6th August 1814: The Procurator Fiscal of Dumfries sends an intercepted letter to the Mayor of Nottingham

Dumfries 6 August 1814

Sir

A Correspondence having lately been discovered to have commenced here, betwixt the Journeymen Stocking makers and their Brothers in Nottingham, for the purpose of forming an Association of the Trade to be connected with and dependent upon the General Society of Nottingham, the Master of the Trade became alarmed and made application to the Magistrates of this Town, who upon a Complaint from me as Procurator Fiscal of the Burgh, granted a Warrant for apprehending and bringing before them the persons complained upon for Examination. There were accordingly five Journeymen brought forward, who stated that although they had had some correspondence with the Nottingham Journeymen, they had entered into no resolutions in consequence thereof, nor formed themselves into any Society. They at the same time produced a letter from an S Simpson as Secy of one of the Committees in Nottingham strongly urging them immediately to form themselves into an Association, connected with the principal Society there; they also produced some printed regulations and 60 what Simpson in the letter called Deplomas

The Magistrates as well as the Masters here who are anxious to prevent as much as lies in their power, the diffusion of principles so injurious to the Trade and so subversive of the Peace of the Country have desired me to hand you a Copy of Simpson's letter which is prefixed; I enclose at the same time one of the Deplomas for your Information

I am [etc]
Thomas Fraser

[To] the Mayor of Nottingham

16th June 1814: A member of the Framework-knitters Union writes to a contact in Scotland

Nottm June 16. 1814

Sir

Having seen the letter you have sent to your Brother Timothy expressing the Disposition of the Trade of Dumfries to join their Friends in England in uniting themselves under the Union, I feel it my Duty to give you every Information on the Subject. You will see by the Articles that the intent of the Institution is to unite every branch for the support of each other in times of Distress. The Institution has been found to be very beneficial to every branch, as we have all received a small advance on our work except the Plain Silk hands, which we are now contending for; we have had 300 hands out of employ for more than 6 weeks because the Hosiers have not the honour to give a reasonable advance. The Hosiers have formed a powerful Combination against us, but this we have not cared for, we have persevered, and resolved to persevere until we accomplish the object in view which we hope is not far distant.

The Union is well established in Nottingham Derby and their Counties, and is making very rapid progress throughout Leicestershire, London, Godalming, Tewksbury and Northamptonshire have all formed themselves, and we have long wished to form an Interest in North Britain in order that the principle may be diffused throughout the North; and we are happy to find that Dumfries is anxious to set the example, and help when you have formed yourselves you will disseminate the principle through all Scotland; for depend upon it if the Trade are united and true to their own Interest, we shall be able to make our Trade as respectable as any other in the Kingdom and no longer be designated by the application of "Stracking Stockingers". According to request I have sent for Articles and 60 Deplomas, that you may form yourselves as soon as possible. I have taken the liberty to fill one of the Deplomas up for yourself in order that your Secretary may not be at a loss on that head. The Secy must place his name opposite to the number; I hope you will excuse us not writing sooner as we are now so strong, we have scarcely time to attend anything but the Turn out.

(Signed) S. Simpson

N.B. direct for me Newton’s Head, Glasshouse Lane Nottingham

10th May 1814: George Coldham sends more intelligence about the FWK Union to the Home Secretary

Nottingham
10th May 1814.

My Lord,

I have heard nothing since my last Letter to your Lordship — either from Simon Orgill or Mr Storey of Lockington as I expected what is the reason of it I do not know but it is very likely that more time has been required to concert the matters that I was aware could be required for that purpose. In the meantime thro’ a secret & confidential channel Alderman Ashwell has learnt & Desires me to communicate the same to your Lordship that the Sum collected the week before last by the Union Society in Nottingham alone amounted to £115. It appears that when any Men turn out as it is called against their Masters that the Club furnished them with Subsistence & that about a Fortnight ago they stopped all the Workmen of the House of Ray & Co & gave them subsistence upon Condition that they did not deliver in their Work to their Employers. Mr Ashwell's Informant states to him that Latham is not as Mr Allsopp imagined one of the present Conductors of the Business of the Club here he having left the Town and ceased to reside here. It is stated to him with considerable confidence that the Plan of the Association has been settled by Counsel of great Eminence by Sir Samuel Romilly and Mr Samuel Marryatt to whom perhaps your Lordship could apply & that they have the most entire confidence in the legality of such of their forms of Association as may meet the publick Eye. I suspect that these forms of gone thro’ the Hands of Mr Bond of Leicester & from him to the Gentleman thro’ the Hands of our own Agents Messrs Bleasdale & Alexander of New Inn unless some of the Society have taken them personally to the Council & conferred with them personally for the purpose of cutting off the chance of tracing the connection. From this Informants Account Simpson seems to be the prime Conductor & Manager of the Accounts here and to be the Secretary & Man of Business of the Society. He lives in King’s Place Woolpack Lane, Nottingham & is a Frameworknitter – having a standing for a single Frame for his own work in Parliament Street Nottingham at which he does not do any portion of work as could maintain him—It is therefore very manifest that he is supported by the Society's Funds. He is a very orderly quiet man of very sober Habits and there is no doubt he keeps the Accounts of the Society & receives & pays all the money collected & disbursed on Account there of which must be very considerable as all the Lace & Plain Silk Hands in short the whole Range & compass of the Lace & Hosiery Manufactory is in the Combination. I have hopes to obtain more Information from this quarter & from another Channel of Information which will be immediately communicated to me. It is inconceivable the Difficulty there is in getting any Frameworknitters upon whom you can depend to obtain information for you, & no other person can be of the smallest use.

I am [etc]

Geo Coldham