FACTS
SUBMITTED TO THE SYMPATHY OF THE PUBLIC
WITH A VIEW TO CALL THEIR ATTENTION TO AN EFFORT THAT IS BEING
MADE ON BEHALF OF
THE DISTRESSED WEAVERS,
AT RANDWICK,
Near STROUD, Gloucestershire
IN A SERIES OF LETTERS WRITTEN ON THE SPOT
BY AN EYE-WITNESS
PRICE. THREEPENCE.
The whole of the Profits of this little publication will be given in aid of the
object it refers to.
SECOND EDITION.
TO WHICH IS ADDED ON
A statement of the rate at which the idle time of the Poor is exchanged, for
the blessings of Food and Raiment, by which personal decency is
promoted, and immorality checked.
Devonport:
- BYERS, PRINTER TO HIS MAJESTY, FORE-STREET.
1832
The following papers have been put into my hands by a lady, who was an eye-witness of the facts therein stated, I trust they may not be deemed unworthy the perusal of the public, as affording an affecting specimen of the beneficial results of Christian energies, judiciously exerted in relieving the distress, and ameliorating the condition of the Working Classes. Mr. G. to whom the suffering manufacturers of Randwick are indebted, for thus checking the accumulation of their miseries, is the person whose benevolent heart has for several years been exercised in promoting means for the moral improvement of the Poor; and who, with his sister, (influenced by the same feeling) have but recently taken up their abode at that village, and are in no other manner connected with the neighbourhood.
JOSEPH TROUNSELL
Trafalgar-place, Stoke, Devenport,
March 1st, 1832
———————————
Extracts from Letters written at Randwick, near Stroud, in Gloucestershire, during the month of February 1832.
———————————–
“Mr. and Miss G. removed into the parish of Randwick, about six weeks ago. Being told there were many poor persons in the neighbourhood, they prepared themselves with a quantity of clothing, flannel belts &c. that they might be ready for the dreaded Cholera. The great mass of misery that met them the moment they exerted themselves, was quite overwhelming! Starvation threatened the village. As labour was unattainable, and the parish-officers wholly unable to meet the increasing demands for money, not a night passed without the occurrence of some robbery, and war seemed to be declared against property under all its forms. The men wandered about in a state of desperation: thirty of them were collected together on a green ready for any kind of mischief, when Mr G.- was requested to go and speak to them; he did so immediately – listened to all their sorrows, went home and spoke to their wives and children, who were in rags and misery. Having always considered that giving to the poor ruins entirely the independent spirit of man, he then proposed to them, that having nothing to do, they should work on the roads, and have some article of clothing in payment. The misery the men had experienced from being idle, led them to accept the proposal with joy, and the provision of calico and gingham was soon distributed to their wives, one of the most notable of whom sat up the whole night, and the next time Mr. G. came to the place, shewed him three little girls looking as neat as possible, in new frocks and pinafores. When the husband came home, who had been absent two days, seeking work, and saw his children so changed in appearance, he burst into tears, and though generally considered a hardened desperate man, his emotions of gratitude when he saw Mr. G. were deeply affecting. The number of applicants for work increased every hour, but they could offer nothing but their hands, as tools of every description had disappeared, either for rent or food. The first thing Mr. G. did was to buy a quantity of rakes, spades, hammers, and wheelbarrows. He then proceeded to organize his little band, choosing an old soldier for an overseer, and also a man who could keep regular accounts of the names and families of the men; how many days they worked; and the article of clothing they most stood in need of. Nothing now remained but to determine what they should do.
