Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1900 & 09

EDWARD FITZPATRICK (1861 - 1909)


 

Edward was a Painter and at the time of his death on 19th December 1909, he was employed by Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Co. He was hit by a locomotive whilst crossing the railway lines at Bolton Railway Station during a snow storm.

 

He was born in 1861 in Salford and registered in the Regent Road register office. His father was Edward Fitzpatrick snr (born 1833 in Manchester) who was a Railway Porter and rose to be Railway Inspector on Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Co. His mother was Elizabeth (nee Ash) Fitzpatrick (born 1834 in Staffordshire). They were married in 1853 at Manchester Cathedral. Edward's three older siblings were: Mary Ann (born 1854 in Hulme, Manchester), Francis (born 1856 in Hulme, Manchester) and John Daniel (born 1859 in Salford). In 1861, the family lived at 54 Anderson Street, Salford. Sadly in March 1871, Edward's mother Elizabeth died aged 39 and was buried in a common grave at Weaste Cemetery. The 1871 census shows Edward snr was a widower, aged 39 and a Railway Porter with four children. Edward was only 10 years old. By 1881 Edward snr had married again to Hannah (born 1828 in Denbighshire, Wales) who was a midwife.

 

In 1881 Edward Fitzpatrick married Margaret Ellen Foley at St Simon's Church, Salford. Margaret was born in 1860 in Salford, the daughter of James and Ellen Foley. The 1881 census records that they lived at 14, Melbourne Street, Salford, with their daughter Mary Elizabeth (born 1881 in Salford) age 0. In 1891 Edward and Margaret lived at 64 Hampson Street, Salford with their children Mary Elizabeth aged 10, Hannah (born 1882 in Salford) aged 9, and Edith (born 1891 in Salford) aged 0. The 1901 census reveals that the family still lived at 64 Hampson Street. Edward was aged 41 and a House Painter and Margaret was aged 40. Their children were: Mary aged 20 who was a Stitcher at a velvet dye works, Hannah aged 19 who was a General Domestic Servant, Edith aged 10, and newcomers James Edward (born 1892 in Salford) aged 8, Ellen (born 1895) aged 6, John (born 1898 in Salford) aged 3, and Walter (born 1899 in Salford) aged 1.

 

On 19th December 1909 Edward Fitzpatrick was accidentally killed in an accident at Bolton Railway Station. The Northern Star newspaper of 21st December 1909 reports, "Killed on the Line. During the height of the snow storm on Sunday afternoon, a shocking fatality occurred on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway at Bolton, Trinity Street Station. One of the company's servants, a painter named Edward Fitzpatrick, aged 49, who lived in Salford, was knocked down and killed by an incoming passenger train. He had been working in the hydraulic power station, and was crossing the lines outside, with his head down, apparently guarding his face from the blizzard, when the engine of the train from Liverpool, due at 3.55, knocked him clear off the rails. His lifeless body was found a few minutes later, and it was ascertained that the skull had been fractured." He was buried at Weaste Cemetery grave F/CE/12 on 24th December.

 

Margaret continued to live at 64 Hampson Street, and died there on 6th July 1945, aged 84. She was re-united with Edward at Weaste Cemetery on 10th July 1945.