ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. XLIV 1804 The year 1804 commenced on Sunday wich was a very fine day, but owing to the lowness of all sorts of weaving there was very little Christmas cheer. In Harland and Wilkinson’s “Folk Lore,” under popular superstitions we are favoured with a copy of a Saxon MS, which states that if the Kalends, or first of January fall on the Lord’s Day, then will the winter be good, pleasant, and warm. (Hickes Thesaurus, II., 194). Another MS (Bibl. Cott. MSS. Tiberius A III., fols 39 and 40), states: If the Kalends fall on a Sunday there will be a good winter, windy spring, and dry summer, and a very good year this year will be. Sheep will increase, there will be much honey, and plenty and peace will be upon the earth. We shall see how these prognostications are fulfilled. No doubt Rowbottom was imbued with these old superstitions, as we find him so particular in his remarks on the weather. The following is an authentic statement on the price of the following articles, viz: Meal 2s. 2d. to 2s. 4d. a peck; flour, 2s. 3d. to 2s. 5d. a peck; malt 2s. 4d. a peck; treacle 4d. a lb.; butter, old, 1s. 1d.; new butter, 1s 3d.; candles. 101/2d.; cheese, 7d. to 8d.; pork, from 6 1/2d. to 7 1/2d.; beff, 8d.; mutton, 8d.; pottatoes, 10d. per score; onions 1 ½d. per lb.; bacon, 9d. to 10d. per lb.; soap, white or brown, 10d. do.; sugar, 8d. to 10d. per lb.; hay, 1s.; straw, 5d. per stone; white peas, 3 1/2d. per quart; salt, 3d. per lb.; coals, 1s. 6d. a horse load. Nothing material happened this month, except they begun enclosing the North Moor, and other waste places. E. Butterworth says:- The increasing value imparted to land in this part of the country by manufactures led, in 1801, to steps being taken by several of the principal inhabitants for the purpose of affecting the enclosure of six large commons of Greenacres Moor, Northmoor, Higher Moor, Lower Moor, Sarah Moor, and Hollinwood Moor, comprising altogether upwards of 200 acres. An Act of Parliament was accordingly passed in 1802-3, empowering certain commissioners to divide, allot and enclose the commons. The commissioners proceeded with due expedition to the discharge of their duty, and in 1807 the waste lands of the township had been all effectually parcelled out amongst the adjacent landowners and occupiers. These proceedings were not popular amongst the body of the people, for the rights of unrestrained pasturage for cattle and fowl, and the advantages of the moors as places of recreation and exercise, had rendered them spots deeply endeared to successive generations. Northmoor was divided amongst 25 allottees. It will be seen by this annal that the enclosure began in 1804, so that it took some three years to finish the work. The buildings on Northmoor were very scattered, but in a few years after the enclosure the population had very greatly increased. Never a finer warmer January in the memory of the oldest person living. Nettles, cresses, greencans (greensauce or sorrell), and all sorts of vegetation as forward as in a cold March. The lark and the robin, by their sweet notes, made it resemble a fine spring. The meadows and warm valleys, covered with their green verdure, as to resemble spring.
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Gilbert White says the robin sings all the year round, and larks congregate Jan. 1st to 18th. His observations are chiefly confined to the South of England. It is not often, in these days, that we hear the lark singing in January in this dismal Oldham of ours. Perhaps the grimy mill chimneys have frightened them away. Who remembers the old rhyme?
