Re: Birmingham Riots


Subject:    Re: Birmingham Riots
From:   "Lorna F Webb" aston@dove.net.au


Here is a copy of an article I was sent by Jo Keen while researching the riots of 1791.

To commemorate the revolution in France, a number of gentlemen dined at the hotel, in Temple-Row, on Thursday, the 14th of July.  A tumult being suspected, two magistrates and the constables, though not of the company, attended in the hotel, and every other precaution was taken to preserve the peace.  A vast concourse of people assembled round the hotel by two o'clock in the afternoon.  About five, the mob began to shew signs of turbulence, and before six, it was recommended to the gentlemen to retire for the sake of peace; and, though they instantly complied, not a single person of the company remaining, yet the multitude still increased ant threatened destruction.
The mob carried their designs with a degree of system which it is almost incredible to suppose.  Had they even received regular orders for their conduct, they could not have been more systematic in their proceedings.  Not a house but what belonged to dissenters was pulled down.
During the whole of those transactions, the populace. continually shouted "God save the King" - "Long live the king, and the constitution in church and state. - Down with the dissenters - down with all the abettors of French rebellion." - "Church and King." - "Down with the rumps" - "No Olivers" - "No false rights of man".
On Sunday night the military arrived, consisting of the Oxford Blues and party of light horse from Hounslow.  By eleven o'clock the whole town was completely illuminated, in order to give effect to the troops, which was continued till day light.  During the night more troops came in from every quarter; and they lay on their arms till ten next forenoon, when a regular guard was established.
The terror and distress which pervaded the whole town, while these dreadful scenes were acting, will be better conceived than described.  The magistrates had tried every means of persuasion, to no effect; large bills were stuck up, requesting all persons to retire to their respective homes, to no purpose; nothing certain was known respecting the approach of the military; and numbers of the rioters, joined by thieves and drunken prostitutes from every quarter, were with blue cockades in their hats, in all parts of the town, and in small bodies, levying contributions on the inhabitants. There was scarcely an housekeeper that dared refuse them meat, drink, money or whatever they demanded.  The shops were mostly shut up, business  nearly at a stand, and everybody employed removing and secreting their valuables   .
The rapid march of the troops to the relief of the town exhilarated the spirits of every peaceable individual, and soon contributed to the entire dispersion of the banditti.  As an acknowledgement of the expedition and behaviour of these troops, the dissenters, on the re~establishment of order, presented them with one hundred pounds; and, at a town's meeting, the like sum was voted to the privates; also, a handsome sword to each officer - and a piece of plate, value one hundred guineas, to each of the magistrates.
At the Warwick Assizes which followed, four men were capitally convicted of being concerned in these riots, two of them, Francis Field and John Green, suffered the sentence of the law in the 8th of September, the other two received his majesty's pardon.

I hope this is of use
Lorna Webb, Angaston, South Australia
aston@dove.net.au





Subject:    Birmingham riots

From:   "Andrew Spencer" spencer@online.de

Hi Carolyn,

>>Does anyone know the source of this article?  It begins, "On
the 14th July 1791, a party having met at an hotel to celebrate the anniversary of the French Revolution ... 11 It is very similar to another article I was sent that starts, "'To commemorate the revolution in France, a number of gentlemen dined at the hotel in Temple Row ...  "The language used in both these articles suggests that they derive from a common source?  Can anyone help, please?<<

I don't know the article you're referring to, but there was an ad in "Aris's Birmingham Gazette" on llth July 1791 which read "Hotel Birmingham,

July 7, 1791.
COMMEMMORATION OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
A number of Gentlemen intend to dine together on the 14th instant..."
Note the nuance in formulation.
Andrew


Subject:    Birmingham around time of 1791 Riot Names
From:   Carolyn Paisley wonderwomanx@yahoo.com

Hi Guys.  Here is a snippet of interesting info re Birmingham at the time of the riots and some names of people involved, either as victims or rioters.

