Staffordshire Colliery Deaths

[alf]

New information

Cheadle Herald dated 20 April 1878

Fatal Colliery Accident
On Wednesday last at Whitfield Colliery between Ford Green and Black Bull a man named JAMES SHAW a native of Cheadle (Staffs) met his death under the following circumstances. It appears that the unfortunate man was at work on Wednesday and had some suspicion that the roof was not safe and whilst in the act of examining it, a portion of it fell upon him killing him instantaneously. The deceased leaves a wife and four children to mourn his loss


Cheadle Herald dated 9 November 1878
Shocking colliery fatality

An excursion of the North Staffordshire Institute of Mechanical Engineers to the Black Country had a tragically ending on Wednesday. Two well known residents in this district Mr WILLIAM ARNOLD of Cliffe Vale and Mr GEORGE BARKER of Kidsgrove had, with a large company of engineers descended and explored the Sandwell Park Colliery and were returning to the surface when Mr Arnold for some unexplained cause, fell from the cage dragging after him Mr Barker. Mr Arnold was killed instantaneously and Mr Barker survived only for a short time. Great sympathy will be felt for the families of these gentlemen who have thus met death in the pursuit of knowledge

Cheadle Herald dated 7 May 1881

Fatal accident at the Park Hall Colliery

A most melancholy accident occured at Park Hall Colliery on Thursday morning about eight o'clock whereby two workman THOMAS WETWOOD and 51 and THOMAS PLANT age age 38, lost their lives from a fall of a roof. It appears that on the morning of the sad occurance the fireman George Wright made an examination of the place where the men were working and found it safe, but shortly afterwards for some unforeseen cause or other a loud cracking noise was heard and a sudden fall of the roof took place, killing the two men istantaneously. Several others had narrows escapes from the falling debris. Both men were married and leave families to mourn their loss and we scarcely say the sad affair has cast a gloom over the town of Cheadle which they were natives. The inquest will be held this day (Sat) at the Police Court, Cheadle

Alf

[alf]

New Information

Cheadle Herald dated Sat 26 July 1884

Fatal Accident
At about halfpast eleven on Saturday morning last, George Fowell a miner of Adelaide Street Fenton was in the act of setting a post in the Folly Pit, Berryhill Colliery a fall of roof took place which killed him on the spot. Fowell a native of Cheadle (Staffs) and recently resided at Cheadle Mill Lane. He was 21 years of age and leaves a wife and two young children

Saturday 2nd July 1887

Inquest
On Tuesday morning an inquest was held at the Unicorn Inn, Cheadle (Staffs) before Mr A A Flint, Coroner, touching the death of James Barker, miner, aged 42 who resided at High Street, Cheadle (Staffs). Mr T Wynne, inspector and Mr A R Sawyer, deputy inspector of mines were present at the inquiry. It appeared from evidence that the deceased with several others were engaged as a sinker at Cheadle Park Colliery and that on Sunday morning last about 5-30 he went up the pit, contrary to orders, to fetch a tub to stand on, the scaffolding on which they were working was not quite high enough to enable them to finish the the brickwork. On descending the shaft and within about 35 yards from the bottom, Barker fell from the bowk and was killed. The jury after a lengthy hearing returned a verdict of "Accidental Death". The deceased who was quiet and steady man, leaves a widow and three children

Alf

[millymcb]

The Silverdale Memorial appears to start just too late to include this one...

(Taken from Times 8 July 1870)

EXPLOSION OF FIRE DAMP

About half past 1 yesterday an explosion of gas occurred in the Sheriff Pit, belonging to Messrs Stanier, Silverdale, Staffordshire. There were about 80 men at work in the pit, some thirty of them in one part called the eight-foot working, in which the explosion occurred. On hearing the noise, a body of explorers went down, and four men were soon sent up, two of them being dead, and another dying shortly afterwards. At 45 minutes past 8 the explorers were still working their way to the seen of the explosion, the roadway having been filled up in several places with the rubbish. The exact number of the dead was not then known, but it will amount to at least 20. Several men had very narrow escapes.



(Taken from Times 8 July)

The following were killed...

