The Mankinholes Riot - William Greenwood's petition to the House of Commons

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.
William Greenwood had been called to give evidence relating to the involvement of Barrett, Lowden and others in the Mankinholes Riot (see doc ID 102745). The writer of doc ID 102745 suggested that William Greenwood had been treated unfairly as a result of not giving the evidence the magistrates wanted to hear. He went on to suggest that Greenwood should petition the House of Commons about the disproportionate level of fine imposed on him for serving beer after time on December 26th 1838. This document appears to be written in the same hand as doc ID 102745 and may indicate that Greenwood was being given assistance in how to write such a petition. The petition appears to be far from finished.

A transcript of the document follows the original image.

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