John Ury facts for kids
John Ury was a teacher and a priest from the Church of England in the 1700s. He was wrongly accused of being a Catholic priest and a spy for Spain. He was also falsely blamed for being the leader of a big plot in New York City in 1741. At that time, in the Colony of New York, just being a Catholic priest was a very serious crime.
John Ury's Life and Work
John Ury was the son of a former secretary for a company called the South Sea Company. Some people thought he was a Catholic priest who taught in New Jersey. Others said he was a Church of England priest who supported the old royal family, the House of Stuart. He was also believed to be a teacher of old languages.
In 1740, some Spanish sailors arrived in New York. They were captured by British ships during a war between Britain and Spain. If they had dark skin, they were often sold as slaves. In June 1741, five of these sailors were accused of being part of a plot. Because Britain was at war with Spain, this made them look even more guilty. People then started looking for anyone who might support Catholics in the city.
False Accusations and Trial
John Ury was suspected of being a Catholic priest for at least ten days before he was arrested. The main witness, Mary Burton, first said that only a few white people were involved. But after they were punished, she changed her story. She then said John Ury was the real leader behind the plot.
Ury was arrested on June 24, 1741. He faced charges in July. No lawyer wanted to help him, so he had to defend himself. He kept saying he was innocent. He brought people to court who said he was just a teacher of old languages. He tried to prove he was a Church of England priest, not a Catholic.
A Secret Plot?
Around this time, James Oglethorpe, who founded the colony of Georgia, sent a message to the prosecutor. He said he had heard about a secret plan by the Spanish. This plan was to burn down important towns in British North America. The goal was to stop British ships and soldiers in the Caribbean. Oglethorpe said many priests were pretending to be doctors or dancing teachers to get into families.
Oglethorpe's letter made it seem like the colony was part of a big international plot. It suggested a plan to harm New York City and cause religious conflict.
John Ury was found guilty of being part of a conspiracy on July 29, 1741. He was hanged in New York City on August 29, 1741.
