19th January 1817: Lancelot Rolleston reports the arrest of 8 suspected Luddites to the Home Office

My Lord

I have the honor to acquaint your Lordship, that the confession of John Blackburn has led to the apprehension of those individuals, who have for so many years infested this county. In the course of last night, Josiah Mitchell, Tho. Savage, John Amos, John Slater, John Crowther, and Wm. Withers of the town of Nottingham were taken into custody; John Plumb, & Saml. Cordwell alias the Dragoon have also been apprehended;

The constables are now in pursuit of William Towle, Aron Daykin John Hill & John Disney alias Sheepshead Jack, & I have every reason to hope they will be successful. With the names of many of these individuals I believe your Lordship acquainted, especially those who broke Messrs Heathcote & Boden's frames at Loughbro’; but I find many of them so deeply implicated in almost every atrocity perpetrated since the system of Luddism commenced, that I beg leave to submit to your Lordship whether his Majestys Government may think proper to interfere in their prosecution.

I have [etc]
Lanct. Rolleston

Watnall
Jany 19th

The Luddite John Hill is lost to us again, just as we thought we'd found him

'JH' - but not John Hill - the enigmatic gravestone at Greetland

Back in March, I wrote about how research by local historian Andrew Howson and myself had led us to contact Greetland Methodist Church officials to try to ensure that they looked into whether the remains of a Luddite hanged at York, John Hill, were buried in a plot there which was marked marked with an enigmatic gravestone (see picture above) bearing his initials.

This was only possible because the graveyard was being cleared in preparation for development on the site. Andrew's research into church records, combined with my publication of documents on this website, made it clear that Hill was buried at Greetland on 20th January 1813, within 4 days of his execution, and that the famous Methodist Thomas Jackson had signed the burial records, despite claims in Jackson's own biography that he prevented Luddite burials from taking place there.

Officials at Greetland Methodist Church, in particular Geoff Butler, took this research seriously, and applied for licenses to exhume the 'JH' grave plot, with archaeologists undertaking the excavation and other experts being employed to determine if the remains had injuries consistent with hanging.

In the meantime, Andrew and I determined that Hill's wife and child had died and been buried at Greetland within only a few years of Hill himself - on 16th April 1816 & 28th July 1816 respectively. Further research from Andrew determined the names that the patriarchal style of the burial records omitted - Hill's wife was originally called Susannah Fleeming, and had married Hill on Christmas Day 1810, and had died aged 26, while their daughter, Ann, was born 6 months before the Luddite uprisings in the West Riding on 28th September 1811 and died aged only 5.

There was therefore a very real prospect that Susannah and Ann had been buried with John, in the same plot.

So it was with much disappointment that I was informed by Geoff Butler yesterday that the remains found in the 'JH' plot at Greetland did not match what we had hoped would be found: instead, the grave contained the remains of a man and a woman aged over 60 years of age, and the remains of a small child up to 1 year of age.

Where is John Hill? Well, we know that he is buried somewhere in the graveyard at Greetland, but clearly not in a marked plot. The 'JH' gravestone was the only plot with a headstone that was a likely candidate. The church's own recording of the gravestones do not yield evidence that any other graves may contain John and his family. It's possible that his remains may be uncovered as work progresses on the wider site, and Geoff Butler has given me assurances that those doing the work will be alert to any remains uncovered. We can only hope that the remains of John, Susannah and Ann are located in this way.

The likelihood of a burial in an unmarked plot fits in with the fact that the latter day Methodist church was acutely embarrassed that members of its congregation were in any way connected with Luddism and the disturbances in the West Riding. In this way, Thomas Jackson wrote in his biography six decades after the burial of Hill that he had prevented the burial of Luddites (read the extract after the 'read more' link below). Strangely, Dr John Hargreaves is quoted in an article in the Yorkshire Post today saying that it's possible that Jackson's vain lies are the truth, despite the documentary evidence & primary sources that he has seen - found by amateur historians - that prove Hill's burial at Greetland & the fact that Jackson knew this had taken place.

Happily, Geoff Butler has confirmed that the current Methodist Church at Greetland is keen to remember John Hill in a more permanent way on the site, even if his remains can never be found.

Saved from destruction - the last resting place of the Luddite John Hill - and plans for his re-burial!

