7th September 1816: A portrait of the weavers' distress in Bolton

The Leicester Chronicle of Saturday 7th September 1816 carried a report about the situation facing weavers in Bolton, Lancashire:

Out of 4635 looms at Great Bolton, in Lancashire, 1432 are standing still from want of employment. The same proportion of looms are standing in Little Bolton. Many more are on their last warps; and to increase the misery of the labouring manufacturers the masters are refusing to credit them any advance of wages.—The poor rates are doubled, but may be doubled again without affording the desired relief to the poor.

13th August 1816: Preston weavers use sabotage, attack home of local MP & mill-owner

The Leeds Mercury of 24th August 1816 carried an article from the Preston Chronicle about unrest in Preston on Tuesday 13th August 1816, much of it targeted at the local mill-owner & MP for Preston, Samuel Horrocks:

We are sorry to state that in consequence of the manufacturers being necessitated to reduce the wages on some descriptions of cotton goods, a disposition to break the peace was manifested, by a party of weavers parading the streets of this town, on Tuesday last, and in some cases, destroying the shuttles of such as were inclined to continue at their work. Towards evening they had accumulated to a considerable body, and after consulting together they proceeded to the house of Mr. Horrocks: not finding him at home, some of the part, chiefly boys and women, commenced an attack, by breaking the windows of the house, and tearing up the shrubs in the grounds; but these outrages, not being seconded by the main body, were but of short duration. Next morning they assembled in still greater numbers at the outskirts of the town. They were met by a great posse of serjeants and corporals of the Lancaster militia, stationed in the town, who in a few hours dispersed the mob, after taking some of the most active into custody. The precautionary views of the Magistrates induced them, on the first indication of riot, to send for a party of military to Liverpool, but order was completely restored before they arrived; and the weavers have now settled themselves quietly to work again.—Preston Chronicle, August 17.

23rd July 1816: John Lloyd sends the weavers' memorial to the Home Office

Stockport 23 July 1816

Sir

I have since my return from the Sessions seen Mr. Middleton who says he has not heard any more from the man he alluded to—

I have the honor to inclose a Copy of memorial which I found posted in the Town—and I am sorry to learn that many of the more respectable Inhabitants than the original promoters have been induced to add their signatures:—without reflecting that the spinning of Cotton is what gives employment to nearly half our population; & the prohibition of Twist wou’d have a [tendency] to improve Machinery abroad, and a rivality be the consequence—I have seen some of these Gentlemen and warned others—for it must end in disappointment to those whose hopes of relief are derived from this [illegible]

Joseph Sherwin & Simon Lilly are the two principal weavers soliciting subscriptions of names & Sums of money. They have already received an answer from the Treasury signed by Mr. Lushington that ought to have set them at rest: but I perceive that their object is raising a little money for their own purposes—

I remember upon a former occasion, when news was brought to Town of similar memorials or Petitions failing of their affect there was almost a simultaneous rising of the weavers who went forth to stop people in the County from weaving at all—I apprehended, by the assistance of some of the 6th Dragoons, 62 at one time & by special Constables 60 more—Several of whom were tried at Chester for riot and various Offences, by directions from the Treasury—I have reminded the incautious manufacturers of the evil resulting from a temporizing mode of acting, with Characters so soon inflamed, and so prone to misconceive the true interest of themselves & the nation—

I have [etc]

J. Lloyd

[To] J. Beckett Esqr
&c &c

17th July 1816: Stockport Weavers send a Memorial to the Prince Regent

TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS

GEORGE PRINCE REGENT

OF THE

UNITED KINGDOMS OF BRITAIN AND IRELAND,

WITH THEIR DEPENDENCIES.

THE HUMBLE

MEMORIAL

Of the undersigned, being Manufacturers of Cotton Goods, and Workmen, who have been employed in the various branches of that once extensive and important Manufacture,—

SHEWETH,

THAT Your Royal Highness’s humble Memorialists, who on all occasions have proven themselves His Majesty's most faithful and loyal subjects, are brought to the greatest distress, which is every day becoming more poignant; and unless some means of Relief be speedily devised, one Common Ruin must involve both Masters and Workmen.

Your Memorialists are well aware that many classes of His Majesty’s subjects labor under similar distresses, with this difference,—THEIRS have not long existed—OURS have almost become permanent;—They have had constant Employment and full Wages, until within these few months; but the evils of which Your Memorialists complain, have been growing for upwards of Fifteen Years, till they have arrived at a climax of unparalleled WANT, MISERY, and RUIN!!!

