Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1870 & 79

John Gunnup (1840 - 1877)


The epitaph on John Gunnup's memorial reads "For ten years of his all too brief life he was Secretary to the Manchester Branch of the United Operative Bricklayers Trade, Accident and Burial Society of Great Britain and Ireland, the duties of which office he fulfilled with such singular dedication, sincerity and fidelity. He earned for himself the respect and esteem of both employers and employed, and greatly to elevate Trades Unions in the estimation of thoughtful and impartial men of all classes. He was an affectionate son, a faithful husband, and a firm and generous friend.


He was born in 4Q 1840 in the Deansgate area of Manchester. His father was Robert Gunnup, born 1804 in Ireland, who was a Tailor by profession. His mother was Catherine (nee Duffy) Gunnup, born 1805 in Ireland. John had three siblings: Mary (born 1838 in Deansgate, Manchester); James (born 1842 in Deansgate, Manchester) and Catherine jnr (born 1844 in Deansgate, Manchester). The Rate Book record for 1841 shows that Robert Gunnup resided at 4, Camp Street, Manchester Township. In 1868 the Rate Book record showed the family lived at 15, Grove Street, Manchester Township. In 1871, and still at Grove Street, Manchester. Robert was aged 67, Catherine was aged 66, John was aged 30 and Mary was aged 28.


In 1872, John Gunnup married Emma Beswick Hutton (nee Turner) at Manchester by Registrar (possibly Roman Catholic). Emma was born in 1841 and the daughter of John Turner (a Provisions Dealer) and his wife Mary (nee Empsall). The Turner family lived at 181 Deansgate, Manchester in 1851 and 1861.  Emma had previously been married to John Cowlan Hutton in 1861. He was also a Grocer, at 23 Deansgate, but had died in 1871.


John was employed in the Accident and Burial Section of the United Operative Bricklayers Society, Manchester Branch. The origins of this trade union was the London Bricklayers Society, founded in 1818. However the union split in 1848 resulting in the London Order of Operative Bricklayers Society and the Manchester Unity of Bricklayer. Both unions recruited all over the country, so it's difficult to assess which union John worked for. Eventually the two unions united in 1923.


John and Emma lived at Grove Street, Manchester, but it's not clear if they had any children, as they did not take part in a census during their short time together. Sadly John died on 10th July 1877 aged just 36. He was registered at Deansgate Register Office and buried at C20/RC/3168 Weaste Cemetery. Emma married again in 1878 to George Reynolds, a Beer House Keeper, at Manchester by Registrar. The 1881 Census shows Emma at the County Court Hotel at 78 Garside Street, Manchester. Included are two Reynolds children and two Hutton children, but no Gunnup children. In 1889 George Reynolds died and in the 1891 census, Emma is a visitor at the home of James Kenny, in York Street, Chorlton-upon-Medlock. Later in 1891 Emma married James Kenny at Manchester by Registrar. There is no 1901 census return, but in 1911, Emma is a widow again, at the home of Thomas Gunnup (born 1880) and family in Blackpool, and Emma's relationship is grandmother ! ? It is not known when she died.