Bamford alludes to this incident as follows:- “The next morning the generous-hearted Moorhouse yoked up his coach and dragged a full load of witnesses and defendants to Huddersfield, where we stopped for the night. The following morning Moorhouse found that in consequence of the heavy load he should want a pair of leaders to help him over the hills, and he applied at several places, but in vain. No horsekeeper in Huddersfield would furnish us a pair either for love or money, and the Radicals of the place, indignant at the paltry annoyance, harnessed themselves to the vehicle and drew it over the hills as far as Blackmoor Bottom. At Oldham our faithful and kind friends – alas! That so few of them remain – met us and conducted us to a good substantial dinner at the White Horse Inn. Here I was met by my dear wife and child, and our present joy was only saddened by the reflection that ere long there must be another parting.” April 8th -Died at Lords-gate, near Oldham, Joseph Haigh, aged 75 years. He died very sudden. April 7th -Last night it fell a very large quantity of snow, and is very cold and winterly. April 9th -Was intered Thomas Taylor, formerly a scoolmaster at Hollinwood, but late master of the Bowling Green public-house there. The weather is extreem chilly, and vegetation has scarcely ade its apearance of a late spring. On the whole, it as every apearance of a late spring. March 20th -Lancaster Assizes comenced, when John Wamsley of Burnly-gate, and Wentworth Pollord, of Oldham, and Peter, of Lees, allpleaded guilty to having forged notes in their possesion, and each sentenced to fourteen years’ transportation. On the 11th Pollord, and on the 12th Wamsley went through Manchester on their root for Woolwich, in order to their being sent to Bottany Bay. As a neighbour Wamsley was universally acknowledged to be a good one, and notwithstanding is frailty, he was very much pityed. April 12th -Was a very numerous meeting at Oldham Church, for the purpose of electing a person for the purpose of standing overseer for the township of Oldham. There where two candidates – Enoch Dunkerly, who had held the office for eighteen years, and John Gee, when Mr. Gee was duly elected. April 19th -Was intered at Oldham, Mrs. Gatly, of Coldhurst-lane, widdow of the late Mr. Gatly, and mother of the late Mr. Henry Gatly, all of Coldhurst-lane. April 17th -This day, the 22nd regement of foot, marched through Oldham on their rout for Newcastle-upon-Tyne. |
April 21st -An uncomon fine day and every appearance of a fine spring. April 24th -was observed as his Majesty’s birthday. April 24th -Died at Heyside, John Garside, formerly constable and overseer for the township of Royton, aged 68 years. April 25th -An unpleasant fracas happened at Oldham betwixt a party of the 7th Dragoons and a party of the inhabitants denominated reformers, they fought with great severty, and several severely wounded on both sides. Happily no lives were lost. E. Butterworth says: “On the 24th August, 1820, a party of soldiers – some of the 7th Dragoons quartered in the town – had a dispute with a number of the Radical Reformers whilst sitting with them at a public house in the Market place. On the evening of the following day (25th) a serious affray occurred betwixt another party of soldiers quartered at the Bull’s Head public house in George-street, and some of the inhabitants, which terminated in a desperate contest. A young man named Jonathan Buckley was severely wounded by a fire shovel; a youth was deeply wounded with a large kitchen poker heated red with the fire; the furniture of the public house was demolished; whilst another party of the military from the barracks had a fight with the populace in the streets, which resulted in 18 individuals being wounded. An aged man named Armstrong had one of his ears cut off. The deputy constable of the town and his assistants were driven from the streets, and severely assaulted in their attempt to restore order. The House of Commons was petitioned for redress, and on the 1st of the following month the unpopular body of soldiery were moved to Carlisle.” April 30th -Died at Sarah Moor, John Mills, of that place; disorder, consumption; age, 63. May 1st -The troop of 7th Dragoon guards left Oldham this morning on their rout for Carlisle. May 2nd -A troop of the 5th Dragoon Guards arrived at Oldham to do duty. May 6th -Was intered at Oldham David Barnes, of West-street, Oldham. May 1st -High treason, Arthur Thislewood, James Trigs, John Thomas Brunt, Richard Tidd, and William Davidson where executed for high treason at London. |
