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.

Colonel L’Estange Eyewitness Account

Was in command of the Manchester region armed forces on day of Peterloo. Stationed troops as ‘best calculated to preserve the peace’.Received a letter (now lost) from Mr Hulton requiring the presence of the military ‘as he did not conceive the civil power was sufficiently strong for their purpose.’ By the time his troops arrived the Yeomanry were already ‘in conflict’ with the people. Was asked by Mr Hulton to intervene to disperse the people and rescue the Yeomanry. Encountered limited resistance in areas where people were more densely crushed. Own hat knocked off by a missile.

Occupation: Colonel,Commander of Manchester District armed forces

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Robert Keymer Eyewitness Account

Lieutenant Colonel in Local Militia, was a spectator to events on the 15th and 16th of August. Says he saw drilling on 15th exactly like that of a militia regiment and that many of the drillers were present on St Peter’s Field on the 16th. Also saw a pistol fired from a window that day and a cavalry man knocked off his horse

Place: Oldham
Role: Spectator
Occupation: Militia Lieutenant Colonel

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Samuel Kaye Eyewitness Account

Testifies to seeing Yeomanry waving arms back and forth near the hustings. He was standing near the Quaker’s meeting house and was cut there by men in soldier’s uniform.

Place: Bury
Role: Spectator
Occupation: Cotton Weaver

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John Lees Eyewitness Account

Injured on St Peter’s Field. Testifies that he saw Yeomanry cutting at people with their sabres, and of his own
wounding by Captain Birley. No relation to the John Lees from Oldham who died as a result of wounds sustained at Peterloo.