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.

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]

19th March 1812: The lesser-known cases of Luddites tried at the Nottingham Lent Assizes

The Nottingham Review of 27th March 1812, contained very brief summaries of other cases involving Luddites at the Nottingham Lent Assizes. These cases are not discussed in any of the works about the Luddites that I have read. It is not clear upon which day these cases were heard:

The following entered into a recognizance to try their traverses at the next Assizes:—John Clarke and William Fell, charged with riotously assembling together, in company with many other persons unknown, at Sutton-in-Ashfield, on the 13th of November, 1811, and disturbing the peace. William Bellamy, charged with unlawfully entering the house of Francis Betts, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, in company with many other persons, and stealing one quart bottle of elder wine.

The following prisoners were delivered by Proclamation:—John Slaney, charged upon the oaths of Edward Green and Alexander Mudford, privates in the Royal Berks Militia, with having wickedly incited the said Edward Green to break a frame at Basford, on the 27th of January 1812;—John Godfrey, charged with having incited a number of persons to assemble for the purpose of breaking frames at Arnold, on the 13th of November 1811;—William Parkes and George Shaw, charged with breaking five frames in the parish of St. Mary, in this town, on the 25th of November, 1811.

15th February 1812: John Slaney committed to Nottingham Gaol

On Friday 15th February, John Slaney, a framework-knitter from Basford was committed to Nottingham Gaol. He was charged with having attempted to incite 2 soldiers from the Royal Berkshire Militia to break frames in Basford on the 27th January.