Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1870 & 79

Isaac Wovenden Petty (1815 - 1878)


 Isaac W Petty was an Engraver, Lithographer, Printer, Stationer and Publisher with premises in Manchester.


He was born in Hulme, Manchester on 26th August 1815 and baptised on 3rd May 1816. He was the son of John and Frances Parker (nee Jones) Petty, who were married at St John's Church, Deansgate, Manchester.


On 8th June 1840, Isaac married Mary Ann Martin in the City of London. The 1841 census records that they lived at Irwell View, Salford and they were both aged 25. In 1845, the Manchester Rate Books show that Isaac Wovenden Petty was renting property at 84 Booth Street, Hulme Township, Manchester.


Isaac and Mary Ann's children were Evelyn Helen (born 1844 in Hulme, married in 1870 to Edward Wright), Marion (born 1846 in Hulme, married in 1878 to William H Statham), Alfred Martin (born 1848 in Hulme, married 1880 to Sarah Helen Macgregor, died 1910 aged 61), Ada (born 1851 in Hulme and married in 1880 to Frederic Oswald Pickard), Stanley (born 1854 in Hulme and married in 1887 to Mary Lewis), Sidney Augustus (born 1856 in Stretford) and Louisa Mary (born 1857 in Stretford and died in infancy in September 1857). The 1861, 1871 and 1881 censuses show that the family lived at 7 Stretford Road, Stretford, (near Manchester).


Isaac's business as an Engraver and printer grew to incorporate some of his children and a number of employees. It would appear that his first venture was a partnership, as the Manchester Weekly Times of 12th March 1853 gave notice that the partnership of Isaac Wovenden Petty and Gustavus Ernst is dissolved, all debts payable by Isaac. On 3rd June 1854 a notice appeared in the Manchester Courier advertising "Isaac W Petty, Engraver, Lithographer, Printer, Stationer and Account book manufacturer at 69 King Street, Manchester. In August 1853 he added bank cheques, bills, invoices, cards, ornamental designs, brass and zinc plates, etc, to his repertoire. On 6th July 1861 the Manchester Courier advised that Isaac had moved the business to 55, South King Street, Manchester and added "general printer by steam power."


The Manchester Courier of 22nd January 1874 advertised "the official Manual for the present year containing the complete lists of members of all Municipal Corporations of Lancashire, Boards of Guardians, Local and School Boards, County and Borough Magistrates, Charitable, Religious and Miscellaneous Institutions, with dates and events. Now Ready and can be had from the publisher Isaac W Petty, South King Street and all booksellers. Price 1s 6d or in leather 2s 6d. The Guardian of 21st April 1874 advertises a move to "larger and more commodious premises at Brazenose House, Deansgate." On 23rd March 1878 it advertised an illustrated companion to the Exhibition of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, with 68 fac-simile drawings by the Artists, edited by Richard Smith BA and published by Isaac W Petty, price 2s 6d.


Isaac Wovenden Petty died on 2nd April 1878, in Stretford, aged 62 and was buried at Weaste Cemetery. His wife Mary Ann died in 1887 aged 69, in Hulme.