“The path to the Church and Sunday-School was first put into beautiful order, and last Monday, the whole gang, consisting of fifty men and boys, were set to mend a road of a mile-and-half long, leading to the house of a gentleman, who has been very benevolent to the poor. All this has been repaired without a single penny being paid, or one drop of beer drank. While Mr. G. was cheering the men on the road, Miss G. paid to the wives in clothing, the wages they had earned, promoting the men’s industry by allowing their wives to earn what they could by needle-work. Dozens of shirts, shifts, &c. are now before me, nicely made and ready for distribution; besides which these men have been supplied with potatoes to keep their families. Not one penny goes into any one’s hands, but every thing is paid either in potatoes or clothes: by this means drunkenness, as well as every kind of extravagance, is prevented. The change already in the people is really surprising: – they look so happy, feel such confidence in their benefactor, and testify such a high sense of honour, that they are really more watchful over every one of his tools, than he would be himself. – Last night two men volunteered to sit up, after a hard day’s work, to watch the tools, as they could not be put under lock and key.
“A.’s was the first money our friends have received for this noble undertaking: -they have asked no one’s assistance, and no one’s counsel but the Lord’s, and He has given them such a blessing as must be witnessed to be understood. There is such a self-evident beauty in the work that it is impossible it should not go on, and I trust God will put it into the hearts of those who have money, to help such “cunning workmen” in His school of charity,
I must not omit to say, that a copper of soup is made every week, so that any sick or nursing mother may have a good meal. I could write you sheets of most interesting details; one man and his wife have been set to weave flannel, and they are paid in calico and gingham. Another man has had his loom taken out of pawn, and is to weave cloth for jackets, &c. There is a carpenter, a stonemason, a gardener, a shoemaker, and a tailor, in the party, and each man who has a trade, is restored to his usual work, receiving the same payment as the others. The party to-night amounted to ninety-five, and the expenses of all that has yet been done do not exceed one hundred pounds!! So immense has been the good produced more by mind than money. – What would I give for some of the riches of T-. This is indeed a true “Reform,” as the men said themselves. Miss G. intends that in the evening when the work is done, and the men drawn up in order to deliver their tools, they shall sing with one heart and voice, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” – The chief singer of the chapel is to lead them, and I cannot tell you what a favour I feel it to work for so glorious a cause, and I am thankful I have seen what I shall never forget.”
From the same.
“Yesterday I had the extreme pleasure of witnessing eighty men and boys hard at work, mending a road, each with some new garment, and a dinner of potatoes, looking as happy as possible, who only a week before were ready for burning and every outrage; begging to earn a penny for their wives, and not a day’s work to be had. This room except our occupied chairs, is full of shirts, shifts, and petticoats. I wish M. had heard him lecture a great girl who came with a crowd to beg work, and a little brother dropping with rags. So Miss was packed off to make her brother tidy first, and in a few hours she brought him with every hole mended. The men went to work yesterday in a roar of laughter, for Mr. G. had established one of the party hair-cutter to the rest: every boy had his hair cut yesterday, and the men will today. I helped Miss G. supply fifty women with work. Oh, for money to help such charity!! Mr. G. never gives a garment without taking the old one, which is immediately burnt. He means to establish in the village a public kitchen, where wholesome soup of meat and vegetables will be made at the least possible expense, and a large tub of water and soap will be always ready, that every poor object, stranger or inhabitant, shall have a good meal, and go away clean. A most respectable woman is hired for this purpose, who will always be on the spot. Mr. G. refuses no man that will work, and I never saw him so gloriously employed. God’s light in him is so shewing itself to the world, that I believe hundreds will glorify our Father for the works he has been led to do. M.’s money came most opportunely, for though Mr. G.’s work goes on, his poor men, have now increased to a hundred and fifty; and as he keeps them on potatoes while they work, of course this requires money. Miss G. put the last of her charity purse into his hand to-day, and began to feel rather discouraged from no help appearing from others, but I told her that I was sure that some would come, and M.’s money fully justified my sanguine feeling.
