Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1920 & 29

Samuel Rudman (1851 - 1920)


Samuel Rudman was Mayor for a record 4 terms (1898 – 1902) and was Deputy Mayor when Agecroft Cemetery opened in 1903. He was a Conservative in politics and a Licensed Victualler by profession.


He was born in 1851 in Fairleigh, near Hungerford, Somerset. His father Robert Rudman, born 1821 in Wiltshire was a Carpenter and Inn Keeper and kept the Houlton Arms at Fairleigh. His mother Ann was born in 1815 in Wellow, Somerset. In 1861 Samuel was a 10 year-old Carpenter.


By 1871, Samuel was living with his elder brother Charles and elder sister Sarah who ran the Adelphi Tavern in Arlington Street, Salford. Charles died in 1878 aged 35 and Sarah and Samuel continued to run the Adelphi Tavern. On 14th April 1875, Samuel married Alice Amy Lindsey (born 1854 in Salford) at the Stowell Memorial Church, Salford. He was aged 24 and described as a Licenced Victualler, living at 95 Arlington Street, Salford. Alice was aged 21, and the daughter of George Lindsey, Licenced Victualler and Landlord of the Worsley Hotel, Worsley Street, Salford. The couple's first son Charles Lindsey was born the following year on 2nd May 1876, but sadly died on 8th August aged 3 months.


By 1881, Samuel and Alice were living at the Park Hotel, West Park Street, Salford with daughter Amy (born 1854 in Salford); Samuel's younger brother Robert and four members of staff. In 1882, second son Frank was born. In 1891, the electoral Register shows that Samuel had both Park Hotel and Broughton Tavern on Blackfriars Street. The 1901 census shows that the family was living at 94 Talbot Road, Stretford and that Samuel was a Wine Merchant. Alice died on 19th September 1917 aged 76 and by 1911 Samuel was a Retired Publican and Gentleman.


Samuel's political career began in 1882 when he won Ordsall Ward for the Conservatives. In 1895 he became an Alderman. He was Chairman of the Markets Committee and member of the Gas Committee. He became Mayor of Salford in 1898 and served in that office for a record four times, stepping down in 1902. However he was Deputy Mayor in 1903 when the Northern Cemetery at Agecroft was opened. Samuel Rudman was also an early supporter on the Manchester Ship Canal, Warden of St Clements Church, Ordsall, Salford Warden of Manchester Cathedral, Distributor of Booth's Charity, Overseer for Salford and became a Justice of the Peace in 1898.


Some of the activities Samuel undertook whilst Mayor were: fixing the first trolley pole for the new electric tramway in April 1900; opening the new children's playground equipment at David Lewis Recreation Ground in Peel Park in December 1900; opening the new Reading Room and Public Hall at Irlams o' th' Height Library in March 1901; and opening the Adelphi footbridge in August 1902. He also opened a new riverside, public footpath from the Crescent to Hough Lane Bridge in Oct 1903.


Samuel Rudman died on 3rd August 1920 at his residence in Stretford, aged 69. After a comital service at Christ Church, he was buried at Weaste Cemetery, Salford.