John Luke Mellor

Grandparents

John’s paternal grandparents were William and Ann Mellor. Both were born in Withington, William about 1832 and Ann a year later. They lived on Barlow Moor Rd and William was a gardener. They had 5 children, John, born about 1860, James (John Luke’s father), born about 1862, William, born about 1864, Joseph, born about 1866, and Thomas, born about 1868. All the children were born in Didsbury. In 1881 William was a grocer’s assistant.

The maternal grandparents were Edward and Ann McGinty, both born in Manchester, Edward about 1834 and Ann about 1838. Edward was a brass moulder. In 1871 they lived at 17 Ellen St, Salford. They had 4 children, Mary, born in Manchester about 1857, Elizabeth (John Luke’s mother), born in Sheffield about 1863, Edward, born in Hulme about 1868, and Thomas, born in Salford about 1870.

Parents

James Mellor was born in Didsbury about 1862. In 1881 he was living with his parents on Barlow Moor Rd and he was a plumber. Elizabeth McGinty was born in Sheffield about 1863. In 1881 she was boarding in Salford and was a throstle spinner. In 1888 she lived at 26 Burton Rd. James and Elizabeth married at Christ Church on 28 November 1888. In 1891 they lived at 12 Orchard Grove, Withington with 2 boarders. By 1901 they had moved to 22 Matlock Avenue, Withington. By 1911, James had died and Elizabeth and their 5 surviving children (3 had died) lived at 10 Buxton Avenue. The children at that time were John Luke, Elizabeth Ann, born about 1894 and a general servant, William, born about 1896 and an ironmonger’s errand boy, Joe, born about 1900, and Florence, born about 1901. All the children were born in Manchester. We have no information on those who died.

John Luke

John was born in Manchester on 5 August 1891. He was baptised at Christ Church on 4 March 1894, along with his sister, Elizabeth. The family’s address at the time was 90 Burton Rd. He attended Christ Church School and then Burton Rd School, leaving in September 1905, aged 14. By 1911 he was living with his mother and siblings in Buxton Avenue and was a house painter, aged 19.

John married Sarah Jane Dingle at Christ Church on 1 May 1915. His address at the time was 10 Moor St, West Didsbury, and he was described as a decorator and soldier. Sarah was the eldest of 3 children of Nehemiah and Harriet Dingle. She was born about 1892 in Warrington although the family was from the Dudley area of Worcestershire. In 1911 she was a servant at 147 Burton Rd. At the time of the marriage she lived at 24 Cavendish Rd. Her father was an ironworker.

John enlisted between November 1914 and January 1915. He served with the 11th Battalion, the Manchester Regiment, service number 15572. He died on 8 October 1918 and is buried in the Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, Pas de Calais, grave reference IV. E. 29. His name appears on the memorial at Cavendish Rd School, although he never actually went there.

We found a Sarah Jane Mellor in the 1939 Register, living at 34 Golborne Avenue. We believe she died about 1972.