“It is the most complete scheme I ever witnessed, and calls for every effort of mind and body to keep and organize such a number of poor fellows. Mr. G. is with his men at seven, and for the last three days has had nothing from that time till six at tea. The “meat that many know not” of, sustains this blessed follower of Him who went about doing good.” It is a brilliant exhibition of God’s inward power. Mr. G’s great object is to get his men neat to go to church, for many of the poor creatures had hid themselves in a wood to escape observation. Last Sunday I saw many in their new clothes, who had not been there for months, and we expect more next Sunday, as several smock-frocks have been worked for this week. On Wednesday I assisted in singing the verse, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow:” it was deeply interesting and affecting. After they had repaired the road to the church and the gentleman’s house, the wells were made easy of access, that the old women may fetch water without trouble, and the little paths to their cottages were mended. I went to a miserable place which all the poor must pass with their funerals, where there was such a swamp, that their feet must have been wet through before they arrived at the Church; this is now made a nice dry path, on Mr. Mc.’Adam’s plan. On this ground I heard a poor fellow beg to be taken into Mr. G‘s service, though he must have walked four miles for the purpose. Yesterday I witnessed a scene I should like to draw: – Mr. G. put his band of boys into a beautiful quarry, where they were to break stones. The hammers certainly flew faster when Mr. G-appeared, but they were as happy as possible, spending their tempers on the stones instead of their hungry parents. I went alone into some cottages yesterday; one family had only 1s.6d. a week. A man told me, from the scarcity of work, he rarely tasted any thing but bread, and not often at that. I then found a poor cripple crying from exhaustion, at four o’clock, not having tasted any thing for the day. The parish only allowed her sixpence weekly. Her wretched worn face bore marks of protracted suffering. I could not rest until she was supplied by Miss G. with a plentiful supply of soup for many days. This is poverty indeed!
From the same.
“What misery has been before me to-day, while receiving the work from Miss G.’s women; one who had five children and a sick husband, had only 4s.6d.a week; a man has just left me with actually only trousers and a waistcoat, not another rag; another woman with one arm, and clothes scarcely hanging together, is allowed nothing.
“I never heard such tales of abject suffering in my life; and every unnecessary morsel is quite an offence; my heart sickens at the sight of such real misery. Yesterday I went to a Weaver, who with a wife and five children exist on 4s. 6d. a week. The man looked both hungry and despairing at me, and his wretched hollow cheeks made me feel my very clothes a reproach. In the next cottage an old pair, broken down with want and age, had only one shilling a week. Still if more money comes, no one can possibly be more effectual in relieving this misery on less than Mr. G-. Any improvement for the general good that his head workman proposes, he allows, but nothing of any private venture whatsoever. Yesterday one of the men asked Miss G- to keep him as her gardener, but she told him that it was only by having the fewest possible servants themselves that they could serve others. “Well,” he said, “as long as I live and you live, your garden shall be kept in order, for I will come to it early and late.” As weaving has hitherto been their only employment, I set out yesterday, with a large bag of needles, and worsted to teach knitting, as all the stockings to be worn by the men are to be made by the women. Some nice girls learnt quickly, and ran off delighted, with extra needles to teach another, a charge given to each; and to-day I have given Miss G- a list of forty knitters.
One of my pupils is a poor cripple, who made my heart ache – he cannot stand, and lies awake at night, crying with pain from a wound in his back; he looked at me with such a countenance of misery, as quite overcame me. “Ma’am” he said, “I have nothing to cover me but what you see;” and he was in rags, shivering with cold, not having a bit of flannel about him. Under his stool, by the wretched chimney, sat a little dog, who never leaves his suffering master, and he said, “I would even sell my dog to buy something to keep me from the cold, though I have had it so long. I then looked at his bed, and never did I see such a nest for infection and disease. I did not leave him till he could knit well, and his beaming smile paid me tenfold for all the dirt that in any other cause would have made me sick and afraid. Miss G. supplied me with a shirt, &c. for him, and I have seen him again today, he looked so happy, having knit a great bit for me; the very occupation had done him good. He has since taught many women, and the prospect of making himself a pair of stockings quite delights him.
From the same.
“As all cottagers’ gardens have gone to ruin for want of tools, &c., Mr. G. wishes as soon as his resources will allow it, to have them all put in order, and he intends being a partner with each man in the produce of his garden, which he will stock with useful herbs and vegetables; by this means he will have a right to visit the gardens, watch over the people, cheer them at their labours, and lead them to beg the Divine blessing on the right employment of every leisure hour.
