Today, some more newspaper coverage related to the Rebecca Riots, from papers published in the years after the peak of the Rebeccaite movement. First, this note from The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of , shows that the Rebecca formula of grassroots enforcement still had currency, though in this case it was not applied to tolls:
A Cardigan correspondent informs us that Rebecca[,] mounted on
Black Bess, dressed in
a dark shirt and with a national scarlet wrapper round her shoulders, visited
Mr. Morris, of Daynold, and ordered him to throw out some corn which had been
conveyed from the haggard to the barn, by some of a numerous retinue. The
peremptory request was immediately obeyed. It is to be hoped that such
misguided attempts to force corn to market will not be prevalent, otherwise
the county will probably be put to great expense in maintaining police or
soldiery.
The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of carried these two articles:
Rebecca Riot.
On , there were a great
many of the family of Rebecca assembled in the field of a publican, at
Cresswell Quay, and in a few minutes accomplished their design; they first
began tearing down the hedge of the publican’s field, and then engaged
themselves in tearing down a freeth, which had been made on the previous day.
The motive the publican had in view was to stop a road which passes through
his field, and leads to a well that supplies the neighbourhood with
water — the road has been open to the public upwards of one hundred years. So
far, the publican has been unsuccessful.
Rebecca at Work again.
On , a large mob
assembled in the parish of Monachlogddn, and proceeded to demolish a hedge,
the property of Morris Williams,
Esq., of Trellefain, and
entirely tore it down from one end to the other. It seems the hedge was a
boundary between different estates, and had been presented at the last leet
court, and had since been repaired at much expense — which circumstance did
not please these midnight marauders. It is stated that the real original old
Rebecca, who was the first cause of so much disturbance in the country, some
years since, was present on this occasion; as her ladyship is now well known
in this neighbourhood, her career of destruction cannot be of long duration.
The same paper, in its edition, gave another example of common criminals adopting the “Rebecca” appellation:
Fishguard.
On , our active police officer
while going his rounds, succeeded in capturing one of a notorious gang of
thieves, who have for a long time infested this town and neighbourhood, and
are known by the appellation of the Rebecca family, although bearing no
connection with the Rebeccas of turnpike celebrity…
A more traditional tollgate-destroying Rebecca returned to action the following year, according to the edition of that paper:
Revival of “Rebeccaism.”
On , Castellyrnyngyll gate
(about two miles from the Cross-hands, on the Llandilo road), which has been
recently erected, and for which tolls were taken on Saturday, was completely
razed to the ground by some of “Becca’s” descendants. It was erected on the
site of the old one, which was demolished during the former Rebecca riots.
The Monmouthshire Merlin of noted that:
A letter to the editor of that paper, published in its edition, used the threat of Rebecca as a warning against turnpike tolltakers:
Intolerable Toll.
Sir,
Having often occasion to drive from this town to Usk, I have much reason to
complain of the shameful amount of turnpike tolls, levied in that short
distance (only eleven miles). First, I pay
6d. at the bridge gate, Newport,
which is fair and reasonable. Then at Caerleon (only three miles distant)
8d.! Then again at Usk,
6d.! makin in all,
1s.
8d.; while on the Pontypool
road, for about the same distance, I pay but
10½d., and from Newport to
Cardiff (twelve miles), the charge is
1s.
6d. Comment is needless. If such
a state of things is not remedied, I should not be surprised if Monmouthshire
receives a visit from the celebrated Rebecca and her stalwart daughters.
I am, sir, yours, &c.
Viator.
Newport, .
The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian of published some Original Letters from Australia, including one from Ishmael Jones with this tidbit: “Shoni ’Scubor Fawr and Dai’r Cantwr are both liberated, and doing well.” The newspaper explained:
Shoni ’Scubor Fawr (John of the Great Born) and Dai’r Cantwr (David the Singer) were notorious characters in South Wales some years ago.
They were tried in Carmarthen before Mr. Justice Creswell, about , we believe, for “Rebecca” rioting; and the former was sentenced to transportation for life, and the latter for twenty years.
A thorough reformation and uniform good conduct has, probably, led to their conditional liberation.
The Monmouthshire Merlin of showed Rebecca up to her old tricks again, this time in England:
Rebeccaites in Somersetshire.
