3rd May 1812: Colonel Fletcher informs the Home Office about more Bolton prisoners and his use of John Stones

Bolton 3d May 1812

dr Sir/

Since my letter of the 30th ultimo inclosing (in a hasty Scrawl) the Informations relating to Persons charged with being present at the administering of illegal Oaths—Mr Hulton & Self sat yesterday to re-examine several persons who had been remanded before—send of whom we again committed for to Lancaster (2 for administering, or being present at the administering, of illegal oaths, and 2 for being concerned in the Firing of the Westhoughton Factory) one of the first two is Hurst who acted as General on the 19th Ultimo and on previous occasions—and one of the latter two is Radcliffe who according to our secret Informant was the person who administered the Oath to Serjeant Holland Bowden on the night of the 19th ultimo but he could not be identified by as such by any of our confidential Witnesses - and whom thereafter we despaired of being able to bring to justice but who was afterwards identified by one of the Westhoughton Witnesses to have been present at & active in Firing of the said Factory - and is therefore committed for that offence. A person of the Name of Lyon (as mentioned in our joint Note of yesterday) is remanded - until we receive the Instructions of Government – you will perceive by their Depositions - that he is not identified as present at the Transaction of the 19th & 20th Ultimo,—but as being present and [acting] rather a conspicuous part on the Night of the 8th Ultimo. Whether his Conduct on that occasion will amount to Treason or only a Misdemeanour in being present at such an unlawful Assembly – will be for Counsel to decide—if we could bring our main Informant forwards—we could implicate him in almost all the late nefarious Transactions—but I incline to recommend keeping him (the Informant) in the Back Ground – and to the extent, in Lyons case, to prosecute him for such offences as it shall be deemed that the other Evidence (without calling forward the secret Informant) will suffice to convict him of and in relation to the other Prisoners remanded (unless fresh Proofs can be brought forwards tomorrow) to release them on Bail.—The four remanded are Nicholson Waddington Dewhurst & Stones—, in the first of whose Houses was found – a ruled sheet on which were the Names of several suspected persons—but as it was not prefaced with any Preamble or Purpose—we cannot make it instrumental to any Conviction. He was called (as our Secret Informant says) the Treasurer—Waddington & Dewhurst were both present on the 19th – but cannot be identified without bringing forwards the last – whom we have in Custody pro forma & whom we intend to dismiss tomorrow on Bail. That no detention being made he may pass as a faithful Jacobin.

It appears to the magistrate here proper to continue to arrest all suspected persons suspected of being concerned in these Proceedings – as most likely to dampen the Spirits of the disaffected―Several have fled and I doubt not more will follow—and probably it may be best as in military affairs, to make a Bridge for a flying Enemy—our drum beats for parade which I must attend―the Lieutenancy called out 4 Companies of 400 men of my Regiment for 28 days—

I remain in Haste
Dear Sir
Yours very faithfully
Ra. Fletcher

Messrs Stoner & Ravald just now acquaint me that they have forwarded the Depositions of the 4 Persons committed yesterday—

30th April 1812: Colonel Ralph Fletcher writes with details of prisoners held at Bolton

Bolton le moors April 30—1812

My dear Sir/

With this you will receive the depositions of the witnesses against those concerned in or present at the administering of an illegal oath to Serjeant Holland Bowden of the Bolton Local under my Command— I have not time to dictate upon the Subject any further than to observe that we have certain Evidence against many others (and these the Chiefs) – but we are shy of bringing these witnesses forwards—being desirous to cover over all our Intelligence even with a Shadow rather than exhibit the Sources to open day.

I have been strongly requested to suggest to Government the propriety of a Special Commission to try the Culprits—I have no Observations to make on the Subject any further than to mention the Circumstance—the propriety must be left to the Wisdom of his majestys ministers

Various Correspondences have taken place – betwixt myself & the magistrates of other parts of this County and particularly this day I received a Note from the Revd Robt Hay requesting a Communication of the Intelligence I might possess on the Subject of the intentions of the disaffected

