Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1880 & 89

John Hall (1809 - 1886)


 

John Hall was a Boot and Shoe Maker by trade and then in 1857 he was appointed the first Clerk of Salford Cemetery. He later became the Treasurer and Director of a Building Society. John was a prominent member of the Oddfellows, and also involved with the administration of St Philip's Church, Salford.

 

He was born in 1809 at Altofts, a village near Normanton, between Wakefield and Pontefract, Yorkshire, and was baptised at St Giles Church, Pontefract on 29th October 1809. His parents were John and Ann Hall. He was the eldest of seven children, one of whom became Alderman Daniel Hall of Salford. He began his working life on a farm at Goldthorpe before becoming an apprentice boot and shoe maker. In the late 1820s he moved to Manchester.

 

On 17th May 1829 John married Sarah Pickford in Manchester. Sarah was born in 1807 at the village of Flash, Staffordshire, (between Leek and Buxton), and was the daughter of Joseph and Ellen Pickford. John and Sarah moved to Broughton Road, Salford, where John set up as a Boot and Shoe Maker. Their children, all born in Salford and baptised at St Philip's Church were: Mary Ann (born 1832), Tabitha (born 1835), John (born 1837, but died young), Sarah Eliza (born 1839), George Edward (born 1841), Elizabeth (born 1843, but died young), and Esther (born 1845). Esther's baptism record shows that John was now Clerk of St Philip's Church, Salford, a post he held for 35 years. He was also a Church Warden and a Sunday School Teacher.

 

In 1834, John joined the United Order of Oddfellows on the formation of Phoenix Lodge.  In 1836 he was elected Lodge Master. In 1856 he was the delegate to attend the annual meeting in Chester and in 1858 he was elected as Deputy Grand Master. The following year he was appointed Grand Master. In 1871 he was installed as Grand Treasurer.

 

The census of 1871 shows that John and Sarah had moved to Mount Street. Salford where John was aged 61 and his occupation was Agent and Clerk, and Sarah was aged 62. In 1881 their address was 3 Langworthy Road, Pendleton, where John was aged 71 and his occupation was Treasurer and Director of a Building Society (Insurance) and Sarah was aged 73. Two years later, on 26th May 1883, Sarah died at home aged 75, and was buried at Weaste Cemetery, grave A4/CE/4671 on 30th May.

 

Three years later, on 23rd August 1886, John Hall died at home, aged 76. The Salford Reporter of 4th September 1886 wrote, "Whilst the venerable old man lay on his deathbed in a state of unconsciousness his son was called upon to receive on his behalf a gold watch and chain, a purse containing the sum of £20 and a magnificent emblem of the order. The funeral on Saturday was attended by the officers and members of the Phoenix Lodge, together with representatives of other lodges in full regalia. The brethren walked in procession in front of the hearse (which was drawn by four horses) and six morning coaches, and were themselves preceded by three members of the lodge bearing maces and sceptre draped in black." Many others attended. At Weaste Cemetery John was placed in grave A4/CC/4671 with his beloved wife Sarah.