February 10th - E. Butterworth says a third Radical reform meting was held on Bent Green. The authorities became alarmed, and a number of special constables were appointed on the 8th. In addition to the civil power, a body of soldiery of the 54th Regiment of Foot, 104 in number, were stationed in a temporary barracks in Fog-lane, which they first occupied on the 3rd March, 1817. What was called the “Green Bag Inquiry” was instituted about this time, so named from a green bag full of papers supposed to have been of treasonable character having been laid before Parliament by the Prince Regent. Secret committees were appointed by Parliament, the result being the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, on the 3rd March. The Government adopted a system of espionage, which created much of the mischief which it was supposed to discover. These spies were distributed through the country. Bamford mentions one of the name of Oliver, who was busy in the summer of 1817, who tried to lead the reformers into mischief, and then would have “split” upon them. E. Butterworth says:- “Messrs. James Collinge and John Lancashire, who became the principal master cotton spinners in the parish, established a small cotton manufactory at Vineyard in 1817. Mr. Collinge, a native of Boarshaw, near Middleton, was in the cotton business on his own account at Mumps in 1815. The concern at Vineyard was considerably extended in the succeeding ten years, and about 1818 the firm introduced the first power looms set in operation at Oldham. (Mr. Higson says that these power looms were first introduced by this firm in 1817.) The progress of the power loom was, however, very slow for several years, and, owing to its want of effectiveness and the opposition it met with, power loom mills were extremely rare previous to 1824.” This firm must be looked on as one of those which laid the foundation for our great Oldham cotton trade. It still holds a first place in its particular branch, the making of velvets – and the vast amount of wealth which such a firm as this has brought to the town must be altogether incalculable. Who, indeed, shall tell the good which a firm like this brings to everybody about it, whether as workpeople, tradesmen and shopkeepers, property owners, civic authorities, or even as neighbours. During the 70 years past, perilous years many of them, how many backs and bellies has this firm clothed and fed? How may hearthstones has it made glad and bright? How many golden sovereigns have flowed through its coffers? What cotton and coals, and oil, and other stores has it consumed? |
Nor must we limit our view to merely local ken in discussing the influence which such an establishment as this has had in building up a great industry. Those who have read Thomas Carlyle, the philosopher, on cotton spinning, must have learnt what a “splendour of God” industry this cotton spinning is. Indeed, I have been led to look on this grand industry as a grand virtue, more excellent in quality than some virtues which are supposed to greatly surpass it – a virtue more than twice blessed, for while it blesses him that makes and him that takes, it blesses him that sows and him that grows, and him that hears and him that cares, and him that wears, and often not always him that shares. And with cords stronger than of cotton binds together, more or less, in love and harmony, the hearts of the hemispheres, and thus fulfils the highest mission yet to mortals known – a mission of peace upon earth and goodwill to men. Why should we always take a sordid view of cotton spinning? Who shall say what is the purpose of high heaven concerning it? If I mistake not, it has made much that was crooked straight, and many rough places plain. One cannot but mention in connection with the above firm, the name of Edward Abbott Wright, Esq., who, as employer and chairman of employers, for many long years bore the burden and heat of the day, and now in the evening of his life, enjoys a well-earned repose. As a magistrate and an upright Christian gentleman he has made a reputation which time is not likely to tarnish, and set an example which none can do better than follow. Such a life as his lifts itself out of the ruck of mere money grubbing, and adds a charm and dignity to the character of anyone who, like him, would be a captain of industry. February 5th – Died, Mr. John Lees, of Mount Pleasant, cotton spinner, an able mechanician. This Mr. John Lees, I am told, was grandfather to Mr. John Lees, the respected organist of Oldham Church. He had two twin sons, Abraham and Isaac, and as showing his mechanical ingenuity, their cradle was rocked by some contrivance from a shaft in the mill. Both these sons were musical, and attained local celebrity as musicians. Indeed, the musical talent was inherent in a branch of the Lees family from an early time. I find mention of John Lees, fiddler, in the church registers of an early date. Mr. Parker, in the 1856 edition of E. Butterworth says: Mr. John Lees (eldest son of Mr. Isaac Lees, who for twenty six years has been organist to the Parish Church) grandson of the above, is organist at Hope Chapel, and although a young man he is not unknown to fame as a pedal organist, and several distinguished organists have complimented him on his performance. |
