QSR1835/3/5/LR/a

Depositions and examinations - John Read, Elizabeth Henman, Mary Walker, Amelia Gulliver and Hannah Read charged with riot at Lidlington

15 May 1835

From: 1835 To: 1835

James Osborn – he lives at Cranfield and is the Relieving Officer of the Western District of the Union of Ampthill. On Monday he went to Lidlington which is in his District to enquire into the state of the paupers and to try to make arrangements for work for them. He had made an appointment with Mr Bosworth the overseer to meet him with the unemployed paupers. He found about 60 persons assembled. John Read accosted him and asked what he was come for. He told Read he was come to make enquiries to try to find work. Read said “Money we want and money we must have”. He said he did not have any money and tried to go into Bosworth’s house. As he was entering Read pressed on. Bosworth told him not to come in but he pushed on and rushed in with all the crowd. There was a great cry and disturbance all the time. He tried to explain to them that he had no power to give money then but no notice was taken of what he said except a constant cry of “Money or Blood”. Read stood before him in the house and he among the others used those words. He was pushed up into a corner and then Read, Elizabeth Henman, Mary Walker, Amelia Gulliver and Hannah Read were the persons nearest to him and the most violent. Elizabeth Henman held his collar and shook him and said “I’ll have some money or blood before you go”. She said this 50 imes. Mary Walker did the same except she did not take hold of him. Amelia Gulliver held her fists in his face and used threatening language. When he tried to get away Hannah Read as well as the others prevented him and kept saying “Money or Blood”. He was detained in that way more than an hour. During all this time the noise and disturbance was kept up, the constant cry being “Money or Blood”, “We’ll have Money or Blood before you go” or words to that effect. With the help of the constables of Lidlington he was got through the crowed and got into an inner room. The cries and noises were continued. Mr Bosworth laid down £3 16s and by his [Osborn’s] directions the people came in one at a time. He gave Read he thinks 4s and Robert Henman the husband of Elizabeth 2s. He gave Mary Walker 3s and Michael Read the husband of Hannah 4s. He also gave money to nearly all the others. He gave the money from fear of his life. Nothing was due in regular course until next Friday night and he had no authority to give any money. John Ruffhead – he is one of the constables of Lidlington. About 3pm on Monday afternoon he went to Mr Bosworth’s and found the room full of people making a great noise and disturbance. He saw James Osborn in a corner of the room surrounded by the people. He got close up to him. He found John Read, Elizabeth Henman, Mary Walker, Amelia Gulliver and Hannah Read nearest to him. He succeeded in a few minutes in getting Osborn into an inner room. He sent for Kingston the other constable and then they kept guard over the door. The persons he has named with over 50 more stayed in the outer room and used a great deal of violent and threatening language towards Osborn – “Blood or Money”, “Neck him”. They went in and received money from Osborn. He believes if he had not given them money his life would have been in danger. Elizabeth Henman – Mr Osborn said she might have anything out of his pocket except his knife. She did not threaten Mr Osborn. She had nothing at home and asked for victuals or money. Amelia Gulliver – she did not go for money. She had two children. She wanted bread. She did not go for money. Mary Walker – on Monday she went to the overseers for a bit of bread. They would not give her any. She said she would as soon see her blood run as see her children starve. Hannah Read – she said to Mr Osborn “We’ll have money or we’ll lose our blood”. She never offered to touch him.

item

Read, John,
Henman, Elizabeth,
Walker, Mary,
Gulliver, Amelia,
Read, Hannah,
Osborn, James,
Ruffhead, John

LIDLINGTON, CRANFIELD, AMPTHILL, rioting, relieving officer, Poor Law Unions, constable