If you grew up in the UK, you’ve probably heard of the Swing Riots of 1830, a wave of rural unrest that swept across the southern counties. These disturbances were driven by farm labourers who, worn down by years of war, low wages, unemployment and high taxes, felt they had reached a breaking point. The introduction of the threshing machine, blamed for putting thousands out of work, became the main target of their anger as mobs gathered across towns such as Newbury, Thatcham, Kintbury, Hungerford, Inkpen and Lambourn, smashing machinery in protest.

By the end of 1830, it is believed that nearly 2000 people were involved in the riots. In the aftermath, nine of the rioters (including one Kintbury man, William Winterbourne) were hung and a further 450 (including thirteen from Kintbury and four from Hungerford) were transported to Australia.

When these rioters were sent to Australia, they left behind families who suddenly had to survive without them. Wives became single parents overnight, children grew up without fathers and in many cases, parishes had to step in to help.

So, what happened to these families, and how did their lives unfold after their men were sent to Australia?

James West 

Thirty-two-year-old James West was also transported to Australia in early 1831, aboard the convict ship the Eleanor. He had been found guilty of destroying a threshing machine at Basildon and was sentenced to seven years transportation.  

Unlike Page and Steele, West lived slightly further east prior to the riots, in Basildon.  He was married to Ann, and together they had one daughter, Priscilla, who was five years old when her father was transported in 1831 (baptised at Basildon on 1 January 1826). 

Tragedy struck the family just three years later. In the summer of 1834, Ann died aged 47 (buried at Basildon on 25 July 1834). With both parents absent, Priscilla was left virtually orphaned. 

At the age of twelve, she was admitted to Bradfield Union Workhouse on 26 November 1838. Where she had lived and who had cared for her between her mother’s death in 1834 and her admission to the workhouse, remains unknown.  The admission register records that her “Father [was] transported for Rioting and Machine Breaking in 1830” and that her “Mother [was] dead”. Fortunately, Priscilla’s stay at Bradfield was brief. After just 7 weeks and 6 days, she was discharged on 20 January 1839. The register records that she was “Taken out by her uncle at Dorchester who promised to maintain her”.  

Priscilla West's entry in the Bradfield Union workhouse admissions register. Ref. G/B25/2

A search on the 1841 census suggests that, despite records stating her uncle was in Dorchester, Priscilla may have remained in Basildon following her time in the workhouse. A Priscilla West appears on the census that year living with the Engling family. 

By the time of the 1851 census, Priscilla had married Richard Wetman, a labourer from Basildon, and the couple were living together with their two-year old daughter Ann. Mary Ann, as the entry in the Basildon parish register records, was baptised on 25 February 1849.  

Interestingly, also listed in the household is another child, James West, described as “Wifes Son”. It appears that Priscilla had a son out of wedlock in 1847. 

Priscilla also must have been pregnant at the time of the census, as in spring 1851, the couple welcomed a second daughter, Sarah (baptised at Basildon on 15 May 1851). A third daughter, Ellen, was baptised at Basildon on 26 February 1854.  

By 1861, the family had moved to Reading St Mary. The census lists children James (now listed under the surname Whetman), Mary A and Ellen living with their mother Priscilla, whilst Richard and Sarah are nowhere to be found. There are two further children listed at the property, two sons, Thomas and Charles.  

The parish registers for Reading St Mary reveal that two children Alice Jane and Thomas Whetman were baptised on 6 February 1859. Alice sadly died aged 8 months and is buried at Reading London Road cemetery. No entry could be found for Charles.  

The family were living, according to Alice and Thomas’ baptism entries, at 20 Boarded Lane. The street no longer exists but would've been just off Castle Hill, a short walk away from the RBA. By this time, Richard was also working as a sawyer, which most likely explains the family’s move away from Basildon.  

Boarded Lane around the time the family would've been living there. Berkshire XXXVII.3. Series: Ordnance Survey, 25 inch to the mile. Surveyed ca. 1875 Published ca. 1879.