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March 10th - At an early hour in the morning, a party of Radical reformers, says E. Butterworth, again assembled, some of them furnished with blankets slung round their shoulders – thence called blanketeers, with the intention of marching to Manchester, and thence to London, to lay their grievances before the Prince Regent and Parliament. The special constables and foot soldiers, with a party of the 13th Light Horse, which had arrived from Huddersfield, were on duty, but as the crowd proceeded to Manchester the civil and military powers abstained from interference. At Manchester, the meeting was dispersed by cavalry, and twenty-nine persons were taken prisoners. Some hundreds of blanketeers set out on their way to London. At Stockport they were pursued by constables and yeomanry and again dispersed, some receiving sabre wounds – a looker-on being shot. They passed through Macclesfield, Leek, and Ashbourn. A few got as far as Derby. These foolish men were equipped for the journey with blankets and coats slung on their backs like knapsacks, and some had petitions in their hands to present when they got to London. Bamford threw cold water on the whole affair, though it turned out to have had the permission of gentlemen high in authority in the Radical movement. From what I can gather from people who knew some of these men from Oldham, they appear to have been ignorant and simple-minded people, who supposed they could gain all they wanted, and liquidate the national debt in no time. Bamford disclaims any connection with the blanketeers, and his account is from what others told him of it. On the 11th March, 1817, Bamford tells of a man named Samuel Priestly coming to Middleton to his house on important business. Bamford looked up Healy, and the three adjourned to the Trumpeter public-house, where they were informed by Priestley that a scheme was laid for making a Moscow of Manchester in revenge for what had been done to the blanketeers. Bamford was too sensible a man to be taken in by such a device. The man was told that he was the dupe of designing villains. Ministers were solemnly informed that a plot was being hatched for destroying Manchester, as the signal for a general insurrection. The Habeas Corpus Act being suspended, several arrests were made – Bamford and Healey among the rest – but the charges against them were so ridiculous that many of those arrested were not brought to trial. The Leeds Mercury exposed some of the secret information given to the Government. Lord Eldon and Lord Sidmouth were greatly blamed for the part they took in this matter. Roebuck says:- “It was the period of Lord Eldon’s ascendancy which bears the mark of his uncultivated intellect; his narrow sympathies, his restless jealousy, his fierce prejudices, his general ignorance of the causes on which the welfare of the empire depended, and his indifference to that welfare, even in the cases by which he could understand the means by which it might have been promoted.” Lord Sidmouth was held to be a humane man, but Mr. Brougham says of him that he was the recorded dupe of the informer, guilty of a cheat in fact, and of a murder; in anticipation, the victim of one who went about to ensnare that he might betray, and to corrupt that he might destroy. |
During this year was printed and sold by J. Clarke, Market Place, Oldham “An Historical and Descriptive Account of the Town and Parochial Chapelry of Oldham, including some biographical sketches of remarkable persons, natives or residents thereof, together with a directory of the town and township of Oldham, and the townships of Royton, Crompton, and Chadderton,” by James Butterworth. This book also contains two excellent maps of the town and district, together with some pedigrees of ancient families in or near Oldham. The above J. Clarke was, at this time, the only letter-press printer in Oldham, though Nicholson, of Lees, was then well known. J. Butterworth dedicated his book to Sir Joseph Radcliffe, Bart., of Milne’s Bridge, in the county of York: ”As a token of gratitude for the very liberal assistance he has afforded in forwarding this work, and for favours before received, when the author was in indigence And obscurity, the following sheets are most respectfully inscribed by his obedient and devoted servant, - JAMES BUTTERWORTH, Post Office, Oldham, April 1817.” In the May of this year, some old buildings, extending from the east end of High-street to the old church gates, were removed, with an intention (afterwards abandoned) of rendering the area at the junction of Yorkshire-street and High-street a new market-place. In this pile was the public-house known as Nelson’s Ball. June 19th -There was an extraordinarily destructive hailstorm. September. -A troop of yeomanry cavalry was formed by a few of the principal inhabitants, and was fully organised in the latter part of 1818, and placed under the command of John Taylor, Esq., of Hargreaves, hat manufacturer. In this year died Joseph Clegg, yeoman. He was of the ancient Clegg family, of Count-hill, where a group of dwellings, for a long time the abode of this family of yeomen. In 1657 Joseph Clegg purchased eight acres of land at Count-hill of Sir Thos. Prestwich, Bart., for £43. In 1672 William Hardy, and in 1682 Joseph Gregg, Esq., conveyed additional lands at Count-hill to Mr. Clegg. Francis Clegg, yeoman, a relative of the above Joseph, gave name to Francises, now known as Fronnchises of Moorside, and was living in 1652. The property is now (1868) enjoyed by the heirs of Joseph Clegg, who died in 1835, and who was nephew to the above-names Joseph Clegg. See E.B., p.48. Mr. John Howard, cotton spinner, married into this family. |
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