Any thing referring to that Subject immediately necessary to the Peace of the Country I have communicated by return of the Messenger—the Substance of my answer—which may serve as an Epitome of my opinion at this juncture is—“That the disaffected will not dare to attempt any open attack during the first Week in May although they had confidently anticipated that period”—I think they will be so checked by the late apprehendings of the Jacobins in this Neighbourhood as to defer the that time at least if not forever — all attempts at open Violence—Secret & Clandestine Firings both of Factories & private Houses & Outhouses—I shall not be surprised to hear of—nor even of private murder or assassination!—The principles so long (since 1792) promulgated, with more or less Industry according to Circumstances, has so operated on the public mind—by pamphlets and other Broadsides of the Press—that I do not expect that any State of permanent Tranquillity can reasonably be expected untill the present Generation shall have passed into Oblivion.—

The Post is ready to set off & I beg leave to remain dr Sir

Your most Obt Servant
Ra: Fletcher

To John Beckett Esq
und - Secretary of State
Pray Turn over

The Names of the persons committed on 29 April [on] are under

Christopher Metcalfe
James Brierley
Henry Thwait
Joseph Clement
John Hayes
Thos Pickup
Willm Gifford

Those remanded are

Samuel Radcliffe
John Hurst
Robt Waddington
Peter Topping
Richard Charlton
John Dewhurst
James Lion

19th April 1812: Secret weavers meeting on Deane Moor, near Bolton

The last secret meeting of Bolton weavers that we know about took place on Sunday 19th April 1812.

Joseph Lomax, who later gave a long & detailed account of the meeting he had attended 5 days before at the Rope Walk, knew about the meeting, although at that point the plan was to meet at Haulgh Hall Cricket Fields. A Richard Taylor had told him that he must attend this meeting and "be prepared to face a mad dog" & be disguised. Lomax took this to mean that he should come armed with a weapon, and understood the intent would be to kill Colonel Ralph Fletcher. He did not attend the meeting and had to persuade his wife not to divulge the information he had told her to Fletcher himself.

At 10 p.m. that night, a weaver from Bolton-le-Moors called John Heys was returning from a trip to the countryside in an effort to find work, and was now making his way along Deane Moor. At one point he could see two figures in front of him and, coming closer, he realised he could not make out their faces. As he drew even nearer to them, it was clear that they had blackened faces. They told him there was a meeting taking place on the moor, and wanted him to attend. Heys was tired and a little frightened - he did his best to excuse himself, but the men said that soldiers were on patrol, and that now he had seen them, they could not risk him giving information away should be run into the militia.

Shortly afterwards, 2 other men - not in disguise - approached, and brought Heys over the Moor to the site of the meeting. 20 people were present, and it was clear that they were all waiting for more people to attend. A general discussion was taking place, with complaints about the time it took to obtain poor relief from the poor law overseers, the disastrous effect of the Orders in Council, the price of provisions and how bad trade was. Some reminded the meeting that an old law of Queen Elizabeth gave magistrates the power to raise wages to the price of provisions, and wondered why this was not being used to relieve their plight.

More people arrived in dribs and drabs and at around 11.00 p.m., a large group of 10 to 12 arrived. All of them were in disguise: their faces were either blackened or covered in masks or cloth. One of them took the lead, and beckoned that all present should form themselves into a circle. By then, up to 60 people were in the field. The man in charge explained the ground rules - that all could speak freely, but one at a time.

An undisguised man then gave a lengthy talk that touched upon some of the issues raised in the earlier discussion. He ended by suggesting that the meeting should make an application to Lord Ellenborough to compel the magistrates to act.

Then a disguised man spoke: he said it was "damned nonsense" to talk of using the law - that this had been tried for years to no avail and had depleted the funds the weavers had subscribed to. He suggested they should draw inspiration from the events that had taken place in the previous week in Stockport and Yorkshire, and over the last few months in Nottingham. That they should look to themselves for a similar solution.

The mood of the meeting was now fearful. Many expressed a desire to go home, but the disguised man informed them that it was too dangerous - the military were out and would arrest those trying to get back to Bolton. Richard Eckersley was present and told the group that he had heard that cavalry were out patrolling. The disguised man said that 200 people in nearby Chowbent (nowadays called Atherton) were ready to join the group, and that if they made their way there, by the time they came back, the military would be dismissed, and they would have a clear run to proceed to Westhoughton to destroy the factory there. The others in disguise voiced their agreement. A disguised man said that 2 men had been sent to scout out the Westhoughton factory - if it was not guarded, they would remain there and not join them at Chowbent. The meeting relunctantly agreed to go to Chowbent. Some were more reluctant than others: Richard Eckersley was ready to leave, but later claimed that one of the disguised men confronted him with a pistol and said "by God I'll blow your brains out if you attempt to go back." Eckersley later found out this was John Stones.

