2nd March 1813: Arms raid & burglary at Tong, near Middleton, Lancashire

At 8.00 p.m. on Tuesday 2nd March 1813, seven men entered the house of Philip Bury, of Tong, near Middleton in Lancashire. Their heads were covered with napkins, and they were wearing aprons over their regular clothes.

They demanded firearms, and went on seize a gun. Some of the men went through the house looking for items, whilst others kept guard at the door. When Bury tried to follow one upstairs, a pistol was levelled at his head and threats were issued to him. The men identified each other by numbers, so as not to reveal any name or nickname.

After being present in the house for an hour, they made off with a flask of gunpowder (leaving the firearm they had seized behind), some silver spoons, tea-tongs, a 5s 6d silver piece and other money the sum of £26, as well as other items. Threats were made to the family not to follow them or raise the alarm, and they locked the door to the house from the outside using the key. They levelled threats at people in a nearby house as they escaped.

The same night, another house near Middleton was robbed.

29th November 1812: Multiple Arms Raids & Robberies at Deighton & Fartown, near Huddersfield

In the evening of Sunday 29th November 1812, a series of robberies were committed in the area of Deighton & Fartown, near Huddersfield.

At 9.15 p.m., a number of men with handguns entered the house of a Cloth Manufacturer called William Walker, of New Hall, near Fartown. The men demanded and were given Walker's gun - a pistol - and also took a powder horn. They then demanded money and were given £15 in notes but offered to trade them back for a golden Guinea - Walker agreed and took out his purse: it was a ruse, and the men seized all the coins in the purse, which amounted to five Guineas. The leading man - the lower half of whose face was covered with a black handkerchief - then proceeded to go through Walker's papers whilst the others levelled guns at the Manufacturer. Upon leaving, Walker and his family were warned not to leave the house for at least 2 hours on pain of death.

Next visited by the gang was a shopkeeper at Fartown named George Scholes. Scholes was liberated of a gun, up to 40 shillings in silver, a £5 note, up to 10 £1 notes, a pair of silver tea tongs and two silver teaspoons. The gang also inspected Scholes' cellar and took away a bottle of Rum and some other provisions. Scholes and his family were again warned not to leave for two hours, and that a guard would be left outside. After the group had left, Scholes noticed they had left behind a blunderbuss and a hatchet.

At 10.30 p.m., the gang arrived at the house of a farmer called Joshua Thornton of Jilley Royd, near Fixby. Four men entered the house - two armed with blunderbusses a third with a rifle and another with a pistol. They demanded arms from Thornton, and were told that he had neither. The gang then called out orders "Enoch, Captain, Sergeant and Hatchet-men to enter", and 2 other men entered - Thornton's wife then promised to find some money, and the 2 men were ordered back outside. The gang took a pocketbook containing £5 in notes from Mrs Thornton, who also received a blow to the head with the butt of a gun. One of the gang fired at Thornton himself, but the gun mis-fired. On leaving, the men told Thornton that they intended to use the money to buy weapons, which were to be used to shoot the Huddersfield Magistrate Joseph Radcliffe, and that when this was accomplished, they would return the money.

The next house visited belonged to James Brook of Brackenhall. The gang took away a silver watch, a £1 note and 4 shillings in silver.

At the house of John Woods, doors and windows were broken, but nothing worth taking could be found. The roll was called in Luddite fashion from 1 to 9 before the gang left.

The next destination was the home of William Radcliffe at Woodside: they made off with £11, 10 shillings and 6 pence in notes, six Guineas in gold and up to £3 in copper coins, as well as a silver watch. They also took some tea, loaf sugar and liquor, as well as some plates.

The last visit was paid to Moses Ball at Jilley Royd, where they obtained £2 & 10 shillings in silver coins.

Later, both Joshua Thornton and George Scholes believed they recognised two of the raiders and named them as Samuel Robinson and Joshua Fielding of Elland.

11th October 1812: Arms raid at Balm Mill, Cleckheaton

At 8.30 p.m. on Sunday 11th October, 3 men entered the home of John Briggs, the miller at Balm Mill near Cleckheaton and demanded his gun. Briggs was not at home, and his brother who was present was unable to give the men a gun, so they proceeded to rob the house, obtaining 63 Guineas in gold, and £10 in silver coins. Other property to the value of between £80-90 was also taken. Briggs' brother was beaten up.

