Letter from Colonel Trevor (Lord Dynevor) to William Chambers, 6 July 1843 [page 1 of 4]

Description

Description by George Eyre Evans:

"On 5 July, Colonel Love, Commandant of the district, formed a military cordon round the disturbed areas; a detachment consisting of 120 of the Royal Marines, under Major Whylock, coming from Pembroke Arsenal in the Confiance steamer for Cardigan, were to be placed under Love's command.

Between 6 July and 10 August, the date of the next letter, no less than 38 gates, bars, and houses, were demolished, including those at Aberayron [Aberaeron] (two gates), Abergwili, Alltfawr (and house), Bolgoed (bar and house), Gwarallt, Llandeilo Rhwnws (toll-house), Llannon (gate and house), Minke, New Inn, Penygarn, Pompren, Pontarllechan, Pontyberem, Porthyrhyd (and house), Pumfry, Pumpsaint, Red Lion, Sandy Limekiln (and house), Ty-coch, Tyllwyd (and house), and Ystrad-feiris."

Transcription:

"Penycoed, St. Clears,
6 July, 1843.

My dear Sir,

N.B.- I return to Carmarthen tomorrow. Having been writing a great deal lately I unfortunately have neglected (not, however, willingly, but from forgetfulness) to reply to your letter of the 10th inst., which I have this moment looked over again with some others.

You are quite at liberty to offer a reward for the detection of the parties concerned in the gate breaking near you. This is the Government has authorised, and perhaps the Trust would add something also. The Government reward would be fifty pounds. If you can catch the parties I should certainly recommend they should be committed for the offence of breking down the House, but you must be careful to comply most strictly with the terms of the Statute; as it will not do to let them have a loophole to creep you at.

I am sorry to find that two gates were broken on Tuesday night last near Mr. Saunder's, Maencae and Pontyates.

Your plan of circulating handbills is very good.

Mr Chambers will have received, I hope, by this time, some copies of my address to the county. I sent them to him as I understood from the Petty Sessions Clerk that he was the Chairman.

I return to Carmarthen to-morrow.

Yours very truly
Geo. Rice Trevor."

[Source: George Eyre Evans, 'Rebecca Riots: Unpublished letters, 1843-44', The Transactions of the Carmarthenshire Antiquarian Society and Field Club, vol. XXIII, pp. 61-2]