The Rebecca Riots had been ongoing since their inception in 1839 at Efailwen, Carmarthenshire and although most people associate their protests against what was perceived as the injustices of the toll gates, the movement was also very concerned about the general economic conditions in the countryside at that time.
This is an account of the visit of “Mother Rebecca and her daughters” to Fishguard on the 11th September 1843. The story reached London and was reported in “The Times” although this particular article was published in The Cambrian on the 15th September 1843. | Roedd Terfysgoedd Beca wedi bod yn mynd rhagddynt ers torri’r iet gyntaf yn 1839 yn Efailwen, Sir Gâr. Er bod y rhan fwyaf o bobl yn cysylltu eu protestiadau gydag anghyfiawnder y tollbyrth, roedd y mudiad hefyd yn ofidus iawn am yr amodau economaidd cyffredinol yng nghefn gwlad y cyfnod. Dyma hanes ymweliad “Rebecca a’i merched” ag Abergwaun ar 11 Medi 1843. Cyrhaeddodd yr hanes Lundain ac fe’i hadroddwyd yn “The Times” er i’r erthygl arbennig hon gael ei chyhoeddi yn The Cambrian ar 15 Medi 1843. |
“BECCA AT FISHGUARD – On Friday evening or early Saturday morning last, Rebecca, with about fifty of her children (agreeable to notice given to the collector and to Mr M’Kennel, the surveyor), paid a visit to this town: they arrived at the gate leading from Haverfordwest at about 12 o’clock. After going through some preliminaries, Becca requested her children, after firing a volley, to take down the obstacle in her way, in the presence of a great number of the inhabitants; they then marched in military order through the town to the Parc y Morfa gate , on the road to Newport, a distance of about half a mile, which was soon demolished. They returned in a short time in the same order, very peacefully.
The above named lady, with about eighty of her children, paid another visit to the town on Monday night last, to complete the work they had commenced on Friday night. They arrived at about twelve o’clock, passed through the town in military order, Becca leading the way on horseback, to Parc y Morfa, on the Cardigan road. After giving notice to the inmates of the toll-house to leave, they commenced pulling it down, which was effected within about half an hour; they then returned through the town, to the toll-house on the Haverfordwest road, which was then destroyed; They then proceeded to the residence of Mr M’Kennel, the surveyor of the roads, and totally destroyed his garden wall which he lately took in from the Common and doing great injury to his property. They left at the approach of dawn, informing the inhabitants, it was their intention to pay another visit to get rid of some encroachments that had lately taken place on the Common, They were generally armed and kept up a regular fire and the whole were disguised.”
Thumbnail image – Wikipedia foundation
No Comments
Add a comment about this page