Old letter - Who is it to!!

[Geoff12]

Your letter is fascinating.

Unfortunately I cannot trace John Stead but I can give you some clues about the meaning of the letter he received.  I hope that this will be of some use.

The first sentence refers to the Rights of Man.  This is a pamphlet written by Tom Paine which had just been published in 1792.   In it Paine seeks to champion the lost rights of the common people in England.  He is in support of the French Revolution which was seen to be a victory for democratic ideas and was against rule by Kings and clerics.  He was also against heavy taxation. 

At the time of it’s publication there were reports of literate men in the back rooms of public houses reading the pamphlet to others who were unable to read and advising them of their ancient rights which had in effect been stolen from them.  The sender refers to this when he writes  that people were forbidden to read The Rights of Man and he points out that he wanted people to be enlightened so that thgey would see how heavily they are taxed and that  their  taxes were being used to pay large amounts to Bishops and other place men who supported the Government.   

 When the writer evokes the Devil raising a number of advocates crying "Church and King" who threatened to make havock  among the swinish multitude,  he is referring to incitement by landowners who raised mobs  to attack supporters of the Rights of Man and to apprehend  Paine himself if possible. 

The writer refers to Mr Burke.  This is Edmund Burke who was an eminent Whig MP.  He attempted to rebut Tom Paine’s arguments in his own pamphlet  which he named Reflections on the Revolution in France.   In it he used the phrase “swinish multitude”    

 He believed that Britain might be on the verge of revolution as had happened in France where large scale changes had taken place.  His view was that any changes should be slow and measured and should evolve from existing customs.   Radical changes could be hasty and dangerous. 

Edmund Burke is still very influential amongst Conservative theorists. 

This is obviously a brief version of Paine and Burkes arguments.  However if you are interested both The Rights of Man and Reflections of the Revolution in France are still in print. 

[dave the tyke]

Geoff,
that's a brilliant explanation, thank you for taking the time to post it. I shall certainly seek out 'The Rights of Man' and 'Reflections of the Revolution in France' . 


Dave

[kellysmith1976]

My 4 X Great grandad, John Stead, Was born c1796... He is on the 41, 51, 61 census... I cannot find him on the 71 census... I think he may have died in 1875.. but im not 100% sure its my John..

On the 51 census he says he was born in Otley,  On the 61 he says he was born in Harwood...

He married Sarah Fisher in 1820.. I can find no trace of her either!..

Although something you said interested me...  I didnt know of a Rebecca stead.. Which could well be my johns sister..
John Stead & Sarah Fisher had Rebecca in 1821, She is my 3 X Great grandmother..
I will look into the Best connection...

As the generations went on they seem to use previous surnames as middle names..
I have a William Wood Ellmer... Which could be named after william wood the letter author...

[Gardener]

My 4 X Great grandad, John Stead, Was born c1796... He is on the 41, 51, 61 census... I cannot find him on the 71 census... I think he may have died in 1875.. but im not 100% sure its my John..

On the 51 census he says he was born in Otley,  On the 61 he says he was born in Harwood...

He married Sarah Fisher in 1820.. I can find no trace of her either!..

As the generations went on they seem to use previous surnames as middle names..
I have a William Wood Ellmer... Which could be named after william wood the letter author...

Hi again. I think you have two Johns there, both were married to a Sarah.

1. John Stead m Sarah Fisher at Bradford 2 March 1820

1841
John Stead 45 labourer
Sarah ditto 40
Thos ditto 15
William ditto 14
Mary ditto 10
Sarah ditto 7
Hannah ditto 3

1851
Bradford
John Stead w 55 labourer Otley
Wm ditto son 23 Bradford
Mary ditto dau 19 ditto
Hannah ditto dau 16 ditto

I don't see this John in 1861

2. John Stead m Sarah Unknown
1841
Hunslet
John Stead 40 lab
Isabella ditto 15
Richard ditto 14
Charles ditto 12
Mary ditto 10
Joseph ditto 4

1851
Leeds
John Stead m 54 miller/carrier Harewood
Ann ditto wife 51
Mary Ann ditto 19 Leeds
John H Austick son in law 17

1861
Leeds
John Stead w 64 corn mill labourer Harwood
Mary Ann Walker dau 28 Hunslet
John ditto son in law 29
Walter ditto grandson 1 week

Isabella etc were baptised at Hunslet, and there is a Mary Ann baptised there in 1831 so that fits together.

I can see a baptism for John Fisher Stead in Bradford 9 Aug 1820 and then you say your Rebecca was baptised in 1821. Is that Rebecca at Wakefield 5 Feb 1821?
That strikes me as a little odd, to fit in Rebecca at Wakefield and then back to Bradford for more. Are you certain that her mother was Sarah Fisher?

(Sorry to keep asking for justification, you klnow how it is )

Anyhow, I think one John Stead was born Harwood, another was born Otley, and I am querying if there was a third who was the father of your Rebecca.