Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1890 & 99

Joseph Pearson PPGM (1828 - 1892)


Joseph Pearson was a Dyer by trade. He was also a member of the Duke of Wellington Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows and a Past Provincial Grand Master of that friendly society.


He was born in 1828 in Eccles, Lancashire. His parents were John Pearson, (born 1797 in Lancashire) who was a Dyer, and Elizabeth (nee Ackerley) Pearson (born 1797 in Lancashire), who were married on 28th December 1826 in Manchester. In 1841 they lived at Pendleton Street, Eccles with their four children. Joseph was the eldest, then Eliza (born 1829) aged 12, Ruth (born 1833) aged 8 and Andrew (born 1837) aged 4.


On 27th August 1848 Joseph Pearson of Pendleton married Elizabeth Savage of Pendleton at St Mary the Virgin Parish Church, Eccles. Elizabeth was also born in 1828 and was the daughter of John Savage who was also a Dyer. The 1871 census shows that the couple lived at Pendleton Street, Pendleton. Joseph and Elizabeth were aged 42. Their children, all born in Salford were John (born 1849) aged 22, William (born 1851) aged 20, Charles (born 1856) aged 15, Harry (born 1859) aged 12, James (born 1865) aged 6 and Elizabeth (born 1869) aged 2.


In 1881 the family lived at 16 Gill Street, Pendleton. Joseph was aged 52 and a Cotton Dyer, but there was no sign of his wife Elizabeth. Three children were Charles aged 25 who was a Blacksmith, James aged 16 who was a Cotton Weaver, and Elizabeth aged 12 who was a Scholar.


The 1880s was the time that Joseph's children got married. I can't find John's marriage although in 1881 a John Pearson, born 1849, who is a Cotton Dyer is a boarder and says he is married. However by 1911 he is widowed and an inmate of the Union Workhouse on Eccles New Road and dies in 1912 aged 63. William marries in in 1880 to Eliza Jane McLaughlan, who was a widow, aged 34 with 2 children. He died in 1904 aged 52. Charles appears not to have married and died in 1903 aged 46. Harry, who was also a Dyer, married Mary Jane Hamer in 1881 at St Thomas's Church, Pendleton, and died in 1909 aged 49. James married Isabella Briggs in 1887 at St Peter's, Swinton and was a Bleacher and Finisher in 1901. He died in 1940 aged 74. Elizabeth married Herbert Pollitt in 1888 at St Mary the Virgin Church Eccles.


The 1891 census shows that 62 year old Joseph was a Retired Dyer, married, but still no sign of his wife Elizabeth. Also in the house was Joseph's married daughter Elizabeth Pollitt with her husband Herbert and their son Joseph (born 1889) aged 2.


Joseph Pearson died on 21st July 1892 aged 64 and was buried at Plot 36 number 2316 in the Dissenters portion of Weaste Cemetery. His wife Elizabeth died at Hope Hospital on 3rd September 1899 aged 71 and was re-united with Joseph at Weaste Cemetery. It is tempting to think that the place of her death, Hope Hospital (which was the Salford Union hospital) may be a link to why she was absent from the family home for the 1881 and 1891 censuses. The only record for an Elizabeth Pearson in 1881 was at Salford Union Workhouse, born 1829, aged 52 and married. (Just a thought)!