9th August 1816: The Judge at Bury Assizes gives death sentences to 'Bread or Blood' arsonists

The Bury St Edmunds Summer Assizes commenced on Friday 9th August 1816, and saw a number of prisoners face trial for offences committed during the previous months in Suffolk.

A number of cases failed, or were postponed, as noted by the Bury & Norwich Post of 14th August 1816:

No true bills were found by the grand jury against Thos. Baker, for setting fire to a barn at Kettlebaston, or Susan Bruty, for setting fire to a building belonging to J. Skelton, of Clare.—The trials of the nine Brandon rioters were traversed to the next Assizes.

However, the main spectacle was reserved for the trials of two arsonists, and the same edition of the paper gave extensive coverage to these:

Trials of the Two Incendiaries.

James Pleasants, a boy of 15 years of age, was indicted for having feloniously set fire to a barn in the parish of Lawhall, in the occupation of Mr. Thomas Bradley, a farmer, by which the same and other buildings were destroyed by fire on the 12th of May last. The only witness in this case, in addition to the prisoner’s confession, was a little girl about 15 years of age, in the service of Mr. Bradley. She stated that during the divine service on the 12th of May, she was left at home with the prisoner and her mistress, who was ill up stairs, her master being on a visit to Mr. Reman, a neighbour adjoining.—The witness had been cleaning knives, and doing dirty work, for which she had occasion to put some water on the fire in a back kitchen, for the purpose of washing her hands: the prisoner was then present by the fire, when he observed to the witness, "why don't you go up stairs and put on your cloathes."—Witness replied it was wet and she should not change her dress that day. She took the water from the fire to the sink in the same apartment, and on turning her back, the prisoner left the kitchen; she did not see that he had any thing in his hand, but soon after he returned, saying, "the barn is on fire." This the witness was soon enabled to perceive from a great quantity of smoke issuing, and immediately after she observed the place all in flames. She instantly ran out and gave the alarm. The boy ran towards the church, thinking his master was there. He, however, accidentally met his master by the way, who by this time saw with great alarm the situation at his premises. There were several good and valuable horses, together with several cows and calves, besides other stock, which were totally consumed. The flames, however, did not reach the dwelling-house, from the timely assistance of the neighbours. When the prisoner was apprehended, he voluntarily confessed that he had conveyed in his glove a coal of fire from the back kitchen to the barn, where he threw it amongst some wheat in the straw. This confession was recorded by the magistrates, who thereupon committed him for trial.—It further appeared, that an anonymous letter containing threats to three persons in the neighbourhood had been previously picked up by the prisoner. That letter said, "the Magistrate was no Justice, and that he should be the first to suffer." But by whom that letter was written had never been discovered.—The prisoner being asked what he had to say in his defence, wept bitterly, and in a low voice which could only be heard by the gaoler, stated that this confession had been extorted from him under a threat from some person, that if he did not confess the crime, or say who did it, he should be scalded to death, and that it was under an impression of fear that he had so confessed. The magistrates being examined whether any such disclosure or threat was made at the time of his commitment, completely negatived that statement.—The prisoner was found guilty, but on account of his youth, recommended by the Jury to mercy. 

