Author: Stuart Butler

It may not have meant a black cap,
At those Quarter Sessions,
Epiphany, Easter, Trinity and Michael-mas,
But it meant a lifetime’s separation –
And Gloucestershire was high on the list
Of counties for transportation,
Whilst the Stroud-water area itself,
‘Sent one-quarter of … Gloucestershire convicts,
Although containing little more
Than one-eighth of the county population’;

I leave it to you, gentle reader,
To breathe life, emotion and meaning into
The names of the convicts,
Their occupations,
Their ages,
Their villages and towns,
The names of the ships,
The word transportation,
Their sentences …

Ponder on their offences …
What might they have been?
Offences against poverty,
Against property,
Against privation;
Ponder on the heartbreak,
The prison hulks,
The chains, the irons, the nine-month voyage …
The abuse of the women –
And who knows?
Perhaps family conversations and research might result,
In consequence,
About these representatives of Burke’s ‘swinish multitude’,
And the Gloucester Journal’s ‘pernicious members of society’;

Here is the document for Avening:

John Giffin, Labourer, aged 28, transported 1818 on the Tottenham to New South Wales; life;

Here is the document for Bisley:

George Ansloe, Labourer, aged 18, transported 1828, on the Manlius to Van Diemen’s Land; 7yr;
William Bacchus, Labourer, aged 15, transported 1828, on the Manlius to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Peter Brown, aged 21, Labourer, transported 1834, on the Bengal Merchant to New South Wales, 7yr;
John Davis, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1841, on the Layton to Van Dieman’s Land; 15yr;
Richard Dew, Weaver, aged 43, transported 1835, on the Aurora to Van Dieman’s Land; Life;
Richard Eddles (Eddells), Iddles), aged 30, Carrier, transported 1821, on the Shipley to New South Wales, 14yr;
William Haines, Marine, aged 25, transported 1833, on the Lord Lyndoch to New South Wales, life;
William Hooper, Labourer, aged 17, transported 1828, on the Manlius to Van ;Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Isaac King, Sawyer, aged 18, transported 1840, on the Eden to New South Wales, 15yr;
William King, Sawyer, aged 40, transported 1840, on the Eden to New South Wales, life;
Samuel Munsden, aged 36, transported 1819, on the Recovery to New South Wales; life;
William Nicholls, Carpenter, aged 21, transported 1828, on the Georgiana to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
John Parsons (Barsons), Bargeman, aged 24, transported 1837, on the Coromandel to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr;
Levi Poulson, Stonemason, aged 25, transported 1836, on the Norfolk to New South Wales; life;
William Scrivens, Labourer, aged 48, transported 1820, on the Agamemnon to New South Wales; 7yr;
James Smith als James Price, Labourer, aged 26, transported 1818, on the Tottenham to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
George Taylor, Cloth-worker, aged 29, transported 1837, on the Waterloo to New South Wales; life;
Jesse Tyler, Slater and Plasterer, aged 25, transported 1832, on the Parmelia to New South Wales; life;
John Wall, Labourer, aged 21, transported 1838, on the Coromandel to Van Diemen’s Land; 30yr;
John Winslaw (Winslow), Labourer, Deserted from 32nd. Reg. of Foot, aged 26, transported 1821, on the Lady Ridley, to Van Diemen’s Land; 7yr;

Here is the document for Brimscombe:

George Bidmead, Cloth-worker, aged 22, transported 1830, on the Nithsdale to New South Wales, 14yr;
Samuel Tocknell, Labourer, aged 22, transported 1835, on the Susan to New South Wales, 7yr;

Here is the document for Brimpsfield:

Peter Williams, aged 23, Labourer, transported 1835, on the Asia to Van Dieman’s Land; life;

Here is the document for Cainscross:

Thomas Cook (Cooke), aged 22, Labourer, transported 1817, on the Batavia to New South Wales, 7yr;
William Nicholls, Labourer, aged 22, transported 1835, on the Susan to New South Wales, 7yr;

Here is the document for Cam:

Cornelius Bendall, Labourer, aged 23, transported 1828, on the Albion to New South Wales, 7yr;
Daniel Ludlow als Daniel Duddle, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1829, on the Prince Regent to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
George Ludlow als George Duddle, Labourer, aged 25, transported 1829, on the Bussorah Merchant to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
John Martin, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1834, on the Henry Tanner to New South Wales; life;
Samuel Rudge, Weaver, aged 31, transported 1830, on the Manlius to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Thomas Rudge, Weaver, aged 24, transported 1830, on the Manlius to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
John Sandford, aged 41, Labourer, transported 1842 on the Emily to Van Dieman’s Land; 10yr;
Thomas Sinigar, Weaver, aged 18, transported 1829, on the America to New South Wales; 7yr;
James White (died on voyage 18 Mar 1830), Butcher, aged 19, transported 1829, on the Dunvegan Castle to New South Wales, 7yr;
Thomas Wilkins, Weaver, aged 26, transported 1830, on the Nithdale to New South Wales, 7yr;

Here is the document for Chalford:

Joseph Berriman (Berryman), Labourer, aged 20, transported 1820, on the Speke to New South Wales, Life;
Thomas Berriman , Shoemaker, aged 22, transported 1833, on the Lloyds to New South Wales, Life;
William Berriman (Berryman), Cloth-worker, aged 55, transported 1820, on the Speke to New South Wales, Life;
Thomas Davis, Waterman, aged 20, transported 1829, on the Claudine to New South Wales, 14yr;
Benjamin King, aged 26, transported 1832, on the John to New South Wales; life;
Samuel Ridler, Cloth-worker, aged 21, transported 1830, on the Manlius to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
John Smith, Blacksmith, aged 19, transported 1830, on the Red Rover to Van Dieman’s Land; life;

Here is the document for Coaley:

Thomas Blunson, Labourer, aged 32, transported 1825, on the Woodman to Van Diemen’s Land; life;
Enoch Elliotts, aged 20, Flock-dresser, transported 1835, on the Layton to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Eli Parsloe, aged 15, transported 1838, on the Coromandel to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Isaac Powell, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1830, on the York to New South Wales; 7yr;

Here is the document for Dursley:

William Aldridge, Labourer, aged 23, transported 1833, on the Lloyds to New South Wales, 14yr;
John Bendall, Labourer, aged 51, transported 1833, on the Heroine to New South Wales, 7yr;
John Brothers, aged 23, Mill-man, transported 1833, on the Lord Lyndoch to New South Wales, 14yr;
William Champion, Hatter, aged 22, transported 1823, on the Asia to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr;
James Cross, aged 14, Labourer, transported 1837, on the Royal Sovereign to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Edward Davis als Edwin Davis, Labourer, aged 19, transported 1824, on the Princess Charlotte to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
George Davis, Twine-spinner, aged 17, transported 1824, on the Princess Charlotte to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
John Davis, Shoemaker, aged 20, transported 1824, on the Princess Charlotte to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
John Davis, aged 35, transported 1839, on the Parkfield to New South Wales, 14yr;
Joseph Moody Fletcher, aged 22, Servant, transported 1829, on the Prince Regent to Van Diemen’s Land, Life;
Henry Ford (drowned when ship wrecked in mouth of Derwent River, Hobart, 12 Apr 1835), aged 17, Labourer, transported 1834, on the George the Third to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Sarah Ford, aged 21, Servant, transported 1836, on the Platina to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
George Grace, Gardener, aged 23, transported 1833 on the Heroine to New South Wales; 7yr;
Edward Groves, Labourer, aged 38, transported 1831, on the Elizabeth to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr;
James Grove the elder, Shearman, aged 42, transported 1831, on the Larkins to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr;
Daniel Harrill (Harrold) als Daniel Weight, Labourer, aged 26, transported 1833 on the Lord Lyndoch to New South Wales; 7yr;
Joseph Harrold (Harrolds) aged 18, Labourer, transported 1837, on the Neptune to Van Diemen’s Land, 14yr;
John Heath, aged 19, Labourer, transported 1828 on the William Miles to Van Dieman’s Land life;
Joseph Herring, aged 31, Navigator Formerly in Wilts. Militia, transported 1820 on the Maria to Van Dieman’s Land 7yr;
Elijah Hill, aged 23, Labourer, transported 1829 on the Atlas to Van Dieman’s Land 7yr;
George Hill, aged 22, Labourer, transported 1829 on the Prince Regent to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Thomas Hitchins, Hill, aged 26, Shoemaker, transported 1838 on the Coromandel to Van Dieman’s Land 7yr;
David Mabbett, Weaver, aged 31, transported 1833, on the Emperor Alexander to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
David Morgan, Millman and cloth-rower, aged 27, transported 1831, on the Garland Grove to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Eliza Newthe, Burler, aged 25, transported 1829, on the Lucy Davidson to New South Wales; 14yr;
William Nicholls, Spinner Private in S. Glos. Militia, aged 27, transported 1823, on the Asia to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
George Smith, Clothing business, aged 18, transported 1831, on the Larkins to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Henry Smith, Clothier, aged 23, transported 1833, on the Asia to New South Wales; 14yr (CTR) or life (Q/Gc);
William Tallboys (Talboys), Labourer, aged 24, transported 1833, on the Atlas to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Thomas Watts als Thomas Harris, Labourer, aged 16, transported 1828, on the Georgiana to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
William White, Labourer, aged 15, transported 1829, on the Mermaid to New South Wales, life;
Henry Williams, Labourer, aged 27, transported 1833, on the Heroine to New South Wales, 14yr;
Joseph Wyman, Spinner, aged 38, transported 1836, on the Blenheim to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr

