The Tolpuddle Martyrs were six farm laborers of Tolpuddle, near Dorchester, England, who in 1834 were transported to Australia for forming a trade union. After nationwide agitation they were pardoned two years later.
In 1833 a group of farm laborers from the Dorset village of Tolpuddle formed a ‘friendly society' or early trade union after their wages fell to six shillings a week – about 30p today.
Led by laborer and Methodist local preacher George Loveless, the men agreed not to accept work for less than ten shillings a week and every member swore a secret oath of allegiance.
James Frampton, the landowner, was determined to stop industrial action; he reported the group to the Home Secretary Lord Melbourne. Melbourne recommended invoking the Unlawful Oaths Act 1797, an obscure law promulgated in response to the Spithead and Nore mutinies, which prohibited the swearing of secret oaths.
The authorities arrested and put on trial Georger Loveless and five fellow workers George's brother James Loveless, George's brother in-law Thomas Standfield, Thomas's son John Standfield, James Brine, and James Hammett.
On March 18, 1834 the six were convicted at crown court by a jury of farmers – the men who employed the defendants – and sentenced to seven years in an Australian penal colony for swearing an illegal oath to join their friendly society.
The sentence caused public outrage and up to 100,000 people attended a demonstration in London. Over 800,000 signed petitions demanding their release and in 1836 the British government granted all six a full pardon.
Only one man went back to live in Tolpuddle, the rest emigrated to Canada.
The sycamore tree where the union members met and swore their oath still stands today in Tolpuddle.
Source Daily Mail
In 1833 a group of farm laborers from the Dorset village of Tolpuddle formed a ‘friendly society' or early trade union after their wages fell to six shillings a week – about 30p today.
Led by laborer and Methodist local preacher George Loveless, the men agreed not to accept work for less than ten shillings a week and every member swore a secret oath of allegiance.
James Frampton, the landowner, was determined to stop industrial action; he reported the group to the Home Secretary Lord Melbourne. Melbourne recommended invoking the Unlawful Oaths Act 1797, an obscure law promulgated in response to the Spithead and Nore mutinies, which prohibited the swearing of secret oaths.
The authorities arrested and put on trial Georger Loveless and five fellow workers George's brother James Loveless, George's brother in-law Thomas Standfield, Thomas's son John Standfield, James Brine, and James Hammett.
On March 18, 1834 the six were convicted at crown court by a jury of farmers – the men who employed the defendants – and sentenced to seven years in an Australian penal colony for swearing an illegal oath to join their friendly society.
The sentence caused public outrage and up to 100,000 people attended a demonstration in London. Over 800,000 signed petitions demanding their release and in 1836 the British government granted all six a full pardon.
Only one man went back to live in Tolpuddle, the rest emigrated to Canada.
The sycamore tree where the union members met and swore their oath still stands today in Tolpuddle.
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| The sycamore tree |
Source Daily Mail
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