August 19th – Harriot Harison, alias Bamford, comonly cald Harriot at the end, formerly of Chadderton-fold, but now of Bent, Oldham, lodged in the lock-ups Oldham, on a charge of having in her possession, stolen goods. (At the sessions acquited). August 25th – Last night the house of George Holden, of Holden-fold, broke open and robbed of six fustian pieces and not a trace left behind. August 27th – Last night a most uncomon roof night for rain and wind, and this morning is very wet and windy. August 29th – Was Oldham rushbearing Sauterday. A fine day, but a few company, and one rush cart only, wich came from Hill on Greenacres Moor, and the authouritys of the town very much disputed there showing themselves in the town, notwithstanding its grandeur, it being superbly decked, and the authouritys very much disputed the rushcarters, and a terrible conflict ensued, in wich the rushcarters had the best of it, for the authourytys and their assistances where totally defeated. Beadledom under the new Police Act sought to put down rushcarts by prohibiting their entrance into the town. No wonder the beadledom became unpopular though no doubt the prohibition was well meant. Pitched battles were often fought between the waighsman of rival carts, and sometimes with fatal results. September 1st – All kinds of fruits very cheap and plentiful. Apples and pears 1d. per pond. At Manchester pears sold at 1/4d. per pond. September 7th – The weather still continues very wet and cold, and the poor are in a misserable situation. September 8th – Pottatoes are selling of the very best quality at 5d. per score, and some as low as 4d. per score. September 12th – The weather still continues extreem wet, and the grain of all kinds in a spoyling state for want of sun. Fruit this year the most plentifull ever remembered. The very finest sorts of apples 9d. per peck; damson plums of the very finest sort 1 1/2d. per quart. September 11th – Died at Oldham, Mr. John Chadwick, constable of Oldham for ---- years, and served it with the greatest credit and honour, and died in the 80th year of his age. September 15th – Died at the Top of Northmoor, John, son of James Bardsley. Her generally went by the name of Briskham; his age, 26 years. September 16th – Died at Priesthill, Oldham, Samuel Kershaw, of that place, mercer and draper. |
September 18th – Died at Oldham, Mary, daughter of James Mills, of the White Lyon, Oldham; age 23 years. September 23rd – A fever of very alarming and dangerous tending is very prevelent at this time in Oldham. It is called the typhus fever. A deal have already dyed, and a deal are seriously afflicted. September 17th – A confirmation was holden at York, when 1,107 males and 1,640 females where confirmed. September 26th – This morning was found drowned in a pit near Lane-end, John Woolstoncroft, son of the late Thomas Woolstoncroft, of the Duck Inn, Oldham. He had been for some time past seriously attacted with a fever; his age 25 years. September 29th – St. James’s Church, erected at a cost of £9,000, was consecrated by Dr. Bird Sumner, Bishop of Chester, and opened by a confirmation. September 19th – This morning the Bishop of Chester held a confirmation at St. Peter’s, Oldham, and confirmed 957.; then went to the new church, Greenacres, and confirmed 1,614, making the whole 2,571. The weather at the conclusion of this month as been very wet, but there as been a few days of fine in wich a deal of corn as been cut and housed and the grass is growing apace. October 1 – Died at his house at Nathan Roe, Oldham, James Kay, hatter, age 48 years. October 3rd – Died at Oldham, James Chadwick, draper and shopkeeper, and formerly of Royton. October 7th – Thomas Townend, of Northmoor, had the misfortune to have his leg broke in the coalpit wilst at his labour. October 8th – Last night it froze very severely. October 10th – A most mellancolly affair was discovered this morning. Mr. William Radcliffe, of the bank, Oldham, was discovered drowned in a pond near there house at Bank. He left home last night in a disponding state, and is soposed to have thrown himself into this pond. By this event his relations and friends where thrown into the greatest trouble and distress, he being a yong man very much respected by his neighbours, he being of a quiet disposition of mind, and was much famed for his frequent acts of generosity. A few days since was found drowned in the cannel near Todmorden, John Murfit, of near Hollinwood. It is soposed he had fallen in by accident. He was upwards of 60 years of age. |
