Oldham Historical Research Group

William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard

1792

Moreover, Sir Watts was a country “justice” who bore not the sword in vain. Surely, there is a spice of romance even among these prosy details. Think of a journey to London in those days, with “a large retinue”. Think of the family rumble and its appointments. Think of the perils of the journey, highwaymen, and footpads. Think of young Miss Horton, a lady of but two years old, making such a journey, and such a precious baby, too. Would not Sir Watts need his honest yeoman about him? His Will Wimble and Mr. Honeycombs. And who was Will Wimble, somebody will ask? Will Wimble was no figurative personage; he was the sworn henchman of Sir. Watts. His real name was Mr. Dechet. He was always equal to the task of shooting a rat, a rabbit, or a highwayman. On great occasion Will was Sir Watts’s faithful attendant, over whose body Will kept dragon watch. When Sir Watts travelled in State to London, Will Wimble would ride in the cavalcade near to Sir Watts’s chariot, and at the various stages on the road he would attend to Sir Watts’s comforts, chasing dull care away during the livelong night at the wayside inn with many a cheery song. Will Wimble was the wonder and sometimes the envy of his neighbours. He led an easy, comfortable like, and never seemed to earn anything. His table was often replenished by a haunch from Sir Watts’s larder, a hare or rabbit from his park, fish (caught with Will’s own hand) from his ponds, or fruit from his garden. Will Wimble was a man of ancient family, bred to no business, and born to no estate. He hunted a pack better than any man in the country, and was famous at finding a hare. He was well versed in all the small handicrafts of an idle man. Could make a mayfly to a miracle. He was a favourite with all the young heirs in the country, whom he would occasionally supply with a fishing net he had woven, or a setting dog he had reared. Now and then he would make a present of a pair of garters of his own knitting to their mothers or sisters and would raise a deal of mirth when he would meet them by inquiring how they wore?

 

Will Wimble was a south countryman, and had some French blood in him. He lived on Sir. Watts’s estate, near Middleton. If Sir Watts wanted a new wig or new silk stockings, it was for Will Wimble in the person of Mr. Dechet, to execute the commission. Another of Sir Watts’s friends was Mr. “Honeycomb” familiarly known at Chadderton Hall as “Pud”. His real name I never knew. He was a fat, sleek man, who “slept o’ nights”, such a man as Caesar loved to have about him. Among Sir Watts’s other attendants would no doubt be old Scholes, with a spaniel by his side. He is a yeoman of about a hundred pounds a year. An honest man. He is just within the Game Act, and qualified to kill a hare or pheasant. He knocks down a dinner with his gun twice or thrice a week, and by that means lives much cheaper than those who have not so good an estate as himself. He is a very sensible man, shoots flying and has been several time foreman of the petty jury Old Christy, with his “frosty paw”, who had charge of the dogs and horses, and had spent a lifetime among them is another typical personage who would join the retinue. “Verily, old servants are the vouchers of worthy housekeeping. They are like rats in a mansion or mites in a cheese, bespeaking the antiquity and fatness of their abode”. Nor must we forget the jorum of female domestics required to care the baby. Lady helps, who had caught their stately airs from living so much among the family pictures. As to the “doings” in London, Sir Watts would, no doubt, keep high society, from his connection with the noble family of Strange. His quarters were at No. 12, in Upper Brook-street, Grosvenor-square, but of those doings I must leave my readers to judge from the literature of that period, which describes London life in language which I have not at command. Lest I might be accused of gross plagiarism or other heinous offence, I must refer my readers as to the truth of my statements to the letters of Sir Watts Horton (still extant), to the history of Sir Roger de Coverley, and to the annals of Bracebridge Hall, from all of which I have copied such parts as would suit the story, without scruple and even without consent.

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ANNALS OF OLDHAM

No. IX

John, son of David Wolstencroft, of Whittaker Fold, died at Clitten very suddenly. It was surmised that he had been wounded in a conflict said to have happened at Swinton, but upon the matter being fully investigated it appeared that there had been no blows, but that he had been put into violent passions, which brought on a fever. He was ill about forty hours. Age 18 years, January 25th.

James Hilton, tailor, formerly of Hunt-lane, was interred at Middleton, February 5th. He was buried in his stockings, breeches, waistcoat, shirt, neckcloth, and coat, at his own request.

February 9th - This day a person in the character of a rider was detected at Abraham Fletchers, Werneth, passing off base silver coin, and taken before Joseph Pickford, of Royton, and by him committed to the New Bailey.

February 9th – A boy servant of James Hill, of Newton Heath, on mounting a horse at Werneth coalpits, the beast turned restive, and ran backwards into a coalpit with the boy on its back. The horse was dashed to pieces. The boy was found still mounted with his thigh much broke, but likely to do well. The pit measures 106 yards deep.

Wm. Asheton, of Curedale, high Sheriff for 1792.

James Lees, commonly called James of Margerits, killed by a cart going over his head. He accidentally fell as he was walking on the road in Hollinwood (being much drunk). He was a hatter, and lived in Oldham. February 21st.

Ralph Jackson, parish clerk of Oldham, died Feb.20th; disorder, a consumption. He was elected clerk at Oldham rushbearing Wednesday, in 1782. The text at his funeral Isaiah, 26th chap. 4th verse.

The Jackson family was for many generations connected with Oldham Church in the subordinate yet honourable office of clerk or sexton, or both combined, and it is only recently that this connection has been severed.

Nanny Lee, of Chadderton-lane, died at a great age, and interred February 22nd.

 

February 19th, being Shrove Sunday, and on Monday and Tuesday there were married at Manchester 58 couple.

Edward Hide, master of Cockale House in Tonge, died February 26th; disorder, consumption. Age 48 years.

MURDER, February 20th – In consequence of some altercation between John Whitehead, of Hollinwood, and Ralph Rutter, a collier. Rutter, without much provocation, struck Whitehead a little above his ear, and burst a blood vessel, so he languished till the 24th, and then died. Rutter was committed to the New Bailey till Whitehead’s death, and, on the jury bringing their verdict wilful murder, he was of consequence committed to Lancaster Castle. This affair happened at Werneth.

Siah Partington, of Oldham, interred February 29th, and morning following his expired; disorder, consumption.

John Taylor, of Foulleach, fell into a saw pit (being much intoxicated). He lay most of the night of the 12th of February, and languished till the 26th, and then died.


Joseph Hall, of Oldham, committed to the New Bailey to take his trial for stealing 5s. 6d. out of the house of Chadderton, of Oldham. This Hall was tried and convicted last October Sessions for stealing a pair of shoes from Mr. Clegg, timber merchant. Committed March 2nd.

Martha, wife of Joshua Kershaw, of Top-o’th’-Moor, died in an advanced age, March 5th.

James Butterworth, of Nod, died March 6th; disorder a plurasy fever, age 57. This James Butterworth was married February 19th last.

March 6th – Last night the New Bailey alehouse on fire, but happily got under without much damage.

March 10th – This day the assizes began at Lancaster, when Ralph Rutter, charged with the murder of John Whitehead, was found guilty of manslaughter. Sentence, fined 1s., and three months’ imprisonment.

At the above assizes it was supposed that Daniel Murphy, the person supposed to have murdered Mr. Worthington in 1788 would have been tried, but Mr. Butterworth could not obtain him from the jailor of Dublin, he being detained on account of highway robbery.

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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard
Transcribed by Mary Pendlbury & Elaine Sykes
Courtesy of Oldham Local Studies & Archives
Not to be reproduced without permission of Oldham Local Studies & Archives.
Header photograph © Copyright David Dixon and licensed for re-use under the C.C. Licence.'Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0'

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