Some historical and global examples of tax resistance → women’s suffrage movements → British women’s suffrage movement → Amy Hicks

In the 4 April 1913 issue of The Vote, Helena Normanton continued her series of articles investigating aspects of the history of suffrage in England. In this episode, she looks at the Reform Bill agitation of the 1830s, including a brief mention of the tax resistance of the Political Unions:

But what possibly terrified the Government most was the formation of huge “Political Unions,” whose motto was, “To protect the King and his Ministers against the Boroughmongers.” At Birmingham the Union included 150,000 persons, who resolved that should the Bill fail to pass again, they would all refuse to pay any more taxes.

Also from the same issue:

Women’s Tax Resistance League.

Sec.: Mrs. [Margaret] Kineton Parkes…

[Mary Russell] The Duchess of Bedford has consented to become a member of our Society, and requested us to conduct her protest when distraint has been levied for the amount of her unpaid taxes.

The following Sales took place last week:— On March 27, Miss Baker, of Torquay, who had refused to pay inhabited house duty, had goods sold by public auction. At the subsequent meeting Mrs. Kineton Parkes spoke on the reasons for sale to a large crowd. On March 28, Mrs. [Mary] Sargent Florence and Miss Hayes, of Marlow, Bucks., had their goods sold by public auction. The sale aroused great interest, and a successful meeting was afterwards held, the speakers being Miss Nina Boyle, Miss [Agnes Edith] Metcalfe, and Miss Amy Hicks. On March 29, Miss Ina Moncrieff, of Tregunter-road, South Kensington, had her goods sold at Harding’s Auction Rooms. The speakers at the subsequent meeting were Miss Watson and Mrs. Kineton Parkes.…

From the 11 April 1913 issue of The Vote:

Tax Resistance.

The Unsold Waggon at Ipswich.

There is a waggon on the Cowslip Farm at Witnesham, Suffolk, which has become quite celebrated. It has been sold twice annually for the last three years and still remains on the same farm.

It was drawn into Bond’s Sale Yard at Ipswich on Tuesday, April 1, and the plate on it disclosed it as the property of Dr. Elizabeth Knight and Mrs. [Hortense] Lane. A placard described it as Lot 21, and when the other lots had been sold the auctioneer approached the waggon, followed by a large crowd who were curious to see what was the meaning of three women being seated inside, apparently with a set purpose. Just as the crowd assembled Dr. Knight came into the sale yard to look after the welfare of her property.

Miss Andrews asked the auctioneer if she might explain the reason for the sale of the waggon, and, having received the necessary permission was able to give an address on tax resistance, and to show how it is one of the weapons employed by the Freedom League to secure the enfranchisement of women. Then came the sale — but beforehand the auctioneer said he had not been aware he was to sell “distressed” goods, and he very much objected to doing so. He declared that he regarded Dr. Knight and Mrs. Lane as persons, and thereby showed himself to be in advance of the law of the country. The meeting and the auctioneer together made the assembly chary of bidding, and the waggon was not sold, which was a great triumph for the tax-resisters. Further developments are eagerly awaited, for it is assumed that the Government will not thus easily give up its claim to tax unrepresented women, and will endeavour to find a less scrupulous auctioneer. Miss Trott and Miss Bobby helped to advertise the meeting by carrying placards round the crowded market.

C[onstance].E.A[ndrews].

Women’s Tax Resistance League.

At a Members’ Meeting at the offices of the League on April 3, with Mrs. [Anne] Cobden Sanderson in the chair, speeches were given on the following subjects:— “The Recent Sales and Protests,” by Mrs. Kineton Parkes; “Married Women’s Dividends” — test case, by Mrs. [Ethel] Ayres Purdie; “Married Women and Income Tax,” by Miss Amy Hicks, M.A.; an interesting discussion followed.

Sales of the Week.

