Chartist Ancestors
What did your family to in the revolution?

Millions signed the three great Chartist petitions of 1839 to 1848. Thousands were active in those years in the campaign to win the vote, secret ballots, and other democratic rights that we now take for granted.

Chartist Ancestors lists many of those who risked their freedom, and sometimes their lives, because of their participation in the Chartist cause. The names included on the site are drawn from newspapers, court records and books of the time, from later histories and other sources.

I would like to thank the many historians, researchers and the descendents of those associated with Chartism who have helped with this site since it was launched in 2003.

Mark Crail, Editor

How to...
Make the most of your visit to an archive or records office

Research your trade union ancestors

Find Chartist records in the National Archives

© Mark Crail

Chartist newspapers
The Friend of the People

George Julian Harney's attempt to publish an explicitly revolutionary journal under the name The Red Republican foundered after less than six months in the second half of 1850.

With booksellers and stationers reluctant to sell it, in part because of its inflammatory title, Harney changed his paper's name to The Friend of the People . Under this name – reflecting Harney's long-established pen-name L'ami du Peuple – the title ran on for a further 18 months before failing due to lack of support.

Meanwhile, Ernest Jones had emerged from prison to claim his place at the head of the Chartist movement, the left of which under Harney had now split from the increasingly erratic Feargus O'Connor. At first, the alliance of Harney and Jones appeared strong, despite differences over the emerging co-operative movement and other issues.

By April 1851 plans were well in hand for Harney's paper to be relaunched under the joint editorship of the two men and as a “stamped” publication. A “ general committee ” consisting of “friends” of the proposed new paper was established, and its prospectus was outlined in the pages of The Friend of the People . Though not explicitly stated, one aim of the paper was to act as a counterbalance and alternative to O'Connor's Northern Star .

For a number of weeks, further notices and information appeared, indicating that the new paper would appear that June. But the launch date came and went, and by the middle of that month all mention of the project had ceased. In his History of the Chartist Movement 1837-1854 , R G Gammage claimed that fundraising efforts produced just £22 after expenses, and that the project was dropped for that reason.

At the same time, Jones had launched his own publication, Notes to the People , a more thoughtful and theoretical journal than the newspaper that had been envisaged. But it was clear by then that what remained of the Chartist movement was in disarray. A national convention called by the Manchester Chartists, who favoured closer alliance with middle class reformers, was supported by O'Connor but disowned by Harney and Jones, who in turn convened their own London convention.

In due course, however, Jones and Harney were to fall out over the make-up of the National Charter Association's increasingly powerless executive. Harney withdrew, and Jones first suggested and then executed a coup, establishing his own three-man body in its place.

Chartism was now, in effect, too small and too fragmented to sustain a substantial weekly publication. In one of the final issues of his unstamped paper, Harney admitted that, not only had the publication “never returned one penny for my labour”, but that, “for some time past, the Friend has been published at a loss of from thirty shillings to three pounds weekly”. The final issue of The Friend of the People made its appearance on 26 July 1851.

The prospectus and list of general committee members for the proposed new publication set out below is taken from The Friend of the People for Saturday 14 June 1851.

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PROSPECTUS OF A NEW WEEKLY DEMOCRATIC JOURNAL TO BE ENTITLED

FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE

Ideas propounded, discussed, accepted – behold the only enduring foundation on which Revolutions in Government and Society can be securely based. The most glorious struggles to destroy oppression have resulted either in total failure, bitter disappointment or fearful reaction, because the long-suffering millions have lacked the knowledge necessary to enable them to distinguish between preteneded and real reforms – between their true friends and those political charlatans who, masquerading in the guise of liberalism, traffic in the misplaced confidence of the people.

The advocates of Democratic Reform and Social Regeneration, can hope for real and permanent success only through the general adoption of their principles. To expound and propagate those principles, democratic journals must be multiplied. THE PRESS – that great engine of Moral Power – must be employed more effectively than hitherto it has been, to spread aborad the all-saving truths of Democracy. Theories of political and social justice will be transformed into practical realities, the moment the great mass of the people are imbued with a correct knowledge of their rights and are made to comprehend the means by which they may work out their own emancipation.

Impressed with the views indicated, rather than fully set forth, int the foregoing observations, we whose names are hereunto subscribed, have advised JULIAN HARNEY and ERNEST JONES to respond to the many appeals made to them from all parts of the country to combine their energies for the production of a journal calculated to elevate and advance the people's cause. Having constituted ourselves a Committee to aid them in this enterprise, we have the pleasure of announcing that –

A NEW WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF LARGE SIZE, TO BE ENTITLED THE

FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE,

Edited by Julian Harney and Ernest Jones,

Will be published immediately adequate support is guaranteed by the local committees at present formed, and in the course of formation.

The elaborate details usually setforth in a Prospectus may very well be dispensed with in the present instance. The title of the projected journal has already the significance of a banner; and the names of the Editors afford a sure guaratntee that its columns will be devoted to the exposition and advocacy of uncompromising Democracy, and the Social Rights of the Millions. Without, therefore, entering into minute particulars, it will be sufficient to state that the FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE will include in its leading features the following:-

I. CHARTIST ORGANISATION AND PROGRESS, under which head will be given a fill and impartial account of all Chartist proceedings, together with original papers elucidating and vindicating the principles of the Charter, on the ground both of right and utility. The substitution of the democratic principle of popular election, in place of hereditary and class usurpation in connection with governmental arrangements will be strenuously advocated.

II. SOCIAL RIGHTS. National proprietorship in the soil will be unceasingly contended for and familiarly popularised. The natural right to labour, and the consequent means of facilitating the exchanges of products, will find THE FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE a ready and fearless advocate.

III. CO-OPERATIVE PROGRESS AND ASSOCIATIVE LABOUR, important phases of the age, will be earnestly advocated. Co-operative and Industrial Associations, Trades Unions &c will find the proposed journal a faithful organ of their principles and proceedings.

IV. EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.--To afford a correct representation of the movements of the Democrats of Continental Europe and America, will be one of the primary objects of the Friend of the People . Original sources of intelligence being at the command of the Editors, they will be enabled to give full and correct information of the aims and struggles of the Republicans, Socialists, Agrarian Reformers, and Communists of Europe and the United States. Lastly it is intended to make the projected journal a medium of intercommunication between the Democratic and Social Reformers of all countries.

Due space will be allotted to LITERATURE and the FINE ARTS. In conjunction with the useful and instructive, the romantic and entertaining will not be lost sight of.

Besides developing the above-mentioned features, the FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE will be a complete news -paper, and will contain reports of the debates in Parliament, Public Meetings, &c, also Legal, Police, Mercantile, and general intelligence.

"Quack Advertisements" and other offensive matter to be found in nearly every existing journal will be rigorously excluded from the columns of the Friend of the People .

It will be the aim of the Editors -- in all departments of the projected journal -- to elevate Democracy to a standard commensurate with the dignity of its principles. In fine, to produce a journal which will command the support of friends, and the respoect of foes -- a journal that every democrat may dare to shew to men of opposing parties and classes, and say:- "This is an organ of our movement, a reflex of our mind, a representative of our principles, the harbinger of our triumphant future."

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