A good deal of excitement has been created within the last two or three days
in the upper part of Somerset, by its becoming known that a turnpike gate had
been carried off by a number of people in the style which made “Rebecca” so
noted in Wales. It appears that the Black Dog Turnpike Trust, from a failure
of tolls, has for some time been in difficulties, and that an application made
to the magistrates some months since by the trustees under their act, with the
view of compelling the several parishes though which the roads passed, to
undertake the repairs, was unsuccessful, in consequence of a sum of about
£5,000, with which a former treasurer of the trust had absconded, not having
been brought into the accounts. Since this time the trustees and the parishes
have each declined to repair the roads, which between Bath and Frome and Bath
and Warminster have consequently become in a very bad state. The bondholders,
however have seized the gates, and are taking the tolls for their own
security. The consequence of high tolls and bad roads has been continued
complaints from those who have occasion to travel over the roads, and the
grievance appears to be generally felt throughout the district, and has at
last resulted in the forcible removal of one of the gates, which has not since
been recovered. On , the toll taker at the Midford gate, which is situated
about four miles from Bath, on the Frome road, was awoke by the firing of
several guns, which shattered the lamp outside the toll house to pieces, and
so alarmed him that he was afraid to go out. He afterwards discovered that the
massive gates across the road had been unhinged and carried away, and although
search been made through the neighbourhood since, not the slightest trace of
them can be discovered, nor can any one be found at all inclined to divulge
the secret, as to the parties by whom the act was committed.
The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of reported that Rebecca wasn’t quite finished in Wales, yet, either:
Rebecca Riot.
On , “Rebecca,” with
nine of her renowned followers, attired in female apparel, wearing bonnets,
and having their faces blackened, assembled at Craigyborian, before the
residence of a leading resident in the parish of Amroth. At this time the
gentleman in question, with his two sons and the governess, were walking in a
road overlooking the plantations, to which spot the Rebeccaites wended their
way in procession, and on approaching at once informed the party in question
that he was their man for that night, at the same time taking hold of him. The
astonished captive resisted at first strenuously, but Rebecca maintained her
powerful grip, and eventually succeeded in tying his hands behind his back,
upon which he earnestly expostulated and inquired what mischief he had done.
It was replied that he had violated the Welsh laws by not living with his
wife, and had taken unto himself another woman, which was an insufferable
offence in the Principality, and the punishment to be inflicted on all such
heinous offences was to ride on the “Ceffyl Pren.” The fair
lady in attendance was immediately fastened to a ladder by these executors of
“Lynch law,” who then directed their steps towards Colby Lodge, carrying their
female freight hoisted like the coffin of Mahomet between Heaven and Earth.
From Colby Lodge they proceeded in like manner to the Burrows, and from there
up the new road to Tinker’s Hill, and to Killanow Gate. By this time a large
crowd of persons had congregated, making loud shouts; and when the procession
came near the Craigyborian entrance the captive gallant offered £6 for the
liberation of himself and his frail partner in durance, which compromise was
in a great degree accepted, but ultimately the Rebeccaites thought better of
the matter and refused the money as a bribe. So they went on to Lanteague, and
from thence to Tavernspite, where they arrived about
, when the
gentleman and his beloved were set at liberty, having to walk back a distance
of 10 miles to their home. The gentleman then addressed the crowd, saying he
forgave them for what they had done, and should bear no malice in his heart,
wishing God’s blessing upon them all, and promising that the fickle fair one
should leave his fireside on the following day. Upon this understanding his
hearers gave hearty cheering, and all departed peaceably to their respective
homes.
Rebecca tried her hand at economic populism in , according to The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian of :
Rebecca.
Mistress ’Becca, of gate-breaking celebrity, appears still to be in the land
of the living, if we may judge from the notices posted up at Builth and
Brecon, though her grammar continues defective, and her English is by no means
of the highest order. A copy of the notice was posted up this week, near the
Vale of Neath Railway Station, by some Merthyr disciple; and as it attracted
some attention on the walls of the terminus, we give it still greater
publicity:–
Take Notice
To All Flour dealers, all corn factors and farmers, that shall be Found
Concocting together to rise the price of eatables corn, bread, flour, cheese,
butter and meat, Any farmer that shall be found out holding back, not
bringing is corn to Market shall be dealt with according to my law, as he is
shedding the blood of the Innocent, under the disguise of honest men, Let
them look to themselves for my eye is upon them and I shall not spare, for my
law is severe.
