August 30th - Oldham rushbearing Sunday. An uncomon fine day, and a deal of company, but in consequence of times very little spending. August 31st - This morning six pieces of horse artillery passed through Oldham on their way for Huddersfield, August 30th - Died, Thomas Stott, of Buggard Hole, Oldham, collier, age 63 years. August 22nd - The assizes at Lancaster commenced, when the thirty-eight persons committed in June last, on a charge of administering and being present to the administering of unlawful oaths, where all acquitted, and Robert Ogden, of Royton, and James Taylor, of Oldham, 18 months imprisonment each. John Wrag otherwise Scoles, of Oldham, Paul Greenwood, of Narrow Gate Brow, and Abraham Ogden, of Stakehill, John Kenyon of Middleton, two years each, these last four where bailed last May at the especial commission at Lancaster. August 31st -Oldham: Meal, new, 5s. 0d. to 5s. 3d.; old, 4s. 6d. to 4s. 10d.; Flour, 6s. to 6s. 2d. a peck. This is the highest point at which we have seen the price of flour – 6s. 2d. a peck. Bamford relates in his “Early Days” how poorly his family fared, and what a bare table they had; but Prentice puts this point in its strongest light by quoting a speech at that time by Mr., afterwards Lord Brougham. He says: “The food which now sustains them – the working classes – is of the lowest, and of that there is not nearly a sufficient supply; bread or even potatoes are now out of the question, the luxuries of animal food or even milk they have long ceased to think of. A gentleman interested in the cotton trade went to collect his rents, and when he saw the tenants sitting down to a scanty dinner of oatmeal and water – their only meal in 24 hours – he could not stand the sight, and came away unable to ask for his rent.” September 4th – Was intered, Mary, the widow of the late Thomas Beswick, of Buggard Hole, Oldham. September 5th – Was intered, Jonathan Mellor, of near Coldhurst, Northmoor. September 1st – The Newton and Failsworth local militia marched from Oldham this morning on their route for Rochdale. They arrived at Oldham last night. September 7th – Meal 5s. to 5s. 1d., old 4s. 6d. to 4s. 9d.; flour from 6s. 1d.; potatoes 1s. per score. Manchester on the 5th – flour £5 10s. to £6; meal, new, from £4.15s. to £5 per load. Twelf score pottatoes, from 9s. to 11s. a load at Oldham, 12 pond to the peck.
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September 7th – Sam Stansfield, of Oldham, carpenter and coffin maker, by Mr. Horden, commited to the New Bayley, on a charge of stealing deal boards of William Rowbottom Hardware, of Oldham. Madrid surrendered by capitulation to Earl Wellington, August 14th, taken 3,060 prisoners, 2 eagles, 198 pieces of cannon, 20,000 stands of arms, and an emence quantity of stores of all kinds. It was on the 12th, and not on the 14th as here stated, that Wellington entered Madrid. Thiers says Salamanca was the beginning of the ruin of French affairs in Spain. In three weeks after Salamanca, Madrid was taken, and Wellington received, we are told, “a perfect ovation” from the inhabitants. The French troops numbered five to one against the English, and were concentrating at Madrid. Wellington finding the Spanish Government quite unable to provide for the campaign, evacuated Madrid on the 18th October, amidst “the frequent tears and mournful silence of the inhabitants, a dense mass of whom – men, women, and children – followed the troops for miles bewailing their departure. On the same day King Joseph and Marshal Jourdain re-entered the capital. Wellington’s victories had struck terror among French troops, and people began to believe that Napoleon’s power was being cut short. “A day later, Oct. 19th,” says Green, “began the more fatal retreat of the grand army from Moscow. Of the 400,000 combatants who formed the grand army at its first outset only a few thousand re-crossed the Niemen in December. September 12th – Fall of flour and meal this day at Manchester 10s. a load, and at Oldham it fell 4d. to 6d. a peck. A few days since Garside entered as tenant at the Fire Engine, Street. September 10th was the day for granting licenses to public-houses for the parishes of Oldham and Ashton-u-Line, wich was held at the Spread Eagle, Oldham No alteration at all in Oldham parish, but in Ashton four licenses suspended. A short time since the Watch and Ward was discontinued in and about Oldham. September 17th – Was intered at Oldham, John Barnes, of Coldhurst. He was son of old Sawney Barnes. Disorder, consumption; age 35 years. |