Thomas Wainwright, 12
George Wainwright, 40, married and family
Thomas Poole, 45, married and family
Edwin Lockett, 19
William Baggaley, 57, married and family
Thomas Jones, 25, single
Charles Wilshaw, 21 , single
George Mottram, 22, single
John Washington, 22, single
James Wagstaff, 29, married and family
George Moss, 34, married and family
William Madders, 22, single
John Dean, 55, married and family
Elisha Lovatt, 18
Joseph bailey, 17
Richard Tomkinson, 17
George Dobson, 19
George Blore, 28, married and family

Most of the deceased who were married leave their widows and families without provision except the allowance from a club connected with the works to which all the men belonged.


WR JONES.... I see you have Lovatt's in your list of names.  There is an Elisha Lovatt here who is connected to my family.  If your's are Audley & Alsager's Bank Lovatt's please let me know.

[wrjones]

Many thanks millymcp for,first of all posting the sad details of,at the risk of repeating myself yet again,the terrible price that was paid.Yes I do  indeed have Lovatt family that lived in Audley,although I have to admit that I am a bit stuck in finding a link to your Elisha.Apparently he looks as if he was the Grandson of a John Lovatt born in c 1807.The only one on the IGI anywhere near was one born in Audley in 1807,and the only Parent given is a Hannah.You may view more details of my Lovatt family on my Webpage,the password for which is rhosymedre.

Regards
William Russell Jones
Cefn Mawr
Wrexham.

[millymcb]

His mother was Mary Lovatt...daughter of John Lovatt c1811. I'll PM you to keep this thread clear for it's proper purpose.

 

[alf]

Extracts from the Cheadle Herald dated Friday 8th September 1922

Samuel Victor Shenton of Grove Farm Cellerhead, Staffs who was killed by a fall at Park Hall Colliery, Cheadle at 12-30pm Thursday 7th. The inquest was opened by Mr S A H Burne, Corner and adjurned to a later date.

A fatal accident in the mine occurred at the Midland Coal, Coak and Iron Company's footerill at Apedale about 6-15pm on Monday evening. The victim being John Richard Smith age 39, collier of Knutton and a short time ago resident in Cheadle [Staffs] It appears that the deceased was engaged in packing in the dip when a quantity of roof cannal fell on him killing him instantly, he being completely buried in the debris. The accident was witnessed by two other men but the escaped unhurt

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Cheadle Herald dated Friday 28th November 1924.

Colliery Loaders Death

Death of John Michael GIMBERT single man aged 43 of Back Street, Cheadle, Staffs, employed as a loader of Foxtfield Colliery, Blyth Bridge and met with an accident in the pit. Arthur Latham of The Village, Dilhorne, a collier said that the deceased loaded for him on October 28th at 9-20am, witness, was falling coal from the face with a bar. The deceased was sitting opposite in the 'gob' between two packs about 5 feet away from the witness. He [Latham] pulled the coal which broke in two and one piece weighing about 10 cwt  fell on  Gimbert's foot trapping him. He was admitted to Longton Cottage Hospital and was seen by the resident Medical Officer, Dr Mary Sutherland. After a period whilst in hospital, gangrene had appeared and on the 31st October his leg was amputated below the knee. Gimbert recovered from the shock and operation only to die on the 20 November 1923 from Septicemia. The corner Mr Edward Hollinsead who held the inquest at Longton Cottage Hospital on Monday afternoon recorded the verdict of Accidental Death

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Cheadle Herald dated Saturday 8 September 1888

Fatal Accident at High Shutt near Cheadle [Staffs]

On Thursday afternoon between 2 and 3 o'clock whilst two men named Daniel Bridgett and Joseph Burndred both of Kingsley Holt were at work in the pit at High Shutt a fall of gravel took place with the result that Bridgett was instantaneously killed and his companion had his right leg and left thigh fractured. Bridgett was aged 38

[alf]

Buried in Cannock Cemetery

Jesse MELLOR of Bridgtown, Cannock killed 7 December 1915 age 22 as a result of an explosion at the Cannock Colliery. Son of George & Hannah

Lewis William WITHINGTON who met his death at the Cannock & Leacroft Colliery 24 March 1911 age 22.

James Bagnall HASTINGS who was accidently drowned in the reservoir at the Littleton Colleries, Huttington on the 9th June 1901 age 18.  This stone erected by his fellow workmen

Alf