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Character Table
Character Table
Table 1
Character
Character & Location
Intro slide
How was injury recd
Outcome
Dialogue
Location in Square based on severity
How does x feel about joining the Militia?
Character Description
Character
Character & Location
Intro slide
How was injury recd
Outcome
Dialogue
Location in Square based on severity
How does x feel about joining the Militia?
Character Description
1
Matthew Madlin
Matthew Madlin from Slaley
Matthew Madlin hails from Slaley. A farmer with a small holding of his own right, he is 29 years old. His farm is also close to Slaley.
Matthew walks the six miles to Hexham and is joined by others on his way, including his friend Thomas Standford. He is very reluctant to join the militia and hates such an imposition. He wants to be allowed to get on with his farming and hates the disruption to his way of life which such a thing would bring.
In fact he is quite angry about the whole thing and the feeling of powerlessness which he has in the face of the establishment effectively conscripting him into the militia. He is not alone in these views as a number of men he meets along the way to Hexham hold similar views.
At the market he and Tom were shouting,
“WE HAVE RIGHTS”, “ DON’T FORCE US INTO WAR!”
Matthew is in the market square in Hexham, when the North Yorkshire Militia open fire upon the assembled crowd, club and bayonet them.
Matthew suffers a bayonet wound to the thigh.
Another family member nearby bandages the wound, and although he has lost a lot of blood, is helped back towards Slaley.
He finds that he has to sleep in the woods for several nights to avoid detection from the militia and he feels changed by his experiences and is probably suffering from some form of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
Close to soldiers and exit in
He is very reluctant to join the militia and hates such an imposition. He wants to be allowed to get on with his farming and hates the disruption to his way of life which such a thing would bring.
In fact he is quite angry about the whole thing and the feeling of powerlessness which he has in the face of the establishment effectively conscripting him into the militia. He is not alone in these views as a number of men he meets along the way to Hexham hold similar views.
2
Edward Young
Edward Young from Corbridge
Edward Young lives in nearby Corbridge. He has just turned 20 and easily walks the three miles to Hexham on this Monday.
Ed is a poor small holder. He has a few head of cattle on his smallholding near Corbridge and the house where he lives with his young family is nothing more than a one room hovel.
En route others hear him say,
“I don’t want to kill somebody, can I work somewhere else?”
“I don’t think this is a good idea. Too many people, bound to be a lot of tension. If things get out of hand people could get crushed.”
He is very frightened about what might happen and would rather work and live anywhere else but in this locality at this time.
He certainly doesn’t want to kill anyone because this goes against his religious beliefs.
In the putting down of the riot the North Yorkshire Militia open fire and Edward is wounded in the right arm.
Edward gets away and his arm is affected for the rest of his life with it being much weaker than it was previously which has a detrimental affect upon his farming way of life.
En route others hear him say “ I don’t want to kill somebody, can I work somewhere else? I don’t think this is a good idea. Too many people, bound to be a lot of tension. If things get out of hand people could get crushed.”
not close to soldiers
He is very frightened about what might happen and would rather work and live anywhere else but in this locality at this time. He certainly doesn’t want to kill anyone because this goes against his religious beliefs.
3
William Warrener
William Warrener from Hexham
William Warrener actually comes from Hexham. He is a member of the North Yorkshire Militia.
He marched to Hexham from Newcastle yesterday and camped beside the Market Square with is regiment.
Aged 31 so born 1730 he has been a soldier for a few years.
He has a feeling of trepidation before the crowds start arriving in the market square and says to his fellow soldier beside him,
“Watch yourself mate, it’s not going to stay peaceful for very long.”
William says to John Robson, a protestor,
“Watch where you are swinging that !” indicating the pitchfork.
When the two soldiers, William Warrener and his pal come face to face with protestor John Robson.
The two soldiers take position of pointing bayonets out.
In a flash John feels terrible pain in his left shoulder, as he catches from the corner of his eye, a rock bouncing off exactly where the pain is coming from.
In reaction, he lifts the pitchfork in his right hand to touch his own left shoulder and accidentally stabs the soldier with the pointy end of the pitchfork.
It catches William in the thigh and he yelps.
They both leave the marketplace and find a doctor who helps patch them up as they sit beside each other still unsure how they should behave.
They are theoretically on opposing sides, although neither really wishes to be heading to France to fight the war.
John turns to William and says, “Don't’ think either of us are going to the war at this rate. “
He has a feeling of trepidation before the crowds start arriving in the market square and says to his fellow soldier beside him “Watch yourself mate, it’s not going to stay peaceful for very long.”
