*Archived * -Samuel Cook- Local agitator
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:42 pm
I have some posters that I will display in the Gallery from this guy they are great!
Bear with me whilst I get them loaded then I will link from this page to the posters.
I thought it would be interesting to know who he was, who he linked to and stick him on the tree!
The information below is supplied courtesy of Dudley Archives.
Samuel Cook
"Local agitator for reform in Industry, Politics and Church matters"
Born 15th July 1786 in Trowbridge
Died 8th December 1861 aged 75 years
On the 8th May 1819 he opened a drapery shop in High Street, Dudley
(founding what was to become F.W Cook Ltd).
He became politically active around 1815, having moved into Dudley from
Trowbridge where his father had settled. It is unknown when he actually
arrived into Dudley. His campaigning activities included trade union
demonstrations and negotiations, voting rights against Church rates (he was a
non-conformist so objected to paying church rates), equality of women, reform
in industry (abolition of the Truck and Tommy systems and installation of
safety systems in mines), housing and politics.
He was a man of very firm opinions on many subjects and he attacked social
injustices of his day in public speech and by circulating a great number of
handbills and posters stating his views in forceful and blunt terms. He was
never a trade unionist or paid agent of the workers whose battles he fought.
He was prosecuted several times for his activities, the first time in 1826 for
displaying "seditious" material (a political poster questioning the work of
ministers) in his shop window.
He was a devout Christian throughout his life (although an opponent of the
established church), and his posters and handbills frequently included Biblical
texts.
He helped form the Dudley Political Union, and he contested the
Wolverhampton seat for parliament in 1847. He also gave several speeches
on the equality of women in the 1855 general election. He continued his
political work until his death.
(Additional information on Samuel Cook can be found in the Local Information
Catalogue and there is also a collection of his posters and handbills in the
Archive collection.).
Bear with me whilst I get them loaded then I will link from this page to the posters.
I thought it would be interesting to know who he was, who he linked to and stick him on the tree!
The information below is supplied courtesy of Dudley Archives.
Samuel Cook
"Local agitator for reform in Industry, Politics and Church matters"
Born 15th July 1786 in Trowbridge
Died 8th December 1861 aged 75 years
On the 8th May 1819 he opened a drapery shop in High Street, Dudley
(founding what was to become F.W Cook Ltd).
He became politically active around 1815, having moved into Dudley from
Trowbridge where his father had settled. It is unknown when he actually
arrived into Dudley. His campaigning activities included trade union
demonstrations and negotiations, voting rights against Church rates (he was a
non-conformist so objected to paying church rates), equality of women, reform
in industry (abolition of the Truck and Tommy systems and installation of
safety systems in mines), housing and politics.
He was a man of very firm opinions on many subjects and he attacked social
injustices of his day in public speech and by circulating a great number of
handbills and posters stating his views in forceful and blunt terms. He was
never a trade unionist or paid agent of the workers whose battles he fought.
He was prosecuted several times for his activities, the first time in 1826 for
displaying "seditious" material (a political poster questioning the work of
ministers) in his shop window.
He was a devout Christian throughout his life (although an opponent of the
established church), and his posters and handbills frequently included Biblical
texts.
He helped form the Dudley Political Union, and he contested the
Wolverhampton seat for parliament in 1847. He also gave several speeches
on the equality of women in the 1855 general election. He continued his
political work until his death.
(Additional information on Samuel Cook can be found in the Local Information
Catalogue and there is also a collection of his posters and handbills in the
Archive collection.).