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.

15th March 1812: Attack on the home and workshop of Francis Vickerman

Up until Sunday 15th March, Luddite attacks in the Huddersfield area had been limited to the workshops of small master clothdressers who had installed relatively few shearing frames in their premises. But at 8.30 p.m. that night, an audacious attack was launched against a well-known merchant manufacturer, and a large business concern in Huddersfield, Francis Vickerman. Vickerman was on the 'Committee for Suppressing the Outrages' that had recently formed in Huddersfield, and had received a threatening letter prior to the attack. Furthermore, being so influential his premises were guarded at night by some of the Dragoons stationed in Huddersfield. They usually arrived at his home in Taylor Hill, Almondbury by 9.00 p.m., so by undertaking an attack earlier than than that time meant that the Luddites were breaking the pattern of attacks in the small hours and taking much more risks. The attack had to have been planned with military efficiency.

The group of Luddites had posted lookouts at Brooks Corner, close to where the Dragoons assembled to leave for Taylor Hill. Their job was to fire pistol shots to alert the Luddites to the progress of the military. In addition, 3 young men who served as bell ringers at Huddersfield Church were persuaded to ring the bells when alerted so that the Luddites would know the troops were on their way.

By 8.30, the main group of at least 50 Luddites had reached Vickerman's and announced their arrival with a gunshot. 2 Luddites entered the family home, demanding to know where Vickerman was. When he appeared one of them announced "Ned Ludd of Nottingham has ordered me to break this clock" and promptly smashed a nearby clock with the muzzle of his blunderbuss. Vickerman fled back upstairs into his room and did not emerge until the Luddites had gone. Meanwhile, more Luddites were placed to guard Vickerman's family.

By now, the rest of the Luddites had begun to smash open the doors of Vickerman's warehouse with hammers. They eventually gained access to the dressing shop, and set about destroying the 10 shearing frames and 30 pairs of hand shears that were kept there. Others set about breaking the windows of the warehouse and dwelling house.

By now, the lookouts had noticed that the Dragoons had assembled, and the church bells in Huddersfield began to ring. The Luddites knew time was short, but they completed their work, and when the machinery was smashed several of them shouted "Out! out!" In the warehouse, they had left 2 pieces of cloth and some wool on stove, in an attempt to start a fire, although this never took hold and was later extinguished without doing any damage.

Before leaving, some of them emptied their weapons into Vickerman's house, though other Luddites inside protested loudly about this and no one was harmed. The Luddites were summoned by their leader that night to a nearby field, and the roll was called to make sure all were present.

The lookouts now fired a shot to alert the Luddites that the Dragoons had reached Chapel Hill, and soon after one from Knowle Hill. But the Luddites had left Vickerman's and were making their way home. They had wrought complete destruction within the 30 minutes they had allotted themselves an struck a blow at the heart of one of their main capitalist enemies.

14th March 1812: Joseph Radcliffe writes to General Grey demanding more troops

Sir

I had the honor to receive yours of the 13th this day, in answer to mine of the 11th & am sorry to find you cannot comply with my request relative to the 100 Infantry very much wanted for the protection of the property of various individuals of Huddersfield and the surrounding Villages where Genl Snip-Shear & his people Commit Constant depredations on the Croppers. Nine houses have already suffered, & the rest in continual apprehension, had I known you required a return of what was done, it should have been sent, but having so done to Mr Ryders Office I thought it unnecessary, your letter (a Copy of) I sent there this day, I also call'd upon Major Gordon, & inclosed to Mr Ryder a return of His Squadron, who are not equal to our wants—

[Joseph Radcliffe]

Milnsbridge House
Mar 14th 1812

[to General H Grey]

14th March 1812: Troop movements

On Saturday 14th March, the Cumberland Militia left Derby, having been stationed there for several months. Their destination was Manchester.

On the same day, a detachment of the Stirlingshire Militia arrived in the town.

