West Yorkshire isn't on the radar for our stories from 1689-90, but here are two, showing both Protestant civilians and also defeated Jacobite soldiers fleeing there.
"... The handful of Protestants in Ireland took the alarm, and every ship that came over was full of families who had fled for their lives, leaving all their possessions behind them.
When these fugitives landed at Liverpool and other ports they were often destitute, and had to get the customary passes from the authorities there, and with the aid of little sums given to them by the chief constables of every village through which they passed, gradually made their way to the places at which they had determined to settle.
Thus the entries in the towns’ books come thick and fast : “Paid to nine Protestants fleeing from Ireland, 2/6” “Paid to Irish Protestants travelling with a pass, 1/9” &c..."
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"... This was a stirring time in our national history, and the year 1690 especially was one of mingled disaster and victory for King William. The struggle of the bigot James to regain the throne he had so ignobly deserted was not over, but William, by the crowning victory of the Boyne, had destroyed his power in Ireland where sympathisers had mustered in strong force, and we find after this date no more entries of frightened Protestants fleeing through this district for their lives. There are, however, passes for wounded soldiers and destitute seamen in plenty. Here is one that speaks volumes, “Paid for two men and a horse for William Dwyer, an old wounded soldier who had seen thirty years service to hurry him on a sled through Heckmondwike, 1/6.”"
- both extracts are from Spen Valley, Past and Present by Frank Peel (1893)
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Interestingly, it seems that they were to be dissuaded from going to London:
"... The number of Protestants fleeing from Ireland to England was so great that the April 25–29, 1689, edition of the London Gazette included instructions to them not to try to make their way to the capital as it was already over-burdened with the influx of refugees:
"These are to give Notice to all Poor distressed Irish Protestants who came lately from Ireland, and are at present in several remote parts of this Kingdom, That they keep their respective places of abode, unless other necessary Occasions draw them to London then [sic] the Charity of the Brief, seeing they may live much cheaper elsewhere, and many of them cannot find Employments fit for them in the City. The notice indicates that if they comply, “speedy care will be taken to send them Relief out of the Monies that shall be given by virtue of Their Majesties [charity] Brief granted for that purpose.”
- source here.
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