June 1st -
A very numerous mob assembled at Oldham Edge, from wence they came down to Oldham, where they paraded the streets, broke the windows of Mr. Lees, Church-lane, and compeled the masters to sign a paper to raise the wages for weaving.

Rioting is universal all over the country where they follow weaving. A deal of damage has been done all over the country. At Bury the prison was demolished, but now the soldiers are arrived they are taking up the rioters and putting them in prison. It is believed that the cause of the riots was the Weavers’ Bill, which prayed relief to the poor weavers.

Rioting, although the country is full of soldiers, the weavers still manifest an inclination for riot, but the millitaria as promptly disperse them. Great numbers are daily sent to the jails, for on Monday last, the 20th, 9 were sent to New Bayley, and 4 to Lancaster from Rochdale, being the party who burned the prison on the 30th of May last.

May 22nd and 23rd –
The spinners in Oldham manifested some signs of comotion. The magistrates and constables by parading the streets prevented any serious mischief. Their complaint was Mr. Daniel Lees lowering their wages.
This is certainly the first attempt at a spinners’ strike in Oldham, and it occurred at Bankside Mill owned by Mr. Daniel Lees. We have no idea what the prices paid were, but improvements in machinery and increased competition caused these reductions. Ellison says that in 1799 40’s yarn was sold for 7s. 6d. per pound, the cotton costing 3s. 4d., leaving 4s. 2d. a pound to be divided between the employer and his workpeople, but in 1812 there was only 1s. to divide, hence the necessity for reducing wages. This annal marks an era in the history of our trade, as the spinners seem to be numerous, and well organised enough to make their first strike.

p.108
January 20th - The Sessions commenced at the Bayley, and ended on the 28th, when twelve received sentence of transportation.
John Andrew, a banksman, of Edge-lane Colliery, for defrauding his business, two years’ imprisonment.
George Mash and William Jump, two bayliffs of Oldham, for fraud and cruelty in the execution of their duty at the house of John Daniels, of Roundthorn, near Glodwick, one year each in Lancaster Castle, and at the expireation of the term to find bail for their future good behaviour.

A special commission was opened at York. There where sixty-six prisoners to try that where connected with the late disturbances in the West Riding. Three where executed for the murder of Mr. Horsfall, January 8th, and fourteen others where executed on the 16th, at half-past eleven, and the other at half-past one. These where for attacting Bawford Mill, in April last, and some for breaking into houses and stealing alms &c. Six where transported for seven years, some acquitted, and some released on bail. The judges where Sir Simon Le Blanc and Sir Alexander Thomson, knights. Counsel for the Crown where Mess. Park, Topping, and Richardson; for the prisoners, Mess. Hullock, Williams, Broughton, Courtney, and Fitzgerald.
For an account of the trial of the Luddites I must refer my readers ...
Comments & names continued on p. 108 of the diary - Index HERE

January 18th -
Last night, about six o’clock in the evening, a gang of villians entered the dwelling-house of James Hopwood, of Cowhill, bound the family, and robed the house of about £12 in cash, and made off undiscovered.

Manchester sessions commenced and continued till the 26th, both days inclusive. There were an uncomon large number of prisoners, 19 of whom where transported, of whom one for life, one for 14 years, the rest for 7 years. John Wood, of Hollins, near Hollinwood, was transported at the above sessions, for stealing at Ashton-under-Line.(son of John Wood below)

February 14th -
Last night several transports from Lancaster, on there route for the hulks lodged at New Bayley.

March 16th -
James Cocker, of Slattocks, near Middleton, aprehended on a charge of having stolen property in his possession, and committed to New Bayley.

April 7th -
Lancaster Assizes ended. Jenny Cheetham and Mary Schofield aquited there charge.