THAT the evils to which Your Memorialists allude, may be ascribed to One great Cause, viz. the Exportation of the half-wrought Material, as TWIST and WEFT. By this traffic, one part of His Majesty’s subjects work to enable Foreigners to do without the labor of the other part; and hence their restrictive measures against the finished Manufactures of your Memorialists. Another evil arising out of the above, is the frequent Reduction of Wages. This system must at all times decrease the value of the Stock on hand, which is sometimes immense.

The consequence is, that the most wealthy of the Masters have either altogether, or partly, declined the Manufacture; whilst others, by repeated sacrifices of depreciated stocks, have become insolvent. Hence many thousands of Weavers are out of employ; whilst those who have work, cannot on an average, earn more than Four Shillings per Wweek; and little more than two years ago, for a short period (Foreign Looms being prevented for some time from manufacturing goods from British Cotton Yarns, owing to their country’s being then the Seat of War) they could earn Sixteen Shillings and sixpence in the same time.

THAT since Peace took place, and the Foreign Looms were set to work again with British Yarns, Wages have been gradually decreasing to their present ruinous state; nor can Your Memorialists see any period when they can be employed again, so long as Yarns continue to be sent out of the Kingdom in such increasing quantities.

THAT the Cotton Manufacture has given employment and support to many Hundreds of Thousands of Persons in the United Kingdom; and Your Memorialists humbly presume, has been of considerable importance in a financial point of view. Shall such a source of our national greatness be removed?—No! 

Your Memorialists trust, with humble confidence, that Your Royal Highness will be graciously pleased to take the above into Your Royal Highness's most serious consideration;

And Your Memorialists will ever pray, &c.

Stockport, July 17th, 1816.

11th July 1816: John Lloyd admits to the Home Office that the local authority is directly supporting the local weavers

Stockport 11 July 1816

Sir

I have the honor now to inform you that I yesterday attended a meeting of some of the principal Gentleman of our Town as the secretary to form a plan for employing the weavers and others not able to procure work for themselves—and we have effected it upon a system that promises good effects—Considering it better to have the work furnished by the Overseers of the poor for the relief necessarily afforded to the families rather than risk an odium against any particular party for keeping down wages—for according to our plan the labour is to be an equivalent for the money paid to them out of the rates—The subscription in aid of those rights to purchase materials which when manufactured are to be sold & the money they produce paid into the fund which is to be deposited in the Bank of messrs Jones Fox & Co in manchester—and little or no loss is anticipated.

[Should] you wish to be further acquainted with the Plan, you can command it from me when more mature—I think we shall be able to manage the people & keep them quiet—no [disposition] to the contrary, I am happy to say, at present appears.

I have got the Overseers into better humour—& I will take an opportunity of printing out the Observations in this days Courier Paper to them.

I have the honor to be
Sir

Your very obedient
humble Servant

J. Lloyd

[To] J. Beckett Esqr.
Under Secy of State
&c &c

25th June 1816: John Lloyd writes to the Home Office about distressed weavers in Stockport

Stockport 25 June 1816

Sir

In my last letter relating to the situation of the people in Stockport, I think I informed you that I had recommended to the Gentleman of the Town to make enquiry after Cases of distress thro’ want of employment, and to report them for relief—I have now the honor to inform you that a certain number of the Weavers delegates by the Body first made a return of the number and names of the Weavers with the number of Looms employed & unemployed, the total of which they made out to be — For Stockport

Looms employed 775 unemployed 1117 – no. of Families [illegible]         3410
For Edgeley [adg.] 208 unemployed 475 – [ditto]                 1070
For Heaton Norris 254 unemployed 241 – [ditto]                 913
also adjoining
[Total] 1237 unemployed 1833 – [ditto]                      5393

A Committee of [Gentlemen] were approved to go round the districts after them & yesterday [illegible] to report—The result was a very general distress amongst the Weavers but exaggeration had been practised—Indeed this I know for I attended the Committee & took a District myself & found the first statement extremely incorrect—The Committee have recommended to the magistrates about [110] objects for Relief—which it is intended to grant from the Poor rates, as no adequate Subscription can be raised to the purpose—but this is not all the busy & meddling part of them (few in number) want. They suggested that radical relief cou’d proceed only from the Government, & they urged the Committee to address a memorial to the Prince Regent; but of course that was not countenanced—I reminded them of the Letter answer they had received from Mr [illegible]—I expect to see a publication from the pen of a Gentleman formally in the Silk Trade who has got the cacoethes loquendi et scribendi—because I will not suffer him to harangue upon their favorite Topic of Exportation of Cotton Twist & a minimum price for wages—He addressed the note yesterday to the [meeting] of which the following is a Copy—"Preparing for Publication a Letter to John Lloyd Esqr. Detailing the Author’s Plan for the Relief of the Poor of Stockport &c and opposing the fallacy of Mr. Lloyd's representations or rather misrepresentations at the Public meeting on Thursday the 20 instant. By W. Dawson He who offers a plan for public adoption should observe it at once useful seasonable & practicable” L’Esprit de Loix—

