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Major Greathead. From a photo taken at Morley Town Hall.
Joshua Greathead, and the Morley Chapel Protest
With special thanks to the friends and members of the Morley Community Archives.
This article was first written and posted on 06 Oct 2017 under the title 'Joshua Greathead, Gildersome's Antihero' and rewritten on 06 Feb 2018 under the title above. © Charles Soderlund 2018
Over three hundred and fifty years separate us from the events surrounding the Farnley Wood Plot and the role played by Major Joshua Greathead. Hopefully, the emotions that flared during the early Restoration period in West Yorkshire, and continued almost up to the 20th century, have been put to rest. Was Joshua Greathead a traitor? That depended upon which side you were on. Was he a spy for the Royalists? Yes, the following December 1663 entry from the State Papers of Charles II, says it all: “Whitehall: Warrant to pay Major Greathead £100, as the King’s free gift, out of the £2000 for secret services.” Was he a betrayer to his comrades? Without a doubt! Sixteen men, including his own cousin, mostly from the muster at Farnley, were executed. If it were not for Greathead, would they have suffered such a fate? ¹
To read more about the Farnley Wood Plot, click on the references below:
Wikipedia
History of Gildersome
BBC Legacies
Major Joshua Greathead was born in Gildersome in 1615. During the Civil War he sided with the Roundheads, was cited for valor and eventually rose to the rank of major. After the hostilities, he enjoyed the notoriety his rank and reputation had earned and was described as a "gentleman farmer." His house and farm sat alongside Gildersome's Church Street, across from the Old Church School and extended, in some breadth, all the way to Farnley Wood Beck.
After Cromwell's death, King Charles II was invited to assume the throne. Along with the king's return came a great deal of dissatisfaction for many reasons, too numerous for this narrative. Some of those dissatisfied began to work secretly for the King's removal and the return of the Commonwealth. Soon a plan was developed and disseminated to sympathetic groups throughout Britain. Because of Greathead's military experience, many in the West Riding who were favourable to the cause looked to him for leadership and he accepted a role as local commander. This post gave him access to meetings where strategic matters concerning the whole North were freely discussed. At some unknown time, while the conspiracy was gaining momentum, Greathead secretly began reporting the rebels' plans to Sir Thomas Gower, the Sheriff of York. The day of the 'Rising' was set for the 12th of October 1663. Several days prior the plan began to unravel when Gower launched a preemptive strike and arrested most of its leaders. On the 12th, a few meetings did take place across the North, the most famous being a doomed gathering in Farnley Wood. There, unbeknownst to the ragtag band of locals in attendance, the sheriff's arrests had paralysed whatever plans had been made for the uprising. After waiting all night in the rain for orders and reinforcements that never arrived, they packed up their gear and returned to their homes. Within a few days, using Greathead's information, the Sheriff arrested nearly all of the attendees, most of whom were later hanged then drawn and quartered. After the Farnley Plot, Greathead was reviled and shunned locally but to those in power, especially whose responsibility was the realm's security, Greathead became the man who uncovered the 'Northern Plot.' For that, he received gifts from the government which far exceeded that which would be expected for an ordinary spy. It's even possible that Greathead's exploits on behalf of the monarchists reached the ear of King Charles II himself.
The intent of this article is to not rehash most of the known events leading up to and after the Farnley Wood Plot. Writing on the subject has been plentiful and much is accessible on the internet. Most scholarly accounts agree that the true events are muddied by opinion, rumors, inflated claims by the Sheriff of York’s spies (usually made to line their own pockets), false or contradictory court testimony and just plain old partisanship. And apparently, a good argument can be made that the rebels were deliberately fed untrue rumors by the Sheriff's own agents regarding commitment, numbers and movements.
Instead, using contemporary sources, the aim is to discuss when and how Greathead became an agent for the Royalists and to comment upon his character, and the ample rewards that came his way, many from as high as the King’s inner circle. Also, to introduce the long since forgotten Morley Chapel Protest, in April of 1663, in which Greathead may have played a duplicitous role. With the exception of the Morley Chapel Protest, the bulk of the sources come from the “Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the reign of Charles II,” which were volumes put together in the 1860s and summarize by date the contents of surviving collections of court documents from the early Restoration era. (See all the Greathead entries at the end of the narrative. Some speculation by me has been added which I believe, is unavoidable.)
With the reestablishment of the monarchy came hostility towards anyone associated with the Cromwellian regime. This led to a massive nationwide removal of thousands of sitting church and state officials as well as retribution against many in parliament and the former roundhead army. Those who were allowed to keep their jobs, or in some cases their heads, were forced to take an oath of obedience to the king. Did Greathead take that oath? I'm certain that he did, the question is when and why? Even if he had monarchist leanings by the end of the Republican era, what induced him to betray his old army comrades, church brethren and friends with such ruthlessness? Why, is hard to fathom, since we haven't a clue as to his motivations. To my mind, it would either have been fear or greed. I personally discount fear, since time and again, Greathead demonstrated his fearlessness. In my opinion his prime motivation was greed. Not just financial greed, but a fervent desire to rise in rank and privilege and to hobnob with the rich and famous. The easiest path to both was to ingratiate himself to those with power and the purse.
When did he become the King's agent is also difficult to say. September 26th 1663 is the earliest mention of Joshua Greathead found in the State papers. This was about five months after the Chapel Protest and two weeks before the Farnley Wood meeting. In it, Thomas Gower, 2nd Baronet and Sheriff of York, writes to Sir Joseph Williamson from his estate in Sittenham. He speaks about the forces of discontent in the county whom he refers to as “fanatics”. The entry then goes on to state that: “Gentlemen in the West Riding of Yorkshire have too hotly apprehended some of the ill-affected, on information of Major Greathead, who has an allowance from the Secretary for his discoveries, but now his information is publicly discoursed of, and the benefit of it will be less; he is one of many, and was close enough till he found some of his secrets known, and he is in danger of being made prisoner.” ²
Hopper and Greaves, both writing about the plot, claim that Greathead was turned in August of 1663 over a disagreement with Captain Oates, however, the evidence appears to be anecdotal. It's clear from the above quote, that by late September, Greathead was working for Sheriff Gower, but this does not explain when and how their relationship developed. To receive an 'allowance from the Secretary' (either from the Exchequer or the Privy Purse) would have taken some time for approval. Unfortunately, if any petition requesting an allowance was made, it appears to be missing from the surviving documents. Before the Sheriff sent any allowance request to the Secretary in London, Greathead's value and loyalty would obviously need to have been evaluated and analyzed. Given the length of time necessary to put Greathead to the test and the snail's pace of seventeenth century communications, I believe that Greathead and Gower's relationship couldn't have developed the previous month as suggested above but, at the very least, many months before. Gower himself said that he knew a year before about the 'Northern Rising' plot in general and that he knew about the date set for the 'Rising' (October 12th) ten weeks before it happened. Gower had many sources, how much of his information came from Greathead?
