August 1st – The turbulent spirit of the wicked gave proof of its vice.

August 3rd – It is with heart felt pleasure that we hear calico, nankeens, roe moll, napkins, and all sorts of light good are at this time rapidly rising their wages. Likewise hats are increasingly prodigiously but poor, strong fustian remains in its former miserable situation.

August 16th – It is with pleasure that I announce that the wages of nankeens rise this day 3d. per piece and jeand nankeens 4d.

August 16th – In Wheeler’s Manchester paper of this day, a reward of 10 guineas is offered for the apprehension of Jos. Garlick, who it appears made his escape on Finchly Common, as they were conveying him to be transported he escaped on the 6th of August.

August 23rd – Manchester this day, the wages of Gimmams (ginghams) was raised to 24s. 4d. per cnd. In December last it was 16s. per cnd, in April last 19s.

August 23rd – Being Middleton Rushbearing Saturday it was very throng, and there were 9 carts and one wagon.

August 30th – Was Oldham Rushbearing Saturday, owing to the poorness of the times there were only 3 rushcarts, one from Northmoor, one from Cowhill, and one from Greenacres. They were all fully decked with emblems.

Royalty. – Oldham was very thinly attended except soldiers, who made a deal of maneuvres to gain recruits, and gave from 10 to 15 guineas for recruits.

September 10th – Lardy Horton, gave an elegant quiver of arrows, which were shot for in the park at Chadderton Hall, and won by Mr. Thackery.

This Mr. Thackeray was a very fine gentleman who owned a mill at “Thackeray Clough”, near to where the Woodend and Clough Mills now stand at Lees. His mill was entirely destroyed by fire Oct. 26, 1811. He had the reputation of being a very humane man, and enjoyed for many years the honour and confidence of his neighbours. The family removed from Lees many years ago to the neighbourhood of Stalybridge, I believe.

And the same day Thomas, son of James Tetlow, was killed by the kick of a horse. He was imprudently plucking hairs out his tail at Dolstile.

September 27th – Last night died wife of James Fletcher, innkeeper, Bottom of Greenacres Moor, a son aged 21, was buried this week, their disorder, a fever.

Samuel Fletcher is said to have built the Friendship at Mumps, and he is spoken of as a noted character.

September 18th.- George Rowbottom of the 93rd of foot, arrived from Londonderry.

September 26th – Last night Michael Rowbottom was thrown from his horse, and much bruised.

September 29th – Monday. – Peter Whitehead, formerly an eminent singer, died very suddenly in Oldham Workhouse, age 74 years, he was taken to have been buried on Wednesday, but the upright priest would not bury him, and he was left on a tombstone all night, and was buried the day following.

Oct. 4th – Betty, wife of Jonathan Raynor, innkeeper, Oldham, drowned herself at Hollinwood.

Oct. 2nd – The Rochdale Volunteers commanded by John Entwistle, Esq., arrived at Royton, and fired several vollies. Mr. Pickford treated them with a roasted sheep, and plenty of Porter.

Oct. 17th – John Grime, a man famous in the Flower Gardens, died near Royton after a long illness.

Royton was always to the fore in its scientific men apropos of the “Flower Garden”. I may state that in this year (1794) the Royton Botanical Society and Natural Science Library was established, and continued its existence thirty years.

Oct. 12th – Betty, wife of Mr. Thos. Whittaker, Oldham, died a child bed.

Oct. 22nd – Being the Sick club feast in Oldham, upwards of 1,200 members from different societies assembled, when Mr, Pearcey preached in the chapel from Corinthians 1st, Chap. 16, verse 2nd.

Dec. 14th – Uncommon fine weather, and no appearance of frost, so that it has been unfavourable to the getting up of potatoes, which have sold from 5d. to 6d. per load, and consequently the farmer has not been able to get in his wheat, which is feared will advance the price of that article.

Dec. 21st – John Shallcross, of Oldham, formerly an eminent blacksmith, died in an advanced age.

And Grace, wife of Abraham Collinge, of Chadderton, died at the great age of 80 years.

Dec. 14th – Robert Radcliffe, Esq., of Fox Denton, birthday age 21 years, ringing on the occation at Middleton and Oldham.

It is not much that we know of this Mr. Robert Radcliffe personally, whose majority was here celebrated with the ringing of bells, but we know something of his family, and a grand old family it was. It may indeed be said of Mr. Robert Radcliffe’s forefathers that they were “mighty men which were of old men of renown”. During those years when the British nation was striving for the mastery, not only with its outward foes, but with itself, the Radcliffes of Fox Denton, were ever to the fore. Among all the battles during those three bloody centuries, the fourteenth to the seventeenth, there was hardly one battle where you did not find a fighting Radcliffe. Cressy and Bosworth Field, and Marston Moor, are what we may call three typical battles, both as regards period and nature, and the ancestors of Mr. Robert Radcliffe sometimes with their faithful yeomen were present at all these. But it is not as a warrior that I wish to speak of Mr. Robert Radcliffe, for warrior he was not that I know of, but in his more peaceful character as a representative of the local landowner and – aristocrat. The word aristocrat may grate on the ears of some, but it is the aptest word that I know for describing my meaning. Among the uses which a landed aristocracy has served in England, I know of none so noble as that use which has applied itself to promoting the growth and well-being of those who were during long centuries, its dependents. Our aristocracy, in spite of all its faults, has for all the centuries been the nursing father of our English people, and of this English nation. No better example can be found than in the instance of the Radcliffes, of Fox Denton. It may be said that the modern employer occupies a larger place in the social economy than ever did a landed aristocrat at any time.