Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1890 & 99

Joseph Foveaux Mart JP (1816 - 1890)


Joseph Foveaux Mart was a Tea Merchant, a prominent Catholic, a member of the first Salford School Board and a Poor Law Guardian.

 

He was born in Derby in 1816. When he was quite young, his parents died and he was brought up by his uncle Mr Foveaux, a Merchant living in the West End of London. After receiving a sound education he came to Manchester and engaged in the tea trade. There is no record of the marriage, but his wife Ann had the unusual second name Waterloo and was born in 1819. Their children were Anne Lydia (born 1847, who became a nun), Elizabeth Shetton (born 1850, married Joseph J Robinson and died just 4 days before her father in 1890), Clement Thomas (born 1854), Agnes Mary (born 1855, died 1st April 1859 aged 3) and Peter Vincent (born 1859, died 21st August 1885 aged 26).

The 1881 census reveals that the family were living at 47, Crescent, Salford. Joseph was 65 and a Tea Merchant and Grocer; Clement, aged 27 was also in the tea trade; and Vincent, aged 21 was a medical student. Ann was visiting their daughter Elizabeth Robinson and three grand children at Great Crosby near Liverpool.

 

The Salford Reporter of 11th January 1890 records "Mr Joseph Foveaux JP died on Monday night (6th January) at his residence, The Crescent, Salford at the age of 74. The deceased had been in failing health for some time. Congestion of the lungs is said to have been the immediate cause of death, but it is believed that the shock, resulting from the death of his daughter on 2nd January and the recent demise of his friend Monsignor de Clere, to whom he was greatly attached, accelerated his end.

 

Mr Mart has been a familiar figure in local trade circles. In his private life he was a most estimable man. Many years ago he was an active member of the Salford Constitutional Association, but in later years he was not politically active. In 1867 he was raised to the County Bench and often sat at both Salford and Manchester Police Courts. He was a member of the first School Board for Salford as a representative of the Catholic community until 1882. For several years he served as a Poor Law Guardian and as a member of the Assessment Committee.

 

Mr Mart was a regular worshipper at St John's Cathedral for upwards of 40 years. During the greater part of that period he acted as superintendent of the boys Sunday school. He was a liberal supporter of the various Roman Catholic organisations in the Borough and diocese. The baptistry in the Cathedral was given by the deceased. He leaves a widow, two sons and a daughter, the latter being a nun. The daughter who predeceased him by only four days was married and lived in Birkdale. Many will remember Mrs Robinson as at one time the handsomest girl in Salford.

 

The funeral took place on Friday morning (10th January 1890). At 10.30 am a requiem mass was held at Salford Cathedral by Rev. Canon Beeley, assisted by Rev. Father Rothwell, deacon and Rev. Father Casartelli. The coffin was placed on a catafalque in the centre of the cathedral and the sanctuary was draped in black. Amongst the many mourners were Rev. Monsignor Gadd, Rev. Father McIntosh and a number of other priests, Alderman Husband JP (Mayor of Salford), Mr J. Makinson (stipendiary magistrate), Mr F. Moss JP, Councillor Gadd JP and Mr J.A. Foyster (magistrates' clerk). The Bishop, Dr Vaughan, spoke at the conclusion of the mass, dwelling on the length of Mr Mart's work in connection with the Sunday school over a period of 30 years. Then the cortege proceeded to Weaste Cemetery where Mr Mart was interred in the family vault in plot A9 of the Roman Catholic portion. The service at the graveside was conducted by Rev. F. Daniel.