To the Colliers in the Parishes of Wrexham and Rhuabon - Pamphlet from the Enoch Wood Scrapbook

Move your pointing device over the image to zoom to detail. If using a mouse click on the image to toggle zoom.
When in zoom mode use + or - keys to adjust level of image zoom.

Date:5th of January 1831

Description:The colliers of North Staffordshire were not the only mine workers to organise industrial action in 1831.

Tensions also arose across England and in Wales, where this bilingual pamphlet was issued.

"Violence, outrage and tumult..."

The authors urge colliers not to resort to violence when trying to settle disputes.

However, riot and disorder are not their only concerns.

"A severe and just punishment."

The pamphlet also threatens punishment for "administering illegal oaths to each another."

Although trade unions were not illegal, employers and politicians alike were nervous of the secret oaths taken by early trade unionists.

"Transported for Life"

Among the harshest punishments for breaking the law was transportation.

The pamphlet emphasises that some miners are destined for this fate, while others have even received the death sentence.

The miners should consider themselves lucky, suggest the authors:

Remember that we are living under the reign of one of the kindest and most popular Monarchs that ever swayed the British Empire, and that we have a Government who are doing and are determined to do - every thing to alleviate the distresses of the people; but are also determined to set down all turbulence, outrage and violence, in the most prompt and effectual manner.

The pamphlet, signed "Cymro," was printed by R. Hughes of Wrexham.

It is now among the collections at Stoke-on-Trent Museums.

Share:

Link to this resource

Donor ref:(121/16469)

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.