July 12th - Died, Anne, wife of George Buckley, of Busk, age 22 years. Disorder, child-bed. July 11th - This day, the two houses, and 3 acres, and 35 perches of land, situate in Burnley-lane, the property of Lancashires, was sold by auction, and purchased by James Clegg, of Oldham, for £490. July 20th - Died at Oldham Workhouse, far advanced in years, old Benjamen Dyson. July 24th - Died, Mary, wife of Samuel Brierley, hatter, of St. Hellens, Maygate-lane, of a consumption; age about 22 years. July 29th - John Eastwood, of Highgate, near Royton, was committed to Lancaster Castle, charged with the wilful murder of Nicholas Kershaw on Preston Racecourse, on or about the 15th inst. Hay: Owing to the dryness of the summer, the crops of hay are uncomly light, and, consequently, is a rising article, but corn of all sorts had never a better appearance, but the drought this summer was scarce ever equaled. This summer may with propriety be called the “dry summer.” August 3rd - Was intered wife of Thomas Howorth, butcher, of Oldham, she was his third wife. And Henry King, cloger and shopkeeper, of Oldham, was intered at the Quaker buring ground, Turf-lane, within Royton. This Henry King would probably be a relation of John King, mentioned in the annals of the Society of Friends in 1720. See a former paper on the Society of Friends. August 3rd – The Methodist new chappel in Oldham was opened this day. August 19th - Old James Potter, of Potters back of Edge, intered this day at Oldham. August 30th - John Woolstoncroft, carter of Samuel Ogden, of Swine Clough, so bruised by his cart wheel going over him that he died a few days after, age 55 years. He had a brother killed by a similar accident 18 years age. A few days since Shepherd, a collier, of Highgate, so burned by the firey damp that he died a few days after. August 16th - Lancaster Assizes commenced, where John Eastwood, charged with murder, was acquited, and 5 of the Warington sodomites where found guilty and received sentence of death, and James Yates, for ravishing and wounding Mary Hoyl, a woman of 58 years of age, him 30 years old, both of Spotland, within Rochdale. August 30th - Oldham rushbearing commenced, when there was nine rushcarts – viz., Northmoor, Cowhill, Bent, Foglane, Dollstile, Lowermoor, Glodwick, Hollins, and Greenacres-moor. They were more than common richly decked with silver-plate. It was very fine weather all the day, and a vast of forreighn company, who, as well as the natives, were very well dressed; as usual much drinking.
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September 8th - Died, after a few hours illness, Sarah (widdow of Thos. Ogden), badger and muffin-baker, Oldham, age 71 years. September 13th – Died the Right Honorable Charles James Fox, His Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Foreign Department; disorder, dropsey, age 57 years. Fox did not long enjoy the honours of office. He had done some good though by his personal influence with Napoleon, to whom he was known. Some scoundrel had made an offer to assassinate Napoleon, and this led to a communication to Talleyrand, and opened up an intercourse extending over several months. The object of Fox was permanent peace, but he failed. Peace gave an opportunity, however, for an exchange of prisoners. The English sent home many French officers taken in war, and in return Napoleon liberated the English families whom he had detained in France since the commencement of hostilities. Next to Pitt perhaps, Fox was the most popular man in England. He had many adherents in Oldham, especially among the advanced politicians. September 15th – Died, John Coates, of Royton, fustian manufacturer; disorder, consumption; age 59 years. September 16th – Died wife of Simon Mellor, of Highgate, near Royton. September 20th – Last night, died John Schofield, of Beartrees, age 71 years; disorder, consumption. September 19th – Was the day for granting ale-house licences at Rochdale, when the following new ones were obtained viz:- Alexander Barns, near Coldhurst, Northmoor; James Heap, near Priesthill, Oldham; Samuel Fielding, Oldham, at Bardsley Brow; and one at Roundthorn; William Royle, at Greenacres Moor; James Greaves, at Streetbridge. I can find no record of Alexander Barns, but who did not know “Owd Jim Yep ut kept Shoulder op’ Mutton i’ Chepside.” Fielding has faded from memory, but “Bill Royle” was a bit of a spinner, and after keeping a public house on Greenacres Moor, went to the “Coach and Horses,” the old-fashioned hostelry at Waterhead Mill when it was first opened. Uncommon fine weather at this time; the ground dry, the sky serene and clear, and grass growing apace. October 11th - Died, Adam Heanthorn, hatter, Oldham; was intered this day. October 12th - Was intered at Oldham, Thomas Whitehead, of Maygate-lane, comonly cald Tommy o’Richards, age 66 years, and Josuah Coupe, of Broadway-lane, age 77 years. October 27th - Died, at Oldham, Martha Wild, commonly cald Mat of Keppels, age 89 years. Pottatoes this year have been very good crops, and in general of a very good quality, and the farmers in general sold them on the field at 7s. a load. October 23rd - Michael Rowbottom, of Mumps, had the misfortune last night to fall down a pair of stairs at Samuel Fletcher’s, the Friendship Inn, and was thereby very much brused. |