Joseph Bugg was capitally convicted of setting fire to a barn and a cart-lodge, in the occupation of Mr Jas. Glanfield, at Martlesham-hall. The prosecutor stated, that he rented the farm and premises under the Rev. Geo. Doughty, of Hoxne. He left his house on the 23d of April, with his wife, on a visit to a neighbour, and returned at 12 o'clock at night, when the premises were all safe. As he had walked from home, and did not expect to return very early, he left directions with the servants not to sit up for him. About an hour after his return, he was awakened out of his sleep by a cry of "fire!" and, looking out of his chamber window, saw the barn on fire. He immediately went down stairs, and saw that the cart-lodge was also on fire, and the roof was just falling in. These outbuildings were distant about 150 yards from his house. The night was calm, and the flame from the buildings, which were considerably apart, arose in an upright direction.—There were 80 coombs of barley in the barn, chiefly in the straw, and most of his farming implements in the cart-lodge, the whole of which were destroyed. Eliz. Hammond, who lived servant at Waldringfield Cliff public-house, was next examined. She stated, that the prisoner was there on the night the fire happened; he came about 6 o'clock in the evening, and drank with several others, all of whom went away before him. He staid until a little time after a quarter past 12, and went away then, upon her refusing to let him have any more beer. She had supplied the prisoner with a half-quartern of rum, 2 pints of old beer, five or six pints of other beer, with a half-quartern of gin in each. On cross examination, she admitted that, altho’ the prisoner had had part of this in the first instance, subsequently they had all drunk together. The next witness was ____ Rouse, who stated that he lived at Martlesham, and have known Bugg ever since he was a boy. On the night of the fire, the prisoner called at his house between twelve and one; his wife, who heard the prisoner call out to know whether he was at home, awoke him. On his getting up, the prisoner asked him if he could lend him a tinder-box and steel, which he at first denied, as he should want it himself in the morning; on a promise, however, that it should be then returned, he gave them to him. When the prisoner had gone three or four yards from the window, he called out to the witness, "don't tell any body!"—Directly upon hearing of the fire, he went and acquainted Mr. Glanfield of this circumstance. Witness’s house is nearly three-quarters of a mile out of the direct path from the Cliff public-house to the prisoner’s. The tinder-box was returned in the morning. He thought the prisoner wanted a tinder-box because there were gipsies in the neighbourhood. A young man, servant to Mr. Cattermole, next deposed, that when in conversation with one John Barber, on a Sunday, upon a stile, near the Lion at Martlesham, the prisoner came up to them; and in talking about work, the prisoner observed, that the farmers in the parish were all damn’d rogues, especially Mr. Glanfield; he would do them a kindness, and he (Mr. Glanfield) should be the first.—Mr. John Cook, a farmer, residing at Bucklesham, about four miles from Martlesham, but occupying a farm in that parish, stated that Bugg had formerly worked with him; that in March last, on being sent to work in the roads, he complained of Mr. James Glanfield, saying, it might bethank him that men were posted about from parish to parish. He thought Mr. G. the worst of them all; and he should not wonder if something were to happen to him before long.—The prisoner, on being called upon for his defence, said, that he drank all the liquor himself.—The learned Judge, in summing up the evidence, remarked, that in the species of crime with which the prisoner stood charged, it was by circumstantial evidence alone, that conviction could be founded; it was not likely that a man having such a diabolical purpose in view, should have any accomplices in the act. His Lordship took great pains to point out the connecting chain of evidence upon which the guilt of the prisoner might reasonably be presumed; and, after some pertinent remarks on the heinousness of the offence, and the necessity of preventing its recurrence, by example, he left the case for the consideration of the Jury. He concluded by noticing, that, as he had hinted before, the evidence was only presumptive, and in such a case, could only be so, the Jury would therefore give the prisoner the benefit of any doubt which really existed in their minds.—It was not, however, the province of a Jury, with the view to exonerate themselves from such a painful duty, to fabricate doubts, but to deliver such a verdict as the evidence of the case, in all its bearings, might lead them to. The Jury returned a verdict—Guilty, but recommended the prisoner to mercy.

The paper also recorded Sir Vicary Gibbs' sentencing:

Sentence passed on Prisoners capitally convicted.—Chief Justice Gibbs, in passing sentence, addressed the prisoner Bugg, expressing his regret at the situation in which this unhappy man was placed, by the heinous offence of which he had been convicted, on such clear evidence as that which had been adduced against him.—The learned Judge said he could not see the slightest hope which the prisoner could entertain of any thing like reprieve or pardon, from the awful severity which the law had denounced against his crime by way of punishment; and, for the sake of example, to deter others from committing the like offences; that sentence, however painful, yet towards a criminal like him, it was his Lordship's duty to pronounce. From the depravity and wickedness which the nature of the crime evinced, it was justly ordained that it should be expiated by the death of the culprit. The pretence of not knowing right from wrong could not avail the prisoner, whose years and experience must have taught him to view the extent of enormity which belonged to the crime of which he was convicted by a Jury. 

