No. XXII

The annals of 1796 are wanting. Judging by what E. Butterworth says, despite the hard times, Oldham continued to grow. From 1791 to 1796 eight new cotton spinning concerns were started in Oldham, four new mills and four large spinning rooms, so that in 1796 the number of cotton mills in the township of Oldham was 22. The staple trade of hatting also materially increased up to 1796, though it seems to have sustained a check in 1797. The formation of new roads had began to have its effect on the trade of the town at this time, and the increased traffic added very greatly increased prosperity to every trade and shopkeeper in the town.

The year 1797 commenced on Sunday, which was a moderate fine day, and what by industry and economy the poor were moderately supplied with Christmas cheer, and notwithstanding the dearness of some of the necessaries of life and the lowness of work, the ancient hospitality has peeped from behind the dark clouds of adversity, for it is observable that there has been more suppering nights by one neighbour giving a treat to another than has been for some time.

January 7th – Wife of Jephta Garlick, of Burnley-lane, died; disorder, a violent fever.

January 13th – Wife of Greaves, of Burnley-lane, interred; disorder, consumption.

January 14th – Ann, wife of Benjamin Wolstoncroft, Maygate-lane, died. She had been a very long time afflicted with a palsey.

John Law, constable of Royton, died; disorder, consumption.

January 30th. – The weather for several weeks past has been uncommon fine, and very much resembles spring.

The lots for the supplementary militia were drawn at Middleton (note the Supplementary Militia Act 1796 and 1802) for the Hundred of Saldford. Oldham quota 89, Chadderton 29, Royton 30, Crompton 29. The whole for Lancashire is 5,150 men, substitutes where obtained from 4 to 10 guineas.

Encyclopaedia Britannica has the following on the Militia:- “It is the oldest force Britain possess, and in fact represents the train bands of early English history. Its origin is to be found in the obligation of all free men between certain ages, to arm themselves for the preservation of the peace within their respective counties, and generally for the protection of the kingdom from invasion. This obligation, imposed in the first instance upon the individuals themselves, became shifted to the owners of land, who were compelled to keep up their proportion of horses and armour for the national defence. The forces were placed under the lieutenant of the county, empowered in this respect by a commission from the Crown. This prerogative of the Sovereign, which had been in some instances a matter of controversy, was declared by statute shortly after the Restoration. By the same statute the militia of each county was placed under the lieutenant, who was vested with the appointment of officers, but with a reservation to the Crown in the way of commissioning and dismissal. The cost of the annual training – for 14 days – fell upon the local authority. Offences against discipline were dealt with by the civil magistrates, but with a power to the officers of fining and of imprisoning in default. Upon this footing the militia of England remained for nearly a century with the general approval of the community. It was recognised as an instrument of defence, and for the preservation of internal order, while it was especially popular from the circumstance that from its constitution and organisation the Crown could not use it as a means of violating the constitution or abridging the liberty of the subject. It was controlled and regulated in the county; it was officered by the landowners and their relatives, its ranks were filled by men not depending for their substances or advancement upon the favour of the Crown; its numbers and maintinence were beyond the royal control, its government was by statute. While the supreme command was distinctly vested in the Crown, every practical security was thus taken against its use by the Crown for any object not constitutional or legitimate. It was regarded as, and was, in fact, the army of the state as distinguished from the standing army, which was very much the army of the King personally. The latter consisted of hired soldiers, and was more than once recruited by a conscription, confined, however, to persons of the vagrant class not having a lawful employment, while the former was mainly composed of those having a fixed abode and status. The militia thus enjoyed for many years as compared with the regular forces a social, as well as a constitutional superiority.

In the year 1641-2, just on the eve of the Civil War, I find in the list of Oldham protestators the names of Gregorye Knott, Daniell Knott (twice), and Samuell Knott. In 1649 Gregorye Knott paid twopence towards a “fifteen”, which was an Imperial tax. In 1662 the occupants of Daniel Knott and the wife of Gregory Knott paid 6d. each towards another “fifteen”. In 1684 we find Samuel Knott on the list of Oldham ratepayers. During last century, 1740, we find the names of Samuel and Daniel still in the rate books. In more modern times as representing the Oldham family of Knott, we have our gritty old friend Mr. William Knott, J.P., octogenarian, retired hatter and independent gentleman. If there be such a thing as apostolic succession I know of no better instance than that of Mr. Knott. He learnt his Radicalism from its first apostles, John Knight and he embody in their two lives the whole history of Oldham Radicalism, which had its birth, as already seen, among the Jacobins of the French Revolution. John Knight was the “Gamaliel” of the Oldham Radicals up to his death in 1838, and Mr. William Knott sat at his feet. Even before 1838 we find Mr. Knott’s speeches among the local records, and since then up to within a few years ago there has scarcely been a public movement in Oldham of any importance with which the name of Mr. William Knott is not associated. Long may he live to enjoy the harvest of past remembrances.

February 18th – The frost, wich commenced on the 13th, still continues, but is remarkably fine.

February 18th – Middleton: This evening, as Robert Taylor was crossing the road just as two carts were passing, the one endeavouring to pass the other, one of the horses rode him down. The wheel run over his head, and killed him on the spot. The jury sat two days, and brought in their verdict manslaughter against the carter, who, of course, was committed to Lancaster Castle, but at the Assizes was acquitted.

February 21st – All kinds of weaving uncommon low. Plain nankeen wich, fifteen months ago, wher 15s. per cut, now wove for 10s. per cut, two yards longer. Twill and plain nankeen, which was 5d. per yard, now but 3½ d., and all sorts of light goods in proportion. Fustians lower every day, but there is one great happiness, namely, the rapid fall of all sorts of grain.

February 25th – Uncommon fine weather, and every appearance of a forward spring.