Eccles Shorrock (c1798-1853)
Eccles Shorrock (c1898-1853)
Born the son of Ralph Shorrock
1851 Living at Low Hill House, Over Darwen: Eccles Shorrock (age 53 born Darwen), Magistrate, Cotton Spinner, Merchant. Widower. With his niece Alice Ashton (age 24 born Clitheroe).[1]
1853 Died.
1853 Obituary.[2]
It is our melancholy duty to record the death of another highly respectable commercial gentleman, who for many years has occupied a conspicuous position among the manufacturers of this county, — Mr. Eccles Shorrock, of Over Darwen. The deceased gentleman had been for several months in a declining state of health, and his medical attendants had long anticipated his approaching dissolution. Latterly, however, he had somewhat rallied, and appeared to be daily gaining strength; but the growing hopes of his friends were doomed to be disappointed, for on Sunday morning he became suddenly worse, and expired about three o'clock in the afternoon of the same day.
Mr. Shorrock was one of those men of whom Lancashire is so justly proud, who by industry perseverance, and integrity, have raised themselves to eminence in the commercial world. Able and upright as a man of business, he was esteemed and respected by all with whom his extensive transactions brought him in contact. He was formerly a partner in the firm of Messrs. Banister Eccles and Co., of Blackburn, but retired from that firm and went to Darwen in 1830, having purchased the Bowling Green Mill and adjoining property, which had belonged to Mr. Carr. He carried on business here as a manufacturer for some years, and in 1835 built what is known as the New Mill in Darwen.
A few years since Mr. Shorrock purchased the Brookside Mill, and the large works formerly celebrated as the Darwen Paper Works, a portion of which has been pulled down, and a large and handsome mill, called Darwen Mill, erected on the site. We believe we may truly say that his numerous workpeople have always had in the late Mr. Shorrock a considerate and kind master, and they now unfeignedly lament their loss. He was liberal to the poor, mid in the support of the several institutions of the town, and his death will be universally lamented by the inhabitants of the town to whose prosperity he so largely contributed by his commercial enterprise. The deceased gentleman was a magistrate for the county.
He was twice married - his first wife was the daughter of the late Mr. Bailey, of Hoghton Bottoms; his second wife, who survives him, is the daughter of John Brandwood, Esq., of Turncroft, Over Darwen. He has left no issue. We understand that he will be interred on Saturday next in the family vault, at St. Paul's Church, in this town.