October 21st -Last night died at Saint Hellens, Northmoor, James Fitton. He had been a long time a cripple in consiquence of the rheumatism; his age, 65 years. October 21st - Died William Moors, in consequence of the bruises he received at Foxdenton; his age, 61 years. October 23rd -Was found drowned in a large pond, Clogger’s Pond, near Chadderton, Matty Neild, daughter of Mrs. Neild, of near Streetbridge. She left home on the 20th and threw herself into this pond. She had had a cross in love on the 18th, which is soposed to be the cause of this rash act. October 23rd -Died at Busk, Mary Halliwell, widdow of the late Joel Halliwell, of Cloughfield, her age 77 years. October 22nd -Died at Moston Hall, Samuel Taylor, Esquire, an upright magistrate, and a great supporter of the Orange societys. Turnips this year are scarce and dear, and are selling at 6d. a peck. October 25th - Manchester Sessions comenced, when Jonathan Buckley and James Wild found guilty of an assault upon the soldiers there, were sentenced twenty-one months imprisonment each; Thomas Haigh, for sedetious expressions, three months. November 14th – Died at Royton John Chadwick, fustian manufacturer, his age 49 years. November 8th -A very lamentable misfortune happened at Rochdale, being the day after, as customary, a bull was to be baited in the river, and an emence number of people, eager to see the sport, presed a wall so much that joined to the bridge that it fell down, and, shocking to relate, seven were killed on the spot, and a great number wounded. November 13th – The soldiers in barracks at Oldham – part of the 13th Regiment of Foot – marched off on their rout for Liverpool. November 16th – Died very sudden, at Red Lyon Inn, in Oldham, where he had stopped for refreshment, Daniel Hill, of Denton-lane, hatter, aged upwards of 70 years. And died at Chadderton-fold, Ester, widdow of the late William Briarly, of that place, cock feeder; her age 86 years. |
November 20th – An illumination took place at Oldham in honour of the Queen’s tryump over her wicked enemies. Poor Queen Caroline had won her cause before her accusers. No woman was ever, perhaps, so deeply injured. Even the Church set against her, and though she was the wife of the King her name was not allowed to be printed in the Common Prayer Book. The fountain of honour seems to have been at that time the fountain of corruption. Surely we have made some improvement in this direction since then. The injuries of the Queen became a political war cry. If the Church would not pray for her the Chapel would, and one Majochi, a witness at the trial, became the standing joke of the period, “non mi recordo” forming the subject of a travesty by Hone. Hone’s publications held the place of public censor, much in the same way as Punch does in more modern days, and it is said these publications rendered the Queen great service – being illustrated by George Cruikshank. Those who would understand the history of these times should read some of these publications. Henry Brougham made himself an undying name for his advocacy of the Queen’s cause. Though after all, both parties suffered from political jaundice. November 27th – At Oldham, flour, 2s. 1d. to 2s. 3d.; meal, 1s. 3d. to 1s. 11d. a peck; butter, 8d. to 10d. a pond; treacle 4d. a pond; apples, from 2 1/2d. to 3d.; beef, from 5d. to 6d. a pond; mutton, 5d. to 6d. a pond; pork, 4d. to 6d. a pond. This month concludes with extreem wet weather. December 2nd – Died, Johanah, widdow of the late James Wild, of Lees Hall; age 66 years.. December 3rd – A child in Oldham was attacted by a pig to that degree that it died soon after. December 5th – William Taylor, carter to William Knott of the Friendship Inn, Oldham-lane, unfortunately fell into the river at Manchester, and was found on the 9th washed upon a sand-bank near Throstle Nest. It as rained without intermission for the last seven days. December 13th – The weather is turned more dry and pleasant. December 14th – Thomas Hall entered as tenant on the Royal Oak public-house, Maygate-lane. