Mail robbery. Bristol mail robbed by George & Joseph Weston. Description of the suspects

FROM a variety of circumstances, there is the strongest reason to believe, that one George Weston, and Joseph Weston his brother, were concerned in the robbery of the Bristol mail near Cranford Bridge, on the 29th of January, 1781, for the apprehending the person who committed the same, a reward of TWO HUNDRED POUNDS was offered, by advertisement from hence in the London Gazette of Saturday the 10th of February last, and in several succeeding Gazettes, to be paid out of this revenue upon conviction.

The said George Weston and Joseph Weston are two of the sons of one George Weston, now deceased, who was born in the parish of Stone, in Staffordshire, and all resided in that county, and in the parish of Allchurch, in Worcestershire, until the year 1773 or 1774, when they quitted that country.

The latter end of 1774, they resided on a farm near Lynn, by the names of Stone; having defrauded several persons there, they decamped in the spring following.

In 1775, they resided upon a farm in the parish of Blackburn, in Scotland, by the names of Gilbert; and, having conducted themselves there in the same manner as at Lynn, they speedily left that country.

The beginning of the year 1776, they resided for a short time at Brough, in Lincolnshire, on the banks of the Humber, where they acted a similar part.

In the spring of 1776, the rented an estate near Beckenham, in Kent, in the names of Green, and soon quitted it on the same account.

In the summer of 1776, they resided at Brathey, in Lancashire, near Windermere Lake, where they assumed the names of Gilbert; from thence they absconded in October 1776, were pursued and apprehended at Bishops Castle, in Shropshire, and taken before Mr. Alderman Hewitt at Coventry.

In 1777, they resided upon a farm of Lord Aldborough's in Ireland, and, during their short stay in that kingdom, put off several forged drafts.

In the spring of 1778, the two sons (George taking the name of Scott, and Joseph taking the name of James Watson) were at Tenby, in Pembrokeshire, on a tour of pleasure, where they negociated a forged draft; from thence they went by sea to Biddeford, in Devonshire.

In August, 1778, they were in the neighbourhood of Brecknock, grouse-shooting, where they went by the names of James Clark and ----- Smith, and put off a forged draft at Brecknock: also, in that year Joseph put off a forged draft near Sutton Coldfield, in Warwickshire, taking the name of Joseph Hart.

The two Westons are supposed to be well known either by some of the before-mentioned names, or the names of Smith, Walker, Hill, and West, in almost every part of this kingdom, except the West of England, and to be connected with an attorney of notorious character in Worcestershire, and his confederates.

Immediately after committing the robbery of the mail, George Weston set out in a post-chaise and four from London, (or the neighbourhood) through Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Northumberland, to Newcastle, from thence to Carlisle, and from that city by the Great North Road to London, putting off bills and notes at various places in his route; and one or both of them are supposed to have been last summer at a fair at Mortham, near Rotherham, and at Launceston, at each of which places a bill taken out of this mail was negociated by them.

Within the two last months they have put off several notes and bills at Lottery-Offices in London, and George by himself has, within that time, put off one at Richmond, in Surrey, and another at Hackney, assuming the name of John Ward.

George Weston is about 29 years of age, five feet seven inches high, square set, round faced, fresh-coloured, pitted with the small-pox, has a short thick nose, his upper lip rather thick, his hair of a lightish-brown colour, which is sometimes tied behind, at other times loose and curled; has much the appearance of a country dealer, or a farmer; one of his thumb nails appears, from an accident, of the shape of a parrot's bill, and he is supposed to have a scar upon his right hand from a stroke with a cutlass.

Joseph Weston is about 23 years of age, five feet nine inches high, slender made, of a fair and smooth complexion, genteel person, has grey eyes, and large nose with a scar upon it, his hair is of a light brown colour, sometimes tied behind, at other times loose and curled, his voice strong, and he speaks a little through his nose; has a remarkable small hand and long fingers.

Whoever shall apprehend, or cause to be apprehended, the said George Weston and Joseph Weston, or either of them, will, upon the conviction of one or both of them for the said robbery of the mail, be intitled to a reward of TWO HUNDRED POUNDS, over and above the reward given by Act of Parliament for apprehending highwaymen, agreeably to the said advertisement. - And, as it is well known that a person in the mercantile line has assisted them in the negociation of some of the bills, if he, or any other accomplice in the robbery, or knowing thereof, will make discovery, whereby either or both of the said Westons may be apprehended and convicted of the same, he or they will be entitled to the said reward of TWO HUNDRED POUNDS, and will also receive his Majesty's most gracious pardon.

ANTHONY TODD, Secretary.