Phiz, "The Murder of William Horsfall, Benson's Trials.
 

History

Texts

Interpretation

[Before 23 June] 1812 Poem, "The Tintwhistle Weaver's Daughter"

The manuscript poem titled "The Tintwistle Weavers Daughter" has the quatrain structure, abab rhyme, and 8/6/8/6 line lengths typical of many of the verses and songs written by laboring authors or for popular use. It is unclear whether the poem, as it exists, was intended to be sung. No tune is indicated, and the irregular meter would hinder singing the verses to any of the popular tunes for 8/6/8/6 stanzas. The odd repetition of lines might indicate that the manuscript was a draft yet to be revised.
The poem offers a narrative of longanimity and its end in the face of the distresses besetting the cotton weavers at the time of the Luddite risings. Mention of the Orders in Council and Ned Ludd places the poem between January 1812 (the commencing of Luddism in Lancashire, Cheshire, and evidently the very northern reaches of Derbyshire) and June 1812 (the repeal of the Orders in Council). Food riots did occur on 21 March 1812 in Tintwistle. Perhaps the poem reflects the frustration of those hungry weeks in the spring of 1812. The poem is vaguely political, but it encompasses several aspects of Manchester-area Luddism. In fact, hunger caused by war and the Orders in Council are the primary grievances conveyed in the poem. Steam-powered looms are mentioned only in the last stanza, almost as an afterthought.

The Tintwistle Weavers Daughter

There was a weavers daughter born
When loaves were big and cheap
Work was forbid on a Monday
Tho work enough for keep

His daughter grew pretty and fine
On meat and bread he'd bring
And bloomed the human face divine
Her light sweet voice would sing

But your debts and taxes want pay'd
Coined of the poor and dead
Your Orders and council kill trade
And weavers cry for bread

So bent the daughter to her fate
From work she did not cower
She beam'd the yarn from Manchester
And dress'd the warp with flour

She beams the yarn from Manchester
And dresses warp with flour
The shuttle flies from morn til night
And rests at a late hour

From morn til night she cannot cease
Her life is nowt but toil
She has not time for love or sport
Her blooming flowers spoil

Still your debts and taxes want pay'd
Coined of the poor and dead
Your Orders and French wars hurt trade
And weavers cry out for bread

She bends no more to her poor lot
A life of nowt but toil
Enriching the mighty and great
While her own flowers spoil

She cries aloud her heros name
Her Sherwood hero Ludd
Will set a stop to wars and steam
And wages as they stood