William says to John, “Watch where you are swinging that !” indicating the pitchfork.
Close to the soldier's line
4
John Robson
John Robson from Simonburn
John Robson is an older man at 40 years old - the average lifespan in the 1700s was 35 - and he has walked the seven miles from Simonburn with his two sons, also in the ballot.
He is worried what is happening. Being older and more experienced with how the country works he figures out, a summons for all men to attend the market square in Hexham must be to do with wanting something linked to France, England has already been fighting them for five years.
When the two soldiers, William Warrener and his pal come face to face with protestor John Robson.
The two soldiers take position of pointing bayonets out.
In a flash John feels terrible pain in his left shoulder, as he catches from the corner of his eye, a rock bouncing off exactly where the pain is coming from.
In reaction, he lifts the pitchfork in his right hand to touch his own left shoulder and accidentally stabs the soldier with the pointy end of the pitchfork.
It catches William in the thigh and he yelps.
They both leave the marketplace and find a doctor who helps patch them up as they sit beside each other still unsure how they should behave.
They are theoretically on opposing sides, although neither really wishes to be heading to France to fight the war.
John turns to William and says, “Don't’ think either of us are going to the war at this rate. “
John turns to William and says, “Don't’ think either of us are going to the war at this rate. “
Close to the soldier's line
He is worried what is happening, being older and more experienced with how the country works he figures out a summons for all men to attend the market square in Hexham must be to do with wanting something and linked to France, if already been fighting them for five years.
5
William Lamb
William Lamb from Haydon Bridge
William Lamb is 25 years old and from Haydon Bridge.
A farm labourer married to Elizabeth and lives in a farm cottage with children; Henry, Charles and Mary (good royal names).
He walked to the Hexham Market Square with other farm labourers chatting about the upcoming spring activities, planting seeds, lambing, etc.
William has not attended school, and makes his income by growing and selling food from the farm; veg, barley, wheat, oats, root vegetables.
In the Riot, William was hit on the leg by a musket ball fired by one of the soldiers.
It looked like a terrible wound, however with his experience of farm animals and their injuries he was not squeamish about the injury.
Would you be?
William headed back home, slowly, on the Carlisle road to reach his farm at Haydon Bridge.
There, his wife was able to keep the wound clean and help William make a recovery.
The musket ball was still in his leg because his wife was not able to remove it.
He kept out of view for many weeks after the event to avoid any detection from the militia who may have spotted the injury and decided William had been involved in the Riot and arrested him.
William has not attended school, and makes his income by growing and selling food from the farm; veg, barley, wheat, oats, root vegetables.
6
Richardson (Roberta/Bob) Christened Roberta goes by the name Bob
Richardson (Roberta/Bob) from Newburn/Newburn on Tyne
Roberta Richardson as she was christened is aged 40 from Newburn and has a secret.
She has been living her life as a man since she was a teenager because she wanted a job which society deemed was not possible to women, a blacksmith.
Calling herself Bob, she was attracted to the tools of a blacksmith and what they made; tools, hammer, spanner, nails, pins, horse shoes, shackles, ball and chain, chains.
She is reasonably well off being a blacksmith and may have had a horse, called Neville on which she travelled to Hexham. On route to Hexham she would have noticed lots of men making their way to the Moot Hall square and there would have been general discontent of the situation.
They do not like being pushed around and told what to do.
She has lived her life up to now as a man, everyone thinks that she is a man with a ruddy complexion and weathered with the hard labour of fire and sparks from their blacksmith working.
Banging and clanging of the hammer on molten metal would affect her hearing ability. Today, she was wearing her work clothes of breeches, shirt, jacket, tricorn hat and boots.
She is not too keen on joining the Militia because of her age, it would affect her business as a blacksmith and because it may lead to her sex being revealed.
She is quite an intimidating physical presence so she may have been seen by the soldiers as one of the agitators because of her physicality and therefore may have been a prime target for the Militia to fire at.
Bob was burned by a musket powder shot in the left side of the face, while she stood close to a soldier.
She gets back to Newburn, but is unable to work due to the injury and picks up an infection on the wound and dies one week later, after the gangrene phase.
Standing beside soldier line
She is not too keen on joining the Militia because of her age, would affect her business as a blacksmith and because it may lead to her sex being revealed
She is quite an intimidating physical presence so she may have been seen as one of the agitators because of her physicality and therefore may have been a prime target for the Militia to fire at
She has lived her life up to now as a man, everyone thinks that she is a man. Ruddy complexion and weathered with the hard labour of fire and sparks from her/his blacksmith working. Banging and clanging of the hammer on molten metal would affect her hearing ability.
