Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1870 & 79

Richard Boyer (1832 - 1874)


 

 

Richard Boyer was a Newspaper Clerk and in 1859 became a Volunteer in the 56th Lancashire Rifles. This became the *3rd Manchester Rifle Volunteers, where he rose to the position of Sergeant. He died at home in Cheetham, Manchester in 1874 and was buried in grave B18/CE/169 at Weaste Cemetery.


He was born in Salford in 1832 and baptised at Manchester Collegiate Church (later to become Manchester Cathedral), on 20th May 1832. His father was Joseph Boyer (born 1796 in Manchester) who was a Letter Press Printer, and his mother was Elizabeth Boyer (born 1907 in Winchester, Hampshire). The 1841 census shows that the family lived at Pleasant Street, Salford where Richard was the third eldest of seven. His siblings were William (born 1826) aged 15, Margaret (born 1830) aged 11, Elizabeth (born 1834) aged 7, Daniel (born 1836) aged 5, Joseph (born 1838) aged 3 and Robert (born 1840) aged 1. There is no census for 1851.


On 3rd September 1856, Richard Boyer married Catherine Evans at St Thomas's Church, Heaton Norris, Stockport. She was born in Pendleton and the daughter of Thomas Evans. In 1861 they lived at 1, Cleminson Street, Salford, where Richard was aged 29 and was a Newspaper Clerk and Catherine was aged 32. Their children were Harry (born 1857 in Greengate, Salford) aged 3 and Joseph (born 1859 in Pendleton) aged 1. The census of 1871 shows that they lived at Hewitt Street, Cheetham, Manchester. Richard was aged 39, Catherine was aged 43, Harry was aged 13, Joseph was aged 11 and William (born 1863 in Greengate, Salford) was aged 8.


In August 1874 Richard Boyer died at home in Cheetham, Manchester, aged 42 and was buried at Weaste Cemetery on 10th August. An obituary in the Manchester Courier of 11th August 1874 reads, "Volunteer's Funeral. The remains of Mr Richard Boyer, a sergeant in the 8th Company of the 3rd Manchester Rifle Volunteers, were interred yesterday at the Eccles Road Cemetery, with military honours. At the formation of the Volunteer Force in 1859, Mr Boyer joined the 56th Lancashire, in which regiment he remained till 1862, when he became a member of the 3rd Manchester Volunteers. He held the rank of sergeant for about nine years, and was highly respected."


In 1881, Catherine lived at 51 Cedar Street, Cheetham, Prestwich, Manchester with her sons Harry, aged 23 who was a Railway Clerk, and William, aged 18, who was a Clerk to a Contractor. Catherine died in December 1890 and was buried with her husband.


*3rd Manchester Rifles. The enthusiasm for the Volunteer movement following the invasion scare in 1859 saw the creation of many Rifle Volunteer Corps (RVCs) composed of part-time soldiers eager to supplement the Regular British Army in time of need. The 3rd Manchester soon had 5 companies at Cheetham Hill, Knott Mill, Newton Heath, the MS&L Railway and the employees of A & S Henry. In December 1859 men connected with newspapers and publishing formed a Manchester Press Company, which enlisted 200 men, and another company was formed at Prestwich. They were formally adopted in 1860 as the 40th (3rd Manchester) Lancashire RVC.