CHRONOLOGY OF MANCHESTER POSTMASTERS. Our first postmaster, as far as we can trace, was RICHARD HALLIWELL, of Bull's Head Inn, in the Market Place, during the reign of Charles I. (1625-1648). He belonged to an old Manchester stock, and is already mentioned in 1572. There were various generations bearing the same Christian name. He was a well-established vintner and tavern keeper, and his was the leading hostelry. At the back was the town's cock-pit, to which the populace and gentry resorted for watching the great matches. He supplied the public banquets, and entertained the bishops and feoffees. In the next century it became the headquarters of the Whigs. One of the oldest inns, it can boast a pedigree of at least 300 years. He used to supply the post-horses in 1631, and appears to have sided with the Royalists. In the course of 1648 he was still taking and receiving post-letters, although acting without official credentials. The office devolved, on the establishment of the Commonwealth, on: ALEXANDER GREEN (1648-1660). We possess a letter addressed to him, November 28th, 1648, in his capacity of postmaster of Manchester. Green kept the Eagle and Child in St. Mary's Gate,* and divided the town's patronage with Halliwell. His sympathies seem to have been with the parliamentary party, or he may have temporised, for the Eagle and Child was called so in honour of the Derby family. In this very old inn, known already in 1566, and originally held by Ralph Sorocold, Taylor *In the early part of the eighteenth century it was turned into a coffee house, and called the Eagle and Child Coffee House in 1711; by 1734 it was commonly called the Old Coffee House. See Memorials of Manchester Streets, p. 219, by R. W. Procter. Manchester, 1874. the water-poet experienced from Mistress Sorocold very flattering attentions, and left, as a graceful acknowledgment, commemorative stanzas in recognition of “the good ancient woman." The Green's were popular worthy people, and lasted for a few generations. With the arrival of Charles II., in 1660, the office reverted to the Halliwells. RICHARD HALLIWELL, a descendant of the above (1660– 1662), and, be it noted, he was our first officially recorded postmaster. The party game and the local contentions. were fought out on their very doorsteps. These two leading innkeepers, keen rival entertainers, had their political followers. Halliwell's appointment was soon terminated, and he is followed by: ALEXANDER GREEN (1662–1667). On his death in 1667, there were various candidates for the post. First, his widow, who, however, lost the post because she refused to clear her husband's debts to the office. Robert Bradshaw, another applicant who lived in the Cundith, took meanwhile charge of the packets at her request. He was unsuccessful, and instead, JEFFREY ALDCROFT, of Knutsford (1667-1672), was entrusted with the office by the Earl of Arlington, Postmaster General, who got it on good certificate and security.* His appointment appears less surprising when recollecting that Knutsford was the first stage of the cross-road, which turned off at Cranage from the great Holyhead road, to Manchester. We have a postmark of Knutsford on one of John Byrom's letters to London, * See Guardian, N. & Q., 1874, No. 428, note from the Calendar of State Papers (domestic series). · dated December 6th, 1726. He seems to have sprung from an old Knutsford family, for we read of a William Aldcroft whose will was proved at Chester, 1616. Later some of this family appear to have drifted to Manchester. on THOMAS ECCLES (1672-1678). Nothing personally is known of him, nor does he appear in the Court Leet Records. He may have been the father of: WILLIAM ECCLES (1678-1687), who succeeded him. He occurs frequently in the Records from 1669-1784, and its entries inform us that he was an incorrigible offender of short ale measure, and is regularly twice fined every year for this weakness. He was an innkeeper, and is described "of Market Stead and the Shambles" (vol. v., p. 252). EDWARD HOLLAND (1687-1691) is mentioned in the London Gazette, June 20th, 1687, No. 2,253: Stolen the 11th instant from Cockey Moor, in the Parish of Middleton, in Lancashire, a black Horse of about 15 hands high, a bob Tail & curled Mane, 4 years old, the top of his near Ear bit-off. Whoever gives Notice of him to Mr Edward Holland, Post master, in Manchester shall have a Guinea reward. Probably he also tenanted the Bull's Head Inn. On his death the office was given to his widow. ANN HOLLAND (1691-1697), who on January 22nd, 169, was married* to RICHARD BLOOMLY, of Hulme (1697-1699), who was made postmaster in her stead. * See Collegiate Church Marriage Registers. We pass now to: WILLIAM BOWKER (1699–1710), of the Bull's Head Inn. Bp. Wm. Nicolson, of Carlisle, writes in his diary: "We lodged at the Bull's Head, M W. Booker in the Mercate-place."* He was buried March 2nd, 1708, and his will proved at Chester in 1709.† He was amerced in 1660 for not keeping the assize of ale.‡ JAMES LIGHTBOUNE (1710-1715). We have a James Lightboune, Esq., feoffee. of Chetham College, in 1675 and 1699,§ who possibly was this person. He belonged to a well-known old Pendleton family. We have the infra will at Chester, 1715, of James Lightboune, of Pendleton, Yeo.|| JAMES GUY (1715-1721). His house in Deansgate figures on Whitworth's South-west Prospect of Manchester. He appears once (October 1st, 1731) in the Records, vol. vii., as fined, not keeping his street clean. He both entered, and went out with the Postmasters General, Charles Lord Cornwallis and James Craggs. THOMAS ILLINGWORTH (1721-1740) was descended from a worthy local family. His forbear Thomas was boroughreeve in 1658 to 1660 and is mentioned in the Records in 1662 (vol. v., p. 13) and again 1668 (vol. v., p. 255), living in churchyard site and Hunt's Bank, and as a miselayer in 1669, who, together with Samuel *See index to the present volume. + See Collegiate Church Marriage Registers. Records, vol. iv., p. 278. § See Chetham Society's Life of Humphrey Chetham, ii., pp. 234-5. || See note above, "Collegiate," &c. Harmer and John Sandiford, surveyed the lands and tenements for the court leet. He is once alluded to, in 1759, in connection with Thomas, a son of his, as Thomas Illingworth, late postmaster of Manchester, deceased.* JOHN FINCH (1740-1748). No information can be gathered about him. His will was proved at Chester; admin., 1749,† wherein he is styled "John Finch, of Manchester, gent." ISAAC CLEGG (1748–1768), of another old local family, and was appointed as officer for muzzling mastiffs, in King Street and "Tib lane ffield," in 1733 and 1735. In the Constable's Accounts are some entries:— 1757 (vol. iii., p. 101). Novbr. 25th Disbursements ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... £3. 12. 8. ... £2. 10. 0. He became bodily incapacitated for work, and was therefore relieved of his duties, which had meanwhile been performed by his clerk, Willatt. He resigned on November 18th, 1768, and was succeeded by the latter. He held the office for twenty years, a longer term than any of his predecessors, except Illingworth. His death took place on February 13th, 1770, and the Mercury, referring to the event, writes: On Sunday morning died after a long and tedious illness Mr. Isaac Clegg, many years Postmaster in this town, which office he discharged by a constant attendance on his duty, and a readiness to oblige. * Chetham Society, History of Newton Heath, vol. i., p. 199 n. |