Manchester General Cemetery Transcription Project
Buried Stories
Page 2
Some of the earliest burials in the Cemetery
Hannah Warde (1791-1837) "Hannah Warde, Wife of Mr. Saml Warde, who departed this life Octr 17th 1837, Aged 46 years......"
Hannah Warde, the wife of Mr Samuel Warde,
bookkeeper of the Mosley Arms Coach Office, Manchester. This is the earliest Non conformist Gravestone recorded
in the Cemetery by the MGCTP Team. Hannah's burial
entry in the Cemetery's burial Register was No. 6.
Alice Godwin (1784-1837)
"Alice, Wife of John Godwin, who died Novr 4th 1837, Aged 53 years...."
The second earliest Non Conformist gravestone recorded by the MGCTP Team. Alice's burial entry in the Cemetery's burial Register was No. 9.
Alice and John Godwin lived on Rochdale Road
Samuel Perkin (1765-1837)
"In Memory of Samuel Perkin who departed this life Novr 11th 1837, aged 73 years ......"
The first burials at Manchester General Cemetery took place just two months before Samuel Perkin was buried. We believe Samuel Perkin was baptised at the Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George (which became Manchester Cathedral in 1847) on 17th February 1765 and was the son of Thomas and Martha Perkin. Samuel's burial entry is the Cemetery's Burial Register was No.10
The Strange Story of Jane Shakeshaft Sweeney - An Unsolved Mystery
In March 1866 a death occurred in Angel Street, Manchester and was registered in the name of Jane S Sweeney, aged 24 years, but all was not as it seemed because Jane didn’t actually die. Somebody else did and was buried in her place.
This is the account which was told to Mr Herford, the City Coroner for Manchester at the inquest held on 6th April 1866:
In February 1866, a man and a woman rented a house in Angel Street, which is located off Rochdale Road in the Harpurhey district of Manchester. They lived as man and wife and were known by the name of Sweeney. The woman was about 24 years old. Within a few weeks the woman became very sick and was tended by the landlady who made her gruel. Mr Sweeney added sugar to the gruel and fed it to his wife. She became much worse and on 30th March 1866 she died.
The following day, Easter Saturday, Mr Sweeney travelled to Toxteth Park, Liverpool to visit a
Mrs Hill who was his wife’s sister to inform her that he had fallen in love with Jane Shakeshaft, they had subsequently married and now Jane Shakeshaft Sweeney was lying dead in Manchester. That very same day, Mr Sweeney wrote to his wife’s and Mrs Hill’s mother, who lived in Blackpool, and also called upon another of his wife’s sisters to inform them of Jane’s death. The bereaved family comprising Mr Sweeney, his mother-in-law and his two sister-in-laws all travelled to Manchester on the following Monday for Jane’s funeral and burial at Manchester General Cemetery. Prior to the burial the family members viewed the body and according to the newspaper reports at the time didn’t recognise her as their relative. However, they presumed her illness had changed her appearance so didn’t take the matter any further. The burial proceeded as planned and afterwards the family returned back to the rented accommodation in Angel Street at which point Mr Sweeney disappeared. On the Monday evening, Jane’s mother and sisters returned to Liverpool. Shortly after their arrival, Mrs Hill was shocked by the appearance of Jane at her home, the sister who she believed she had just buried in Manchester. Jane, having heard rumours of her death, had decided to visit her family to put their minds at ease. Meanwhile, the surgeon in Manchester who had attended the death had been asked at the time, by Mr Sweeney, to guarantee the cost of the funeral and other related expenses and was now being called upon to repay the debt.
The body which had been buried in Manchester General Cemetery was exhumed and the cause of death was confirmed as “effusion of blood on the brain”. The remains of the unknown woman were re-buried but her identity has never been discovered and so remains a mystery.
Thomas Barton (1774-1855)
Thomas Barton of Miles Platting died on July 12th 1855 and was buried at Manchester General Cemetery on July 17th 1855, grave number Unknown 28. He was known to be the oldest deaf and dumb person in the area. He had no education at all but brought up a large family upon the precarious earnings of his trade – hand loom weaving. His funeral was attended by adult members of Deaf and Dumb Society
William Bradbury (circa 1804-1855)
An unusual funeral took place at Manchester General Cemetery on May 8th 1855. William Bradbury was a lamplighter who died of heart disease on May 3rd 1855, aged 51 years. He died in Blackburn at the home of his son having gone there the previous week due to ill health. His funeral procession was described as “singular” and comprised of 38 of his fellow workers who walked two by two dressed in white with black caps and black gloves, a crepe sash and a band of crepe on the left arm. They formed a procession at the lamp office in Clarence Street and proceeded to Naylor Street, Oldham Road, the home of the deceased from where they followed the hearse and three mourning coaches to the Cemetery. He had worked for the Corporation for 20 years and he was survived by his widow and six children who were left unprovided for.
