The Machine Breakers - from a Wiltshire Newspaper
At
about seven o’clock this morning news was brought to Mr Benett at Pythouse, by
his bailiff, James Jay the younger, that a large number of people had assembled
in the parish of Tisbury [see map marked '1'], about three miles
away from Pythouse [marked '3']. After making due inquiry as to
the truth of this information he rode out, together with his steward, Mr Arthur
Legge and a servant named Thomas Ball, shortly after nine o’clock. They met up
with around 400 people, at the lime kiln in the parish of Fonthill Gifford,
about half a mile from the town of Hindon [marked '2'.
Note that all this took place in the vicinity of Berwick St. Leonard,
marked '*' when Keros was 12 years old and his father Jacob Cain CAINES 51 years
old]. Many of the men had armed themselves, mostly with sticks, but a
few carried hatchets and hammers. Charles Jerrard and his son, also called
Charles, appeared to be the leaders. Both men carried sticks and the younger man
wore a coloured sash across his body. Mr Benett spoke to the older man first,
telling him that he was sorry to see him at the head of such a riotous assembly,
and went on to warn him of the great danger he was placing himself in by his
actions. To the younger Jerrard he said, ‘I am sorry to see you with that sash
on. I entreat you to get into the rear, for an example will be made of some of
you, and I should be sorry to see so young a man as you in a sad scrape.’ He
added, ‘Young man, that sash will hang you.’ To which Jerrard replied, ‘1
don’t care about hanging. I don’t care.’
Mr Benett asked what their complaint was and was told that they intended breaking all the thrashing machines in the county and that they wanted wages of two shillings a day. This seemed to be the general cry of the men. Mr Benett told them that he had just come from London and carried a proclamation from the King which he offered to read to them. They would not let him but he went on to explain that a reward of £50 is being offered to anyone who can give information which results in the detection of a machine breaker and £500 for the discovery of anyone who has set fire to property.
We don’t burn. We have nothing to do with fires,’ was their immediate cry.
'I’m convinced that you don’t,’ said Mr Benett, and went on to point out that because of the proclamation they would not be able to trust each other. ‘For any man by informing against 10 of you will obtain £500.’ He asked them to go home and preserve their own lives and the peace of the district.
They did not listen to him and formed themselves into three groups and made their way to Mr Candy’s farm in Fonthill Gifford where they broke the drum of a thrashing machine, which had been taken down, and they attacked a blacksmith’s shop. They then broke another thrashing machine in the same parish, this had been taken down by Mr Lampard and placed out in a field near the Inn. The horse house and a great part of the barn, from which this machine had been taken down at, Lawn Farm in the parish of Tisbury, was also destroyed. Mr Benett again addressed the mob, entreating them to desist, but refusing to comply with their demands for an increase in wages, nor would he agree to the destruction of his own thrashing machine. Mr Benett left the mob there and went to his own premises at Pythouse Farm, where he has a thrashing machine. His machine is worked by six horses and part of the machine is housed in a barn.
Mr Benett had not been there long before the mob arrived. He rode out of the farm yard to meet them, calling to them, ‘You break open these barns at your peril; they are locked. I would resist you if I could. but I cannot, but mind, you break the machines without my consent, and at your peril.’
They forced their way into the barn, broke the machine and began to pull off part of the roof. Mr Benett had been sat on his horse watching them for about 10 minutes when suddenly the men stopped. A stone was thrown and it hit Mr Benett between the eyes. His head fell forward and his hat fell off. It was seen that his face was covered with blood that gushed from his nose. More stones were thrown after him as his horse carried him out into the lane where it got caught up with a team of his own cart horses. Mr Legge, Mr Benett’s steward, was also hit in the face by a stone.
From Pythouse Farm the mob moved on to Linley Farm, also owned by Mr Benett. They arrived there at about three o’clock in the afternoon and demolished more machinery, including large, water driven thrashing machine, before continuing their march on Tisbury. They had reached a point in the road where it passed through a cutting. On the top of the bank on either side was a plantation, with posts and rails around it. It was here that they met up with the Hindon Troop of the Yeomanry Cavalry The troop had been at their headquarters in Salisbury when shortly after nine o’clock this morning, a farmer had arrived from Hindon to report that serious disturbances were anticipated in that district.
At half past 10 the Hindon Troop, accompanied by Mr Wadham Wyndham, marched out of Salisbury, heading in the direction of Hindon. On the way they were informed that the mob had already destroyed a number of machines in the neighbourhood and were heading for Pythouse. Despite the Troop proceeding to Pythouse with all possible speed they were too late to prevent the machinery there and at Linley Farm from being destroyed. They did not catch up with the mob until they were in the cutting.
On seeing the Yeomanry the rioters cheered in defiance and a number of them made their way up into the plantation and began pelting the troop with stones. The troop divided into two bodies, one going around behind to attack them from the upper side. The skirmish had been going on for about half an hour before the Yeomanry opened fire on the men in the plantation. The mob, armed with axes, sledge hammers, pick axes and bits broken machinery, engaged the Yeomanry in hand to hand fighting for about 20 minutes before they broke and fled in all directions, pursued by the Yeoman. One man, John Harding, was shot dead on the spot, many others were severely wounded and were taken prisoner. None of the Yeoman were killed, but Captain Wyndham was wounded in the face and head and many of the troopers were badly cut and bruised. A wagon and a cart were procured to carry the prisoners to Fisherton Gaol. One of the waggon drivers was John Brickle, who worked as a carter for Mr Benett. The whole troop escorted the prisoners to Fonthi]I Park. Corporal King, with a detachment of 15 men, returned to Pythouse where they mounted a guard all night. The remainder of the troop went on to Barford. From information they received when they arrived there it was thought necessary to send Sergeant Goddard and nine men back to Mr King’s, at Chilmark. The remainder of the troop escorted the prisoners to Fisherton Gaol [where Keros's father and grandfather were imprisoned 22 years and 30 years before - see 'Criminals'], arriving there at around midnight. Those prisoners that were badly injured were taken to the infirmary and the others were lodged in the gaol. The troop having delivered their charges, returned to their headquarters at Salisbury.
It has been reported that one of the leaders of the Tisbury
mob was Richard Alford, a farmer, and a tenant of the Earl of Arundell. A
warrant has been put out for him but he has apparently absconded.