Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1910 & 19

Elizabeth Hay (1860 - 1910)


Elizabeth Hay was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire and moved around the country before settling in Salford. She was the mother of the famous British Comedian Will Hay.


She was born Elizabeth Ebden in 1860 in Barnsley. Her father John Ebden, was born in 1831 in Barnsley and was a Fishmonger. Her mother Elizabeth was born in 1828 in Manchester. In 1861, when Elizabeth was 1-year-old, the census shows that the family was living at 44, Shambles Street, Barnsley and Elizabeth had two older brothers, Thomas aged 6 and Charles aged 3.


By 1881, 21-year-old Elizabeth was a Servant for Joseph Newhouse, a Draper's Clerk, living at Wilson Street, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. In 1883, Elizabeth married William Robert Hay in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham. William was born in 1859 in Chapel of Garloch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His parents were William Hay and Elspeth (nee Thomson) Hay of Chapel of Garloch, Aberdeenshire.


The 1891 census shows the family living at Clapham Road, Mutford, Lowestoft, Suffolk. Elizabeth was aged 31, William Robert was aged 32 and his occupation was Foreman, Mechanical Engineering Works. There were three children: Harold Gordon (born 1885 in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham), Evelyn Jane (born 1886 in Ulverston, Lancashire) and William Thomson Hay (who later became the famous Actor and Comedian), born 6th December 1888 in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham.


The 1901 census reveals that 41-year-old Elizabeth was Head of the household at 40, Merritt Road, Lewisham, London. Harold Gordon was aged 16 and an Engineer's Fitter and William Thomson was aged 12. Additional children were Lizzie Elspeth (born 1891 in Mutford, Lowestoft, Suffolk), Annie Ellen (born 1893 in Mutford, Lowestoft, Suffolk), and Athol John (born 1898 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire). Also in 1901, Elizabeth's husband, William Robert Hay, Mechanical Engineer, was lodging with the Bradshaw family at 19, Peel Street, Salford.


Sadly, on 8th May 1910, Elizabeth died in Salford aged 50 and was buried at Weaste Cemetery, Plot H number 1956 of the Dissenters portion.


The 1911 census shows the family at 11 Peel Mount, Pendleton, Salford. William Robert is a 52-year old widower and the Manager of Works Manufacturing Lifting Machinery. Lizzie Elspeth is 19 and a Teacher. Annie Ellen is 17 and Athol John is 13. Also in 1911 Evelyn Jane married Harry S Cleaver at Salford by Registrar and went to live at Little Meadows, Alt, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire.


Tragically, Annie Ellen died on 6th May 1912 aged 19 and Lizzie Elspeth died on 25th June 1913 aged 22. Both are buried with Elizabeth at Weaste Cemetery. Athol John became a Lance Corporal in the King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment and was killed on 5th July 1916 aged 18 and was buried at Meaulte Military Cemetery near Albert, France. William Thomson Hay went on to become Will Hay the famous Comedian and Actor. He married Gladys Perkins in 1907 and died in his Chelsea flat on 18th April 1949 aged 60 and was buried at Streatham Park Cemetery, London.