Thomas Schofield Eyewitness Account

• Place: Lees,Oldham
• Role: Spectator

Attended SPF. Saw no resistance or offence made by the crowd. ‘Saw no resistance from the first to the last.’

Note: A Thomas Schofield aged 81 appears in the 1884 photo of Failsworth Peterloo veterans.

Account

Download account

Thomas Schofield examined by Mr. Hunt Was at Lees on the 16th, and at Oldham. Saw the people assembling with flags and banners, but saw no disposition to violence. He went to Manchester the same morning. All business there seemed to go on as usual. Saw the Stockport procession arrive; it was accompanied by many women, girls, and boys. He saw other divisions arrive; saw no insult offered to any one; did not see any large sticks carried by the crowd over their shoulders; saw nothing to alarm him in the conduct of the people, and saw no one assaulted by them; he saw the cavalry advance on the people.

By the Judge. —Saw no disposition to resist the military.

Re-examined by Mr. Hunt—Saw no resistance or abuse offered by any part of the crowd to the military. They appeared to get out of the way as fast as they could, that the cavalry might pass. Kept his eye on them, while they advanced from Mr. Buxton's, as well as he could. Saw no stone thrown or bludgeons lifted. The people were so jammed and crowded by one another that this was impossible. Saw no resistance from the first to the last.

Back to list