Fighting Talk by Mark Metcalf : September 2024

Julian Harber provided these documents.

In the days following the events in Halifax which ran from Saturday 13th until their climax on the afternoon of Tuesday 16th August 1842, witness statements were taken by Halifax’s five magistrates George Pollard, William Briggs, John Rhodes Ralph, John Rawson and John Waterhouse, for the purposes of prosecution of arrested strikers. A small number of depositions was also taken by Jno. Crossley and James Taylor. The prisoners were tried in early September at the Yorkshire Summer Assizes which opened on 13th August 1842 at York under judges Denham and Maule. In the days between their arrests and transfer to York the Halifax prisoners would have been held in three cells for men and the one for women which was a little larger than the men’s. The Halifax cells are described in the report of an inspector sent by a government commission to Yorkshire in 1843: ‘It will scarcely be credited that, according to the evidence of the deputy constable, during the riots of June, [sic] 1842, 15 prisoners were confined in these cells, three in each for three days, of which the dimensions of the smallest are 4 feet 10 by 8 feet 11, and 6 feet 11 in height; the area of the largest but 5 feet 2 by 8 feet 11 and 6 feet 11 in height.’ (1.48 m x 2.72 m x 2.10 m for the smallest; 1.58 m x 2.72 m x 2.10 m for the largest. The women’s cell measured 4.72 m x 5.18 m x 2.94 m.) The inspector continued: ‘These cells are under the care of the police, but are inconveniently situated at the end of a yard beyond their immediate supervision. They form a part of the old workhouse, and adjoin some buildings still occupied as almshouses . . .’²⁸⁹ The men arrested in Halifax on Tuesday 16th August were either released on bail if it could be raised or held in the cells there for about a week before transfer to York.

²⁸⁹ [HMG. 1843. “Eighth report of the Inspectors appointed under the Provisions of the Act 5 and 6 William IV. c. 38 to visit the different prisons of Great Britain.” In Reports from Commissioners, vol. 36. London: HMSO. Found at Now then! A Yorkshire Almanac for 2022 https://elorganillero.com/yorkshire_almanac/1843/12/01/unappetising-conditions-in-the-police-cells-and-the-old-lock-up-at-halifax/]

The witness statements or depositions taken by the five Halifax magistrates and the two other men in August 1842 appear below and are taken from Criminal depositions and case papers held at the National Archive in Kew under reference ASSI 45/66 X/L08891 and appear here in datal order. I am extremely grateful to Julian Harber for providing these documents.

Arrests following 13th August 1842

Prisoner: John Crowther. Deposition of James Hall, foreman to Mr. John Titterington [Higgin Chamber Mill, Sowerby]. Before Jno. Crossley and James Taylor on 23rd August 1842.

‘Last Saturday the 13^th August about 12 o’clock at [two words undeciphered] I was at my master’s works. In the first place about a Dozen parties came, the prisoner and another person now in custody were active and came and ordered us to stop the [one word undeciphered]. The prisoner had a very large [cudgel?] and the rest of the party had all sticks excepting one. The Prisoner and another said ‘we insist on the Mill being stopped.’ They then went into the Mill up to the Engine and asked where the firing up place was the Prisoner and other went to put the fire out. The other man was first and tried to get the Plug out of the Boiler but did not succeed and upon this the Prisoner came down and tried but the fire was so hot he could not get it out, he then pulled some more fire out. He then said that as they could not get it out, they would go away but he said ‘if we set it on again till we had the wage of 1840 and no married women to work and not to work more than 10 Hours when we did start, if we broke any of those Rules, they would come again and burn the place down. I am quite sure it was the Prisoner who said this. By this time a large number 100 or more had collected round the Mill. The great body of the Mob were at this time at Mytholmroyd.

James Hall

Prisoner: John Crowther. Deposition of William Shaw, Constable, of Sowerby. Before Jno. Crossley and James Taylor, undated.

Last Saturday the 13^th August instant I was at Mr Titterington’s Mill in Sowerby at twelve of o’clock – I followed immediately after the Prisoner, when I got up the Prisoner inquired for the firing up place and then went down to it. He asked for the Foreman – the Prisoner said “You must stop” – there was another man with the Prisoner who first opened the firing up place door & he raked a quantity of Fire out and then the Prisoner did the same afterwards – The Prisoner had a very large stick or Bludgeon with him the other man had not the rest of the party had also great Bludgeons – They raked the fire out with a coalrake – The Prisoner with the coalrake kept striking upwards as if at the Plug and when he had done [one word undeciphered] he said he would leave it as he could not get it out – as the Prisoner was coming up the slope he said “If you start again before the wage that was given in 1840 is given, we will come and burn the place down.” I am sure it was the Prisoner who said this. The Prisoner then said “we [must?] go and have something to eat & drink somewhere.” And then the parties all went into the Yard end together – there were at this time upwards of one hundred persons present.

