The Virginia Gazette

BRISTOL, Oct. 13.

Our City and Suburbs have been strangely disturbed for these several Days past, by the turbulent Commotions and Insurrections of the Colliers of Kingswood, but chiefly by those that work entirely in the Coal-Mines. They have played such mad Pranks, that one would think they had forgot there were any Laws in Being for the Government of a People, and to secure the Peace and Property of the Subject; and though these misguided People have their almost entire Subsistence from this City, yet have they thought fit, not only to cut off all Communication of the Wheel and Horse Carriage, by Dint of Ax, Club and Staff, and thereby depriving the Inhabitants of their Firing; but are also turn'd Collectors on the Road.

The Rise of this Disturbance proceeded from a Grievance among themselves; several Persons having rented some old Works, and finding the Production capable of Improvement, have undersold the Proprietors of the other Works, in their Small Coal, which supply the Glass-houses, Smiths, and Sugar-houses. Those Proprietors that were chiefly injur'd by this, would fain oblige the Pitmen to work for a lower Price, by sinking their Wages from Sixteen-Pence to One Shilling per Day; which was so ill relished, that they absolutely refus'd a Compliance; and to remedy the Evil, gathered, by Degrees, to a considerable Body; and those that were unwilling to join their Company they forced, and some underwent a sound Drubbing, and riding the Cow-Tang, &c. And to prevent the bringing Coal to Town, till such Time Matters were accommodated, have dispersed themselves into Several Parties, and stopped up the Communication of the Coal Carriages and Horses; and as they are poor and not able to subsist without working, to supply their Necessities, forced a Collection on the Road, by obliging People to give them Money; and such as had Cheese or Bread they took Care to lighten them of their Burden, swearing, that it was Bread they wanted.

About Three o'Clock Monday, which was the first Day of their Rising, a Body of about 60 enter'd Totterdown-House, drank up a considerable Quantity of Liquor, knock'd down the poor Parrot that was hanging in the Kitchen, beat and abus'd the Landlord and Landlady, threw up the Sash-Window, and were for throwing the Landlord into the Tide, but were prevented by some of the most human of them; and without paying for their Liquor, retir'd to the rest of their Body in the Road. From thence they proceeded to Bustleton, where they forced several of the civilized Colliers into their Service, and violently beat those who refus'd; enter'd what Houses they pleas'd, eat and drank every Thing they could come at, without paying any Money; threw a great deal of Coal into the Pits, and burnt all the Oaken Poles us'd in propping up the Mine-Works; but to stop their further Mischief, one of the Clerks of the Mines gave them a Guinea's worth of strong Drink; and 'Squire Cobb also gave them some Pails full, to prevent their forcing into his House; but swore they would come the next Morning and destroy their Fire-Engine: also those in Kingswood, and the Locks on the River between Bath and Bristol, Leaving Bustleton, they met with a Man on the Road leading a Calf with a String; they seiz'd the Calf, cut its Throat, and left it, but carried the poor Man a considerable Way astride on a long Pole. In their Way, they stopped at the Sign of the Goat, between Bustleton and this City, took the Meat out of the Pot that was then boiling, and threaten'd to put the Head of the Landlady's Son therein, knocked down the Landlady at her Cellar Door, and cut her on the Arm with one of her Case-Knives: From thence they decamped to the White-Heart in the same Road, where some of them enter'd the House, demanded Liquor, eat up a Shoulder of Mutton, drank what they pleased, and departed towards Bristol, some going thro' the Body of the City, hollowing and Shouting; others taking Boat at the Temple Backs, and passed without paying. All the Horses they met with laden, have been stopped, their Sacks cut, and the Coal thrown about the Highway and Streets, beating several Pack Saddles to Pieces. Several Waggons full of Coal have also fallen a Sacrifice to their Rage, particularly one near Castle-Gate, the Wheels and Shafts of which they cut in Pieces, and threw the Coal into the Street. Without Lawford's Gate they met with another Waggon, which they overset, wasted the Coals, and would destroyed the Waggon, had not it been for the Remonstrance of the Driver, who had formerly sav'd the Life of one of the Colliers, concerned in destroying the Turnpikes, and giving them Half a Crown to drink. They were resolv'd to make an Example of one Roger Purnel a Lighterman, who they oblig'd to leap over-board, and several swam after him across the River, but he made his Escape. They vow to tuck him up, if ever he comes in their Way.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we have had much the same Accounts of their collecting Money, &c. Tuesday Evening they stopped Two Drivers of the London Waggons, and lightened them of their Money. The same Night they broke the Windows of the Pack-Horse on the London Road, belonging to Mrs. Silverthorn, and made other Progress in their Return home. Thursday Evening they stopped the Bath Coach on Bustleton Common, and borrowed the Passengers and Coachman's Money; they also had 18 s. and 6 d. from Mr. Jos. Whitehead, and Money from other Persons on Horseback.

These violent Commotions have induced the Magistrates of the City to send an Express to Court with an Account thereof. And Tuesday the Constables were convened at the Council-House, and received strict Orders from the Magistrates not to be absent from their Duty. The Watch was doubled, by the Addition of some stout Supernumerary Constables, who patrolled the City from at Night till 6 in the Morning. The Military Guard was also doubled throughout the City; and a Party of Soldiers were under Arms in the Square, to be ready in Case the Colliers paid the City a second Visit, which they threatened.

Those Proceedings, and the Injury done to the Inhabitants, have so provok'd our Magistrates, that they have dispatch'd a Messenger to the Proprietors of the Coal-Mines in the Forest of Dean, with Orders immediately to send away as many Vessels as they can to supply this City; and other Resolutions were concerted and agreed upon.
upon, so as to prevent, for the future, those Obstructions of that the Colliers, by having a Supply from other Mines. But as there have been several Meetings of the Gentlemen, Owners of the Kingswood Works, and of several Justices for that Division without Lawford's-Gate, who having dispers'd the Colliers, they appearing no more this Day ; promising to make good the Damage committed; and acquainting the Magistrates of the great Hopes there was of no more of those Commotions; and the Way open'd for the Coal to be brought in as usual; they thereupon Yesterday sent away another Messenger to countermand their first Orders. So that there will be no Occasion of Dragoons, which 'tis said the Government had order'd hither from Gloucester. Divers Informations have been made on Oath against some of the Colliers, who are well known.
Bristol, Oct. 14. We have to add to the foregoing Account of the Colliers, that Tuesday last, during the Heat of their Commotions, a great Body of them went up to Squire Chester's, enter'd his Kitchen, and took from the Fire a fine large Piece of Beef that was then roasting, together with the Spit, and carried it into the open Field, where they devoured all but the Spit, and then retir'd without washing it down. They have visited several other Gentlemen who have also large Concerns in the Coal-Works, and by threatening to fill up their Pits, have extorted from them divers Sums of Money. The City being now in perfect Peace, and the Colliers return'd to their Duty, the supernumerary Constables of the City are now discharg'd. We hear from Bath, that the Colliers have appear'd about those Parts; but we hear of no extraordinary Exploit, except extorting a Piece or two of Gold from Squire Harrington of Corston.