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ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. III 1788 Buckley, Elizabeth, daughter of Doctor Buckley, of Chadderton Heights, died after a long illness, March 22nd, 1788. Snow a large fall to the depth of 9 inches all over the country, and a frost for the space of 12 days, March 6th, 1788. A man killed in a coalpit by the rope breaking as he was going down, at Doghill, Crompton, March 20th, 1788. Barlow, wife of Ben Barlow, clockmaker, and formerly keeper of the Nag’s Head Inn, in Oldham, died at Cowhill, March 25th, 1788. The name of Barlow, I am told, still lives on the clock face of many an ancient Oldhamer, for there was a family of clockmakers of the name in Oldham. By the way, it was once a sign of respectability in Oldham for a family to possess a clock, and when a cottage was being let the owner was always glad to know where the new tenant was likely to hang the clock, or indeed whether the incoming tenant had a clock to hang. Broadbent, James, of Glodwick, returning home much intoxicated, unfortunately fell into a coal-pit, and was killed. His wife buried on the 26th February last. They have left four children. March 26th, 1788. Roger Anne, of Scoles-fold, died Oct. 16th, 1787. Rowbottom John, broke his arm as he was returning home from Hopwood Hall, by falling off the bridge at Spring Brook, near his house at Hunt-lane, April 3rd, 1788. (He was probably brother to Wm. Rowbottom, of Schoolcroft, machinist). Cow died of George Wood’s, of Northmoor, valued at 129s., April 8th, 1788. Palsey – Isaac Ogden, governor of Chadderton Workhouse, was struck with the palsey, so that he fell to the ground, as he was standing at the butchers’ standing in Oldham, April 5th, 1788.
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In 1788 Higson says:- “A sort of market on a small scale was commenced by a few butchers, who established ‘standings’ in the main streets on Saturday evenings”. Duelling – Mr. John Clegg, of Manchester, cotton manufacturer, came to Oldham and challenged, on Monday, February 18th, 1788, Mr. William Brennand, doctor of physic, to fight him with sword and pistol. Mr. Clegg was prepared with those dreadful weapons. The doctor was not behind in neither courage nor resolution, nor anything fit to equip a gentleman dueller, save arms, which he received from a neighbouring gentleman. But, however, by interference of their friends, the affair was amicably settled to the satisfaction of both parties without the effusion of any crimson gore. Mr. John Clegg, of Manchester, was probably Mr. John Clegg, of Lever’s Row, Manchester. His father was John Clegg, Esq., of Bent Hall, who erected Bent House. His mother was Hannah, daughter of James Dawson, gent., of Glodwick, a relative of Captain Dawson, who figured during the rebellion of 1745. Dr. Brennand is probably the gentleman to whose memory a tablet on the south side of the communion place in S. Peter’s Chapel, Oldham, was erected. He is described as William Brennand, surgeon, of Oldham, who died July 3rd, 1801, aged 44 years. In 1787, when he should have fought his duel, he would therefore be about 30. Her resided near the Old Market-place. Lees James, of Stotfield, died, in an advanced age, April 19th, 1788. Stang-riding – Peter Blaze, of North Moor, rode stang for Amos Ogden of same place, April 22nd, 1788. What is remarkable, Amos rode stang for Peter in the year 1776. In Legends and Traditions of Lancashire, by Harland and Wilkinson, we are told “the practice of what is locally termed ‘stang-riding’ was practised in Lancashire some forty years ago. When a man or woman is detected in an act of unfaithfulness, a framework of two long poles is procured, cross which is placed a flat board to serve as a seat. The person who has offended is then caught by the crowd and tied fast to the seat with cords. A procession is then formed, and the culprit is carried aloft of four men, attended by a crowd, who make all the discordant noises they can on pots, pans, tea trays, &c., as they pass along the road. On arriving at the front of any houses, the procession halts, and the leader of the gang proclaims the names of the parties, with the time and place where the fault has been committed. |
