Background of the RiotsThe end of the Napoleonic Wars with victory at Waterloo led not to a golden age of peace and prosperity, but harsh economic conditions and no political gains for the vast majority of the population. Discontent continued for years, most famously evidenced in the events that concluded with the Peterloo Massacre in 1819. Three years previously a less well-known demonstration of resentment occurred in the Cambridgeshire town of Littleport, notable for the severe reaction of the authorities afterwards.
A mutual aid club meeting fatefully at a local inn, The Globe, found that rather than a few members needing support, nearly all did. Wages were low, food prices rising rapidly, and unemployment growing. The beer doubtless fuelled hot-heads: they drummed up more support and proceeded on a rampage round the town’s wealthier homes, demanding money with the threat of violence and where not thus placated smashing goods and stealing cash anyway. The next day they moved on to Ely , repeating the performance until a troop of Dragoons brought from Bury-St-Edmunds arrived. The rioters returned to Littleport and prepared for a stand in The George and Dragon there. A gun battle ensued before the rebels were captured, though some hid in the fens for weeks, and some fled not to return for years. One trying to bolt was shot dead. At the June trial of the culprits 24 were sentenced to death, but the magistrates feared reprisals so commuted all but five sentences to a year in Ely gaol or transportation to Botany Bay for seven years (then changed their minds again, those facing a year in prison joining their comrades in the journey to Australia). The unlucky five were hanged just outside Ely on June 28 1816. Why Littleport?The riots that occurred in Littleport and Ely took place in the year 1816. At that time the population of Littleport was approximately 2000 and there were few families who were not affected by the riots. England had been at war with France for many years and had finally ended with Napoleon being beaten at Waterloo on the 18th June 1815. The battle weary men of England returned home to find the country in recession, jobs were scarce and low paid. Those lucky enough to find work as farm labourers were paid 8 or 9 shillings a week (40 - 45 pence in today's money) and some war veterans found work building roads for 2 shillings and sixpence a week (12p approx.) however this was barely enough to survive on. At the start of 1816 wheat, a basic food commodity, was 52 shillings a quarter (£2.60). This rose during the year to 103 shillings a quarter (£5.15) by December. The general dissatisfaction throughout the country led to many minor disturbances and by far the biggest and most notorious occurrence started in Littleport.
Plotting
On the morning of 20 May, a meeting was held in Southery, Norfolk. The group, including a Thomas Sindall, marched through Denver to Downham Market to meet with the magistrates at their weekly meeting at The Crown public house. Sindall was the only person known to have been at both the riots at Downham Market and Littleport. Sindall was the only person known to have been at both the riots at Downham Market and Littleport.
In many parts of the country labourers belonged to a benefit club to help support the poor and needy, Littleport was no different in this respect with the local club meetings being held in the Globe public house on Main St. The landlord at the time was Robert Johnson. The club met at the Globe on the evening of Wednesday 22nd May 1816, around 50 or 60 villagers were present, each had paid a shilling for a quart of beer. The meeting was to decide who was in need of assistance this year and it soon became clear that almost everyone was. Bad feelings ran high, one local farmer and magistrate had just sacked three of his labourers and yet he was known to spend more on buying one shirt than on the weekly wages of the three men combined. The end of the Napoleonic Wars with victory at Waterloo led not to a golden age of peace and prosperity, but harsh economic conditions. The Littleport Riots were one of many that happened after the Napoleonic WarsThe topic of conversation turned to the disturbances in the surrounding villages where farm labourers were said to be kicking up a fuss and demanding more money to stay alive. Many people were expecting men from nearby Denver and Southery to visit the meeting and when these did not appear someone said "Well, as the Denver men have not come, we will have a fray to ourselves." With this a man by the name of Cornwall went to get a horn. He first got a seed drill spout from the blacksmith, but he could not make a sound with it. He then went to Steven's bakery to get his horn, but it was too quiet when blown. He then went to Burgess, the lighterman, (a lighter is a type of boat), and got the horn that was used when he took pleasure parties to Downham Market fair. Cornwall then went around the town blowing the horn and soon a crowd of several hundred people followed him back to the Globe pub. 
