Hi Mark,
I've only just joined Rootschat, having stumbled across a posting of yours whilst googling, so I haven't read all the postings about framesmiths. I may be able to fill in a few bits & bobs and exchange information about my own ancestors.
John QUAIL was my gx4 grandfather and was a framesmith. He was born in Hinckley, Leics, in 1802 and married Ann GOVIER in Tiverton in 1821. I am not sure whether or not he was part of the Loughborough to Tiverton exodus - he may have made the journey later. He does not appear in the company records of Heathcoat, and so I surmise that he was a journeyman.
John QUAIL's parents were John QUAIL and Rebecca THORNELOE. John QUAIL senior was born in Snarestone and was a member of the Baptist church. His parents were Edward QUAIL and Elizabeth BREWIN of Coleorton.
The Dianne Birks reference is "Lace and Luddism – The Loughborough Exodus of 1816" - Dianne Birks. University of Leicester, 1994. I read a copy some years ago in the library of the Leicestershire & Rutland Family History Society. From memory, I think it was filed under village information - Loughborough, but I may be wrong.
The information about John Heathcoat going to France is recorded in the W Gore Allen book "John Heathcoat and his heritage". I'm reading it at the moment, and a very interesting read it is.
A list of the known original workforce that went from Loughborough, Leicestershire to Tiverton is given in:
http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/Oram/loughlistYou probably know much of the above, but I hope there's something of interest there.
Best wishes,
Mike