Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1880 & 89

ROBERT PIERCE ELLIS (1837 - 1886)


 

 

Robert Pierce Ellis started his career in the Commercial Department of the Manchester Guardian newspaper at the age of 23 and rose to the management of the publishing department, before he died at the age of 49. He was also lay Minister of the Seedley Congregational Church on West Liverpool Street, for a number of years.

 

He was born on 2nd March 1837 at Bury New Road, Bury, Lancashire. His father was John Ellis (born 1794 in Denbighshire, Wales) who was a Mechanic, and who was a founder member of the Salem Congregational Chapel in Burnley, and his mother was Mary Ellis (born 1796 in Denbighshire, Wales). Robert had three brothers and one sister. His older brother John settled in USA. The 1851 census at Saunders Bank, Whalley, Burnley, Lancashire, shows Robert aged 14 and a Scholar, his father John aged 57 and a mechanic, his mother Mary aged 55, and his brother Thomas (born 1832 in Bolton) aged 19 who was a Mechanic. When the family came to Manchester they settled in Lower Byrom Street and then Gartside Street. Robert attended Roby Chapel (formerly known as Cannon Street Congregational Chapel at Hunter's Croft, Manchester, where the Rev. William Roby had been Minister). Robert was involved in teaching evening classes there, and became editor of the Chapel's newspaper "The Echo."  It was there that Robert met his future wife.

 

Robert married Susannah Frances Duckworth in 1858 at the Roby Chapel. Susannah was born in 1838 in Withington, Manchester. The records aren't clear enough to establish further background. However, in 1871 Robert and Susannah lived at Stock Street, Cheetham, Manchester. Robert was aged 34 and a Newspaper Clerk and Susannah was aged 32. Their children were Annie (born 1861 in Manchester), aged 9, and Lilly (born 1870 in Salford) aged 0. Also in the house was Robert's father John Ellis, aged 76. Sadly, Annie died of consumption in October 1879 aged 18, and was buried in the family grave at Weaste Cemetery. The 1881 census shows that the family was probably on holiday, at the home of Lodging House Keeper Laurence H Banks at Fylde, Lancashire. Robert was aged 44 and a Clerk, Susannah was aged 42 and Lilly was aged 10.

 

On 10th October 1886, Robert Pierce Ellis died at his home, 55 West High Street, Salford, aged 49. According to the Salford Reporter "For some time, Mr Ellis had suffered from a severe illness, and his recovery had long since despaired of. He had been a great supporter of the Congregational church and in recognition of the value of his unpaid efforts, he was some time ago, appointed one of the vice-Presidents of the Manchester and Salford Congregational Lay Preachers Society. Mr Ellis was also co-Secretary, with Mr Axon, of the Salford Branch of the Manhood Suffrage League." He was buried at Weaste Cemetery grave B2/DISS/1364 on 15th September 1886, and witnessed by family members and many friends and colleagues.

 

The 1901 census shows that Robert's widow Susannah was visiting family at 60 Hill Street, Withington, Manchester. Four years later, in November 1905, she died at home in Pendleton aged 67 and was buried in the family grave at Weaste Cemetery on 21st.