April 22nd -
Was executed at Chester, John Wood, of Copster Hill, near Oldham, for breaking a house near Stockport. His friends obtained his body after hanging the usual time, and arived at Copster Hill about 12 o’clock on the 23rd, and buried him at Ashton-under-Lyne on the 27th. His son, John Wood, was transported at the New Bayley Sessions, January last. (father of John Wood sentenced to transportation January sessions)

p.120
June 12th -
Samuel Taylor, of Moston, and Joseph Norden, of the Lodge in Failsworth, two of his Majesty’s justices of the peace, held there first sessions at the Pack Horse, in Failsworth, this day.
The old system established by the country justices of holding a court in the next convenient public-house has long since fallen into disuse. Failsworth, Hollinwood, Royton, and other considerable villages had each its courtroom at some old “pub.” Perhaps this was an improvement on the older system of bringing up their culprits at the hall of the ancient feudal lord.

October 25th -
Manchester Sessions comenced, when nine received sentence of transportation.

November 2nd –
Last night, the chamber of Edmund Wild, of Northmoor, was robed of a quantity of beding and mony, but on the night of the 4th, the thieves generously returned them again.

November 7th –
Early last night six men entered the house of Josuah Lancashire, of near Jumbo, within Accrington, and broke open a box, and forcibly took out £130 in Bank of England notes, with wich they made a clear escape.

December 6th –
This day John Chadwick, constable of Oldham, and his assistants searched the houses of John Taylor and Arthur Gordon, of Top of Hollinwood, in search of stolen goods, when a large quantity of goods supposed to be stolen were found. Taylor and Gordon were apprehended, and taken to the Spread Eagle, Oldham, where the magistrates were sitting, and were committed to the New Bayley for trial.

p.125
April 18th -
Last night the warehouse of Messrs. Hadfield, Barker, and Taylor’s was broke open, and a large quantity of beaver was stolen therefrom; and early this morning one James Shaw was aprehended with a large quantity of beaver in his possession. He was committed to the New Bayley for tryal; as was James Ogden, late keeper of the White Hart public-house, Maygate-lane, on a charge of the above robbery.

May 1st -
Manchester sessions commenced, when James Ogden for receiving a part of the beaver stolen from the warehouse of Messrs. Hadfield, Barker and Taylors, transported for 7 years. James Shaw, for breaking into said warehouse, tryal put off until next sessions.
Sarah Gordon, acquited: her husband Alexander Gordon, not yet taken.

June 27th -
Eight transports from Lancaster on their rout to the Hulks stoped at the New Bayley, amongst whom was James Ogden, late of Northmoor.

July 17th -
Thomas Chadwick, of Royton, manufacturer, in returning from Manchester market last night was attacted by two footpads near Werneth, and robbed of his pocket-book, containing bank notes and bills to a considerable amount, in wich they made clear off.
And Taylor was brought to the Spread Eagle, before the Rev. Mr. Horden and Mr. Taylor on paying forged bank notes at Ashton-under-Lyne, and were commited to Lancaster for tryal.

August 21st -
Last night some villans broke into the shop of Peter Barnet, shoemaker, Oldham, and stole a large quantity of shoes, in which they made clear off.

September 23rd – At a very numerous meeting assembled at Bent, Oldham, it was resolved to petition Parliament for a reform of Parliament, and on the distressedness of trade. Similar meetings were holden in most of the towns in the country.
The meeting on Bent Green was the first public meeting held in Oldham under the influence of the new party of reform, which held that the evils we were suffering from could be remedied by an improved representation of the people in Parliament. The old Jacobin party had been resuscitated, and was now strengthened by increased numbers, who saw that the country was subject to bad legislation. And though no remedy was likely to be effective immediately on account of the fearful condition into which the country had fallen through war, these reformers began a very laudable effort to improve the constitution of the House of Commons. Mr. John Earnshaw, surgeon, was in the chair, and Messrs. John Haigh (an old Jacobin) and Wm. Brough, of Oldham, and Robert Pilkington, of Bury, were speakers. After voting resolutions favourable to radical reform, says E. Butterworth, the multitude separated in an orderly manner. This appears to be one of the first of a series of meetings held in this district, which culminated in Peterloo.

This was the second Reform meeting held at Oldham.

