Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1890 & 99

Daniel Stanley Isherwood (1844 - 1891)


Daniel Stanley Isherwood was a Builders Merchant and a Major in the Volunteer Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (Salford).

 

He was born in 1844 in Middleton, Lancashire. On 1st October 1869, he married Jane Ellen Wright at Manchester Cathedral. Jane was born in 1848 in Prescott, Lancashire. They lived in Broughton and their children were Stanley Woodruff (born 1871), Florence Margaret Frances (born 1872 and married Percival C.C. Farrant in 1906 at Christ Church West Didsbury), Mabel Annie (born 1874), Evaline Emma (born 1875), Cora B. (born 1876 and married Frank E Hands in 1902 at Christ Church, West Didsbury) and Oswald J.W. (born 1879). The 1881 census reveals that they were living at 276 Great Clowes Street, Broughton and Daniel was a Builders Merchant. He died on 21st June 1891 aged only 47 years.

 

The Salford Reporter of 27th June 1891 records, "We deeply regret to announce the death of Major Daniel Stanley Isherwood of the 3rd Volunteer Lancashire Fusiliers (Salford), who after a useful life and a lingering illness was gathered to his father's residence, Manor Hey, Urmston and died on Sunday 21st June). He was interred at Salford Borough Cemetery on Wednesday (24th June) with full military honours. He had a severe attack of the *Russian influenza some 18 months ago. From this he never thoroughly recovered and at last, a complication of diseases put an end to his sufferings.

 

He was the eldest son of the late Mr Oswald Isherwood of Broughton and his first appointment, after leaving school was in the cotton trade. Subsequently he became the local representative of Mr Doulton, the well-known sanitary pipe and tile manufacturer, and in that position he remained for some 14 years. In 1879, along with his brother Samuel, he commenced his own business as a sanitary pipe, stone, slate and tile merchant in Hope Street. Then he moved to the more extensive and convenient premises in Oldfield Road.

 

Mr Isherwood joined the Salford Volunteers and devoted himself enthusiastically and intelligently to the discharge of his duties, so that promotion was rapid. On 11th February 1875 he was gazetted Ensign; on 30th August 1879 he was promoted to Captain; on 5th December 1888 he was granted the honorary rank of Major and in December 1889, on the resignation of Major General Garstang he was promoted to Major.
 

The battalion was well represented at the funeral which was held on 24th June. Assembling at the barracks in Cross Lane the detachment marched down Cross Lane and Trafford Road, halting a short distance from the new police station, and waiting there in order to join the funeral cortege coming from Urmston. Unfortunately they had a long time to wait, for although they reached Trafford Road at 3 o'clock, it was half past four before the other part of the procession arrived. What made matters worse, was that it was exceedingly windy and most uncomfortably dusty at the time. The full procession was then formed in the following order: the firing party (about 50 strong) under the command of Major Moss; several Officers; then the brass band of the battalion (playing the "Dead March in Saul"); next came the gun carriage, pulled by two horses, carrying the coffin, covered with a Union Jack, upon which were placed the deceased's sword and busby; then Major Isherwood's charger was led close behind the gun carriage; followed by several sergeants and other ranks; and the rear was brought up by mourning coaches.

 

Large numbers of people had assembled along Trafford Road and Eccles New Road, whilst an immense throng had gathered at the cemetery. The service at the graveside (in plot B of the Church of England portion) was conducted by Rev J.E. Gull of St Thomas' Church, Pendleton, who is also the battalion's chaplain. The volley fired over the grave could be heard at a great distance. The deceased gentleman, who was 47 years of age, leaves a widow, four sons and four daughters.

 

*Russian influenza. A pandemic of severe influenza, known in western Europe as "Russian Flu" caused extensive illness and death between 1889 and 1894. In the UK, where the main effect was winter 1889/90, sufferers and their doctors were hard put to explain the visitation. It was later thought to have originated in China, spreading rapidly throughout Russia and Western Europe, over to the United States and down to Latin America. The symptoms were fever, pneumonia and traditional flu-like symptoms. The death toll world-wide was about 1 million people.