ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. 43 1803 April 27th -Manchester sessions commenced, when William Wrigley’s sentance was seven years transportation, and James Bradey’s sentance one year imprisonment, and then passed to his own native place, Ireland. This month concluded with very cold, harsh weather, and has been very much against vegetation. May 2nd -Oldham fair; is wet, cold day, but a deal of company. May 14th -This morning died, uneversally lamented. Samuel Taylor, of Bottom of North Moor, a man who was never tainted with most of the fashionable vices of the day, a sociable friend and a good neighbour: disorder, consumption: age, 49 years. May 26th -Last night was found dead, near Hollinwood, in his road home, James Robinson, of Lymeside, comonly cald Lord o’ Lyme; he was on the evening of his being found much intoxicated; that was thout to be the principal cause of his death; he was a firm pillar to the cause of libertey, and for his pattriotism was in many a perrilous situation. June12th -Died, at Hollinwood, Mrs. Jenny Harrop, mistris of the Golden Buck there. June 3rd -Kersal Moor races ended, wich were verey wet ones; it was supposed there were an hundred thousand spectators on the last day. June 21st -Since the commencement of the present war the price of labour is very much decreased, especially the weaving branch. Fustian weaving is dropt 9d., for weaving 24 hanks it was 3s. 3d., and now 2s. 6d., nankeen 36 reed from 36s. a piece to 24s., and calico from 6s. a cut to 4s. a cut, and all others in proportion, and especially light goods. E. Butterworth says:- Manufactures and consequently population increased greatly during the war, and yet in 1803-4 trade was subjected to a severe depression. Thus it is with prosperity, “it generally leads on to adversity, as the highest health is often the forerunner of the worst diseases.” Speculation, as Lord Kannes remarks, rouses everyone to adventure, though everyone cannot join. Trade, owing to the vast force of its energies, soon regained its former prosperity. June 28th -The Supplementary Militia for this division where swore in at Rochdale; substitutes from eight to fourteen gueneas each. July 8th -The second ballotment for Supplementary Militia where swore in this day at Rochdale, when substitutes fetched from ten to fifteen gueanis. The declaration of war united both Whigs and Tories against the ambitions of Bonaparte. Green says:-“England was now the one country where freedom in any sense remained alive”-and we shall shortly see what were Bonaparte’s designs against that freedom.
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July 9th -James Burwick, hatter, of Couldhurst-lane, was intered. Disorder, consumption. July 13th -Edmund Whitehead, of Oldham, hatter and badger, was intered. His disorder, consumption. July 14th -Joseph Fletcher, of Bughard Hole, Oldham, hatter, intered. Disorder, consumption. July 12th -The Oldham Orange Club held their first public meeting when they whent to the chapel attended by a band of music, where the Rev. Mr. Winter, one of the members, preached a sermon on the ocation. It may be interesting to local Orangemen to trace the history of this institution in Oldham. Mr. Winter was a good specimen of the Christian ministry, and would no doubt add grace and honour to this movement. July 13th -Died Samuel Brierly, of Coldhurst-lane, a staunch patriot and firm friend of the cause of liberty. He was a great genious in most arts, but especially in painting, music, and phisic, and verey much famed in the art of casting waters. Disorder consumption. Age, 52 years. July 14t h- Died, Daniel Newton, of top of Maygate-lane. Disorder, consumption. July 15th -Another swearing in day for the supplementary militia. Substitutes fetched from 12 to 15 guenis in Yorkshire. They gave up as high as 25 gueaneas. July 17th -The supplementary militia marched on their rout for Lancaster. They where as usual attended by a large group of females, and John Wild and James Wild, of North Moor, have entered as substitutes in the supplementary militia. July 20th -A vilont storm of thunder, lightning, hail, and wind arose. Several persons where killed. The hailstones measured three inches round, and resembled pieces of glass. A vast number of windows where broke, a deal of trees tore up by the roots, and other considerable damage done. “All storms,” says Mr. Espy, “have a central upward movement, with a condensation of vapour, forming clouds. The wind blows from every side towards the centre. When the movement is very powerful in level countries and hot climates, it has the character of a tornado, in the track of which he always found trees fallen in every direction, but always toward the centre. The formation of hail long puzzled men of science. Mr. Espy’s theory solves the difficulty. The rain drops are first carried up into the region of congelation, and being thrown outward, fall to the earth. So great masses of water, carried up in water spouts, fall in a frozen state in lumps which have sometimes measured 15 inches in circumference.” – Hone. I am not aware of any storm in Oldham, besides this, in which the hailstones were so large as stated in this annal. |
