Election Rioters 1880 *Updated January 2024*

On 2nd April 1880 the electors of the Borough of Great Marlow went to the polls to elect an MP. When the Liberal candidate was revealed to have lost out to Conservative Owen Williams tempers frayed amidst the deep disappointment of many working class people. Men, women, boys and girls threw stones at William's election base at the Crown and at other town centre properties known to be occupied by his supporters. They then took to using umbrellas, walking sticks and clubs to do damage. As the evening drew on the women and children melted away and Marlow men were joined by those who had come from Bisham, Little Marlow and High Wycombe to protest. Some estimates give the number of rioters then at over 2000, some even 3,000. Violence escalated when ladders that had been left leaning up against the Crown by those putting up new lights were used to break windows and as an attempted battering ram to try to get into the building. (The men using the ladders may have been working on the framework intended to hold illuminations to mark Williams victory.)  Police were outnumbered and summoned soldiers to quell the riot. This they did but not until some £1000 worth of damage had occurred in the town. 

45 people were arrested as a result, of which 42 were charged. Of the 42 most were Marlow men, said to have been at a disadvantage as the local constables knew their faces and names and so could easily find them later if not seized at the time. Wycombe men could flee with less risk of being called to account. I could not find evidence of an outcome for all of those charged, or even all their names, at least not yet. It may be not all charges were pursued.

The following were those I have found charged with being part of the riot, with outcomes to their cases if any are known. I have confined myself to Marlow men. None of the ladies were arrested. To read about an earlier mainly female lead riot in Marlow see this post

Reuben Anderson

Bill against him thrown out by Jury at early stage in legal process. A labourer aged 36 in Oxford Road at time of 1881 census. But he lived St Peter's Street 1880, a few months after the riot, when he intervened to stop a woman neighbour of his being harassed and threatened by a man who had fallen out with her brother. A few weeks later fined for gathering wood that didn't belong to him. He died in 1890. Read a biography of Reuben here

Alfred Edward Allum

Age "25" or "26", court reports differed [probably actually a few years older] labourer when sentenced. 2 months hard labour. Probably aka Brassey - see here

Edward Anson

Aged 18. Sentenced to just one day in prison because of his youth and low involvement in events. Had been recommended for mercy by the jury. 

William Borden or Burden or Barden

Only rioter denied bail. 2 months hard labour.

Henry Bowles

Age 27. Labourer. 2 months hard labour. Grew up Dean Street. Also known as Harry.

John Bowles

2 months hard labour. Age 24, labourer. 

Robert Bowles

Age 22 and a labourer when tried. 2 months hard labour. 1881 census - skewer maker. For more on this trade in Marlow see this post. Son of Robert, a fruiterer, and Eliza. Grew up Hatches Row, Dean Street and still there 1881 census. This row is now demolished. He was an agricultural labourer age 13 on 1871 census. Robert was allegedly one of those who wrested a ladder from workers at the Crown, in order to use ladder to batter their way inside. He struck the man in charge of the ladder - bricklayer John White - causing John to loose vision in his eye for three days. Described by one policeman as "very violent" on the day. 

Joseph Cox

Sentenced to 2 months hard labour. Presumably the 49 year old labourer who appears in Marlow on the 1881 census in South Place although it sounds in some accounts he was younger. Was seen with a bludgeon by one witness. 

Joseph Dormer

Sentenced to 2 months hard labour. Bricklayer's labourer around 40 years old. Lived Marefield at time, later York Road (the same area). Grew up Gun Lane [now Trinity Road] and Dean Street.

Henry East

Six weeks hard labour. Without a stated age impossible to identify in other records.

James East

Six weeks hard labour. Without a stated age impossible to identify for certain in other records.

James Folly / Folley  alias Steptoe

Aged 32/34 and a bricklayer. Seen using a ladder to break windows. 2 months hard labour.

Joseph Hicks

 A tinker who lived Dean Street 1881. In his late 40s, exact age varies on censuses. Fined the year before the riots along with another man for stopping their cart in the road for too long. Case not proceeded with for riot. 

