ANNALS OF OLDHAM No. LXXXVIII 1818 September 6th - This last week has been a week of tumult, wonder, and trouble by the colliors, weavers, and spiners having struck working at Manchester. They where very tumultious, and one man was killed, and several wounded by being shot from a factory on the 3rd. A large number of weavers from Chadderton up Burnley-lane, with a flag, with the inscription upon it, “7s. in the pound.” They went to Ashton Moss, where they where joined by the weavers from Ashton, Stockport, &c. There were thirty-one flags flying all at once, so numerous were the weavers, and at Oldham some of the masters met the weavers, and agreed to give 1s. 11d. for every twenty-four hanks, and for tabbies 27s. a cwt., or 2/4d a hank. This great strike was the cause of dismay and alarm throughout the country. It was about three months in duration, and workpeople asserted their right to combine in such a manner as to convince employers that they were desperately in earnest. It affected some thirty to forty thousand workpeople, chiefly weavers, although the spinners began the trouble first. The spinners were employed in factories, but the weavers were chiefly hand weavers, who worked at home, hence it took some time to unite weavers and spinners, but both eventually joined the battle, though operative spinners were doing very well at this time, while weavers were only doing badly. From the Manchester newspapers of that period I gather that fine spinners were earning 32s. a week, but from other sources, I learned that weavers could only earn about 8s. a week. Same portion of the factory people were content with their wages, and only wish to work on undisturbed. These were called at this time “nob sticks” working by forcible means, visiting the mills in a great force, and putting the willing workers in bodily fear. So far was this carried that in one case the willing workers were driven on to the roof of the mill, and in self-defence had to exchange shots with their pursuers. One man was killed and such was the public feeling at the time that the jury brought a verdict of justifiable homicide. One thing I could never understand in matters of this sort, and that is that those who are willing and anxious to work should not be allowed, but are exposed to a species of mob law even today, which only exhibits “man’s inhumanity to man.” |
Such has been the tendency of legislation in late years that an unpopular employer is liable to have his mill stopped without any remedy at law, or if he has a remedy it is worse than the disease. Indeed, as I have elsewhere said, the workman has been legislated into his master’s tyrant. The price for weaving tabby was three farthings per hank of 840 yards. The price was, therefore, 3s. 6d. a lb., for weaving 56’s weft and 3s. 9d. for 60’s. This would prevent an employer from using finer weft and not paying the extra prices. 56’s is today the basis for counts for weaving tabbies and the price is regulated by the width of the loom. The average price today is about one-seventh of what it was then. So much for the difference between hand-weaving and power loom. Tabby weavers were the most careful of their class, and as the work was done at home they would have to find candles and houseroom. The inscription “Seven shillings in the pound” on the flag, named in this annal was a demand for an advance of weavers’ wages of 7s. in the pound. We find by a previous annal in this year that the price for weaving tabby immediately before this strike was 20s. a piece. The price was now advanced to 27s. or 35 per cent at one stroke. Evidently trade was improving, but handloom weavers were only badly paid at this price. The lowest price for weaving tabby in this year were advanced from 18s. to 27s., or 50 per cent. September 16th - Died Siah Jackson, of Oldham, formerly a publican opposite the church, age 60 years. A few days since died Thomas Ashton, of Fog-lane, aged about 60 years. During this month died at Woolwich, John Buckley, late of Northmoor. Spinners, weavers and colliers, are all returned to their work again, the masters in general having agreed to give them a little more on the 21st. They gave 25s. for tabbys, 55 or 60 hanks, 40 yards long, 7lb. 8oz. To 8lb. of weft in 24 hanks. They gave from 1s,. 10d. to 2s. according to kinds, &c. Light goods where rose in general about 2s. 6d. in the pound. Butter, 16d. a pond; candles, 1s. 0 1/2d.; beef, 7d. to 8d.; mutton, 8d.; bacon, 10d. a pond. