Raw Local History - The Journal of Hannah Wade 1821 to 1841

We were delighted recently to receive a transcript of the journal of Hannah Wade (Keighley) covering twenty years from 1821 to 1841.

The detail is extraordinary, with many previously unreported events as Farsley established itself as a centre of the textile industry.

It’s important to remember that this rise was not just celebrated in buildings and wealth (much of which is represented in Farsley Rehoboth) but also in social conflict.

As our researchers transcribed Hannah’s Journal, these entries jumped out:

“December 1832: This year has been remarked for plenty of trade, yet it has been a very troublesome year. There has been a union called the Traders' Union which has caused great alarm. This month, Abimelech Hainsworth’s men have struck for an advance of wages and a very awful thing has taken place and is likely to take place.

December 5, 1832: The members of the union have murdered one of the men, a poor despised Irishman, and it is to be feared that others will have to share the same fate, especially those that are called "Black Sheep," of which I myself make one from conscientious principles. May the Lord preserve me and mine for His mercy's sake. The name of the man that is murdered is James Benson.”

Many local place names play a part in this story, The Fleece and Bay Horse public houses were respectively the location for the inquest of James Benson and the meeting place for the Trade’s Union, where members undertook a secret initiation and took an oath. Westroyd Park/Sunnybanks were the location for the attack on James Benson and “Rue De Ville” on Farsley Town Street (the home of Abimelech Hainsworth) was where James Benson was taken and died.

As is the custom with discoveries such as this, our researchers discovered a flood of documents relating to this cold

night 194 years ago.

The initiation into the clothiers Trade Union was described as follows:

He was blindfolded and received the password, which at that time was Alpha and Omega.

He was then walked about the room while a great noise was made with a sheet of iron and they sang a hymn.

The bandage was removed and in front of him was a picture of death of the full stature of a man and a drawn sword.

He was blindfolded again, they stamped on the floor at a given signal, and when he kneeled down and the bandage was taken off, a Bible was in front of him and his hand was placed upon it.

The Great Psalm was then read and he was sworn to obey the commands of the union committee and to keep their secrets. If not, he was required to wish he might be burned in the lowest part of hell to all eternity, and after he had subscribed to this, he was made a member.

We hope to have the original journal on display at our exhibition at Abbey House Museum which commences shortly and also to compile fully this and other discoveries from Hannah’s journal.