Kent Machine Breakers

Description

Volume I tells the story of the riots in Kent, from an arson attack on a farm in Orpington on the 1st June 1830, the breaking of the first threshing machine at Lower Hardres on the 28th August, through until the execution of Robert Dixon, for arson, on 22nd December 1831. This is followed by a detailed account of the trials, which resulted in the imprisonment of a number of men, and the transportation of some of their comrades. This volume also includes transcripts of "Causes and consequences of the Riots in Kent", as given in Parliamentary Papers, and claims for rewards for the capture of the rioters.

Volume II gives information on each person who was tried for machine breaking, rioting, and arson, with details being given of their offence, sentence, and any petitions sent on their behalf. In some cases family details and census information is also included. For those who were transported additional information includes physical description, conduct record and dates of ticket of leave and pardon. Also included are transcripts of Treasury Solicitor's Papers, found at The National Archives, which gives the evidence gathered before some of the trials, including details of the case against Timothy Willocks, suspected of arson, a case that never came to court, and of the voyages of the convict ships that carried those sentenced to transportation to Australia.

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Kent Machine Breakers. Volume I and II