Re: Lees families in Oldham, Lancs, UK
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In reply to:
Re: Lees families in Oldham, Lancs, UK
StJohn Lees 11/25/09
The first is Lt Colonel John Lees who was commander of the Oldham Loyal Volunteers and then Oldham Local Militia from 1798-1816. This John Lees was known as Lord of the Manor as he had aquired the Werneth hall manor. He was heavily involved in cotton spinning and coal mining.
John had 2 brothers, Joseph and James.
They controlled a major protino of the coal and cotton trade in the early 1800s, see Butterworth, also the History of Oldham.
They were the 2nd Oldham firm to use Watt's steam engine in coal mines, and after claiming the commons of Oldham by Act of Parliment became super rich of coal and the backs of the working class.
Henece they neeeded the milita to keep the rascals in control.
They were the hated enemy of the "Oldham Racicals" who called them the "Jenny Gentry".