The Globe Inn
The Riot in LittleportArmed with whatever weapons they could find, clubs, pitchforks, cleavers and a few guns, the mob took to the streets. They went to Mingey's shop first and stoned the windows. They then moved on to Mr Clarke's shop where they broke in and threw his wares into the street. From here they went to the home of a retired farmer, Josiah Dewey, and demanded money. He refused to give them £1 and the mob forced their way into his house and took or smashed everything in it. The local vicar, Rev Vachell, and his wife arrived on the scene and attempted to read the riot act to the mob. They would not listen to him and told him to go home and they would get to him presently. They left Mr Dewey's house with over 100 guineas in gold.
The mob then moved on to Mr Sindall, a 90 year old bedridden gentleman, where they smashed all his furniture and threatened his housekeeper, Mrs Hutt, with a meat cleaver. The home of old Mr Little was next, he got off by giving the mob £2. At Mr Speechley's house, however, a refusal to hand money over resulted in all his furniture being smashed. Mr Shrewsbury gave them money and from there they went on to the shop, and home, of Mrs Waddelow. Mrs Waddelow was an old lady of about 70 who lived with her grandson, Henry Martin, a leading landowner. Henry saw the mob approaching and fled out the back of the house leaving his grandmother and a visitor, Mrs Cutlack, to fend for themselves. The mob soon broke the door and windows in and stormed into the house. Mrs Cutlack was robbed of £3, all the furniture was smashed and all the goods in the shop were taken. The mob left after making death threats against Henry Martin and went on to the local vicarage. The vicar, Rev Vachell, was also the magistrate of the town. He was waiting for the mob at the door of the vicarage with a pistol, where he threatened to "blow the brains out" of the first man to step across his threshold. Three men rushed him and knocked the pistol out of his hand before he could fire at them. The mob surged into the vicarage and proceeded to take or smash all of the contents, including his valuable papers. They were so busy they didn't see Rev Vachell and his family flee out the back of the vicarage. The vicar and his family made their way on foot towards Ely to get help. At Portly Hill, on the outskirts of Littleport, they met a horse and carriage, the driver was persuaded to take them to Ely. The mob moved on to raid and loot many other shops and homes in the town. At one point a carriage containing Mr Hugh Robert Evans, senior, and another Mr Martin, was surrounded by the mob as it passed through the town from Downham Market. The mob relieved Mr Evans and his companion of 14 shillings in silver before letting the carriage pass. This was highway robbery. The mob eventually amassed back at the Globe, where, spurred on by the fact that no one had opposed them, they decided to proceed to Ely. The rioters took a wagon and horses belonging to Mr Tansley and, after mounting two, 2 meter long, fowling guns on the wagon, a considerable crowd moved off towards Ely. Ely is given a Warning
Upon his arrival in Ely, at around midnight, the Rev Vachell woke up two other magistrates, namely the Rev William Metcalfe and the Rev Sir Henry Bate Dudley, and explained what was happening in Littleport. A messenger, Mr Thomas Archer, was sent to Bury St Edmunds to seek the assistance of the First Royal Dragoon Guards who were stationed there. Many of the tradesmen of Ely were called up and sworn in as special constables and Rev Metcalfe and a few others went to meet the rioters, who were by now on their way to Ely.
The Riot Reaches ElyThe two parties met at Oakery (about 1/2 mile outside of Ely) at between 5 and 6am on the Thursday morning. Rev Metcalfe read the riot act to the mob and asked them what they wanted. The mob replied "the price of a stone of flour per day" and " our children are starving, give us a living wage" . Rev Metcalfe told them they would have it. He would consult the other magistrates and they should return to Littleport. The rioters replied they would "have a randy at Ely" and continued towards the city. The Rev Metcalfe asked them to go to the market place and many of them did assemble there. Many inhabitants of Ely joined the mob in the market place.
