Talk:Ely and Littleport riots of 1816

Inspiriation
The idea for this article came about due to this edit to St James' Church, Stretham even though some details of the riot had appeared before here: Littleport so thank you --Senra (Talk) 19:21, 3 September 2010 (UTC)

Vagrancy Act 1824 (5 Geo. 4. c. 83)
(copied from Reference desk/Humanities 2/9/10)

I am developing the draft of an article on the Littleport riots of 1816 here. I have a statement summarised from a none WP:RS: "General unrest and riots such as that at Littleport may have been a factor in the government passing the Vagrancy Act 1824". Can anyone help find a RS for that statement or help derive a similar statement along the same theme? --Senra (Talk) 13:10, 2 September 2010 (UTC)


 * You forgot the wikilink prefix Ely and Littleport riots 1816--Aspro (talk) 13:57, 2 September 2010 (UTC)
 * Yups. Sorry. Fixed --Senra (Talk) 14:20, 2 September 2010 (UTC)


 * I would say that that website is just padding their text out on pure  flight of fancy. Eight years is a long time to-update exiting acts and vagrancy acts pre-date by over a century. Also, the update appears to be concerning the behaviours of individual vagrants. See in blue: |and behaving in a riotous or indecent manner. I would have thought, that had   legislation been written up in response to the Littleport riots, then an Act like the Riotous Assemblies (Scotland) Act 1822 was more appropriate. Therefore, should anyone fail to find a lack of a RS, I will not be surprised. This comment should really go on the articles talk page but of course it does not exist yet.--Aspro (talk) 15:18, 2 September 2010 (UTC)
 * Thank you. I have no problem with you creating the comment on the article talk page. All comments welcome. The article will go to main space when it is in better shape :) --Senra (Talk) 15:47, 2 September 2010 (UTC)


 * sourced from here: --Senra (Talk) 19:26, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

Articles that could link here
Preparation area for articles that should link to Ely and Littleport riots after moving the article to main space. If you feel any one or more of these should not be so linked, please say so --Senra (Talk) 18:42, 4 September 2010 (UTC)
 * Edward Christian as Lord Chief Justice of the Isle of Ely at the trials of the accused
 * Littleport as the town involved
 * Ely as involved in the riots plus the trials held here
 * Sir Henry Dudley, 1st Baronet the fighting vicar, as a participant in quelling the riots
 * struck as --Senra (Talk) 21:46, 14 September 2010 (UTC)

Trivial mis-spelling...
of 'gaol' as 'goal'. Interesting article! As regards the aftermath, I think the response to the riots effectively deterred agricultural unions in East Anglia, where unrest predominantly took the form of rick-burning through the middle half of the C19th.Dsp13 (talk) 01:42, 6 September 2010 (UTC)
 * Goal --> Gaol thank you. Indeed, I am seeing news articles (both before and after) about rick-burning and thresher machine destruction (I'm guessing Ludite type responses?) - just need to be able to weave them into the article. Also waiting for Peacock (1965) to arrive for further background --Senra (Talk) 09:53, 6 September 2010 (UTC)

Biblical quote
On the first day of the trial after breakfasting at the Bishop's Palace in Ely, the Judges attended a sermon in Ely Cathedral by Henry Bate Dudley. The question of proper sourcing of the quote was asked and answered here:Wikipedia:Reference desk/Humanities/Biblical quote. --Senra (Talk) 15:01, 7 September 2010 (UTC)
 * --Senra (Talk) 00:00, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

Evidence section
Removed from article as too much information

The court opened at 9 am; the indictment on twelve of the defendants was then read "John Easey, Joseph Easey, Richard Jessop, Thomas South (the younger), John Walker, Mark Benton, Robert Butcher, George Crow, Isaac Harley, Richard Nicholas, Wilson Wyebrow, and William Jefferson, were indicted for having on Wednesday, the 22 day of May last, burglariously broken open and entered the dwelling-house of Rebecca Waddelow, of Littleport, in the Isle of Ely, shopkeeper, and feloniously stolen and carried away therefrom one hat and five shirts, the property of Henry Martin, of Littleport aforesaid, farmer, and divers articles of grocery and drapery goods, together with three pounds, and three promissory notes, the property of the said Rebecca Waddelow."
 * Tuesday 18 June

