March 20th – Last night, died in advanced age Mrs. Taylor, of Thorpe, whose death was mentioned in mistake. Betty, wife of Sam Duerdin, of Chapel Croft, Oldham, interred March 25th. March 25th – This day a child of Thomas Johnson’s, of Chadderton Mill, fell into the brook near the mill, and the water being high the stream carried it down to Chadderton Green, where it was picked out of the water with little hopes of life, but by using the means recommended by the Humane Society it was happily brought to life. It may be stated here that the Manchester Humane Society for the recovery of persons apparently dead by drowning, or from other accidental causes, was established in 1791. The Humane Society for the Hundred of Salford was established through the public spirit of Thomas Butterworth, Esq., chairman of Salford Quarter Sessions. April 1st – Last night an uncommon rainy, boisterous night. Chadderton, March 2nd – This day a new-born infant, male child, was found floating in the brook here. Upon the Coroner taking an inquest on the body, it appeared that the said child was born of the body of Mary Greathead (of Chadderton, but late of Bedale, Yorks) on the night of the 17th instant, and was thrown into the brook by one Grace Stansfield at the request of its mother. It appeared that Stansfield was requested to empty the chamber pot into the water, and she, ignorant of its contents, obeyed the order. A verdict was found against Greathead of wilful murder. She was, of course, fully committed to Lancaster Castle, but first she was to lay in till she was able to undertake the journey. Hay sold this Spring at 1s. per stone. Onions, 3d. per lb. April 12th – An otter baited at Joel’s Dam. April 9th - being Easter Monday, the celebrated Stump ran two races on Kersal Moor, one mile each, and within one hour of each other. The first race he beat Matthew Chapman one full mile. Time 4min. 47sec. The second he beat Thomas Seddon one full mile, and notwithstanding they were several times annoyed with the crowd, particularly Seddon, they ran it in 4min. 49sec. Seddon’s party dispute losing, and the wager is yet in dispute. It was afterwards agreed to have each their own money. On the same day James Kenyon, of Bury, beat Robt. Booth, of Radcliffe Bridge, four miles. Time 22 min. March 29th - This day Gustavus, King of Sweden, died from the wounds he received from the discharge of a pistol. He being a tyrant and an enemy to liberty was murdered by the hands of one of his own courtiers. Gustavus III, King of Sweden, was shot at a masquerade by Count Ankerstrom, on March 16th, 1792, and died on the 29th. He had a few years before imprisoned some of his nobles, and had taken upon himself the arbitrament of peace and war in his own country. Hence the character here given to him.
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MOTTOS Earl Derby, born September, 1752. Lord Stanley, born April 21st, 1775. Mrs. Elizabeth Horton, born 1748. Married July 28th, 1779, to Thomas Horton. Mrs. Lucy Hornby, born 1750. Married April 25th, 1772. Harriot, born 1756. Married Sir W. Horton, June 3rd, 1778. Chadderton Hall, April 24th – This day arrived Sir Watts and Lady Horton, Bart. A pity that the prevailing fashions and superfluity of dress should so much attract the attentions of females as to cause them to shrink from the paths of virtue and respectability. Such has been the weakness of Susan Lord, of Northmoor, who was this day found to have robbed her late master, John Mellor, of Northmoor. – April 24th. Ann, daughter of Ralph Mellor, of Northmoor, died April 25th. Disorder, a consumption. Oldham, April 21st - This day mutton 5¼d. per lb. and 6d; beef and veal in proportion. May, 1st day – A very severe cold day, and severe hailstorms. April 28th – At the conclusion of Manchester Sessions, Jos. Hall for stealing money out of Chadderton’s house, was imprisoned for two years in the New Bailey Prison. He was only 14 years old. March 24th – This day Werneth Hall, with all its extensive apartunances, and royalties, were sold to Messrs. Sidebottom and Co., of London, for £25,500, and thought exceeding cheap. Werneth estate was purchased by Sir Ralph Assheton, Bart., of Middleton, from the Cudworths, in 1685. The estate then came into the hands of the Lister family, of Arnoldsbiggin and Gisburn Park, in Yorkshire, through marriage with the heiress of the Asshetons. Thomas Lister, Esq., afterwards Lord Ribblesdale, sold the estate, as stated in these annals, March 24th, 1792, for £25,500 according to E. Butterworth, though the sum is here stated to be £24,500. I have heard it stated, on what I consider excellent authority, that Thomas Lister, Esq., sold this and other estates, and either lent the money to Government during the great financial crisis then existing, or laid it out in raising troops for the help of his country, and for these services he was rewarded with a baronetcy. For further particulars of the Werneth estate see “Old Homesteads.” |