“To prevent the idea of Collusion the Outlines of this plan are already sealed up & dated & deposited in the hands of respectable Neighbour" addressed

"To the magistrates on the Committee"

We paid the Weavers for making out the return and those who attended at the Inn where the meeting was held, appeared well pleased with the attention & solicitude of the Committee & magistrates—& they were paid for all the trouble they had taken but acquainted that they must not expect any more money whatever they took upon themselves to do—

My clerks are now extracting the names of those reported to be in extreme Distress, & the next difficulty I shall experience will be with the Overseers of the Poor, who cannot collect the rates sufficiently to answer the extra demands thus brought upon them—And I anticipate the greatest vexation from their Conduct, for their humanity is not natural and when they are not in any office they are very untoward, and aggravate the distress of the Poor.

I have [etc]

J Lloyd

P.S. We have had considerable vexation owing to a resolution amongst the Shopkeepers not to receive the plain silver Coinage – and your Letter was particularly seasonable—Things are now going on better—

19th June 1816: The Earl of Derby appeals to the Home Secretary about the distress of weavers in Bolton

[19th June 1816]

My Lord

A Deputation of the very respectable Gentleman whose names are affixed to the inclosed Memorial has waited upon me this morning, with their earnest Request that I [should] immediately lay before his Majesties Ministers their representation of the very distressing & alarming state not only of that particular part of the County over which their Superintendence as Deputy [Lieutenants] extends, but also generally over all parts of this County in which weaving constitutes nearly the whole means of support of the Inhabitants I think it my Duty to lose no time in transmitting this Statement to your Lordship in the terms in which it has been made to me, but I likewise consider myself as bound to add, that I am fully persuaded neither the distress of the People, nor the dreadful Excesses to which (if not some alleviated) it may compel them to have recourse, have they in the smallest Degree exaggerated: I am desired further to state that the People are at present quiet, & no hopes have been held out to them of any specific Remedy, nor do I feel myself qualified or entitled to show to your Lordship any Plan for that purpose, I am however confident that the Business calls for the speediest & most earnest attention of his Majestys Ministers & as such I beg him earnestly to recommend it, (thro’ your Lordship) to their Notice

I have [etc]

Derby

[To: Lord Sidmouth]

[Bolton magisrates memorial follows]

Bolton June 17th 1816—

My Lord

From an attentive observation of the circumstances, in which the weavers, resident in Bolton & the neighbourhood are at this moment plac’d, we, the Deputy Lieutenants of the division, in which that Town is situated, have assembled for the purpose of investigating to the utmost of our power, the cause & extent of their present distresses, & the probable effect which their urgent wants may have on the peace of the County—

We feel it to be a difficult & most delicate task, to trace the suppos’d causes to their first origin, that we beg to state to you, for the information of his Majesty's Government this simple fact—that, while every other branch of the manufacture of piece goods is declining with a rapidity unexamp’ld—the unlimited exportation of Cotton Twist, is energising the spinning trade to an unparalleled degree—With respect to the extent of the distresses of the Weavers, we have a most painful duty to perform in recommending them to your notice—The Master Manufacturers are lessening the number of those employ’d—the wages are reduc’d to a sum totally inadequate to the support of individual want  & even at this low average—the work to be performed by them is generally limited—The season of the year & the moderate price of provisions have tended to redress the cry of discontent, but such is the general stagnation of the trade that unless His Majesty's Government can afford immediate relief to their wants, & permanent support to their manufacture, we feel ourselves bound to declare, that no influence nor exertion of ours can long maintain the peace of this neighbourhood—Under these impressions, we have thought it our duty to lay before your Lordship this statement, trusting that it will meet with your Lordships forceful aid in a recommendation of it, to the attention of His Majesty's Government—We remain

My Lord
Yr Lordship’s
Most obt Hble Servants

Wm Hulton—
Benjn Rawson
John Pilkington
Richard Ainsworth

1st June 1816: Colonel Fletcher asks the Home Secretary to authorise troops to be sent to Bolton

Bolton le moors 1 June 1816

My Lord

The magistrates of this Division having the apprehensive of some breach of the Public Peace, from the assemblages of numerous Bodies of Weavers that have taken place for several Evenings past, on the outskirts of this Town, deemed it expedient on the 30th ultimo, (as the Town had been without any military force whatever, since the reduction of the Local militia, and the Resignation of the yeomanry Troop of Cavalry) a request from the Officer commanding at the Barracks at Manchester, that a Troop of dragoons might be sent to, and remain quartered at, Bolton.

