Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ludlam, Isaac
LUDLAM, ISAAC (d. 1817), rebel, a quarryman, resident at South Wingfield, Derbyshire, took a prominent part in the ‘Derbyshire insurrection’ promoted by Jeremiah Brandreth [q. v.] in 1817. Before the outbreak Ludlam occupied himself in the manufacture of pikes, which were stored in a quarry near his house. On 8 June he went with another of the rebels, William Turner, to the White Horse Inn at Pentridge. Here a meeting presided over by Brandreth took place, at which Ludlam read out a list of those persons in the neighbourhood from whom it was proposed to rob firearms. On the night of Monday, 9 June, Ludlam, accompanied by his three sons, joined the rebel band under Brandreth at Topham Close, and the united party set out towards Nottingham. Ludlam, who acted as a rear-guard, displayed great activity in demanding arms from houses on the road, and compelled several persons to join in the movement against their will. When the party went into an inn at Codnor, Ludlam was stationed outside as sentinel to prevent any of the doubtful associates escaping. In the course of the march Ludlam frequently stated that the object of the party was to join another body of men in Nottingham Forest, and then proceed to Nottingham itself to guard an insurrectionary parliament which had been assembled there. Ludlam escaped capture by the dragoons, who dispersed the rebel band on 10 June, but was arrested later on, and tried for levying war against the king by the special commission at Derby. His counsel attempted to show that he was only Brandreth's dupe, which seems to have been true, and that his offence amounted to riot only. But he was found guilty, and executed, in front of the county gaol, Derby, on 7 Nov. His sons pleading guilty, the crown prosecutor declined to offer evidence against them, and they were discharged.
[Trial of Isaac Ludlam in Howell's State Trials, vol. xxxii.; Corresp. of Gray and Mason, 1853; Gent. Mag. 1817, pt. ii. pp. 359, 461–2.]