April 27th - The sessions commenced at Manchester, when Phillip Buckley was aquited. April 29th - Jacob Radcliff and Sons, of Bank, Oldham, with their usual generosity, gave a fat cow, a calf, and a flitch of bacon, which was divided into proportionate shares to their neighbours, in honour of the downfall of tyranny. It should be observed that on the 25th, the Spread Eagle, Angel, and Lamb Inns, &c., in Oldham, were brilliantly illuminated. The head inns in the town at that time appeared to be the three here named. May 2nd - Oldham fair rather thinly attended. May 7th - Yesterday an uncomonly cold day, the wind very high at north-east, attended with a quantity of snow. The velocity of the wind cut up flowers and blosoms to a great degree, and the northern hills were covered in snow. And this morning a new born infant was found in the reservoir of water at Hollinwood. It was sewed up in some pack cloth, but no trace was left to uncover its inhuman murderer. May 14th - One Farrar, a boy 12 years of age, unfortunately killed at Edge-lane Colliery. May 21st - Died at Copster Hill, near Oldham, Mr. Jona Harrop. 29th - Died John Butterworth, of Highgate, comonly called Joan of Abels. A short time since John Neild entered as tenant of the Hop Pole, Oldham, late Thomas Stevenson. And Mr. James Mellor commenced selling spirits wholesale at his vaults, New Road, Oldham. A short time since the Reverent Mr. Lyon, of Prestwich, and rector of that place, sold the perpetual right of that rectorage to the Earl of Grosvenor for 20,000 guineas. The Reverend James Lyon, M.A., rector of Prestwich, was a man far above the average church parsons of that period. He was the son of Matthew Lyon, Esq., of Warrington, a wealthy man, who bought the advowson of Prestwich in June 1781, and afterwards instituted his son James to the rectory on the 22nd March, 1783, and left the advowson to him by will at his death.
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Much has been said about traffic in church livings, but in this case there are two sides to the question. If ever man was worshipped by his people, the Rev. James Lyon, rector of Prestwich was that man. He spent 53 years of a grand life among the people of this large parish, and to mark his popularity a series of festivities were indulged in to celebrate the 50th year of his ministry. A marble tablet in Prestwich Church commemorated the event in the following terms: “On the 22nd of March, 1833, the Rev. James Lyon, M.A., of Brazenose College, Oxford, completed the 50th year of his resident incumbency of this parish; in commemoration of which event, and in testimony of the affectionate regard and attachment of his parishioners, this tablet, erected by public subscription, is placed here to record their estimation of a character distinguished alike for simplicity of manners and integrity of principle for the peaceable and conscientious discharge of his duties as a Christian pastor.” From this annal, it seems that the advowson was sold by Mr. Lyon in 1814 to the Earl of Grosvenor, Baines says, “for his son the Earl of Wilton, in whom this patronage is now vested.” Baines has the date 1815. This month concludes with extreem cold weather, and had been so since the beginning of April last, only a few days excepted, wich where fine ones. In April it as been extreemly cold, and genarly very frosty nights, with wind at north or north-east. It has nearly cut up all vegetation, and is at this time very droughty; The grass and shrubs are nearly all swithered up, and was never known to be so cold and so long, and at this time of year, by the oldest person living. June 2nd - The pettition of the inhabitants of the parish of Oldham against the corn bill now pending with Parliament closed. The numbers where 7,278. The fact that over 7,000 people voted against the Corn Bill in Oldham is evidence of their Free Trade principles of the people, their Conservatism in other matters notwithstanding.. These petitions were evidently against the Bill, which ultimately became law in 1815, which removed all restriction on foreign corn imported in order to be warehoused and permitted its free importation for home consumption only when at 80s.per quarter. News arrived at Oldham giving an account of the signing of the definitive treaty of peace between Great Britain and France.. Same day, James Chadwick, of Burnley Yate, gave a ground treat to his weavers and spinners. |
