It was inevitable that the movement would spill over into West Glamorgan, which eventually happened at midnight on July 6th 1843, when about two hundred men attacked and destroyed the Bolgoed tollgate near the Fountain Inn on the outskirts of Pontardulais. The 'Rebecca' leading the rioters was Daniel Lewis the weaver; a 'devil may care' young man who wrote poetry under the bardic name of 'Petrys Bach' with a 'happy-go-lucky' disposition and who enjoyed having a drink in the Fountain Inn. He had won the heart of Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Richard Davies of Ystomenlle Farm in the Hendy, but had not won the approval of her father who was determined that his daughter would marry a farmer.

The destruction of the Bolgoed gate did not bring out the troops, but immediately received the attention of the Glamorgan Constabulary under the command of their Chief Constable, Charles Frederick Napier. When he arrived in Pontardulais on the morning after the raid with Inspector Rees and two constables, he went from cottage to cottage; farm to farm, asking questions.

He obtained little or no information, but he was not unduly discouraged, hoping that the substantial rewards being offered might still bring him an informer. Eventually this did happen on Saturday, July 22nd, when a John Jones of Cwmsker, Llangyfelach walked into the Police Station in Swansea and gave Inspector Rees the names of six of the leaders of the Bolgoed raid, and also the attack on the Rhydypandy gate the previous night. The magistrate, John Dillwyn Llewelyn of Penllergaer immediately made out warrants for the arrests of Daniel Lewis, weaver of the Goppa; Griffith Vaughan of the Red Lion; William and Henry Morgan of Cwmcile Fach Farm, Felindre, and Matthew Morgan and David Jones of Llangyfelach.

Why had John Jones of Cwmscer betrayed Daniel Lewis and his companions? It was claimed that it was not for the reward . . . in fact he never collected it. Two reasons were presented. The first was the long standing feud between John Jones and the Morgan family over some grazing land on Llangyfelach common. The other reason given was the fact that John Jones desired the hand of Elizabeth Davies of Ystomenlle Farm, and saw this was an opportunity to get rid of his rival, Daniel Lewis.

The Rebecca movement was now becoming more violent with a criminal element infiltrating its ranks. Johnnie Jones (Shoni Scubor Fawr), an arrogant bully with a long criminal record, and his henchman David Davies (Dai Cantwr) with their gang of ruffians from the 'Stag and Pheasant' in Five Roads were terrorizing the people of the Gwendraeth Valley by running a sort of 'protection racket' under the banner of Rebecca.