During the year 1816 a Hampden club was formed in Middleton, which seems to have been a kind of Radical centre, as we find that delegates from other localities – among whom were some leading reformers – sometimes met there. The meeting place was an old disused chapel, once held by the Kilhamites.

As showing the opinions held by these early reformers, Bamford says,:- “On the 1st of January, 1817, a meeting of delegates from twenty-one petitioning bodies was held in our chapel, when resolutions were passed declaratory of the right of every male to vote who paid taxes. That males of eighteen years of age should be eligible to vote. That Parliament should be elected annually. That no placeman or pensioner should sit in Parliament. That every 20,000 inhabitants should send members to the House of Commons. And that talent and virtue were the only qualifications necessary

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.

Abraham Stansfield, Robert Simpson, George Duckworth where detected stealing pottatoes from James Scoles, of Naylors, within Thornham, on the night of the 15th, along with Abraham Hilton, all of Chadderton, who has turned informer.
The three former where committed for tryal at the New Bailey.

April 7th -
Manchester Sessions. There were a very large number of prisoners for tryal, twenty eight of whom received transportation. John Buckley, of Northmoor, 14 years, and his son Philip 7 years.

April 15th -
Was a very large meeting at Bent Green, Oldham, on purpose to petition for reform in Parliament. The meeting disolved in the most peasable order.
Local meetings on reform were evidently conducted with great decorum. Whether they were expected to dissolve in any but the most peaceable manner is not stated; but it would almost seem as if tumult was expected. A great spirit of distrust was shown by the authorities, both local and imperial. The system of espionage adopted by the Government was the source of a vast amount of mischief, and prevented Government from learning the real wants of the people.

John Buckley and his son on there rout for the fulfilment of there sentences passed through Manchester on the 27th of May.

A very great number of spinners have struck work at Manchester, Stockport, Bolton, &c., in order to raise the price of labour. The hatters have succeeded in raising the price of ruffing. The dyers have succeeded in raising their wages.

We here see what revenge the working classes were taking on their employers. There can be no doubt that much of this feeling was prompted by the fact of dear provisions which had been caused by the passing of the Corn Laws. The landlords had raised the price of corn by combination. Why should not poor people raise the price of labour by the same means?

July 21st -
Manchester Sessions comenced. There were upwards of 170 prisoners for tryal, of whom 35 where transported. James Wamsley and William Clough each a year imprisonment.

16th July –
John Wamsley was aprehended by Robert Chadwick, &c., on a charge of uttering a forged one pound note to Samuel Redfearn, butcher, Oldham, but the charge being weak Mr. Horden dismissed him upon bail.

January 4th -A numerous meeting was held at Bent Green, Oldham, to take into consideration the propriety of petitioning parlyament for a reform.
Many people in Oldham seem to have been persistent in their demand for reform. Parliament represented chiefly the landed interest, which had assumed new shape and dimensions, being almost entirely ignored.

January 18th -
A very numerous and respectable meeting took place at Manchester (the celebrated Henry Hunt, Esquire, in the chair), when it was resolved to petition Parliament for a repeal of the Corn Laws. The business was conducted with every propriety and in the most peasable manner.
Bamford speaks of this meeting with evident pleasure – his admiration for Hunt bursting forth in verse. About this time Hunt had attended the theatre, and for some reason had been insulted by some of the military.

March 10th -
Last night the loom shop of John Kershaw, Royton-lane, was broken into and robbed, and work cut out of the looms, with wich the villains made off without detection.

May 3rd -
Thomas Booth and James Robinson, comonly called Yorkshire Gimmy, on a charge of robing the counting house at the factory of Messrs. Carlows, of Bury, of upwards of 500 pounds committed to New Bailey for tryal..

June 7th -
Was held a meeting of the friends of the people for parliament reform in a large room, Bent, Oldham. When several resolutions where agreed to.
This room, I am told, was an upper storey in what was known as Spite Hall, approached by steps or stairs from the outside. Bamford says in his “Life of a Radical”:- “Among the best and truest supporters of persecuted Radicals and the Radical cause was a small but firm band of patriots at Oldham. Their like never, to my recollection, existed previously in Lancashire, nor has it existed since. Some of the best have long been called to the reward of the good and faithful servant. Some still remain, but battered and bowed by the storms of life.”

