20th March 1813: General Maitland commends some of his officers to the Home Secretary

Stratton Street, 20th March
1813

My Lord

(The Disturbances in the Manufacturing Districts being now happily and completely terminated, and the Troops employed on that Service being about to be considerably dispersed—And as I am myself upon the Eve of leaving the Yorkshire District, it is a Duty I owe both your Lordship and myself to state the deep Sense I feel of the eminent propriety and zeal manifested by all the Officers and men of the militia Regiments under my Orders) upon that Occasion.—

It certainly could not be called a Service of Danger but it was one where great Industry Patience, Perseverance & Firmness combined with Temper were eminently necessary.

Independent however of the general merit which justly attaches to all, it naturally from Circumstances occurred, that some of the Officers were more actively employed that others—And that from being so employed, they have a greater opportunity of manifesting their zeal and Devotion for the Service of their Country, which they did with a degree of Intelligence Industry and Perseverance highly honorable to themselves and tending in its Consequences to the happy result that has taken place—

So deeply Convinced and I of their merits upon this Occasion that I feel it at once a paramount & a pleasing Duty to mention their names to Your Lordship  – humbly trusting, should your Lordship agree with me in opinion, that through your Lordship’s recommendation it may be the means of obtaining for them some favorable Consideration from his Royal Highness the Prince Regent.

The names of these officers are Captain Rayne of the Stirling Militia — Lieuts Cooper and Young of the West Suffolk — Lieut Galloway of the North Lincoln & Ensign Mclachlan of the Stirling Militia—

In troubling your Lordship on the present Occasion I have only to add that I had no knowledge of any of these Gentlemen till I knew them from the Services they had rendered.—

I have [etc]
T Maitland
&c &c

[To] Viscount Sidmouth
&c &c &c

21st February 1813: Lieutenant Cooper reports an attack on the property of a relative of William Horsfall

Elland 21st February 1813—

Sir

I have the Honor to inform you that nothing of importance has occurred to me to report this week. To morrow morning one Serjeant and ten Privates of my Detachment will march for Wakefield agreeable to an order, received by me, through Major Garnham.

The destruction of some young Plantations belonging to Mr. Hague and Mr. Horsfall of Huddersfield, has of course been reported to you, I understand that the damage done them was to a large amount, the same Gentleman have had anonymous threatening letters sent them.

I am happy to inform you Sir, that many people of Elland have been before Mr. Scott the Magistrate to take the Oath of allegiance, I have not yet learnt the names of them, accepting one (William Harvey) who I had before Mr Radcliffe Several times but my evidence was not sufficient to convict him.

Allow me, Sir, to return you my thanks to the leave of absence that you have granted me

I have [etc]
Alf. Cooper Lt.
West Suffolk Militia.

[To] Major General Ackland,
&c. &c. &c.

6th February 1813: Lieutenant Cooper informs General Acland about his 'reluctant' Luddite

Elland 6th February 1813.

Sir.

I have the Honor to enclose a Letter that I have just received from John Mitchell, the man who was to have taken the Oath of allegiance before Mr Radcliffe and whom I wrote to you of a fortnight since. I am greatly disappointed at his not coming forward as I think his example would have had an excellent effect and have been followed by numbers.

Would you have me try to persuade him to come forward and take the Oath? representing to him that it will be beneficial to him as far as Luddism is concerned and assuring him that he will not be proceeded against for his other Crimes.

I believe the Country around me has been perfectly tranquil since my last Report, for I have heard of no depredations or outrage of any kind having been committed.

I have not yet, Sir, received the Proclamations you said in your last letter you would be so good as to send me.

I have [etc]
Alf. Cooper Lt.
West Suffolk Militia

[To] Major General Acland,
&c. &c. &c. 

31st January 1813: Lieutenant Cooper reports the theft of lead & intimidation of the enemies of Luddites at Elland

Elland 31st January 1813.

Sir

I have the Honor to report to you this week, what I fear will not be very agreeable, a Robbery committed at some Copperas Works, at Upper Elland Edge, of a considerable quantity of Lead, the place is not above a mile from the Town. I did not hear of the Robbery ‘till yesterday when I sent three several times to enquire the particulars that I might transmit them to you this morning, unfortunately the Overseer of the Works was absent and is so this morning, therefore my Report proceeds from his Wife who did not know the Weight of the Lead stolen but it consisted of two Pumps and a Pig, the latter I should suppose not less than a hundred pounds weight. The supposed attempt to rob the Toll bar keeper at Aniley Top I also did not hear of ‘till yesterday and in my enquiries about it I find that three Men called him (the bar keeper) out of bed to open the gate for a Waggon and three horses, on his looking out of the Window he found there was nothing at the Gate, they after that gave him much abuse which instead of intimidating, for though an old man he is an old Soldier, occasioned him to sally out with a shovel in his hand when they choose to clear off. this happened on monday night last and the same men, he says, came again the following night to no better purpose. on one of the nights they broke his Windows, and on his going out they called out to shoot him.

