I am currently researching my mother's mother's side of the family, who were coal mining Duncans who lived at various addresses on Overton Row, Dreghorn from the early-mid 1800's onwards. Overton Colliery was owned by Merry & Cunningham from about 1860, and I discovered, on the Scottish Mining web site, that in July 1898 "Robert Scanlon, an Overton fireman, was killed yesterday while engaged in the pit there. He was going his rounds as usual, but, unknown to some brushers who were blasting, he came on a shot just as it exploded, as was killed instantaneously."
I have searched high and low on Scotland's People for a Robert Scanlon without success, except for the 1891 Census, which shows a "Robert Scanlon" aged 3 living in Springhill Row, Dreghorn. The father, William Scanlon, is listed as a Colliery Fireman. Presumably this is a coincidence and not the Robert Scanlon who was killed in 1898.
However, in my own tree there is a Jane Scanlon, who gave birth to an illegitimate son in April 1866. The boy - named as Robert Duncan on the Statutory Register - was born at 6 Overton Row, Dreghorn and the father is named as Robert Duncan, a coal miner. Robert and Jane later married.
When I search Scotland's People for the death of a Robert Scanlon - giving 5 years leeway and covering all Counties - I get zero results. When I do the same search for Robert Duncan, there are plenty of names but nothing where the age, year and location match.
The 1871 Census Shows Robert and Janet (sic) Duncan living at 23(?) Overton Row, with sons Robert (age 5) and George (2).
I can also find nothing of relevance in Find My Past regarding Robert Scanlon or Robert Duncan, except the same Census entry.
Can anyone out there help? Is the illegitimate Robert Duncan born in 1866 the Robert Scanlon who was killed in 1898? Has the Scottish Mining web site got it wrong? Am I missing something in my search of Scotlands People? Any hints and clues, or even answers, will be much appreciated.