Action Taken

As the movement spread to east Carmarthenshire towards the industrial belt, the riots became more aggressive and the authorities more robust. Indeed, a tollgate keeper, Sarah Williams was killed at Hendy in September.

In this period, one of the most active Rebecca gangs was one where the ringleaders would meet at the Stag and Pheasant Inn at Fiveroads. They included John Jones (Shoni Sguborfawr) and David Davies (Dai’r Cantwr). Together they led attacks throughout the area. However, their motivation was different to that of early Rebecca. There was an increase in the use of violence and a readiness to use guns and even accept ‘contracts’ for a fee to settle personal grievances.

Following evidence given against both, warrants were made for their arrests. They were tried at Carmarthen where Shoni was transported for life and Dai for 20 years but they left the dock laughing.

Information was received by William Chambers, a magistrate from Llanelli that Rebecca was to attack the tollgates at Pontardulais and Hendy that night, 6 th September. He took soldiers with him and hid near Hendy Bridge. Captain Napier took half a dozen policemen and three magistrates to Pontardulais from Swansea. Three of the main rioters rushed towards the police firing their guns but their horses were shot and the rioters dispersed.

Rebecca was caught together with six others. It was noted as one of the most important riots of the organisation and naturally much interest was shown in the fact that one of the leaders of Rebecca was in jail. John Hughes, or Jac Ty-isha as he was known, was Rebecca that night.

The Government appointed a special commission to try the prisoners and moved the trial to Cardiff because of local feelings.

The prisoners had help and guidance from the local Radical and Chartist Hugh Williams, a solicitor from Carmarthen. Against his advice Jac pleaded not guilty to a charge of the attempted murder of Captain Napier, Chief Constable of Glamorgan. John Hughes was found guilty, but the jury recommended mercy because of his unblemished character. Though many petitions were sent on Jac’s behalf, including one from his mother to the young Queen Victoria, his sentence was not shortened.

He paid dearly for his part in the riots when he was sentenced to 20 years transportation to Tasmania.

Rebecca was a protest against those extra hardships that interfered with the traditional order of life in west Wales. It was a reaction against what was regarded as injustice and, following the traditional custom of ‘ceffyl pren’, ‘Rebecca and her daughters’ appeared to challenge those grievances.

For a time they had been the representatives of natural justice until their actions attracted firstly, a dangerous radical threat to society, and secondly, the attention of a Government prepared to provide a moderate settlement of the worst abuses. As a result Rebecca disappeared from view to become a proud memory of Welsh history.