Thomas Holdstock Eyewitness Account

• Place: Manchester
• Role: Spectator
• Occupation: Book Keeper

Testifies to closing the warehouse due to concerns of possible disturbance. Many other businesses in the street of all warehouses also closed. Saw large contingents of people in Shude Hill and Moseley Street, some with flags, colours, music and the cap of liberty..

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Thomas Holdstock sworn: examined by Mr. Serjeant Cross.

Q. I believe you were book-keeper to the house of Fielding and Co., calico printers in Cannon-street Buildings, in August, 1819.

A. Yes, sir.

Q. It was a pretty extensive and well-stocked warehouse, at that time, I understand?

A. It was.

Q. I believe the street consists for the most part of warehouses?

A. Entirely.

Q. Did you see any of the bodies of the people entering the town that morning.

A. I went to Watling-street, and saw bodies joining down Shude-Hill; one of the bodies with colours flying; colours, and music, and caps of liberty.

Q. Did you see more than one?

A. They seemed to be all in a body, and they reached from the top of Shude-hill to Hyde's Cross, and then the line was not ended.

Q. Did you see more in other parts of the town?

A. I saw another in Mosley-street.

Q. That was in a different part of the town?

A. A different part of the town.

Q. Was any thing done to your warehouse, in consequence of their appearance?

A. Mr. Fielding had been on the road to see what was likely to be done; he came back between eleven and twelve, to say the people were coming in great numbers —

Mr. Serjeant Cross.—On point of order, we are not allowed to hear what was said to you.

Q. What was done?

A. I locked the warehouse up.

Q. When was that—between eleven and twelve?

A. A little before twelve.

Q. Did it appear to you, when these people entered the town, that the public peace was in perfect safety?

A. Certainly, it was not.

Q. Did it excite any apprehension of danger in your mind?

A. Perhaps not so much as in some others, because I did not conceive myself in that situation, that my property was in danger from them, as people who had a greater risk.

Q. Not as people who had a larger stock; you were a servant?

A. I was a servant.

Q. Had it the effect of suspending business?

A. Entirely.

Q. Were other warehouses in your neighbourhood shut, as well as your own?

A. A many were closing and some were closed, at the time we shut ours.

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