Mr Gurney addressed the jury. Ten witnesses were called, Little Sallis, a labourer, Littleport, servant to Mr Henry Martin, T Young, in service to Mr Henry Martin, Elizabeth Watson, shop-assistant, lived with Mrs Waddelow in Littleport, Samuel Skinner, labourer in service of Mr Henry MartinWilliam Gillett, a Littleport farmer,  Rebecca Cutlack, wife of John Cutlack, farmer, William Young, labourer, lives in house with Mrs Waddelow, William Watson, a labourer, Mary Cutlack, duaghter of Rebecca Cutlack and Henry Martin, farmer, After Martins evidences, the judges held a discussion. Mr Justice Abbott informed the jury that a mistake had been made in the indictment in that the property was not Mrs Waddelows but jointly owned by Mr Martin and Mrs Waddelow. He directed the jury to acquit. All defendants were pronounced not guilty.

Seven defendants then appeared with the following indictment: "Aaron Chevall, Richard Jessop, Joseph Easey, Thomas South the younger, Mark Benton, William Dann, and Francis Torrington, were then indicted for having, on the night of the 22nd of May last, burglariously broken open and entered the dwelling-house of Josiah Dewey, in the town of Littleport, and for having stolen and carried away therefrom 100 guineas in gold, and divers articles of furniture and wearing apparel; and with having assaulted and put in bodily fear the said Josiah Dewey, in his dwelling-house, taking from his person a one pound banker's cash note."

Mr Gurney addressed the jury. Three witnesses testified, Josiah Dewey, a retired farmer Martha Dewey, grand-daughter of Josiah Dewey and Thomas Dewey. The Jury recorded a verdict of Guilty against Chevall, Easey, Jessop, South and Benton; Dann and Torrington were aquitted.

The court adjourned at 5pm

The court opened at 9am; the indictment on three of the defendants was then read "Thomas South, William Dann, and Robert Crabbe, were indicted for forcibly entering and feloniously stealing from the house of Robert Speechly, yeoman, of Littleport, sundry articles of wearing apparel, plate, linen, china, and glass, his property."
 * Wednesday 19 June

Mr Gurney addressed the jury. Three witnesses made statements. Robert Speechley, Sarah Butler, servant of Robert Speechley and  Thomas Cheesewright. The Jury pronounced all defendants guilty.

Five defendants were then indicted as follows "John Warner, Joseph Stibbard, Isaac Harley, James Newell, and William Gotobed, who is not in custody, were indicted for forcibly entering the house of the Rev. John Vachell, putting him in bodily fear, and taking from his person two 1l. notes, his property."

Mr Gurney addressed the jury. Two witnesses testified, Reverend John Vachell, vicar of St George's Church, Littleport and Christopher Crabbe. A verdict of guilty was returned against Harley and Newell whilst Warner and Stibbard were aquitted.

Five defendants were then indicted as follows "John Dennis, Flanders Hopkins, James Canmmell, John Jefferson, and Richard Rutter, were put to the bar, and indicted for stealing from the dwelling house of Robert Edwards, in the city of Ely, the sum of 50l. in bankers' cash notes the property of the said Robert Edwards."

Mr Gurney addressed the jury at length describing the events occurring in the town of Ely on the morning of the 23 May 1816. Eight witnesses were called. Margaret Rickwood, millers wife of Ely; William Rickwood, son of Margaret Rickwood; Robert Edwards, chief constable of Ely and agent to Messrs. Mortlock and Son, Bankers, Cambridge; Reverend G Miller Reverend William Metcalfe, magistrate of Ely; Reverend Henry Law, magistrate; Mary Howe, servant of defendant John Dennis spoke up for her master; and John Martin, publican of Ely. Mr Justice Abbott summed up The Jury returned guilty verdicts against Dennis, Jefferson, and Rutter. Hopkin and Cammell were given not guilty verdicts.

