The New Hampshire Gazette

Letter from a Gentleman at Hexham, Northumberland, Monday night, March 9.

The Deputy Lieutenants and Justices met this day about the militia; and as many of the fellows, who lately made the disturbance at Newcastle, threatened to be here, four companies of the Yorkshire militia came to town last night. This morning thousands of the rioters came to town in the most desperate manner. The cryer went about, by order of the justices, to desire the inhabitants to keep within doors; for in case any person behaved in a riotous manner, the militia should be ordered to fire upon them.

About ten, the gentlemen went to Moot-hall, and the militia were drawn up before the gate to prevent any of the mob going into the hall. At the same time the major told them all their complaints should be heard if they would but be quiet and peaceable. They accordingly remained pretty orderly, till a large body of pitmen, between two and three hundred, came into town about twelve o'clock, who attempted to break through the militia to get to the hall. Upon which the militia received orders to fire. Think what a shocking sound! for near ten minutes fellow subjects firing upon one another; and what a horrible scene was beheld afterward; some carried away dead in carts, others on horses. Many were led along just dying of their wounds, and all covered with blood! Shocking spectacles! and to hear the dreadful shrieks of the women, whose husbands or sons were among the rioters, was enough to pierce a heart of stone. One poor creature, whose husband had been carried away dead a little before, came by screaming in such a manner, that we heard her as far as the Abbey gate. His name was Daniel Bowman, a labouring man, and a very inoffensive one, but would go out to see what was going forward; he has left 7 children. A poor woman, a widow with eight children, and big with another, (one Carter) going into the market to look after her son, was shot dead, and her son shot through the thigh, and they say cannot live. A woman who was to come from Newcastle for a few days to see a relation, and was with child, was shot through the belly as she was standing at a window. Besides these I have mentioned, there are several ill who came from Byrley, some from Gunnerston, Acton, Wall, and some from the Shire. Twenty wounded were carried to one house, eight of whom are now dead, and it is feared not above two or three of the others will survive. There are sixteen also now lying dead in the church to be owned, most of whom are pitmen, who have been the cause of all this horrid slaughter. Many have been found dead upon the road, who had been wounded, and were making their escape. Among the militia there is only one grenadier killed, besides those I mentioned. They reckon in all above 100 killed and wounded: But I am afraid the number will be greater by and by, for they are continually finding more who had run away wounded, and died by themselves in the holes where they lived.