Robert Waddington was present and recognised Stones, despite his disguise. He also knew others present, like Samuel Ratcliffe, Thomas Pickup and John Hurst. He asked Stones if he had a pistol, and Stones offered him one, which he then gave to his brother Thomas, who was also present. Stones posted Waddington as a sentry to keep watch.

They made their way to Chowbent. Michael Bentley and some others were lagging behind on purpose - they wanted to go home. But as they dragged their feet, they found some of the disguised men bringing up the rear who made it clear they would shoot them if they didn't proceed on to Chowbent.

By the time Heys had reached the Four Lane Ends at Over Hulton, there were only 3 other men with him, as they seemed to have proceeded faster than others present. Nearing the bridge at Chowbent, they decided to wait for the others to catch up.

Behind Heys' group, Robert Waddington was with a group of 40 at the Four Lane Ends.
Nearby, they met a man out on his own and not part of their group. He was confronted, with one of the group saying that he recognised him as a Sergeant in the Bolton Local Militia, called Holland Bowden. Bowden wanted to leave, but the group would not let him, and insisted on twisting him in. Afterwards, someone shook Bowden's hand and told him to go home, which he did, and then straight on to the High Sheriff of Lancashire, William Hulton who lived just over a mile away.

Eckersley had by then evaded the group and had gone home, as had some of the others who were originally present.

Proceeding further, they all stopped at the cross in the Marketplace at Chowbent. It was cleat that the expected numbers that the disguised leader had promised on Dean Moor had not materialised. One man raised a pistol into the air and fired it, and another shot followed. They were then all told to disperse, and to use a different route than the one they came by. Waddington went home with a group via Tyldesley that included John Hurst, where they passed the home of the Reverend William Hampson. In a final act of defiance that night, someone fired a pistol.

The weavers weren't to know, but the disguised men who had arrived on Deane Moor together at 11.00 p.m., led by the spy John Stones, were all members of the Bolton Local Militia, many of them instructed directly by Colonel Ralph Fletcher's Adjutant, James Warr, to attend. They included Stones' father, Simon. They left Chowbent together and on the way home were detained by members of the Bolton Local Militia. They were taken to the Pilkington's Arms in Bolton and held there until they could convince their comrades they were acting under orders: they finally proved it by showing them their military foraging caps, and were later discharged.

7th April 1812: Colonel Fletcher receives a report from the spy John Stones about plans for Westhoughton Mill

Tuesday April 7th 1812

/S/has been with Waddington this Morng and told /S/that their was a Meeting last Night of the Secret Committee at Eight o'Clock which lasted until one this Morning. And that they had been twice for him /S/. /S/ have attended it - but he was at Bolton. In future he was to Attend at their Private Meetings—

It was Unanimously Agreed to fire the Factory only Westhoughton the first night (on Thursday next). A delegate is gone to Chowbent this Morng to give them Instructions how to proceed in Firing it—There is betwixt 30 & 40 in Chowbent & Tilesley which is thought Sufficient with 2 going with them from Bolton to instruct them — they wish /S/ to be one of two — There will be a Gen’ Meeting of the whole Neighbourhood on Thursday Morng at one O'Clock – Countersign Dublin. In Kiles Feild Opposite Stone Pitt Pike When every one that is swore in and not Attending — Are to be Forced out of Bed & his Pike put out — A Certain number is to go first to the Master of the Factory or to the Overlooker & Knock at the door when they are to tell him he his wanted upon Particular Business — then they are to demand the Keys & if he refuses to deliver them they are to Place a Pistol on either side of him & keep him secure untill the Business is done —/S/is to go to his Fathers for him to Attend the Gen’ Meeting – and if his Men be not properly Arranged—they will Instruct him in matters relating there to—/S/hath been round to Collect the 2d but only got 10d which he gave to Ratcliff. Waddingtons Brother told /S/that they where sufficiently provided with Powder for their Intended job—Every Man is to be Provided with something to defend themselves with—Some is getting Edging Bills & Long Stick with Pikes at the End –and some Pistols –&c. Waddington showed /S/one that he was taking to be repaired

Capt Bullen is at home

Should you want me before you go I will either come over or meet you wherever you may Appoint

Yours Sincerely
J Warr

6th April 1812: Colonel Ralph Fletcher informs the Home Office about plans to fire Westhoughton Mill

Bolton le moors 6 April 1812

Sir

Since my last, affairs of daily become more serious, but as the Post is every moment expected—I defer the detail until a further opportunity.

