Samuel Holberry facts for kids
Samuel Holberry (born November 18, 1814 – died June 21, 1842) was an important activist for a movement called Chartism. This movement worked to get more political rights for ordinary people in Britain.
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Samuel Holberry's Early Life
Samuel Holberry was born in Gamston, Nottinghamshire. He was the youngest of nine children. In 1832, he joined the British army but left in 1835. After leaving the army, he moved to Sheffield. There, he started working as a distiller, which means he made alcoholic drinks. He married Mary Cooper on October 22, 1838.
Fighting for People's Rights
Samuel Holberry joined other activists who wanted to expand political rights for more people. At that time, many ordinary working people could not vote or have a say in how the country was run. These activists believed that everyone should have a voice. They held many peaceful protests to try and achieve their goals.
After a major protest in Newport, Monmouthshire (which is now known as the Newport Rising) was stopped by the authorities in 1839, Samuel and a group of people in Sheffield started to plan their own protest, which became known as the Sheffield Rising.
Planning the Sheffield Rising
The groups in Sheffield began to organize themselves. They gathered some supplies and planned how they would protest in the town. Their plan involved taking control of some parts of the town and setting fire to others. They also planned to stop any police officers or guards they met and try to prevent soldiers from attacking them. The group aimed to take over important buildings like the Town Hall and defend them using barricades.
However, their plan was discovered by a pub owner in Rotherham who had secretly joined their group. The leaders of the movement were identified, and both Samuel and Mary Holberry were arrested. Unlike some others, Samuel openly admitted that he wanted to challenge the government. He was ready to risk everything for the Chartist cause. He was found guilty of planning a protest and speaking against the government. He was sentenced to four years in prison.
Samuel Holberry's Death
While in prison at Northallerton House of Correction, Samuel was forced to work on a treadwheel, which was a very harsh punishment. Sadly, he became very ill with a lung disease called consumption. He was later moved to York Castle prison, where he died on June 21, 1842.
Samuel Holberry was buried in Sheffield General Cemetery. A huge crowd of about 50,000 people attended his funeral, showing how much he was respected and how many people supported the Chartist movement.
Remembering Samuel Holberry
In the 1980s, the Sheffield City Council decided to honor Samuel Holberry. They named a fountain after him in the Peace Gardens in Sheffield. Later, during renovations, this fountain was replaced by a new water feature called the "Holberry Cascades," which still remembers his efforts for political change.