Here is the document for Eastington:

Charles Bailey, Labourer, aged 19, transported 1838, on the Coromandel to Van Diemen’s Land, Life;
Thomas Bendall, Waterman, aged 34, transported 1840, on the Duncan to Van Dieman’s Land, 7yr;
Susan Partridge w. of Thomas, Labourer, aged 32, transported 1827, on the Harmony to Van Dieman’s Land, 14yr;
George Price, Labourer, aged 17, transported 1826, on the Andromeda to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
John Merrett, aged 33,Cloth-worker, transported 1838, on the Coromandel to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Thomas Morgan, Labourer, aged 23, transported 1830, on the Nithsdale to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;

Here is the document for Horsley:

Aaron Ashmead, Fishmonger, aged 26, transported 1838, on the Gilmore to Van Diemen’s Land; 15yr;
John Beard, Billy-spinner, aged 22, transported 1831, on the Larkins to Van Diemen’s Land; 7yr;
David Bishop, Labourer, aged 19, transported 1836, on the Eden to Van Diemen’s Land; 7yr (CTR) or life;
Sampson Brinkworth, Labourer, aged 28, transported 1822, on the Prince of Orange to Van Diemen’s Land; life;
Charlotte Clifford, Labourer, aged 18, transported 1834, on the Numa to New South Wales, 14 yr;
William Dangerfield, aged 42, Labourer, transported 1831, on the Lord Lyndoch to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
John Gardner, Weaver, aged 44, transported 1820, on the Mangles to New South Wales, 14yr;
Robert Humphries (Humphris), Labourer, aged 19, transported 1830, on the Manlius to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
William Humphries, Carpenter, aged 25, transported 1829, on the Dunvegan Castle to New South Wales; 7yr;
Joseph Hyde, Weaver, aged 59, transported 1840, on the Lord Raffles to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Edwin Jenkins; Labourer, aged 20, transported 1830, on the Burrell to New South Wales, 7yr;
James Lovett, aged 22, Plasterer, transported 1831, on the Lord Lyndoch to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
James Osborne, Labourer, aged 30, transported 1833, on the Emperor Alexander to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
George Pegler, Weaver, aged 22, transported 1830, on the Manlius to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Daniel Rickards (Ricketts), Cloth-worker, aged 19, transported 1837, on the Moffatt to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Esau Risby, Labourer, aged 23, transported 1835, on the Marquis of Huntley to New South Wales, Life;
Robert Saunders als Robert Croft, Labourer, aged 40, transported 1838, on the Lord Lyndoch to New South Wales, 15yr;
John Sutton, Labourer, aged 23, transported 1829, on the Prince Regent to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Thomas Taynton, Labourer, aged 23, transported 1822, on the Persian to Van Diemen’s Land; 7yr;
Samuel Walkley the younger, Labourer, aged 18, transported 1834, on the Susan to New South Wales; 7yr;
Edward Window, aged 22, transported 1839, on the Mangles to New South Wales and N.I. (53 men landed in NSW; 236 in N.I.); 7yr;
Thomas Window, Labourer, Served 16 and a half years in 43rd Reg. of Foot. 1/- per day pension.aged 52, transported 1835, on the Norfolk to Van Diemen’s Land; 7yr;

Here is the document for King’s Stanley:

Peter Aldridge, Shearer, aged 25, transported 1826, on the Andromeda to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Richard Baker, Labourer, Volunteered from S. Glos. Militia into Waggon Train, aged 23, transported 1820, on the Elizabeth 1 to New South Wales, 7yr;
George Beard, Cloth-worker, aged 23, transported 1834 on the John Barry, 7yr;
John Bloodworth, Labourer, transported 1836, on the John to New South Wales, 7yr;
James Coleman, Shearman, aged 23, transported 1830 on the Red Rover to Van Diemen’s Land; 7yr;
Samuel Harrison, Mason, aged 23, transported 1818, on the Shipley to New South Wales, 14yr;
John Howard, Weaver, aged 17, transported 1828, on the Manlius to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
William Jenkins als William Bennett, Labourer Served 15 yrs in Artillery and Marines, aged 38, transported 1821, on the Malabar to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Jesse King (died 18 Oct 1841 before embarkation), Weaver, aged 22, due to be transported 1841, on the Somersetshire to Van Dieman’s Land; 21yr;
Thomas Long, transported 1834 on the Henry Tanner; life;
Nathaniel Lusty, Weaver, aged 34, transported 1820, on the Maria to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Richard Pegler, Weaver, Also in S. Glos. Militia, aged 24, transported 1820, on the Elizabeth to New South Wales; 7yr;
Thomas Smith, Weaver, aged 48, transported 1820, on the Maria to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr;

Here is the document for Leonard Stanley:

John Clark, Labourer, aged 17, transported 1830, on the York to New South Wales; 7yr;
Susannah Clarke, Dressmaker, aged 20, transported 1826, on the Grenada to New South Wales; 7yr;
Charles Pegler, Butcher, aged 20, transported 1830, on the Red Rover to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Daniel Powell, Shearman, aged 22, transported 1827, on the Asia to Van Die,man’s Land ; 14yr;
Charles Redman, Weaver, aged 27, transported 1827, on the John to New South Wales; life;
William Redman, Weaver, aged 47, transported 1834, on the Lady Nugent to New South Wales; life;
William Redman, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1836, on the Eden to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Charles Watson, , aged 21, Turner and filer, transported 1827, on the Asia to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr (CTR) or 7yr (Q/Gc);

Here is the document for Minchinhampton:

