URSER'S CROSS,
7TH AUGUST,
1738.

This date has reference to an occurrence which the monthly chronologer in
the 'London Magazine' thus relates:--

"An highwayman having committed several robberies on Finchley Common,
was pursued to London, when he thought himself safe, but was, in a
little time, discovered at a public-house in Burlington Gardens,
refreshing himself and his horse; however, he had time to remount,
and rode through Hyde Park, in which there were several gentlemen's
servants airing their horses, who, taking the alarm, pursued him
closely as far as Fulham Fields, where, finding no probability of
escaping, he threw money among some country people who were at work
in the field, and told them they would soon see the end of an
unfortunate man. He had no sooner spoke these words but he pulled
out a pistol, clapped it to his ear, and shot himself directly,
before his pursuers could prevent him. The coroner's inquest brought
in their verdict, and he was buried in a cross road, with a stake
drove through him; but 'twas not known who he was." {155a}

In the 'Beauties of England and Wales,' "Purser's Cross" is said to have
been corrupted from "Parson's Cross," and the vicinity of Parson's Green
is mentioned in support of the conjecture. However, that Purser, and not
Percy Cross, has been for many years the usual mode of writing the name
of this locality is established by the 'Annual Register' for 1781, where
the following remarkable coincidence is mentioned:--

"Died, 30th December, 1780, at Purser's Cross, Fulham, Mrs. Elizabeth
and Mrs. Frances Turberville, in the seventy-seventh year of their
ages, of ancient and respectable west country family; they were twin
sisters, and both died unmarried. What adds to the singularity of
this circumstance, they were both born the same day, never were known
to live separate, died within a few days of each other, and were
interred on the same day."

Park House presents a fac-simile of an old mansion which stood precisely
on the same site, and was known as Quibus Hall, a name, as is
conjectured, bestowed upon it in consequence of some dispute respecting
possession between the coheirs of Sir Michael Wharton, who died about
1725. {155b} When rebuilt by Mr. Holland for the late Mr. Powell, it was
called High Elms House, and