Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1930 & 39

Samuel Delves. (1850 - 1932)


Samuel Delves was the first Labour Mayor of Salford (1925–1926) and during his term of office, Salford was raised to "City Status". He initiated the scheme that lead to the formation of the Salford Children's Holiday Camp at Prestatyn and was its first Chairman until his death. He was also a Printer/Compositor by trade and a member of the Typographical Association for over 50 years, being its President for 6 years.


He was born on 18th July 1850 in Norwich, Norfolk. His parents were Joseph Delves (born 1818 in Salford) who was a Crape Finisher and Elizabeth (nee Riley) Delves (born 1819 in Salford), who were married in 1838 at St John's Church, Deansgate, Manchester. Tragically, Samuel's mother Elizabeth died in 1855 (when he was only 5 years old), and his father married again the following year 1856 in Norwich to Sarah Ann Moore (born 1829 in Norfolk). Samuel's early years in Norwich were as an errand boy, an Office Boy in a Brewery and then as an Apprentice to a Printer. 


The 1871 census reveals that 20-year-old Samuel was lodging with his aunt Sarah McNay (nee Riley) and her husband Andrew at Adelphi Street, Salford. He worked as a Printer/Compositor at the Gutenberg Printworks for 25 years and later worked for CWS Printing Works in Longsight, Manchester. On 7th October 1872, Samuel married Mary Ann Sheldrake at St Thomas's Church, Pendleton. She was aged 20 and the daughter of David and Susan Sheldrake of Lakenham, Norwich, Norfolk. Their children (all born in Pendleton) were Samuel Henry (born 1874), John Thomas (born 1876) James Arthur (born 1877), Minnie (born 1878 and died 1879 aged 0),  twins Joseph Alfred and Walter Edward (born 1881), Frederic Ernest (born 1883), William Ewart (born 1886), Thomas Arrowsmith (born 1888), George Harold (born 1889, died 1890 aged 0), Eva (born 1891) and Herbert Percival (born 1892 and died 1893 aged 0). In October 1908, Samuel's wife Mary Ann sadly died, aged 56 and was buried in grave 36/DISS/279 at Weaste Cemetery on 14th October. Samuel married again on 5th December 1912 to Elizabeth Jane Braithwaite, at Sacred Trinity Church, Salford.


In politics, Samuel's initial leanings were to the Liberal Party. After thirty years he switched to Labour becoming a founder vice president of the Salford Labour Party and winning Seedley Ward in 1908. Then after ward boundary changes he became member for Langworthy Ward until 1925, when he was appointed Alderman for Kersal Ward. He was elected Mayor in 1925, but in 1929 he differed from the Labour Group on the appointment of Aldermen and resigned from the group, but remained a Labour man. During his term as Mayor, he and the Lady Mayoress worked tirelessly to establish the Salford Children's Holiday Camp at Prestatyn, North Wales. Samuel was appointed its first Chairman until his death in 1932. He spent 25 years on the Council and was a member of most of its committee. He was also Chairman of the local Pensions Committee; member of the Salford and District Employment Ctee; Trustee of the Armitage Charity; member of Salford Board of Guardians; Justice of the Peace and member of the Licencing Ctee. Samuel was a founder member of both Salford Rotary Club and Salford Chamber of Commerce and was the first President of both.


Samuel died 26th February 1932, aged 81 and was re-united with his first wife Mary.