1753
16th. February
Friday Manchester
Dr. Thomas Deacon died February 16.
He lies buried beneath a tomb near the north-east corner of St. Ann’s
churchyard, with the following inscription:
“Here lie interred the remains (which through mortality are at present corrupt,
but which shall one day surely be raised again to immortality and put on
incorruption) of Thomas Deacon, the greatest of sinners and most unworthy
of primitive bishops, who died 16th February, 1753, in the 56th year of his
age.” He was one of the obscure sect of Nonjurors, amongst whom he was a bishop,
but practised with success as a physician. He founded for himself an episcopal
chapel in Manchester, which he styled “The True British Catholic Church.” He
published a Collection of Devotions and some writings in defence of the
Nonjurors. (Sutton’s Notice of Dr. Deacon, 1879.) His library was sold by
auction March 19.
6th. April Friday
Mr. James Bayley, senior, died April 6. He
was taken prisoner by the Pretender in 1745.(7)
27th. April Friday Manchester
The Mersey and Irwell Navigation Company issued
the following advertisement, April 27: “The proprietors of the rivers Mersey and
Irwell give notice that they will for the future carry goods and merchandise for
those persons who employ their flats, in summer as well as winter, at the
following prices, viz., from Bank Key to the key at Manchester at 6d. per
hundred, from the 1st of May to the 11th of November; and at 7d. per hundred,
from the 11th of November to the 1st of May; and from the key at Manchester to
Bank Key at 4d. per hundred at all times. N.B.—There are good convenient
warehouses at both keys, and great care will be taken of all goods that come up
or go down that river.”(7)
8th. May Tuesday Manchester
May 8. Coach to be hired by
Joseph Barrett, or Mr. Hanforth, in Market Street Lane,
Manchester—may constantly be heard of to carry passengers to any part of England
at the most reasonable rate.—Harrop’s Mercury.
8th. June Friday
Manchester
The shock of an earthquake was felt at Manchester
June 8.(7)
16th. July Monday Manchester
The foundation stone of St. Mary’s Church was laid
by the Revs. Messrs. Assheton, Moss, and Foxley, July 16.
The Act for building the church is 26 George II. cap. 45.(7)
3rd. December Monday Manchester
The Theatre, in Marsden Street, built, and opened
December 3; finally closed May 12, 1775. The first place employed as a theatre
was a temporary structure of timber at the bottom of King Street.(7)
4th. December Tuesday Manchester
Sir Oswald Mosley executed a deed of
conveyance of land for the erection of the Infirmary. December 4.(7)
1753 Pendleton-Lancaster
A man named Grindret, or Grindrod,
poisoned his wife and two children, September 15; executed at Lancaster, and
gibbeted at the end of Cross Lane, Pendleton. An amusing story of his alleged
“ghost” forms the subject of one of Ainsworth’s ballads.(7)
1753 Manchester-Lancaster
In a trial at Lancaster between the warden and
fellows of the Collegiate Church and the weavers, the former demanding 4d. each
loom in lieu of tithes, at Easter, a verdict was given for the weavers.(7)
1753 Manchester
Rev. John Wesley visited Manchester.(7)
1753
A cotton reel invented by Mr. Earnshaw was
destroyed.(7)
1753
From this year until the end of 1757 the price of
food was unusually high.(7)
1753.
Bury-Unsworth-Radcliffe
Richard Walker (who had carried on business in Bury), grandfather of the
first M.P. for Bury, was tenant of Parrs Farm, Unsworth, in the manor of
Pilkington. He was grandson and heir of Roger Walker, yeoman, Radcliffe.(9)