John Langley junior 

Ringleader of the initial protest but tried hard to calm things down when shops started getting damaged. Given 6 weeks hard labour only after jury recommended mercy. Could afford his own representation at the Quarter Sessions. Aged 25. On the 1881 census a salesman, earlier was a fruiterer, a long time Langley association. His conviction caused outrage in some quarters as it was believed he was targeted because of recent active promotion of the Liberal cause in Marlow. His father, also John had campaigned for the Liberal candidate Griffith too. A subscription fund was set up and the money raised was used to present to John a tea and coffee set from an expensive London maker as a token of esteem. The presentation was made at the Verney Arms, Dean Street, long connected with the Langley family. Read more about the pub here. John himself wrote a public letter of complaint against his conviction, after he had completed his sentence. He said he had been denied the opportunity to call witnesses that could have proved his innocence. A full biography of John is available here

Charles Mullett

Labourer aged 41. Lived in Dean Street 1881 census and a "pensioner". Originally from High Wycombe. Bill against him is "ignored" eg not proceeded with. 

William Moody. 

Threw stone at a policeman early on. Sentenced 2 months hard labour. Nearly 40 years old. Lived Oxford Road 1881 and a chair polisher. 

Albert Rockell

Age "18" [actually nearly 22]. Labourer when convicted. 6 weeks jail. (Or 8 weeks according to second source)  He was the son of James, a bargee / labourer and Sarah an embroiderer. Grew up in Gun Place and Gun Lane Marlow. The former no longer exists, the latter is called Trinity Road today. Albert had been fined £1 in 1876 for playing the illegal game of pitch and toss (coin throwing game which involved betting and was very popular with young men) at Bovingdon Green. He was listed as a hawker on the 1881 census when he lived with his older brother George and his family. Two years later was fined 10 shillings for assaulting a William Fletcher.

Henry Rockell

2 months hard labour. There are a couple of different potential Henry Rockells in other records which this one could be. Was said to be very active at Remnantz, throwing stones and attempting to break in, unsuccessfully. 

William Henry Silvey

A 33 year old shoemaker. Had a witness, grocer Joseph Dorsett of Market Square to show he went shopping with his wife [Fanny] early in the evening after leaving the Crown crowd. However witness admitted William's pockets looked bulging and prosecution said yes that was with stones he later returned and threw at the Crown. 6 weeks jail. On 1881 census he and Fanny lived Cambridge Road. Later lived Queen's Road. Later convictions for drunkenness.

James Benjamin Smith

Aged 22. Bricklayers labourer. 6 weeks in jail. Probably of Lane End. Limited evidence of his direct involvement in any serious damage but considered to be just as guilty as those taking a more active part simply by his presence there!

George Sparkes

Jury threw out bill against him. A 28 year old general labourer. Lived Oxford Road 1881 census.

Henry Stone

Six weeks hard labour. 

Thomas Stone

Six weeks hard labour. Was seen to be one of those wielding ladder that broke the Crown windows. 

William Tubb

Fined £5 plus costs by Magistrates for malicious damage, relating to breaking a pane of glass at The Horns, Chapel Street.  (One of 17 broken there that day.)  He went to the pub the following day, denied breaking the glass and asked the landlord John Coleshill not to press charges for the sake of his wife and 5 children. Coleshill's daughter Sarah had said there were about 40 persons in the mob outside their premises but she only recognised Tubb. He did not have to go to Quarter Sessions after evidence behind further charges for riotous assembly was not considered sufficient. Shoemaker aged 33 on 1881 census. Lived Dean Street.   

Cases not proceeded with against Wycombe men Owen and John Watkins, both chairmakers and labourer Charles Mullett also of Wycombe. 

