person page - 3263

A John Gatward (Merchant, Bachelor) was issued a marriage license to Elizabeth Hurrell on 2 Apr 1750 in the Ely Diocese, Cambridgeshire.
Bondsman was Joseph Crabb of St. Marys the Less, Cambridge, miller.

Said, in some online trees, to be the John Gatward highwayman (alias John Gard Green / Gardgreen) who was executed 27 April 1757 at Collier's Green near Puckeridge Hertfordshire, having been found guilty of highway robbery (reported in the London Chronicle and the Kentish Post).
However. there were a number of John Gatward's in the area at this time & I don't believe that the connection to this J.G. is yet proven.

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"Saturday 6.
John Gatward was apprehended for robbing the north mail. This man formerly a corn-dealer in Cambridge where he failed; since which he had assumed a new character and a new name. He had passed for a gentleman in the west of England, and had kept servants in livery; but the money of which he had defrauded his creditors being exhausted, he had recourse to this desperate method by way of recruit. There were found in his possession bills and draughts to the amount of 4000 /. but hardly one bill or draught that was negotiable by one in his circumstances without detection."
Historical Chronical - February 1757 - The Gentleman's Magazine Vol. XXVII. Page 89.

There are some online references to various contemporary accounts of the life of John Gatward (originals not yet found)
e.g. "62. An account of the life of John Gatward executed the 27th of April for robbing the north mail. 4d. Towers.' - Register of Books p.243
The Gentleman's Magazine Vol. XXVII.

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Last Saturday Night one John Gardgreen was committed to Newgate for robbing the North Mail on Friday Morning last, which he has Confess'd. He came into the Half Moon Tavern, Cheapside, and called for Half a Pint of Wine, and order'd a Pork Griskin, and whilst it was dressing he sent a Boy, belonging to Mr. Martindale, with a Bill drawn upon Mr. Bland, Banker, in Lombard-Street, for Acceptance; and to receive the Money for another Bill, which was due, drawn upon Mr. Royds in Buckersbury. The same Bill had been brought to Mr. Royds about two Hours before, by a Porter belonging to Mr. Fletcher, at the Devil Tavern, Temple-Bar; and Mr. Royds's Clerk would have paid the Money for the Bill, but as the Porter could not write, he could not witness it, which was the Reason of its being sent back : Soon after Mr. Royds came in, and his Clerk told him that such a Bill had been brought for Payment, whereupon he desired that the Bill might not be paid without his Knowledge ; and when Mr. Martindale's Boy brought it, he was stopt, and Mr. Royds took a Constable, and went with the Boy to the Half Moon Tavern and secured the Man, and took him before Justice Fielding, who committed him. On searching his Lodgings, at the White Bear, in Piccadilly, the Officer found in his Bed, Bills and Draughts, supposed to be taken out of the Mail, to the Amount of upwards of 4000 1 He denied the Fact for several Hours, but the Moment his Pistols, his Coat, and the Draughts were produced by the Constable, he melted into Tears. It appears that he keeps three Horses and two Servants in Livery, and that he was bred at Cambridge, but is of Honiton, in Devonshire.

Berrow's Worcester Journal 10 Feb 1757
see Berrow's Worcester Journal

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