On April 3, Mrs. Skipwith, 13, Montagu-square, W., and Gorse Cottage, Woking, had a silver dish sold at Woking for refusal to pay Property Tax. A good protest meeting was held, the speaker being Mrs. [Myra Eleanor] Sadd Brown. On April 5, a clock, belonging to Miss Bertha Brewster was sold by auction at Wilson’s Repository, Chenies-mews, Gower-street, because of non-payment of Inhabited House Duty. At the subsequent protest meeting at the corner of Grafton-street, and Tottenham Court-road, the speakers were Mrs. Cobden Sanderson, Miss Sarah Bennet, and others. On the same day at Eastchurch, Kent, Miss [Kate] Raleigh’s goods were sold for refusal to pay Imperial Taxes. The speakers were Mrs. Sadd Brown, Mrs. Kineton Parkes, and Miss Raleigh.

I’ll finish off this year-long series of this-day-in-The Vote tax resistance history posts with a bit from the 25 April 1913 issue. You can find a chronological index to the entire series at this link.

Come and protest against the official robbery of married women carried on by the Government for their own benefit. Earl Russell and Mr. [Israel] Zangwill will speak on the subject at the Caxton Hall on April 28 at 8 p.m. The meeting is organised by the Women’s Tax Resistance League.

Also in the same issue:

Distraint on a Duchess.

Distraint was levied, on April 21, upon the property of [Mary Russell] the Duchess of Bedford in non-payment of Imperial taxes due in respect of the Prince’s Skating Rink, and a silver cup was taken to satisfy the claim. The Duchess has instructed the Women’s Tax Resistance League to point out that this is quite out of order, because as a married woman she is not liable to taxation, and therefore neither assessment nor demand note should have been served upon her, but upon the Duke of Bedford. She, however, allowed the authorities to proceed in this perfectly irregular manner because she wished to use their mistake as an opportunity of making her protest against the treatment of Woman Suffrage by the present Government in the practical way of refusing to pay taxes until women are enfranchised. Her comment is: “Obviously it is not my business to point out the law to those whose duty it should be to understand it.”

Also in the same issue:

Women’s Tax Resistance League…

A quantity of silver, the property of Miss Rhoda Anstey, Principal of the Anstey Physical Training College, Erdington, Warwickshire, was sold on April 14, by public auction, under distraint for King’s taxes. The sale and protest meeting took place in the gymnasium of the college, and the speakers at the meeting were Mrs. [Margaret] Kineton Parkes and Miss Dorothy Evans; Miss Leonora Tyson presided.

On the same day goods, the property of Dr. [Francis] Ede and Dr. [Amy] Sheppard, of Upper Berkeley-street, Portman-square, W., were sold by public auction at 26, Lisson-grove, W.; Dr. Ede made a protest against the sale in the auction rooms. The speakers at the protest meeting which was held after the sale were Miss Amy Hicks, M.A., Dr. Ede, and Mrs. [Anne] Cobden Sanderson.

On April 15, Miss Rose, of Frinton-on-Sea, had goods sold under distraint for King’s taxes, and Miss Amy Hicks, M.A., was the speaker at the protest meeting held in the small Town Hall, Miss Rose being in the chair.

The first tax resistance sale in the Lake District took place on April 16, when Mrs. [Kate Raven] Henry Holiday had goods sold by public auction at Hawks-head, Ambleside. A most enthusiastic protest meeting was held after the sale, the speakers being Mrs. Kineton Parkes and Miss [Winifred] Holiday.

On April 18, goods, the property of Miss Corcoran, were sold at Loughborough by public auction, followed by a successful protest meeting.

Miss Beatrice Harraden’s goods were sold on April 22, at 6 p.m., at Gill’s Auction Rooms, Cambridge-road, Kilburn. Miss Harraden explained, in the auction room, the reasons for her refusal to pay. At the same time goods belonging to Dr. Mabel Hardie and Miss Gibbs were sold. There was a procession after the sale to public meeting at corner of Harrow-road and Elgin-avenue.

Dr. Jessie Murray’s goods were sold on April 23, at 1.15 p.m., at Davies’ Auction Rooms, 15, Upper-street, Islington, and a protest meeting held after sale at Highbury Fields.

On April 25 goods of Mrs. Beaumont Thomas and Mrs. Mary Sutcliffe will be sold at Warren’s Auction Room, 73, Battersea Rise (five minutes from Clapham Junction) at 7 p.m. Protest meeting after sale. Supporters urgently needed.