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| How many people have heard the name Luddites and the Tolpuddle Martyrs. Probably many more than have heard about the Swing Riots of the 1830s. This whole episode was set against the backdrop of the recently completed Napoleonic wars and poor harvest in 1829/30. The costs of bread rose resulting from the poor harvests but the landowners were not keen to supplement the wages of his workers. In fact he wanted to protect his incomes. This he could only do by starting to look at mechanisation. The tide of mechanisation began slowly but not unnoticed by the workers. |
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Prison Hulk York in Portsmouth Harbour |
For them the writing was on the wall. If they could not support themselves they, and their families, would have to go to the workhouse. If that happened the men would be seperated from their families and only have very limited access. In 1830 the riots began in Kent and spread westward. Many landowners received threatening letters from a "Captain Swing" - hence the name Swing Riots. During this time hayricks were burned down, farm machinery destroyed, farmers intimidated and money was extorted from the wealthier members of the community by threats of violence. All around the people were demanding more wages to help meet the increased costs of food. So great was the unrest that a special commission was set up to deal with the trouble. The main areas were in Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and Buckinghamshire. Most of the people involved were ordinary agricultural workers who could not see a way forward. In the end over 2000 men and women were tried. Some were then sent to Australia where they were welcomed as basically honest hard working experienced labour. Thus it was that the government did them a favour, except that in many cases the men were never to see their wives or children again.
This is the story of just one of those men, John NASH He was baptised on 12th August 1810 in Aldermaston of William NASH and Hannah Hamblin. It tells of how he was involved and how his family has fared in present day Australia. I have made links with two such families and they have given me some information which I have included in this story. They are Jan Percival and Janet Brown.
On the 18th November 1830 a mob had been rampaging the Bradfield, Aldermaston and Beenham area and had started the following day in Woolhampton. During the day as the mob grew to around 200 angry protesters they progressed towards Aldermaston and a farm owned by Kenrick Hickman and arrived there at roughly 11 o clock in the morning. Several of the mob were armed with hammers, sticks and sticks with chain shot. Joseph Quarterman, a labourer, was blowing a trumpet to add to the general tension of the situation. The mob demanded five shillings (25 pence) from Mr Hickman and said that he had better pay fast or else they would "make use of their Tinder box and Matches". A clear threat to commit arson if not paid. Mr Hickman recognised the man making the threats as Edward Harris. Edward then went on to further threaten by holding a sledge hammer over the head of Kenrick, an act copied by several others. Kenrick said he didnt have any money on him but he could get it from home. The mob then told him that they were coming to break his machines, they had already broken 32. On the way to Hickmans house john Paice, another farmer, recognised John Nash who was armed with a sledge hammer. Although Kenrick gave the mob the money they demanded, they still broke his threshing machine and John Nash was seen to be one of the perpetrators.
To add insult to injury the mob then went back to the house and demanded a half pint of beer each. Two of the mob, George Williams (known as Staffordshire Jack) and Thomas Brown said that they needed something better than beer and demanded Gin. Thomas Leaver, another farmer visting Kenricks house, said if they got rid of the mob they could come back later and have some. Eventually the mob left and headed for Mr Congreves at Aldermaston Park.
By two or three the mob had moved to William Mounts farm at Wasing, a nearby village. The mob entered his barn and began demolishing the machine. Thomas Leaver who had by now caught up with mob, recognised several men amongst them John Nash who had taken part in the breaking of this latest machine. The mob itself was now bolder as each success followed another ands they were increasingly emboldened by drink.
John was tried in Reading on 27th December 1830, aged 20, The offence was that he was "charged with having on the 19th November 1830 at the parish of Wasing, unlawfully, maliciously, and feloniously broken a threshing machine, the property of William Mount Esquire" - Guilty. He was also charged with "Having destroyed a threshing machine, the property of Mr Kenrick Hickman, at Aldermaston, on the 19th November" - Guilty. Also charged with "Having , on the 19th November, at Aldermaston, made an assault upon Kenrick Hickman, put him in fear, and robbed him of five shillings "- Acquitted. He was sentenced to Transporation for 14 years. (Berkshire Chronicle 1st Janaury 1831 (copy held by AM) and the Times 30th and 31st December 1830). On the 27th January 1831 he was received on board the prison hulk YORK (see above) at Portsmouth from Reading aged 21 years. In his convict indent he was described as being 20 years old, single, a protestant and he could read. His trade or calling was described as Ploughs, Shepherd, milks, reaps and mows. He had no previous convictions. His physical description was as follows:- 5 foot six and a half inches; ruddy freckled complexion; dark brown hair; hazel eyes; scar across back of left hand. He was put on board the Eleanor on 28th January 1831. The ship sailed started its 126 day voyage via the Cape from Portsmouth on 19/2/1831. In the medical log of the voyage there were no mentions of John by name which means if he were ill during the voyage it was only with minor ailments. Aboard were 140 prisoners Botany bound, 7 were relanded and only 133 were eventually to arrive in Sydney on 25/6/1831. The Eleanor was a Barque of 301 tons which was built in Calcutta in 1821. The master of the vessel for this voyage was Robert Cock and the Superintendant Surgeon was John Stehenson. When John arrived he was assigned to William Dunne of Pattersons Plains Pakesons River. He gained an absolute pardon Despatch number 216 dated 10th October 1836. John Nash liked Australia so much he asked his brothers George and David to join him. He is buried at Anleys Flat Dungog.