August -In the latter end of last month, Bunoparte was shifted from the Bellerophen to the Northumberland, and sailed for the Isle of St. Hellena. August 21st -Beans, 3 1/2d. per peck. August 26th -Was Oldham Wakes Saturday. In the forenoon some thunder and rain, but in the afternoon very fine. There where 8 rushcarts and one rush waggon. They where all superbly decked, and came from the following places:- the waggon - Waterhead, and the carts – Chadderton, Northmoor, Cowhill, Stock-lane, Nimble Nook, Glodwick, Broadway-lane, and Greenacres Moor. On Sunday, was an exalent fine day, much company, and a deal of strangers. On Monday, a fine day and 2 rush carts and grand prading with the nimps and swaijns in particular. A very superb and grand banker was brought from Chadderton, and displayed with great pomp. On Tuesday, a fine day. On Wednesday, a horse race for a saddle, a bridle and a whip, was won by a black Galloway belonging to one Turner, from Newton Moor; three started. On Friday a footrace for a bakestone and a peck of meal at Charles Holt’s, the White Heart, Maygate-lane; five started, and woon by one Travis, from Cowhill. Same day, foot-race at James Fletcher’s, Bottom of Greenacres-moor, for a round of beff; six started; won by one Winterbottom, from Green-lane, Saddleworth. Upon the whole it has been to most grand and splendid Wakes wich as been in the memory of the oldest person living. Private familys brewed a deal, and an uncomon deal of drinking at the ale-houses, and such hospitality was displayed that it is an absolute fact that 73 heads of horned cattle, besides sheeps, lambs, &c., calfes, where slaughtered and dispenced with at the above Wakes in Oldham and its neighbourhood. |
The enthusiasm kindled by the victory at Waterloo had not yet subsided. Hence the Wakes was celebrated with unusual gusto. Smiling peace it was thought would bring prosperity, which indeed it did, but not to the mass of the people. It almost looks as if we should have been better off as a nation with war minus the corn laws than with peace plus the corn laws. How long it took to teach politicians this! E. Butterworth says that the annual rushbearing of 1815 was memorable for the uncommon zeal with which rustic sports and pastimes were revived. He also quotes this statement of Rowbottom’s about the number of cattle slaughtered for the carnival. August 20th -May, widdow of the late Austin Chadwick, milnwright, of near Dobcross, Saddleworth, had the misfortune to be knocked down by a cart, the horse of wich took fright in Oldham. She was so much bruised that she died the same night; her age, 69 years. Sept. 5th -Was the day for granting licenses at Rochdale, when Chadderton, and Cromton attended, when Pinnington, of Cut Bridge, Whitegate End, within Chadderton had his license refused. Sept. 8th -Was the license day at Oldham for Oldham, Royton, and Ashton-under-Line;Miss Bamfords, of Church-lane, Oldham, did not apply, they having come to the resalution of retireing from public buisness. The Colliers Arms Inn, Werneth, late Abraham Fletcher’s, license refused; one granted for a house in Fir-lane, near Royton, for Charles Stott, and one for a house near Burn, and one for John Scofield, for the Punch Bowl, Oldham, late James Barns. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. LXXX 1815 Sept. 13th - Last night Joseph Taylor, keeper of the Spread Eagle Inn, in Oldham, put an end to his life by cutting his troat. He had been for some time in a state bordering on insanity, and had made a similur attempt on his own life some time since. He was a good-natured, well-behaved man much respected, and died universally lamented. And yesterday died, Mary Whitworth, Royley Fold, fustian manufacturer. She was widow of the late Samuel Whitworth, of that place. And yesterday, Ann, daughter of Isaac Haywood, of near Coldhirst, carpinter; a cart wheel run over its arm, head, and foot, and notwithstanding it lived in the greatest agonies till the 14th. Her age – 1 year and 6 months. September 14th – A child of one Widdow Brookes, or near Church-lane, Oldham, had its head so much crushed by a cart wheel going over it that it instantly died. Age 1 year and 4 months. September 20th – Last night, died, James Barnes, of Top o’th’ Moor; disorder – consumption; age – 43 years. September 21st – At a sessions at the Spread Eagle, Oldham, the Rev. Mr. Joseph Horden and Samuel Taylor, Esquire, granted a license to Pinnington, of Cuthbridge, Whitegate-end in Chadderton, which the magistrates of Rochdale refused. This month has been excessive hot in general, and as been exalent harvest weather. With heartfelt pleasure I anounce that provisions in general are in a lowering state, Apples 5s. to 5s. 6d. a peck. September 28th – Died, John Lord, of Mill-lane End, near Chadderton Mill, a peaceable, civil, well-behaved man. His age 79 years. The best of mutton selling at 7d. a pond, and exalent good flour at 2s. 8d. a peck. September 30th – Last night some villans broke into the house of Mr. James Lees, of Mumps,near Oldham, and stole some copper and some silver plate, with wich they made clear off. Similar attempts were made on several houses in that neighbourhood on the same night, and on the night of the 22nd some villans broke into the house of Charles Holt, White Heart, Maygate-lane, but the family being alarmed, they thought proper to decamp, leaving their booty behind. |
Burglary was a capital offence at this time, as shown by the fate of John Wood in a previous annal, especially if accompanied with personal violence. As crime increased, so the penalty increased, the result being that burglary was often committed by men who were both desperate and dangerous, who cared not for the consequences. A series of disastrous years had manufactured criminals who rather looked on death as a happy release, even though it might be on the gallows. Magistrates must at that time have found the administration of justice an awkward business. We read of the “heart of Pharaoh being hardened,” but in this case it seems that the heart of the people was being hardened. A lesson surely to the “powers that be” in all ages. This month concludes with exalent fine weather, such as was seldom ever known before. October 6th -Yesterday, died William Speake, sadler. He had worked in Oldham nearly twenty years. disorder, dropsy; age, 57 years. October 9th -Good flour 2s. 4d., and new meal 1s. 11d. a peck. October 10th -Died, Ann, wife of James Bamford, of Maygate-lane. Disorder, a fever; her age 38 years. Other members of the family have been afflicted with this malady. She has left nine children to bemoan there loss. It is with heartfelt pleasure that I announce that all sorts of provisions are rapidly declining. On the 21st, at Manchester, meal, from 30s. to 34s. a load; flour, 46s. to 50s. a load; pottatoes, 5s. to 7s. a load. At Oldham meal, 1s.8d. to 2s.: flour, 2s. 4d. to 2s. 5d. a peck; pottatoes, 7d. to 9d. a score: chees, 7 1/2d to 8 1/2d.; butter, 13d. to 14d.; beef, 6d. to 7 1/2d.” mutton, 7d.; pork, 6d. a pond. October 24th -Died, awfully sudden, Mary Plat, comonly called “Little Ricking Mall.” She lived in Oldham; her age about 45 years. October 27th -Last night the house of Mr. James Wood, near Whitegate, in the township of Chadderton, was broken and robed of a quantity of cash and weaaing apparel, in wich the roughs made clear off. |
Page 122
William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
 |
 |
 |