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 26th – James Midgly, comonly called old Gorton, was killed by falling down a coalpit he was working near Fog Lane. September 27th – Died, Timothy Wrigley, of Busk, his disorder a fever, which several of the family are afflicted with at this time, age 70 years. And Thomas Taylor, comonly cald Carravan Tom, in a fit of dispair hung himself in Oldham, his age near 60. The above report was not exactly true, he was cut down before he was dead. October -Oldham Church, a short time since was found to be in a ruinous state, that the pulpit was shifted, &c. October 18th -Died at Oldham, William Lowe, formerly of Mumps, aged 68 years. October 20th -Died James Jackson, sexton of Oldham Church, age 67 years. The weather is extremely fine such as never was experienced before, the sun for the most part shining with the grandest lustre, the sky serene and clear, the air warm as in a fine April, and it is now and then a fine shower, and grass is growing as in a fine spring., notwithstanding there is a very great scarsity of water, most of the springs being very low. Pottatoe crops this year have been emence. Notwithstanding the farmers have sold them high, 8s. 6d. and 9s. 0d.; meal, 2s. 0d. to 2s. 9d. a peck; flour, 2s. 9d. to 3s. 2d. a peck; potatos, 10d. a score. October 3rd -Mushroms, the greatest quantity this year ever remembered; they have been sold 1s. per peck. October 8th -Died John Taylor of Saint Hellens, Northmoor, after a painful sickness. Age 56 years. October 5th -One John Tattershal was commited to Lancaster for tryal for shooting and wounding two men at Whetstonehill. October 17th -Extreem fine weather. October 18th -The weather still continues very fine, insomuch that vegetation seems to be making the most powerful efforts, and grass in particular is grown as in a fine spring. The meadows and fields afford exalent pastures. October 19th -Prize ringing at Flixton, 10 guineas, 1st prize, was won by a set of ringers from Oldham; the 2nd by a set from Leigh. Five sets rung, and on the 20th, two prizes at the same place, upon six bells only, but changes; the 1st was won by the ringers at Prestwich, and 2nd by a set from Radcliffe Bridge, and the 3rd by a set from Ecles. |
This month concluded with uncommon fine weather, such as was seldom seen before, the air being so warm that grass is growing apace, so that the fields and meadows represent a fine April. All kinds of vegetation is in a growing state. November 2nd – Died, Mary, widdow of the late John Cheetham, of Busk. She died at Cloughfield, near Busk, her age 69 years, and John Stansfield, a carter for Potter, of Dolstile, Oldham, died, disorder, a fever; age about 50 years. November 2nd – The vertious and patriotic Sir Samuel Romely, in a fit of distractive sorrow, put an end to his existance; his age, 64. He was a vertious good man, was an ornament to the British bar. His misfortune arose from the loss of a beloved wife. Sir Samuel Romilley was a man in high esteem, and had great influence in the politics of that day. Sir A. Alison says of him that he was “humane in disposition, almost to a fault.” He undertook the reform of the criminal code in England much needed at this time, blotting out many of the cruel enactment’s of the statute book. Alison says, “Humanity owes him much for having been the first to enter on that glorious task.” We have seen something of the effects of those sanguinary enactment’s in these annals. the old criminal code was evidently a system of manufacturing criminals. A few days since Morton entered on the Horton’s Arms at Streetbridge. Holden retires from the public line. November 9th – Beswick enters on the Royal Oak public-house, Maygate-lane, and Fisher, late landlord, enters on the Punch Bowl public-house, Oldham, and Robert Wrigley retires from public business. November 6th -Last night the cotton mill at Rhodes, near Oldham, was discovered to be on fire. By timely Assistance, and great exertions the devouring element was subdued with some damage. November 13th – Mr. James Taylor, of Hargreaves, Oldham, gave a grand ball to a select company of friends. There was an exalent supper and most choice wines, an exalent band of music. The utmost harmony prevailed, and the company departed at a late hour. November 15th – Was interred at Oldham, Mary, wife of Joseph Whittaker, late of Chadderton Mill. |
Page 133
William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
 |
 |
 |
