John Chadwick Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Shoemaker

At White Moss on the 15th of August, where he observed people drilling, and at St Peter’s Field on the 16th, left as the Cavalry arrived.

Account

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John Chadwick sworn: examined by Mr. Littledale.
Q. John Chadwick, you live at Manchester?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you ever go to the White Moss?
A. Yes.
Q. When?
A. The 15th. August.
Q. Was any body with you?
A. Yes, a young man.
Q. At what time did you get there?
A. At about two o'clock, rather before.
Q. In the morning?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you see any body there?
A. Yes; when I got there, there were perhaps 200 people.
Q. Did any more come afterwards?
A. Yes; a great many.
Q. How many were there altogether?
A. I could form no opinion, perhaps 6,000 or 8,000.
Q. I am speaking of the White Moss?
A. When all were there, perhaps there might be that many; not when I got there.
Q. Do you know where they all came from?
A. Some came from Manchester, some from Oldham.
Q. From other places?
A. Yes.
Q. What did they do—did you hear any bugle?
A. Yes; the horn blew and they fell into rank.
Q. Were they divided into ranks?
A. Yes; every one to their own township; they all knew their own townships.
Q. Were these parties commanded by different people?
A. Yes; different parties were commanded by different commanders.
Q. What did they do then?
A. Marched about; marched and countermarched.
Q. Did you hear any word of command given?
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—You have examined several people as to that point, and among them, a Lieutenant Colonel who is better able to tell you than a boy.
Q. Do you remember a time when they all fell in together?
A. Yes.
Q. What time was that?
A. Between four and six.
Q. Do you remember a letter being brought?
A. Yes, I do.
Q. How were they formed then?
A. They were marching about when the letter came, but the commander ordered them to form a hollow square, on purpose that they might hear the letter read.
Q. Well?
A. The man who brought the letter gave it to one of the commanders; he formed them into a hollow square, but he said he would not read it because it had no signature.
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—Was the square formed of the whole body?
A. Yes.
Q. He said he would not read it to them, but he would tell them what the contents were.
Mr. Evans.—I object to the contents of the letter being stated.
Mr. Justice Holroyd.—He is not going to give the contents of the letter, only to state the object of it.
Mr. Evans.—I submit that is the contents.
Q. What was it?
A. That they must form hollow squares on the Monday, at the Manchester meeting.
Q. For what?
A. To keep their enemies out.
Q. How long did you continue after that time?
A. I left the Moss about six o'clock.

Cross-examined by Mr. Evans.
Q. He said that was the object of the letter?
A. Yes.
Q. But he said he would not read the letter, because it had no signature?
A. Yes.
Q. Was you at the meeting of that day—the 16th.?
A. I was.
Q. How long did you remain at that meeting?
A. A very short time; about a quarter of an hour.
Q. Did you wait till the Cavalry came?
A. I just went off as they came on.
Q. Did you see any disturbance, previous to that, on the field?
A. I cannot say I did.
Q. Did you see the people were armed with bludgeons?
A. There might be bludgeons; I was only at the outskirts of the meeting.
Q. What induced you to leave the field?
A. Because I thought there would be some disturbance.
Q. Was it when the Cavalry came in the fields you expected some disturbance?
A. Yes; it was just when the Cavalry came into the field that I went off.

Re-examined by Mr. Littledale.
Q. During the time you was there, did you see any of the people that you saw at White Moss?
Mr. Evans.—How does that arise out of my cross-examination? I asked nothing about the drills.
Mr. Littledale.—As my friend was enquiring what the witness saw at the field, I have a right to enquire what he saw out of the field.
Q. Did you see any of the people?
A. I saw the person who should have read the letter, that had the letter, the commander. I saw him leading the Rochdale and the Middleton gangs up to the meeting.
Q. On the 16th.?
A. On the 16th.
Q. Did you see any body else you had seen at the White Moss?
A. Several more.
Q. Were they among the Middleton and Rochdale people?
A. Yes.
Mr. Littledale.—I was about to ask the witness what words of command were given, and your Lordship thought I had asked the question before.
Q. Will you tell my Lord, or the Jury, what words of command were given?
A. "March," "counter-march," "halt," "attention," "stand at ease." I don't know that I heard any thing more.
Q. Did they do any thing with their hands?
A. They had orders to "present,” and "fire," and then they clapped their hands.
Mr. Evans. l suppose I am entitled to cross-examine on this evidence now.

Cross-examined by Mr. Evans.
Q You have sworn that it was the person who led the Middleton body that read the letter?
A. Who should have read the letter.
Q. You swear that positively?
A. I do.
Q. Have you any doubt?
A. No doubt.
Q. Should you know that person now?
A. I do not know that I should.
Q. You swear that it was the person who led up the Middleton body?
A. Yes.
Re-examined by Mr. Littledale.
Q. What do you mean by leading up the Middleton body?
A. Coming up the road.
Q. Where was it you saw him the next time?
A. Coming the other side the Newton lane. I met the Rochdale and Middleton parties there, and he was one of the first men.
Q. Was he walking in the front?
A. He was.
Q. Was he the first man in the line, or were there others in the same rank?
A. Several leading up besides; but I knew him very well.
Q. Do you mean by leading, that he appeared to command the column, or was only in the front rank?
A. Only in the front rank.

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