Anti Poor Law Riots, November 1838 (Document ID: 102730)

The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 required the election of Boards of Guardians, the collection of a poor rate and the establishment of a workhouse, for each of the newly established unions of parishes and townships. In the Todmorden area, there was fierce opposition to the idea of introducing a workhouse and efforts were made to prevent both the election of Guardians and the collection of the poor rate.
The Mankinholes Riot of 16th November 1838 was the outcome of an attempt by constables Feather and King to seize goods from the home of William Ingham, the overseer for Langfield, who had refused to collect the poor rate and then failed to pay the fine imposed as a result.
On 21st November, following a rumour that the constables were to return for a second time to try and seize Ingham's goods and also to arrest rioters from the 16th, crowds of people rioted again. They attacked the homes of some of those involved with trying to administer the Poor Law and significant damage was done to several properties, including Todmorden Hall.
In this document, John Lord and his brother-in-law, John Fielden (not the famous John Fielden) are arrested in the early hours of a Saturday morning. The date isn't specified but doc ID 102747, which covers the same story, indicates that it was 24th November 1838. The reference is to a riot on a Wednesday. The Mankinholes Riot was a Friday. It is possible this relates to the riot on the 21st, which was a Wednesday. The two men were kept up all night and came before magistrates in the afternoon but were acquitted.
A transcript of the document follows the original image.

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