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.

Thomas Whittaker Eyewitness Account

Step-brother of John Lees. Witness at his inquest, with first hand experience of the extent of the injuries suffered by Lees after returning from St.Peter’s Field.

Place: Oldham
Role:
Occupation: Spinner

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Jane Whittaker Eyewitness Accounts

Place: Oldham
Role:
Occupation: Housewife

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John Whitaker Eyewitness Account

Place: Oldham
Role:
Occupation: Wool Carder

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William Hulton Eyewitness Account

Discussed the preparations of the magistrates in advance of the expected public meeting and the formation of a ‘committee of public safety’.made up of ‘distinguished men’. Talks of alarm in the district, fears of unions collaborating. Believes he had no option but to call in the military. Claims the yeomanry were attacked with stones even though the field had been cleared of stones that morning.

Place: Manchester
Role: Officer
Occupation: Chairman of the Committee of Magistrates

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George Brown Eyewitness Account

Testifies to violence of the crowd and them hitting horses with sticks. Claims Hunt instructed them to take down anyone interfering with the meeting. Claims he was knocked down with a large stone.