Oldham, March 8th – Such is the rapid decrease of wages for fustian weaving and the universall pant for glory, that Thomas Dobson, James Cheetham, and James Woolstoncroft, of Northmoor, entered in the Derbyshire Militia this day. Middleton, March 12th – This day the Cheshire Militia, on their route for Hull, marched through here. Northmoor, March 18th – This day the last of the Northmoor heroes marched off for Derby. Besides the three above-mentioned, the following have inlisted: (6) Thomas Kershaw, Pharah Ogden, James Haigh, Tom Haigh, Daniel Knot, Thomas Travis, James Hardy, Ned Hardy, Henry Newton, Robert Heywood, James Bardsley, James Schofield, Mansfield, and Newton, all of Northmoor. I pause to call attention to the names of those Oldhamers who stood in the gap in their country’s need. The “universal pant for glory” stood England in some stead at that time. Pitt, the great Minister of peace, had been forced into war against his own wishes. The country demanded war, if only as a change from its depressed condition, but perhaps fear of a French invasion matured public opinion. France took the lead in declaring war, and there was no choice but for England to fight, or at least to prepare for fighting. Hence the enlistments all over the country:-
Pardon the last line. Lancaster, March 11th – This day the inhabitants of Burnley-lane appeared at this court, but Mr. Holt and his adherent submitted without trial, which rids the division of Streetbridge-lane of a fine of £480 and upwards, which was infamously laid upon them. Counsel for the poor division, Mr. Law, attorney; Mr. Josiah Phethian, of Manchester. Earl Barrymoor unfortunately shot dead near Dover, March 6th.
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At Lancaster, March 11th - James Tomlinson, for killing Daniel Knot, was imprisoned eight months privateer. [Transcriber’s note: Samuel Andrew gives the date (incorrectly) as December 11th.] Liverpool, March 20th – This day the Pellican, of 18 guns and 120 men, in going down the river, suddenly sunk with all her people. About 20 were saved by boats putting out to their assistance. War Office, March 8th – An order was issued commanding all out-pensioners to apear in diferent places In South Briton and Wales. In conformity to the above one Christopher Smith appeared at Manchester, who was discharged in 1757, and was then 65 years old, so that he consequently was 101 years old. April 1st was Easter Monday. It was a very roff, windy day, attended with a great fall of snow. March 4th – This day Wm. Lawson entered in the Angel Inn, Oldham. Heywood, March 27th – This day Captain Starkey, of Redivalls, near Bury, beat up here and listed 13 young men, when his relation, Mr. Starkey, of this place, gave each recruit two guineas, and roasted two sheep, and gave plenty of ale. E. G. Hopwood likewise gave each recruit one guinea. April 5th – This day, at Oldham, the Manchester Marine Corps came, attended by a few landlords and a band of musick and two elegant flags or colours, on the recruiting business. The Rev. John Griffith attended to atest those that were inlisted. Some few Oldham men did enter. Manchester, April 13th – This morning one Sergent Shaw, of Ashton-undr-Lyne, cut his troat in so shocking a maner that he died soon after. April 14th – Died, Susan, wife of Robert Lees, of Top-o’-th’moor. Monday, April 15th – This day a most tremendous cold, windy day, attended with a great fall of snow. About the begining of this year the people of this land tasted once more of adversity, by a general failure in business. Manchester, April 19th – Being the sessions here, Lees and Ogden where discharged, no bill being found. April 21st – It is with heartfelt concern that every day furnishes us with accounts from all parts of the country of the distressed situation of the poor. April 19th – A general fast throughout England and Wales. |
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ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. XIII Oldham, April 23rd – This morning died Rev. Hugh Grimshaw, minister of this place. It is but a scanty record I can find of the Rev. Hugh Grimshaw. He was minister of St. Peter’s Chapel, succeeding the Rev. Thomas Fawcett, who was removed to Oldham Church in 1774. Mr. Grimshaw died in 1793, having been minister nineteen years. He was succeeded by the Rev. G. H. Percy. It was during Mr. Grimshaw’s ministry that the Church was being aroused by the preaching of John Wesley and his followers. Mr. Grimshaw’s ministrations seem to have been very acceptable to the Wesleyans, who regularly attended morning service at St. Peter’s Chapel, bringing with them their Sunday scholars to morning service at this chapel, where the scholars had a place assigned them in the gallery, seats being erected behind the pews for their especial use. As an evidence of the good understanding mutually existing between Mr. Grimshaw and the Wesleyans, Mr. Grimshaw had a sermon preached and a collection made in aid of the Wesleyan Sunday School in St. Peter’s Chapel on December 14th, 1788. The Rev. Miles Wrigley, M.A., grandfather of the present Mr. Councillor William Wrigley, preached the sermon. The Wesleyan Sunday School was held in the Wesley Chapel, Bent Brow. The school began at nine o’clock in the morning. At service time they all marched in a body to St. Peter’s Chapel. At one o’clock noon they assembled again in their own Sunday school, and had service in their own chapel at 2.30. It was also during Mr. Grimshaw’s ministry that Sunday schools were established in Oldham. There was a Sunday school in the Oldham Grammar School in November, 1783. This was not long after Raikes established his Sunday school at Gloucester, or at least let the world know that he had established one. Perhaps Oldham was one of the first places in England after Gloucester to establish Sunday schools. Although Mr. Grimshaw’s name does not appear very prominent in the movement, it is very clear some of the boys attending the Grammar School on Sundays walked in procession to St. Peter’s Chapel, and that some of the boys were chosen to take part in the service by singing as choristers. There were two sets who took part in the service, and their names were – First set: John Nield, Chapel-street; Joseph Fitton, Jonathan Jackson, Chapel-street; Thos. Taylor, Chapel Croft.
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Second set: Joseph Needham, Ellis Needham, Maggate-lane; John Buckley, Chandler’s Hall; John Schofield, Lees Hall; and John Jackson, Bent. I feel sure if the particulars of Mr. Grimshaw’s life were know it would add an interesting chapter to our local history. Many of the above particulars I have gleaned from Mr. C. A. O’Niel’s History of Sunday Schools. April 25th – This morning Henry Duckworth, of Burnley-lane; disorder, a fever; age 28 years. April 26th – Died Anne, wife of Wm. Whittaker, of Top-o’th’-Moor; Disorder, childbed. Oldham, April 27th – This day died Abraham Beswick, formerly schoolmaster. According to Charles O’Niel’s history of Sunday-schools, Abraham Beswick was a teacher in the Wesleyan Sunday School, established in the Wesley Sunday School in Bent Brow, in 1785. He was a schoolmaster by profession, and received a small remuneration for his services, in the Wesleyan Sunday School. Manchester, April 29th – Messrs. Jones, Barker, and Lloyd stopped payment at their bank here. This bank was situate at Nos. 35 and 37, King-street, Manchester, and according to the annals of Manchester was in existence prior to 1772. Manchester, April 27th – This day in the pottatoe market 120 loads, which were short of weight, were seized for the use of the poor. May 7th – The most unexampled misery is supported by the poor people, owing to the failure of all sorts of business, great numbers of people are without work. Manchester, May 6th – This day a dispute arose betwixt the officers of the Yorkshire Militia and the population, which terminated in very serious consequences. Manchester, May 11th – Pottatoes sold 11s. per load. Every day and every hour furnishes us with fresh instances of the times; money is not to be obtained on anny account whatever, so that the poor are in the most wretched situation imaginable. May 29th – It has been uncommon fine wheather for one month past; there has scarcely been a drop of rain till this day, when it rained a little, and then terminated in a severe shower of snow. |
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