Weavers' Riot in Kensington 1843 - Story of Philadelhia 1919

A weavers' riot in Kensington, in 1843, was quelled by a similar exhibit of preparedness. Some of the weavers organized a trade society and called a strike for higher wages. Other weavers in considerable numbers refused to join either the union or the strike. The work in Kensington was mostly done by weavers upon hand-looms in their own homes. The strikers, infuriated by the refusal of their fellow workers to join in the strike, made organized assault upon the houses of the workmen, who refused to go out, cut warps, destroyed looms and stuff in process of manufacture. William A. Porter, then sheriff, hearing of the trouble, went with a posse and was badly beaten. He called out four companies of the Volunteer Battalion, which went to Kensington, and in the evening eight companies of General Cadwalader's brigade were assembled at their armories. Knowledge of these preparations caused the rioters to subside.