7th October 1812: Multiple burglaries & arms raids near Halifax

In the evening of Wednesday 7th October 1812, a number of burglaries took place around Halifax in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Fifteen armed men assembled at Long Can, near Ovenden. Whilst some guarded the outside, the homes of both Isaac & William Illingworth were entered and robbed of between £10 & £20. The leader of the group was known as 'Sergeant of the Guard', and at the end of the raid, a 'Sergeant of the Piquet' called the roll of the men numbered 1 to 15. The men were then ordered 'right-face - quick march' and disappeared into the night.

On hour later, at Highfield (near Southowram), 15 armed men arrived at the home of John Ramsden, and 3 entered while others stood guard outside. Ramsden remained in bed while his wife spoke to the burglars. They took away a double-barrelled gun, silver items and cash (64 and half gold Guinea coins & £28 in notes) to the total value of £130.

Some time on the same night, the home of a Mr Greenwood (location unknown, but in the Halifax area) was entered by 5 men armed with pistols, with others guarding the outside. A gun was demanded, in the name of General Ludd, although it was returned to Greenwood after it was realised it was in a bad condition and in need of repair. Greenwood was liberated of a £1 note and some silver cutlery.

5th October 1812: Arms raid & robbery in Kirkheaton

Between 2 and 3 a.m. on Monday 5th October 1812, the home of a clothier, Benjamin Strickland, was raided by several armed Luddites.

The first he knew was banging on his front door & voices demanding entry, threatening to break it open. He heard someone calling out for 'Enoch', so he got up quickly and went to open the door. As soon as he did this, 3 disguised men came in, and another demanded his gun. Strickland said his gun had been sent to the guardhouse and one of the men replied "then we must have your money" pushing a pistol into his chest. Someone called to others apparently outside "number 13, come and plunder the house". Strickland didn't hesitate and gave the men keys to his desk - someone unlocked this and took out 30-40 shillings in silver and copper coins. The men demanded his silver pocket watch, which he gave to them. Throughout his ordeal, there were numerous threats issue to Strickland that he would be killed if he did not find them some gold. The threats weren't realised because he didn't have any.

Quarter of an hour later, the raid was over and the Luddites left.

28th September 1812: Arms raid & robbery at Rishworth, West Yorkshire

At 9.00 p.m. on Monday 28th September 1812 James Bottomley, a weaver, came to his door after being summoned to find 6 men confronting him. They all had their faces covered with handkerchiefs and soon wanted him to tell them where Michael Hoyle lived: when Bottomley told them, they began to insist he accompanied them, threatening death if he refused.

As they walked to Hoyle's, Bottomley noticed other men joined them from the shadows, with the disguised men now numbering 15.

Inside his house, the first Michael Hoyle knew of what was to come was a load banging at his door, alternating with threats that it would be broken down if it wasn't opened. Hoyle opened it, and three men pushed him inside, all of them armed with blunderbusses. They demanded a light, and threatened to kill him. Hoyle got a candle and lit it, and the man began their demands. As they demanded his weapons, the men had seen a shotgun over the fireplace, and took it. They wanted 3 Guineas to buy a firelock - Hoyle complied; they demanded gold, but Hoyle had none, so they demanded banknotes - they made it clear they wanted all the money Hoyle had, for if they found as much as one penny later, they would kill him. Hoyle gave them £10 in Bank of England notes. The men also took a silver watch of Hoyle's from a drawer.

Throughout the raid, the men demanded and were served drink, principally rum and gin. After they had left, Hoyle looked at the clock. It was 11.00 p.m.

The same men apparently went later to a pub at Butt's Green and demanded money there and after being either refused or told there was none helped themselves to all the meat & drink in the place.

13th September 1812: Arms raid & robbery on a tax collector at Sowerby

At 11.00 p.m. on Sunday 13th September, a 7 armed men broke into the house of a William Barker, a collector of Taxes, at Sowerby. They announced their arrival by firing 2 shots & when Barker was in front of them, demanded his guns, which were given to them. The men then demanded money and were given £20 in Halifax bank notes and valuables such as silver plate.