[Before] 15th March 1812: Threatening letter sent to Francis Vickerman of Taylor Hill near Huddersfield

We give you Notice when the

Shers is all Broken the

Spinners shall be the next

if they be not taken down

vick man tayler hill

he as had is garde But

we will pull all down

som Night and kill him

that Nave and Roage

13th March 1812: Nottingham Lent Assizes open

Although no cases would be heard until the following Monday, on Friday 13th March 1812, Nottingham Lent Assizes were formally opened and the Grand Jury sworn in. The Leeds Mercury of 21st March gave the best coverage of the opening remarks of the Judge, Sir John Bayley:

His Lordship began by complementing the Magistracy and character of the town, on the smallness of the calendar, except two cases respecting frame-breaking, and one, connected in some degree with that crime, which was for writing a threatening letter. On the two former cases, his Lordship observed, that if the house, specified in the Calendar, had been entered with violence, for the purpose of frame breaking only, and no other damage had been done, the crime amounted to simple felony; but if other damage had been done, then the offence was capital. On the subject of the threatening letter, his Lordship observed, that if the evidence were perfectly clear to their view of the question, they then would find a bill; if not, he hoped they would not find against the prisoner; as cases of this sort should not be brought before a Petty Jury, except at the clearest evidence. At the same time he most strenuously enjoyned the Gentlemen of the Jury, equally to lay aside all prejudice against the prisoner, and all fear, from whatever quarter, for having done their duty.

13th March 1812: Town Clerk of Nottingham to Home Office

Nottingham
13, March, 1812

Dear Sir,

I think that you will be of opinion that there can be no end of the turns and twistings which the question of retaining the military force in the town has assumed and is assuming. No sooner did I consider us upon velvet with regard to it having the judges consent on the one hand and the order of the War Office on the other for our protection than that very pleasant and accomodating gentleman Mr. John Thomas Becher organizes with the sanction of the Lord Lieutenant a meeting of the County Magistrates to support the Honor of the County by calling out the Civil force only, and by their directions General Hawker withdraws all the Guards this morning and altho’ the military are to be kept in the town which makes us considerably safer than if marched out I consider that in the night time the immense property in Frames in the Town is exposed to certain destruction unless the Military Patrole is re-established or an immense and expensive addition to the civil force appointed and put in duty for the night. Under these circumstances the Magistrates have met and come to the resolution which I enclose which they have directed me to communicate to the Secretary of State, General Hawker and Mr. Justice Bayley and we still hope he will not retract the consent before given to the efficient employment of the military.

The magistrates of the town are very decided in their opinion upon this point, they are determined in expressing it and then the responsibility will not rest with them. If however the Judge should refuse to sanction or General Hawker to obey them in continuing the Nightly Patrole they are unanimous in taking the most vigorous and decisive steps for the supplying the loss of it by a very great and immense increase of the civil power. I thank you for your attention to my request respecting Mr. Bullivant and am [etc.]

Geo Coldham
Town Clerk

Enclosure

At a meeting of the Magistrates of the Town of Nottingham held at the Police Office Tavern at 8 o’clock in the Evening of the 12th March 1812

Present

William Wilson Esquire Mayor
Mr Alderman Ashwell
Mr Alderman Swann
Mr Alderman Allen
Mr Alderman Howitt
Mr Alderman Coldham
Mr Alderman Bates

Resolved that this Meeting consider that the Civil Authority vigilantly exerted is perfectly competent to preserve the public Peace both as it respect the Courts of Justice and the avenues thereto and the General Tranquility and Security of the Town in the Day time during the continuance of the Assizes without any exertion of the Military force stationed in the town if the Military are continued therein: but that they are unanimously of opinion that for the reasons stated in Mr Coldham’s letter to Mr Justice Bayley it is absolutely essential to the security of the immense property in Frames now accumulated in the Town that the nightly military patrole should be continued and they are desirous that such their opinion should be immediately communicated to General Hawker by the Town Clerk and to Mr Justice Bayley on his arrival and that his sanction should be respectfully solicited to the continuance of the Military patrole during the Night.

12th March 1812: Luddite raids in South Crosland, Honley & Lockwood

In the early hours of Thursday 12th March, the scene was set for yet more attacks by Luddites in the vicinity of Huddersfield.

Between midnight and 1.00 a.m. George Roberts of South Crosland awoke to a violent knocking on his door, and the sound of many voices in the dark, some of them demanding entry. He got up and stood behind the door and asked what they wanted - a reply came back "we'll let you see what we want!" and the knocking continued. Roberts decided to open the door to prevent it being damaged and a number of men immediately pushed past him: their faces were either blacked or covered in crude masks of black cloth with holes for the eyes and mouth. By now, the rest of the family was awake, and the Luddites moved to guard them. One of the Luddites whose face was covered by a white napkin said to Roberts' wife, Sarah, "tell your father that if he does not take his frames down I'll go to Marsden next week with 400 men." Sarah's maiden name was Armitage, and her father Joseph owned Woodbottom Mill at Marsden.