William Shaw

Prisoner: John Crowther. Deposition of Thomas Mitchell, one of Mr. Titterington’s servants. Before Jno. Crossley and James Taylor on 23rd August 1842.

‘I was at the Titterington works at the above time. I saw the Prisoner there with a large crooked Bludgeon with him – he tried to knock out the Plug with the coalrake. When he had tried Hall stated if they knock the plug out they would be scalded & then the party left – as he came up the slope he said they would know the consequences if they started again before the wage of 1840 was given – they then said they would go get something to eat and drink and then went to Francis Crowther’s Beer Shop – I went with them. The party said they were coming to have something to eat & drink – [two words undeciphered] said she had nothing to eat in the House but she would get him some drink – they appeared threatening, she [filched?] a few quarts but nobody paid for it.

Thomas X Mitchell, his mark

Note: John Crowther was twenty-seven years old. He was committed to trial on 23rd August 1842 and tried, undefended, on 2nd September, charged with ‘conspiring to demand of their masters a higher rate of wages than was usually paid, and for going round to different mills in the district for the purpose of stopping them . . .’ [Yorkshire Gazette 3 Sept 1842, p. 8] He was found guilty and sentenced to three months hard labour. [Yorkshire Gazette 3 Sept 1842 p. 8; 10 Sept 1842, p. 3] ( John Crowther’s alleged demand that no married woman should work was made in reaction to the system whereby women and their children were paid less to work in the mills, factories and coal mines of Yorkshire and Lancashire, so undermining men’s employment and rate of wages.)

Arrests following 15th August 1842

Prisoner Helliwell Shackleton. Deposition of James Walton, of Gibbet Street in Halifax. Before John Waterhouse and John Rhodes Ralph, on 24th August 1842.

On Monday the 15^th instant I was acting as a Special Constable at Halifax. I went with many other special Constables to stop the progress of the Mob coming on from Bradford into Halifax about 11 o’clock. In our way I saw the prisoner standing with a large stick by a lamp post at the bottom of Range Bank near the North Bridge. On our return from the New Bank when we were opposite the Bridge Tavern in the street I saw the prisoner in the field which is between the Northgate Hotel and North Parade in the act of throwing a stone which hit the gun barrel of one of the soldiers who was in the rank in front of me – and rebounded from it upon the back the next soldier in front. I had not seen the prisoner since then until yesterday morning and then I saw him at the Police office and knew him to be the man at once. I have known him by sight for two or three years – but did not know his name.

James Walton

Note: The next day, 16th August, Helliwell Shackleton entered Isaac Dewhurst’s mill and the Boothtown mine for which he was arrested.

Prisoner James Pratt. Deposition of George Washington. Before by George Pollard on 22nd August 1842.

On Monday Morning last [15th August] I was with many others on Mr. Edwards’s premises protecting them against threatened attacks of the Mob. Between eleven and twelve o’clock a great mob came to the Gates of the Mill’s Yard. It is in the Township of Skircoat – a great many of the mob had cudgels and Sticks – they forced the Gates open and then set up a great shout – a number of them came into the yard through the gates and over the wall. I saw the prisoner take up a piece of Iron which was at the bottom of the dam Bank and throw it on the top of the valves of the water pipe supplying the Engine another two persons assisted him and they broke the valve off by force and broke the Water pipe in pieces as far as they could – they then set up a great shout and went away – there were then some hundreds of the Mob in the Yard and on Mr. Edwards’s premises. It would have been impossible for the workpeople present to have defended the place and prevented the outrage. I had known the prisoner before – he had lived at Moor Lane. I am not mistaken as to his person.

George Washington

Prisoner: James Pratt. Deposition of William Wilson, cloth draper and overlooker, of Washer Lane in Skircoat. Before George Pollard on 22nd August 1842.

‘I was on Mr. Edwards’s premises on Monday last when the Mob came. There was a great number. I was standing at the Gate. They threatened if we did not open the Gates it should be worse for us. They broke open the small gate and their great numbers came in by these and over the Wall. The Mob enquired for the Engine Man. They then broke a pipe which feeds the Engine from the damn. The prisoner was one of the Men who were at this pipe. I saw him take up piece of Iron of great weight to break the pipe. Two other were with him and the three were all helping. They broke the pipe in pieces – raising it three times and smashing it in bits. After they had done this they swore that if we stopped it they would come and set fire to the Mill at night – They gave regular good shout as soon as they saw the water rush out on the breaking of the pipe.’

