Chadderton Hall, September 9th – This day the archers commenced the shooting in the park here, when the quiver of four pairs of arrows, the gift of Lady Horton, was won by Mr. Hobson, September 24th. Meal sold in this neighbourhood at 1s. 10d. per peck, which a fortnight since sold at 2s. 2d. per peck; Oct. 6th, it rose to 1s. 11d.per peck. Block-lane, October 5th. – Last night the house of Henry Whitaker, of this place, was broken open and robbed of various articles; on the 8th they apprehended Jos. Hilton, and searched his house and several articles were owned which had been stolen, and Hilton was committed to the New Bailey. October 10th – This day Robert Sutcliff, of Hunt-lane, died in an advanced age. October 12th – Uncommon fine wheather and has been so for some time, so that swarms of knats attend the evenings as in summer, and bats are constantly seen at nights. October 15th – Last night some villains cut down a pear tree of James Clegg’s, of Northmoor; likewise the hen-roost of Ashton Ogden, of Northmoor, robbed of a hen the same night. Oct. 16th – Yesterday, at Manchester, the trade fell much lower than it had been for some time, so that it is impossible for the poor to subsist much longer, for provisions are exceedingly dear.
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Potatoes at Manchester, 5s. per load; at home, 10d per strike. Malt 1s. 9d. per peck. Oct. 16th – This day, being Oldham Fair, owing to the fineness of the wheather, was numerously attended, but owing to the scarceness of money very little business was done, except in the military line, for there never was so many recruiting sergeants at any one time here before. There was a few young men enlisted. Jone o’ Grinfilt tells us:-
Oldham, Oct. 16th – This day Mr. Jacob Radcliff, of Bank, here generously gave a fat cow to be divided amongst the most necessitious of the poor. This is the second generous act of this worthy gentleman. Manchester, Saturday, Oct. 19th – At the sessions here, Joseph Hilton, for breaking the houses of Henry Whittaker and Standerings, in the field, was for the last offence stansported for 7 years. There was a bill against Sarah Fielding; she was bailed out of the New Bailey when she had been in about a fortnight. Sentence 8 months’ imprisonment, New Bailey, Oldham, Oct. 23rd. |
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ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. XIV October 23rd. – This day the Sick Clubs Cocieties atended divine service, when the Rev. Mr. Wrigley preached; text, Romans, 12th Chap, 4th and 5th verses. The Rev. Miles Wrigley, M.A., was of a stock native to Saddleworth, or the borders thereof. His father was Robert Wrigley, clothmaker, of New Road-lane, near Waterhead, Oldham. Miles was baptised at Hey Chapel, in 1746, by the Rev. Richard Hopwood, first incumbent of Hey. – Referring to Mr. Wrigley’s university career, I find he was a Cantab. The following entry is in Graduati Cantabrigiensis:- “Wrigley Milo, Cath., A.B., 1771, A.M., 1774”, which means that he was of Catherine’s College, and was Bachelor of Arts in 1771, and Master of Arts in 1774. Dr. Prescot was head of the College during the period of Mr. Wrigley’s residence at Cambridge. The Rev. Miles Wrigley was appointed to the living of Magna Chissell, in Essex, in 1781, which living he held for forty years, in addition to other livings to which he was appointed. According to Raines he was the first minister of Dobcross Chapel, and was nominated at the consecration of that chapel in 1787. In 1793, he was appointed to St. Michael’s, Manchester, which living he held till his death. About the end of last century Mr. Wrigley was a very popular preacher in Oldham and the neighbourhood, as will be seen from these annals. He seems to have been on amiable terms with the Rev. Hugh Grimshaw, Incumbent of St. Peter’s, and also with the Rev. Thomas Fawcett, Incumbent of Oldham Church, side by side with the latter of whom he was buried at his own request. As already stated, Mr. Wrigley’s father was a woollen clothier, and an old tradition still exists, that he used to say, alluding to his son being a clergyman, that “Black was a dear dye, and he should finish no more pieces that colour.” Mr. Wrigley’s gravestone in Oldham Church yard proclaims his family history as follows:- “In Memory of the Rev. Miles Wrigley, clerk, M.A., who was forty years Vicar of Magna Chissel, Essex, and twenty-eight years perpetual curate of St. Michael’s Church, Manchester, who departed this life on the 18th day of May, 1821, in the 75th year of his age, and was interred in this place at his own particular request. – Also Ann, his wife, who departed this life October 3rd, 1813, in the 61st year of her age. – Also Miles, his son, who departed this life July 13th, 1831, in the 46th year of his age. – Also Robert Wrigley, of Yorkshire-street, Auctioneer (son of the above Miles and Ann), who departed this life January 8th, 1842, in the 54th year of his age”.
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He had also two other sons, William and John. William was father of Mr. Councillor William Wrigley, popularly known as “Colonel” Wrigley. John still survives. The “Preston Sentinel”, June 2nd, 1821, says of Mr. Wrigley:- “He had great natural abilities, and fulfilled his Christian duties with general approbation. He was a worthy and good man”. Sarah Fielding died the day before the term of her imprisonment was out in the New Bailey. It is worthy of remark that in the Sick club at Saml. Horrocks, Oldham, since the feast day 1792, to the feast day 1793, upwards of 40 members have enlisted, and marched in different regiments.
The celebrated Lord George Gordon died prisoner in New Gate, London, Oct. 31st. The Lord George Gordon riots seem to have created some interest in Oldham. In June, 1780, London was the scene of no popery riots, named from their leader, the half-crazed Lord George Gordon, who was President of the Protestant Association in 1799. He presented a petition, January 14th, 1780, praying for the repeal of an Act passed in 1778, repealing certain enactments against Roman Catholics. A great meeting of ardent Protestants was held in St. George’s Fields, on Friday, June 2nd, 1780, and a great crowd of 50,000 to 100,000 people went with him to Palace Yard, where they mobbed members of the House of Commons as they arrived. Only sixty-two members voted in favour of Lord Gordon’s petition, and the mob being exasperated, burned Newgate, releasing the prisoners, and sacked the houses of those against whom they had a grudge. London was fired in various places, and a vast amount of mischief was done. Twenty-one persons were afterwards hanged for the offence, but Lord George himself was acquitted, though he died in Newgate, having being confined there for libel. Some fix the date of his death as November 1st. Mr. Wemyss, writing in the “Temple Bar Magazine” for March 1887, gives a good history of his life, and attributes his actions not so much to madness as to extravagant vanity. |
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