“A few days ago, as Mr. G. was going through the Churchyard, a woman told him he was the most blessed Gentleman that ever was, and that it never could be told the misery he had saved her from, for her two boys would surely have been in Gloucester jail if he had not taken hold of them, and made them earn some decent garments; – that for some time they had been ashamed to be out in the day time, and therefore stole out as soon as it was dark, and she was quite sure that hunger would have led them to robbery and every kind of sin, “ – they are two fine boys, and now very industrious. I must tell you that the congregation at the Church is nearly double; and the Methodist Chapel is full to overflowing.
“Oh! that means could be adopted for setting these industrious fellows to work in their own way – in manufacturing blankets, flannel, and serge, for the use of the poor in different parts of the country, who will, probably, next winter, be half perished with cold for want of these essential articles. J.G. tells me that an order for £200 worth would be an immediate blessing to these poor people.
“I am happy to add that a gentleman of moderate landed property near us, has been so struck with the happy results of Mr. G.’s practical benevolence, that he immediately placed six acres of land under his direction, to cultivate potatoes for next winter, where I have just had the satisfaction of seeing some of the men employed in using the breast plough in turning up the ground.”
Conditions on which a Labouring Man may have Employment.
Food.
A Basket of Potatoes, for one day’s work. For 2 days, Pinafore for a Girl.
Six Quarts of Soup, for one ditto, 2 ditto, Flannel Petticoat.
one quart to be delivered daily to his wife. 1 ditto, Leather Cap.
Clothing. 6,7, or 8 ditto, Pair of high Boots for a child.
For 8 day’s work, a Sunday Hat. 2 ditto, Worsted Stockings.
3 ditto, calico for a Sunday Shirt. 14 ditto, Sunday Jacket and Trowsers.
1 ditto, a large coloured Neck Handkerchief. 5 Gingham for a Girl’s frock.
12 ditto, Pair of excellent Shoes.
House.
4 ditto, Pair of knitted worsted Stockings. 18 days, A good single Bedstead.
12 ditto, Sunday Waistcoat. 6 ditto, Three Straw Mattresses.
30 ditto, Coat. 5 ditto, A Blanket.
15 ditto, Trowsers. 12, 14, or 18 ditto, A Pair of ditto.
13 ditto, Breeches. 7 ditto, Rug Cover for the Bed.
6,7, or 8 ditto, A workman’s Smock-Frock. 6 ditto, One Pair of strong warm Sheets
according to length.
3 ditto, A common round Hat. Tools, &c. for the Labour on Land.
6 ditto, Russia-Duck Trowsers. 6 days for a Pickaxe.
1 ditto, Flannel Belt. 4 ditto, Spade.
4 ditto, under Waistcoat. 5 ditto, broad Shovel.
6 ditto, A working Waistcoat. 4 days for a Rake.
When the Man works for his Wife and Children, 15 ” Wheelbarrow.
he may have. ditto, Hoe.
For 8 day’s A Pair of Women’s Shoes. ditto, Grubber.
2 ditto, Cloth for a Shift. 1 ditto, A Packet of Garden Seeds.
2 ditto, Stockings. 1 ditto, for the loan of Garden Tools
for a week.
1 ditto, Neck-kerchief.
3 ditto, Flannel Petticoat. ditto, One Cwt. of Coals, delivered
ditto. Upper ditto at Ebley.
6 ditto, Gingham Gown and Lining.
1 ditto, Cap.
8 ditto, Straw Bonnet. Books of Religion.
14 ditto Duffle Cloak. For 8 days, A Bible.
2 ditto, Child’s Shift Cloth. 3 ditto, Prayer Book.
2 ditto, Shirt Cloth. 3 ditto, Testament.
4 ditto, Pinafore for Boy, made up. 3 ditto, Hymn Book
No. 1 – The Labourer may give the number of Days with intervals, as it may best suit with his other engagements, – the sole object being the profitable employment of his idle time.
No. 2 – The sample of each thing to be made to be shown to the Men before the engagement of work is made.
