Burwell Barn Murders


“At the Assizes at Cambridge, held at the Castle for the County of Cambridge, before Mr. Baron Hale, … one Richard Whitaker, committed by Sir Roger Jenyne, … and charged upon Suspicion of setting Fire to a Barn in Burwell, in which about 125 persons that were in it to see a Puppet-Show, were burnt, or otherwise destroy’d, was try’d and acquitted of the Fact.”

“A report prevails, that an old Man died a few days ago, at a village near Newmarket, who just before his death seemed very unhappy; said he had a Burthen on his Mind, which he must disclose, and then confessed that he set fire to the Barn at Burwell, on the 8th of September 1727, when no less than 80 Persons unhappily lost their lives, that he was an Ostler at that Time at or near Cambridge and that having an antipathy to the Puppet-shew man was the Cause of his committing that diabolical action, which was attended with such dreadful Consequences.”


“…tis the melancholy employment of the neighbouring places, to pick out, and discover the mangled bodies of their relations and friends, and the dead bodies taken out of the barn; were carry’d to carts, and put into a hole in the church yard; there was among them several young women of considerable fortunes, and one Mr. James Brinley, a wholesale Turner, and Elizabeth his Wife, who had been marry’d but that morning.”

“…tis the melancholy employment of the neighbouring places, to pick out, and discover the mangled bodies of their relations and friends, and the dead bodies taken out of the barn; were carry’d to carts, and put into a hole in the church yard; there was among them several young women of considerable fortunes, and one Mr. James Brinley, a wholesale Turner, and Elizabeth his Wife, who had been marry’d but that morning.”


"When I did think the evil of this night be done, it reared its demon head again, with even greater malice in its wicked eyes. As the sound of the burning barn, still crackled loud in my ears and its flames burned my eyes, I saw the perpetrator of this vile deed, whose name I cannot bring myself to speak aloud, my tongue silenced in the face of such malevolence that defies even the devil’s own, did enter into violent discussion with their spouse."

"When I did think the evil of this night be done, it reared its demon head again, with even greater malice in its wicked eyes. As the sound of the burning barn, still crackled loud in my ears and its flames burned my eyes, I saw the perpetrator of this vile deed, whose name I cannot bring myself to speak aloud, my tongue silenced in the face of such malevolence that defies even the devil’s own, did enter into violent discussion with their spouse."


"Evil’s disciple did then shove their accuser into the bowels of the fiery furnace of the barn. Its flaming timbers toppled down upon this poor soul; they now joining the many more who perished; onward to heaven, safe in God’s own arms; so that none other shall cause them harm. I could not stand idly by, while such unspeakable evil was still free to roam God’s realm on Earth. I then rushed like a raging avenging angel upon them and did most easily see that they too suffered in the fire of their making; backwards to hell from whence they came. I did not care if any did witness this breaking of God’s decalogue; but none were now alive to testify my guilt in any court of man. Only in hell will I be judged, for I do not and never will ask for forgiveness or offer remorse before God or the Devil."

"Evil’s disciple did then shove their accuser into the bowels of the fiery furnace of the barn. Its flaming timbers toppled down upon this poor soul; they now joining the many more who perished; onward to heaven, safe in God’s own arms; so that none other shall cause them harm. I could not stand idly by, while such unspeakable evil was still free to roam God’s realm on Earth. I then rushed like a raging avenging angel upon them and did most easily see that they too suffered in the fire of their making; backwards to hell from whence they came. I did not care if any did witness this breaking of God’s decalogue; but none were now alive to testify my guilt in any court of man. Only in hell will I be judged, for I do not and never will ask for forgiveness or offer remorse before God or the Devil."