John Adams, Labourer, aged 22, transported 1840, on the Duncan to Van Diemen’s Land; 22yr;
Samuel Antill, Weaver, aged 35, transported 1819, on the Maria to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
James Alder, Mason, aged 37, transported 1831, on the John 1 to New South Wales, Life;
Thomas Baker, Weaver, aged 20, transported 1830, on the David Lyon to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Joseph Blackwell, Labourer, aged 21, transported 1832, on the Katherine Stewart Forbes to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Mary Ann Browning, Clothing business, aged 17, transported 1831, on the America to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Nicholas Browning, Clothing business, aged 19, transported 1821, on the Surrey to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Maria Bryant (Briant), Servant, aged 18, transported 1832, on the Frances Charlotte to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
James Bucknall, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1832, on the Katherine Stewart Forbes to Van Diemen’s Land; life;
Frederick Clark, aged 20, transported 1838, on the Gilmore to Van Diemen’s Land; life;
James Davis, Labourer, aged 23, transported 1827, on the John to New South Wales, 7yr;
George Drew, Aged 18, Weaver, transported 1831, on the Strathfieldsay to Van Dieman’s Land 7yr;
James Evans als John Evans, aged 50, transported 1791, on the Atlantic (app) to New South Wales, 7yr;
Job Evans, Painter, aged 20, transported 1835, on the Marquis of Huntley to New South Wales, Life;
Robert Evans, Carpenter, aged 40, transported 1829, on the Mermaid to New South Wales, Life;
Elias Grange, Labourer, aged 22, transported 1819, on the Recovery to New South Wales, 7yr;
Thomas Grange, Labourer, aged 27, transported 1827 on the Asia to Van Dieman’s Land 7yr;
Thomas Grist als Thomas Moody, Labourer, aged 26, transported 1830, on the Southworth to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
James Kirby, Cloth-worker Deserter from 89th Reg. of Foot., aged 20, transported 1836, on the Eden to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr (CTR) or life;
Samuel Kirby, Cloth-worker, aged 18, transported 1836, on the Norfolk to New South Wales; 14yr;
John Lock, Labourer, aged 17, transported 1829, on the Claudine to New South Wales; 14yr;
John Long the younger, Weaver, aged 20, transported 1832, on the Katherine Stewart Forbes to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Thomas Pitt, Waterman, aged 23, transported 1823, on the Competitor to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr;
Richard Reed, Labourer, aged 18, transported 1830, on the Red Rover to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Edwin Smith, Labourer, aged 26, transported 1832, on the Surrey to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Joseph Smith, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1840, on the Asia to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
William Stephens, Labourer, aged 21, transported 1829, on the Bussorah Merchant to New South Wales; 14yr;
William Walker, Traveller with hardware, aged 41, transported 1830, on the Red Rover to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr;

Here is the document for Nailsworth:

Peter Aldridge, Shearer, aged 25, transported 1826, on the Andromeda to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
James Eddals (Iddels), aged 26, transported 1837, on the Moffatt to Van Diemen’s Land, 14yr;
William Haskins, aged 19, Cloth-factoryman, transported 1837 on the Neptune to Van Dieman’s Land life;
George Lane, Sawyer, aged 20, transported 1836, on the John to New South Wales, Life;
John Newman als John Holdman, Labourer, aged 24, transported 1822, on the Princess Royal to New South Wales; 7yr;
Thomas Ridler, Weaver, aged 32, transported 1817, on the Larkins to New South Wales; Life;
James Skirton, Labourer, aged 22, transported 1833, on the Asia to New South Wales; 7yr;
Charles Smart, Cloth-worker, aged 19, transported 1837, on the Henry Wellesley to New South Wales; life;

Here is the document for North Nibley:

Elias Black, Labourer, aged 23, transported 1842, on the Susan to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Edward Clarke als James Holloway, Labourer, aged 17, transported 1829, on the Surrey to Van Diemen’s Land; life;
James Clark (Clarke), Blacksmith, aged 18, transported 1827, on the John 1 to New South Wales, Life;
Thomas Clark (Clarke), Shoemaker, aged 20, transported 1830, on the Sir Charles Forbes to Van Diemen’s Land; 14yr;
William Cole, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1830 on the Nithsdale to New South Wales; life;
Thomas Cornock, Weaver, aged 22, transported 1825, on the Royal Charlotte to New South Wales, Life;
George Gabb, aged 25, transported 1832, on the Surrey to Van Diemen’s Land; 7yr;
William Gazzard the younger (Gazard), Labourer, aged 28, transported 1838 on the Lord Lyndoch, New South Wales; 14yr;
Josiah Hancock, Weaver, aged 22, transported 1827, on the John to New South Wales, Life;
Sarah Harrison, Servant, aged 18, transported 1831, on the America to Van Diemen’s Land; 7yr;
Joseph Hobbs, Hill, aged 26, Labourer, transported 1829 on the Layton to New South Wales; 7yr;
Isaac Legg (Legge), Scribbler, transported 1790, on the Neptune to New South Wales; 7yr;
Isaac Perrott, Clothier, aged 23, transported 1818, on the Hadlow to New South Wales, 7yr;
Thomas Smith als Thomas Riddifer, aged 28, Labourer. Formerly in local Militia, aged 28, transported 1827, on the Guildford to New South Wales; 7yr;
Mary Tavender, Servant, aged 20, transported 1841, on the Garland Grove to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
George Taylor, Labourer, aged 26, transported 1833, on the Asia to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr;

Here is the document for Nympsfield:

William Bushell, Labourer, aged 19, transported 1830, on the Persian to Van Dieman’s Land; life;

Here is the document for Owlpen:

Thomas Dauncey als Thomas Fords, Weaver, aged 27, transported 1829, on the America to New South Wales, 7yr;
John Webb, Labourer, aged 22, transported 1830, on the Persian to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;

Here is the document for Painswick:

Ann Alder, Labourer, aged 37, transported 1841, on the Emma Eugenia to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Henry Beard, Cloth-worker, aged 15, transported 1827 on the Florentia, New South Wales; life;
Samuel Beard, Hatter, aged 23, transported 1821, on the Lady Ridley to Van Diemen’s Land; 7yr;
John Birt, Servant, aged 32, transported 1840, on the Duncan to Van Diemen’s Land, 14yr (CTR) or life;
Benjamin Cook (Cooke) the elder, aged 30, Labourer, transported 1838, on the Gilmore to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Carles Cook (Cooke) the elder, aged 53, Weaver, transported 1830, on the Persian to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Isaac Estcourt, Weaver, aged 40, transported 1821 on the Lord Hungerford, New South Wales; 7yr;
James Green, Labourer, aged 27, transported 1828, on the Bengal Merchant to Van Dieman’s Land 14yr;
William Haines, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1821, on the Lady Ridley to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Thomas Lane, Servant, aged 19, transported 1833, on the Heroine to New South Wales, 7yr;
Robert Pegler, aged 36, transported 1832, on the John to New South Wales, 7yr;
Samuel Swain (Swaine), Plasterer, aged 26, transported 1832, on the Mary to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Jacob Twining, aged 20, Labourer, transported 1837, on the Lord Lyndoch to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Thomas Twining, Baker, aged 22, transported 1837, on the Recovery to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Henry Wager, Groom, aged 20, Labourer, transported 1836, on the Lord Lyndoch to Van Diemen’s Land, life;

Here is the document for Randwick:

William Cractchley (Crutchley), aged 21, Labourer, transported 1838, on the Gilmore to Van Dieman’s Land; 15yr;
John Watkins, aged 21, Edge-tool maker, transported 1826, on the Andromeda to Van Dieman’s Land; life;

Here is the document for Rodborough:

William Biggers, Cloth-dresser, aged 26, transported 1836, on the Elphinstone to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
John Buck, Shearer, aged 26, transported 1821, on the Lord Hungerford to Van Diemen’s Land; life;
James Cole, Stonemason, aged 34, transported 1835, on the Aurora to Van Diemen’s Land; life;
Thomas Dalby, aged 35, Labourer, transported 1833, on the Emperor Alexander to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Thomas Daniel, aged 16, Labourer, transported 1818, on the Shipley to New South Wales; 7yr;
Thomas Evans, Baker, aged 23, transported 1830, on the Red Rover to Van Dieman’s Land; Life;
Nathaniel Hodges, aged 40, Cloth-dresser, transported 1836, on the Elphinstone to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Thomas Latham, Cloth-worker, aged 18, transported 1833, on the Isabella to Van Dieman’s Land; Life;

