25th August 1816: Burglary & frame-breaking near Stapleford, Nottinghamshire

The Nottingham Review of 30th August 1816 reported an incident that had taken place at midnight on Sunday 25th August 1816:

On Saturday night, about twelve o'clock, the house of a person named Bramley, who lives in a lane very near Bramcote-house, in the parish of Stapleford, was entered by a number of thieves, who broke four frames and robbed the house of a quantity of linen, some clothes, and part of a flitch of bacon. These robbers have not yet been apprehended, though we hope they will not escape the hands of justice.

26th August 1814: Burglary & attempted burglary at the premises of two Leicester Hosiers

Late in the evening of Friday 26th August 1814, burglars targeted the premises of two Hosiers in Leicester.

The warehouse of F. Burgess in Loseby Lane was entered via an upper window using a ladder taken from a Mr. Ellis of Mortin's Yard. The burglars appeared to be familiar with the warehouse, as they targeted a desk which contained a pocket book containing a cheque for £200, leaving similar desks undisturbed. Other valuable items were also left behind. Two dozen hose were also taken. These items were found (minus the cheque) abandoned the following morning in St. Martin's Churchyard. The borrowed ladder was left standing against the building, the burglars exiting the warehouse via the front door.

There was also an attempted burglary at the warehouse of another Hosier in Leicester the same night, but a guard dog barking awoke people nearby, and the attempt was abandoned.

13th September 1813: The trial of William Beston, at Chester Lammas Assizes, for burglary

William Beston was the brother of Simeon Beston, who had been convicted 3 days before of Burglary at Chester Lammas Assizes. It was he who the Chester Chronicle had erroneously accused of being a Luddite, on account of an involvement in rioting at Stockport in April 1812. In fact, it was his co-accused, James Renshaw, who had been convicted thus.

I have included this trial on account of this slip, and also because William Beston shared the same fate as his brother and Renshaw.

[William Beston] alias Basnett, aged 42, a weaver from North Etchells, was indicted for a burglary and felony, in the dwelling house of Samuel Harding, of Swettenham, on the 6th of June last, and stealing cash, notes, &c. to the amount of 100l. and upwards.

The circumstances of this case bore all the alarming features which characterized the trial of Simeon Beston and James Renshaw, on Friday.

Lucy Harding, wife [of] the prosecutor, stated her husband to be a cripple. I went to bed (said she) between 10 and 11 o'clock, together with my daughter and son-in-law. Between 1 and 2, I was alarmed by a noise in the shop, and the light of a candle. A man entered the room, (another standing at the door) and said he wanted some bread and cheese. I said there was but little in the house. One of the men had a black face, and he said to the other, "You may go down."—He went down stairs. They afterwards rifled the boxes; and the man at the head of the steps said, if I did not get into bed, he’d blow my brains out!—They had both of them pistols. When they were going into the adjoining room, the man with a black face, presented a pistol to my husband's head, and demanded his money. He said there was no more; there might be some in the adjoining room, but it did not belong to him. He then came to me, demanding the key, saying if I did not surrender he would blow my brains out! The man without his face backed, came to me, with a candle and pistol, and insisted on me getting out of bed, and delivering the money. I did so; and the man with a black face said, "Is there no gold?" I told him the other man had got it out of the desk. I then went into bed again, and they followed me, saying, if I did not lie still they would blow my brains out, as they were guarding the house. At this time I heard somebody below in the shop. On examining the house after they were gone, I found they had gone out, through the door, but had entered at the window. They had broken the stanchion and cut out the glass.—They were in the house about 20 minutes, and the man without the blackface is the prisoner at the bar. He held a candle in his hand; I knew him when he was a boy, for he had not changed his face although he had changed his clothes. A man had come to the shops for half an ounce of tobacco, and I judge the man with a black face to be the person. They took 14 guineas, a half guinea, Bank of England Bills, Local Notes, some silver coin, nineteen shillings in copper out of the shop, tied in a handkerchief, and twenty shillings or more in copper out of the drawer—altogether about one hundred pounds.