Lieut Col Holmes, commanding the 3d Dragoon Guards, in reply to our request, after assuring the magistrates of his readiness to meet their wishes, and promptly to give every aid to the several Authorities, says "it will be necessary under present circumstances, and particularly as no Riot has actually taken place, that should the magistrates deem it necessary to have Troops at Bolton, they should address themselves to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, or the Right Honorable the Secretary at War"

Lt Col Holmes's letter having been brought to my House, during my absence yesterday, and one Post having been lost, through that circumstance, I take the Liberty to forward this Letter (without the Signature of the other magistrates, who reside at several miles distance, and whose Sentiments on the [illegible] are well known to myself) – and to request that your Lordship will be pleased to direct the Officer commanding at Manchester (Lt Col Holmes) to detach to the Town of Bolton a Troop of Dragoons—to be there quartered, as long as circumstances shall make such a measure necessary.

From the Communication made to Mr Beckett on the 27th ultimo, and also from the joint communication, which Mr Walker and I had the Honor to address to your Lordship on the 29th, I humbly trust, your Lordship will be fully apprized of the Reasons, on which the request of the magistrates was founded, and that it will meet with your Lordships approbation.

I have [etc]
Ra: Fletcher

To the Right Honorable
Lord Viscount Sidmouth

29th May 1816: Letter to the Bury & Norwich Post laments the automation of the Wool-spinning industry in the County

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BURY POST.

Sir,—Through the channel of your useful Paper, I beg leave to make a few observations on the state of the Wool-trade in this County, and to suggest some hints whereby that which is at present nearly lost, may, in the course of a few months be probably recovered. The great disadvantage to the extensive Spinning-trade appears to have arisen from the use of Machinery; to meet this, therefore, I should wish to recommend it to every parish throughout the County to have certain quantity of Wool combed, proportioned to the population of the Parish; that each should supply its own Poor with Spinning, and to pay such wages as will encourage them to keep from the weekly pay-table. Let them not say, “We have no employment;” it is good to keep them employed, and to have their minds as well as their hands occupied. By such measures, and at the same time selling the Yarn made under the price of Machine Yarn, a stop may be put to the use of Machinery; the Trade of the County may return to its own channel; and the Poor be enabled to live by their labour. Embrace, therefore, the present opportunity, or the Trade will be lost past recovery, and thus the landed, as well as every other interest, will be greatly and inevitably injured. I am happy to say, that several Parishes have already adopted the plan now proposed, and that the Poor are well satisfied; and I entertain a hope that it will be immediately attended to in every Parish throughout the County, as I feel no doubt, that at a moderate calculation, it will be the means of employing 1000 combers.

I am, Sir, your obedient Servant.

A Friend to the County of Suffolk.

27th May 1816: Colonel Ralph Fletcher informs the Home Office of the distress of the Bolton Weavers

Bolton 27 May 1816

Dear Sir

Some the enclosed papers came to my hands several days ago, but I waited to have heard from Mr Warr—some further particulars of the Intention of the Seditious, before I made any communication.

The minds of the Weavers are in a considerable degree of Fermentation from the Lowness of Wages, and Scarcity of Employment (even on their low Wages) owing principally, to the Number of recent Failures, and also from the discharging of Workmen, by those who are yet solvent. Some Attempts have been made in this town, this day, and are now making to rouse the Feelings of the Weavers, by exhibiting a Shuttle covered with Crape. The Effect it may have this evening, I hope will not be serious; but should the Number of Weavers be discharged that, it is predicted, will be in the course of three Weeks in this Town & Neighbourhood, (10000 & upwards) the Consequence will, I fear, be alarming.

Tomorrow a Representation will be sent from this Place, to my Lord Sidmouth, by the magistrates, at the Suggestion of two (loyal) Delegates from the Weavers, in which will be contained their Statement of the Average Wages earned, and the Number out of Employ—and their Opinion as the best mode of alleviation, the Distress that prevails in the Cotton Trade.

I thought it necessary to apprise you of the Intention—and in Haste, for fear of losing a Post—

I remain

Dear Sir

Yours most sincerely

Ra: Fletcher

[To] John Beckett Esqr

21st May 1816: The Rev Charles Prescot sends the weavers petition to the Home Office

My Lord—

Yesterday Two Men delegated by the Weavers of this town & Neighbourhood requested me to permit a meeting for the purpose of forwarding a petition to the House of Commons stating their Grievances, & praying for such redress as the House might think fit to afford. I recommended their sending the Petition immediately to the Members for Cheshire, as much time might be lost by going about for probably fifteen-thousand signatures, & the inconveniences that attend large meetings be prevented.—I trust the small number of names will not prevent the petition being attended to, or it's going into a Committee

Many families are in a starving condition, numbers are & more will soon be out of work, they are almost driven to despair, the symptoms of intended rioting are stronger than, I recollect they were, previous to the breaking out of the Luddites, could any method be devis’d to alleviate the present distress, the probable mischief, extensive as it may be, might be prevented.—

I trust your lordship will excuse the liberty I take (being the only resident Magistrate in this Town) in  intruding myself upon you, & earnestly requesting your attention to this concern which seems materially to affect the peace of the Country to a great extent—

I remain with very great respect
Yr Lordship's most Obt Servt &c
Charles Prescot.

