Manchester General Cemetery Transcription Project
Firemen
Henry Mellor (1836-1877)
Henry Mellor had been a highly respected member of Pollard Street Fire Brigade for eleven years when he died of consumpton at the age of 41 years. His funeral procession to Manchester General Cemetery was led by the City Police Band and his coffin which was transported on an engine was draped with a Union Jack because he had served in the Royal Navy. Following the coffin were the mourning coaches and finally a parade of police and firemen with a steam fire engine and tender.
John Holmes (1816-1861)
Fireman, John Holmes, died on 14th June 1861 whilst on duty in Ancoats. He was aged 45 years and lived at 19 Back Lloyd Street. An inquest into his death heard that he was in attendance at a fire at the premises of Mr Hamer, an India rubber manufacturer, on Palmerston Street and whilst he was directing the hose a pile of bricks fell on him, killing him instantly. The inquest returned a verdict of accidental death.
The funeral procession comprised of members of the Salford, Manchester and Stockport fire brigades. A service was held the day after the funeral, attended by members of the fire brigade, was held at St Ann’s Church, Manchester officiated by the Reverend J Bardsley
Thomas Humphries (? – 1859)
Thomas Humphries was interred on Sunday, 27th November 1859. He died after 25 years service in the Manchester Fire Brigade. His coffin was transported to Manchester General Cemetery on a fire engine.
Henry Clark (1844-1866)
Fireman Henry Clark, aged 22 years, died 12th June 1866 after
succumbing to fatal injuries sustained from a fire at the London
& North Western Railway Co., goods station on the 23rd May.
His funeral took place Friday 15th June 1866. At 1.45pm the
procession left the Central Fire Station at Jackson’s Row.
The cortege was lead by a fire engine draped in black,
with plumes, and various accessories, followed by the Brigade
this was followed by Broughton Volunteer Brigade, Salford
Brigade, Pendleton Brigade, Ashton Brigade and the Chief
Constable of the Borough, Superintendents Tozer and Gee of
the A Division and friends of the deceased. The cortege
arrived at Richardson Street, where the Coffin containing Henry had been at
his Friends residence. The coffin was placed on the fire engine with Henry’s helmet, hat and coat.
The precession proceeded slowly to the Manchester General Cemetery where the service was read by the Chaplain and an impressive discourse delivered to the surrounding fireman. Henry Clark is buried in a Church Plot, as he died in 1866 he does not appear in the burial registers as there are no surviving registers for Church burials prior to March 1886.
