3rd March 1813: Thomas Shillitoe visits the families of Joseph Crowther, William Hartley, John Hill & Job Hey

On Wednesday 3rd March 1813, the Quaker missionary Thomas Shillitoe continued with his visits to the families of executed Luddites, accompanied by Joseph Wood:

Fourth-day we went to Sowerby-bridge. Our first visit was to the widow of Joseph [Crowther], who suffered for robbery: he had left three children, and his widow nearly being confined with her fourth. We were enabled to labour with her, to persevere in an endeavour after a steady reliance for help on that Divine power, which alone would be found all-sufficient to support her mind in her future tossings and temptations: we were ready to hope the opportunity with her would be remembered at a future day, to her comfort. We next proceeded to the cottage of the parents of William Hartley, who suffered for robbery: with them resided his eight children, bereft of both parents, the mother having been deceased about three weeks. The neighbours observing us go into their cottage, followed us, quietly taking their seats: the opportunity proved to many, especially some of the children, a heart-tendering season—one, I believe, that will long be remembered by some present.

Our next visit was to North-dean, in Elland township, to the widow of John Hill, who left one infant—he suffered for robbery. His widow presented us with an interesting letter, received from him the day before his execution, manifesting the peaceful state of mind he had been favoured to attain to, under the evidence of his having been enabled to forgive all mankind, and himself experiencing Divine forgiveness for all his sins. She informed us, the night he was taken, he was forced out of his bed by the Gang; that she ran after him half-a-mile without any of her upper garments upon her, until they obliged her to return, threatening to blow her brains out if she followed them. We sat with the widow, the sufferer's mother, aunt, &c.: it proved a solid opportunity. A brother of the sufferer was also by the same means implicated in these riotous proceedings that night; his neighbours say, not from inclination, but overcome by threats, he being always considered a religiously-disposed young man, and was much esteemed; but he escaped being taken with the rest. His mother was maintained by the produce of a small farm, and he was her sole dependence in the management of it. The loss of the other son, by such an untimely end, with the continued fearful apprehensions she laboured under, of her other son being taken—there being a warrant out against, and search making for him, appeared almost to drive her to despair. We endeavoured to console her all in our power. Before we left her, I felt it laid upon me to assure her, on account of the general good character we had received of the young man, and the manner of his being led away, we would lay his case before the magistrate who granted the warrant, and use our influence to obtain permission for him to return home with safety.

Our next visit was to the widow of [Job] Hey, and her seven fatherless children: we found her in a state of mind bordering on despair. As ability was afforded, we endeavoured to turn her mind to seek after that quietude and submission to the dispensation permitted to be her lot, in which God is to be known, and his power experienced, to stay, comfort, console her, and which would carry her through the accumulated afflictions she was struggling with; but, after all, her poor mind was so overcharged with the prospect of her great poverty, her numerous fatherless children, without any visible means for their support, we were ready to fear that what we had to offer, obtained but little entrance. Leaving this cottage of woe and misery, we bent our course to Halifax.

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.

9th December 1812: Lieutenant Cooper apprehends suspected Luddites at North Dean, near Halifax

Elland 9th [December] 1812.

Sir.

I have the Honor to report my proceedings under a Search warrant that I procured from Mr. Radcliffe yesterday.

Attended by the Constables I went from Elland to North Dean at night this morning to Search four Houses, specified in the warrant, I placed a Guard on the premises of each at the same moment and am well assured from our Vigilance that nothing escaped us.

The first House research’d belong’d to a woman of the name of Hill, whose son we suspected, we found an Iron Gavlock and a Hatchet such as have been seen in the possession of the Luddites when committing their depredations. We brought them with us to Elland. the Man was not at home. the next House was Job Hay’s were we found three pounds and a quarter of Gun Powder a broken Ram Rod & an old lock of a Gun, these and some other suspicious circumstances induced me to take him into Custody along with a man whom he call’d his Servant, and who was working with Hay at the time, His name he says is James Washington. In the other Houses we found nothing to create suspicion beyond a great quantity of provision, far more than I should expect to find in the House of a poor and Honest man—The Prisoners and the things that I have seized I suppose I should take to Milnbridge and I will write to Mr. Radcliffe to know when it is convenient for him to examine them.

I have not been able to send any of my Men to Head Quarters to day and I hope you will not think me dilatory or negligent in executing your orders. I shall send ten early to morrow morning and as many the following days ‘till I have nearly changed the whole of the Detachment.

A Corporal & six Privates of the Greys have joined me this Morning. I have the Honor to be Sir,

Yr most Obdt & Most Hble Servant
Alf. Cooper Lieut.
West Suffolk Militia

P.S. North Dean is not more than a quarter of a mile from Copley Mills.

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