1st March 1813: Thomas Shillitoe visits the families of Thomas Brook, James Haigh, William Thorpe & John Ogden

On Monday, the Quaker missionary Thomas Shillitoe continued his visits to the families of the Luddites executed at York in January, accompanied by Joseph Wood:

Second-day, we bent our course to Lockwood, sat with the widow and three children of Thomas Brook, who suffered for rioting. We also had the company of his parents and two brothers: his two brothers were in York castle with him, but were discharged. This proved a heart-rending opportunity to us all: being willing, as I humbly hope I may say we were, to sit where the surviving sufferers sat, we were helped to go down into suffering with them, and thereby became qualified, through the renewal of Divine aid, to administer suitably to the need of those we sat with. Our minds were clothed with feelings of compassion for the widow and the deeply-afflicted parents, accompanied with a hope, the opportunity had made such an impression on the minds of the two young men, that it would become of lasting benefit to them. The sufferer, we were informed, had only been out once with the rioters, at which time he lost his hat, which caused his apprehension. At our parting, they endeavoured to make us sensible that our visit had been like a cordial to their minds, and they expressed the thankfulness which they felt for it. We proceeded to Huddersfield; visited the widow of James Haigh—he suffered for rioting—left no children: we found her under deep affliction. She appeared to have a clear view of our motives for taking the steps which we did, expressing, in strong terms, the gratitude she felt for our visit. Our next visit was to the parents and two sisters of [William Thorpe], who was a single man, and who suffered for the murder of the master-manufacturer: we felt deeply for the afflicted parents. Divine regard was mercifully extended in this opportunity, both to visited and visitors: that a grateful sense thereof may continue in each of our minds, was the secret prayer of my soul. It appeared a time of precious visitation to the sisters of the sufferer. In the afternoon we proceeded to Cow-cliff, to visit the widow and two children of John Ogden, who suffered for rioting. We proposed to meet her at her husband's parents, in order to have their company, and that of two of the sufferer's sisters; but we were given to understand, that the parents spurned at the idea of sitting with us. As it did not appear to me we should be warranted in so easily giving up this prospect, and apprehending I felt that in my own mind that would bear me out, in taking the widow and family with us into their cottage, my companion consenting, we did so, and took our seats amongst them. After sitting awhile together in solemn silence, we had to hand forth both caution and encouragement, especially to the poor young widow, and the sufferer's sisters: it proved to all a melting season. The parents were both confined to the house, in consequence of the melancholy event that had occurred respecting their son, and from their appearance, with that of one of their daughters, they were sinking under the weight of their afflictions. The parents, in a very feeling manner, at our parting, expressed thankfulness for our visit, and, I hope I may say, feelings of gratitude clothed my mind. The wedding of a sister of the sufferer's being kept at the adjoining cottage, apprehending it would be safest for us to make them a visit, we accordingly did so, but the men were all absent: pausing, and feeling something stirring in my mind towards the bride and her female friends, I gave way to it; the labour bestowed soon put aside all their light behaviour, which our presence at first excited; and, at our parting, novel as our visit was to them, it appeared to be kindly received. May glory abound to His praise, who is God over all, blessed for ever, and for evermore.

18th January 1813: Lt Colonel Lang reports the arrival of the bodies of Luddites in Huddersfield

Huddersfield Jany 18th
1813

Sir

I have the honor to acquaint you the Bodies of the Culprits arrived here last evening half past six oclock were attended by considerable number of people but perfectly quiet & orderly — their Bodies were taken to the Homes of their friends at Lockwood Longroid Bridge and in this Town after which the persons attending them went quietly about their business in the most satisfactory manner — the Bodies are not yet Interred —

Enclosed is an application for leave of absence for Lieut [illegible] of the North Devon—

I have [etc]
R Lang Lt Col
South Devon Regt

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

The number of Subalterns present with the Regt - 8 — two absent with leave whom I expect to gain by the 24th Instant

15th June 1812: Attempted assassination of a Special Constable, William Milnes, at Lockwood

William Milnes was a Special Constable for the Huddersfield area, and lived in Lockwood, near the town. Between 11.00 p.m. and 12.00 a.m. on Monday 15th June 1812, his house came under attack.

Three shots of musket balls were first fired through the windows of his home, and this was followed by the breaking in of the windows by individuals with sticks. The attackers made off without being apprehended or identified. The Leeds Mercury of 20th June 1812 noted that Milnes "had incurred the displeasure of the Luddites by the vigilant discharge of his duty as a Constable".

30th April 1812: "General Ludds" men conduct a raid for arms at Dungeon, near Huddersfield

On Thursday 30th April, Clement Dyson was up late. It was 1.00 a.m., and suddenly his blood froze as he heard a knock on his door. He had been on edge ever since the recent disturbances in the Huddersfield area had reminded him of the time in mid-March when his premises had been raided by Luddites. Even though he was away at the time, his wife's Hannah's stories about that night sent a chill down his spine.

He grabbed a gun he kept near the door, stood behind it and spoke:

"What do you want at this hour?"

A voice replied "General Ludd has sent us for your Gun and Pistol and we must have them immediately!"