Benjamin Lewis, aged 27, Cloth-dresser, transported 1838, on the Lord Lyndoch to New South Wales; 7yr;
George Matthews, Labourer, aged 24, transported 1836, on the Moffatt to New South Wales; 7yr;
William Niblett, Weaver, aged 42, transported 1820, on the Mangles to New South Wales; life;
James Walkley, Butcher, aged 50, transported 1829, on the Mermaid to New South Wales; 7yr;
William Wathen, aged 23, Labourer, transported 1818, on the Lord Melville to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr;

Here is the document for Ruscombe:

Benjamin Pearce, Labourer, aged 23, transported 1832, on the John to New South Wales; life;

Here is the document for Stonehouse:

John Anthony, Cloth-rower, aged 18, transported 1824, on the Minstrel to New South Wales, 7yr;
Peter Bowyer als William Hayward, Clock-cleaner, aged 21, transported 1840, on the Eden to New South Wales, 30yr;
John Browning, aged 35, Labourer, transported 1839, on the Woodbridge to New South Wales, 14yr;
Edward Evans (died on voyage 7 June 1832), aged 19, Labourer, transported 1839, on the Katherine Stewart Forbes to Van Diemen’s Land,
7yr;
Jane Morgan als Anne Jackson, Labourer, aged 24, transported 1837, on the Henry Wellesley to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;

Here is the document for Stroud:

Barnaby Alder, Wool-sorter, aged 24, transported 1830, on the Persian to Van Diemen’s Land, Life;
Isaac Alder, Mason, aged 22, transported 1830, on the Persian to Van Diemen’s Land, Life;
John (als William) Alder, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1831, on the Persian to Van Diemen’s Land, Life;
George Antill, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1829, on the Layton 1 to New South Wales, 7yr;
John Apperley, Shoemaker, aged 23, transported 1834, on the Henry Tanner to New South Wales, Life;
John Barnett, Cloth-dresser, aged 28, transported 1833, on the Lloyds to New South Wales, 7yr;
George Berry, Labourer, aged 23, transported 1833, on the Emperor Alexander to Van Diemen’s Land; 7yr;
Samuel Bowley, aged 27, transported 1818, on the Lord Sidmouth to New South Wales; 7yr;
James Browning, aged 26, Weaver Formerly in 96th Reg. in West Indies, transported 1819, on the Atlas to New South Wales, 7yr;
William Burton, aged 16, transported 1821, on the Lord Shipley to New South Wales; 7yr;
Henry Clayfield, Labourer, aged 22, transported 1840, on the Lord Lyndoch to Van Diemen’s Land;15yr;
Ambrose Clissold, aged 27, transported 1791 on the Atlantic to New South Wales, 7yr;
Samuel Clissold, Labourer formerly in Marines, aged 27, transported 1819 on the Baring to New South Wales; life;
William Clissold, Weaver, aged 34 transported 1826 on the Speke to New South Wales; life;
John Cook (Cooke), aged 14, Labourer, transported 1837, on the Royal Sovereign to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Thomas Cousins (Cozens) the elder, aged 46, transported 1791 on the Atlantic to New South Wales; 7yr;
William Cox, aged 23, Cloth-worker, transported 1833, on the Asia to New South Wales, 7yr;
Richard Daniels, aged 21, Shearer, transported 1821, on the Lord Hungerford to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Daniel Fletcher, aged 21, Servant, transported 1838, on the Earl Grey to New South Wales, 7yr;
Samuel Gabb, Cloth-rower, aged 21, transported 1830, on the David Lyon to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
John Gardner, aged 17, transported 1837, on the Recovery to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Abraham Gaston, Weaver, aged 20, transported 1835, on the John Barry to New South Wales; life;
John Grimes, Labourer, aged 18, transported 1837, on the James Pattison to New South Wales, 7yr;
Charles Grist, Cloth-worker, aged 35, transported 1830, on the David Lyon to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
James Hall, Cloth-worker, aged 19, transported 1837, on the Moffatt to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
John Hall, aged 19, transported 1818, on the Shipley to New South Wales, 7yr;
Peter Hall, Shoemaker, aged 21, transported 1837, on the Moffatt to Van Dieman’s Land; 15yr;
Thomas Hall, Labourer, aged 18, transported 1824, on the Countess of Harcourt to New South Wales, life;
William Harper, aged 30, transported 1837, on the Recovery to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Joseph Holder, Clothworker, aged 17, transported 1822, on the Caledonia to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Thomas Holder, Stockworker, aged 21, transported 1829, on the Claudine to New South Wales; 7yr;
Charles Howard, Stonemason, aged 22, transported 1836, on the Bengal Merchant to New South Wales; 7yr;
Edward Hudd, Labourer Deserted from Plymouth Division of Marines, aged 33, transported 1838, on the Augusta Jessie to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
William Jones, Labourer, aged 19, transported 1841, on the Tortoise to Van Dieman’s Land; 10 yr;
David Keene, Weaver, aged 23, transported 1832, on the Elizabeth to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Daniel Knee als Daniel Keene, Cloth-mill worker, aged 15, transported 1826, on the Speke to New South Wales, life;
William Lander, Clothing business, aged 25, transported 1837, on the Elphinstone to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
William Marmont, Weaver, aged 18, transported 1824, on the Countess of Harcourt to New South Wales; life;
James Matthews, Blacksmith, aged 24, transported 1828, on the William Miles to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Sarah Mills, Servant, aged 48, transported 1841, on the Garland Grove to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
John Motley als John Robinson, aged 36, transported 1819, on the Recovery to New South Wales; life;
Henry Nicholls, Rope-spinner, aged 19, transported 1837, on the Moffatt to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Richard Nicholls (Nichols), Stonmeason, aged 25, transported 1832, on the John to New South Wales; life;
Thomas Papps, Labourer, aged 16, transported 1837, on the James Pattison to New South Wales; 7yr;
William Parker the elder, Cloth-worker, aged 23, transported 1828, on the Bengal Merchant to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
William Parker the younger, Cloth-worker, aged 19, transported 1828, on the Bengal Merchant to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
John Parsons, Labourer, aged 22, transported 1837, on the Elphinstone to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Richard Pilliner, Pig-dealer, aged 18, transported 1836, on the Lord Lyndoch to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Henry Pitt, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1829, on the Mermaid to New South Wales; 7yr;
Thomas Pitt, Labourer, aged 16, transported 1838, on the Theresa to New South Wales; 7yr;
William Poulton, Labourer, aged 25, transported 1833, on the Emperor Alexander to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Eliza Powell, Cloth-worker, aged 20, transported 1840, on the Navarino to Van Die,man’s Land ; 12yr;
James Roberts, Tailor, aged 20, transported 1832, on the Katherine Stewart Forbes to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
William Slade, Servant, aged 22, transported 1827, on the John to New South Wales; life;
Henry Smart, Butcher, aged 23, transported 1831, on the Lord Lyndoch to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr;
Amelia Smith w. of Joseph q.v., Shopkeeper, aged 37, transported 1825, on the Providence to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr;
Charles Smith, Scamp and bone-picker, aged 17, transported 1838, on the Gilmore to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Edmund Smith als Edward Smith, Labourer, aged 18, transported 1834, on the Henry Tanner to New South Wales; life;
George Smith, aged 20, transported 1834, on the Henry Tanner to New South Wales; 7yr;
George Smith, Weaver, aged 32, transported 1838, on the Eden to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Joseph Smith h. of Amelia q.v., Dealer in marine stores. Formerly serves in E. India Co., aged 52, transported 1826, on the Chapman to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr;
Nathaniel Smith, Weaver, aged 24, transported 1838, on the Coromandel to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Edmund Tyler, Sawyer, aged 18, transported 1842, on the Emily to Van Diemen’s Land, 10yr;
Edwin Walkley, Mason’s labourer, aged 15, transported 1837, on the James Pattison to New South Wales; 7yr;
John Ward, Clothing business, aged 17, transported 1835, on the Susan to New South Wales; 7yr;
James Wathen, Blacksmith, aged 23, transported 1832, on the Katherine Stewart Forbes to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Joseph Wathen, aged 20, Hawker, transported 1837, on the Henry Wellesley to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Joseph White s. of Ann q.v., aged 22, transported 1820, on the Neptune to New South Wales, 7yr;
Thomas White, Labourer, aged 26, transported 1838, on the Earl Grey to New South Wales, 15yr;
Thomas Wilkins, als Samuel Smith als James Williams, White, aged 49, transported 1828, on the Countess of Harcourt to New South Wales, 7yr;
William Williams, aged 32, Weaver, transported 1830, on the Red Rover to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
George Winn, Clothing business, aged 25, transported 1836, on the Bengal Merchant to New South Wales; 7yr;
Thomas Winn, Boatman, aged 19, transported 1838, on the Gilmore to Van Diemen’s Land; 30yr;
William Wood, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1828, on the Vittoria to New South Wales, life;
Thomas Worden (Wording) Labourer, aged 16, transported 1829, on the Layton to New South Wales, 7yr;