Three defendants were then indicted as follows "William Beamiss the younger, Joseph Lavender, stood indicted for having, on Wednesday the 22nd May last, feloniously stolen and carried away from the dwelling-house of the Rev. J. Vachell, clerk, at Littleport, in the Isle of Ely, several silver spoons, of the value of 40s. and more, his property; and Christopher Butcher stood indicted for having received the same, knowing them to be stolen."
 * Thursday 20 June

The four witnesses called were Elizabeth Carter, servant of Mr Waddelow who was sent to the Reverend Vachells that night, Francis Luddington, Littleport resident, Reverend John Vachell and Christopher Crabbe, servant to Reverend Vachell. Mr Justice Burrough summed up. Lavender was pronounced guilty and Beamiss and Butcher recieved not guilty verdicts.

John Gaultrip was next, indicted for stealing two spoons at the vicarage. As the evidence was contradictory, Gaultrip was aquitted by the Jury.

Next at the bar was one defendant "William Beamiss, the younger, was next indicted for highway robbery on Hugh Robert Evans, of Ely, gentleman, on the 22nd of May last, at Littleport, and for having taken 14s in silver from him."

The witness Hugh Robert Evans, gentleman, of Littleport, said he was coming through Littleport from Lynne with Mr Henry Martin. Mr William Bradley, an apprentice of Littleport, recalled the mob stopping the chaise outside Mr Speechley's premises. Mr Henry Martin confirmed he was with Evans. Mr Justice Abbott summed up and the Jury returned a verdict of guilty on the prisoner Beamiss.

Nine defendants were brought to the bar "John Dennis, Richard Jessop, William Atkin, Aaron Layton, Sarah Hobbs, John Pricke, John Cooper, John Freeman, and John Jefferson, were indicted for havong, on Thursday the 23rd of May last, put W. Cooper, of Ely, shopkeeper, in bodily fear, and feloniously stolen from him several books and canister, and £10 in promissory notes, his property."

Mr Gurney addressed the Jury, explaining the circumstances of the disturbances carried out by the mob in Ely. He described Dennis as the ringleader. As a grocery shopkeeper in Ely, the witness William Cooper heard the mob nearing his premises and left Mr Watts to deal with them. As the mob started to break windows, Mr Watts gave them £5 to stop which they said would do for the Littleport people; they wanted another £5 for the Ely people which was given to them. The Reverened Metcalfe explained how he met the mob in the morning and followed them around the city. William Aspey, Esq., a resident of Ely, so Mr Watts hand the money to the Reverend Metcalfe who hand it to the mob who then cheered. John Magee and Mr Hills said they saw the windows being broken. John Bacon, a constable of Ely saw the rioters outside Mr Edwards building. Thomas Spooner, Esq., testified that John Dennis seemed to be the leader. Mr Harlocke of Ely saw the mob breaking things. Thomas Walton felt he was lucky to escape. Samuel C Haynes and James Nightingale Rayner saw the mob at Mr Coopers.

Mr Justice Abbott spoke to the Jury for a long time. The Jury retired for fifteen minutes. On returning, they pronounced as guilty Dennis, Jessop, Atkin, Layton, Hobbs, Pricke, Cooper, and Jefferson. They aquitted Freeman.

Six defendants were then brought up as follows "John Dennis, John Jefferson, William Atkin, Aaron Layton, James Cammell and John Walker, were then indicted for stealing ten pounds from the person of George Stevens, in Ely. on the 23rd May."

The witness, George Stevens, a miller of Ely said the mob went to his house to demand money under duress which was given to Dennis and Layton. The Reverend Mr Metcalfe, Mr Robert Stevens, and Mr Rayner confirmed this evidence. Dennis, Layton, Atkin, and Cammell were all pronounced guilty by the Jury.

Capital convictions against Aaron Chevall and William Beamiss, for robbing Henry Tansley of two 1l. notes, were also returned by the Jury.

The court adjourned at 6pm.