William Wilson

Note: James Pratt was thirty-one years old. On 3rd September at York he pleaded guilty to a charge of riot and conspiracy at Skircoat ‘and with having committed damage and injury to the mill dam of Henry Lees Edwards and others.’ [Yorkshire Gazette 10 Sept 1842, p. 2] He was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.

Prisoner: Thomas Barker. Deposition of Robert Hirst, mechanic, of Boothtown. Before George Pollard and John Rawson, on 19th August 1842.

I am in the Employ of Mr Atkinson of Booth Town. Last Monday [15th August] I was at the Gateway with Mr. Atkinson when the Mob came there. The prisoner was the foremost of the mob and led a party up the Mill yard to the fire hole of the boilers. I stopped at the yard end to endeavour to keep the Mob out and stayed there till they returned – except that I went with Mr Atkinson to the fireplace when a man came to him to say that they could not strike the plugs. The prisoner was at the fireplace when we got there – the Engineer was there in the Act of Striking the plugs. The prisoner was looking on. Mr Atkinson had directed the Engineer to strike the plugs. The men had threatened until the Engineer struck the Plugs they would let off the dam – after the plugs were struck the men left and joined the Mob & went away. I heard them cry out “Old Lane next” as they went away. The appearance of the Mob was very threatening & alarming – they had many large Sticks with them.

Robert Hirst

Prisoner: Thomas Barker. Deposition of James Parker, engineer, of Boothtown. Before George Pollard and John Rawson on 19th August 1842.

‘I am employed by Mr. Atkinson of Booth Town as an Engineer. On Monday last [15th August] I was on the premises there about half past 12 o’clock having just returned from my dinner. Soon after this I heard the Mob shouting and making a great disturbance at Mr. Akroyd’s a little distance below Mr. Atkinson’s Mill. I was there at the top of the Gateway. As they came forward Mr. Atkinson went to meet them and returned with them to the Gateway where he wished only a few of them to come into the yard – he stopped at the yard end while about a dozen went up the yard. I went them up to the fire place and they tried to strike the plugs of the boiler – the prisoner was one of them. No person who was not acquainted with the Boiler could manage to strike them. I went and told Mr. Atkinson they could not do it & he then said that he wanted to get quit of the men & I must strike the plugs. One of the persons said in answer to my wish that they should not strike some of the plugs as the Boiler was a long time in filling that if that was not struck they would let off the dam. I then struck both the Plugs. The men returned to the Mob who then went away.’

James Parker’s X mark

Prisoner: Thomas Barker. Deposition of James Carter, of Boothtown, before George Pollard and J Rawson on 19th August 1842.

‘I work at Mr. Atkinson’s Mill as a Silk draper. I worked there on Monday last [15th August] up to 12 o’clock. I know the prisoner and have known him for 3 years. I have been enrolled in a Sick Club with him. At 10 minutes past 12 I left the Mill and went to my dinner and returned at half past and a little before one o’clock I heard the Noise at Mr. Akroyd’s of the Mob shouting and making a great uproar – and then they advanced towards Mr. Atkinson’s Mill. I was standing at the top of the road going down to the Mill and saw the Mob coming. The prisoner was the first Man. Mr. Atkinson was with them – about a score came to the entrance of the Mill yard and about a dozen came into the yard the prisoner leading them straight to the place where the boilers were. Mr Atkinson wished only a few were in as they would be sufficient without all the Mob coming. I did not see what took place at the Boilers but I heard the noise as of striking the plugs. I saw the prisoner and another go down a step or two to the spot where the fire place was. In a few minutes the Engineer came and told Mr Atkinson that they could not trike the plugs upon which I heard Mr. Atkinson order the Engineer to strike them upon which the Engineer went for that purpose and I heard the noise of his striking them. In a short time the prisoner and the other Men came back and joined the Mob and then all went down the lane.’ [ASSI 45/66 X/L08891]

Prisoner: Thomas Barker. Deposition of Thomas Atkinson, silk spinner, of Northowram. Before George Pollard and John Rawson on 19th August 1842

