BAPTISED:

30th August 1818, at St. Elphin, Warrington

MARRIED:

To Ann of Manchester, who died aged 39 on 31st August 1860

KNOWN CHILDREN:

Bessie (c1843)

Maria (c1845)

Andrew (c1847) - died aged 6 months

Walter (c1850)

Squire (1851) - died aged 3 months

Arthur (1852) - died aged 7 months

Annie (1854) - died aged 11 months

Mary (c1858)

All born in the Manchester area.

DIED:

27th October 1875 in Manchester.

Buried 30th October 1875 in Manchester General Cemetery

Biography

Thomas Percival was the child of Thomas Percival and Maria Webb. His father worked in the glass industry at Warrington Bank Quay. His mother was the sister of Thomas Webb, one of the founders of Molineaux & Webb.

Surviving Percival & Vickers Building - Jersey Street, Ancoats

(now converted to other uses)

View Google map of Jersey Street, Ancoats

Thomas worked in the Warrington glass industry as a child. His family moved to Manchester and by 1833, his father was a partner at the Manchester Glass Bottle Works in Ancoats. Meanwhile Thomas went to work for his uncle Thomas Webb, where he became a manager at Molineaux, Webb, Ellis & Co. in the 1830s. Thomas moved on to open his own factory in Ancoats in 1844 with William Yates. After changes of partnership, this became known as Percival and Vickers, and ran until about 1914.

The 1861 census captures Thomas and his family at Richmond Grove, in the Longsight area of Manchester (view Google Map). His next door but one neighbour was none other than his uncle, Thomas Webb.

Percival teamed up with his cousin and fellow glass manufacturer Thomas George Webb on a couple of occasions. In 1861 they both attended a national meeting of flint glass makers at Belle Vue in Manchester. In 1865 they were both Vice Chairmen on a political committee for the election of local politicians. Their group met "every evening at eight o'clock at the White Hart Inn, Great Ancoats Street."

Thomas Percival died in 1875.

Grave of Thomas Percival at Manchester General Cemetery

Grave of Thomas' wife Ann at Manchester General Cemetery, with several children who died young

1841 CENSUS:

Not located

1851 CENSUS:

Job Title: Glass manufacturer employing 242 men

Address: 30 Mill Street, Ancoats, Manchester

Others: Living with wife, two children and two servants

1861 CENSUS:

Job Title: Glass manufacturer

Address: Richmond Grove, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester

Others: Living with two daughters and two servants

1871 CENSUS:

Job Title: Glass manufacturer and cotton spinner (son Walter listed as glass manufacturer)

Address: "Jersey House", Wilmslow Road, Manchester

Others: Living with two children and three servants