On the 13th of January, 1812, John Rowbottom had a very narrow escape of death on the San Domingo by the top gallant yard falling and taking his foot, wich unfortunately was much hurt. We here learn why the San Domingo was probably so much watched in Oldham. It was manned partly by Oldhamers; probably Rowbottom would be in communication with John Rowbottom, who was probably a relative. Besides, have we not a San Domingo-street in Oldham, probably called after this ship? Feb. 6th – Betty, wife of Thomas Lord, of Chaderton Fold, intered at Oldham, her age 88 years. Jan 19th, 1812 – Cuidad Rodrigo taken by storm by Lord Wellington, with the British and Portiguise army, the Governor Genaral Banier, 78 officers, and 1,700 prisoners. Jan 9th, 1812 – Valencia taken by capititation by the French Army, commanded by General Suchet; 16,131 prisoners, 1,950 sick, and Genaral Blake, the Spanish General, and Genaral O’Donnel, a Spanish Genaral. The fortunes of the French were waning in the Peninsula. Valencia had been captured by the French on the 9th of this month, which was the last of the French successes in the Peninsula. Ney had to be withdrawn with 35,000 troops to fight Napoleon’s battles elsewhere, which found a climax at Waterloo. With the obstinate tenacity and pluck of an Englishman, Wellington continued his career, and on the 19th, as we here see, captured Cuidad Rodrigo, or Roderie’s Town, which was a strongly fortified town. The French had invested it on 1st June 1810, and their breaching batteries commenced fire on the 25th. The Spanish garrison after a gallant defence surrendered July 12th. Wellington invested it January 8, 1812, and carried it by storm Janurary 19th (see Townend, “Life and Times of Palmerston.”) Some Oldham boys were in that siege. It is mentioned on the memorial slab of John Winterbottom in Saddleworth Church. Wednesday, February 5th – Was observed as a general fast throughout England and Wales. A short time since died Abel Buckley, of Spau, a man famous in the flower garden. He was far advanced in years. Feb. 9th – Was intered Abel Butterworth of Mills Hill, Badger, in an advanced age.
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Edward Greaves of Culcheth, near Manchester, and of Nettleworth, Nottinghamshire, High Sheriff for Lancashire. Squire Greaves as we have seen was a large landowner in Oldham. February 17. – Uncomon wet weather for some time past. February 8. – Thomas Rowbottom went on board the Duncan, of 74 guns, lying near Woolwich. February 22. – Sir Thomas Horton arrived at Chaderton Hall. February 23. – This morning was found drowned in a small pool of water between Royton and Holden Fold, William Taylor, son of Thomas Taylor, formerly of Holden Fold, but late of Royton, his age near thirty years, no dout but he drowned himself. February 31.- The Laurel frigate, of 36 guns, was lost on the coast of France, most of the crew saved. February 29. – Misfortune, as Joseph Wild, of Oldham, banksman, was attending his work at Coppice Nook, Werneth, he accidently fell down the pit and was killed. He was about 58 years of age, it is rather singular he has had a child drowned and his wife was killed at Hollinwood with a cart. The winter thus far has been very mild, there having been but little frost or snow, but in general as been very wet, and of late as been very much so. Portsmouth, February 27., sailed last night the San Domingo for the Downs. March 7. – Sauterday was an uncomon wet day; it rained for nine hours without intermission. March 12th – Mr. Farraqnd, coroner and jury, assembled at the Waggon and Horses, Top of Hollinwood, to inquire concerning a child wich had been buried with its head off, wich child belonged to one Anna Leech, single woman, who was maid servant to Mr. Bell, of Chamber. Its head being severed from the body caused some supposition of all not being fair, but for want of material evidence the affair was postponed until the 10th of next month. March 15th – Last night a large fall of snow and a slight frost. March 16th – Last night a large fall of snow, but slight, and a little frost. |
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March 17th.- Yesterday a fall of snow and froze rather severely. March 18th.- Last night it froze, and a little snow. March 19th.- Yesterday, and in the night it fell a quantity of snow, and in the night froze very keenly. March 7th.- Died, Sally, wife of Samuel Wrigley, of Sandy Bank, nine miles from Leeds, but formerly of Northmoor. March 19th.- Misfortune; As Peter Walker was at his work in a coalpit at Collior Hill, Hollinwood, a very large stone fell from the roof and killed him on the spot. March 20th.- Yesterday cold and stormy, and froze slightly. March 21st.- Storm of snow and wind. Early yesterday morning commenced one of the most tremendous storms of wind, accompanied with a large fall of snow; it continued till early this morning, when it ceased. There were uncomon large drifts of snow, and the roads in many places where impasable; the wind north, wich in the end veered to north-east. Although the wind was astonishingly high we have heard of no great damage being done. March 22nd.- Yesterday, cold, wind and rain, and very large drifts of snow, wich made the roads nearly impasable. March 23rd.- Yesterday an uncomon roof cold day; the wind very high at north, attended with snow and sleet. Oldham Theatre opened on the 24th of February with the tragedy of Jane Shore by Mr. King’s company of comedians. This I take to be the old theatre in San Domingo-street, now or recently used as a chandler’s shop re-opened. March 24th.- Yesterday an uncomon cold day, with the wind north-east, wich was astonishingly high, with sleet and snow. At night it froze slightly. All the day was extreemly cold. March 25th.- Yesterday was an uncomon cold day, wind north and very high, and a deal of snow still continues on the ground, and at night it froze uncomonly hard, but this morning the wind is lower, but is still uncomonly cold, and the frost uncomon keen.
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March 26th.- Yesterday, a cold frosty day. March 27th.- Yesterday was more calm, but still very cold. March 28th.- Yesterday the frost weaker and the wind south-east, and it rained at night. March 29th.- Yesterday it turned to raining, wich most probably put an end to the storm. March 30th.- Yesterday rather wet, and last night it fell an uncomon deal of rain; the water rose astonishingly, and this morning it rains very heavely, and is a verey dreary Easter Monday. March 28th.- Manchester flour sold as high as £4 to £4 5s. a load; meal, 58s. to 62s. a load; potatoes, 14s. a load. These articles have risen for several weeks past. Weaving of all sorts is at the lowest ebb; good velveteens for 2s. a pond, 24 hanks. At Oldham, flour 4s. 2d. to 4s. 4d. a peck; meal, 3s. to 3s. 1d. a peck (12 pond to the peck); pottatoes, 16d. a score. March 31st.- Yesterday an uncommon wet day; it rained very heavily all day. It being the last day of March, and there is not the least apearance of spring, all sorts of vegetation is kept back by the unprecedented cold weather. The little warblers have scarsely been heard to usher in the time by their sweet and melodious notes, and everything as a most awful apearance. April 1st.- Yesterday an uncommon cold day, the wind north-east, which was very high, and it rained, snowed and sleeted most of last night, and this morning the hills were covered with snow. 1st, 2nd. 3rd, - Very cold days, and large drifts of snow apear, particularly on the northern hills. 4th.- An uncommon fine day. 5th.- A fine spring day, and the cold, chilly weather banished. 4th.- Last night some villains broke into the house of Henry Whitehead, innkeeper, Bottom of Hollinwood, and stole out about £14 in cash, in wich they made clear off, and left not a trace behind. April 8th.- Last night uncomon cold, the wind very high at north-east, attended with snow and a slight frost, and this morning very cold, and the northern hills covered with snow. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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