BORN:

1776 approx, not in Lancashire, probably Scotland

MARRIED:

31 Dec 1797 to Sarah Young at St. Elphin, Warrington

CHILDREN:

Not researched

DIED:

1840s (1841 or 1848)

Biography

William Maginnis was one of the founders of Molineaux & Webb, and may have been the most important partner when the firm was founded in 1827. A clue to his importance is that he appeared on the 1824 commercial directory of Warrington, immediately identifying him as one of the key inhabitants. Maginnis had two entries - one for cut glass and another as a linen and woollen draper. His address was Bridge Street, Warrington, still one of the main commercial streets of the town today.

Maginnis may also have had a family tie to one of the important families behind the Perrin & Geddes glass works at Bank Quay. On the 5th May 1823, there was a wedding between Samuel Perrin and Ann Maginnis. Ann must have been related to William as three children from this marriage appear in William's household on the 1841 census of Manchester. Samuel Perrin was in the glass industry so was probably related to Josiah Perrin of Perrin & Geddes.

Molineaux & Webb was known as "Maginnis, Molineaux & Co." very early on in its history, probably from the very start. In 1831 William Maginnis left the partnership. In 1832, Maginnis abandoned a further partnership which involved his likely in-law, Samuel Perrin of Warrington, John Maginnis a glass cutter from Warrington, and William Robinson, who we guess was from Warrington as well.

The partnership heretofore subsisting between the undersigned, in the business of Glass Manufacturers, carried on at Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, has been this day dissolved by mutual consent; all debts due and owing to and by the concern will be received and paid by the undersigned William Robinson.

Dated this 30th day of July 1832

Wm Robinson

Wm Maginnis, sen

Saml Perrin

John Maginnis

After this the Maginnis family attempted their own family business in the glass trade, but it went wrong within a few years as they ran into financial difficulty. Maginnis ran a glassworks on Oldham Road, Manchester, with George Maginnis, Samuel Kent, and William Dakin. Samuel Kent left the partnership in 1833. In April 1835, the Maginnis family ended their partnership with Dakin.

Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between the undersigned, and carried on at Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, as Glass-Manufacturers, under the firm of William Maginnis and Co. was this day dissolved by mutual consent. All debts owing by and to the said concern will be paid and received by the undersigned William Dakin.

- Dated this 20th day of April 1835

William Maginnis, George Maginnis, William Dakin

A notice in a Manchester newspaper dated 3rd December 1836 shows more trouble for the Maginnis family:

John Williams begs leave most respectfully to inform his friends and the public that in addition to his usual establishment, the Stourbridge Glass Works, Oldham Road, he has recently taken possession of the concern lately conducted by Mr. William Maginnis, Elizabeth Street, in the same neighbourhood, where at either house, all kinds of plain, cut and ornamental glass work is executed in the very first style, and orders will be attended to with the greatest punctuality.

And a notice dated February 1837 shows George Maginnis in a list of insolvent debtors, scheduled to appear at the Lancaster Court House on 14th March 1837.

George Maginnis, formerly of Bradford Road, Manchester, Lancashire, at the same time carrying on business in Elizabeth Street, Oldham Road, Manchester aforesaid, in copartnership with William Maginnis the elder, William Maginnis the younger, and Robert Travis, as Glass Manufacturers, under the firm of William Maginnis, afterwards carrying on business in copartnership with the said William Maginnis the elder and William Maginnis the younger, as Glass Manufacturers, under the firm of William Maginnis, and late of More Street, Manchester aforesaid, Manager in a Glass Manufactory.

During this period in the mid 1830s, a man called Edward McGinnis from Finnieston appeared in the Manchester area for a few years, and we think he was related to William. He was previously a glassblower at the Verreville works in Finnieston which was bought by a John Geddes in 1806. This is highly suggestive that William Maginnis was also from Scotland, either Glasgow or Edinburgh where the Geddes family had glass connections, and that in the early part of his life he probably worked as a glass cutter at a Geddes factory and followed them down to Warrington when Perrin & Geddes was formed circa 1795. (with thanks to Dave Abbott for information on Edward McGinnis)

1841 CENSUS:

Job Title: Glass cutter

Address: Robert Street, Manchester

Others: Living with wife, three children (one a glass cutter), and three children from the Perrin family