But the Luddites were not finished: Barker's house was ransacked, and his furniture destroyed. The men also made a pile on the floor from some of his clothing and set it on fire.

Before the men left, Barker was warned they would return again soon for more money.

8th September 1812: An informer from Liverpool warns Lord Fitzwilliam about an arms raid in Halifax

My Lord

On the 19th Ulto I took the liberty of addressing a Letter from Leeds to Mr. Litchfield (Solicitor to the Treasury) on the subject of the disturbances in part of Yorkshire and Lancashire and the depredations committed by the Luddites there, and on the 21st I was favored by a letter from Mr. Hobhouse acquainting me that he had laid my Letter before your Lordship.—First I must beg leave to refer your Lordship to that Letter, and to acquaint you that from information I have received, I am certain the Luddites intend (when the Nights get a little more dark) attempting to take the Depot at Halifax by surprise in order to get possession of the Arms and Ammunition—For the better information of your Lordship I have endeavoured on the other side to give your Lordship a sketch of the depot—your Lordship will observe that there is a cottage described the occupied by an old woman (which cottage forms part of the square upon which stands the Depot)—with a large window opening into the Depot yard, this window has not a single bar or any thing else to prevent any person going into the Depot.—The plan of the Luddites is to get this old woman sent out of her cottage under some trifling pretext and when she is out to detain her and then for a party of the Luddites to take possession of the Cottage armed and enter the Depot by the cottage window and take the Guard (which never consists of more than five or six Soldiers constantly sitting over a good Fire in the Store Room) by surprise and secure them, and to carry of such of the Arms and Ball cartridges as they can and destroy the remainder—this plan of those Fellows can very easily be prevented by the Depot taking possession of the Cottage (which can be had at any time) and converted it into a Guard Room—the Rent is only 3£ a year and it would be no inconvenience to the old woman who would only want to be provided with another Tenement—would it not also be better my Lord if the Stoor-keeper had a Bell at the top of his House, in case of attack it would immediately bring to his assistance the Soldiers in the Town.—As your Lordship has not done me the honor to notice my first Letter I will not trouble your Lordship with further particulars, conceiving your Lordship may probably consider it officious in one, but if I may be permitted I would strongly recommend making some alteration as to the security of this Depot, for though those Fellows appear pretty peaceable at the present moment, be assured my Lord they are far very far from being tranquilly disposed—I much fear they'll waiting only to be favored by dark nights—

I am also acquainted with two or three Houses in the neighbourhood of Huddersfield to which these Fellows constantly resort and hold their meetings, and I conceive if the information I already possess and could acquire (with the aid of a confidential person) was properly managed, it might reasonably be expected to lead to the detection and apprehension of some of the most notorious of these Depredators—for the reason I have already assigned I shall forbear entering into further particulars and can only assure your Lordship that I should feel great satisfaction in being at all instrumental and lending my aid towards putting a stop to these wicked and disgraceful transactions—If your Lordship should feel at all inclined to know who I am, I beg leave to acquaint you that I reside in Renshaw Street Liverpool and also to refer your Lordship to Mr. Hanson in Chancery Lane (Solicitor to the Stamp-offices) a Gentleman of great respectability and well known to Mr Litchfield—

& I have [etc]

J. Johnston

Renshaw St.
Liverpool—8th Sept. 1812

[To: Lord Fitzwilliam]

7th September 1812: Arms raids in Nottinghamshire

The Morning Chronicle of 11th September 1812 carried a report of arms raids that had taken place in the evening of Monday 7th September, following the food riots that had occurred in the town that day:

During the night, party of men went to Alderman Bates’s farm, about two miles hence, and, after regaling themselves with such fare as the house afforded, they took away a blunderbuss and a gun. They likewise went to the house of one of Lord Chesterfield's keepers, and took away his firearms and some hams.