Was Greathead in the employ of the Sheriff of York before or after the 5th of April 1663? A little over six months before the Farnley meeting in October, a never before published account of an armed protest occurred in Morley, we shall call it the 'Morley Chapel Protest,' in which up to 200 protesters occupied the chapel by 'force of arms'. All the protesters seem to have been nonconformists and probably most were among the chapel's congregation. Shortly before the incident, the sitting minister, a dissenter, was compelled to 'conform' and swear an oath to the king as dictated in the newly enacted Act of Uniformity. This legislation forbade any form of religious service, ritual or ceremony, except as prescribed by the established episcopacy’s ‘Book of Common Prayer.’ The demonstrators' main concern was that the new regime was apparently forcing all of England into one church with one form of worship. To those who had enjoyed years of religious freedom, this was an abomination. Twenty two men were soon identified as the prime conspirators and an arrest warrant was issued for their detention. Joshua Greathead was included in the warrant as well as several other well known Gildersome men: John Smith, John Dickinson, Jeremy Boulton and William Scott. Of those five Gildersome men named, only William Scott was not on Sheriff Gower's payroll later in October.
The incident is best described by the following verdict decreed at the July Quarter Session at Leeds
against a certain Mr. Halliday, one of 22 men singled out for arrest in a warrant in April:
“Leeds the 16th day of July 1663
puts himself (before the jury), guilty
And that Robert Halliday, lately of Morley in the county of York, yeoman, with diverse other malefactors and disturbers of the peace of the Lord King, amounting to two hundred persons unknown to the aforesaid jury, on the fifth day of April in the fifteenth year of the reign of our Lord Charles the Second by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith etc., did by force of arms at Morley aforesaid, in the West Riding of the aforesaid county, riotously, tumultuously and illegally assemble and gather themselves for the disturbance of the peace of the said Lord King; and that the aforesaid Robert Halliday, together with the aforesaid other persons unknown to the aforesaid jury, being then and there assembled and then and there gathered, did with force of arms riotously, tumultuously and illegally then and there enter a certain chapel situated in Morley aforesaid in the West Riding in the county aforesaid called Morley Chappell, and then and there for the space of two hours on the same day remained in the aforesaid chapel, with force of arms, unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously and without any lawful authority, and then and there for the aforesaid time in the aforesaid chapel were engaged unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously, and made use of acts of religious worship and forms of prayer neither approved nor authorized or warranted to them by the laws of England, with the intention of disturbing the peace of the said Lord King, of putting fear into the government of the said Lord King, and of stirring up sedition in the nation and the subjects of the said Lord King, in contempt of the said Lord King, an evil example of all other offenders of this kind, and against the peace of the now said Lord King, his Crown and Dignity.
Witnesses
William Hawley
William Aveyard
John Aveyard
John Ward
Sworn” ³
Four months earlier, the Morley Chapel incident, as described above, resulted in the following warrant to be issued for the arrest of the supposed ringleaders:
"28th Day of April 1663 ‘Warrant’ Document……
For as much as this County are certainly informed that Thomas Smallwood George Foster and Henry Brooks all of Topcliffe Joseph Roades of Woodkirk John (Silver?) and Henry Jefferson of Haigh Hall Thomas Oates Samuel Ward Robert Halliday and Abraham Dawson Thom Craister And Thomas Atkinson all of Morley John Smith Joshua Greathead John Dickinson Jeremy Boulton And Willm Scott all of Gildersome Samuel Hird Joseph Boamont Richard Brigg Nathaniel Booth and Michael Brigg all of Batley, did contemptuously meet att Morley the fifth day of April last past under Items of public worshiping contrary to ye Late article of Parliament and its behavior pleaded These are therefore, in his Majesty’s name to will and require you that forthwith upon sight thereof you apprehend the bodys of the said persons above named and then convey or cause to bee conveyed before some of his Majestys Justices of peace within the said Ryding To enter into recognizance with Sureties For their personal appearance att the next Quarter sessions of peace to be holden for Ye said Ryding to answer your promises and further to be pleeded right according to Law. Ffayle not in the due execution hereof As you tend his Majestys service and will avoid the Pitt ?? the contrary. Dated at ye said sessions The day and year above said high constables and bailiffs witness said Ryding their deputy” ⁴
I assume that those named in the warrant, above, were singled out as the main organizers. Although their names may have found their way on to the list simply through witness identification. Thomas Smallwood, who was very well known, was probably the religious leader of the protesters. He had been previously indicted at York for having demonstrated at Halifax and for saying this about Charles' Queen Catherine, a catholic: “the whore of Babylon is rising and setting up.” For that remark, he lost his seat as Vicar of Batley. The reputations of Joshua Greathead and Thomas Oates were well known in West Yorkshire and their presence must have added a great deal of credibility to the protest. Of the twenty two named in the warrant only eight faced trial. A Leeds court in July stated that, William Scott, Nathaniel Booth, Joseph Roades, Abraham Dawson & Thomas Atkinson all 'took the Oath of obedyense in open Corte.' I also found the same month that Thomas Smallwood, George Foster, Samuel Ward, Richard Halliday, Joseph Roades, Thomas Atkinson and Abraham Dawson each had a separate trial in which they were found guilty but were released on a promise to return the next session, until then they were to keep the King’s Peace. The remaining fourteen, about whom no court proceedings can be found, either remained at large or were brought to trial. All those who did have a hearing seem to have been dealt with very lightly, uncommonly so, given the severity of the charges. Is it possible that the sheriff and magistrates were purposefully light-handed at dispensing justice because their agents were among the Morley conspirators? Gower did write later in September that “Gentlemen in the West Riding of Yorkshire have too hotly apprehended some of the ill-affected, on information of Major Greathead," which could be interpreted as there having been a policy of restraining arrests and convictions. ³
At the present, we don't know if Greathead was arrested or detained. If he deliberately avoided arrest, he must have gone into hiding. It seems that, with a little effort, the authorities could have easily picked him up since it was no secret where he lived, and being well known, it would have been difficult for him to move about without being noticed by Gower's spies. Thomas Oates lived at the Old Manor, Morley and as far as anyone knows, he wasn't picked up either. Apparently, from August to October, Greathead flitted from one meeting to another, a fact that was witnessed by many.
Let's imagine that Greathead was dragged before Gower soon after the Morley Protest. He could have been offered a deal for switching sides and tempted with the possibility of reward. This is not a far-fetched scenario. As discussed earlier, it must have taken months for Gower to appraise Greathead's dependability before receiving an allowance for his activities (Only a few of Gower's agents had that honor). Therefore, if Greathead was known to be on the the King's payroll in September 1663, then sometime around April or May would seem a reasonable, yet minimal, span of time for the vetting process. This theory makes sense and provides Greathead with an excuse, but personally I believe that at some unspecified time before the protest he offered his services to the sheriff willingly, motivated by the prospect of advancement within the new regime. That advancement did come true.