A view of Greetland Methodist Chapel, and graveyard, from Google Street View

It's now more than a year since I wrote this blog about the last resting places of the 14 Luddites hanged at York in January 1813. At that time, it was not at all clear if it would be possible to learn where any of the burials were located, despite clues in the primary sources - at least not without extensive & time-consuming research.

Fourteen months ago, we quoted a letter from the military commander in the area of Elland, a Lieutenant Cooper, who reported that the Luddite John Hill had been buried at 'in the neighbourhood of Elland' within a few days of his execution at York. Cooper reported that the local parson had refused to read the service over  the burial, and that this had caused some ill-feeling amongst those gathered. Cooper intimated however, that this atmosphere was nowhere near as poisonous as that of previous burials, like that of Samuel Hartley at Halifax, which had almost turned into a riot.

Since then, with the research conducted by one particular reader of this website, a local historian and genealogist Andrew Howson, the last resting place of John Hill has been located for certain at the graveyard of Greetland Methodist Chapel, near Halifax. Andrew had located the burial register of the Chapel in both the national archive and the west yorkshire archive, and it  showed that a 27 year-old man from North Dean called John Hill was buried there on 20th January 1813.

Unfortunately, the research was made particularly urgent when Andrew discovered that the graveyard was due to be built upon - and most of the burials obliterated - by a housing development. There were plans to remove a limited number of burials from the graveyard, and re-inter them in a memorial garden in another local church. But of John Hill, there was no information (despite a previous press release by the church which had been published acknowledging that 'Luddites' were buried there).

Officials at the church proved difficult to contact initially, perhaps because they had been told by a well-known local academic that no Luddites were buried at Greetland. The academic based this statement on comments in the biography of a Thomas Jackson, the local parson at the time, that he had actively prevented burials of Luddites at Greetland. Fortunately, our presentation of the primary sources indicating the truth to the church does seem to have won out over a secondary source containing the bitter lies of a member of the church hierarchy written decades after the event. The modern church officials confirmed the name and date of the burial in another version of the register, and that there was a small headstone marked 'JH' as well.

The latest news is that, after our intervention, the Church intends to exhume the remains of John Hill and re-inter them at the memorial garden, and also preserve the headstone  on this site.

As far as we're concerned, the icing on the cake would be for there to be a plaque remembering John Hill accompanying the re-burial - and perhaps his name attached to any new road on the development, as with 'John Booth Close' at Roberttown.

NB - for the latest news on John Hill's grave, read this blog post.

14th April 1813: A West Riding magistrate sends earl Fitzwilliam the confession of an absconded Luddite

Halifax 1813 April 14th

My Lord,

I did myself the Honor of writing to your Lordship a week ago, inclosing a full Description of the Forty one who had taken the Oath of Allegiance before me. I now write to you concerning Samuel Hill, an unfortunate Luddite, who yesterday confess’d before me, & took the oath. He is Brother to John Hill executed at York under the Authority of the late Special Commission — & whose Crimes were Burglary, & Stealing of Arms. You will naturally enquire, why have I taken his Oath & Confession as late in the Day. I answer, I was prevailed upon to do so by the strong Recommendation of Mr Dyson a very respectable Gentleman in my Parish. I told Mr D. that I could do nothing at all for the Man, but that I would lay the Case before your Lordship. The subject has occasion’d much Conversation between Mr D & me. The Substance of it, is contained in the enclosed Letter which he wrote to me. I also inclose the original Confession — On perusing it, along with Mr D's Letter, you will act as you think proper. The Cause of the delaying to take the Oath is explained in his Confession.

I have ventured to say thus far – that if your Lordship cou’d be assured of the Man's future good Behaviour, you might not be unwilling to interpose in his behalf. I strongly inculcated upon him the absolute Necessity of good & peaceable Conduct, for that his life was now at Stake. If I shou’d be honored with your Lordship's Answer in any Degree favorable to the poor Man's earnest Intreaties, he wou’d thereby be relieved from great Anxiety — Mr Dyson, if I may so say, will be his Surety.

Mr D. is a Gentleman living upon his Fortune, & has long been a Captain in our Halifax Militia – the Grenadiers.

I have [etc]
Hylom Coulthurst

[To] Rt. Honble Earl Fitzwilliam.

