Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1870 & 79

HENRY BILSBORROW (1832 - 1876)


 

Henry Bilsborrow had a farm of 95 acres in Freckleton, Fylde, Lancashire in 1861, and in the 1871 census he was a Cashier in Salford. He was married 3 times.

 

He was born in 1832 in Kirkham, Fylde, Lancashire. Not a lot is known about his early life, but in 1851 at the age of 20, he was registered at Ushaw Roman Catholic College in Durham. In 1858 he married Cecily Hall, attended by a Registrar from Old Fylde Registry Office. Cecily (born 1835 in Westby, Fylde, Lancashire) was the daughter of John Hall, a Farmer, and his wife Mary, of Moss Side House, Westby-with-Plumpton, Fylde, Lancashire. They had a son, Richard (born 1858 in Freckleton). Sadly, Cecily died about this time (no record) aged about 23 (?). The 1861 census shows that Henry was a widower living at Hall Cross, Higher Road, Freckleton, Fylde and was a Farmer of 95 acres. Richard was aged 2, and a Housekeeper Alice Singleton was aged 38. It would appear that at some point, Richard lived with relatives in the Fylde and was a Chemist's Assistant in 1881 and then a General Practitioner's Assistant in 1891. He died in 1891, in the Fylde, aged just 32.

 

In 1862 Henry married again to Eliza Anastasia Leeming by Registrar from Old Fylde Register Office. Eliza (born 11th April 1834 in Manchester) was the daughter of James and Mary Anne Leeming). She was baptised at St Mary's Church, Mulberry Street, Manchester, on 19th April 1834. Henry and Eliza's children were: Charles (born 1862 in Kirkham, Fylde), Mary (born 1864 in Burnley, Lancashire), James Leeming (born 1866 in Burnley), and Augustine Cresswell (born 1867 in Salford and died in 1873 aged 6). Sadly again, Henry's second wife Eliza died on 26th September 1868, aged 34, at their home in Encombe Place, Salford. She was buried at Weaste Cemetery, grave A9/RC/31 on 30th September.

 

Henry married for a third time to Mary Leeming, the younger sister of Eliza, (although I can't find the record). The 1871 census shows the family lived at Encombe Place, Salford. Henry was aged 39 and a Cashier. His wife Mary (born 1840 in Manchester) was aged 31. Richard was aged 12, Charles was aged 8, Mary was aged 7, James was aged 5 and Augustine was aged 3. There is a record of a baptism at Salford Cathedral on 15th December 1873 for Henry Leeming Bilsborrow, son of Henry Bilsborrow and Mary (formerly Leeming), born 6th December 1873, abode Bank Place, Salford. (According to the Chipping Campden History Society, young Henry trained for the Priesthood at Oscott College, Sutton Coldfield and was ordained at Clifton in 1897. He was Priest in charge at Chipping Campden for 26 years from 1913 until 1939. He died in Frome, Somerset in 1948. He was a nephew of Salford's third Bishop John Bilsborrow and of Rev. James Bilsborrow, Archbishop of Cardiff).

 

Henry Bilsborrow died of smallpox on 25th February 1876, aged 43. He was buried on 28th February with his second wife Eliza Anastasia in grave A9/RC/31. In 1879, his widow Mary Leeming was recorded in Slater's Directory at 13 Teneriffe Street, Great Clowes Street, Salford. She died at Fallowfield, Manchester on 8th November 1882 age 42, and was buried with Henry at Weaste Cemetery on 10th November 1882.