William Hay, was born in 1761. His education included Westminster
School and Oxford University. Hay qualified
as a barrister but after a moderate legal career he entered the church.
In 1802 he became rector of Ackworth Church, near Pontefract, and
Chairman of the Salford Quarter Sessions.
William Hay was one of the ten magistrates on duty at St.
Peter's Field on 16th August, 1819. He agreed with William
Hulton and the rest of the magistrates that Henry
Hunt, John Knight, Joseph
Johnson and Joseph Moorhouse should be arrested.
After the Peterloo Massacre Hay was given
the task of writing the report for the government on what had happened.
Two days later, Hay went to London to give
a first-hand account to Lord Sidmouth,
the Home Secretary in the Earl of Liverpool's government.
In January 1820, the Government appointed Hay to the rectorship of
Rochdale, which was one of the richest livings in England. William
Hay died in 1839.
(1)
Rev. William Hay, wrote a report for the Home Secretary, Lord
Sidmouth, on 16th August, 1819.
The area of St. Peter's is computed to be 14,000 square yards. This
space was occupied very closely near the hustings, and in other parts
more or less so. We compute the numbers of those collected who took
part in the meeting to be about 30,000, of these at least 20,000 were
strangers to Manchester. We saw five or six columns march in - there
were from 2,000 to 5,000 each, if not more; they marched in quick
time, with martial music, banners and ensigns. Each column as it came
marched directly to the Hustings, as they came up were received with
three cheers - their banners were arranged in front, and they were
cheered again. This took place in every instance. After the others
had arrived Hunt came with his party and the same reception took place.
Prior to Hunt's appearing on the ground, Owen came to us and gave
information as the parties in Hunt's company. His information was
taken and a warrant filled up in consequence and signed by ten magistrates.
Before this, magistrates had as long been in their own view convinced
that the meeting was in terror of his Majesty's subjects, but they
had also taken confirmation of about fifty inhabitants who swore to
the same effect. In addition to this the shops at the lower part of
the town at a quarter of a mile from St. Peter's had been shut all
morning, and but a very few could be prevailed in the afternoon to
take down the shutters.
(2)
Rev. William Hay wrote his own private account of what happened at
St. Peter's Field. The account was not published during his lifetime.
The arrest warrant was filled up about the time of Hunt's arrival.
Mr. Andrews one of the town's constables came into the Magistrates'
Room, and told Mr. Hulton that it could not be served without military
aid. Nadin was in the room. Mr. Hulton laid hold of Nadin by the arm
and asked him whether it was not possible for the police aided by
the special constables to execute that warrant. Nadin replied neither
with these special constables in England. Mr. Hulton asked him, cannot
it be executed without military force. Nadin answered it cannot. Mr.
Hulton said then you shall have military power and for God's sake
don't sacrifice the lives of special constables. The warrant was delivered
into the hands of Mr. Moore, the town's constable - he delivered it
over to Nadin the deputy constable.
(3)
Rev. William Hay gave evidence at Henry Hunt's trial that the Rev.
Charles Ethelston, one of the magistrates, read the Riot
Act from Mr. Buxton's house.
He read it with his head very far out of the window. He leant so far
out, that I stood behind him, ready to catch his skirts for fear he
might fall over. Mr. Ethelston is a gentleman who I have occasionally
heard sing, and he has a remarkably powerful voice. When he drew his
head back into the room after reading the proclamation, I observed
to him, "Mr. Ethelston. I never heard your voice so powerful.
(4)
Archibald Prentice, commented on Rev.
William Hay in his book Personal Recollections of Manchester (1851)
The Reverend W. R. Hay, the chairman of the quarter sessions, who
had commanded the military attack on a peaceable and defenceless multitude
on the 16th of August, 1819, and had been rewarded by being presented
to the rich living of Rochdale, told the jury they had only to ask
themselves whether the assembling of 200 or 300 persons in the public
streets, was or was not a nuisance. Christianity, he said, had nothing
to do with the question.
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