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Wanted Men |
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Coiners
Story |
The death of William Deighton gave rise to a renewed determination by the authorities to bring and end to the coiners activities and the murderers to justice. Instrumental in the actions locally was the Halifax solicitor Robert Parker whose association with Deighton gave him the resolve to hunt down the coiners gang. One of his first moves was to persuade the authorities to publish the names and descriptions of coiners against whom evidence had already been laid. Posters were pasted on walls across the West Riding giving details of Thomas Clayton, Benjamin Sutcliffe, Isaac Dewhurst, Nathan Horsfall, John Tatham, John Parker and James Green. The names of Peter Barker, William Clayton, John Ibbetson, Matthew Hepworth, Joseph Hanson, Isaac Hartley, John Wilcock, Joshua Lister, Joseph Gelder and Joshua Shaw would be added to this list on the 25th March 1770 following the arrival of the Mint solicitor in Halifax. Many more had been identified by Parker. Next Parker made contacts with those known to him in Government circles, and through correspondence with Lord Weymouth (Lord of the Treasury) and the Marquis of Rockingham (Lord Lieutenant and Vice Admiral of Yorkshire) the reward of £100 was promised to those offering information leading to the arrest of the murderers. A further £100 was promised by the Gentlemen and Merchants of Halifax. The effect of this proclamation on Tuesday 14th November 1769 was almost instantaneous. On the 21st November the Leeds Mercury announced the arrest of three men. These men were Matthew Normington, Thomas Spencer and William Folds and followed the arrest of James Broadbent, Deighton's informant. All four men were sent to York to join David Hartley and their fellow coiners and await their trial. Parker then suggested that a meeting be held with local dignitaries to ensure that those responsible for Deightons murder were held in custody. The Marquis of Rockingham chaired the meeting of forty two gentlemen at the Talbot Inn, Halifax on the 28th November 1769. Three key resolutions came out of the meeting; support for the civil magistracy; the subscription of funds for rewarding information leading to the arrest of the coiners; and an agreement that Deighton's widow be recommended for financial support, 'an object of His Majesty's Royal Bounty'. On the last matter, Rockingham wrote a letter to Lord Weymouth on 1st December detailing the activities of the coiners and the actions taken to bring them to justice, and asking Lord Weymouth to secure annual support of £50 for Mrs Deighton and funding for the apprenticeship of her children from the King. This letter, which can be seen in the public records office is endorsed "Read by the King". Shortly afterwards, Robert Parker was able to convey to Mrs Deighton the Kings agreement to Rockinghams request.
Above, Charles Watson Woodhouse, second Marquis of Rockingham, served two terms as Prime Minister from July 1762 to July 1765 and from March 1782 to July 1782 |
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