Biographies of people buried between 1890 & 99
John Lee JP (1816 - 1897)
John Lee was a man of independent means and took a great interest in Richmond Congregational Chapel, Salford.
He was born on 25th June 1816 at Bolton-le-Moors, Lancashire and Christened at New Street Independent Chapel, Chorley on 26th July 1816. He was the first born of 15 children to Lee Lee and Anne Cocksey. His siblings were: Henry (born 29th November 1817 at Sedgley Park), twins Thomas and Edward (born 14th Feb 1819 at Atherton), William (born 28th February 1821 at Atherton), Ann (born 25th December 1822 at Atherton and died 5th November 1824), James (born 2nd Feb 1824 at Atherton), Ann Ainsworth (born 30th July 1825 at Atherton), Robert Kelsall (born 20th March 1827 at Atherton), twins Lee and Elizabeth (born 14th July 1828 at Atherton), Samuel (born 22nd May 1830 at Atherton), Joseph Cocksey (born 18th January 1832 at Altrincham), Alice (born 17th November 1833 at Atherton) and Mary (born 2nd July 1836 at Atherton). John did not marry and in 1881 he was living at 48, Murray Street Broughton, aged 64 and described as Justice of the Peace.
John Lee was resident in Liverpool in the 1840s and was one of three people who formed the first Ragged School there, and for some time occupied the position of Superintendent of the girls Sunday school connected with the Great George Street Chapel. On his return to Salford he threw himself into work connected with Richmond Chapel and was one of the founders of the Adelphi Ragged School. In 1854 he went to Melbourne, Australia and for nearly 10 years.
In 1863, John returned to Salford and took up residence in Murray Street, Higher Broughton and again became associated with Richmond Chapel. His interest in financial matters lead to the "invention" of the envelope system of registration under-which pew rents were abolished and weekly offering substituted. This successful system was adopted by other churches. For over 32 years John held the position of Deacon of the church. He was also the Treasurer of the Lancashire Independent Training College at Whalley Range. On 15th August 1865 he became a member of Salford Town Council, being elected for St John's Ward. However, he retired in November 1867. In November 1873 he was elected a member of Salford School Board for 12 years and became Chairman of the Finance Committee. He was also appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1880. In 1887 he removed to Handforth, Cheshire to live.
John was described as a man with a most amiable personality, handsome in appearance and a possessor of a magnificent constitution. Although he was 80 years old when he died on 19th April 1897, it came as a shock to his friends. His body was brought from Handforth by road. After a service at Richmond Congregational Chapel his body was taken to Weaste Cemetery, where he was interred in the family vault in plot A3 of the Dissenters portion. Rev H.H. Snell, Minister of the Richmond Chapel conducted the committal service.