P.S.
I inclose a Copy of the petition, & a printed paper circulated last night.—

The weekly earnings of a Weaver should have been stated of four-shillings, & not five;—

21st May 1816: John Lloyd sends the 'Death of Calico Jack' handbill to the Home Office

Stockport 21st May 1816

Sir

Mr. Prescot will send up a Copy the Petition I alluded to in my last by this night’s Post – It is temperate humble & true and attention will be flattering if not effectual—

I inclose you a Copy the Printed Paper I mentioned — a Man that succeeded the first who introduced them excited the curiosity of the People by his manner & collected such numbers of people round him that it was found expedient to seize the whole of his Papers—& the Christn Name & place of abode of the Printer not being given I have instituted a prosecution agst the Distributor for assembly, which He may not be able to pay & must go to prison—& that may prevent the circulation of similar papers.

It is probable that the Secy of State will be applied to for a troop of Horse to be stationed in the Town. I conceive the Barracks at Manchester would be more proper as the Soln cou’d be soon obtained in case of necessity, which I will not anticipate

I have the honor to remain
Your very obedient humble Servant

J Lloyd

P.S. The ridiculous Paper was written 25 Years ago by a man of the name of Dale of this Town—& has been revived on occasions like present – I remember to have seen it during the turn-out of weavers in 1808.

[To] J. Beckett Esqr
&c &c

21st May 1816: Stockport Weavers petition to Parliament

To the Honorable the House of Commons of the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled the Petition of the Cotton Weavers and the Town of Stockport and Neighbourhood

Humbly sheweth,

That there at present upwards of fifteen Thousand Individuals in the Town and Neighbourhood of Stockport to have hitherto earned their Subsistence by Cotton-Weaving.

That, according to the prices paid for Cotton Weaving in the early part of the Year 1814 a diligent weaver might earn on an Average to the Amount of Sixteen shillings and sixpence per week—

That owing to the vast Reduction which has taken place in the prices of Cotton-weaving since that period, it is out of the power of an industrious weaver to earn more than five shillings per week—that a view of these circumstances will convince your honorable house of the utter impossibility of a Cotton-Weaver by labouring at the present prices being able to procure subsistence for himself and family and of his inability to pay the common Demands of Rent, Leys and Taxes which are much greater with him than other Mechanics owing to the greater Extent of Premises required for Loom-Standing &c

That your Petitioners are not able to point out the Causes which have led to such a lamentable reduction in their wages nor do they pretend to suggest the means of removing such Causes but they rely with the strongest hope and Confidence that your honorable house when thus informed of the deplorable State of your humble Petitioners will in its wisdom and humanity adopt the speediest method of affording them Relief for which they well as in duty bound ever pray &c

Sign’d on behalf of the Cotton-Weavers of Town and neighbourhood of Stockport

[21st May]

20th May 1816: John Lloyd sends his observations about local weavers to the Home Office

Stockport 20th May 1816

Sir

I was prepared to expect an application on the part of the Weavers to the resident magistrate Mr Prescot for the purpose of obtaining his sanction for a public meeting to petition Parliament, & the Justice was prepared to dissuade the Delegates from that mode of promoting a petition — advising the manner of doing it to be by their Committee, & promising that it shod be forwarded

They represented their situations to be worse a great deal than when they before complained, & the written statement they addressed to Mr. Prescot I have copied & sent herewith

I have had an opportunity of asking some of the masters in the Trade about the prices—& they do not deny the main facts but say they have taken the extreme in both cases periods i:e. the highest of the Year 1814 & lowest of the present.