On cross-examination by Mr. D.F. Jones, she said she had no doubt of the prisoner’s identity.

The daughter of the last witness corroborated the testimony of her mother. She had fastened all the doors and windows. The prisoner at the bar was the man who rifled her trunk—he took some silver in a purse.

The husband of the preceding witness gave a similar testimony.—When the men were in the room, he said to the man with a black face, "You've taken all the money;" the robber replied, "If you don't hold your noise, I'll blow out your brains."—Saw the prisoner at the Bar distinctly. Knew him again at the justice’s; had seen the man before at Wilmslow.

Another witness deposed she had seen the prisoner and two other men in the road, at Carrington Heath.

James Gardner said he had seen the prisoner and two others at Bowden, at 5 o'clock on the morning after the robbery; the prisoner was drinking, but the others were at the the door tossing for two shillings, half-a-crown, and five shillings at a time.—Beston had some copper in a handkerchief behind him, and he paid the shot out of it.

Thomas Hall deposed, that on Whitsun Monday he saw the prisoner at the Round-about at Altrincham; he was lying on a sofa, apparently asleep. A pistol was hanging out of his pocket. A man present took the pistol gave it to witness, who drew the ramrod, in order to discover whether it was loaded; but there not being a screw to it, he got a skewer, and knocked the charge out on the table. It was heavily loaded, and had five large slugs at the top!—The prisoner pulled out a purse there, in which was about 12 or 14 shillings or guineas; he could not tell which.—[A purse was handed to witness, which he said was similar as to color and make, to the one produced by the prisoner]

Robert Oldham, a publican of Chester, said the prisoner was at his house on Sunday the 13th of June.—On Monday he asked for change for a guinea. Witness thought he was joking, from the great scarcity of that coin; but the prisoner produced a guinea, and witness changed it. On Wednesday or Thursday following, he changed another.

Anne Foulkes, of the Livre, Chester, remembers the prisoner being at her house the 14th June last, when he changed a 5l. Macclesfield note.

Mr. Lloyd, Solicitor, of Stockport, was examined as to the distance from Swettenham to Bowden, which he stated to be about 12 or 13 miles the nearest way, but by way of Knutsford it was probably more than 13 miles.

The examination of the Prisoner was here produced. In it the prisoner denied being from home the particular nights in question, &c.

One of the Jury stated the distance between Swettenham and Bowden to be about twelve miles.

The Prisoner being asked for his defence, replied "I have nothing to say."

His Lordship then recapitulated the whole of the evidence, and the Jury immediately found the prisoner—Guilty.

William Beston was later sentenced to death. A later edition of the Chester Chronicle commented on William Beston's reaction to the sentencing:

Immediately after sentence was passed upon them, William Beston, holding up his fist in a threatening position, said, "[Damn] thee, [Lloyd] I may thank thee for this?" pointing to a respectable attorney in court, who had been the principal means of apprehending the desperadoes!

10th September 1813: The trial of Simeon Beston & James Renshaw at Chester Lammas Assizes, for burglary

At Chester Lammas Assizes in 1813 two trials took place which have not, up until now at least, been deemed relevant to the chronicles of Luddism in the north of England. Upon reading about them, one may ask why this should be any different. However, two factors demand their inclusion.

The first is the involvement of the Stockport solicitor, and Luddite-baiter, John Lloyd. He seems to have been behind the prosecution of the three men. The second factor is that the local press, chiefly the Chester Chronicle, focused on the fact that one of those on trial was (regarded as) a Luddite, and had been before the court at the Chester Special Commission nearly 16 months previously. In fact, they named the wrong man: William Beston. It was in fact James Renshaw who had been charged with riot and robbery in Stockport in April 1812, and had pleaded guilty, but had been discharged on recognizances.

