Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1910 & 19

James Frederick Wilkinson JP (1828 - 1912)


 

James Frederick Wilkinson was a Master Letterpress Printer (in 1871 employing 102 hands) at the Gutenberg Press in Pendleton. He became an Alderman and twice Mayor for Eccles Town Council (1894/5 and 1897/8) and a County Councillor for Lancashire.

 

He was born on 2nd July 1828 at Hulme, Manchester. His father Thomas Wilkinson was a Letter Press Printer. No information was forthcoming about his early life. On 1st September 1855 James married Elizabeth Jordan at St Mary the Virgin Church, Eccles, Lancashire. Elizabeth was born on 29th December 1826 at Eccles, the daughter of William Jordan who was a Woollen Draper. Their children, all born in Pendleton were: James Frederick (born 15th October 1856, but sadly died on 30th April 1858, aged 18 months), Elizabeth Hannah (born 1858), James Gibbons (born 20th April 1860, but sadly died 19th December 1863, aged 3), Helen (born 1862), and Edith (born 1864).

 

The 1871 census shows the family lived at Fitzwarren Street, Pendleton, where James was aged 42 and a Master Printer employing 102 hands and Elizabeth was aged 44. Elizabeth Hannah was aged 13, Helen was aged 9 and Edith was aged 7. Also in the house was James's mother-in-law Hannah Jordan (born 27th December 1802 at Pendleton), aged 68, and who later died on 21st August 1877, aged 74. In 1881 the family lived at Ashfield, 2 Ellesmere Road, Ellesmere Park, Eccles.

 

On 16th July 1886, James's wife Elizabeth died at Lytham aged 60. She was buried at Weaste Cemetery A4/CE/Vault on 20th July. The census of 1891 shows that James still lived at Ellesmere Road. He was a widower, aged 61, and a Master Printer. His daughter Edith was aged 27. In 1896 James married Margaret Wray Sudlow, at Barton-upon-Irwell by Registrar. Margaret (born Margaret Wray in 1851 at West Lutton, Ryedale, North Yorkshire), had previously married Benjamin Sudlow in 1882 at Stonegrave in Ryedale. The 1901 census at Ellesmere Road shows James aged 71 as a Printer and Stationer, Margaret was aged 50, Edith was aged 36 and Margaret's son George Wray Sudlow was aged 17.

 

James was a Liberal in politics, and was appointed Alderman for Eccles Town Council and the Mayor in 1894/5 and 1897/8. He also represented Eccles on the Lancashire County Council from 1892 to 1907. In November 1894 he presented to the Council a handsome mayoral gold chain for use by himself and his successors. His first duty was to head a procession from the town hall for a service at Eccles Wesleyan Chapel. The Eccles Borough Brass Band and the Volunteers fife band were in attendance. He was called upon to attend many local functions including opening the new public bowling green at Eccles Recreation Ground in June 1896; laying the foundation stone for the new Baptist Church in Wellington Road in December 1897; and opening the New Central Hall of the Wesleyan Methodists in Gladstone Road in September 1906. James was also a local magistrate, hearing cases at Eccles Magistrates Court in Irwell Place.

 

On 2nd February 1912, James Frederick Wilkinson died at home, Ashleigh, Ellesmere Park, aged 83. After a service at Eccles Wesleyan Church, he was buried alongside his first wife Elizabeth at Weaste Cemetery grave A4/CE/vault on 6th February 1912.