Samuel Hill of Northdean in Elland Farmer and Cotton Spinner was guilty of stealing Arms at Copley Gate in Skircoat in Company with Job Hey, John Hill, and Hartley all of whom were executed for that Offence. He the said Samuel Hill was also guilty of an attack upon Mr. Waterhouses Mill last winter in company with Job Hey, and others who compelled him by Terror to join them having threatened to shoot him, if he did not go with them—

Samuel Hill also says that he was at the Attack upon William Barker's House in Sowerby during the last Winter along with the aforesaid Job Hey, and Crowther and others, and joined them under the like Fear of his Life as before—These are all the Offences which he has committed during the late unhappy Tumults in the West Riding and the County of York—He has taken no unlawful Oath. The said Samuel Hill hath been induced to commit these crimes by reason of his living next Door Neighbour to the aforesaid Job Hey. The Reason of his not making this confession sooner, is this, On the Apprehension of his Brother John Hill who was afterwards executed, the said Samuel Hill fled to Sea and was there in the Merchant service and did not return from till the sixth of April instant, and took an early Opportunity of making this confession before the Reverend Doctor Coulthurst, and of taking the Oath of Allegiance—

Taken before me this thirteenth

Day of April one Thousand

Eight Hundred and thirteen

Samuel Hill

Hylom Coulthurst

At the same time he also took the Oath of Allegiance for me

3rd March 1813: Thomas Shillitoe visits the families of Joseph Crowther, William Hartley, John Hill & Job Hey

On Wednesday 3rd March 1813, the Quaker missionary Thomas Shillitoe continued with his visits to the families of executed Luddites, accompanied by Joseph Wood:

Fourth-day we went to Sowerby-bridge. Our first visit was to the widow of Joseph [Crowther], who suffered for robbery: he had left three children, and his widow nearly being confined with her fourth. We were enabled to labour with her, to persevere in an endeavour after a steady reliance for help on that Divine power, which alone would be found all-sufficient to support her mind in her future tossings and temptations: we were ready to hope the opportunity with her would be remembered at a future day, to her comfort. We next proceeded to the cottage of the parents of William Hartley, who suffered for robbery: with them resided his eight children, bereft of both parents, the mother having been deceased about three weeks. The neighbours observing us go into their cottage, followed us, quietly taking their seats: the opportunity proved to many, especially some of the children, a heart-tendering season—one, I believe, that will long be remembered by some present.

Our next visit was to North-dean, in Elland township, to the widow of John Hill, who left one infant—he suffered for robbery. His widow presented us with an interesting letter, received from him the day before his execution, manifesting the peaceful state of mind he had been favoured to attain to, under the evidence of his having been enabled to forgive all mankind, and himself experiencing Divine forgiveness for all his sins. She informed us, the night he was taken, he was forced out of his bed by the Gang; that she ran after him half-a-mile without any of her upper garments upon her, until they obliged her to return, threatening to blow her brains out if she followed them. We sat with the widow, the sufferer's mother, aunt, &c.: it proved a solid opportunity. A brother of the sufferer was also by the same means implicated in these riotous proceedings that night; his neighbours say, not from inclination, but overcome by threats, he being always considered a religiously-disposed young man, and was much esteemed; but he escaped being taken with the rest. His mother was maintained by the produce of a small farm, and he was her sole dependence in the management of it. The loss of the other son, by such an untimely end, with the continued fearful apprehensions she laboured under, of her other son being taken—there being a warrant out against, and search making for him, appeared almost to drive her to despair. We endeavoured to console her all in our power. Before we left her, I felt it laid upon me to assure her, on account of the general good character we had received of the young man, and the manner of his being led away, we would lay his case before the magistrate who granted the warrant, and use our influence to obtain permission for him to return home with safety.

Our next visit was to the widow of [Job] Hey, and her seven fatherless children: we found her in a state of mind bordering on despair. As ability was afforded, we endeavoured to turn her mind to seek after that quietude and submission to the dispensation permitted to be her lot, in which God is to be known, and his power experienced, to stay, comfort, console her, and which would carry her through the accumulated afflictions she was struggling with; but, after all, her poor mind was so overcharged with the prospect of her great poverty, her numerous fatherless children, without any visible means for their support, we were ready to fear that what we had to offer, obtained but little entrance. Leaving this cottage of woe and misery, we bent our course to Halifax.

24th January 1813: Lieutenant Cooper informs General Acland about a Luddite funeral and another wanting to take the oath of allegiance

Elland 24th January [1813.]

