Price was born in St Martin’s in the Fields, London. His father died while he was still a child and the family was reduced to poverty. When he was old enough Price was apprenticed to a rag dealer. After a couple of years of his apprenticeship he ran away and eventually went to sea. Following his discharge his next employment was that of public executioner.

At about 10pm on the evening of 13th March 1718, Price attacked Elizabeth White, an elderly gingerbread seller, and attempted to rape her near to Moorfields. When she resisted him he beat her, breaking one of her legs and knocking out one of her eyes. Her screams attracted passers-by and Price was captured and locked up in the watchtower. Mrs White succumbed to her injuries four days later but not before she had managed to describe what had happened to her and who was responsible.

Price appeared at the Old Bailey on 24th April 1718 where his defence was to deny everything. He told the court that he had happened to be crossing Moorfields when he came across a bundle lying in his path. He had kicked it only to find it was the injured woman. Price said that he had been taken as he had tried to lift her to her feet. The jury were unimpressed with this tale and found him guilty of murder. He was sentenced to death and, on 31st May 1718, the ex-hangman was carried to Bunhill Fields and hanged. Price’s body was later hung in chains near Holloway.