 * Friday 21 June

Seven prisoners were brought to the bar on a similar charge as on Monday as follows "John Easey, John Walker, George Crow, Richard Nicholas, William Jefferson, Wyburn Wilson, and Robert Butcher, were placed at the bar, and arraigned for having on the night of the 22d of May last, in the parish of Littleport, feloniously stolen various articles of grocery and drapery, together with three promissory notes of the values of one pound each, from the dwelling-house of Rebecca Waddelow, and by causing fear in the said Rebecca Waddelow and others."

The prisoners all pleaded not guilty.

Mr Gurney addressed the Jury explaining that these were the same persons indicted on Monday for the same offence. The Jury may recall that there was an error in the indictment describing, in error, the house to be the property of Rebecca Waddelow, leading to the prisoners aquittal. He also confirmed that in the original indictment, other persons were charged but as these other persons have since been convicted of capital offences, they have been removed from the indictment. The witness were all brought forward again and made their statements. They said much the same as previously though this took much of the day. In summing up, Mr Abbott went on a length closing with '... the duty which it belonged to them [the jury] to execute - confident that, from experience which the court had now of them, their verdict would be such as good sense would dictate, and the public justice of the country require'. Thus leading the jury, it took them five minutes to find Walker, Butcher and Crow guilty and Nicholas, Wilson and Jefferson not guilty.

Next up was "Henry Benson, a considerable farmer, who was out on bail, was then put to the bar, and indicted for exciting and instigating divers persons to commit riots in the town of Ely."

Benson was held in surety for 400l. plus two other sureties for 200l. each. He was to appear for trial at the next assizes. The solicitors for the crown went into considerable debate for the follow weeks on Bensons case. Meanwhile, Lord Hardwicke had given Benson notice to quit the tenancy of his farm. The authorities dropped the case.

Richard Cooper the elder and Richard Cooper the younger were bound over to the next assizes.

Father and son were then brought in "William Beamiss the elder, and William Beamiss the younger, were then put to the bar, and indicted for having, on Wednesday, the 22d day of May last. feloniously assaulted Robert Cheesewright the younger, of Littleport, in the Isle of Ely, and put him in bodily fear, and with having taken from his person a banke's cash note of the value of one pound. The indictment contained two other counts, charging the prisoners with an assault on Robert Cheesewright, the edler, and with having feloniously taken the said note from him."

Mr Gurney addressed the jury. Robert Cheesewright the son was examined. Although his father was called, his son said that his father was unable to appear. Henry Tansley testified that he had seen the mob and heard the exchanges with Beamiss the elder at the Cheesewrights. Mr Burrough summed up and the jury gave their guilty verdict to both prisoners shortly after.

Next between 20 and 30 prisoners were 'brought to the bar and indicted for having committed various felonies and misdeanours at Littleport on 22d, 23d, and 24th of May last'. A few were put to the next assizes and the remainder chose to be tried immediately. Mr Gurney addressed the jury explaining that his Majesties government was keen not to put to the jury more cases than was necessary. If the prisoners now at the bar offered a small surety and remained on good behaviour there would be no more said. Mr Abbott spoke to the prisoners at lenght finally demanding that each of them offer surety of 50l. and find two more sureties each of 10l. or one more each of 20l. Mr Abbott then thanked the jury for their services.

The court adjourned.

Some notes from GAN
Excellent reading! Looking back 200 years ago, before the pogroms and Ruanda and (you name it), it seems incredible that no one was killed after two days of "these atrocities"... and that the few opponents faced the rioters almost safely.

Just one note. It appears that at times the language of the article is too influenced by its old-timey sources - far more than is necessary to comply with verifiability guidelines. At times it becomes an almost carlylean epic: "The magistrates agreed; a hollow truce, as they had already called the yeoman cavalry from Upwell". "Intimated", rather than "raped", may be what the source said, but shall we follow the victorian code of speech here?

