City of Winchester
The voluntary CONFESSION of JAMES AITKEN, commonly called JOHN the PAINTER, now a Prisoner in the County Gaol of Southampton, and under Sentence of Death, for burning the Dock-yard at Portsmouth, taken this seventh Day of March, 1777.
SAITH, that he was born at Edinburgh, the 28th of September, 1752; his mother now living as he believes. Curiosity led him to Virginia, at the age of twenty one, as an adventurer to seek his fortune.—Left America in March 1775.
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That he stopt a post-chaise, between Portsmouth and Petersfield, with a gentleman and lady in it, some considerable time before the fire, and robbed them of nine shillings and sixpence, of which he returned two shillings.
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JAMES AITKEN.
Signed by James Aitken, and protested by him to contain the truth only, in the presence of us, this 7th day of March, 1777.
GEORGE DUNFORD
N. P. SMITH
Two of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace, in and for the city of Winchester.
T. LAWRENCE, of the Bear-Inn, Devizes.