December 4th- A troop of the Burnley-lane Church folks having sacrificed too freely with the jolly god Bacchus, caused them to fall in the arms of Morpheus, when their colours and stew, the admiration and boast of the ages, were stolen through the window at the Lamb Inn, Oldham. Not a trace left to discover such vile offenders.

Three one-pound notes burnt by Betty, wife of Samuel Newton, hatter, Burnley-lane; she fortunately for the Bank of England kindled the fire with them, October 26th, 1802.

December 14th-Was intered at Oldham, Dr. John Winterbottom, of Ashton-under-Lyne; disorder, apoplexy; age, 42 years.

December 19th-Died at Gillets, near Chadderton, William Schofield, commonly called Water Will, a staunch patriot and a friend of peace; age, 76 years; and wife of James Holt, of Jammy-lane, Cowhill; intered at Oldham.

December 27th-Last night died John Kershaw, of St. Helen’s, Northmoor; was a zealous advocate for the measures of Mr. Pitt and his late colleagues in his late administration; disorder, consumption; age, 51 years.

Most daring robbery was committed last night by a set of villains entering the house of Hannah Wolstencroft, of Coldhurst-lane, a woman of upwards of eighty years of age. They entered by taking out a window, and robbing her of a large sum in cash, besides five gowns, two bedgowns, two petticoats, two quilted coats, besides handkerchiefs, caps, aprons, &c., to a large amount, with which they made clear off.

December 31st- Breathed out her virtuous soul Mary, second wife of Thomas Buckley, of Burnley-lane. She had been a long time afflicted with rheumatism-spasms, which rendered her truly pitiable. She never murmured, but bore it with Christian fortitude; age, 37 years. This year concluded with exalent fine weather, and flour, meal, &c., being reasonable, and all sorts of trade in its full purity, made the country smile and forget the miseries of past years. The country is in a state of such happiness that we meet with nothing but joy flowing on every countenance; indeed it has made the old jade Venus stir up her sons and daughters, for it is observable that never more nymphs and swains did homage at the shrine of Hymen than have done of late.

A great number of marriages are often taken as a sign of prosperity among the people. From these annals, 1802, was a kind of Annus Mirabilis in Oldham. Many new mills were either projected or built about this time in Oldham and district – and no wonder, seeing what were the profits on cotton yarn. Waterhead seems to have had its share of prosperity at this time, as we are told by E. Butterworth; “In 1801 Mr. Samuel Lees, aftewards of Manchester, commenced a small cotton manufactory at Waterhead Mill, which was the first cotton mill established at that place, if we except Dowry Mill, at Millbottom, built about 1791, and Blomeley Mill, near Count Hill, which seems to have been originally a woollen mill. In 1802, Mr. Thomas Brideoake, a native of the Parish of Leigh, erected the first mill at Waterhead Mill built expressly for the purpose of a cotton mill; and in the same year Mr. John Waring first became possessed of Dowry Mill. In the following year Mr. John Kirkham established a third cotton concern at Waterhead Mill, and contemporary with him Mr. William Waring was the first owner of a warehouse for manufacturing purposes at the same place.

The wether as been extreemly unfavourable, having been constantly cold, rain, and snow.

February 18th -Died, Joseph Travis, of Holden Fold; a man famed in the art of singing.

The Singing Society at Shaw brought together considerable singing talent from various parts of the neighbourhood of Shaw and Royton. Probably this Joseph Travis would be a member of this society.

February 25th - Died Thomas Mellor, near Chaderton, commonly cald Old Farmer, a man who loved Law.

Select observations:
It as been uncommon hash wheather since the commencement of this this year; it has been vastly against the comfort of most of people, for it as been etheir frost or cold rain to a verey great extreem. Although the cold weather may have affected the vegetable tribe and the bare heels and fingers of the poor, yet it as not been able to stop the vast affections the nimps and swains have for each other, so that the numbers which presant themselves at Hymen’s altar is rarely incredidable.

February 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, being Shrove-tide, ninety couple were maried at the Old Church, Manchester.

Many people went from Oldham to Manchester Old Church to be married. Johnny Green’s wedding was no means an exception in this respect. The Rev. Joshua Brooks, M.A., was chaplain of the collegiate church at that time, and he is said to have baptised, married, and buried more persons in the course of his ministry than any other clergyman in England.

I publish an account of a little skit I once heard from the lips of one who was present, relating to one of these country weddings:- Owd Jone at th’Birches was an original character, who, as his name indicates, lived in Birches, a place near Lees, some time about the beginning of the present century. His old sayings are still treasured up in many a household, and, like certain old halfpennies, pass for current coin among a class of people who get scarcer every day, namely, “gradely owd-fashioned Lancashire folk.” Jone was the eldest son of a large family, and evidently believed in hereditary wisdom; hence the saying - “I’m th’owdst son and I SHOULD ha’ mooast wit, as owd Jone at th’Birches said.”