The Stamford Mercury 6 July 1738.
Last week two highwaymen were apprehended at a public house at Ongar, and being carried before one of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the said County and examined they were committed to Chelmsford gaol; but in their passage thither one of them found means to escape from the officers who had him in custody, by flinging himself over a gate and running down a field, at the end of which was a river, which he jumped into and swam to the other side, notwithstanding his hands were pinioned, and got clear off.
The other was carried to gaol, and has since impeached his companions and given an account of the robberies committed by them; so that tis hoped they will soon be brought to justice.
The Stamford Mercury 11 January 1739
Last Tuesday two men were committed to Chelmsford gaol by Justice Pratt of Stratford, for breaking open a farmer’s house at Ongar in Essex and stealing all his pewter, brass linen, and other furniture the night before. It seems that they were two persons that the farmer employed to do labouring work; and thinking that the family were all out, excepting the old farmer and his maid, they got into the house, bound them neck and heels, and tortured them to declare where the money was lodged, but happily the farmer had paid it to his landlord for rent. A little boy who was in bed hearing the noise concealed himself and when the villains were gone, unbound the farmer and the maid, and went to the farmer’s son, then at a neighbour’s house, who alarmed the neighbours and the rogues were pursued and taken.
Ipswich Journal 25th November 1749
On Sunday last three lads were committed to Chelmsford Gaol, by Sir John Abdy, being taken the night before at Abridge, charged with committing several burglaries at Shelley, near Chipping Ongar; the youngest of them is about 11 years old, and the eldest not 19