Agreement is ReachedThe magistrates were meeting in the White Hart Inn just off the market place in Ely and Rev Metcalfe addressed the crowd from one of the upstairs windows, where he issued the following statement:
"The magistrates agree, and do order, that the over-seers shall pay to each family two shillings per head per week, when flour is half-a-crown a stone; such allowance to be raised in proportion when the price of flour is higher, and that the price of labour shall be two shilling a day, whether married or single and that the labourer shall be paid his full wages by the farmer who hires him," This agreement was seen as fair by many and, after three cheers, many men with genuine grievances returned home. The magistrates relieved that the trouble seemed to be over foolishly gave out free ale to the crowd. The result of this act was that the crowd soon got drunk and spread themselves around the city where they caused further acts of violence and robbery against the traders and richer people of Ely. They attacked, among others, Mr Rickwood, a baker in Broad St, Mr Cooper another baker in Silver St and Mr Edwards, the agent for the bank of Messrs. Mortlock and Co of Cambridge. After extracting considerable sums of money, (£10 in some places) from various tradesmen and barrels of beer from the brewers the remaining Littleport rioters left the city and went triumphantly home. Troops Arrive in Ely
A corporal's guard of 16 men from the First Royal Dragoon Guards arrived from Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk) and teamed up with a number of local men at Angel Hill (near the site of today's railway station). Together they rode from Caudle Fen Bank, up Back Hill and along the Gallery towards the Lamb Hotel in the centre of Ely. They met with the rioters, who were mostly from Ely itself at this stage, and the mere presence of the Cavalry parading through the streets of Ely intimidated the rioters enough to restore order. The Dragoons stayed in Ely overnight and prepared to advance to Littleport the next day.
Troops go to Littleport
The next day the Dragoons teamed up with the Royston Troop of Volunteer Cavalry and the Militia Staff stationed in Ely set out for Littleport led by Rev Sir Henry Bate Dudley and Mr John Bacon a constable from Bow Street in London. They stopped at Mill End in Littleport (now part of Ely Road, near Upton Lane) and a group of men on horseback were sent across the Hemp Field to enter the town from the east in case of barricades. The main part of the group then went down Mill Street (now called Millpit Furlong) towards the centre of town. They found the main body of the rioters in the George and Dragon public house where they had barricaded themselves in.
The Rev Sir Henry Bate Dudley called upon the men to come out and give themselves up, they replied with a volley from the upper windows! The Militia returned fire. Rioter James Cammell took an iron bar from the fireplace and stood by the entrance with another man to prevent entry to the pub. Another rioter Thomas South shot at the troopers from a window, injuring Dragoon Wallace Williams in the forearm or wrist. This injury was so severe that the soldier was disabled and relied upon the parish of Littleport to pay him a pension of 12 shillings a week for the rest of his life. The soldier regretted that having survived unharmed the battle of Waterloo he would be wounded by one of his own countrymen. The battle however was soon over and most of the rioters were captured that afternoon. While they were under guard on the road Thomas Sindall tried to take trooper William Porter's Rifle, he failed and ran off. Porter called out for him to stop but was ignored, Porter raised his rifle and shot Sindall through the head, killing him instantly. Another rioter John Badger resisted arrest and received a sabre cut which took part of his chin off. Some rioters managed to evade capture for several weeks by hiding in the marshes. Some even managed to avoid capture altogether and did not return to Littleport for several years. Altogether 80 people were arrested and took to Ely gaol to await trial. Items to the value of £400 were recovered. |
The Trial
The trial (Assizes) started on Monday 17th June 1816 in the courthouse, which at that time was on the Market Place in Ely. It was presided over by three judges namely Mr Justice Abbot, Mr Justice Burrough and Mr Edward Christian Esq., Chief Justice to the Isle of Ely. It is worth a mention that Mr Edward Christian is the brother of Fletcher Christian from Mutiny on the Bounty fame, but where Fletcher was known for his kindness and compassion his brother Edward was known as a hard and harsh judge who often gave out the death penalty.