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The weather still continued extremely cold, the air frosty, and the wind north or north-east. Corn and grass very late for want of warmth. The Treaty of Paris was signed May 30, 1814, between France and the allied powers, France being confined within the limits of 1792. June 6th - Flour, 2s. 8d. to 2s 10d.; meal, 1s. 8d. to 1s.11d.. a peck. Treacle, 6d.; sugar (brown), 1s. to 1s. 2d.; butter (old), 16d.; new. 18d. a pound. June 8th - One of the coldest mornings ever remembered at this time of the year. The grass is so light that the cattle are fed with provender to make out. The air is so cold as to chill and starve, as in a cold March. June 9th - Was a very fine warm day. The air quite changed from very cold to warm. June 12th - Flour, 2s. 6d.; meal, 1s. 11d. a peck. Gooseberrys, 3 1/2d. per quart. Pottatoes (red ones), 1s. 6d. per score; white, 9d. Mutton, 9d.; beef, 8d. to 10d. a pond. During Whitsuntide week there were married at the Collegiate Church, Manchester, 77 couple. In the month of January 1814, the British army consisted of 238,431 regulars, 63,059 militia. Of the former 31,002 where cavalry. June 12th - A very cold day, and rained in the forenoon. June 7th - The Emperor of Russia, the King of Prussia, Marshals Blucher, Platoff, Tolly, &c., &c., &c., arived at London on the 9th, 10th, and 11th. A general illumination took place there. June 18th - Manchester meal 31s.; flour 45s.; pottatoes, 7s. a load. Green says England’s triumph over its great enemy was dashed by the more doubtful fortunes of the struggle which Napoleon had kindled across the Atlantic. This meeting of grandees was for the ratification of the Treaty of Paris. “Blind to the future and congratulating each other on the satisfactory settlement at which they had arrived, the statesmen and sovereigns of the continent came to England for a holiday. London on this occasion was gayer than it had ever been before. The Prince Regent and his guests dined magnificently in the Guildhall.
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The burst of joy which overspread this land was proportionate to the length and danger of the struggle, and the completeness, as it was then thought of, its ultimate success. Not courts and cities only, but even the ancient rest of the universities was disturbed by the universal exultations. England entertained in right royal style the Emperor of Russia and his sister, the Grand Duchess of Oldenburgh, the King of Prussia and his sons, with the most distinguished of the allied generals, including Blucher, Platoff Barclay de Tolly, Czernichoff, and Bulow. They came over in the sunny month of June, and for three weeks (when they returned) galas, feastings, and illuminations were universal.” - See “Life and Times of Palmerston.” 17th -The treaty of peace between Great Britain and France was ratified this day. 24th - Friday, Thomas Rowbottom arrived at North Moor from Woolwich, discharged from the Royal Marines. He enlisted August 29th, 1808. On the 4th died, James Bradley, of Schoolcroft, Oldham, hatter, age 75 years. July 2nd - Manchester, flour, 48s. to 50s.; meal 30s. to 35s. a load; Oldham, flour, 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d.; meal, 1s. 7d. to 1s. 9d.a peck; pottatoes, 1 1/2d. a pond; gooseberrys, 1 1/2d. a quart. 3rd - This day being Sunday, prayers where offered up for rain in Oldham Church. 7th - Thursday was observed as a day of public thanksgiving to Almighty God for the restoration of peace. This acknowledgment of the arm of God of Hosts is a grand trait in the character of the English people. And in accordance with this English instinct, the people of Oldham assembled to "“Yield praise and thanksgiving for deliverance from those great and apparent dangers wherewith we were compassed, and to acknowledge the hand of the Supreme Goodness in the fact that we were not delivered over as prey to our enemies.” For some days past it as been some fine, refreshing rain. Although it still continues cold, grass is coming very fast. 8th - Was Oldham fair; a fine Day, a good show of horned cattle and swine. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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