May 21st -Meal took a sudden rise at Manchester from 60s. to 63s., and flour about same a load. Pottatoes 10s. to 15s. a load. Misserable must be the situation of the poor indeed. Since this month came in never finer weather was known. The meadows, fields, trees, and shrubs are covered with green verdure, blossoms, &c. May 24th - Great riots took place in Manchester this day, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, in consequence of the Weavers’ Bill being rejected in the House of Commons. These poor distressed people assembled in St. George’s Fields, near Newton-lane, to the number of 10,000 or 15,000, but did not threaten anny mischief, but beged something to be done in order to mend their wages, which are now shameful low. The magistrates called out the military, Col. Silvester’s, and the rifle coar, with the 4th Light Dragoons from the barracks, who dispersed the mob each day. Several were cut and slased to a great degree, and one poor man shot dead on the spot. Similar comotions took place in Stockport, Bolton, Bury, &c., but have not heard of any lives being lost at these places. Wheeler says, “In 1808 there was a renewal of disputes between the masters and the weavers with respect to wages. A meeting of the latter was held in St. George’s Fields, on the 24th of May, and was resumed the following day with such an accession of numbers that it was deemed expedient to order out the civil and military forces. This manifestation and the reading of the Riot Act not having produced the desired effect, the military were ordered to clear the ground, when one of the weavers was killed, several were wounded, and others arrested. In the course of the proceedings, Colonel Hanson addressed the populace, though previously desired to leave the ground. The officers and soldiers of the 4th Dragoon Guards presented a day’s pay to the widow of the weaver who was killed. A new list of prices was arranged, but did not prove satisfactory, and to preserve the peace of the town, it was necessary to plant military patrols for several miles on the different roads. In Rochdale the prison was destroyed, acts of violence were also committed at Ashton and Oldham. The military power was consequently augmented, and large rewards were offered for the apprehension of the ringleaders. An indictment was preferred against J. Hanson, Esq. for his share in the proceedings at Manchester.” The great friend of the weavers was Joseph Hanson, Esq., of Strangeways Hall, but such was the state of public feeling that it was even dangerous to be a friend of the poor.
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Then as now, great social changes brought misery as well as happiness. Two causes were operating here. First, the ruinous war, and second, the changes in the industrial world. The weavers were anxious that parliament should interfere to raise wages, and a petition was presented to parliament to cease hostilities, and pressure was brought upon public men to get wages raised. The question had to be submitted to the arbitrament of magistrates and dragoons, and we always know how they settle such things. Several “were cut and slashed” we are told. We have not yet done with like questions. Let us hope they may be settled in a more reasonable way, and let magistrates and dragoons, and the unemployed as well, take lessons from the past in settling present and future disputes. May 26th - William Bamford entered, as tenant, the White Horse public house, Oldham. May 30th - At Rochdale, the mob was very numerous. They collected the weavers’ shuttles to near a cart load. The magistrates dispersed them, put some in the prison there, but the mob released them, and burned the prison to the ground. The magistrates requested the aid of the Oldham vollonteers. The drums beat to arms, and about ninety mustered at the Royal Oak, Maygate-lane, but both the officers and men were pelted with mud and stones by the populace, and some windows were broken. This collecting of weavers’ shuttles was to prevent those working who would have worked.. This riot was, therefore, after the nature of a strike. The pelting of the Oldham Volunteers does not add to the credit of the unemployed. Changes then required were slowly but surely coming, but they could not be forced on by riot and disorder, but they might have been hindered by such means. June 1st - A very numerous mob assembled at Oldham Edge, from wence they came down to Oldham, where they paraded the streets, broke the windows of Mr. Lees, Church-lane, and compeled the masters to sign a paper to raise the wages for weaving. Old Mr. John Lees must have had a sorry time of it. The people evidently sought out where money was, and compelled an advance in wages under the shrewd idea that though the old trade was dying, the new factory business was enriching somebody. But, no doubt, the rapid advance in cotton and the scarcity of it had compelled people to stop their mills. The import of cotton had been reduced by one-half, and the price, as we shall see, doubled. |
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Rioting is universal all over the country where they follow weaving. A deal of damage has been done all over the country. At Bury the prison was demolished, but now the soldiers are arrived they are taking up the rioters and putting them in prison. It is believed that the cause of the riots was the Weavers’ Bill, which prayed relief to the poor weavers. June 19th - Blakey Bannister, of Red Tom Nook, hatter, and wife, were riding on horse back, near Siddal Moor. His wife fell off and was so much injured that she died the next day. It was usual for a man and his wife to ride both on one horse back. He in the saddle, and she behind him on a pillion. This was a custom from very early times. Does not Leigh Hunt tell us? This riding double was no crime. In the first Edward’s time no man thought himself disgraced by two fair arms around his waist, nor did the lady blush vermillion dancing on the lover’s pillion. A few days since a woman was found in the Oldham and Ashton Canal. She was in poor habbit, and as not at present been owned. Meal, 3s. to 3.. 3d. a peck; flour, 3s. to 3s. 5d.; pottatoes (old) 1d., new 3d. a pond. Rioting, although the country is full of soldiers, the weavers still manifest an inclination for riot, but the millitaria as promptly disperse them. Great numbers are daily sent to the jails, for on Monday last, the 20th, 9 were sent to New Bayley, and 4 to Lancaster from Rochdale, being the party who burned the prison on the 30th of May last. June 22nd - Mr. Samuel Scoles, of Mills Hill, age 68 years. June 24th - Prize ringing at Flixton, between Oldham and Ashton-under-Line for 20 guineas each, wich was won by the Oldham ringers in a very superior stile. Ringing for a wager on the church bells was then common enough. Indeed, in recent years this has been done not far from Saddleworth. A higher standard of church morality has put a check on the practice in later days.
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June 30th - Uncommon fine weather for the hay harvest, and very large crops and every appearance of plentiful crops of all kinds whatever. July 4th - The weavers at present are in a more calm state, for great numbers have been sent to different prisons, and the great militari force which is all over the country seems to keep them in awe. In Oldham, besides the vollonteers, there are a troop of the 6th Dragoon Guards and several companys of the Hereford Militia. The rest of these regiments are dispersed all over the country – viz; at Rochdale, Middleton, Bury, Heywood, &c. It is a melancholy record that the law had to be maintained at the point of the sword, and among a law-abiding people, too. But it speaks well for the courage of the people, who would not stand being starved to death under what they mistakenly considered a grievance capable of being remedied. Still, under such circumstances, England compares well with France and other Continental nations, where, no doubt, a revolution would have ensued. Well done, Anglo-Saxon! How does the Celt behave under such circumstances? July 8th - One of the Hereford militia, in a fit of insanity, shot himself dead on the spot at the Naggin Inn, near Hollinwood. He discharged his musket in at his mouth, which blew his head to pieces. July 8th - Oldham fair; wet day, few company, and little business. July 12th - A lamentable misfortune; Joseph and Edward Garlick, brothers, of near Hollinwood, unfortunately drowned in the river Roche, near Heywood. One went in a bathing, the other saw him in danger, plunged in to his assistance, when both unfortunately perished. July 14th - Was one of the hottest days ever remembered by the oldest person living, the thermometer at London at 92 to 92 exposed to the sun, at the greatest heat 147 deg. The scientific registers have been examined for 80 years past, and have not been found to eaquil it by 10 degrees. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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