26th June 1816: General Byng informs the Home Secretary of military preparations for the executions at Ely

Colchester June 26th 1816

My Lord.

I am Honoured with Your Lordships Letter of Yesterdays date, and have also received my orders from the Horse Guards to proceed to Ely tomorrow—It is my intention to be there by four o'clock, at which hour I have wrote to the Commanding Officer of the Troops to meet me—I have also considered it my duty to write to the Bishop, and to Sir Henry Dudley to inform them of what I propose.

I had always intended that the Troops stationed at Ely and Littleport should be under Arms on Friday morning, and to station them near, though not actually at the place of execution, in addition to the security they may thus afford, it is desirable they should be employed at that moment.

I will consult with Sir Henry Dudley as to the place most adviseable to station them, and can assure Your Lordship nothing like any disagreement will occur between as.—

I have sent my letters by Orderly Dragoons, they will therefore reach Ely this morning—The Troops, from Newmarket, Cambridge, Brandon, and Downham, will be in motion on Friday morning, as I proposed Your Lordship when in Town—

I shall do myself the Honor to write to You from Ely on Friday

I have [etc]
John Byng
Major General.

[To] The
Lord Viscount Sidmouth
&c &c &c

7th June 1816: General Byng sends an update to the Home Secretary from Colchester

Head Quarters. Eastern district
Colchester June 7th 1816—

My Lord—

Since I reported to you my return to this place on the 2d Inst nothing of importance has occurred, I therefore did not consider it necessary to take up your Lordships time with my correspondence—but as General Elwes informs me, He shall report to you, my having withdrawn the Troops from Clare in Suffolk, where He acts as a Magistrate, I feel myself called on to explain to you what I have done—

A Squadron of the 13th Dragoons is to be this day quartered in Clare, & Sudbury, on their march to Bury—as the former place is not capable of containing many Troops, and as the 20th Dragoons are to march from hence for Hounslow on Monday—I considered it adviseable to withdraw the Detachment of that Regiment from Clare, at the same time reporting my motive for so doing to General Elwes (a compliment I considered due to Him as the Magistrate who applied for Military assistance) and expected a hope that from the present appearance of quietness, He would be able to go on without any further Military aid—informing Him also that Troops would be stationed at Bury, and that this place—from whence he should receive immediate assistance if required—the Party was only to be withdrawn this morning previous to the arrival of the 13th, and I should have been happy to have attached to any representation from Him as to the necessity of replacing the Detachment—and I do not see that my conduct called for any representation being made to you. or to be to the Duke of Grafton, which The General informs me it is His intention to do—

From the report made to me by the Officer of the 20th Dragoons who has been there ten days, as well as from the Officers who preceded him on that duty—I do not believe there is the least necessity for the continuance of the military there—but as a representation is to be made to The Lord Lieutenant of the County—it is my intention to write by this Post to the Duke of Grafton, explaining to His face, as I have done to Your Lordship, my reluctance to have so many small Detachments, without an absolute necessity, at the same time leaving entirely to His decision whether it is necessary to order any other Detachment to Clare and neighbourhood,

I trust this explanation to any report General Elwes may transmit you will be considered satisfactory, and can assure you, that I am not actuated by the slightest idea of any personal opposition to General Elwes, with who I cannot look am not acquainted—but solely from what I consider most advantageous for the general good—

I have [etc]
John Byng
Major General

PS
I beg leave to forward with this a Copy of the report which I have just received from the Officer who is returned with the Detachment from Clare—

J Byng

[To] Rt Honble
The Secretary of State
Home Department

29th May 1816: Riots continue at Halstead, Essex

Following the liberation of 4 prisoners at Halstead, Essex and the riot that had ensued the day before, more rioting occurred in the evening of Wednesday 29th May 1816. Once again, the Kentish Weekly Post of 14th June 1816 took up the story:

The next evening they collected in greater numbers, many parties having been observed to join them from the neighbouring villages, armed with bludgeons, &c. In order to prevent a recurrence of the excesses of the preceding evening, the Halsted cavalry were under arms; who, after the Riot Act had been read, made several charges on the mob, but without effect, as the insurgents retreated into the church-yard, which rendered their efforts to disperse them fruitless; and having been violently assailed by stones, &c they found it necessary to retreat; upon which the scene of breaking windows ensued, to the great annoyance of the inhabitants, to the amount of 60 or 70 came forward, and offered themselves in aid of the civil power, by being sworn in as additional constables; and in the evening divided themselves into companies, in order to guard the avenues of the town, and prevent any suspicious persons from entering it; by which judicious measure no assemblage took place—all was quiet and tranquil, and from that time there has not been the slightest appearance of tumult or disorder. In justice to the inhabitants of Halsted, says the Chelmsford Paper, it ought to be observed, that very few of them, and these of the very lowest order, and consisting chiefly of women and children, were at all concerned in these disgraceful excesses, the mischief having principally arisen from some misguided person collected from the neighbourhood.

