George Strangwidge

A young man favoured by Eulalia’s father to such a degree that he was given “his wares, shop and dealings” to manage. He learned his trade from a Master Powell of Bread Street, London. At some point he fell out of favour with Eulalia’s parents, who decided to marry her to Master Page instead. George stayed in touch with Eulalia, and together they plotted to have her husband murdered — George hired Thomas Stone, promising him a large sum of money to carry it out. George was apprehended in Plymouth, in the company of people from London. He confessed, but offered to prove he had sent a letter to Plymouth saying the murder should not go ahead — it arrived too late. He was executed at Barnstaple. In the ballads, George confesses his guilt and asks for God’s mercy. He wishes Master Glanville had been a kinder father to his daughter.