3rd September 1812: Arms raid at Greenroyd, near Halifax

In the evening of Thursday 3rd September 1812, the home of a man called Mr. Beeston at Greenroyd was raided by between 12-15 Luddites in search of arms. The Luddites demanded Beeston's pistols: he protested that he had none, and offered them another type of gun instead. Beeston tried to engage the Luddites in conversation, but they refused and left, telling him to lock up his home.

31st August 1812: Arms raid & shots fired at Brighouse

Between 11.00 p.m. and midnight in the evening of Monday 31st August, Luddites launched raids at Brighouse in the West Riding.

At Thornhill, 3 houses were raided for arms by 40 Luddites, and 4 guns taken from them.

At 2.00 a.m. on the 1st September at Brighouse itself, shots from a blunderbuss and other weapons were fired into the home of a Mr Waddington, a corn-miller. Seven bullets were found lodged in his bedroom ceiling, with a musket being discharged into his parlour. The Luddites had managed to avoid a patrol of soldiers that had just passed by.

29th August 1812: Arms raid at Skircoat, near Halifax

In the night of Saturday 29th August 1812, the house of a man called Haigh at Skircoat, near Halifax was visited by a group of Luddites who took 3 weapons from him.

22nd August 1812: Arms raid at Sheepridge, near Huddersfield

In the early hours of Saturday 22nd August 1812, at least 40 armed men arrived at the house of Edward Hepworth, a farmer from Sheepridge. Hepworth was not hailed to the window, the Luddites simply immediately set about breaking down his door with a hammer, and when Hepworth was found, they demanded his gun. Hepworth protested that he didn't have one, and that his wife had taken it elsewhere Two Luddites demanded he reduced the price of his milk to twopence a quart, but Hepworth said he couldn't afford to do that - another Luddite threatened to shoot him, and another shouted encouragement 'blow him to atoms'. They then proceeded to destroy many of the valuable items in his house, including his clock and furniture.

Several other houses in the neighbourhood were visited by the Luddites that night.

3rd August 1812: Joseph Radcliffe informs the Home Office that arms raids still continue in Huddersfield

My Lord

Not returning from attending at York as a grand jury man untill the last evening, when no post goes out for London, I could not earlier do myself the honor of answering the letter Mr. Beckett forward me with, dated the 20th Inst.—There is scarcely a night I do not hear of robberys for arms, Lead, Gun powder, or money.—I could have wished Judge Bayley had not so lightly held forth the conduct of Sykes of meltham’s forcibly taking arms (to the jury) as to deem it a frolic; but in regard to this, as relative to His observations to the petty jury on the trials of other similar delinquents; perhaps feeling too much as an acting magistrate I must beg leave to refer your Lordship to the Hbl. Mr. H. Lascelles the foreman of the Grand jury, as to his, & their sentiments.—to Mr. Park, & the Recorder of Leeds, or to any, or every one who attended the trials, & from whom I humbly trust enquiry will be made.—as to my situation (& conduct) not an enviable one, it will become me to say any thing, no doubt some one here has, or will represent it—

The persons apprehended, & alluded to in Mr. Beckett’s Letter, one in custody, their having been brought here so near to the assizes, & the informants living in Cheshire, & Lancashire wd. not allow sufficient time their requisite attention to the business, prior to my attending the assizes.—all partys will be here on Monday next, when as soon as possible afterwards, my Clerk shall copy every transaction, which without loss of time I shall do myself the honor of transmitting to your Lordship. I have the honor to be, My Lord [etc],

Josh. Radcliffe

N.B.
People are so terrified, no one
will voluntarily come forwards,
nor dare they, when brought,
speak the truth; what is got from
them is with the utmost difficulty.

[Date by HO Clerk on reverse – 3rd August 1812]

2nd August 1812: Arms raid at Armley, West Yorkshire

Somewhere between the hours of 12.00 & 1.00 a.m. on Sunday 2nd August, the home of Edward Wright of Armley, near Leeds, was raided by Luddites looking for arms. The raiders told Wright that General Ludd had sent them for his musket, which he duly gave to them. They also told him they knew where to find all the arms in the village and that they were determined to have them all.

When the Luddites left, they fired 6 or 7 shots in celebration. The raid was all the more audacious because a party of troops was stationed at a nearby Gig Mill.

