Excerpts from an article in the Cambrian:
Great Meeting of Farmers
A grand demonstration among the Farmers of tie several parishes of Llandebie,
Llanarthney, Llanfihangel-Aberbythych, Llanedy, and Beltws, in the county of
Carmarthen, took place on a hill
called Garnfig, between the parishes of Llanarthney and
Llanfihangel-Aberbytliych, about a mile distant on the Llandilo road from
Cross Hands, Carmarthenshire. The meeting had been announced for eleven
o’clock, at which time there were comparatively few persons on the field, but
the numbers continued increasing until twelve or one o’clock, when the number
present was estimated at three thousand individuals, nearly all of whom were
fanners or agricultural labourers…
Mr. [Hugh] Williams then said, that… it had been his lot to have been called
upon to state the object for which the meeting had been convened. It was known
to all that they had numerous grievances to complain of, which they had long
suffered. One was the turnpike-toll grievance, which was well known to them.
The great multiplicity of gates had given rise to outrages of the most
desperate character, which he hoped would be soon discontinued, and the
country return to its former peaceable state. It also appeared that the
agriculturalists were reduced to such a state of poverty as scarcely to be
able to pay for the conveyance of manure.…
Other complaints on the agenda included:
- The new Poor Law, which the speaker characterized as having been designed by the upper classes for their financial benefit, and as burdening rural parishes particularly, while at the same time making things worse for the poor.
- The “Tithe Commutation Act” which had ended up increasing tithes.
- An increase in the expense of local government.
I’m going to mostly omit the discussion of those and stick to the parts that dealt with the tollgates and with Rebecca’s activities.
He (Mr. W.) regretted to find that, notwithstanding the resolutions agreed to
at the Mynydd Sylen meeting [condemning Rebeccaism], great outrages and
excesses had been committed, and they had thereby lost the assistance of
several gentlemen who would have helped them. They perceived the effect of
those outrages that day. He thought it would certainly have been desirable to
have the company of those gentlemen. He was exceedingly sorry to find that
private pique had been carried so far as to cause the destruction of property.
He was not aware that Mr. Adams, of Middleton-Hall, had in any way so stepped
beyond the pale of his Magisterial duties, as to give rise to such a feeling
of antipathy against him. A man, having any regard for his oath, must perform
his Magisterial duties. Another gentleman had been most unjustly accused of
turning round — he referred to Mr.
Wm. Chambers,
jun., than whom a more
honourable gentleman did not exist. It had been reported that he took an
unworthy part in the suppression of the outrages at Pontardulais. Now he (Mr.
W.) attended the examination at Swansea, and took notes of the evidence of the
police and others, which proved that Mr. Chambers was entirely free from
having attempted to make an onslaught upon the people. Mr. Williams here
entered into the details elicited at the examination of the prisoners, to
prove that Mr. Chambers was not near the spot when they were fired upon. He
(Mr. W.) made those few remarks, to prove that Mr. Chambers was entirely
guiltless of the charge brought against him, and he hoped that notion would be
dissipated, and that his property would not, in future, be subject to
destruction and depredation. With those observations, he would read the
petition to the Queen. It was in the power of any one to assent or dissent
from its prayer, or any portion of it.
Our space will not permit the insertion of the petition at length — we give
the substance. The first part relates to turnpike-tolls, which are complained
of as being very heavy, and prays that all turnpike-trusts may be
consolidated, and placed under one management, which would regulate the
distances at which gates were to be placed from each other.…
Mr. Williams informed the meeting, that when seeking a seconder of the
petition, a letter had been given him from Mr. Chambers,
jun., stating his reasons for
not attending their meeting, which he hoped, with the explanation he had
given, would satisfy them. The letter, which was read, repelled the false
report that Mr. C. had shot one of the rioters at Pontardulais, a charge
probably arising from his having procured the wounded man some water, after
the affray was over. Mr. C. also maintained that he had faithfully kept all
the promises made by him. He said he would oppose nightly meetings, and would
always do so. He also stated that he was amongst the first landlords who
lowered their rents, and recommended others to do the same. He also offered to
pay the police-rate for his tenants, and never failed to grant them an
extension of time for the payment of rent when asked to do so. He had also
kept his promise relative to the Three Commotts Trust. The writer asked the
meeting if they thought they would have their grievances redressed by firing
people’s property — was not that the method of aggravating the distress? Let
the tenants of, and the labourers employed upon, the three farms which had
been burnt, bear testimony. He had had written the letter to satisfy himself
and not the wretches who had devastated his property. His life had been
threatened, but let the miscreant who had done so beware, lest he be paid for
his temerity, as he (Mr. C.) was resolved to do his best to defend himself.
A Man in the crowd said, it is Mr. Chambers’s own neighbours who complain of
his conduct; they would not have so bad an opinion of him, if he had acted up
to his promises.
Mr. Williams did not think so; but were that true, it was no reason that his
houses should be burnt down.
Several remarks were made by Persons in the crowd, some of whom treated the
letter with levity and jeers.
Mr. Stephen Evens proceeded. He did not know who Rebecca was, and why she
always hatched at night; but he would make one remark with reference to her.
He knew that if old women in making broth did not take it off the fire in
time, the potatoes would get “potch.” He thought it time for Rebecca to take
off the pot, or she would create a “potch.” Something very much like that had
been created at Pontardulais lately. No person who understood what he was
about would burn property, as the loss might be recovered from the hundred
[district].
Mr. Wm. Evans, of Pontyberem,
then addressed the meeting in a very animated Welsh speech. He said that
everything was either a cause or an effect. A good deal had been spoken of
outrages; but they unfortunately were but effects produced by a cause, and the
cause was that the country was oppressed to a greater degree than it could
bear. Like a horse greatly overladen, the burden must be lessened or he would
break down. Let the cause be removed, the effect would soon cease. The Speaker
then entered upon the toll grievance. It was not enough to make the farmer pay
for travelling on the parish roads, but they were actually compelled to pay
toll on private roads leading to their farms.… Still, he did not like to see
ricks of hay burnt. That would not improve their conditions. Letters had been
read to the meeting vindicating the conduct of some parties. He remembered
rending, that even the devil had endeavoured to defend himself. (Hear.)
It had been asked who Rebecca was. He had never seen her; but he
thought that Rebecca was every man who earned his bread by the sweat of his
brow. (Cheers.) [emphasis mine –♇]
Mr. William Thomas, of Rhosfawr, Llanon, addressed the meeting.… The Turnpike
Trustees, where were they? was there one in the meeting? If so, let him come
forward and reason upon the subject. They were met to legally discuss their
grievances in the middle of day. He knew three gates — he would name them,
Rhydyffynon, Fairfach, and Rhydytruscog gates, within a mile-and-a-half of
each other, and at all of which toll must be paid. (Cries of “Quarry-fach
gate.”) Yes, that was another gate within a very short distance; but thanks to
Becca for pulling them down, though he would prefer her having done so during
the day. Reference had been made to boiling potatoes. He thought they might
take the pot down for Carmarthenshire, and, if necessary, let it boil on for
Glamorganshire. The speaker concluded by entering at some length into the
details of the turnpike-toll grievance.
One speaker expressed cynicism about petitions (“There had been thousands of petitions sent from the people, until the table actually groaned…”), but the meeting unanimously approved another one anyway.
