Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1900 & 09

GEORGE FREDERICK JAMES (1930 - 1901)


 

George was a manufacturer and inventor with several patents to his name. He set up business initially making elastic web and textile smallwear, but became bankrupt in 1860. Later he was involved in techniques to insulate telegraph wires and at some point became Manager at Glovers Cables in Trafford Park, Manchester. However, there is not a single census return for George and his family.

 

His gravestone inscription at Weaste Cemetery shows that he died on 17th January 1901, indicating that he was born in 1830, but it is not known where. The grave shows that his wife's name was Harriet. The only Harriet to marry a George James is Harriet Routledge, which occurred in 1872 in Salford by Registrar. There are no census records for Harriet either, but the grave inscription shows that she died on 24th April 1897 aged 44. This would make her birth date in 1852 (22 years younger than George).   George and Harriet had a daughter named Florina in 1878 in Salford Greengate. She was baptised at Sacred Trinity Church, Salford. Baptism records show that their address at the time was 1 Blossom Street, Salford, and George's occupation was Machine Builder. Florina James married in 1894 to Thomas Brownhill in Salford. They had a daughter Ida, who was born in 1894 in Salford, but died on 3rd December 1898 at Salford Royal Hospital, aged 4 years, and was buried in the family grave F/CE/290 at Weaste Cemetery.

 

Other evidence comes from newspapers. The Cheshire Observer on 21 July 1860 under Bankrupts states "George Frederick James, elastic web maker, Manchester". This set-back lasted for a number of years, as The Manchester Courier of 2nd November 1866 recorded, "In the matter of George Frederick James formerly residing in lodgings at No.1 Garden Lane Salford, afterwards at No.16 Raffle Street, Salford, and afterwards at No.56 Cable Street in Salford, and now at No.6 Pitt Street, Moss Lane, Hulme, Manchester, and for two years past carrying on business in Crown Court, Blackfriars Street in Salford, as an elastic web and crinoline manufacturer, is adjudged bankrupt on the 21st day of August 1866."

 

However, things did pick up as the Bolton News records on 19th May 1875. New Patents. Frederick William Ewan of Manchester and George Frederick James of Salford, for improvements in insulating telegraph wires and in machinery or apparatus for manufacturing the same." The Stockport Advertiser of 20 July 1883 under English Patents, "Walter Twiss Glover and George Frederick James, both of Manchester, for improvements in heating yarns and covering wire for telegraphic and other purposes, dated 18th January 1883." The Weekly Standard of 24th April 1886, under English Patents states, "George Frederick James, for improvements in braiding, rope making, and other similar flyer spindles."

 

On 17th January 1901, George Frederick James died at Greengate, Salford, aged 70. The Manchester Evening News of 18th January 1901, under Deaths, read, JAMES, on the 17th, at 145 Greengate, Salford, George Frederick James, the originator, patentee and late Manager for W T Glover and Co. Interment at Weaste Cemetery, Monday. Sadly missed by his daughter Florrie and Sally.