12th April 1814: George Sculthorpe sends the FWK Union Constitution to the Home Secretary

Nottingham 12th April 1814

My Lord

The inclosed Articles and general Regulations belonging to an Association appearing to be formed in this Kingdom, have been laid before the Magistrates Assembled at a Special Sessions held at the Shire Hall in Nottingham on the 9th instant; And I am directed to state to your Lordship that in the Opinion of the Magistrates, the Peace and tranquillity of not only this but all the other Manufacturing Towns in the Kingdom is much endangered by the formation of a Society of this description, and which is rendered highly alarming from the large Sums of Money likely to be raised in the Nottingham District alone Amounting Probably to 150£ weekly.

I am also desired to state to your Lordship that in the Night of Sunday the 3d instant Seven Stocking frames were destroyed in the Neighbourhood of Nottingham by a number of disguised Persons none of whom have yet been discovered; And that many of the Principal manufacturers in this Neighbourhood are under much alarm on the subject.

The magistrates do not perceive that any existing Law affords a Remedy against this Association.

I have [etc]
Geo. Sculthorpe
Clerk to the County Justices

[To] The Right Honble
The Secretary of State
Home Department.

1st July 1812: The County Clerk of Nottingham presents the bill for the prosecution of Luddites to the Home Office

Rex v. Carnell and Maples
Same v Osborne
Same v Marshall
Same v Slaney

My Lord

I take the liberty of inclosing to your Lordship my Bills of Costs in the above prosecutions, which were directed to be carried on by and at the expence of his Majesty's Government; and shall be obliged by your Lordship giving the necessary directions the discharge of the Amount being £423: 17: 7 —

I am also directed by the Magistrates to transmit to your Lordship a Copy of the Depositions against William Godfrey another prisoner Committed for Trial at the next Assizes for framebreaking and to request that your Lordship will be pleased to communicate to and for their information, whether the Crown will think right to direct the prosecution against this prisoner also.

I beg the favor of an early Reply
And have [etc]
Geo. Sculthorpe
Nottm 1st July 1812.

[To] The Rt. Honble
The Secy of State—

[Henry Hobhouse replied 6 days later informing the Home Office that the Government would prosecute William Godfrey]

3rd May 1812: Nottingham County Clerk, George Sculthorpe, requests payment of a reward for informers

Nottingham 3d. May 1812.

Sirs

I am directed by the County Magistrates to write to you on behalf of John Braithwait and Elizabeth his wife, who gave information against William Carnell and Joseph Maples Convicted at the last Assizes for this County of Framebreaking. And to request that you will favor me with such documents or information as you may deem requisite to enable these poor persons to receive the reward offered by the Prince Regents Proclamation of the 18th of December last.

Braithwait and his wife have been threatened with Assassination and the Magistrates find that it will be necessary to remove them to a distant part of the Kingdom for Security, and for this purpose must have recourse to their own Subscription Fund, independent of the reward; they therefore hope that you will favor me with an early reply on the subject.

I have the honour [etc]
Geo. Sculthorpe
Clerk to the Justices

[To] The Rt Honble R. Ryder.

The Solicitor to the Treasury, Henry Hobhouse, replied to Sculthorpe on 8th May, agreeing to pay the reward of £50 each to Braithwaite & his wife. This is the equivalent of  £33,500 each using average earnings in today's money.

15th November 1811: A Courier from Nottingham delivers a letter to the Home Office

At 3.00 a.m. on Friday 15th November, a special courier sent by the Nottingham authorities the day before arrived at the Home Office in London with two identical letters, one bound for the Secretary at War Lord Palmerston, and the other for the Home Secretary, Richard Ryder. The letter read as follows:

Nottingham 13th of Nov. 1811.

Sir

The Magistrates of the Town of Nottingham have communicated to the Magistrates of the County the application which they have made to you for a Military Force to preserve the Peace of this District.

The disturbed state of this part of the Country, the number of persons assembling amounting frequently to 2 or 300, armed some of them with fire-arms, and others with bludgeons for the avow’d purpose of breaking forcibly into houses to destroy Stocking Frames, and there actually destroying Stocking Frames and other property and threatening yet further outrages, have excited a very general alarm and the civil power is totally ineffectual for suppressing the riots and restoring tranquillity.

The disturbances have at present prevailed chiefly in the County, because the population being there dispersed the property cannot be so well defended –

The Magistrates of the County have assembled for the purpose of considering what measures are necessary to restore and preserve the Public Peace and being convinced that nothing less than an adequate Military force can be effectual for that purpose, have directed me to add their request to that of the Magistrates of the Town, that not less than the force applied for by them, may be immediately sent to this place and Neighbourhood.

I am desired to add that since the communication made to you by the Magistrates of the Town, the Magistrates of the County have understood that the present inefficient force at the Barracks arises from several detachments having been already called out to escort French prisoners.

I have written a similar letter to the Secretary at War.

And have the honor to be

Sir, Your obedient humble servant

George Sculthorpe

Clerk to the Magistrates