One of the turning points in the British government’s dealings with the Luddites came after the death of one William Horsefall on 30 April 1812. As a strong advocate of using machinery in the production of textiles, Horsefall was one of several mill owners targeted by the Luddites and was seriously wounded on 28 April 1812 after being ambushed by four men near Lane End. He died in agony at the Warren House Inn at around 8:30 am on 30 April. Horsefall’s death brought more and more sentiment against the Luddites and presented Spencer Perceval, the Prime Minister, a platform for upping the government’s suppression of the movement.

George Mellor was one of those purporting the idea of killing one of the masters (mill owners) as means that the Luddites meant to see the end of the machinery stealing the jobs of many good men. Mellor, at the time worked his step father’s [John Wood] cropping shot.

William Horsefall was a VERY vocal opponent of the Luddites, often referring to them as cowards, and stating he would “know how to deal with them” and he would gladly “ride up to his saddle girths in Luddite blood.’

Meanwhile George Mellor had become an unelected “leader” of the Luddites in West Riding Yorkshire, especially around Hudderfield. He was said to be a fiery speaker, but, more importantly, many feared him. Mellor led an attack on the Rawfolds Mill, but it was not as successful as he had expected. Moreover, two of his men had been killed. Some believe he wanted vengeance. His stepfather’s shop became the hub for building up a storage of gunpowder, guns, etc.

On Tuesday, 28 April 1812, William Horsefall made his way on horseback from Marsden to Huddersfield for the weekly market. His business involved the textiles being made locally. Mellor had word of Horsefall’s journey, so he and three others set out to meet Horsefall on the Marsden Road. They waited on Sir Joseph Ratcliffe’s land

The Wessyman site gives us this account of what happened (supposedly taken from documents and testimony of the time): “Mr Horsefall  made his way ( on horseback ) to Longroyd Bridge passing close by John Woods cropping shop, and up the Marsden road (now called Blackmoorfoot  Road). As was his usual practice on market day , he stopped at an inn on the road known as “The warrener” or “The warrenhouse”, he stayed on his horse and had a stirrup cup of rum and water, and seeing two of his former employees there, John and Joseph Sykes he bought them a glass of gin and water each. Roundabout  six o’clock he set off from the inn up the road towards the plantation. Although the road went through open land, it could still be quite busy with people traveling to Huddersfield and back especially on market day, and about 150 yards behind Mr Horsefall a man called Mr Parr, who was a farmer, following the same route. When Mr Horsefall was about twenty yards from the plantation Mr Parr heard the crack of a pistol shot, then a second shot and he saw the movement of people in the wooded plantation, he saw  William Horsefall slump forward onto the neck of his horse, then drag himself back up by the  horses mane, then  cry “MURDER !”. Mr Parr rode forward very quickly and seeing a man climbing onto the plantation wall – as if to carry on the attack  shouted out “What ! art thou not contented yet ? ”. The man presumably not seeing Mr Parr till that point, dropped back behind the wall and disappeared into the wooded plantation. Mr Parr on reaching William Horsefall saw blood oozing from his side and William Horsefall said “Good man, you are a stranger to me, but pray, ride to Mr Horsefalls house [ meaning his brother the rev Abraham Horsefall ] and get assistance. – I am shot ! ”  Mr Parr who was now supporting William  Horsefall in his arms as he was going faint and beginning to fall said ” Are you Mr Horsefall of Marsden ? ”  “I am, ” he replied as he fell from his horse with blood now spurting from his side.  The four men in the plantation quickly made their way to the back of the plantation, clambered over into the fields behind and quickly made their way towards woodland known as Dungeon Wood.”

“On the day after the attack, George Mellor and William Thorpe promptly silenced all possible informers by forcing them at pistol point to swear on the Bible that they would reveal nothing of what they knew, and so the secret held until October 1812.” [Hudderfield Exposed]

Lyon in Disguise: Lyon’s Den Connected World 

A handsome rake meets his match in a red-headed enchantress who is his enemy!

They may be on different sides of the law, but Lord Navan Beaufort is not going to permit that to stop him from protecting Miss Audrey Moreau. Navan has never thought truly to love anyone, but when he laid eyes on the red-headed beauty, his world shifted. Unfortunately, the lady appears to prefer Lord Alexander Dutton to him, though Navan has rarely had the opportunity to speak to her privately. That is, until he saves her from a fire one miraculous night. From there forward, she is his hope. His future.

Miss Audrey Moreau depends exclusively on her Uncle Jacobi for a home and protection. The man rescued her from a bayman’s plantation in the West Indies when she was five; yet, she well knows the “Marquis of Honfleur’s” schemes. She thought once Jacobi was caught, all would be well, but even from his jail, the man means to rain down harm upon her.

Can two lost souls find happiness together, when everyone in whom they had previously placed their trust have left them alone in the world?

Tropes You’ll Love:

• Enemies to lovers
• Self-declared bachelor
• Friends to lovers
• Adversaries
• Damsel in distress
• Best friend’s sister
• Different worlds/experiences
• Soul mates
• Emotional scars
• Fish out of water

Read in Kindle Unlimited!

Enjoy book one in a new series within The Lyon’s Den Connected world by Regina Jeffers.

Book 1 – Lyon in the Way

Book 2 – Lyon’s Obsession

Book 3 – Lyon in Disguise

Book 4 – Lost in the Lyon’s Garden

Book 5 – Lyon on the Inside

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1V963YZ

Please Note: The price of this book will increase to $3.99 on 11/26/2025.