Here is the document for Thrupp:

James Grimes, Labourer, aged 26, transported 1818, on the Shipley to New South Wales, 7yr;

Here is the document for Uley:

William Birt, Spinner, formerly a soldier in 66th Reg. of Foot, aged 40, transported 1818, on the Shipley to New South Wales, 7yr;
James Croome, Mason, aged 22, transported 1830, on the Persian to Van Diemen’s Land, Life;
Thomas Croome, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1831, on the Isabella to New South Wales, 7yr;
Isaac Fisher, aged 29, Weaver, transported 1832, on the John to New South Wales, life;
Joseph Fisher, aged 29, Handle-Setter, transported 1825, on the Minstrel to New South Wales, 14yr;
William Flint, aged 35, transported 1820, on the Maria to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Nathaniel Ford, Weaver, aged 20, transported 1830, on the Persian to Van Diemen’s Land; 14yr;
Joseph Hatherall, Weaver, aged 26, transported 1826, on the Andromeda to Van Diemen’s Land; life;
William Hill, als William Harris, aged 27, Thatcher, transported 1820 on the Maria to Van Dieman’s Land 7yr;
William Hurcombe, Labourer, aged 22, transported 1842, on the Emily to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr & 2wks;
Jacob Jefferies, Labourer, aged 31, transported 1838, on the Augusta Jessie to Van Dieman’s Land; 15yr;
Nathaniel Poole, Cooper, aged 20, transported 1831, on the Lord Lyndoch to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Daniel Riddiford, Shearman, aged 31, transported 1819, on the Baring to New South Wales (5 sick convicts landed in Van Dieman’s Land); 7yr;
Benjamin Robbins, Weaver, aged 34, transported 1831, on the Elizabeth to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr

Here is the document for Woodchester:

Nathaniel Beard, Cloth-worker, aged 16, transported 1832, on the Surrey 1 to Van Diemen’s Land; Life;
Charles Haines (Haynes), Brazier, aged 25, transported 1829, on the Prince Regent to Van Diemen’s Land, 7yr;
Robert Harrison, aged 31, transported 1819, on the Recovery to New South Wales, life;
James Peters, Baker, transported 1791, on the Atlantic (app) 27 March 1791 (embarked on Neptune Dec 1789 but did not sail then) to New South Wales, 7yr;
John Shipton, Waterman, aged 25, transported 1832, on the Hercules to New South Wales; life;

Here is the document for Wotton-under-Edge:

George Aldridge, Spinner, aged 19, transported 1831, on the Isabella to New South Wales, 7yr;
Charles Brown, aged 23, Labourer, transported 1832, on the Mary to New South Wales, life;
James Candy, aged 27, Shearman, transported 1830, on the Manlius to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
John Candy, aged 30, Spinner, transported 1830, on the Manlius to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Joseph Clarke, Labourer, aged 21, transported 1824, on the Countess of Harcourt to New South Wales; 7yr;
George Collins, Labourer, aged 18, transported 1836, on the Lady Nugent to Van Diemen’s Land; life;
Charles Cossens, aged 19, Labourer, transported 1831, on the Gilmore to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
James Cossens, aged 19, Labourer, transported 1831, on the Strathfieldsay to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Thomas Cossens, aged 23, Labourer, transported 1831, on the Emperor Alexander to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Edward Cox, aged 23, Labourer, transported 1831, on the Isabella to New South Wales, 7yr;
George Dando, aged 19, Labourer, transported 1833 on the Chapman to Van Dieman’s Land 7yr;
John Downs (Downes), aged 17, Shoemaker, transported 1833 on the Lloyds to Van Dieman’s Land 7yr;
Samuel Fowler, aged 19, Weaver, transported 1820, on the Neptune to New South Wales, 7yr;
William Griffin, Labourer, aged 19, transported 1820,on the Neptune to New South Wales, 7yr;
Daniel Hall, aged 26, Labourer, transported 1821 on the Malabar to Van Dieman’s Land 7yr;
Jeremiah Harmer, aged 29, Thatcher, transported 1818 on the Lord Melville to Van Dieman’s Land 7yr;
William Hayward, aged 26, Labourer, transported 1831 on the Lord Lyndoch to Van Dieman’s Land life;
Samuel Holder, Clothworker, aged 18, transported 1831, on the Gilmore to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
William Hunt, Brickmaker, aged 24, transported 1830, on the Clyde to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr;
John King, Weaver, aged 22, transported 1820,on the Elizabeth to New South Wales, 7yr;
Joseph Knight, Weaver, aged 40, transported 1831, on the Larkins to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
John Lewis, Weaver, aged 19, transported 1831, on the Gilmore to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Thomas Organ, Labourer, aged 26, transported 1828, on the Bengal Merchant to Van Dieman’s Land; 7yr;
Robert Pegler (Peglar), Labourer, aged 23, transported 1831, on the Lord Lyndoch to Van Dieman’s Land; life;
Joseph Phillips, Accountant, aged 30, transported 1841, on the Tortoise to Van Dieman’s Land; 15yr;
Joseph Povey, Clothing business, aged 19, transported 1831, on the Elizabeth to Van Dieman’s Land; 14yr;
Lewis Rymer, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1832 on the John to New South Wales, 7yr;
Elihu Smith, Tailor, aged 23, transported 1835, on the Susan to New South Wales; life;
Henry Summers als Henry Rice, Clothing-mill boy, aged 15, transported 1840, on the Hindostan to Van Dieman’s Land; 10yr;
Henry Walker, Labourer, aged 25, transported 1833 on the Lord Lyndoch to New South Wales, 7yr;
Edwin Webb, aged 20, Weaver, transported 1836, on the James Pattison to New South Wales, life;
Michael Witts, Labourer, aged 22, transported 1830, on the Florentia to New South Wales, 14yr;
William Woollen, Labourer, aged 20, transported 1842 on the Candahar to Van Diemen’s Land; 21yr;
Henry Workman, Stock-worker, aged 28, transported 1827, on the John to New South Wales, life;
Charles Young, Labourer, aged 30, transported 1838, on the Coromandel to Van Dieman’s Land; 10yr;
Joseph Young, Lsbourer, Formerly a soldier in the 32nd Reg., aged 27, transported 1819, on the Eliza to New South Wales, 7yr;

