Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1920 & 29

George Henry Hopper (1865 - 1928)


 

George Henry Hopper was a Marine Engine Fitter in ship repair work at Manchester Dry Docks, in Trafford Park, when he slipped and fell under a moving crane and died.

 

He was born in 1865 at Yarm-on-Tees in North Yorkshire, and baptised there on 31st October 1865. His parents were William Hopper (born 1834 in Yarm) who was a Labourer, and Martha (nee Flintoff) Hopper (born 1832 at Ingleby Cross, near Stokesley, North Yorkshire). They were married in 1854 at Stokesley. George Henry was the third child of six children all born in Yarm: John William (born 1856), Hannah (born 1860), then George Henry (born 1865), Alfred (born 1867), Mary Ann (born 1870) and Thomas (born 1873).

 

In 1891 Gorge Henry Hopper married Margaret Ann Auton (widow) at Hartlepool, Durham. Margaret was born as Margaret Ann Corkin in 1857 at Hartlepool. Her parents were Hugh Corkin (born 1833 in South Shields, Durham) and Elizabeth Corkin (born 1835 at Sunderland). In 1878, Margaret married James Auton at Hatlepool and had four children. James Auton died in 1890 in Hartlepool and a year later she married George Henry Hopper.

 

The 1901 census records the family lived at 15 Middlegate Street, Hartlepool. George was aged 37 and a Marine Engineer and Margaret was aged 42. Their children all born in Hartlepool were: William Auton (born 1882) aged 19, Edward Rowntree Auton (born 1888) aged 13, George Henry (born1892) aged 9, Margaret Ann (born 1896) aged 5, Elizabeth (born 1897) aged 4 and Martha (born 1900) aged 1. The 1905 electoral register shows their address as 59 Goodiers Lane, Regent Road, Salford.

 

In 1911, still at Goodiers Lane, George Henry was aged 46 and a Marine Engine Fitter, Margaret was aged 52, George Henry jnr was aged 18 and an Engineer's Labourer, young Margaret was aged 15 and a Costume Maker, Elizabeth was aged 14, and Martha was aged 11 and at school. Three of Margaret's Auton sons were present: William aged 29 who was an Engineer's Labourer, Richard age 26 who was a Marine Engine Fitter, and Edward Rowntree aged 23 who was also a Marine Engine Fitter.

 

The 1921 census at 59 Goodiers Lane shows: George Henry aged 56 and a Marine Engine Fitter, Ship Repair Work, at Manchester Dry Dock Ltd, and Margaret was aged 63. George Henry jnr was aged 28 and a Tailor's Presser Ladies Costumes, employed by his sister Margaret Ann Hopper. Margaret Ann was aged 26 and a self-employed Ladies Costumier. Elizabeth was aged 24 and a Costume and Mantle Maker, employed by Seagrave Slade and Co. Martha was aged 22 and had Household Duties.

 

On 3rd April 1928 George Henry Hopper was accidentally killed at work, aged 63. The Manchester Guardian of 4th April reports: "While working on the Manchester Dry Docks yesterday, George Hopper (63) of Goodier's Lane, Salford fell under the wheels of a travelling crane and was killed instantly. He was walking along the gangway when the crane approached, and slipped in attempting to get out of the way." George was buried at Weaste Cemetery in the family grave number F/CE/6 on 7th April.