The trial of Simeon Beston and James Renshaw took place approximately on Friday 10th September. The Chester Chronicle's report of it follows:

SIMEON BESTON, AND JAMES RENSHAW,

The former aged 26, a weaver from Ringway; the latter aged 30, a weaver, from Wilmslow, for a burglary and felony in the house of Joseph Harding, of Henbury, in the night of the 28th of April last.

Joseph Harding stated, that on the night of the 28th April last, he went to bed about 9 o'clock; about a quarter of an hour afterwards, his wife followed, having previously secured the doors and windows.—He never heard the robbers till they came to his bed,—He awoke, and perceived "two men, one at each side of the bed with a candle in one hand and a Pistol in the other!" They had "black faces, and were disguised in shirts over their clothes!" Another man was guarding the door; One only spoke; he demanded my money, and said "if I did not deliver he would blow my brains out in a minute!" The other man then spoke a good deal, he demanded where my money was? I said I could not tell. They then went down stairs, leaving the other man guarding the door with a pistol in his hand—Those down stairs, opened the door, and whether any others came in or not, I do not know. They were in the house a long time, having plundered every place, and taken the windows out before I knew. I had two clocks in the house, both going, but they stopped them. They took the clothes off the bed to look for money, and broke open a box. They forced my wife to unlock all the drawers and cupboards, and they took a 40l. bill. They brought the money up stairs, and looked it over; and whilst they were bending down opening a box on the stair landing, I cropped under his arm, and jumped through a window. One of the men, Beston, put the note in his breeches pocket; I said it would do him no service; he replied "You don't know that." On getting out of the window, I went to Peter Gaskill's, and we got some other of the neighbours up, in all seven. As soon as the robbers missed me, they ran away. We went in search, and after a while we found them, Beston and Renshaw, sitting under a hedge, about 5 miles from my house. This was about 5 or 6 o'clock. We started in pursuit about 3. They lay as if asleep, one of them reading a piece of paper; I said they must go with us to Butley Ash. They had a very large bundle. We told them the house had been broken open. When a little way from Butley Ash, one of the men (Beston) jumped aside of the road, and pointed a pistol at me, saying, "Stand-off! " I had a pikel in my hand, and immediately knocked him down, got hold of his foot, secured him, and took him to Butley Ash with the other prisoner; they were searched there, and on Beston was found a lot of silver, and some copper. I discovered 2 shillings that were mine, one a lettered shilling, the other a Queen Anne’s shilling; on Renshaw was found the 40l. bill; I've seen it about a week before, when I locked it up in a drawer; it was the same I saw upon the box—I found some tax papers and mill bills—In the bundle were found a black crape, which belonged to one of the Prisoners, some sugar, soap, &c. I said at the time, ‘look for a shirt in the bundle and you will find it, torn a little on the left side,’ they had shirts over them. It was Beston who had on the torn shirt. The Bundle were examined at Mr. Downes’s. The house window was cut across the casement, which was taken out, large enough a man to get through—the iron stauchions were broken.

On his Cross-examination by Mr. Barnes,—We slept up two pair of stairs—my family consists only of myself and wife. I could not call them by name at first, I was so fluttered at the time. We had traced steps along the dew; the men were found about 5 miles from the house.

Examined by Mr. D.F. Jones—the men were dressed in shirts—there were three in all as I saw. I was much alarmed; so much so, that I sprang out of the window. Could not name the prisoner to the men at the time, but recollected afterwards. I saw a little of one of their cheeks when he stooped down. Cannot say what they did in the house place, as I was not there. We pursued the men as far as Hollingsworth’s-smithy, about two miles from which we found them—we went that far, having overshot them. We saw two more men up in the field, and pursued them, they dropped some sugar. I lost some sugar, and sugar was found there.

Re-examined by Mr. Benyon—No doubt every thing was fast. The night was very rough; but had any body taken the window out before we went to bed, I must have heard them. Was very much frightened when the men were in the room; but am quite positive Beston was one.

To questions by Judge Richards—I knew Beston before, but he spoke in a feigned voice. I said to the men, I thought it was Beston who had the torn shirt on, and told him where he lived and every thing else.