Meetings for reform have been held in the following places:- London, Birmingham, Manchester, Stockport, Macclesfield, Ashton-under-Line, Oldham, Blackburn, Rochdale, Leeds, Huddersfield, &c. Bills of indictment have been found against some of the principal speakers; several have been aprehended, and have got bailed. Mr. Wm. Fitton, of Royton, is one of the number.
E. Butterworth says: "Mr. William Fitton, surgeon, of Royton, a practical and comprehensive advocate of Parliamentary Reform, delivered his first public address at the county meeting held at Preston, February, 1817, for the purpose of voting an address to the Prince. Regent on the atrocious attempt which had just previously been made on the Royal person. In August, 1819, Mr. Fitton was indicted for taking part in an alleged sedition meeting held at Blackburn (probably the one mentioned in this annal), but it does not appear that he was imprisoned for the offence. This popular speaker was the chief adviser of the small but firm band of Radical reformers at Oldham, who proved themselves the truest supporters of the cause of Radical reform in any part of the country. These individuals ultimately became the leaders of one of the principal political parties in the borough, adopting as the basis of their views the opinions of Mr. Wm. Cobbett. On the introduction of the Reform Bill in the House of Commons in 1831 Mr. Fitton was mainly instrumental in taking such measures as ultimately secured the inclusions of the three townships of Royton, Crompton, and Chadderton within the borough of Oldham. Mr. Fitton died November 15th, 1840.”

August 2nd
Proclamations where stuck up in most parts of the country, signed by the magistrates of Cheshire and Lancashire, warning the public not to attend reform meetings; and one signed by the Prince Regent, warning the country against meetings and exaarsizeing, &c.

September
Died at Oldham, John Lees, son of Robert Lees, of Bent Oldham, of the wounds received at Manchester at the meeting on the memorable 16th day of August. A jury assembled on the 8th, but adjourned to the 10th, when it was adjourned to the 24th, on account of the coroner being at Lancaster Assizes. A great number of witnesses attended from Manchester to have been examined as concerning his being wounded at St. Peter’s Manchester.
This was a commonly known as the great “Oldham Inquest.” It was first held at the Duke of York, and then at the “Angel,” and such importance attached to it as to cause the London newspapers to send special reporters down. The coroner expelled these reporters and poor Bamford was only allowed to remain in the room on explaining that he was preparing for his trial at York. The liberty of the press in those days was very circumscribed. Bamford began his career as a correspondent for the Press at this inquest.

September 6th –
Baret was commited to the New Bayley for tryal, on a charge of having counterfeit silver in his possession at Oldham.

September 1st -
Lancaster Assizes comenced, when John Warburton and Robert Lees were found guilty of manslaughter; sentence, one year imprisonment in Preston Jail. (See March diary entry)

Sept. 21st -
The party of the 6th Dragoons left Oldham, and a part of the 7th Dragoons arived in there place.

October 2nd --
Last night some villain broke into the uninhabited house at Whittaker Fold and stole a large looking glass and other articles, the property of Messrs. Radcliffs, of Bank, Oldham.

October 7th -An inquest on Lees was adjourned to the Star Inn, Deansgate, Manchester, to sit on the 8th. A great ferment arose in consequence of the sexton opening the grave of John Lees. Various are the opinions on this subject. It was opened in the dead of night, and caused great fermentation. On the 13th the coroner adjourned the further proceedings of the inquest on John Lees until the 1st of December, then to meet again at the Star Inn.
From Dowling, a London shorthand writer, I learn that, “In the night between the 6th and 7th Sept. John Lees, a young man about 22 years of age, died at the house of his father, a cotton manufacturer at Oldham, and Mr. Earnshaw, the surgeon who had attended the deceased, having certified that his death was occasioned by violence, several householders were served with summonses on the night of the 7th September to attend at the sign of the Duke of York at Oldham (in York-street) the next morning at half past ten o’clock for the purpose of inquring into the cause of death of the said John Lees.

