7th April 1817: Thomas Savage writes to his father, from the condemned cell at Leicester Gaol

Leicester County Gaol,
April 7, 1817.

Dear honoured Father,

I have just had my son with me, who has informed me of a circumstance which has hurt my mind, to think that I should be thought guilty of such a crime. Mitchell I may call a stranger to me, as I did not know him at the time Mr. Trentham was shot; and I declare, as a dying man, thaut I do not know who shot him, nor ever did. I am as innocent of the crime as a child unborn; and this I solemnly declare, that I never embrued my hands in the blood of my fellow-creature, nor ever thought of committing such an act. I never was a procurator to the Luddites in my life, and if I am so judged, I am judged wrongfully. The men who were along with me, I had no acquaintance with at all. I acknowledge being at Loughborough, and had the truth been spoken, it would not have appeared so bad against me.

I remain your affectionate son,

THOMAS SAVIDGE.

Condemned Cell.

27th April 1815: George Coldham names a Luddite suspected of shootings in Nottinghamshire

Private.

Dear Sir

You will perceive by the inclosed Report, that the revolutionary Exchequer is not amply supplied as it cannot raise £6, and they have therefore been compelled to give up all Idea of communicating with their friends, in the Metropolis at present.—Our Informant will in consequence be sent into Yorkshire and go where such heavy sums need not be raised for the purpose.—The Secret Committee will supply his wants if they can understand that he can go with the probability of obtaining useful Information, and without the danger of incurring the suspicion of the Confederates by appearing too forward in a desperate business.—

The latter part of the Report relating to myself is not a very pleasant complexion, but I should entirely disregard it, did not the Character of Dann lead me to know him capable of any atrocious Act he being the man who shot Mr. Trentham of Nottm and killed Wm Kilby at New Basford.—I hope however that the current of the Intelligence from the Continent will soon put period to any possible expectation of a Revolution here.—In the mean time I will thank you to inform me whether any Cavalry are ordered to Nottingham in the room of the Green Horse as it would be much add to our Security altho’ I fear it may be impossible for Government to provide for us in the present emergency.—

I am [etc]
Geo Coldham

Nottingham
27 Apl 1815

[To] J.Beckett Esqr.

2nd June 1812: The Town Clerk of Nottingham, George Coldham, writes to Home Office

(Private and confidential)

Nottingham
2, June, 1812

We have No Intelligence of the Persons who attacked Mr. Trentham nor any hopes of obtaining any.