Roberts tried to reason with the Luddites - he explained that he had taken down all his shearing frames and begged them not to break his conventional shears when one of them gave the order to "go forward". Roberts was desperate and then one of them said "if you have taken your frames down we'll not injure your shears". Meanwhile, a group of the Luddites broke away to search the premises, with another Luddite grabbing Roberts and placing a pistol next to his head and ordered him not to move but to sit on the floor. The Luddites returned from upstairs angry at having found nothing - they demanded to know where his frames were. Roberts conceded that his frames were kept in his barn and urged the Luddites to take his keys rather than break open the door. He heard the men go to the barn and shortly after the sound of hammers splintering the wooden frames in fury.

The Luddites called Roberts to go out into the yard: 4 pistols were levelled at his head and the Luddites gave him a stern warning "if you put your frames up again we'll blow your brains out". Roberts was shattered, and agreed not to do so.

Finally, the Luddites formed themselves into ranks, whilst another led a roll call, but with numbers rather than names. Roberts later estimated there were 30 of them. The roll called, one of them raised a pistol into the air and a loud shot rang out. Thereafter they disappeared into the night. The operation had taken 15 minutes.

At 1.15 a.m., John Garner of Honley was awoken by a a violent hammering which seemed to be coming from his workshop next to his house. He got up. He distinctly heard someone say "watch the windows, take care of the windows!". Garner decided to stay put.

Between the hammering blows in his workshop, he heard someone loudly say "if thou cannot use that Maul, better give it me". Eventually, the noise ceased. He heard footsteps at the steps of the cellar, which led from the workshop to his house, and then he heard the door give way, they were inside his house. He heard them moving around inside when one of them said "there's nothing here, nor nobody, quick!" and they went back into the cellar and to the workshop.

Some time later, someone called "all out!" and the men assembled outside. A gun was fired into the night, and them marched off in a veritable hubbub, shouting and talking loudly.

Garner made his way downstairs. He went to fetch his gun, but found it had gone, stolen by the intruders. He rushed to his workshop and surveyed the toll of destruction left by the Luddites: 3 shearing frames and 7 pairs of conventional hand shears had been smashed and destroyed, and the door of the workshop badly damaged.

Clement Dyson was away at York Assizes. Between 2.00 and 2.30 a.m. his wife, Hannah, was awoken by many voices talking. David Crowther, an apprentice of Dyson's who was staying there was also awoken. He got out of bed and went down to see what the fuss was, but was shocked to hear some loud shots ring out. Someone demanded entry, but when Crowther went to open it, but was told to move back or he would be shot. He decided to go back upstairs, pausing to look through a hole in the wall which adjoined the workshop. Hannah could hear the workshop door being broken and from his vantage point, Crowther could make out almost 40 men who immediately moved to smash the shearing frames and hand shears there with large hammers.

Their work done, the Luddites grouped around the front of the house. They broke all the windows in the house and began to break down the door, and when the door yielded, one of them called out "house! house! bring out your other shears!". By now, both Hannah and Crowther were downstairs and 5 men had entered the house. Crowther explained that there were no more shears on the premises as they were away being sharpened at the grinders.

The Luddites demanded something to drink, and Hannah sent Crowther to fetch some water. But then a shot was fired outside and the Luddites turned and left, not waiting for Crowther, who returned with the water to find himself alone again with Hannah.

Crowther and Hannah went to the workshop to see what the damage was: the Luddites had destroyed 2 shearing frames, a brushing machine and 7 pairs of hand shears, as well as 2 barrels, 2 tubs, a churn and a watering can.