Some cowardly Raskals, last night about eleven o'clock, taking advantage of Mr. Cartledge’s being at Halifax, to which place he is known to go every Saturday and not return ‘till a late hour, broke the Windows of his counting House which adjoins his residence and the Windows is within one Yard of the Hall door.

I beg you, General, to excuse the late hour that I send my Report off, which is the consequence of my not being able to satistactory answers to my enquiries yesterday about the matters I have reported.

I hope the same excuse will be allowed by you for any inaccuracies I may have been guilty of as I have written in much haste.

I have [etc]
Alf. Cooper Lt.
West Suffolk Militia

[To] Major General Acland
&c. &c. &c.

I forgot to state that the Robbery of the Lead took place last Monday Night, the Hour I believe not known, and the Works are generally open

24th January 1813: Lieutenant Cooper informs General Acland about a Luddite funeral and another wanting to take the oath of allegiance

Elland 24th January [1813.]

Sir.

I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 22d Instant and shall take care to follow your directions as they regard the diminution of the Detachment. I have already followed your directions as to patroling, which I received from you when at Wakefield.

I shall take pains to impress on the minds of the people of Elland and it’s neighbourhood the necessity of protecting themselves by their personal exertions Mr Dyson of Mr Cartledge have always been aware of it but though their exertions have been great they have not been generally supported.

The only Funeral in the neighbourhood of Elland was that of John Hill and no disturbance occurred but what was the consequence of the Methodist Parson refusing to read the service over the body, which was not of sufficient importance to notice.

I am happy to inform you that a man, of the name of Mitchell, who lives at Sowerby and whose son I had a Warrant against but was prevented serving by his leaving the Country, came to me this morning to ask me whether his son could be allowed to take the benifit of the Prince Regent's Proclamation for he was willing to go to Mr Radcliffe to take the Oath of Allegiance. I desired him to come to me again on tuesday I hope to hear from you under what circumstances such an indulgence may be granted. I had no information of his being concerned in any crimes beyond stealing Arms at the time I applied for the warrant, but I have reason to apprehend, from subsequent information, that he has been engaged in depredations when money or other property was stolen.

I have [etc]
Alf. Cooper Lieut.
West Suffolk Militia

[To] Major General Acland
&c &c &c
Wakefield.

17th January 1813: Lieutenant Cooper reports from Elland

Elland 17th January 1812. [sic]

Sir.

Agreeable to the directions I have the Honor to receive from you when at Wakefield last thursday, I have made every possible enquiry relative to the feelings and disposition of the People since the conviction of the Culprits at York.

Those I have conferred with on the subject tell me they have no doubt but disaffection prevails as strongly as ever, they think that the Execution of a few men will make no impression upon those Gangs that have escaped detection or indeed any persons who did not intimately know the Sufferers and lived immediately in their neighbourhood. They have no doubt that that the Luddites believe their detection alone owing to the Military and that should the latter be removed they shall expect them to break out with redoubled fury, instigated by revenge towards those persons who have shewn themselves adverse to their proceedings, particularly by cooperating with the Soldiers—

They say, Elland has ever had a great number of disaffected and riotous Inhabitants, and they [illegible] assured that they have been restrained from the commission of depredations entirely by the presence of the Military and it is a general belief among their principal Inhabitants that they are in great danger of assassination if that protection be withdrawn during the Winter.

I believe it to be the intention of the Gentleman of the Township of Elland to send a Deputation to be you will not deprive them wholly of the aid of the Military and to beg a few Soldiers rather than none.

What I have written nearly expresses the sentiments of the quietly dispose part of the Inhabitants of this place as delivered to me, but not the alarm, which appears to be very great, lest the Military should leave them. Some of them have expressed a determination to quit the Country themselves during the Winter if there are not Soldiers in it.

I am not qualified to give an opinion on the subject, I have certainly reason to believe that hitherto many Robberies if not murders have been prevented by the vigilance of the Patroles, but what affect the execution of the Convicts may have upon the ill disposed part of the community it is impossible to ascertain immediately, I understand there is no external appears alarm or surprize created by the event.