Considering the size of the king's bestowals and the length of time needed to developed a relationship with the Sheriff, I believe that Greathead's contribution was much greater than merely a couple of months of reporting. In return for services rendered, Greathead received an allowance for his espionage work and was later awarded '£100, as the King’s free gift'. Soon after the rebels' suppression, he petitioned the king and was granted two collectorships of excise, one in Yorkshire and the other in Suffolk through which, acting as middleman, flowed thousands of pounds of revenue. As far as I know, no other agent of the Sheriff of York was rewarded so lavishly.
Always the schemer, Greathead was not content to merely receive his portion of the hearth tax, he colluded with others to denounce rich landowners as traitors and received a percentage of their seized property as a reward. In 1678 he was appointed to a position as Bailiff to the Sheriff of York. His later years were marred by charges of fraud and embezzlement, the loss of his offices and eventual incarceration in London’s Fleet Prison, where he died on 15 August 1685.
Almost every historic or anecdotal mention of Greathead describes him as a very dangerous man, to his enemies as well as his friends. He didn't merely report to the sheriff concerning rebel activity, he was an active participant. He spread lies and proposed strategy with zeal, and used his trusted and respected name to attract supporters to the cause, then goaded them on, all the while he was taking names and reporting treasonous conversations.
The Morley Chapel Protest was heretofore unknown. It was discovered in a seventeenth century collection of Quarter Session proceedings which are kept at the West Yorkshire Archives Service. The warrant was written in English and was almost illegible, and the indictment of Robert Halliday was written in Latin. There are several more known indictments waiting to be translated and potentially many more to be found in the archives. If the protest documents could surface now after 350 years, others are surely there waiting to be discovered. Some of what is written here about Greathead is speculation, but with new discoveries perhaps the matter could be put rest once and for all.
The Aftermath of the Protest at the Old Chapel:
In Yorkshire, during the Restoration era, the Morley Chapel Protest may have been the the largest demonstration of its kind and certainly the most violent. It's extremely interesting that a treasonous act of such proportions appears to have been barely reported. Thus far its mention only can be found in the Quarter Session records and no other contemporary document, published memoirs or later in the histories of West Yorkshire and the Chapel at Morley in particular. Perhaps the affair was officially suppressed or the memory of the event was drowned out by the uproar of the soon to be failed rebellion.
Prior to the Protest, in 1650 during the Republican period, a trust deed signed by Lord Thomas Savile had been granted to lay impropriators (dissenters) containing....... “a parcell of land called the Chappell yeard wherein the Chappell at Morley now standeth." Among the eleven trustees who had signed the deed on behalf of the lay congregation were Thomas Oates, Joshua Greathead, and John Smith, who were later participants in the Chapel Protest and the Farnley Wood Plot. After the Plot, control of the Old Chapel passed into the hands of the Church of England and its use by a nonconforming congregation was forbidden.
Norrison Scatcherd, a Morley historian and direct descendant of Joshua Greathead, oversaw some restoration work to the old chapel in 1825. Upon stripping away the plaster from the walls the following was discovered, as reported by William Smith in his book, "Morley, Ancient and Modern" : "It was, however, soon after the times of the Commonwealth that its greatest improvement took place. Scatcherd says that this is accounted for by "the discovery made in 1825 of several ancient scrolls on the walls of the chapel, whose inscriptions indicate with unerring certainty the time when they were written." These inscriptions were as follows:
Near to the one we have first-named, was the Royal Coat of Arms, with the letters "C.R." on each side of the crown, and also above the lion's head, and the date 1664 underneath the whole. Near to the last-named text, was once the Lord's Prayer; and on the other side of the King's Arms it was discovered that there had formerly been the Apostles' Creed; and over the whole there had once been the Commandments. At that time it was common to affix upon walls, passages from Scripture calculated to keep up a feeling of loyalty, and to inculcate a spirit of submission to the restored dynasty........Scatcherd, in his History, gives it as his opinion that the inscriptions in the Old Chapel were levelled at Major Greathead, Captain Oates, and all those who had been privy to the Farnley Wood Plot in the year 1663, and also as a rebuke to the Republicans through out the land."
Scatcherd's assumption was made without knowledge of the Chapel Protest and he suggested that the angered response of the government in 1664 directed towards the Morley Chapel and its flock was the result of the Farnley Plot. Yet no other church in Yorkshire, or perhaps in all of England, possessed a congregation that resisted the Act of Uniformity more zealously. I contend that the Chapel Protest was the episcopate's prime motivation for the stern warning on the chapel walls and the sanctioning of the dissenting assembly.
After 1663, the only service read in the chapel was from the Book of Common Prayer and any practice that deviated from the book was prohibited. Now and again, for the next 24 years, a dissenting minister would successfully petition to perform a service on the chapel grounds but not within the chapel itself. In 1687 a second trust deed was signed, reaffirming the lay congregation's possession of the chapel and its grounds but were still forbidden the use both. Then, with the passage of the Toleration Act (1689), dissenters were permitted to worship freely in the Parsonage House, which was attached to the church, but still not in the church's consecrated chapel.
Two of the many signers of the '87 deed were Jeremy Boulton and John Dickinson of Gildersome. Both were participants in the Chapel Protest and the Farnley Plot and both received favors from the Sheriff of York for services rendered.