Sir.

I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 22d Instant and shall take care to follow your directions as they regard the diminution of the Detachment. I have already followed your directions as to patroling, which I received from you when at Wakefield.

I shall take pains to impress on the minds of the people of Elland and it’s neighbourhood the necessity of protecting themselves by their personal exertions Mr Dyson of Mr Cartledge have always been aware of it but though their exertions have been great they have not been generally supported.

The only Funeral in the neighbourhood of Elland was that of John Hill and no disturbance occurred but what was the consequence of the Methodist Parson refusing to read the service over the body, which was not of sufficient importance to notice.

I am happy to inform you that a man, of the name of Mitchell, who lives at Sowerby and whose son I had a Warrant against but was prevented serving by his leaving the Country, came to me this morning to ask me whether his son could be allowed to take the benifit of the Prince Regent's Proclamation for he was willing to go to Mr Radcliffe to take the Oath of Allegiance. I desired him to come to me again on tuesday I hope to hear from you under what circumstances such an indulgence may be granted. I had no information of his being concerned in any crimes beyond stealing Arms at the time I applied for the warrant, but I have reason to apprehend, from subsequent information, that he has been engaged in depredations when money or other property was stolen.

I have [etc]
Alf. Cooper Lieut.
West Suffolk Militia

[To] Major General Acland
&c &c &c
Wakefield.

Where were the West Yorkshire Luddite martyrs buried - and how many were buried at all?

Memorial placards for the 17 executed Luddites, left at the execution site on 19th January 2013 (image copyright Richard Holland)

The subsequent burial of the Luddites executed on 16th January 1813 still remains largely mysterious. The funerals that did take place went unreported in the local press. Sources in the Home Office records refer to only to one burial by name, but other than that do refer to some numbers and locations. The parish records are somewhat better, yielding three burials we know took place for certain.

Among the definites are John Ogden, a 23 year-old cropper from Cowcliffe. He was buried on 18th January 1813, in the Huddersfield St Peter's Parish, with a John Coates officiating. In the margin of his burial record is written "This man was hung as a Luddite, innocent, but knowing his brother was guilty but would not inform".

An extract from the Parish record showing the burials of John Ogden & James Haigh.

Buried the following day in the same parish was the Dalton cropper James Haigh, aged 28. Again, John Coates officiated.

On the 20th, William Hartley, a 41 year-old tailor from Warley was buried in St Mary Parish, Luddenden. Thomas Sutcliffe officiated.

Moving past the parish records, one contemporary letter in the Home Office correspondence confirms another name. In a letter to General Acland, Lieutenant Cooper at Elland confirmed on 24th January that John Hill, a 36 year-old cotton spinner from Greetland, had been buried locally within the past few days. Cooper also confirmed that, in common with the burial of the Luddite Samuel Hartley at Halifax months before, the Methodist preacher refused to read service over the body, and although there was no disturbance arising from this, Cooper intimates there was much unhappiness.

The only other information in the Home Office records is about the number and/or location of bodies at different points. On the 18th January, Lieutenant-Colonel Lang at Huddersfield revealed that 'bodies' had arrived there at 6.30 p.m. on the 17th, only to be taken to Lockwood and Longroyd Bridge. We know that Thomas Brook, a 32 year-old cropper was from Lockwood and John Walker, a 31 year-old cropper, was from Longroyd Bridge.

Major Bruce at Halifax reported on the 18th January that 2 bodies had arrived there that morning and had been held in a warehouse before being taken away by their friends on carts at 11.00 a.m. - one headed to Sowerby, one to Elland. The latter was presumably John Hill, whilst the body headed for Sowerby could have been Joseph Crowther, a 31 year-old cotton spinner of that place.

On the 19th January, Lieutenant Colonel Lang reported that 3 'quiet and orderly' burials had taken place in the Huddersfield area by then.

And that is where my research leads me to at this point.

