In the “Ipswich Journal” dated 30 (cor.) Dec 1797 an article reports that Mordecai HYMAN was found guilty of “Bribing a Customs Officer”. I haven’t been able to find the sentence.
Extract from a “King’s Bench and Fleet Prison Discharge Book and Prisoner Lists” Committed 8 Feb 1798. Discharged 1801.
London Gazette 1801 28 Jul, I think, page 941, First notice of him being back in King’s Bench Prison. Also a second and third notice at later times.
1803 June 28 Petition for Pardon from 389 men and women imprisoned for debt in the King’s Bench prison. Mordecai HYMAN is among the signatories.
Is there anywhere to find the sentence from 1797? About three years doesn’t really seem a lot
for bribing a Customs Officer.
Is it possible that he was released in 1801 and then taken straight back in for debt?
Are there any prison records that would show his age so I can prove that he became Marcus/Mordecai HYMAN, Apothecary and Surgeon of Chatham and Rochester who died 2 Jul 1846 aged 95, and who was declared bankrupt a few more times over the years.
I have some pages from his Apothecary Register 1813, 1814 and 1823 with what appears, to me, to be written by three different hands so will put his signature from 1803 and a selection from the pages onto the handwriting board and see if the experts there can say yes or no there is a likeness.
There are various spellings of HYMAN as Hymans/Hyams/Hayman etc. and deciding whether they are the same person is a bit of a puzzle to solve.
This is a bit of a rambling query but any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers
HeatherR
ps.
Just as an extra in Jan 1804 a Patent for the Tonsor Waterless Shaving method was issued to a Marcus HYMANS. A pretty brutal way of shaving going by the list of ingredients, including ground pumice. I can post a copy of the Patent, including ingredients and method, to any interested people out there. Same man or not have no idea, but maybe a start to his Apothecary Business.