‘On Monday last [15th August] near one o’clock there having been much excitement in the neighbourhood, I was looking out from the top of my Mill yard and saw a mob of a great number of persons advancing from the direction of Mr Akroyd’s premises. These persons were principally armed with a sort of bludgeons. [sic] I went down the road some 20 or 30 yards to meet them and when I got to them I told them the Mill was then standing [still] but they said we shall not be satisfied with that we will see for ourselves – we must strike the plugs. I advance with them to the Mill Gateway and [one word undeciphered] to them in advance it was of no use the whole mob coming to effect what they had come to do. They then halted on the signal of those in advance holding up their hands which stopped the mob. From half a score to a dozen then left the mob – there was a calling of names before they did so but I do not recollect the names. Then men proceeded up the yard in the direction where the boilers were. I remained with several workmen at the Gateway to keep back the Mob. From the time which elapsed I thought they were trifling and went to them. I found one man at each fire (of which there are two) endeavouring to strike the plug of the boiler. They appeared broiled and much fatigued. I called upon my own fireman & ordered him to help them – one of the men answered that unless the plugs were struck and shortly too they would cut off the dam. My man succeeded at once in striking the plugs. The prisoner is one of their men who entered the yard and was endeavouring to strike one of the plugs but he did not manage it on account of the peculiarity of the boiler. They were 10 minutes at it and the threatening appearance of the Mob and my Anxiety on the occasion induced me to get my Men to get the work done and see the Mob away to prevent further mischief. After the Plugs were struck the Mob went away. I heard the Mob shouting when they were at Mr Akroyd’s. The Number of the Mob overawed me that I dared not resist them tho’ I had about 40 men in the yard.’

Thomas Atkinson

Note: Thomas Barker was thirty-two years old. Tried (undefended) at York Assizes on 1st September 1842 charged with riotous assembly, forcing entrance into Isaac Dewhurst’s mill and damaging the boiler. He was found guilty and sentenced to five months hard labour. [York Herald 3 Sept 1842, p. 2 and 10 Sept 1842, p. 2]

Prisoner: Thomas Wilson. Deposition of Edmund Holt. Before George Pollard and John Rhodes Ralph on 23rd August 1842.

‘I am Engineer Tenter to Messrs. Crossley of Dean Clough. Last Monday week [15th August] the prisoner came to the Mill along with two or three more about half past four o’clock and demanded that the plugs should be drawn – they said we must either draw them ourselves or they would draw them. They had left a great mob of persons who remained in the lane while these men came to the Mill. Several of the Mob had sticks. The Master said I had better draw the plugs – the men stood over me while I did it. If I had not done it I was afraid of something worse. After I had drawn the plugs the men went back to the Mob who then went away. They set up no Shout that I heard.

Edmund X Holt his mark

Prisoner: Thomas Wilson. Deposition of John Cockroft, cordwainer, of Dean Clough, before George Pollard and John Rhodes Ralph on 23rd August 1842.

‘I am in the Employ of Messrs Crossley of Dean Clough. Last Monday but one [15th August] about 4 or a little after I was in the Mill yard – the prisoner and some others came into the Mill yard and demanded that the plug should be drawn. There were a great many people in the lane. The [undeciphered] said he would not let them do it but would do it himself and he then drew the plug. I was directed to go and draw the Clough [reservoir] by Mr. Crossley for some others of the men who came had demanded that the Clough should be drawn. After the plug & Clough were drawn the prisoner went back to the Mob and they all went away together. I believe if we had not drawn the plug & Clough the Mob would have done it.’

John X Cockroft’s mark

Note: Thomas Wilson was twenty-seven years old. He was tried on 3rd September, charged with having forced entrance into the Crossley mill and damaged the boiler. Defended by Mr. Newton, Thomas Wilson was found guilty and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.

Arrests of 16th August 1842

Prisoners: John Isles and Richard Stocks. Deposition of Richard Law, Cordwainer, of Catherine Slack, before John Waterhouse and John Rhodes Ralph on 24th August 1842

‘About 10 o’clock last Tuesday [16th August] . . . I saw the prisoners at Mr. Stock’s farm at Windy bank. They had been at the Windy bank pit hill. [Richard] Stocks had a Stick – I was filling some carts with stones for the farm that day. The prisoners were in the field where the carts and horses were. I saw Stocks take some horses out of the carts. Isles was present. After the Horses were taken out the Mob took the carts and ran them down the hill. Isles took one of the carts. They would not let the cart drivers go on with their Work. There were 12 Carts stopped. The Close is the next field to the Pit Hills. There were a hundred or two of the Mob. There was no use in the Cart drivers resisting them. The Cart drivers begged to take their empty carts but they would not let them.’