Monday, January 30th - This day twenty of the committee of the late Union Friendly Society in Oldham were served with copies of writs, and on Wednesday twelve were served with declarations at the suit of Messrs. Marshall and Frank, which caused universal alarm and consternation to those concerned. I have mentioned in a previous note that this Union or United Friendly Society was the first Co-operative Society in Oldham, or perhaps in the country. It was first formed in 1795, for the purchase of food and other necessaries on as economical a scale as possible. In 1804, as seen by this annal, the committee became involved in law, but the society went on till 1808. It would be interesting to know more of this society. Thomas Lister Parker, Esq., of Browsholm, High Sheriff for Lancashire this year. February 17th - Was intered at Oldham John Horrocks, formerly of Broadway-lane, age 74 years. February 28th -Joseph, son of John Burgess, of St. Hellens, had the misfortune to get his cloathes on fire, and was so misorably burned that he died next day; age five years. March 4th - Died, Mr. John Fletcher, hat manufacturer, of Oldham; disorder, consumption. March 5th - One Simpson found drowned in the canal near Chadderton Moss. March 10th - A female child was found on the side of the public road, Failsworth. It was dead; neatly dressed, and apparently about three months old. March 19th - Last night, a poor miserable wretch was found dead in a barn at Top-o’th-Edge, supposed to have died by starving and want of victuals. March 19th - Died Joseph Parr, keeper of the Horton Arms, Streetbridge. March 27th - Last day an uncomon rough day of wind, sleet, and rain, and last night a very large quantity of snow fell, and a frost ensued. April 5th - Last night a very great fall of snow, such was seldom seen before. There is no appearance of spring, for there is nothing but continual frosts and air severely cold. |
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April 17th -The weather still continues extreem cold, with the wind at north-east, which prevents any appearance of vegetation. The northern hills covered with snow; there is no appearance of spring. April 20th - Last night an uncommon rough, cold night, frost and a fall of snow. The wind, as usual of late, north-east. This harsh weather entirely locks up vegetation. April 14th - Was intered at Oldham, wife of James Wild, of Whittaker Row, Top-o’th-Moor. April 22nd - This morning a large fall of snow and a frost last night, but the power of the sun soon dissolved them. April 23rd - This morning a very large fall of snow, but the sun’s power dissolved it apace. April 21st - Was intered at Oldham. Matty, wife of Joseph Scott, of Horsedge. April 23rd - Was intered at Oldham, wife of James Handford, of Oldham, saddler. April 24th or 25th. The wind has turned to the south and has rained very much, but is much warmer and more appearance of spring. The spring this year is very late owing to the continual cold weather. Hay is risen up to 1s. 6d. per stone, not the least vestige of herbege to be seen so that meadows and gardens have but a bad appearance. May 2nd - The weather has taken a different turn for it has fallen some fine warm showers and the air extreemly warm so that all sorts of vegetation are making rapid appearances. May 2nd - Oldham Fair and a very fine day. The most company ever seen. Shows, flying horses, chairs, &c., in great numbers. We all know what “dobby horses” are, but what are “chairs?” Are they what the girls of the period rode in, mounted on these roundabouts? James Mellor, of Royton, a man remarkable for curious rambles in several parts of Great Britain, was found dead in the township of Pendleton, near Manchester, his native place, as above, found out by a written paper found in his pocket. Royton has produced many eminent men in various walks of life. I have not found any record but this of James Mellor. Query: Was he any relation of John Mellor, the celebrated botanist, whose memorial tablet is or was to be found in St. Paul’s Church?
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May 6th - The Oldham volunteers received their colours from the hands of Miss Lees. A sermon was preached on the occasion by the Rev. M. Winter. The ancient Oldhamer, like Job’s warhorse. who smelled “the battle afar off,” and here we find him in orderly fashion attending church, and in the most formal manner, receiving the signals of war from the hands of a lady. It certainly would have been a fine subject for a painter, had we then had a local artist worthy of his art. Here under the impulse of high emotions, shall I say the highest emotions, those of love of home, and fatherland, he seems to have said “Ha! Ha!” among the blare of the trumpets, ”the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.” Miss Lees was daughter of Mr. John Lees, lord of the manor. He lived in Church-lane, what the particular ceremony was of presenting the colours we do not know. One cannot but be reminded of Longfellow’s words on a similar occasion: Take thy banner! and beneath Every English heart throbbed then to a true cause. Every English ear tingled with the threat of invasion. The enemy was at the gate. Bonaparte had formed a camp of one hundred thousand men at Boulogne, and a host of flat bottomed boats for their conveyance across the channel. “Let us but be masters of the Channel for six hours,” He is said to have said, “and we are the masters of the world.” “Fifteen millions of people must give way to forty millions.” It is possible that when the campaign opened in 1793, the English Government might have been to blame. Cobden says it was to blame. We will take his word for it. But there can be no doubt who was to blame here. Green says the aim of Bonaparte was that of vulgar conquest. Every Englishmen was a jingo then. “Every other monument of European liberty has perished” cried Sir James MacIntosh one of the most eminent of Whig leaders. “That ancient fabric which has been gradually raised by the wisdom and virtue of our forefathers still stands; but it stands alone, and it stands among ruins.” These were evidently the sentiments of Oldhamers in 1804, “uttered but unexpressed.” We shall see further developments of this public sentiment by and by. |
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