In a recent article on the Guardian's website, local historian Paul Furness states that only 7 bodies were claimed by friends or relatives, and that the rest were dissected. Whilst Hall & Kipling (1984, p.50) agree that seven bodies were claimed, the latter statement is new information, although it's not clear what the sources are that support it (NB, both these accounts would appear to be wrong - see the foot of this blog post for updated information). There could be some truth in this - in a letter of 16th January, the Huddersfield solicitor John Allison wrote to General Acland that:

"I do not expect that any of the friends of the unfortunate Men (save one or two), can afford to bring the bodies to Hudd and I conceive the Croppers will not subscribe for the purpose for they all here appear ashamed of themselves"

However, despite what Allison stated, we know from the information above that two croppers were buried for definite, with a third alluded to Lang, and that the bodies of two others were taken to Lockwood and Longroyd Bridge upon their arrival in Huddersfield. So it does look like the local Luddites could afford to take care of their dead after all.

Until further information comes to light though, it's not absolutely certain that the following Luddites were buried at all:

John Batley of Thornhill
Thomas Brook of Lockwood
Joseph Crowther of Sowerby
Jonathan Dean of Huddersfield
Joseph Fisher of Briestwhistle
James Hey of Skircoat
Job Hey of Greetland
Nathan Hoyle of Skircoat
John Swallow of Briestwhistle
John Walker of Longroyd Bridge 

NB  - since writing this article, new research has yielded more definite information about what happened to the bodies of those executed. William Knipe's 'Criminal Chronology of York Castle' (1867, pp.153-154) tells us that the bodies of all the Luddites were claimed by family/friends except those of Joseph Crowther and Nathan Hoyle, whose bodies were 'interred in the hoppet at the back of the Castle'.

16th January 1813: Lieutenant Cooper informs General Acland of the preparation for the funerals of Luddites near Elland

Elland 16th January [1813]

Sir

I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of yours of this day containing your Orders for circumspection at the Funerals of the Culprits executed this Morning and shall take great care to perform the duty enjoined me to your satisfaction.

The two Men who lived in North Deane, (Job Hay and John Hill) should their Bodies be brought home, will probably be buried at Elland. Two of them (James Hey and Nathan Hoyle) who lived at Skircoate Green, within a Mile of Halifax, will I should think be buried at the latter place, and the other two William Hartley and Joseph Crowther of Sowerby, where there is or was a Detachment of the Stirling, will be buried there, and the two latter places being so near Halifax could have Troops in case of emergency more suddenly from that place I could attend myself, I shall however, unless I receive orders from you to the contrary, have Agents to attend each funeral that I may Report to you the sensations and conduct of the people attending.

If it meets Your approbation I will send a Copy of your Instructions to me, concerning the Funerals, to Major Bruce.

I have had many of the principle Inhabitants of Elland with me this morning who are greatly alarmed at the prospect of the Soldiers leaving them, they have call’d a Meeting and I will have the Honor of reporting fully to morrow according to the directions I received from you on Thursday last.

The Orderly reports all is quiet on his Road hither

I have [etc]
Alf. Cooper Lieut.
West Suffolk Militia

[To] Major General Acland,
&c. &c. &c.
Wakefield.

16th January 1813: The 14 convicted Luddites are executed at York Castle

A contemporary illustration, from York Castle Prison, of an execution at the 'New Drop' after 1802.

On Saturday 16th January 1813, the fourteen Luddites sentenced to death 4 days previously were hanged at York Castle. It had been decided to hang them in two groups of seven: an anecdote has it that the counsel for the prosecution asked Baron Thomson after sentencing if they were to be hung together, and he responded "Well no, sir, I consider they would hang more comfortably on two."

There are two main contemporary accounts of the execution in both the Leeds papers, with the longest being printed in the Leeds Mercury of 23rd January 1813. This is below, with notes added in square brackets.

After sentence of death had been passed upon the persons convicted of making the attack on Mr. Cartwright’s Mill, at Rawfolds, and of the Burglaries, fifteen in number, all of them except John Lumb, who was reprieved, were removed to the condemned-ward, and their behaviour in that place was very suitable to their unhappy situation. They confessed that they had offended against the laws of God and their Country, but on the subject of the offence, for which the sentence of death was passed upon them, they were very reserved; yet all of them except one, tacitly confessed that they were guilty of the crimes which they stood convicted, when they were asked if any of them could say they were not guilty, they all remain silent except James Haigh and Nathan Hoyle, the former of whom said, “I am guilty,” and the latter, “I am innocent;” this was the day before the execution; but Hoyle did not make any declaration to that effect when brought to the platform. Their minds for the most part had attained an extraordinary degree of composure; except the mind of John Ogden—he appeared some time to be much disturbed, but on the question being put to him whether his agitation arose from any discovery that he had to make, and with the weight of which his conscience was oppressed? he answered, no; his agitation arose from the terrors of his situation.