Isaac Woodall, I live about 6 miles from Beston’s house—I get up early to work; about a mile and a half off, saw two men sitting under a hedge. I stopped and looked at them, wished them good morning, and asked whether they were resting themselves? told them a house had been robbed, and that we had a suspicion of them. Renshaw was reading a paper. The other turned round, and said "What's the matter?" They came with us. Renshaw, when we came to a gate, drew a pistol from his pocket; I heard a snap—and then Harding knocked him down. The other I got and secured, and took him in custody, but in a little while he privately drew a pistol from his side, and snapped it at my groin! We then got possession of the pistol, and they became quiet. They were handcuffed.—Beston dropped two half pounds of sugar, which I picked up.

Cross examined by Mr. D.F. Jones—At this time it was quite light. The pistols were loaded within three quarters of an inch of the muzzle.

John Oldham—picked up a steel to strike a light, which fell from the pocket of one the prisoners. Wm. Robinson corroborated the testimony of the preceding witnesses.

The pistols, crape, sugar, silver, &c. were here produced in court.

The articles were identified. The prisoners were asked what they had to say in their defence?

Renshaw—My Lord, we found the bundle.

Beston—My Lord, I'm innocent of the robbery, as God is my judge!

An attempt was here made by Renshaw's father, Joseph Beston, (the prisoner's brother,) and James Worsencroft, to prove an alibi. We think we are consulting decency and propriety, by withholding from the public the tissue of inconsistencies, and falsehoods, which were disclosed by these witnesses.—Renshaw, the father, said, that he had slept at his son’s the night of the robbery, and that he was not out of the house till the following morning at four o'clock!—Beston's brother stated that the prisoner had slept at his house also the night of the burglary, and did not leave till four o'clock in the morning! Worsencroft was called to corroborate the last witness; whilst the examination of Beston, taken before the Magistrates, stated, that he had left home about 6 o'clock at night, and went to Macclesfield—that he found his brother in bed; that he went into a field, and fell asleep under hey till morning, &c. !

To the the production of this document, Mr. D.F. Jones objected, on the ground of impropriety, the evidence for the prosecution being closed.

Mr. Attorney General combatted what had been advanced by Mr. Jones; he said he had equal rights to produce the examination, as to produce another witness to invalidate what the last witness had stated. If such a proceeding was not to be allowed, Justice would indeed be shut out from our Courts.

Mr Jones, in support of his argument, cited a case of child murder, tried before Mr. Justice Buller, in which it was refused to receive evidence as to the sex of the child (stated in the indictment) because the case for the prosecution was closed.

Judge Richards—I think the evidence admissible—it has nothing to do with the case set up by the prisoners. The prisoners have both attempted to put up an alibi, and surely the crown has a right to answer such evidence.

His Lordship then addressed the Jury, recapitulating the whole of the evidence adduced; and observed, "With the result of your verdict, you have nothing to do—you are before God and your country, and I have every confidence you will do justice to both."

After a few seconds deliberation, the Jury found a verdict of GUILTY–against both the prisoners.

This trial commenced at two o'clock, and was above half-past eight before the Court adjourned.

The Chester Courant noted that Renshaw also stood trial for another matter during the Assizes, and commented on John Lloyd's role:

Renshaw was tried for another burglary, in company with others, in the dwelling-house of George Burgess, at Colshaw, Fulshaw, and was convicted on the clearest evidence. Renshaw and the two Beston's appear to have been the principals of a most desperate gang of robbers, who infested the neighbourhood of Stockport and Macclesfield, last winter; and too much praise cannot be given to that respectable gentleman Mr. Lloyd, solicitor, of Stockport, to whose indefatigable exertions the county is indebted for the conviction of these desperate wretches.

Renshaw and Simeon Beston were later sentenced to death.

