QSR1830/502-504

William Barnes, John Ellis and Thomas Kingham to answer a charge of misdemeanour (rioting) by the parish officers of Flitwick. Information of Peter Kempson of Flitwick, farmer; George Carter Cardale, clerk; John Squires, labourer; William Spendelow, shepherd to Mr Abbott; examinations of William Barnes, Thomas Kingham, and John Ellis. Note of recognisances for the three defendants.

December 1830

From: 1830 To: 1830

Peter Kempson: between 9 and 10am on the 6th December, thirty or forty men armed with sticks and bludgeons came into his son's farmyard. First of all he went into the house to see whether they had harmed his son, who was ill. He then came out of the house and saw John Ellis and Thomas Kingham of Flitwick, labourers, dragging his son's horsekeeper, John Squires, across the yard by his collar. They swore they would drag him through the pond if he did not go with them. William Barnes was with them. Kempson "declared Squires should not go without he went willingly, another man Daniel Page at work in the Barn in the other Yard, went with them, they swore they would go all round and go to Mr Brooks [John Thomas Brooks of Flitwick House] and they would have more money .... I told them they were doing wrong and that they were Rioters and advised them to throw away the Bludgeons." Rev George Carter Cardale: saw about 80 men assembled near Steppingley Kiln. Two men were separated from the rest and he rode up to them: "I said what is going on here ... one of the men said we want more Money and more Money we'll have and dam'd if we won't .... they then followed the rest of the body of Men, the two Men had great Bludgeons, a litle time afterwards I heard the whole body huzza-ing and saw sticks and Bludgeons held up. I afterwards identified one of these two men at Flitwick and I find his name is Thomas Kingham now in custody when he was taken into custody William Barnes called in my hearing a great Number of Men staring all round do you see they have got one of our men. I rode up to him and told him he was exciting the Mob to a rescue this ws near Mr Brooks's". John Squires: works for John Abbott. A party of men came to his master's and wanted him to go with them. Kingham and Ellis were there. Refused to go. Cannot say how many there were or what they said. William Spendelow: "A great number of men came down to my Master's, they came to me and said I was a Flitwick Man and must go with them, Kingham and Ellis was was with them and also Barnes .... I said I would go and followed them to Mrs Cam's, John Martin was with them, they said they wanted more money and were going to Mr Brooks and they threatened me if I did not go they would drag me thro' the pond ....I told Barnes I thought he was going on the wrong way he sid they wanted more money and that there was a Meeting tonight, I told him he had better wait till then and speak to the Gentlemen in a proper way". William Barnes: "About half past seven in the morning William Mitchell came to me and said I must go I told him I had as much need as any of them he said they were going round with good civility I told him I thought it was not a proper way, he said I must go, there were two or three wanted them all to go round first to the Farmers and then to Mr Brooks". Thomas Kingham: "A party of the labourers came to my barn and said I must go or they would drag me thro' the Pond". John Ellis: "I was fetched from my work by a good many hey told me I must go, or, they said they w'd throw me into the pond".

item

Kempson, Peter,
Barnes, William,
Cardale, George Carter,
Squires, John,
Spendelow, William,
Abbott,
Kingham, Thomas,
Ellis, John,
Brooks, John Thomas,
Martin, John,
Mitchell, William

FLITWICK, farmer, shepherd, rioting