Biographies of people buried between 1890 & 99
Richard Dunn Rusden (1827 - 1897)
Richard Dunn Rusden was a Shipping Merchant and in 1881 was described as a Brazil Merchant. He was also a great supporter of the Liberal Party.
He was born on 18th June 1827 in Falmouth, Cornwall, and baptised on 13th July 1827 in Falmouth. He was the son of James and Dorothy (nee Dunn) Rusden, who were married on 7th April 1817 at St Just in Roseland, Cornwall. On 28th June 1855, Richard married Mary Clegg McClure, (born 29th March 1835 in Nantwich, Cheshire), daughter of the late Andrew McClure, Solicitor of Nantwich. Their children were: Richard James Nelson (born 1856 in Hulme, Manchester, and married Alice M. Hurst at Christ Church, West Didsbury in 1890), Mary R. (born 1863 in Manchester and married Charles A. Howard at Christ Church, West Didsbury in 1889) and Alice M. (born 1867 in Salford and married George N. Skipp at St John's Church, Broughton in 1892). Mary Clegg Rusden was to die on 10th April 1867 aged just 32 and buried in plot A3 Vault in the Dissenters portion of Weaste Cemetery.
Richard married again in the late 1860s to his late wife's younger sister Alice Ann McClure (born 1837 in Nantwich). They had a son, Richard Edgecombe (born 1871 in Broughton and married Annie Elizabeth Skipp by Registrar in Bury in 1897). In the 1881 census the family was living at 70, Lloyd Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester. Richard was aged 53 and described as a Brazil Merchant, Alice Ann was aged 43, Mary R was aged 17, Alice M was aged 12 and Richard E was aged 10. Nelson was lodging at 78, Carter Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, aged 24 and a Clerk.
Richard commenced his commercial career with Messrs A & S Henry, Merchants, Commission Agents and General Warehousemen of 32, Portland Street, Manchester. Later, he commenced business on his own and became a Shipping Agent at 40, Blackfriars Street, Manchester. At the time he was a tower of strength in the Liberal Party and was at the front of all progressive movements. After the defeat of the Gladstone Government the call went out for the Liberal Party to reform itself. Richard was one of the new reformers who worked tirelessly to bring about the Liberal comeback in Salford in 1880. He was an able and fluent speaker and a man of great literary attainment. He was one of the original guarantors of the Manchester Reform Club.
It was on Monday 18th January 1897 that Richard Dunn Rusden died at his residence, 52, Great Cheetham Street, Lower Broughton, at the age of 70. The funeral was held on Thursday 21st January, when Richard's body was placed next to that of his first wife in the family vault in plot A3 of the Dissenters portion of Weaste Cemetery. The mourners consisted principally of members of the family and a number of old friends. The service was conducted by Rev C. Rogers. Richard's widow, Alice Ann went to live with their son Richard E and died in 1916. She was buried with her husband in A3/Diss/vault at Weaste Cemetery.
