1762 - 05 Sept 1838

John Knight Born in Quickwood, on the Saddleworth/Mossley border, baptised on the 19th December 1862 at Saddleworth Church. He was the eldest of twelve children, his parents were Joseph and Martha Knight, in 1783 Joseph moved his family to Lydgate. Served  an apprenticeship as a handloom weaver in Saddleworth. He managed to keep a reasonable living at his trade but was angry over the lack of his political rights. John married in 1786 to Elizabeth Andrew and they went to live her parents at Little Haigh farm on Quickedge Road, Lydgate.  The couple had six children, five boys and a girl. His views on parliamentary reform caused him to be arrested and sent to prison for two years for making a seditious speech at Royton. Weavers were having a tough time in making a living wage due to the coming of steam Textile factories. John arranged a meeting for weavers in Manchester 1812, to discuss their plight and want to do next?  At the end of the meeting John and 37 other weavers were arrested and all charged with plotting to destroy steam looms and attending a seditions meeting.  All 38 were acquitted. Later  that  year he  give up  weaving and took up teaching. In 1816 he edited the Manchester Political Register and secretary of the Manchester Constitutional Society.  In Later life he became an extensive dealer in political publications.  About six months before his death he was appointed Treasurer of the poor rates of Oldham. It the time of his death he was living on Lord Street, Oldham his wife died in 1824. In 2000 John Fletcher wrote a musical on the life of John Knith Go back to Speakers Last updated 8th July 2017