Rebecca.
Rebecca had moved on to Scotland later , according to The Monmouthshire Merlin of :
Who does not remember the “Rebecca riots” of Wales, some years ago, when
toll-gates were attacked — keepers beat — pikes overturned — and the Queen’s
troops called out to aid in the collection of the pence. Scotland is on the
move, and bids fair to rival Wales in its bar-like emeûtes. We are told that—
A few days since, the toll-gate at Kelso-bridge was forcibly removed, for the
fifth time, by a large crowd of people, belonging to the town and immediate
neighbourhood, in defiance of a proclamation by the sheriff. The next day the
gates were re-erected, and a party of Dragoons dispersed the crowd, but on
their retiring to their quarters the mob re-assembled, and about eleven
o’clock, the gates were completely levelled for the sixth times. Upwards of
one hundred special constables were sworn in. Having been formed into
divisions they awaited further orders. A detachment of the 82nd Regiment,
under the command of Major Hale, arrived by train from Edinburgh, for the
purpose of enforcing the resolution of the Kelso-bridge trustees in
maintaining the pontage. A meeting of the lieutenancy, justices of the peace,
and magistrates was held, attended by the Duke of Buccleugh, lord-lieutenant
of the county; the Duke of Ruxburghe; Lord Polworth,
&c.,
&c. It was
resolved to swear in a number of special constables for the protection of the
peace, and in the meantime the workmen at the bridge were for the present
ordered to desist from the erection of the gates.
Rebecca was again battling the ongoing theft of the commons in . This comes from the issue of The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian:
Rebecca and Her Daughters.
On the town of
Rhayader, in Radnorshire, and its neighbourhood were thrown into a state of
great excitement, in consequence of a report being circulated that “Rebecca”
and her children were once more going to make their appearance and parade the
streets of Rhayader, before the shops closed. Nearly all the townspeople were
standing in groups from the close of the evening until
, when suddenly the
sound of a horn was heard from a distance, and in a few minutes was answered
from an opposite quarter. The boys and girls ran from all directions towards
Cwmtoyddwr, and returned with the news that the Rebeccaites were blackening
their faces, and would be up immediately to parade the streets, before they
went to kill the fish. At about “Rebecca” made her
appearance in Cwmtoyddwyr and from thence proceeded over the bridge to
Rhayader, accompanied by about 80 of her “daughters, forming a procession of 4
abreast.” First went “Rebecca,” carrying a gun supported by two sword-bearers,
right and left, with their faces blackened, and their shirts worn over their
clothes, after the fashion of smock-frocks, with a handkerchief tied around
their heads. These were followed by five ranks, four abreast, each outside man
carrying a cutlass or sword, and the inside men spears and poles. Then
followed 4 men, carrying a carriage similar to a stretcher with a large
quantity of straw tied up in bundles. These were succeeded by a long train,
four abreast, carrying guns, spears, pitchforks, and other weapons. They
proceeded to opposite the Lion Hotel, where they fired two guns, and thence
marched round the Market-place, where they fired again; thence they proceeded
to Cwmtoyddwr-bridge, where they were joined by a reserve of about 40 or more,
all with their faces blackened, and in the same kind of dress. They arrived at
the Grove, the first ford and the bedding place of the salmon, the horn blew,
and a gun was fired, which was the signal for commencing the attack; but the
depredators did not succeed according to their expectations, as only three
fish upon the first fell into their hands. The whole party then proceeded to a
second, where the same signal was given — five of them entered the water with
their spears and lights, and commenced the same destruction. There must have
been a great slaughter had it not been for the conservator of the river,
Samuel Owens, an old salmon fisher on the river Wye for upwards of 40 years.
