”The Rev. John Beckett.” J. Butterworth says, “was born on Holy Thursday, in l742, at Wray, near Lancaster. In l761 he was elected master of the Free Grammar School of his native place, and in l764 ordained deacon by Bishop Keen. He was curate of Saddleworth about two years, and was licensed by Edmund, Lord Bishop of Chester, on the nomination of the Rev. Geo. Booth, rector of Ashton, to perform the office of curate in the chapel of Lees, otherwise Hey, on the 8th of April, l767. Thus for nearly 44 years he was incumbent of Hey Chapel. Butterworth says: He departed this life universally regretted by his very numerous congregation, October 24th l810 (this annal says October 25th), in the 69th year of his age. Some idea may be formed of the esteem and veneration in which he was held by his auditors by the fact that some time previous to his death, they presented him with a purse of gold as a small token of their approbation and esteem for his long services. A thing very uncommon in these days of marked apostacy, for a pastor of the Established Church to receive such a gift from the hands of his admiring hearers. His frankness and kind urbanity of manner will remain impressed on the mind of the author (J. Butterworth’s History of Ashton), while the Memory holds her seat.

Though known to but a few of the present generation, Mr. Beckett was always spoken of by those who did know him in terms of the highest respect. Many a tale still lingers in country homesteads of his manner of life. Country parsons were not so straight-laced then as in the present day. He took as great interest in the local Wakes as did the local Boniface. Anxious to do as much good as lay within his power, he mixed himself up with every movement calculated to benefit the poor. Of course, the Church was asleep in those days, and what seems to us lax discipline was to him a great means of doing good. Many an anecdote is recorded of the simplicity and highmindedness of his character, and even when imposed on as he often was by those who took advantage of his open-handed liberality, his reproofs were often in the shape of blessings rather than curses. The only relic that remains of Mr. Beckett besides his good character is the house that was built for and presented to him by his congregation. It was built in a meadow then adjoining the chapel, and he is to have had a pathway across the greensward into the chapel-yard. Things have been altered since then. The ancient vicarage is the property of the Hey Spinning Company, and a mill blocks the vision from the old vicarage to the old lane. It was such a man as he that Oliver Goldsmith had in his mind when he said: -

“There, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose,
The village preacher’s modest mansion rose;
A man he was to all the country dear
And passing rich on forty pounds a year.
His house was known to all the vagrant train,
He chid their wanderings, but relieved their pain;
Pleased with his guests, the good man learned to glow,
And quite forgot their vices in their woe.
Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride,
And e’en his failings lean’d to virtue’s side;
At church, with meek and unaffected grace,
His looks adorn the venerable place;
Truth from his lips prevailed with doubled sway,
And fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray,
As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form,
Swells from the vale and mid way leaves the storm
Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread,
Eternal sunshine settles on its head."

November 21st – Most tremendous high wind at north and north-east for two days and nights.

November 14th – The unforeseen misfortune of George Mash, keeper of the Dog and Partridge public-house, Bardsley Brow, Oldham, have been great. A few weeks since he had all his goods taken by the bayliffs, in consequence of law suit he had at Lancaster. Since then he has had his license silenced for three years, and on the 14th inst. He was taken into custody at the Farmers’ Arms, Northmoor, on a charge of picking the pockets of Thomas Greaves, of Oldham, grocer. It appeared they had been gaming to a great height. Mash was taken before the magistrates, who comitted him to the New Bailey, Manchester.

A short time since Thomas Okel, of Nimble Nook, in Chadderton township entered on the Waggon and Horses public-house, Top of Hollinwood, and James Whithead entered on the public-house at Nimble Nook aforesaid.

November 24th – Uncomon fine weather: and a few days since Thomas Jackson, hatter, Maygate-lane, entered on the public-house, bottom of Bent, late Edmund Tetlow.

The distresses of the country are great. Money is verey scarce, and all sorts of trade very low, especially hatting and lyght goods weaving. There distresses are rarely behind all expression, and the poor of all descriptions are suffering greatly.

By way of contrast to this doleful tale of Rowbottom’s let us see how the country was prospering as indicated by the imports and exports:-

In 1805 our imports were £28,561,270, against £39,301,612 in 1810. In 1805 our export of cotton goods was £9,525,465, against £18,951,994 (which is nearly double) in 1810. In 1805 other British produce exported was £13,851,476, against £15,109,907, in 1810. In 1805 foreign and colonial produce exported was £7,642,102, against £9,357,435 in 1810, or a total increase in all kinds of from £31,019,061 in 1805 to £53,419,336 in 1810. The “distresses of the country” were therefore only local. Even in Oldham, which at that time was a great seat of the cotton industry, vast piles of wealth were being made, though some portions of the inhabitants were suffering dreadfully. Wealth, however at that time, was in few hands.

November 22nd – Died, Sally, wife of John Wood of Burnley Brow; disorder, consumption; age 26 years.