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This was the famous execution of the five Cato street conspirators, who, led on by a Government spy, it is said designed the assassination of his Majesty’s Ministers at a Cabinet dinner at Lord Harrowby’s, in Grosvenor-square, on the 23rd February. The plot was as foolish as it was desperate. London was to have been seized and a new Government set up, with the Mansion House as the head-quarters. The conspirators’ place of rendezvous was a room over a stable in Cato-street, Edgeware-road, where the police surprised and captured them, being betrayed by a spy. These poor dupes were doomed to be hanged, and then to have their heads cut off. What gives the execution some local interest is the fact that Healey and Johnson, who were waiting their trial and sentence in London witnessed the execution, and were soundly rated by Bamford for their questionable taste. The weather extreem cold with severe frost. May 8th -Last night the shop of Mr. Roger Wrigley, in Oldham, draper, had his shop broken into and robed of different kinds of goods, to the value of one hundred pounds and upwards. The robers made off with there booty undiscovered, but a person was aprehended in Manchester with a part of the stolen goods in his possession. He, of course, was committed to Lancaster. May 12th -Died last night at Whittaker Roe, Northmoor, Amos Bently, an out pensioner of Chelsea; his age 37 years. May 13th - Goosberys sold at Oldham 1s. per quart. May 9th -A mountibank erected his stage at the White Hart, Magot-lane. There was a deal of company assembled on the ocation. May 23rd -Died at Magot-lane, William Beswick, master of the Royal Oak alehouse there. He died in consequence of a cancer in his face; his age 28 years. May 28th -Was intered at Oldham, Stephen Cowper, of Fountain-street, Oldham. He was carter to Mr. Joseph Radcliffe, of Bank. May 26th -Manchester Races concluded, but they were not so numersly attended as last year. The huts and stands fell very much short of what was expected, notwithstanding there was the last day an emence number of people. May 30th -This month concluded with extreem wet and cold weather. |
June 4th -This month commenced as the last concluded, extreem wet and cold; the air is so intense and cold that all vegetation is at a stand, especially blossoms, flowers, and shrubs. June 8th -The weather still continues wet and cold. June 9th -A very wet day and severe cold. June 11th -An uncomon wet day and severe cold. June 7th -Last night the laundry of the Rev. Mr. John Holme, of Chamber Hall, was broke open, and a large quantity of clothes stolen therefrom. June 12th -A party of the 40th Regiment arrived at Oldham to do duty here during these turbulent times. These “turbulent times” refer to the period after Peterloo, when it was considered necessary to put Oldham under military control. A sense of injustice rankled in the popular mind, and the authorities were afraid of a section of the people rising to avenge their wrongs. June 14th -Wednesday, the Oldham Yeomanry Cavalry set out for Preston. They were a fine set of men, and had a military appearance. June 22nd -Died at Lord-street, Oldham, Esther, wife of John Taylor, a joyner. She was much famed for her abilities in vocal musick. June 23rd -The weather has continued extreem wet and cold for several weeks last past, but this day it as put on a new apearance, and fine weather seems to be approaching. June 25th -Extreem fine weather, and bids fair to be a fine hay harvest. June 28th -Last night died at Clough Field, near Whitaker Fold, Maria, widdow of the late James Dunkerley, of Clough Field. June 28th -This morning a most lamentable misfortune happened to Major, son of Mr. John Bamford, grocer, and Thomas, son of Mr. Wm. Gilliam, linnin and woolen draper, both of Oldham. They went to bathe in the reserver at Hollinwood, and painful to relate, they were both drowned. They were both promising young men, and there misfortune has thrown a general gloom on the town of Oldham. There parents are universally pittied. There ages about 17 years. |
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William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
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