Freeholders, Ashton-under-Lyne Parish 1776

Below is a list of all the Freeholders of Ashton-under-Lyne, recorded in 1776. This was the year when Boston (America) was evacuated by the British, and that the American States declared their independence becoming a republic, to be known as the United States of America. The record is especially valuable as it gives a picture of a time just as mechanised industry was about to change the whole area and lay the foundation of the textile trade and the vast cotton factories. At this time the changes of the industrial revolution were, as yet, hardly being felt and this list gives the status and occupations of the influential parishioners of the area, whose families, but for a few exceptions had been members of this community through centuries past.

A list of all the Freeholders within the Town and Parish of Ashton Underlyne(sic)
in the County of Lancaster who are proper Persons to Serve as Jurors
at the Assize and Quarter Sessions for the Year. [1776]

Ashton Town Mr James Brown Mr John Brown Mr Samuel Swire George Wood, Butcher Benjamin Harrop, Carrier John Swindle, Yeoman John Slater, Carrier Mr Thomas Taylor, Attorney Arthur Holt, Yeoman Henry Lees, Mercer* Mr Thomas Derwent, Attorney Mr Miles Greaves, Docter(sic) William Walker, Cabinet Maker Joseph Hibbert, Weaver John Newton, Weaver Jos. Oldham, Grocer John Cheetham, Carpenter John Smith, Blacksmith Thomas Dewhurst, Swailer** Jonathan Ridgway, Weaver Abel Wood, Weaver John Lees, Docter Daniel Slater, Yeoman Mr John Cock John Saxon, Yeoman Arthur Burgess, Swailer Jos. Higginbottom, Cordwainer*** John Mallinson, Hatter John Wood, In[n]holder James Lees, Weaver Samuel Crabtree, Inholder James Taylor, Inholder John Thorpe, Yeoman John Williamson, Barber James Newton Jonathan Higginbottom, Swaler The Reverend Mr Craddock John Lees, Yeoman Henry Lees, Yeoman Henry Lees, Weaver Thomas Harrop, Huckster**** John Worthington, Clothier Audenshaw Mr Thomas Jones, Attorney John Byrom, Carpenter Mr John Grimshaw, Chapman***** Mr George Fletcher, Chapman George Worthington Thomas Stopford, Hatter John Ashton, Yeoman Ralph Wood, Yeoman Mr John Ridgway, Chapman Adam Stopford, Hatter William Stopford, Hatter John Saxon, Weaver Robert Hyde, Chapman Hugh Keaton, Chapman William Stopford, Carter Robert Hampson, Carter Thomas Stopford, Cordwainer Jos. Hall, Carrier James Warren, Inholder William Cock, Weaver John Stopford, Hatter Jos. Saxon, Weaver Littlemoss Samuel Heap, Weaver George Walker, Weaver John Scholes. Weaver Miles Slater, Weaver Timothy Wright, Weaver Woodhouses John Harrison, Yeoman John Andrew, Weaver James Knight, Yeoman Timothy Knight, Yeoman Knott Lanes David Holt, Weaver John Knott, Weaver Jonathan Taylor, Miner Jonah Harrop, Yeoman Thomas Harrison, Cordwainer John Leech, Weaver John Taylor, Collier John Harrop, Carter Park Henry Booth, Weaver John Wright, Yeoman John Marland, Yeoman Alt Jos. Wrigley, Clothier Jonathan Andrew, Yeoman Jonathan Taylor, Weaver John Street, Weaver Jonathan Lees, Swailer

Alt-hill John Ainsworth, Hatter John Ogden, Weaver John Lees, Blacksmith Samuel Worral, Clothier Jonah Andrew, Yeoman William Higginbottom, Flaxman James Lees, Weaver Lees Thomas Cresswell, Chapman John Mayal, Clothier James Beaumond, Weaver James Lees, Clothier John Cresswell, Chapman James Bardsley, Weaver Alt Edge Henry Taylor, Clothier John Hyde, Clothier John Andrew, [clothier] John Shaw, Clothier John Lees, Carrier James Lees, Smith John Peak Heartshead[sic] Abel Hyde, Yeoman James Gartside, Clothier John Gartside, Joiner James Marland, Carrier Charles Fielding, Farmer William Kenworthy, [farmer] George Hall, Clothier John Buckley, Clothier Joshua Knott, [clothier] Jos. Buckley, Carrier Mozley[sic] Thomas Seal, Clothier Moses Slater, Weaver Edmund Buckley, Clothier James Buckley, Drysalter John Oldham, Clothier James Schofield, [clothier] Daniel Clayton, [clothier] John Mallalieu, Clothier Edward Hardy, Cab[inet]-Maker Robert Bennett, Baker James Lees, Inholder Smalshaw[sic] William Bardsley, Weaver Joshua Lord, Weaver William Williamson, Weaver Joshua Warren, Carter Hurst Ralph Hall, Yeoman John Hall, Yeoman James Leech, Chapman John Kenworthy, Clothier John Line, [clothier] Samuel Lees, Weaver John Lees, Carter William Lees, Butcher Josiah Taylor, Weaver Hazlehurst[sic] Edward Lees, Yeoman John Mellor, Stoneman James Ogden, Clothier James Shaw, Clothier Matthew Hague, Weaver Samuel Hague, Weaver Sowreacre[sic] Nathan Buckley, Clothier George Knight, Clothier Luzley Henry Harrop, Weaver Ralph Worthington, Clothier Jonathan Hyde, [clothier] John Broadbent, [clothier] Nicholas Higginbottom, [clothier] Ridgehill & Lanes Samuel Saxon, Weaver James Hall, Clothier James Ousey, Clotheir Jesse Whitworth, Clothier Nicholas Lilley, Clothier William Hampson, Weaver George Kelsall, Yeoman Abraham Gartside, Tanner James Hall, Clothier Samuel Cook, Swailer Isaac Miller, Yeoman Robert Hall, Clothier John Hall, Clothier John Rhodes, Weaver James Stansfield, Clothier Mr Robert Ellison, [clothier]

Sworn at Ashton Underline[sic] in the said County theThirty-first day of December 1776
by James Stopford Constable there, Before me - George Clarke. {L.R.O., Q.D.F./2/5. (5).}

Explanation of some of these Old Occupations
    * Mercer - Cloth Seller.
   **Swailer - Miller or Grain Dealer, especially referring to oatmeal.
  ***Cordwainer - Originally meant leather worker using high quality Cordovan leather from
       Spain, but came to be the general term used for shoemaker as opposed to cobbler
       who simply repaired shoes.
 ****Huckster - retailer of small wares, from a shop or booth.
*****Chapman - Market Stall Holder or Pedlar of Goods.

The Term 'Clothier' used here is generally meant to mean cloth maker.

Source: Winefred Bowman's 'England in Ashton-under-Lyne'.