Newport Chartists Vol.11, p.63

Description

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[top right hand margin:-] 63
[top margin:-]8 Nov[embe]r 1839

William Griffiths late of Cwm Brain
Collier many years in the employ of C. H. Leighton Esq[uire] now in custody -
in left hand margin:- Since discharged
About 12 months ago Jones the
Watchmaker was addressing the people
at Pontnewydd at his own house
in Pontypool - then it was I was first
persuaded by one & another to join the
Chartists - about 6 months ago
there was a Chartist Lodge held
at Pontnewydd - at a Beerhouse
kept by John Llewellin - there were
I dare say 500 men there - I was called in
to a private Room - there were about 20
men there - John Llewellin & W[illia]m Jones
were there - a man was at a table
with a long narrow book keeping account
there were 2 or 3 other books - the man
(whose name was John Davis a Carpenter
of Pontypool whom I have twice
heard was one of the 9 now lying dead)
asked any name and entered it in the
long narrow book - I was to pay him
Sixpence - of which 5d was for entrance
money and the 1d was for the card -
I had, which was taken from me on
Monday morn. last - I was to pay
a penny a week - I have paid it

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[centre bottom margin:-] A Stamp mark showing Newport Public Reference Libraries

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regularly ever since till the last
month for 3 weeks -
On Tuesday evening last near 3 o'clock
George Squires a Collier working
for Mr Blewitt came to me at a
Public House near the meeting House
Cwm Brain & said I was the only
man he wanted to see - that we
were bound to meet at 9 o'clock that night
on the Pontypool Race Course -
I then went out towards my own House
& then John Davis catched me just as
I was coming out of the Public house
he said "William you must come along
with me tonight", you must come -
towards my Father's house in Pontypool
as he wants to see you" - I went
with him immediately to his Father
we sat down together in his house -
The Father (William Davis) said they
(the Chartists) were threatening every
body if they would not come to the
Race Course that night at 9 o'clock
It was then between 4 & 5 o'clock
while we were sitting down after
Tea, a body of men about 30 some armed
with Pikes some with Guns & Pikes
& Powder & Bullets came in
& said we must go with them -

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We all then rose up & went down
to the Pontypool Race Course - there
were not above 40 altogether then -
the Race Course is about 2 miles
from Pontypool all the party soon
came off the course up
across the Fields to the Pontymoile

Turnpike Gate - When we came to
the Gate W[illia]m Jones met us there with
several other Men - William
Davis & I were on our way home,
when William Jones took hold of me
by the coat on the Turnpike road
& said "you must come down with us
you are bound to go" - I said I couldn't
& tried to make some excuse
I said I was so wet and not well -
He then pulled out a bottle of Rum out of his
pocket & gave it to me & several of the others
to drink, - in order to force them
on - we then went back with him
(I had taken up a small slice at William
Davis's house when the Party forced us to
go along with them, for they said every
body was forced to take something in their
hands) - We went on towards Newport
along the Turnpike road - we first stopped
at CrossyCeilog and went in &
had a pint of beer W[illia]m Davis & I and
a good many others - it was 11 o'clock
I dare say

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We then went on to the Newport
Turnpike Gate - it had been raining
uncommon, all the night - we was
like fishes - We stopped about an hour there, some
took shelter under a shed - W[illai]m Jones
then said "Come on this way" and shewed
us a road on the right hand side he
went up the road and we followed him
We went on for about 3 miles to a
Public house - William Jones was
crying out all the way "Come along Lads" to force
them along - When we got there, we
found the House full of men armed
with pikes & sticks & & a number
of Guns - William Jones had told us on the
road that John Frost was at the Public
House with a large body of men - but
I've heard that Frost was not come
up then - The people said there was
14,000 men coming down from the Hills -
to draw us on to meet them - William
Davis & I left the House together thinking
to slink off in the dark - I did not see William Jones after we left the Public House - he was walking about there - we went on
the main road towards Newport together
for half a mile when we stopped behind
& I missed him (W[illia]m Davis) I went on with Joseph
Harris & Tho[ma]s Edwards until we came
within about 3/4 of a mile of Newport
when we met the Policemen and gave
ourselves up - this was about 1/2 past 6 o'clock
on Monday morning -

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[right hand margin - vertical:-]

Evidence of
W[illa]m Griffiths
8/1/40 JE