And here it seems proper to observe, that if any of these unfortunate men possessed any secret that it might have been important to the public to know, they suffered it to die with them. Their discoveries were meagre in the extreme. Not one of them impeached any of their accomplices, nor did they state, as might reasonably have been expected, where the depot of arms, in the collection of which some of them had been personally engaged, was to be found. When interrogated on this point, some of them disclaimed all knowledge of the place, and others said, Benjamin Walker, the informer against Mellor, Thorpe, and Smith, could give the best information about the arms, as he had been present at most of the depredations. On the question being put to them whether they knew who was concerned in the robbery of a mill (not Rawfolds) near Cleckheaton; James Hey said, “I and Carter the informer were present at the robbery.” It was observed to James Hey, that it was very extraordinary, that he who had the advantage of a religious education, his Father being of the Methodist Society, should have come to such a disgraceful situation; to which replied, in a manner that shewed that his vices, however flagrant, had not extinguished in his bosom the feelings of filial affection, I hope, said he, “the son’s crimes will never be imputed to his father.” The principal part of these ill-fated men were married and have left families. William Hartley, has left seven children, their mother, happily for herself, died about half a year ago. John Ogden, wife and two children; Nathan Hoyle, wife and seven children; Joseph Crowther, wife pregnant, and four children; John Hill, wife and two children; John Walker, wife and five children; Jonathan Dean, wife and seven children; Thomas Brook, wife and three children; John Swallow, wife and six children; John Batley, wife and one child; John Fisher, wife and three children; Job Hey, wife and seven children; James Hey, wife and two children; James Haigh, wife, but no children. On the morning before the execution, the eldest daughter of Hartley obtain permission to visit a wretched parent, when a scene took place which we will not attempt to describe. The heart-broken father wished to have been spared the anguish of this parting interval, but the importunate intreaties of his child a last prevailed, and they met to take a long farewell, never again to be repeated in this world. What must be the feelings of an affectionate father, (for such in this trying moment he appears to have shewn himself,) when, though standing on the brink of eternity, he declines to see a darling child; how great an aggravation of his punishment must those parting pangs of inflicted, and how loud an admonition does this melancholy incident suggest to the Fathers of families against entering into combinations that may place them in the same inexpressibly afflicted situations. It was Hartley’s particular request that the public should be informed of the number and unprovided situation of his orphan family.

At 11 o'clock on Saturday morning, the Under Sheriff went to demand the bodies of John Ogden, Nathan Hoyle, Joseph Crowther, John Hill, John Walker, Jonathan Dean, and Thomas Brook. They were all engaged in singing a hymn:

Behold the Saviour of Mankind,
Nail’d to the shameful tree;
How vast the love that him inclin’d
To bleed and for me, &c.

Which one of them [John Walker, according to the Leeds Intelligencer] dictated in a firm tone of voice; and in this religious service they continued on their way to the platform, and some time after they had arrived at the fatal spot. They then join the ordinary with great fervency in the prayers appointed to be read on such occasions, and after that gentleman had taken his final leave of them, ejaculations to the throne of mercy rose from every part of the crowded platform.

Joseph Crowther addressing himself to the spectators said, “Farewell Lads;” another whose name we could not collect said, “I am prepared for the Lord,” and John Hill, advancing a step or two on the platform, said, “Friends! all take warning by my fate; for three years I followed the Lord, but about half a year since, I began to fall away; and fell by little and little, and at last I am come to this; persevere in the ways of godliness, and O! take warning by my fate!” The executioner then proceeded to the discharge of his duty, and the falling of the platform soon after, forced an involuntary shriek from the vast concourse of spectators assembled to witness this tremendous sacrifice to the injured laws of the country.

