Samuel Crowther and the Plug Riots

Jul 27, 2022

Samuel Crowther and the Plug Riots (Also known as the Great Strike of 1842)

August 2022 marks 180 years since the Plug Riots. Sarah Rose has done a bit of research into these events before. See here I Predict a Riot Blog! and here for a short Film

She wanted to find out more about the background of the people involved and what happened to them after the Riots. This is Samuel Crowther’s story;

Samuel was born around 1791 and as soon as he was able to, he joined the Artillery Regiment. (His papers say he was 18 but he may have been younger and lied about his age when he joined, or his birth date could be incorrect). He served at the Battle of Waterloo and after ten years service was discharged in 1816.

His discharge papers state ‘Reduction by Order of the Master General of the Ordinances’

This was a time when around 300,000 men were discharged from the army in an attempt to reduce the national debt. Samuel received a weekly pension but many dismissed during this period did not.

Samuel went on to marry a woman named Anna, also known as Nanny

In 1822 they baptised two children. Thomas born Sept 24th 1820 and Harriet, born in October 1822. Samuel is listed as a nail maker.

Crop of Baptism record for Harriet and Thomas Crowther

Baptism Record with permission from West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. Ref WPD53/1/2/3 accessed via Ancestry 08/07/2022

They baptised their three youngest children Hannah, Martha and Joseph in 1835

In 1841 Samuel appears on the Census. He is living at King Street along with his wife Anna (also known as Nanny) and five children – twins Harriet and Sarah (age 15), Hannah aged 13, Martha aged 11 and Joseph aged 8. His occupation is Nail maker.

Image of census record showing the Crowther family listed

Census Returns of England and Wales 1841 Accessed via Ancestry 5th July 2022

In August 1842 Samuel became what the Northern Star described as ‘the unfortunate victim of military recklessness’ when he was shot outside his own house on King Street through the abdomen. Newspaper articles from the time describe how in this part of town there had not been the slightest disturbance but that the military fired at him in an ‘act of mere wanton outrage’ When he was shot Samuel did not cry out but went back into his house and got into bed.

Image of newspaper article. It reads Mr. Bingley exclaimed 'the man is shot' or some such expression, but Mr. Hall who had previously seen him in a fit, replied that bit was only a fit. In a few moments, however a number of women rushed out of the house exclaiming that the man had been shot, and so on entering the house, which was crowded with women uttering loud screams, the old man was found lying on his back on a bed upstairs, with a wound in his abdomen, his shirt was saturated with blood and he was writing with agony. Messers B and H immediately went to procure the attendance of a surgeon. On calling afterwards, it was understood that there was very little chance of his recovery.

Northern Star 20th August 1842

Newspaper reports from the time suggested he was unlikely to survive but he did!

In April 1843 a petition was made to the House of Commons calling for an enquiry into the treatment of protestors and prisoners during the plug riots. One of these was Samuel Crowther. Evidence was submitted by letter and gives a detailed account of the events and impact on Samuel.

As well as relaying the incident the article goes on to say how ‘the poor man was carried to the infirmary where he remained for 18 weeks.’ It goes on to describe how Samuel will unlikely be able to work again and will have to live on his military pension and some short term relief from the Parish.

Image from a newspaper which reads ; A more deliberate piece of butchery was never witnessed. The poor man was carried to the infirmary where he remained for eighteen weeks. He was now incapable of work, yet from the time of the outrage up to the present moment not the slightest inquiry had been made into the matter. No committee of the townspeople had investigated the matter. No witnesses had been examined nor was anything done to elucidate the transaction. Some London newspapers referred the matter to Leeds which might be one reason why no inquiry took place; but there could be no doubt or mistake about it; for what said the Bradford Observer? that paper said Murder or What"? On Tuesday afternoon whilst Samuel Crowther a respectable nail maker and aged pensioner was standing at his own house door, In King Street, watching the Lancers pass by, one of the advanced guard having passed him forty yards at the corner of Nelson Street, turned round and shot the brave disciple of Wellington through the body.

Northern Star 8th April 1843

You can read a full account of Samuel’s shooting and evidence given to the House of Commons in the Northern Star which you can access either on microfilm in Local Studies or online with your library card at 19th Century Newspapers https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents/leisure-and-culture/libraries/digital-library#newspapers

Only 32 people voted for the petition and 196 against so no enquiry was held.

Samuel thought he would not work again because of his injuries. However in Trade directories from 1845 and 1847 he is listed as a nail maker.

Image of entry from Whites' trade directory. It says. Nail Makers and Tenterhook Manufacturers:
Crowther, Samuel, 5 King Street

Whites’s Directory 1847

In December 1850 his daughter Hannah married William Kendall. Samuel is recorded as her father on her marriage certificate. It appears he was alive at this point as usually there would be a note to indicate if the father was deceased.

Marriage record with permission from West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield. Ref WPD53/1/3/47 accessed via Ancestry 08/07/2022

In the 1851 Census, his wife Anna is living with three of her daughters and Hannah’s husband William. Anna is listed as a widow.

Image of 1851 census listing William Kendall, Hannah Kendall, Anna Crowther Sarah Crowther and Martha Crowther

Census Returns of England and Wales 1851. Accessed via Ancestry 5th July 2022

We have so far been unable to find a death/ burial record for Samuel. Anna, however lived to aged 82. She died at Waterhouse Almshouses and is buried at Christ Church, Mount Pellon.

If you can find a death or burial record for Samuel then we would love to see it!

#Halifax #plugriot

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