Shropshire Routes to Roots

2. 2nd May 1839

Source

Llanidloes
2nd May 1839
Dear Sir
This town is, altho' calm at present, at the mercy of a mob, and as we have no effective County Magistrate near, I write this in the hope that you and Mr J. Davies have taken the necessary steps towards causing the assembling of the Cavalry, not that force along will be sufficient, for from the extensive arming which had been going on here, and the intended mode of warfare (firing thro' windows) I feel confident a strong force of foot soldiers will be requisite.
I am
Dear Sir
Respectfully yours
T. Edm, Marsh

[Shropshire Archive reference: 631/3/182]

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Questions

1. What was the situation of the town at the time the letter was written?
2. What action did Thomas Marsh want taken?
3. Did he think this would be enough to subdue the threat?
4. What were the mob doing that made combating them so difficult?
5. Thomas Marsh's private army was made up of workers on his estates. Do you think they would have shared the same ambitions as the Chartists? Explain your answer.

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