Thomas Cooper Walter Salt
1772 William Holden Jos. Tyndall R. Anderton T. Hunt
1773 Thomas Westley John Richards Ob. Bellamy John Smart
1774 John Ward John Francis W. Hodgkins Thomas Wight
1775 Thomas Hurd John Taylor, esq; John Startin T. Everton
1776 E.W. Patteson Josiah Rogers Thomas Corden Joseph Wright
1777 Ed. Thomason S. Pemberton Joseph Jukes Joseph Sheldon
1778 Joseph Green William Hunt Thomas Wright John Allen[4]
1779 T. Faulconbridge W. Humphrys John Guest Jonathan Wigley
1780 Daniel Winwood William Scott William Thomas John Bird
1781 William Hicks W. Taylor, esq; John Dallaway Richard Porter
1782 Thomas Carless G. Humphrys John Holmes Thomas Barrs

[Footnote 2: Joseph Scott, Esq; not choosing the official part, procured
a substitute to perform it, in the person of the late Constable
James Baker.]

[Footnote 3: in office, Benjamin Mansell was chosen in his stead.]

[Footnote 4: was charged with a fine of 25_l_. by the lady of the manor,
and John Miles chosen in his stead.]

* * * * *

Three of the Inhabitants have, since I knew the place, served the Office
of SHERIFF for the County, viz.

John Taylor, Esquire, in - - - - 1756.
Edward Jordan, Esquire, in - - - 1757.
And Isaac Spooner, Esquire, in - 1763.

COURT OF REQUESTS.

Law is the very basis of civil society, without it man would quickly
return to his original rudeness; the result would be, robbery and
blood:--and even laws themselves are of little moment, without a due
execution of them--there is a necessity to annex punishment.

But there is no necessity to punish the living, who are innocent, by
hanging the dead bodies of criminals in the air. This indecent and
inhuman custom, which originated from the days of barbarism, reflects an
indelible disgrace upon a civilized age. The intention, no doubt, was
laudable; to prevent the commission of crimes, but does it answer that
intention?

In 1759, two brothers, of the name of Darby, were hung in chains near
Hales-Owen, since which time there has been only one murder committed in
the whole neighbourhood, and that under the very gibbet upon which
they hung[5].

[Footnote 5: Joseph Skidmore, a carrier of Stourbridge, having Ann
Mansfield, a young woman of Birmingham, under his care, ravi