ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. XLV 1804 May 14th - A lamentable misfortune happened at Royton. One Booth, in discharging a gun, it burst, and blew his hand off. May 27th - Died, wife of Thomas Whitehead, of top of Maygate Lane; age 64 years. May 29th - Died, Mr. John Wood, master of the Angel Inn, Oldham; disorder, a consumption. June 11th - The Oldham Loyal Volunteers marched from Oldham, on their route for Preston. They were accompanied by a large concourse of people. June 14th - Last night the wife of Joseph Tweedale, of Gillats, near Chadderton, put an end to her life by drinking too large a quantity of rum. Tea and rum, or rum and tea, was an old establishment among Chadderton and other housewives. Here was an “awful example” of the abuse of what was no doubt considered a harmless beverage. June 25th - The Oldham Loyal Volunteers returned to Oldham, having performed permanent duty for 14 days. They were met by the gentlemen of Oldham and their friends, accompanied by a band of music and bells ringing, and were welcomed to their houses amidst universal exclamations of joy. The country was thoroughly aroused to a sense of danger from invasion. The deputy lieutenants of the various parts of Lancashire ordered returns of the inhabitants, cattle and stock from each district. Among other matters a return was made of the number of men willing to serve on horseback; the number of persons willing to serve and provide firelocks; the number of swords, pistols, and pitchforks; the number of pioneers and labourers with felling axes, pickaxes, spades, shovels, mattocks, and saws; the number of guides and overseers for the removal of wagons, live, and dead stock; the number who will supply waggons, drivers, and conductors, with four or three horses, the number of carts without tilts, with three or two horses; the number of carts with tilts, with three or two horses; ovens to supply constantly or on emergency; number of barges and other particulars.
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Oldham seems to have been one of the first in the field to show what it was prepared to do; nor indeed must we overlook the ladies in this emergency. They entered into arrangements for supplying the troops with flannel clothing made with their own hands. One lady in another part of the country proposed to raise and command a corps of 600 females to drive the cattle from the coast. Other ladies as we have seen on Oldham presented standards and cockades of their own handiwork to the troops. It will be seen that it was in the June of 1804, when Oldham was busy in its work, while in Manchester, Bolton, and other parts, it was July or August before the people were roused to enthusiasm. Samuel Taylor, Esq., of Moston, clothed and armed a company of pike men, consisting of 60 rank and file, to join the Manchester Rifles, of which he was major. Messrs. Pickford, the carriers, undertook to furnish 400 horses, 50 waggons, and 28 boats. Other examples of loyalty might be named. It should be remarked that old potatoes sold a few weeks since at 17s. a load. June 20th - Was interred at Oldham, Sarah Mellor, relict of the late Phineas Mellor, of Top-o’-th’-Moor, her age 66 years. June 27th – The Blockade which commenced against Thomas Buckley’s house, and which was several times turned into a close siege, but Mr.Cheslin and his followers were always repulsed by the vigilance of Thomas Buckley. The affair was compromised this day, and Thomas Buckley paid £55 for his good will in becoming bail for Thomas Fletcher, which bail was forfeited. July 6th – Joseph Mellor, of Chadderton, shoemaker, interred this day. Disorder, consumption. July 8th – John Newton, of Maygate-lane, interred this day. Disorder, dry gripes. July 10th – Anthony Clegg, of fields near Cowhill, intered this day. Disorder, a consumption. July 11th – Robert Holt, of Millfield, Royton, was apprehended on supposition of receiving stolen goods. His house was searched, and a large quantity of stolen goods found. He was of course committed to Lancaster to take his trial. July 16th – Two lamentable misfortunes: James Cooper was most misorably bruised by a cart wheel going over his body, on Greenacres Moor; and one Clough killed on the spot by falling off a load of hay near Middleton. |
