In addition to the above was Lord Ellenborough Lord Chief Justice, with a seat in the Cabinet. This was called the Grenville Ministry, or the “Ministry of all the Talents.” This ministry took office on the 5th. February, and received the nickname of “all the talents,” from the boast of its supporters that it contained, as Mr. Canning said, “all the talents, all the abilities, and all the experience and wisdom of the country.” Green says:- “So great was felt to be the loss of Pitt that nothing but the union of political parties – which Pitt had in vain desired in his lifetime – could fill up the gap left by his death. In the new Ministry Fox, with the small body of popular Whigs (under Lord Grenville), and with the Tories (under Lord Sidmouth). All home questions, in fact, were subordinated to the need of saving Europe from the ambition of France, and in the resolve to save Europe Fox was as resolute as Pitt himself. His hopes of peace, indeed, were stronger, but they were foiled by the evasive answer which Napoleon gave to his overtures, and by a new war which Napoleon undertook against Prussia, the one Power which seemed to be able to resist the arms of France. Le Gendre Pierce Starkey, Esquire, of Huntroyd, near Burnley, sheriff this year. February 26th - Was observed as a general fast by order of the Government. February 27th – A most tremendous high wind, wich did considerable damage by the blowing down of chimneys, &c. March 10th - A very high wind and a deal of snow, and a very severe frost ensued. March 17th - Mary, relect of the late Thomas Shaw, of near Chadderton, entered at Oldham, she was far advanced in years. March 18th – James Scoles, commonly called Gemmy Gentleman, of near Denton Lane, entered at Oldham. March 19th - Mary, relect of the late James Mellor, of Cockhouse Fold entered, she died far advanced in years. March 21st - Benjamen Buckley (comonly called Ben-o’-Siams) of Chaderton Heights, entered this day, aged seventy-four years. March 24th - Died, James Clegg, of Burnley-lane, commonly called long Cleggay, eighty-five years. March 26th - Was entered at Greenacres Chapel, Peggy, daughter of John Garside, of Mills Hill, late of Busk. March 27th - Died, John Tetlow, of Bullock Smithy, aged forty-seven years, died very suddenly. Both of the last. March 28th -Died George Howarth, shoe maker, Horsedge Fold, far advanced in years, seventy-eight years. March 29th - Died, John Banks, clock and watch maker, Oldham. March 25th - Arived the glorious news of Sir John Thomas Duckworth’s K. B., victory, February 6th, 1806, uppon the coast of St. Domingo, with seven sail of the line, took three and burned two, the whole of the French fleet of the line, two frigates and a corvet, being the whole that escaped. The Rochefort and Brest squardrons were sent out to attack remote and ill-defended British Colonies. Lissegues on his return from St. Domingo, was met by Admiral Duckworth with a much superior force and severely beaten (Life and times of Palmerston).
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April 5th - Was intered at Oldham, widow of the late John Horrocks, of Copster-hill, aged 84 years. April 5th - Yesterday an uncommon cold day and very strong frosts, and has been so for several days past, wich as entirely swithered up all sorts of vegetation. April 1st - This morning, Barlow, of Old-lane-end, Hollinwood, was detected with 5 printed callicoes on his back, wich he had this morning stolen out of the bleaching grounds of Clayton Hall. He was committed to Lancaster Castle to take his tryal at the next assizes. April 3rd - Last night some villains broke into the house of __________, caled Sleck Inn, Old-lane, near Hollinwood, and stole £72 in cash, with wich they made clear off. April 11th - Yesterday and last night the wind was very high, attended with rain, sleet, and snow, and an extreme strong frost. April 12th - Last night it again froze with uncomon severity, and last night died, far advanced in years, old James Dronsfield, formerly of Northmoor and Hollinwood, but latelof Fog-lane. April 12th - Was an uncomon cold, frosty and windy day. April 14th - Yesterday was a day for sleet, frost, and a very strong wind, and never remembered colder so far in April. Any little appearance of vegetation swithered away. The wind north-east by east. April 10th - James Butterworth left and steered towards Manchester. April 15th - Last night it froze amazingly, with the wind very high at the north-east. April 16th - Last night it froze again very considerably, but happily the wind was down. April 18th - Yesterday, it was frosty, but not so keen as before, and today the wind west, and very warm, and a fine spring day. April 19th - Died Jonathan Chadwick, of Wood; disorder, rupture.; age 65 years. April 6th - Died, near Manchester, Mrs. Alice Walker, formerly of Burnley-lane, far