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.

Samuel Street Eyewitness Account

Account by a member of Manchester Yeomanry of holding onto Mr Saxton until Mr Rutter a constable could charge him.

  • Occupation: Land Surveyor
Find out more

Mary Slater Eyewitness Account

7/11/1819 Statement Observing people going to and back from the meeting and their grievances.

  • Place: Bolton
  • Role: Spectator
  • Occupation: Widow
Find out more

William Pollard Eyewitness Account

2/11/1819 Statement as a Special Constable did not see the Yeomanry give the least attempt to injure people.

  • Place: Manchester
  • Role: Officer
  • Occupation: Draper,Special Constable,Tailor
Find out more

Richard Owen Eyewitness Account

16/8/1819 Statement 13:15 Considers the town in danger and the peace to be broken.

  • Place: Manchester
  • Role: Spectator
  • Occupation: Pawnbroker
Find out more

James Ogden Eyewitness Account

9/11/1819 Statement about reformers before 16th in his ‘House’ were anti-government, afterward ‘they began it but it was not ended yet’.

  • Place: Manchester
  • Role: Spectator
  • Occupation: Publican
Find out more

Enormous thanks to our partners and funders