NORFOLK-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: Swing Riots, Part 2
Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 02:59:10 EST

Yesterday I went back to the newspaper archives to consult the East Anglian
for more details on those arrested in connection with the Swing Riots in
November 1830. The cases came to trial in January 1831, mostly at the
Quarter Sessions, where the judges were much harsher than the magistrates
and local attitudes. But then, when you compare their sentences to those of
petty thieves, they were treated relatively lightly.

Most were up on charges of destroying threshing machines, which cost £90 -
100, while others were charges with threatening the clergy and demanding
they reduce their tithes to allow the farmers more money to pay in wages.
One of the complainants was a minister who stated that his income from
tithes was £700 per year. Yet the average wage for an agricultural labourer
was 11 shillings per week (20 shillings to the pound).

Robert SMITH, 24 and James STACEY, 20, of Attleborough were found guilty
(of riotous behaviour, I think). Robert SMITH, Samuel SMITH, James ROSE,
William ROSE, Matthew STUBBS and George LING were found guilty of
assautling the Rev. Fairfax FRANKLIN, witnesses Thomas SALTER, Robert
DOVER, the Rev. Thomas SLAPP and Ellis PALMER.

Joseph GORBOULD and George TURNER were acquitted of extortion from
the Rev. William BOYCATT of Burgh. Robert YALLOP was his bailiff.

John KING and Edward HOWES were charged with destroying the threshing
machine of John EGLINGTON. The Rev. Benjamin FINCHAM, Thomas
LEEDS and F.T. QUARLES supplying references and testimony. King was
guilty, Howes not guilty.

James GUNTON, Thomas ANDERSON, John GILBERT, Francis SPRAGGS,
Samuel GUNTON, George BOWLES, John BUGG and Jane TAYLOR, two
threshing machines belonging to Thomas WRIGHT. All guilty except Samuel
Gunton and Bowles.

Owen HARDINGHAM, Francis BARNES, James CHAPMAN guilty of destroy-
ing two threshing machines belonging to James HENDRY of Foulsham.

Simon JORDAN, Robert DIX, John BARKER, threshing machine of Ephraim
CARR of Thurgarton, not guilty.

Samuel BARTAM pleaded guilty to three charges of riotously and tumultously
assembling.

James EDWARDS, Charles BEALES, John Hamilton MONEY guilty of
riotously assembling in Coltishall, discharged on their own recognisance.

James ELLSGOOD, Edward GIBBS and John PEACHMAN were found guilty
of riot and assault at Thorpe next Norwich. Ellsgood was sentenced to 1one
month in prison; Gibbs, three weeks, the last in solitary confinement and John
Peachman, 7 days, the last two in solitary.

William LOVETT, Henry DAINES, George ABEL, John TIMBERS, William
NORMAN and William MORTIMER, threshing machine of John KEY of
COULTON. All guilty, except Norman.

Robert COCKRILL and Martin BROOKS, threshing machine of William
GEARY. Cockrill guilty, Brooks acquitted.

Martin BROOKS, William AGGERS, David HOLMES guilty of rioting in
Lingwood and destroying the threshing machine of Mr. Thomas Gilbert TUCK
and Mr GILBERT.

Robert LINCOLN of Sparham acquitted of destroying the threshing machine
of John MIDDLETON.

James RICHARDSON acquitted of destroying the drilling machine of the Rev.
J.S.CANN.

James JUDE, 21, George JUDE, 17, Robert TICE, 23, John HILTON, 24,
William CATCHPOLE, 40, Thomas CARMAN, 30, accused of destroying the
threshing machine of William PIKE SALTER who said that when they had
finished they made him buy them beer at the public house which cost him an
additional 20 shillings. Guilty except for Carman.

James GUNTON, 28 and James BRIGHTLY, 18, pleaded guilty to destroying
the chaff-cutting machine of Robert AYLMER of Whinburgh.

William RIDDLE, 29, acquitted of menacing William Ripper COE of Attlebro.

Henry Bell, 27, Thomas POLL, 24, William MORTIMER, 25, of Coulton
pleaded guilty to rioting.

Robert LINCOLN, 23, Robert BYE, 51, John PALMER, 20, and John
PATTERSON, 38, threshing machine of Thomas LEEDS of Billingford.
Guilty, except Bye.

Robert LINCOLN and Jeremiah BLAKE were acquitted of a misdemeanor.

William STAFF, Henry STAFF, threshing machine of Mary SMITH, a widow of
Wramplingham. Acquitted.

Thomas GIBBS, Christmas WHITTAKER, George HOWES, 31, Fairwell
WHITTAKER, 42, William THAIN, 28, James THAIN, William TURNER, 22,
threshing machine of John FOREMAN of Hickling. Acquitted.

The above plus James POLLARD, destroying the threshing machine of Mr
BOWMAN, acquitted except Pollard and Fairwell WHITTAKER.

The above eight for destroying the threshing machine of Abraham
BEAUMONT the elder. Christmas Whittaker, Pollard and James Thain
acquitted, others guilty.

David PYE, guilty of rioting at Southrepps.

Francis BARNES, 30, James CHAPMAN, 18, Owen HARDINGHAM and
William BARNES, the threshing machine of James Hendry of Foulsham. Mrs
Hendry and Hannah EKE gave witness. Guilty. (The first three had already
been found guilty of destroying James Hendry’s threshing machine??)

