Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1900 & 09

John William Booth (1847 - 1904)


John William Booth was a Grocer in Ford Lane, Salford and a prominent Freemason, being a Past Master of Zetland Lodge, Salford and also in Lancashire province.


He was born in 1857 in Salford. His father was William Booth, born 1810 in Thorne, Yorkshire, who was a Brewer Journeyman and then a Provision Shop Keeper. His mother was Mary (nee Burton) who was born in Latchford, Warrington, Lancashire in 1816.


In 1851, John was 4-years-old and lived at Broughton Road, Salford, with his parents. In 1861 the family lived at 87, Broughton Road, Salford and in 1871 they were still at Broughton Road, where John was aged 23, and there were no siblings.


In 1880, John William Booth married Mary Ann Oakley Roberts at St Matthias Church, Salford. Mary was the daughter of George and Hannah Roberts. Tragically, their first born child, John William jnr died on 20th November 1881 aged just 12 weeks old. The 1891 census shows that John and Mary lived at 3 Ford Lane, Salford, with children Mary May (born 1885) aged 6, Amy Osborne (born 1887) aged 4 and Ada Burton, (born 1890) aged 1. Also in the house was a Domestic Servant and a Grocer's Assistant. In 1901, at 1 and 3 Ford Lane John was aged 53 and a Grocer Shopkeeper, Mary Ann was aged 46, Mary May was aged 16, Amy was aged 14, Ada was aged 11 and William Hiram (born 1892) was aged 9.


On 19th July 1904, after a brief illness, John William Booth died at Ford Lane aged 57. He was buried at Weaste Cemetery on 22nd July, with Reverend F H Jones officiating. A notice in "The Freemason" publication said "It is with very great regret that we announce the death of Brother John William Booth, Past Master of Zetland Lodge No. 852 and Provincial Assistant GP, which took place at his residence, Ford Lane, Salford on Tuesday 19th inst. Our late brother had been taking a favourite sail around the English coast when his trip was intercepted by sudden illness and he was obliged to return home. Unfortunately dangerous symptoms manifested themselves, his death taking place shortly after his arrival at his own dwelling. A very pathetic feature connected with this incident was the fact that brother Booth had only enjoyed the well-merited honour of Provincial rank for a few weeks. He was a Mason of 20 years standing, a zealous and strenuous worker and had proved himself to be a thorough going and efficient charity representative for his lodge. His loss will therefore be severely felt by a large circle of brethren to whom his excellent qualities were well known."


The 1911 census shows that the Booth family were still at No.1 Ford Lane, Salford and that Mary Ann Oakley Booth, widow, was now the Shopkeeper at 55 years old. Mary May was aged 26, Amy Osborne was aged 24 and a Typist, Ada Burton was aged 21 and a Cleaner, and William Hiram was aged 19 and a Clerk.


On 21st October 1913, Mary Ann Oakley Booth died aged 59 and was re-united with her husband John William in B19 plot at Weaste Cemetery.