Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1890 & 99

Rev. Robert William Selbie (1825 - 1893)


Robert William Selbie was the Minister of Hope Congregational Chapel in Salford from 1865 to 1885 and previously he was minister of Chesterfield Independent Chapel.


He was born in 1825 in Middleton, Durham. There appears to be no record of his birth or baptism so his parents are unknown. Kelly's directory for Chesterfield shows that Robert was Minister of the Independent Chapel in Scoresby Street in that town. In 1861, when Robert was 36, he was single and lodging in Abercrombie St, Chesterfield.


In the first quarter 1862, Robert married Harriett Raine Boothby in Islington, London. Harriett was born in Calcutta, India on 21st February 1840 and in 1851 she was lodging with her uncle Benjamin Boothby, Barrister at Law, in Park Road, Islington.


By 1871, Robert and Harriett lived at Sunny Lawn House, Eccles New Road, Salford with their children William Boothby (b.1863), Harriett Grieve (b.1864), Annie Agnes (b.1866), Robert Hope (b.1868) and Mary Hurst (b.1870). Janet was born in 1874, but tragically died in 1875 aged 15 months. And George Carrington was born in 1876, but he tragically died in 1883 aged 7. In 1891 the family lived at Abbey Grove, Eccles, where 66-year-old Robert was a Retired Congregational Minister. There were 3 additional children, Margaret (b.1872), Eveline (b.1878) and Constance (born 1879).


On 1st August 1893, Robert William Selbie died aged 68, and was buried in the Dissenters portion of Weaste Cemetery. In 1901, Harriett, Annie, Robert Hope and Margaret still lived at 14 Abbey Grove, Eccles. In 1911, now at 139 Withington Road, Whalley Range, South Manchester, Harriett aged 71, was living on Private Means, Annie was 45, single and Secretary of the Nurses Association, Mary was 41, single and a Trained Nurse, and Margaret was aged 39, single, with no occupation. Harriett died on 23rd November 1923 in Chorlton aged 83, and was re-united with Robert.


Eldest son, William Boothby Selbie was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Brazenose College, Oxford. He became a Congregational Minister in London and then Principal of a Theological College in Lancaster. He married Mildred M Thompson (b.1864 in Bowdon, Cheshire) in 1890, and died in 1944 in Oxford, aged 81.


Robert Hope Selbie was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Owen's College, Manchester. In 1883 he joined the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Co as Secretary to the General Manager and Assistant to the Chief Traffic Manager. In 1903 he was appointed Secretary of Metropolitan Railway, London, then General Manager in 1908 and Director in 1922. After WW1 he was awarded a CBE for services to the Board of Trade and the Board of Transport. In 1902 he married Florence Heyworth (b.1871 in Blackburn, Lancashire) at Blackburn Congregational Church. He died in 1930 whilst attending his son's confirmation at St Paul's Cathedral. London, aged 62.


All the daughters became Nurses and never married. Annie died in 1959 aged 92. Harriett died in 1905 aged 41. Mary died in 1957 aged 87. Margaret died in 1938 aged 66. Eveline died in 1957 aged 78. Constance died in 1963 aged 84.