*Additional info by Kathryn -  Riot Act was read by magistrate Somers Cocks at about 9pm, 3 hours after the election result was announced. (Some reports say at 8pm) All the lights had been put out. An 1882 account says that hot water and a hose from the brewery was used to dispell the group. Later accounts list other dispersal tactics, not necessarily mutually exclusive, of which the one that's survived longest in the popular imagination is the idea that guns were loaded with red jam and blanks to make the rioters think they had been both shot and hurt. I have not found a contemporary reference to this yet though! (The same story was related about the commotion after the 1868 election, complete with raspberry jam.)  Contemporary reports say that although a call for help was made for military assistance to the Grenadier Guards at Windsor, some confusion meant it was not actually delivered. Those describing the riot first hand immediately afterwards do not mention any Guards present while the riot was ongoing. The Bucks Herald says a repeat order for military assistance was countermanded as quiet had been restored by about midnight. The Buckinghamshire Advertiser credited the end of the riot to the gathering together of about 60 special constables, under command of a police superintendent from High Wycombe, who formed a barrier across West Street and used their truncheons "freely". (This superintendent thought there was 3,000 men gathered by 7pm!) The following morning 70 police and an untold number of special constables were on duty in Marlow while the operation of bringing the alleged ringleaders to court was ongoing, and that of rounding up other participants. The police were to patrol in groups, according to the order of  the Chief Constable of Bucks. He had arrived on the morning after the riot to assume control of the police force in Marlow temporarily. 

Violence had actually broken out before the voting even began, outside the Crown as Conservative headquarters. Blows were exchanged with liberal supporters but they dispersed before law and order arrived. The Greyhound was regarded as the centre of Liberal supporters before voting day. It hosted a "working man's meeting" the week before, which ended in a vote to support Liberal candidate Mr J Griffiths. Among the other damaged properties were the Prince Of Wales pub, the Three Tuns (every window broken and the bar damaged), the brewery offices, the shops of Charles Miller Foottit (chemist, High Street and Conservative supporter, lamp and flag pole trashed, upper windows broken, lower ones protected by iron shutters) and William Hankin (tobacconist, High Street. Shop totally sacked. Pipes from here were allegedly bring flogged cheaply in the beer houses that evening), the home of Charles Carter (parish surveyor),  the home of George Ward (High Street, all windows and any sashes broken), the home of Dr Shone, and in a minor way, the Railway Hotel (the Marlow Donkey as it's now known. The widowed Mrs Porter in charge had apparently been seen sporting Conservative colours on her carriage the week before). At the home of Robert Hammond Chambers, the avalanche of stones was severe enough to break plate glass windows a quarter inch thick and smash the substantial closed wooden shutters inside them. The stones damaged a wall across the other side of the room. A man was seen to be in the attempt of using a large stone to smash the entrance door but he was knocked down by a constable before he could break in.  Foottit said he'd found a quarter of a hundredweight of large stones on one of the beds in his home. Some paving slabs had been torn up for use too!

Interestingly Superintendent William Sargent of Wycombe said that the defeated Liberal candidate Griffiths had warned him long before the result was known that he suspected the potential for trouble if the Liberals lost. He added that Griffiths had suggested that policeman should be stationed outside the Conservative Wethered's home but he declined to do so in case it "tantalized" the crowd and he was blamed personally for this. Reports that the contents of Bisham's ballot box were going to be seized by a group of "roughs" as they were bought across the bridge to be counted in Marlow were taken more seriously. It was closely guarded. 

Griffith's himself appears to have left in his carriage quite soon after his loss was announced. Some reports say he passed the Crown just as the victor Colonel Williams appeared at an upper window to address the crowd, and that Williams called for three cheers for his opponent, but had trouble being heard. 

Even children (of both sexes) were apparently seen throwing stones at the various windows. The Bucks Herald (very pro conservative) said the first blow was struck by a liberal supporter on a conservative one, who was taken into the Crown with the aid of 4 men fighting their way through. They also claim that there was a cry to torch the Crown. The next day (Saturday)  there were here and there "significant stains of blood" to be seen in the streets. Even then a flare up of violence was feared and 70 police were on duty. Colonel Wethered decided that most of the arms of the Volunteers should be removed from their Armoury which was then at the Crown. He bought them back to his home and placed them under the care of 16 armed men. Two consignments of the Berkshire police were put on guard outside Bisham Abbey and Temple House but they had nothing to do. The biggest interest on Sunday was in viewing the damage, and people are said to have travelled from Wycombe to do just that. Some later reports suggest a guard made up of members of the Volunteers had been kept up outside the brewery for the next week. 