28th May 1816: 4 prisoners liberated at Halstead, Essex, & a riot ensues

After the arrest on Monday 27th May 1816 of 5 prisoners for the breaking of a threshing machine at Sible Hedingham, Essex, on the 20th May, the authorities took them to be held in custody at nearby Halstead the following day, 28th May. The Kentish Weekly Post of 14th June described what happened:

We are concerned to state that a riot commenced at Halsted, in Essex, in the evening of the 28th ult. by the mob liberating four prisoners who were about to be lodged in Halsted house of correction, for destroying some machinery at Sible-Hedingham. One of the constables who was conducting them to prison, having taken shelter in the house of a tradesman, it was furiously attacked, and the windows of the shop, &c. broken, and otherwise damaged. The mob then continued their outrages during the remainder of the evening, by an almost indiscriminate attack upon the windows of the principal inhabitants. 

24th May 1816: Crowd of 200 people intent on machine-breaking in Essex

On Friday 24th May 1816, and having been successful in destroying a Threshing Machine at Finchingfield the evening before, a crowd of 200 people had mixed success with machine-breaking in nearby parts of Essex.

In the morning, they visited the farm of Robert Smith, of Byton Hall and destroyed a mole plough there. They then proceeded to Great Bardsfield (to destroy a threshing machine belonging to a Mr. Messent, according to the Morning Chronicle of 27th May 1816). The Bury & Norwich Post of 29th May 1816 described what happened:

On Friday last a tumultuous and riotous mob of nearly 200 persons, armed with axes, saws, spades, &c. entered the village of Great Bardsfield, in the county of Essex, with the avowed intention to destroy thrashing machines, mole ploughs, &c.—They made their attack on the premises of Mr. Philip Spicer, who fortunately for the place where he lived, as also for the villages and towns on that side of the county, had spirit and resolution to defend his property, and being assisted by about 20 of his neighbours, who were entirely unarmed, they determined to resist the attack of the rioters, and by a Waterloo movement, got between the mob and the barn where the machine was deposited, and dared them to advance: when perceiving the determined manner of their opponents, they wisely resolved to make a precipitate retreat.

23rd May 1816: Threshing Machine destroyed at Finchingfield, Essex

In the evening of Thursday 23rd May 1816, a crowd of people destroyed a threshing machine belonging to a John Smith at Finchingfield, Essex.

20th May 1816: Threshing machine destroyed at Sible Hedingham, Essex

Some time on Monday 20th May 1816, a crowd of labourers destroyed a threshing machine at Sible Hedingham, in Essex.

13th May 1816: Thomas Hall reports a recent case of arson to the Home Secretary & offers a reward

Saffron Walden 13th May 1816

My Lord

On Saturday the 4th Instant [between] the Hours of 11 & 12 at night a fire broke out in a barn belonging to Mr Thomas Nottage at Henham in this (Walden) division which raging with great fury shortly consumed all the Buildings & communicated to the dwelling House, at a Loss exceeding £1200. From the Situation of the Barn & the place where it broke out there can be no doubt but that it was set on fire:

An investigation has taken place before the magistrates & some Circumstances have been laid before them from which there is strong Reason to suspect that a Person now in Custody is the Offender & there being also some Reason to suppose that there are persons who are implicated & can give Evidence which may lead to conviction it has been considered desirable to obtain his Majesty's Pardon in the usual Manner for which purpose I have been directed to apply to your Lordship requesting the favor of your Sanction that an advertizement and Handbills of the nature of the inclosed may be published.

As it seems advisable to have them issued as soon as possible it will be esteemed a very particular favor if your Lordship will be pleased to give the Subject your Attention as early as you conveniently can

I have [etc]
Tho. Hall
Clerk to the magistrates of the
Walden Division

Hall enclosed the draft of a reward notice, which read:

Two Hundred Pounds Reward

Whereas on Saturday the 4th Instant between the Hours of 11 & 12 at Night a fire broke out in a barn belonging to Mr. Thomas Nottage of Henham in the County of Essex which raging with great Fury shortly consumed all the Outhouses are communicated to the Dwelling House and the same having been wilfully and maliciously set on fire by some Person or Persons unknown. In order for the better Discovery of the Offender or Offenders His Majesty has been most graciously pleased to Promise his Pardon to any person (except the Person who actually set the Premises on fire) who shall discover the Offender or Offenders so that he or they may be convicted.

And for further Encouragement if any Person (except as above) will give such Information as aforesaid he shall on Conviction of the Offender or Offenders receive a Reward of two hundred Pounds

This will be signed by the Proprietor or the agent of the Norwich Union Fire Office

13th May 1816.

4th May 1816: Arson at Henham, Essex

The Bury & Norwich Post of 15th May 1816 reported a case of arson that took place in the evening of Saturday 4th May 1816:

Saturday se'nnight the outbuildings upon a farm in the parish of Henham, Essex, occupied by Mr. Thomas Nottidge, were discovered to be on fire; and notwithstanding the most prompt exertions, all the buildings, with other property to a considerable amount, were totally destroyed.

7th April 1816: Threshing machine destroyed at Myland, Essex

Some time on Sunday 7th April 1816, a Threshing Machine belonging to James Posford was destroyed by arson at Myland Heath ('Mile End Heath').

This was the first action in the month which would see the start of concerted uprisings across East Anglia, many of them directed against agricultural machinery.