Special Commission was read shortly after 10 am, and then the judges breakfasted at the bishop's palace, after which a service was held in the cathedral and attended by 50 of the principal inhabitants of Ely. The sermon, preached by Rev. Henry Bate Dudley, was "that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient". After the service, the court reconvened; the Grand Jury was sworn in, and Mr W. Dunn Gardner elected the foreman. Mr Gurney, Mr Bolland and Mr Richardson, were counsel for the crown, led by Mr William Hobhouse, treasury solicitor. For the defence, Mr Hunt was counsel for Jefferson, Wyebrow, Harley, Pricke, Cooper, Freeman and Jessop; Mr Hart was counsel for John Easey, Joseph Easey, Benton, Layton, Atkin, Hobbs and another. Mr Justice Abbott addressed the court: Gentlemen of the Grand Jury, you have been called together at this unusual period, and with the present solemnities, in consequence of some very daring acts of outrage committed by various misguided individuals in this town and its immediate neighbourhood, which must still be fresh in your recollection. In contemplating the nature of these atrocities, it is impossible to consider without commendation, the conductors of those prompt and efficacious measures by which, after it had domineered for several days together, the spirit of tumult and devastation was finally subdued. He then went on to direct the jury at length, commenting at one point that these disturbances "seem to have been the necessity of an advance in the wages of husbandry; but the circumstances of some among the offenders do not correspond with the supposition of such an object". He was probably referring to John Dennis, licensed victualler of Littleport. He outlined the three capital offences that would be presented, namely burglary, robbery from the person and stealing in a dwelling house. He defined burglary as breaking into a house at night with intent, robbery from the person as extortion by violence or threat thereof, and stealing in a dwelling house as an actual act of stealing, not just the threat. He reminded the jury that when offences are carried out by a mob, it is the whole mob that is guilty, not just the person doing the deed. He closed: It is of the highest importance to the peace and safety, not only of this isle, but of the surrounding country, that all who are present on this solemn inquiry, and all who read the account of its proceedings (and there are few parts of the kingdom in which it will not be read) may be convinced by the awful lesson which may here be taught, that whatever wild or chimerical notions may prevail of the power of an armed multitude, the law is too strong for its assailants; and that, however triumphant or destructive their sway for a few days, those who defy the law, will ultimately be compelled to submit either to its justice or its mercy. The court adjourned until the following day. On Tuesday 18 June the court opened at 9 am; 12 defendants were charged with breaking into the house of Rebecca Waddelow in Littleport and stealing personal property and money. After hearing evidence, the judges held a discussion. Mr Justice Abbott informed the jury that a mistake had been made in the indictment, directing the jury to acquit. All 12 defendants were pronounced not guilty. Seven defendants were then indicted for breaking into the house of Josiah Dewey in Littleport, stealing money and property and assaulting Dewey. Mr Gurney addressed the jury. Three witnesses testified. The jury recorded a verdict of guilty against Chevall, Easey, Jessop, South and Benton; Dann and Torrington were acquitted. The court adjourned at 5pm. On Wednesday 19 June the court opened at 9 am; the indictment on three of the defendants was read for forcibly entering the house of Robert Speechly in Littleport and stealing personal property. Mr Gurney addressed the jury, who later pronounced all defendants guilty. Five defendants were then indicted for forcing their way in the house of Rev. John Vachell in Littleport, threatening him and stealing £2. Mr Gurney addressed the jury. Two witnesses testified. A verdict of guilty was returned against Harley and Newell whilst Warner and Stibbard were acquitted. Five defendants were then indicted for stealing £50 from the house of Robert Edwards in Ely. Mr Gurney addressed the jury descrbing the events occurring in the town of Ely on the morning of the 23 May 1816. Eight witnesses were called. The jury returned guilty verdicts against Dennis, Jefferson, and Rutter. Hopkin and Cammell were given not guilty verdicts. On Thursday morning 20 June two defendants were indicted for stealing silverware from the home of Rev. J. Vachell in Littleport and one was charged with receiving the stolen goods. Four witnesses called, Lavender was pronounced guilty of the theft and Beamiss and Butcher received not guilty verdicts. John Gaultrip was next, also indicted for stealing spoons at the vicarage. As the evidence was contradictory, Gaultrip was acquitted by the jury. Next was William Beamiss indicted for highway robbery of Hugh Robert Evans, of Ely. Two witness were called. