THOMAS MANLEY 1828 – 1919
LUCY ANN MANLEY 1835 – 1915
Thomas Manley was born on 15 May 1828 in Gresford. He was the son of Richard Manley and Mary Goodrich. The Manley’s were millers.
He isn’t found again until his marriage which was announced in the Wrexham Advertiser.
On the 14th September 1856 Meivod, by the Rev, David Evans, Mr. Thomas Manley, of the Rossett, near Gresford, to Lucy Ann, only daughter of Daniel Luck, Esq, Meivod, near Welshpool.
Lucy Ann was born in Clifton, Bristol. She was the daughter of Daniel Luck and Catherine.
In 1851 she’s living in barracks in Trowbridge, WIltshire. Daniel is a troop Sergeant major.
There is another younger son Robert aged 10.
Her family moved to Wrexham and Daniel Luck was landlord of the Fleece Inn, Hope Street, Wrexham in the 1860s. He died aged 65 in May 1865. Caroline Luck died aged 82 in July 1878.
After their marriage the couple were living in Lion House on High Street for a while and two children were born there. In June 1863 Dora May was born but died aged 5 weeks and another child in 1866, and in 1868 it was announced that Lucy had another little girl born in Chester Street.
They were living in Chester Street in 1871, Thomas was a wine and spirit merchant employing 4 men. By now they had 8 children, Thomas 13, Caroline Ann 12, Richard William11, Lucy Alice 9, Albert Edward 7, Florence Magdalene 6, Emily Jane 5, Jessie Maria 4 and Edith Blanche aged 8 Months.
In 1879 Thomas was having financial problems as he was selling his furniture and it seems he had very good taste.
By Bankruptcy. IMPORTANT SALE OF HIGH-CLASS FURNITURE.
Re. Thomas Manley, Brewer, of 25, Chester-street, Wrexham. The whole of the very valuable and modern household furniture, contained in Dining and Drawing Rooms, Kitchens, and Bedrooms, comprising in Dining Room—Massive mahogany sideboard and chiffonier, splendid walnut cottage piano, book case, dining and side tables, sofa, chairs, pier glass, carpets, See. Drawing Boom—Walnut suite, chiffonier, cabinet, tables, time-pieces, pier glass, Brussels carpets, &c. Bedroom -Mahogany and iron bedsteads, and all the feather beds and linen, wardrobes, chests of drawers, dressing tables and washstands, carpets, &c. and the whole of the Kitchen requisites.
24th April 1880 Wrexham Advertiser.
Having had to sell some of his belongings, Thomas was now selling his brewery.
The recently erected Brewery, now in full working condition called” THE VICTORIA. BREWERY, with an 8-quarters’ steam brewing plant complete, fitted and served throughout with water and gas apparatus, together with all fixtures and other effects attached to the above premises. Also the several parcels of land adjacent to the Brewery, and the stabling, loose box, sheds, and premises lately occupied therewith. All the above Premises are situate near the Cattle Market, in the borough of Wrexham, and were recently built and occupied by Mr Thomas Manley, brewer.
In 1880 Thomas was advertising his ales and he is at another brewery.
T MANLEY. VICARAGE HILL BREWERY, WREXHAM. ESTABLISHED 1836.
Celebrated Wrexham Ales, brewed especially for family use, supplied in 9 and 18 gallon Casks. Agent for London and Dublin stout in cask and bottle.
By 1881 they have moved to Regis Place, and had another 2 children. Gertrude E 6 and Mabel A aged 5. Thomas is still a brewer as is his eldest son Thomas.
In 1891 they have moved to the opposite end of town and are at Hollybank, on Ruabon Road.
In 1892 his brewery was up for sale.
14th May 1892 TO BREWERS AND OTHERS. TO BE SOLD BY TENDER, the whole of the Landlords’ PLANT, FIXTURES, and EFFECTS at the VICARAGE HILL BREWERY, Wrexham, recently occupied by Mr Thomas Manley, brewer, comprising:—Copper brewing pan (about four barrels) with curb and tap, wrought iron pan with curb and tap, iron connection pipe and tap, malt hopper, mash tun with false bottom, oak underback and taps, cooler and spout, capital force pump with lead piping and three taps complete, iron cistern, brewers’ pulley, gas piping and brackets, wood staging and step ladders.
New houses had been built in Alexandra Road and by 1901 Thomas and Lucy are at No 70. By now he is a brewers traveller, who he was working for isn`t known. He is still there 10 years later and still has the same job, only Gertrude is still at home. He and Lucy have been married 55 years, had 13 children of which 3 had died. Lucy Ann died in June 1915; Thomas remained there until his death in 1919.
14 March 1919 MR. THOMAS MANLEY, WREXHAM. The death of Mr. Thomas Manley, 70 Alexandra Road, Wrexham, is reported at the age of 91. Mr. Manley was the oldest Freemason in North Wales and had been a member of the Wrexham Lodge ever since it`s commencement. He was born in Gresford in 1828, and in 1856 he married the only daughter of Mr. Daniel Luck, Meifod, Montgomeryshire, and niece of General Sir George Luck. There were 13 children, ten of whom survive. Mr. Manley had lived in Wrexham for nearly sixty years of his married life, and celebrated his golden wedding here, and, but for the death of his wife would have celebrated his diamond wedding. For half a century he was associated with the brewing industry, and built the Victoria Brewery, which, after his retirement, became the Victoria Flour Mills. He was also a member of the Town Council for some years.
Two of their children are buried in the same grave, their daughter Florence Magdalene who died in 1895, she was only 29.
Their son Albert Edward had left home and in 1891 he was lodging in West Derby where he was working as a clerk. He made his way to London and on 6 July 1907 he married a widow named Mary Falkner from London. He was an accountant, and states his father was a gentleman.
In 1911 they were in Liberia Road, Highbury, he was a book keeper in a shipping office. Also there was Jack Falkner his 16 year old stepson; he had been born in Las Palmas, Grand Canary, and also a shipping clerk. Albert Edward died in April 1933 in 42 Belmont Road, Anfield. He was aged 68 and brought home to be buried with his parents. He had made a will and probate was granted at Taunton to Mary Manley his widow,
His stepson Jack had joined the Army and was a pay roll officer, sadly he died of smallpox on 25 March 1919 in Cairo, Al Qahirah, Egypt and is buried there.
Albert Edward`s wife Mary died at 48 Lensfield Road, Cambridge on 13th December 1937, she was 79.
Researched by Annette Edwards. June 2019.
Grave ref: Wrexham Cemetery J-02620
