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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Tolpuddle Martyrs
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Six farm labourers from the Dorset village of Tolpuddle who were given this name after being sentenced in 1834 to transportation for seven years to Australia. Their leaders were two brothers, George and James Loveless, and their offence (with James Brine, James Hammett, Thomas Stanfield and his son John) had been to establish a lodge of the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers. This was not in itself illegal, but the government – alarmed at the growth of *trade union activity – charged them with administering unlawful oaths. Nationwide protests contributed to the development of the *Chartist movement. In 1836 the sentences of the six were remitted and they were brought back to England. Five of them later emigrated to Canada.
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