Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1890 & 99

Edwin Collier (1872 - 1899)


Edwin Collier was a life-long member and 40 years Deacon of the Bible Christian Church, vice president and treasurer of the Vegetarian Society and a committed teetotaller. He had one of the biggest Accountancy firms outside London - Edwin Collier, Tongue and Co.


He was born on 27th March 1827 in Hulme, Manchester. His father was George Collier (1799 – 1866) and his mother was Margaret (nee Gaskill) Collier (1802 – 1850). Margaret was the sister of Rev James Gaskill, (1800 – 1870), Minister of the Bible Christian Church in Hulme, Manchester.


Edwin was brought up in Hulme and educated at the Bible Christian Church School in Hulme. The 1841 census shows that 14-year-old Edwin was staying with his grandfather Peter Gaskill (who was one of the founder members of the BCC), at Gorton Fold, Deane, Bolton.


On 25th May 1854, 27-year-old Edwin Collier married 22-year-old Sarah Bennett at Holy Trinity Church, Horwich, Bolton, Lancashire. Sarah (b.1832 at Lostock, Bolton), was the daughter of William and Betty Bennett who lived at Gorton House, Horwich, Bolton. William was a Cotton Spinner and Farmer. The 1861 Census shows Edwin with their first child Ann Bennett (b.1857 in Hulme) at Top of Dalton, Huddersfield, Yorkshire. There was no sign of Sarah. In 1871 the family was living at Coniston Villas, High Street West, Salford. Edwin was aged 44, Sarah was 39, Ann Bennett was 14, Dora (b.1860 in Dalton, Yorks) was 11, Bennet (b.1864 in Lancs) was 7 and Emily (b.1866 in Salford) was 5. Also in the house was Alfred Cyril Clark, nephew, aged 1.


In 1881 the family was living at 7, Albion Place, Salford. Edwin's occupation was Accountant and 17-year-old Bennett was a Salesman in a Cloth Warehouse (cotton manufacturer). Sadly, Edwin's wife Sarah died on 12th November 1883, aged 52. In 1888, Edwin's son Bennett married Martha Jane Daber, by Registrar (probably at BCC) in Salford. In 1891, Edwin's remaining family was living at Withington Road, Withington, Manchester. Edwin was shown as widower, aged 54 and Accountant, Dora was 31, Emily was 25 and Kate Isobel (b.1873 in Salford) was 18.


Edwin Collier was keen to promote Vegetarianism. The York Herald of 14th October 1881 recorded the Society's annual meeting in Manchester, with Edwin in the Chair. The Manchester Courier of 19th Oct 1883 reports the 36th anniversary conference at the YMCA Hall in Manchester under the presidency of Edwin Collier. The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette reports the VS conference held in Exeter, chaired by Edwin Collier. The Manchester Evening News of 14th October 1886 records that the Annual meeting was held at the Vegetarian Restaurant in Fountain Street, Manchester where Edwin was appointed Treasurer. (Edwin was shareholder in Vegetarian Restaurants Co. Ltd).


However, Edwin Collier died on 11th February 1899 aged 71 and was buried in the Collier family grave at Weaste Cemetery. His son Bennett established himself as a Chartered Accountant and in 1911 was living in Sale Cheshire.