In August 1800 two young men were 'executed on the Drop' at the High Gaol in Exeter. Joseph Buywater aged 28 and John Chimleigh aged 21. They were convicted of highway robbery but they were not at all like the highwaymen of romance.
They seem to have been strangers to Devon, indeed at first their captors thought they were Americans but 'at the gallows' they claimed to be Englishmen. Nothing else, it would seem, was learned about them.
The first of the crimes for which they were executed was in May, 1800. They stopped Richard Wakeham, a farmer who was riding along the road between Dartmouth and Totnes. The two robbers were walking along the road, one some distance behind the other:
"It appears that Mr. Wakeham rode by Chimleigh and came up with Buywater, who seized the horse's bridle, and demanded his money.
"Mr. Wakeham seeing some persons in a neighbouring field, was about to call for help; when Buywater presented a large pistol, and, with an imprecation, told him he would blow his brains out if he made the least noise. Chimleigh now came up, and told Mr. Wakeham if he would give them a shilling, he would be permitted to depart. Mr. Wakeham then delivered them the shilling and rode off."
Later the same day the two desperados went to the house of the Rev. Mr Cholwich (no location given) where they:
".... demanded victuals in very rough terms, which he very spiritedly refused. though Chimleigh had a pistol, and Buywater a bludgeon. Finding him determined, they went away from Mr. Cholwich's house, Chimleigh with threats and curses and Buywater civilly asking pardom if offence had been given.
"For this behaviour they were indicted, but acquitted,
"Mr Cholwich, Thomas Borne, and some others, afterwards went in pursuit of Buywater and Chimleigh, and when Borne, who was a little before the others , came up with Buywater and Chimleigh, they seized his bridle and demanded his money or his life. Fortunately at this time his associates came up, and apprehended both."
There is, I think, something very fishy about this story. I suspect it might have been that Parson Cholwich was so dissatisfied with the acquittal that is reported (no further details) to have taken place that he had, Wild West fashion, 'got up a posse'. It seems rather too convenient that the young strangers then decided to rob one of their pursuers in classic highwayman fashion - your money or your life.
There are no further clues in the report of The Exeter Flying Post of 28th August, 1800 but the two men were most certainly hanged:
"Baywater appeared very penitent, whilst Chimleigh seemed equally hardened, and did not appear even to be depressed at his unhappy situation."
Bludgeon is a jolly word, of obscure origin but it certainly makes one think of blood and blows and bloody deeds.
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