Wigan Album
Graves and Monuments
6 Comments
Photo: Rev David Long
Item #: 32029
You would think that its occupant was someone important in the town - the top looks a bit like Wigan's Moot Hall, but the only thing I can discover about William Smith is from the 1869 Wigan Directory on this site (he died in 1883, but is not in the 1881 one), where he is described as a Labourer, living at 64 Millgate.
This William Smith is described on findmy past as a quarryman /stone labourer.His son Edward became a stone mason.
Ah - yes, he's there in the 1881 Directory: "Smith Edward, stone and monumental mason, Scholes bridge; house, 55 Darlington street - See advertisement" . I've a copy of the Directory - and I'll be sending a pic of the advertisement mentioned - the address given is 64 Millgate - presumably near enough to Scholes Bridge.
Perhaps his parent's tomb is more of a self-advertisement than an expression of his grief....
I'd like to think that the father was also capable of such expertise and that his tombstone was chosen for kind echo of his talent, self-advertisement incidental.
It's a beautiful tribute to his parents and why not - a master craftsman such as he was. I do wonder if it was crafted from left over stone he had lying around!
I think the Ann is Edward's daughter not his mother whose name was Elizabeth.In 1871 the widowed Edward was living at 64,Millgate with his parents.
The mother ?
Smith Elizabeth 72 Yrs 64 Millgate 13-Feb 1884 M 344 C of E
Smith Edward 80 yrs 19 Darlington St. 31-Mar 1888 M 344 C of E
Smith Thomas 59 yrs 114 Worsley Mesnes 21-Feb 1893 M 344 C of E
Smith Lucy Lilly ( Christine ) 68 Yrs Norwood Crescent 28-Jul 1942 M 344 C of E