{"product_id":"very-interesting-antique-early-18th-century-ledger-with-a-dark-past","title":"Very Interesting Antique Early 18th Century Ledger With A Dark Past","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- FREE UK SHIPPING WITH ALL ORDERS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS PLEASE PROCEED TO CHECKOUT\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eFOR SHIPPING QUOTES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn early book once owned by a John Pilkington, a wealthy cotton mill owner of the early 1700s. \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ePilkington sold raw materials to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003evillagers who would work from their own homes in what was known as cottage industries. Pilkington bought the cloth back from the villagers for very little more than the amount they had paid him for materials. A win - win for Pilkington, and a bum deal for the villagers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThis book is the ledger of his business dealings with the villagers. It also contains his will and other interesting references. It dates from 1730 to 1780.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eOn his death, Pilkington’s ledger and business was passed onto his executors, another very wealthy family, The Fletchers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eResearch indicates the Fletchers despised the working classes. The Fletchers were magistrates who were not only responsible for condemning Luddites to death, but they were also part of the inquiry into the Peterloo Massacre, the largest ever gathering of working class people who demanded reform of parliamentary representation, during which 18 people were killed and 700 were injured after cavalry charged them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThe family were also known to be spymasters for parliament.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003eThis is a fascinating piece of social history and provides a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003esombre reminder of the struggles many experienced during the 1700s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eCondition is good, structurally sound. Some age related wear. The original brass buckle has been replaced with a period piece of string to enable it to be securely closed. Please study all photos.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eMeasures 14cm x 10cm x 2cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eWeighs 109.71 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Shipping\" href=\"https:\/\/source-vintage.co.uk\/policies\/shipping-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan face=\".SF UI\"\u003eSHIPPING\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca title=\"Returns\" href=\"https:\/\/source-vintage.co.uk\/policies\/refund-policy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan face=\".SF UI\"\u003eRETURNS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Source Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41775222390820,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0259\/1729\/2580\/files\/028669C2-CC73-4FA1-95C0-00D7BD203107.jpg?v=1722776147","url":"https:\/\/folkandfableantiques.com\/products\/very-interesting-antique-early-18th-century-ledger-with-a-dark-past","provider":"Folk \u0026 Fable Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}