It's interesting that Colonel Williams held an open session at the Crown in the following April to hear complaints from his tenants about their treatment. He said during the election campaign he'd often been told his tenants were against him but he didn't believe it as no one had said so to his face. On reflection he thought "2 or 3" of these complaints justified further investigations and so so the aggrieved could present their case to him at The Crown on the day mentioned. If any did so, I don't know. 

Rioters info researched and written by Charlotte Day. Additional research Kathryn. 

Related Posts:

Marlow people loved a good riot. So far we have posts up on three previous riots, the 1800 Women's Riots here, 1847 Election riot here and the Swing Riots here.

Voters bribery case of Jason Povey here

For other crime related posts look see the list here

To find every mention of an individual here, see the A-Z person index in the top drop down menu. 

©Marlow Ancestors. 

Sources:

Census, my transcription from microfilm. 

Great Marlow Parish Registers, my transcription

Newspapers from the British Library / BNA collaboration: Buckingham Advertiser 3rd July 1880, Bucks Herald 3rd& 10th April, 26th June and 7th August and 30th August 1880, Maidenhead Advertiser 14th April 1880, Reading Mercury 17th April 1880. Buckingham Advertiser and Aylesbury News April 10th 1880. 

Judicial records research of Jane Pullinger.

Padk, Arthur Thomas From Lock to Lock, a playful guide, "Judy Office" 1882. 

Information from Anthony Wethered. 

Bucks Free Press 8th June 1934, High Wycombe library 

Skeleton Army V Salvation Army

The Salvation Army in 1892 dated their permanent arrival in Marlow to 1887*. Initially it is said they were welcomed and treated with a certain curiosity. Open air meetings, military style uniforms and army titles for members made General Booth's organisation stand out as a group that did things differently. Local papers tended to report their doings reasonably favourably, especially the focus on abstinence from alcohol. That however, was soon to change and it was at least partly the fault of the Skeleton Army. 

At first the Marlow Salvation Army only met outdoors. They soon however secured the lease of the old workshop of Samuel Washbourn(e) in Oxford Lane, just off Quoiting Square. This building had a interesting history - see note 1 below. At the time, it was owned by Oxford Road fruiterer William Bowles. The new organisation quickly got on their feet, offering several meetings a week. Their focus remained on bringing services to the people however, which meant parades, and outdoor meetings. They wanted to attract the attention of as many people of possible, so going quietly to work was not the order of the day. They marched to their open air meeting place accompanied by a band generally, and by at least a few drummers and "tambourine girls" if not. They then took up position in the streets with Quoiting and Spittal Squares two favourite spots, as was Dean Street. It was hard to ignore a Salvation Army meeting on your doorstep, which of course was the point but it raised the heckles of others less receptive to their message. Some thought the goings on undignified and that prayer was not being treated with the solemnity it deserved. Others began to resent vocal calls to abstain from alcohol and tobacco - made outside their premises selling just that. But it seems the blocking of thoroughfares and the noisy beating of drums were what upset the locals the most. 