By the Inclosures which I have just now received you will perceive the dangerous Extent of the Treasonable Plans indicated, and that Revolution and not Regulation is sought after.—It appears that Waddington the Bolton delegate is one of the Bolton secret Committee with whom our Confident had the address to make himself acquainted; and by that means got introduced to the delegates after the meeting was over, and came at the Information.

The Question is now how to prevent the horrid Consequences that would result from a full Execution of their diabolical Plans.—I have apprised my Brother magistrate Mr Hampson and intend was as little alarm as may be to apprise the Revd Mr Prescott of Stockport and some of the magistrates and Heads of the Police at Manchester—and at Blackburn, but have not yet digested the best mode of making the Communication.—I concur that it will be proper to suffer the Traitors to proceed as far as may be without actual mischief—in order the more effectually by the apprehension of a greater Number of the actors to come at a Knowledge of the first movers. —It would be desirable to have an order to examine Letters at our Post office in order the more effectually to discover the Persons in other Places with whom they correspond.—Can you give me any Authority for such a Purpose?

It is, as you will observe in Contemplation on the Part of the Bolton Traitors. to set fire on Thursday night to one Factory, only, situated in Westhoughton about 4 miles from this Town – but as there will be a meeting on Wednesday night it may possibly be determined to proceed to further Extremities.

In Haste

I have the Honor to be
Sir
your most Obt Servant

Ra: Fletcher

5th April 1812: Delegates from many North West towns meet at the Kings Arms in Salford

The Kings Arms, Salford in the 1970s. Image copyright Salford Pubs of the 70s on Flickr.

At 6 p.m. on Sunday 5th April, an important meeting was held at the Kings Arms (previously the Good Samaritan) on what was then Oldfield Lane in Salford. Evidence from one participant exists in the Home Office archive - that of one of Colonel Ralph Fletcher's spies, John Stones, mediated through his handler, James Warr of the Bolton Local Militia. The weaver Humphrey Yarwood also mentions the meeting, although he was not present, as did a weaver from Stockport, Thomas Whittaker, in a statement later taken when he was in prison.

The delegates present came from a number of different towns in the North West. According to John Stones, there were 10 present, including 1 from Stockport, 3 from Manchester, 1 from Eccles, 1 from Blackburn and 1 from Bolton. Stones also tells us that the Bolton delegate was a man called Waddington (probably Robert Waddington), who had introduced him to the meeting. Yarwood tells us that a member of the newly-formed Manchester Secret Committee - John Buckley Booth - was there, and that delegates were also present from Saddleworth, Ashton-under-Lyne and Oldham, with a delegate from Failsworth no doubt being counted by Stones as being from Manchester. Thomas Whittaker names the Stockport delegate as Thomas Miller.

Stones reported that the delegates all stated their Towns were 'ready', and that were now waiting on Bolton. Delegates gave numbers for those 'twisted in' in the townships: 823 in Stockport, of whom 250 had arms or other weapons; 2000 in Manchester, which as well as workers included Manufacturers, Publicans and Shopkeepers; even Eccles - which had only been recruiting for a fortnight - had managed to raise 183 and had access to 200 stand of arms because a Local Militia sergeant had been twisted in. According to Stones, all were clear that their aims were no longer limited to an advance of wages - they wanted to 'put the great men down that had trampled them under for so long'.

According to Stones, the meeting set a date for the 'Firing of Factories' to take place in each of the Towns that had sent delegates - the evening of Monday 13th April between 12 midnight and 1 a.m. Waddington said that Bolton was not ready, but the other delegates said that something had to happen in that area and soon - it was suggested that the steam loom factory at Westhoughton should be included in the factories to be attacked, unless another arrangement was made at a meeting due to take place on Wednesday 8th April. Yarwood states that the towns were given autonomy to 'choose what mischief they thought proper' for the 13th, but that the Manchester districts had to agree to it.

