Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1910 & 19

William Alfred Grigg (Killed at Work) (1886 - 1910)


William Alfred Grigg was a labourer at Salford Docks. Whilst manoeuvring the suction nozzle of the grain elevation equipment, he lost his footing, fell into the water and drowned. He was 24 years old.


He was born in 1886 in Ardwick, Manchester. His father was William Grigg (snr) born 1847 in Canterbury, Kent who was a bookkeeper, and his mother was Agnes (nee Bagnall) Grigg, born 1853 in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire. They were married in 1872 in Burton-on-Trent. In 1881, just before William Alfred was born, the family lived at 3 Wheat Street, Ardwick, Manchester. In 1886, the same year that William Alfred was born, his father died in Ardwick, aged 39. (His mother married again in 1895 to Thomas William Hughes at St Philip's Church, Hulme, Manchester). In the 1891 census, the family lived at Denison Street, Rusholme, Manchester. Agnes was now a widow, aged 37 and a Day Waitress. William Alfred was aged 4 and his elder brother Arthur W was aged 18 and a Warehouseman. In 1895, his mother Agnes married again to Thomas William Hughes at St Philip's Church, Hulme, Manchester.


On 29th October 1905 William Alfred married Margaret Lyon of 10, Monmouth Street, Salford, at St Cyprian's Church, Salford. She was the daughter of Robert Lyon (deceased). (They both gave their age as 22, but William Alfred was actually 19). They had three children: Arthur (born 1906 in Salford), Agnes (born 1908 in Salford, but died in September 1908 aged 5 months), and George (born 1910 in Salford, but died in January 1911, aged 11 months).


On 22 June 1910, William Alfred Grigg, had an accident at work and died, aged 24. The Manchester Evening News of 24th June 1910 records, "Drowned at Manchester Docks. A fatal drowning accident in the Manchester Docks on Monday, occupied the attention of the County Coroner (Mr Price) this morning at the office of Stretford Council. The victim was William Grigg, a dock labourer, whose home was at 71, Harry Street, Salford. His widow stated that he was in his usual health on Monday, and that he had several times said his work at the grainery was dangerous because of the "sucker" used for transferring the corn. On that account she had asked him to obtain fresh employment, without success. George Barlow, a dock labourer, who worked with Grigg, said that on Monday afternoon, a boat was closing toward the elevator when Grigg and another man left the tower with a "sucker" intended to be put in the hold of the vessel. When close to the quayside Grigg slipped and went over, taking the "sucker" with him. He did not rise again, and it seemed certain that he was hurt either by the ship side or the "sucker," or that he was drawn under by the screw of another vessel, which was passing the boat at the quay. Several questions were asked as to the width of the quay, and it was stated that the "suckers," which are about ten feet long, are carried by two men, the foremost of whom has to turn sharply after passing through the door in order to avoid the edge. Two witnesses said danger would be lessened by increasing the width of the quay. Verdict: Accidental Drowning.


William was buried in a common grave at Weaste Cemetery on 27th August 1910.