Prisoners: John Isles and Richard Stocks. Deposition of William Medley, Banksman, of Mill Lane, Northowram. Before John Waterhouse and John Rhodes Ralph on 24th August 1842.;

‘I am Banksman at the Windy Bank Colliery belonging to Mr. Stocks. I was on the top of the Hill hauling coals up on Tuesday the 16^th August between 10 & 11 o’clock when a great Mob of 400 or 500 some with Sticks in their hands came to the Colliery. The prisoner Stocks came and loosed a horse from a Cart in the field the Mob came and stopped me from working and ordered me to give up working till they gave me orders – a great many of the Mob were in the field where Stocks was. Isles was also amongst the Mob there.’

Note: John Isles was seventeen years old, Richard Stocks eighteen years old. They were tried, undefended, at York Assizes on Thursday 1st September 1842 for riotous assembly and for preventing others to work. John Isles was found not guilty. Richard Stocks was found guilty upon which he received a ‘nominal’ sentence, ‘namely, from the beginning of the Assizes to the rising of the Court to-day.’ (13th August to 10th September) [York Herald 3 Sept 1842, p. 2; Sheffield Independent 10 Sept 1842, p. 3]

Prisoner: Helliwell Shackleton. Deposition of Jonas Atkinson, coal miner, of Beggarington in Northowram. Before John Waterhouse and John Rhodes Ralph on 24th August 1842,.

‘I am in the Employ of Mr. Stocks as a Coal Miner at Shaw Lane Colliery. Last Tuesday but one [16th August] the prisoner came up to the Boothtown Colliery along with many others at between eleven and twelve o’clock and went up the drift to stop the Colliers and stayed in more than an hour when he came out he brought several Colliers back with him some coming out before him and others following him – after he came out he joined the mob again and went down towards Halifax. The Mob had before this been at Shaw Lane Colliery and had compelled some of the Colliers to go with them from that to Booth Town Colliery – two of them took me one on each arm and forced me along with them from Shaw Lane Colliery. I am very deaf and could not hear what they said. I first saw the prisoner with the Mob about 20 yards before we got to Booth Town Colliery.’

Jonas X Atkinson’s mark.

Prisoner: Helliwell Shackleton. Deposition of John Priestley, Banksman, of Ovenden. Before John Waterhouse and John Rhodes Ralph on 25th August 1842.

I am Banksman to Mr. Stocks. Yesterday Week [16th August] the prisoner along with a Mob came to the Colliery where I was working in Northowram near twelve o’clock and order me not to work any more until I was ordered. He had a stick in his hand thicker than a besom-handle. There were only 4 of Mr. Stocks’ men working at the Pit. The Mob stopped till all the corves came out but one – one of the Mob went into the drift to get all the Men out that were working. I don’t know the man who went in. After they had done this they were away – and took some of the Colliers who were standing about along with them to the Colliery at Booth Town. The number of the Mob was so great that we knew we had no chance to resist them.

John Priestley

Prisoner: Helliwell Shackleton. Deposition of James Jowett, woolsorter, of Ovenden. Before John Waterhouse and John Rhodes Ralph on 24th August 1842.

The prisoner was one of the Mob who came and drove in the plug of the Boiler at Mr . Dewhirst’s Mill. I do not recollect his having a Stick nor anything that he in particular did or said.

James Jowett

Note: Helliwell Shackleton was twenty-nine years old. He was tried (undefended) at York Assizes on 1st Sept 1842 for two offences: riotously compelling others to stop work for which he was found guilty; and riotous assembly and forced entrance into Isaac Dewhurst’s mill and damaging the boiler for which he was found not guilty. He was sentenced to . . .

Prisoner: George Hemsley. Deposition of James Ambler, coal miner, of Priestley Hill in Ovenden. Before John Waterhouse and John Rhodes Ralph, on 24th August 1842.

‘I work at Mr Stock’s Colliery at Shaw Lane. On Tuesday the 16^th instant between 11 & 12 o’clock the Mob came there. I was in the pit at the time my hurrier told me the Mob was stopping the Colliery. I went out of the pit and when I got to the mouth of it the prisoner was the first man I saw he had great thick stick or bludgeon in his hand – I said George how is this that we are stopped of our work he said Oh lad thou’ll see how it is – at your peril you go any more up that hole while you be ordered – if you do we will pull it in from between wall end to wall end and let the top in. There was a great mob about and many of them with Sticks – I stepped into the archway to put my jacket on and went on the pit hill – some of them came to me and said I must go with them to Booth Town Colliery. I said I did not think I could get so far they said they would lug me there. The Prisoner was with those who wanted me to go with them to Booth Town – he said what’s the use of them earning 15/- or 16/- a week and me working for 8/-. I said a collier must work very hard for 11/- a week for himself – we had some more such talk. They compelled me and Jonas Atkinson to go along with them and when we got to Booth Town we sat down on the pit hill with Robinson the Banksman – and saw Helliwell Shackleton go into the drift.’

