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.

Mary Dowlan Eyewitness Account

Was a regular attendee at Manchester meetings. Was at St peter’s Field where she was saved from attack, by a soldier in the 15th Hussars who defended her with his sword. She saw numerous wounded and dressed the wounds of fourteen men at her house.

Place: Manchester
Role: Spectator
Occupation: Char-Woman

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Joseph Hindle Eyewitness Account

Saw the cavalry encircle the hustings. He was wounded in the right arm and stooped under the horse to avoid further injury. The unidentified cavalry man then cut an old man with grey hair, over the head.

Place: Bolton
Role: Injured,Spectator
Occupation: Weaver

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Thomas Barnes Eyewitness Account

Serjeant in the Manchester Yeomanry. Stationed with 15th Hussars and two squadrons of Cheshire Yeomanry at Knott Mill as cover serjeant to Captain Richard Withington. Came onto the field late, with Cheshire Yeomanry following behind.

Occupation: Soldier

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William Cornell Eyewitness Account

In the 15th Hussars. Received blow to the thigh and hit by a stone just below his eye. His horse was also hit, almost severing the noseband of the bridle.

Occupation: Hussar

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Frederick Buckley Eyewitness Account

Lieutenant in the 15th Hussars. Saw yeomanry trapped in the crowd and was part of the charge to assist them. Describes resistance in the crowd, especially near the Friends Meeting House.