Eyewitness Accounts

Eyewitness Accounts

To commemorate the 200 year anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre the Peterloo 2019 Ambassadors have worked in partnership with Professor Robert Poole (University of Central Lancashire), author of Peterloo: the English Uprising and the Age of Revolution at University of Kent to compile the 400+ eyewitness accounts which include press reports and petitions.

This is the first time the original accounts have been compiled into an online archive. You can now use the website to search by name, place and role and learn more about the eyewitness accounts from 1819.

Margaret Booth Petitioner

Injured by Calvary charge and lost an eye as a result.

  • Place: Manchester
  • Role: Demonstrator,Injured,Petitioner
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Joseph Coates Petitioner

1819 Petition of Joesph Coates of Royton. Hid under hustings. Repeatedly beaten by constatables and struct with sword by calvary. Was sick for many weeks.

  • Place: Oldham,Royton
  • Role: Demonstrator,Injured,Petitioner
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Joseph Coates Petitioner

1921 Petition – Gives his account of how he sustained near fatal injury at the hands of both Constables and Manchester Yeomanry Cavalry whilst initially trying to take refuge under the hustings and later as he tries desperately to escape.

  • Place: Oldham,Royton
  • Role: Demonstrator,Injured,Petitioner
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Joseph Bruce Petitioner

Petitioner briefly describes the attack and the wounds he received.

  • Place: Manchester
  • Role: Demonstrator,Injured,Petitioner
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Joseph Johnson Letter (Hunt)

Letter from Johnson to Hunt 3/7/1819 inviting Hunt to a Meeting in four weeks time.

  • Place: Manchester
  • Role: Demonstrator
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