His Lordship next addressed James Pleasants, whose youth excited a great degree of compassion in the mind of the Judge, being under the necessity of passing sentence of death upon him for the same offence. His Lordship said, it was astonishing that such a degree of malignity should have entered the heart of a boy at his early age, whose depravity on that account was the more to be lamented. The Jury, on this consideration, and in hopes he might yet live to repent, the more sincerely as he advanced in years, were disposed to rescue him from an ignominious and untimely death, by recommending him to mercy; and although it was the Judge’s duty to pronounce the sentence of the law, corresponding with the magnitude of the offence, his Lordship was in hopes that by conforming to the recommendation of the Jury his life might be spared, in order that he might become a penitent, and at some future period, a useful and industrious member of the community, by seriously reflecting, that death was the least punishment which must await the commission of an heinous offence.

Before he left Suffolk for Norfolk, Gibbs reprieved Plesants, but left Bugg to hang.

24th July 1816: Bury Quarter Sessions ends with sentences for machine-breakers and others

The Bury & Norwich Post of 31st July 1816 carried details of the sentences for prisoners tried at the Bury Quarter Sessions for various events that had taken place in east Anglia in previous months:

Bury Quarter Sessions did not terminate till Wednesday afternoon, when the following sentences were passed on the several prisoners, convicted subsequent to our last week's paper being put to the press:— 

Thomas Meers, Geo. Farrant, sen. Stephen Clarke, Mary Jackson, and Richard Rogers, for breaking a threshing machine at Stoke by Clare, the property of Mr. J. Wales, 12 months’ imprisonment each; George Farrant, jun. and W. Jackson, 6 months; George Frost, 3 months; C. Meers, T. Swallow, Wm. Turner, John Deeks, Sarah Jackson, and J. Angel were discharged on their own recognizance. 

Jonas Taylor, Wm. Seeley, and Jeremiah Osborn, for destroying two threshing machines, the property of Mr. Thos. Kemp, 13 months’ imprisonment; and Jas. Seeley, Jas. Howard, and Jas. Burroughs, were acquitted. 

William Edwards, for conspiring with several others with a view of inducing labourers to form themselves into a society for raising their wages, &c. at Wattisham, and elsewhere, 9 months’ imprisonment, and to find sureties for his good behaviour for one year.—No true bills against Wm. Abbott and John Payne, charged with the same offence. 

Robert Leader, Henry Poole, Robt. Durham, John Smith, John Abbott, Wm. Howe, Wm. Halls, for riotously assembling at Rattlesden and breaking a mole plough, the property of Mr. Benjamin Morgan, of Gedding; the said Robt. Leader, (styled commander) two years’ imprisonment in one of his Majesty's gaols, and the other six 12 months each; J. Button, Benj. Buxton, J. Chinnery, T. Durham, B. Steggles, R. Osborn, M. Moore, R. Baxter, Chas. and r. Cobble, Ezekiel Buxton, Mesach Moore, Jas. Southgate, J. Bird, G. King, J. Folkerd, John Steggles, T. Mattock, and J. Clover, 3 months each, or until they find sureties to keep the peace for one year, which they all procured in Court and were discharged; Wm. Richer, W. Nunn, R. Folkerd, and R. Gladwell, pleaded guilty, and were allowed to be at large on their own recognizance; & J. Golding was acquitted.

A week later, the Bury & Norwich Post corrected their coverage of the trial of another incident at Clare with the following information:

In the account of our quarter-sessions last week, we omitted the names of Jacob Halls, Sam. Gridley, Rhinaldo Bareham, and Henry Atherton, convicted of burning a threshing machine at Clare: the former of whom were sentenced to 13 months, and the latter to 9 months' imprisonment.

