This transcription kindly supplied by Ann Fernley-Jones

 

Taken from Gloucestershire Notes and Queries  Vol. II page 54.

 

  

 

GLOUCESTERSHIRE FARMERS AND HIGH PRICES OF CORN, 1795 – The appended copy of an old broadside, issued by tenants on the Badminton estate, will be read with interest:-

                                                                                                                Badminton, October 3rd 1795

 

We, whose names are hereunder written, tenants to his Grace the Duke of Beaufort, in the parishes of Great Badminton, Little Badminton, Hawkesbury, Didmarton, Oldbury-on-the-Hill, Old Sodbury, Tormarton, and Acton Turville, in the County of Gloucester;  Littleton Drew, Sherston, and Sopworth, in the County of Wilts; lamenting the unexpected rise on wheat at this time, and wishing, by every means in our power, to prevent the continuance of it, have, for this purpose, agreed not to sell our wheat at an higher price than nine shillings per bushel (which, according to our old and customary measure, is nine gallons and upwards) between the 10th day of October, 1795, and the 1st day of November, 1796; and that we will not sell to any jobbers or dealers in corn, but will sell to such millers and bakers only as will promise to distribute to the public in general the flour and bread of the same at a reasonable profit;  and that we will sell it in small quantities to any person in the neighbourhood;  and should the market price be lower, we will readily agree to lower the price accordingly;  and that we will have our wheat threshed at the usual times in the year, so that the whole year’s produce may be sold (if wanted) by the said 1st day of November, 1796;  and to prevent a scarcity, we recommend a mixture of barley with the wheat, which we will sell to our labourers and the poor at a moderate price for that purpose -    

 

William Shipp Osborne                                                                     Nicholas Bennet

Stiles Rich                                                                                            Joseph Bennet

William Holbrow                                                                                 John Lovelock

William White                                                                                     James Hatherell, jun.

Daniel Holbrow                                                                                    Mary Brown

Richard Willson                                                                                  John Cambridge

Henry Stinchcomb                                                                              David Chapman

Edward Winter                                                                                     William Witchell

Samuel Francomb, jun.                                                                      Samuel Witchell

James Hatherell                                                                                  Joseph & William Comely

John Beard                                                                                           Samuel Chappel

William Arnold                                                                                   John Coates

Samuel Francomb                                                                               John Chapman