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September 16th – Died, at Chadderton Workhouse, Mary, wife of Joseph Ogden, commonly cald Dody at Busk; her age, 30 years. September 7th – A party of the Carlow Irish Militia arrived in Oldham, to do duty there. September 19th – Oldham: Flour, 4s. 7d. to 5s. 6d.; meal, 4s. 5d. to 4s. 10d. a peck; pottatoes 11d. a score. John Taylor, of Primrose Bank, sold flour 4s. 7d., and Abraham Jackson, of Priest-hill, sold his flour 5s. 6d. September 19th – Last night a grand display of fireworks at Manchester in honour of Lord Wellington’s victory. September 26th – This day at Manchester meal fell 7s. a load; flour about the same. Flour 90s. and meal 70s. a load, potattoes 9s, a load, Oldham flour 4s. 6d. to 4s. 9d. , meal 4s. 2d. to 4s. 3d. a peck. The fine harvest wheather wich was scarcely ever eaquiled, and a deal of corn has been cut and housed, although in consequence of corn being so late there is a deal to cut at this time. September 29th – Yesterday an uncomon day for rain, and the waters are astonishingly, and a deal of damage was done by the rising of the waters. September 30th – This morning died, Ann, daughter of James Andrew of Busk, disorder, child birth; aged 19. The weather still continues very fine, and the farmers very buisey cutting and housing their corn, and the crops are very heavey. October 2nd - Died Edmund Ashton, of near Hollinwood, aged 89. October 3rd - Manchester flour £4 a load, meal £3 10s. a load. Oldham flour 4s. to 4s. 2d., meal 3s. 9d. to 3s. 11d. a peck. October 7th - The Right Honourable Edward Lord Stanley, accompanied by Colonel Wm. Horton, arived at Oldham to solicit the interest of the freeholders to his support at the next general election. Great political events were being discussed in the public press. I(n this year the Commons passed a Catholic Emancipation Bill, which was rejected by the Lords. Other matters of internal reform were being brought before the public. Lord Stanley was a very popular candidate, representing moderate views, but in the main, supporting the Ministry. It was on his motion that certain inquiries were made into the condition of the working classes about this time.
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Oct. 10th - Manchester meal and flour fell each 10s. a load, and at Oldham meal 3s. 3d. to 3s. 5d., flour 3s. 9d. to 3s. 11d., pottatoes 11d. to 12d. a score.
Oct. 16th - Was intered at Middleton Nancy, wife of James Simpson, of Hilltop, Chaderton, age 34. Oct. 17th - Manchester meal and flour rose 8s. a load, and at Oldham meal 3s. 9d. to 3s. 11d., flour 4s. 2d. to 4s. 4d. a peck. Oct. 23rd - Was intered at Oldham John Hilton, of Block-lane, an old man; and Mary, daughter of William Anderson, of Chadderton, her age 19 years, disorder a fever. Same day, at Royton, Adam Whitworth, of Royton Walk Mill. Oct. 22nd - Samuel Richards left the Angel Inn, and entered as tennant on the Garrick Head, Manchester. The Angel at present in the possession of Cristopher Marsden. Oct 24th - Manchester, the following articles took a rapid rise: Flour £4 10s., meal £4 to £4 4d., potattoes 11s. to 13s. a load. Oldham, flour 4s. 8d. to 4s. 10d., meal 4s. 3d. to 4s. 4d. a peck, malt 3s. 10d. a peck, pottatoes 14d. a score. October 31st - Manchester. Very little variation in the price of provisions. And at Oldham nothing changed but meal, 1d. a peck lower. In the latter half of this month the camp at Kersall Moor broke up. Pottatoes. The crops of this useful article of life have been various, but in consequence of the dearness of all sorts of provisions, the farmers in this neighbourhood seem very shy at selling, and those that do sell them 10s. a load. Uncomon wet weather at this time, and has been so for above a fortnight. October 30th - A lamentable misfortune happened at Coldhurst High Barn. As James Bardsley, a yong man, was acending out of a coal pit there, when 30 yards from the bottom by a sudden jerk of the rope his hold was broken, and he was precipitated to the bottom, and was shockingly brused. He languished to the 2nd of November, and then died. He dweled at High Gate. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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