Magaret Horrocks Petitions

• Place: Irlam,Oldham
• Role: Injured,Petitioner

Petitioner observes peaceful gathering interrupted by Yeomanry who attacked indiscriminately, receives slash to side of head by yeomanry.

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Petition of Margaret Horrocks of Failsworth House of Commons, Votes and Proceedings, 15 May 1821

(No. 590)

A Petition of Margaret Horrocks, of the parish of Failsworth, near Manchester,in the County of Lancaster, was presented, and read; setting forth, that the Petitioner was present at the Meeting held in Manchester,on the 16th of August 1819; the Petitioner saw no disturbance, nor any disposition on the part of the people to tumult; all was peaceable when the Yeomanry Cavalry made an infuriated attack on the assembled multitude, when a scene of horror and carnage ensued,dreadful to describe; the cavalry, with the most shocking oaths and curses, cut with their sabres (to the appearance of the Petitioner) all within their reach, male and female, old and young, regardless of their prayers and entreaties, deaf to the supplications of the helpless and unoffending victims of their mistaken violence; the Petitioner, in an agony of terror, endeavoured to escape, but alas! In vain; one of the Yeomanry inflicted a deep wound on the left side of the head of the Petitioner,which felled him to the earth; the Petitioner was then trampled on by the horses of the cavalry,which severely bruised the body of the Petitioner; and praying that the House will be pleased to cause an inquiry to be made into this dreadful transaction and daring violation of the Laws.

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