the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as well as the early part of the eighteenth century. I have already noticed the fact of the Wrigleys of Salford acquiring extensive property in Oldham in 1646, in consequence of being wealthy fustian manufacturers.

Thomas Percival, Esq., of Royton, the purchaser of Royton from the Byrons, in 1662, was the son of Richard Percival, Esq., a wealthy cotton-linen manufacturer of Manchester, resident at Grindlowe, in Gorton. This Richard Percival, a native of Dublin, was great grandson of Thomas Percival, of Somersetshire, brother of George Percival, ancestor of the Earls of Egremont. Richard Percival settled at Manchester before 1625, in which year he sold an estate near Bristol, of his father's (John Percival) for £3,000, clear of all incumbrances. During the civil wars, Mr. Percival became a captain in the parliamentary army, and was unfortunately killed in a skirmish betwixt the royalists and parliamentarians at Manchester, July 15, 1642. It is stated in Burke's "Commoners" (vol. 4, p. 612), that at the time he was killed, he was carrying a message from the parliamentarians to Lord Strange; but Mr. Baines (History of Lancashire, v. 2, p. 271) and Mr. Palmer (Siege of Manchester, p. 12) say nothing of this circumstance, but describe him as having been a linen weaver, from the village of Kirkmanshulme, which is near Gorton.

Although the cotton-linen manufacture was slowly but securely gaining upon the woollen, the latter trade constituted the principal staple business of Oldham and the neighbourhood, till later than the middle of the last century.

One of the earliest woollen manufacturers recorded in the parish registers, was a William Garlick, of Chadderton, described as a cloth maker in 1653. The Lomax family were cottoxnlinen manufacturers at

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