A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Wainwright, John
WAINWRIGHT, John, a native of Stockport, Cheshire, settled in Manchester about the middle of last century, and on May 12, 1767, was appointed organist and singing man of the Collegiate Church, now the Cathedral. He composed anthems, chants, and psalm-tunes, a collection of which he published in 1766. He died Jan. 1768.
His son, Robert, Mus. Doc., born 1748, accumulated the degrees of Mus. Bac. and Mus. Doc. at Oxford, April 29, 1774. On March I, 1775, he was appointed organist of St. Peter's, Liverpool. He was also organist of the Collegiate Church, Manchester. He composed services and anthems, and an oratorio, 'The Fall of Egypt,' performed at Liverpool in 1780 and 1801. He died July 15, 1782.
Another son, Richard, born 1758, was organist of St. Ann's, Manchester. In Sept. 1782 he was chosen to succeed his brother, Robert, as organist of St. Peter's, Liverpool, which he afterwards quitted for the organistship of St. James, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, but in 1813 resumed his place at St. Peter's. He published a collection of hymn-tunes of his composition. His glee, 'Life's a bumper,' was very popular. He died Aug. 20, 1825. His execution was remarkable more remarkable perhaps than his taste. It was of him [App. p.814 "for him read Robartt, since Schnetzler's remark was made on him. See vol. iii. p. 542a."] that Schnetzler the organ-builder exclaimed, 'He run about the keys like one cat; he will not gif my pipes time to shpeak.'
A third son, William, was a singing man at the Collegiate Church, Manchester, and also a performer on the double bass, besides carrying on the business of music-selling in Manchester, in partnership with Sudlow. He died July 2, 1797.