ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. XXV August 26th – Being Oldham rush-bearing Saturday, and a fine day, was verey fully attended, and owing to the briskness of the fustian business, there were eight rush-carts. On Sunday a fine day, and a deal of foreigners, and high spending of money. On Monday a fine day and verey throng, and five rush-carts, wich was a thing uncommon. There was plenty of brewing with familys wich a short time since where verey poor, and, notwithstanding the exhorbitant price of butcher’s meat, there was plenty of beef and cabbage, and joy appeared in every countinance. Beef and Cabbage. – It will be seen that potatoes were too dear for poor people to purchase, being 10s. a load, nearly three times the price they were sold at in the earlier part of the year. No doubt many in Oldham would be able to grow his own cabbages. In this month there as been an uncommon deal of bilberrys, which sold from 4d. to 5d. per quart. August 31st - Uncommon wet weather, and every appearance of it damaging the crops. September 12th – Uncommon wet, cold weather, and has been so a long time, wich causes grain and potatoes to be dearer, for it is a real fact that potatoes sold this day at Manchester Market 10s. a load. September 16th – Manchester this day pottatoes sold 10s. a load. Flower sometimes dearer than as been of late. Meal rather higher. It sold, old 25s.; new, 30s. a load. September 18th – This morning died Mr. John Lees, Cotton manufacturer, of Pit Bank, near Oldham, a gentleman of fair character. This Mr. John Lees was owner of Acre Mill, which was built when Arkwright and Hargreaves’ inventions had become fully established, about the year 1776-8. It was first turned by water-power. According to E. Butterworth, Robert Lees, yeoman, of Pit Bank, living in 1747, was father of this Mr. John Lees, of Acre Mill, Pit Bank. The Leeses, of Pit Bank, were relatives of the Leeses, of Barrowshaw. We are told Mr. John Lees acquired considerable property by the cotton spinning business.
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“He became founder of the fortunes of several members of the flourishing and enterprising family of Lees by Numerous and liberal bequests to his relatives, for by his will he devised no less than thirty-six sums of £600 each to as many nephews and nieces.” The Mr. John Lees mentioned in this annal was uncle of Mr. John Lees, of Church-lane; Mr. Daniel Lees, of Bankside; Mr. John Lees, of Greenbank; Mr. James Lees, of Castle Mill; Mr. Robert Lees, of Side-o’th’Moor; and Great uncle of Mr. John Lees, of New Earth; and Mr. John Lees, of Butler-street. September 14th – Chadderton this day the archers commenced their shooting in the park here, the prize, the Quever of arrows given by Lady Horton, it was a wet cold stormy day, few company, few archers, and very few spectators. September 19th – Fustians drop in value 4s. per piece this day at Manchester, when the masters immediately reduced the wages, and common weaving sold 2s. 6d. a pond. Apples 2s. 6d. a peck lately sold at 3s. 6d. a peck. Metzlaer Germany, September 19th, yesterday died in the 30th year of his age, the heroic and vertious Genaral Hoch one of the French republican generals, his character as a general and as a citizen, surpasses any encomiums that can be passed on him. General Lazarus Hoche died on the 15th September, 1797. He was a commander of great note in the French army. September 30th – Manchester this day, the market was full of every article of life, but in consequence of the wetness of the season, some articles are very dear, such as damson plums, wich are selling 10d. per quart, onions 1s. 4d. per pound, turnips up as high as 9s. per peck. Old Joseph Mellor, schoolmaster of Uin Nook, died on the 24th of this month. Pottatoes this year are but a slender crop, and the price consequently high in the market. They are sold from 6s. to 7s. a load. The farmers in this neighbourhood have but few to part with, and those sell from 7s. to 8s. a load. The wetness of the season is attributed to be the cause in the failure in the crop of pottatoes. October 7th – Died, after lingering in the greatest agonies, but yet supporting it with certain fortitude, Betty, daughter of Josua Taylor, of Bottom of Northmoor. She was about 20 years of age; had been afflicted with white swellings for upwards of 2 years. |