11th March 1812: The Leeds Luddite James Shaw walks away free from York Lent Assizes

The Lent Assizes at York had commenced on Saturday 7th March. On the following Wednesday, it was the turn of James Shaw, the Luddite captured by the authorities at Sheepscar in January, to face trial. The Leeds Mercury of 14th March recorded the words of the Judge, Sir Simon Le Blanc a Justice of the Court of King's Bench, on his case:

"Assembled as we are at present in the ordinary discharge of a duty you have so often been called upon to perform; I should have felt it necessary to trouble you with any observations of a case had not occurred which seem from its infrequency to require some notice. The list of offences, though somewhat longer than usual, does not appear to contain many cases of novelty, and I hope to have had the pleasure of congratulating the County of York in having escaped the contagion of that system of depredation which has continued so long and occasioned such extensive mischief in a neighbouring county, but this hope has not been fully realised; I am grieved to find from the case in the Calendar, and from information received since we arrived here, that this county has not entirely escaped the influence of bad example; but I trust there will be found not only sufficient vigilance in the magistracy to suppress these disorders, but, also courage in the subjects to protect their property from the attacks of these depredations. The advantages of machinery in manufacture has been so clearly proved, and the subject so ably discussed, that it excites surprise that any should be found so ignorant and infatuated as to imagine that the destruction of machinery should better the situation of the persons employed in manufactures. These absurd ideas have been refuted over and over again, not only by writers on the subject, but by the judges in their different circuits, and one might have expected no man could be found ignorant enough to be influenced by them, and I should hope no man would have been so wicked as to instil such mischievous notions into the minds of these deluded man. The Legislature has heretofore provided penalties and serious penalties for the protection of the species of property; all that is required is that the law should be put in force, which can only be by vigilance and courage in detecting offenders. I only find one case in the Calendar which has any reference to this subject, and that person, most fortunate for himself, was by the prompt exertions of a magistrate arrested, perhaps before he had completed the offence. He will probably be prosecuted under some of the provisions of what is called the Black Act, an Act passed to repress certain enormities in the reign of George I, committed by persons armed and disguised by blacking their faces, and as prosecutions under this act are extremely rare, I take the liberty of pointing out to you the words of the Act, 'if any person or persons being armed with swords, fire-arms, or other offensive weapons, and having his or their faces blacked, or being otherwise disguised, shall appear in any forest, park, &c. or in any high road, and shall be convicted thereof, they shall be adjudged guilty of felony.'

Two circumstances it will be observed are necessary to constitute this offence, that the person should be armed, and should be disguised by having his face blacked, and in the present instance perhaps it will appear, but of this you will judge when the case comes before you, this person was discovered before the offence was completed, and that only one of the circumstances can be proved against him; he was evidently on the verge of committing capital felony, from which he was, perhaps fortunately for himself, withheld by being taken into custody. You will therefore inquire not only as to his person being disguised, but as to the fact of his being armed with offensive weapons, as swords, firearms, or other weapons, calculated to injure or terrify his Majesty's subjects. I have presumed to make these observations because a case of this kind may not have come before you, and in a statute so extremely penal there ought to be satisfactory grounds for putting a person upon this trial before another Jury, who in such case will have ultimately to decide upon his guilt or innocence."

The Bill against James Shaw, of Leeds, cloth-dresser, charging him with having disfigured his person by blacking his face, and with being unlawfully armed with offensive weapons, was thrown out, by the Grand Jury, on Wednesday; and he was, of course, discharged without being put upon his trial.

 The first trial of anyone accused of being a Luddite had ended without a conviction.

11th March 1812: 'Black Tom' apprehended in Portsmouth

On Wednesday 11th March, Williams Wells aka 'Black Tom' was committed to the County Gaol in Derby. He was wanted for burglaries in 3 counties, and his name had been published on a wanted list in January. He was apprehended in Portsmouth on board an East Indiaman ship.

11th March 1812: Poem by “A Poor Stockinger."

Poetry

The Stockinger lately so blest,
His household so comely and gay,
Contentment each night gave him rest,
How cheerful he work’d through the day;
His earnings commanded respect,
To church and to market he went;
The landlord’s accounts made correct,
He bow’d on receiving his rent.

But now we are dwelling with woe,
O, could I my fears but surmount;
The consequence who can foreknow?
Or suffering who can recount?
The warehouses still want demand,
The frames lie to rust on each floor;
The workman has “nothing in hand,”
The traddle he cannot tread more.

YE POWERS, who govern events,
Your Orders in Council we feel;
Humanity surely laments,
Who call’d for the hemp or the steel?
When INDUSTRY fails of support,
From home takes the poor-house in view,
And drove to the dernier resort,
Disorders may doubtless ensue.

