Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1910 & 19

William Huddart (1851 - 1918)


William Huddart was Mayor of Salford in 1917-18 and was referred to as the "Victory Mayor." He had worked in a warehouse before becoming a Coal Merchant.


He was born on 4th June1851 in Salford and baptised on 24th August 1851 in Manchester. His parents were John Huddart (born 1821 in Liverpool) who was a Master Tailor, and Mary Ann (nee Davies) Huddart (born 1828 in Manchester), who were married in 1848 at Manchester Cathedral.  In 1861, 10-year-old William lived with his parents at Will Lane, Manchester with siblings Mary Ann (born 1856 in Manchester), Edward (born 1858 in Salford), Sarah Ann (born 1861 in Manchester and died 1862 aged 1). In 1871 the family lived at Back of Hampson Street, Salford with family additions Eliza (born 1863 in Salford) and Isabella (born 1867 in Salford). William attended St Stephen's Day School where he matriculated at age 7 and left at age 8. He had various jobs - at a brick kiln, Campbell's rope works and Lloyds warehouse where he became a Packer. William was a Teetotaller and signed the pledge when he was 19 at Salford Band of Hope and was member of the Sons of Temperance.


In 1871 William married Ellen Crook at Manchester Cathedral. There appears to be no clear information about Ellen. Their children, all born in Salford, were William Herbert (born 1872), Walter (born 1874), Mary Jane (born 1876 and died 1876 aged 0), George Edward (born 1877), Ernest (born 1880), Clarence Victor (born 1882), Arthur (born 1884), James Alfred (born 1887) and Albert Henry (born 1889). In 1881 the family lived at 12, Islington Grove, Salford, and in 1881 and 1891 they lived at 18 Alfred Street, Salford. In 1889 William and his cousin James Huddart commenced business as Coal Merchants on Ordsall Lane, Salford.


William's political life began when he was selected by the Liberal Party for Islington Ward in 1891. He was made a JP in 1903 and appointed Alderman in 1909. He campaigned to improve the living conditions of local people and was engaged in the slum clearance and re-housing schemes. He was chairman of the Health Committee for 21 years and when the National Health Insurance Act was passed, he was appointed Chairman of the local committee. He was also a member of the Licencing Committee.


On 16th December 1908, William's wife Ellen died aged 58 and was buried at grave 32/DISS/2561 of Weaste Cemetery. William married again to Mrs Ellenor Mary Fairbarns, in 1910 at Greenwich, London. Ellenor was born in Liverpool in 1870 and was the daughter of George Robert Ward of Blackheath Hill, London. Her first husband, Harry Alfred Fairbarns died in 1895. Ellenor was Assistant Matron at Ladywell Sanitorium, Salford, where William was Chairman of the Board.


In November 1817, William was appointed Mayor of Salford. He had a successful year, but after completion of his term of office he was forced to have an operation for an internal complaint on 15th November 1918. Following the operation he went to a Nursing Home in Manchester, where he died on 20th November. He was 67 years old. He was re-united with his first wife Ellen at Weaste Cemetery three days later.