January 4th - John Barrett, otherwise Dunkerley, of Scoolcroft, Oldham, committed to the New Bailey for tryall, on a charge for knives, forks, &c., from William Rowbottom, hardware man, Oldham. A few days since John Steveson entered as tenant on the Hop Pole public house, Oldham, late Mary Wrigley. On the night of the 23rd of December last, some malicious person set a barn and shippon on fire at Old Tame, belong to Frank Davenport, which burnt all his corn and hay, and three fine cows. January 4th - Was Miss Horton, daughter of Sir Watts Horton, baronet, of Chaderton Hall, her birthday, and her age 21 years. The heiress of Sir Watts Horton was rather an important personage, seeing that she was sole heiress and that her mother was one of the Derby family. I am told that the old nurse of this young lady kept some interesting relics of baby clothing belonging to her, and that they are still preserved in the family of the old nurse, which still resides in Oldham. Henrietta, Susannah, Anne Horton, daughter of Sir Watts and Henrietta Horton, was born Jan. 4th, 1790. During the last year at the Colledge Gate Church, at Manchester, there as been 2795 Cristenings, 1220 marrieges, 762 burials. In the latter end of last month, the Minotaur, of 74 guns, was lost off the coast of Holland, when Captain Barratt and all the crew except 120 were drowned. The crew consisted 600 men, and the Sattelite of 16 guns was lost off the Scotch coast, and all hands perrished. January 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th – Uncommon cold days with the wind East.
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January 9th - Last night Messrs. Jacob Radcliff and Sons, of Oldham, hat manufacturers, gave a very good supper to 36 of his poor neighbours. They where a select party. They consisted of old people. After supper they had plenty of good old English beer, and the infirm and old who chused had a glass of spirits. They had musick and sung several old songs, and where most grateful to their benefactor. Such a generous deed at this inclement season reflects the greatest honnour on the worthy donors. Mr. Daniel Radcliff, one of the firm, gave the most needy 6d. each. January 10th - Died, Betty, wife of Samuel Fletcher, of Couldhurst, hatter; disorder, fever; age, 37 years. She was endowed with every virtious qualification that could adorn the fair sex. Old Jimmy Grey, the Peninsular hero, was apprenticed to Sam Fletcher, hatter. Probably this lady would be Jimmy’s “gammer.” Jimmy was an apprentice at this time. The following statement shows the rapid rise of some articles in the hatting business [prices in 1779 and 1811; - Best stuff, 11s. a pond, now £1 1s.; teal wool, 3s. 6d. a pond, now 6s.; stage hare wool, 4s. a pond, now 15s.; English hare 9s. 6d. a pond, now 15s. I suppose the extreme prices of wool and other stuff for hat making would be one cause of the extreme depression in the hatting trade at this time. Of course, the hat of the period was the beaver hat, silk hats being a luxury at that time out of the reach of the common people. January 22nd – Yesterday an uncomon fine day, and last night it commenced a fine frost. Deal, January 29th – Sailed the San Domingo for Portsmouth. January 23rd – Manchester sessions commenced, where John Buckley was remanded till next sessions for want of evidence. He was discharged on the 28th, on the motion of Counselor Cross; and James Dunkerley of Oldham, guilty of stealing lead from Thomas Hayward, glazier, Oldham, was transported for seven years; he went sometimes by the name of Barrette. And one Sarah Taylor, a woman from near Smallbridge, found guilty of stealing brushes and other articles in Oldham, two years’ imprisonment in the New Bayley; and George Mash, for 1811, no bill. |
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January 26th – This morning, was found drowned in the reservoir of water at the Old Chapel Factory, Busk, Oldham, William Hartley, a clogger by trade; he was middle aged and humped back, he was supposed to be drunk when he fell into the water. The distress of the country still continues to increase, especially weaving. Masters are now giving for calico, 32 yards, 50 reed, 3s. 6d.: but to have 4lbs. of 40 hank weft in its nankeens, 36 reed, 64 yard, is wove at 7s. which some years ago was only 45 yards long and the price 14s. The prices of weaving were evidently undergoing a change. 10 1/2d. for weaving 40’s into calicos, and the price for nankeens reduced from 14s. to 5s. for the same length. Though there might be no power looms in Oldham, other parts of the country had them, and the prices would fall all through the trade. January 18th – Last night it froze uncommon keenly. -----------, son of James Wilde, clerk at Hollinwood chapel, wilst sporting on the ice of the great reserver on the breaking of the ice he sunk into the water and was not found untill the day after – his age nine years. Portsmouth – this day sailed His Majesty’s ship San Domingo, Captain, Sir Horne Popham, for the Downs. January 28th Deal, arrived His Majesty’s ship, San Domingo.
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January 30th – Died, Mrs. Mayall, widow of the late Mr. Robert Mayall, grocer and tea dealer, in Oldham. She was far advanced in years. January 31st – Died, John Radcliffe, of Mill End, Oldham, Blacksmith, age 61 years. February 1st – Early this morning Joseph Mills, comonly cald Dody aboon onny, was killed by the Black damp wile at work in a coalpit, Edge-lane, age about 43 years. “Dody aboon onny” was surely a curious nickname and stands unrivalled in these annals for its oddity. No doubt Joseph was a Yorkshireman, and this endearing nickname was probably given him either by a kind mother or by some sweetheart. To those who understand the Yorkshire patois the meaning will be obvious. “Joseph above any” - for this is what it means. Who would not risk even being blown up in a coalpit to inherit such a nickname? And yesterday was one of the most tremendous roof days, for wind, ever remembered. The mail from London to Manchester did not arrive in consequence of it. At night the wind abated – the wind North-East. The mail coach from London being stopped on account of a wind storm must have been something unusual. The comforts of modern travel as compared with those of mail coach travelling are surely greatly to be prized, though we profess to be greatly put out if the trains, which do the journey in about one-sixth of the time happen to be an hour or two late. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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