Resurrection Man: the Diary of Joseph Naples
- Resurrectionists
- The Diary
- The members of the gang
- The buyers and other characters including a list of bodies they purchased
- Resurrectionists on trial
The Buyers
Henry Cline
Henry Cline (1750-1827) was the principal surgeon at St Thomas' Hospital from 1784 until 1811 when resigned the position due to his being at this stage an examiner at the College of Surgeons. Although he was no longer St Thomas' surgeon he clearly still needed a ready supply of corpses - presumably he was still teaching anatomy at the Hospital.
| Date | Bodies | Money |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 30th November 1811 | 3 adults | |
| Monday 13th January 1812 | 1 large child | |
| Monday 27th January 1812 | 1 adult | |
| Saturday 28th March 1812 | 1 large child | £4 4 0 |
| Monday 5th October 1812 | 2 adults and 1 child | £12 1 6 |
| Wednesday 25th November 1812 | 3 adults |
John Taunton
John Taunton (1769-1821) was an anatomist and surgeon of Hatton Garden. He was founder and first Surgeon of the City of London Truss Society, which treated hernia patients by the use of trusses.
At the time of this diary he was a demonstrator at St Thomas' Hospital and was principal leturer to the London Anatomical Society, which explains his ongoing need for bodies to dissect.
| Date | Bodies | Money | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 28th November 1811 | 1 adult | ||
| Saturday 21st December 1811 | 1 adult | ||
| Monday 16th March 1812 | 1 child | ||
| Saturday 21st March 1812 | 1 large child | £4 4 0 | |
| Thursday 26th March 1812 | 1 large child | £4 4 0 |
Algernon Frampton
Algernon Frampton (1766-1842) was a physician at the London Hospital from 1800 until 1841.
In the entry for 16th March 1812 there is a note that “Mr. Frampton called at 7 in the evening” - presumably to discuss his future requirements.
| Date | Bodies | Money |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 6th December 1811 | 1 adult | |
| Monday 16th March 1812 | 1 large child | |
| Saturday 21st March 1812 | 1 large child | £3 13 6 |
| Thursday 26th March 1812 | 1 large child | £3 13 6 |
| Tuesday 25th August 1812 | 2 adults (1 male, 1 female) | |
| Thursday 27th August 1812 | [Paid a ‘remainder’ of] | £2 8 0 |
| Tuesday 1st September 1812 | 2 adults (1 male, 1 female). | |
| Monday 23rd November 1812 | 1 adult |
James Wilson
James Wilson (1765-1821) was a teacher of anatomy at the Great Windmill Street School (originally the house of physician William Hunter (1718-1783) where Hunter gave anatomy lessons). Wilson took over from Hunter on his death.
| Date | Bodies | Money |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 6th December 1811 | 3 adults | |
| Wednesday 11th December 1811 | 2 adults | |
| Saturday 4th January 1812 | 1 adult | |
| Sunday 5th January 1812 | 3 adults | |
| Tuesday 7th January 1812 | 2 adults | |
| Wednesday 8th January 1812 | [Payment for the above] | £ 8 8 0 |
| Monday 27th January 1812 | 2 adults | |
| Saturday 14th March 1812 | 3 adults | |
| Sunday 15th March 1812 | 1 adult | |
| Sunday 16th August 1812 | 1 adult male | |
| Sunday 30th August 1812 | 1 adult | |
| Monday 31st August 1812 | 1 child | £ 1 10 0 |
| Tuesday 1st September 1812 | 1 child | |
| Wednesday 2nd September 1812 | 1 child | £ 2 0 0 |
| Monday 12th October 1812 | 2 adult; 1 child | |
| Monday 16th November 1812 | 2 adults | |
| Monday 23rd November 1812 | 3 adults | |
| Wednesday 2nd December 1812 | 4 adults | |
| Thursday 3rd December 1812 | 2 adults |
Joseph Constantine Carpue
Joseph Carpue (1764-1846) was a popular lecturer in anatomy working first at the Duke of York's Hospital and later privately at his Anatomical School in Dean Street.
| Date | Bodies | Money |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 6th December 1811 | 1 adult | |
| Monday 23rd December 1811 | 1 adult | |
| Saturday 4th January 1812 | 1 adult | |
| Monday 13th January 1812 | 1 fœtus | |
| Saturday 25th January 1812 | 1 adult | |
| Monday 12th October 1812 | 1 adult | |
| Tuesday 24th November 1812 | 1 adult |
Joshua Brookes
Joshua Brookes (1761-1833)
Joshua Brookes, who studied medicine under John Hunter, taught anatomy privately from his home in Great Marlborough Street. He was also an ardent naturalist and the top two floors of his home were filled with anatomical and zoological specimens.