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on the prisoner Beamiss. Then nine defendants were charged with threatening W. Cooper of Ely and stealing from him. Mr Gurney addressed the jury, explaining the circumstances of the disturbances carried out by the mob in Ely. Nine witnesses were called. The jury retired for fifteen minutes. On returning, it pronounced as guilty Dennis, Jessop, Atkin, Layton, Hobbs, Pricke, Cooper, and Jefferson. It acquitted Freeman. Six defendants were then charged with stealing from George Stevens in Ely. Three witness were examined following which Dennis, Layton, Atkin, and Cammell were all pronounced guilty by the jury. Capital convictions against Aaron Chevall and William Beamiss, for robbing Henry Tansley of two £1 notes, were also returned by the jury. The court adjourned at 6pm. On Friday morning 21 June, seven prisoners were brought to the bar on a similar charge as on Tuesday (breaking into the house of Rebecca Waddelow in Littleport and stealing personal property and money). The prisoners all pleaded not guilty. Mr Gurney addressed the jury explaining that these were the same persons indicted on Tuesday for the same offence. He explained to the jury that the earlier indictment incorrectly described the house to be the property of Rebecca Waddelow, leading to the prisoners' acquittal. He also explained that in the original indictment, other persons had been charged, but as these other persons had since been convicted of capital offences, they had been removed from the indictment. The witness were all brought forward again and made their statements. They said much the same as previously, though this took much of the day. In summing up, Mr Abbott went on a length closing with "the duty which it belonged to them [the jury] to execute - confident that, from experience which the court had now of them, their verdict would be such as good sense would dictate, and the public justice of the country require". It took the jury five minutes to find Walker, Butcher and Crow guilty and Nicholas, Wilson and Jefferson not guilty. Next was Henry Benson, a farmer who was out on bail, charged with inciting to riot. Benson was held in surety for £400 plus two other sureties for £200 each. He was to appear for trial at the next assizes. Richard Cooper the elder and Richard Cooper the younger were also bound over to the next assizes. Father and son, William Beamiss the elder and the younger, were then brought in and charged with assaulting and stealing from Robert Cheesewright the younger, of Littleport, in the Isle of Ely - both were found guilty. Next, between 20 and 30 prisoners were brought to the bar and "indicted for having committed various felonies and misdemeanour's at Littleport on 22, 23, and 24 of May last". A few were put to the next assizes and the remainder chose to be tried immediately. Mr Gurney addressed the jury explaining that his Majesty's government was keen not to put to the jury more cases than was necessary. If the prisoners now at the bar offered a small surety and remained on good behaviour, there would be no more said. Mr Abbott spoke to the prisoners at length, finally demanding that each of them offer surety of £50 and find two more sureties each of £10 or one more each of £20. Mr Abbott then thanked the jury for their services. The court adjourned. By Saturday 22 June 1816 six men were acquitted; 10 were discharged; 36 were bailed. 23 men and one woman were condemned to death. The public outcry at the harsh sentences caused the Judges to reconsider their verdicts for fear of their lives. 