Among the efforts to thwart Rebecca, there were attempts to get information from local people concerning the Rioters and their identities so they could be arrested. For example, this declaration offers a £100 reward for such information.
Though claiming a reward like this may seem like easy money (indeed, adjusting for inflation shows the reward totalling c. £12,000 in today's money), giving information to the authorities was a risky proposition. This was because if it was found out in local circles that someone had been talking to the authorities, there was a strong chance of that person being socially ostracized or even becoming a target of Rebecca herself.
Indeed, one letter claiming the reward for a £50 bounty reads that the 'Applicant has experienced much annoyance and difficulty in remaining in the neighbourhood since he laid the information against the Prisoners, and their subsequent conviction, and will ultimately be obliged to leave this part of the country'.
Full transcript:
'GLAMORGANSHIRE.
At a Meeting of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace, held at Swansea, on Saturday, the 8th day of July, 1843:
PRESENT,
THOMAS EDWARD THOMAS, ESQ.
F. FREDERICKS, ESQ.
W.I. JONES, ESQ.
REV. SAMUEL DAVIES
J.D. BERRINGTON, ESQ.
J.D. LLEWELYN, ESQ.
G.G. BIRD, ESQ, M.D.
C.H. SMITH, ESQ.
JOHN GROVE, ESQ.
L. LL.DILLWYN, ESQ.
RICHARD FRANKLEN, ESQ.
Resolved Unanimously- That the following ADVERTISMENT be printed and published with the least possible delay:---
£100 Reward
WHEREAS some evil disposed Persons did, in the night time of the Sixth, or early in the morning of the Seventh day of July instant, unlawfully and maliciously throw down and destroy the Toll Bar and House for the Collection of Turnpike Tolls at BOLGOED, in the Parish of Llandilo-Talybont, in the County of Glamorgan, against the form of the Statute in the case made and provided;---
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN,
That the above reward of £100 will be paid to any Person or Persons who shall give such Information as will lead to the Conviction of the Offender of Offenders, upon application to Mr. THOMAS ATTWOD, Clerk to the Justices.
MORGANWG.
Mewn Cyfarfod o Ynadon ei Mawrhydi, a gynnaliwyd yn Abertawy, ddydd Sadwrn, Gorphenaf 8, 1843:
YN BRESENNOL,
THOMAS EDWARD THOMAS, YSW.
F. FREDERICKS, YSW.
W.I. JONES, YSW.
PARCH. SAMUEL DAVIES
J.D. BERRINGTON, YSW.
J.D. LLEWELYN, YSW.
G.G. BIRD, YSW. M.D.
C.H. SMITH, YSW.
JOHN GROVE, YSW.
L.LL.DILLWYN, YSW.
RICHARD FRANKLEN, YSW.
Penderfynwyd yn unfrydol,--- Fod i'r Ilyspysiad canlynol gael ei argraffu a'l gyhoeddi yn ddioedi:---
GWOBRWY O £100!
YN gymmaint ag i ryw Berson neu Bersonau drwg eu tuedd yn nos y Cwechfed, neu yn foreu y Seithfed o'r mis hwn, sef Gorphenaf, mewn modd anghyfreithlon a maleisus daflu i lawr a distrywio y TOLL-BORTH a' TY i gasglu y Tollan yn y BOLGOED, yn mhlwyt Llandilo-Talybont, swydd Forganwg, yn erbyn y Gyfraith a wnaed at yr achos hwn ;--
Rhoddir Rhybudd trwy hyn,
Y caiff y Wobr uchod o £100 ei thalu i unrhyw Berson neu Bersonau ag a roddo y eyfryw Hysbysrwydd i brofi yn euog y Troseddwr neu y Troseddwyr, ond ymofyn a Mr. THOMAS ATTWOOD, Ysgrifenydd yr Ynadon.
E.GRIFFITHS, PRINTER, HIGH-STREET, SWANSEA.'