The three entries in August/September 1812 use the spelling ‘Brooks’ but it is most probably the same man.
| Date | Bodies | Money |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 7th December 1811 | 2 adults | |
| Wednesday 11th December 1811 | 2 adults | |
| Saturday 14th December 1811 | 2 adults | |
| Monday 23rd December 1811 | 1 adult | |
| Saturday 4th January 1812 | 1 adult | |
| Tuesday 7th January 1812 | 2 adults | |
| Wednesday 8th January 1812 | 2 adults; 1 child | £ 9 9 0 |
| Monday 13th January 1812 | 2 adults | |
| Saturday 14th March 1812 | 2 adults | |
| Tuesday 11th August 1812 | 1 adult (with Yellow Jaundice) | |
| Friday 14th August 1812 | 1 adult | |
| Monday 12th September 1812 | 2 adults; 1 child |
Sir Charles Bell
Charles Bell (1774-1842) was a Scottish surgeon who trained at Edinburgh University. In 1804 he moved to London and set up a private anatomy. In 1812 he took over the School of Anatomy in Great Windmill Street.
| Date | Bodies | Money |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 11th December 1811 | 1 adult | |
| Monday 23rd December 1811 | 1 adult | |
| Monday 13th January 1812 | 1 adult; 1 child |
Edinburgh
Edinburgh medical school...
| Date | Bodies | Money |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 14th December 1811 | 4 adults | |
| Saturday 21st December 1811 | 2 adults | |
| Saturday 28th December 1811 | 3 adults | |
| Saturday 4th January 1812 | 1 adult | |
| Wednesday 15th January 1812 | 2 adults; 1 child | |
| Saturday 14th March 1812 | 5 adults | |
| Friday 20th November 1812 | 4 adults | |
| Saturday 28th November 1812 | 3 children | |
| Saturday 5th December 1812 | 12 adults |
The Country
| Date | Bodies | Money |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 11th January 1812 | 2 adults | |
| Friday 24th January 1812 | 3 adults | |
| Saturday 22nd February 1812 | 7 adults |
Other Players
William Millard
Millard was superintendent of the dissecting-room at St. Thomas’; he was an avaricious man, and lost this situation through dealing in bodies. His plan was to take them in at the hospital from the resurrection-men, and then to sell them at an advanced price in Edinburgh unknown to the men who supplied him, and to the teachers at the hospital.
Millard was popular with the pupils, and, after his dismissal, they persuaded him to take an eating-house in the neighbourhood of St. Thomas’. As there was money to be made in the “resurrection” traffic, he did not abandon his connection with the body-snatchers.
This came to be known, and created a strong prejudice against him; so much so that his legitimate business fell off to such an extent as to make it necessary for him to relinquish it altogether. Then he took entirely to the resurrection business, and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for taking a body from the burial-ground attached to the London Hospital.
He appealed against the sentence, and found bail. Then he brought an action against the magistrate at Lambeth for false imprisonment; this was set aside, and Millard was sent back to Cold Bath Fields to complete his sentence
He tried hard to get Sir Astley Cooper to solicit a pardon for him, but without avail. This so preyed on his mind that he threatened Sir Astley with bodily injury. Ultimately Millard quite lost his reason, and died in gaol.
In 1825 his widow published a pamphlet entitled, “An Account of the circumstances attending the imprisonment and death of the late William Millard, formerly superintendent of the Theatre of Anatomy of St. Thomas’ Hospital, Southwark.” The pamphlet states that Millard had notice to leave St. Thomas’ because it was found that he was supplying Mr. Grainger with bodies, and that Sir Astley Cooper was determined to put an end to the school which Grainger had established. The publication is of a very abusive character; the surgeon of the gaol, Mr. Wakley, of the Lancet, and the authorities at the hospital, all come in for severe censure. The whole tone of the pamphlet is so exaggerated that it is impossible to tell whether there is any truth in Mrs. Millard’s grievances.
Dishonourable Mentions
Israel Chapman, a Jew, who was a rival in the resurrection trade
Michael Mordecai, who kept an old curiosity-shop in New Alley, and was a noted receiver
The name Harper appears three times in the diary. He seems to be the keeper of a burial ground but we don't know which one.
(Mr) Vickers appears four times as a place where they meet so he was probably the landlord of a public house.