18 men and the only womam convicted, Sarah Hobbs, had their sentences commuted. Nine were sentenced to penal transportation to Botany Bay, Australia. James Newell, Richard Jessop, John Jefferson, Joseph Easey, Aaron Chevell, all of Littleport and all transported for life; Richard Rutter of Littleport for 14 years; John Easey of Littleport for seven years. They sailed on the convict ship Sir William Bensley, which departed for New South Wales on 9 October 1816, captained by Lew E Williams. Two others were also sentenced to transportation for seven years, Mark Benton and John Walker, both of Littleport. Five from Littleport and five, including Sarah Hobbs from Ely, were committed to Ely gaol for 12 months; The revised sentences were 5 executions, 9 deportations to Botany Bay, Australia, The five condemned without commutation were all from Littleport. They were William Beamiss (42) the elder, shoemaker, for stealing from the persons of Henry Tansley and Robert Cheeseright, both of Littleport; George Crow (23), labourer, for stealing in the dwelling-house of Rebecca Waddelow and Henry Martin, both of Littleport; John Dennis (32), a publican, for stealing from the persons of William Cooper, Robert Edwards, and George Stevens, all of Ely; Isaac Harley junior (33), labourer, for stealing from the person of the Reverend John Vachell, of Littleport; and Thomas South the younger (22), labourer, for stealing in the dwelling-house of Josiah Dewey and Robert Speechley, both of Littleport. The Executions
The executions took place on Friday 28th June 1816. At 10 o'clock in the morning the five condemned men wearing white caps, were placed on a cart that was covered in a black cloth. Escorted by the most respected of Ely's inhabitants on horseback carrying white wands, they were taken to the place of execution, an area of swampy ground between Witchford Road and St John's Road on the outskirts of Ely where a new drop had been constructed for the purpose. They arrived at the scaffold shortly before 11 o'clock and the five men fell to their knees in prayer. Prisoner John Dennis then addressed the crowd of several hundred and declared that they had all confessed to the crimes for which they were about to hang. He then said in a loud voice "All you who are witness to this my disgraceful end, I exhort you in the name of God - that God before whom I must shortly appear - to avoid drunkenness, Sabbath-breaking, whoremongery, and bad company. Oh beware of these sins! I pray you also to avoid rioting; and in every respect refrain from breaking the laws of your country. Remember the words of the Judge who tried us for the crimes which we are now going to suffer, who said 'the law of the land will always be too strong for its assailants, and those who defy the law will in the end be subdued by the law, and be compelled to submit to its justice or its mercy.' We stand here a melancholy example of the power and justice of the law. I freely forgive those who gave their evidence against me; and may the God of mercy forgive me, and have mercy on my soul." They then all prayed again. Upon a signal the drop fell and all five men left this earth without a struggle.
After hanging for the required amount of time the bodies were taken down, placed in coffins and given to their relatives for interment. They were taken to a cottage in Goal Street where the bodies were laid out. A great many people viewed the bodies before they were buried the next day in a single grave in the churchyard of St Mary's Church in Ely. Legend has it they were buried upright, either to save space or a more popular reason, so that they could never 'lay at rest'. There is a stone plaque on the side of the tower of the church inscribed: The men sentenced to transportation to Botany Bay, Australia were taken to Newgate prison on the following Monday, 1st July 1816. Where they took the first transportation ship available. Those that were sentenced to a year in Ely goal were left in prison where it was expected they would serve their whole sentence, however after a few days the sentences were changed to transportation for 7 years to Botany Bay. They were transported without having any further contact with either family or friends. The public when they were informed of the change of sentence were understandably outraged. Public meetings were held and a petition was sent to the home secretary for the change to be reversed. They were unsuccessful and the transportation went ahead.
Later Events At the next Assizes held in Cambridge the Rev J Vachell was awarded £708 9shillings in compensation for the damages he suffered in the riots. Shortly after the riots parliament passed the Vagrancy Act of 1824 to try and stop the unrest. Due to the difficulties in enforcing the law and partly for fear of another riot similar in nature to the Littleport one, the Metropolitan Police Act was passed in 1829, establishing the first true modern police force. To commemorate the Queens Silver Jubilee in 1977 the Womens Institute in Littleport paid for a village sign, on the back of this sign is a scene depicting the start of the riot outside the Globe Inn. 