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October 11th.– Died, wife of John Ogden, of Bottom of Maygate-lane, age about 23 years; disorder, consumption. October 11th – Oldham Fair; a deal of company, and an uncommon deal of swine. October 18th – The different sick club societies at Oldham held their annual feast this day, and the Rev. Mr. Winter preached an exalent sermon on the ocation. October 11th.– One of the most blodey and gallent engagements ever fought took place near Camperton, in Holland, betwixt the English fleet, consisting of 16 sail of the line, besides frigate, &c., and the Dutch fleet of the same number, but fewer guns and lighter metal, when the Dutch where totally defeated and lost 11 ships, but 2 sunk before they got into the British ports. The English fleet was commanded by Admiral Duncan; the Dutch fleet by Admiral De Winter. The battle of Camperdown was fought off the Dutch coast, near the village of that name, October 11th, 1797, between the Dutch and English fleets, commanded by Admirals De Winter and Duncan, in which the latter gained a complete victory, taking or destroying 11 of the ships. For his valour and address in this engagement Admiral Duncan was raised to the peerage by the title of Lord Duncan of Camperdown, October 21, 1797. October 18th – A general illumination took place in Oldham on Duncan’s victory. At Manchester on the 20th they illuminated, as they did at different days in most of towns in Great Britain. October 17th – A peace ratified and concluded betwixt the Republic of France and the Emperor of Germany, at Udina, the armistice for this peace was concluded on the 18th of April last. Udine, in Italy, was taken from the Venetians by the French in 1797 on Bonaparte’s return from his victorious campaign. November 21st – Died, Betty, wife of Joseph Schofield, of Top-o’th-Moor. Disorder, a consumption. November 5th – Bonfires, ringing of bells, and other demonstrations of joy. November 6th – Died, Mally, relict of the late Josiah Winterbottom, keeper of the Red Lyon Inn, Oldham.
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November 11th – It has been uncommon fine for several days past, and so remarkable warm that Wheeler’s Manchester Cronacle of the 12th instant says that it was as warm as in June. November 26th – The frost wich commenced a few days since broke this morning. November 30th – Last night was one of the most tremendous nights for snow and wind ever remembered. It continued most of the day. The mail coach from London to Manchester was detained 13 hours. The weather is remarkable for being changeable, some days freezing, some days thawing, and some days rainy. The most remarkable occurances at this time is the fall of butchers’ meat wich is owing to the large number of pigs wich are now falling into the market, besides most of familys are possessed of a good pig, and never was there such a number of those useful animals before. Beff now sells at Oldham 4½ d. to 5½ d., mutton the same, pork 4d. to 6d. per pound; and that branch of the hat manufacturing, called ruffing or plating, is entirely given up, so that a large number of hands are entirely without work and winter and want approaching, makes a dismal appearance. A change was taking place about this time in the process of making hats. E. Butterworth says: “The manufacturing of fine hats, composed of valuable wool and fur, was now carried to a high degree of skill, particularly by Messrs. Henshaw and Clegg. Great expertness was manifested in dyeing and finishing black hats, and much taste evinced in the manufacture of fancy hats”. Previous to 1800, according to Mr. Housman, in his Lancashire Topography, “a patent was obtained and a works established to manufacture hats by machinery, moved by water”. This attempt did not succeed. November 16th – Died, Frederick William, King of Prussia. He was born September 25th, 1744. Frederick William, his son and successor, born August 3rd, 1770. November 29th – It is with heartfelt concern that we have again to announce that the most distressing and callamitious times are again making their appearance in this unhappy country, for all sorts of weaving is on the lowest ebb. Nankeen, wich some time back cut such a conspicuous figure, is now totally annihilated. All other sorts of lights goods are verey lowe, fustians, cotton rises in price, is now selling 2s. 4d. to 2s. 7d. a pond. The wages of a velveteen is 10s. lower than three months since, and all others in proportion. |
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