Tuesday 6 December 2011

6th December 1811: Luddites soliciting contributions in Hugglescoat, Leicestershire

On Friday 6th December at 2 p.m., 3 men called at the home of Thomas Wayte, a framework-knitter in the Leicestershire village of Hugglescoat, all of them strangers. The strangers made it clear they were 'mobbers' who had taken part in 'mobbing' which some of their conrades were now in prison for. They needed funds to pay for the legal representation required. Wayte contributed 1 shilling.

On the same day, 4 men appeared at the home of Edward Twigg, a framework-knitter in the village of Ibstock. They asked him for money to help those out of work in Nottingham. Twigg gave the men a shilling.

John Frearson was also visited in Ibstock, and he was shown a letter from Ned Lud, similar to that shown framework-knitters in Osgathorpe. He paid sixpence.

This account has been compiled from the depositions of witnesses and accused which can be found at HO 42/119. It's not clear what had caused the statements to be taken, but an associated document nearby suggests the men questioned had been arrested at Loughborough during the disturbances there. Two of the men accused of being among the four visiting in Ibstock and Hugglescoat were William Plant and Thomas Thom, both of Whitwick.

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