the death of his uncle, 1795, and was created a baronet in 1813.

School Croft Head, a venerable dwelling still standing in High-street, and now occupied by Mr. Benjamin Fielding, grocer (the owner of the property) and Miss Brierly, was the original residence of the Cleggs, of Bent. Abraham Clegg, the first of his family resident at Oldham, was the son of Anthony Clegg, of Newfield Head, in Butterworth, yeoman, third son of James Clegg, gentleman, of Butterworth, living 1624, apparently a relative of the Cleggs, of Little Clegg. Mr. Abraham Clegg acquired estates in Oldham and Chadderton, and was father of John Clegg, gentleman, of Werneth, afterwards of Chadderton, who died 1725, and was father of Abraham Clegg, gentleman, who became resident at Bent Hall, and to whom Oldham appears to have been indebted for the introduction of the hat manufacture, shortly after the commencement of the last century. This benefactor was born in 1686, and died 1748. His sons, Messrs. John and Abraham Clegg, entered largely into the hatting trade, at Bent Hall, Lower Bent, and Bent·grange, and ranked for many years amongst the principal hat manufacturers in the kingdom. John Clegg, Esq., of Bent Hall, erected Bent House, a few years subsequent to 1760. He married Hannah, daughter of James Dawson, gentleman, of Glodwick, a relative of Captain Dawson, who figured during the Rebellion of 1745. Mr. Clegg died January 31, 1794, and was father of James Clegg, Esq., of Bent House (who married Sarah, daughter of John Taylor, gentleman, of Crumpsall), of John Clegg, Esq., of Lever's-row, Manchester, and of six daughters. James Clegg, Esq., who died in 1818, erected Bent Lodge (the residence of his sister, Mrs. Close), and was father of the late Richard Clegg, gentleman, of Manchester-street, Oldham, who died December 16, 1849, and of three other sons, and four daughters. Abraham Clegg, Esq., of Bent Grange, brother of John

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