We use cookies to improve your experience, some are essential for the operation of this site.
About the cookies we use
Accept
Search
Help
Quick Search
Quick Search
Search
Search
Home
Advanced Search
Browse All Images
Images By Category
Images By Place
Online Exhibitions
Search History
Selections (0)
Related Links
Local Studies
Online Library Resources
Help
About The Collections
Help With Searching
Ordering Images
Terms & Conditions
Contact Us
My Account
Log In
TaggedItemsMenu1
Untag All Items
The Last Speech, Confession and Dying Declaration of Three Unfortunate Men
You searched for:
"Treasures from our Collections - July 2015" Online Exhibitions contains these...
Item
of 7
The Last Speech, Confession and Dying Declaration of Three Unfortunate Men
Historic Documents
David Oswald
This item is active and ready to use
Select
Comment
Purchase
Magnify
Historic Documents
Record Number
171
Title
The Last Speech, Confession and Dying Declaration of Three Unfortunate Men
Description
Originally broadsides were single sheets of paper printed on one side. They were mainly text, intended to be read unfolded, posted in public places. They were first used for the printing of royal proclamations and official notices but later they served as a vehicle for political agitation and popular culture such as ballads, songs and scaffold speeches. They were sold on the streets and cost a halfpenny or penny. The mechanisation of the printing industry at the beginning of the 19th Century saw a phenomenal increase in the amount of street literature, including broadsides. By the middle of the century, however, cheap newspapers, weekly magazines and "penny dreadfuls" started to take over. This broadside tells of the day of execution for three Aberdeen men for the crime of theft and stouthrief (which is the associated crime of assaulting a person defending their property). The sheet details the repentant manner of the offenders and their admonishment to the gathered spectators to "take warning and beware of braking the Sabbath, bade company, and disregard of parental instruction, &c." This is followed by a resigned letter from William Buchanan's parents that, in the context of the severity of the punishment, evokes the austere moral and religious character of Aberdeen at the time. A variety of other broadsides are available to view on the Silver City Vault, including one detailing the life and execution of William Allen for the crimes of murder and robbery.
Originally broadsides were single sheets of paper printed on one side. They were mainly text, intended to be read unfolded, posted in public places. They were first used for the printing of royal proclamations and official notices but later they served as a vehicle for political agitation and popular culture such as ballads, songs and scaffold speeches.
They were sold on the streets and cost a halfpenny or penny. The mechanisation of the printing industry at the beginning of the 19th Century saw a phenomenal increase in the amount of street literature, including broadsides. By the middle of the century, however, cheap newspapers, weekly magazines and "penny dreadfuls" started to take over.
This broadside tells of the day of execution for three Aberdeen men for the crime of theft and stouthrief (which is the associated crime of assaulting a person defending their property). The sheet details the repentant manner of the offenders and their admonishment to the gathered spectators to "take warning and beware of braking the Sabbath, bade company, and disregard of parental instruction, &c."
This is followed by a resigned letter from William Buchanan's parents that, in the context of the severity of the punishment, evokes the austere moral and religious character of Aberdeen at the time.
A variety of other broadsides are available to view on the Silver City Vault, including one detailing the life and execution of William Allen for the crimes of murder and robbery.
Document Type
Broadside
Document Reference
TR01_03
Keyword
Crime and punishment
Collection
Aberdeen Local Studies
Aberdeen Local Studies
Magnifier?
Yes
No
Yes
Public Access
Yes
No
Yes
For Sale?
Yes
No
Yes
Subjects
Subjects
>
Places
>
Aberdeen - General
remove
Subjects
>
Memorials and Inscriptions
remove
Subjects
>
Special Occasions
remove
Assign Subject
Remove All Subjects
Other Items Like This
The Last Speech and Confession of Alex Martin