Jemmy Dawson

was one of the Manchester rebels, who was hanged, drawn, and quartered on Kennington Common, Surrey, July 30th, 1746. A lady of gentle blood was in love with the gallant young rebel, and died of a broken heart on the day of his execution. (Percy’s Reliques, series 2, book iii. 26.)

Shenstone has a ballad on it, beginning, “Come, listen to my mournful tale.”

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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