James X Ambler his mark

Prisoner: George Hemsley. Deposition of John Priestley, Banksman, of Ovenden. Before John Waterhouse and John Rhodes Ralph. On 24th August 1842.

‘I am Banksman at Mr. Stocks’ Colliery at Shaw Lane in Northowram. Last Tuesday but one [16th August] a Mob came to the Colliery and told us we were not to work any more till we were ordered. The prisoner was one of the Mob. He said to us if we worked any more till we were ordered they would pull the walls of the Archway into the Colliery close so as to destroy it. For fear of the Mob all the men in the Colliery were obliged to give up – there were only 4 of us at the pit hill – after they had seen us all out of the pit they went away – they compelled some of the Colliers to go with them to Booth Town Colliery. There were about 100 of the Mob close about the Colliery & plenty more on the hill side.

John Priestley

Note: George Hemsley was forty-five years old. Tried (undefended) at York Assizes on 1st Sept 1842 for riotously compelled others to stop work. He was found guilty and sentenced to two months’ hard labour. [York Herald 3 Sept 1842, p. 2; and 10 Sept, p. 2]

Prisoner: George Pitchforth. Deposition of John Stephenson, Special Constable, of Halifax. Before George Pollard on 22nd of August 1842.

‘I was going to Elland last Tuesday [16th August] on an Omnibus which left Halifax at 10 minutes past 11 in the forenoon. As we were going along Elland Wood we met a great Mob of about a thousand people near the Tunnel. I was riding on the outside [of] the omnibus – The Mob stopped the Omnibus and asked me where the prisoners were. I said they were not in the omnibus and begged them to let us go. I was obliged to tell them I was going to Blackpool to get my mistress home. They struck me twice with their Sticks. Many of them had large sticks or bludgeons – at length they let the omnibus go on a short way but shortly stopped it again to examine the inside of it for prisoners. I again told them I was going to Blackpool at length by much entreaty we got away. The prisoner was one of the Mob and was violent amongst them – he had a thick Stick he was one of those who insisted on searching the omnibus. I do not know that he struck me but he was violent in the manner.’

John Stephenson

Prisoner: George Pitchforth. Deposition of William King, Sergeant of the Watch, of Halifax. Before George Pollard on 22nd August 1842.

Last Tuesday I rode the front seat of an Omnibus conveying some rioters from Halifax to Wakefield House of Correction – when we were going down Salterhebble Hill we met a large mob of people coming up the Hill – many of them had sticks – the prisoner was one in the front of the Mob and he threw out his arms and said something to the Mob and a way was opened for us and the Mob began to gather stones up and throw them at us. We had a magistrate with us and about 10 or a dozen hussars. I got one stroke with a stone between my shoulders. The prisoner appeared to be acting as a sort of leader – he had a similar Smock on to the one he has on now. It was somewhere about 12 o’clock. We had to go some distance past the bridge at the bottom of the Hill before we could unlock the Wheel on account of the thick Shower of Stones.

William King

Prisoner: George Pitchforth. Deposition of James Rawson, Constable, of Halifax. Before George Pollard on 18th August 1842.

‘I was on duty on Tuesday afternoon about 4 o’clock at Haley Hill assisting the Authorities to put down the riot there. As we were going up the Hill by Mr. Akroyd’s lower gates I saw the prisoner coming running out of the Gates and one of Mr. Akroyd’s mechanics after him. The Military were then firing below. I laid hold of the prisoner. The Mob were both above us and passing us at the [one word undeciphered] a great number of bludgeons were dropped about this time about Mr. Akroyd’s Gates. I did not see the prisoner have a stick or bludgeon. The prisoner was [very saucy?] and tried to get away. There was great noise and shouting at the time.

James Rawson

Note: George Pitchforth was thirty-eight years old. Tried at York Summer Assizes (undefended) on 2 Sept 1842 charged with tumultuously assembling ‘to demand from a higher rate of wages than was usually paid: and particularly with impeding the workmen employed in the mill belonging to Mr. Jonathan Ackroyd, [sic] at Luddenden Foot, near Halifax,’ for which he was found guilty. He was also charged with assault of a special constable on ‘the Elland road’ on 16th August, for which he was found guilty. [York Herald 3 Sept 1842, p. 2] Convicted of riot and conspiracy, George Pitchforth was sentenced to eight months’ hard labour.

