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.

William Stewart Petitioner

Petition of William Stewart of Manchester. Sabre wound to head and trampled. Confined to bed for a month and unable to work for two months.

Place: Manchester
Role: Injured,Petitioner,Spectator

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James Taylor Petitioner

Petition of James Taylor of Royton.

Place: Oldham,Royton
Role: Injured,Petitioner

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Robert Taylor Wilde Petitioner

Petition of Robert Taylor Wilde of Stalybridge, arrested, held in prison for several months. Put on trial for conspiracy at York Assizes. Acquitted.

Place: Stalybridge,Tameside
Role: Demonstrator,Petitioner
Occupation: Plasterer

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William Thompson Petitioner

Petition of William Thompson of Bolton-le-Moors. Knocked down and trampled by horses. Then stuck on head by a constable. While on ground ridden over and struck on right eye by Yeoman Cavalry. Unable to work.

Place: Bolton
Role: Demonstrator,Injured,Petitioner
Occupation: Cotton Weaver

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John Thompson Petitioner

Petition on John Thompson of Manchester. Recieved several blows from sabres. Body bruised and a severe cut to hand. Disabled for ten weeks and still debiltiated.