Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1880 & 89

Rev Peter Rathbone Berry (1845 - 1884)


 The Reverend Peter Rathbone Berry was Minister of the New Windsor Chapel on Broad Street, Salford, from 1877 until his death in 1884.


He was born in Warrington, Lancashire (now Cheshire) in 1845. In 1867 Peter married Jane Maria Younghusband at Ormskirk by Registrar (possably a non-conformist chapel in Southport). Jane was born in 1846 in Stockport, Cheshire, the daughter of William and Catherine (nee Richardson) Younghusband. The family must have moved shortly afterwards to Southport, Lancashire, as in 1849, when Jane was only 3 years old, her father died and was buried at Holy Trinity Church, Southport. Two years later in 1851 Jane's mother remarried to Francis B Garside at St Cuthbert's Church, North Meols (now Southport), which was then in Lancashire. But shortly afterwards, Jane's mother died and her stepfather married again in 1857 to Sarah Brooke. So the 1861 census shows Jane Younghusband aged 14, as the stepdaughter of Francis B and Sarah Garside of 105 Lord Street, North Meols (now Southport), Lancashire.


In 1871 Peter and Jane lived at High Street, Northwich, Cheshire with two sons: Ernest (born 1869 in Ormskirk, Lancashire) and Walter (born 1870 in Northwich, Cheshire). And in 1881 they lived at 18 Nursery Street, Pendleton with additions Percy (born 1872 in Bradford, Yorkshire) and Frank (born 1879 in Salford).


Perhaps Peter Rathbone Berry's wanderings could best be described by an obituary in the Blackpool Gazette of 5th September 1884. "Death of the Rev P.R.Berry at Fleetwood. We regret to announce the death of Rev Peter Rathbone Berry which took place last Sunday morning (31st August). The deceased gentleman was born in Warrington, where he spent his early years and afterwards removed to Southport. From Southport he removed to Northwich (Cheshire) where he entered into business, but the desire to enter the Ministry was so strong that he disposed of his business and entered as a student at Airedale College, Bradford, (Yorkshire) where he remained three years, (1871 – 1874). He then received an invitation to undertake the ministry at Fleetwood Congregational Church and readers will remember that for three years, 1874 to 1877 he occupied a prominent part in our midst.


From Fleetwood, the rev gentleman removed to the New Windsor Chapel, Salford, but periodically Mr Berry's health gave way and he often had recourse to a visit to Fleetwood. He continued to minister up to July 16th of this present year, when he preached his last sermon. A few days afterwards he came to Fleetwood hoping to recruit his shattered health, and took up his residence with Mr S Cox on Dock Street. He gradually sank and passed away on Sunday morning in his 39th year. His wife to whom he was tenderly attached, ministered to his wants during his illness, is now left with four sons, the eldest is 16 and the youngest is 5, to mourn their great loss. On Wednesday evening, the body was conveyed from Fleetwood to Pendleton and yesterday afternoon (4th September) he was interred in the Salford Cemetery."


Jane Maria Berry died suddenly on 11th January 1894 in Salford, aged 47 and was re-united with her husband in plot 32 grave 2605 at Weaste Cemetery.