Prisoner Thomas Kitchenman. Deposition of Thomas [Fierney?], woolstapler, of Ovenden. Before William Briggs and John Waterhouse on . . . . .

‘I am one of the Constables of the Township of Ovenden. Last Tuesday Evening I went into the Shroggs along with the other Constables. I saw a number of persons in a Charcoal pit. I saw them through the Trees before we …….. up to them. When we got to them they were all together in a crowd. I saw the prisoner directly opposite me on the outside of the ring which the party formed. I warned them that they were trespassing and told them to go. They went away chiefly toward the Rocks in the upper part of the Wood. I did not see any drilling.’

Thomas [Fierney?]

Note: Thomas Kitchenman remained active as a political reformer. In 1848 he gave two voluntary declarations to William Briggs and John Waterhouse in which he says he was involved in military-style training of local men during the renewed action of that year. He was also the subject of a deposition sworn by John Sladden, labourer of Northowram on 31st May 1848.

Many more men than those appearing in the ASSI 45/66 X/L08891 depositions were arrested in August 1842. The Leeds Mercury of 20th August 1842, page eight, gives a good account of the Halifax men arrested on the 15th and 16th of August, with a list of those known to be injured during the Haley Hill attack. The Leeds Intelligencer of 27th August gives some details of arrests, charges and sentences; two editions of the Yorkshire Gazette, the 3rd and 10th of September 1842, give descriptions of the charges and some sentences. The Bradford Observer of 8th September 1842 gives more details of sentences, and on page seven of the Leeds Times of 10th September 1842 appears Judge Denham’s summing up.

Arrested men sent to trial from Halifax and not appearing on the ASSI 45/66 X/L08891 depositions are William Jackson Cockcroft, John Murphy, George Moore, Robert Ridehalgh, Samuel Bates, Eli Hoyle, Henry Greenwood, Thomas Holmes, Thomas Robinson, John Teal, John Gibson, John Whitaker, Joseph Broadbent, Greenwood White, William Southwell, James Sutcliffe, James Horsfall, all named on page five of the Leeds Intelligencer, 27th August 1842.

James Horsfall (32) was tried at York on 3rd September 1842, charged with having, on 13th August, ‘conspired to compel [his master] to give them a higher rate of wages than was usual, and in pursuance of such conspiracy with having left their work, and met and assembled and gone to several mills, and particularly the mill of Mr. John Foster, and that they did terrify and alarm him. James Horsfall pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months’ hard labour. [Yorkshire Gazette 10 Sept 1842, p. 2]

Thomas Holmes (23), Thomas Robinson (29) were charged (with George Pitchforth) with riotously assembling on the 15th August and disabling Jonathan Akroyd’s Boy Mill at Luddenden Foot. Thomas Holmes was sentenced to three months’ hard labour, Thomas Robinson to four calendar months’ hard labour.

Jackson Cockroft (28) was tried at York on 2nd September 1842. He pleaded guilty to having, on 15th August, ‘unlawfully assembled together with divers other persons, and forced an entrance into the mill and premises of Jonathan Akroyd and others, and with damaging a certain boiler.’ On 5th September William Jackson Cockroft was sentenced to five months’ hard labour.

John Teal (34), John Gibson (40), John Whitaker (57), and Joseph Broadbent (40), pleaded guilty to having ‘conspired to raise wages, and unlawfully and riotously assembled, and compelled the workmen of Thomas Hirst to leave their employment by drawing the shuttle of the clough of the mill dam. – Several witnesses gave the prisoners a good character. John Gibson and John Whittaker were imprisoned for two months, Joseph Broadbent for three months, and John Teal for four months. [Leeds Times, 10 Sept 1842, p. 7]

William Southwell (34) and James Sutcliffe (56) pleaded guilty to having, on 15th August, ‘unlawfully assembled along with divers other persons in a menacing manner with sticks and other weapons, with intent to disturb the peace of the realm.’ They were tried at York on 3rd September 1842. William Southwell was defended by Mr. Pickering, James Sutcliffe was undefended and both were sentenced to five months’ hard labour. [Yorkshire Gazette 10 Sept 1842, p. 2]

Greenwood White (23) was charged with having, on 15th August, ‘conspired by violence and threats to impede and obstruct the carrying on of certain manufactories, and to force the workmen to depart from their employment.’ The Bradford Observer of 1st September 1842 names ‘Mr. T. Atkinson’s and Mr. Kirk’s mills.’ Greenwood White pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months’ hard labour. [Yorkshire Gazette 10 Sept 1842, p. 2]

