Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    QSR1835/3/5/AR/a
  • Title
    Depositions and examinations - Henry Read, John Goodman, John Taylor, Edward Underwood, Charles Cartwright, James Sherwood, James Waters, Henry Roberts, Job Underwood, Thomas Roberts and William Haynes
  • Date free text
    May 1835
  • Production date
    From: 1835 To: 1835
  • Scope and Content
    Richard Abbis – he is one of the constables of Ampthill. On Thursday 14 May he was on duty at the workhouse in Ampthill when the Guardians of the Union were assembled. He thinks there were more than 200 people in the garden of the workhouse, with many more outside. There was a very great riot, noise and disturbance. Several of the Guardians came out and addressed them. He did not hear what was said but it appeared they were trying to explain and quiet the people. Some of the would not hear what was said and cried out “Knock them down. Break their heads” “Blood and Bread” “No Bread”. All the mob were very violent in their manner. They cried out “One and all”. He went to fetch another constable. When he got back he found nearly all the windows of the house were broken. After a time some of the Guardians rushed out. The mob rushed on them and struck at them. He got close up to the Guardians. Henry Read of Ampthill struck at him with a large stick and Mr Overman kept him off. John Goodman was also very forward and tried to take one of the Underwoods away from him, who he had seized as he was rushing at the gentlemen as if to strike them. John Taylor did the same. Edward Underwood was also forward and kicked him on the thigh. He did not see that the special constables who were there gave much help. The riot was very desperate. The manner of all the people was very violent and threatening. He calls the persons he has mentioned the ringleaders. After the windows were broken the Riot Act was read by Mr Henry Musgrave, who came out in the garden and read it. He told them what the consequence would be if the remained after it. [Further deposition] He saw the prisoner William Haynes of Houghton pushing about in the crowd at the time the riot was going on. He saw Charles Cartwright in the mob both before and after the Riot Act was read. He saw Cartwright there before the Guardians spoke and after they rushed out when the windows were broken. Cartwright was very active among them. [Further deposition, 23 May] It was Edward Underwood who kicked him on the thigh when he had hold of his brother and was forward in rescuing his brother from him. He had seized Underwood’s brother to prevent him striking the Guardians who had come out. W Morris was then on the ground, having been thrown or knocked down. When Edward Underwood kicked him he said to him “I know you – you kicked me”. Underwood turned away and he did not see him again. Rufus Sharp – he is Governor of the Ampthill Workhouse and is a special constable. The board of Guardians met there at 11 yesterday. He was ordered to stand at the garden gate. A mob of 150 people or more came together. A man he did not know headed them and called out “halt”. He asked his name and said if he wished to see the Guardians he would let them know. The man said “never mind my name”. He tried to shut the gate. Henry Read called out “Come on, never mind him”. Read seized him by the collar. The whole body rushed in at the gate. He did not know his name but he immediately pointed him out and enquired. The prisoner Henry Read is the man. A very great riot took place as stated by Richard Abbis. 142 panes of glass are broken. Most of the pebbles are as big as his fist. Some of the stones were thrown with such force as to go through the windows on the opposite side. Large dents were made in the opposite walls. He thinks the stones were first thrown at the windows of the room where the Guardians were. Robert Savage – he is one of the constables of Ampthill. He was on duty on Thursday May 14th at the workhouse when the Guardians of the Union were assembled. There was a mob of over 200 people. There was a very great disturbance. Several of the Guardians addressed them and tried to reason with the mob. Some of the mob would not hear them. The mob cried out “Knock them down – down with him – down with him” “Blood or Work or Blood and Money” They were very violent and outrageous in their manner. He was keeping the door with Kingston, another constable. The mob tried to force their way in and pulled them away from the door. Several stones were thrown at them, then thrown at the windows which were broken in. The Riot Act wsa read twice by Mr Henry Musgrave. Many of the Guardians came to the door. He saw James Waters of Ampthill strike at Mr Joseph Morris. He saw Henry Read very forward – Read helped to pull him from the door. He saw two of the Underwoods (Edward and Job) trying to force their way in. James Sherwood