Dear Sir,

I would have written to you long ere this on the present appearances here but they have been very difficult to understand since the passing of the Bill making it Death to destroy Frames. This has very much closed up our Channels of Information and darkened such of them as are still open. I am very much afraid that it has operated a very mischievous effect upon the mind of the Mass of the People by teaching them that to render their plan of Intimidation complete they must strike at the Life of Man and that they may now as safely Do this as they could before Destroy Frames. I am well aware that this is all circumstances considered a most trying and difficult Business to act wisely about and I am fully aware that it is a most desireable object to conciliate the Publick mind and to reconcile the labouring Classes to their situation. I give the House of Commons and our Members full Credit for the most laudable motives in entertaining the complaints of the Frameknitters nay I am from the bottom of my Heart desirous that they should receive every redress for their Grievances from the Legislature which can be given them consistent with the Security of the Trade. It is lamentable that the peaceably Disposed part of these Artizans should suffer for the acts and proceedings of the more turbulent and violent part of their Body. There is clearly an Interest of the mere Workmen which may be occasionally opposed to the Interest of the Manufacturer although I firmly believe that generally there permanent interest is the same. The mere Workman however is apt to look to the profit derived to him personally from certain kinds of Work to retain which profit he would force the Manufacturer to make that species of Work altho’ it might be superseded by the Demand on the part of the Consumer for a cheaper mode of Manufactory which on the other Hand the Hosier must produce or suffer the orders for both these species of Goods to go where the cheaper sort are manufactured. Parliament have heard the case of the mere Workman and very probably have heard it much overstated and much misrepresented. They have not heard the Case of the Manufacturer and I question whether will ever hear of it if the Bill is proceeded with in this Session The Hosier now is overawed by the circumstances of Terror in which he is environned and I doubt whether so situated anyone will dare to state his Answer to the Complaints of the Workmen his expositions of their Statements, his explanations of their misrepresentations. The Workmen are not satisfied. They are not put down by the Terror of the Law, on the contrary they know that they have brought the Terror of Assassination into lively exercise upon the Head of their Employers and they feel they are now treating with them with all the advantage which this situation gives them. If the Hosiers are silent if they decline to appear to give evidence against the projected legislative Regulation of their Trade, if they do not attend by Counsel or Solicitor to oppose the Bill let Parliament at least proceed with caution let it estimate the nature of their Situation, let it never for a moment proceed to infer their Consent from the Assertions of the Advocates for the Bill or from the Silence of the Manufacturers. I believe that the measures in Parliament have very much interested the Frameknitters and that those who were lately turbulently disposed and some of whom there is too much reason to fear are now willing if necessary to go to more horrid Extremities (if necessary to keep up the system of Terror) are willing to await the Success of the Bill intended to be brought into Parliament and if it should be such as they wish, are ready to await its effects upon the Trade in favour of the Workmen. But if thrown out or rendered unpalitable to the Workmen they would resume effective operations. I believe there will be no more breaking of frames but the combination amongst the Workmen remains in full force. The Bill will be for us a most important measure if it conciliate the Workman without injuring the Manufacturer it will proclaim Peace throughout the District for the present; but as in my humble Judgement it cannot restore the demand for our manufactures and without it in a very short time the Workmen will find that all their fairy scheme of restoring the flourishing state of the Manufacture by abolishing fraudulent Goods will end in Disappointment and they will then be as clamorous for Peace as they have been against their Employers. In the meantime I cannot but applaud the policy of these Frameworknitters, Men affect to impute all their distress to the Conduct of their Masters and the fraudulent Goods which have been manufactured, and under this Banner they come to Parliament to introduce a legislative Protection for the Workman in all his particular Complaints against his Employers. Let the Trade be ever so bad he will be benefitted by the Provisions exclusively framed for his Protection in the questions which occur between him and his Employer. By keeping the War and its consequences out of sight his Confederates at home are kept together consisting of two opposite parties one of whom would impute everything to the war and the other nothing. By imputing all the Events of his situation to his Employer and fraudulent Goods he hopes to keep Parliament in good temper and to enlist them to aid him in every Regulation which he requires in the Hope of convincing the Body of the Artizans that the Evil is not imputable to the War but is such as is capable of a parliamentary Remedy.

Yours [etc.]

Geo. Coldham

1st May 1812: Reward notice for William Trentham assassination attempt

Whitehall, May 1, 1812.

Whereas it hath been humbly represented unto His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, that as Mr. William Trentham was knocking at his house-door, in St. Mary's Church-Yard, in the town of Nottingham, on Monday evening last, the 27th of April, about a quarter past ten o’clock, two men (whom he saw standing very near) stepped up to him; and one of them instantly, and without a word being uttered, shot him through the breast with a large horse pistol;

His Royal Highness, for the better apprehending and bringing to justice the persons concerned in the said atrocious act, is hereby pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to promise His Majesty's most gracious pardon to any one of them (except the person who actually fired off the said pistol) who shall discover his or their accomplice or accomplices therein, so that he or they may be apprehended and convicted thereof.

R.RYDER.

And as a further encouragement, a reward of ONE HUNDRED GUINEAS is hereby offered to whomsoever will give such information as shall lead to the apprehension of both or either of the two men concerned in the said felony; and a still further reward of FIVE HUNDRED GUINEAS, to any person who shall discover his or their accomplice or accomplices therein (except as before excepted), to be paid on the conviction of any one or more of the offenders.

