John Nevison

A Civil, Obliging Robber

Highwayman John Nevison (1639–94) allegedly earned the moniker "Swift Nick" from King Charles II after the truth about his most illustrious deed came to light. * Nevison, who had robbed a traveler close to Rochester, Kent, needed an alibi badly, so he came up with a cunning plan. He went 320 kilometers (200 miles) across the River Thames to York in a single day, where he spoke with the Lord Mayor and placed a bet on a bowling match. * Nevison made sure the Lord Mayor was aware of the time (8 o'clock). The ruse worked, and the Lord Mayor later provided Nevison with an alibi during his trial. * Nevison was found not guilty because the jury was unable to imagine a man being physically capable of riding the distance he did in a single day.
Nevison was a skilled horseman and soldier who had participated in the Battle of Dunkirk in 1658. * He felt that his manners and elegance elevated him beyond the status of a regular criminal. * He was described as "extremely beneficial to the female sex" by The Newgate Calendar, a book that chronicles the exploits of legendary criminals, because of his demeanor and manner. * It had the strange effect of making it somewhat of an honor to have been robbed by him as a result of elevating his status.

Deported to Tangiers

It is known that Nevison and his gang of six routinely gathered at the Talbot Inn in Newark to plot their upcoming burglaries. * Travelers on the Great North Road between York and Huntingdon were their major target. * He was imprisoned at Wakefield Goal after his capture in 1674, but he was able to escape before any charges could be filed. * Nevison was detained once more in 1676 on suspicion of highway robbery and horse theft. * After allegedly turning informer, he was tried at York Assizes and given a transportation sentence to Tangiers.
Nevison reportedly made a hasty return to England, although it's possible that he managed to escape at Tilbury before the ship had left port. * He carried on with his illegal activities but was apprehended once more in 1681. * However, he was able to escape prosecution once more, this time by having a companion pretend to be a doctor and declare him dead from the plague. * Nevison pretended to be dead and was taken out of jail in a coffin thanks to the help of another friend who is also an artist.
Then, Nevison committed a grave error when he killed Constable Darcy Fletcher, who had attempted to apprehend him at Howley Hall, close to Batley. £20 was given as a reward for his capture. * The landlady of a bar in Sandal, close to Wakefield, gave the police a tip concerning his whereabouts. * He was once more convicted at York Assizes, found guilty, and executed by hanging on May 4, 1684, at Knavesmire. * At St. Mary Church in Castlegate, York, he was laid to rest in an unmarked grave.

The Legend of John Nevison

Although fellow highwayman Dick Turpin has continued to receive more attention than John Nevison, his legacy is still very much present. * The ballad "Bold Nevison" was written in the 17th century, a time when he gained national recognition for his outrageous exploits, including his 230-mile horseback run and prison break by pretending to be dead. * A cylinder recording of the ballad, performed by Joseph Taylor, was made in 1908 for a collection of folk songs compiled by Percy Grainger.
The "magic well" near Giggleswick is one of the legends connected to the colorful highwayman. * According to legend, Nevison received a magical bridle from a female well spirit, which allowed his horse to perform extraordinary feats of agility and speed including the enormous leap at Nevison's Leap. * Also, there are still a lot of accounts of the spectral Swift Nick, particularly in and around Yorkshire, where he is rumored to frequently manifest as a phantom hitchhiker. * The country's pubs and structures that have ties to the infamous highwayman might still profit greatly from using the Nevison brand.

Related Crime

In 1491–1518, Humphrey Kynaston, an English highwayman of noble birth, is said to have robbed travelers in Shropshire and donated the proceeds to the poor.
In 1710s, Louis-Dominique Garthausen, known as "Cartouche", conducts highway robberies in and all over Paris.
In 1735–37, Highwayman Dick Turpin pulls off a series of robberies in Greater London. He was captured at York in 1739 and executed for stealing a horse.