ONE of the most notorious pirates in the history of seafaring came from Stonehouse, according to new research.
The father of Edward Thache, better known as Blackbeard, was born in Stonehouse and had family in the area, claims Baylus Brooks, an American maritime historian and genealogist in his new book Quest for Blackbeard.
Parish records appear to show that Edward Thache senior was born in Stonehouse on June 14, 1659, and was baptized two weeks later at St Cyr’s Church.
Blackbeard’s grandfather, the Rev Thomas Thache, was the rector at the church and had a wife called Rachel.
Edward Thatche senior is believed to have moved to Bristol where he married Elizabeth.
They had two children, Blackbeard and Elizabeth, claims Mr Brooks.
The research has been put together with help from members of Stonehouse History Group.
Darrell Webb, from the history group, said: “Stonehouse History Group were pleased to help supply Baylus a small amount of information about the Thatch family who lived in Stonehouse.
“We are very intrigued and pleased that his investigations seem to point to a link between the famous pirate Blackbeard and a Reverend of St Cyr’s.”
Blackbeard, who is said to have operated around the West Indies and Britain’s North American colonies, is remembered as one of the most notorious pirates, known for his long black beard which made him appear even more frightening.
After a lawless career, he is believed to have been killed in a final battle near Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, by the Royal Navy in November, 1718.
(Stroud News January 2017)

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Marcus Rediker CUP 1987
References: ‘In no way was the pirate sense of fraternity, which Spotswood and others noted, more forcefully expressed than in the threats and acts of revenge taken by pirates.’ In 1717, ‘Teach’s sea rovers captured a merchant vessel and, “because she belonged to Boston, [Teach] alledging the People of Boston had henged some of the Pirates, so burnt her,” Teach declared that all Boston ships deserved a similar fate.’
(His ship, pointedly, was named Queen Anne’s Revenge)
Alexander Spotswood, Governor of Virginia, wrote this to the Board of Trade in 1724:
“Your Lordships will easily conceive my Meaning when you reflect on the Vigorous part I’ve acted to suppress Pirates: and if those barbarous Wretches can be moved to cut off the Nose & Ears of a Master for but correcting his own Sailors, what inhuman treatment must I expect, should I fall within their power, who have been markt as the principle object of their vengeance, for cutting off their arch Pirate Thatch [Teach, also known as Blackbeard], with all his grand designs …”
‘Spotswood knew these pirates well. He had authorized the expedition that returned to Virginia boasting Blackbeard’s head as a trophy.’

Some Wiltshire Convicts on the Eleanor

From my old stomping grounds,
Where I have walked, cycled and camped,
Spent time in various pubs
With three generations,
Visited friends and relations,
Where I have dressed graves and gravestones
In churchyards with my mother:

Maurice Pope from South Savernake, Wootton Rivers;
George Durman and John Pound from Aldbourne, Ramsbury
Thomas Lawrence, John Orchard, John Reeves
And Henry Tombs from Wanborough;
Joseph Watts from Liddington, Wroughton;
John Legg: Hannington
Abraham Knight from Latton;
James Romain from Enford, Netheravon;
Charles Davis, Gifford North and Laban Stone from Alton Barnes.

Please see the picture at the top for more on Wiltshire and transportation.

‘Butchers, bakers, tailors, shoemakers, bricklayers, carpenters, thatchers, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, labourers, ploughmen, ploughwrights, reapers, mowers, dairy hands, shearers, shepherds, paper makers, hurdle makers, sawyers, ostlers, grooms, craters, wood men, horse breakers, gardeners, road makers, brick makers, tanners, braziers, whitesmiths, servants, malts tears, pond makers, iron founders, plasterers, skaters, porters, jockeys, hedgers, surveyors, fencers, millers, farriers, boat and barge builders, hop planters, drovers, well sinkers, barbers, chimney sweeps, carpet weavers:
The occupations of the women and men
Transported after the 1830 Captain Swing Riots,
On the Eleanor, bound for New South Wales,
Wessex people from Wiltshire,
Hampshire and Dorset…
It reads like the pages of a Thomas Hardy novel…

David Kent and Norma Townsend in their book, The Convicts of the Eleanor Protest in Rural England New Lives in Australia (The Merlin Press Pluto Press Australia), present a compelling account of the ingenuousness of these Wessex folk:

Villagers acting out their customary form of protest:
Rough music, flags, hatbands, a communal march,
Collecting money, and bread, cheese and ale
At farm, church or inn,
Skimmingtons, the blowing of horns,
Ritual and biblical chants:
‘Bread or Blood’,
The ceremony of custom and symbolism,
Following the ritual path of the year:
Plough Monday, 12th Night, Shrove Tuesday, Guy Fawkes Night,
And ‘in Berkshire, Hampshire and Wiltshire the disturbances reached a crescendo on the same day – St Clement’s Day, 23 November … One of the important doleing days before Christmas, a day when it was customary for rural labourers to solicit gifts of food and money. Liminality and commensality were an integral part of all doleing customs … St Clement was the patron saint of blacksmiths and 23 November was traditionally celebrated by a shortening of the working day, the collection of donations during a perambulation, plenty of drinking, and sometimes a supper in the evening.’
Little wonder then that blacksmiths were to the fore in the firelight and in the breaking of machines:
‘Come all you Vulcans stout and strong,
Unto St Clem we do belong…
Come all you Vulcans strong and stout,
Unto St Clem I pray turn out.’
(Clem acts as a musical motif for Joe and Pip’s relationship in Great Expectations, of course, and Magwitch was transported to Australia.)

‘When the behaviour of the Swing protestors is placed in the context of custom and popular culture, their innocent self-confidence and ingenuousness is more readily understood.’

So when I walk and bus and cycle the country lanes in the villages near my Swindon hometown, villages loved by my family, and one – Wroughton – an ancestral family village, where my forebears would have known the local Swing participants, I feel on nodding terms with them all, especially on misty mornings in late November.
(I have the family bible and hymn book on my table as I write these words, together with a memorial card for a distant 19th century ancestor, killed when still a boy, in a threshing machine tragic accident.)
Wroughton was obviously an interesting community, as Hobsbawm and Rude illustrated in their Captain Swing book, when describing a fire at a farm some four years after the Swing incendiarism: ‘most of the villagers did indeed help to put our an incendiary fire in 1834; ” a few, however, assembled at a short distance smoking their pipes and amusing themselves with the utmost indifference, but manifesting their recklessness and malignity by cheers and other tokens when any part of the building fell in.” Moreover, “at a recent fire some of the labourers actually lit their pipes by the burning corn stacks and deliberately smoked them in the farm-yard.”’

But back to St Clem, November 23 1830 and its aftermath in my old Wiltshire village haunts: Wootton Rivers, Aldbourne, Wanborough, Liddington, Wroughton, Hannington, Latton, Netheravon, Alton Barnes…
All these saw a series of ‘Agricultural machines destroyed, food, drink and money levied’ and less frequently ‘wage increase demanded’ and ‘improved Poor Law allowances demanded’ and at Alton Barnes, ‘affray, forced entry’, but all in the spirit of custom and symbolism…

But in the context of agitation for parliamentary reform, a ruling class fear of revolution, and a gimlet-eyed search for any semblance of political thinking on the part of the agricultural labourers, what might have seemed as custom and tradition to the rioters, was perceived quite differently in London and at the Home Office.

Why, it was asked, did the Wanborough rioters march with a tricolor and with a kerchief dipped in blood? Why did the labourers in Hannington declare that there was no law for the night of their action?

And so, as ‘In Wiltshire protest did not gain momentum gradually; it exploded … Within twenty-four hours of the first collective action at All Cannings … scarcely any part remained untouched … In the north of the county near Swindon, many farmers from disturbed parishes like Wanborough, Liddington and Wroughton were sworn in as special constables, and in discussions with the magistrates it was agreed that higher wages would only be negotiated once the protest was suppressed.’

And, of course, magistrates had their own customs, symbolism, ceremony and liminal and commensal traditions to uphold:
“We do not come here to inquire into grievances, we come here to decide law.”

Nationally, over 10% of the nigh on 2,000 persons in the dock were condemned to death. After the theatre of commutation, 19 were executed, 505 sentenced to transportation, and 644 imprisoned.

The authors argue that this represented an extreme ruling class response, not merely disproportionate, in the cant of our day, but rather a ruling class reign of terror behind the be-wigged pantomimic display of the etiquette of the court:

“If the learned Counsel who has painted my conduct to you was present at that place and wore a smock frock instead of a gown, and a straw hat instead of a wig, he would now be standing in this dock instead of being seated where he is.”

