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Throughout most of the first half of the 19th century a character by the name of John Holden loomed large in the local annals. Born around the year 1797, in Newchurch-in-Pendle, John (known more commonly as Johnny) Holden was frequently in trouble with the law, more often than not the demon drink was offered as being the reason for his misdemeanours. The following is a contemporary account of Holdens shady past, written in 1848 it gives a less than glowing presentation of his social conscience - there is, however, a promising note of salvation in the end.
There is at present (1848) living at Burnley an eccentric individual whose biography is unparalleled. A native of Newchurch-in-Pendle, John Holden has 21 times been in Preston Gaol, twice in Knutsford Gaol, 4 times in Wakefield Gaol, once at Kirkdale Prison, 3 times at Northallerton Gaol, once at Lancaster Gaol, once at Beverley Gaol, once at York Castle, once at Manchester New Bailey, and once in Calais Prison for knocking over a Frenchman who laughed at his iron clogs. Holden has been held in 202 lock-ups, brought before 92 different magistrates, had a lawful wife and 7 children (5 of whom were illegitimate) and had 29 female associations. He has deserted from the armed forces 6 times, fought 119 prize fights (of which he won 108) and has spent a total of 7 years and 49 days in prison. Now aged 51, Holden is a dedicated teetotaller and has vowed to follow a straight-and-narrow path in the future.
A further account of John Holdens life is given by a contributor to the Nelson Leader, later reproduced in Blakeys Barrowford Almanack in the early 1900s. The following gives the gist of this recollection:
After being released from one of his regular spells in Preston Gaol, Johnny Holden of Newchurch, set off to walk home. On his way through Blackburn he heard the sound of singing coming from a church and so he thought he would investigate. He stole into the church and, whilst the vicar went into the vestry to change his surplice, Johnny leaped into the pulpit and began to regale the startled congregation with a lurid account of his recent spell in prison.
On another occasion Holden was living at the Burnley Workhouse and gave officials there a surprise over a paupers funeral. Whilst nobody was looking Johnny took the corpse out of the coffin, propped it up against a wall and got into the coffin himself. When the attendants came to fasten down the coffin lid Johnny burst forth - he saw a far funnier side to his actions than did the attendants!
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