Edward Lambert Hepenstall

Edward Lambert Hepenstall
Edward Lambert Hepenstall
Nickname(s)	The Walking Gallows
Born	c. 1766; Newcastle, County Wicklow, Ireland
Died	18 September 1800; Dublin, Ireland
Allegiance	Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch	Wicklow Militia
Rank	Lieutenant
Battles/wars	Irish Rebellion of 1798

Edward Lambert Hepenstall (also spelled Hempenstall; c. 1766 – 18 September 1800) was a lieutenant in the Wicklow Militia during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. He gained infamy for his immense physical size and his brutal method of executing suspected rebels by "half-hanging" them over his shoulders, which earned him the grim sobriquet "The Walking Gallows".McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026.Ní Fhotharta, Máire. "The Walking Gallows". Bailiúchán na Scol (The Schools' Collection). dúchas.ie. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

Early life

Edward Lambert Hepenstall was born in Newcastle, County Wicklow, around 1766. He was the third son of Edward Hepenstall and Jane Lambert, the daughter of John Lambert of Kilcroney, County Wicklow.McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026. He grew up amidst the Wicklow Hills, an area often referred to as "the Garden of Ireland".Ní Fhotharta, Máire. "The Walking Gallows". Bailiúchán na Scol (The Schools' Collection). dúchas.ie. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

His mother, who was Catholic, arranged for him to receive his education at the Carmelite house in Clarendon Street, Dublin, during the 1770s. Following his education, he became apprenticed to an apothecary in the city.McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

Military career

Hepenstall was commissioned as an ensign in the 37th Wicklow Militia upon its embodiment in June 1793. His early postings included Strabane, County Tyrone, from April 1794 to July 1795, followed by a brief period in Sligo. In early 1796, he took up duty in Portarlington, Queen's County (now County Laois).McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

Carbury incident and early atrocities

During 1797, the militia was dispersed in units of varying sizes, engaged in roving counter-terror activities across south Westmeath and north Queen's County in response to growing unrest. By May of that year, Hepenstall had been promoted to lieutenant and commanded a company of seventy men stationed at Edenderry.McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

On 5 May 1797, Hepenstall efficiently broke up an assault by the Defenders on the Carbury charter school in County Kildare. During this action, he was credited with killing two attackers with his own hands before personally capturing a man for interrogation. This incident marked the first recorded occasion where Hepenstall utilized his exceptional height and strength to throttle captives using a cord slung over his shoulders to extract information. At the subsequent assizes later that year, he admitted to having "play-acted the executioner and the gallows." However, rather than facing reprimand, he was effectively commended by John Toler, the solicitor general, who described his actions as "an error such as a young and gallant officer might fall into."McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

On 19 June 1797, following the torching of the village of Multyfarnham in a militia reprisal, Hepenstall led a search for concealed weapons at a farm near Moyvore, County Westmeath. He reportedly killed a suspected United Irishman and ordered the execution of the man's two sons and the burning of their farm. The corpses were dragged to the Ballymore fair green, where three other suspects were "half-hung" and summarily executed. In a state of near-frenzy, Hepenstall oversaw a brutal militia attack on the panicking crowd, maiming at least sixteen men. These atrocities were ignored by the Westmeath grand jury, which instead voted to award silver plate and medals to the militia for "restoring the county's peace."McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

The 1798 Rebellion

While the regiment transferred to Kilkenny in late 1797, Hepenstall served with a detached company under Captain William Richardson in Kildare and west Wicklow during the tumultuous year of 1798. On 22 April 1798, he assisted the 9th Dragoons in ransacking Kilkea Castle on the estate of Thomas Reynolds, where he choked the estate steward with a silk sash thrown over his back.McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

A week later, he encountered the English Whig Lord Wycombe at Monasterevin. Hepenstall explained his brutal methods by stating he had been advised "to treat the country as an enemy's country . . . till all arms are produced." Wycombe described him as "a very plausible young gentleman."McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

Hepenstall may have been present at the Dunlavin Green executions on 24 May 1798, where the Wicklow militia and yeomanry summarily executed between 28 and 36 suspected United Irishmen prisoners.McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026."Dunlavin Green executions". Wikipedia. Retrieved 22 June 2026. The last recorded instance of his cruelty occurred in late May after the defeat of rebels at Naas. A witness reported seeing an exhausted prisoner hoisted over Hepenstall's shoulders, "choking and gulping," until Hepenstall gave him "a parting chuck; just to make sure his neck was broken."McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

Methods and reputation

Hepenstall was a man of enormous physical stature, which he utilized to inflict his signature form of torture and execution. His method involved meeting a peasant, questioning them, and if unsatisfied with the answers, striking them unconscious before hanging them over his back until dead. This practice earned him the fearsome title of "The Walking Gallows."Ní Fhotharta, Máire. "The Walking Gallows". Bailiúchán na Scol (The Schools' Collection). dúchas.ie. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

Despite his violent actions, some contemporaries found him phlegmatic and dull in appearance. However, he was easily spurred into insensate rage during military actions against the rural peasantry. He claimed he could distinguish the "loyal" from the "disloyal" merely by looking at a man's face. In local folklore, it was believed he was escorted at all times by a devilish assistant in the form of a black cow.McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

As noted by contemporary observer Jonah Barrington, the brutal social atmosphere of the time meant that Hepenstall's exploits were often "the subject of jocularity instead of punishment" among the loyalist establishment.McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

Later life and death

Hepenstall likely enlisted with the 68th Regiment in February 1800 but failed to take up duty due to a protracted illness. He is said to have married an Englishwoman.McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

The most reliable reports indicate that he died in his brother's house in Andrew Street, Dublin, on 18 September 1800 from infection and oedema. He was probably buried in a family plot in Rathfarnham cemetery.McCabe, Desmond (October 2009). "Hepenstall (Hempenstall), Edward Lambert". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 22 June 2026.

References

External links

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