A Dorset highwayman??

[cowboysmate]

Hello

One of  my ancestors, Joseph Jesse, was born 1726 in Burlstone, Dorset. He married Mary Arnold in 1753 in Chesebourne, Dorset. Believe they had 3 children, by 1755.
It is a story in the family that he was hanged as a highwayman c. 1755!

Believe buried 10.10.1757

Can anyone substantiate this story, and the above facts for me?
Am struggling to find anything else on him.
Many thanks

[emeltom]

There is a burial on the Dorset OPC site in Athelhampton with Burlstone on 30 October 1757 for a Joseph Jesse.However there is also abaptism in June 1757 for a Joseph Jesse, no parents named, so could be one and the same.

[tazzie]

Well it does look as though his wife Mary nee Arnold married again.

 Cheselbourne 16th Jan 1764.
 Thomas Whittle
 Mary Jesse.

 Baptism Cheselbourne 30th Dec 1764
 John Arnold Whittle son of Thomas and Mary
 A Sarah baptised in 1766
     William in 1768
    Mary in 1772.

The use of Arnold as John's middle name leads to my theory.
 Tazzie

[tonepad]

According to the website below there were no executions in Dorset between 1754 and 1760.

http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/dorset.html

May have been hanged elsewhere.


Tony

[cowboysmate]

Thank you for your interesting replies.  I had no idea there was a capital punishment website!
 I will check it for his surname , which is quite unusual, outside Dorset. 

I will check the local OPC information in the surrounding districts, too. 
Shame no census returns then, I may have been able to find him living in one of his children's households elsewhere later, but never mind. 

Very disappointed our latest census not available freely, what a shame for all us family tree nuts!

best regards