In Wiltshire, 339 cases were heard; 200 found guilty, 42 gaoled, 52 sentenced to death, 1 executed, 152 transported…

“Toomer. What do you have to say to the gentlemen of the jury, in your defence?”
Toomer shuffles uneasily; he doesn’t know what to say.
“Nothin’ zur. I don’ know any of ‘em.”
Jury look confused. Then collectively fathom Toomer’s rustic simplicity. They collectively laugh at his innocence.
Toomer is found guilty and sentenced to transportation.

Scenes of lamentation. Heartfelt cries of anguish. Empty hearths. Cold beds. The workhouse. Gaol. Portsmouth. The hulks. The Eleanor. The voyage. Port Jackson. Assignment. Ticket of leave?

EPT Thompson:
‘ For 65 years one woman slept wakefully at nights and moved slowly by day … listening for footsteps … In 1831 her husband and brother had been transported … She hoped through each hour; and she died in her chair turned towards the East; because she had heard that it was out of the sunrise that travellers must come.’
She clutches two letters in her clasped hands in her black gowned lap.

Sir,
This is to inform you that if you don pull down your damned thrashing mashines then we will be forced to do it for ye.
And please rise the married men’s wages and the single men too.
Signed,
On behalf of the whole,
Swing.

My dearest Eliza,
Tis now foive yer since we wrote that accursed letter. As you no, we only writ it for the whole. I didn’t accompanye the village on the march. Nor did Esau. But here we are still.
We hope to gain our tickets of leave, God willin, in two yer. My skills as a sawyer and Esau’s as a carpenter should hold us in good sted to work our passage back to ee.
One day soon, my dear, we shall walk from out of the sun to greet thee in your faverit chair.
Your lovin William,
And thy brother Esau.

When I came to sweet Stroudwater,
It happened to be in the fall,
I never gave way to exhaustion
Till I landed on the canal.
To look at such arduous labour,
It filled my heart with surprise,
To see such great undertakings
The like I never saw with my eyes.
So farewell father and mother,
And fare ye well Ireland, too;
So fare ye well, sister and brother,
So kindly I bid you adieu.

I being a poor Irish stranger,
And not knowing what for to say,
When the ganger came up in a hurry,
Saying, ‘Boys, it’s a great time of day’,
They all stood up in good order,
You’d thought him father of all;
I wishing that very same moment
I was dying upon the canal.

I learnt the art of navigation;
I think it’s a very fine trade:
I can handle the pick and the shovel,
Likewise the wheelbarrow and spade.
I learned to be very handy;
Although I am not very tall,
I could handle the sprig of shillelagh
With every a boy on the canal.

When I came to leave Stroudwater,
It happened to be in the fall,
I never gave way to exhaustion
Till I finished on the canal.
To look at such arduous labour,
It filled my heart with surprise,
To see such great undertakings
The like I never saw with my eyes.
So farewell to fair Framilode,
And fare ye well Eastington, too;
So fare ye well, Dudbridge and Wallbridge,
So kindly I bid you adieu.

So now to conclude and to finish,
And to publish in every degree,
I’m just as true-hearted an Irishman
As ever Stroudwater did see.
So fill up a glass and be hearty
And drink a good health to us all,
And to every true-hearted Irishman
That’s digging upon the canal.

(Adapted from Paddy upon the Canal in Strike the Bell – transport songs selected and edited by Roy Palmer, CUP, 1978.)

When I walk through Swindon’s red brick streets
(Richard Jefferies’ ‘Chicago of the West’),
Which wander up the hillside from the railway village,
I use the old factory tunnel, the railway park,
The canal cut, the alleyways, the ginnels,
‘The Loop’ –
Joining Swindon Junction (GWR)
To MSWJR Old Town Swindon Station
(Scene of my sister’s honeymoon train in 1961,
And my brother and my train-spotting and chips trips),
But I stood for a while at the red brick railway bridge
Arching over the canal, where a heron stood sentinel,
Poaching hard by an outfall tumbling from the bank.

Unsure of my path, I asked a fellow pair of walkers,
‘What happens if I turn right?’
‘You’ll end up at Waitrose, where the canal ends.’
‘There’s been a lot of changes since I was here last,
Forty years ago, I should think.’
‘There’s been a lot of changes in the last year, mate.’
By then, I had already roamed around Cambria Bridge Road,
Trying to find the cottage where Edward Thomas used to stay
(Now a Chinese take-away)
When visiting his grand parents before the Great War,
When my gramp was serving his GWR apprenticeship,
A carpenter in the carriage and wagon works,
Working alongside his father.

Did they ever meet and chat, I wondered,
Walking through the Railway Park,
Perhaps watching the steam powered machine
Cut the giant lardy cake on high days and holidays;
Did they ever chat to Alfred Williams,
‘The Hammer man Poet’, hot from his labours,
Or Archibald Knee, once of Stroud, but then alongside
My family in the Carriage and Wagon paint shop:
Archibald Knee, killed in the Great War,
Commemorated in the STEAM Museum:
“Their names liveth for ever”,
Archibald Knee, friend of the other Archibald Knee,
Drowned with Dorothy Beard, Avening, 1916.
My grand dad was a sociable cove,
Who liked a chat and a song –
I think he would have chatted with the Swindon Archibald,
They worked alongside one another, after all,
And having married Elsie Bingham in Cainscross in 1914,
They returned to the Cotswolds after gramp was demobbed,
And after he was made redundant in 1921:
‘THE REGENT CARRIAGE CO. LTD.
AUTOMOBILE COACHBUILDER AND ENGINEER
126-132 NEW KINGS ROAD FULHAM LONDON SW1
26th October 1921
This is to certify that C.H. Butler has been employed by us a Bodymaker for some time. During this period we always found him an honest, sober and industrious workman. He is a good timekeeper. We had to dispense with his services owing to slackness of trade.’
They found a home near Frampton Mansell,
High above the Thames and Severn Canal,
An ex-army Nissan hut, *
Gramp scraped a living
With a horse and cart milk round,
Until he got a job again in the Works in Swindon.
And there they stayed, until retiring,
To Leonard Stanley, in 1959;
I have his GWR plane stamped with his name,
A sort of talisman, to me, as well as memento,
And it’s image drifted through my mind,
As I descended through Stafford Street Cemetery,
To reach red brick Clifton Street Junior School
(Beat them five – nil in 1960, and I scored four),
Then it was back to Edward Thomas land:
I had been reading Gurney and Will Harvey the night before, so it was hardly a surprise that Edward Thomas became a comrade on my walk: he too, imagined mysterious and elusive partners accompanying him on his walks; just like Harvey (married in Swindon, lived at152 Goddard Avenue), Thomas had Swindon connections; my mum and dad were, of course, married in Swindon, and Thomas wrote For These on the day he enlisted – on the day my mum was born: July 14th, 1915.

Searching for the WW1 Nissen huts above Cowcombe Hill

Walking Canals in Swindon

It was inevitably a bit George Bowling,
A bit Coming up for Air,
Walking streets from which we once train-spotted,
Cries of disbelief at seeing diesel railcars still in chocolate and cream,
Waiting their turn for the scrapyard,
Marooned for the nonce in some distant siding,
High above the canal;
A Just William world, lost in space and time,
Both then, and now,
Searching for the palimpsests of inland navigations,
Lost where fields have become houses,
And where footpaths have become roads,
And where the North Wilts Canal became an underpass,
Under Brunel’s GWR main line,
Past red brick walls of what were once the confines of ‘The Works’,
Where 15,000 people were once employed,
Until you make your way across a main road,
To spot an edge-lands dark, narrow, footpath,
That seemed to disappear into a tangle of hawthorn,
But there, beyond the bags of rotting refuse,
The newspapers, magazines and the plastic detritus,
The sun gleamed in a suggestion of miry water,
That was once an inland navigation.