The musket was returned to Wright 2 days later: a note had been left in the barrel which complained that the weapon was not suitable, the barrel being too small for a bullet.

26th July 1812: Arms raid at Elland, West Yorkshire

In the early hours of Sunday 26th July 1812, a group of 30 Luddites conducted an audacious arms raid in Elland. Robert Burley lives near to the guardroom of the regular military patrol, but the group of Luddites nevertheless turned up to demand his gun, which he duly gave them, and carried it away without the alarm being raised.

23rd July 1812: The trial of William Sykes at York Summer Assizes

The Leeds Mercury of 25th July 1812, carried the details of the trial of William Sykes, who was accused of raiding for arms in Meltham on 9th May 1812. The trial took place on Thursday 23rd July 1812.

The Counsel for the Crown called William Wady, a private in the West Kent Militia, to prove a conversation in which the prisoner admitted that he was free, able, and willing to serve General Ludd. But the Learned Judge said, he could not admit such irrelevant matter to be given in evidence.

James Kershaw knows the prisoner; saw him on the night of Saturday, the 9th of May, about eleven o'clock—he had a gun in his hand, and his face blacked. Prisoner said to him, “Well, my lad, will you go with me a little journey?” Witness said, “No.” But he followed him at a short distance, to see what he was about. He went to the house of John Marsh, of Meltham, about a quarter of a mile, and having roused them by knocking at the door, said, “I am informed you have a gun here; General Ludd has sent me for it, and if you do not deliver it up I will blow the door open.” Witness heard the gun fired. The Prisoner was much intoxicated, and staggered in his walk.

Thomas Whiteley stated, that the Prisoner made the same proposal to him as to the last Witness, and said, he was going to get John Marsh and Jonas Beardsley’s guns. Witness went about forty yards with him, and turn back on the Prisoner, saying, “Luddites never speak.” Witness in a short time heard the report of a gun, which appeared to be in the direction of Mr. Marsh's house. Witness did not observe that the Prisoner was intoxicated; did not think he was.

John Creaser, apprentice to Mr. Marsh, stated, that he was awaked by the report of a gun; he got up, and having received the gun which his master had given to him from the lodger, he delivered it to the person at the door. Being asked the reason of his readily giving it up, he said, there were so many reports about the Luddites, and he had been informed that they would not be denied. The firing of the gun had also made him afraid. When he delivered the gun, he said, “It has no lock;” on which the person at the door said, “It is well; it shall be well repaired, and brought back in open day.” Witness said the gun was brought back on the Monday following, but it was not repaired.

Mr. John Marsh, the master of the house, stated more precisely the terms in which the gun was demanded. After he had answered to the knocking at the door, a person from without said, “We are informed you have a gun, and we are come for it.”—Witness told them (for he supposed there were a number, though he heard only one voice) he had not a gun, and called to his apprentice not to give it up; but he supposes the boy did not hear him, as he gave them the gun. The gun was brought back on Monday night, by Joseph Whiteley. During the time the person was at the door, he heard him call out two numbers, as if calling to somebody, but the witness only heard the voice of one person.

Philip Earnshaw lent the prisoner a gun belonging to his master, on the night in question; he told them it was for a bit of fun, and wished the Witness to go with him. Witness went a short distance with him, but he left him, because he had some mischief in his head, he laughed so. Witness then went to the Prisoner’s house, who returned in about half an hour, and brought back another gun with him. Witness did not examine the gun of his master, to see whether it had been recently discharged.

Joseph Whiteley stated, that he carried the gun back to Mr. Marsh, on Monday, the 11th of May.

This finished the case on the part of the Prosecution.

His Lordship said, he thought it unnecessary to call upon the Prisoner for his defence. There did not appear to have been any design to steal the gun—no bad use had been made of it—and it was returned to its owner before any search been made for arms in the house of the Prisoner. It appeared to have been an idle, but most dangerous frolic, and for which he had been deservedly imprisoned. The Jury concurring in this opinion, found the Prisoner—Not Guilty.

20th July 1812: 'Observer' writes to the Leeds Intelligencer about the recent arms raids in Clifton

To the Editor of the Leeds Intelligencer.