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October 10th – Fruits have all kinds in general been very low in price. Apples, 6d. per peck; damson plums, 10d. per peck. October 12th – Last night, died at Vin Nook, Top o’th’Northmoor, Daniel Lees, a peaceable, quiet, sober man; age perhaps 62 years. October 17th – Last night a gang of thiefs entered the house of Nelson Mills, at Springs, near Chadderton, and stole several articles, and left not a trace behind. October 22nd – Annah Gartside, a woman of Haggate, near Royton, in a fit of despair, drowned herself in Killfield Pit, near Holden Fold. October 21st – Died at Oldham, David Ogden, saddler and harness maker, aged 57 years. October 23rd – An exalent fine day. October 24th – A fine day. October 21st – Mr. Butterworth of Lees Hall Mill in disputing with is spinners had 19 taken to the New Bayley this day for three months for neglecting to give notice of their leaving their work,. Leaving work without notice is a serious offence under the Master & Servant Act. Though in modern times the penalty has been mitigated. October 24th – Died at Oldham, Mrs. Cambell, relict of the late Mr. William Cambell, draper and shopkeeper. October 19th – Died at Oldham, wife of Philip Mayers, hatter and shopkeeper, of Bardsley Brow. October 19th – Died, wife of Simeon Marsden, of Broadway-lane, hatter. October 28th – Last night, the house of John Butterworth, the Dog and Partrige, at the Tol’ Bar, Northmoor, was broke open and robbed of a quantity of spirits., &c., and no trace left behind. October 28th – Died, James Gee, of Hollinwood, a very considerable hat manufacturer. October 28th – James Gee, Esq., of Lund House, an opulent hatter, died. November 8th – Died, Sally, wife of James Hadfield, servant of Mr. Joseph Rowland, of Orleans Mill, her age 48 years. November 11th – Yesterday was considered one of the wettest days we have experienced for a number of years. It has rained for several weeks past to a great degree. |
November 14th – Died, Annah, wife of Thomas Ogden, shopkeeper, Maygate-lane. November 16th – Died at Oldham, Mr. Thomas Whittaker. His age, 68 years. November 16th - Thos. Whittaker, of Oldham, died, age 68, and has a tablet erected to his memory in St. Peter’s Church. November 16th – The Rev. William Fullerton Walker inducted incumbent of St. James’s Church, Oldham. November 23rd – Thomas Dyson, of Chadderton; Daniel Wamsley, of Craig Clough, near Chadderton, where apprehended on a charge of sheep stealing, and where taken before the Rev. Mr. Hulme and the Rev. Mr. Horden, who were sitting at Hollinwood, when they commited them to Lancaster, to take their tryalls at the ensueing assizes. December 4th – Died at Hollinwood, David Ingham, a native of that place. December 10th – This day John Laycock, of Burnley-lane, farmer, had a sale by auction of his farming stock previous to his leaving the country for America. December 12th – Died very sudden, Susan, wife of Thomas Mellor, hush seller, of Highgate. December 16th – It has been exalent fine wheather of late. December 18th =- Last night it fell a quantity of snow. December 22nd – Yesterday it fell a quantity of snow, but the wind was very still. December 27th – The weather still continues very winterly, being accompanied with frost and snow, and at some time is very cold. December 28th – The frost still continues most severe, and it was genarly admitted that it froze with more severity last night than for a deal of years last past. December 29th – It continues very winterly. December 31st – The year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine is nearly concluded, and never a poorer apearance of Christmas before, for all kinds of trade are in a wretched condition, especially weaving and hatting. A deal of branches are entirely without work, and the poor of this country are in a most miserable situation imaginable, for nothing is to be seen or heard but the most distressing misery. The factory system was now in its full fling in Oldham, bringing in its train wealth, prosperity and happiness.
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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