Today’s speaker was John Cross, who gave us a talk surrounding his book “The Curate and the King’s Coin”, a not-for-profit publication by a local Holmfirth publisher.
The work describes the life and death of a compulsive liar, rogue, thief and vagabond, the Reverend Edmund Robinson, who was appointed curate of Holmfirth Parish in 1673. John Cross’s investigations have all been derived from proven and accurate records of the time, though he does admit to having difficulty at times in reading the archaic prose of the times!
Robinson’s life centred around the Holmfirth, Meltham, and Kirkburton areas, and his wife was an Armitage from Thick Hollins Hall, Meltham.
He managed to pass himself off as a degree holder of St. John’s College, Cambridge, by virtue of which he obtained his post in Holmfirth. Over a number of years, however, he was found guilty of clipping the kings coin, and passing counterfeit coin, but managed, somehow to get away with these offences. He also pleaded guilty to illegally marrying couples on various occasions, profiting from the fees levied thereon.
He was eventually found guilty of actually manufacturing counterfeit currency from his address at Bank End Knoll, Brockholes. This crime was regarded at the time as high treason, and after being sent for trial to York, he was found guilty and sentenced to be hung and quartered. Even on the scaffold he refused to ask forgiveness, and died cursing his accusers and judge and jurors.
Interestingly, he was initially arrested on the information provided by one Roger Preston, a Discoverer, i.e. a supposed co-conspirator, who it later transpired went from one clipping/counterfeiting organisation to another, informing on the transgressor, and then claiming the substantial reward due to such Discoverers.