Jonas Bentley, Barrowshaw; Robert Fitton, Millbrow; John Clegg, Waterhead mill; James Winterbottom, Newearth; John Mayall, Greenacres moor; Edmund Lees, Millbrow; Robert Ogden, Roxbury; Robert Wylde, Roxbury; John Shackelton, Jackson pit; John Wilde, Lees hall, near North moor; John Cowper, Barrowshaw hill; Jacob Bowker, Bent brow; John Cowper, Count hill; John Thewlas, Roundthorn; and William Norbury, Newearth.

The enumeration of the residences of these parties indicate that the woollen trade prevailed in every township ofthe parish, almost to the period of the departure of the business, about 1792. One solitary woollen mill however still remains, forming as it were a peculiar memorial of other times, an example of the manufactories of early days - this is the fulling mill, near Royton, called Royton mill. Within the recollection of Mr. Daniel Mills, of Cheapside ** who is remarkable for his scrupulous regard to truth, a family of the name of Mayall, who were wool carders and woollen cloth manufacturers, carried on business at their residence, near the Church steps, in 1776. I have no means of ascertaining the number of operatives engaged in the woollen trade of the locality at this period, but probably their entire extent would not exceed 500. The aggregate of hands employed by the cotton trade of the parish at the same time would perhaps amount to 4000.

The manufacture of hats never became a business of any great importance till it was extensively revived by Mr. Abraham Clegg, of School croft head, in High street, and afterwards of Bent hall, who died in 1748. His sons Messrs. John and Abraham Clegg entered largely into the business at Bent hall, Lower Bent, and
.......................................................................................

** Mr. Mills died on the 16th November, 1851, in the 91st year of his age. His wife died in August, 1842, aged 78, and it may be mentioned that this couple were the oldest in Oldham for many years previous to their death, having lived as man and wife sixty years.

121