advanced in years. April 20th Within a few days have died at Oldham, Joseph Ward, one of the old set of ringers, and Samuel Lees, blacksmith, comonly called Saml of Timothy’s. They were both very old men, Lees 78 years. April 24th - Died George Duckworth, of Lees Hall Fold, a man far advanced in years. April 28th -John Horrocks begun of selling ale, &c., in Oldham, at the Old Cheshire Cheese. The Old Cheshire Cheese is a very ancient hostelry. John Haughton and his wife Rebecca kept this house, in or about 1742, and removed from thence to the Grapes Inn at Hey Chapel in the year the chapel was built. The Grapes was built for the convenience of those attending the chapel, and John Haughton removed to it on the advice of several Oldham gentlemen, amongst whom was Mr. Hugh Yannis, interested in building the chapel. John Haughton was the writer’s great grandfather. This month concludes with very severe cold, harsh weather, and is a very cold, late spring, and the coukow has not yet been heard by the most intiligent ear. |
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ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. XLVIII 1806 May 2nd - Was Oldham fair, and was a wet, cold day, and very thinly attended. Sauturday 3rd, Sunday 4th, and Monday 5th, was three of the coldest days ever remembered in the month of May; it was frosty, and attended with an extreem high wind from north-east. May 6th - The wind down, fine and warm, and the coukow was heard this morning for the first time. May 8th - Yesterday, a tremendous high wind at north-east, severe cold, and still continues. May 12th - Died, daughter of James Andrew, of Busk; age nearly 19 years; disorder, consumption. And this day a very cold day, wit the wind north east by east. May 13th – This morning one Whitaker, in a fit of despair, hanged himself in his house at Glodwick. May 14th – Yesterday was a cold, bitter day of wind and rain; the wind north-east. A few days since died Joseph Wamsley, of Lyme Ditch, near Hollinwood, a very considerable corn dealer. Tradition always said that old Walmsley was fortunate enough to gain a prize in one of the State lotteries which were so common at the end of the last century. The prizes were looked on at the time as being extraordinary pieces of good fortune. Oldham people were very lucky in gaining prizes, and this was said to have been one prize among other prizes gained by Oldham, which amounted to £30,000 in money. June 6th - Was interred at Middleton, Theophelus Turner. He died in Oldham Workhouse, where he had been a short time. He was formerly a great artist in clockwork, &c., from which he had retired for some time. June 11th - Was intered at Midleton, Dan Hilton, of Whitegate End, Chadderton, a man advanced in years.
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John Taylor, comonly cald Jone i’ th’ Sandy, lane, intered at Royton a few days since. June 4th - Died at Oldham, Mr. Henry Fletcher, hat manufacturer. Disorder, consumption. June 12th - Thomas Chaderton, of Hollinwood, kild in a coalpit near that place. June 19th - One David Jagers, a youth of 15 years of age, wilst bathing in the reservoy at Hollinwood, was drowned. The body was not found till the following day. June 22nd - A slight shower last night, but this day is droughty, as usual. The earth is parced up with drought, the brooks and springs all dryed up, and water is become exceeding scarse. June 24th - An excessive drought still continues, and this morning it was such a strong frost that the ground was white over, and water is become so exceeding scarse that even pit water is sold a halfpenny a burn in and about Oldham. The ground in some parts is burned up for want of moisture, although there had been very heavy dues before these frosty nights aproached. “Pit water a halfpenny a burn.” Some people may ask what was meant by a “burn.” A “burn-can” or “great can” was a large can carried on the head. It had usually two handles, one on each side. That handle on the right hand side, when being carried was placed near to the bottom, so that it could be easily reached by the right hand, and firmly held on the head. An expert water carrier, besides carrying a can on his head, would carry in his left hand another can, called a “bant” can. June 23rd - Died, at Oldham, Robert Skellorn, age 58 years. Disorder, a fever. June 26th - Died, Mally, wife of John Bradley, hatter, of Whittaker-fold, age 30 years. Disorder, consumption. June 29th - Oldham: This day was interred in one grave, James Dalton and Annie, his wife. They where both far advanced in years. Disorder, a fever. A few days since, very suddenly, Dolly Briarly, of Cowhill, an eminent midwife of that place. July 9th - Died, Mary, wife of Joshua Taylor, of Hudson-fold, Northmoor. Disorder, consumption. |
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