Calendar of Court Papers
The following are entries concerning Greathead and the Farnley plot, I commented on some:
September 26, 1663, Sittenham. Thom. Gower Sheriff of York to Sir Joseph Williamson: “Gentlemen in the West Riding of Yorkshire have too hotly apprehended some of the ill-affected, on information of Major Greathead, who has an allowance from the Secretary for his discoveries, but now his information is publicly discoursed of, and the benefit of it will be less; he is one of many, and was close enough till he found some of his secrets known, and he is in danger of being made prisoner.” ²
Sep 29, 1663, York. Gower to Secretary Bennet, the 1st Earl of Arlington, Keeper of the Privy Purse: “The disaffected hold meetings, and profess to have a party in every county. Will use Greathead roughly, because they begin to suspect him.” If “roughly” was the correctly transcribed adverb, I believe Gower meant a pretended campaign of harassment. ²
October 10, 1663, York. Gower to Secretary Bennet: “Almost all the heads of the Fanatics are privately seized. Still thinks there is no danger. All the late rumors came from one man, whilst three others, whom they do not suspect, say the design is laid aside at present. Has taken Greathead, and will examine his statements with those of others: finds little news in them. Heard ten weeks ago of a rising intended for Oct. 12, …” Greathead was arrested in an attempt to preserve his cover. Notice that by Oct 10, two days before the scheduled rising, all the 'heads of the Fanatics' had been rounded up. No wonder most meetings on the 12th fizzled out. ⁵
October 16, 1663, Wakefield. Sir Thom. Wentworth to the Duke of Buckingham: "Mr. Boulton's evidence of a rising is confirmed by Askwith and Wm. Toulson, who were asked to get horses, and join a meeting at Morley. After meeting at Farnley, 100 horse marched northward to Bradford Moor, and the rest dispersed; they only wait the disarming of the other side to act their parts." ⁵
October 24, 1663, York. Duke of Buckingham to Sec. Bennet: "(enclosed) Information of Jeremiah Bolton. On the 12th, met 12 armed horsemen near Farnley Wood; had the wood watched, and saw 200 men riding in an open glade, after which they moved away, four or six together, in different directions. Pomfret, October 14." It appears that Boulton's reports to the sheriff, both in this entry and the one above, were clearly inflated as to rebel activity. ⁶
Nov 3, 1663, Joseph Strangways to Sir Roger Langley: “…Finds that some say he discovered the plot, others that it was Major Smithson, Capt. Oates, and Major Greathead. Hopes so to dissemble as to be as much in their esteem as ever. Some persons who were known to be his intelligencers have been unwisely sent for; will be imprisoned if it be thought good, but his private affairs will suffer. The name of a rebel is odious, and want of liberty irksome.” ⁷
Nov 7, 1663. Thom. Gower to Secretary Bennet: “Sends up Major Greathead, with thanks for the assurance that his faithful service will be rewarded; he will declare the whole design; he was thought so absolutely necessary to the military part that nothing could be be done without him, and was therefore fully trusted; he knows little of the council at London, except what Richardson knew before he ran away, and since then the plot has grown mightily. …” I suppose what is meant by “Sends up” is that Greathead was transported to London. ⁷
Nov 8, 1663, Thom. Gower to Secretary Bennet: “Major Greathead having been of great use, they gave him great hopes of reward, as well as indemnity; beg that consideration may be had of him, in order that others may be encouraged to do the same.” Enclosed was a certificate by Sir Thos. Gower and three other deputy lieutenants stating: “Greathead has effectually contributed to the discovery of the late plot, and thereby to its prevention” dated November 5th 1663. ⁷
Undated, but possibly November 1663. Petitions, all addressed to the King: “Joshua Greathead, John Dickinson, and Joseph Crowther. For their pardons without paying fees, His Majesty having been pleased to pardon their former offenses, for their services in discovering the late bloody and inhuman plot.” ⁸
Nov 24 1663 York: John Dickinson to Major Joshua Greathead: “Carey, the man who came from London, is a Wiltshire man and a Parliament soldier, and was cornet of a troop of horse. Major Buller, who was captain, can tell where he may be found, or Sir Ralph Knight.” ⁹ See Dec 16, below. Both are connected.
Dec 21 1663, from Whitehall: “Order to Lord Treas. Southampton, - on the petition of Joshua Greathead, for relief, and for a grant of the Collectorship of Excise in Yorkshire, - that as the petitioner did good service in discovery of the late plot, he shall have an interest in the said collectorship when the present farm is expired.” Norrison Scatchard, a direct descendant of Joshua Greathead, in his book ‘A History of Morley’ page 40, stated that Greathead received the collectorship in 1662, the year before the Farnley Wood Plot. ⁹
Dec 16, 1663: “Questions to be demanded of Capt. or Coronet Carey; as to whether he was in Yorkshire in October, at Haigh Hall, near Wakefield, and Gildersome near Leeds; whether he conversed John or William Dickinson Dickinson, or Jeremy Marsden; whether he took a message to defer the insurrection, because of some dissenting; or whether he assured them that many who came with the General out of Scotland would join in the plot” This information must have come from John and William Dickinson of Gildersome and Jeremy Marsden, all of whom were working for Gower before October. See, Nov 24 above. ¹⁰
Dec 23 1663, from Whitehall: “Warrant to pay Major Greathead £100, as the King’s free gift, out of the £2000 for secret services.” ¹
Feb 17,1664, Examination of Robt. Atkinson: “Major Greathead said that the trained bands (royalist militia) being quartered about Leeds would discourage his men, but on their removal, he would raise 500 horse and 500 foot…” This testimony comes from a captured rebel speaking about what Greathead had promised when the rebellion broke out. Whether it’s hearsay or not is unknown. ¹¹
Nov. 2 1664, Letter: “Joshua Greathead to Sir Roger Langley. The three informers, Joshua Westerman, Wm. Dickinson and John Eastwood, have been in most of the country betwixt and London, and find great discontent, and hopes of deliverance by the Dutch war, but no plot on foot; wishes protection for the three men, who are poor, and live by their hard labor.” I believe that these three men were Gower’s spies and escaped Yorkshire with an arrest warrant pending. However the warrant was a ruse to enable the three to travel throughout the country in order to ‘hideout’ with known rebels and to report upon their situation. ¹²
May 15 1665: “Reference to the Lord Treasurer on the petition of Major Greathead to be one of the Farmers of Excise for Suffolk, the King wishing to gratify the petitioner, on account of his services in discovering the late intended rebellion in the North.” ¹³
July 2, 1670, Gildersome Nr. Leeds. Joshua Greathead to Sir Joseph Williamson: “Pray solicit Lord Arlington (Sir Henry Bennet) to procure the release of Joshua Westerman, Luke Lone, Jacob Ellis, and Will. Dickinson, prisoners in York Castle. they were employed to find out persons engaged in the late plot, and by order of Lord Arlington and Sir Thom. Gower, were to be supplied with money and whatever they wanted. They did their best in the business, and were promised that they should live peaceably at home, and have done so till now, so their imprisonment very much reflects upon Sir Thomas and my self, who are very much exclaimed against on their account. I suppose a former application by Sir Thomas and me has not been received. Pray return my letter, and your thoughts as to what will become of the poor men.” Apparently, a new Sheriff of York, who was not informed of all the details of the doings seven years before, arrested the above named after finding old yet pending arrest warrants. ¹⁴
With special thanks to the friends and members of the Morley Community Archives.
This article was first written and posted on 06 Oct 2017 under the title 'Joshua Greathead, Gildersome's Antihero' and rewritten on 06 Feb 2018 under the title above. © Charles Soderlund 2018
Over three hundred and fifty years separate us from the events surrounding the Farnley Wood Plot and the role played by Major Joshua Greathead. Hopefully, the emotions that flared during the early Restoration period in West Yorkshire, and continued almost up to the 20th century, have been put to rest. Was Joshua Greathead a traitor? That depended upon which side you were on. Was he a spy for the Royalists? Yes, the following December 1663 entry from the State Papers of Charles II, says it all: “Whitehall: Warrant to pay Major Greathead £100, as the King’s free gift, out of the £2000 for secret services.” Was he a betrayer to his comrades? Without a doubt! Sixteen men, including his own cousin, mostly from the muster at Farnley, were executed. If it were not for Greathead, would they have suffered such a fate? ¹
To read more about the Farnley Wood Plot, click on the references below:
Wikipedia
History of Gildersome
BBC Legacies
Major Joshua Greathead was born in Gildersome in 1615. During the Civil War he sided with the Roundheads, was cited for valor and eventually rose to the rank of major. After the hostilities, he enjoyed the notoriety his rank and reputation had earned and was described as a "gentleman farmer." His house and farm sat alongside Gildersome's Church Street, across from the Old Church School and extended, in some breadth, all the way to Farnley Wood Beck.
