In “Records of Manchester” we are told that 19 persons were killed and 19 wounded, by the fall of an iron beam from the roof of Mr. Nathan Gough’s factory, Islington, Salford, Oct. 16th. October 30th – Died at Millshill, Mary, widdow of the late Robert Garside. She was daughter of the late, and sister to the present Edward Hide, of the Cock Inn, Tonge. Her age, 59 years. Uncomon wet weather and has been for some time. On the 30th October died William, son of William Rowbottom, ironmonger. Age, 23 years. November 5th – James, son of William Halliwell, intered this day from St. Hellen’s, Northmoor. November 5th – Died at William Holt’s, Saint Hellen’s, Northmoor, Edmund Chetham. Disorder, dysentry. November 5th – William Harrison intered as tennant on the public-house, corner of Royton-street, top of Maygate-lane, commonly cald Trap Inn, late Thomas Hall. November 12th – Died at Nodd Yate, near Chadderton, Betty, daughter of John Howhord. Disorder, dropsy; age, 24 years. November 20th – As John Wainwright, engeneer, at a factory in Fog-lane, wile at his labour, he was scalded to death by a quantity of water from the boiler. November 21st – Ann Whitaker, of near Whitestone, Maygate-lane, had her house robbed of a large number of guineas, and the thiefs left no trace behind. November 22nd – Died at Highgate, near Royton, David Kershaw, aged 64 years. November 25th – The house of John Lees, hatter, Maygate-lane, was robbed of 41 sovereighns wile they where at work in the shop in the back yard, and not a trace left behind. The persons who comitted the above turned out to be the former, Ann Whitaker, her nephews, and the latter to be John Lees, son. November 29th – Uncommon wet, windy, rainy, boisterous weather continues. December 2nd – Last night a tremendous roof night for wind, snow, and sleet, with vivid flasses of lightning and loud claps of thunder. December 7th – Died at Lees Hall, James Woolstencroft, comonly called “Jemmy of Philips,” formerly of Robin-hill, Northmoor; age, 74 years. |
December 10th – Died in Royton-street, Oldham, Mary, wife of Charles Cartige, shoemaker; her age 61 years. And died in Radcliffe-buildings, bottom of Maygate-lane, John turner,; his age 26 years. December 22nd – The weather still continues very wet, and has been so ever since the latter end of September. December 23rd – Last night the wind turned to north, and it turned to frosty, and dried up the roads very much. December 24th – Great flood, it having rained very much last night, and this morning it caused the waters to rise astonishingly; it washed a deal of banks away, carried away bridges, mill ware, and did a deal of damage. December 25th – It rained most of last night and this morning, and the waters rose very much again. December 26th – It last night rained and hailed, and the wind was very boisterous. It as rained ever since the last week in September, and as been but a few days fine since. The roads are in a very bad state, and the land is all spungy and soft with water. Large floods and storms have been genaral al over England and its dependences. And in Germany a deal of damage as been done by floods. At St. Petersburg, in Russia, on the 10th of November, a great flood happened which did a deal of damage, and a deal of lives were lost. December 29th – Samuel Mills, of Oldham, carter to Jonathan Marsland, was unfortunately killed at Manchester by a deal balk falling on him. December 31st – Died, at Royton, John Kay, cotton manufacturer, an upright honnest man, and a man of sound judgement and good understanding. His death was rather sudden; cause, an inflamation. I quote the following from Fielding’s “Rural Historical Gleanings”:- John Kay, the subject of this memoir, the son of Thomas and Sarah Kay, was born at Elly Clough, near Royton, in Lancashire, on the 16th of July, 1781. When very young he was sent to a day school in the neighbourhood, but before he had made much progress in his education he was removed from school in order to commence hand-loom weaving, which was then not only his father’s occupation but the principal employment in that part of the country. During his leisure hours, however, he continued to increase his stock of information, and by the time he was eighteen years of age was sufficiently qualified to take part in discussions, where he frequently distinguished himself by his unusual powers of oratory. About this time he became acquainted with the late John Butterworth, the well-known geometer, who soon perceived the inclination and aptitude of Mr. Kay for mathematical studies, and therefore, lost no opportunity for recommending them more particularly to his attention. |
