James Frankland Eyewitness Account

• Place: Middleton,Rochdale
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Clogger,Leather-Cutter

Frankland’s son attended SPF meeting. Saw Bamford’s speech prior to meeting. Saw nothing untoward in the procession.

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James Frankland examined by S. Bamford. —I reside in Middleton, I am a clogger and leather-cutter, and farm a little by keeping a few cows. I have eight children and a wife. I remember the people assembling in Middleton on the 16th August, and afterwards going on. I looked after them. They were on the way to Manchester I heard the substance of what you said, which was, that they would be conducted to Manchester in a body as they were, and when they got to the place where the meeting was to be held, they would remain in a company by themselves, and not intermix with others, and return in a body also, when this meeting was over, without straggling in the multitude. You also recommended them not to mind any insult, nor be induced to resent it, if offered. The people were all quite peaceable. I do not belong to any body of Reformers, nor did I go to Manchester with the procession, though I had a son nearly 18 years of age who went. I knew of his going, and gave no orders to prevent him. I believe he marched in the procession, and did not apprehend any danger or riot, or I should not have allowed him to go.

Cross-examined by Mr. Scarlett —I have known Mr. Bamford for a great many years, but I did not know who was to take the command of the party. My son did not tell me he was to go. I saw him in the procession, and it was said in the family that he meant to go. There have been several public meetings of the Reformers in our neighbourhood, but my son is not one of them. I know nothing of private meetings, I don't know whether my son took either refreshment or money in his pockets for the march to Manchester.

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