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When the real parties cannot be captured a substitute is found, and the procession passes along as if the offenders were really present”. Evidently there was a substitute in this case. The custom speaks well for English connubial morality. Murther and Roberry. – Mr. George Worthington, of Werneth, was inhumanely shot dead. There were a great quantity of slugs extracted from the wound, which was in his left breast. A sum of money and a silver watch, a pair of spectacles taken from his person. He was shot at 2 mile stone, betwixt Manchester and Oldham, March 29th, 1788. Mr. George Worthington resided at Werneth Hall as tenant. He was therefore murdered within a short distance of his home. An Irishman named Murphy afterwards confessed to the crime, and was hanged for another offence in Ireland. E. Butterworth says Highfield, near Maygate-lane (near the present Highfield Mill), was once the dwelling of Geo. Worthington, yeoman, who died in 1772, and was father of Mr. Geo. Worthington, of Werneth Hall. The Worthingtons have long been a good family Oldham. Elopements in the month of April, 1788. – Mary, wife of George Tyldes, of Laneends, near Denton, eloped from him. She was the daughter of James Travis, of Cowhill. William Heywood eloped from his wife Jane from Newroe. Mary, wife of James Taylor, eloped from their house at Uinnook, and did take with her his silver watch and two suits of clothes belonging to her said husband. This affair happened April 18th, 1788. April 19th, 1788, James Henthorn, commonly cald Blamey, was for his bad behaviour committed to the stocks in Oldham at 9 of the clock at night, and broke out at 4 o’clock morning; was taken again the next day, said he knew who shot Worthington, and that he was one of the murderers, but it was proved were he was at the time of the murder was committed, and that his story was nothing but artful villaney mixed with knavery. John Hall, collier, of Oldham, was much bruised and leg and thigh broke, in a coalpit near Horsedge-fold, May 3rd, 1788. Clegg Sarah, wife of Joseph Clegg, of Mumps, cotton manufacturer, died at a very early age, May 6th, 1788.
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According to E. Butterworth, the Oldham Cleggs, originated from Butterworth and Clegg Hall. But from the old registers it will be seen that we had a family resident in the parish from a very early period – long before the time assigned by him. The first name among the christenings at Oldham Church is “Richard Cleg, March 2oth, 1558”. Before this I find the name among those of the Duchy tenants in Cromton in 1332. Not only were the Cleggs associated with the hatting trade, but it is clear from the present entry that one branch was among the earlier cotton spinners. A very ancient family of Clegg settled in Sholver at an early date. Lees John, formerly keeper of the Nag’s-hed inn, in Oldham, died May 19th, 1788. Butterworth Ann, of Craigh, near Chaderton, died in an advanced age, May 22nd, 1788. May 22nd, 1788. – This day one Mayal, of Greenacres Moor, owing to a fever, not being in his sences, took the opertunity, wile his wife went an erand, to drown himself in the mill dam at Waterhead Mill. Likewise old Jim Knot was nearly put an end to his existence by the help of a cord, but was prevented time enough to save his life. This affair happened in Bent. Thursday, May 15th, 1788. – A person very narrowly escaped being kild on Kersal Moor. Pegy, wife of Mr. James Hobson, mercer and draper, of Oldham, died May 28th, 1788. Priest Hill, says E. Butterworth, numbered amongst its principal residents the Hobsons. This family appear to have come from Coventry and to have settled in Oldham about the period of the introduction of the hat manufacture from that city. Nathaniel Hobson, Esq., was Mayor of Coventry in 1662. Mr. Thomas Hobson, draper, of Oldham, living 1759, was father of James Hobson, Esq., Merchant, who married Margaret, grand-daughter of Theophilus Ogden, yeoman, of Lane End, Greenacres Moor. This James Hobson was the only gentleman resident in the town who at that period ran his own carriage. He inhabited a mansion in the vicinity of the church, while his brother Thomas, who died in 1789, was an opulent draper at Priest Hill. Greaves Alice, a woman, hanged herself at Micklehurst, Ashton parish, on the 28th of May, 1788, aged betwixt 50 and 60. Buckley Ann, wife of James Buckley, of Beartrees, died of a consumption, June 2nd 1788 (Baytrees in Chadderton, often spoken of as Bertrees).
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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