She was wearing her work clothes of breeches, shirt, jacket, tricorn hat and boots.
7
Matt Robson
Matt Robson from Corbridge
Matt Robson is aged 35 years and has spent all his life with his family running an inn at Corbridge.
He is now the Innkeeper with his brothers and sisters. He and four brothers walked to Hexham today, summoned by the Government gentlemen to be included in the ballot.
Talking with brothers on way to Hexham,
“What are we going to see in Hexham?”
Taking in the views the weather and the wildlife - birds, red squirrels, deer, hares, rabbits, wild boar, foxes.
He is very positive and outgoing, he boosts morale with his singing - think “You’ve got a friend in me”, but an 18th century version.
Matt is also a fan of humming.
He loves all types of weather and wildlife like horses and creepy crawlies.
Matt Robson was knocked over and stabbed in the leg with a bayonet from a soldier.
The wound is not deep and doesn't get infected. Luckily his brothers carry him back to the Inn, there’s a good supply of clean water for the Inn and that helps prevent any infection getting into the wound.
Talk ing with brothers on way to Hexham, “what are we going to see in Hexham?”’
‘Taking in the views’
‘Weather’
‘Wildlife’ - birds, red squirrels, deer, hares, rabbits, wild boar, foxes.
Close to soldiers
He is very positive and outgoing, he boosts morale with his singing - “you’ve got a friend in me”, also a fan of humming.
He loves all types of weather and wildlife like horses and creepy crawlies.
8
John Hedley
John Hedley from Fourstones, in a house is next to a small grey stone church
John Hedley is exempt from the ballot, he is 32 years old and is a priest at Fourstones.
His brother Harry is a physician and they have walked together the four miles to see how they could support friends, patients, parishioners at the square.
To his travelling companions and those they met on the way, John’s views are clear, "we don’t have to fight anyone right? We can settle this peacefully right?"
He was a priest who hated violence, does not like to fight.
John went to Hexham Market Square to calm the situation down because he knew there would be a difference of opinion between the militia from North Yorkshire and the local residents.
He was thinking that he did not want to fight and wished to calm people down.
Wearing glasses, a black cassock and a cape or gown because of the cold and wearing a . Being a good priest he also wore a wooden cross measuring 36cm long and 28cm wide.
During the Moot Hall demonstration John Hedley is shouting "PLEASE DO NOT BE ALARMED! I AM NOT HERE TO HURT ANYONE!"
Once he got back home to his friends and family he sighed, ”I’m never doing that again.”
It is his left hand. He was shot in his left hand trying to stop one of the rioters.
John’s brother, Harry is also at the event and he was experienced in bandaging people up, he is a physician.
He and his brother made it back to the small church in Fourstones. John decided that he never wanted to be involved with fighting or war again.
John returned home by walking with his brother and Bob.
To his travelling companions and those he met on the way, "we don’t have to fight anyone right? We can settle this peacefully right?"
During the Moot Hall demonstration he is shouting "PLEASE DO NOT BE ALARMED! I AM NOT HERE TO HURT ANYONE!"
Once he got back home to his friends and family:” I’ve never doing that again (sighs)”
All this is happening in the middle of the Riot at the entrance to the market square.
He was a priest who hated violence., does not like to fight. John went to Hexham Market Square to calm the situation down because he knew there would be a difference of opinion between the militia from North Yorkshire and the local residents.
He was thinking that he did not want to fight and wished to calm people down.
a soothing voice,
John went to Hexham Market Square to calm the situation down because he knew there would be a difference of opinion between the militia from North Yorkshire and the local residents.
Wearing glasses, black cassock and a cape or gown because of the cold and wearing a Canterbury cap (look it up) [insert picture]. Being a good priest he also wore a wooden cross measuring 36cm long and 28cm wide.
9
M Scott (Michael imagined <orange>)
Michael Scott from West Acomb
Michael Scott is one of the first to arrive at the Market Square.
He has walked the nearly three miles from West Acomb. Michael is fit and healthy, a farm labourer, 20 years old.
When the riot started there’s lots of scuffling and a soldier has bashed Michael Scott in the jaw with his musket.
He turns to the soldier and says, ”it’s murderous and wrong, stop it!"
The soldier responds with a grunt and called him a “rebel”.
Luckily the jaw is not broken but he does have a stinking headache as a result of the bash.
With his legs unharmed he runs for the nearest exit from the square, pushing and shoving anyone in his way so as he can escape.
