QSR1835/3/5/AR/b

Depositions and examinations - William Whiteman, Edmund Simpkins and Elizabeth Chapman, charged with rioting at Ampthill

16 May 1835

From: 1835 To: 1835

George Smith – he is a farmer at Houghton Conquest and one of the Guardians of the Ampthill Union. He attended a meeting of the Guardians last Thursday at the workhouse. A very large mob assembled outsides, he thinks more than 200 persons in the garden. The mob became riotous. Some of the Guardians went out and spoke to them. The object was to pacify them and try to explain to them the state of the law as to the poor. Mr Mays and Mr Musgrave both addressed them. The mob generally refused to hear. They tried to confound what was said. They appeared bent on mischief. Many of the women were very violent. After at time stones were thrown at the windows. One or two were broken. He then saw Henry Read who was committed yesterday break the windows with a stick and there was such a smash. Large stones were thrown at the windows in all directions immediately. The stones put them all in great danger. Large pebbles were thrown in with great violence and made large impressions on the opposite wall. One stone nearly hit Mr Joseph Morris a most dangerous blow. He held a chair before his head and the violence with which the stone came hit the chair so hard his arm was shaken. Just before this he had marked Whiteman and Simpkins in the mob. They were not doing anything violent then that he saw. They all went out in a body. He then saw Chapman in the crowd. She was exciting the people to come forward and rescue Henry Read who had been seized by Mr Overman. She said “Why don’t they come on. Why don’t they come on & help Henry Read”. A girl who stood close to her went directly to another body of labourers and repeated these words to them. The Riot Act had then been read. He did not see Whiteman and Simpkins afterwards. James Juffs - he is a carpenter at Houghton Conquest and is a special constable. He was on duty at the Ampthil Workhouse last Thursday. There was a great riot as described by Mr Smith. He saw the windows broken. He stood in the entry of the house. He saw Whiteman in the crowd and said "you had better go back". Whiteman said he couldn't go back and was pushing towards the door. He did not see Whiteman do anything else. He did not hear Whiteman cry out. He and Kingston were pulled out of the entry. The men who did this were strangers to him. He saw Simpkins in the crowd. He did not speak to him. He did not see Simpkins do anythign but pushing in the crowd. The mob were trying to force into the house. Both Whiteman and Simpkins were forward in the crowd and appeared to be pressing forward rather than being pushed on by others. They were not otherwise particularly biolent except that they were among the forwardest pushing forward. This was before he was pulled from the door. He saw Elizabeth Chapman who laid hold of him when he was pulled from the door and said "Jem Juffs don't you be against the Poor". He did not see her otherwise violent then. He did not see her afterwards. Richard Abbis – he is a constable of Ampthill and was on duty on Thursday at the Workhouse. A very great disturbance took place as described by Mr Smith and Juffs in their evidence. He was struck by a man named Read. He was kicked by another man named Underwood. All the mob were then very violent and riotous. This was after the Riot Act was read and just after the windows were broken. He did not particularly mark the three prisoners. The more Juffs and Kingston and Savage who were at the door tried to persuade the mob the more they tried to force themselves forward. It was within ¼ hour afterward he was struck and kicked. William Whitemore – Mr Goode the constable said to him “If you wish yourself well go away” and he went away directly. This was after the windows were broken. He did not hear the Riot Act read. Edmund Simpkins – when the piece of work was he said he had no business there. He tried to prevent a man throwing a stone. He said to him “that will neither fill your belly or clothe your back”. He said “somebody will have to answer for this who don’t do nothing”. Elizabeth Chapman – she was told her son was there and went to get him away. She don’t remember she called on the people to rescue Henry Read. If she did say it she don’t know.

item

Whiteman, William,
Simpkins, Edmund,
Chapman, Elizabeth,
Smith, George,
Abbis, Richard,
Read, Henry,
Morris, Joseph

AMPTHILL, HOUGHTON CONQUEST, rioting, farmer, constable, Poor Law Unions, Poor Law Union Workhouses