Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1857 & 1869

Thomas Fuller (1791 - 1861)


 Thomas Fuller was a Machinist and Toolmaker, and a partner in the firm of William Collier and Company. He was also a Salford Councillor for Trinity Ward, a Salford Constable, a committee member of Salford Ragged and Industrial School, a Trustee of Salford Mechanics Institute, and a Salford Poor Law Guardian. He did not marry.

 

He was born in 1791 in Birkby, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire and baptised at St Peter's Church, Huddersfield on 19th August 1791. His father was James Fuller who was a Cloth Dresser. The 1851 census shows that Thomas lived at Bury New Road, Broughton as a Machine Maker. Also present was his widowed sister, Elizabeth Crosland and her family. In 1861 he lived at Scarr Wheel, Cliff Point, Broughton with two servants and was described as a Retired Machinist.

 

Thomas was an engineer, joining William Collier and Co. and becoming a partner. The Manchester Courier of 6th March 1841, under "New Patents" recorded, "Thomas Fuller of Salford, Machine Maker, for certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for combing or preparing wool, or other fibrous substances." The Manchester Courier of 11th April 1849 recorded, "James Fletcher of Salford, manager at Messrs William Collier and Co. of Salford, and Thomas Fuller, partner of the same firm for certain improvements in machinery tools or apparatus for turning, boring, planing and cutting metal and other materials." However, the Manchester Weekly Times of 16th October 1852 recorded, "Notice is hereby given, that the partnership between the undersigned William Collier and Thomas Fuller, carrying on business in Salford as machinists and toolmakers, and at Bradford, Yorkshire, as woolcombers by patent machinery, under the name of William Collier and Company, was dissolved on the 1st October 1853, by mutual consent."

 

Thomas Fuller was elected to Salford Council in November 1848 representing Trinity Ward. He was described as a machine maker of Cooke's Court, Greengate.  The Manchester Courier on 16th December 1848 reported that Thomas was elected deputy chairman of the Nuisance Committee. The Courier of 6th Oct 1849 reported that Thomas was appointed a Constable for the township of Salford. The Manchester Weekly Times of 13th April 1850 reported that Thomas was elected to the Salford Board of Guardians. The Manchester Weekly Times of 5th November 1851 reported that Thomas Fuller was re-elected to the Council for Trinity Ward. The Manchester Weekly Times of 7th July 1852 reported, "Mechanics Institute – A new building is to be erected in a central part of the borough and to contain accommodation for a library, rooms for evening classes and female classes, news room and lecture room." The building committee included Thomas Fuller. The Weekly Times of 26th March 1853 announced the candidates for the Poor Law Guardians including Thomas Fuller of Wilton Place, Broughton. The Weekly Times of 10th November 1855 reported the election of the new Salford Alderman for St Stephen's Ward as Thomas Fuller.

 

Thomas died of a stroke, on 28th September 1861 at his residence Scarr Wheel, Higher Broughton, aged 70 years, and was interred at Weaste Cemetery on 3rd October 1861.