The names of the jury were: John Jackson, Thomas Wolfenden, James Coates, George Dixon, John Kaye, George Booth, Joseph Dixon, Thomas Jackson, John Newton, and John Ogden. Jonathan Mellor was constable of Oldham at that time. The inquest was first held at the Duke of York, then afterwards adjourned to the Star Hotel, Manchester. The jury were dismissed without giving in a verdict. For full particulars of the inquest I must refer my readers to the full report by Dowling.

At the sessions wich commenced at Manchester on the 25th of last month Joseph Barrot, otherwise Dunkerley, for robing John Chadwick, was transported for seven years.

November 2nd –
Last night died Thomas Buckley, of Burnly-lane, a person fancical to the flour and fruit garden, a staunch patriot, an enemy to opression.
He was wounded on the memorable 16th of August, at Peter’s Field. He died of three days sickness. His disorder, sickness and loosness; his age 62 years.

November 4th
Hush sellers, or persons selling beer without license, of late a deal of misguided persons have followed this unlawful practice. Government is now persicuting them with the utmost severity. Several of late have been comited to Lancaster for the above offence.
Hushsellers for the most part confined their business to selling beer. The licensing laws were then very exclusive. It was not till 1828 that houses were licensed to sell beer only. These houses were generally called Tom and Jerry shops.

November 7th –
Last night the warehouse of Messrs. John and Abraham Clegg, of Bent Grange, Oldham, was broke open and robed of a considerable quantity of furr. A reward is offered for information of the offenders.

November 13th –
Benjamin Bloomally, of Chadderton, was detected making too free with a piece of beff at the shop of Hamlet Lees, Oldham, for which he was comited to the New Bayley for tryal.

November 28th – Was intered, at Middleton, John Rhodes, of Three Pits, within Hopwood. He was one that was wounded at Manchester on the 16th of August, and is supposed to have died of his wounds. A great number attended him to his grave – 1300 with drab hats and crape, besides a number with cloaks. It is supposed that 10,000 people assembled on the ocation, and all departed in peace.

December 4th –
A party of the 31st Regiment of Foot left Oldham for Burnley, and where replaced by a party of the 85th of Foot.

December 11th –
Two pieces of cannon arived at Oldham for the protection of the town.
This is the only note I have seen relating to cannon being imported into Oldham for its protection. From other accounts, it seems the town was in a very disturbed state. There was a sense of wrong lurking in the minds of many people on account of Peterloo, and the authorities were evidently alarmed at the “party animosity,” which, as E. Butterworth says, “reigned triumphant” at this time.

December 13th – The Oldham Yeoman Cavallary where imbodied for one month this day to do duty in Oldham, and the watch and ward was begun in Oldham. They went on duty at eight o’clock at night, and left at two in the morning. They were provided with watch bills, &c.
The authorities were apprehensive of further trouble, hence the keeping of watch and ward. The people groaned under a sense of wrong, and were supposed to be watching an opportunity to avenge that wrong.

The year 1820 began on Saterday, wich was a cold winter’s day. The earth covered with snow, and a very severe frost; trade being so bad that poor people in general felt very little of Christmas cheer, and the old English ancient hospetallity was nearly lost in some of the first familys in this neighbourhood, and people’s minds being soured by opression, made the lower class very uneasy.
Peterloo had evidently made further cleavage between the classes and the masses in Oldham. The corn laws had called to new life the old members of the Jacobin party, and their members had been largely increased by men whose opinions were not so extreme. Peterloo was a blow at this fast increasing party, and even the genial rays of Christmastide failed to dispel the sullenness of party feeling. Perhaps E. Butterworth puts this in its truest light./ He says:- “For a time the portentous gloom took possession of the public mind, and the spirit of party animosity reigned triumphant; but the revival of trade and the consequent improvement in the condition of the manufacturing population abated the ardour of political feeling, which in the course of the ensuing year was moderated down to the usual standard.