ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. LXXXVI 1818 The year 1818 began on Thursday, wich was a fine frosty day, but the distress in general much surpassed last Christmas, for provisions being so dear, and all kinds of labour so very low, placed the poor in a lamentable situation. The distress of the poor was now beginning to be sharpened by a knowledge that much of it was preventible. There can be no doubt that the good feeling which had existed for the most part between the various classes of society was being seriously disturbed by the disappointed hopes of the poor, who could not understand why peace and plenty (I mean plenty of work) their condition should not have been ameliorated. We see what the causes were, however, namely, low wages and dear provisions. We shall see bye and bye how the poor began to apply a remedy of their own. January 8th -“Speed the Plow” was performed in the playhouse, Spread Eagle, Oldham, for the benefit of the medical charity there. The performers were the gentry of the town, and amongst whom were Mr. Clarke, printer and bookseller; Mr. Radley, an attorney; Mr. R. Wrigley, auctioneer. Amateur play acting for charitable purposes is no new invention it appears. This is the first notice I have seen of a medical charity in Oldham. Many of the working people were too poor to find food and raiment for their families, to say nothing of paying doctor’s bills. January 10th -Died, -----------, daughter of James Butterworth, postmaster, Oldham. Disorder, fever; age, 16 years. This was evidently Betty Butterworth, the second daughter and fifth child of James and Hannah Butterworth. Not only was this James Butterworth postmaster but historian of Oldham. He had a large family of eleven children in all. He thus writes of himself in a MS. Book once lent me by a friend;- “I was born in a place called Pitses, in the hamlet of Alt and Parish of Ashton-under-Lyne, on the 28th day of August, in the year 1771. My father’s name was James Butterworth. He was of a branch of the family of the Butterworths of Royton, in the Parish of |
Oldham, in the county of Lancaster. My mother’s maiden name was Jane Ogden, the daughter of Nehemiah Ogden of Low-side in the aforementioned parish. I was the youngest of eleven children, and my parents had no other means of supporting this numerous progeny but what honest industry afforded them. However, while I was yet very young, I was sent to a school in the neighbourhood, where, under the care of my master (Mr. John Taylor, of Alt – a worthy man) I learned to read and wrote the mother tongue, and whether my master saw I was more assiduous at my task or not I cannot tell, or it might have been from some other motive, but be what it would, , he was sometimes called for some short space of time from his employ to attend to some domestic concern or some other business in the house, while I was generally called in to instruct the younger classes in the school. Seeing the school thus entrusted to me, I was fired by ambition to always excel my class fellows, and to attain some share of the learning my master, I found, was possessed of. I begun to be fond of reading, and amused myself when at home in reading most. So little is known of our first local historian that I feel justified in reproducing this note. Alas he was a man of great trials and sorrows, and when his life comes to be written, there will be found but little in it to tempt those who succeed him in his high vocation, either in the way of appreciation or remuneration. January 12th -Died, awfully sudden, - Mills, watchman for Mr. Joseph Rowland. January 18th -Died John Whittaker, of near Old Clarks, Northmoor, age 72 years. January 19th -Died, Mr. Thomas Fawcet, curate of Oldham, his age 74. He came to Oldham in the year 1770. The memory of Mr. Fawcett ought to be revered for the part he took in establishing the Sunday School in Oldham – about the year 1785. He was at that time high master of the Oldham Grammar School, as well as a cleric. His gravestone in Oldham churchyard states that “he was minister of the church 43 years, and departed this life” as here stated.
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The appended is a statement of the following articles:- Meal from 2s. 3d. to 2s. 5d., flour 2s. 3d. to 3s. 5d., malt 2s. 9d. to 3s. per peck; treacle 5d. per pond, butter from 12d. to 13 1/2d., new butter 13d., candles 10d. to 11d.,cheese 7d. to 8d., pork 6d. to 8d., beef 5d. to 7d., mutton 6d. to 6 1/2d., bacon 6d. to 9d., hops 6s., salt 4d., onions 4d., sugar 9d. to 11d., soap (white) 10 1/2d., brown 9 1/2d. to 10d., pottatoes 8d. top 9d. per score, peas (grey) 4d., peas (green) 5d. per quart, hay from 6d. to 67d. a stone, straw 4d. a stone; white cotton, comonly called boads, from 1s. 10d. to 2s. per pond, bale cotton 2s. per pond, coals from 1s. to 1s. 6d., a horse load at the pit. Trade of all sorts rather brisk, but wages low; hatting very brisk, but wages low. January 26th -The demand for tabbys is very brisk, and masters have advanced wages from 18s. to 20s., a cut genarly 40 yards with 7lb. 8 oz. of weft in. Coals could not have been very dear at 5s. to 7s. 6d. per ton at the pit. Tabby weaving at that time was all by hand, and the Advance Of 2s. a piece shows the good condition of the trade. What the weavers of tabby suffered from most was the increasing fineness of the yarn without a corresponding increase in prices. An old local song puts this in its truest light, from which I quote a couplet:-
Jan. 25th -Died, at Ashton-under-Line, Becka, widdow of the late Thomas Raynor, of Northmoor, her age 63 years. Jan. 24th -Was intered at Oldham Phinias Chadwick, hatter, and James Ashton, a drumer. They died in Oldham Workhouse, and where each above 70 years. Jan. 30th -Ended Manchester quarter Sessions wich begun on the 20th, when there were upwards of 200 prisoners tried, when 42 received sentence of transportation. Squire Brooks, for receiving stolen twist from Butterworth Factory, Northmoor, 14 years transportation; John Ashworth, of Northmoor, for the same offence, acquited. |
No better indication of the moral – or rather immoral – state of the country that the calendar of the Quarter Sessions. Over 200 prisoners, with a much less population than that of to-day. The heavy sentences are no doubt the result of the then state of the law. Comparing the state of the calendars then and now, it is evident we are making progress towards a higher state of public morals. Sir Samuel Romiley was at this time labouring for the alteration of the criminal code, which much needed it. Feb. 3rd -Died, James Ogden, of near Busk, Northmoor, farmer, aged 71 years. Wednesday, January 7th, 1818, was a prize ringing at Saddleworth, when the first prize was won by a set from Middleton; the second by a set from Radcliffe Bridge. February 1st -A few days since a quantity of snow fell, and a modest frost ensued. February 10th -Beff is now selling from 7d. to 8d., and mutton from 7 1/2d to 8d. per pond. February 14th -Died, Matty, wife of Samuel Burgess, of St. Hellens, Northmoor; disorder, consumption; age, 32. February 15th -Was interred, George Nicholls, of Oldham, hatter; disorder, consumption; age, 52, years. February 12th - John Buckley’s house at Northmoor was searched for stolen goods, but not any found. February 13th -John Buckley’s house again searched, and a quantity of goods found concealed in a wall. Buckley made his escape, although he was surrounded by seven stout men. John Buckley seems to have been a desperate and hardened criminal. His name appears more than once in these annals. February 15th -Died at Butler Green, within Chadderton, Jane, wife of Thomas Mellor; her age, 68 years. February 19th -Was intered at Oldham, Daniel Woolfenden, of Oldham, shopkeeper; disorder, consumption; age about 36 years. February 20th -Last night it froze uncomon keenly. February 21st -Beff and mutton selling 8d., pork 7d. to 8d., chees 7d. to 9d., bacon 9d. a pound. February 29th - Died Rev. Mr. Robert Walker, aged 80 years. He had been 17 year rector of Middleton. Joseph Fielden, Esq., of Wetton House, near Blackburn, high sheriff for Lancashire this year. |
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