YE SAGES our living to save,
Your joint mediation afford;
The thanks of the PUBLIC you’ll have,
Whil’st conscience presides at your board;
Consent, your arrangement may meet,
Success may the soldiers withdraw,
Whil’st angels your kindness shall greet,
For “order was heaven’s first law.”

YE AUTHORITIES, grant us your care,
O, exercise gently your rod;
Distress on distresses to spare,
Is worthy a KING or a GOD:
Ye BRITONS at large through the land,
REPENT, and your war-whoop give o’er;
That rapine no more may withstand
The peace and content of the poor.

Monopoly upheld by war,
The breath of sweet PEACE will destroy;
The PLENTY shall soon re-appear,
And COMMERCE give labour employ:—
BRITTANIA still Peace can command,
In arts or in arms-great are WE:
Can make all the WORLD understand
That BRITONS ARE BORN TO BE FREE.

Nottingham, March 11, 1812. A POOR STOCKINGER.

10th March 1812: Stocking frame stolen at Basford

On Tuesday night, the 10th March 1812, Luddites stole a narrow stocking frame from a house on the Parsons Flat at Basford, near Nottingham.

10th March 1812: Town Clerk of Nottingham to Major General Hawker

Nottingham
10th March, 1812

Sir,

The Mayor and Aldermen of this Town having directed me most urgently to solicit of the Secretary of State for the Home Department that the Troops might not be removed from the Town during the Assizes.

From the nature of the Information they have received it appears to them that the Town cannot be deemed safe during the Assizes without the continuance of the present nightly Patrole and without any adequate military guard to be stationed at the Town Gaol. The Magistrates are convinced that if the Troops are removed the Prisoners will be insecure and the very extensive property in Stocking Frames existing in the Town, exposed to immediate and very extensive mischief.

In answer to this application they have understood from the Secretary of State that previous to his entering into the Town this matter will enter into the consideration of the Judge, Mr. Justice Bailey but as they fear that in the meantime you may feel yourself embarrassed by the usual practice of removing the Troops previous to the Assizes by directions from the War Office, I am desired most explicitly to declare to you in the name of the Magistrates that they do not consider the Town and the immense Property in Frames lodged in it and which has accummulated, from the supposed insecurity of the surrounding Country and from the distressed state of the Trade to a most enormous extent in a state of least safety without the continuance of such a force in the Town; as you shall consider adequate to keep up the present nightly patrole and to supply a strong Guard at the Town Gaol on the approach and during the continuance of the Assizes, and they most earnestly entreat and solicit that you will immediately direct a Guard to be placed at the Town Gaol and that until the Judge shall peremptorily decide upon the continuance or removal of the Military during the Assizes, you will have the goodness to represent to the civil and military authorities with whom you may correspond on this subject, the opinion which the Magistrates have thro’ me taken the liberty of expressing to you, and which, they have reason to believe does not differ very materially from the Judgement which your own observations lead you to form on this subject.

I have [etc.]

Geo. Coldham,
Town Clerk

10th March 1812: Town Clerk of Nottingham to Judge Bayley

Nottingham
10 March, 1812

My Lord,

I apprehend that your Lordship is apprized of the nature of my communication with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by direction of the Magistrates of this place, representing the necessity for the continuance of a force in Nottingham during the Assizes adequate to the forming a strong Guard for both the Prisons and to the keeping up the present nightly military Patrole in the Town.

By means of a military force alone the Security of an immense and very valuable property in Frames employed and deposited in the Town accumulated to an enormous extent by the terror of the late dreadful system of Frame-breaking has been for the last two months placed in a state of safety, and by this alone the Magistrates are convinced its Security can be maintained until the experience of the Punishment of some of their Confederates shall convince these deluded men that it is out of their power to protect their Comrades, or avoid the just but severe Sentence of the Law.

I have detailed to Mr. Secretary Ryder some circumstances of private information which I have acquired as to the Plans of these men, who have reckoned with great exultation upon the removal of the Troops during the continuance of the Assizes, as an opening for them to accomplish what in the presence of the Military they dare not attempt.

The Secretary of State has written to me that the removal or continuance of the Troops awaits your Lordship’s directions previous to your entering the County of Nottingham.

