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McKee, Samuel Fraser

19th August, 1840, presumably in Co. Down, Ireland (though his son Robert was under the false impression that he was born in Harrington, Cumberland).

3rd March 1920, at 10 Mirfield Drive, Monton, Eccles.

30 June 1866, in the Whitehaven register office, to Mary Ann Oliphant.

Robert McKee & Mary McBride

Agnes (b. ca 1839), Margaret (b. ca 1843), Mary (b. 1847), Robert (b. 1850), John (b. 1852), Elizabeth (b. 1855)

Robert, William Oliphant, Samuel Bell, Mary Elizabeth, Eleanor Bell, Agnes Jane, Kate Fraser, John Alexander

In the 1861 census, he was listed as a Steam Sawyer; from his obituary, we know that he served his apprenticeship at the Harrington Shipyard. On his marriage certificate, he was recorded as sawyer. He was recorded as sawyer on W.O. McKee's birth certificate in 1870, the censuses of 1871 and 1881, and trade directories up to 1887. In 1884, he was listed as "McKee & Co" timber merchants, wood turners & saw mill owners, 168 Rochdale Road. In 1888 his works were listed at 26 City Road Hulme, but by 1889 they were at River Street Hulme. From his obituary and from Ralph Chambers' unpublished notes on the Lancashire PBs, we know that he became minister of Bethesda Chapel, Hollinwood, in 1888. In the 1892 directory, he is still listed under Sawmills, 25, River Street, Hulme, but in 1893, he is listed as Saw Mill Owner at Brownsfield Mill, Great Ancoats Street. By the 1896 directory, his saw mill had moved to Ducie Street, London Road, and he had taken his sons, William and Samuel, into partnership (McKee & Sons). He was listed as Baptist Minister on his son's marriage certificate of 1898, when he was minister of the Particular Baptist Bethesda Chapel, Milton Street, Hollinwood. In the 1898 directory, he was listed as a saw mill proprietor, living at 33 Stocks Street, Cheetham, and is also listed as a cabinet maker at 24 Apollo Street, Oldham Road. His sons, William Oliphant and Samuel Bell are listed at the same address in Cheetham, as saw mill proprietors. In the 1901 census, he gave his profession as Baptist minister. By 1902, the Apollo Road cabinet makers is listed as Samuel Fraser McKee & Son. By 1904, Samuel Fraser is listed as timber merchant at the Apollo Street site and Samuel Fraser McKee & Son are listed as saw mill proprietors. In 1905, he retired as minister of Bethesda. In the 1906 directory, he was still listed as a timber merchant at Apollo Street, but by 1908 his personal listing had gone, though Samuel Fraser McKee & Son was still listed at Apollo Street. In 1906, he accepted an invitation to become pastor at the Princes Street Strict Baptist Chapel in Southport, entering his duties on November 18th. He retired on November 27th, 1916.

Birthplace in Ireland unknown. From the mid 1840s until around the time of his marriage in 1866 he was living with his parents in Harrington. By 1867, he and Mary Ann were in Barrow-in-Furness, where they stayed until after the birth of their fourth child, probably living at 44 Clive Street, Hindpool, where we know William O. was born. Their fifth child was born at 50 Percy Street, Southport, in 1877. By the time that their sixth arrived, the family was at 21 Gibson Terrace, Harpurhey, Manchester. In 1881, they were living at 38 Turkey Lane, Manchester. By 1886, he was living at 131, Redbank, as he was in 1887 and 1888. He was no longer at 131 Redbank in 1891. By 1893 the family had moved to 33 Stocks Street, Cheetham, and were still there in 1898 and 1901. By the 1904 directory, Samuel Fraser McKee was living at 59, Bellott Street, Cheetham, and by 1906, at 189, Heywood Street, Cheetham. He moved to Southport in November 1906. According to a book inscription, by 1907, Samuel Fraser McKee was at 64 Tithe Barn Road, Southport. That address appears in a Southport directory of 1908. A directory of 1914-15 gives his address as 248 Portland Street. After retiring in 1916, he returned to Manchester to be near Family, dying in 1920 at 10 Mirfield Drive, Monton, Eccles, just over the road from his daughter, Agnes.

As a youth, he greatly enjoyed wrestling, presumably of the Cumberland variety.
His middle name, Fraser, does not appear on his marriage certificate, or earlier censuses, or on the birth certificate of his son William Oliphant, in 1870. It first appears as Samuel F. on the 1871 census.
He was a founder member of the Strict Baptist Chapel at Southport in 1876. The first service was held July 2nd 1876.
In 1899, during his pastorship at Bethesda Chapel, Hollinwood, a new Chapel was built on the Manchester Road, the old building on Milton Street being converted to a Sunday School. At this time he was presented with the gold-plated key and an illuminated address.
During his pastorship at Southport, the schoolroom was built, costing £400. On its opening, he was presented with a silver key.
On the occasion of his golden wedding anniversary, 30th June 1916, the congregation at Southport presented him with a case containing 41 pound notes, an illuminated address, and, to his wife, a silver plated tea service, inscribed "Presented to Mrs S.F. McKee by the congregation of the Strict Baptist Chapel, Princes Street, Southport, as a token of esteem, on the occasion of their Golden Wedding". The occasion of his Golden Wedding was also reported to have been his fiftieth anniversary as a minister within the denomination.
During his time at Southport, he wrote into the cover of a Bible, among other quotes and comments, Numbers 8, v. 24-25, “The Levites served in the tabernacle from 25 to 50 years or age and no longer”.
He preached one last time at Hollinwood on the first Sunday in 1920.
The informant at his death was William Lyles, husband of his daughter Agnes.
His son Robert wrote his obituary, containing much additional information.
He was buried at Manchester General Cemetery, Harpurhey.

	Samuel as a young man, taken at Workington, Cumbria.
	Samuel with children, at Barrow-in-Furness
	Samuel as an elderly man, while minister at Southport.
	Samuel with his wife, Mary Ann. (Image © Noel McKee)
	Samuel top right in top-hat, presumably with the Hollinwood congregation. His wife and two of his children in the group.
	At son William O.'s wedding, front right in top-hat, taken at Marlborough House, New Moston, by son Robert.