The Tolpuddle Martyrs Trivia Quiz

Answer: 6

They were George and James Loveless, James Brine, James Hammett, Thomas Stansfield and his son John. George Loveless was the leader and organiser of the group, all of whom were farm labourers. They were also, with the exception of James Brine, all staunch Methodists.

Answer: Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers

Entry into the union involved a subscription of one shilling (5p) and swearing an oath before a picture of a skeleton never to tell the union's secrets. The Friendly Society of Agricultural Workers was a very early forerunner of the National Union of Farm Workers.

Answer: A cut in wages

The labourers at Tolpuddle lived in near poverty on a wage of 7 shillings a week. They wanted an increase to 10 shillings, but instead the wages were cut to 6 shillings.

They were not alone in their discontent. In the early 1830s there was much working class discontent in Britain, especially in the south of England, due to wretched working conditions and wage cuts. There were riots in some areas, which were supressed by military force. Farm labourers were the poorest of all.

Answer: Administering unlawful oaths

Membership of a trade union was not, in itself, unlawful, although it was strongly discouraged and it was not unusual for anyone trying to form or join a Trade Union to be sacked without references, which made finding another job almost impossible.

There was an offence of "Administering an unlawful oath" on the statute books and as the organisers made members swear an oath not to reveal the secrets of the union this was used as an excuse to arrest and try them.

Answer: 7 years' deportation to Australia

Deportation was a very common sentence for even minor matters at that time.
No matter what the length of the sentence very few people returned to England after their sentence was served as very few were able to pay their own passage home. (The authorities did not provide a return passage). Deportation thus became a de facto life sentence for most, although without the convicts staying on and becoming colonists Australia would not be what it is today.

Answer: Lord Melbourne

Lord Melbourne was bitterly opposed to the Trade Union Movement, so he did nothing to reduce the sentence. The whole Whig Government of the time (and the Tories, too) were alarmed at working class discontent in the country and were determined to crush the unions and control increasing outbreaks of unrest.

Answer: An outcry and protests

Many public protests were held and there was general outcry at the Martyrs' treatment. Because of this they were hastily transported to a penal colony in Australia. This however only made matters worse, and a 250,000 signature petition was collected and some 30,000 people marched down Whitehall in support of the Martyrs.

Answer: No

Because of public reaction the sentences were commuted and after some delay the six were given free passage home from Australia.

When home and free James Hammett was the only one who returned to Tolpuddle, where he worked as a builder's labourer. George Loveless and Thomas Standfield and their families had farms 5 miles from each other in Essex, James Brine married Elizabeth Standfield, Thomas's daughter. They had 11 children. Eventually the families emigrated to Canada where George Loveless and Thomas Standfield built a Methodist Church in Siloam where George Loveless was a lay preacher, James Loveless became sexton of North Street Methodist Church in London Township, Ontario, and John Standfield became Mayor of East London where he owned a hotel, ran a shop and founded a choir.

The graves of Thomas Standfield and his wife and George Loveless and his wife are next to each other in Siloam cemetery.

Answer: No

At that time only about one in seven adult males, and no women, had the right to vote. The right to vote was based on property, and despite the Reform Act of 1832 which enfranchised more people than ever before and got rid of the most obviously "rotten boroughs", the right to vote was still severely restricted.

Answer: Weekend Union Rally

The Tolpuddle Martyrs' Rally is held on the third weekend in July every year. International speakers join with workers representatives, musicians and artists to make it a vibrant and memorable occasion.

There is a permanent Martyrs' Memorial in the village in the form of a seat and shelter erected on the village green where they used to meet.