I have recommended proper persons to be sent to families whose support depended on Weavg to enquire as to their necessities & to apply for relief from their respective parishes & to pay every attention to them — & rather to anticipate the relief to their distresses—for it does not appear that they are likely to succeed with the object of their intended petition — but I have requested that no opposition shod be given to it by public argument or counter petition

There are bad spirits amongst the Weavers & some of the lower orders here, that no pretext shod be given to—

To day they have been distributing foolish handbills in the neighbourhood about the Downfall of the Cotton Trade or the "Weavers’ Downfall"

It is such as not to deserve notice but I shall take an opportunity of findg out the printer & cautioning him, to prevent papers of a worse tendency succeeding this—

I am in considerable haste & you will please to believe that I cod not pay better attention to this Letter to you from that circumstance—

Your very obedient hble Svt

J Lloyd

[To] J Beckett Esq
&c &c

20th May 1816: Distressed Stockport weavers appeal to the magistrate Rev Charles Prescot

To the Revd Charles Prescot

Revnd Sir

Actuated by the sentiments of Gratitude for the generous concern you have ever manifested towards the Interest of the laboring Class of this Town and neighbourhood, we venture on the behalf and at the urgent request of the weavers of Stockport to lay a list of the present Prices of a few Reeds now given by the Manufacturers, in order that Your worship may be a competent Judge of their deplorable State and improbability to pay the common demands of Rents, Ley or Taxes

List of the present Prices           List of the prices 1814 for the same fabric

100 Reed 6/4 Cambric 24 Yds – 10 [shillings]                   1.8.0
100 Reed 9/8 Gingham  – 8 [shillings]                   .19.0
90 Reed 9/8 Gingham          – 5 [shillings]           .16.0
72 Reed 4/4 Gingham          – 3 [shillings]           .12.0
72 Reed 4/4 Gingham          – 3 [shillings]           .12.0
60 Reed 6/4 [illegible]          – 7 [shillings] 6 [pence]   .16.0

Your wordship will here observe a tremendous reduction in the earnings of the industrious weaver. What may be the Cause of such Reduction is to the working body of the trade altogether insolvable. But at the same time it is conceived not to be impracticable but something might be done to ameliorate their distress, thro’ the medium and interference of the Magistrates of the manufacturing districts, praying that his Majesty's ministers would be pleased to put a Stop to the Exportation of Cotton Yarn and fix a Minimum for the price of labor. This is the only Suggestion we can lay down to relieve us upon a permanent Basis and as the Magistrate and principal Inhabitants of Bolton desire that this should be put in practice, we humbly humbly implore that your worship will take the same into your serious Consideration at this Period when Provisions are on the advance.

Now to shew you what the weavers can earn the 100 Reed 6/4 Cambric is considered to be a sufficient quantity of labour for 8 days. Then the Journeyman has 3d to pay out of every shilling he earns for winding, Loom-Room &c which will reduce his earnings to Eleven-pence farthing per day—This will be but a small Sum for a Man that has a family of 3 or 4 Children to subsist on - therefore necessity will compel him to seek for parochial relief which will fall very heavy on the Land-Owners and principal Inhabitants.

Convinced of the practicality with which you have attended to their former applications they have to beg you to accept their grateful thanks for past favors with the Assuance of their highest Esteem

We remain your worship’s most
obedient & humble Servants
Joseph Sherwin
Simon Lilley

Signed on behalf of
the Cotton-Weavers
of Stockport May
20th 1816.—

May 1816: Handbill poem titled “The Death of Calico Jack"

The Death of Calico Jack; or the

WEAVERS DOWNFALL.

Bad markets....Several tradesmen threatened with arrest, Oh! the effects of high living. Curse upon lewd women, and fie upon the foreign Company, they under sell us. For what reason? They have their goods made from good wool, we have ours from waste. They have their yarn spun for little or nothing, so have we. The merchants enjoy the juice of the grape, but we will be content with a little malt liquour. Oh! St. David’s Day, be thou like the days of job....let no sun shine upon it....and let it be blotted out from the other days of the year, and let every spinner and weaver of cotton tremble at the remembrance thereof, and let love and friendship be united and dated from this day, and handed down to the latest posterity. But find us the man whose foundation is not shaken at such unprecedented proceedings Quere, is this the way they mean to go to heaven? if so, God enlighten their dark understandings.

Sunday. The prayer of the congregation are desired for the cotton trade and let all the people say, Amen.

Tuesday. Dissected and examined by numbers of Anathamptists, and the Cotton Trade found to be wilfully murdered by persons well known, viz. absolutely choaked with waste.

Wednesday. The town in general disordered. The right honourable and most ignoble Lord Strut, chief president of the company of starve beggars, seduced by some means his fellow creatures to shut up their warehouses, workshops, &c. till such times trade mends or work for whatever they please to give them. Agreed nem con.

Thursday. The spinners and weavers agreed to weather out the storm, and support themselves by other means.

Saturday. Wages paid, shops shut, & a general fast & mouring proclaimed.

Sunday. The spinners and weavers agreed, let us eat and drink to-day, for tomorrow we die; and like the widow of Zarepah, die with a full stomach, flattering themselves they will not be the worse received in Heaven.

