ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. LXXVII 1815 The year one thousand eight hundred and fifteen commenced on a Sunday, wich was a very fine day and exceedingly warm, but rather foggy. Trade of all kinds very brisk, but especially hatting, wich was never brisker at any former period, nor wages higher. The weaving branch: work plenty, but wages low, wich is chiefly atributed to the very high price of cotton. Meal, flour, and pottatoes being reasonable, the poor are provided with decent Christmas cheer. These “piping times of peace” though but of short duration, had their effect on our local trade. The average price of cotton such as was used in Oldham was in 1814 29 1/2d. a pound according to Ellison. How this should effect wages is not very clear, but perhaps as it would require increased capital to work cotton concerns increased credit would cripple the trade, as ready money was still very scarce. The “gentlemen hatters” were again in clover, and old Christmas had again its Saturnalia, of which it had been deprived for some years. January 8th - A society of men called Oddfellows, holden at the house of William Wright, the Nelson Ball, Oldham, walked in procession, accompanied with a band of musick, this day. The Nelson Ball was a public-house opposite the church, on the south side, now taken down, but replaced by the Greaves Arms. I suppose this club would be the oldest in Oldham of this order. These public processions, displaying as they did the paraphernalia of the order, were much in accordance with the public taste, and though the principle to be asserted was chiefly of a provident nature, it was not altogether separated from loyalty and patriotism; indeed, some of the old orders prefixed the name of the society with “loyal and patriotic;” or, if not, the toasts and songs of their yearly dinners were often strongly toned with loyal and patriotic sentiments. A “club” procession in the olden time was often the expression of action of great and noble sentiments, and, under the influence of a band of music, this action asserted itself in an orderly, formal, and deliberate manner. The fate of one John Lewis, of High Gate, near Royton, is rather singular. A short time since he had both thyghs broke wilst at is work in a coalpit at Couldhurst, and last week he had an arm and a leg broke at the same place. January 5th -Died, at Edinburgh, John Taylor Clegg, son of James Clegg, Esquire, of Lower Bent, Oldham. The fate of this young gentleman is pitiable; he was seised with a fit on the 3rd, and fell on a large fire, where he was so miserably burned as to cause his death; his age, 35 years.
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January 10th -This day Joseph Nadin, the thief catcher from Manchester, arived in Oldham, and aprehended Jane, the wife of James Cheetham, shoemaker and leather cutter, wife of John Bradley, shopkeeper, and Mary Schofield on a charge of uttering forged Bank of England notes. He conveyed them to the New Bailey, Manchester. On the 6th where examined before the sitting magistrate, where Cheetham and Schofield where committed to Lancaster and Bradley acquited. The following is an authentic statement of the prices of the following articles:- Meal, from 1s. 9d. to 1s. 10d.; flour, 2s. 5d. to 2s. 6d.; malt, 2s. 10d. to 2s. 11d. per peck; treacle, 6 1/2d.; candles, 1s.; chees, 8 1/2d. to 9d.; beff, 7 1/2d. to 8 1/2d.; bacon, 10d.; salt, 4d.; sugar, 12d. to 13d.; butter, 14d. to 14 1/2d.; new butter, 16d.; pork, 8d. to 9d.; mutton, 8 1/2d; hops, 2s. 6d.; onions, 2d.; soap, white, 11d., and brown, 10d. per pond; pottatoes, 6d. per score; peas, white, 5d. to 5 1/2d., and green, 6d. per quart; hay, 12d. to 14d. a stone; straw wheat, 4d. per stone; white cotton, called boads, 2s. to 2s. 1d. per pound; bale cotton, 2s. 1d. to 2s. 3d. per pound; coals at the pit, 16d. to 2s. for two baskets, or a horse load. Hatting, very brisk, and wages high; weaving plenty, but wages low; for weaving 24 hanks in velveteens or cords, from 2s. to 2s. 2d. a pond. Light goods, wages low but work plenty. Cotton was slightly on the decline. The presence of steam looms, if there were any in Oldham, had not yet had any appreciable effect on weaving prices. January 18th -Last night, about six o’clock in the evening, a gang of villians entered the dwelling-house of James Hopwood, of Cowhill, bound the family, and robed the house of about £12 in cash, and made off undiscovered. January 21st -Yesterday a roof day for wind and snow. January 25th -This day James Clegg and Nancy Fenton where by Doctor Drake and the Rev. Mr. Horton committed to the New Bayley, charged with privately stealing 25 guineas from Sarah Kay, of Mills Hill, Chadderton. They all lived in one house at Mills Hill. Manchester sessions commenced and continued till the 26th, both days inclusive. There were an uncomon large number of prisoners, 19 of whom where transported, of whom one for life, one for 14 years, the rest for 7 years. John Wood, of Hollins, near Hollinwood, was transported at the above sessions, for stealing at Ashton-under-Line. January 27th - Was a day uncomonly roff, a very high wind and snow, wich was much drifted, and traveling very much impaired. January 28th -The wind continued with unabateing fury untill about noon to-day, when it happily abated. |