SIR—Notwithstanding the very gentle manner in which the Editor of a certain provincial publication treats of the conduct of the Luddites, in his last number, we will venture to assure the Public, that there has not been an instance, during the whole of their infamous proceedings, in which they have acted with greater regularity and precision, or with more determined violence, and terrifying threats, and in their outrage upon the Inhabitants of Clifton, four miles North of Huddersfield, in the night between last Monday, the 13th, on Tuesday the 14th inst.

When we consider the number of the Assailants, their mode of attacking the dwellings of the Inhabitants; the time of night at which the assault was made; the persons, character and number of those who were terrified to yield to their felonious demands; the style of their triumphant return—we hesitate not to say, that the transactions of these arms stealers at Clifton, at the time above mention, afford the most unqualified contradiction to all those declarations and assertions, which go to represent the outrages committed against the public peace and security, as the mere ebullitions of a mob, arising from want of employment, the pressure of distress, or any mere temporary inconvenience.

We put it to the incredulous Member for Bedford, to the inaccurate Mr. B______m, to Ned Ludd himself, or that other Ned, his advocate and apologist, whether there be any thing in the features of this felonious nocturnal outrage, which bears any resemblance to the accidental assemblage of thoughtless riotous men.—Whether it does not exhibit the strongest marks of being a part of an organized digested system of wide-extending, serious mischief. View it in connection with other acts of violence in the West Riding:—with the conflagration at the mill of Messrs. Oates and Co.—The attack upon Mr. Vickerman's property—upon the mill Rawfolds—with the murder of Mr. Horsfall—and you observe the same precision, the same address, the same skill, the same deliberate, cool-blooded, persevering, determined villainy.

In the silent hour of midnight darkness, a band alarmed villains steal into the populous village of Clifton. They watch the dwellings of the inhabitants, and mark them as they retire to rest.—The moment when they are first sunk down to sleep, the villains commence their operations: having lost the hammer they had previously provided, they furnish themselves with another, which they had burst open a Smith’s shop to procure. They assault the door of Mr. Ab. Fairburn, near one end of the village—demand his gun—Mr. F. denies the possession of such an article (it belong to his son)—they persist in their demand, repeatedly assuring him, that they certainly know he has a gun. Mr. F. continues steady—they call for enoch (the great hammer.) The door is assaulted by two violent strokes, (the marks of which are visible enough) Mr. F. opens the door; a number of men present themselves before him, apparently armed with guns, in the military attitude of “making ready.” Mr. F. still declines to deliver up his son’s piece; invites the robbers to search his house for a gun themselves.

They become impatient, one of them presents a piece to his head protesting that if he, Mr F did not instantly produces gun, his brains blown out. — Mr F retires, they charge him to bring no light. He resigns the gun. They load it, bidding good night, and, having fired a piece as in triumph, offer a single, retire.

It was about one o'clock. A light was seen in one of the windows of the Black Bull, an inn in the same village. They imperiously commanded that the light be put out, and because the order was not instantly obeyed, they fire three or four bullets into the window.—They demand and receive the landlords gun—A similar demand was made at EVERY house in Clifton where there was a gun. Their number might be 30: they got nine or ten guns.

On their attacking the house of Mr. Joshua Goldthorpe, Mr. G. looked out at his window, demanded their business; they ordered him to withdraw his head, and on his delaying to do so, they threatened to blow his brains out, and murder every soul in the house, and fired.

Mr. G. called up his young men, one or two of whom despising their threats, boldly went out, and bid them blow away. They presented their guns and threatened instant death to young Goldthorpe if he did not directly proceed with them to the workshop, at about a quarter of a mile distance, and get them the guns which they knew were in the shop. They guarded him to the shop, received two guns, returned with him to the house, ordered him to bolt the door and keep within, and wished him good night.

The whole of their movements were conducted with the strictest military address and precision—They receive directions from a leader. Such a division was ordered to guard such a pass—Such a number of such a division was commanded to fire. An Enoch (great hammer) of such a division was named, and the great hammer was instantly applied to force the door. Their intelligence also was surprisingly correct. Not a house was assaulted where there was not a gun—not a house passed by where there was a gun. So the houses were not of ready access, yet no blunder was made. The proper doors, and the several rooms were accurately known, or distinctly pointed out to the leader. The body of the assailants might be strangers, but they had well-informed guides.

