Samuel Holberry was born in rural
poverty in 1816. After a somewhat chequered early career
he settled in Sheffield and married. The Great Reform
Act of 1832 failed to enfranchise the working class and
Samuel became active in the Chartist movement, which
aimed to extend democracy to the workers and women.
He and his friends
armed themselves and planned bloody insurrection.
Unfortunately there was an informer in their midst and
Samuel (and his wife) were arrested. Samuel was
imprisoned and, illegally, put on the treadmill. He was
consumptive and this maltreatment led to his
deterioration and death aged 26.
Thousands attended his funeral.
His modest headstone lies in a line of plain non-dressed stones.
His wife and his compatriots in arms are buried with him in
a natural group.
David Cathells, an
ex-employee of Sheffield City Council speaks about issues
relating to re-development of the General Cemetery.
Samuel Holberry was born in rural
poverty in 1816. After a somewhat chequered early career
he settled in Sheffield and married. The Great Reform
Act of 1832 failed to enfranchise the working class and
Samuel became active in the Chartist movement, which
aimed to extend democracy to the workers and women.