Twm Carnabwth and Rebecca’s Daughters

In 1839, many people were revolting against toll-gates, which were the barriers erected across the roads by wealthy owners. Everyone had to pay a toll for using the roads, while the owners were supposed to maintain them, but not much repair work was being undertaken. Toll-gates were erected on small rural roads and it was impossible to travel far without having to pay, a lot and often. At one time, in Carmarthen, there were three toll-gates within three miles.

The toll was expensive too – five pence for a horse and cart, nine pence for twelve cattle, five pence for twelve sheep, a hefty sum at the time.

A group of men came together in north Pembrokeshire to discuss the situation. They decided to hold a protest. Most of them were poor farmers, and their protest movement was dubbed Rebecca’s Daughters. They wore women’s clothes, and blackened their faces so that they wouldn’t be recognised. Their aim was to destroy the toll-gates and burn the toll-houses.

The first toll-gate to be destroyed was in Efail-wen. Around 400 men gathered late at night dressed in women’s clothes, with blackened faces and carrying ploughs, pitchforks, iron bars and axes to destroy and burn the toll-gate.

The leading ‘Rebecca’ in the campaign at Efail-wen was Thomas Rees of Mynachlog-ddu, or Twm Carnabwth as he was known. Twm was a big man and well-known for boxing at fairs.

A month after destroying the toll-gate at Efail-wen, another one was erected there, but Rebecca’s Daughters returned and destroyed the replacement. That was to be the last toll-gate at Efail-wen.

Rebecca’s Daughters went on to relentlessly attack toll-gates, as well as the mansions of unpopular squires, setting them alight at will.

The group had different leaders in different areas. There were many ‘Rebeccas’ – men like Sioni Sgubor Fawr and Dai’r Cantwr. Both were captured, imprisoned and transported to Australia.

Rebecca’s Daughters would attack and vanish quickly, and it was very difficult to know who they were or where they would strike next.

After a number of toll-gates were destroyed, the Government had to take heed. A Royal Commission came to Dyfed to investigate the complaints of Rebecca’s Daughters. A new law was passed to place every toll-gate in Dyfed in the hands of one company, and the cost of the toll was reduced. Rebecca’s Daughters had won the day!