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NameWILLIAM ATKIN
WILLIAM BEAMIS (Elder) WILLIAM BEAMIS (Younger) MARK BENTON ROBERT BUTCHER JAMES CAMMELL AARON CHEVELL JOHN COOPER ROBERT CRABB GEORGE CROW WILLIAM DANN JOHN DENNIS JOHN EASY JOSEPH EASY ISSAC HARLEY SARAH HOBBS JOHN JEFFERSON RICHARD JESSOP AARON LAYTON JAMES NEWELL JOHN PICKLE RICHARD RUTTER THOMAS SOUTH JOHN WALKER |
Age28
42 18 60 x 32 28 x 40 23 43 32 28 x 23 24 42 21 25 x x x 22 32 |
CrimeRobbery of William Cooper and George Stevens of Ely.
Robbery of Henry Tansley and Robert Cheeselight of Littleport. Robbery of Hugh Evans of Ely and Robert Cheeselight of Littleport. Burglary of Joshiah Dewey of Littleport. Stealing from Rebecca Waddelow and Henry Martin of Littleport. Robbery of George Stevens of Ely. Burglary of Joshiah Dewey of Littleport and robbery of Henry Tansley of Littleport. Robbery of William Cooper of Ely. Stealing from Robert Speechley of Littleport. Stealing from Rebecca Waddelow and Henry Martin of Littleport. Stealing from Robert Speechley of Littleport. Robbery from Robert Edwards, William Cooper and George Stevens of Ely. Stealing from Rebecca Waddelow and Henry Martin of Littleport. Burglary of Joshiah Dewey of Littleport. Robbery from Rev Vachell of Littleport. Robbery of William Cooper of Ely. Robbery from Robert Edwards and William Cooper of Ely. Burglary of Joshiah Dewey of Littleport and robbery of William Cooper of Ely. Robbery of William Cooper and George Stevens of Ely. Robbery from Rev Vachell of Littleport. Robbery of William Cooper of Ely. Robbery from Robert Edwards of Ely. Burglary of Joshiah Dewey of Littleport and stealing from Robert Speechley of Littleport. Stealing from Rebecca Waddelow and Henry Martin of Littleport. |
SentenceEly Gaol for 1 year
HUNG Ely Gaol for 1 year Deported for 7 years Ely Gaol for 1 year Ely Gaol for 1 year Deported for life Ely Gaol for 1 year Ely Gaol for 1 year HUNG Ely Gaol for 1 year HUNG Deported for 7 years Deported for life HUNG Ely Gaol for 1 year Deported for life Deported for life Ely Gaol for 1 year Deported for life Ely Gaol for 1 year Deported for 14 years HUNG Deported for 7 years |
Deportation
Riotous Littleport
Towards the end of the 18th Century, a new solution to overcrowded gaols was initiated - deportation to another colony. This time it was Australia’s turn, in particular New South Wales and a scheme was devised and agreed by Lord Sydney, the then British Home Secretary. It proved highly successful and between the late 18th and 19th Centuries over 160,000 convicts were sent there. As a rule, skilled workers such as, carpenters, stonemasons and cultivators, were chosen for essential jobs as soon as they disembarked. Others were assigned to labouring or handed over to property owners, merchants or farmers who may once have been convicts themselves. The lack of fresh water in the Botany Bay area of New South Wales, led to a move further north to Port Jackson (now Sydney Harbour). This led to the development of farms and industry around Parramatta, which is today the site of Australia’s largest city - Sydney. |
Here lye interred in one grave
The Bodies of William Beamis, George Crow, John Dennis, Isaac Harley, And Thomas South, Who were all executed at Ely on the 28th Day of June 1816, having been convicted At the Special Assizes holden there, of divers Robberies during the Riots at Ely & Littleport in the month of May in that year. May their awful Fate Be a warning to others. |
