ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. LII 1808 The crops of hay (this useful article) have this year been abundant to a degree of astonishment, notwithstanding the lateness of the spring, and the weather being such for continual heat and no rain that it may with truth be said the crops are the greatest and the hay the best that as been for a deal of years. July 25th - A great misfortune, Jonathan Cowper, cotton rover, of Top o’th’ North Moor, had the misfortune to be taken with a strap at Rhodes factory. He was most miserably bruised, having both thighs broke, his breast, and one arm very much torn, and all his ribs on one side, save 2, were stove. In this condition he was taken home with small hopes of his recovery. He had, some weeks after, one thigh taken off. July 31st - Died, Thomas Burgess, son of John Burgess, of St. Hellens. Upon enquirey it is found that in 1772 there were 2 days hotter than in the present year. August 1st - As one Brooks, of Hollinwood, an engineer, and a Yorkshire man was assisting at a boat-mill, Chaderton, he fell into the lock and was drowned. On the 20th of July the quarter sessions commenced at Manchester, and during that time the Rev. Joseph Horden, of Royton was swore in as a magistrate for the county Pallatine of Lancashire. August 10th was the 1st public day of Mr. Joseph Horden doing public business, when he heard a deal of cases in a part of the hall at Royton. The Rev. Joseph Hordern, M. A., incumbent of Shaw Chapel, was a worthy successor of old “Pickford,” as Mr. Joseph Radcliffe was called. August 19th -Last night John Jackson, of near Chadderton, arrived at his house after serving seven years transportation. August 20th -This day John Howard entered as a Tenant of the Fire Engine public house, Streetbridge. Stansfield and Buckley, the two unfortunate companions of the above Jackson, have died, some time since, on the coast of Guinea. They volunteered for soldiers in preference for serving for transports.
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August 28th - Excalent fine weather for the harvest and crops look promising. August 27th - Oldham Rushbearing Saturday. A fine day; not much company, but little drinking. Three rushcarts – Bent, Priesthill, and Lowermoor. Rushbearing Sunday; fine day but few company. August 29th - A fine day, but few company at Oldham, which may be attributed to the times. August 27th - Two Sheriff’s bailiffs, and 12 of their followers arrived at Oldham with judgement against the goods of Henry Clough, Samuel Wrigley, John Ogden, James Cooper, Robert Jackson, John Lowe, and Eliza Cheetham, committee of the late Union Provision Warehouse, but they met with but little success, the parties being advised of their coming. These unfortunate men are deserving of more than the pity of their country, as their suffering is for thousands, who shamefully refuse to assist them. These are the names of the good people who composed the first co-ooperative store in Oldham, their aim being not to make money and pay it away in dividends, but to get the best article dispensed at the lowest price; hence they do not seem to have had funds to defend themselves. No doubt the pressure of the times brought them into trouble. A ready money business would have been impossible at that time. August 29th -Thomas Rowbottom enlisted in the Woolwich Division of Marines. The weather is exalent, the harvest abundant, and the farmers incomonly buisey in cuting and housing their corn. August 31st -On or about this time Scholes entered as tennant at the Lancashire Rose public house, near Mills Hill, Chaderton. September 9th -Samuel Fletcher entered as tennant on the Lord Nelson public house, Northmoor, late Allixander Barns. I am told that this was the father of Mr. Samuel Barnes, afterwards Mess Lees and Barnes. Lord Nelson’s name was a pride and delight to every Englishman since he had uttered the famous words, “England expects every man to do his duty.” It was honoured by more than the public house sign in Oldham. |
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Sudden rise of cotton has thrut the country into greatest consternation, for white cotton, which a few months since was 1s. 6d., is now 3s. a pond wich has caused a deal of manufacturers to stop their workpeople of all denominations, and the poor are in a state of actual starvation. This annal gives me a text for an interesting historical note. Napoleon had not yet spent his Spite against England, and in the previous year, on the 17th December, he issued his famous Milan decree “that any vessel clearing out from, or attempting to enter the ports of England, might be lawfully captured.” We were having a deal of cotton from America at that time. Of course that Talents ministry, of which Fox was a member, had brought this on England through their own blundering. What does America do but pass a Non Intercourse Act in March, 1808, suspending all trade between France or England and the United States. The effect of this “Embargo,” as it was called, was to diminish the import of American cotton from 74,925,306 lbs. In 1807, to 43,605,982 lbs., in 1808, and raise the price from 17 1/2d. to 23 1/2d per lb. We see that to the Oldham spinner it doubled the price of American cotton. No wonder that the country was “thrut” (what an expressive word, meaning thrown) into the greatest consternation. September 16th – Exalent fine weather and as been so for several days and the farmers are buisely imployed in the housing of corn, the air is warm and the sky serene and clear and never finer weather seen. September 10th – Whittaker entered as tenant on the Punch Bowl public house in Royton, late Samuel Fletcher. September 27th – Last night some villains stole a large quantity of rum, brandy, &c. out of the bar at the Punch Bowl public house, Oldham, wilst Mr. And Mrs. Barns, the landlord and landlady and a friend were amusing themselves in the parlour at a game of cribbage. September 26th – Monday, Thomas Rowbottom left Northmoor on his rout for Woolwich. On the 28th he left Huddersfield with the party of marines he belonged, for Woolwich. The conclusion of this month is extreem cold. On the nights of 29th and 30th it froze very keenly, and some snow fell, particularly in Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Cotton still keeps rising. Now selling at 3s. to 3s. 3d. of the lowest quality, and goods not rising in proportion causes the utmost confusion and distress in the cotton business. A deal of factories are now at stand, and some running four days per week. A deal of poor people are now out of employ, and consequently are starving for bread.
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October 12th - Oldham fair: A cold day, and little business done. October 13th -Died, Thomas Kershaw, of Mumps, age 83 years: and Nancy, daughter of James Rowbottom, of Stokcport, but late of Alderroot. October 12th -Saxon Garlick opened a public house, Bent, Oldham, having got a license a few days since. October 26th -Last night uncommon for rain and wind; the wind south-west. October 24th -Died, wife of Wignall, of top of Bardsley Brow, naylor; disorder, fever. October 26th -Died, daughter of John Needham, of May Gate Lane; disorder fever; age 15 years. It is with concern that I state that a fever of a dangerous nature is now very prevalent in this neighbourhood, and a deal are very ill of it at bottom of Maygate-lane. Famine, want and disease run hand in hand together, throughout these annals. Pottatoes. – The crops of this useful article have been plentifull behind all description, and the potatoes extremely good ones; the farmers are selling them at from 6s. 6d. to 8s. a load, but they are now a rising article, and farmers are shy of selling them at any price. October 30th -Died, daughter of Andrew Maycocks, Oldham; disorder, a fever. Most of the family are affected with the same disorder at this time. The misery of the poor at this time is without parallel, for a deal are out of employ in the cotton business, especially those that are employed at the factories, and those that are employed to work at all are only allowed in work – some three and some four days per week. Weaving is most shocking bad; very good work is now only paid 2s. a pond; for weaving tabbys generally 18s. a cut; some indeed give as high as 20s., but then these must be made very good ones. Nankeens, calicoes, &c., are at a very low ebb, sand to add more misery to the poor, a deal of the necessaries of life are in riseing state, particularly flour and potatoes. Flour, 3s. 4d. a peck, potatoes 10d. a score. Cotton wool bale, 3s. a pond, and of a finer quality proportionately higher, so that the masters have very small stocks on hand, which adds more misery to the weavers, who are very much put about for want of weft. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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