Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1890 & 99

Annie Cowan Russell (1851 - 1891)


Annie Cowan Russell was the wife of Alexander Cockburn Russell who was a partner in the Scotia Foundary, Athole Street, Pendleton.

 


She was born Ann Cowan at Row, Dumbartonshire on 7th February 1851. Her parents were Fergus Cowan and Helen Small. She was baptiseded on 9th March at Dumbarton. On 25th June 1874 she married Alexander Cockburn Russell at Falkirk, Stirlingshire. Their children were: William (born 1874 in Scotland), Helen (born 1876 in Pendleton), Mary Cockburn (born 9th May 1878 at Pendleton and died 7th June 1903 aged 25), Fergus C. (born 1880 at Pendleton and married Mary A Bentley at St. James Hope Church in 1918) and Cowan (born 22nd May 1887 and died 12th April 1891, aged 3). The 1881 census reveals that the family was living at 23 Seedley Grove, Pendleton. Staying with them on that night were Alexander's sister Elizabeth and her husband Alexander Neil, a Master Iron Founder. At some time in the 1880s the family moved to Kelvin Dale on Fitzwarren Street. Annie Cowan Russell died on 3rd April 1891, just 9 days before her youngest son Cowan. She was 40 years old.

 


It appears that Annie fulfilled the role of wife and mother as the Salford Reporter of 11th April 1891 records, "Deep sorrow has been caused in many families and circles by the death of Mrs A. C.  Russell of Kelvin Dale, Fitzwarren Street, the wife of Mr Alexander Cockburn Russell, one of the proprietors of the Scotia Foundry, Athole Street, Pendleton. Mrs Russell had been ill for only two or three weeks, but her ailments were so serious and complicated that Dr Addy could do little more than relieve her suffering and she passed away quietly peacefully and hopefully on Friday night in the presence of several mourning friends. She was only forty years of age and so genial was her temperament and so liberal her hand that she was very highly esteemed by all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance".

 


The Funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon, 7th April. Large numbers of people gathered near the house, every blind on Fitzwarren Street was drawn and all the shops in the neighbourhood had their shutters up. There was a short service in Kelvin Dale conducted by Rev W.G. MacFee and then the cortege of hearse and nine carriages made its way to Weaste Cemetery. Many more people assembled around the grave in plot A4 of the Dissenters portion where Rev MacFee conducted the burial service. Much sympathy was felt for Alexander and his seven children.