Now! Then! A revolutionary bread riot is averted at Sheffield

3 December 1816: A revolutionary bread riot is averted at Sheffield

Sheffield Mercury. 1816/12/10. The Sheffield Disturbances. Times. London. Get it:

Excerpt

The inhabitants of this town and neighbourhood were thrown into considerable alarm in consequence of a number of people having assembled together in a field near the Wicker. Two or three persons addressed those assembled in the field, with a recommendation that they should depart in peace, and meet again on the following Thursday forenoon, when would be known the result of the London proceedings in Spa Fields [yesterday, which some hoped would lead to rioting and the taking of the City of London]. Disregarding the wholesome advice of going to their respective homes, a few hundreds of men and boys paraded the principal streets. At the head of the crowd a man carried a pole, on which was placed a loaf that had previously been steeped in blood, and attached to which was the inscription “Bread or Blood!” They directed their course to the new burying ground, whence, after having resolved to meet there again on Thursday, they returned in larger numbers towards the marketplace. The magistrates, having had early information of the meeting, were assembled at the Tontine inn, and had called in the assistance of the civil and military powers. Here a dialogue ensued between one of the magistrates and a man from the crowd, which ended in the magistrate ordering the latter, one John Blackwell, alias Blacker, a well-known character, to be seized. He was immediately examined and dispatched to York Castle. After the most friendly advice from the magistrates, the populace departed, having committed no act of outrage but the breaking of a few panes of glass.

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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

My title paraphrases Earl Fitzwilliam, who investigated:

“As far as I can collect, the proceedings at Sheffield are intended as Counterparts of those in London”.5 Political events in London during that week were of prime importance to both reformers and revolutionaries. On 2 December a great rally was held at Spa-Fields, where an enormous crowd was addressed by the radical orator Henry Hunt. A small group of Spencean revolutionaries attempted to transform the meeting into an insurrection which included an effort to enter the Tower of London. Rumours had spread to the provinces that something sensational was going to happen at Spa-Fields, and this was the cause of the excitement in Sheffield. Fitzwilliam, who was not an alarmist, reported to the Home Office that the Sheffield disturbance “was not the consequence of distress – not the want of employment – not the scarcity or dearness of provisions, but that it has been the offspring of a Revolutionary spirit” (Donnelly 1975/12).

John Thomas of Sheffield claims Blackwell was the man with the pole:

[April] 14 [1839]. Died, in the Sheffield Poorhouse, where he had been nearly eight years, aged 53, John Blackwell, tailor, alias Jackey Blacker, well-known in the early part of his life as “King of the Gallery” of the Sheffield Theatre. On Tuesday, the 3rd of December, 1816, Jackey distinguished himself in a cheap bread riot, by carrying on a pole a loaf smeared with blood. Being observed by Mr. Wortley, (now Lord Wharncliffe,) that gentleman dashed into the crowd, and himself apprehended him. He was committed to York Castle, and tried on the 19th March, 1817, found guilty, and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. Blackwell was also charged, at the York Summer Assizes of 1820, for behaving in a riotous manner at Sheffield, and encouraging other disorderly persons to riot, and having in his possession a loaded pistol, a pike, and other unlawful weapons. For this offence, he was imprisoned two years and a half (Thomas 1830).

The Doncaster Gazette says that Wortley arrested Blackwell in person.

I’m not sure I believe either.

Navickas’ Edgelands is good.

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Original

THE SHEFFIELD DISTURBANCES.
(From the Sheffield Mercury, Dec. 7.)
On Tuesday last the inhabitants of this town and neighbourhood were thrown into considerable alarm, in consequence of a number of people having assembled together in a field near the Wicker. There has been a meeting of this kind in agitation for some time among the mechanics, and it is conjectured that they used no other means of collecting the people together than what arose from a by-meeting the day before, which probably consisted of not less than 100 persons, who effectually circulated among the workshops and public-houses their intention of meeting in the open air as above-mentioned.
Two or three persons addressed those assembled in the field, with a recommendation that they should depart in peace, and meet again on the following Thursday forenoon, when would be known the result of the London proceedings in Spafields.
Disregarding the wholesome advice of going to their respective homes, a few hundreds of men and boys paraded the principal streets. At the head of the crowd a man carried a pole, on which was placed a loaf that had previously been steeped in blood, and attached to which was the following inscription:-“Bread or Blood!” They directed their course to the new buying-ground, whence, after having resolved to meet there again on Thursday, they returned in larger numbers towards the market-place.
The Magistrates, having had early information of the meeting, were assembled at the Tontine inn, and had called in the assistance of the civil and military powers. With these wise precautions the populace, on their second appearance, were received by the Magistrates in the Haymarket. Here a dialogue ensued between one of the Magistrates and a man from the crowd, which ended in the Magistrate ordering the latter, one John Blackwell, alias Blacker, a well-known character, to be seized; and he was immediately examined, and dispatched to York-castle. After the most friendly advice from the Magistrates, the populace departed, having committed no act of outrage but the breaking of a few panes of glass.
SECOND MEETING.
On Thursday another meeting took place, about 10 in the forenoon, on the new burying-ground, but was broken up by the appearance of the dragoons from the barracks, who, passing up Broad-lane about half past 10, were followed up Crook’s-moor-way by nearly the whole of the populous assembly. The leaders remained behind, waiting the return of their comrades, till about 11 o’clock, when the expectants increasing in number, formed a pretty large concourse of men, women, and children. About this time a ring was formed, and one of the leaders said something, which we believe was an invitation for someone to address them; but no one coming forward, he put it to the vote that they should go and invite Mr. Rawson to preside over them, which was carried by a show of hands. They instantly proceeded towards the town, with an intention of executing this proposition; but it seems, by the time they arrived in High-street, they had learned that Mr. Rawson was in London. Their course was afterwards directed to the field, between the Wicker and Attercliffe, where they first met on the former occasion. Here, when a few hundreds arrived, they came to a determination of meeting in that place at five o’clock on the same evening.
Notwithstanding a heavy fall of rain, a populous meeting took place, about five o’clock, in the field near the Wicker. They returned to the town about six o’clock, and though considerable noise and alarm were created, we bure heard of no serious acts of violence. The magistrates had used every precaution to preserve the peace of the inhabitants. The Sheffield aud Rotherham troops of cavalry were on duty, and the town speedily assumed a tranquil appearance. To the time (early this morning) of our paper going to press, the town has remained perfectly, peaceable.
We hope to hear no more of these meetings, by which the lives of thoughtless persons are placed in danger, and the peace of the inhabitants is destroyed.

688 words.