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November - The expedition wich sailed about the 12th of this month consisted of the following troops, under General Crawford viz.: The 6th Dragoon Guards, two squadrons, Colonel Kingston; 9th Light Dragoons, Colonel Mahon; Foot 5th, Colonel Davie; 36th, Colonel Burne; 45th, Colonel Guard; 88th, Colonel Duff; 95th, Major McLeod. The present strength of the garrison of the Cape of Good Hope apart of the 20th Dragoons, 21st Dragoons Foot, 2nd Regiment, a detachment 60th, four battalions 72nd, 83rd, and 93rd. The 47th and two companies of the 54th have been sent to America. Regiments in the Mediterranean are the 20th Dragoons, four troops foot, 9th, 10th, 20th, 21st, 23rd, 24th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 35th, 41st, 42nd, 44th, 48th, 57th, 58th, 59th, 78th. The object of sending out these troops was evidently to strengthen our hold of those colonies which were exposed to the attacks of the French navy. The French seemed to have caused but little trouble in this direction. They had to reckon with our English navy on the sea before attacking our interests on the land. Leissegues, Villaumez, and Lallamande were all more or less unfortunate. Admiral Linois was in the Indian Ocean harassing our commerce there, but Sir J. B. Warren at last came up with him, and took both him and a great portion of his ships captive, and thus both the French and Spanish squadrons were entirely swept from the seas, and Britannia was once more ruler of the waves. November 28th – A lamentable misfortune last night. William Steeple, butcher, of Oldham, a young man, wile assisting to hang up a pig, he stood on a barrel, wich flew from under his feet. In his fall his arm was catched by an iron hook, where he hang till assistance, with great difficulty, released him from his perilous situation. His arm was so lacerated that Dr. Gibson, of Manchester, was sent for, when it was found absolutely necessary to take it off, wich was performed the same evening. And last night Matthew Robinson began selling ale &c., at Hortons Arms, Streetbridge. November 29th – Died, Siah Bradley, who for many years had been deputy constable of Oldham. November 30th – Died, Mary, daughter of John Burgess, of St. Hellens, Northmoor; disorder, consumption; age 23 years. In consequence of the unparaled victory of the French arms in totally over-running the King of Prussia and seizing on British property in all places on the Continent, it has consequently thrown the merchants into the greatest consternation. Weaving of all denominations are falling rapidly, and a universall gloom hangs over the lower class of people. The Ministry of all the talents, like many other coalitions, and like many clever men, was too clever to make up its mind in a great crisis. Green says:- “By the fatal indecision of the Ministry, Prussia was left unaided until it was too late to aid her, and on the 14th October, 1806, the decisive victory of Jena laid North Germany at Napoleon’s feet.” The conflict seems to have been short and sharp. The Prussians were beaten at every step. There was much bloodshed, and many Prussian men and generals were taken prisoners. Napoleon went to Berlin. The talents’ Ministry made another great blunder at this time. By a violent stretch of her rights as a combatant,” says Green, “England declared the whole coast occupied by France and its allies, from Dantzic to Trieste, to be in a state of blockade. It was impossible to enforce such a paper blockade, even by the immense force at her disposal.” Napoleon retaliated by excluding British commerce from the continent by his famous Berlin decrees. He declared the British Isles in a state of blockade. He prohibited all intercourse with England, and ordered all packets and letters going to England and in English to be seized. He declared every Englishman found in countries occupied by French troops to be a prisoner of war. All English merchandise found at foreign ports was confiscated. All trade with England was prohibited. It was a struggle for life or death between England and France. No wonder at the “consternation” and “universal gloom” mentioned in this annal.
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December 4th – Joseph Dale, a man in the 73rd year of his age, having some angry words with one John Jackson in an alehouse at Waterhead Mill, Dale struck Jackson a blow on the side of the head with his fist, wich killed Jackson on the spot. Dale was, of course, committed to York Castle, but at Huddersfield was admitted to bail. December 12th – The weather for a long time past has been uncomonly wet, but yet very warm, and some dals are so warm that they resemble a fine spring. The roads all over the country are very dirty, and some in very bad condition. December 13th – Last night an uncomon deal of rain, with a deal of thunder and lightning.December 15th – A fox was turned out at Northmoor, and made a run of four miles, and was killed in Chaderton roof by the Oldham, Saddleworth, and Stakehill hounds. The hunt for its length was a remarkable fine one, and there was an immense number of people. Love of hunting was inherent in the ancient Oldhamer, and there was nothing he loved so well as to leave his work or his loom and follow the hounds a day, especially if he had his work at home. He would often fetch up time lost in hunting by working till midnight. The factory system put a stop to all this. December 18th – Was entered at Oldham, Thomas Mellor, of Lower Moor. He was comonly cald Threepenny Tom. December 28th – Died a short time since, Old Isaac Whittaker, widdow, a venerable old woman in the hundred year of her age, she had lived in or about Oldham most of her time. December 28th – Died, in an advanced age, old David Woolstencroft, of Maygate-lane. December 31st –The election for deputy-constable came on Oldham, when the choice fell upon Stanley Brennand. This year concludes with a clear frosty day but through the decline of all sorts of weaving, every appearance of a bad Christmas. The weather since about the middle of October as been continual rain, but yet so warm that in warm valleys, grass is growing as in Spring, and gardens most of Spring flowers making apearances as in a fine Spring. ----------- P.S. On the 18th was entered at Oldham, Joseph Seddon, carter, disorder, consumption, age, forty-nine years. On Oldham fair day last, one Whitehead, of Linnet Inn, near Denton, a young man, had the misfortune to fall into a stone pit, in the Church yard Oldham, and so mangled, that he lies without hopes of his recovery. |
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