Thomas De Quincey connections in Manchester (UK)

'Under this Stone lie the Remains
of M^rs Sarah Penſon Relict of the
Late Samuel Penſon of London
who died Jan^y 1790 aged 69 Years.
Alſo of Tho^s Quincey Merchant
who died July 18^th Aged 40 y^rs.

Alſo of Jane Quincey Daughter of
Tho^s & Eliz^th Quincey born Sep^r 8
1786 died March 18^th 1790.
Alſo of Elizabeth Quincey their
Daughter who died June 2^d 1792
Aged 9 Years.'

 

This tombstone stands close to St Ann's Church in St Ann Street, Manchester, where the writer Thomas De Quincey (1785–1859) was born. His father Thomas Quincey (1753–93) was a successful textile merchant who married Elizabeth (née Penson (c. 1756–1846)) in 1780.

 

Thomas De Quincey was seven years old on the death of his sister, with whom he had a very strong bond: in 1845, in Suspiria de Profondis, he wrote about his intense emotions on seeing Elizabeth on her deathbed.

 

De Quincey is buried in St Cuthbert's churchyard, Edinburgh:

 

'SACRED

To the Memory of

Thomas Dequincey

who was born at Greenhay

NEAR Manchester

August 15^TH 1785

and Died at Edinburgh

December 8^TH 1859

and of Margaret his Wife

who Died

August 7^TH 1887'

^*Thomas Quincey was a founder member of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society and author of Short Tour in the Midland Counties of England (1774).