Great Uncle Albert, Ashdon
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jan1954
My great grandfather was an Ag Lab in Essex, and one of the ringleaders of the Essex Agricultural Labourer's Strike of 1914. He ended up in Saffron Walden jail for a few days until the local vicar spoke up for him and the other 6 who'd been imprisoned.
His son, my great uncle Albert, was also an Ag Lab. Albert really embraced modern technology, ploughing fields by using 2 traction engines, one either side of the field, that pulled the plough with him sitting on it across the field between them. However, this cut down on the number of labourers needed - as well as horses - and he was somewhat ostracized. In the pub, they used to have a communal tankard that the labourers shared at the end of the day. He was always missed out when it was passed round...
A great read is Reuben's Corner by Spike Mays. I think it's out of print now, but copies do pop up from time to time on a certain internet shopping site. It will certainly provide a flavour of the life of the Ag Lab.
Forgot: the "sister book" is called Five Miles from Bunkum (Bunkum being the Ashdon name for Saffron Walden)
I think we might share the same Great Uncle Albert? My father Walter John Smith was nephew to Great Uncle Albert who orginated in Ashdon, Essex. My father dealt with Uncle Albert in his final years and seems to have been generally recognised as the only person who could 'handle' the old man. One of my father's duties was to drive Uncle Albert, who then lived in Burwell, to visit his friend Walter Marsh in Ashdon. They met at the Bonnet Inn a pub in Ashdon and spoke of old times when they met the police with pitch forks etc. during the Ashdon Strike of 1914. Albert was a traction engine man and worked for a firm I think that was called Pamplins who did 'plant hire' threshing tackle etc. in the surrounding area. I have a photgraph of Albert with a traction engine in the background. I am interested in your comments on Albert's father who was involved in the dispute in 1914. I have researched a little and discovered that my Great Grandfather John Smith was known as 'toe-rag' Smith because he once cut his foot while using a sickle and cut his shirt tail off to bind his wound. He died as a result of an accident with a pony & trap. The Smith's lived at Steventon End where the census shows a great many Smith's living close by probably all related in some way. I would welcome any further details you might be able to offer regarding the Smith family, the 1914 Dispute at Ashdon and the role if any that the Smith's played in those events. Incidentally Great Uncle Albert is buried in Burwell Graveyard.
Regards Aubrey Smith