Source: Leeds Intelligencer
Date: 1774 12 20
Subject: Threatening Letter
Whereas it has been humbly represented to the King that on the
28th day of October last, an anonymous incendiary letter, was sent by
the post directed in the words and figures following, viz., "For
Mr. John Radcliff in Pudsey near Bradford.
"John Radcliff"
"October the 25th, 1774. I Defier you to be so God as to ly Forty
tow Pounds under a Broed Ston at the Rout of the nyest tree to the steping
Stile at the bottom of the Crofte at the lour sied of the Wall on the
28 day October, if you do not hay Stakes and your Barnes shall be burnt
up and your housses and you shall car it yourself at seven o'Cloke at
night, and if you set any Spiyes they shall be shoot throw for ther
be fower of us that are in compane to gather that will stand to wach
you and if you bring it ther you shall receave with the usere thereof
and if not you and your Wife shall be shoot we will dislood thirty six
pesses of powder and Ball at you we are resolved to do it if you do
not your cattle and all that you have shall be distrood before the nexte
sundo so that you propperly liet ther at that hour 7 at night the same
way that it goos so shall it come and lyit in a poora to gather"
That in consequence of this letter the said Mr. John Radcliffe, of Pudsey,
Salter, caused an advertiement to be inserted in a Publick Newspaper,
offering a reward of 10 guineas to anyone who should dicover the writer
of the above letter, and also set a watch at every avenue leading to
the place described, and for some time had a guard during the night
concealed in a barn adjoining the house, but without any effect. That
on Sunday the 27th of November last, at six o'clock in the evening,
a stack of hay of the said John Radcliffe, which stood in a field adjoining
the house, was set on fire, and a great part thereof destroyed. That
by timely assistance the fire being extinguished, the said Mr. Radcliffe
in order top preserve the remainder of the stack, took it down and put
the hay into cocks in the next field, and the next morning, upon removing
one of the cocks into his barn, he found stuck into it the incendiary
note: " We shall make a De Mand of the Money when Requiered,
so do not set a thy watch aney moor on the Garde." And at
the bottom of the said hay stack a piece of hempen cloth ... which had
almost consumed, and had the appearance of being used in setting the
fire. His Majesty, for the better discovering and bringing to justice
the person or Persons concerned in writing or dropping the said threatening
Letter and Note, is hereby pleased to promise his most gracious pardon
to any of them ( except the persons who wrote the same) who shall discover
his or her accomplice or accomplices therein, so that he, or she, or
they may be apprehended and convicted thereof.
ROCHFORD
And, as a further encouragement, I the said John Radcliffe do hereby
promise a reward of FORTY GUINEAS to any person or persons making any
discovery aforesaid (except as before excepted) to be paid by me upon
the Conviction of one or more offenders.
John Radcliffe
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