were sent from various towns, urging on the Government to repeal the Tax, and Mr. Taylor was the deputy for Oldham on that occasion. The agitation became so great that in May, 1785, the odious Tax was repealed, and so supreme was the joy created by the event that the Oldham delegate was carried aloft on the shoulders of the people through the principal streets of the village. The extremely neat and tasteful dwelling will no doubt be remembered as standing right opposite the Mumps Bazaar, with a garden in front. The site is now covered by the shops of Messrs. Hawley and others. Feb. 1st. – Landlord of the Yorkminster Tavern, Manchester, hung himself this morning. Likewise a woman hung herself on 29th Jan. Feb. 6th. – The recruits of the 12th regiment of foot, marched from Oldham on their route for Drogedea, Ireland, the concourse of people that watched their heroic departure was immence. They showed a deal of martial spirit, and took leave of their friends who wished them luck, with a deal of manly fortitude they were led up by a drum, and Etches the fiddler, when the drum ceased, which was at the Methodist Chapel, Etches struck up the old tune ofI
The whole number consisted of 36, all from Oldham, and its environs, the following is a list of a part of them: John Hide, Samuel Duerdine, John Taylor, Robert Buckley, and James Hall, of Oldham; Sawney Radcliffe and J. Whitehead, of Coldhurst Lane; Robert Law, of Edge Lane; John Needham, Jonas Schofield, and James Schofield, of Maggot Lane; Jos. Stott, John Taylor, John Ogden, Ben Needham, of Northmoor; John Whitehead, of Burnley Brow; Thanial Stott, Jos. Mellor, John Duckworth, and John Bennet, of Cowhill; and Joshua Taylor, of Coldhurst Highbarn, who were all married men and most of them large families. John Ogden, Abraham Cheetham, and John Ogden, of Northmoor; and James Whitehead of Coldhurst Lane, single men. Some few were turned again to stay a recruiting. The following had gone at a former time in the said regiment:- John Kay, of Busk; Abraham Crompton, James Taylor, Thomas Pattin, James Marlor of Oldham; George Woolstencroft, Maggot Lane; John Etches, of Failsworth; James Newton and John Newton, of Oldham, single men, marched on the 6th, but were not mentioned in their proper places, their bounties were from 10 to 12 guineas each. For the number of inhabitants I should say Oldham would compare with any town in England for the amount of support it gave to the Government in this trying crisis.
|
I doubt not many an ancient Oldhamer will look on this list of names with pride, and perchance he may find in it mention of the name of grandsire or other relative, who devoted his life to the service of his country at that time. There is something truly Roman in the martial spirit displayed by these “rude forefathers”, and with the exception of a few Jacobins, who were in an extremely small minority, we may say of them in the words of Macauley’s Horatius:-
Henry Philip Houghton, Esq., of Haughton, High Sheriff, 1794, he is son of Sir Henry Houghton, Bart. Feb. 8th – Hannah, wife of James Chadwick, of Old Clarks, having experience the greatest miseries and want, died in the greatest agonies. It is only right that we should look on both sides of the picture. Poor Hannah Chadwick is only an example of what must be endured in times of war and local distress. The advocates of peace and reform no doubt took a humane view of the sufferings of the poor. But the poor themselves seem to have gone into the war with a merry heart enough. Feb. 9th – At Manchester Sessions, which concluded Jan. 25th, 11 persons received sentence of transportation for 7 years each. Feb. 5th – There was a meeting at Oldham Workhouse to take in consideration the oppressive actions of the Rev. T. Fawcett, concerning the Church fees. Onions sold at Oldham 3d. per lb., Feb. 10. Feb. 15 – At Manchester this day, the wages of check weaving were dropped 1d. per piece, and fustian warps 44 yards sold 4d. per beer. Feb. 16 – Sunday a mad dog made its appearance in Oldham, did considerable damage, and threw the inhabitants into the greatest consternation. Feb. 18th – An uncommon fine day, much appearance of Spring this morning, was welcomed in by the melodious songs of the thrush, sparrow, goldfinch, red robin, and flaxfinch with the lark. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Feb. 19th – Old Isaac Whittaker, tailor, of Oldham and Jane, wife of Wm. Heywood, of Bent, Oldham, both interred this day. Feb. 20th – As a proof of the forwardness of the Spring, there is at this a pilewort in full bloom. Feb. 15th – Mutton, raised to 5d. per lb. at Oldham. Feb. 22nd – John Buckley, Busk, entered a private in the Oxford Blues. Feb. 27th – An uncommon fine spring this far. Feb. 28th – A general fast observed throughout England and Wales. March 2nd – Manchester potatoes sold 6d. per lb. On the 27th of last month, Henry Smethurst, of Oldham was intered at Oldham. March 6th did appear to tyrannize and domineer. March 8th – On account of the forwardness of the spring a robin’s nest was found. March 8th – A party of recruits of the 33rd regiment of foot consisting of 16 marched from Oldham on their route to Dublin (their order was postponed and they came back to Oldham same day. March 9th – It appears that 20 men in Oldham, have enlisted within these few weeks, who have left 20 wives and 79 children (as appeared in the Chester paper on the 7th). Archibald Prentice tells us that the war was popular soon after and long after its commencement. Writing more than half a century after the event, he severely blames the war spirit of those times. There can be no doubt there was a predominant war spirit. So there was when Rome was like to be betrayed, and this war spirit has been immortalised by Macaulay, and we teach the stanzas to our children, and point out that patriotism as one of the noblest traits that ever existed in this noble world. I mind me of his words and always think of his “Lays of Ancient Rome” when I read the annals of Oldham.
|
Mar. 10th – The recruits of the 57th regiment of foot raised in Oldham by Sergeant Scholes, marched off on their rout to the Isle of Wight, they consisted of about 20 men, of whom were James Needham and Jos. Needham, of Maggot Lane, Ben Bardsley and Tom Chaderton, both of Oldham, &c., &c. On the same day an order arrived for the remainder of the 12th of foot to march to join their respective coars. Mar. 15th – a sergeant belonging to the 33rd of foot, quartered at Robert Smethurst, Oldham, was attaced with a fit, and emmidately died. The 33rd Foot were the “Haver Cake Lads”, a regiment raised originally in East Lancashire and the borders of West Yorkshire. They carried on the point of the recruiting sergeant’s sword, as a badge of the regiment, and “oat cake”, commonly then called “haver cake”. The “Haver Cake Lads” were a very popular corps in Oldham. March 12th. – In consequence of these dreadful times, it is a fact that Jonathan Cheetham, overseer of the poor, of Oldham, Releived upwards of 160 families, exclusive of those in the workhouse this day. As Prentice remarks: “Glory and want went hand in hand”. March 15th - Veal sold at 6d. per lb. at Ben Ward’s, Oldham. Ben Ward kept a noted butcher’s shop in Oldham. He is not yet unforgotten in the local traditions. Mar. 19th - John Needham of Top oth Moor, died very suddenly, age 91 years. Mar. 18th - The recruits of the 33rd regiment of foot, marched out of Oldham, on their rout for Dublin. Mar. 21st – The weather which has been wet and cold for the last 12 days, turned to a very fine spring day. Mar 22nd – James Schofield, late of Schofield, Magot Lane, private in the 12th of foot, intered at Liverpool this day, the cause of his death a fever. |
Page 27
William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
 |
 |
 |
