Jan. 27th, 1795. – An uncommon thawing day; the waters rose uncommonly high. Jan. 27th, 1795. – A snowy and windy day. Feb. 4th, 1795. – Oldham: A large quantity of coals were given to the poor this day. Feb. 11th, 1795. – Loaves were distributed to the poor of Oldham this day. Feb. 14th, 1795. – Nankeens dropt 2 shillings at piece this day. Feb. 16th, 1795. – Great subscriptions for the relief of the poor in most parts of England. Robinson Shuttleworth, High Sheriff, this year lives at Preston. Every necessary of life rises astonishingly so that the poor are in a most lamentable condition. Feb. 18th, 1795. – A bitter cold day and a very strong frost. Feb. 24th, 1795. – The storm still continues with unabating fury. Feb. 26th, 1795. – A general fast kept throughout England, &c. March 4th, 1795 – It began to thaw very finely this morning. March 5th, 1795 – A very fine thawing day, so that the frost which commenced on the 22nd of December last in all probability will disolve. March 12th, 1795 – Died Joshua Kershaw, of Top o’th Moor, aged 74 years. Whetstone Hill was the original homestead in this neighbourhood of the Kershaw family. E. Butterworth says it is one of the most ancient homesteads in the township. John Kershaw, gent., was assessed to contribute a tenth or tax in 1621. Edmund Kershaw was the representative of the family in 1681. John Kershaw, yeoman, was the possessor of Whetstone Hill in 1735. Their descendants were afterwards resident at Copster Hill. There was a family of Kershaw resident at Sholver during the latter part of last century. The Kershaws were a trading family two centuries ago, and seem to have had a shop or warehouse in Manchester, between which place and this town they carried on a considerable business.
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March 18th – On the 14th it commenced a severe frost and snow, but on this day it terminated in a thaw. March 30th – Joseph Newton was interred at Oldham. He died far advanced in years, was a pensioner, and once served in the East Indies. Joseph Newton, who “once served in the East Indies.” – The Newtons are a family of very long standing in Oldham. In the times of the crusaders we find the name spelt as Notton or Noton; afterwards it was spelt Nuton, and then Newton. The original family of Noton sees to have possessed Chadderton Estate, and devoted gifts of tithes to the mother Church of Prestwich. The Newtons were resident in Oldham during the Reformation. John Newton and others took part in pulling down a tithe barn during Queen Mary’s reign, and this act led to long litigation. Another John Newton gave important evidence in a lawsuit respecting the “meares and bounds” of Oldham about 1620. He was a husbandman. A family of Newton lived at a place, called in the Church registers, “Under the Edge”, during a portion of the 17th century. In 1649 Edmond Newton paid 1½ d towards a “fifteen”. In 1662 I find the names of Edmund Newton and John Newton, who evidently held the estate afterwards possessed by the Milnes at Higginshaw, as contributors to this imperial tax. In 1664-5 Edmund Newton was among those who contributed to maintaining a musket, and his name also appears in the “Groat” books for those years. In the latter part of the century we find the Newtons among the musical friends of Elias Hall at Oldham Church. Robert Newton and Edmund Newton sang in the middle ranks of singers on the north side of Oldham Church about the year 1695. James Newton was a member of this society in 1701. Edmund Newton seems to have been a means of communication between Elias Hall and some of his rivals, and the consequence was that Elias wrote a piece of rhyme to Edmund of a sarcastic nature. I need not here reproduce it. The Newtons were good musicians up to the beginning of the present century. Tradition speaks of one of them as a good bassoon player, and singer as well; and he is said to have accompanied the Lees singers to London to take part in the grand oratorios performed before King George. To which branch of Newtons the above-named Joseph Newton belonged I know not. He played his little part in India, a country which to-day, by means of its relations with this country, its riches and resources, is yearly bringing untold wealth to Britain. And the same day (March 20th) a letter was received from Plymouth, giving an account of the death of James Cooper, formerly of Cowhill, tailor, and Matthew Barnes, formerly of Oldham, shoemaker, both in the 91st regiment. |
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March 22nd – Thomas Butterworth, late of Fog-lane, wheelwright, died in the West Indies, in the B of F. Received that account this day. March 22nd – It is with heartfelt concern that we hear of the lowering of wages for weaving. Nankeens are dropped 5d. per piece, dimitis 8d. per piece, and most kind of weaving in proportion. March 14th 1795. The assizes commenced at Lancaster, when Messrs. Shalcross, Pearson and Knight, appearing to a bill of indictment for rioting at Royton, April 21st. 1794. Judge Heath, on hearing four of the plaintiff’s witnesses, who were Church and King, gave such a scandalous account of their treatment towards the defendants, that he would not suffer any more witnesses to be examined, but honourably acquitted the defendants. Counsil for the defendants. Messrs. Vaughan, Chambre, Lloyd, Heywood, and Cockell, and for the plaintiffs Messrs. Law, Toping, Wood, and Johnson. Already a great deal has been said in these annals of this Royton riot. Much more remains to be said, but I shall content myself here with a note on the Knights who were Radicals, or rather “Jacobins”, and their family. It appears that, besides the “indomitable John Knight”, as Prentice calls him, there was a William Knight, described by Higson as John’s brother. This William was son of William Knight, of Stonebreaks, in Saddleworth. He was baptised at Hey Chapel, on the 13th of January, 1765, and is described as William, son of William Knight, clothier, by Mary, his wife. William’s career, however, was cut short, for we find that, according to Higson, he was buried at Lydgate Chapel, on the 15th April, 1796, or the year, or year but one, after this trial took place. Higson has no note of him beyond this, and that he was a “noted Radical”. If John was William’s brother, he would be born in 1763, and would be the eldest of a rather numerous family. Of John Knight I shall have more to say as these annals proceed. He was evidently a man much in advance of the times, and seems to have taken the lead in every political movement in this district from a very early period. I visited John Knight’s grave a little time ago; it is in Mossley Churchyard, and lies in a line between the west end of the new church and the east end of the old chapel. His gravestone is thus inscribed:- “In memory of John Knight, late of Oldham who departed this life September 5th, 1838, in the 76th year of his age; also of Elizabeth his wife, September 11th, 1824, aged 58”. Then follow the names of a number of children and other relatives, buried in the same grave.
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The Knights of Stonebreaks, from whom these brothers descended, were at one time people of high repute and respectability, and dwelt at Stonebreaks some 200 years ago. The family gravestone in Hey Chapel yard mentions one William Knight of Stonebrex, who died July 21st, 1757, aged 84, so that this man lived during the reign of King Charles II. I find also mention in the register of a John Knight, who died in 1792, aged 90, described as a “yeoman”. The Knights carried on the woollen clothier business at a mill, which still stands in ruins in the valley leading up from Grotton Hollow to Woodbrook, and is known by the name of Knight, or Neet Mill. About the beginning of the present century the family became greatly reduced, and from being comparative gentle folks, members of the family were obliged to follow the most menial pursuits. Poor John Knight, after fighting his country’s political battles, was obliged to eke out a living, I have heard say, by teaching young Oldham roughheads to read and write. Higson says 2,000 attended his funeral. Alas! another case of asking for bread and getting a stone.
March 27th – Last night died Joseph Wilde, Bottom of Coldhurst-lane, in the 65th year of his age. March 28th – As proof of the distress which the poor suffer at this time, the following is a true statement of the different necessaries of life, viz.:
April 10th – In compliance with an order from the Government to raise a man for every 70th house, the different towns returned their different quotas: they are to act as landsmen in the navy. They gave from 20 to 30 guineas per man. The townships were trust together. Chadderton raised 3¾, Oldham 10½. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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