27th May 1816: The Duke of Grafton sends the Home Secretary an update on the state of Suffolk

Bury May 27.
1816

My Lord

I had the honour of acquainting your Lordship by the Post of last night from this place, that I had found such parts of this County as I had passed thro’ perfectly undisturbed, in consequence of the judicious measures of the magistracy, and the appearance of a small detachment of regular Cavalry, chiefly stationed at Bury & at Brandon. I had not then time to inform yr Ldship that I yesterday visited the Gaol, and examined various prisoners committed to it, as promoters, or abettors, of the late Disturbances, and tho’ there are artful individuals amongst them, particularly a writer of several inflammatory letters, & hand bills, I am not disposed to think, from any information which I have been able to obtain, that the disturbances, or fires which have taken place, are to be ascribed to any organized system of persons above the rank of the labouring Classes

The shock experienced by the whole of the agriculturalists, from the depression of the produce of all landed property since the last harvest, has fallen, with peculiar severity, upon all those whose subsistence depends upon their dayly labour, from the impossibility of their finding regular employment, men at reduced wages, and the difficulty of collecting poor Rates, at a period of general distress, in order to supply the wants, & increas'd privations of the poor. Under these circumstances, a spirit of discontent has prevailed during the winter, & have since been excited to shew itself by inflammatory writings, in tumultuous meetings for the purpose of destroying machinery calculated to diminish manual labour, or with threatening to induce the employers, & the overseers to increase the rates of Labour, & parochial allowances.

A well attended meeting of the magistrates was held this morning, in which all the topics touching the present situation of affairs in the County as connected with the late disturbances, were discussed; the result of which has been a perfect understanding amongst the magistracy of the principles, upon which the poor are to be maintained, but, if possible, employed. Also a clear communication between magistrates & Commandants of Yeomanry Cavalry as to the times & places, at which a greater or smaller detachment could be got together & the fullest Confidence established on the one hand, in the prompt co-operation of this Corps, if necessary, & on the other, of their not being called from their usual, and now, more than ever necessary domestic or agricultural Avocations, unless the Security of any part of the County itself was considered to be in danger.

In aid, & co-operation with this Corps & mounted special constables have been considered as likely to give & to receive confidence by joining the ranks of Yeomanry Cavalry, & I have no doubt but that if Swords could be allowed for such number of men of this description as it may be found useful to employ on the present occasion, it would give additional confidence to the men themselves as such as have a tendency to prevent tumultuous meetings.—

With regard to the measures taken by Lieut: Gen: Sir John Byng, with whom I have personally communicated this morning on the regular force required in certain points within the County, & of the Stations most convenient for Cavalry, with a view to the general object of throwing in detachments in whatever part of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, or Essex they may be required, he will have better Explained to your Lordship, than I can, these arrangements.

There undoubtedly are some places in this County which require a small military force such as is stationed in them, to give Confidence to those who act under the direction of the magistrates, & I trust I may assure your Lordship, such is my sense & that of the magistrates of the possible demand for troops at the moment, that a stronger military force, than appears indispensably necessary, will not be required by the civil authorities this County.

I take the liberty odds of all observing your Lordship that the wording of the royal proclamation does not appear sufficiently defined to meet an uniform construction from the magistrates who may have to act under it, or from the parties, who may be interested in pursuing offenders to Conviction—The reward is offered to each and every person who shall be convicted of any of the aforesaid felonies—Now the mere breaking or destroying a threshing machine or other instrument of husbandry, unless a riot be actually existing at the time, I am given to understand, amounts only to a misdemeanor in law; and I have therefore to request the favor of information from your Lordship whether the reward is intended to extend to convictions not of a Capital nature as well as to those, which are Capital.—

I have the honor to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's
most obedient humble Servt

Grafton

27th May 1816: Resolutions of a meeting of the Lord Lieutenant & Magistrates of Suffolk at Bury St Edmunds

SUFFOLK. 

