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From: "John Humphrey" <>
Subject: Re: [AYR] Military Presence in Ayr 1785 - 1795
Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2006 19:53:44 -0400
References: <MB08LowspDKicUbvBDx00000459@MB08.myfamilysouth.com>


Yes, well, as Mike points, this was the time of the American and French
Revolutions, and the powers that be were on high alert. But, rather than
fearing an invasion of Jacobins from Europe, truth is that the authorities
were more concerned about an uprising by their own population, stimulated by
these "foreign" radical ideas. .



For example, during the Calton weavers strike of summer 1787:

"Around mid-day on Monday 3rd September, the authorities of Glasgow
learned that a large crowd of weavers had formed at Calton near the city
boundary at Gallowgate [burning a number of webs of cloth]. The Lord Provost
and Magistrates arrived to disperse the crowd but were driven back by stones
thrown by the weavers. Later in the day the authorities were informed that
the weavers were again assembling and proposed to march to Glasgow
Cathedral. The 39th Regiment of Foot, under the command of Col. Kellet was
sent. With them went the Lord Provost, the Sheriff-Substitute, a Magistrate
and others intent on dispersing the weavers. The groups met at a spot near
Drygate Bridge. The soldiers were ordered to open fire. 3 weavers were
killed outright and three were mortally wounded. A considerable number were
wounded." (www.gcal.ac.uk/radicalglasgow/chapters/weavers.html )



Ayrshire was also an area of radical dissent, among its weavers, shoemakers,
printers etc - and considerable numbers of troops were stationed there
before, and again in the years immediately after, the Napoleonic Wars.



John


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