Referring to the report of the Lords’ committee in the year 1800, I find they were unanimously of opinion that the entire use of pure wheaten flour and the use of pure wheaten bread other than such as shall be made of the whole meal (the bread bran only being excluded) should be wholly discontinued, and that a mixture of at least one third of other grain should be used when it can be procured. And, further, that such reduction in the consumption even of bread so mixed should be made from the usual allowance in families (when other articles of food can be provided) as may bring it to one quarter load per head per week, or even less, as your committee are of opinion, from information they have received, that less will be sufficient in such families. The wheat might be adulterated by a mixture of barley oats and rye, any or all of them might be used. As the government were offering bounties on low-priced grain, no wonder that any sort of rubbish was imported for human food form any part of the world. No wonder also that Horn Tooke should characterise this Brown Bread Bill as the “Poisoning Act”. It was soon repealed, however, when Pitt went out of power and the Addington ministry came in. What Oldham greybeard has not heard of “Billy grund deawn”? February 11th – A cold, windy, snowy day. February 12th – Lamentable misfortune; James, son of James Rowbottom, of Alder-root, so miserably burned that he died a few hours after; age nearly 2 years. And this a very roof day for snow and wind. February 13th – A tremendous roof day for snow and wind, but a very slight frost. February 14th – Meal and flour a penny a peck lower. February 21st – Meal fell a penny a peck this day. February 18th – Died, Samuel Knott, of Northmoor, age 69 years. February 25th – Was intered at Oldham, Betty Ogden, of Chadderton Workhouse – she went by the name of blind Bett – age 31 years. It is with great concern that I relate that the fever makes great ravages in different parts of the country, where a deal of familys are attaced with it, and a very large number have consequently died. February 12th – Was observed a great fast. February 28th – Oldham: Meal 4s. to 4s. 3d.; flour, 5s. a peck; American flour, 5s. 9d. a peck; potatoes 20d. a score. Government repealed the bread bill this month. The weather for several days past as been rather wet, cold, and chilly, notwithstanding vegetations was in a very forward state.
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March 7th – Oldham: Meal 4s. to 4s. 3d.; flour, 5s. 3d.; and American, 5s. 6d.; Barley flour 3s. 3d.; potatoes, 1d. a pond; beef, 8d.; mutton, 8½ d.; bacon, 1s. a pond. March 8th – Died, in advanced age, James Ashton, farmer, formerly of Burnly-lane. March 9th – Died, Martha, wife of Thomas Bradley, of Busk; disorder, fever. March 14th – No material alteration in the price of provisions this week. March 15th – Yesterday morning it commenced a most tremendous windy, snowey morning, and continued all day, a deal of snow fell, and in consequence of the high wind was much drifted. March 16th – There is a deal of snow and a keen frost. March 17th – Died, John Ogden, of Busk; disorder, a fever. March 17th – Died, John Fletcher, hatter, New-road, Oldham; disorder, a fever. He was one of the Oldham Association, and of course intered with militari honours. March 21st – Oldham meal lowered 1d. per peck. March 25th – Very cold, wet weather, and has been so ever since the 13th instant; every day as been attended with hail, rain, wind, and snow. March 26th – A man died in a stable this morning in Oldham, and is supposed to have died in consequence of the want of bread. March 28th – Oldham meal sells as last week. March 29th – Died, Becka, wife of Charles Woolstoncroft, of Busk; disorder, a fever. The fever is very prevalent all over the country, and especealy in Oldham and its environs. A great deal are daily dying, and those that escape the pangs of death are in a wretched state for want of necessary nourishments. April 4th – It as been some very exalent fine days, and the farmers are very busey harrowing. At Oldham this day, meal sells from 3s. 10d. to 4s. a peck; beff and mutton 9d. a pond, and other articles as last. April 5th – was entered at Oldham, Ralph Jackson, parish clerk. Disorder, consumption. April 11th – Meal sells for 3s. 7d. to 3s. 10d. a peck. Flour, from 5s. to 5s. 6d. a peck. Pottates 21d. a score. |
