Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1890 & 99

Ralph Wood (1866 - 1893)


Ralph Wood was an Iron Turner by trade and also a member of Pendleton Football team.


The Salford Reporter of 24th June 1893 leads with, "Death of Pendleton Footballer." It goes on to say "A prominent member of Pendleton Football Club, in the person of Ralph Wood of Valentine Street, Pendleton, died on Sunday. Wood had played half-back for the club for the past two or three seasons and the energy and dash which he displayed were greatly appreciated by the members of the club and admired by its patrons. His place in the team will not be easily filled. His remains were interred on Thursday at the Salford Cemetery. Much sympathy is felt for the family in their deep sorrow."


Ralph Wood was born in 1865 in the St George district of Manchester. His parents were Ralph Wood Snr (b.1844 in Lancashire) and Elizabeth, nee Davies (b.1844 in Wales), who were married in 1865 at St Thomas's Church, Pendleton. Ralph snr was a Warehouseman, whose father was George Wood, Mechanic. Elizabeth had no occupation and her father was William Davies, Puddler. The 1871 census shows the family lived in Percy Street, Pendleton and 5-year-old Ralph jnr had two younger sisters. Susannah D was aged 4 and Elizabeth A was only a few months old.


On 25th December 1889, Ralph jnr married Matilda Kendall at St Thomas's Church, Pendleton. She was aged 23, and a Twist Winder. Her father was John Kendall (b.1822 in Burnley), who was a Labourer and her mother was Eliza (b.1831 in Manchester). Both Ralph and Matilda lived at 2, Alice Street, Pendleton. In 1881, the Kendalls lived at 16, Britannia Street, Pendleton, where Matilda had three siblings.


In 1991 Ralph jnr and Matilda lived at 6 Tysoe Street, Pendleton. Also in the house was Ralph's sister Elizabeth. But tragedy was to strike in June 1893 when Ralph died at Salford Royal Hospital, aged 27. He was buried in grave H 2986 in the Dissenters portion of Weaste Cemetery on 22nd June.


Three years later, on 23rd May 1896, Ralph's widow Matilda Wood married Samuel Tildsley at St George's Church, Pendleton. Samuel (b.1855 in Salford) was a widower, whose occupation was Iron Dresser. He lived at 301, Whit Lane, Pendleton and was the son of John Tildsley, Turner. Samuel's previous wife was Margaret Griffiths, who he had married in 1879 at St Mary the Virgin Parish Church, Eccles. Margaret had died in 1894. They had three children, Maud (b.1878), William (b.1885) and Arthur (b.1886).


There is no 1891 census record available for Matilda and Samuel, but in 1901, they lived at 12, Dawson Street, Pendleton with Samuel's sons William and Arthur, and new addition John (b,1899) aged 2. In 1911, at 3 Slater Street, Pendleton, Matilda and Samuel have another son Samuel (b.1902.), aged 9.