Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1910 & 19

Alfred Edwards (1889 - 1914)


 

Alfred Edwards was a Railway Shunter, working at Irwell Street Goods Yard, Salford when he was accidentally killed there on 2nd July 1914 aged 24.

 

He was born in the 4th quarter of 1889 in Salford. His father was William Edwards (born 1858 in Salford) who was a Labourer, and his mother was Sarah Ellen (nee Harrison) Edwards (born 1862 in Manchester). They were married in 1884 and Sacred Trinity Church, Salford. Alfred's siblings, all born in Salford were: Arthur (brn 1885), Florence (born 1892), Ernest (born 1894), John (born 1896), Ethel (born 1899) and Jane (born 1902).

 

The 1891 census shows that the family lived at 21 Ashton Street, Salford, where Alfred was 1 year old. In 1901 the family lived at 19 Granville Street, Salford, where father William's occupation was Warehouse Lift Attendant and brother Arthur was a Hair Dresser.

 

The 1911 census shows the family at 86, Phoebe Street, Ordsall, Salford. William was aged 52 and an Engineer's Labourer, Sarah Ellen was aged 49 and was the Housekeeper, Arthur was aged 25 and a Hairdresser, Alfred was aged 21 and a Railway Shunter, Florence was aged 19 and a Spinner, Ernest was aged 17 and a Platter (possibly Plater), John was aged 14 and an Errand Boy, Ethel was aged 11 and a Schoolgirl and Jane was aged 8 and a Schoolgirl. Later that year, on 12th September, Alfred's father William died at Phoebe Street, aged 53 and was buried in a Common grave at Weaste Cemetery. Also in 1911 a record of Trade Union membership shows that Alfred as a member of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and his occupation was Shunter.

 

On 2nd July 1914, Alfred met with an accident (no details available) at Irwell Street Railway Goods Yard and was taken to Salford Royal Hospital, where he died, aged 24. He was buried on 7th July at Weaste Cemetery, Salford, in grave M/CE/715. The family grave also shows Alfred's uncle, Sergeant John Edwards (11th Lancashire Fusiliers) was killed in France on 4th August 1916, aged 47.

 

The 1921 census at 61 Phoebe Street shows Alfred's mother Sarah Ellen as head of the house. She was aged 59 and a self-employed Confectionery Dealer. Florence was aged 29 and a Cotton Spinner at Howarth's Mill, (but out of work). John was aged 24 and an Iron and Steel Dresser at Hulse and Co, (but out of work), Ethel was aged 22 and a Metal Moulder Minder at Carborundum, Trafford Works, Manchester, and Jane was aged 13 and a Cable Braider at Glovers Cables, (but out of work).

 

In 1925, Alfred's sister Jane married William Byrne at St Clement's Church, Ordsall, Salford. The 1939 Register shows Alfred's mother Sarah Ellen Edwards, retired and living with her daughter Jane Byrne and husband William Byrne at 5 Western Street, Salford. Sarah died the following year on 1st March 1940 at Hope Hospital, Pendleton, aged 78. She was buried in the family grave at Weaste Cemetery on 6th March.