The Editor of the Leeds Mercury tells his readers that he has seen an official account of these transactions (see Leeds Mercury, 18th July, page 3.) In the same page he professes that to him it is most clear that the views of the deluded violators of the public peace “to the present moment,” have been “confined simply to the destruction of machinery:” at the same time, he has the unblushing impudence to condemn Mr. Wilberforce for attributing the outrageous conduct of the mob, to political causes, to disaffection to Government; and, in what may be called the same breath, he directs his deluded friends to attribute all their distresses—not to machinery, or to the employers of machinery; but, to GOVERNMENT. Mr. Wilberforce, it should seem, is altogether mistaken in attributing the ebullitions of discontent to any disapprobation of Government, excited and promoted by mischievous publications.—Ipse dixit—and Ludd and Co. must gape and gulp it down.

However bro’ Ned may fret and fume at the assertion, Mr. W. is not singular in his opinion of the lamentable effect produced upon the minds of the ignorant and unwary by certain mischievous publications. Many of his constituents, once humble admirers of a certain popular provincial print, now, at length, begin to think for themselves, and are so thoroughly convinced of its mischievous tendency, that in spite of the spies and informers which the Editor of that print has dispersed here and there to catch any chance word that may fall at a public table, in a public company, in a moment of convivial conversation, or in the confidence of friendship; in spite of the threats of prosecution, which he may denounce for the expressing an opinion of the mischievous tendency of such publications the Freeholders of the most disturbed parts of Yorkshire will not cease to declare, to repeat, and to maintain it, that there are certain “mischievous publications” circulated, read, and admired by the mob, which have done more to produce, foment, spread, countenance, and encourage the outrageous conduct of the deluded disturbers of the public peace than either the want of employment, or the dearness of provision, or the distresses of the poor, or the Orders in Council, or than all of these put together.

18th July, 1812.

OBSERVER.

18th July 1812: The Vice Lieutenant of the West Riding urges the Home Office to take steps to confiscate arms

Hemsworth
Nr. Pontefract
July 18th 1812

My Lord,

I have the honour to send herewith 8 depositions as to the stealing of Firearms which took place at Clifton near Sir George Armitages’s House, and about 6 miles north of Huddersfield, on Monday night the 13’ instant—I am sorry to add the magistrates of that Neighbourhood report several single instances of the continuance of the same system occurring since the 23d ult.

The Magistracy and Lieutenancy of the West Riding, assembled yesterday at Wakefield, have requested me to ask your Lordship's answer to the following points—

— If his Majesty's Ministers think that a general search for arms should speedily be made under the Provisions of the Act now before Parliament will they order on a day unlooked for the Magistrates and Military to make such search throughout a considerable district in Yorkshire & the immediate adjoining parts of Lancashire and Cheshire, or will they leave it to the discretion of the Lord Lieutenant & the Magistrates on what day or days to what extent and how, the searches for arms are to be made?—Were the Meeting to express an opinion upon the Subject it would be expressive of its conviction that it would be advisable and much more likely to effectuate the object in view, if the direction for such searches were given by his Majesty's Government

— The magistrates would be of an entirely different opinion if they had any expectation of gaining Intelligence where the arms are concealed, but grown hopeless from their past experience of gaining such information they think that a search directed by Government, would be more unexpected simultaneous & effectual than a search grounded on their own previous deliberation & arrangement—

— I have also my Lord to request on their behalf that 30 or 40 Copies of the new act may be forwarded to W Jno: Foljambe Deputy Clerk of the Peace with the smallest possible delay, that they may immediately become acquainted with its Provisions.

— Several other Suggestions were made which I have the honor of subjoining tho’ I fear the act will be past before you receive them, and probably several of them will be met by the enactments of the Bill in question.

1st That Constables & Special Constables should have with or without the military the same power of dispersing unlawful assemblies as is understood at present to be given to the Magistrates only.—

2dly That Magistrates & all the Peace Officers may arrest & apprehend, as well as disperse, Persons attending such meetings.

