Born 8th November 1824. Father
Thomas Balshaw. Mother's maiden name
Lucy Riddiough.
Born 8th November 1824. Father
Thomas Balshaw. Mother's maiden name
Lucy Riddiough.
Baptised at St George's Church, Altrincham, 9th January 1825.
His place of birth is given as Altrincham in all references except his obituary which states incorrectly that he was born on 20 November 1819 in Ormskirk.
Ann Howard at Bowdon Parish Church 30/3/1847, by licence Mar qtr. 1847 XIX 3. Living in Keighley, Yorks. at this time. (from wedding cert.) (Note that Easter Day was 5/4/1847). Ann died in 1877. Have Marriage Certificate.
Children: Mary Eliza. , 1849; Henry Howard Balshaw 1852; Lucy Elizabeth 1861.
Mary Collins at
St George's Church, Altrincham, 28/3/1878 (Altrincham 8a 213, Mar qtr. 1878).
Have Marriage Certificate.
Children: Tom Riddiough Balshaw, 1879; John Kingsley Balshaw, 1880 .
Altrincham and Bowdon Guardian, March 30, 1878. Marriages. March 28 at St George's Church, Altrincham, by the Rev George London. Mr John Balshaw, Springfield Road, Altrincham to Miss Collins, Market St, Altrincham.
Printer, age 26, living in George St, Altrincham in 1851 census. Stationer in 1852 living in George St (from Henry Howard's birth cert.). Postmaster in 1858, living at 7 George St from History of Altrincham 1858. Stamp Office, 7 George St, John Balshaw - sub-distributor in 1859-60. Stationer and Postmaster, age 37, living at 7 George St, from 1861 census, and still living there in 1869 (from his father's death certificate). Printer and Postmaster age 44, living at 7 George St, from 1871 census. Printer (Mast+) from 1881 census, living at 9 Stamford St. (off Kingsway to the north east).
Circuit plan for Altrincham, 1870
John Balsaw (presumably a spelling error), a Printer of Altrincham, was elected Trustee of the Timperley Methodist Church in 1871.
Intestate, Barrington Road, Altrincham, 3rd December 1903, (age given as 84, but actually 79), of Bronchitis. John Kingsley Balshaw, son, present. Bucklow 8a 125, Dec. qtr. 1903. Have Death Certificate. Have copy of admon.
Obituary in the Altrincham and Bowdon Guardian (film ref 1724/3), Wednesday December 9th 1903, page 4, "Death of Mr John R Balshaw, Altrincham". Obituary 1,Obituary 2,Obituary 3.
Poor consistency between different reports of his age or date of birth. Contrast with John Balshaw (no known connection). 1881 census Piece 3504, Folio 7, Page 11, GSU 1341840.
His recollections of Altrincham in the 19th century are recorded in Chapter IV of the book "Bygone Altrincham" by Chas Nickson, 1935
Notes from "The Town and Trade of Altrincham, printed 1897.
MHB has a book, "The Wesleyan Psalmist", A collection of Psalm & Hymn Tunes by Edward Booth, Organist of Brunswick Chapel, Leeds No.234 Published 1843.
It is inscribed:
Presented to Mr. Balshaw junr. by the friends connected with the Wesleyan Chapel, Ashton upon Mersey, as expressive of the grateful sense of obligation they feel to him for his gratuitous services as Organist of the above chapel. Septr. 22nd, 1844 Ashton upon Mersey.
The book, having become very dilapidated, was rebound by Messrs. Sherratt & Hughes, Manchester, c.1960, as arranged by Edward Pearson Balshaw. It is very likely that "Mr Balshaw Junr." was John Balshaw, aged 19.
He was also organist at Bank Street Wesleyan Methodist Church for nearly 40 years.
He was mentioned in a sermon preached at City Road Chapel, London, on Monday evening, December 17th 1877, by the Rev. G. Bowden. “Lessons from the conversion, character and death of the Rev. Robert Balshaw.”
Altrincham and Bowdon Guardian, Saturday January 2 1875. Wesleyan Chapel, Mobberley, Monday last. Mr John Balshaw occupied the chair at the Sunday School Christmas Festival.
