Referring to the last labourer’s revolt, when farmers had in a mob, rebukes were issued but no prosecution.
There was however, one exception, a small farmer – John Boyes – of the Parish of Owslebury. He had thrown himself heartily into the labourers cause.
A number of small farmers met and decided that the labourers wage ought to be raised. Boyes agreed to take a paper round for signature. The paper ran as follows:
“We the undersigned are willing to give 2/- (10p) per day for all able bodied married man, and 9/- (45p) per week for a single man on consideration of our rents and tithes being abated in proportion”.
In similar cases, as a rule, the farmers left it to the labourers to collect signatures, and Boyes, by undertaking the work himself made himself a marked man.
He had been in a mob which extorted money from Lord Nothesk’s steward at Owslebury, (Moses Stanbrook) and for this he was indicted for felony.
But the jury – the chagrin for the prosecution – acquitted him. What followed is best described in the report of Sergeant Wilde’s speech in the House of Commons 21st July 1831.
“Boyes was tried and acquitted but he (Mr Wilde) being unable to account for the acquittal considering the evidence to have been clear against him, and feeling that although the jury were most respectable men, they might possibly entertain some sympathy for him in consequence to his situation in life, thought it was his duty to send a communication to the Attorney General stating that Boyes was deeply responsible for the acts which had taken place.
That he thought that he should not be allowed to escape and recommending that he be tried before a different jury in another court”.
The Attorney General sent him (Mr Wilde) to come into the other court, and the result was that Boyes was tried and convicted.
In the other more complaisant court, Farmer BOYES and JAMES FUSSELL (Crabbe Hall, Owslebury) described as a ‘genteel’ young man of about twenty, living with his mother, were found guilty of leading a riotous mob for reducing rents and tithes, and sentenced to seven years deportation. FUSSELL’S sentence was commuted to imprisonment but BOYES was sent to Van Diemans land for seven years.
It is known that John BOYES did not return.
JOHN BOYES TRIAL – SPECIAL COURT
The Times – December 20th 1830
WALTER LONG (Marwell) in court.
Winchester, Wednesday December 29th 1830
Robbery of LORD NORTHESK’S steward (MOSES STANBROOK)
WILLIAM ADAMS – 35 years,
WILLIAM BARNES – 42 years,
JOHN HOARE – 19 years,
JAMES FUSSELL – 29 years,
WILLIAM BOYES – 24 years,
JOHN BOYES – over 40 years,
NICHOLAS FREEMANTLE – 30 years,.
Destruction of winnowing machines at Rosehill (Longwood House) £5 taken.
GRACE NOTT (maid)
MOSES STANBROOK (steward)
RICHARD PEEL (employee)
MARWELL: £5 taken after demanding £12-14-0d (£12.70p). Local wages 8/- (40p a week)
100 persons gathered on Owslebury Down. Judge summed up against the prisoners especially JOHN BOYES, but the Jury acquitted all but ADAMS and FREEMANTLE.
Notes taken from “Owslebury Remembers” published in 1994
‘Crabbe Hall’ – Corner of Crabbe Hill (garden of ‘Holly Hatch’)
E.H. |