Whittaker stated that Thomas Miller had reported that a Bolton delegate (either Waddington or Stones) had brought a scale model of a pike along to the meeting. He describes how Waddington placed the constituent parts of the model pike on a table, with everyone puzzled as to what this was and what he was doing. Waddington then assembled the parts to demonstrate that what looked inoffensive could be made into a deadly weapon. Given that Stones was a member of the Bolton Local Militia, and that Waddington knew this, it would seem to be likely that Stones was the man with the pike, even though he doesn't mention it in his report.

Yarwood tells us that the next meeting was due in a fortnight, 19th April.

Stones left the meeting with Waddington to return to Bolton, presumably on foot because Stones relates how they met a man in Swinton and engaged in conversation, persuading him to join their cause. They were ready to twist him in there and then, but they did not have a copy of the oath on them, and directed the man to get the Eccles delegate to arrange this. The Swinton man estimated he could get 100 other local men involved.

On their journey home, Waddington told Stones that he believed figures such as Lord Cochrane, Sir Francis Burdett and Samuel Whitbread would join them when the country was ready. There was an intention to seize the arms and ammunition belonging to Bolton Local Militia, and he had invited Stones because he trusted him, having heard how he and his father were so active. Waddington told Stones that the secret committee at Bolton had arranged to procure 6 artillery pieces, under the direction of a man called Ratcliff who had used them in the military. They also knew where to get hold of Pikes.

15th March 1812: Bolton weavers meet in secret at the Rope Walk

Sometimes after mid-March, around 18 to 20 weavers met in secret at the Rope Walk on Bolton Moor. Robert Waddington was present again, and heard a man called Christopher Metcalf talk suggest that those present should form a Secret Committee, as had already taken place in other towns. Illegal oaths were also administered at the meeting.

Waddington and a handful of others took up this suggestion after the meeting: an impromptu meeting took place between Waddington, John Garrat, John Hurst & Samuel Ratcliffe who decided to form a Secret Committee and to include a man called Richard Charlton, who agreed to their suggestion the following night. The Secret Committee would thereafter seek to recruit and 'twist-in' (i.e. administer illegal oaths) as many people as possible.

2nd March 1812: Secret weavers meeting in Bolton

On Monday 2nd March 1812, another meeting of weavers took place in Bolton.

Although we do not know the location of the meeting, we know from Robert Waddington who was present, that the meeting attracted more new faces than the relatively small affair that had taken place 7 days earlier at the Gibraltar Rock:Waddington later estimated that 25 to 30 people were present. The meeting talked about the hardships the weavers were facing, chiefly a reduction in wages. The meeting echoed the experience and sentiments of the Gibraltar Rock meeting - that appeals to employers, local authorities and government had failed, and that the weavers must look to themselves for a solution.

Waddington told us that the weavers resolved to meet every evening thereafter: the aim was to make these meetings noticeable, despite the risks that this posed, in order to "frighten their masters to give them more wages".

24th February 1812: Bolton weavers meet at the Gibraltar Rock & swear illegal oaths

The Gibraltar Rock, as captured by Google Street View in 2009

Somewhere between the end of February and the beginning of March 1812, a small meeting of up to 8 weavers from Bolton met at the Gibraltar Rock public house near the Town.

Also at the meeting were 2 delegates from a weaver's committee at Stockport. These men led the meeting, explaining their past attempts to gain some redress for the dire situation facing hand-loom weavers in Stockport. That they had met with the local Rector, Charles Prescot, who was also a magistrate, explaining the extent of unemployment and the contrary increase in steam loom weaving in the area. Prescot had suggested that they visit Richard Ryder, the Home Secretary, but that when they did this, Ryder had rebuffed them, commenting that steam looms "were of great service to the State".

The Stockport delegates conclusion was stark: since government was not prepared to act, then they must take matters into their own hands. The Stockport men proposed the adoption of an "oath of engagement" among the group: one of the Bolton weavers present was James Lyon, and a Stockport delegate beckoned to him to come outside the room. He was shown the oath in private and asked to read it out to the group, which he did. But Lyon felt uncomfortable, and stated to the room that he would not take the oath and advised others not to do so. There were murmurings of agreement amongst the group, and another local weaver, William Gifford, spoke against the oath, pointing out that he was a member of the local peace committee. Finally, another Bolton weaver called Samuel Kay pushed himself forward - he agreed to take the oath there and then, in front of the Stockport men.

That this meeting was held only a few days after a public meeting to petition for peace and parliamentary reform indicates that different political currents were moving amongst the weavers, with different objectives and methods.