After Cromwell's death, King Charles II was invited to assume the throne. Along with the king's return came a great deal of dissatisfaction for many reasons, too numerous for this narrative. Some of those dissatisfied began to work secretly for the King's removal and the return of the Commonwealth. Soon a plan was developed and disseminated to sympathetic groups throughout Britain. Because of Greathead's military experience, many in the West Riding who were favourable to the cause looked to him for leadership and he accepted a role as local commander. This post gave him access to meetings where strategic matters concerning the whole North were freely discussed. At some unknown time, while the conspiracy was gaining momentum, Greathead secretly began reporting the rebels' plans to Sir Thomas Gower, the Sheriff of York. The day of the 'Rising' was set for the 12th of October 1663. Several days prior the plan began to unravel when Gower launched a preemptive strike and arrested most of its leaders. On the 12th, a few meetings did take place across the North, the most famous being a doomed gathering in Farnley Wood. There, unbeknownst to the ragtag band of locals in attendance, the sheriff's arrests had paralysed whatever plans had been made for the uprising. After waiting all night in the rain for orders and reinforcements that never arrived, they packed up their gear and returned to their homes. Within a few days, using Greathead's information, the Sheriff arrested nearly all of the attendees, most of whom were later hanged then drawn and quartered. After the Farnley Plot, Greathead was reviled and shunned locally but to those in power, especially whose responsibility was the realm's security, Greathead became the man who uncovered the 'Northern Plot.' For that, he received gifts from the government which far exceeded that which would be expected for an ordinary spy. It's even possible that Greathead's exploits on behalf of the monarchists reached the ear of King Charles II himself.
The intent of this article is to not rehash most of the known events leading up to and after the Farnley Wood Plot. Writing on the subject has been plentiful and much is accessible on the internet. Most scholarly accounts agree that the true events are muddied by opinion, rumors, inflated claims by the Sheriff of York’s spies (usually made to line their own pockets), false or contradictory court testimony and just plain old partisanship. And apparently, a good argument can be made that the rebels were deliberately fed untrue rumors by the Sheriff's own agents regarding commitment, numbers and movements.
Instead, using contemporary sources, the aim is to discuss when and how Greathead became an agent for the Royalists and to comment upon his character, and the ample rewards that came his way, many from as high as the King’s inner circle. Also, to introduce the long since forgotten Morley Chapel Protest, in April of 1663, in which Greathead may have played a duplicitous role. With the exception of the Morley Chapel Protest, the bulk of the sources come from the “Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the reign of Charles II,” which were volumes put together in the 1860s and summarize by date the contents of surviving collections of court documents from the early Restoration era. (See all the Greathead entries at the end of the narrative. Some speculation by me has been added which I believe, is unavoidable.)
With the reestablishment of the monarchy came hostility towards anyone associated with the Cromwellian regime. This led to a massive nationwide removal of thousands of sitting church and state officials as well as retribution against many in parliament and the former roundhead army. Those who were allowed to keep their jobs, or in some cases their heads, were forced to take an oath of obedience to the king. Did Greathead take that oath? I'm certain that he did, the question is when and why? Even if he had monarchist leanings by the end of the Republican era, what induced him to betray his old army comrades, church brethren and friends with such ruthlessness? Why, is hard to fathom, since we haven't a clue as to his motivations. To my mind, it would either have been fear or greed. I personally discount fear, since time and again, Greathead demonstrated his fearlessness. In my opinion his prime motivation was greed. Not just financial greed, but a fervent desire to rise in rank and privilege and to hobnob with the rich and famous. The easiest path to both was to ingratiate himself to those with power and the purse.
When did he become the King's agent is also difficult to say. September 26th 1663 is the earliest mention of Joshua Greathead found in the State papers. This was about five months after the Chapel Protest and two weeks before the Farnley Wood meeting. In it, Thomas Gower, 2nd Baronet and Sheriff of York, writes to Sir Joseph Williamson from his estate in Sittenham. He speaks about the forces of discontent in the county whom he refers to as “fanatics”. The entry then goes on to state that: “Gentlemen in the West Riding of Yorkshire have too hotly apprehended some of the ill-affected, on information of Major Greathead, who has an allowance from the Secretary for his discoveries, but now his information is publicly discoursed of, and the benefit of it will be less; he is one of many, and was close enough till he found some of his secrets known, and he is in danger of being made prisoner.” ²
Hopper and Greaves, both writing about the plot, claim that Greathead was turned in August of 1663 over a disagreement with Captain Oates, however, the evidence appears to be anecdotal. It's clear from the above quote, that by late September, Greathead was working for Sheriff Gower, but this does not explain when and how their relationship developed. To receive an 'allowance from the Secretary' (either from the Exchequer or the Privy Purse) would have taken some time for approval. Unfortunately, if any petition requesting an allowance was made, it appears to be missing from the surviving documents. Before the Sheriff sent any allowance request to the Secretary in London, Greathead's value and loyalty would obviously need to have been evaluated and analyzed. Given the length of time necessary to put Greathead to the test and the snail's pace of seventeenth century communications, I believe that Greathead and Gower's relationship couldn't have developed the previous month as suggested above but, at the very least, many months before. Gower himself said that he knew a year before about the 'Northern Rising' plot in general and that he knew about the date set for the 'Rising' (October 12th) ten weeks before it happened. Gower had many sources, how much of his information came from Greathead?
Was Greathead in the employ of the Sheriff of York before or after the 5th of April 1663? A little over six months before the Farnley meeting in October, a never before published account of an armed protest occurred in Morley, we shall call it the 'Morley Chapel Protest,' in which up to 200 protesters occupied the chapel by 'force of arms'. All the protesters seem to have been nonconformists and probably most were among the chapel's congregation. Shortly before the incident, the sitting minister, a dissenter, was compelled to 'conform' and swear an oath to the king as dictated in the newly enacted Act of Uniformity. This legislation forbade any form of religious service, ritual or ceremony, except as prescribed by the established episcopacy’s ‘Book of Common Prayer.’ The demonstrators' main concern was that the new regime was apparently forcing all of England into one church with one form of worship. To those who had enjoyed years of religious freedom, this was an abomination. Twenty two men were soon identified as the prime conspirators and an arrest warrant was issued for their detention. Joshua Greathead was included in the warrant as well as several other well known Gildersome men: John Smith, John Dickinson, Jeremy Boulton and William Scott. Of those five Gildersome men named, only William Scott was not on Sheriff Gower's payroll later in October.