Cheers, East of Borschov 09:33, 21 September 2010 (UTC)


 * Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Very useful. I did work hard to try to remove the Regency and Victorian English whilst summarising the sources. Your comment suggests I have failed. I am sorry. I probably need a little help. I am showing my lack of literacy here, but your examples are unclear, unless I miss your points entirely. In this context "...yeoman cavalry from Upwell" is a fact and "Intimidated" is a synonym for a fact. The rioters did not "rape" or indeed harm any citizens at all, although their worst offence was, to use the Regency language [Warren (1997) but first published c.1816], threatened vengeance to [Mr Martin's] life. I thought my summary word intimidated did the original prose justice. Please do continue to point out examples and I will do my best to either clarify or correct as appropriate. Once again, thank you --Senra (Talk) 15:22, 21 September 2010 (UTC)

Errors in Inflation template
We are now getting errors in Inflation template. I see that the template has been updated today to display error messages (and has an option for turning it off). I have posted a request for help fixing the errors rather than just turning the messages off and ignoring them. Joja lozzo  18:35, 12 January 2013 (UTC)
 * The errors were not just in this article. In other articles too (e.g. Little Thetford). I too but probably in the wrong place. Anyway, the errors are now fixed -- Senra (talk) 20:54, 12 January 2013 (UTC)

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Militia?
Does not this newspaper suggests the 'militia' were not a few gentlmen and inhabitants of Ely, but a significant number (two dozen) of recently stood down members of the Cambridgeshire Militia armed from the armoury? Probably a rather more effective body than the same number of untrained civilians.

Stamford Mercury 31st May 1816 page 1 RIOTS.

Riots We are much concerned to state that fresh disturnces the most serious nature have taken place in Norfolk and the Isle of Ely, on the alleged ground of high price of beer, bread, and meat, and the low of labour, want of employment, &c.?The following are some of the particulars (more will be found in - inner pages). On Monday the 20th, a number of persons of the laboring class "assembled at the village of Southery, in Norfolk, and immediately proceeded for Downhnm, between which places (about seven miles distance) ed the laborers and others from their houses and *to join them; when arrived at the latter place the amounted to nearly fifteen hundred; they imdiately commenced their riotous proceedings, by ening the sliojis of the millers and bakers, and taking ay flour, bread, &c.; at Mr. William Baldwin's mill, great sacks of wheat meal were thrown into the rd, and spoiled. They then proceeded to the pubans, and demanded ale, which was brought in pails the street, the rioters forcing many of the inhabitts to drink with them. They then went to the Crown, and drove the Magistrates (who were holding their weekly sitting) into the street; and who, with great difficulyty, escaped. Afterwards they proceeded to the butchers, whose shops they cleared. During this time the tradesmen in general were in state of dreadful anxiety, expecting the rioters would make an attack upon their premises; but they were prevented the appearance the Upwell troop of cavalry, when the Magistrates, escorted the troop, read the Riot Act, and the greatest possible confusion ensued; several gentlemen narrowly escaped with their lives, brick-bats, stones, clubs bellying about, in every direction. With the aid special constables, however, ten men and four women were taken, and put into confinement, and the rest gradually dispersed. Fortunately no lives were lost. - Capt. Lee (who commanded the troop) ordered the men to use the back of their swords, thereby preventing the carnage that must have otherwise ensued. -The following morning. Tuesday, brought greater terror to the inhabitants than the preceding day, as it was generally reported that the rioters were preparing to attack the town with redoubled vigour; the Magistrates directed the inhabitants to arm themselves with whatever could be procured, and in a short time the town wore very formidable appearance; the inhabitants, with the cavalry, then proceeded to meet the rioters, who armed themselves with guns, pitch-forks, clubs, and other weapons, ready for a general attack, when an agreement was made by the gentlemen to allow them an advance of wages, and to release those persons already taken, which induced them to return peaceably to their homes. The greatest praise is due to every individual of the troop, for their exertions on the above occasion. Thursday night, alarming advice was received at Lord Sidmouth's Office a desperate insurrection having broken out in the Isle of Ely; that an immense body of armed Fen-men had attacked the house of the Rev. Mr. Vachel, a Magistrate, resident at Little Newport, which they destroyed, after despoiling it of its most valuable property, having brutally turned Mrs. Vachel and her daughters out of the house, to seek an asylum, at twelve o'clock on Wednesday night.