No. 3 – Nothing to be delivered till three Days after they are earned.
No. 4 – As it is wished that every Person in the Village should have his or her hair in a decent form, a Hair-Cutter is employed to go from House to House for this purpose.
Any aid that may be kindly contributed towards the foregoing object, will be received by Mr. BYERS, Bookseller, Devonport; or HARVEY and DARTON, Booksellers, Gracechurch-Street, London.
We thank the Stroud District (Cowle) Museum Service for giving us permission to make a transcript of the document that follows. Copyright resides with the Stroud District (Cowle) Museum Service. Thanks also to Alice Butler for making the transcriptions.
TO THE UNEMPLOYED LABOURERS OF RANDWICK & THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.
My good Friends,
As the plan which has been pursued among you for the last six weeks is entirely new, and as few even among those who have been most benefitted, could explain it to an enquirer, I have determined to give you a printed letter, which you can first read yourselves, and then lead to any one who may want to know what Christian work Mr. GREAVES is about.
You may remember we came amongst you early in December, when we found almost the whole neighbourhood in a state of physical want, and moral degradation, such as I shall not attempt to describe, neither shall I say how much of this was the necessary consequence of waste, extravagance, and profligacy. When times were good, I fear you never thanked God for then present mercies, but perhaps like the prodigal, you wasted your substance in riotous living, so when hard times came, you were not prepared to meet them. The depth of your misery then, we fear, is attributable to yourselves; but as your merciful God and Saviour will not that any of his children should want the absolute necessaries of life, so he stirred up his faithful Ministers to make an earnest appeal to him in behalf of those who thus suffered, and it is in answer to their prayers, that this plan was put into my mind, and that sufficient energy was given, to try the execution of it; to God then and to God alone, belongs all the glory for whatever good has been done, or evil prevented; so love and praise Him all ye people. When I first met you assembled on the Camp Green, you were almost famishing, without any decent apparel to go forth in search of work; you were idling not from choice it is true, but this idleness added greatly to your misery; you were completely wretched, and none seemed at hand to help you. You asked me to furnish you some occupation by which you might get food for your suffering wives, and crying children; but having neither land nor money of my own, I thought it were impossible to relieve so great a multitude; we had already laid our as much as we could spare, in materials intended for clothing, purporting to give them you by degrees; but your wants were so urgent that you offered to work for them immediately, – I consented to this, and promised that every man should be supplied in exchange for time (he could have done worse with than lose it) with potatoes almost sufficient to feed his family, and that the surplus value of his labour should be paid in excellent articles of clothing. Numbers came to me, and your neighbours, hearing there was corn in Egypt, came to earn a portion also, but none of you had any tools, so I was obliged to purchase considerable stock. I set you to a labour for the public good, and you did so cheerfully in the highways and byways as sons of the soil, seeing clearly enough that you would derive even more benefit from this than the rich; they have not to fetch water, and they can ride over a bad road, while poor men and women must walk, winter and summer, over rough stones, through mire and clay, or up and down such steep ways as are dangerous to the infirm, the aged, and the children. Six weeks hard labour, with only potatoes for your food, and not a drop of fermented liquor of any kind, has somewhat changed your neighbourhood and yourselves; and many among you now come into the house of God, wearing the appearance of decent, healthy, happy labourers. My plan has not quite satisfied the Parish Officers, as my object was not the reduction of the Poor Rates, but to relieve the poor themselves. I therefore firmly insisted that your small allowances should be continued to you, even while you were working under my direction, but if we live until next Winter, I trust and hope, the Parish will have its full share of benefit from all we are doing. Another objection has also been made, which is that the advantages of working on this plan, are sufficiently great to make you careless, and even reluctant to seek work elsewhere; this inured me to make the experiment of paying you all off, thus urging you to strive to provide for yourselves. Only a few went forth were able to get more than two or three days’ employment, and the rest pressed me most earnestly to provide them occupation a little while longer, offering again to work only for potatoes, if we cannot go on furnishing them with clothes: but I doubt not the Giver of our mercies will enable us to do this, and thus to fulfil that sacred duty which as a God of love he has imposed upon us.