Unexplained Fire Kills Two Boys, 1930 An unexplained fire at Messrs. W. H. Pownall Ltd., Daisy works, Stockport Road, Manchester, Manufacturers of Cotton and Art Silk Goods, killed two boys John Henry Jones aged 18 years of Eliza St, Collyhurst and John Stringer aged 16 years of Clarendon St, Manchester on 6th November 1930.
Suddenly around mid-day a fire started in the wooden ‘fluff box’ (a timber building) adjoining the napping room of the mill. Periodically the fans in the cyclone are stopped to allow a boy to enter the box to remove and collect the fluff. John Stringer was removing the fluff when the outbreak of the fire took place. It is not understood why John Henry Jones (a joiner’s assistant) was in the fluffing box at all. When the alarm was raised the Manager of the department Mr Norman Wood made vain efforts to break open the door to enter the room but the door was locked and flames were raging among the highly flammable fluff, eventually he was overcome by fumes.The Manchester Fire Brigade arrived in fifteen minutes and with the works brigade had the flames completely subdued. The door was forced open and key found on the inside. Identification was possible by means of articles found on the bodies. John Henry Jones was the Son of John and Beatrice Jones and was interred in Manchester General Cemetery on 13th November 1930
Murder in Hightown, 1903
Tuesday 1st September the bodies of a man and woman were found by two men going to work in a gully between Elizabeth Street and Broughton Street. Both victims had wounds to their throats and the woman bore evidence of a struggle. Police were fetched and the bodies examined, both pronounced dead. A razor was found in the pocket of the man. The bodies were taken to the mortuary and identified as Josiah Bowler aged 60 of Garnett St, Hightown, a shoemaker and Sarah Annie Parker aged 49 of Stanley St, Cheetham Hill.
An inquest was held, John Parker of Cedar Street, husband of deceased informed the inquest he had not lived with his wife for a year, but she had visited his home lately when he was absent. Mr Bowler would visit also, and on occasion found is wife drinking and playing cards with Bowler. There had been on occasions altercations between himself and Bowler and he had warned his Wife to change her ways or Bowler would be the end of her as he was strange and had a desperate temper. Bowler’s daughter informed the inquest that her Father was queer in the head, not worked lately, seemed very excitable, would lose his senses on occasion and had frequently quarrelled with Mrs Parker.
Coroner evidence found that Mrs Parker had been attacked with savage ferocity by a madman. A Jury’s verdict was of “Murder and Suicide” Josiah Bowler was interred in a public grave in Manchester General Cemetery on 3rd September, the funeral went directly from the Police Mortuary on Derby St and his departure was watched by crowds of people.
Accidental Fatal Duel On Stage 1891
A performance of Romeo and Juliet by some amateurs in the Cathedral Schools and missions saw an ‘extraordinary accident’ during a performance. Upon reaching the scene where ‘Mercutio’ and ‘Tybait’ duel with swords, Romeo parts them. Mercutio played by Thomas Wilson Whalley, aged 19 years, falls to the ground after his final lines. Blood was seen flowing from his nose and mouth when it was realised something was wrong. Thomas died on his way to hospital. ‘Tybait’ played by Ernest Thompson had not realised he had struck or wounded Thomas. Accidental death was ruled.
The funeral took place 4th April at Manchester General Cemetery it was attended by a large number of those he was associated with. After leaving Thomas’s home, the procession went to the Cathedral where hundreds of people attended, a service took place by Rev. Minor Canon Elvy and the Rev. Minor Canon Winstanley. The service was concluded by the playing of the Death March from ‘Saul’ by Mr Maclure, Son of the Dean, on the organ. Closing rites were conducted by Rev. W. Armour at the Cemetery, Thomas’s coffin was covered with floral wreaths. Thomas was interred in Consecrated 3135, a gravestone no longer exists on the grave.