Monday. The Military arrived, some say to quell a riot, sed fulsum est, take nothing from nothing, and nothing remains: and every day since, the town has been rigidly strict in abserving Mourning and fasting, (particularly the poor distressed Spinners and weavers) and will for a long time.

Go to, ye great men, mourn and weep, for the time cometh when you must balance not only with your Merchants, but with one who will not take light gold, bad bills, nor blank securities—'tis hard for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle—when you die, which you certainly think you never must—you will not be asked how much money you possessed here.

The Funeral will be solemnized; the Trade interred in Oliver Cromwell’s Grave, near Lancashire Bridge, on Saturday by ten o’Clock

The Procession as follows: Evil to him who thinks on Evil, doodle doodle doo.

To be extended full length upon the bottom of a Coach or Chariot of some exalted Weaver or Barber covered with a plaid Paul to be 8 bearers

Major General Short Tongue

The Right Honorable Admiral Shifter,

Colonel Black Sam, and Captain Stewmug,

The Honorable Colonel Plowshare,

Captain Snuff,

And Brigadiers Shuffle and Cut, Esqrs.

To be drawn by thirty broken Tradesmen, in Second Mourning,

The distressed Spinners with scarfs and cockados of Waste Cotton, two and two.

Badgers, Butchers, Shopkeepers, Hucksters, and Ale-sellers, in full mourning, two and two.

Carding Engine, Jenny makers, and Loom makers, Spinners and Weavers, Wives and Children, two and two in ragged be-gowns, and old Shoes on. The Perpetrators of this Murder to be tarr’d and feathered.

A Funeral Sermon will be preached at the Tabernacle, from Isaiah xxiv. 10. 11. “The City of Confusion is broke down, Every House is shut up, that no Man come in. There is a cry for Wine in the Streets, All joy is darkened, and the mirth of the land is gone.”

4th May 1812: Two weavers from Failsworth meet the Manchester Secret Committee at the Prince Regent's Arms

Joseph Taylor, a weaver from Failsworth recently moved to Club Row, Newton Lane in Manchester, was a curious type. On the day of the first Manchester Food Riot, he had met a relative, called John Blakeley, in the streets on Manchester. Blakeley had greeted him with a gesture which piqued his interest: he put his finger to his lip and asked Taylor if he could answer it. Taylor could not, but made it clear he wanted to know more.

Blakeley made it clear to Taylor that Manchester would soon be witnessing something akin to the French Revolution, but that he would have to be conversant in signs and signals before he could know more. Blakeley taught him the following:

Question: put the two forefingers of the right-hand to the right eye; Answer: present the forefinger of the left-hand

Question: place the little finger of the right-hand under the lip - at the same time advance the right leg; Answer: stroking or rubbing the chin with the left-hand

Taylor knew a man called Joseph Duxbury was involved in something secretive, and decided to try to the signs he'd learned on him. It worked. Duxbury subsequently got Taylor to swear an oath and gave him hints about how he would find the 'principal persons' involved in what he wanted to know more about.

On the morning of Monday 4th May, Taylor set off with his friend Thomas Whitehead, a weaver from Failsworth to find out more. On Port Street, off Ancoats Lane, they met a young man whom Taylor suspected was involved in the secret business. He tried out the second signal on him, and the man, called Ben, responded with the counter-sign. Ben took them both to a cellar at No. 21 where he worked as a weaver. They talked about being twisted-in and then agreed to go for a drink at the White Lion. Ben went ahead, and Taylor & Whitehead joined him later.

At the White Lion, Taylor asked Ben if anyone could help twist-in Taylor. Ben said he knew someone who could and left, returning later with a man he called 'the Secretary'. The man introduced himself as Yarwood and gave Taylor the signal: Taylor responded with the counter-sign. Yarwood questioned Taylor, and then said they needed to go somewhere safer.

Taylor, Whitehead and Yarwood now headed for the Prince Regent's Arms on Ancoats Lane. In private in a room in the pub, Yarwood asked Taylor to tell him the oath, and although Taylor couldn't remember the oath, Yarwood was satisfied. As the landlord, John Brown, entered the room to bring coal to the fireplace, Yarwood then said he would like to read Taylor some verses from the Bible, and asked the ladlord to fetch a Bible. With the landlord present, Yarwood read to Talyor verses 25, 25 & 27 of the 21st chapter of the book of Ezekiel. The landlord left, and then Yarwood administered the oath to him, whilst he held the Bible in his hand.

