Josiah Hugh

Wednesday, 10 September 1755

Josiah Hugh on 11 June 1755 assaulted Mary Rees in the parish of Penmark by strangling her with a hempen cord round her neck so she instantly died (WALES 4/617/1).  He pleaded Guilty.  In his confession he stated that he was repairing the highway and at about 4 in the afternoon he went to where Mary Rees was in a field milking sheep.  As she came from the sheepfold she put down the pail and had her back to him.  he had a stick in his hand and struck her: she fell and he repeated the blows: then finding her not dead took out a cord and strangled her.  He then dragged the body some 17 yards and returning for the milk pail placed it beside her and walked off.  He was ordered for execution on Wednesday 10 September and for his body to be afterwards hanged in chains near to the place of the murder, presumably in the parish of Penmark.  (WALES 14/24).