Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1857 & 1869

Francis Goadsby (1779 - 1869)


 Francis Goadsby was a Druggist with premises on Chapel Street, Salford. He also played a prominent part in the establishment and management of the New Jerusalem Church Temple (opened 19th September 1813) and School, in Bolton Street, Salford.


He was born in 1789 in Manchester. The records don't show his parents or early life, but he set up as a Druggist in Chapel Street, Salford and probably lived above the shop before moving to The Cliff, Lower Broughton Road, Broughton, Salford in later life.


On 16th August 1802, Francis married Mary Greenhough at Manchester Collegiate Church (later to become Manchester Cathedral). Mary was baptised on 6th November 1782 and was the daughter of John and Mary Greenhough of Manchester. Francis and Mary had six children, all born in Salford: Thomas (born 19 April 1805, who went on to become Mayor of Manchester in 1861/2, and died on 16th February 1866 aged 60), William (born 180? and died in December 1809), Marianne (born 17th August 1808 and married Thomas Collier in 1829), Francis jnr (born 18th May 1810), Charles (born 24th January 1814) and Emma (born 1st September 1816 and died on 11th December 1820, aged 4). Tragedy struck on 18th April 1818 when Francis's wife Mary died and was buried at the New Jerusalem Temple on 21st April, aged only 35).


Francis married again on 11th November 1818 to widow Mary Hunter (born 1794 in Salford) at St John's Church, Deansgate, Manchester. They were to have four more children all born in Salford: James Septimus (born 10th August 1819), George Octavius (born 20th September 1820, who died on 23 October 1822 aged 2), Edward (born 19th March 1822), and Agnes Catherine (born 9th May 1824, married Peter Joel Livsey in 1872 and died 25th February 1896 aged 71).


Piggott's Directory of 1828 shows Goadsby and Son at 48 Chapel Street, Salford and Francis's home address as 7, Islington, Salford. An advert in the Edinburgh Weekly Journal of 29 June 1808 shows that Francis is happy to share his discovery for the cure of scrofula and scorbutic leprosy consisting of pitch and rosin. In 1823 an advert says Cooke's Tonic (Strengthening) Cough Pills are available at Mr Goadsby's, Salford. In June 1826, Francis is listed as making a second donation for the Relief of the Poor in Salford Fund. In September 1826, Francis was fined £12.10s by the Commissioners of Excise for selling wine to be consumed on his premises. In May 1827 Francis allowed a petition to collect signatures in favour of electoral reform, to be placed in his shop.


In 1837 the Manchester Rate Books shows Francis owned and rented out a property at 1 Billington Place, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester to a Margaret Marsden. The 1841 census shows Francis is aged 60 and living at The Cliff, Salford. Mary is 45 James is 20 and Agnes is 15. In 1851 and still at The Cliff, Francis is 71 and a retired Druggist. And in 1861 Francis is 81, Mary is 67 and Agnes is 36 and unmarried.


Francis Goadsby died on 7th October 1869, aged 90 and was buried at A5/DISS/17 at Weaste Cemetery. Mary died a month later on 11th November 1869, aged 75.