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Under Mr. Butterworth’s guidance and assistance the elementary portions of mathematics were soon disposed of, nor was it long ere the sublimities of the ancient geometry began to attract the attention of his promising pupil. Influenced by the example of his immediate neighbours, Wolfenden, Hilton, and Fletcher, and no doubt biased by the predictions of his talented instructor, Mr. Kay’s ever favourite was geometry and its applications. Indeed, he may be said to have devoted almost the whole of his leisure to these studies alone, for although the subject of mechanics had also its attractions for him, yet most of his investigations on this and other departments of mathematics had a decidedly geometrical tendency. His first mathematical correspondence appears in the “Gentleman’s Diary” for 1808, and exhibits no ordinary degree of elegance and ability. In 1810 he gained the second prize awarded annually by the learned editor and proprietors of that valuable periodical, and up to 1816 he continued to enrich its pages with many curious and elegant geometrical and mechanical questions and solutions. Mr. Marratt enlisted his services in the concluding numbers of the “Enquirer” and in the early portion of the Leeds Correspondent,” his name is also of frequent and respectable occurrence. The Gentleman’s Mathematical Companion” was his favourite publication, and although active business prevented him from contributing so largely as some other correspondents, yet his communications extend, with the exceptions of a few intervals, from the year 1808 to almost the close of the work. His most profound investigations relate to the subject of “Porisms,” a branch of the ancient geometry to which he had paid particular attention; hence, on the appearance of the prize question in the “Companion” for 1822 he produced a solution which gained him the first prize, notwithstanding that Comperty, Simpson, Butterworth, and Epsilon were his competitors. His contributions to the next number are remarkably elegant, and the solutions to questions 602 and 604, and the prize merit the highest commendation. He proposed the prize questions in the "“Companion” for 1824 and 1825, the former of which relates to his favourite subject of “Porisms”, and exhibits the complete command he had obtained of the ancient modes of investigation. This class of propositions has been singularly unfortunate. Confessedly abstruse, few had been found sufficiently qualified to grapple with its difficulties, and fewer still who have been willing to contribute their mite to the common stock. It required the persevering energy of Simpson to clothe the “dry bones” in the “collections of Pappus.” |
The profound research of Playfair was needed to inspire them with life, and though the labours of Wallace, Brougham, Noble, Galloway, and Davies have done much towards marshalling this great array, much more appears to be necessary before a successful attempt can be made to carry this stronghold to the ancient geometry. Simpson in his day regretted that the study of geometry was so little cultivated as not to justify the publication of many of his works (Davies’s “Geometry and Geometus,” No. 2). His most valuable researches would have remained a dead letter had not the munificence of Earl Stanhope in some measure rescued them from oblivion. Lawson attempted an English translation of the “Treatise on Porisms,” but the sale would not warrant the publication of more than sixteen propositions. Playfair promised a continuation of his valuable paper, but no traces of it are in existence, and though the repository and the mathematician have aided the effects of later geometers, yet even at the present time the publication of a “Translation of Simpson’s Porisms,” with notes by Mr. Potts, has been postponed sine die for want of proper encouragement. Mr. Key often lamented the neglect of this branch of geometrical science, and contemplated the publication of a work on the subject in conjunction with his friend and tutor, Mr. Butterworth. His predilection for geometry sometimes led him to overrate its powers, especially when applied to mechanics. A curious instance of this may be seen in the solutions to the question 399 of the “Companion,” which, not appearing satisfactory, led to the solution and remarks on p.p. 843 5, Companion for 1819 and, to a rejoinder from Mr. Gomperty in PP 923-4 comparison for 1820. In 1824 Mr. Kay re-proposed the “{Flood Gate Question,” at the request of his friend Mr. Wolfenden. An able solution appeared in the following number, and confirmed Mr. Wolfenden’s result by a different process. (See “Mechanics’ Magazine,” page 466, vol. X., sec. 8). At twenty years of age Mr. Kay was elected constable of the township of Royton, an office which he filled many years with great satisfaction to the authorities. He subsequently became a manufacturer of cotton cloth, and at the time of his decease had been the overseer of the poor of Royton for several years. He died, sincerely regretted by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, on the 31st December, 1824, in the 43rd year of his age. His remains were interred in Royton Churchyard, and the place where he rests is marked by a plain stone bearing the following inscription:-
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