The annual pastime was celebrated with great gusto in 1822. People were better off in every way than in previous years. The cotton trade was fast increasing, and wages were tolerably good. Factory enterprise was in the ascendant, and a class of men were springing intro wealth who before had been comparatively poor. September 1st 1822, was intered wife of George Wright, publican and huntsman of the Oldham pack of hounds. At Lancaster Assizes John Bowker, of Oldham, was found guilty of robbing Issacher Wild, and received sentence of death. 8th Died, Jane, wife of John Kirkham, of Oldham. She was the daughter of the late Edmund Tetlow, of Back King Street, Oldham. Her age, 23 years. 9th -Died at Cowhill, Thomas Booth. His age, 35 years. The following is a statement of the prices of the following articles:- Meal, from 17 to 18 pence per peck; flour, from 2s. to 2s. and a penny do., 12 pond to the peck; Pottatoes, 5d. for 20 pond; sugar (brown), from 8d. to 9d. per pond; butter, from 8 1/2d to 9 1/2d. pond; chees, from 5d. to 7d. pond; salt, 1 penny pond; apples, a penny pond; pears, 2 pond for 3 halfpence; damson plums, 4d. a quart; beff, from 3 1/2d. to 5d. a pond; mutton, from 3 1/2d. to 4d. a pond; malt, from 1s. 11d. to 2s. a peck; hops, from 7d. to 8d. per pond. At Manchester, 14th of September, old meal sold 22s. a load; new meal sold 27s. a load; apples 8d. a peck; cucumbers 24 for a penny; potatoes from 3s. 9d. to 4s. a load. This year has been very productive. Heaven seems to have bestowed its most bountiful favours on us, for there as been a double or treble crop in nearly everything – corn, grass, flowers, srubs, and every growing thing. 16th -Uncommon fine, rich weather at this time. 19th Was run the grand match at Doncaster, for 200 guineas each, betwixt Christopher Hatton, of Kirby Moorside. Yorkshire, and John Ashton, near Bury, Lancashire, wich was woon by Hatton who run the four miles in 21 minutes, and beat Ashton 300 yards. Emense sums where depending on this race, and an emense number of spectators attended. |
This record is a good one, recent “events” do not much excel it. The best modern records for four and five miles are:- W. G. George, amateur, (4 miles), 19min. 39 4/5 secs. Perhaps the course might not have been quite so smooth for old runners as for these, cross country roads often forming the old racecourses. 23rd -Was married at Oldham, the Rev. Mr. J. Fallowfield, minister of Oldham, to Miss Gordon, of Oldham. October 4th -A vestry meeting was held at Oldham Church respecting the repairing or building of a new church, when it was carried by a large majority to repair the old church. 7th -Benjamin Robishaw, a native of Royton, last night fell into a small pond of water, and was drowned. October 7th -Died, Ann, wife of Edmund Whitehead, of Bent, Oldham,.; her age 66 years. 11th -James Farrar, a collier, unfortunately killed in a coalpit in Edge-lane. 18th -Abraham Ogden, of near Middleton, intered this day; age 86 years. He was much famed for hunting. Died Alexander Barns, of near Coldhurst; his age 75 years. 21st -Daniel Lees, of Mathew-fold, was intered at Oldham; his age 95 years. After the funeral the relatives retired to the Hare and Hounds public-house to inspect the will when a fracas arose among the heirs. The will was torn in pieces and burned, and several of the party were taken into custody by the constables. 18th -A child of -------- Collins, of Jacob Roe, so much scalded that it emidiately died. 29th -Uncommon fine wheather, and as been so for a long time, and potatoes, apples, and all sorts of grain – nay, everything – as been nearly a double crop. It is now so fine and warm as in a fine April. |
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30th -Died, at Oldham, Joseph, son of Mr. Cocks, surgeon. He was an apprentice to Radley of Oldham, attorney. His age 19 years. The fine weather still continues. 31st -Died at Magot-lane, Daniel Bardsley, a truly honnest man. His age, 70 years. 30th -Henry Hunt Esquire, having suffered two years and a half imprisonment in Ilchester Jail on account of the affair at Peterloo, Manchester. Being the day of his discharge the morning was ushered in with all demonsterations of joy at Oldham. On Bent Green an ox was roasted whole. There was a public dinner in the Union rooms. The Radicals paraded the streets with a band of musick, and there was bonfires and every demonsteration of joy all over the country. Bamford does not always speak well of Hunt. There was a hollowness in his character which shook Bamford’s confidence in him. Over and over again Bamford had to make an effort to show him ordinary respect, and even then it was out of love for his party rather than for Hunt himself. Hunt seems to have liked popular applause. It was meat and drink to him. The crop of potatoes this year have been very productive, and in general very good ones, and the farmers have sold them in general between 5 shillins to 6 shillins a load. Meal, flour, chees, butter, bacon, beff and mutton, etc., still continues very reasonable. November 2nd - This morning was drowned in a coalpit in Hollinwood, where it is supposed he accidently fell in last night. John Robishaw, formerly of Thorp, a man who as had a deal of up and downs in this life. He had been several times in the New Bayley for several offences, and in the year 1814, at the August Assizes, he was convicted of horse stealing, and received sentence of death. He was respited, and continued in Lancaster until April, 1822, when he received his Majesty’s pardon, and at last met with this misfortune; his age 54 years. Peace to his ashes. His brother was drowned October 7th. |
This day at Manchester William Taylor, late of Northmoor, in a fit of despair hanged himself. His age 23 years. 23rd -This morning lightning and loud cracks of thunder, and the wind astonishingly high, it unroofed several houses. 25th -This day Peter Holt, innkeeper, began to remove from the White Hart, Northmoor, to the Swan on Greenacres Moor. 26thAnd this day John Ashworth entered as tenant of the White Hart, Northmoor, bottom of Maygate-lane. 30th -Last night very boisterous with rain, snow and sleet, with thunder and lightning. December 3rd – Yesterday the uncommon wet weather changed to a fine frost, and this morning it is fine and pleasant. 4th -Last night it began to rain, and still continues the same this morning. One Knot, a girl of about ten years of age, accidentally got on fire, and burned to death, in Bent, Oldham. 7th -Died, at Cowhill, Thomas Greaves, banksman and carter; his age, upwards of 60 years. Not mentioned in its proper place, but on the 20th, a meeting was held at Oldham Church, Mr. Fallowfield in the chair, when they came to the resolution to build a new church. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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