He makes his way back to the farm and lays low for a while until the trouble all blows over. Glad to return to his wife and two young boys who he feels responsible for looking after. If he had signed up for the militia he would have left the county and she had no way of working the land in his place.
His home is a small tied cottage (comes with the job) and he is quite happy to stay out of harms way after his horrible experience in Hexham.
His boss was very reliant on Michael and was quite happy not to give the game away by telling anyone that Michael was still here.
he turns to the soldier and says,”it’s murderous and wrong, stop it!"
Soldier responds with a grunt and called him a “rebel”
he turns to the soldier and says,”it’s murderous and wrong, stop it!"
10
Jane Cronkleton
Jane Cronkleton from Chollerton
Jane Cronkleton travelled to the market on Jasper Young's cart this morning and is going to the market today to buy materials for the household such as linen, etc.
Jane is a housemaid with a large family called the Bensons of Chollerton she is 20 years old and is a highly trusted servant having worked for her employer for 10 years. In that time she has worked herself up to a trusted position within the household. She wanted to go to the market and do what she had to do and get back.
It is not her intention to get involved in the protest because her employers were loyal to the Government establishment and it would have put her position at risk.
Jane doesn’t want any trouble. She is aware of the protest and the feelings against the militia but she doesn’t want to get involved. She looks down on anyone getting involved in such things.
Jane is shopping at the Hexham Market when she’s caught up in the disturbance.
She ran away from the trouble in the crowd.
However, when things kicked off faster than expected she was overtaken by events and got injured by a stray musket ball.
She got a ride back home on a cart and her employers are loyal to the Government and would have been upset at any involvement in the Riot.
However, Jane was only involved accidentally.
She is horrified by the turn of events and quickly found Jasper Young and got him to take her home on his cart.
Her employers believed that she didn’t want to get involved in the riot and so didn’t want to bring her to the attention of the establishment.
Far from the soldiers, was trapped while trying to go shopping
It is not her intention to get involved in the protest because her employers were loyal to the establishment and it would have put her position at risk. She doesn’t want any trouble. She is aware of the protest and the feelings against the militia but she doesn’t want to get involved. She looks down on anyone getting involved in such things.
11
Jasper Young
Jasper Young from Chollerton
Jasper Young is a carter - and travels in his cart to and from Hexham to transport goods back from the market. Today that includes carrying back an injured Jane Cronkleton to her home.
A man in his fifties, he was very keen to tell the younger men of what he has seen on his travels and how nobody was wanting to serve in the militia because it was not any fun being a soldier, if you had friends and family at home.
His flamboyant hat and equally colourful outfit stood out amongst the crowd of farm labourers and men from outside the town.
The hat was an investment for this year, so he would smart and easy to find for his customers.
A ladies man he also looked smart and tidy to appeal to the ladies of each parish he visited with his cart.
A musket ball hits Jasper Young’s hat four times and he gets a slight wound to the scalp.
He is more annoyed at his damaged hat because of the repairs needed.
A felt floppy brimmener hat.
He returns home with his cart filled with goods but annoyed because of his damaged hat.
He was very keen to tell the younger men of what he has seen on his travels and how nobody was wanting to serve in the militia because it was not any fun being a soldier, if you had friends and family at home.
His flamboyant hat and equally colourful outfit stood out amongst the crowd of farm labourers and men from outside the town.
12
Nicholas Lowes
Nicholas Lowes from Stamfordham
Nicholas Lowes is from Standfordham.
Although he is 35 years old he has walked the 13 miles to Hexham because he spends his life on the road.
He is a travelling physician, more accurately he is a quack!
Meaning he travels from village to village selling potions and treatments he claims will help people who are unwell.
More often than not, the potions are mixtures of plants, dirt and the nearest river water. By the time the patient has realised the medicine is not working, Lowes is long gone and walking to the next village.
He was in Hexham on market day procuring plants and vegetables to make his dinner and also create some bottles of his special elixir.
Nicholas Lowe’s plan was to leave Hexham in the afternoon, but he became trapped with the swelling crowd of men, young and old who were squeezing into the market square for the announcement from the militia.
As the riot kicked off, he was trampled by the stampeding crowd in the market square.
Not someone to look a gift horse in the mouth, he spotted there were a few injured men in the square.
Normally he would not offer treatment to obvious problems, like a bleeding wound and he would stick to remedies for headaches or hidden illnesses.
Today, he thought about the opportunity to patch people up, for a fee, obviously.
He was trying to help everyone who was injured but in the course of one ruckus he sustained a kick to the ribs from behind and he heard the crack himself, maybe across the other side of the Square did too.