He, anticipating the visitors, with the assistance of police-superintendent
Jones, and his two sons, well disturbed the fords a few minutes before the
enemy approached. Had not that plan been adopted there must have been a great
destruction of fish; but we hear that instead of “Rebecca” having [2?]0 salmon
from that ford, they killed only six small ones. During the time they were in
the act of killing the fish, Mr. Taloc, steward of Mr. T. Prickard, of Darw,
advanced nearer than was considered desirable, and a gun was fired at him; but
fortunately only one shot reached him, and entered his elbow. David Price, a
sawyer of the town, who out of curiosity went towards the river, had three
spears placed at his breast, and was ordered to retreat. The marauders then
proceeded to different fords on the Wye and Ellan, but did not succeed in
killing so many fish as they expected. The whole number was supposed not to
exceed 30. —Hereford Journal.
, The Aberystwith Observer noted that Rebecca was still defending the rights of Welshmen to fish in Welsh rivers:
The “Rebecca” Riots.
The verdicts of Welsh juries have long enjoyed an unenviable notoriety. The
decisions of Welsh justices, if we may judge from a recent example, are
sometimes equally perplexing. For some time past a determined opposition to
the salmon fishery laws has been offered by a large number of persons in the
counties of Brecon and Radnor, who claim the right to catch salmon at any
season of the year, and have of late destroyed large quantities of fish in the
river Wye and its tributaries. In order more effectually to carry out their
designs, the poachers have formed themselves into a sort of association, under
the title of “Rebecca and her Daughters,” a name which first became notorious
when, some years ago, a number of men banded themselves under it for the
purpose of destroying the turnpike gates and tollhouses in the two counties
just mentioned. For some time past the poachers have been mustering in force
on the Upper Wye and the Khon, one of its tributaries, and lighting the stream
by means of torches, have speared the salmon in large numbers. Great exertions
have been made by the board of conservators of the Wye fishery district to
prevent this wholesale destruction of the fish but the number of watchers and
water-bailiffs at their disposal was so small compared with that of the
poachers that it was not deemed prudent to attempt to capture the latter, who
at length became so daring as to announce their expeditions by the firing of
guns. In , however, the
gangs of these marauders had become so formidable that the number of
water-bailiffs on the Khon was increased. At
the bailiffs, led by a
gentleman of the neighbourhood and his gamekeepers, came upon a gang of about
twenty poachers, disguised in various ways, and armed with spears, pikes,
bludgeons, and other weapons; some of them carrying Hambeaux of straw with
which to light the streams and attract the fish. For a time the water-bailiffs
and their assistants concealed themselves in a wood on the banks of the Khon,
but when the poachers had commenced their work of spearing the fish, they made
their appearance and followed them into the stream. At first the poachers
fled, but soon rallied, and, forming themselves into line, presented their
spears at their pursuers. Upon being asked what they meant to do, and whether
they would deliver up their weapons, they replied, “Fight!” Upon this the
watchers’ closed with them, and a desperate encounter followed, in which a
gamekeeper named Lloyd was nearly scalped by a blow from a spear, and several
men, both poachers and watchers, were severely injured. The watchers, however,
after a fight which lasted for a quarter of an hour, proved victorious,
capturing four men and driving the others off the field. During the struggle
one of the poachers, the son of a large and wealthy farmer, is said to have
knocked down the superintendent bailiff, and keeping him on his back, made an
attempt to “gouge” him, which was prevented only by the timely assistance of
one of the watchers. On the four men who had been captured — two of whom, it appears,
are the sons of one of the wealthiest farmers in the neighbourhood — were
brought before the two magistrates at the petty sessions at Penyhont, when the
water-bailiffs and the injured gamekeeper Lloyd gave evidence as to the
infringement of the law and the fight which followed. The proof adduced for
the prosecution was certainly precise and positive, but the magistrates
discharged the prisoners. We are not aware of the grounds upon which this
decision rests; it was certainly contrary to the evidence of the bailiffs, and
it would be interesting to know whether the magistrates disbelieved their
statements, or had other reasons for the course they took. Whether or not the
accused persons were really guilty of poaching — though, as the
Times says, that is too mild a name for such an
outrage against both law and nature as killing salmon in December — it is
notorious that wholesale and systematic poaching is carried on by the
Radnorshire farmers, and it is time that strong measures should be taken to
suppress so flagrant a scandal. No body of men can be allowed to defy the law
with impunity, and we are glad to hear that the matter is to be brought under
the notice of the Home Office. —The Pall Mall
Gazette.