The incident is best described by the following verdict decreed at the July Quarter Session at Leeds
against a certain Mr. Halliday, one of 22 men singled out for arrest in a warrant in April:
“Leeds the 16th day of July 1663
puts himself (before the jury), guilty
And that Robert Halliday, lately of Morley in the county of York, yeoman, with diverse other malefactors and disturbers of the peace of the Lord King, amounting to two hundred persons unknown to the aforesaid jury, on the fifth day of April in the fifteenth year of the reign of our Lord Charles the Second by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith etc., did by force of arms at Morley aforesaid, in the West Riding of the aforesaid county, riotously, tumultuously and illegally assemble and gather themselves for the disturbance of the peace of the said Lord King; and that the aforesaid Robert Halliday, together with the aforesaid other persons unknown to the aforesaid jury, being then and there assembled and then and there gathered, did with force of arms riotously, tumultuously and illegally then and there enter a certain chapel situated in Morley aforesaid in the West Riding in the county aforesaid called Morley Chappell, and then and there for the space of two hours on the same day remained in the aforesaid chapel, with force of arms, unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously and without any lawful authority, and then and there for the aforesaid time in the aforesaid chapel were engaged unlawfully, riotously and tumultuously, and made use of acts of religious worship and forms of prayer neither approved nor authorized or warranted to them by the laws of England, with the intention of disturbing the peace of the said Lord King, of putting fear into the government of the said Lord King, and of stirring up sedition in the nation and the subjects of the said Lord King, in contempt of the said Lord King, an evil example of all other offenders of this kind, and against the peace of the now said Lord King, his Crown and Dignity.
Witnesses
William Hawley
William Aveyard
John Aveyard
John Ward
Sworn” ³
Four months earlier, the Morley Chapel incident, as described above, resulted in the following warrant to be issued for the arrest of the supposed ringleaders:
"28th Day of April 1663 ‘Warrant’ Document……
For as much as this County are certainly informed that Thomas Smallwood George Foster and Henry Brooks all of Topcliffe Joseph Roades of Woodkirk John (Silver?) and Henry Jefferson of Haigh Hall Thomas Oates Samuel Ward Robert Halliday and Abraham Dawson Thom Craister And Thomas Atkinson all of Morley John Smith Joshua Greathead John Dickinson Jeremy Boulton And Willm Scott all of Gildersome Samuel Hird Joseph Boamont Richard Brigg Nathaniel Booth and Michael Brigg all of Batley, did contemptuously meet att Morley the fifth day of April last past under Items of public worshiping contrary to ye Late article of Parliament and its behavior pleaded These are therefore, in his Majesty’s name to will and require you that forthwith upon sight thereof you apprehend the bodys of the said persons above named and then convey or cause to bee conveyed before some of his Majestys Justices of peace within the said Ryding To enter into recognizance with Sureties For their personal appearance att the next Quarter sessions of peace to be holden for Ye said Ryding to answer your promises and further to be pleeded right according to Law. Ffayle not in the due execution hereof As you tend his Majestys service and will avoid the Pitt ?? the contrary. Dated at ye said sessions The day and year above said high constables and bailiffs witness said Ryding their deputy” ⁴
I assume that those named in the warrant, above, were singled out as the main organizers. Although their names may have found their way on to the list simply through witness identification. Thomas Smallwood, who was very well known, was probably the religious leader of the protesters. He had been previously indicted at York for having demonstrated at Halifax and for saying this about Charles' Queen Catherine, a catholic: “the whore of Babylon is rising and setting up.” For that remark, he lost his seat as Vicar of Batley. The reputations of Joshua Greathead and Thomas Oates were well known in West Yorkshire and their presence must have added a great deal of credibility to the protest. Of the twenty two named in the warrant only eight faced trial. A Leeds court in July stated that, William Scott, Nathaniel Booth, Joseph Roades, Abraham Dawson & Thomas Atkinson all 'took the Oath of obedyense in open Corte.' I also found the same month that Thomas Smallwood, George Foster, Samuel Ward, Richard Halliday, Joseph Roades, Thomas Atkinson and Abraham Dawson each had a separate trial in which they were found guilty but were released on a promise to return the next session, until then they were to keep the King’s Peace. The remaining fourteen, about whom no court proceedings can be found, either remained at large or were brought to trial. All those who did have a hearing seem to have been dealt with very lightly, uncommonly so, given the severity of the charges. Is it possible that the sheriff and magistrates were purposefully light-handed at dispensing justice because their agents were among the Morley conspirators? Gower did write later in September that “Gentlemen in the West Riding of Yorkshire have too hotly apprehended some of the ill-affected, on information of Major Greathead," which could be interpreted as there having been a policy of restraining arrests and convictions. ³
At the present, we don't know if Greathead was arrested or detained. If he deliberately avoided arrest, he must have gone into hiding. It seems that, with a little effort, the authorities could have easily picked him up since it was no secret where he lived, and being well known, it would have been difficult for him to move about without being noticed by Gower's spies. Thomas Oates lived at the Old Manor, Morley and as far as anyone knows, he wasn't picked up either. Apparently, from August to October, Greathead flitted from one meeting to another, a fact that was witnessed by many.
Let's imagine that Greathead was dragged before Gower soon after the Morley Protest. He could have been offered a deal for switching sides and tempted with the possibility of reward. This is not a far-fetched scenario. As discussed earlier, it must have taken months for Gower to appraise Greathead's dependability before receiving an allowance for his activities (Only a few of Gower's agents had that honor). Therefore, if Greathead was known to be on the the King's payroll in September 1663, then sometime around April or May would seem a reasonable, yet minimal, span of time for the vetting process. This theory makes sense and provides Greathead with an excuse, but personally I believe that at some unspecified time before the protest he offered his services to the sheriff willingly, motivated by the prospect of advancement within the new regime. That advancement did come true.
Considering the size of the king's bestowals and the length of time needed to developed a relationship with the Sheriff, I believe that Greathead's contribution was much greater than merely a couple of months of reporting. In return for services rendered, Greathead received an allowance for his espionage work and was later awarded '£100, as the King’s free gift'. Soon after the rebels' suppression, he petitioned the king and was granted two collectorships of excise, one in Yorkshire and the other in Suffolk through which, acting as middleman, flowed thousands of pounds of revenue. As far as I know, no other agent of the Sheriff of York was rewarded so lavishly.
Always the schemer, Greathead was not content to merely receive his portion of the hearth tax, he colluded with others to denounce rich landowners as traitors and received a percentage of their seized property as a reward. In 1678 he was appointed to a position as Bailiff to the Sheriff of York. His later years were marred by charges of fraud and embezzlement, the loss of his offices and eventual incarceration in London’s Fleet Prison, where he died on 15 August 1685.
