Tuesday 11 September 2012

11th September 1812: Seditious words lead to an arrest in Huddersfield

Richard Farrington was a book-keeper at Huddersfield, and at 9.20 p.m. on Friday 11th September 1812 he had had enough - both to drink and of the soldiers in the Horse Shoes pub. He shouted at them "Damn the soldiers, they are damned scamps - damn the General, he's a rogue & rascal for bringing you here". He was arrested by three members of the Norfolk Militia present - Mark Custance, Thomas Spink & Robert Fortune, all privates - and brought before Joseph Radcliffe. A day later, he had paid £100 (being two sureties of £50 each) for his appearance at York Assizes in due course. Radcliffe would not brook any dissent.

Mark Custance's information about this event can be found at HO 42/127.

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