#52 Ancestors in 52 weeks. Week 42 Prompt - Conflict'

Week 42:  Conflict

Thinking of conflict – my first thought was:  has there been a conflict in the family I can write about?  Although there have been some troubles, as in most families I imagine, they’re not really anything to write home about, as they say.

Daughter - Mary Sophia Palmer

So, I looked at some of my ancestors who experienced conflict during their lives.  The one that struck me as worthy of writing comes from a letter written by Mary Ann Palmer to her daughter Mary, who it seems is currently staying out of town at her Aunt and Uncles at ‘The Temple’ farm.[i]

Mary Ann was born in 1813 and died aged 48, in 1862.  

Her daughter Mary Sophia was born in 1842, so would have been ten years old when this conflict happened. 

The young son, John, who Mary Ann mentions would only be 3 1/2 years old.

Following the dissolution of Parliament on 01 July 1852, the United Kingdom general election was a watershed in the formation of the modern political parties of Britain.  The Tory/Conservative party became the party of the rural aristocracy, while the Whig/Liberal party became the party of the rising urban bourgeoisie in Britain. 

Elections were held around the country including Ross on Wye the family’s hometown. Mary Ann writes of the conflict that occurred there with the ‘Blues” voters (Conservatives/ Protectionists) being harassed by the Free Trade supporters middle-class urban industrialists and workers,  the ‘Orange and Greens’.  

The main point of contention seems to have been “The Corn Laws’.  The Blues supported the laws protecting the Landowners’ interests by levying taxes on imported wheat.  The result of these Laws meant that prices were kept high for the cereal producers. 

Conversely, the price of bread was pushed high, rising dramatically meaning the Orange and Greens supported the Anti-Corn Law League. The price of wheat was a very substantial part of the cost of living. 

The Corn Laws enforced a very high 'protective' tariff against the importation of wheat into England. These high tariffs raised the cost of living and increased the suffering of poor people in England.

The results of the election were extremely close in terms of both the popular vote and the numbers of seats won by the two main parties.

As in the previous election of 1847, Lord John Russell's Whigs won the popular vote, but the Conservative Party won a very slight majority of the seats. However, a split between Protectionist Tories, led by the Earl of Derby, and the Peelites made the formation of a majority government very difficult. Lord Derby's minority, protectionist government ruled from 23 February until 17 December 1852. 

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_general_election,_1852

The issue must have been very close to the bone for those in the Ross area as it caused a violent response around the polling stations. 

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I have transcribed the three pages of Mary Ann’s letter as best I could and below is the transcription and a copy of the letter received from my relative Alun Evans of Wales.

Ross, July 18^th, 1852

My dear Mary

I quite expected to have seen you yesterday, but matters went so strangely in Ross and we were told would be much worse towards evening and that we did not dare go out, although we felt anxious about 3 Tons of Powder being left for us at Broad Oak.  I should have written but the terrible excitement disabled me, and I am now obliged to write today to entreat you will not go to the election. We heard it is likely to be a contested election and if you had witnessed the alarming riot we had here you would not wonder.  I feel it a duty to write today to prevent your going out.  We must seek to impose till Wednesday upon Aunt and Uncle’s indulgence in keeping you as we dare not send till after these riots are over.  

They, the navvies, were lying drunk about the road, just able to get up and prevent voters coming in on the Gloucester side. They detained one coachload and a set of excavators hearing it went to Weston Cross smashed every window and door and brought in the voters with shouts.  The Blues sent for a body of constables from Hereford, who attempted to maintain peace, but they were quickly driven from the field over Wilton Bridge.  One man’s ear was cut off and the other so brutally beaten that we are told he died.

At the close of the poll, four o’clock, finding their member was behind the others they snatched the books, threw some in the river and burnt the rest then in a body rushed into the town and began to break the shutters (as we were all quite closed) windows, etc., and getting inside would have gutted the house, but their own …

Page 2.

                                   ... committeemen rushed in and entreated them to desist.  Of course, all who had not voted for the Orange and Green party anticipated insults and as Papa had given his to the Blues, I trembled for the result.  It appears some of his principal friends are offended, even Nathaniel Morgan would not speak to him yesterday. A rumour being about that an organized body would rush out in the night and complete the work of devastation it was thought desirable to swear in all the gentlemen, tradesmen and their workmen or servants as special constables.  Your Papa, Sidney, Mr. TC Powell Halford Shoemaker and seven or eight of the men were sworn in by Mr. Bridgeman in our shop and were to be ready when called for.  However, although we were much excited, (I felt quite ill and so did Miss Wallis) yet we were permitted to pass a wonderfully quiet night.  I heard very little noise after one.

Under the circumstances, you will not wonder that I felt it necessary to write and entreat you not to go away from the Temple.  The navies, foresters, watermen, excavators leagued together to come to each other’s help.

My dear child these sights are awful proof of man’s depravity when left to himself.  Man’s passions once excited are scarcely to be tamed, Oh, that we all walked more with God, prayed and wrestled more, that the mind might be in us, that was in Christ Jesus.

We were very thankful that you were not at home.  John saw a little in the morning, but I would not let him go out after.  I think he is better, but vegetables and fruit try him.  Perhaps I shall be sending a  pair of boots for James by Adam to the Mill tomorrow morning where you will be able to send for them if he wants them.  We sadly want you all home to begin school.  Have you heard of cousins James and Emily again?  I am thankful to say that Papa is well, ... 

                               

Page 3. 

                                 ... he was excited yesterday with the riot and I hope it will prevent his ever voting again. Your Uncle Sam was amongst it and we have not seen him since.

Now, Dear Mary, advice, seeing what poor helpless creatures we are and how little there is worth our attention here, let us seek more earnestly than ever the peace which cometh all understanding. Oh, to have our affections fixed above, then let the messenger of death come when he may, we shall rejoice to be freed from this life of toil and cares.  

Give my love to dear James, Aunt, Uncle, and cousins hoping Uncle is better.  Papa joins in love with brothers and sisters and cousin John and Miss Wallis.  You must get your cousin or aunt to read this sad scribble as I feel tired and could not stay to write legibly for you, believe me.

Your anxiously Affectionate Mother,

Mary Ann Palmer

Mary Ann Palmer

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Mary Ann's letter to her daughter - Lovely writing and wording for that period.

Little parts of the letter are missing and I've added it in from another person's transcription.

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Articles from local papers regarding the riots: Source 'British Newspapers'

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[i]Esau’s older brother John and his wife Ann Palmer lived at ‘The Temple’, Dean Hill, Littledean. This was probably ‘Temple Farm’, an early 18^thCentury farmhouse known in 1797 as Solomon's Temple. His family lived there for three decades at least.