John Longworth Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Officer
• Occupation: Warehouseman

7/11/1819 Statement as Special Constable saw brickbats thrown and heard Riot Act read.

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HO42 198 f. 675. Information of John Longworth, Manchester.

 

‘The Information of John Longworth, Royton Street, Manchester, Warehouseman, taken upon oath before me one of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Lancaster this seventh day of November 1819

 

Who saith that he was on the area of St Peters on the sixteenth of August last, acting as Special Constable, and was placed about twenty yards from the House where the Magistrates were assembled.  Went to the ground between nine and ten o'clock in the forenoon and remained there until Hunt was taken, and Informant went down to the New Bailey with Hunt. Saw the Manchester Yeomanry come on the ground and form in front of Buxton's House where the Magistrates were. Soon after they had formed they advanced to the Hustings, and as they were so advancing, Informant saw persons of the Mob throw brick bats and stones at the Yeomanry and Constables, and many of the Mob struck at the Horses of the Yeomanry with sticks at the same time. Informant himself received a blow from a stick. Informant heard the Riot Act read by the Revd Mr Ethelston between twelve and one o'clock – Mr Ethelston began to read it on the steps of the House, but the crowd increased so quick as to render it inconvenient for him to go on with it – and he (Mr Ethelston) then went upstairs and read it very loud thro' the window of the first floor of Buxton's House. The brick-bats and stones that were thrown at the Cavalry, were thrown by people from the top of the Houses.

 

John Longworth

 

Sworn – before me James Watkins.

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