From the Cambrian:
More of Rebecca’s Freaks.
On , the gate situate in
the village of Glasbury, on the Radnorshire side of the river Wye, was removed
from its position, the posts sawn off about 18 inches above ground, and the
gate thrown into the river, after having been sawn in two, and so far
mutilated that it will be of no further service. It appears that only three
individuals were employed at the work, who were seen by the aged female who
collects the toll, and advised her to keep quiet, as they would not injure
her; but it is said that upwards of fifty persons were close at hand. Having
completed their job, and given three cheers, they marched off through the
village in the direction of the Woodlands, towards the hills lying above that
place, shouting “Becca forever,” and discharging fire-arms; some of the
inhabitants hearing the noise arose to see what occasioned it, but could not
recognise any of the party. It appears the road on which the gate was placed
is repaired by the parish of Glasbury, and a petition very numerously signed
by the inhabitants, and those of the adjoining parishes, was some time past
presented to the Radnorshire Turnpike Trust, to remove the said gate, but it
was never done. The toll board has also been taken down; there were two gates
adjoining the toll-house, the one in the road leading into the village, which
is destroyed, and the other in the road leading to Clirow and Rhydspence,
which was not molested, as they consider it a turnpike-road. No clue has been
obtained as to who were the perpetrators of this lawless act, although a
reward of 50l. has
been offered by the Magistrates acting in the hundred of Paincastle, on
conviction of the party or parties by whom it was committed. A chain is
erected on the spot, and the regular tolls taken, as if nothing had
occurred. — Silurian.
, burglars (a Francis Davies was later accused of being one of them, but acquitted by a jury trial) broke into the home of William Williams, a farmer, and stole some money from him. Williams later testified that the burglars “told me to open the door or else they would break it and fill the house with ’Beccas — ‘we are sixty on the road.’… They had their faces blackened, and had worsted caps on their heads.” So by this time the Rebecca persona was being adopted by ordinary criminals as a sort of weapon.
