Social reformer. He was a British Methodist preacher and a leader of a group of six agricultural workers who became known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs.
In the early 1830s Loveless represented agricultural labourers from Dorchester in discussions with local farmers. They agreed to raise wages to ten shillings a week. However in Tolpuddle, farmers only agreed to pay nine shillings, and later reduced wages to seven shillings and threatened a further cut to six shillings.
As a consequence, in October 1833 he formed a Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers.
Although trade unionism was not illegal, he and his five co-leaders were found guilty of administering unlawful oaths, a felony under an Act of 1797.
Loveless and his co-defendants (his brother James, their brother-in-law Thomas Standfield, their nephew Thomas Standfield, James Hammett, and James Brine) were found guilty at Dorchester Assizes in March 1834, and sentenced to transportation for seven years to the Australian colonies.
On 21 April 1834, more than 50,000 people marched in London to protest the treatment of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. In March 1836 the British government gave a full pardon to all six of the Martyrs.
On his return, Loveless settled on a farm near Chipping Ongar in Essex.
In 1844 he emigrated with four of his fellow martyrs to the Province of Canada. He and his brother James settled in London, Ontario. He died on 6 March 1874 , and was buried at Siloam Cemetery alongside one of his fellow martyrs, Thomas Standfield.
In the early 1830s Loveless represented agricultural labourers from Dorchester in discussions with local farmers. They agreed to raise wages to ten shillings a week. However in Tolpuddle, farmers only agreed to pay nine shillings, and later reduced wages to seven shillings and threatened a further cut to six shillings.
As a consequence, in October 1833 he formed a Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers.
Although trade unionism was not illegal, he and his five co-leaders were found guilty of administering unlawful oaths, a felony under an Act of 1797.
Loveless and his co-defendants (his brother James, their brother-in-law Thomas Standfield, their nephew Thomas Standfield, James Hammett, and James Brine) were found guilty at Dorchester Assizes in March 1834, and sentenced to transportation for seven years to the Australian colonies.
On 21 April 1834, more than 50,000 people marched in London to protest the treatment of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. In March 1836 the British government gave a full pardon to all six of the Martyrs.
On his return, Loveless settled on a farm near Chipping Ongar in Essex.
In 1844 he emigrated with four of his fellow martyrs to the Province of Canada. He and his brother James settled in London, Ontario. He died on 6 March 1874 , and was buried at Siloam Cemetery alongside one of his fellow martyrs, Thomas Standfield.
Social reformer. He was a British Methodist preacher and a leader of a group of six agricultural workers who became known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs.
In the early 1830s Loveless represented agricultural labourers from Dorchester in discussions with local farmers. They agreed to raise wages to ten shillings a week. However in Tolpuddle, farmers only agreed to pay nine shillings, and later reduced wages to seven shillings and threatened a further cut to six shillings.
As a consequence, in October 1833 he formed a Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers.
Although trade unionism was not illegal, he and his five co-leaders were found guilty of administering unlawful oaths, a felony under an Act of 1797.
Loveless and his co-defendants (his brother James, their brother-in-law Thomas Standfield, their nephew Thomas Standfield, James Hammett, and James Brine) were found guilty at Dorchester Assizes in March 1834, and sentenced to transportation for seven years to the Australian colonies.
On 21 April 1834, more than 50,000 people marched in London to protest the treatment of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. In March 1836 the British government gave a full pardon to all six of the Martyrs.
On his return, Loveless settled on a farm near Chipping Ongar in Essex.
In 1844 he emigrated with four of his fellow martyrs to the Province of Canada. He and his brother James settled in London, Ontario. He died on 6 March 1874 , and was buried at Siloam Cemetery alongside one of his fellow martyrs, Thomas Standfield.
In the early 1830s Loveless represented agricultural labourers from Dorchester in discussions with local farmers. They agreed to raise wages to ten shillings a week. However in Tolpuddle, farmers only agreed to pay nine shillings, and later reduced wages to seven shillings and threatened a further cut to six shillings.
As a consequence, in October 1833 he formed a Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers.
Although trade unionism was not illegal, he and his five co-leaders were found guilty of administering unlawful oaths, a felony under an Act of 1797.
Loveless and his co-defendants (his brother James, their brother-in-law Thomas Standfield, their nephew Thomas Standfield, James Hammett, and James Brine) were found guilty at Dorchester Assizes in March 1834, and sentenced to transportation for seven years to the Australian colonies.
On 21 April 1834, more than 50,000 people marched in London to protest the treatment of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. In March 1836 the British government gave a full pardon to all six of the Martyrs.
On his return, Loveless settled on a farm near Chipping Ongar in Essex.
In 1844 he emigrated with four of his fellow martyrs to the Province of Canada. He and his brother James settled in London, Ontario. He died on 6 March 1874 , and was buried at Siloam Cemetery alongside one of his fellow martyrs, Thomas Standfield.
Inscription
These are they that came out of great tribulation, and have / washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
[Revelation, 7:14]
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