From my title, you all are thinking that I am going to give you a real dressing down, don't you? No! It is just my way to tell you of something that I just learned. I have heard the expression "reading the riot act" for years and knew the meaning of it (easy enough) but why do we say that?
Doing some research on my family tree recently, I discovered an ancestor born in 1714 in London. There was a link that said that there were riots in London during that year, so I typed this into a search engine: "London riots in 1714".
If you want to read about the Coronation riots, you may do so just here. Pretty fascinating eye-blinking history, if you ask me.
As a result of these riots, Parliament passed the Riot Act 1714. Whenever a group of 12 or more were unlawfully assembled, they had to disperse or face punitive action. This was the wording that had to be read out to those that were gathered:
Our sovereign lord the King chargeth and commandeth all persons, being assembled, immediately to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful business, upon the pains contained in the act made in the first year of King George, for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies.
God save the King.
If those who were assembled did not disperse within one hour, then the authorities could use force to make them leave. If there was serious damage to places of worship, houses barns or stables, the punishment was death.
The ancestor I was researching? He worked in Smithfield Market in London, and his father worked there also. The photo above is the clock in Smithfield Market, which I am sure must have built in the Victorian era but the market itself has been there since the 10th century. I wonder how far back my ancestors have been in London? Interesting, isn't it? I keep telling y'all I have that English heart!
And Hey! Behave yourself or I will read you the RIOT ACT!
(Again!)
very interesting! I know I have English on my mother's father's side,
ReplyDeleteCathy
This was interesting to me since my husband's father was from this same area and my 10th great grandfather was from the same place (just centuries earlier, of course!)
DeleteIf you go back 32 generations, your possible ancestors rack up to over a billion. Double that at 33 and so on. While it's difficult to track one's ancestry to royalty (records on regular folk didn't really exist until the House of Stuart and more so when the House of Hanover took power).
ReplyDeleteAt the time of William the Conqueror, England's population was rather tiny. If you have even remote English ancestry in the 21st century, it's virtually impossible by mathematics to not be descended to William the Conqueror all the way up to King John. King Edward III is a very probable ancestor to many Englishmen today and a lot of Americans.
A lot of people have a hard time believing so, but every generation of kings we pay attention to the first few sons. Daughters (especially before the House of Tudor) and bastards have children who sooner and sooner get lost to the pages of history.
Exponential growth, that is something that messes with my brain. I can only get back 10 generations for sure, but much further than that on the Family Search website but not sure how accurate that is.
DeleteLost to the pages of history, I am sure that would be my ancestors.
I find it all pretty fascinating. When I am researching, I get sidetracked by history, and thus "reading the riot act" post here!
Fascinating history, and maybe that’s one of the reasons our Bill of Rights includes the right of peaceful assembly.
ReplyDeleteYes, and when I was reading this Riot Act, I could not help but think of a TV show where the police will say, "Okay, move along now, go to your homes" after there is some disturbance!
DeleteInteresting, some of my ancestors came from England too.
ReplyDeleteWe must be related! :-)
DeleteHi Kay - love the clock ... well that's good they emanated out of London ... and Smithfield is certainly central to London - and what fun to find out your history and about the riot act ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHey Hilary! I love to learn something like this. I keep getting sidetracked when I am researching, there is always something new to learn!
DeleteMakes me glad once more I live in this day and age, without having to fear the death penalty if I should ever accidentally cause damage to a house, barn or stable...! (Not that I plan on that anytime soon!)
ReplyDeleteI notice that I should go back and give another link to my post. It was some very violent and cruel things that they did, thus the reason for this riot act. At that time, the death penalty was given for even what would be considered minor crimes today. I also am glad I live in the present age.
DeleteExcellent research.
ReplyDeleteThank you. And behave yourself now!
DeleteNice you know as much as you do about the English ancestors. I know I had some from England but that is about all.
ReplyDeleteThis is only something that I have learned in the past year, it was all news to me!
DeleteHave you done the DNA testing yet? My son did it first. Then I did it. Then we started tracing back. One side of the family tree goes back a long way. It is so interesting.
ReplyDeleteI have not done the DNA test but my sister and niece have done so. Even my DAD did the DNA test! So interesting, we had no idea.
DeleteInteresting history. There's so many sayings in the UK where the meaning is not clear. Like "In the name of the wee man."
ReplyDeleteHaving a 'Face Like Fizz' etc. At least 'reading the riot act' has a clear start point.
And interesting to me is how we use an expression and have no idea of where that expression comes from! "Not enough room to swing a cat" is one expression, and it is from the ship sailing days of the Brits, I think...cat o nine tails, a whip used to punish offenders onboard a ship. I am sure you know that one!
DeleteLove it Kay! Young Adam, above, is on beam. It distresses me when I hear people say they've traced their ancestors back to some Saxon or other; they've probably been conned.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am certain that Adam is correct. I always knew I was a princess! LOL!
DeleteVery interesting post. I did not know you had ancestors in England.
ReplyDeleteYes, from England AND Scotland (that is mostly on my mother's side) Interesting to see how early my ancestors came to America, which of course was British America at that time!
DeleteIt's been a long time since I've been read the riot act...but there are a couple of people, one in particular, I wouldn't mind reading it to...but I bite my tongue instead...enough said! :)
ReplyDeleteLee, I have to bite my tongue so often these days...
DeleteWhen i was four, my dad drove a truck. One of the most regular places he went was Smithfield. He took me with him once and I was so excited. Odd to think he was only 22 then. I remember the lights in the middle of the night, the shouting of the meat porters (generally not pleasant chaps actually as I remember, with a notable exception I will come to). And I remember the sound of the meat hooks as they slid the carcasses along the rails and the smell of dead pig and sheep. You don't think about it when you are four. Once, when we we had almost no food, my dad cut the leg off a pig and hid it to bring home. The foreman did notice but seeing my dad's obvious poverty and work ethic. he let is pass and gave my dad a knowing look before turning away. It fed us for quite a while. Yes, I remember Smithfield. It didn't put me off meat :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a moving story. I often think of people who say that they would never do such and such, and yet, if they were hungry enough, I think they would do most anything!
DeleteThanks for your comment, it made my day to see your name here.