What’s In a Name…The Many Lives of Jonathan Oates

As it is was my birthday on 6 May, I thought I would find out that I had got up to in years gone by… a bit of a ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ with a familial name rather than relatives!
I’ve been mugged, been a mugger, owned a pub (hurrah!), owned an Infirmary graveyard, been a deserter, used foul and abusive language (no change there…), had a catfight over a cat, and been the President of a Spiritualist Society!
From 1814 to 1934, read my history of Jonathan Oates’ adventures through the decades…

An Infirmary Garden – and Full of Dung!

Worcester Journal – April 1814

WORCESTER INFIRMARY. ‘TO LET by AUCTION, on Lease, for a Term of Years’. By W. HANDY & CO. On Monday, the 2d of May, 1814, in the Committee Room, twelve o’clock precisely, subject to such conditions as shall then produced; The GARDEN now in the occupation of the representatives of the late Mr. Jonathan Oates & their under-tenants; except six hundred and twenty-seven yards thereabouts the part now occupied by Mr. Thomas Oates, marked out for a burial ground, and intended to be walled in. The present Tenants are bound to leave all erections and fences, together with the fruit trees; also to leave all the green or rotten dung for the use of the coming-on tenant. The Premises may be entered upon at Michaelmas next, and may be viewed on application to Mr, Thomas Oates, High-street, or Mrs. Brace, at the Infirmary,— Further Particulars may be had of the Secretary.

A Sheffield Pub owner – My Ideal Job!

Sheffield Independent – May 1827

At the license of Mr. John Fordham. the Black Rock, in Castle Street, Sheffield, on Tuesday, the 19th day of June. 1827, at Four o’clock in the Afternoon, a SUBSTANTIAL STONE MESSUAGE or DWELLING-HOUSE, pleasantly situate at Mosborough, near Eckington, on the Killamarsh Road; comprising Sitting Room, Parlour, two Bed Rooms, Attic*, Closets, Cellar, and Brewhouse, with good Fixtures, and well supplied with Soft and Hard Water. Also the excellent and newly erected Malt Kiln and Malt Rooms adjoining; capable of carrying on the Malting Business on a very extensive scale; good Stable, Corn chandler. Pigeon Cote, Fold and Homestead; capital Garden, well stocked with Fruit Trees, Shrubs. Flower Beds, and choice Plants, fronting the said Dwelling-House. The Premises have all been built within the last nine years, and are now in the occupation of Mr. Jonathan Oates, the owner. For further particulars, and to view the same, apply to Mr. Oates, on the Premises j or to the AUCTIONEER. Watson’s Walk, Sheffield.

Foul-Mouthed Jono!

Sheffield Independent – September 1852

Jane Oates, Jonathan Oates, George Oates, and Maynard Mallinder, of Mosbro’, were summoned by Mr. Rippon, the constable, for obstructing the footpath at Mosbro’, and using obscene language, on the 21st August. The parties were quarrelling together, and had collected a large crowd. Their language was of the most obscene character. On the defendants promising not to offend again, the case was withdrawn.

Not Robbed of My Watch – Phew!

Worcester Journal – July 1868

In our City Police news last week, we reported that Mr. Jonathan Oates had been robbed of his watch on Pitchcroft. This was an error, Mr. Jonathan Oates not being concerned in the case in any way.

But Robbed of This Watch – Dammit!

Gloucester Journal – March 1878

ROBBERY AT CHELTENHAM RACES. David Penn, 40, a respectably-dressed man, described as a sailor, was indicted for stealing a spade guinea from the person of Jonathan Oates, at Cheltenham Races. During a race, the prosecutor found a snatch at his watchchain, and, turning round, found the prisoner withdrawing his hand from it. Prosecutor immediately collared him, and the guinea, which had been taken from the chain, was in his hand. Prisoner was stated to be a professional pickpocket who had already passed considerable time in prison, and the Vice-Chairman sentenced him to seven years’ penal servitude and three years’ police supervision.

Had a Fight Over a Cat!!

Sheffield Daily Telegraph – November 1902

SHEFFIELD POLICE COURTS: A Much-Admired Cat. A cat is one the most loving of creatures, but rarely does reciprocity of this affection lead to police court proceedings. This was the case, however, at Attercliffe on Wednesday last, and yesterday Jonathan Oates. of 6, Oakes Green, appeared before Messrs. Charles Belk and J. D. Robinson for assaulting his sister-in-law, Mrs. Castle of 26, Oakes Green. The ownership of the cat was claimed by both plaintiff and defendant in the same way as the parties who went before King Solomon claimed the baby. This popular cat, it appears, has some of the wisdom of the ancient monarch, for it distributes its favours equally, and divides its time between both houses. The complainant’s case was that a week ago the cat was in the street, and she took it in her arms, the defendant took umbrage at this and gave the plaintiff a shaking. She had a basket in her hand, and in defending herself struck him in the face with it. The defendant, it was alleged, then took the basket from her, and struck her with it several times. The defendant was called, and said that he objected to Mrs. Castle ‘interfering with the cat’. All I did was to “slap her gently on the face”. A fine of 10s, including costs, was imposed.

President of the Sheffield Spiritualists

Sheffield Evening Telegraph – June 1910

SHEFFIELD SPIRITUALISTS. “RAISING THE WIND” AT ATTERCLIFFE. Even Spiritualists have at times to descend to material means of money-making to provide the necessary resources for the propagation of their faith, and it was by the not uncommon expedient a bazaar that the Sheffield District Council of Spiritualist Societies sought yesterday to raise £l00, required for organisation purposes.  Yesterday’s bazaar was held in the Spiritual Church, which opened in Attercliffe few months ago, and it attracted a satisfactory attendance of members and friends. The opening was performed by Mr. F. J. Walker, of Meersbrook, Mr. Jonathan Oates presiding, and the statement of the Council’s needs, aims, and expectations was made by Mr. Ernest W. Oates, the organiser for the district.

Guilty of being an Army Deserter…Or Was I???

Lancashire Evening Post – November 1917

SHOWED DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE BURNLEY MAN DENIES BEING A DESERTER. A young man lodging in Arthur Street, Burnley, whose name appeared on the charge sheet as ‘Joseph Cheetham, alias Jonathan Oates’ was charged at Burnley, today, with desertion from an infantry battalion since October 23^rd. He appeared in civilian clothing, and denied that he was deserter, stating that he had been discharged from the Marines. Detective Longstaff said there was a Joseph Cheetham gazetted as a deserter, and the description agreed with that of the prisoner. When arrested the accused said his name was Jonathan Oates, and produced a certificate of discharge from the Royal Marines dated April, 1916. Prisoner declared that knew nothing about the infantry battalion. Supt. Hillier pointed out that the prisoner had not registered and a remand for one day was granted, with bail, so that an officer might be brought to court to give evidence of identification.

My Spiritualist Presidency comes to an sad end…

Leeds Mercury January 1934

Northern Wills: Mr. Jonathan OATES. Northern Road, Wickersley. near Rotherham, for 30 years the chairman of the trustees of the National Spiritual Church, Attercliffe, left net, personally: £5,726.

Well that’s the story up to 1934..who knows what my future careers have in store for me…and maybe in the future somone will do exactly the same thing and find…ME!

Jono Oates

7 May 2020