The bodies having remained suspended for the usual time [12.00 p.m.], they were removed, and while the place of execution was yet warm with the blood of the former victims, the remaining seven, namely, John Swallow, John Batley, Joseph Fisher, William Hartley, James Haigh, James Hey, and Job Hey, were led at half-past one o'clock from their cell to the fatal stage, their behaviour, like that of their deceased confederates, was contrite and becoming; James Haigh expressed deep contrition for his offences. John Swallow said he had been led away by wicked and unprincipled men, and hoped his fate would be a warning to all, and teach them to live a life of sobriety and uprightness. They all united in prayer with an earnestness that is seldom witnessed in the services of devotion, except in the immediate prospect of death [the Leeds Intelligencer said they sung the same hymn as those executed earlier]. A few moments closed their mortal existence, and placed at the bar differing from all earthly tribunal's in this infinitely important particular—here, owing to the imperfections of all human institutions, repentance though sincere, cannot procure forgiveness—there, we have the authority of God himself for saying, that the cries of the contrite and broken-hearted shall not be despised. Charity hopeth all things.

The criminal records of Yorkshire do not perhaps afford an instance of so many victims having been offered in one day to the injured laws of the country. The scene was inexpressibly awful, and the large body of soldiers, both horse and foot, who guarded the approach to the castle, and were planted in front of the fatal tree, gave to the scene a peculiar degree of terror, and exhibited the appearance of a military execution. The spectators, particularly in the morning, were unusually numerous, and their behaviour on both occasions, were strictly decorous and unbecoming.

The site of the 'New Drop', where the executions took place (Google Street View)

11th January 1813: Henry Hobhouse reports concerns about security at York Castle to the Home Office

Private &
Confidential

York
Jan. 11. 1813.

Dear Sir,

Having learnt last night Mr. Cartwright that four of the Prisoners convicted on Saturday could probably give Information respecting the Places where arms are concealed near Huddersfield, I have considered it very important that they should be kept separate from the other Prisoners & from each other, & have therefore applied to the magistrates for that purpose, who have promised that as soon as the Gaol is cleared of the great Number of Prisoners now there my Application shall be complied with.

The other Point I yesterday alluded to respecting the Gaol was the Facility of Communication between the Felons & the Debtors & all persons who enter the Castle for the purpose or under the pretence of visiting the Debtors, the Fact being that the Court, in which the Felons walk, is only separated from the Area of the Castle, in which the Felons what, by two sets of iron Railing a few Feet from each other, through which not only any Conversation may be held in a low Voice, but any Articles of small Bulk may be conveyed either in or out with the greatest Facility. In illustration of this Position I beg leave to inclose a Copy of a Letter lately written by George Mellor the Murderer, which I think I may assume that no Gaoler would suffer knowingly to come out of his Gaol. I have received a Promise from the magistrates that these means of Communication shall be speedily prevented.

I sent for Cartwright last Night after I wrote to you, & told him that if he thought that his Interference on behalf of the Prisoners would be serviceable to him, I saw no Objection to any Application from them passing through him, although his Recommendation would be received as that of an individual & not of a Prosecutor. He very manfully said he had no Wish to do any Thing that should appear to curry Favour with the his Enemies.

I understand that Blackburn the Attorney saw his Clients yesterday, but that none of them were then inclined to make any Disclosures.

Baron Thomson sent his Clerk to Mr. Park this morning to say that the Judges did not mean to receive any Applications from mercy, but to leave the Discretion entirely with the Secretary of State.

To day we have tried two Cases, viz. one Indictment agt.

Joseph Brook

for Burglary at the dwelling House of Benjn Strickland; & another against

Job Hey
John Hill, &
Wm. Hartley

for the like offensive Geo. Haigh’s at Skircoat. In the former Case the Evidence was rather weak as to the Identity of the Prisoner, but his Counsel did not think fit to rely on that Weakness, but set up an Alibi which was completely blown up. The Judge however (Baron Thomson) summed up for an Acquittal, & the Jury found a Verdict accordingly, although they disbelieved the Alibi.

The second Case was one of stealing Arms, in which we obtained a Verdict against all the Prisoners.

We mean to try only one more case, & shall finish about noon tomorrow; after wch I propose leaving York as soon as I find I can be of no further use here.

I recd your letter this morning, & am happy to find that Lord Sidmouth approves of the course pursued with regard to the Bulk of the Prisoners.

I am
Dear Sir
Yrs most faithfully
H. Hobhouse

I send you a York Paper of this day. The Sentence of the Murderers, the Paragraph respecting Joshua Haigh & others, & the Extracts from Mr. J. LeBlanc’s summing up in Rex v. Haigh were inserted by my Directions.

