Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1960 & 69

Abraham Williamson JP (1867 - 1960)


Abraham Williamson was Mayor of Salford for one term (1927–28) and was awarded Freeman of the City of Salford in 1960.

 


Abraham was born in Manchester in 1867 and came to Salford when he was 2 months old. He attended St. Clement's School, Ordsall and he was to become an Estate Agent.

 


Abraham Williamson was interested in politics even as an often hungry child, as he helped Conservative canvassers by lighting them around the dark streets of Ordsall with lamps. He was concerned with the early growth of Socialism and became active in the Young England Patriotic Association. Then in 1904 he helped to form the Conservative Labour Association which declared opposition to Socialism and which aimed to stop Trade Union branches being used for political ends.

 


In 1905, Abraham was appointed Justice of the Peace and became a member of the Board of Management of Henshaw's Institute for the Blind. In 1907 he was elected Conservative Councillor for Old Trafford Ward, which was included in Ordsall Park Ward in 1921. He represented this ward until 1925 when he was appointed Alderman for St Paul's Ward. He was Chair of the Finance Committee from 1923 to 1935 and was elected Mayor for 1927-28. This was during the great Depression and Abraham and his wife Hannah devoted themselves to job creation programmes for the unemployed and many charitable and relief works. He was Chair of South Salford Conservative and Unionist Association.

 


Alderman Abraham Williamson was a Governor of Salford Royal Technical Institute for 27 years and Chairman from 1937 to 1949. He represented Salford Council on the International Union of Local Authorities. In 1945, at the age of 78, the Government sent him to Germany to lecture on municipal government. For this mission he was given the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. However, when Labour took power of the Council later that year, they removed all the Conservative Aldermen including Abraham, ending his political career.

 


Abraham remained fit and healthy until his 90th birthday by walking and dancing. On 20th January 1960 he was awarded the Freedom of the City of Salford, but four months later, on Sunday 22nd May 1960, he died suddenly at his home in Hulton Street, Salford. He was 93 years old.