After a difficult journey past nettles and brambles,
With a tall wire fence on the other side of a gap
Only just wide enough for a body to pass through,
I reached the welcome wideness of the Wilts and Berks Canal,
To walk along a towpath of sorts,
The mainline to Kemble, Stroud, Gloucester and Cheltenham
High on my left, behind a rudimentary wire fence,
Warehouses to let, and factories of sorts, away on the other bank;
After about a quarter of an hour,
I reached the end of the extant waters,
To find the turnpikes’ revenge:
‘Swindon Car-Breakers’;
‘Specialist Ford Dismantlers’;
‘Cars and Vans Bought For Cash!
With or Without MOT!’;
I turned left for the road,
And there, beneath the notice board for ‘Highworth Breakers’,
Was a street name: Brindley Close.

Warmed by this canal reference, and the acrid, industrial taste of the air,
I decided to wander into Even Swindon
(Ernie Hunt!),
To seek out the River Ray,
Tributary of the infant Thames
(Once spanned by a canal aqueduct),
And the beautifully named Rushy Platt,
Making my way by instinct past a line of willow trees,
And an isolated old rusting corrugated barn,
Now surrounded by houses:
In short, I got lost in the vastness of West Swindon,
Roads were everywhere; everything new, alien and confounding,
Even the signpost was broken and shattered;
But a friendly walker directed me to a footpath
‘On the other side of Sainsbury’s car park’,
To make my way to Wootton Bassett Road,
And the Wilts and Berks Canal information board:
‘You are Here’.

A few minutes’ walk took me to a broad expanse of water,
Where a heron performed for me,
Until I reached the Midland and South Western Junction Railway bridge,
A tessellated red brick delight,
Then walked another quarter of a mile,
The hum of Swindon’s traffic an undercurrent all around,
To discover a stone bridge,
A picture of rural tranquility from a lost age,
Serenely commanding the silver clouded Wiltshire skyscape,
Despite the new Waitrose beyond, at a new brick bridge and railings;
I turned around at Waitrose
(I’ll explore further west another time).

The heron re-performed its tricks for me,
As I made my way along the line of the canal,
All bollards and parked cars and bridges and murals,
Cyclists, shoppers and the Shanghai by Cambria Bridge Road
(Once the cottage where Edward Thomas stayed with his grandmother),
Along a linear back yard in central Swindon,
Until it became Canal Walk, by the Brunel Shopping Centre,
Where periodic paving stones
Tell oblivious shoppers
The canal history of where they walk and talk and shop,
And a statue of a golden lion too,
In memory of the Golden Lion footbridge and lift,
Right slap bang there in the middle of Swindon’s shopping centre,
Two hundred metres or so before you reach Debenham’s,
The site of what was once a canal basin,
And junction of the North Wilts and Wilts and Berks canals.

I climbed up to Fleming Way
(A fast road line of the old canal, named after a Swindon footballer),
Past a canal mural on the gable end of a house,
Edwardian golden age near Corporation Street,
Then past the steps of what was once a canal bridge,
Hard by the Magic Roundabout and the County Ground;
This looks like the end of the journey,
But over beyond the football ground,
Just behind Queen’s Drive:
The start of Swindon’s GLC post-war overspill,
There is a footpath, where I remember water,
But though culverted now,
The linear woodland, the occasional puddles, the dampness, the gnats,
Remind us of what was once an inland navigation,
And after a couple of hundred metres,
There stands another stone bridge,
Again, one I had never seen before,
A reminder of a rural water-land,
In the midst of this urban rush;
The mission felt accomplished for the moment,
With a sense of temporary completion,
Until I resume my trek eastwards towards Berkshire;
But for now, back to the railway station:
‘We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.’ T.S. Elliot

The Swindon Advertiser’s obituary for Edward Thomas, 1917:
‘His passionate love of the countryside was largely nourished in the neighbourhood of Swindon, along the Canal Side to Wooton Bassett, around Coate Reservoir, and elsewhere. No man has done more and, in more capable language painted the beauties of the environs of our town.’

As the morning developed, the promise of a fine day was fulfilled; and after we passed the brick-kiln country near Brentford, we proceeded in a zig-zag direction towards Uxbridge and Rickmansworth. The further we went … a feeling of admiration for the picturesque beauty of the country and the artificial river, lying and running unheeded so near to the metropolis.

Our horses are … docile, intelligent and well behaved … and for many miles they are left to go on unled, chewing their provender in their milking-can nosebags … At bridges where the towing path does not pass under the arch the mere unhooking of the rope is sufficient, and the horse, freed from the weight of the barge, walks quickly up the incline over the bridge and down to the path, even when, as is frequently the case, it changes to the other side … There he patiently waits until his burden floats through …

Small as the Stourport cabin is … cabins just as small are made to accommodate large families … There is the boatman, and his wife, a stout, sunburnt woman; and children, varying in number from two to ten, and in ages from three weeks to ten years …

The boatmen were preparing for the passage of the Blisworth tunnel (nearly two miles in length) an underground journey of an hour’s duration. At the mouth of the tunnel were a large number of leggers, waiting to be employed … To beguile the tedium of the slow, dark journey – to amuse the leggers whose work s fearfully hard … and above all to avail themselves of the atmospheric effects of the tunnel; the boatmen at the tillers nearly all sing …

… the ruling favourite is the plaintive ballad … it generally contains a story, and …fits easily into a slow, drawling, breath-taking tune …

There may have been a dozen of these ballads chanted in the Blisworth tunnel at the same time … They came upon our ears, mixed with the splashing of water, in drowsy cadence, and at long intervals, like … moaning. The effect upon the mind was, in this dark passage, to create a … belief in the existence of misery and the utter nothingness of the upper world.

John Hollingshead, in Household Words, September 1858, in Strike the Bell, edited by Roy Palmer.

The Stroudwater Navigation

Come, since the day’s for joy design’d,
Let all cares be left behind,
And universal pleasure bind!
Adieu to all vexation;
No more let fears and doubts prevail,
Nor our hopes and spirits fail,
For though we see not yet the sail,
We have the Navigation.

Let Thames, the Trent, the Severn know,
Each stream which in the world doth flow,
There various stores of traffic show,
With envious exaltation;
But now no more; their triumph vain,
This inland borough will maintain
Its fame, & still unrivall’d reign
Secure by Navigation.

And thanks to Wallbridge since ‘tis perform’d,
The poor will now be clothed and warmed,
‘Gainst wintry winds & tempest arm’d,
Snug in their habitation;
The old & young with equal joy
Will raise their voices to the sky
And children yet unborn will cry
Bless Stroudwater Navigation.

The rising wharf we soon shall see,
And commerce wide extended be,
From inland Stroud unto the sea,
And far remotest nation;
The freight’d bark with merchandise,
And hardy tars to steer the prize,
Will oft returning glad our eyes,
Through Stroudwater Navigation.

Thy lofty spire shall wondering tell,
Recording History too shall spell
To distant days thy fame & swell
The world with admiration;
For long as Stroud Scarlet’s name shall be
To future ages told, you’ll see
This borough flourish great & free,
And boast her Navigation.

The peopled streets will now increase,
The town will smile, & trade ne’er cease,
Tho’ war be wag’d, or if at peace,
We traffic thro’ the nation;
Who’s then so blest, or so secure?
We feed the hungry, cloth the poor,
Of never ending commerce sure,
By the Stroudwater Navigation.

Let ev’ry heart true pleasure feel,
On this occasion show her zeal,
Her wishes for the public weal,
Whatever be her station;
Prepare her bumper, nor delay
In chorus now to sing & say,
Stroud for ever, & shout “Hooray”
For the Stroudwater Navigation.

(Adapted from Grantham Navigation in Strike the Bell – transport songs selected and edited by Roy Palmer, CUP, 1978.)