1831
On the 18th September 1831, Pateley Feast Day, Samuel Winn, Thomas Dinsdale, Thomas Sweeting, and Joseph Binns arrived at Corn Close, Heathfield (the home of Elisha Sinkler’s father-in-law, John Moor) to arrest Elisha for his altercation with a gamekeeper the previous month.
There was a struggle, which some reports say lasted half an hour, with men and women attempting to prevent Elisha’s arrest. Samuel Winn managed to handcuff Elisha and drag him out of the house, onto the road back to Pateley Bridge. The constables were stopped on the bridge over Foster Beck by Jack Sinkler and a friend named William (Bill) Longthorne, who initially threw rocks and assailed them with bludgeons. Jack and Bill then pulled out knives, threatening to “rip up” the constables if they didn’t release Elisha immediately. Some reports say they attempted to throw Samuel Winn over the bridge. Jack pulled off Thomas Dinsdale’s neckerchief and cut him on both hands during the fray.
The confusion gave Elisha the opportunity to escape, and the police officers left Pateley Bridge bloodied and bruised, but empty-handed.
A reward of 30 Guineas (10 Guineas per man) was issued for the capture of Elisha and Jack Sinkler, and William Longthorne. 10 Guineas would be approximately £1,000 in 2024, so the total 30 Guinea reward for the three men equates to around £3,000.
When the law finally caught up with Elisha in 1833, and Jack in 1843, the fight on this day saw them both initially sentenced to hang, then commuted to transportation to Australia.
Wanted Poster – 1831
