February 17th - It comenced a very fine thaw. A general fast observed throughout England and Wales. February 18th - It still continues to thaw very rappidly. February 22nd - Last night Mr. Nadin, the thief-catcher, searched the house of John Wamsley of Burnley Yate, on suspicion of forged bank-notes, but did not find any; he took Wamsley into custody, on a charge of paying a bad note, but no proof apearing against Wamsley, but he was released from the New Bayley on the 29th. The frequency of this offence in Oldham is evidence of the temptation to forge notes under the then restricted conditions of the currency, much paper money being used at that time, gold and silver being scarce, as it often is, by the way! Brown soap risen to 11d. per pond. March 3rd - Died, Molly, wife of George Smith, hatter and draper, Oldham. March 14th - The weather is very dry, but cold, and Thomas Whittaker began of harrowing this day, and there was a trail hunt at Thos. Fletcher’s alehouse, near Lees Hall, and won by a black bitch from Bagstate; 5 started an excellent contest. Oldhamers were always fond of out-door sports, and among other brutalising hobbies appears to have been trail-hunting. For the life of me I could never see what attractions there were in training a stinking rag over the country, followed by a pack of dogs hounded on by the hoots and yells of a mob of what the French would call san culottes.
March 14th - It comenced a severe storm; the wind north or north-east attended the 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th; and this day (the 25th) the earth is covered with snow, and it froze astonishingly last night, and a colder time in March was never known.
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March 16th - The assizes at Manchester, when John Eastwood pleaded guilty to paying a forged banknote to Jonathan Meller, shoe-maker, Oldham, 14 years transportation. Mary, his wife, for a similar charge, was acquited. It was very singular in the conduct of his brother, Joseph Eastwood; he was going to Lancaster to see his brother, John Eastwood, and was detected at Bolton paying a bad note, and a large quantity found on him. He was commited of Lancaster, and on the 18th tried for having forged Bank notes in his possession; 14 years transportation. The 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st of March, very cold snow and frost, with wind high at north-east. April 1st - A severe cold day, frost and snow; high wind north. April 2nd - Cold day, with wind, snow, and frost, as usual. April 3rd - Wind, south-west; a very large quantity of snow fallen, but is inclineable to thawing. Select observations; - April 6th - Yesterday began to rain very finely, and continues to do the same to day, so that we may conclude the storm is over; the wind south-west, and very high. April 5th - Died, Old Saul Woolstencroft, of Oldham, carter, age 65 years. Died, Richard, son of Mr. Richard Broom, bread baker, and corn dealer; disorder, veneral; age, a few days under 16 years. April 6th – The coroner and jury took a view of the body of a boy wich had been buried on the 28th of last month, an apprentice to one Abraham Stott, of near Shaw, but upon full investigation and viewing the body, it appeared the had been ill-treated and very much bruised, but the doctors who examined the body were of the opinion that not any of the bruises were the actual cause of his death; the master was, of course, discharged. Another instance of the brutal manner in which poor apprentices were treated by employers. That brutality has caused legislators to put restraints on parish authorities in letting out children from the workhouse to learn trades. It is no doubt on this account that children are retained in the workhouse till they are often too old to acquire the cunning hand which makes them efficient piecers and tenters in cotton mills. This, however, is another extreme, and is rather a hardship on workhouse children. |
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ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. LI 1808 April 6th - Died, William Moorhouse, butcher, of Red Tom Nook Oldham. Disorder, pleurisy fever. April 9th - Died James Taylor, corn dealer, Fog-lane, Oldham. Disorder, pleurisy fever. On Satuerday night, the 26th of March, 1808, John Wamsley was inveigled in a house of ill-fame in Manchester, and there robed of his watch and 10 pounds in mony by the frail sisters. April 19th - Being Easter Tuesday, a great fall of snow last night, and the frost very severe. Although so far in the month of April not the least apearance of spring, it having for a long time been very strong frosts and extremely cold, wich greatly retards the apearance of vegetation. April 20th - Extreme strong frosts and the hills are covered with snow, and the little warblers, never yet attended to, usher in spring by their sweet notes. April 21st - Last night a most tremendous roof night for snow and frost, with a very high wind at north, so that the earth is covered with snow and locked up with frost, to the great detriment of vegetation. April 23rd - Yesterday, a very raw, cold day; the wind veered to various quarters, attended with hail, rain, and snow. Regiments appointed for the Baltic expedition, the 4th, 28th, 52nd, 79th, 92nd, and 95th. April 20th - The house, hat shop, and other offices of John Ogden, of New-road, near Werneth, were sold by auction, and purchased by Mr. George Bentley, shopkeeper, Oldham, for £1,075. The Bentleys do not seem to have been settled in Oldham from any very early period. George Bentley seems to have acquired considerable wealth and purchased property, which increased rapidly in value on account of the enormously rapid growth of the town. April 24th - Yesterday, a very cold day; as usual attended with hail, rain and snow.
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April 25th -A most uncomon bitter cold day, hail, snow and rain, and at evening turned to uncommon freezing, such as was seldom seen in April. April 26th -Yesterday, as usial, a bitter cold day. April 27th -Yesterday, a bitter cold day; as usial, hail, rain and snow, with strong frosts in mornings. April 28th -Yesterday, as usial, a bitter cold day. April 29th - Yesterday, severe cold, and strong frost in morning. April 27th - Lamentable misfortune happened at Werneth. As John Bradley, carpinter, Robert Cadwell, and Thomas Hawkins were repairing some damages at a coalpit, they were on a scaffold, erected about half way down, when the fire-damp took fire, and went off with such velocity that they were literally mashed to pieces. It was several hours before anyone durst venture to fetch out the bodies. Although the Davy lamp was invented about this time, it does not seem to have reached Oldham. The word “mashed” is a familiar word among old people, and what a strong word it is in this description! April 30th - The air is changed to something warmer, and every appearance of warmer weather. May 2nd - An exceedingly fine day; the sun clear, the air warm, and it is the first appearance of spring, altho’ yesterday was much warmer than it has been before. And this morning Newton Heath chapel fell. May 3rd and 4th – Excessive hot days. May 16th – Died, James Hilton of Chaderton; disorder, consumption; age 60 years. May 16th - Died, Mr. Nathan Worthington, mercer and draper. It is a striking feature in Oldham that most of its prominent men sprung from a somewhat humble origin. As seen in the previous note, the Worthingtons two centuries ago were York carriers. This Mr. Nathan, it seems, was a draper, and his family carried on the business after his death. After this his family entered the cotton trade at Cusson’s factory in 1835, under the style of Messrs. John Worthington and Sons. They afterwards built Brook Mills, Hollinwood, now the Oldham Twist Company’s. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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