[To] J Beckett Esq

11th January 1813: The trial of Job Hey, John Hill & William Hartley, accused of burglary

The second case heard on Monday 11th January 1813 was that of Job Hey (aged 40, a waterman), John Hill (36, a cotton spinner) & William Hartley (41, a tailor), who were accused of a burglary at the home of George Haigh at Skircoat on 29th August 1812. They all pleaded Not Guilty.

James Alan Park started the case by saying that he hoped the trial would not last as long as the previous one.

Park set out the details: that George Haigh, a wool-stapler living at Copley Gate near Skircoat, was in bed when he was knocked up between 11.00 p.m. at night and 1.00 a.m. in the morning on Saturday 29th August. The men on the other side of the door said that “my master, General Ludd, has sent me for your fire arms”. Although Haigh protested he had none, the men were insistent, and one of Haigh’s servants called Tillotson advised him to surrender his guns – although he had many more, Haigh gave only a musket and a pistol. It was the pistol that Park contended was now in the possession of a witness to the case, albeit in a modified state. The men outside demanded entrance and banged the door, so much so that one of them  broke the stock of his musket doing so, the remains of which were left behind. During the raid, Tillotson was told that his master should lower the price he sold his milk for.

An accomplice who had turned King’s Evidence, Joseph Carter, stated that William Hartley was the leader of a group that had met at 10.00 p.m. that evening for the raid, and that it was Job Hey that had broken the stock of his musket on the door. Park contended that a pistol later retrieved from Hey’s house was the one taken from Haigh during the raid that night.

Park read out the confession that all three prisoners had given as to their taking part in the raid that night. He assured the Jury that they had not been neither intimidated, threatened not given any promises.

Mr. Justice Le Blanc summed up the case, and then George Haigh was the first to give evidence in detail about what had happened that night. He remained on his staircase throughout and could not identify any of the prisoners.

Haigh’s servant, Tillotson, gave detailed evidence about the raid next, stating that the musket given over had no ramrod.

Next, the accomplice, Joseph Carter a cotton-spinner from Greetland, was called and stated that he, the three prisoners and up to 6 others took part in the raid. The evidence given corroborated that given by Haigh and his servant Tillotson.

Sergeant Thomas Clarke of the Suffolk Militia was next to give evidence. He had gone to arrest Hey early in December and had found he was storing just over 3 lbs of gunpowder at his house. He also admitted to storing a pistol in his house. The pistol was produced in Court, and examined by Haigh and Tillotson: Haigh had only owned his pistol for 6 weeks, and examining it, they were reluctant to swear it was the same one, as this pistol was scratched and well-used, although it was of the same type.

Two witnesses, a Mr Bradbury and a Mr Hollingworth spoke for the character of John Hill, describing him as industrious, honest and sober. Bradbury also spoke for Job Hey, who he described ‘fair’.

The Judge summed up the case and the Jury immediately announced that they found all three prisoners Guilty.

19th December 1812: General Acland informs the Home Office about the suspects committed for the recent robberies

Huddersfield 19th December 1812.

My dear Sir.

I had in part anticipated your wishes previous to the receipt of your note to the 15th Inst—

But the cases were thought so good against

William Hill

Joseph Crowther

Job Hay

William Hartley

Nathan Hoyle

that they were committed yesterday and are gone this morning to York Castle.

Mr. Lloyd told me previous to commitment the cases were so strong, he should have no difficulty in going to trial at any time. The most doubtful case I apprehend to be Hoyle’s. The others acknowledge generally or in fact.

James Hay & [Carter] are committed to Wakefield, [Carter] is admitted on Evidence—Hay seems not only willing to speak out, but certainly can give much information, however whether it may be advisable to allow it now or after conviction Mr. Hobhouse will be the judge, to whom Mr. Lloyd rights by this Post & sends up the examinations — from whom you will therefore get particulars now fully detail’d, [till] I am enabled to do—

Three others are recommitted for further examination on Monday, but as far as any opinion can be form’d at present, it is most probable they will then be discharg’d—

I wrote to General Maitland on Thursday, but as I find he was to leave London yesterday, I take the liberty of sending you for Lord Sidmouth’s information a copy of my letter with an enclosure—

But as General Maitland during his stay in London is in daily communication with you, I consider’d it more regular to correspond with him, than to intrude myself unnecessarily on Lord Sidmouth or Yourself.

believe me My dear Sir
Yrs most faithfully

Wroth: P: Ackland

[To] J. Beckett Esqr
&c &c &c