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Jack Hall (thief)

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"Jack Hall" is a traditional British folksong dating from 1707.

Story

John or Jack Hall (d. 1707) was a criminal who, as a young boy, was sold to a chimney sweep for a guinea. In later life he became a notorious highwayman. In 1707 he was arrested along with Stephen Bunce and Dick Low for a burglary committed at the house of Captain Guyon, near Stepney.[1] All three were convicted and hanged at Tyburn on December 7, 1707.[2] A broadsheet of his Gallows Confessional was put to the melody of Captain Kidd, previously executed for piracy in 1701.[3] Jack Hall's song was made popular in the 1850s with the adaptation Sam Hall by English comic minstrel, C.W. Ross.[4]

Recordings

Steeleye Span recorded Jack Hall on their album Tempted and Tried (1989). It was also released as B-side of the single The Fox (1990).[5]

The Group Sex Poets also recorded a slightly modified version of the song, which was re-interpreted by front man Sean Patrick McDonald in 2010 and released on their debut EP The Jack Hall EP (2011).

Sam Carter recorded Jack Hall on his 2012 album No Testament, with Sam Sweeney of the British folk group Bellowhead on violin. The duo also performed the song live on Jools Holland's Later program on 17 October 2012.

References

  1. ^ Half-Hours with the Highwaymen By Paul Hardy, Charles George Harper (page 116) ISBN 1-115-19985-4
  2. ^ "Jack Hall's entry from The Newgate Calendar 1700-1800". Pascal Bonenfant website. Retrieved 7 March 2011. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ David Kidd. "To the Tune of Captain Kidd". Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  4. ^ Lesley Nelson-Burns. "Jack Hall". Retrieved 6 March 2011. sources: Cecil J. Sharp, ed. (1916). One Hundred English Folksongs. Boston: Oliver Ditson Company.
  5. ^ Reinhard Zierke (23 January 2011). Jon Boden (ed.). "Jack Hall / Sam Hall". Mainly Norfolk: English Folk and Other Good Music. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
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