Finally by late into the evening Nicholas had seen all those who had been left injured in the Square and offered them some form of remedy, even if it was a swig of gin from the nearby tavern, to relieve the pain from their injuries.
13
Thomas Standford
Thomas Standford from Slayley
A morning walk from Slayley to Hexham is over six miles, but that is a fraction of the distance he normally walks in a days work.
Thomas or Tom to his friends, was ordered to go to the market for the Militia sign up, he is a very eligible recruit!
“WE HAVE RIGHTS”, “DON’T FORCE US INTO WAR!”
At the market Thomas and Matthew were shouting,
“WE HAVE RIGHTS!”
“DON’T FORCE US INTO WAR!”
He is hit with the butt of a rifle in the chest and receives a mild wound to the chest.
His ribs are badly bruised which over the coming days became purple, blue, black, yellow and pink before it heals to his regular skin colour.
Thomas found Matthew and walked home via the woods, staying overnight to keep out of the way of the militia.
The militia and authorities were out searching after the Riot to track down the perpetrators.
Hearing the search parties coming Matthew and Tom laid low in the woods.
They knew these woods from many years of passing through going to Hexham and returning home, sometimes breaking up the 12 mile round trip with a night in the woods.
At the market he and Matthew were shouting “We have rights” “ Don’t force us into war!”
At the market he and Matthew were shouting “We have rights” “ Don’t force us into war!”
14
John Ridley's Man
John Ridley's Man from Chollerton
One of the wounded was called "John Ridley's Man" indicating he was employed or maybe even enslaved to John Ridley.
Why do you think his name was not recorded?
Let's name him Howard and say he was Ridley's valet or right-hand man for dressing him, preparing his wardrobe and personal travels.
He has come to the market square on behalf of his lordship to report back how the event goes.
You can imagine local Lord Suchandsuch has much favour to gain from a successful recruitment campaign.
Wearing his trademark knickerbockers lacy shirt and cuffs with stockings pulled up to the knees, there was no mistaking who Howard worked for.
Right ear and left little finger of John Ridley’s Man were injured.
Howard received a life-changing injury, avoided the middle of the square and was on the periphery when a gentleman with a rapier sliced his right ear clean off.
In the melee he used his left hand to try and protect his ear and his little finger was also sliced off!
His injury was helped by flour used to mop up the blood from the injuries.
John Ridley was very keen to have his manservant returned in full health, albeit without an ear and a finger but he is a reliable worker.
He paid for the medical care of Howard as soon as he returned to the big house.
Come to the market square on behalf of his lordship to report back how the event goes. Lord Suchandsuch has much favour to gain from a successful recruitment campaign.
Wearing his trademark knickerbockers lacy shirt and cuffs with stockings pulled up to the knees.
15
William Pattison
William Pattison from Wall
William Pattison comes from nearby Wall but works in Hexham area supporting the Tannery businesses.
He is the night soil man who collects household waste (yes, that waste!).
Urine in particular, is useful for the tanners and Pattison provides them with buckets from his nightly collections.
With rough, strong hands, he brought his handcart to the square. It was not much to look at with splinters, large wooden wheels, spokes and metal around the rim. However, it gave a good viewpoint of what was happening.
William felt himself lonely because of his job which made his clothes, hair and anything he touched smell quite bad.
He has been working since he was 8 years old and has never attended school. When the soldiers handed him the leaflet to join up he was unable to read what it said.
He finds someone not too upset by his smell and keeps a social distance to have the leaflet explained “Join your country’s army” “Three meals a day and see the world.”
Strong smelling and strong acting. Standing on his own in the square with people not wishing to get too close!!
He was at the market doing his job, finishing off his night's work looking for last night's bed pan contents and was not looking to get involved with anyone.
Pattison injured himself using his shovel to protect himself from the crowds during the riot.
He slipped on something that has fallen from his cart, he falls onto his back and the shovel lands on his hand - and it really stings and stinks.
William decides to join the army and escape from the smells and difficult job as night soil man.
The army medic treats his hand and it heals within the month, ready for his first trip to reach France.
He survives the Seven Years War and finds the ability to lead and is promoted to Sergeant Major by the age of 38.
He finds someone not too upset by his smell and keeps a social and smell distance to have the leaflet explained “Join your country’s army” “Three meals a day and see the world.”
He was at the market doing his job, finishing off his night's work looking for last night's bed pan contents and was not looking to get involved with anyone.
WP felt himself lonely because of his job which made his clothes, hair and anything he touched smell quite bad. WP has been working since he was 8 and has never attended school. When the soldiers handed him the leaflet to join up he was unable to read what it said.
16
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