Murder in Ancoats 1890
Matthew Hayes, aged 30 a ‘knocker-up’, charged with
the murder of his younger brother William Hayes,
aged 29 a ‘knocker-up’ that had taken place
10 November. The two brothers lived with their
Mother at Grime Street, Ancoats, The brothers had
a close relationship and went out drinking together.
William when drunk tended to be argumentative and
aggressive and tormented his brother.
On arriving home William was intent to picking a fight
with his brother Matthew, they went onto the Street
as William was shouting, when Matthew asked him to stop,
William went back into the house and started breaking
the furniture. Matthew went back into the house to
stop him, as their mother was asleep in bed. A struggle ensued, a razor which was
close at hand, and in a fit of fury, Matthew grabbed the razor and lashed out, cutting William’s throat. William collapsed to the floor and Matthew panicked and ran from the home. Police found Matthew at a neighbour’s and was taken into custody. As he was under the influence of drink it was later that day before he was charged.
At court witnesses attested to William’s behaviour when drunk. A Police Constable stated William was known to him for being drunk, fighting and knew him to be quarrelsome more so than Matthew. As Matthew had shown ‘terrible remorse’ at what he had done, and pleaded guilty to manslaughter, provocation being taken into account, a sentence of 10 years penal servitude was given.
William Hayes was interred in the Manchester General Cemetery 13 November, a large crowd gathered outside of the family home and many more were at the Cemetery. William was interred in the family grave after a service conducted by Rev. Thomas Grant. Matthew died 1909 and was also interred in the family grave, though later names have not been added to the gravestone.
Husband Murders Wife 1895
William Henry Beaumont, was charged with the wilful murder of his wife on 15th August. William Henry Beaumont, Labourer of Cheltenham Street, Collyhurst, came home unexpectedly to find his wife of eight years Elizabeth Beaumont with Thomas Maddocks from Nelson, Maddocks left the house hurriedly after a fight. Witness Mrs Eyeres heard shouts and sounds of assault from deceased bedroom. Next morning a doctor was fetched to find the Mrs Beaumont deceased. Police made enquiries with Mr Beaumont giving two different accounts firstly stating his wife was drunk and fell down the stairs twice as he assisted her to the bedroom later finding her dead by his side in bed and then saying he accused her of infidelity and he struck her. Asked to give an account of his wife’s injuries he replied with a long rambling statement, he was then taken into custody.
Their daughter Elizabeth Alice aged 11 years (witness) said she heard her mother crying and swearing on the night. In the morning she saw cuts on her Mother’s face and her father sent her for the Doctor saying her mother was dead. She had never seen her mother tumble down stairs when drunk and her father was generally kind to her mother though she had seen her father strike her Mother once or twice. William pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to penal servitude for seven years.
Elizabeth was interred in Manchester General Cemetery 21st August in a public grave.
The burial register shows above her place of abode – murdered.
Richard Cronshaw - Drowning
Richard Cronshaw, aged 40 years of Stanley Street, Hulme died 13th August 1856 leaving a widow and one child, by drowning, in the River Mersey at Jackson's Boat in Chorlton-cum-Hardy. Mr Cronshaw a warper at the silk mill of Messrs. George Smith & Sons of Mosley Street of Manchester, was also the drummer of the City Brass Band.
He and six colleagues from the mill went for an afternoon excursion in the country, where Richard and a friend got into the river to bathe. With recent heavy rain the river current has become very strong and
a small boat sculled by a boy who was trying to ferry a man across the river, when the current rapidly carried it away despite those on board trying to stop it. Mr Cronshaw tried to assist by following it and trying to hold on to it, exposing himself to the strong current. Tiring very quickly he disappeared below the surface and was swept away. On printing of the newspaper article hope was they would find Mr Cronshaw's body the next day down stream.
Left:
Memorial Card
Right:
S.S. Lusitania
S.S. Lusitania
Margaret Jane Butler aged 40 years, and her husband William were passengers on the S.S. Lusitania, the Cunard Ocean liner that was sunk by a Germany Submarine on the 7th May 1915, 11 miles off the southern coast of Ireland during World War 1. A total of 1,198 crew and passengers were killed. Margaret, the daughter of William & Margaret Travis, she was one of seven children who lived on Collyhurst Road, Manchester. Margaret Jane married William Fletcher Butler 1905 at the Methodist Chapel, Collyhurst, Manchester. We believe Margaret and William lived in Canada and were travelling back home. It must have been devastating for Margaret Snr to lose her husband and daughter within 3 months. Margaret Jane’s name was placed on the family gravestone in Memoriam.