ENTER THE SKELETON ARMY

The Skeleton Army was started in the South West with the aim of aping the SA as a form of mockery and otherwise disrupting their services. It was first applied to a group haranguing Salvation Army meetings in 1881. Over time "Skeleton Army" became a general term used by the public and press for other groups who tried to do the same. Not all of these groups actually used the term to describe themselves. Some groups were very organised, and seemingly reasonably well funded. They had their own Skeleton Army uniforms and bands, and carried out parades and outdoor meetings timed to coincide with those of the Salvation Army. Our local group does not seem to have had a uniform, but they did possess musical instruments and banners to draw attention to themselves. They focussed on drowning out the Salvation Army public speakers, but violence was also used on more than one occasion. I have spoken to an elderly man whose grandfather was paid by a group of local pub landlords in London to disrupt temperance meetings held outside their premises, something he was later rather ashamed of. There is no evidence of such publican funding in Marlow. (See below though)

It is not always possible to tell if early disruptors of the Salvation Army identified as Skeleton members but some who did were active in Marlow by at least 1886. Clashes between the two "armies" began to escalate in 1887. The Skeletons were going to the Salvation Army meets and groaning and bellowing as loudly as possible, as well as mocking the tone of impassioned speakers. They were also blowing trumpets and beating drums. The Salvation Army responded by singing their hymns even louder. The resulting cacophony annoyed even some of the initial supporters of the Salvation Army and some began to lump the two armies together as one big source of nuisance. 

The tone of newspaper reports of Salvation Army meetings began to change to a more critical one, sometimes mocking. The Bucks Examiner claimed with glee that during an "encampment" at Marlow, Salvation Army members who had recently been giving speeches railing against the demon drink, were seen to take "rather freely of the canteen" afterwards. They tended to be a hostile reporter of the Army's activities so this claim must be taken with a pinch of salt! 

RIOT IS FEARED

Letters arrived at local newspaper offices asking them to raise the issue of the "tumult and disorder" that was occuring nightly in the streets of Marlow. Ordinary citizens were, they claimed, afraid to step out of doors in the evenings, for fear of being caught between the rival marches. Party feeling ran high, and "respectable citizens" were in fear of an imminent riot. The police claimed they could do nothing because holding open air meetings, or making a noise was not a crime. They would however prosecute either side if they obstructed the highway. 

In November 1887, the Skeleton Army made a point of as usual organising a march and meeting at the same place (Spittal Square) as the Salvation Army. This time they were not content to just make a noise. Some of the Skeleton men - I have found no local women identified as members - bought rotten eggs with them and threw them at the speakers. One hit Salvation Army member Mrs Sarah Moody of Queens Road, who complained to the police. The thrower was Skeleton member and drummer William Lloyd, a journeyman butcher. He denied it, and presented a witness, Augustus Creswell, who said he had stood next to Lloyd watching proceedings and had seen no eggs thrown. Unfortunately for Lloyd, several other witnesses had seen him make the throw and he was fined 7s 6d plus 12s costs. 

Criticism of perceived police lack of action was mounting. In December 1887 they finally found a means to bring both Skeleton and Salvation Army members to court - they found they were obstructing the highway during one of their joint affairs in Dean Street. Salvation Army captain John Thomas Hillary was summoned, along with Skeleton Army drummer William Lacey, a carpenter. The case "excited much interest" with numerous supporters of both sides present at the Magistrates court in Trinity Road. After lengthy arguments which can be summarised with the idea the other side was the one obstructing the way - the decision was made to find both sides guilty. They received a nominal 1s fine each plus costs. 

1888 - A DANGEROUS YEAR FOR THE MARLOW SALVATION ARMY

Things escalated the following year. Two nasty acts of violence were committed against Salvation Army members, more of which below. Perhaps they were a reaction to what was perceived as an upsurge in Salvation Army activity in the town. In June, General Booth's son, Henry, led 130 "Salvation Army Life Guards" into Marlow, where their band played to thronged streets. They finished in Crown Meadow (Riley Recreation Ground) to hear an "animated" address from several members. And to sing hymns of course. There does not seem to be reports of more than heckling at this event but that was not to last.

Mindful of the risk of fines should they impede the highway, the Salvation Army had organised that some of their members should endeavour to keep the roads partially clear. Salvation Army member Daniel Lovegrove of Marefield was trying to do this during a August evening meeting in Dean Street, whilst also selling the Salvation Army journal, the War Cry. When he asked a group of bystanders to stand back, two of them took exception at being told what to do and told Lovegrove they had just as much right to be there as he had. One of them followed this up by punching Lovegrove twice in the eye, and the second came up behind and struck another blow. He threatened to split Lovegrove's head open should he ever parade past the attacker's home. With the victim's story confirmed by witnesses, the aggressors James James and John Folly were bought before the magistrates for a dressing down and a fine apiece. 