Almost every historic or anecdotal mention of Greathead describes him as a very dangerous man, to his enemies as well as his friends. He didn't merely report to the sheriff concerning rebel activity, he was an active participant. He spread lies and proposed strategy with zeal, and used his trusted and respected name to attract supporters to the cause, then goaded them on, all the while he was taking names and reporting treasonous conversations.
The Morley Chapel Protest was heretofore unknown. It was discovered in a seventeenth century collection of Quarter Session proceedings which are kept at the West Yorkshire Archives Service. The warrant was written in English and was almost illegible, and the indictment of Robert Halliday was written in Latin. There are several more known indictments waiting to be translated and potentially many more to be found in the archives. If the protest documents could surface now after 350 years, others are surely there waiting to be discovered. Some of what is written here about Greathead is speculation, but with new discoveries perhaps the matter could be put rest once and for all.
The Aftermath of the Protest at the Old Chapel:
In Yorkshire, during the Restoration era, the Morley Chapel Protest may have been the the largest demonstration of its kind and certainly the most violent. It's extremely interesting that a treasonous act of such proportions appears to have been barely reported. Thus far its mention only can be found in the Quarter Session records and no other contemporary document, published memoirs or later in the histories of West Yorkshire and the Chapel at Morley in particular. Perhaps the affair was officially suppressed or the memory of the event was drowned out by the uproar of the soon to be failed rebellion.
Prior to the Protest, in 1650 during the Republican period, a trust deed signed by Lord Thomas Savile had been granted to lay impropriators (dissenters) containing....... “a parcell of land called the Chappell yeard wherein the Chappell at Morley now standeth." Among the eleven trustees who had signed the deed on behalf of the lay congregation were Thomas Oates, Joshua Greathead, and John Smith, who were later participants in the Chapel Protest and the Farnley Wood Plot. After the Plot, control of the Old Chapel passed into the hands of the Church of England and its use by a nonconforming congregation was forbidden.
Norrison Scatcherd, a Morley historian and direct descendant of Joshua Greathead, oversaw some restoration work to the old chapel in 1825. Upon stripping away the plaster from the walls the following was discovered, as reported by William Smith in his book, "Morley, Ancient and Modern" : "It was, however, soon after the times of the Commonwealth that its greatest improvement took place. Scatcherd says that this is accounted for by "the discovery made in 1825 of several ancient scrolls on the walls of the chapel, whose inscriptions indicate with unerring certainty the time when they were written." These inscriptions were as follows:
- My son, fear thou the Lord and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change.
- Blessed are the peace-makers for they shall be called the children of God.
- Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.
- He hath showed thee, O man, what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justice, to love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God.
- Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth. *
Near to the one we have first-named, was the Royal Coat of Arms, with the letters "C.R." on each side of the crown, and also above the lion's head, and the date 1664 underneath the whole. Near to the last-named text, was once the Lord's Prayer; and on the other side of the King's Arms it was discovered that there had formerly been the Apostles' Creed; and over the whole there had once been the Commandments. At that time it was common to affix upon walls, passages from Scripture calculated to keep up a feeling of loyalty, and to inculcate a spirit of submission to the restored dynasty........Scatcherd, in his History, gives it as his opinion that the inscriptions in the Old Chapel were levelled at Major Greathead, Captain Oates, and all those who had been privy to the Farnley Wood Plot in the year 1663, and also as a rebuke to the Republicans through out the land."
Scatcherd's assumption was made without knowledge of the Chapel Protest and he suggested that the angered response of the government in 1664 directed towards the Morley Chapel and its flock was the result of the Farnley Plot. Yet no other church in Yorkshire, or perhaps in all of England, possessed a congregation that resisted the Act of Uniformity more zealously. I contend that the Chapel Protest was the episcopate's prime motivation for the stern warning on the chapel walls and the sanctioning of the dissenting assembly.
After 1663, the only service read in the chapel was from the Book of Common Prayer and any practice that deviated from the book was prohibited. Now and again, for the next 24 years, a dissenting minister would successfully petition to perform a service on the chapel grounds but not within the chapel itself. In 1687 a second trust deed was signed, reaffirming the lay congregation's possession of the chapel and its grounds but were still forbidden the use both. Then, with the passage of the Toleration Act (1689), dissenters were permitted to worship freely in the Parsonage House, which was attached to the church, but still not in the church's consecrated chapel.
Two of the many signers of the '87 deed were Jeremy Boulton and John Dickinson of Gildersome. Both were participants in the Chapel Protest and the Farnley Plot and both received favors from the Sheriff of York for services rendered.
Calendar of Court Papers
The following are entries concerning Greathead and the Farnley plot, I commented on some:
September 26, 1663, Sittenham. Thom. Gower Sheriff of York to Sir Joseph Williamson: “Gentlemen in the West Riding of Yorkshire have too hotly apprehended some of the ill-affected, on information of Major Greathead, who has an allowance from the Secretary for his discoveries, but now his information is publicly discoursed of, and the benefit of it will be less; he is one of many, and was close enough till he found some of his secrets known, and he is in danger of being made prisoner.” ²
Sep 29, 1663, York. Gower to Secretary Bennet, the 1st Earl of Arlington, Keeper of the Privy Purse: “The disaffected hold meetings, and profess to have a party in every county. Will use Greathead roughly, because they begin to suspect him.” If “roughly” was the correctly transcribed adverb, I believe Gower meant a pretended campaign of harassment. ²
October 10, 1663, York. Gower to Secretary Bennet: “Almost all the heads of the Fanatics are privately seized. Still thinks there is no danger. All the late rumors came from one man, whilst three others, whom they do not suspect, say the design is laid aside at present. Has taken Greathead, and will examine his statements with those of others: finds little news in them. Heard ten weeks ago of a rising intended for Oct. 12, …” Greathead was arrested in an attempt to preserve his cover. Notice that by Oct 10, two days before the scheduled rising, all the 'heads of the Fanatics' had been rounded up. No wonder most meetings on the 12th fizzled out. ⁵
October 16, 1663, Wakefield. Sir Thom. Wentworth to the Duke of Buckingham: "Mr. Boulton's evidence of a rising is confirmed by Askwith and Wm. Toulson, who were asked to get horses, and join a meeting at Morley. After meeting at Farnley, 100 horse marched northward to Bradford Moor, and the rest dispersed; they only wait the disarming of the other side to act their parts." ⁵
October 24, 1663, York. Duke of Buckingham to Sec. Bennet: "(enclosed) Information of Jeremiah Bolton. On the 12th, met 12 armed horsemen near Farnley Wood; had the wood watched, and saw 200 men riding in an open glade, after which they moved away, four or six together, in different directions. Pomfret, October 14." It appears that Boulton's reports to the sheriff, both in this entry and the one above, were clearly inflated as to rebel activity. ⁶
Nov 3, 1663, Joseph Strangways to Sir Roger Langley: “…Finds that some say he discovered the plot, others that it was Major Smithson, Capt. Oates, and Major Greathead. Hopes so to dissemble as to be as much in their esteem as ever. Some persons who were known to be his intelligencers have been unwisely sent for; will be imprisoned if it be thought good, but his private affairs will suffer. The name of a rebel is odious, and want of liberty irksome.” ⁷
Nov 7, 1663. Thom. Gower to Secretary Bennet: “Sends up Major Greathead, with thanks for the assurance that his faithful service will be rewarded; he will declare the whole design; he was thought so absolutely necessary to the military part that nothing could be be done without him, and was therefore fully trusted; he knows little of the council at London, except what Richardson knew before he ran away, and since then the plot has grown mightily. …” I suppose what is meant by “Sends up” is that Greathead was transported to London. ⁷
Nov 8, 1663, Thom. Gower to Secretary Bennet: “Major Greathead having been of great use, they gave him great hopes of reward, as well as indemnity; beg that consideration may be had of him, in order that others may be encouraged to do the same.” Enclosed was a certificate by Sir Thos. Gower and three other deputy lieutenants stating: “Greathead has effectually contributed to the discovery of the late plot, and thereby to its prevention” dated November 5th 1663. ⁷
Undated, but possibly November 1663. Petitions, all addressed to the King: “Joshua Greathead, John Dickinson, and Joseph Crowther. For their pardons without paying fees, His Majesty having been pleased to pardon their former offenses, for their services in discovering the late bloody and inhuman plot.” ⁸
Nov 24 1663 York: John Dickinson to Major Joshua Greathead: “Carey, the man who came from London, is a Wiltshire man and a Parliament soldier, and was cornet of a troop of horse. Major Buller, who was captain, can tell where he may be found, or Sir Ralph Knight.” ⁹ See Dec 16, below. Both are connected.