AT a Meeting of the LORD LIEUTENANT and the MAGISTRATES of the said County, held at the Shire-Hall, in Bury St. Edmund's, on Monday the 27th day of May, 1816, for the purpose of taking into Consideration the late Outrages and Disturbances which have taken place within this County,

PRESENT
His Grace the DUKE of GRAFTON, Lord Lieutenant, in the Chair;
The Hon. and Rev. HENRY I.ESLIE
Sir WILLIAM PARKER, Bart.
Sir H. EDWARD BUNBURY, K. B.
Rev. Dr. ORD
JOHN GODBOLD, Esq.
JOHN GIBSON, Esq.
MILESON EDGAR, Esq.
JOHN TIMMS HERVEY ELWES, Esq.
JOHN BENJAFIELD, Esq.
JAMES SINGLETON, Esq.
ROBERT MAPLETOFT, Esq,
JOHN EDGAR RUST, Esq.
JOHN MEADOWS THEOBALD, Esq.
ROBERT EAGLE. Esq.
JOSEPH RANDYLL BURCH, Esq.
RICHARD CARTWRIGHT, Esq,
ROGER KEDDINGTON, Esq.
Rev. GEORGE. STONE
Rev. HENRY PATTESON
Rev. HENRY HILL
Rev. ROBERT DAVERS
Rev. EDWARD WILSON
Rev. JOHN PLAMPIN
Rev. JAMES THOMAS HAND
Rev. JAMES BUCKE
Rev. PETER. LATHBURY

IT WAS RESOLVED,

That this Meeting have observed with the greatest concern the tumultuous proceedings which have taken place in some parts of this and the adjoining Counties. 

That it is the opinion of the Meeting that the most patient and careful attention should be given, with a view of tracing the causes of these disorders, and of relieving, as far as circumstances will permit, the present distresses of the Labouring Poor;—but that it is the decided opinion of this Meeting, that no Concessions should be made, nor any Agreement entered into with bodies of people assembled in a riotous or threatening manner; and that the utmost exertions will he used to put down all tumults, and to bring to punishment all persons who may be concerned in such riotous proceedings. 

That the above Resolutions be inserted in the County Papers. 

GRAFTON.

Resolved.—That the Thanks of this Meeting he given to the Lord Lieutenant, for his uniform attention to the interests of the County, and for his presence at this Meeting, 

By Order,
JAS. HORTON, Clerk of the Peace.

19th May 2016: Troop movements

In the first signs that the government was now beginning to intervene in the crisis in East Anglia, on Sunday 19th May 1816, units of the 1st Dragoon Guards arrived in Bury St Edmunds, bound for Brandon. Units would continue to arrive throughout the following day.

17th May 1816: A 13 year-old boy confesses to arson at Lawshall, Suffolk

The Bury & Norwich Post of 22nd May 1816 reported that in the evening of Friday 17th May 1816, a culprit had been found for the arson attack that took place at Lawshall on 12th May 1816:

Many persons under very suspicious circumstances were taken into custody, but no positive discovery had been made until Friday evening last, when a boy, suspected of being concerned in setting fire to his master's (Mr, Bradley's) barn at Lawshall, and committed for further examination, made a voluntary confession in the gaol to J. Benjafield, Esq. that he was the sole perpetrator of that act; and on further examination on Saturday, in the presence of Dr. Ord, Mr. Benjafield, Mr. Singleton, Rev. R. Davers, N. Colville, and P. Lathbury, (all Magistrates for the County) he repeated his confession, upon which he was fully committed for trial, by the Rev. Dr. Ord and John Benjafield, Esq. The boy, whose name is James Pleasants, is but little more than 13 years old—a sad instance of early depravity!

16th May 1816: 200 Special Constables sworn in at Bury St Edmunds

Following a well-attended meeting organised by Alderman T. Foster at the Guildhall in Bury St Edmunds, 200 person were sworn-in as Special Constables in the town, and began nightly patrols. Thereafter, the town was quiet.

