David Jacques Eyewitness Account

• Place: Rochdale
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Weaver

Walked with Middleton contingent, but did not consider himself one of them. Saw people drilling in Middleton. Saw Yeomanry arrive, but not striking people. Then he was forced back by the pressure of the crowd.

Account

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David Jacques sworn: examined by Mr. Evans.

Q. Where do you live?

A. At Middleton.

Q. Did you go to the Manchester meeting on the 16th, August 1819?

A. Yes.

Q. Did you go in company with others?

A. Yes; I went alongside the Middleton people.

Q. What part of the field were you in?

A. Betwixt the hustings and the Quakers’ meeting-house, about twenty or thirty yards from the hustings.

Q. Did you see the Manchester Cavalry?

A. Yes.

Q. What did you see them do?

A. They were standing still when I saw them.

Q. Then afterwards what did you see?

A. Then I and some of the crowd began to fall back. I turned my head, and in a little time after I saw them surrounding the hustings. Then I was forced by the crowd towards the Quakers' meeting house. I saw the Cavalry riding among the people; there I was fast for some time.

Q. What happened then?

A. I run by the side of the chapel wall, and turned down the end of the wall.

Mr. Serjeant Hullock.—What happened to him has nothing to do with the question.

Q. Was the meeting peaceable?

A. Very.

Q. Did you see any stones thrown?

A. No.

Q. Or any resistance made to the Cavalry?

A. No.

 

Cross-examined by Mr. Starkie.

Q. What are you, David?

A. A Weaver.

Q. At that time were you, at Middleton?

A. I lived at Whittle at that time.

Q. How far is that from Middleton?

A. About two miles and a half from Middleton.

Q. You belonged to the Middleton division, did you?

A. I went along with them.

Q. And attended to drill with them?

A. No; I never attended in my life.'

Q. Were you ever walked?

A. No; nothing but what I learnt by myself.

Q. There were others learning at the same time?

A. I never was taught.

Q. Did not you march with the Middleton division?

A. No; I went alongside of them.

Q. Did not you keep step along with them?

A. No.

Q. You had not been drilled had you?

A. No.

Q. You were not in the ranks?

A. No

Q. You could not keep step with them?

A. I don't know; I never tried.

Q. But you saw they were marching?

A. Yes.

Q. They were clever fellows?

A. I don't know; they marched along.

Q. You had seen them teaching the others?

A. I saw some people walking, about eight o'clock one evening.

Q. Where was that?

A. Upon the highway.

Q. Was that before dark or after?

A. Before dark.

Q. About dusk, I dare say?

A. A little before dusk.

Q. Was that on a Saturday night?

A. No; I cannot say what day.

Q. How many people were there?

A. There might perhaps he twenty or thirty; I don't know; I stopped and saw them go by me.

Q. Were not some men at their head, who were teaching them how to march?

A. They all walked in a line.

Q. Like soldiers; you have seen soldiers march?

A. Yes.

Q. They were walking like soldiers?

A. Yes; they were acting it.

Q. You live at Middleton now, do you?

A. Yes.

Q. Did you know Redford before?

A. No.

Q. You know him now?

A. Yes.

Q. He carried the standard on the 16th. August?

A. I don't know. I did not know him then.

Q. Don't you know him to be the man who carried the standard on the 16th.?

A. No.

Q. The Middleton standard ; it was a green flag.

A. I don't know; I did not take particular notice.

Q. Did not you notice the standard?

A. I cannot recollect what colour it was.

Q. Do not you recollect what words there were upon it?

A. No; I cannot say what words there were.

Q. Can you read?

A. But little.

Q. Did not you read what was upon the flag?

A. Yes, I believe I did; I cannot recollect what it was

Mr. Justice Holroyd.—Recollect; otherwise you will be perjured.

Q. Brush up your memory; you did read it?

A. I cannot say whether I did read it or not.

Q. Did not you take notice who the man was who carried this standard?

A. No.

Q. Are you acquainted with Redford?

A. No.

Q. Have you had any conversation with him since?

A. Not lately.

Q. I ask you whether- you have not had conversation with him about this matter?

A. I have not.

Q. About this action of his?

A. I cannot recollect I have had any conversation with Redford.

Q. Do you mean to say you have not had any conversation with Redford, about his bringing this action against the Yeomanry?

A. I heard he was the plaintiff.

Q. He told you so?

A. I heard him say so.

Q. Don't you know from him he carried the standard on that day?

A. I heard people say he did.

Q. Have you not heard Redford say he carried the flag on that day?

A. No, I have not.

Q. Have not you heard it said in his presence?

A. I cannot say I have.

Q. You have talked to Redford about this action; he said he was plaintiff?

A. He did not tell me so; I heard him say so.

Q. He was giving an account of it to his friends at Middleton?

A. I did not understand him when he was talking about it.

Q, He was talking about this?

A. Yes; I heard him say something.

Q. Did he say what attorney he employed, or whether he employed any—how it was?

A. I could not understand him; I was no scholar.

Q. What did he say about it?

A. I cannot recollect any thing he said but he was the plaintiff.

Q. Did he say how he came to be plaintiff?

A. Not in my presence.

Q. Did he not give an account, in your presence, of the whole of this matter?

A. No.

Q. What did he say about it; you had a conversation on the subject?

A. I cannot recollect any thing he said, only he was the plaintiff.

Q. Did he not say who had appointed him plaintiff?

A. No; not as I know of.

Q. Recollect yourself as to what he said; do you mean to swear he did not say who had made him plaintiff, or how he came to be plaintiff?

A. Not that I recollect; only I have heard that he was wounded.

Q. Did he tell you where he had got the money to bring this action?

A. No.

Q. Did he say nothing about this?

A. No.

Q. Did he tell you he should want you as a witness?

A. No; I was subpoenaed.

Q. Did he subpoena you?

A. No.

Q. Have you had no conversation with him since you were subpoenaed to come here?

A. No.

Q. Have you not had any conversation with him about it, saying, where did all this money come from?

A. No.

Q. He is a poor man—a hatter at Middleton?

A. I believe he is.

Q. Lives in a cellar at Middleton, does not he?

A. I don't know.

Q. Then you marched along with them till they came to Manchester?

A. Yes.

Q. Had they any music?

A. Yes.

Q. Drums and fifes?

A. I believe there was.

Q. The bugle?

A. I cannot say.

Q. Cannot you say whether the bugle was sounded or not?

A. I do not know the bugle from any other piece.

Q. Do you know what a trumpet is—had they any thing like a trumpet with them?

A. I don't recollect whether they had or not.

Q. Drums, I think you say they had, and fifes?

A. Yes.

Q. And they marched to the sound of the fifes?

A. They played as they went on.

Q. The flag flying, the drums beating, and these people marching?

A. Yes.

Q. Did you fall in with any other division as you were going?

A. No; I did not see any.

Q. A good many had got there when you got to the field?

A. Yes.

Q. There were a great number of standards there.

A. Yes.

Q. As many as twenty or thirty?

A. I don't know how many.

Q. There was a shout when you and your friends got to the field?

A. Not that I recollect on.

Q. Do you mean to say there was no shout when you came on the field?

A. Not that I know on.

Q. Was it your division that brought Mr. Hunt to the field? :

A. I joined the division.

Q. The Middleton people?

A. I did not come with Mr. Hunt to the field.

Q. How soon did Mr. Hunt come to the field after you had got there?

A. Might be a quarter of an hour.

Q. He came a quarter of an hour after you?

A. Yes.

Q. Way there any shouting when he came?

A. Some cheers several times.

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