RICHARD CLAYTON, J.P.
Chairman of Pemberton District Council, 1891-1894
Born: 1839 at Blackrod, Lancashire
Parents: Henry and Margaret
Married: Alice M Perry 1862 - died June 1879
Children: Margaret, Emilia, Mary, Richard and Arthur
Married: Charlotte Hilton - 25 December 1879 – died April 1901
Married: Jane Johnson 1904
Died: 29 October 1914, 146 Ormskirk Road, Wigan, age 75
Richard Clayton was born in 1839 in Blackrod, son to Henry Clayton a boat builder/carpenter. The family were then recorded as living in Kersley in the 1851 census. Richard then moved to Wigan and was living in Hallgate in 1861 where he was a general assistant. It appears he remained in this line of work and his occupation was recorded in later censuses as a “dealer of provisions”.
He entered the Council in 1872 and worked for 29 years as a member of the old Local Board and Urban District Council. He was the subject of an illuminated address on 5 May 1902 at St.Mark’s, Newton commending his service to progressing the district of Pemberton. The event was attended by over 70 people. He introduced a water supply to the district, a new sewerage scheme and the electric light. Mr Clayton was awarded with a silver mounted umbrella in recognition of his service. He was also Justice of the Peace for the Borough of Wigan.
He had 5 children, sadly his first wife and also his second wife died leaving him as a widower twice but he did remarry for a third time in 1904
Sources: Wigan Observer; Ancestry
Written and researched by John McDonald, Wigan Council staff volunteer, July 2016