Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1870 & 79

John Drummond Morton (1828 - 1871)


 John Drummond Morton was initially in business with his father at James Morton and Son, Rope and Twine Manufacturers of Salford, and later was the Secretary/Agent for the National Reform Union since its formation in 1864, using the name J D Morton.


He was born in 1829 in Manchester. His father was James Morton (1801 – 1870), a Rope and Twine Manufacturer, and his mother was Louisa Morton (1802 – 1886). Both were born in Scotland. In 1841 the family lived at Ashley Lane Manchester. John was aged 11 and his siblings were William (born 1830 in Manchester) aged 15, Louisa (born 1835 in Manchester) aged 6, and Duncan Drummond (born 1838 in Manchester) aged 3. The census for 1851 shows the family still at Ashley Lane, Manchester. John was aged 21 and a warehouseman, William was aged 25 and an Engraver, Louisa was aged 15 and Duncan was aged 13.


In September 1857, the bankruptsy section of the London Gazette reported "James Morton, late of Lord Duncan Street, Salford, carrying on business and occupying a Rope Walk in co-partnership with John Drummond Morton at Back Ellor Street, Salford as Rope and Twine Manufacturers under the firm of James Morton and Son." The 1861 census, at 5 Lord Demesne Street, Salford, shows James Morton as a retired Rope Maker aged 59, Louisa aged 58, John aged 31 and a Traveller for a Water Meter Maker, Louisa aged 25 and a Seamstress and Duncan aged 23 and Clerk in a Foundry.


In the fourth quarter of 1863, John Drummond Morton married Margaret McDougall (born 1831 in Inverness, Scotland) at Greenwich, London. They had three children: Annie Louisa (born 1865 in Salford) who tragically died at Peel Street, Salford, later in 1865, aged only 3 months; John Drummond jnr (born 1867 in Sale, Cheshire), who is seen in the 1891 census as a 24-year-old Assistant Secretary, living in Clapham, London; and Margaret Elizabeth (born 1869 in Sale, Cheshire), who tragically died in Sale in 1882, aged 13.


On 9th February 1871 John Drummond Morton snr died at Sale, Cheshire aged only 41 and was buried at Weaste Cemetery at grave B2/Diss/1619 on 15th February. The Manchester Weekly times of 11th February 1871 reported, "We regret to announce the death of Mr J. D. Morton, the respected Secretary and Agent of the National Reform Union. Mr Morton, who had been in failing health for some time, died at his residence at Sale on Thursday evening. Mr Morton was appointed Secretary and Agent of the Union on its founding in 1864. He had studied for several sessions at Owens College with the object of preparing himself for the Presbyterian Ministry, but pursued a commercial life instead. His last situation prior to the Reform Union was that of an Actuary to the Water Meter Company of Tipping Street, Manchester. In his early role with the Union he was accustomed to lecture (on Parliamentary Reform), but later devoted his time mainly to organisation. He also gave assistance to other public matters and his exertions in raising subscriptions for the sufferers of the Sheffield Flood resulted in considerable benefit to that fund."


John's widow Margaret died in January 1910 and was re-united with him at Weaste.