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July 25th -Died at Middleton, Abraham Ogden, commonly called Ab-o’th-Crag. He died suddenly; age 60 years. July 31st -Last night died Sarah, second wife of Robert Woolstoncroft, of Couldhurst, High Barn; Disorder, dry gripes. It appears by the returns that the number of men in Manchester betwixt the age of 17 and 55 and liable to serve in the army is 20,065 men. August 1st -Last night an unfortunate affair took place at Royton in an encounter betwixt James Taylor and George Smith, when Smith was so much bruised that he died on the 2nd instant. Corroner’s jurys verdict, Manslaughter. Of course, Taylor was committed to Lancaster for tryal. August 11th -John Buckley, of Northmoor, apprehended for having in his possession a quantity of stolen warps, and, of course, committed for tryal. August 16th -The army reserve balloted men where swore in at Rochdale. They where severally attached to old regiments of both horse and foot. Substitutes fetched from 15 to 20 guineas each. In Yorkshire they where as high as 31 guineas per man. August 27th -Died, John Stot, of Oldham, collior, commonly cold old Jone Stot, far advanced in years. August 28th -Died Joseph Swallow, of Top-o’th-Moor. September 4th -Died Mr. Thomas Hobson, of Mumps, formorly a considerable mercer and draper in Oldham. Last month the Buck public house, Hollinwood, was sold to Mrs. Jane Stot for £827. On 27th, 28th, and 29th of August was Oldham Rushbearing, wich owing to the country being so drained of its men in consequence of the war, it was thinley attended. Genarly supposed to be 3 nimps to 1 swain. The weather was extreemly fine. On Saturday, 3 rushcarts, viz., North Moor, Cowhill, and Bent. Rowbottom had always a convenient way of accounting for the fewness of men, especially if war was afloat. Of course, war might have some effect, but this nymph and swain business was, I suspect, more imaginary than real at times. September 14th-Rebeca Taylor, of Old Can, Northmoor, drowned herself in a pit at Bower, near Hollinwood. She had quarriled with her sweetheart the night before, aged 19 years. Pottatoes this year are but a poor crop owing to the severe drought wich it has been and still continues, so that the farmers sell them on the field at 10d. a score. Meal is in a riseing state and all sorts of trade lowering, so that every appearance is disagreeable. September 19th-The Oldham Volunteers assembled for the first time in order to their being trained and exercised, they having been accepted by His Majesty.
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E. Butterworth says:- Renewed threats of invasion on the part of the Government of France produced a revival of the volunteer system throughout the country. The Oldham Volunteers were arrayed in September 1803, under command of John Lees, Esq., of Church-lane and Werneth, and many were the feats of those provincial heroes in demonstrating the chivalrous manner in which fields could be won, merely as indications of their prowess. The danger of invasion was greater now than ever it was before. Bony made no secret of his intentions. All honour to the ancient volunteers of Oldham. September 5th- Northwood, late of the estate of Samuel Taylor, situate at Northmoor, was sold by auction to Mr. Richard Broom, of Oldham, for £1,450. September 12th- Manchester Sessions commenced, when John Buckley’s sentence 2 years’ imprisonment. Meal and pottatoes are on the advance. The former is now selling 2s. 4d. per peck, and pottatoes at the hucksters, 1lb. 8oz. for 1d. John Rowbottom of Hunt-lane, sells them 10s. a load; Josiah Fallows, in Burnley-lane, 10s. 6d. a load. The crop of pottatoes, owing to the severe drought, is very light. The other different crops are abundant. September 17th. - The Oldham Vollonteers received their arms this day. The drought still continues to an uncomon degree, so that small brooks at this time are dry. November -The most dismal times again present themselves to our view, provisions rising, and all sorts of wages lowering. The weather is so warm and the earth so dry, that mushrooms still continue in great quantitys, and never finer weather for getting the seed wheat in the ground, for the drought is the severest ever remembered, and a deal of mills are at stop for want of water. Nov. 16th -A large fall of snow this day. Nov 19th -Last night the factory of Messrs. Fawcit and Wild, of Northmoor, was broke open, and a quantity of weft stolen therefrom. Nov. 24th -Died, Hannah Woolstooncroft, of Couldhurst Lane; aged upwards of eighty years. Dec. 1st -Was entered at Royton, Thomas Bowker, of that place, aged upwards of 80 years. He, conterary to most of the inhabitants of that place, supported as an advocate the late ruinous war. Dec. 6th -Died, in Chadderton Workhouse, John Smethurst, of that place, aged upwards of 60 years. Dec. 21st -A youth, of a reputeable family, was detected stealing bank notes in the shop of Messrs. Mayals, grocers, Oldham. Dec. 26th -George Rowland was entered this day at Oldham, age 22 years; disorder, consumtion. The year 1803 concluded with very wet weather; wages in general low, and all sorts of provisions high. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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