29th April 1813: Robbery of Joseph Harding at Henbury, near Macclesfield

Joseph Harding was a shopkeeper at Henbury, near Macclesfield. On Wednesday 28th April 1813, he had gone to bed early at 9.00 p.m. He awoke at 2.00 a.m. to find two men standing over him - both had blackened faces and pointed pistols at him, warning him that they would shoot if he stirred or made a sound. Other men downstairs were going through the house for valuables. This continued for some time, but Harding was at some point left unguarded, and used the opportunity to climb through a window and make an escape.

He ran to his neighbours and raised the alarm. Four of them - Peter Gaskell, a farmer, Thomas Atkinson, a labourer, John Ellam, a bricklayer and John Oldham, another bricklayer - accompanied Harding back to his house, to find that the burglars had left. The group of five then set off to try to track the robbers down, using footsteps left in the early morning dew. By 6.00 a.m., at Butley Ash, five miles from Henbury, they came across three men in the turnpike road: Joseph Wood, a hay-dealer, Isaac Woodford, another hay-dealer and Isaac Woodhall a joiner. Woodhall said he had seen two men sitting under a hedge in a field, with a bundle.

The group went to the spot and confronted the two men - the men responded by pulling out pistols, which misfired. A struggle ensued and the two men were overpowered by the group. One of the group went to fetch a Constable from Butley Ash and the prisoners were then conducted to the home of a magistrate, Mr Downes of Shrigley. Downes decided to commit the two men - James Renshaw, a weaver from Meg Lane, Sutton, and Simeon Beeston, another weaver, from Ringway - to Chester Castle to stand trial at the next Assizes.

2nd April 1813: Pseudo-Luddite burglary in Oldham

At 7.00 p.m. on Friday 2nd April 1813, 8 men entered the house of Mr Adam Ellis in Oldham. They remained there for 3 hours, drinking all the spirits and smoking all the tobacco they could find. Before they left with £25 in cash, their numbers were called over, in Luddite fashion.

16th March 1813: Three Luddite burglars sentenced to death at Nottingham Lent Assizes

At Nottingham Lent Assizes on Tuesday 16th March 1813, 3 men were sentenced to death by hanging for burglary.

William Simpson, James Barker and Richard Selby were convicted before the Judge, Sir Vicary Gibbs, of breaking into the home of a farmer, Stephen Watson of Watnall, and stealing 6 cheeses, 4 silver teaspoons, some money (£1, 9 shillings and 7 pence) a gun and other sundry items. All three were sentenced to death. Barker and Selby were subsequently reprieved, unlike Simpson, who had held a gun at Watson and threatened to shoot him.

Simpson's execution was scheduled for 31st March.

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.

7th January 1813: 4 framework-knitters committed to Nottingham Gaol for burglary

The Derby Mercury of Thursday 7th January 1813 reported the arrest and committal to Nottingham County Gaol of four framework-knitters for burglary. Four men from Bulwell - John Marlow, James Barker, Richard Selby & William Simpson - were charged with 'feloniously and burglariousy' breaking and entering the dwelling house of Stephen Watson of Watnall on 23rd December 1812, and stealing money and other items. They would stand trial at the next Assizes in March.

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.

21st November 1812: Robbery on a shopkeeper at Luddenden Foot, near Halifax

At 8.00 p.m. on Saturday 21st November 1812, a robbery was conducted at a shop in Luddenden Foot.

Five men forced the door and, upon entering demanded arms and money. The shopkeeper's wife told the men there were neither, but she would give the men a bag of meal if they agreed to leave. Four of the raiders then began to search the premises, whilst the fifth held a blunderbuss to the shopkeeper's head, issuing the customary threat to 'blow his brains out' if he offered any resistance.

Throughout the raid, the men made use of military expressions, and although they searched the whole premises, after 15 minutes they left with only seven shillings and sixpence.

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.

10th October 1812: Attempted robbery of a clothier at Lepton, near Huddersfield

In the evening of Saturday 10th October 1812, 4 men tried to break into the home of Joseph Hirst, a clothier, at Lepton, near Huddersfield. They were confronted by Hirst's son, Richard, who was fired on when he tried to intervene, the ball from the gun grazing his head.

