~ DOCTOR SETH HUDSON and JOSHUA HOW ~
~ GUILTY OF CONTERFEITING ~The following gives account of the good Doctor and his accomplice, Joshua How. Doctor Seth Hudson at one time resided in Marlborough, and his accomplice, Joshua How, was the great grandson of John How of Sudbury. This information was gratefully recieved from Gren Hudson of Maine. If you would like to contact him, use his email
......GNEHUDSON@aol.com
Thanks Gren for the great addition to the History of Marlborough and one of her family members.
The following appears in "The Colonial Society of Massachusetts - page 42"
In the year 1762, there appeared in Boston, a curious character who called himself Doctor Hudson - gave out that he was a Dutchman -that he was possessed of a large fortune, and was traveling for his amusement. He dressed very gaily - tried to push himself into genteel company and though rather expensive in his appearance, he spewed but little money and displayed no resources ---- he was well watched. After some time a bad fellow was detected in putting off a note purporting to be from the treasurer of the province, which proved a counterfeit. His name was Howe. He confessed that be was a partner in villainy with Doctor Hudson, and that they had been privately engaged in making up a number of the province notes, which were in high credit in this and the neighboring provinces and sold readily at an advanced price. The Doctor was also taken into custody --- they were tried and convicted; and ordered to the pillory and whipping post. It was a very mortifying thing to the Doctor but excited the attention of the people greatly. Their exposure in the pillory was accompanied with a collection of an immense crowd and immoderate exultation. Mr. Nathaniel Hurd, an eminent engraver, put out a caricature print of the exhibition, which excited much attention. Hudson was represented in the pillory and at a short distance was Howe stripping near the whipping post by the side of Jack Ketch, to whom be addressed himself with "here's a back for your whip shillaly" - who answers, "and on my shoul here is a whip." A gentleman who stands by the pillory, asks Hudson "Doctor, How does the Physic work," and is told "Faith it has brought me to a stool".
The picture above depicts a sketch of a Colonial day "Pillory"
The following transcipts are of articles which appeared in the Boston Evening Post. I have not changed any words, they are as they arreared, I have also made an attempt to use the type style used by the newspaper and with good success. Copies of these were supplied to me by Gren Hudson
The BOSTON EVENING POST - 1 February 1762
At theCourt of Affize &c.. held at Charlestown Last week, one Jofhua Howe, of a Place called Weftmorland, in the Province of New-Hampshire, was convicted of procuring and keeping in his Poffeffion sundry Tools for counterfeiting Dollars, with intent to use them for that End, and for soliciting and tempting divers Perfons to be concerned with him, therein and for counterfeiting the Province Treasur's Notes, &c. He was sentenced to be set in the Pillory one Hour, to be whip'd 20 Stripes, and to pay a Fine of (symbol for pounds) 20. And upon another Intictment against him for counterfeiting Dollars (of which Crime he was some Years ago convicted) he was sentenced to be committed to the House of Correction, and there kept to hard labour for the Term of 20 years.
The BOSTON EVENING POST - 8 February 1762
On Tuesday laft, Joshua How received 20 Stripes and stood in the Pillory one Hour, at Charleftown, agreeable to that Part of his Sentencementioned in our laft Mondays Paper.
The BOSTON EVENING POST - 8 February 1762
On Thufday Night laft the noted Dr. Seth Hudfon, who has been for some Months paft confined in the Goal in this Town on Sufpicion of counterfeiting the Province Securities, had well nigh made his Efcape from thence, but being difcovered he was prevented.
The BOSTON EVENING POST - 8 March 1762
Laft Friday Afternoon at the Superior Court held here, came on the Trial of the noted Dr. Seth Hudfon and Jofhua How for counterfeiting the Province Treafurer's Notes, which Fact was proven fo plain againft them by the Teftimony of the Evidinces, that the Jury, without going out of the Court, bro't both in Guilty: Several other indictments were found againft the faid Hudfon for Crimes of the like Nature, for which we hear he is to be tried this Week:
The Court Houfe being too fmall for the Concourfe of People that came to hear the above Trial, the Court was adjoined to one of the largeft Meeting Houfes in this Town, where thegreateft Number of People attended that was ever known at any Trial in this Place before.The BOSTON EVENING POST - 12 March 1762
At theCourt of Assize &c.. held at Charlestown Last week, one Joshua Howe, of a Place called Westmorland, in the Province of New-Hampshire, was convicted of procuring and keeping in his Possession sundry Tools for counterfeiting Dollars, with intent to use them for that End, and for soliciting and tempting divers Persons to be concerned with him, therein and for counterfeiting the Province Treasur's Notes, &c. He was sentenced to be set in the Pillory one Hour, to be whip'd 20 Stripes, and to pay a Fine of (symbol for pounds) 20. And upon another Intictment against him for counterfeiting Dollars (of which Crime he was some Years ago convicted) he was sentenced to be committed to the House of Correction, and there kept to hard labour for the Term of 20 years.
The BOSTON EVENING POST - 15 March 1762
At the Superior Court held here laft Week, the noted SETH HUDSON, having been convicted on four feveral Indictments of conunterfeiting the Province Treasure's Notes, was fentenced to be fet in Pillory for one Hour, to be whip'd 20 Stripes, to fuffer one Year's Imprifonment, and to pay (symbol for pounds) 100 as a Fine to the King, upon each Conviction. The corparal Punishment to be inflicted four Times alfo.
His ConfederateJofhua How, who was convicted of the like Crimeon two indictments, was fentenced to be in the Pillory one Hour, to fuffer one Year's Imprisonment, to be whip'd 39 Stripes, and to pay (symbol for pounds) 100 Fine on each Conviction.A second paragraph, further down the page, in the news describes the following...............
Friday laft, juft after Hudfon and How receiv'd their Sentence, appeared in Public, a humourous Copper Plate Print, reprefenting the Punifment of the two Criminals. A Circle in the center of the Print, contains (as is therein expreffed) "the true Profile of the notorious Doctor Seth Hudfon." He is pictured in a Bag Wig and genteel Coat , with a Sword under his left Arm, partly drawn, which prefents the Words Dulch Tuck on the blade. On the left of the Profile a Pillory is reprefented, with the audacious Doctor fixed therein, facing the front of the Profile. The Floor he ftands on appears to fupport the Remains of fome Filth, which was applied to his Body by the active Rabble. Just above his Head the Devil is drawn, with a flaming Rod in his right Paw who cries out "This is the Man for me!" A Perfon under the Stage (addreffing Hudfon) fays, "Doctor, how does the Physic work?"
The final words.......
The New York Mercury newspaper 21 September 1767
HUDSON, Dr. Seth, noted counterfeiter - lately died of smallpox in Albany.
Gren Hudson Genealogy
HUDSON, Seth Lt., born 1703 in Marlborough, Ma. christened 22 April 1705 in Lexington, Ma. died in Albany on 10 September 1767, he was 64 years of age. He was a Soldier from Marlborough in 1759, in Capt William's Company; he was first a Sergent and then a Lieut. and had command at Fort Massachusetts. He married Mary Whipple and had eight children born in Marlborough, Ma.. He was admitted to the church in Marlborough 28 February 1727. He may also have lived in Northborough, Westborough when they were part of Marlborough.
Additional information
HOW, Joshua born 11 October 1716 in Sudbury, married Lydia Robbins and had four children, two born in Grafton, Massachusetts and two born in Westmoreland Cheshire, N.H.. He died 1806 at age 90 in probably Westmoreland Cheshire, N.H..
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