Under these circumstances the Mayor and Aldermen are impressed with great anxiety as to the result of the determination which may be formed upon this subject, and they have requested me in their name to represent to your Lordship that they do not consider the Town and the property contained in it, or the Prisoners in the Gaol safe without such a military force remaining as is adequate to the purposes before alluded to.

They have reason to believe that plans for the liberation of the Prisoners are meditated and will be executed if the military be absent by a very numerous body of Men whom they know to possess arms and to have promised their Comrades protection and impunity.

If no military force be in the Town the leading Witnesses in some of the Prosecutions against the Framebreakers will in my Judgement be exposed to danger,and when their testimony may reach the life of some of these violators of the Law the lives of such persons may not be safe.

This very day I dispatched one of my Clerks to fetch into this Town from his own house in the Country one of the Prosecutors of several of these Indictments whose life l know to be seriously and deliberately threatened by these confederates in Iniquity.

Under such impressions as these the Magistrates have authorized me most urgently to solicit General Hawker on no account to permit the Troops to leave the Town as it seemed they had been intended to do until your Lordship should have peremptorily decided upon the continuance or removal during the Assizes and they hope that your Lordship will upon due consideration have the goodness to adopt such a determination as will place the continuance of our present state of Security out of all doubt.

I have [etc.]

Geo. Coldham,
Town Clerk

10th March 1812: Town Clerk of Nottingham to Home Office

Nottingham
10 March, 1812

Dear Sir,

Notwithstanding the Alacrity with which I perceive by your former Letters Mr. Secretary Ryder and yourself have had the goodness to attend to my former Representations on the part of the Mayor and Aldermen respecting the removal of the Troops during the approaching Assizes the Orders for their removal from the War Office in the usual manner to dismiss them from the Town for three days previous to the Assizes came without any further Comment to General Hawker but that he might obey the Directions of the Sheriff for their continuance if he received any such. The consequence of this would have been if a representation had not been made to the Judge by the County Magistrates that they would all have marched out of the Town this very Morning. I enclose you a Copy of Mr. Justice Bailey’s Letter to Mr. Sherbrooke that you may perceive unless further directions are given from yourselves or the War Office we shall still be in jeopardy at the Assizes. It appears to me that Mr. Justice Bailey does not like to have it laid upon him to order their continuance but if the Secretary of State or War Office ordered this removal he would not unless under a strong Representation of the Security of the Town order their removal or think of opposing himself to such an arrangement on their part. I have therefore sent to you for Mr. Secretary Ryder’s Information — a copy of my Letters to General Hawker and the Judge — in order that you may be fully apprized how the matter stands and I have it now in Charge from a very full Meeting of the Mayor and Aldermen to represent to you that they entertain the same opinion. I have stated in my Letters to General Hawker and Mr. Justice Bailey and that they entreat that you will do all in your power to procure the continuance of such a force in the Town as may be adequate in General Hawker’s opinion to accomplish the objects they think essential to the Security of the Town. It was only on the noon of yesterday that I received positive information that Persons had actually been dispatched into the Country to murder or remove out of the

way one of the leading Prosecutors of several of the Individuals against the Framebreakers and upon the faith of your former Letters to me I instantly dispatched a confidential Clark into the Country to fetch away from Home into this Town for Security where I charged him lodgings if it be necessary and provide for him until the Assizes if that should appear essential to keeping out of the reach of these scoundrels. I expect to hear from you fully this Day on Nunn’s case in which all the Witnesses are served with Subpoena except one who seems now to keep out of the way, but I have given particular directions about him.

I am [etc.]

Geo. Coldham,
Town Clerk

9th March 1812: Troop movements

On Monday 9th March, 2 troops of Hussars marched from Nottingham, their destination being Sheffield. They were replacing troops in that Town that had been moved to the Huddersfield area.

9th March 1812: Letter from "Ned Ludd Clerk" addressed "To Mr Smith Shearing Frame Holder at Hill End Yorkshire"

To Mr Smith Shearing Frame Holder at Hill End Yorkshire.

