Catalogue Number
NMLH.1993.222
Object Name
Photograph
Title
MARTHA SMITH... ... ...
Place
Ascott-Under-Wychwood & Oxfordshire & England & UK
People
Smith, Martha & Ascott Martyrs; women
Events
stirke & Ascott Martyrs
Description
A black and white photograph of Rebecca Smith sat by a door to a cottage.
Rebecca Smith (1846 - 1920) was one of sixteen women known as the Ascott Martyrs. They were from a village called Ascott-under-Wychwood in Oxfordshire.
In 1873, they tried to prevent two farm labourers from working in place of their husbands who were on strike for better pay. The women were arrested, as stopping workers from entering their workplace (picketing) was illegal. After a trial, they were convicted and imprisoned with hard labour. Rebecca was sentenced to ten days with hard labour.
The prison sentence caused an outrage amongst the local farming community. The following day a large protest meeting was held in Chipping Norton when 3,000 people were addressed by Josph Arch, leader of the Agricultural Workers Union. The women received a reprieve from Queen Victoria after serving their sentences. It is reputed that they also received £5.00 and a dress each but no evidence to support this has been found.
The Ascott Martrys actions had a lasting legacy and saw picketing made legal in 1874 and local religious leaders were no longer appointed as Magistrates.
This photograph was previously catalouged as being of Martha Smith, another of the Ascott Martrys. This has been corrected after conversations with the Ascott Martyrs Education Trust who have evidence from Rebecca Smith's descendents that this is her. Beverley McCombs, who wrote the book The Ascott Martyrs, also records this photograph of being of Rebecca. The back of the photograph is damaged but the letters 'cca' are legible suggesting the photograph was at one time titled 'Rebecca'. Martha Smith was Rebecca's sister-in-law and made the patchwork quilt NMLH.1993.495 so the two items have been associated.
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