Then William Edwards was convicted of assault for deliberately riding his horse into an assembled Salvation Army crowd, knocking down 11 year old Eliza Fry and Salvation Army member Sarah Edwards qv. The child was left with concussion. Bystander Richard Wye was also injured. Edwards claimed he was just trying to make his way along the street and the horse had shied because of all the noise around it. Witnesses however said it had appeared a deliberate act of aggression as he had made no attempt to avoid anyone. This evidence and the fact he had a previous conviction for a similar offence**, meant a sentence of 3 months imprisonment. 

To make matters worse, the Salvation Army were evicted from their Oxford Road base in 1889 after landlord William Bowles received numerous complaints about their noisy evening band practices. The following year they did secure a piece of land adjacent to the gas works for a "barracks" or base. The foundation stone was laid in September 1890. This building was replaced in the 1930's with the one that's still there in Crown Road, now used as a nursery.

The acts of violence directed at the Salvation Army, seem to have started a gradual softening of attitude in at least some of those who had dismissed them as troublemakers previously. The Salvation Army may have been disruptive, but they were never instigators of violence and their turning of the other cheek against such provocation won them respect, albeit begrudgingly given at times. The Skeleton Army became less active here although noisy meetings still risked attracting a catcalling element. The landlord of the Cross Keys, Mr Williams, started a petition against the Army's use of loud drumming on a Sunday outside his premises. He presented it to the magistrates but they said they could take no action and give no legal advice. They could not deal with the issue of noise they said, only criminal matters presented by the police. Let's hope he bought some ear plugs. Similarly Frederick Plumridge came to the magistrates court to ask for summons to be taken out against both the Salvation and Skeleton Armies for their "disgraceful" behaviour in 1887, only to receive the same answer. 

It's interesting that the South Bucks Standard claimed in 1897 that the cause of the Salvation Army had never been very flourishing in Marlow and whatever influence they had previously had had now began to wane. This does not necessarily tally with reports of their activities at this time. In this year, 5 Marlow members* were fined for singing in the street, causing an obstruction, but they refused to pay, opting to receive a 14 day prison sentence instead. The 3 women and two men were released after 9 days and posters were put up around town to announce their planned arrival time back here. A large reception committee was waiting at Marlow station but the station master refused them access to the platform. Those waiting gathered outside the station instead and cheered the prisoners arrival. The infamous 5 were put into a wagon and were paraded behind a brass band consisting of 9 members, one to represent each day in jail. They went up Station Road, High Street, Market Square (where they prayed for the pub landlord who had complained about them singing outside his premises there) Dean Street and around Marefield back to the barracks at Crown Rd. After a celebration tea, the prisoners gave a fund raising talk on their experiences, admission 1d. 

WORK WITH POOR OF TOWN

The Salvation Army began to work in the poorest areas of town, focusing their efforts in the areas around Dean Street and Marefield. Many a Christmas and new year in particular must have been brightened up due to their presence. Their band made a habit of performing in these streets as well as the more prosperous ones on Boxing Day, and often on Christmas Eve too. In 1905 they entertained 200 of the poorest children to a Christmas tea, then provided games and gifts for 400. All went away with a bag containing cake and an orange. The fact they could afford to do this shows how their membership and support had expanded in Marlow. 

Disasters further afield were not forgotten and collections were made for various causes. One that stands out is a collection made for victims of the sinking of the Titanic a few weeks after the disaster in 1912. This followed a special Titanic memorial service, presided over by London Colonel Tait.  

