 On 20 April 1812 , a " large crowd of riotous individuals " compelled local retailers to sell foods at a loss , whilst on the same day Luddites numbering in their thousands , many of whom were from Oldham , attacked a cotton mill in nearby Middleton . On 16 August 1819 , Oldham sent a contingent estimated at well above 10 @,@ 000 to hear speakers in St Peter 's Fields at Manchester discuss political reform ; it was the largest contingent sent to Manchester . John Lees , a cotton operative and ex @-@ soldier who had fought at Waterloo , was one of the fifteen victims of the Peterloo Massacre which followed . The ' Oldham inquest ' which proceeded the massacre was anxiously watched ; the Court of King 's Bench , however , decided that the proceedings were irregular , and the jury were discharged without giving a verdict . 
 On 20 April 1812 , a " large crowd of riotous individuals " compelled local retailers to sell foods at a loss , whilst on the same day Luddites numbering in their thousands , many of whom <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> from Oldham , attacked a cotton mill in nearby Middleton . On 16 August 1819 , Oldham sent a contingent estimated at well above 10 @,@ 000 to hear speakers in St Peter <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>Fields at Manchester discuss political reform ; it was the largest contingent sent to Manchester . John Lees , a cotton operative and ex @-@ soldier <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> fought at Waterloo , was one of the fifteen victims of the Peterloo Massacre which followed . The ' Oldham inquest ' which proceeded the massacre was anxiously watched ; the Court of King <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>Bench , however , decided that the proceedings <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> irregular , and the jury <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> discharged without giving a verdict . 
On 20 April 1812 , a " large crowd of riotous individuals " compelled local retailers to sell foods at a loss , whilst on the same day Luddites numbering in their thousands , many of whom was from Oldham , attacked a cotton mill in nearby Middleton . On 16 August 1819 , Oldham sent a contingent estimated at well above 10 @,@ 000 to hear speakers in St Peter  Fields at Manchester discuss political reform ; it was da largest contingent sent to Manchester . John Lees , a cotton operative and ex @-@ soldier done fought at Waterloo , was one of the fifteen victims of the Peterloo Massacre which followed . Tda' Oldham inquest ' which proceeded the massacre was anxiously watched ; the Court of King  Bench , however , decided that the proceedings was irregular , and thdaury was discharged without giving a verdict .