February 11th A lamentable misfortune happened at near Rocher Bobs, in Ashton parish, - Lees, daughter of Isaah Lees, keeper of the Horse Shoe public house, near Bardsley, in passing over a small rindle of water she fell off a plank wich was laid over the water, and the stream being, in consequence of the break of the storm, very rapid, carried her to Watterhouses, where she was found the next day, although every endaivour was made during all night and the next day until the body was found; her age, 13 years. February 10th It commenced a fine thaw this morning. A short time since Thomas Ogden of Northmoor, a labourer, was repairing an old fence at Bardsley Hall, in Ashton parrish, he struck his spade against a pot, wich contained 20 moidoers, value 27s each. It is soposed it had laid a long time dormant. February 8th A meeting held this day at the Angel Inn, Oldham, David Ainsworth, Esquire, in the chair, it was unanimously agreed to petition Parliament for an alteration in the insolvent debtors’ law. By 61, George III, chapter 124, July 2, 1811, £15 was the lowest sum recoverable by imprisonment. The sum was altered in 1827 to £20. No doubt, as small people got more money into their fingers it was felt to be a hardship to be imprisoned for a paltry sum of £15. This agitation would seem to have resulted in the sum being altered to £20. February 12th A meeting, held at the Scool-room, Chadderton, it was agreed to release from Lancaster Castle, James Scoles, late overseer of Chadderton, on condition of his paying £115, he being found wanting in his accounts upwards £700, and had been in prison since. February 18th Was severe roof morning for snow, and the wind tremendously high, with a strong frost. At night it begun to rain, and the snow dissolved. February 18th Died at Saint Hellens, Northmoor, James Worthington, commonly called James Bentley, aged 68 years. February 20th Died at Saint Hellens, Northmoor, Betty Burgess, widdow of the late John Burgess, of that place; her age 66 years. February 23rd Was a very wet day, and the wind wich was high at south-west, and so very high that the rain was forced into housed, and a deal of windows where blown out. February 23rd Last night died in West-street, Oldham, William Bently, a butcher, aged 36 years; disorder, consumption. |
Thomas Green, Esquire, of Slyne, high sheriff for Lancashire this year.
March 7th Joseph Fletcher, of Oldham, hatter, was taken before Mr. Holme, who was sitting at the Angel Inn, in Oldham, charged with buying beaver which had been stolen by one Betty Duke, a person to cut beaver by the firm of Barker, Hadfield, Taylor, and Taylor. The charge being fully proved, Fletcher was commited to the New Bayley to take his trial. March 8th For several days past very cold, with snow and severe freesing. March 13th A party of the 66th Regiment of Foot arrived at Oldham on their way from Hull to Liverpool, where the regiment will embark for Ireland. March 17th For several days past fine, warm, pleasant weather. March 19th Last night a keen frost; the wind north, and a fall of snow. March 20th Last night and this morning a deal of snow fell, but in a thawing way. March 23rd A fine day – warm and sunny. March 25th Died at Further Wood, John Hilton, a farmer of that place; his age, 76 years. April 3rd Yesterday and last night most tremendously roof; the wind south astonishingly high, with very heavy rain. It drove a deal of windows out, and did a deal of damage. April 5th Died very sudden, John Ogden, of Thomson lane, a considerable badger. April 6th Died at Nod, near Chadderton, William Butterworth, of that place; disorder, a stoppage in the urine passage; his age, 56 years. April 9th Died, Church-lane, Oldham, John Lees, Esquire, of Werneth Hall, reputed lord of the manor of Oldham, collonel of the Oldham Local Militia, a man who as been fortunate and emeninent in the cotton manufacture; his age, 76 years. He was intered on the 14th. Major Besswick and Captain Crossly, two majesterates, and Mr. Elliot, the solicitor, attended. John Lees, Lord of the Manor of Oldham, was a typical Oldham man, and deserved well of Oldham people. His father, Daniel Lees, of Barrowshaw, is described as a cotton weaver. John started business as a cotton spinner in 1775, Dutch wheels being then in general use. |