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ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. X Knutsford, May 1st - This day Thomas Hilton, of Oldham, beat Smith, of Failsworth, 140 yards, for 50 guineas each. Betting 5 to 4 on the winner. Busk, May 5th - This day arrived Phillip Buckley, late of the Oxford Blues. May 10th – This day the body of a young man, who was drowned in November last, as mentioned, was found buried in wreck near Mossley. We hear his name is J. Mills. May 12th – Died, Robert Wrigley, keeper of the Red Lion Inn, Oldham. Mary Greathead was conveyed to Lancaster upon the charge of murder, on the 12th of May. The month of May 1792, was uncommon wet and cold. May 19th.– This day Thomas Garlick, of Block-lane, had his cart robbed of goods to the value of £80, about mid-day, during his being absent about seven minutes. William, son of Samuel Winterbottom, collier, of Oldham, going with his father’s dinner into a bresteye, the roof fell, and crushed him in such a shocking manner that his life is despaired of. – May 19th. George, commonly called Longbutter, committed to the New Bailey for robbing a tramping woman, near Stock-lane, a few days since. – May 25th. May 28th – Last night died Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Hide, of Chadderton. Disorder, consumption. May 28th – Certain intelligence was received, and the account was published in Manchester newspapers, &c., and the account signed by T. B. Bailey, Esq., that Daniel Murphy was executed at Wicklow, in Ireland, and that he confessed he murdered the late Mr. Worthington of Werneth. June 10th. – This day James Bloomaley, of Burnley-lane, imprudently riding upon one of the beams at Fairbottom, had the misfortune to be very much bruised.
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June 12th – This morning James Mellor, of Cockhouse-fold, Oldham, died. He had the misfortune on the 31st of May, to fall and splinter his hip bone, which brought on other disorders, and put a period to his misery. Age 60. He was a fustian manufacturer, but character contrary to most, for he was sincerely a good man.
The writer of these annals was down on the character of fustian manufacturers, and regarded them as tyrants. This was, no doubt, on account of them making use of pauper labour in their manufactories. Parish apprentices were very common among our earlier manufacturers, and were often very badly used. Moreover, fustian manufacturers were often ignorantly regarded as the cause of misery to the poor, on account of their reducing the prices of weaving during hard times. During the months of March, April, May, and June charity sermons were preached in all churches and chapels, of all religions, for the use of the Infirmary, Manchester. The Manchester Infirmary was commenced in 1752, and opened in 1755. The dispensary was added in 1792, and this was very likely the occasion when collections were made in the various churches and chapels in Oldham. June 21st. – Died, John Whitehead, of Mill-lane End, Chadderton, far advanced in years. Disorder, plurasy fever. The Whiteheads are a good family, and for many centuries have been resident in Chadderton and Oldham. E. Butterworth tells us that “Whitehead Lane End was for a considerable period the residence of the Whiteheads. Nicholas Whitehead, of Oldham, yeoman, was living in 1486.” I find the name of Whitehead in our local annals all down the last four centuries. The family seems, like so many other Oldham families, to have grown up under the fostering care of what was once out local aristocracy. Among the tenants at Will of Edri Assheton, of Chadderton, in 1534, was Nicholas Whitehead. In his Lord’s court held at Chadderton he was a jury-man. Nycolas Whyteheade (no doubt this “Nicholas”) paid a subsidy of 11s. to King Henry VIII. In 1540. He was evidently then a manufacturer probably of woollen frieze, as he paid on an income of £22 derived from goods. In the following century – the 17th – the Whiteheads had advanced to great respectability, as we find Edmund Whitehead able to assist the family of Alexander Radcliffe, Esq., of Foxdenton, in 1652, in their fallen fortunes, by advancing them money. Edmund Whitehead’s name appeared next after Squire Horton’s in 1685 as one of the ratepayers – perhaps a principal ratepayer – of Chadderton. |
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