QSR1834/1/5/39

Depositions of George Leggett, labourer of Shillington. Robert Cox, ploughman of Shillington. John Kempson, farmer of Shillington. James Stapleton, labourer of Shillington. Charles Hill of Shillington. Philip Hill, tasker of Shillington. In the case of William Waller, James Harris, William King, William Kilby, William Jepps, Thomas Paine and Samuel Harris accused of riot at Shitlington.

21 November 1833

From: 1833 To: 1834

George Leggett: he was a tasker for Mr Lines at Chibley Farm in Shillington. On 18 November he was at work in the barn there. 30 or 40 men came to the barn and told him to come out but he refused. They said he would and William Waller, William Kirby and John Harris laid hold of him and carried him a little way across the barn and then threw him out. They put him out twice. Then they went to the kitchen and his master locked the door and the master told the men to break it open if they dared. William King was one of the men in the yard. The men stopped there a little while and then they went away towards Mr Kempson’s. The men tore his waistcoat to pieces. Robert Cox: he was a ploughman in the service of Mr James Kempson in Shillington. On 18 November he was returning home from the plough when he met 50 or 60 men. They told him he must go with them. He said he hoped they would let his take home his horses and have his dinner but they said he should not. Thomas Paine, who was one of them, shoved his hand against his breast and shoved him off his horse. Afterwards they let him home with the horses. John Kempson: his father was a farmer at Shillington. About 4pm on 18 November 50 or 60 men came towards his father’s house. They knew they were rioting and so they locked the doors and kept inside the house. Samuel Harris and William Waller were 2 of the mob. They came into the yard and searched about the barns and places for the men. They wanted the men and said they would have them. The mob came to the house and said they did not mean them any harm but would have all the men they could find. He could not tell which spoke but they all kept saying the same thing. William King was a great man among them. He bolted the gates up but they went round by the cart house. His father was alarmed and bolted up the doors and would not let him get out to them. They let their men into the house and the mob came round. The mob found the door was bolted and went away but said it was no use locking them up today as they would have them tomorrow. James Stapleton: he was a ploughman in the service of Mr Charles Hill of Holwell Bury in the parish of Shillington. On 18 November he was at work on his master’s farm in a field called Hill Pastures when William King, William Jepps and Thomas Paine the younger came and unhooked his horses from the plough and took them away. He afterwards, upon them sating he should not work any longer, took them home. He waited for his master at the stable and when he came he told him that he was well satisfied with his master and his wage. The men wanted more wages. The men took him from the stable by force and compelled him to go with them. Charles Hill: on 18 December went into a farm yard where he saw about 20 persons assembled round the stable door. He went up to them and asked them what they wanted. They told him they had come for his men. He told his men “If you go rioting with these persons I will not employ you”. His labourers, John Edwards, James Stapleton, John Stevens and William Hare said they were satisfied with their master and their wages and they would not go with the group. He endeavoured to lock the stable door, his men being in the stable. John Harris, William Waller, William King and Thomas Paine said “We are not going to be mastered by one man” upon which they laid hold of the door, pushed it wide open and pushed him away from the door. They then went to the stable and took James Stapleton by the collar and pulled him out. His men were taken out of the stable. His men are unwilling to go but were taken away by force. John Harris, William Waller, William King and Thomas Paine were equalled active. Philip Hill: he was a tasker employed by Mr Hill of Holwell Bury. On 18 November he was at work in his master’s barn when William Kilby and William Waller came to the barn door and said to him that he must come out of the barn. He asked them why and they said he should go with them. The men came in and lifted him from the barn and threw him on the straw. He went into the barn again, upon which he was thrown out a second time and carried off my force. They then carried him a little way until they got into the yard of the Three Horse Shoes public house in Lower Stondon. Being tired of conveying him they put him in a wheelbarrow and drove him to the top of the first hill on the road leading to Shillington. His shirt, breeches and waistcoat were badly torn. After they let him go he went with them. He was satisfied with his wages and did not desire a better master.

item

Waller, William,
Harris, James,
King, William,
Jepps, William,
Paine, Thomas,
Harris, Samuel,
Leggett, George,
Cox, Robert,
Kempson, John,
Stapleton, James,
Hill, Charles,
Hill, Philip,
Lines

SHILLINGTON, Shillington Chibley Farm, Holwell Bury, ploughman, farmers, rioting, Lower Stondon Three Horseshoes, wages