Sentences:
George HOWES was transported for 14 years.

William DOW, James GUNTON, Francis BARNES, Isaac HURRELL, Robert
LINCOLN, William CATCHPOLE and Fairwell WHITTAKER were each
sentenced to 7 years transportation. William AGGERS was sentenced to 7
years transportation plus one month in solitary confinement.

The others were imprisoned for varying times.

Those guilty of rioting at Docking, Haddiscoe and Attleborough were all
imprisoned.

Robert COLE, Richard GELDING, John FISHER, John POWLEY, William
WISEMAN, George SMITH were found not guilty of rioting at Horning.

Henry LASKEY, Edmund Smithing, acquitted of rioting at Wramplingham.

James WRIGHT, William SHAW, Benjamin BARRETT, acquitted of rioting at
Garboldisham; William CLARK, Thomas DENNY, George BRAND, William
CURSON and James CASTON acquitted of rioting at Weston.

Edward ARMES, 36, Robert WILLIAMSON, 20, Thomas BROWN, 20, John
JENKINSON, 26, threshing machine of Lionel BATELY of Hindolveston.
Jenkinson was not guilty, the others sentenced to three months in prison.

Edward FISHER and John KING, the threshing machine of John BILHAM of
Whitwell, not guilty.

James DENNY, 18, threshing machine of Thomas WEST of Foxley. Guilty,
three months.

Thomas FISK, 49, acquitted of sending a threatening letter to John DAVEY of
Bressingham.

Now some ordinary crimes:

Charles SPRAGG, stealing a basket and linen horse, acquitted.

Daniel TAYLOR, 24, stealing 31 geese of Augusting POSTLE of East Ruston,
sentenced to six months in Walsingham Bridewell.

James SPOONER, 35, stealing 9 turkeys, 4 geese, 5 ducks and 2 guinea fowl
from Thomas PLAYFORD of Thornage, a farmer. 6 months in Walsingham
Bridewell.

William and James CASTON, 1/2 bushel of wheat from Robert WORTLEY of
Horsford, not guilty.

John BOWLES, stealing a rat trap, one week solitary confinement.

William FULLER, 27, James BARNES, 27, and William DOE, stealing a fat
pig from John SHARPE, a North Walsham innkeeper who swore he could
recognise his pig from its tail. Mary Ann COOKE ‘proved’ that the pig was
flayed by Fuller and Barnes in Fuller’s house. Guilty.

Thomas THOMPSON, stealing 50 pounds of hay from John BROWN of
Mulbarton, guilty, two months.

Adam CULLINGFORD, assaulting Robert REEVE of Starston, one month.

Henry WHISKER, assaulting Charles LEEDER of Redenhall, six months.

John STANDLEY, 24, stealing from Robert WOODS of Ketteringham and
John MALLETT of Heigham. Considered incorrigible, having come up before
the court 26 times. Sentenced to 14 years transportation.

William CUNNINGHAM, 19, and Perfitt WALPOLE, 31, stealing harness gig
from Daniel CALVER, Esq. of Stratton. Cunningham was transported for
seven years, Walpole for 14.

William SMITH, 41, for receiving this stolen gig, 12 months imprisonment.

Lynn Quarter Sessions: John RICHARDSON, stealing 28 sovereigns from Mr
William HUNTER, guilty with a recommendation of death recorded but pleas
for mercy were made.

In Heydon, suspected arson broke out at the home and barn of Rev. Dr.
BULWER. Two strange men were seen passing at the time. One, Mr
RICHES of Briston, was horrified to find he was briefly suspected.

Norwich City Sessions:

Edward FITT guilty of stealing a bridle from F.G. Longman, 2 months hard
labour.

Robert DENNINGTON, stealing an earthenware brush tray of Henry
HARVEY, 3 months.

William HARVEY, stealing a pair of worsted stockings belonging to John
WATERING, 1 month.

John NEVE, embezzling from MACK and Co., 12 months.

William KNOLLER, 23, four fowl from Samuel MOORE, 12 months.

Mary BASE, 17, stealing from John LARTER, not guilty.
Frederick BETTS, 22, receiving these stolen goods, not guilty.

Frederick GOOSE, 13, stealing a German pipe from James WIGHAM, not
guilty.

Letitia NOBBS, 48 of Stanninghall and Mary Ann BLOOM, 26 of Coltishall,
stealing a lace cap from William BLOGG of Norwich, one month each.

Phebe PIKE, 18, stealing a half crown from Robert KEW, her master, one
month.

Deaths:
6 Jan 1831: Ann BARCHAM, 76, wife of Mr. Thomas, farmer formerly of
Gatesend.
7th Jan 1831: Thomas KIDDELL, gardener of St Martin at Oak, 79.
31 Dec 1830: Sarah WALLER, wife of Mr Waller, at Cley.
Feb 1831: Mary Ann KIDDELL, 34, wife of Robert of Sall
and daughter of Henry ROUSE of Coltishall.
31 March 1831: Elizabeth Creale MASSINGHAM, eldest daughter of
Mark, ironmonger of Holt.

Nov/Dec. 1835: Marriage of Mr Gill, farmer and maltster of Redgrave to
Miss MORNEMENT, second surviving daughter of Mr Mornement of Lopham
Park.

There were many more marriages and deaths.

Regards,
Jessica

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