And now my good friends I finish in the words of the holy men of old, – “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together, for he has regarded the poor when he cried, the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.”
I am, in the bond of universal love, Your Christian brother,
Randwick, Gloucestershire March 18th, 1832
Personal Decency promoted, AND IMMORALITY CHECKED,
Exchanging Men’s idle time for the Blessings of Food and Raiment. Randwick 1832.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Conditions on which a Labouring Man may have Employment.
Food.
A Basket of Potatoes, for one day’s work. For 2 days, Pinafore for a Girl.
Six Quarts of Soup, for one ditto, 2 ditto, Flannel Petticoat.
one quart to be delivered daily to his wife. 1 ditto, Leather Cap.
Clothing. 6,7, or 8 ditto, Pair of high Boots for a child.
For 8 day’s work, a Sunday Hat. 2 ditto, Worsted Stockings.
3 ditto, calico for a Sunday Shirt. 14 ditto, Sunday Jacket and Trowsers.
1 ditto, a large coloured Neck Handkerchief. 5 ” Gingham for a girl’s Frock.
12 ditto, Pair of excellent Shoes.
House.
4 ditto, Pair of knitted worsted Stockings. 18 days, A good single Bedstead.
12 ditto, Sunday Waistcoat. 6 ditto, Three Straw Mattresses.
30 ditto, Coat. 5 ditto, A Blanket.
15 ditto, Trowsers. 12, 14, or 18 ditto, A Pair of ditto.
13 ditto, Breeches. 7 ditto, Rug Cover for the Bed.
6,7, or 8 , A workman’s Smock-Frock. 6 “, One Pair of strong warm Sheets
according to length.
3 ditto, A common round Hat. Tools, &c. for the Labour on Land.
6 ditto, Russia-Duck Trowsers. 6 days for a Pickaxe.
1 ditto, Flannel Belt. 4 ditto, Spade.
4 ditto, under Waistcoat. 5 ditto, broad Shovel.
6 ditto, A working Waistcoat. 4 days for a Rake.
When the Man works for his Wife and Children, 15 ” Wheelbarrow.
he may have. ditto, Hoe.
For 8 day’s A Pair of Women’s Shoes. ditto, Grubber.
2 , Cloth for a Shift. 1. A Packet of Garden Seeds.
2 ditto, Stockings. 1 ditto, for the loan of Garden Tools
1 ditto, Neck-kerchief. for a week.
3 ditto, Flannel Petticoat. ditto, One Cwt. of Coals, delivered
ditto. Upper ditto at Ebley.
6 ditto, Gingham Gown and Lining.
1 ditto, Cap.
8 ditto, Straw Bonnet. Books of Religion.
14 ditto Duffle Cloak. For 8 days, A Bible.
2 ditto, Child’s Shift Cloth. 3 ditto, Prayer Book.
2 ditto, Shirt Cloth. 3 ditto, Testament.
4 ditto, Pinafore for Boy, made up. 3 ditto, Hymn Book
No. 1, – The Labourer may give the number of Pays with intervals, as it may best suit with his other engagements, – the sole object being the employment of his idle time in some publicly useful act.
No. 2, – The sample of each thing is to be shown to the Man before the engagement for work is made.
No. 3, – Nothing to be delivered till three Days after they are earned.
No. 4, – As it is wished that every Person in the Village should have his or her hair cut to promote external decency, a Hair-Cutter is employed to go from House to House for this purpose.
No. 5, – Not more than one Basket of Potatoes to be delivered to a single Man, and two to a married Man per Week, that they may have the more Clothing.
No. 6, – The Boys are to have a quartern of Potatoes per Day, for Stone-breaking. – Each Man after his work must claim a Randwick Token which is a round piece of Metal, impressed on one side with the words “Practiced Christianity,” and “Randwick” on the reverse.
__________________________ BUCKNALL, PRINTER, STROUDWATER LIBRARY
With thanks to Bob Fry
