No doubt the family would get scatter over the locality, as we find branches of the Whitehead family in Saddleworth and other places before the end of the 17th century. At this time there were several distinct families of Whitehead in Chadderton. E. Butterworth says John Whitehead, gentleman, who was buried October 26th, 1766, married Mary, sister of John and Abraham Clegg, Esqs., of Bent. Robert Whitehead, gentleman, of Ardwick, Manchester, the last of this family, died November 26th, 1844, and was remarkable for his enthusiastic attachment to angling. The estate had become the property of the Cleggs, of Bent Grange, in the last century, and the mansion was rendered an elegant abode b William Clegg, Esq., of Westwood House. It was afterwards the residence of John Duncuft, Esq., M.P. It is now pulled down, and the site is covered with cottages. A surviving branch of the Whitehead family was connected with the medical profession, and within memory gained great distinction. Dr. Whitehead, of Manchester, being eminent as a physician. Mr. R. W. Whitehead, a promising young artist in Oldham is, I am told, descended from the Whiteheads of Chadderton or Hollinwood. June 22nd – This day was interred at Oldham wife of John Mills, of Higginshaw, and Wm. Berry, of Back o’th’Edge, who died of a fever. His Majesty’s proclamation again seditious publications was read by ministers in their respective places of worship in the month of June. A riot at Manchester, June 4th, but little damage except pulling up a few innocent trees which grew in the Square, impiously placing them at the Dissenting Chapel. These seditious publications were the outcome of the French Revolution, which was leavening the public mind. The Jacobins were chiefly composed of Nonconformists. The square alluded to was St. Ann’s-square probably, and the chapel probably Cross-street chapel. June 29th – This day the counting-house of Mr. John Lees, Church-lane, Oldham, was found to have been robbed of about £3 worth of copper coin, and one Jones and one Haigh were found to have committed this robbery, but upon their parents making up the money, the matter was dropped. July 3rd – At Kersal Moor this day Thomas Seddon beat Abraham Kershaw, commonly called Loam Barn lad, 4 miles for 50 guineas each time 20 minutes, 39 seconds.
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May 30th – Holt’s scheme of converting the road before Chadderton Hall lost by a great majority. July 9th – The Exchange at Manchester was sold by public auction to Messrs. Upton and Son for £425, and their workmen began taking it down on the Wednesday following. The first Manchester Exchange was built, says Baines, in 1729, at the charge of Sir Oswald Mosley, for the accommodation of the merchants and manufacturers, whose skill, assiduity, and habits of business, combined with the advantageous situation of the town for the free access of the raw materials, tended much to the general prosperity. It was rather an important institution, and as being the place “where merchants most did congregate,” two traitors head were stuck up on the Exchange in the year 1746. – (See letter, Horrocks to Dearden, Baines MS). Knutsford, July 16th - This day Fenton, of Manchester, beat Thomas Hilton, of Oldham, 140 yards. Hilton gave Fenton 4 yards at starting, and lost by 3 yards. Starting high odds on winner. July 13th – Uncommon loud cracks of thunder, with vivid flashes of lightning, attended with uncommon raining, began early this morning, and about four o’clock a cow of John Streets, of Grimbies, was killed by lightning. July 26th.– James Maddocks, of Royton, banksman, in doing his work at a coalpit at Royley, had the misfortune to fall down, and was killed on the spot. July 28th – This morning, died at Oldham, Mary Newton, formerly of Bottom of Northmoor. July 30th – This day, at Hollinwood, the coyting match commenced between John Cordwell and Wm. Cordwell, of Clifton and John Shaw, of Greenacres Moor, and John Lawton, of Waterhead Mill for 20 guineas each, 31 up, when the Cordwells being a great way ahead, Shaw and Lawton declined coyting any more, and of consequence lost the wager. August 6th – James Mills, formerly of Northmoor, attending a carding robin at Stockport; the strap caught him, and taking him up crushed him to death. Character, a civil, well-behaved, peaceable man; age; 37 years. August 6th – Died the Earl of Guilford. He was Prime Minister during the American war; his age 60 years. |
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August 4th – Died Lieutenant-General Burgoyn. August 3rd – Died Sir Richard Arkwright, knight. August 11th - Died Richard Booth, formerly of Beartrees. August 18th – The assizes commenced at Lancaster, when there was no bill found against Mary Greathead. September 6th – This morning died Mary, wife of Philip Buckley, of Busk, of a consumption. September 15th – A son of John Bardsley, of Priest-hill, Oldham, so much burned that it died the next day, aged 4 years. September 22nd – This day, John Turner, of Oldham, most shockingly bruised by a cow in Manchester, that he was taken to the Infirmary with small hopes of recovery. September 23rd – Died, in the greatest agonies, Wm. Winterbottom, who was so miserably wounded in May last. October 1st – This day, at Newton Heath, the coyting match was decided in favour of the Cliftoners. For further particulars see previous sheets. September 28th – James Walton, alias Wrangler, committed to the New Bailey by Jos. Pickford, Esq., charged with breaking the windows of John Whitehead, of Maggot-lane. September 22nd - This day in Wheeler’s Manchester paper, 228 innkeepers gave notice that they would not suffer any persons to have any seditious meetings in any of their respective houses in Manchester.
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October 9th – Some very fine days last past, but has been an uncommon wet summer, particularly the months of August and September. September 28th – This day, at Oldham, Richard Jackson, of Bent Brow, was married to one Betty Travis. There was something in the bride remarkable. She a few days before had sworn a rape against James Cheetham, of Oldham, for which he was committed to prison, and about 5 weeks since she made oath that she was pregnant by one J. Ball. He was of course apprehended, and gave bond to pay to the child. It now appears she is not with child. Chadderton Hall. August 26th. – Last night arrived Sir Watts and Lady Horton from London. October 13th. – This day, at the conclusion of the Manchester Sessions, James Walton was discharged, no bill being brought against him, and John Sprewell, of Littlemoor-lane, found guilty of stealing beers and half-beers of cotton twist, the property of his late master, Mr. Joe Dunkerley, was imprisoned twenty-one days. E. Butterworth says:- Joseph Dunkerley, of Mumps, who was one of the principal ratepayers of Oldham in 1757, died 1788. His relative, Joseph Dunkerley, of Rhodes House, who died 1790, was one of the earliest cotton manufacturers of the district. His son, John Dunkerley, Esq., manufacturer, erected the modern mansion of Pit Bank. The firm would probably be carried on in Joseph Dunkerley’s name. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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