Jacob Deakin Eyewitness Account

• Place: Middleton,Rochdale
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Calico Printer

Saw procession heading from Middleton to SPF. Saw all was peaceful. Recalls previous rioting from four years previous.

Account

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Jacob Deakin (examined by Mr. Bamford) was a calico printer of Middleton, in the employ of D. Burton and Son. Saw the procession pass from Middleton towards Manchester, on the 16th, saw nothing but what was very peaceable and quiet.

Cross-examined by Sergeant Cross. —Saw nothing alarming; remem­bered a procession paying Mr. Burton a visit. Those who formed that procession were very quiet at first, but they got a throwing stones and sticks, and in the end burnt down one of his master's houses.

Re-examined by Mr. Bamford. It was about four years ago that the outrage described was committed. There might not be so much said of reform at that time as had been said of late. At that time (the time of Ludding) Messrs. Burtons were obliged to guard their premises with an armed force; believed, on recollection, that this was in 1812. The pre­mises had never been guarded by an armed force since. Did not know that any of the works of Messrs. Burtons were stopped on that morning. I believed there was one special constable in Middleton of the name of Lees. There were no soldiers quartered there.

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