Joseph Blake (criminal)
| Joseph "Blueskin" Blake | |
|---|---|
| Born | baptised, 31 October 1700 Upper Thames Street, London, England |
| Died | 11 November 1724 Tyburn Tree Gallows, Middlesex, London, England |
| Resting place | St Andrew, Holborn, Middlesex, London, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | highwayman, murderer |
| Known for | He was best remembered for his vicious attack on London thief and "Thief-Taker General", Jonathan Wild |
Joseph "Blueskin" Blake (baptised 31 October 1700 – 11 November 1724) was an 18th-century English highwayman and felon.
Blake was the son of Nathaniel and Jane Blake. He was baptised at All-Hallows-the-Great in London. His parents had the means to send him to the parish school of St Giles-without-Cripplegate for about six years.
A school friend, William Blewitt, introduced him to the self-styled "Thief-Taker General" (and thief) Jonathan Wild around 1714. He left school and became a professional thief.
By the age of 17, he was earning his living as a pickpocket, working with Edward Pollitt (or Pawlett or Pollard), and had been nicknamed "Blueskin". The origin of his sobriquet is uncertain: it could be due to his swarthy complexion, but possibly also to excessive facial hair, a port-wine birthmark, or perhaps a punning reference to his friend Blewitt.
By 1719, Blake was working with Irish highwayman James Carrick, and, by 1722, he was a member of a gang of street robbers led by Robert Wilkinson. Several of his colleagues were arrested that summer, and three were hanged in September. Blake escaped this time, perhaps due to influence deployed on his behalf by Wild, but he received a sabre cut to the head as he resisted his arrest by Wild in December 1722. He turned King's evidence against several former associates, including Blewitt. Three accomplices (John Levee, Richard Oakey and Matthew Flood) were hanged on the strength of Blake's testimony in February 1723. Blueskin expected to be released and to receive some of the reward money for securing the convictions, but he was confined in Wood Street Compter instead, under threat of deportation.
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