Samuel Holberry
Encyclopedia
Samuel Holberry was a prominent Chartist
activist.
, the youngest of nine children. In 1832 he joined the army, leaving in 1835 and moving to Sheffield
, where began working as a distiller, and married Mary Cooper (22 October 1938).
Together with other activists campaigning to extend the political rights given by the Reform Act 1832
, he engaged in a number of peaceful protests. After a rebellion in Newport
, Monmouthshire
now known as the Newport Rising
was put down in 1839, then Samuel and a group of conspirators planned a Sheffield Rising.
, and supposedly "provided themselves with arms, and fixed upon a plan for taking some, and firing other parts of the town. That they had agreed to strike down every policeman and watchman
that they might meet, and catch the soldier
s before they could fire upon them. The barracks
were to be fired, and the insurgents were to possess themselves of the Town Hall
and Tontine, which they were to defend with the barricades."
The plot was exposed by the landlord of a pub in Rotherham
who had infiltrated the group. Leaders were identified, and both Samuel and Mary were arrested. In contrast to many members of the group, Samuel freely admitted that he had aimed to upset the Government and was willing to die for the Charter. He was convicted of conspiracy to riot
and sedition
and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. Placed in Northallerton
House of Correction, he was illegally put on the treadwheel
.
and died after being transferred to York Castle
. He was buried in Sheffield General Cemetery
, 50,000 people attending his funeral.
In the 1980s, Sheffield City Council
commemorated Holberry by naming a fountain
in the Peace Gardens
for him. This was removed during renovations and replaced by the "Holberry Cascades".
Chartism
Chartism was a movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century, between 1838 and 1859. It takes its name from the People's Charter of 1838. Chartism was possibly the first mass working class labour movement in the world...
activist.
Early years
Holberry was born in Gamston, NottinghamshireGamston, Nottinghamshire
There are two places in Nottinghamshire called Gamston. These are*Gamston, Rushcliffe, near West Bridgford, in the south of the county*Gamston, Bassetlaw, near Retford, in the north of the county...
, the youngest of nine children. In 1832 he joined the army, leaving in 1835 and moving to Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, where began working as a distiller, and married Mary Cooper (22 October 1938).
Together with other activists campaigning to extend the political rights given by the Reform Act 1832
Reform Act 1832
The Representation of the People Act 1832 was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales...
, he engaged in a number of peaceful protests. After a rebellion in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
now known as the Newport Rising
Newport Rising
The Newport Rising was the last large-scale armed rebellion against authority in mainland Britain, when on 4 November 1839, somewhere between 1,000 and 5,000 Chartist sympathisers, including many coal-miners, most with home-made arms, led by John Frost, marched on the town of Newport,...
was put down in 1839, then Samuel and a group of conspirators planned a Sheffield Rising.
Radical Chartism
The groups began to organise a militiaMilitia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, and supposedly "provided themselves with arms, and fixed upon a plan for taking some, and firing other parts of the town. That they had agreed to strike down every policeman and watchman
Watchman
Watchman or Watchmen may refer to:*Watchman , a member of a group who provided law enforcement**Security guard or watchman, a person who watches over and protects property, assets, or people...
that they might meet, and catch the soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
s before they could fire upon them. The barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
were to be fired, and the insurgents were to possess themselves of the Town Hall
Sheffield Old Town Hall
Sheffield Old Town Hall stands on Waingate in central Sheffield, England, opposite Castle Market.The building was commissioned to replace Sheffield's first town hall, which had opened in 1700 to a design by William Renny...
and Tontine, which they were to defend with the barricades."
The plot was exposed by the landlord of a pub in Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
who had infiltrated the group. Leaders were identified, and both Samuel and Mary were arrested. In contrast to many members of the group, Samuel freely admitted that he had aimed to upset the Government and was willing to die for the Charter. He was convicted of conspiracy to riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
and sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. Placed in Northallerton
Northallerton
Northallerton is an affluent market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies in the Vale of Mowbray and at the northern end of the Vale of York. It has a population of 15,741 according to the 2001 census...
House of Correction, he was illegally put on the treadwheel
Treadwheel
A treadwheel is a form of animal engine typically powered by humans. It may resemble a water wheel in appearance, and can be worked either by a human treading paddles set into its circumference , or by a human or animal standing inside it .Uses of treadwheels included raising water, to power...
.
Death in Prison
In gaol, Samuel developed consumptionTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and died after being transferred to York Castle
York Castle
York Castle in the city of York, England, is a fortified complex comprising, over the last nine centuries, a sequence of castles, prisons, law courts and other buildings on the south side of the River Foss. The now-ruinous keep of the medieval Norman castle is sometimes referred to as Clifford's...
. He was buried in Sheffield General Cemetery
Sheffield General Cemetery
The General Cemetery is a cemetery in the City of Sheffield, England that opened in 1836, and closed for burial in 1978. It was the principal cemetery in Victorian Sheffield with over 87,000 burials. Today it is a conservation area , and it is listed on the English Heritage National Register of...
, 50,000 people attending his funeral.
Commemoration
Sheffield City Council
Sheffield City Council is the city council for the metropolitan borough of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It consists of 84 councillors, elected to represent 28 wards, each with three councillors...
commemorated Holberry by naming a fountain
Fountain
A fountain is a piece of architecture which pours water into a basin or jets it into the air either to supply drinking water or for decorative or dramatic effect....
in the Peace Gardens
Peace Gardens
The Peace Gardens are an inner city square in Sheffield, England. It was created as part of the Heart of the City project by Sheffield City Council....
for him. This was removed during renovations and replaced by the "Holberry Cascades".