Bill's o' Jack's Murders

Came across this tale and wondered whether you had seen it. It is a gruesome but true story of something that happened on Saddleworth Moor, a bleak spot in Yorkshire, England.

The Bill's o' Jack's murders took place on the night of April 2nd 1832 at the Moorcock Inn on the Holmirth road out of Greenfield Saddleworth. 84 years old William Bradbury and 46 years old Thomas Bradbury, his son were savagely beaten to death.

Thomas a 6 foot muscular chap was found downstairs and died later without coming round. His father was found upstairs and before he died muttered a something that sounded like pats, this could have been a reference to Irish gypsies.

Nobody was ever convicted of the murders. They are buried at St Chads in Saddleworth. Tom's good friend (who later became a Member of Parliament) James Platt was at the burial.

The long inscription on the flat tombstone reads as follows.

Here lie the dreadfully bruised and lacerated bodies
of William Bradbury and Thomas, his son, both of
Greenfield, who were together savagely murdered in an
unusually horrid manner, on Monday night, April 2nd.
1832, William being 84 and Thomas 46 years old.

Throughout the land wherever news is read.
Intelligence of their sad end has spread.
Those now who talk of far-famed Greenfield hills.
Will think of Bill o' Jack's and Tom o' Bill's.

Such interest did their tragic end excite.
That, ere they were removed from human sight.
Thousands on thousands came to see.
The bloody scene of the catastrophe.

One house, one business, and one bed.
And one most shocking death they had.
One funeral came, one inquest past.
And now one grave they have at last.

Provided by John Bradbury, Kingswinford, Nr. Stourbridge, England