DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0089
THE SAMPFORD GHOST.
73
mob; for on Monday April 22, 1811, a disturbance of a
very serious nature occurred at Sampford Peverell. The
annual fair for the sale of cattle, &c. was held there on that
day. On the Saturday preceding, a number of the work-
men employed in excavating the bed of the Grand Westem
Canal, assembled at Wellington, for the purpose of obtaining
change for the payment of their wages; many of them in-
dulged in inordinate drink, and committed various excesses
at Tiverton, and other places, to which they had gone for
the purpose above stated. On Monday, the fair-day at
Sampford seemed to afford a welcome opportunity for the
gratification of their tumultuary disposition. Much rioting
took place in the course of the day, and towards evening, a
body of these men, consisting of not less than 300, had
assembled in the village. Mr. Chave was met on the road,
and recognized by some of the party : opprobrious language
was applied to him, but whether on that subject, or not, we
have not been informed. The rioters followed him to the
house, the windows of which they broke; and apprehensive
of further violence, Mr. Chave considered it necessary for
his defence, to discharge a loaded pistol at the assailants.
This unfortunately took effect, and one man fell dead on
the spot. A pistol was also fired by a person within the
house, which so severely wounded another man, that his
life was despaired of. A carter employed by Mr. Chave, was
most dreadfully beaten by the mob, and many outrages
committed before it could be stopped.
The inhabitants of Devonshire seem more inclined to
believe in the marvellous than any other county; not satisfied
with a ghost at Sampford, and believing in the notions of
Joanna Southcott, a countrywoman, but a child, Ann Tay-
lor, the daughter of a respectable yeoman in the parish of
Tiverton, showed signs of making a second prophetess, only
she died too soon. They say (her family and six witnesses)
she had a trance for six days, after her recovery from which,
VOL. V. I *
73
mob; for on Monday April 22, 1811, a disturbance of a
very serious nature occurred at Sampford Peverell. The
annual fair for the sale of cattle, &c. was held there on that
day. On the Saturday preceding, a number of the work-
men employed in excavating the bed of the Grand Westem
Canal, assembled at Wellington, for the purpose of obtaining
change for the payment of their wages; many of them in-
dulged in inordinate drink, and committed various excesses
at Tiverton, and other places, to which they had gone for
the purpose above stated. On Monday, the fair-day at
Sampford seemed to afford a welcome opportunity for the
gratification of their tumultuary disposition. Much rioting
took place in the course of the day, and towards evening, a
body of these men, consisting of not less than 300, had
assembled in the village. Mr. Chave was met on the road,
and recognized by some of the party : opprobrious language
was applied to him, but whether on that subject, or not, we
have not been informed. The rioters followed him to the
house, the windows of which they broke; and apprehensive
of further violence, Mr. Chave considered it necessary for
his defence, to discharge a loaded pistol at the assailants.
This unfortunately took effect, and one man fell dead on
the spot. A pistol was also fired by a person within the
house, which so severely wounded another man, that his
life was despaired of. A carter employed by Mr. Chave, was
most dreadfully beaten by the mob, and many outrages
committed before it could be stopped.
The inhabitants of Devonshire seem more inclined to
believe in the marvellous than any other county; not satisfied
with a ghost at Sampford, and believing in the notions of
Joanna Southcott, a countrywoman, but a child, Ann Tay-
lor, the daughter of a respectable yeoman in the parish of
Tiverton, showed signs of making a second prophetess, only
she died too soon. They say (her family and six witnesses)
she had a trance for six days, after her recovery from which,
VOL. V. I *