23rd April 1812: Mass expropriation of goods at Sandsfield, near Carlisle

At 10.00 p.m. at night on Thursday 23rd April, up to 700 people assembled on a common a mile from Carlisle, They were armed with various types of weapons, and eventually proceeded to Sandsfield (now known as Port Carlilse), where they boarded a ship in the harbour. The ship was laden with all kinds of provisions, and the group helped themselves to as much flour, cheese and bacon as they could carry to their homes

7th April 1812: The military commander at Carlisle reports to his superior officer about the riots

Copy

Carlisle 7th April 1812

Sir

I conceive it my duty to report to you that in consequence of having received an Order from the principal Magistrates of Carlisle to aid and assist them in suppressing a Mob which had collected at Sandsfield about 6 miles from here, for the purpose of taking away by Force from Vessels lying there a quantity of Grain & Flour, which they were laden with, as also for the protection of a large Granary, which they did break open, destroyed and carried off a quantity of Meal. In consequence of the Orders received from the Magistrates, a Detachment of the 55th Regiment, consisting of 130 men, with a proportion of Officers under my Command, marched from Carlisle to Sandsfield where we remained till after Three o'Clock in the Afternoon, receiving such Directions from time to time from the Magistrates, until the greater part of the Mob which had collected were dispersed.—

At the request of the Mayor of Carlisle a Detachment consisting of an Officer and 30 men were left at Sandsfield for the protection of the Vessels and Granary. I afterwards returned with the remaining part of the Men to this place, & on our entering the Town a very large Mob was collected who struck us with Stones in the most violent manner with repeated insults, which no notice was taken of by us - after having dismissed the men the mob still encreased throwing stones at the Officers which obliged us again to call in the Magistrates for Instructions how to act.—Immediately on the Arrival of the Magistrates the Mob still encreasing with more determined violence, The Riot act was then read which was paid little or no attention to by the populace. After augmenting the main Guard the Officers proceeding in Company with Dr. Heysham one of the Magistrates to the Mess House, and will continually surrounded and struck with Stones and other Rubbish.—Soon after our Arrival at the Mess House in Company with Dr. Heysham the High Windows & shutters were totally destroyed, and the Officers threatened.—On which the Magistrates thought it prudent to send by a back way for a party from the Main Guard, which soon arrived & were directed by Dr. Heysham to fire on the populace, but at first were fired over their heads, which irritated them the more. In consequence of this the Magistrates directed the Streets to be cleared, & to fire on those of the mob who remained, and to take up those persons who appeared active in the Riot, both of which was obliged to be put in execution.—

I am further induced to state to you that from having only 130 Rank & File of the Detachment fit for Service, and that from bring much weakened by a Detachment of 30 men at Sandsfield, I think it proper under those Circumstances to submit to your Consideration the necessity of having some more Troops to our Assistance—Having had information that the populace is again to assemble on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday next in greater Number than heretofore—

There is another Circumstance which I conceive hazardous, the Store of the Local Militia Arms being in a very unprotected state, and which was threatened to be broke open by the mob, and as also the Jail; at both places double Centinels were placed, and the whole Detachment under Arms all night.—

I have &c.
(Signed) Alexr. Hogg
Major 55th Regt.

Major General Murray
&c &c &c
Newcastle

6th April 1812: Food riot at Carlisle

The Caledonian Mercury of Monday 13th of April 1812 carried an article the Carlisle Journal had published 2 days earlier about the disturbances that took place in Carlisle on Monday 6th April 1812:

Recent disturbances in Carlisle, &c.

(From the Carlisle Journal, April 11.)

In treating this subject, it is our intention merely to state the leading facts.

On Saturday last the bread corn was bought up, in a very few minutes; consequently many of the heads of families were disappointed, and obliged to return home empty. Apprehensions being entertained that the same agents were work in buying up the potatoes, some cart loads were seized by the populace, who sold them at reduced prices. Early on Monday morning, great quantities of grain were conveyed from the depots of the corn buyers to the port of Sandsfield, five miles distant. The populace, unable to endure the sight of so much grain passing by their doors, whilst themselves and families were at the point of starvation, proceeded to the vessels, impressed several carts, loaded them, and were about to return, when the Magistrates and the soldiers of the 55th arrived. We understand, that the Magistrates, after having promised, that the markets in future should be duly regulated, and the proposition of advancing the wages of the manufacturing poor should have their consideration, succeeded in conciliating the populace, who relinquished their booty, and return peaceably home.

A little before seven in the evening, the military entered the city with drums beating, &c. (a ceremony which, in our opinion, had better have been dispensed with) when a woman in the suburbs, displeased at the conducts of one of the officers, threw a stone at him. This caused him to pursue her, with his sword drawn, which further enflamed the minds of the people, who threw several stones as the soldiers crossed the bridges. Marching up one of the principal streets, another of the officers struck a boy with his sword, which had the tendency of increasing the public irritation. The soldiers were next dismissed in the market place, when two or three of the most obnoxious officers, on their return home, were singled out and out several stones thrown at them. The drum again beat to arms; an abstract of the riot act was read, and the middle of the street near the Cross was cleared by the soldiers, who guarded the opening with fixed bayonets. The soldiers next proceeded to apprehend several persons who were in their way; and as very little discrimination or reflection was used, in a very short time they had marched to the gaol 38 persons, many of them very respectable. So far as we can receive information a single constable during the whole of this evening was not even called for. A Magistrate in waiting about half-past-seven, attended some of the officers to the mess-room. They were followed by the boys, and other persons, who threw some stones, and broke the windows. The command was now given by this Magistrate, to fire in all directions. The market-place and every other place around the soldiers were crowded with thousands of the inhabitants of the city; who, knowing nothing respecting the riot act having been read, and having nothing to do whatever with the affair at Sandsfield, had collected, from motives of curiosity, to learn the cause of this unusual commotion. Every one present believe the military were only firing blank cartridges, and kept their stations, but were soon undeceived by hearing the whistling of the balls, and seeing some of the spectators wounded. We are sorry to add, that a poor unoffending woman, very far advanced in a state of pregnancy, and the wife of one of the soldiers of the 55th, then at Sandsfield, was killed. It is to us as a matter of astonishment, that numbers of the peaceable inhabitants did not share the same fate, as a very great number of balls were next morning found in the streets, and some had perforated the walls of the houses. On Tuesday, the examination of the 38 prisoners was held, who, with the exception of two or three, who were charged with having thrown stones, were all discharged. On that day, the Coroner's inquest was taken on the unfortunate woman, when the jury, after long deliberation, and long continued difference of opinion, returned a verdict of accidental death.

The constitutional conduct of the High Sheriff (Thomas Hartley, Esq. of Linethwaite) cannot be overlooked. So soon as he heard of what had happened, he gave directions that no more prisoners should be received into the gaol without a legal warrant; that they should be escorted to the place for examination, by the civil not the military power; and that every thing should be conducted in a strict conformity to propriety and justice.

The Mayor, on Friday night, send the bellman round the city, requesting a meeting in the Town-hall, next day, at 11 o'clock, for the purpose of entering into a subscription to purchase potatoes, and sell them out to the necessitous at reduced prices.

On Wednesday last, arrived in Carlisle from Durham, part of the 2d dragoon guards.