected his purpose.

The Match was made of touch paper & as that consumed to the end the Powder being laid & wrapt up likewise in touch paper it of course took fire & so he presumes it instantly mounted into a Blaze. ー Then he left the Town but seeing no fire behind he returned back part of the way til at last hearing the City was on fire he then went on to Sadbury, & so crossing the Country to Marshfield & to Chipenham and Caine, but the first night after the Fire he slept at Sadbury, the second night he broke open the door of an Outhouse near it where he slept & left behind him in the-morning a dark Lanthorn ー On the Wednesday night he went to Caine & being near short of Money broke open Mr Lowe's house, which Robbery as it is known he has no occasion to enlarge upon it. ー He left a Parcel with a Pistol & other things in the Parcel in the Church Porch of Caine.

At Bristol he first broke into Mr Morgan's Warehouse & then prepared the Combustibles for setting fire to the Shipping. He never was in the 45th Regiment neither did he go to America in any Regiment.

He never said that One Brooks or any other Prisoner ,in Newgate would be hanged as was sworn against him upon his Trial, neither does he know any Man by the name of Brooks.

His Father was a Blacksmith at Edinburgh & he was apprenticed to a Painter, then served his time out & then had his Indenture delivered up which he usually carried about in his Pocket & afterwards burnt them, which gave rise to the Story of his destroying Papers to the value of Three hundred Pounds. ー Those were the things of value which he meant to express by what he had burnt.

As to any Merchant in London or any other Person, except Doctor Bencroft, he had no Recommendation to, or conversation with, respecting the many unhappy Accidents before related.

That he stopt a Postchaise between Portsmouth & Petersfield with a Gentleman & Lady in it some considerable time before the Fire, & robbed them of Nine Shillings & sixpence, of which he returned two Shillings.

The latter end of Decemr 1775 he inlisted at Chard in Somerset into the 13th Regiment with a Recruiting Serjeant, & a few days after deserted.

At Titchfield as has been publickly mentioned he followed the Trade of a Painter, also at Birmingham with Mr Robinson, at Warrington & many other places.

That he had committed and attempted to commit several other Robberies & Burglaries, but of no material account to mention.

Declares that all the Acts herein mentioned of a public as well as of a private nature were of his own motion & that he was not advised or instigated thereto by any person whatever except what is before related, and that he had rio Accomplice.

One other circumstance strikes his present recollection which he is desirous to mention & which happened in the City of Norwich at the house of Mr Mark where he stole 2 Silver Table Spoons & a pair of Silver Buckles in the Spring of 1776.

Signed by James Aitken and protested by him to contain the Truth only in the presence of us this 7th day of March 1777.

Geo Durnford		Two of His Majy Justices of the Peace,  in & for the City of Winchester
N. L. Smith
T Lawrence ー		of the Bear Inn, Devizes.