Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1880 & 89

GEORGE DICKSON CRAWFORD (1870 - 1889)


 

 

George Dickson Crawford was the Superintendent of the Juvenile Templars of the Seedley Perseverance Lodge of the *Independent Order of Good Templars, and was formerly employed as a Telegraph Messenger. He died at the young age of 18 years.

 

He was born in the third quarter of 1870 in Cheetham, Manchester. His father was Joseph Crawford (born 1833 in Scotland) who was an Upholsterer. His mother was Catherine (nee Monahan) Crawford (born 1819 in Ireland). They were married in 1871 at Manchester Cathedral. An 1870 Manchester Rate Book shows a Joseph Crawford at 5 Irwell Street, Cheetham Township and in 1872 the Electoral Register shows Joseph at 59 Hodge Lane, Salford. The 1881 census shows the family lived at 45 Hodge Lane, Salford. Joseph was aged 48, Catherine was aged 61 and George was aged 10.

 

On 17th May 1889 George Dickson Crawford died at Hodge Lane, aged 18. The Salford Reporter of 25th May 1899 records, "Funeral of a Good Templar, On Monday, the remains of Bro. George Crawford, SJT (Superintendent of Juvenile Templars) of the Seedley Perseverance Lodge of the I.O.G.T. (John Street Hall), were interred at the Salford Cemetery. About 60 members and juveniles of the Order along with about 60 telegraph messengers, of whom Bro. Crawford was formerly one, assembled at the house of his parents, where the Rev James Clark (Bible Christian Church) conducted the funeral service, after which a few verses of "Thy will be done" were nicely sung. The funeral cortege then proceeded to the cemetery. The telegraph messengers in charge of Inspector Hodson, looked especially trim and neat, and marched with a soldiery bearing in the solemn procession. The Good Templars, clothed in the regalia of their order, looked exceedingly well. The procession attracted great attention en route. Arriving at the cemetery the Rev. James Clarke continued the funeral service, after which Bro. Longworth, LD, made a few appropriate remarks upon the loss the order had sustained through the death of their brother. It should be stated that at the grave side there assembled many friends of the deceased, who evinced great sympathy with the sorrowing parents."

 

The 1891 Census shows George's parents at 45 Hodge Street, Salford. Joseph was aged 61 and described as Upholsterer Cabinet, and Catherine was aged 72. In 1894 Joseph Crawford died at Hodge Lane, aged 63, and was buried in the family grave in plot 37/DISS/1253 at Weaste Cemetery on 30th October. Catherine died in 1908 at Stalybridge, aged 89 and joined her husband and son on 1st April.

 

*The Independent Order of Good Templars was a fraternal organisation that promoted abstinence from alcohol and drugs. It was formed in 1851 in Utica, New York, USA and spread to other countries. In Salford it was also known as the Independent Order of Rechabites, which was founded in Salford in 1835. It advocated total abstinence and the prohibition of intoxicating drinks. It is thought that the use of the name Templars was in acknowledgement of the Knights Templar of the Christian Crusades, who were determined to follow their cause. Nowadays the Order is called Movendi International, promoting evidence-based polices to reduce harm from alcohol and other drugs.