23rd July 1812: The result of the Derby and Nottingham Summer Assizes

The Derby Mercury of Thursday 23rd July 1812 carried the outcomes of both the Derby & Nottingham Summer Assizes. The Nottingham Assizes are of particular interest because they contain a case which resulted in a sentence of transportation, a case never remarked upon by historians in any of the significant works about Luddism. The following is extracted from the Derby Mercury report:

At [Derby] Assizes, Andrew Scott, alias Thomas Purday, charged with being an accomplice in the burglary committed at the dwelling house of Mr. Hunt, at Ockbrook, in December last, pleaded guilty, and received sentence of death, but was afterwards reprieved.

At Nottingham Assizes, Benjamin Renshaw, for setting fire to a stack of hay at Mansfield, the property of Mr. Charles Stanton, and for feloniously killing and carrying away a sheep, the property of Isaac Dodsley, of Mansfield … received sentence of death … [and] is left for execution.

George Spray, for destroying a stocking frame at Sutton in Ashfield, the property of Francis Betts … to be transported 14 years; John Stanley for inciting soldiers to break a frame at Basford, to be imprisoned three years.

In earlier reports about his arrest, the John Stanley mentioned here was called Slaney, which was his actual name. His trial had been left over from the Lent Assizes in March

In the report about Nottingham, there is no mention of the other 3 suspected Luddites the we know the Nottingham magistrates wanted to prosecute - William Fell, Joseph Falconbridge & John Clarke. It may be that they were acquitted or that no indictment was found against. In the case of Falconbridge, we know that his indictment rested upon the evidence of a witness that had absconded, so we can assume the witness never appeared.

4th July 1812: Nottinghamshire solicitor William Woodcock asks the Home Office for instructions on the prosecution of Luddites

Mansfield July 4th 1812

My Lord

I beg leave to inform your Lordship that at the last Nottinghamshire Assizes Bills of Indictment were found against two persons of the names of William Fell and John Clarke for Misdemeanours in being riotously assembled with others for the purpose of Framebreaking at Sutton in Ashfield in this County to which Bills the Defendants pleaded not guilty. Their prosecutions with others in which I was employed as Solicitor were considered at the Expence of Government – In the month of March last George Spray was apprehended for framebreaking but in consideration of his having suffered much from a shot fired at him on his attempting to escape he was admitted to bail to appear at the ensuing Nottinghamshire Assizes and answer to a prosecution for a Misdemeanour only In the same month of March Joseph Falconbridge (a notorious Character) was committed to Nottingham Gaol for framebreaking.

I now request of your Lordship that I may be instructed whether his Majesty's Government will further proceed against Fell and Clarke and also if any proceedings are to be taken against Spray and Falconbridge at the approaching Nottinghamshire Assizes.

For your Lordship’s better Information I send here with Copies of Examinations of Witnesses against the persons above named besides which there is other corroborative Evidence – but I must remark your Lordship I have received undoubted Information that Robert Caunt the Witness against Falconbridge has lately been seduced away by the Associates of Falconbridge and intends not to appear to give Evidence although himself and two Sureties are under Recognizance for his appearance &c

I have [etc]
Wm Woodcock

[To] The Right Honble
Viscount Sidmouth