I, A.B., of my own voluntary will do declare and solemnly swear that I will never reveal to any person or persons in any place or places under the canopy of heaven the names of the persons who comprise the secret committee, either by word and deed or sign, their proceedings, meetings, place, abode, dress, features, marks, complexions, connections nor anything else that may lead to the discovery of the same on the penalty of being put out of this world by the first brother that shall meet me, my name and character blotted out of existence and never to be remembered but with contempt and abhorrence. I further swear that I will use my best endeavours to punish by death any traitor or traitors should any rise up amongst us he or them and though he should fly to the verge of nature I will pursue him with unceasing vengeance so help me God to keep this oath inviolable

At the end, Yarwood asked him to kiss the Bible, which he did. Yarwood then told him the signs and counter-signs to ensure he could safely introduce himself and/or reply to others twisted-in, and said these were changed every fortnight for security reasons, and also that subscriptions were 2 pence per week. Yarwood agreed that Whitehead should be admitted as a 'friend to the cause', and swore Whitehead in too in a similar manner.

After Yarwood had told Taylor some poetry ridiculing the Prince Regent, he said there was a meeting later today, and if he was interested, he should remain at the pub: the location would be announced within 10 minutes of the meeting, again for security reasons.

Yarwood then proceeded to paint a vivid picture to both men of revolutionary proceedings in the country: that 400,000 men were ready to rise, although London was lagging behind somewhat; that army officers and sergeants were twisted in, and that one half of the army would 'be organised before the blow'; that even the Duke of York may join them and they would 'pluck him from the ungodly'.

By 6.30 p.m., up to 18 people were assembled at the Prince Regent's Arms, waiting for the meeting venue to be announced. A little man came in, who seemed to be looked up to by those present. Whitehead knew him, and shook his hand. This was John Buckley Booth, and Whitehead heard from others that he was a Calvinist preacher and he heard others called him 'Parson'.

The meeting eventually convened in the Prince Regent's Arms itself. Delegates were present from Stockport, Oldham, Middleton, Huddersfield, Bolton, Preston, Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge, Bury, Blackburn, FailsworthYarwood's words to the two men earlier, the content of the meeting proved to be agitation for a 'general reform' and a 'general change'.

Later, Taylor and Whitehead became concerned for their welfare. Accusations flew that they were spies - that they would not be allowed out of the pub until someone who had been sent to check their credentials came back - that if it were proved they were spies, their lives would be at stake. The men perceived that the landlord was refusing admittance to the room, but all the while, the numbers outside the room were increasing. Somehow, the men found a back way out of the room, but discovered that all the doors they tried to escape through were locked to them. They were detained again by one of the weavers from the meeting.

Somehow, Taylor & Whitehead eventually managed to leave the Prince Regent's Arms. Three days later, they had fled to London, and gave dispositions about their experience in Manchester before the Home Secretary, Richard Ryder, in Whitehall. They had been acting undercover all the time - most likely employed by the Stockport Solicitor & Magistrates Clerk, John Lloyd, for the purpose of incriminating the weavers present.

26th April 1812: Manchester magistrates warn the Home Office of a Rising on May 1st

Police Office, Manchester 26 April 1812

Sir,

We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Beckets letter dated the 24th instant. We feel it to be our duty to transmit to Government the accompanying notice which has just fallen into our hands. The Petition is evidently a cover for a meeting for other purposes; but the circumstance of the meeting being to be continued until the first of May strikes us as coinciding with the Information received of the intention to rise as for that day. It may be that the Watchwords, signals, or plans will be withheld till the preceding evening. We have the honour to be,

Sir,
with Sincere respect
Your faithful & obedient humble servants

W.R. Hay
J. Silvester

To
The Rt Honble Richard Ryder
One of H. Mj principal Secs of State &c &c

Manchester. Sunday Night 11 oclock. We have informations that it is intended to stop the mail in this neighbourhood on Thursday Night. That will be communicated to the Post Office here—but it is further stated, that the finding by the disaffected that the Mails are stopped is to be a signal in London, by which it is to be notified that the proceedings here are commenced. This we deem it important to communicate.

W.R. Hay
J.Silvester

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.

17th April 1812: Secret weavers meeting held at Dawes Field, Bolton

On Friday 17th April 1812, weavers in Bolton held another secret meeting in 'Dawes Field', a field belonging to a local brewer called Matthew Corr Dawes.

Up to 42 weavers were present that night. One weaver who was present, called William Winterbottom, recognised 4 others that he knew - Samuel Ratcliffe, John Hirst, Hugh Brown and John Garrett.

Colonel Fletcher's spy, John Stones, was there again. He conducted the meeting, and formed everyone into a circle. They were assigned numbers and the roll was called around the circle from the right of each man present.

It's not clear whether or not Stones was happy with the numbers present, but he told everyone present that they should attend another meeting in 2 days time, and that they be disguised so that "the devil himself would not know you."

Stones stated intent would be that this meeting would be to culminate in the destruction of Westhoughton Mill.