15th May 1816: Protests in Bury St Edmunds about a Hosier's use of the Spinning Jenny

The Bury & Norwich Post of 22nd May 1816 carried a report about a protest that took place in the town of Bury St Edmunds in the evening of Wednesday 15th May 1816:

On Wednesday evening a number of persons assembled in a riotous manner before the house of Mr. Wales, hosier, in the Butter-market of this town, demanding that he should give up a machine called a spinning jenny, (by the use of which they imagined themselves aggrieved) and threatening destruction of his premises in case of refusal; but by the firmness of Charles Blomfield, Esq. assisted by the other Borough Magistrates, and many respectable inhabitants, the intentions of the mob were happily frustrated, and they at length dispersed, although it was found necessary to keep the Staff Establishment of the West Suffolk Militia, (whose aid, with that of the different recruiting parties here, had been called in) upon duty all night.

14th May 1816: Arson in Bury St. Edmunds

The Bury & Norwich Post of 22nd May 1816 reported a case of arson in the large town of Bury St. Edmunds itself that occurred in the evening of Tuesday 14th May 1816:

Yesterday se'nnight, about 11 at night, a fire was discovered in an outhouse belonging to Mr. Robert Gooday, of Southgate-street, in this town, which for a time threatened destruction to the neighbourhood, but by the speedy arrival of engines, and the prompt assistance afforded by several inhabitants who had repaired to the spot, the flames were fortunately subdued, altho' not before the above building, with a granary over, containing a quantity of barley and oats; as also a waggon, tumbril, hearse and mourning-coach, gig, &c. were entirely destroyed. The stock and implements were insured in the Suffolk Fire-Office.—There is little doubt that the above, as well as most of the alarming fires which have recently occurred in this county, was occasioned by some diabolical incendiary.

29th April 1816: Bury St Edmunds Justices express concerns to the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk

[29th April 1816]

To the Lord Lieutenant of the County of Suffolk

We, the Justices assembled at the adjourned quarter Sessions at Bury Saint Edmunds this day, having heard the report read and addressed to your Grace from the acting Justices of Cosford Hundred, begged leave to join in their Representation and earnestly request your Grace to state it to His Majesty's Ministers, that the distresses of the labouring poor throughout the Liberties of Bury are greatly aggravated by the total Want of Employment for the Women and Children in Consequence of the failure of the Spinning of long wool, which has thrown the Burthen of additional poor rates for their Support upon the Farmers who can now with great difficulty pay the existing taxes.

[Various signatures]

29th April 1816: Bury St Edmunds Magistrates issue warning against assemblies

SUFFOLK.

BURY QUARTER SESSIONS.

APRIL 29, 1816.

WHEREAS disorderly Assemblages of Persons have taken place, and Outrages have been committed in some parts of the Division of Bury St. Edmund's: The Magistrates present at the above Sessions do hereby signify their determination to take prompt and effectual measures to put a stop to such assemblages, and to bring to justice all persons who are found offending against the Peace.

And the Magistrates will, in their respective districts, take such measures for strengthening the hands of the civil power, as shall seem necessary to preserve the peace therein.

By ORDER.

21st February 1816: More remarks about the severity of the Winter

The Bury & Norwich Post of Wednesday 21st February 1816 carried a report about the weather in the 'year without summer':

A Correspondent remarks, that to those who recollect the moderate weather commonly felt during the month of October, the severity of the present season will appear somewhat extraordinary, as the days are of the same length, and the sun above the horizon as long between the 11th and 21st of February, as between the 21st and 31st of October: but this difference of the seasons is readily accounted for from the large tracts of snow and ice passed over by the North and East winds in their passage across the Frozen Ocean and Continent in February. The extreme degree of cold which has lately been felt with a Southerly wind, seems rather more extraordinary; and we should be happy to hear an explanation of that circumstance.