The Last Execution in Rochester

On the 18th December 1819, Duncan Livingstone committed sodomy on Thomas Pointer who was around 15 at the time. He was found guilty in Rochester Guildhall and was sentenced to death by hanging on the 18th January 1820. 

An extract from the morning posts reads:

“A General Quarter Sessions for the City of Rochester was held last week, before A. MOORE, Esq., Recorder; and Alderman R. THOMPSON, Esq.

D. Livingstone, aged 31 years, a discharged soldier, was charged on the oaths of T. Pointer and –– Spooner, with having, on the night of the 18th of December last, in the parish of St. Margaret, Rochester, feloniously committed an unnatural crime with the said T. Pointer; this case occupied the attention of the Court for a considerable time; and the evidence brought forward so fully substantiated the fact, that the Jury returned a verdict of Guilty: and the Recorder, after summing up the evidence, addressed the prisoner with great feeling, but giving him no hope of mercy, and pronounced sentence of death upon him. The unhappy culprit will, therefore, suffer the awful penalty of his crime in the course of the ensuing week, in some place within the liberties of the City. As no execution has taken place at Rochester for a great many years, this unfortunate occurrence has procured an extraordinary sensation in the neighbourhood, and some difficulties have occurred in consequence of the Corporation being unprovided for such an event, in selecting a situation, and providing the necessary apparatus for the melancholy occasion.”

An extract from the Salisbury and Winchester Journal reads:

“At the quarter sessions for the city of Rochester, on Tuesday last, Duncan Livingstone, aged thirty-four years, a discharged soldier, was convicted, capitally, of an unnatural crime, and sentenced to death, without hope of mercy. As no execution has taken place at Rochester for a great length of years, this unfortunate occurrence has produced an extraordinary sensation in the neighbourhood.”

An extract from the Kentish Courier of February 8th, 1820:

On Thursday morning, at 10 o'clock, the irons were knocked off the prisoner in Rochester Gaol. and the Rev. F. Barrow, who had constantly attended him since his condemnation, spent an hour with him in administering the sacrament and the performance of religious duties, with which the culprit appeared to be duly impressed. The conduct of the man from the period of his condemnation had been humble, contrite, and becoming his awful situation; he had repeatedly declared that he had been a great sinner, that he deserved to die, and that he had made his peace with God. He appeared to be greatly sensible of the attention that had been paid to him by the Rev. Barrow. Between eleven and twelve o'clock the preparations for the procession to the place of execution were completed, and the prisoner, accompanied by the gaoler and executioner, as the clock was striking twelve, entered the waggon with a firm step and unaltered countenance. By the permission of the Mayor he was attended by Mr. Drew, a Calvinist Minister; the waggon was followed by an open carriage, in which were the Mayor, S. Nicholson, Esq; the Town Clerk, J Prall, Esq.; and the Rev. F. Barrow, the Officiating Chaplain; a number of Police Officers also accompanied the procession on horseback. On arriving at the place of execution, in the Cattle Market, the prisoner, although heavily ironed, left the waggon without assistance, and almost sprang upon the- platform, where he remained with undaunted firmness whilst the executioner put on the cap and adjusted the rope to his neck. The Rev. Mr. Barrow having left the carriage and joined the prisoner, he requested to be permitted to address the vast multitude of persons who were by that time assembled to witness this execution. Permission for that purpose having been granted by the Mayor, he addressed the multitude by the appellation- “Comrades!" and desiring them to take warning by his fate, particularly cautioned them against the sin of drunkenness, to which he attributed his own untimely end. The cap being pulled over his face, the Rev. Chaplain prayed with him for a few minutes and left him, when he cried with a firm voice, "God bless you all! The Lord receive my spirit and grant that my sufferings may be soon over." The fatal signal being then given the unfortunate malefactor was launched into eternity, and appeared to experience little bodily suffering. After hanging the usual time the body was taken down, put into a coffin, and at night was deposited in the burying-ground of the parish. The proceedings on this melancholy occasion were conducted with the greatest propriety and solemnity, and reflect the highest credit on the Mayor for the attention he has paid in providing every necessary means for the due execution of the law.