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THE BURBAGE AREA MACHINE BREAKERS

Contributed by David White

The following notes, published here with permission of the author, are just very brief extracts from the excellent book WILTSHIRE MACHINE BREAKERS, by , published in two volumes (ISBN 09515959-3-8 and 09515959-4-6) by Jill Chambers (4 Quills, Letchworth SG6 2RJ) in 1993. Far more details are given about each person in Volume 2, The Rioters, than are given below, and details of the riots and the trials of the prisoners can be found in Volume 1. This list is to help anyone that might be looking for an ancestor's brother or cousin that just "disappeared".

By 1830, the lot of the Agricultural Labourer was getting impossible. Wages were very poor, and even the recommended minimum of ten shillings a week was very often ignored. The introduction of more farm machinery to do the work of the Ag. Labs. making fewer jobs was the last straw, and rioting broke out all over the south of England in November 1830. The mobs were generally fairly local men, resulting in many being recognised. The mob active in the Burbage area was estimated as around 200 men. [For a more detailed description of the riots in Burbage see here]

The Ships mentioned below in the Transportation of Burbage area men are

ELIZA - Sailed from Portsmouth on 6 Feb. 1831 arriving in Van Diemens Land on 29 May. Of the convicts on board, 101 came from Wiltshire.

PROTEUS - Sailed 14 April arriving Van Diemens Land on 3 August. 14 of the convicts aboard came from Wiltshire.

ELEANOR - Sailed 19 February 1831 to New South Wales arriving 25 June. 35 of the convicts on board were from Wiltshire.

The Men

ROBERT BLAKE - age 25. Baptised Great Bedwyn 19 May 1805, parents Charles Blake and Ann nee Hawkins. Charged 9 Nov. 1830 on the oaths of John Westmacott and William Barnes with having destroyed a thrashing machine, property of William Barnes and Thomas Hawkins. Sentence: Transportation for 7 years. Sailed on ELIZA. Free Pardon 3 Feb. 1836, Stayed in Van Diemens Land, having married in 1835 to Mary Bowden. Had 9 children.

SHADRACH BLAKE - age 21. Brother of Robert, above. Baptised 7 May 1809 at Great Bedwyn. Charged on the oaths of Thomas Fulbrook and others on suspicion of having broken open the dwelling house of William Fulbrook at Hippenscombe and stolen a tea caddy. Also charged on oaths of John Westmacott and William Barnes with having destroyed a thrashing machine, property of William Barnes and Thomas Hawkins. Sentence: Death, commuted to Transportation for life. Sailed on the ELEANOR to New South Wales. He had married Thomasine Knapp in Great Bedwyn 13 July 1829, and a son was born after he sailed, on 24 April. He married again 5 Apr. 1847 in New South Wales to Mary Casey, son Thomas born 1846.

HENRY BROADWAY - age 33. Baptised Burbage 10 April 1796, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Broadway. Married 14 Oct. 1817 at Burbage to Lucy Hilliard. Charged with destroying machinery, property of Thomas Butcher at Easton, and destroying machinery property of Thomas Gale at Burbage. Sentence: Transportation for 7 years. Sailed on the ELIZA. Free Pardon on 3 Feb. 1836. Shown back in Burbage in 1841 and 1851 Census. Died 1853 age 59.

JOHN COLE - age 50. Charged with destroying machinery, property of Zebulon Carter at Great Bedwyn. Sentence: Not Guilty - acquitted.

WILLIAM DURHAM - age 22. (Born in America). Charged with destroying a thrashing machine the property of Thomas Gould at Burbage. Sentence: Transportation for 7 years. Sailed on the ELIZA.

ROBERT FRIBBENS - age 23. Born Burbage. Charged on the oath of Thomas Hope, with having destroyed a thrashing machine, property of George Noltey. Sentence: Transportation for 7 years. Sailed on ELIZA.

WILLIAM HILLMAN - age 30. Born Easton. Married Hannah Clarke Great Bedwyn 23 Oct. 1823. Charged on oath of John Banning with having forcibly obtained from the said John Banning, the sum of ten shillings and six pence. Sentence: Transportation for 7 years. Free Pardon 3 Feb. 1836. He applied for a free passage for his wife and family, but Hannah remarried 1845 at Great Bedwyn, declaring herself a widow.

WILLIAM HOLT - age 19. Baptised Great Bedwyn, 5 May 1811, parents James and Jane Holt. Charged on the oaths of Anthony and Henry Kingstone, with having destroyed a thrashing machine, their property. Sentence: Transportation for 7 years. ELIZA to Van Diemens Land.

HENRY NEWMAN - age 20. Charged with aiding and abetting divers others in destroying machinery at Great Bedwyn. Sentence: No Bill. Married twice at Great Bedwyn, 1831 and 1845.

EDWARD PEARCE - age 24. Charged with having obtained by threats and menaces, the sum of three shillings. of St. John Hewitt at Great Bedwyn. Sentence: acquitted.

JOHN PERRY - age 49. Charged with destroying machinery, property of Robert Highett at Burbage. Sentence: Transportation for 7 years. ELIZA to Van Diemens Land. Free Pardon 3 Feb. 1836. Died in Tasmania, 1866 aged 81.

CHARLES PIZZIE - age 24. Baptised 3 April 1806 at Great Bedwyn. Married Sarah ----?. Charged on oath of William Randell with obtaining money with menaces. Sentence: Transportation for Life. PROTEUS to Van Diemens Land. Free Pardon 24 May 1836. With wife Jane (second wife?) left Tasmania for Victoria 1848. Died in Victoria 1881 age 76.

CHARLES SKITTRELL - age 25. Baptised 29 Jan 1804 at Burbage. Charged with destroying machinery the property of Thomas Gale of Burbage, also obtaining beer by threats and menaces, the property of Robert Lyne at South Savernake. Sentence: Transportation for 7 years. ELIZA to Van Diemens Land. Free Pardon 3 Feb. 1836.

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