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 18th – Died at Oldham, James Clegg. He formerly kept the White Horse public-house here. His age perhaps 55 years. December 12th – Nimble Nook, near Foxdenton, last night, a battle took place here amongst some neighbours, who where at this public-house when John Ouzey, farmer of Humphrey-lane, kicked one James Taylor, of Denton-lane, such a violent blow on the belly that he died soon after. Ousey was of course committed to Lancaster for tryal. December 24th – Died at Uin Nook, Joseph Travis, aged 69 years. December 29th – Last night some villans robed a cart laden with woolen cloths to the value of £26, which stood in the yard of Jonathan Mellor, of Dry Clough, near Royton, notwithstanding he had a fierce dog in the yard. The thieves got clear off with their booty. This year concluded with a keen frost accompanied with a high wind. 1821 The year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one begun on Monday, wich was a fine day, rather frosty. In consequence of the cheapness of nearly all sorts of the necessarys of life, the poor experienced a better Christmas than they had enjoyed for several years past, although the wages for all kinds of labours was low, but especially weaving. The feelings of the country were jenarly roused at the shameful treatment perused against the Queen, who after repeated insults and foulest charges, supported by the most infamous perjury, she triumphantly defeated the wicked designs of her enemies. Queen Caroline of Brunswick, as already stated, was for some time a bone of political contention. Cobbett confesses that the people cared not a straw3 as to her guilt or innocence. The Duke of Buckingham remarks that “she was far from being the sort of woman a sensible man would court for his wife, or the kind of princess that would confer any distinction on the nation that would accept her as queen.” It suited the purposes of the politicians on both sides to fall out about her, and they seem to have done so to their heart’s content. 3rd -Last night, the factory called Shilo Factory, situated near Holden-fold, was broken open and robed, and the robbers made clear escape with their plunder. |
4th -Last night, died, at Oldham, Ralph Marlor, his age 66 years.
7th -For several days past an extremely high wind with severe freezing. The following is a statement of the prices of the following articles:- Meal, from 1s. 6d. to 1s. 10d.; flour, from 2s. 1d. to 2s. 3d.; malt from 2s. to 2s. 4d. per peck; treacle, from 3 1/2d. to 4d. per pond; butter, from 8d. to 10d. per pond; new butter, 1s. 4d. per pond; candles, 8d. per pond; cheese, from 6 1/2d. to 8d. per pond; pork from 5 1/2d. to 6 1/2d.; beff, from 6d. to 7 1/2d.; mutton, from 7d. to 7 1/2d.; bacon, 8d. to 9d.; hops, 9d.; salt, 4d.; sugar, from 7d. to 9d.; soap, 7d. to 8d.; pottatoes, from 6 1/2d. to 7 1/2d. per score; peas (boiling), 4d. per quart; hay, 5d. to 7d. per stone; straw, 3 1/2d. per stone; cotton boards, from 6 1/2d,. to 7 1/2d.; cotton, from 6 1/2d. to 9d. per pond; bale, 1s. per pond; coals, from 10d. to 1s. a horse load at pit; onions, 1d. per pond. Trade much on the decline. Velveteens and cords are genarly 10d. a pond. Tabbys, a dull market, the prices 23 shillings for a cut 40 yards long. Weft from 7lbs. 8oz. to 8lbs. of weft; in hatting, work plenty, but wages low; weaving light goods, very bad, wages low; factory business brisk, no want of work, nor any variation in price of labour of late. 11th -A gang of thieves were discovered at Royton, a few days since, and last night one Wm. Butterworth, of Royton, being in the lock-up in that place, hung himself. His mother and two of his companions – Bardsley and Mitchell – have been committed to the New Bayley for trial. 14th -This morning died James Clough, of Glodwick; age about 75 years. 15th -Last night died Mary, daughter of Matty Worthington, of Whitaker Roe, Top o’th’Moor; age, 12 years ; disorder, fever. Uncommon fine weather. 18th -Died at Hill Top, Chadderton, Catherine, wife of John Taylor, of Hill Top, farmer of that p[lace. She was the youngest daughter of the late Edward Hide, of Tounge. Disorder, dropsy; age 37 years. 20th-Died, John Lees, of Top-o’th’-Moor, long time carter to Mr. Thomas Whitaker, of Oldham, age 50 years. 21st -Was intered at Oldham, John Mellor, of Lees Hall, age 62 years. |
Page 143
William Rowbottom's Diary as published in the Oldham Standard |
 |
 |
 |
