John Ashworth Eyewitness Account

• Place: Oldham
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Engineer

Spectator who saw persons formed into military ranks marching to Manchester on 16th August, but did not go with them to St Peter’s Field.

Account

Download account

Name: John Ashworth
Occupation: Engineer
Home: Not known – working in Oldham
Date: 17th March 1820
Source: Trial of Henry Hunt, 29
Summary: Saw people formed in military ranks on the morning of the 16th. Was told by one of them, “we will make a Moscow out of Manchester”, but did not go with them.

John Ashworth, examined by Mr. Littledale—Was an engineer working at a factory in Oldham last August; he saw several divisions of persons who were proceeding to Manchester; they took the New road; there might be 3 marching in a body; saw a black flag and a cap of liberty; he was asked by some of them to go with them, but he said, ”they were a week too soon for him, as he should not go to Manchester till Saturday.” When he refused to go, some of them called out that they would make a Moscow of Manchester before they came back; this was about eight o'clock.

Cross-examined by Mr. Hunt—Was no relation to the man of the same name that was killed on the 16th. Witness's wife and children were at Manchester, but he was not so alarmed at the Moscow story as to go there to look after them; he did not hire any body to give his wife notice what lie had heard, that she might pack up and be off; he was told by one or two persons that, “they would make a Moscow of Manchester”. He meant, by one or two, more than one; he had seen caps of liberty at Middleton, but had not noticed the cap of liberty over York Castle; he was not a man that bothered his head about caps of liberty or any thing of that kind.

By Mr.Barrow. —Witness would have had no objection to put up the hustings for the Manchester meeting, had he been a master workman in that time.

Back to list