Jump to content
 







Main menu
   


Navigation  



Main page
Contents
Current events
Random article
About Wikipedia
Contact us
Donate
 




Contribute  



Help
Learn to edit
Community portal
Recent changes
Upload file
 








Search  

































Create account

Log in
 









Create account
 Log in
 




Pages for logged out editors learn more  



Contributions
Talk
 



















Contents

   



(Top)
 


1 References  














William Fairall







Add links
 









Article
Talk
 

















Read
Edit
View history
 








Tools
   


Actions  



Read
Edit
View history
 




General  



What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Cite this page
Get shortened URL
Download QR code
Wikidata item
 




Print/export  



Download as PDF
Printable version
 
















Appearance
   

 






From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 


William Fairall (c.1722–1749) was an English outlaw, highwayman, smuggler and senior member of the Hawkhurst Gang, a notorious gang of smugglers based in Kent and Sussex.

He was baptised in Goudhurst on 3 March 1722, the son of Roger and Mary Fairall, but later orphaned.

Fairall was so notorious for his brutal courage "it was not considered safe to offend him".[1] He became Thomas Kingsmill's second-in-command.[2] In 1747, he was apprehended for smuggling in Sussex and sent for trial by James Butler Esq, but managed to escape. He later attempted to murder Butler and burn down his house in revenge.[3] He was also involved in the murders of Galley and Chater.[4] Fairall was present at the Goudhurst dispute and when the gang raided the Custom House, Poole in 1747.[5]

On 26 April 1749, Fairall was hanged at Tyburn alongside Kingsmill. His body was sent to the High Sheriff of Kent to be gibbeted in Horsmonden.[6]

The Highwayman, a pub in Horsmonden, was named for Fairall.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Newgate Calendar - Fairall". www.exclassics.com. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  • ^ Furley, Robert (1874). A History of the Weald of Kent: With an Outline of the Early History of the County. H. Igglesden. p. 621.
  • ^ Rogers, Nicholas (2013-01-08). Mayhem: Post-War Crime and Violence in Britain, 1748-53. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-18906-3.
  • ^ Priestley, Samantha (2020-03-30). The History of Gibbeting: Britain's Most Brutal Punishment. Pen and Sword History. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-5267-5521-6.
  • ^ Thomas Kingsmill, William Fairall, Richard Perin, Thomas Lillewhite, Richard Glover, April 1749, retrieved 2022-12-30
  • ^ Ordinary's Account: The Proceedings of the Old Bailey, 1674-1913. London. 26 April 1749.
  • ^ "William Fairall". Horsmonden Village Kent. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  • t
  • e

  • Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Fairall&oldid=1182634086"

    Categories: 
    British crime biography stubs
    English people stubs
    1749 deaths
    English criminals
    English smugglers
    English highwaymen
    People from Kent (before 1889)
    People executed at Tyburn
    People executed by the United Kingdom by hanging
    History of Kent
    Hidden categories: 
    Articles with short description
    Short description matches Wikidata
    All stub articles
     



    This page was last edited on 30 October 2023, at 13:11 (UTC).

    Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.



    Privacy policy

    About Wikipedia

    Disclaimers

    Contact Wikipedia

    Code of Conduct

    Developers

    Statistics

    Cookie statement

    Mobile view



    Wikimedia Foundation
    Powered by MediaWiki