The men left. Several attempts had already been made to break into the house on previous occasions.

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.

12th September 1812: A 'Luddite' burglar confesses to Joseph Radcliffe

Earl Parkin & John Swallow were two coalminers, who were out after dark near Flockton in the West Riding when they were taken up by a military patrol on 7th September for being unable to give a good reason for being out at that hour.

They were both kept in custody by Joseph Radcliffe and were interrogated at some point over the next 5 days by the Stockport solicitor John Lloyd and General Maitland's aide-de-camp, Captain Thornhill. Whatever Lloyd did or said had a greater bearing on Parkin than Swallow. By Saturday 12th September 1812, while Swallow denied everything in a deposition taken by Radcliffe, Parkin provided several pages of information.

Parkin told a tale in which Swallow had initiated him into a gang of housebreakers, led by another man called Joseph Norton, from Horbury. They had first acted together at the home of Benjamin Tolson in early June, demanding a gun and then money when none was offered, taking away a Guinea note. They spent the money on ale the same night at the Cross Keys in Horbury Bridge, and were joined by John Batley. By 11.00 p.m. they had no money left and decided to sleep out in a barn.

The next day, they were joined by the gang leader, Joseph Norton. They decided to use Parkin's watch as collateral against more ale from the Cross Keys and drank all day.

The next robbery that Parkin took part in was at the home of Abraham Moore near Netherton in mid to late June. After taking Moore's gun, they demanded and were given money, and proceeded to plunder the house of a pie and some ale in a pitcher. Parkin's watch was still behind the bar at Cross Keys, and although the stolen money was supposed to be used to release it, it didn't happen at this time.

Parkin next took part in the robbery of a man called William Moxon at Whitley Upper, along with Swallow, Batley and two other men, Joseph Fisher and John Lumb. In the way of Luddites, they wore their shirts over their other clothes and blackened their faces with ash. Arriving at Moxon's, they demanded a gun, and when this was declined, proceeded to rob Moxon, issuing death threats. They took a Guinea note, 8 lbs of butter, some beef and some of the clothes of Moxon and his wife. This time, some of the money was used to release Parkin's watch from the Cross Keys.

The last robbery Parkin admitted to was of a man called Richard Crossley at Thornhill. He was joined by Swallow, Batley & Lumb. The pattern was the same - demand a gun and then rob the house, only this time, a window had to be broken and a burglary happened as Crossley and his family would not let the men in. They took a Guinea note, two pound notes, two shillings and a penknife. Before the plunder was divided up, Lumb got cold feet and ran away.

Parkin also confessed that there had been discussions about the possibility of robbing Wilson's bank at Mirfield, but the plan was rejected as it would require at least 20 men.

The authorities struck a bargain with Parkin - admit evidence for the Crown and receive immunity from prosecution. He accepted the deal.

10th July 1812: Gunpowder stolen in Leeds

In the evening of Friday 10th July, a grocery warehouse belonging to Fretwell & Cockshott near the marketplace in Leeds was broken into. The burglars got onto the roof, and after removing some slates got into the building. The raiders seemed to know that a barrel of gunpowder, weighing 14-pounds, was stored there and they left with it without taking any other items other than some papers of starch. The burglars attempted to break open and door and then a window, in order to leave more quickly, but either could not manage of it, or thought better of it, and escaped via their entry point.

3rd July 1812: Arms raids & burglaries across the West Riding

In the evening of 3rd July 1812, arms raids took place in the north and south of the West Riding.

At Stainland, near Halifax, the homes of Benjamin Dyson & William Mellor were raided and a gun and a sword were taken from each house.

At Whitley, near Sheffield, 10 men raided the home of a carpenter called Megson, who lived near to the Porter's Lodge at Whitley Hall. Megson and his family were locked in a back room whilst the house was searched - four Guinea notes and some provisions were taken - though the men did not demand firearms.