March 5th – Yesterday John Clegg, alias John Babby, and Worthington, were apprehended on supposition of braking into the house of John Marsland, of Oldham, and where taken before Sir Watts Horton, who committed them to the New Bailey to take their tryal for the same. March 10th – This morning died Thomas Kay, of Old Clarkes, a person remarkable for the inoffensiveness of his manners. He was far advanced in years. March 10th – Last night and early this morning it fell a large quantity of snow, and the wind was very high, wich caused the snow to be much drifted, and last night John Buckley, by his ingenuity and unparalleled dexterity and spirit, made a clear escape from the hands of a posse of constables. March 14th – Yesterday a very large fall of snow, but the frost is very slight, so that the sun soon dissolved the snow away. March 19th – Yesterday a very large fall of snow, and Abraham Wild, collior, of Broadway-lane, died. March 17th – Delph, Saddleworth, yesterday, the coronor’s inquest, was taken on the body of two new-born infants found under a hay stack, on the premises of Robert Bradbury, (commonly cald Robin of Peers), of Peers, near this place, when it appeared upon the testimony of Ann Hollinworth, who is daughter of the above Bradbury, that she was mother of the above infants, and that he Bradbury, her father, had commited the horrorable sin of incest, and was father of the above infants, and that he had assisted her in her delivery, and had taken these two innocents and murdered them. He was, of course, committed to York Castle to take his tryall, and her taken care of, in order to be evidence against him. March 16th – Oldham, this day mutton, raised in price it as been at for some time to sixpence a pond. March 25th – Joseph Starkey, Esquire, high sheriff, set out from his house in Royton fenceable cavallery and a band of musick, with a deal of his neighbours, on his rout for Lancaster. It should be observed that in the late severe weather the gentlemen of Oldham gave to the poor large quantitys of coals and peas soup, wich was a seasonable relief at that time. March 30th – This morning the wind rose to an astonishing degree, so as to resemble a hurricane. It came north-east by east, and froze so that it was extremely cold. March 31st – The wind still continues to blow with the greatest velocity. Although the last day of March, in consequence of the extreme cold weather, there is not the least appearance of spring.
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April 1, 2, 3, and 4th days of April, the wind still blows with the same velocity. April 5th – Last night was one of the most terrifick nights ever remembered by the oldest person living. It begun early last night, and continued its most tryumphul career; the wind was astonishingly high, accompanied with a very large fall of snow, in consequence roads were soon drifted up, and carriages of all sorts were stoped, and it froze astonishingly, so that it was scarcely ever equialed by the most tremendous frost in the depth of winter. April 6th – Last night the wind as high as usual, and rained at intervals. The rain was emidiately froze to hedges and trees, which made a very odd appearance, and the roads were so slippery that it caused a deal of falls. In the afternoon the wind ceased for the first time since the 30th of last month; wind north-east by east. On the 29th day of March ended the great main of cocks between Sir Watts Horton and Sir Rowland Wynn, which was fought at Manchester, and won by Sir Watts Horton. April 14th – The weather still continues extreamly cold, and every day is attended with cold, rain, hail, or snow, so this as been one of the longest winters ever known by the oldest person living. Fodder of all sorts for cattle is extremely scarce and dear, particularly hay, which is now selling 14d. per stone. As for spring, there is not the least appearance of it, for vegetation as not made the least appearance, and the poor warbling birds have not yet attempted b their sweet notes to usher in spring; on the contarary they hop about as in the month of December or January, and everything as a verey drearey apearance. April 13th – This day Manchester Quarter Sessions concluded, when no bill was found against John Clegg and Worthington, for their charge, and this day, Saturday, the Angel Inn Oldham, was discovered to be on fire, but it happening early in the afternoon, a deal of people lent their assistance, and the house verey fortunately saved from destruction: likewise a most singular genius was born this day, in the person of B. Rowland. April 15th – This morning the wind was most tremendously high, accompanied with a verey severe frost at night. The wind droped, and it rained a little. April 16th – Was an extreme fine day, and the little warblers for the first time ushered in spring. April 17th – A cold, chilly day, as usual. April 18th – Yesterday died James Rowland, grocer, Oldham; age, a little above 20 years; disorder, consumption. |
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ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. XXIX April 20th – Died Mr. William Fletcher, hat manufacturer, Oldham; age, 30 years; disorder, consumption. The Fletchers seem to have been associated with the hatting trade of Oldham for many years during last century. There appears to have been several families of Fletchers in Oldham, not all of the same extraction. My remarks must therefore be personal for the most part. The name of Fletcher was not very common in Oldham before the beginning of the 17th century. Soon after then we find the name in the Church registers, and it occurs frequently throughout the century. In the first page of No. 2 register, Oldham Church, I find the name of Sir John Fletcher, “Sir” being then the usual affix to a clergyman’s name instead of rev. as now used. Probably he was curate of Oldham, about the year 1624. I also find a Daniel Fletcher, aged eighty-nine years on same page. Among the names of the Oldham protestators about 1641-2 I find those of Thomas, Richard, and Ralph Fletcher. In 1649 and 1662 Ralph Fletcher and Ux Richard Fletcher were among the inhabitants of Oldham, the latter living at a place called in 1752, “Starkeys”. During the last century we find the name of John Fletcher honourably mentioned in connection with the revival of mathematical studies in Oldham. We are told by Wilkinson that the Oldham Mathematical Society was really the great promoter of the study of the ancient geometry in Lancashire, for during the last half of the last century, and almost up to the present date (1850), it has mentioned amongst its members several of the most distinguished geometrers of modern times. A cursory glance at some of the mathematical periodicals of that date, will readily furnish the names of (among others) Fletcher, whose investigations in the “Gentlemen’s Diary” entitle him to the highest praise. I quote further from the “Memoirs of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society” that, “whilst the mathematical society of London furnished its quota of pioneers in preparing the way for the phalanx of explorers, who occupied these fields of research, towards the close of the last century and the beginning of the present, the names of Edwards, Gompertz, Hampshire, and Sanderson, suffice to show that the same spirit animated the operatives in Spitalfields which has already aroused the handloom weavers of Lancashire to profitable action, whilst the fact of John Fletcher, a journeyman hatter, being at times a member, both of the London and Oldham societies, connects the metropolitan with the provincial, and furnishes an instance of the means by which one society could profit by the objects and designs of another much more readily than by waiting for their uncertain development in the pages of mathematical periodicals.
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In more modern times the late Mr. W. H. Fletcher is entitled to notice for the interest he took in the local history of Oldham, as well as for many excellent traits of character. Mr. W. H. Fletcher was a man of cultivated mind, and of very urbane manners. Some of his witty sayings are still preserved, and as he was by profession an auctioneer he had great opportunities of amusing with jest and tale the ordinary Oldham public. I give an extract from one of Mr. W. H. Fletcher’s productions, as showing his poetical genius, entitled “My Stick”. –
April 27th. – Died John Clegg, of Wood, age 72 years, of jaundice. Butchers’ meat of all sorts is riseing at an astonishing rate. Mutton is now 6½ d. per lb. Beef was sold at Manchester 9d. per lb. The extreme cold wheather still continues, and the hills still continue covered with snow. April 30th. – In consequence of the scarsety and dearness of hay and provender for cattle, mail and flower have taken a most rapid rise. It still continues extreemly cold; the wind, as usual, east, north-east. May 22nd. – Oldham Spring Fair. A very cold, wet, boisterous day; little business done, and few company. |
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