Now! Then! Edward Rookes Leedes sends miners to destroy new coal workings leased by Abraham Balmes to Nathan Jowett

3 March 1775: Edward Rookes Leedes sends miners to destroy new coal workings leased by Abraham Balmes to Nathan Jowett

William Cudworth. 1891. Histories of Bolton and Bowling (Townships of Bradford). Bradford: Thomas Brear. Get it:

Excerpt

A very remarkable day. Mr. Leedes sent down his myrmidons to destroy the new work let to Jarrett & Co., which they filled up, broke all the sough stones. Went to Mr. Wickham, took out a warrant against ten of them, came back, sent Fox the bailiff to take them up, which he did, and immediately we had them bound to appear at Pontefract Sessions.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

Where?

Sough: “An artificial water course, drain or sewer; a word commonly found in documents which relate to works associated with bridges, mills, the farming landscape, and coal-pits in particular.”

Really interesting stuff, but not enough meat, either here or in the backstory:

January 20th, 1775.-Breakfasted with Mr. Jarratt, after went to view the pits. Dined at the Sun and made an agreement with Jarratt and Co. for the coals.
January 25th.-Received two letters from Mr. Leedes about the Bowling sough. Was all the afternoon settling with Jarratt & Co. about Burnet Field lease.

The instruments of Leedes’ crime were miners:

April 25th.-Was at Pontefract preferring bills of indictment against Leedes’ collyers.
April 27th.-Both the bills were found.

Leedes is a very curious figure, but I haven’t yet found anything usable, not even re his suicide.

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Original

A very remarkable day. Mr. Leedes sent down his mermidans to destroy the new work let to Jarratt & Co., which they filled up, broke all the sough stones. Went to Mr. Wickham, took out a warrant against ten of them, came back, sent Fox the bailiff to take them up, which he did, and immediately we had them bound to appear at Pontefract Sessions.

66 words.