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.

Jonah Andrew Eyewitness Account

Account of demonstrator Jonah Andrew who met John Lees at Hollinwood & walked with him to Manchester. He witnessed Lees (who later died of his injuries) being cut by yeomen & beaten by constables.

Occupation: Spinner

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James Weatherley Eyewitness Account

On 16th August spectator James Weatherley stood on trees next to Quaker’s Meeting house. Saw Hunt and others taken prisoner by a long line of constables and one constable (a Landlord named Ashworth) killed.

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Matilda Pearson Eyewitness Account

Account of Matilda Pearson of Manchester taken from the Trial of Henry Hunt. Officers bribed Matilda Pearson with money and promises of a better life to testify against Henry Hunt.

Place: Manchester
Role:

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George Swift Eyewitness Account

Account of George Swift, a demonstrator who arrives at St Peter’s Field at 11:45 on the morning of 16th August, written whilst awaiting trial at the New Bailey Prison in Salford. Describes requesting those gathered around the hustings to link arms as the constables arrived. Watched as Hunt address the crowd and saw the cavalry descend with swords.

Occupation: Shoemaker

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Edward Stanley Eyewitness Account

Account of Edward Stanley, Rector of Alderley, who observes the events of Peterloo from the same room as the magistrates, but reports that he saw no missiles being by or weapons among the crowd.