QSR1834/3/5/15

Depositions of William Wright, overseer of the parish of Biggleswade. In the case of Oliver Blows accused of riotously and turmultously assembling with other persons and making a riot.

5 June 1834

From: 1834 To: 1834

William Wright: there was a select vestry for the parish on the previous Wednesday and they came to the resolution to reduce the pay of the men who were working for the parish by a shilling a week each. On Saturday night the men came to be paid about 6pm, and there were about 40 of them. The men know before hand of the resolution of the vestry and he offered them their money according to the scale there fixed. They one and all refused to take it and they all shouted they had resolved not to take it. Mr Abraham Roberts, one of the overseers was with him. The men lay down all round the door so that he could not go away. They preserved in refusing to pay them until 10pm and about that time the men got up and came round the door. They began to riot and swore they would have their money or blood. They were in union. William Newman and James Huckle opened the door and came in. There were a dozen more squeezing round the door and many of them got in as they could. Oliver Blows was in and dared him to touch him or turn him out. John Huckle was one of the worst of them using violent threats and sating they would spend every drop of their blood before they would go without their money and that they would smash the windows and fire [?] the house down if they did not get their money. Some of the neighbours then grew alarmed and begged him to pay the money saying they would rather pay themselves than the riot should go on. He finally paid it on fear if the mischief if he did not.

item

Blows, Oliver,
Wright, William,
Newman, William,
Huckle, James,
Roberts, Abraham

BIGGLESWADE, rioting, Overseers