The Inhabitants of Elland deserve much credit for their personal exertions during the time I have been at Elland, they have shewn much activity and cooperated with the Military with much zeal whenever call’d upon, and if any distinction could be allowed for such conduct, they have a claim to it—

I enclose an anonymous letter, received by Mr. Cartledge (the Chief Constable of Elland) he has had one since threatening his life and saying that though Mellor had been hanged, he died game and there were many Mellors left to revenge him.

Mr Cartledge possesses an undaunted soul and I believe a perfect stranger to fear, but he coincides with the general opinion that the soldiers should not be withdrawn during the Winter Months not ‘till the days are longer, when people will be better enabled to guard against private assassination. The anonymous letters he very properly treats with contempt, but employs himself secretly to discover the Author. He will probably be one of the persons deputed to call upon You when he will relate some other curious circumstances that have lately occurred to him which if I reported would take up much of your time and perhaps appear to you extraneous.

I have no interest or desire to stay at Elland but should wish to be and should consider myself honored by being employed actively and usefully by you in any place or situation.

I had a report brought me, last night, that a Robbery had been committed at Halifax last week and that a hundred pounds weight of Tobacco were stolen at the time, if it is a fact I should presume you must have had the particulars.

I have [etc]
Alf. Cooper Lieut.
West Suffolk Militia

[To] Major General Acland
&c &c &c
Wakefield.

16th January 1813: Lieutenant Cooper informs General Acland of the preparation for the funerals of Luddites near Elland

Elland 16th January [1813]

Sir

I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of yours of this day containing your Orders for circumspection at the Funerals of the Culprits executed this Morning and shall take great care to perform the duty enjoined me to your satisfaction.

The two Men who lived in North Deane, (Job Hay and John Hill) should their Bodies be brought home, will probably be buried at Elland. Two of them (James Hey and Nathan Hoyle) who lived at Skircoate Green, within a Mile of Halifax, will I should think be buried at the latter place, and the other two William Hartley and Joseph Crowther of Sowerby, where there is or was a Detachment of the Stirling, will be buried there, and the two latter places being so near Halifax could have Troops in case of emergency more suddenly from that place I could attend myself, I shall however, unless I receive orders from you to the contrary, have Agents to attend each funeral that I may Report to you the sensations and conduct of the people attending.

If it meets Your approbation I will send a Copy of your Instructions to me, concerning the Funerals, to Major Bruce.

I have had many of the principle Inhabitants of Elland with me this morning who are greatly alarmed at the prospect of the Soldiers leaving them, they have call’d a Meeting and I will have the Honor of reporting fully to morrow according to the directions I received from you on Thursday last.

The Orderly reports all is quiet on his Road hither

I have [etc]
Alf. Cooper Lieut.
West Suffolk Militia

[To] Major General Acland,
&c. &c. &c.
Wakefield.

1st December 1812: Lieutenant Cooper informs General Acland of suspects wanted for Robberies near Huddersfield

Elland 1st December 1812.

Sir.

I have the Honor to transmit to you what particulars I have been able to acquire concerning the Robberies committed on the night of the 29th ult.

I sent my Piquet to Patrole the neighbourhood last night, giving orders to the Serjeant, a very active and intelligent man, to make particular enquiries, of the persons robbed, of the circumstances attending the Depredations. He has given me a very satisfactory Report of the proceedings, & it appears to me that there are grounds sufficiently strong for apprehending Samuel Robinson and Joshua Fielding, both of Elland, the first escaped my clutches the other day before Mr Radcliffe by proving an alibi, but I have a strong suspicion that his evidence is perjured. I have the Honor to enclose you Sergeant Clark’s Report and I make him the Bearer of it lest you should think it necessary to question him further. I have often employ’d him to obtain the information by Sending him about the Country in plain clothes and I have much reason to commend his assiduity and activity and should you approve of it I should like to employ him continually in the same Service.

I intended to have been the Bearer of the enclosed intelligence myself but am unable to procure a Horse, and the time I have lost in trying to borrow one has prevented your receiving this earlier.

If it meets your approbation I should like the Serjeant to proceed from Huddersfield to Milnsbridge to procure Warrants & Summons to the parties concern’d, as I think we cannot proceed with too much alacrity.

I have [etc]
Alf. Cooper Lieut
West Suffolk Militia

[To] Major General Acland
&c. &c. &c.
Huddersfield.