QSR1836/1/5/51

Depositions - William Levi Pantling and Brice Stimpson charged with rioting at Dunstable

6 November 1835

From: 1835 To: 1836

James Nathaniel Cartwright of Dunstable – on the evening of 5 November Captain Gilpin, a magistrate, had a man in custody in the street of Dunstable near the Nags Head for letting off fireworks. He saw the prisoner William Levi Pantling come up and attempt to rescue the man, who was eventually rescued. He saw Captain Gilpin seize hold of Pantling who struck Capt. Gilpin and struggled hard to get away. Pantling called out to the mob “help me, down with them, don’t let me be taken”. Pantling was eventually taken into Mr Osborn’s shop. Several stones were thrown through the shop windows by the mob. He heard Capt. Gilpin order Pantling to be detained in custody, but he eventually broke out of the shop and ran away. John Jarvis of Dunstable, straw hat manufacturer – he is one of the churchwardens of the parish of Dunstable. On the evening of 5 November he was out with the constables and other inhabitants of Dunstable to prevent persons letting off squibs and other fireworks in the public streets. He saw Capt. Gilpin who was also trying to prevent the letting off of fireworks. He saw Capt Gilpin seize hold of a man he believed to be named Hill who was in the act of letting off a squib. Pantling came up with several other persons and rescued Hill after several struggles. He and Capt Gilpin then seized Pantling and with other assistance took him into Mr Joseph Osborne’s shop. The mob were very violent in trying to rescue Pantling. Several stones were thrown at Mr Osborne’s windows and several panes of glass were broken. As Pantling was being taken into the shop he called for help to the mob. He heard Capt Gilpin order Pantling to be detained in custody, but Pantling eventually escaped from the shop and ran away. Samuel Waterfield of Dunstable, straw hat manufacturer – he was in the street near the Nags Head acting under direction from Capt Gilpin, trying to suppress the letting off of fireworks. As he was coming round the corner he saw a person in the act of letting off a squib. It was lighted and exploded instantly. He seized hold of the person and with the assistance of Mr Partidge he took the person to the Nags Head door with the intention fo lodging him there for safe custody. Brice Stimpson came up with several other persons and seized hold of the person in custody and dragged him away. Brice Stimpson seemed to be the most active in effecting the rescue. He [Waterfield] was struck with a stick or some other weapon over the arm which obliged him to let go. William Partridge of Dunstable, farmer – he believes Samuel Waterfield’s statement to be true, and that the person rescued by Brice Stimpson and others was John Turner of Dunstable, labourer, who has since been convicted of letting off squibs and other fireworks.

item

Pantling, William Levi,
Cartwright, James Nathaniel,
Jarvis, John,
Osborne, Joseph,
Waterfield, Samuel,
Stimpson, Brice,
Gilpin, Richard,
Partridge, William

DUNSTABLE, escape from custody, rioting, Bonfire Night, fireworks, straw hat manufacturer, farmer, Dunstable Nags Head