August 9th - Died, Jane, wife of John Woolstoncroft, of Nim Nook; disorder, consumption; age 45 years. Hatting at this time is exceedingly brisk, much more so than it has been for many years before. Spinning is low, and so is all kinds of factory business. Weaving is very bad, and wove for a little money. Tabbys, with 6lb. 6oz. in of 50 to 60 hanks weft, for 19s. The very best of velveteens or cords are wove for 20d. a pond from 24 to 28 hanks, and inferior pieces are wove for less, but there is no scarcity of work. Rowbottom watched very carefully the ebbing and flowing of the local trade, and in this respect his annals are truly valuable. There was evidently great irregularity at this time in all branches of trade. August 5th - The Oldham local militia march for Bolton. August 16th - Oldham: Flour 3s. 8d. to 3s. 10d..; meal, 2s. 6d. to 2s. 8d. a peck; pottatoes, 9 1/2d. to 11d. a score. They were sold at Manchester at one time of the day for 6s. a load. August 15th - Died in Burnley-lane, Martha, widdow of the late James Bloomoley, of Burnley-lane, mother of Ben Bloomoley, shuttlemaker; her age, 84 years. On account of the losses sustained by the allies commanded by Marshall Wellington, in a series of actions with the French army, commanded by Marshall Soult, from 25th July to 2nd August, both days inclucif, in the passes of the Pyrenean Mountains, where the allies dislodged and totally discomfitted the French army, French losses said to be 11,000 killed and wounded, and 4,000 prisoners. British ensighns, 3 staff officers, 46 serg., 2 drummers, 462 rank and file, and 3 horses killed; 2 staff officers, 11 lieut-col., 15 maj., 51 cap., 104 lieut., 31 ensighns, 7 staff officers, 178 serg., 14 drummers, 3,103 rank and file wounded, and 9 horse; killed, 540; wounded, 3516; 1 major, 5 cap., 6 lieut., 4 ensighns, 1 staff officer, 14 serg., 7 drummers, 462 missing; total 500. Portuguese: 322 killed, 1817 wounded, 126 missing. Grand total: 862 killed, 5,333 wounded, 619 missing. From the life and times of Palmerston we learn that on the ridges of the Pyrenees, Soult came up with the British forces in numbers very much inferior to his own. Daily there was hand to hand fighting. At length Soult extended and weakened his position so much that Wellington (ever ready to watch his chance) attacked the French all along the line, and completely defeated them. Local interest in these battles is enhanced by the tales of old Jimmy Gray, who we are told by Mr. Pullinger, “followed the fortunes of Wellington in the fiercely contested passes of the Pyrenees, and took part in the sanguinary conflicts in the Maya Pass, Ronces Valley, and Nivetta, and in the series of engagements around Bayonne, where he said, “We had old Soult pinned up.” The hardships in the passage of the Pyrenees were most vividly impressed on his mind, short rations and insufficient clothing adding much to the other horrors of war. August 26th - The Oldham local militia arrived from Bolton.
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August 28th - Oldham Rushcart Satuerday. A fine day; two rushcarts from Bent and Hollins. Sunday, a very fine day; not so much company as formerly, and very cautious in spending. On Monday, a fine day, and moderate company. August 30th - Flour, 3s. 6d. to 3s. 10d.; meal, 3s. 4d. to 3s. 6d. a peck; pottatoes, 10d. a score. August 27th - Jonathan Neild, of near Red-town Nook, hatter, one of the Oldham local militia for desertion, was tried by court martial, then sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment. To the honour of Oldham be it said that we have but few records of trial for desertion. From contemporary sources we learn that a rigid discipline was maintained in the Oldham corps, which looked in some cases almost like persecution. September 2nd – Thursday was the day for granting licenses for public-houses. The magistrates sat at the Spread Eagle in Oldham. Frances Dukinfield Astley, Esq., and the Rev. Joseph Horden, two justices of the peace. There were no new ones granted. The Fire-Engine public-house had its license stoped. September 4th – Died, James Smith, of Buckley-wood, near Chadderton; disorder, a fever on the brain; age, 31. September 5th – Died, Ailee, wife of William Taylor, of Bottom of Northmoor; disorder, child birth; age 41 years. September 4th – Died, Mally, widdow of the late Edmund Elson, of Northmoor. He died in June last. And Betty, wife of Jonathan Kay, of Nathan Roe, hatter. She was his 4th wife. Her age 59 years. September 6th – Died, at Shaw Hall, Saddleworth, Anna Maria Whithead, who on the 30th of last month fired a cannon, wich burst and gave her a fatal wound in the head; her age 18 years. September 7th – Last night and part of yesterday the most tremendous high wind, accompanied with rain, ever remembered at this season of the year. The wind came south. It did a deal of damage in breaking trees, levelling corn, and tearing off fruit. September 13th – Dalton entered as tenant on the Royal Oak public-house, top o’th Maygate-lane, late Edmund Schofield. St. Sebastian taken by storm Aug. 31st. Collonal Sir Richard Fletcher killed. L. G. Sir James Lath, M. G. Aswalds, and M. G. Robertson wounded. British loss during the siege, 1,600 killed, wounded and missing; that of the allies 700. British loss in the operation was about 400 killed, wounded and missing; that of the allies 2,200. Soult seems to have been losing strength, though he held Wellington at bay by the sieges of San Sebastian and Pampeluna, and during that time he was reinforcing his troops. It was all to no use however, as we find Wellington turning assailant about this time, whereas before he had been on the defensive. |