GENERAL BOOTH STOPS BY

Salvation Army founder General Booth visited Marlow some 30 years after his son, in 1908, and in a much more pleasant atmosphere. The General was stopping by on the way to Reading and Henley. It seems the official welcome was fluffed a bit as while the General arrived in the Market Square on the dot of noon as advertised, only about 30 people were assembled. Everyone else was down by the bridge end of High Street where the Salvation Army band had gathered, expecting him there. It appears a message had got through that the people meant to give a formal welcome to him had not been able to come, so the crowd had moved off from the Market Square where this meeting was supposed to take place. When the General arrived, it was considered impolite to ask him to wait for the crowd to reform so he was welcomed quietly. In the end of course, word spread and the General was able to enjoy a satisfyingly large audience by the time he came to say a few words. The papers noted that there was no sign of any disorder of any kind on the occasion of this visit. How times had changed. 

*The infamous five were:

Sarah Griffiths of York Road, the leader of the Salvation Army in Marlow.

Jessie Last

James Bullock

Charles Wilkinson 

Christina Farmer. 

(Joseph Lunnon  - was also convicted but paid fine and so was not imprisoned.)

 The outdoor meeting was outside the Crown in Market Square and it's landlord had made the complaint. He asked the Army to be quiet twice, especially because there was a very sick child staying there in one of the rooms overlooking the square. Unfortunately the members said while they were aware Mr Cole had come out to speak to them, they couldn't hear what he had said! 

NOTES

1. This building had earlier been used to house Samuel's large satin stitch and baby linen manufactory, and subsequently used as the infants school before the existing Oxford Lane premises were built. It was later used as the place of worship for those from All Saints church during the period the old church had been demolished but before the new was ready. Later still it had been used for storage. It no longer exists. They later used a couple of different rented premises in Marefield before their last Marlow "Barracks" opened in Crown Road 1935. That is now closed and in commercial use as a day nursery. The work of the Army from this premises was instigated by 12 members from the "Clapton Training Room". 

*I have found the first report of a visit by the Salvation Army to the town in 1883. They attracted a large curious crowd, especially due to their habit on this march of dropping to their knees at intervals to offer a prayer. They seem to have experienced no outright hostility although the inevitable complaints about noise were not absent. The reports of the march tended to be rather dismissive or comic in tone ..the marchers were "waving their arms about in great excitement" according to one newspaper. 

**William Edwards had been fined 2s 6d and bound over in the sum of £5 to keep the peace for 6 months earlier on in 1888. This was related to his repeatedly kicking of Salvation Army Captain Joseph Vincent during an open air meeting in Quoiting Square. Sixteen year old William Harvey was convicted of the same offence and received the same punishment. 

Researched and written by Kathryn Day. 

Related Posts:

For more on the history of places of worship in Marlow and their staff, see the Church Related menu here

Crime and disorder in old Marlow here

For other posts about crime, riots etc and everyday life in old Great Marlow see the index here

To find every mention of an individual or family here, use the A-Z Person Index in the top drop down menu. 

SOURCES:

Punch, August 29 1885, Punch Publications, digitised by Google and accessed by me November 2020.

All about the Salvation Army, The Salvation Army 1885, from Oxford University and accessed via Google books August 2020.

Kelly's Directory 1939 (Kelly's Directories Ltd.)

Booth, William, Darkest England, and the way out ( Funk and Wagnells, New York 1890).

Pick Up Issue 166, (Heinneman and Balestier 1889) Digitised by Google.  

Henley and South Oxfordshire Standard, 22 June 1894, held at British Library Archive and accessed via the BNA.

South Bucks Standard 13 September 1890, 20 March 1891,9 September 1892, 17 September 1897, 3 January 1902, 1 & 6 January 1904, 24 July 1908, 25 April 1912 as above. 

Bucks Herald 10 September &  3 December 1887, 28 April 1888, 23 November 1889 as above.

Maidenhead Advertiser May 1883 & 27 June 1888, as above.

Chesham Examiner 10 September 1890, as above.

Slough Eton and Windsor Observer : 2 December 1886, March 17 1888 - Slough Borough Libraries. 

©Marlow Ancestors.

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