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ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. XXXVIII 1801 OLD REMARKS July 30th 1757 – Meal fell from 38s. to 30s. a load. May 27th 1758 – Meal sold 1s. a peck (12 lbs) at Rochdale. ----------------------- April 18th – Meal sells from 3s. 6d. to 3s. 0d. a peck. Flour, &c., same as last week. April 12th – Last night, at nine o’clock, it fell a large fall of snow, and a verey severe frost, wich greatly damaged blosoms, buds, and vegetation. April 13th – Last night a large fall of snow again, but by the power of the sun, both snow and frost is vanished. April 15th – Last night three soldiers, on their march with a deserter, lodged him at the dungeon, Oldham; but in the morning he had broke the lock and made a clear escape. April 16th – Was entered at Oldham, William Dawson, a man verey famous for singing and ringing, died of a fever. April 19th – Earley this morning John Lord, of Uin Nook, Northmoor, cut his throat in a shocking manner, and afterwards threw himself into a coalpit, where he was found dead. It is supposed that the pressure of the times and he being at that time attacked with a fever thrut him into a state of frenzey. April 25th – Meal 3s. 1d. to 3s. 4d., flour 5s. to 5s. 4d. a peck, pottatoes 22d. a score. April 28th – This day Joseph Bradley sold a meal of a good quality 3s. 1d. a peck. Richard Broom sold meal 3s. a peck. April 30th – This month is concluded, wich since about the middle as been extremely fine. May 2nd – Oldham Fair; an exalent fine day, but little business and few company.
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May 3rd – Last night died Anna, wife of Jonathan Chadwick, millwright, of Maygate-lane, age about 60 years. May 4th – Last night died James Garside, of Red Tom Nook, hatter; disorder, a fever; age 29 years. May 2nd – No material alteration in the price of provisions. May 3rd – Light Horse and Flying Artilerey in consequence of a meeting at Bucton Castle, Sadleworth. Mr. Kay, a majestrate, of Ashton-under-Line, caled a party of light horse from Manchester Barracks, and dispersed the meeting, after wounding a few and taking a few prisoners. In aid to the majestrate, Mr. Entwisle, of Foxholes, came at the head of about 300 light-horse of the 17th Regement, with two pices of light artillerey from Bolton, and came as far as Oldham, but the business being over at Bucton Castle, they went no further than Oldham, and then returned to Bolton. John Stansfield, James Jackson, and John Buckley, of Chadderton, were apprehended on a charge of adminsteringe legal oaths, and, of course, commited to Lancaster Castle. E. Butterworth says: - In the early part of 1801 numbers of individuals who were anxious for a change of Government were so misguided as to form secret associations throughout the country to effect their object. Three persons connected with this conspiracy being discovered at Oldham, they were apprehended in May that year, and at the succeeding Lancaster Assizes were sentenced to seven years’ transportation each, for having administered the oaths of the association. A report being in circulation that a political meeting was to take place at Bucton Castle, near Stalybridge, Mr. Entwistle, of Foxholes, proceeded from Bolton to Oldham at the head of 300 horse soldiers, on the 3rd of May, 1801, but finding on his arrival here the meeting he was in quest of had been dispersed, the soldiery returned to Bolton. May 12th – Last night and early this morning some very fine showers wich much refreshed the earth, for the earth was quite parced up for lack of rain, it not having rained since April 7th. May 7th – Meal sells 2s. 11d. to 3s. 2d. Flour 3s. 9d. to 4s. a peck. Pottatoes 16d. a score. Select Observations. – The cotton buisness of all denominations is remarkably brisk and especcally weft for exportation for demand could never be equiled, strong fustians at this time are extreemly brisk, but most of light goods are flat. Hatting for the last four months as been extreemly dead, a deal of hands have been without work, wich as distressed many a family, for a deal of familis have sold their household goods to exist on. Provisions of all sorts are in a lowering state. |
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