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GM142
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Fenton Mangnall was born about 1829 in Prestwich, Lancashire. The 1841 Census suggests that he was the son of William and Ann Mangnall. In 1841 he was 13 years old and presumably was a scholar though the census doesn't show this.
Fenton married Martha J Clarke in 1853 at St John's, Broughton (RoM Salford 1853 Q3 8d 1) but Martha died in 1857 (RoD Salford 1857 Q2 8d 15). Fenton and Martha had a daughter, Helen (FM178) who was born in 1855.
According to the IGI Fenton (aged 31 and a widower) married Eliza Graves (GM143) on 12th April 1860 at Manchester Cathedral (also see Registry of Marriages Manchester Q2 8d 174). Fenton was described as a Gentleman, living in Broughton. Eliza was born about 1834 in Manchester according to the 1881 Census. They had the following children:-
The 1861 Census shows that Fenton and Eliza were living at Nelson Street in Broughton, Salford. Fenton is described as a "Merchant Cotton Spinner". Eliza must have been expecting Reginald who was born later that year. They had a servant, Mary Mathews, from Ireland.
The 1871 Census shows that Fenton and Eliza were living at Wood End in Styal, Cheshire with Reginald, Mabel, Edward and Lucy.
The 1881 Census shows that Fenton was a Cotton Merchant and Manufacturer living at Carlton Road, Church Croft, Moss Side, Manchester with his wife Eliza and four of their children - Reginald, Mabel, Edward and Norman. They also had a nurse, a cook, a waitress and a housemaid. Sidney and Mary were staying with their Aunt Fanny at 5 Scovell Street, Broughton in Salford.
Fenton and his family had moved to 4 Avenue Terrace, Moor Park in Preston by the time of the 1891 Census. Fenton was now 62 years old and the census describes him as a Cotton Spinner but I am sure this should have read merchant! Reginald, Mabel, Lucy, Sidney, Mary and Norman are living with them. Reginald was a "Salesman to Cotton Spinner" working for his dad.
Fenton Mangnall died in Preston in 1892 (Q2 8e 397) aged 64.
Fenton's career
The earliest reference I can find to Fenton's career is in the
Whellan & Co's 1852 Manchester & District Directory shows that Fenton was a "Merchants and Others Attending the Exchange" and that he was based in St Peter's Square.
In 1860 a ship called the Denbigh was ordered by Robert Gardner of Manchester, but registered in the name of Fenton Mangnall. On the 29th September 1861 Robert Gardner, John Carpenter and John Reid took a ten year lease on "Warehouses 35, 37 & 39 Dickenson St, the cellars under them and under an adjoining warehouse at the corner of Mosley St and the top room of the latter warehouse". Presumably, the corner of Mosley Street was no.91. The 1863 directory tells us that Robert Gardner had a company described as "Robert Gardner & Co, merchants, spinners and manufacturers, 91 Mosley St, mill at Preston". Robert died on the 24th July 1866, aged 84, and there is no mention of any ships in his will.
Initially the Denbigh ran between Liverpool and the Welsh coastal town of Rhyl. In 1863 the Denbigh was sold to the European Trading Company and fitted out as a blockade runner in the American Civil War. Further details of the Denbigh and it's exciting career can be found on the Denbigh Project web site where there is an image of the original certificate of registry with Fenton's name on it (not very clear!) and my transcription.
Fenton also appears to have owned another ship, the Lion, which was also used between Liverpool and the Rhyl.
The 1863 directory lists "Mangnall, Fenton, merchant (R Gardner & Co) 1 Nelson St, Camp St, Lower Broughton". The same entry occurs in 1865
Slater's 1869 Directory for Lancashire lists Fenton under Members of Exchange based at 91 Mosley Street.
The 1871/2 Manchester Directory lists Fenton Mangnall, cotton spinner & manufacturer (R Gardner & Co) Wood End, Styal near Handforth.
On 16th November 1872 there was a new counterpart lease between the trustees to Robert Gardner's will, Evan Makinson of Preston and Fenton Mangnall and John Barlow Mason, both of Manchester, merchants and partners under the name of Robt Gardner & Co.
The Cheshire 1874 Directory & Gazetteer of Cheshire and Stalybridge has a Fenton Mangnall, esq. living in Styal (page 884).
Many thanks to Andrew Bowcock for supplying much useful information about Fenton, Robert Gardner, the Denbigh and the Lion.
pm@pmagnall.demon.co.uk