According to the Birningham historian, William Hutton, writing in 1781, 5/8 of the town's households lived in houses too poor to be assessed for poor rates.  He suggests that this represents 30,000 of the town's 50,000 inhabitants.  Added to this were another 5,000 receiving weekly parish relief, plus yet others employed on parish works or in the workhouse.  At the other end of the scale, was a small elite who combined manufacturing with merchanting and, sometimes, finance.  This elite included:
John Taylor: toy trade
Matthew Boulton: Soho Works
the Galtons: combined Quakerism with arms manufacture
 Lloyds: descendents of Samuel Lloyd, co-founder with John Taylor of Lloyd's Bank
the Rylands
Dissenters, usually Quaker or Unitarian prominent in this elite George Humphreys, John Taylor and William Russell were said to have employed 10,000 people between them
William Russell: prominent merchant and Unitarian layman
Joseph Priestley: Unitarian minister of the New Meeting
George Croft: lecturer at St Martin's
John Hobson: minister of Kingswood Unitarian chapel
Captain James Keir: Anglican manufacturer of chemical goods from West Bromwich
Thomas Woobridge: Keeper of the prison
John Ryland, Baskerville House, Easy Hill: victim of riot
William Hutton: house and shop in High St: victim
John Taylor: home and offices at Bordesley Hall: victim
 Lee family, Mrs Hobson, the Russells, 4 Cox children: Unitarians seeking refuge at Warstck Farm (owned by Coxes)
Joseph Jukes and John Coates at Ladywood: victims
John Hobson, Bordesley Heath: victim
John Harwood: blind Baptist preacher: victim
Thomas Hawkes: Moseley Wake Green: victim
William Russell, Showell Green, victim
William Hutton, Bennett's Hill, Washwood Heath, attender at Carr's
Lane Congregationalist Chapel (which had Unitarian leanings): victim
William Humphreys, Sparkbrook: victim
Lady Carhampton, Moseley Hall: victim
George Russell, Samuel Blyth (joint minister of New Meeting), Thoams
Lee (steward of Birmingham Manor) and Mr Westley: victims
Samuel Galton, Duddeston: victim
Mr Taverner, tenant at Cox's farm at Warstck: victim
Dr William Withering, Edgbaston Hall: managed to garrison his home with "some famous fighters from Birmingham, repulsed rioters
Russell and Taylor: JP's
Taylor:High Sherriff of County
William Hutton: historian and stationer, says he was abducted by the
rioters, taking to a tavern and forced to shake hands with 100 rioters and buy them 329 gallons of beer!
Mr Hunt, Ladywood: Jukes received a letter from his son stating that Dr Withering's house and Mr Hunt's house were to "come down."
John Stoakes, alias Paine: said to be a mob leader, a smokejack maker of Walmore Lane
Catherine Hutton: daughter of William Hutton
John Green; meeting supposedly held in his house just before riot to determine how to "punish these damned Presbyterians"
Dr Benjamin Spencer, died 1823, vicar of Aston, magistrate
Edward Carver: president of Birmingham Church and King Club in 1792, master manufacturer
Joseph Carles,1740-96, local landowner of Brown's Green, Staffs and Warwicks ,JP
John Brookes, attorney, under sherriff of Warwicks, county coroner
Spencer, Carles, Brookes and Carver said to be riot leaders
Matthew Jones: clerk to Brooke
T W Hill: member of Priestley's congregation, made citizen's arrest of one rioter
Abraham Lee, steel-toy maker: rioter
John Paine: smokejack maker, bridle, bit and stirrup maker, Dudley St: rioter
Joseph Carless, birdcatcher and gardener: rioter
Daniel Rose, aged 16, general servent and errand boy: rioter
James Watkins: dealer in bones: rioter
William Shuker: town crier: rioter

These names were extracted from an outstanding article on the 1791
Riot:   The Priestley Riots of 1791, by R. B. Rose.

Hope someone finds an ancestor here!
Carolyn