ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. XLI 1802 Monday, May 3rd was Oldham fair, a fine sunny day, but very windy, a deal of company, and much business. May 7th -Died Joshua Wolstencroft, of bottom of May Gate-lane; disorder, a consumption; age 42 years. May 14th -Yesterday a very cold day, and a violent shower of hail and sleet; and this morning a severe frost, so that brickmakers, &c. had to break the ice before they began their work. May 15th -Yesterday the Lancashire Volunteers (Col., Earl Wilton) arrived at Manchester from Ireland in order to their being dissembled. May 16th -Last night it froze uncommon hard so as to astonish every beholder. The ice in general was half an inch thick, and it is feared it will destroy all tender plants and blossoms. May 17th -This morning represented one of the most awful scenes ever remembered. A severe cold morning, and the earth gradually covered with snow, and the air as cold and chilly as in a moderate February. May 18th -Yesterday morning died widow of the late Joseph Wild, of Coldhurst lane. May 22nd -Died at the Cock alehouse, Tonge, Jonathan Chadwick, millwright, late of May Gate-lane; disorder, consumption; age 72 years. May 25th -Was intered at Oldham widow of the late Neddy Cheetham, of Northmoor. May 31st -Extreme cold weather still continues, with the wind generally at east or north-east, with severe frosts in the night, which greatly hurts vegetation, and it having rained a little for several weeks past causes grass to be very little, and the rise of meal, flour, and potatoes. Oldham, June 2nd.- Meal 1s. 10d. per peck, flour, 2s. 8d. per peck; potatoes, 8d. per score.
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June 17th - Died Hamlet Lees, of Royton, fustian manufacturer; disorder, consumption. About the beginning of this month died very suddenly wife of Mr. Jacob Radcliffe, of Bank, hat manufacturer. June 30th -Died Leah Newton, of Old Clark; age 83 years. June 30th -The National Debt as appears in the “Gazette of June 26th, 1802, £538,365,205. The great Napolean Bonaparte was born August 16th, 1767. His brothers are Joseph, Lucien, Louis, and Jerome. Sisters, Maria, Caroline, Guide, Marin, and Adela. About the middle of this month (June) those unfortunate men John Buckley, John Stansfield, and James Jackson, of Chadderton, with several from Bolton, who received sentence of transportation last Lancaster Assizes, left Lancaster Castle on their route for Bottany Bay. July 14th -It has been uncommon wet weather for several weeks past. July 16th -Last night, Sarah, daughter of James Wild, cotton manufacturer, of Top o’th Moor, unfortunately drowned, age 2 years. July 22nd -An uncommon wet day and severe cold, and has been so for a long time. Very little grass is cut and what is cut is spoiling. There never was a worse appearance of haytime. July 22nd -Last night, John Coates, fustian cutter and dyer of Burnley-lane, had his bleaching ground robbed of three valuable pieces with which they made clear off. July 23rd -It is with concern that I have to number with the unfortunate, Soloman Collinson, of Stock lane, who lost his life yesterday in a cotton factory. July 27th - Yesterday, an uncommon wet day, the air is extreme cold, and all cut grass is spoiling. The vegetation is in a standing state for want of sun. July 29th -Yesterday, an uncommon day of rain which is very detrimental to the season. The face of the earth is covered with water, and as cold and dirty as in a wet October. July 31st -Uncommon wet weather as ever was known in the memory of the oldest person living. |
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August 8th -The unparalled wet weather terminated on the 3rd, since which it has been exalent hay weather. It is observable that it rained and very heavily from July 2nd to August 3rd, both these days inclusive, without ever being one day fair. August 11th -On the 9th and 10th, uncommon wet days, and last night uncommon wet. By an order of Government a return was made to the House of Commons of the number of the people in the United Kingdom. England 8,301,434, Scotland 1,500,000, Wales 500,000, Ireland 4,000,000, exclusive of those in the army and navy. August 28th - Oldham rushbearing Saturday was a fine day. Four rushcarts and a deal of company, which, owing to the goodness of the times were very well dressed. August 29th -An exalent fine day and a deal of strangers. There has been more ale, porter, &c., drunk at Oldham this Wakes that ever was known in the memory of the oldest person living, and one thing extraordinary, that is, very little fighting, for trade was never in a more flourishing state. Masters are giving 3s. 3d. for weaving 24 hanks calicoes. Nankeens, &c., in proportion, but I am not able to state the prices. Sept. 3rd -Sally Mayall, a woman 22 years of age, being a little deranged, drowned herself in a large stand of water near Broadway-lane, Oldham. Love is said to be the cause of the above lamentable misfortune. This month concluded some of the most seasonable weather ever remembered. It was astonishing hot and dry. The elements, serene and clear, and nature seemed to make a double effort to ripen and replenish the earth with its fruits, which has had a visable effect on the market for provisions. October 10th -Was intered at Oldham, Molly, the relect of the late James Rowland, formerly master and mistress of the Angel Inn. October 1st - John, son of John Wood, of Northmoor, died, age 2 years and 6 months. October 4th -Benjamin Marsland, of Denton-lane, intered at Oldham this day, age 82 years. He was famed for bowling and hunting.
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Here was a famous son of Nimrod of the olden time, inheriting all the instincts of his race. The Marslands are an ancient Chadderton family, reared and nurtured under the kindly influence of one of the Knightly families of Chadderton. In those old days when the lord of the manor met his tenants once a year at his hall or at his manor court, inquiries were made into the progress of his various tenants during the past year, and rectifications done. About the reign of Henry VIII or Elizabeth, we find one of these old meetings was held, and John Marsland reported that he had built “a house two bays, a eyllinge, and that he had enclosed 36 falls of land, probably from Denton Moor.” What was a cyllinge? Was it what we now pronounce “illing,” i.e., a covering? Would it be a temporary shed for cattle? The Marslands were never a numerous family in Oldham, but they seem to have taken their roots in the soil of Chadderton. Oct. 10th -Thomas Greaves, of Northmoor, who this evening fell into a coalpit at the back of Oldham Edge, which was several yards deep of water, but fortunately a piece of old wood which was upon the water prevented him from sinking till persons released him from his perilous position. Oct. 16th -A new Chevy Chase happened near Chadderton between the hunters of Oldham, George Wright, huntsman, and those of Stakehill, Matthews, huntsman. This contest was desperate, both sides claiming the hare that was taken in the chase. These sons of Nimrod in contending for the prize tore poor pussey limb from limb, and marched of with their trophy of victory. “A new chevy chase.” There seems to have been a sort of rivalry between the neighbouring “hunts” of Oldham and Stakehill. As already stated, George Wright kept the Hare and Hounds opposite Oldham Church; and Hunter’s-lane, which is a narrow street between this hostelry and the Chronicle office, takes its name from this fact. “Chevy Chase” was a term applied to the old hunting excursions among the border chieftains. There was a tacit understanding among the border families that none should hunt in the domains of the others without permission, but the martial families of Percy and Douglas being perpetually at feud, were only too ready to break through this rule. Percy crossed the Cheviots on one occasion to hunt without the leave of Douglas. This led to a fierce personal conflict, celebrated by the old ballad writers in the Hunting of the Cheviot:-
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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