A Fatal Accident on Oldham Road.
William Powell Jnr., aged 13 years died on Saturday 10th
October 1869 at the Manchester Royal Infirmary from the
effects of a kick from a horse which took place the same day.
William Powell Snr of Ancoats Street was accompanied by his
son on Saturday morning who sat to his right on the front
part of the lurry. As it turned from Oldham Street to Great
Ancoats Street the horse for no known reason reared.
The horse threw its feet over the shafts and kicked William on the
temple and cheek, his father took him to the Royal Infirmary where he died that evening.
An inquest was held on Monday 11 October Mr Herford, City Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death.
William was buried in Manchester General Cemetery on Thursday 14th October in a Non Conformist public grave.
Killed by the falling of a wall
On 9th October 1869, five year old William Nield Stoddard, was playing with some other lads at the junction of Ryder Street and Teignmouth Street, Collyhurst when he was killed by the falling of a wall. There were two or three holes in the wall, one of which the boys were making bigger by throwing bricks at it. The bricks fell one by one until they reached the top of the wall when all at once a large portion of the wall fell together with a quantity of bricks which were stacked behind it. William’s body was found underneath the rubble “quite dead” by labourer, William Withers, who had been employed to clear the street. John Chaples, a builder and the owner of the property said that when he had bought the property six weeks earlier he had knocked a hole in the wall to get it level with the street. He noticed the hole had been getting bigger and presumed it was by the local children and reported the matter to the police at Livesey Street station however the police superintendent, Charles William Godby, said he did not think it was the duty of the police to guard such property. A verdict of accidental death was ruled by the City Coroner, Mr Herford.
William Nield Stoddard was buried in a Consecrated 1206, the Stoddard family grave at Manchester General Cemetery. His name does not appear in the burial registers as the Church of England registers prior to 1886 have not survived.
Charles Innes 1793-1841
Charles Innes died on 25h March 1841, aged 48 years, due to the injuries
he sustained in a railway accident. He died at his home in Rider’s Lane,
Oldham Road, Manchester and was interred at Manchester General
Cemetery on 31st March 1841 in grave non-conformist 3613.
Charles Innes was Scottish, born in Banffshire on 20th April 1793
and baptised in the parish of Keith, Banffshire on 27th April 1793.
He married Isabella Gleig on the 4th January 1817 at the Church of
St Nicholas, Aberdeen. Isabella may have been Scottish or a
British Subject born in the West Indies as the records vary.
Charles and Isabella had eight children, the youngest Robert
was born in Manchester in 1837 and baptised at the Presbyterian
Church, St Peter’s Square, Manchester.
Charles Innes was a railway engineer employed by the
Manchester and Leeds Railway Company as the superintendent
for all the engines at the Manchester terminus
The accident occurred when the 4.00 p.m. passenger train from
Manchester was being assisted by the engine “Humber” which was in charge
of Charles Innes. The train was well loaded and in addition there were four goods wagons.
He had already assisted the train to climb the steep incline between Manchester and Mills Hill and was returning on the “wrong line” towards Manchester. At the same time, a luggage train was following the passenger train. The luggage train had reached Moston when James Smith, the engineer in charge, saw the engine when it was only 200 yards away. A curve in the line and a deep cutting prevent him from seeing it sooner. James Smith immediately instructed his fireman to take action by applying the break and putting the luggage train into reverse.
Unfortunately there wasn’t time and the two engines were involved in a dreadful crash. The engine, “Humber”, in the charge of Charles Innes was smashed to pieces. James Smith and his fireman had foreseen that the crash was imminent and had managed to take action to avoid any injuries. They went to assist Charles Innes who had been thrown from the “Humber” onto the other line. They moved him and placed him on the embankment and shortly afterwards he was taken to his home at Riders Lane in the St George’s district of Manchester by lorry. He died about half an hour after he had arrived there. His death certificate records the cause of death as “a fractured right leg and fractured left arm on a railway”,
At the inquest the Borough Coroner, Mr Chapman, returned a verdict of “accidental death with no blame attributable to the company but solely to the deceased due to him not returning by the down line pursuant to the rules”. The Coroner added that he had been informed that Mr Innes had very recently cautioned men working under him not to on any account return upon the same line but to follow company regulations and in fact disobeying this rule would result in immediate discharge.
