QSR1832/3/5/44

Depositions of John Duncombe of Eaton Bray. James Sandon of Eaton Bray and Thomas Stevens of Eaton Bray. In the case of Samuel Dyer, George Dyer, James Fountain and Thomas Fountain accused of riot and destroying property.

11 June 1832

From: 1832 To: 1832

Thomas Stevens: he was present on 31 May and saw a great disturbance in front of Mr Sandon’s home at Eaton Bray. He saw Samuel Dyer there and he was the first man took hold of the gate off and stamped on it. He saw George Dyer there and James Fountain. He heard James Fountain say that if any man would bring him a truss of straw he would lay the bales in a heap and burn them. About 10.30pm he heard Thomas Fountain say to Mr Sandon there were going to pull the other rails down and they had not done with him yet. He believed it to be Thomas Fountain who said so because knew his voice. James Sandon: on the 31 May about 8pm a number of persons assembled in front of his house situated at Eaton Bray in a riotous manner many of them armed with sticks. Many of the were armed with sticks and commenced pulling up the fence which surrounds the grass plot in front of the house and destroyed many of the shrubs and trees which were growing there. Among the number he observed Samuel Dyer, George Dyer, millers of Eaton Bray and James Fountain, shoemaker and Thomas Fountain, labourer of Eaton Bray were all particularly active in pulling up the fence and destroying the shrubs and trees. He went out of his house and James Fountain asked him how he liked it. He replied he didn’t like it very well. James Fountain said he would not like it when they pull the house down. He told Fountain he was no afraid of that as his house was built in stone. Fountain said that if they could not pull it down then they would burn it down. Thomas Fountain during that time had pulled up a bench which had been fixed to the ground and said here Mr Sandon this is the day of Reform. The crowd then went from his premises but about 10.30pm Thomas Fountain returned with some others and called out ‘Hallo Mr Sandon we have not done with you yet’. He had been in bed when he heard the voice and called his servant boy and asked him who the man was that called out. The boy said it was Tom Fountain. They created further disturbance and then went away. He thought the number of persons assembled exceeded a hundred and they conducted themselves in a riotous manner and he believed himself to be in personal danger. John Duncombe: he was present on 31 May about 8pm and saw a great quantity of persons in front of Mr Sandon’s house at Eaton Bray. He saw James Fountain there and he heard him say that if any man would bring him a truss of straw he would lay the bales in a heap and burn them. He saw Thomas Fountain pulling up the trees with the others.

item

Dyer, Samuel,
Dyer, George,
Fountain, James,
Fountain, Thomas,
Duncombe, John,
Sandon, James,
Stevens, Thomas

EATON BRAY, rioting, malicious damage, trees, threatening behaviour