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One of the people, he was familiarly known by every Oldhamer, and as he rose in the social scale he gained the respect of the whole town. A man of public spirit, he took upon himself some of the duties which public men are liable to, and discharged them faithfully. Though not educated as a scholar, he received an education which only the hard world could give, and some of his burly words and deeds will live as long as the history of his native town. April 14th Monday, Manchester Sessions commenced, and Mr. Thomas Starkey sat as chairman, Mr. Hay, the vickar of Rochdale, having resigned. On the 18th Joseph Fletcher and Betty Duke, both of Oldham, were tried. Duke was charged with stealing beaver from Mess. Barker, Taylor and Hadfield, and Fletcher with receiving it, knowing it to have been stolen. Duke pleaded guilty; one month’s imprisonment. Fletcher acquited. April 21st Died at Further Wood, Betty, daughter of the late John Hilton, of that place: her age, 40 years. April 26th Was an uncommon day for rain, sleet, and snow, the wind astonishingly high at north-east and was extreem cold. April 23rd Was observed as his Majesty’s birthday in Oldham. The bells struck up a merry peal, and the yeomanry cavallarry assembled, &c. April 30th Was intered at Oldham, - Briarley, of Lowermoor, a leutennant on half pay. He was attended to his grave by a large number of friends, and the Oldham cavallary attended and fired on the ocation. May 2nd Died Jonn Stott, master of the Sun public house at Red Tom Nook, Oldham. May 6th Died, Mally, widdow of the late John Buckley, of Bottom of Northmoor. She died at their old residence at Northmoor; her age, 68 years. May 7th Died at Bent, Oldham, James Butterworth. He was originally of High-gate, near Royton. He had been a long time in the army, and was a pensioner; his age, 67 years. May 8th A most tremendous roof storm happened this day. The wind, wich was south-west, was astonishingly high, with hail, wich resembled pieces of broken glass, wich did a deal of damages to fruit trees, &c. May 12th Died, at Top of Northmoor, John Wild, a pensioner. Had formerly served in the East Indeas; was an exalent penman; age, 40 years. May 13th Died, at Oldham, Wignall, ironmonger, a man of considerable property; age 45 years. May 25th Ashworth, of the neighbourhood of Foxdenton, who was killed on the 21st, on Kersal Moor, by one of the running horses running over him, his age, 16 years, was interred at Middleton; and James Knott, formerly of Priesthill, Oldham, a hatter, died; and James Newton, hat dyer at Mr. Peter Whitehead’s, of Manchester-street, Oldham died. |
May 13th This day a party of female transports from Lancaster on there route for Bottonbay passed through Manchester, and amongst whom was Sally Newton, late of Burnly Gate. May 31st This month as been attended with a deal of rain; scarcely ever such a season seen for the quantity of all kinds of blossom. May 29th Was intered at Oldham, Marsland, shuttle maker, of Mumps, near Oldham; age, 64 years. June 3rd Died at Oldham, Betty Horrocks, widdow of the late John Horrocks, misstress of the Chesshire Cheese; her age, 66 years. June 23rd Pottatoes of an exalent quality for size and goodness where sold in different shops at 6d. per score. June 26th The Oldham Cavallary arrived this day from Wiggan, having performed permanent duty there. July 1st Died at Burnly Yate Jossiah Fallows, of that place; age 32 years. July 12th An uncommon wet day, and as been wet for several days, and is very bad hay weather. July 16th Uncomon wet still continues, and very little hay at present housed. July 17th Was intered at Shaw James Milne, of Park. 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd, uncommon wet days, and very cold, and what grass is cut is in a spoyling state. July 22nd This day the Bishop of Chester held a confermation at Middleton for the parrish of Oldham, and a very great number of yong people, male and female, passed down Burnley-lane for the above purpose. It is said the bishop’s reason for conferming the Oldham people at Middleton is the ruinous state of the church at Oldham, and did not think it safe to hold a confermation at Oldham Church. The number was 1,757 confirmed. July 23rd Another very wet day. August 1823 This month commences with extreem wet weather, and the farmers’ grass in a spoyling state. August 5th Died at Northmoor, Mary, wife of William Cowper. She was daughter of the late Allexander Barns. August 4th Died at Chadderton Roofs, Mally, widow of the late James Booth, of that place; her age 46 years. She was daughter of John Ogden, of Burnley-lane. August 5th One Scoles was found drowned in a lodge of water on Greenacres Moor; supposed to have done it himself. August 11th Was interred at Royton, Thos. Taylor, formerly of Holden-fold; his age 87 years. August 12th Wet weather such as the like was seldom seen before, it having rained 40 days past, without one day being fair; a deal of hay is out and in a spoyling state. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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