Notorious Blasted Rascal: Colonel Charteris and the Servant Girl’s Revenge

The venal and depraved reputation of Colonel Francis Charteris (1672-1732), and the story of his celebrated trial for the rape of his servant girl, one of the most infamous cases of the eighteenth century, became legendary and long survived his death. In Notorious Blasted Rascal, Linda Stratmann tells the remarkable story of Charteris, and how his servant girl successfully prosecuted the notorious aristocratic rake for rape. His reputation was such that he was obliged to use a false name in order to get female servants to agree to work for him. Ann Bond was engaged through an intermediary, but when her employer began to make regular advances towards her she realised his true identity. She demanded to be allowed to leave, but Charteris raped her and she was whipped and thrown out without her belongings. Most victims would have considered Charteris too powerful to bring to justice, but Ann filed a complaint, and he found himself facing a charge of rape, then a capital crime.