ADY, JOSEPH (_son of John Ady of London, recording clerk of the Society of Friends, who d. 17 Nov. 1812 aged 68_). _b._ London 1775 or 1776; a hatter and hosier at 6 Charlotte st. Wapping; hatter at 11 Circus, Minories 1831–33; accountant at same address 1833; was accustomed to examine lists of unclaimed dividends, estates and bequests, and to send letters always unstamped to all persons he could find who were called by any of the names mentioned in the lists, stating to each person that on his remitting a fee of 20/- he would be informed of something to his advantage. The Lord Mayor, Sir Peter Laurie, in 1833, publicly advertised people to be cautious of him, and the Court of Aldermen the same year directed measures to be taken against him. His lucrative trade was at last stifled by a new section in the Post Office Act, which made the writers of letters that were refused, liable for the postage; he then resorted to a new device, this was to post his letters really unstamped, but bearing marks on them as of stamps removed, so as to furnish ground for his asseveration that stamps had really been put on them. In the year 1835 he was indicted by the Rev. Francis Tebbutt for a misdemeanour, under statute 7 & 8, George iv, cap. 29 sec. 53, for obtaining a sovereign by various false pretences, he was tried at the Central criminal court 7 Feb. 1835, found guilty and sentenced to 7 years transportation, which was commuted to 1 year’s imprisonment in the House of Correction. He was sent to prison again in the year 1851 for a similar offence, but was released early in 1852 by order of the Home Secretary in consequence of his declining health. _d._ 89 Fenchurch st. London 17 July 1852 aged 77. _bur._ Friend’s burial ground, Whitechapel 22 July. _Central criminal court minutes of evidence, by Henry Buckler, i_, 646–52 (1835); _De Quincey’s Works, vi_, 258, 327 (1862). The epistle of which the following is an exact copy, was received by the Duke of Wellington 5 Dec. 1833, and sent by him to the Lord Mayor the next day: MY LORD, The undersigned is able to inform you of something considerably to your advantage on receipt of 20 shillings, by post office order or otherwise for his trouble. Yours respectfully, JOSEPH ADY, Accountant, 11 Circus, Minories, London. Nov. 29th, 1833. No letters received unless postpaid. To His Grace The Duke of Wellington, Strathfieldsaye, Hants. The annexed is copied from a letter of his, which was received by a gentleman in the country.