Dec 21 1663, from Whitehall: “Order to Lord Treas. Southampton, - on the petition of Joshua Greathead, for relief, and for a grant of the Collectorship of Excise in Yorkshire, - that as the petitioner did good service in discovery of the late plot, he shall have an interest in the said collectorship when the present farm is expired.” Norrison Scatchard, a direct descendant of Joshua Greathead, in his book ‘A History of Morley’ page 40, stated that Greathead received the collectorship in 1662, the year before the Farnley Wood Plot. ⁹
Dec 16, 1663: “Questions to be demanded of Capt. or Coronet Carey; as to whether he was in Yorkshire in October, at Haigh Hall, near Wakefield, and Gildersome near Leeds; whether he conversed John or William Dickinson Dickinson, or Jeremy Marsden; whether he took a message to defer the insurrection, because of some dissenting; or whether he assured them that many who came with the General out of Scotland would join in the plot” This information must have come from John and William Dickinson of Gildersome and Jeremy Marsden, all of whom were working for Gower before October. See, Nov 24 above. ¹⁰
Dec 23 1663, from Whitehall: “Warrant to pay Major Greathead £100, as the King’s free gift, out of the £2000 for secret services.” ¹
Feb 17,1664, Examination of Robt. Atkinson: “Major Greathead said that the trained bands (royalist militia) being quartered about Leeds would discourage his men, but on their removal, he would raise 500 horse and 500 foot…” This testimony comes from a captured rebel speaking about what Greathead had promised when the rebellion broke out. Whether it’s hearsay or not is unknown. ¹¹
Nov. 2 1664, Letter: “Joshua Greathead to Sir Roger Langley. The three informers, Joshua Westerman, Wm. Dickinson and John Eastwood, have been in most of the country betwixt and London, and find great discontent, and hopes of deliverance by the Dutch war, but no plot on foot; wishes protection for the three men, who are poor, and live by their hard labor.” I believe that these three men were Gower’s spies and escaped Yorkshire with an arrest warrant pending. However the warrant was a ruse to enable the three to travel throughout the country in order to ‘hideout’ with known rebels and to report upon their situation. ¹²
May 15 1665: “Reference to the Lord Treasurer on the petition of Major Greathead to be one of the Farmers of Excise for Suffolk, the King wishing to gratify the petitioner, on account of his services in discovering the late intended rebellion in the North.” ¹³
July 2, 1670, Gildersome Nr. Leeds. Joshua Greathead to Sir Joseph Williamson: “Pray solicit Lord Arlington (Sir Henry Bennet) to procure the release of Joshua Westerman, Luke Lone, Jacob Ellis, and Will. Dickinson, prisoners in York Castle. they were employed to find out persons engaged in the late plot, and by order of Lord Arlington and Sir Thom. Gower, were to be supplied with money and whatever they wanted. They did their best in the business, and were promised that they should live peaceably at home, and have done so till now, so their imprisonment very much reflects upon Sir Thomas and my self, who are very much exclaimed against on their account. I suppose a former application by Sir Thomas and me has not been received. Pray return my letter, and your thoughts as to what will become of the poor men.” Apparently, a new Sheriff of York, who was not informed of all the details of the doings seven years before, arrested the above named after finding old yet pending arrest warrants. ¹⁴
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Citations:
1] ’Charles II - volume 86: December 19-31, 1663', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1663-4, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1862), pp. 379-398. Dec. 23, 1663 2] ’Charles II - volume 80: September 1663', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1663-4, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1862), pp. 263-284. 3] West Yorkshire Archive Service: Yorkshire, England, Quarter Session Records, 1637-1914, 1663-1665, Wakefield, Indictment, 16 July 1663 4] West Yorkshire Archive Service: Yorkshire, England, Quarter Session Records, 1637-1914, 1681-1686, Wakefield, Order, 28 April 1663 5] ’Charles II - volume 81: October 1-17, 1663', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1663-4, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1862), pp. 284-306. 6] 'Charles II - volume 82: October 18-31, 1663', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1663-4, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1862), pp. 306-324. 7] 'Charles II - volume 83: November 1-16, 1663', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1663-4, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1862), pp. 324-342. 8] ’Charles II - volume 89: Undated 1663', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1663-4, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1862), pp. 413-426. 9] 'Charles II - volume 84: November 17-30, 1663', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1663-4, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1862), pp. 342-359. (Ent. Book 13, p. 384) 10] ’Charles II - volume 85: December 1-18, 1663', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1663-4, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1862), pp. 359-378. 11] 'Charles II - volume 93: February 16-28, 1664', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1663-4, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1862), pp. 484-501. 12] ’Charles II - volume 104: November 1-16, 1664', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1664-5, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1863), pp. 50-75. 13] 'Charles II - volume 121: May 10-22, 1665', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1664-5, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1863), pp. 358-379 [Ent. Book 18, p. 162] 14] 'Charles II: July 1670', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1670 With Addenda 1660-70, ed. Mary Anne Everett Green (London, 1895), pp. 309-358. [S.P. Dom. Car. II. 277, No. 8.] |
FARNLEY WOOD
Lyrics by The Colin Holt Band 
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