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September 24th – Died Mr. John Halkyard, of Oldham, surgeon, and man midwife. In the practice of midwifery he was very eminent. Age, about 65 years. This Mr. John Halkyard would, I suppose, be the forefather of the Dr. Halkyard, late of King-street, Oldham. The family will thus have been connected with the medical profession for over a century. September 30th – Doctor Law, Bishop of Chester, arrived at Oldham, and held a confermation in the church there to about two thousand young people of both sexes. And Simon Mellor, of Royton-lane commited to Lancaster Castle, charged with forging an order, and with obtaining mony wich belonged to a soldier’s wife. October 1st he made his escape from James Coates, the constable of Royton, but on the third Coates apprehended him at Ripponden, and conveyed him to Lancaster Castle. October 5th - Yesterday, died wife of Rev. Miles Wrigley, of Manchester–street, Oldham; age, 61 years. On the 28th of September died at Manchester, George Scholes, sheriff’s officer, aged 63 years. October 9th - Meal 2s. 6d. to 2s. 8d., new 2s. 10d. to 2s. 11d., flour 3s. 6d. to 3s. 8d., pottatoes 7 1/2d. a score. October 16th - This day, at Manchester, new meal sold from 50s. to 54s. a load, old, 42s. to 44s., pottatoes 6s. to 7s. 6d. a load; and meal at Oldham 2s. 4d. to 2s. 6d., new 2s. 10d. to 3s., pottatoes 8d. to 9d. a score. October 17th - Died John Buckley of Cowhill, yeoman, aged 82 years, and same day died Henry Buckley, of Bardsley Brow, white limer, aged 70 years. October 19th - Died Betty, wife of Jonathan Lawton, of Busk. Her disorder was of a peculiar nature in the way of a false conception. She was for a long time tortured with viloant pains, wich she bore with much Christian fortitude. Her age, 47 years. The allied British, Portuguese, and Spanish armies crossed the river Bidassoa, and entered France under the command of Sir Thomas Graham, on the 7th instant. British loss I captain, 3 lieutenants, 4 ensighns, 1 staff, 33 sergeants, 3 drummers, 419 rank and file wounded, 8 rank and file missing. Spanish 750 killed, wounded and missing. They took some of the cannon of the French. It was only after forcing the French lines on the Bildossoa that Wellington could enter France. This movement seemed to take the French by surprise, and Soult had to retire and entrench himself at Bayonne.
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Last night some villains broke into the store room of George Hadfield of Northwood, Northmoor, and stole out a large quantity of eatables, and left not a trace behind. And the same night some villains broke into the barn of Jossia Fallows, of Chadderton-lane, and stole a quantity of wheat, with wich they made clear off. Crops of corn this year have been the most abundant ever remembered by the oldest person living. Although they were late they were generally well housed. As a duty incumbent of everyone a general thanksgiving was returned in all churches and chapels of the United Kingdom. Despite the good harvest, the price of flour was 3s. 10d. a peck in the winter months of this year. Foreign corn was stopped on account of the wars. Had it not been for this good harvest, flour must have gone up to the old prices of 1812, viz., over 6s. a peck. November 11th – Thomas Rowbottom arrived at Northmoor from Woolwich. November 12th – Last night died John Garside, shopkeeper and broker, of Oldham; disorder, a fever; age 40 years. November 12th - Died Betty, wife of John Walker, of St. Hellens, Northmoor; disorder, consumption; age 26 years. November 4th – Arived at Oldham the glorious intelligence from Germany stating the total overthrow of Bunoparte in person in a general action near Leypsic by the Prusians, Russians, Sweeds, and Austrians. This battle settled Bonaparte for a time. It was called the battle of the nations. The French had 190,000 men in the field against 290,800 of the allies. The French loss was upwards of 60,000 men, and that of the allies nearly 47,6000. We see by this annal what an effect this overthrow of Napoleon had on our local trade. Hand-weaving went up 7d. a lb. For calicoes, and for tabby 4s. a cut. November 13th – Manchester flour 58s., meal 44s., old 40s., pottatoes 7s. a load. November 15th – Oldham meal 2s. 6d., flour 3s. 1d. a peck. |
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