Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1920 & 29

George Thom (1853 - 1925)


George Thom was a member of the Salford Police Force, serving 30 years, and retiring as Inspector in 1909.


He was born in Rathven, Banffshire, Scotland in 1853. There are no details of his early life, but he arrived in Salford in 1879 with his wife Mary Kirk Thom and 2 children and joined Salford Police Force at the age of 26. The 1881 census shows that they lived at 25 Hulton Street, Salford where George was a Police Constable. Their two children were John (born 1878 in Scotland), aged 3 and Elizabeth (born 1879 in Scotland). aged 2.


In 1891 they lived at Albion Street, Salford where George was still a Police Constable. John was aged 13 and a Dairyman's Assistant, Elizabeth was aged 12, and newcomers were Margaret G (born 1883 in Salford) aged 8, George W A (born 1885 in Salford) aged 6, and Elsie May (born 1889 in Salford) aged 2. The 1901 census shows they lived at 12 Ward Street, Salford (and the family name was recorded as Thorn)! George was now a Police Sergeant aged 47 and Mary was also aged 47. John was aged 23 and a Police Constable, Elizabeth was aged 22 and a French Polisher, Margaret G was aged 18 and a Cotton Weaver, George W A was aged 16 and a Mechanical Engineer's Apprentice, Elsie May was aged 12 and newcomer Alexandra M G was aged 9.


On 4th November 1901, John Thom, aged 24 of 12 West Tower Street, Salford, married Annie Ethel Williamson, aged 25 of 10, Darwin Street, Salford at St Luke's Church, Weaste. The bride's father was Henry Williamson a retired Railway Inspector. On 6th November 1902, Elizabeth Thom aged 24 of 14, Arial Street, Salford, married John Turner aged 23, Cabinet Maker of 5 Buckingham Ave, Salford, at St Luke's Church, Weaste. The groom's father was John Turner, Joiner. In 1905, Margaret G Thom married Thomas Shaw at Salford by Registrar. On 30th November 1907 George William Anderson Thom married Annie Rebecca Titley at Weaste. Annie was born in 1888 and was the daughter of Samuel Titley and Rebecca (nee Wilkes) Titley. On 4th March 1912, Alexandra Mary Goodbrand Thom married Thomas John Buchanan, aged 25, Marine Engineer of 29 Lune Street, Salford at All Saints Church, Weaste. The Groom was the son of Ludovic Houston Buchanan, Marine Engineer. And on 21st September 1912, Elsie May Thom married William John Orr aged 23, Police Constable of 4 Falcon Street, Salford, at All Saints Church, Weaste.


The 1911 census is interesting as George is described as Police Pensioner, Caretaker of Hebrew Synagogue and living at 368 Lower Broughton Road, Broughton, Salford. Both he and Mary are aged 58. Son George is living there with his wife Annie and children Georgina age 2 and George Alexander aged 1. Also daughter Elizabeth with husband John Turner and daughters Alma aged 4 and Elsie May aged 1, are also there.


On the 12th February 1920, George's wife Mary died, aged 66 and was buried in plot 36 grave 45 in the Dissenters portion of Weaste Cemetery. Six years later George died on 8th September 1925 aged 72 and was re-united with Mary at Weaste Cemetery.