In that era riots were often named for locations or the thing/person/event that instigated them. So, rather than it being a statement of who was rioting, it was an assertion for the reason for the riot. That's why we have the Sacheverell (sp?) and Gordon Riots: the first was sparked by the prosecution of an important prelate, the second was instigated by an English nobleman who opposed the restoration of rights to Catholic Englishmen.
It's not intentional. It's just that how we described riots changed from the 18th C to today. Now we often describe who is rioting in the name of the riot. Back then they would often describe what sparked the riot in the name as opposed to who was rioting.