Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1880 & 89

Thomas Reynolds (senior) (1818 - 1888)


Thomas Reynolds (senior) was a soldier in the 20th Regiment of Foot. He rose to the rank of Colour Sergeant in the Regimental band, before he was pensioned off in 1861 and set up a Musical Instrument Making business in Salford.


He was born in 1818 in Mauritius. His father was also named Thomas Reynolds and was a Drummer in the 56th (West Sussex) Regiment of Foot. The Regiment was sent to Mauritius during the Napoleonic Wars and captured the then French Island in 1810. After the battle, the Regiment was sent home, but in 1815 it was returned to Mauritius as an occupying force, until 1826. Thomas's mother has not been identified.


Thomas (senior) joined the 20th (East Devonshire) Regiment of Foot as Private. In 1841, (when he was 22 years old), he was stationed at Limerick, Ireland. In 1859 the records show that he was a Colour Sergeant Bandsman in the First Battalion.


In 1845, Thomas (senior) married Jane Martin at Bolton, Lancashire. Jane was born in 1825 in Ireland. Their children were: Thomas (junior) (born 1846 in Gibralter), Charles (born 1847 in Stockport, Cheshire), William (born 1850 in Stockport, Cheshire, who died young), Thomasine (born 1858 in Radcliffe, Lancashire and died in 1862, aged 4); another William (born 1860 in Elton, Bury, Lancashire) and James Martin (born 1862 in Salford). The 1861 census shows that the family lived at the Military Barracks, Fairy Row, Elton, Bury, Lancashire with children Thomas (junior) aged 15, Charles aged 13, Thomasine aged 2 and William aged 1.


In March 1862 Thomas (senior's) wife Jane died, aged 37, and was buried in a common grave at Weaste Cemetery. On 4th August that year, Thomas (senior) married 24-year-old Betsey Warburton at St Mary the Virgin Church, Eccles. Betsey, (born 1837 in Rochdale), was the daughter of James Warburton, whose occupation was Manager of Cotton Weavers, of 6 Hankinson Street, Salford. Thomas (senior) lived nearby at 18, Hankinson Street and was a Musician, aged 44. In 1871 the couple lived at Ashton Street, Salford with sons Charles, William and James (born 1862) and Betsey's new arrival Robert Henry aged 7. Sadly Robert Henry died in 1872 aged 9.


By 1881, Thomas (senior) had passed the musical instrument business to Thomas (junior). He and Betsey now lived at 191 Eccles New Road, Salford and his occupation was Sub-Postmaster. However, Thomas (senior) died on 13th November 1888 in his 70th year and was buried in grave B18/CE/11430 at Weaste Cemetery. Betsey continued as Postmistress and Stationer at Eccles New Road, until her death in 1915 aged 78. She was buried in E/CE/16127 at Peel Green Cemetery.


The musical instrument business was called Thomas Reynolds Snr and Sons Ltd. In 1862 it was at 120A Great Clowes Street, Salford and 1886 at 49 Gravel Lane, Salford. By 1903 the address was 58 & 60 Chapel Street, Salford and 1909 at 43 Chapel Street. When Thomas (junior) died in 1919, it was his son Charles who took over. Charles died in 1925 and his wife May ran it for another 30 years, until bought out in 1968 by their Managing Director. In 1983 the business went into voluntary liquidation.