and Thomas Roberts were also both very forward and violent. He considered the Guardians were in great danger of their lives. He saw Charles Cartwright actively pushing up to the door when the mob were trying to force their way in. [Resworn] Edward Underwood is one of the men who was violent in the crowd at the workhouse and was trying to force his way in. Joseph Marsh Morris, affirmed as a Quaker – he is one of the Guardians of the Ampthill Union and was at the workhouse at a meeting of the Guardians yesterday. There was a great mob outside. Their conduct was very violent and riotous. He stood near Mr Charles May the vice chairman when he was addressing the mob out of doors. May tried to reason with them. It appeared that they did not wish to hear anything but were bent upon mischief. The windows were broken in by large stones. They went to the door. He first saw to the invalid paupers in the house being moved out of the way. After a time they went out of the door. The mob rushed at them. He particularly noticed Henry Read, James Sherwood and James Waters. John Taylor was brandishing his stick at them as they came out and was one of the ringleaders all the while. Waters came up to Mr Joseph Morris with his fists up and Mr Morris knocked him down with his umbrella. Mr Bennett, the Duke of Bedford’s steward was struck on the head by a stone and there was a general uproar. He saw Henry Roberts throw a stone at the window before they left the house as did James Sherwood. He saw Taylor brandishing a stick of Mr Joseph Morris. He saw Read very conspicuous urging the men on. Henry Musgrave Musgrave esquire – he is a magistrate of the county and a member of the Board of Guardians of the Ampthill Union. He saw the riot. While he was speaking to the people and trying to quiet them he saw Henry Read elbowing his way and crying out “Oh you damned villain we’ll not hear you”. Several of the labourers near him wished to hear him but Read and others kept up a most intimidating manner and prevented it. When they left the house after the windows were broken in he saw Read strike at Joseph Morris. He spoke to Read and said he was the man who prevented his addressing the labourers. He thought Mr Morris would have fallen a sacrifice to the fury of the mob. He considered Read the ringleader. He read the Riot Act twice and explained the meaning of it and the consequences to anyone who remained afterwards. Defence ----------- Henry Read – several things have been said against him that are false. He picked up a stick in front of the house. A man took it out of his hand when Mr Overman had hold of his collar when the Guardians rushed out of the house. He went home directly afterwards when Mr Overman wished him to do so. He never went near the town again. James Waters – he would not have gone but the mob made him. He does not know that he struck at Mr Morris. He was shoved and put out his hand to save himself. John Taylor – he is very innocent. He never threw a stone. He never struck anybody. He was drawn into this. He was fetched off the ground. He knows he went after to Mr Falders and told his men they should go. He also went to Mr [??]’s yard at Boughten End and told the men they should go with them. He went to Mr Batchelor’s but did not say anything to the men there. Henry Solesbury, Michael Read and John Read, William Bryant, John Burgoyne, Thomas Harrison and a great many others came to them and said they should go with them. They said the constables were coming to take them and they should go to assist them. He saw he shouldn’t go. They said he must. “You won’t see your fellow creatures taken to prison”. John Burgoyne was one who then laid hold of his collar. Joseph Watts did the same. They led him out of the yard. He receives 10s a week. He has worked for Mr Checkley for 9 years. Charles Cartwright – he has nothing to say. He did not push up to the door. Thomas Roberts – he stood back all the while. He had his hands in his pocket. He never came down into Ampthill town. John Goodman – he never offered to meddle with nobody. He was shoved up against Abbis. As soon as Abbis catched hold of him he went away directly. Edward Underwood – he never tried to get to the door except as the mob were pushing one among another. He never offered to kick no man willfully. He never wished to meddle with no man. When they were breaking the windows he wished them to stop and hear how things were settled before they did so, but they kept on. He went away as soon as the Riot Act was read. He knew it was the Riot Act because Mr Musgrave said it was. Mr Musgrave said too if anyone remained an hour they would be punished. He went away directly. He saw a fellow kick Abbis at the time Abbis said he saw him [Underwood] kicking him. Henry Roberts – he was not there as soon as they began to throw.
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