| Description | Samuel was the second son of Joseph and Alice Lees. He was born in 1774 and lived with the family on the Holts Estate in Lees. He began working in the coal trade and had several collieries. In about 1790 he started a foundry at Pittses. In 1816 the works moved to Forge Street, here he established a mill at Fowleach to make rollers for the various processes in the cotton trade. The new works and house were called Soho. By the 1930s the Soho Ironworks employed over 200 people. Samuel married Sarah Newton, daughter of George Newton of Fir Tree Farm, near Dukinfield. They had five children, Mary born 1813, Eli born 1814, Asa born 1816, Job born 1817 and Jane born 1820. Samuel Lees died as the result of a fall on the 10 Jul 1845 at the age of 72. It was reported that he fell down a set of stairs at a public house where he had been drinking brandy. His wife Sarah died four years later at Soho House. Both were buried in the grave yard of Hope Chapel. In his will he divided his interests between his sons and made provision for his grandchildren. During his lifetime he contributed generously to Hope Chapel and the Independent College in Manchester. |