" CAMBRIDGE, May 24.-Great alarm has been excited here by the appearance of numerous knots of strange countrymen, coming in with large sticks, for two or three days past. Our Mayor, Colonel Mortlock, apprehensive that this might have been preparatory to intended entry of the fen rioters, convened the Magistracy the Town-hall this afternoon, who swore in 300 of the principal inhabitants as special constables. The Vice-Chancellor, and heads of houses, also assembled, resolved to put arms into the hands of the students of their respective colleges, if found necessary. " Sunday, Eleven o'clock, A.M. Our alarm has considerably subsided, from intelligence just brought in from Ely, stating, that the main body of the insurgents were attacked on Friday morning (after the Riot Act had been read without effect), and completely routed. Sir Henry B Dudley and the Rev. H. Law. two Magistrates of the isle, arriving with Captain Wortham's Troop of Yeomanry early on Friday morning, and learning that the rioters had determined to set fire to Littleport that night, and the town of Ely on the night following, called out the small detachment of the Ist Dragoons consisting of 18 men, commanded by Capt. Methuen, and sending 24 of the disbanded Militia, who were armed from the country depot by Lieut. Woolert, pushed on to Littleport, where, taking the insurgents by surprise, their defeat was speedy and complete. The savage rioters soon began to fire upon the Magistrates and the troops, from barricaded houses near the river, when the latter were ordered to fire into them. The conflict, though short, was sharp. The insurgents soon began to fly from every part of the town over the Fens, and were pursued in every direction : only two the rioters were killed (one of them a Chief), and a few wounded - 104 were taken prisoners, and more are hourly bringing ; fortunately the soldiers had only two or three slightly wounded. The inhabitants of the country now began to stir their own defence, and accompanied parties of the military scour the district, and in consequence great quantities of wild-fowl swivels, and other guns, pikes. &c. have been brought in. The Magistrates speak in high commendation of the steady conduct of the three Officers, and soldiery, on this service. Major-General Sir John Byng, K. C. B. appointed to the command of this disturbed county, arrived few hours after the affair, and a reinforcement, consisting of three troops of the Ist Royal Dragoons, three companies of the regiment, and two pieces of flying artillery, were hourly expected at Ely, by forced marches.'' A considerable inclination to Riot manifested itself at Ramsey, Huntingdonshire, for several days, and had increased so much on Tuesday last, that it was judged prudent to call out the Huntingdon Volunteer CavaTry, who proceeded Warbovs immediately, but as their assistance did not appear absolutely necessary, they returned to Huntingdon, where they remained under arms during the whole Tuesday night, and tranquillity having been restored Ramsey, the corps was dismissed on Wednesday morning. One man has been committed To Huntingdon gaol, for rioting at Ramsey, and against three others warrants have been granted. Extract of a letter from reshingfield, Essex. May 24.?" That spirit insurrection which has broke out in Suffolk, has appeared in our parish. I have just returned from the place where the rioters have assembled, to the amount of 200, armed with implements of agriculture as their weapons. Last night they destroyed Mr. John Smith's threshing-machine; this morning they visited Mr. Robert Smith's farm at Byton-hall, and destroyed plough on a new construction that did not please them; they then came to Bardfield, to derstoy Mr. Messent's machine, and were coining here to the same, but the people of Bardfield surrounded the barn, and prevented their attacking it, while many of us tried to persuade them to home again ; and happy say they have dispersed for the present." Accounts received on Saturday from Manchester state, that some thousands of the lower orders the people were assembling about twenty miles distant fioin Manchester. The intelligence was received in that town by express from a Magistrate residing the vicinity of the tumultuous assemblage. Advices of these new movements were immediately forwarded Government. Saturday considerable body cavalry, with several pieces of artillery, passed through lottenham, their way to assist in quelling the disturbances. Fenlandier (talk) 12:49, 16 February 2021 (UTC)