3dly That men of notorious bad character be prohibited from selling Gunpowder, whether they be shopkeepers or otherwise

4thly That all arms & ammunition left in the hands of Individuals be registered, and account given if they be missing at a future time.

5h That the offering of money for undefined purposes, as “to obey future orders”, to become a member of an undescribed association to be made a misdemeanour and the party subject to immediate commitment—

Sir George Armitage will be obliged to your Lordship to return him the inclosed depositions to Kirklees Hall near Leeds and we shall be glad of your Lordships reply to the above requests and of your Instructions in general so as to reach us previously if possible to Friday next.—

I have &c

(Signed) F.L. Wood.
Vice Lt. West riding

[To] Rt. Hon.
Lord Sidmouth
&c &c &c

14th July 1812: Extensive arms raid at Clifton, West Yorkshire

The former Black Bull Inn, Towngate, Clifton, today (as seen on Google Street View)

In the early hours of Tuesday 14th July 1812, a group of up to 30 Luddites conducted a number of raids for arms in the village of Clifton in West Yorkshire. The raid was particularly audacious, as Clifton was the home of Sir George Armytage.

It seemed the Luddites had left behind a sledgehammer (or 'Enoch') on a previous visit, and one of their first actions was to procure another from the shop of a local blacksmith.

The Luddites chose to start their raids at one of the ends of the village, at the home of Abraham Fairburn, a cardmaker. Fairburn was knocked up and he stood behind his door asking what they wanted: the men on the other side demanded his gun - he denied having one, but they didn't believe him, and growing impatient threatened to blow his brains out. He then heard a hammer smashing on his door and he shouted for them to stop - he would open the door. As he opened it, a pistol was put to his head and his gun demanded again - this time, he agreed to find it. The Luddites wished him 'good night', and fired a gun into the air.

The Luddites next appeared at the home of Joshua Goldthorpe, another cardmaker. Joshua senior was in bed, and was woken by shouting and banging on his front door. He got out of bed, went to his window and pulled the curtain and shouted "what do you want?" - he peered out to see 14 or 15 guns pointing up at him - the men demanded his 2 guns - he said he hadn't any in the house, and shouted for his family. The men outside levelled more threats. Joshua senior went back to the window, but was warned if he peeped again, they would fire, and followed this up with a shot in the air. While this was going on, Goldthorpe's son, Joshua junior, had gone downstairs and opened the front door: he explained the family's guns were at their workshop, a quarter of a mile away. Undaunted, the Luddites posted a guard at the Goldthorpe house and took him to the shop to procure the weapons. When they returned, they noticed a light at the nearby Black Bull Inn which annoyed the Luddites: Joshua junior was brought to the front door of his house, but found it locked - one of the Luddites said "damn you, open the door", and when it eventually was, the family were warned to re-lock the door and not to open it again for at least two hours.

At the Black Bull Inn, the inkeeper George Pratt was asleep. He was brought sharply out of his slumbers by a number of shots from pistols outside. He went downstairs to the parlour to see what the fuss was and heard angry voices "put that light out". He had left a candle burning inside and went to snuff it out. Returning, the voices demanded his gun: Pratt protested he not dressed and he could not see in the dark - a voice said "no clothes, no light, fetch your gun". Pratt complied, and opening the front door was ordered to deliver the gun up to the men butt-end first. One of the men said that he would get it back - Pratt asked "when?", and the reply came "very soon". After wishing him good night, one of the men went to the window of the parlour, where Pratt's wife and child were, and asked them if they were alright, apologising for the shots fired earlier.

The Luddites also appeared at the home of William Armitage, another cardmaker. Armitage told them his gun was in his workshop, and the Luddites went with him to fetch it. They knew he had had two guns, which startled Armitage, and he said one belonged to his uncle and it had been returned. Armitage was ordered back into his house, and one of the Luddites asked him if he had got the Enoch and the gun which had been found nearby recently - he said he had not, and the men wished him good night and left.

On the same evening, the Luddites also raided the homes of John Wilkinson, William Earnshaw & Crispin Wilkinson in a similar manner, procuring a gun from each of them.