15th September 1812: General Acland receives a report of Luddite activity near Rastrick, West Yorkshire

Sir

On Sunday evening about ½ past 10 Oclock, a Gun was fired in the neighbourhood of Rastrick, the Ball from which struck against a House in the Town, & rebounding from the House hit a man in the back, the person very soon afterwards call’d upon Lt. Allen & brought the Ball—Mr Allen immediately went over with a part of the men, but could not meet with any Suspicious Characters—

Last night the whole of my Detachment were out from 10 Oclock to 3 Oclock this Morning – I heard the Report of a Gun about ½ past 10 clock, & directly after a Light was held up, for nearly ½ a minute in a Wood, about a Mile from Brighouse Bridge, where I was stationed with a Part of the Piquet—The Dragoons were Patroling in that Direction, likewise a Division of my Piquet, but they did not see or hear any person in the Wood—

I have had repeated Conversations with the Special Constables, who have at different times been on Duty with me, they are all decidedly of Opinion at a General search for Arms, in the following Towns & Villages would be attended with a good effect, & they have no Doubt a great Many Arms would be discovered—

The Acting Constable for the Town ship of Brighouse was with me last night, & he has given me the following List of places, which exactly answers to the plans of all the Constables—

The general Search to commence at Elland Edge, Linley, Fixby, & Fixby Ridge, Rastrick & Bradley—

I therefore beg to submit this plan, for your consideration, & shall feel much honor’d by its meeting your approbation—

I have [etc]

W Wilde Capt
N Suffolk Regt—

Brighouse
15 Septr

[To] M. Genl. Acland
&c &c &c

2nd May 1812: Signals of rockets & blue lights seen at night in the Stockport area

On Saturday 2nd May 1812, it was reported to the Home Office that some sort of visual communication system was being used by persons unknown across the Stockport area and possibly further afield.

The Stockport solicitor and clerk to the Magistrates, John Lloyd, gave reports about what had been observed for several nights preceding, and also that a change had taken place on  the evening of 1st May, a date that the authorities in the North West feared had been earmarked for some kind of rising:

For many nights past, Signal Rockets have been thrown from various points, which last night were discontinued, & Signals of a different description were substituted. The Signal a blue light suspended from the top of a Pole, which seemed to be worked with the accuracy of a telegraph, forming Circles, & different figures, which signals were repeated at convenient distances

The Points from whence these Lights last night proceeded, are well ascertained, & will be reconnoitred to night by the active people assisted by the military. The blue lights were seen between Eleven & One in the Morning.