Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1900 & 09

William Lance Marshall (1834 - 1902)


William Lance Marshall rose through the ranks of Salford Police Force and became Chief Constable from 1880 to 1889.

 


He was born in Manchester in November 1834 and baptised on 1st March 1835. His parents were Matthew and Mary Marshal.  He married Sarah Cheetham on 5th December 1857 at Manchester Cathedral. Four months later, in March 1858 William joined Salford Police Force as a Police Clerk.

 


The 1861 Census shows that William and Sarah lived at 28, Back Prospect, Wellington Street, Salford. They had a son Samuel Matthew, who was born that year and aged 0. By 1871 they had moved to 113, Lower Broughton Road, where William was aged 36, Sarah was aged 36, Samuel M. was aged 10, and William H. (born 1868) was aged 3.

 


From 1881 to 1890, (the period when William was Chief Constable), they lived at 97, Camp Street, Broughton. The 1881 census shows that Samuel M was aged 20 and was an Assistant in Salford Council's Weights and Measures Department. William H was now aged 13 and a scholar. Also in the house were two of Sarah's nephews, Samuel R Cheetham aged 10 and Alfred H Cheetham aged 8. However, tragedy struck in 1882 when young William Henry died aged just 14. He was buried at Weaste Cemetery on 2nd February, in the Cheetham family grave. On 18th September 1889 William's other son Samuel Matthew, married Elizabeth Haynes at Patricroft (Eccles) Congregational Church.

 


In January 1890 when William Lance Marshall was 55, he retired due to ill health and he and Sarah moved to Blackpool in 1891. The census shows that they lived at Lanceville, Withnell Road, Layton with Warbreck. In 1901 they lived at 11, St James's Road, Blackpool. The following year after 11 years of retirement, William died on 28th December 1902. He was 68 years old. His body was brought back to Salford for burial. The cortege was met at Salford Station by the current Chief Constable and other civic dignitaries before proceeding to Weaste Cemetery, where he was buried with his son William Henry on 2nd January 1903.

 


The Manchester Evening News of 29th December 1902 reports, "Death of an ex Chief Constable of Salford. The death has taken place at his residence in St James's Road South Shore, Blackpool of Mr William Lance Marshall a former Chief Constable of Salford. The deceased joined the Salford Police Force as a Police Clerk in March 1858. In August 1867 he was promoted to the rank of Superintendent and the Watch Committee elevated him to the rank of Chief Superintendent in January 1872. When Captain Torrens severed his connection with the Force, Mr Marshall was appointed Chief Constable, this being in January 1880. He retired on a superannuation of £300 a year in January 1890."   

 


Sarah Marshall died in April 1906 and was re-united with her husband at Weaste.