27th April 1812: Attempted assassination of a Nottingham Hosier, William Trentham

William Trentham was Hosier in the town of Nottingham, a partner in the firm of Trentham, Tierney & Morton. He was already a notorious and hated character among the framework-knitters of that town.

At the height of Luddism in Nottinghamshire in January 1812, his windows had been smashed on two occasions.

In February, his warehouse was broken into and a quantity of silk and cotton stockings were removed.

Only a few days ago, he had received a threatening letter about his subcontracting to another Hosier who was paying extremely low wages to some of her workers. The letter was clear about the consequences of continuing in the practises he had thus far.

According to Thomas Allsop, a member of the United Committee of Framework-knitters, on Saturday 25th April, Trentham had docked his workers' wages and told them to 'tell Ned Ludd' if they were unhappy.

At 10.15 p.m. on a Monday evening, the 27th April 1812, Trentham was returning home, when he thought that 2 men were following him. He couldn't be sure, but with the letter he had received suddenly springing to mind, he decided to hurry home. He reached the door of his house at Kaye's Walk near St Mary's Church Yard in Nottingham, and knocked on it. While he waited for an answer, the 2 men that had been following approached him, one of them presenting a large horse-pistol to his chest. Without a word, the man shot him.

Trentham was lucky: he was found shortly afterwards, and help was obtained to remove the bullet which was lodged just under his left shoulder. Despite being 63 years of age, he survived and later recovered.

[Mid to late] April 1812: Threatening letter from "W Balfour. Captain of Division" to William Trentham, Nottingham

Sir,

I have received instructions from the Captain from his Head Quarters at Grinds Booth in which he orders me to represent to you the conduct of a Person of the name of Haywood who takes chevining from your Warehouse.This woman gives her Girls but half a Crown a Week tho' they chevin six pair of Hose a Day for which they work a great number of Hours the Captain has written himself to a Hosier of Nottingham respecting this Woman and he informs me that the result has been most satisfactory, the Captain desires me to represent to you in the strongest terms his detestation and abhorrence of your conduct if you are privy to this Womans transactions as you must be sensible that no human being capable of work can be maintained with 2/6 a Week.

You must be sensible Sir that these unfortunate Girls are under very strong temptations to turn prostitutes, from their extreme poverty.

The Captain authorises me to say that these People being defenceless he conceives them to be more immediately under his protection as his believes their Wages are the lowest in England He hopes you will endeavour to alleviate their misfortunes by giving the employ to each of these Individuals at an equitable Price.

Should you neglect to redress the grievance complain'd of I am commanded by the Captain to acquaint you, and I do hereby acquaint you, that however unwilling yet our Duty to the cause will compells us to attack you on your Property wherever you may be found

For this Purpose the Sections 11= 13= and 34 are put under my command and I shall not fail of doing my Duty to my Captain and my Frend

Sign'd W. Balfour
Captain of Division
Four oClock in the
Afternoun [illegible]
[illegible]
Patrina

20th February 1812: Robberies in Nottingham target Hosiers & Public Officials

On Thursday 20th February, several robberies took place in Nottingham. From the warehouse of the hated Hosiers Messrs Trentham & Co. were taken six dozen and five pairs of silk, and ten pairs of cotton stockings. Also raided were the premises of Messrs Woolley & Co., and also the houses of Mr Braithwaite and the Town Clerk, Mr Coldham. It's not clear if this Braithwaite was the same person who had frames broken in January.

The house of a Mr Burton was entered at mid-day, and large mahogany dining table was taken away seemingly without anyone noticing. It's not clear if this was the same Burton who was at the root of the Luddites grievances 12 months prior.

31st December 1811: A hosier's windows are broken in Nottingham

In the week 30th December 1811 - 3rd January 1812, a Hosier called William Trentham had some of his windows smashed by stones at least twice. For Trentham, this inconvenience was no doubt annoying, but he would have done well to heed the clear warnings as to his unpopularity with the people of Nottingham. The coming year was to bring much worse for him.