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July 21st: - The Bishop of Chester held confirmation at Manchester. And Robert Fenton, of Middleton, apprehended on a charge of felloney, and committed to Lancaster, John Cowper of Narrow Gate Brow, tried at Warwick for having in his possession forged Bank of England notes found guilty; sentence 14 years’ transportation. A deal of bad paper was floating about at this time. Gold was scarce, and people were tempted to imitate bank notes and put them into circulation. I am not aware that any manufactory of notes was ever found in Oldham, but many instances occurred of Oldham people dabbling in these questionable mediums of exchange. Tradition tells of an Oldham woman who was hanged for dealing with a guilty knowledge in forged notes. August 18th – Died, Samuel, son of Thomas Bradley, of Busk, hatter; disorder, consumption, age 20 years. August 21st:- Ended Lancaster Assizes, which commenced on the 11th, when Robert Holt, found guilty of receiving stolen goods, sentence 14 tears transportation. Robert Fenton acquitted. August 22nd – Died in a coalpit at his labour and supposed in a fit, Abraham Mills, comonly cald Aby Dolt, of Horsedge. August 24th – Last night the house of James Knott, of Oldham, shopkeeper, was broken open, and a large quantity of goods stolen, but no trace left of discovery. Meal and flour has risen in these few days. Flour sells 2s. 10d., meal 2s. 2d. a peck. August 28th – Was intered at Oldham wife of William Rowbottom, hardwareman. William Rowbottom was one of the first Oldham machinists. His workshop was near the Old Grammar School. Among those who worked for him or learnt their trade with him is said to have been Henry Platt, who afterwards founded the great firm of Hibbert and Platt. Rowbottom kept a hardware shop where Mr. Potter’s shop now is. He afterwards went into mule making, and supplied many of our early cotton spinners with this class of machinery. August 30th – Thursday, Jacob Scholes and Company begun to demolish Joel Halliwell’s dam, by order of Mr. William Clegg. “Joel’s dam” was somewhere about Busk. This annal shows why it was so called.
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August 25th – Oldham Rushbearing Sauterday, a fine day, much company, and four rushcarts, viz, one from Northmoor, Nimblenook, &c. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday have been more company, &c. September 2nd – Last night a man accidentally fell into a coal pit, fifty-five yards deep, about twelve o’clock, and was not found till ten o’clock this day, when he was heard to call for assistance. It is extraordinary, he had not a bone broke, but much bruised. This affair happened Miles Platting. September 6th – Died James Bloomley, of Burnley-lane, formerly huntsman to Sir William Horton, baronet, of Chadderton Hall; age 79 years. September 19th – Was license day at Rochdale. When five new houses obtained licenses in Oldham, viz., James Smethurst, William Wright, opposite churchyard, formerly an ale-house; and Charles Beswick, of Bent, returned without one. Morton obtained one for Streetbridge alehouse within Royton. Rochdale seems to have been headquarters for the Inland Revenue authorities at that time. One cannot speak with certainty as to all the houses then licensed. James Smethurst, the auctioneer, tradition tells us, kept the “Game Cock,” behind the Lamb Inn; William Wright, alias “Bill Reet,” kept “Nelson’s Ball,” which was afterwards taken down, and after being rebuilt was known by the sign of the “Greaves Arms,” and is still known by that sign. “Nelson’s Ball” stood on the spare ground immediately in front of the present church gates. On one side of the street, called “Goldborne,” was the churchyard, and on the other was a long row of old houses, with “Nelson’s Ball” at one end and a public house called “Ring o’ Bells” at the other. This house was much above the level of Yorkshire-street, and was approached by a flight of steps. Near to the door of the hostelry were benches placed outside, where the thirsty Oldhamer could rest his bones while he quenched his thirst. A bay window in the main room of the “Ring o’ Bells” overlooked some land which was called Sandhole, on the Yorkshire-street side. This land was covered over with old timber and other lumber, previous to being built over by Terrace Buildings. Near to Braddock’s shop, was an old mile post, “Seven miles to Manchester.” The steps up to the “Ring o’ Bells” were near Braddock’s shop. John Whitehead kept the “Coach and Horses,” in Church-lane. He was a dealer in timber and an old bellringer at Oldham Church. October 9th – Manchester sessions commenced, when Robert Fenton, of Middleton, for stealing a skip of weft, seven years’ transportation. James Whittaker, of Oldham, for assaulting Jonathan Howard, compromised. Whittaker paid three guineas and costs. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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