John Hodgson (33) was tried (undefended) at York on 3 September 1842, charged with being one of the men who, on 15th August, ‘went to the mill of Messrs. Haigh, which was a large factory on the North Bank. The prisoner was foremost of the party and acted as their leader. The mob unplugged the boiler.’ John Hodgson was found guilty and sentenced to four calendar months’ hard labour. [Yorkshire Gazette 10 Sept 1842, p. 2]

John Murphy (22), George Moore (32), Robert Ridehalgh (50), Samuel Bates (32), Ely Hoyle (24), and Henry Greenwood (18) were arrested during the Haley Hill attack of 16th August, and were charged with having that day ‘unlawfully assembled along with divers other persons in a menacing manner with intent to disturb the peace of the realm.’ George Moore was defended by Mr. Wilkins and pleaded guilty, his five companions were undefended. They were tried at York on 3rd September 1842. John Murphy was found guilty and the others found not guilty with the exception of George Moore who had pleaded guilty. [Yorkshire Gazette 10 Sept 1842, p. 2] John Murphy and George Moore were sentence to four months’ hard labour.

Jonathan Mitchell was arrested for assaulting the three unhorsed Hussars on Salterhebble Hill and for taking their accoutrements to conceal in his house. [Yorkshire Gazette 3 Sept 1842, p. 5] He was singled out by the judge, Lord Denham. “You are one of those persons who were engaged in these unfortunate riots . . . riots that have commenced in a most unlawful attempt to interfere with the freedom of labour and trade, and the security of property . . . The first thing which a party who chooses to think he has some rights, which the law does not allow . . . is to connect himself with a tumultuous body to take the law into his own hands . . . and though they may fancy they escape blame by not resorting to personal violence, they are still highly blameable in the eye of the law, when they obstruct machinery, and prevent masters from earning their profits, and workmen from earning their wages . . . the magistrates, the police, and special constables, are attacked by men who band themselves together for the purpose of attaining what they have no right to demand. The next step is, perhaps, that the military are called out, because it must now be made obvious to all the world, that the law must and will prevail . . . but there is another thing which ensues, and that is, that bad men, of all descriptions, take advantage of the crowd, the tumult, and the violence, for the purposes of plunder . . . I have made enquiry as to your previous conduct . . . You are, I believe, one of those unprincipled characters who take advantage of the breaking of law, in the short moment when it is subjected to violence, to pursue your evil practices, and the sentence of the court on you, Jonathan Mitchell, is that . . . you be transported . . . for the space of Ten Years.’ [Leeds Times, 10 Sept 1842, p. 7]

Lord Denham’s summing up:

At the conclusion of the trials and sentencing of the arrested Halifax men and the many others from other towns, Judge Denham laid out the law as it was understood: ‘It is highly necessary that you should be informed that from the moment the mob were acting together, to the annoyance of the special constable and of the soldiery, and to their disturbance in the performance of their necessary duty, if in consequence of the attack death had ensued, every one of the persons acting on that occasion, would have been liable to be tried and executed for the crime of murder. [Leeds Times 10 September 1842, p. 7]

Leeds Mercury

Monday’s arrests:

Thomas Brear, John Kergan, George Ainley, John Snowden, H Leach, John Eastwood, Jacob Beaumont

Tuesday arrests:

Ridough, J Hodgson, John Sutcliffe, William Cawthra, W J Cockroft, William Jagger, John Barraclough, Samuel Farrar, H Greenwood, John Hooson, John O’Brien, Geroge Pitchforth, Michael Bairstow, John Woolfindale, Isaac Bottomley, Joseph Heys, Eli Hoyle, Edward Broadbent, Benjamin Ainley, James Dewhirst, John Greenwood, John Rawnsley, Abraham Carter, William Tiffany, Robert Marshall, John Farrar, Joseph Pearson, Joseph Lee, Thomas Chambers, James Fenton, James Robson, William Smith, John Snowden, George Moore, James Chadwick, John Murphy, S Bates

A good number were not sent for trial but were released when no reasonable charge could be brought against them. Two arrested men not sent to trial from Halifax were Joseph Pickles and James Bawden.

Fighting Talk by Mark Metcalf

Monday, 16 September 2024

125th Hillsborough anniversary celebration kicks off campaign for new headstone for Ambrose Langley, the first captain of Hillsborough

Monday, 9 September 2024

MEMORIAL PLAQUE TO HONOUR FIRST BLACK INTERNATIONAL

Monday, 2 September 2024

NO MERCY SHOWN 182 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH BY YORK MAGISTRATES TO HALIFAX CITIZENS WHO RALLIED TO THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE IN AUGUST 1842