The Indictment of John and Mary Ryan for stealing, 1765

On 27 February 1765, John Ryan, Mary his wife, and Jeremiah Ryan, his son, were indicted at the Old Bailey for stealing property belonging to John Morgan while he resided at their house on 30 October 1764. This property included a pair of silver shoe-buckles, a pair of cotton stockings, one silk purse, one linen purse, one piece of silver coin, called a rupee and two pieces of coin called Fernams.

This case was unusual. The case had been adjourned from the previous December. John Morgan was a muslim and the judges agreed that he should swear upon the Qur’an. The trial was postponed for two months so that the court officials could find a Qur’an for John to swear on before giving testimony.

Listen to the Indictment of John and Mary Ryan for stealing, 1765