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January 28th -Died suddenly, Edward Radcliff, of Nathan Roe, Oldham; age about 60 years. February 6th -Flour, an exalent article sels at 2s. 6d., and meal of the very best at 1s. 11d. a peck, at Oldham. February 13thDied, widow of the late Jonathan Chadwick, of Royton, her age 72 years. February 14th -Last night several transports from Lancaster, on there route for the hulks lodged at New Bayley. Le Gendre Starkey, of Huntroyd Hall, near Whalley, High Sheriff this year. The Starkies of Huntroyd were a highly respectable county family. It will be remembered that at Huntroyd there was a remarkable case of demoniacal possession in the year 1594. The name Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie is still pleasantly remembered in the craft of Freemasons. Uncommon wet wheather for several weeks past. A few days since wif of Edward Heelis, attorney-at-law, was intered at Oldham. February 26th -Jonathan Mills, comonly called Bonicar, a tailor by trade, was intered at Oldham; age 61 years. March 5th -Last night, Matty, widdow of the late John Mellor, of Bottom of Northmoor, a man famed in vocal musick, died; her age 70 years. This was the widow of John Mellor, who, it is stated, was a leader of the choir at Oldham Church for 29 years, and, if I am rightly informed, he was great-grandfather to the present Mr. Councillor Taylor of Oldham. March 8th -Last night died Samuel Butterworth, formerly of Scolesfold Maygate-lane, but last of Oldham. In his younger days he served his king and country as a soldier, was a pensioner, was remarkable for the sweetness of his temper and good behaviour, was much respected; age, 80 years. Perhaps a better epitaph would not have been written. It reminds one of a Shakespearian epitaph-
March 1st -Charles Holt entered as tenant on the White Hart public-house, Northmoor, late James Ogden. Holt left the Horton Arms, Streetbridge.
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March 1st -Died at Hedgeford, Staffordshire, Thomas Carr, rider and trainer of race horses. March 2nd -A meeting took place at the Angel Inn, Oldham, in order to petition Parliamentt take off the duty on the importation of cotton, and on the 6th a meeting took place at the Angel Inn, aforesaid in order to petition Parliament against the Corn Bill, now pending in Parliament. Both petitions where signed by great numbers. Duty was first imposed on cotton in the year 1798, when West Indian cotton paid 8s. 9d., Boweds 6s. 6d., and Pernams 12s. 6d. per 100 lbs. East Indian paid 4 per cent, ad valorem. These were altered in 1802, 1803, 1805, and 1809, in which year all kinds of cotton paid 16s. 11d. per 100 lbs.. The petition alluded to in this annal for Government to reduce or abolish the duty on cotton resulted in a reduction of the duty to 8s. 7d. per 100 lbs. On all kinds, or say a little over 1d. per lb. Cotton duties underwent many changes, till in the year 1845, on the 19th March, they were finally abolished. March 15th -Last night died Mary, wife of Joel Halliwell, of Busk; disorder, child birth. March 16th -Last night inteligence arived at Oldham giving account of the treaty of peace signed at Ghent, 24th of December last, being ratified on the party of America on the 17th February last. March 19th -Died last night Mary, wife of Daniel Lees, of Uinnook; disorder, consumption; age, 46 years. On the 28th of last month Napoleon Bonaparte, late emperor of France, left the Isle of Elba ands landed near Erejus in France, where he set up his standard. Napoleon set up his standard after quitting Elba on the 1st of March, 1815, landing on the coast near Cannes, and followed only by a thousand of his guards, marched over the mountains of Dauphine, upon Grenoble and Lyons. In twenty days from his landing he reached the Tuilleries unopposed, while Louis XVIII, fled helplessly to Ghent. (See Green.) John Wood of Hollins, near Copstor Hill, was aprehended at Manchester on a charge of various highway robberys and house breakins, and was committed to Chester on a charge of breaking a house near Stockport. March 16th -James Cocker, of Slattocks, near Middleton, aprehended on a charge of having stolen property in his possession, and committed to New Bayley. March 30th -Last night died at Bent, Oldham, Isaac Ogden, for many years a foreman in the warehouse of Mr. Clegg at Bent; his age 75 years |
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