Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1920 & 29

Henry Linsley (1844 - 1921)


Henry Linsley served for 35 years on Salford Council and was appointed Mayor in 1911 – 1912. He was Chairman of the Tramways Committee and played a prominent part in extending Salford's tramway system. He was a Grocer and Provisions Merchant by profession.


He was born in 1844 at Norton, near Malton in Yorkshire. He was the son of John Linsley (born 1816 in Norton, Yorkshire) who was a Tanner by trade, and Hannah (nee Nalton) Linsley (born 1816 in Old Malton, Yorkshire). The couple were married in 1841 in Birdsall, near Malton, Yorkshire. However, Henry's father John, died in 1850 aged only 34, when Henry was only 6 years old. The 1851 census shows that Henry was staying with his aunt Frances Milner at Commercial Street, Norton. And in 1861 he was visiting his uncle Robert Linsley at Driffield, Yorkshire, (who was a Tailor, Draper and Grocer) and Henry was an Apprentice Grocer, aged 17.


On 24th August 1868, Henry married Emma Biggins in Beverley, Yorkshire. Henry was described as aged 24, Grocer, living in Salford. Emma was aged 23 and a Servant, the daughter of William Tillard Biggins, who was a Servant, and Emma (nee Wreathall) Biggins, who lived in Beverley, Yorkshire. Henry and Emma's children (all born in Salford) were: William Henry (born 1869 and died 1869 aged 5 weeks), Henry Arthur (born 1870), Hannah (born 1872), Emma Frances (born 1874), Edith Ann (born 1876 and died 1877 aged 15 months), Thomas (born 1879), Florence (born 1881 and died 1881 aged 5 weeks) and Ruth (born 1882 and died 1882 aged 10 weeks). In 1871, 1881 and 1891, the family lived in Peru Street Salford and in 1901 and 1911 at Bank Place, Salford.


Henry's political career took off in 1886 when he was elected Councillor for St Matthias Ward for the Conservatives. He retained this Ward until 1898 when he was appointed Alderman. In 1898 (when Salford took over the tramway service in Salford from the Manchester Carriage Company) he was appointed Chairman of the Tramways Committee. He served on a number of other Committees including Finance, Highways, Lighting and Cleansing, and Health Committees. He was also elected to represent Salford on various bodies including the East Lancashire Territorial Association, and the Red Cross Society of Lancashire. He was also an Overseer of the Poor and a Distributor of Booth's Charity. Henry was made a Justice of the Peace in 1901, appointed Mayor of Salford for 1911 – 1912, and in 1919 he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire. One of his first duties as Mayor was to open the Manchester and Salford Smoke Abatement Exhibition at City Hall, Liverpool Road, Manchester. He was passionate about clean air and urged people away from coal fires and to use gas and electrical appliances.


On 1st December 1915, Henry's wife Emma sadly died, aged 70, and was buried in the family grave B17/CE/815 at Weaste Cemetery with her four infant children. Henry died on 18th August 1921, aged 77 and was re-united with Emma and the children.