18th January 1814: The Treasury Solicitor suggests denying an informer a reward because he was a Luddite

Mr. Hobhouse presents his Compliments to Mr. Beckett, and in answer to his Note of yesterday, inclosing the written Petition of George Ward, begs leave to acquaint him that the Petitioner is the same man who on 10th April & 15th May last wrote a Lord Sidmouth two Letters on the same Subject, which were then referred to Mr. Hobhouse, & which he returned with his general Report of 23d June last, upon the Subject of the Rewards due for the apprehension of the Nottinghamshire Frame breakers. In Explanation of the Passage in that Report relative to Ward’s Claim, Mr Hobhouse takes the Liberty of stating, that Ward’s legal Right to the Rewards in question failed, inasmuch as he did not apprehend or cause to be apprehended the Felons whom he names, as he ought to have done to bring himself within the Prince Regents Proclamation. It further appeared that Ward’s losses had been in great measure reimbursed him by a private Subscription; and that his Character entitled him to no particularly favourable Consideration from the Government, since there is strong reason to believe that he was engaged in framebreaking on the very day when his own Frames were broken, & there is no doubt of his having been so engaged on a previous Day, and the Evidence which he gave on the Trial was extracted from him with the greatest Difficulty.

Mr. Hobhouse has further to inform Mr. Beckett at the beginning of November last Ld. Ellenborough sent to Mr. H. a Letter which he had received from Ward of the same Tenor as his present Petition, in consequence of which reference Mr.H. stated fully to his Lordship the matter above detailed.

A few days after, Mr. Justice Bayley transmitted to Mr. H. a similar Letter to which Mr. H. made a concise Reply to the same Effect.

Lincolns Inn
Jan. 18. 1814

January 1814: A Nottinghamshire Framework-knitter, George Ward, petitions the Prince Regent for relief

To his Royal Highness, George prince of Wales
Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland—

The humble petition of George Ward Sheweth, Having had the misfortune during the late disturbances at Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, to have had two wide frames broke, the one a lace frame and the other a Stocking frame my property which cost me £73—10—and earned by the dint of industry, likewise part of my shop windows broke which has reduced me to the greatest distress, and as such am not able to get the same repaired. How at the same night I apprehended two of the rioters George Jeffries, who impeached and was admitted evidence for the Crown against Benjn Hancock and Gervase Marshall who was transported and John Bradbury with several others that was delivered by proclamation and George Green who I apprehended and was transported and I also identified the person of Robert Poley in prison who pleaded guilty and was transported, Moreover I was repeatedly down at Mansfield before the Magistrates Coll. Need and Major Boothby Esqr. for examination to the above, and on the following March Assize I was nine Days at Nottingham and at Midsummer Assize following I was four days for which I have never recd one farthing for the loss of my time or any thing else, and moreover my shop windows remain boarded up not being able to get the same repair’d, one frame I have got repair’d but the other is in the hands of the framesmith deposited in his hands for payment for his charge for repairing the other, he informs me if he is not immediately payed he will sell it to the best bidder. Having mentioned the above to Coll. Need he tells me he does not act as Magistrate this year being sheriff— and sent me to Thos Maltby Esqr having told the same to Thos. Maltby and Genl Hall the Magistrates for the division they said they was not there at the time or would have seen me righted before now, and Major Boothby is removed from this neighbourhood. Some time back I laid my case before Coll. Elliott, Thos Evans and __ Longdon Esqrs Sitting Magistrates in Nottingham, they all of them told me I was entitled to the rewards offer’d and it was at home I had nothing done for me before this but they could do nothing for me it was out of their division but they gave me a Letter to Mr. Woodcock of Mansfield the Solicitor for him to precure the rewards offerd in your Royal proclamation for me, And Mr. Sculthorp informs me that the rewards are paid into the hands of Mr. Woodcock some time since but I have not as yet recd one farthing for nothing.

In last November where before the Sitting Magistrates in Nottingham Mr. Evans told me that the Secretary of State had gave all the rewards offerd to Mr. Stevens of Mansfield, and that the Committee had closed and they could do nothing for me —

If your Royal Highness will have the goodness to see justice done to an unfortunate poor sufferer who took two of the first Ludds that was taken even one in the very act of breaking my frame (George Jeffries) your Royal Highness will keep me from the parish, and if your petitioner will ever pray—

[To his Royal Highness George Prince of Wales etc]