Shoni Sguborfawr
Encyclopedia
Shoni Sguborfawr, (1811–1858) was a notorious thug born in Merthyr Tydfil
, Wales
and christened John Jones. He is most notable for his part in the Rebecca Riots
and his subsequent attempts to blackmail fellow 'rioters'.
which is situated just a couple of miles away from Merthyr; he also worked as a farm labourer in the Penderyn area, so this may have been his true birth place. Little is known about his education, however he was able to read and write to a certain extent. His occupation shifts constantly, as well as a farm hand he is recorded by some as a shaft-sinker and others a brass fitter. He later joined the 98th Foot Regiment
working for the authorities in Monmouthshire, and at one point was working in Brecon
as a special constable during a Brecknock
election.
Before he reached 30, Sguborfawr had made a name for himself as a hard man, and was seen as one of the toughest men in 'China', which was an undesirable area of Merthyr where the worst and most desperate of an industrial society found themselves. In 1840 the arrival of the Taff Vale Railway
, which made Merthyr an industrial steel manufacturing hub of Britain, was celebrated in 'China' with a bare-knuckle boxing
contest between Sguborfawr and Cyfarthfa
champion, John Nash.
where he was then hired to take part in the Rebecca Riots. His main acts during the riots were the destruction of turnpike gates, and on the 25 August he was involved in drunken brawling in Pontyberem. After the riots Sguborfawr began using extortion to gain money from several farmers, stating he would reveal them to be Rebecca Rioters. He was arrested in Tumble
in September for shooting a man at the New Inn in Pontyberem, and in December was sentenced to be transported
from Britain. Though after his sentence was read, he laughed and revealed the names of some of his criminal associates.
Sguborfawr was first placed in Carmarthan Gaol before being moved to Millbank Penitentiary
in 1844. There he was housed with fellow convicted rioter David Davies (Dai'r Cantwr)
, but the men were separated when Sguborfawr was transported on the Blunell, reaching Norfolk Island
on 6 July. He remained at the penitentiary station on the island until 8 April 1847 when he was transferred to Van Diemens Land, Tasmania
. Although placed with several masters, much like his trouble making in Britain, Sguborfawr continued to be anti-social and aggressive; this time his acts included stealing along with being drunk and disorderly.
He was awarded a ticket of leave in 1856 and was conditionally pardoned in 1858. A contemporary described Sguborfawr as "a half-witted and inebriate ruffian".
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and christened John Jones. He is most notable for his part in the Rebecca Riots
Rebecca Riots
The Rebecca Riots took place between 1839 and 1843 in South and Mid Wales. They were a series of protests undertaken by local farmers and agricultural workers in response to perceived unfair taxation. The rioters, often men dressed as women, took their actions against toll-gates, as they were...
and his subsequent attempts to blackmail fellow 'rioters'.
Early history
Although police records state that Sguborfawr was born in Merthyr Tydfil, the name Sguborfawr was a farm near the village of PenderynPenderyn
Penderyn may refer to:*Penderyn, Rhondda Cynon Taf, a village in Wales*Penderyn , a whisky produced by Penderyn Distillery...
which is situated just a couple of miles away from Merthyr; he also worked as a farm labourer in the Penderyn area, so this may have been his true birth place. Little is known about his education, however he was able to read and write to a certain extent. His occupation shifts constantly, as well as a farm hand he is recorded by some as a shaft-sinker and others a brass fitter. He later joined the 98th Foot Regiment
98th (Prince of Wales's) Regiment of Foot
- External links :*...
working for the authorities in Monmouthshire, and at one point was working in Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
as a special constable during a Brecknock
Brecon (UK Parliament constituency)
Brecon was a parliamentary constituency in Wales which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and its predecessors, from 1542 until it was abolished for the 1885 general election.-Boundaries:...
election.
Before he reached 30, Sguborfawr had made a name for himself as a hard man, and was seen as one of the toughest men in 'China', which was an undesirable area of Merthyr where the worst and most desperate of an industrial society found themselves. In 1840 the arrival of the Taff Vale Railway
Taff Vale Railway
The Taff Vale Railway is a railway in Glamorgan, South Wales, and is one of the oldest in Wales. It operated as an independent company from 1836 until 1922, when it became a constituent company of the Great Western Railway...
, which made Merthyr an industrial steel manufacturing hub of Britain, was celebrated in 'China' with a bare-knuckle boxing
Bare-knuckle boxing
Bare-knuckle boxing is the original form of boxing, closely related to ancient combat sports...
contest between Sguborfawr and Cyfarthfa
Cyfarthfa
Cyfarthfa is a community of the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil, in Wales. As of 2001, it has a population of 6141. Cyfartha mainly consists of the settlements of Gellideg and Heolgerrig....
champion, John Nash.
The Rebecca Riots
In the 1843 Sguborfawr went before the Merthyr Magistrates for being drunk and disorderly and brawling in the streets. He escaped a prison sentence, but he was soon in front of the Swansea Magistrates on an identical charge. After these encounters with the magistrates Sguborfawr found work in the village of PontyberemPontyberem
Pontyberem is a village situated in the Gwendraeth Valley halfway between Carmarthen and Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, South Wales.- History :...
where he was then hired to take part in the Rebecca Riots. His main acts during the riots were the destruction of turnpike gates, and on the 25 August he was involved in drunken brawling in Pontyberem. After the riots Sguborfawr began using extortion to gain money from several farmers, stating he would reveal them to be Rebecca Rioters. He was arrested in Tumble
Tumble, Carmarthenshire
Tumble , is a village situated south of Cross Hands near the towns of Carmarthen and Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, West Wales. Tumble, along with Cross Hands is part of the community of Llannon.-History:...
in September for shooting a man at the New Inn in Pontyberem, and in December was sentenced to be transported
Penal transportation
Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
from Britain. Though after his sentence was read, he laughed and revealed the names of some of his criminal associates.
Sguborfawr was first placed in Carmarthan Gaol before being moved to Millbank Penitentiary
Millbank Prison
Millbank Prison was a prison in Millbank, Pimlico, London, originally constructed as the National Penitentiary, and which for part of its history served as a holding facility for convicted prisoners before they were transported to Australia...
in 1844. There he was housed with fellow convicted rioter David Davies (Dai'r Cantwr)
David Davies (Dai'r Cantwr)
David Davies, also known as Dai'r Cantwr , was a Welsh poet and lay-preacher. He was convicted and sentenced to transportation to Australia for his actions during the Rebecca Riots.-Early life:...
, but the men were separated when Sguborfawr was transported on the Blunell, reaching Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
on 6 July. He remained at the penitentiary station on the island until 8 April 1847 when he was transferred to Van Diemens Land, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. Although placed with several masters, much like his trouble making in Britain, Sguborfawr continued to be anti-social and aggressive; this time his acts included stealing along with being drunk and disorderly.
He was awarded a ticket of leave in 1856 and was conditionally pardoned in 1858. A contemporary described Sguborfawr as "a half-witted and inebriate ruffian".
External links
- Biography of Shoni Sguborfawr National Library of Wales