Sir

Information has just been given in that you are a holder of those detestable Shearing Frames, and I was desired by my Men to write to you and give you fair Warning to pull them down, and for that purpose I desire you will now understand I am now writing to you. you will take Notice that if they are not taken down by the end of next Week, I will detach one of my Lieutenants with at least 300 Men to destroy them and furthermore take Notice that if you give us the Trouble of coming so far we will increase your misfortune by burning your Buildings down to Ashes and if you have Impudence to fire upon any of my Men, they have orders to murder you, & burn all your Housing, you will have the Goodness to your Neighbours to inform them that the same fate awaits them if their Frames are not speedily taken down as I understand their are several in your Neighbourhood, Frame holders. And as the Views and Intentions of me and my Men have been much misrepresented I will take this opportunity of stating them, which I desire you will let all your Brethren in Sin know of. I would have the Merchants, Master Dressers, the Government & the public to know that the Grievances of such a Number of Men are not to be made sport of for by the last Returns there were 2782 Sworn Heroes bound in a Bond of Necessity either to redress their Grievances or gloriously perish in the Attempt in the Army of Huddersfield alone, nearly double sworn Men in Leeds.

By the latest Letters from our Correspondents we learn that the Manufacturers in the following Places are going to rise and join us in redressing their Wrongs Viz. Machester, Wakefield Halifax, Bradford, Sheffield, Oldham, Rochdale and all the Cotton Country where the brave Mr Hanson will lead them on to Victory. the Weavers in Glasgow and many parts of Scotland will join us the Papists in Ireland are rising to a so that they are likely to find the Soldiers something else to do than Idle in Huddersfield and then Woe be to the places now guarded by them for we have come to the easier Way of burning them to Ashes which will most assuredly be their Fate either sooner or later. The immediate Cause of us beginning when we did was that Rascally letter of the Prince Regents to Lords Grey & Grenville, which left us no hopes of any Change for the better, by his falling in with that Damn'd set of Rogues, Percival & Co to whom we attribute all the Miseries of our Country. But we hope for assistance from the French Emperor in shaking off the Yoke of the Rottenest, Wickedest and most Tyranious Government that ever existed; then down come the Hanover Tyrants, and all our Tyrants from the greatest to the smallest. and we will be governed by a just Republic, and may the Almighty hasten those happy Times is the Wish and Prayer of Millions in this Land, but we won’t only pray but we will fight, the Redcoats shall know that when the proper time comes We will never lay down our Arms. The House of Commons passes an Act to put down all Machinery hurtful to Commonality, and repeal that to hang Frame Breakers. But We. We petition no more that won’t do fighting must.

Signed by the General of the Army of
Redressers
Ned Ludd Clerk

Redressers for ever Amen,
You may make this Public
[March 9th or 10th]

8th March 1812: Town Clerk of Nottingham writes to Treasury Solicitor about the Assizes

Sir

We received your letter of the 6th Instant regarding the Prosecution against John Ingham, in which we are concerned for the Prosecutor Mr. William Nunn of Wood Street Cheapside & have at your suggestion as Solicitor to the Treasury served the Subpoenas upon all the Witnesses here but one and shall serve him this morning.—We apprehend that you are mistaken in conceiving that Mr. Nunn has any intention to abandon his Prosecution, but if you still entertain doubts, you probably will communicate with him on this subject.

In the mean time we feel in a very unpleasant situation it appearing that we may receive various and contradictory directions from the Prosecution and the Crown, in whose name the Prosecution is instituted.—We hope your communication with Mr. Nunn will put an end to this for us very unpleasant dilemma.

We are
Sir
your very faithful & obdt Servt
Coldham & Enfield
Nottingham March 8, 1812

H.C. Litchfield Esq
Solicitor to the Treasury
Lincoln’s Inn

8th March 1812: Address "To all Croppers, Weavers &c & Public at Large." Leeds

To all Croppers, Weavers &c & Public at Large


Generous Countrymen.

You are requested to come forward with Arms and help the Redressers to redress their Wrongs and shake off the hateful Yoke of a Silly Old Man and his Son more silly and their Rogueish Ministers, all Nobles and Tyrants must be brought down. Come let us follow the Noble Example of the brave Citizens of Paris who in the Sight of 30,000 Tyrant Redcoats brought A Tyrant to the Ground. by so doing you will be best aiming at your own Interest Above 40,000 Heroes are ready to break out, to crush the old Goverment & establish a new one.

Apply to General Ludd Commander
of the Army of Redressers.

7th March 1812: 2 frames broken at Loscoe

On Saturday 7th March, 2 stocking frames were broken in the small Derbyshire village of Loscoe, just north of Heanor.