His heart sank - Luddites again! - but he also felt defiance and said, "I have the gun in my hand and if any man enters my house he shall have the contents of it."

A reply came back "if you shoot at anyone, yourself and family shall be corpses in ten minutes."

By now Hannah stood at his side with his pistol, but as he turned to face her, she wrenched the weapon from his hand and before he could do anything, she opened a nearby window and dropped the guns through it. She had faced the Luddites the previous month and never wanted to face them again.

Dyson could hear many footsteps briskly moving away and he decided to get a better view. He ran upstairs and found the nearest window. Peering out into the night, the moonlight helped him to estimate that between 20 and 30 men were retreating from his property.

12th March 1812: Luddite raids in South Crosland, Honley & Lockwood

In the early hours of Thursday 12th March, the scene was set for yet more attacks by Luddites in the vicinity of Huddersfield.

Between midnight and 1.00 a.m. George Roberts of South Crosland awoke to a violent knocking on his door, and the sound of many voices in the dark, some of them demanding entry. He got up and stood behind the door and asked what they wanted - a reply came back "we'll let you see what we want!" and the knocking continued. Roberts decided to open the door to prevent it being damaged and a number of men immediately pushed past him: their faces were either blacked or covered in crude masks of black cloth with holes for the eyes and mouth. By now, the rest of the family was awake, and the Luddites moved to guard them. One of the Luddites whose face was covered by a white napkin said to Roberts' wife, Sarah, "tell your father that if he does not take his frames down I'll go to Marsden next week with 400 men." Sarah's maiden name was Armitage, and her father Joseph owned Woodbottom Mill at Marsden.


Roberts tried to reason with the Luddites - he explained that he had taken down all his shearing frames and begged them not to break his conventional shears when one of them gave the order to "go forward". Roberts was desperate and then one of them said "if you have taken your frames down we'll not injure your shears". Meanwhile, a group of the Luddites broke away to search the premises, with another Luddite grabbing Roberts and placing a pistol next to his head and ordered him not to move but to sit on the floor. The Luddites returned from upstairs angry at having found nothing - they demanded to know where his frames were. Roberts conceded that his frames were kept in his barn and urged the Luddites to take his keys rather than break open the door. He heard the men go to the barn and shortly after the sound of hammers splintering the wooden frames in fury.

The Luddites called Roberts to go out into the yard: 4 pistols were levelled at his head and the Luddites gave him a stern warning "if you put your frames up again we'll blow your brains out". Roberts was shattered, and agreed not to do so.

Finally, the Luddites formed themselves into ranks, whilst another led a roll call, but with numbers rather than names. Roberts later estimated there were 30 of them. The roll called, one of them raised a pistol into the air and a loud shot rang out. Thereafter they disappeared into the night. The operation had taken 15 minutes.

At 1.15 a.m., John Garner of Honley was awoken by a a violent hammering which seemed to be coming from his workshop next to his house. He got up. He distinctly heard someone say "watch the windows, take care of the windows!". Garner decided to stay put.

Between the hammering blows in his workshop, he heard someone loudly say "if thou cannot use that Maul, better give it me". Eventually, the noise ceased. He heard footsteps at the steps of the cellar, which led from the workshop to his house, and then he heard the door give way, they were inside his house. He heard them moving around inside when one of them said "there's nothing here, nor nobody, quick!" and they went back into the cellar and to the workshop.

Some time later, someone called "all out!" and the men assembled outside. A gun was fired into the night, and them marched off in a veritable hubbub, shouting and talking loudly.

Garner made his way downstairs. He went to fetch his gun, but found it had gone, stolen by the intruders. He rushed to his workshop and surveyed the toll of destruction left by the Luddites: 3 shearing frames and 7 pairs of conventional hand shears had been smashed and destroyed, and the door of the workshop badly damaged.

Clement Dyson was away at York Assizes. Between 2.00 and 2.30 a.m. his wife, Hannah, was awoken by many voices talking. David Crowther, an apprentice of Dyson's who was staying there was also awoken. He got out of bed and went down to see what the fuss was, but was shocked to hear some loud shots ring out. Someone demanded entry, but when Crowther went to open it, but was told to move back or he would be shot. He decided to go back upstairs, pausing to look through a hole in the wall which adjoined the workshop. Hannah could hear the workshop door being broken and from his vantage point, Crowther could make out almost 40 men who immediately moved to smash the shearing frames and hand shears there with large hammers.

Their work done, the Luddites grouped around the front of the house. They broke all the windows in the house and began to break down the door, and when the door yielded, one of them called out "house! house! bring out your other shears!". By now, both Hannah and Crowther were downstairs and 5 men had entered the house. Crowther explained that there were no more shears on the premises as they were away being sharpened at the grinders.

The Luddites demanded something to drink, and Hannah sent Crowther to fetch some water. But then a shot was fired outside and the Luddites turned and left, not waiting for Crowther, who returned with the water to find himself alone again with Hannah.

Crowther and Hannah went to the workshop to see what the damage was: the Luddites had destroyed 2 shearing frames, a brushing machine and 7 pairs of hand shears, as well as 2 barrels, 2 tubs, a churn and a watering can.