People P19

Information and photographs submitted by subscribers are posted in good faith. If any copyright of anyone else's material is unintentionally breached, please email me

Janet McMurray - Looking For Names of Miners in Auchinleck in 1840s to 60s.
Vicki Mckenna - 1881 census says my great grandfather Moses Severn was a Pit Manager in Ilkeston
Lisa Crow - I am trying to confirm my grandfather, John Alfred Hope, worked at Ollerton colliery
Joyce Lowe - Samuel Spruce Awarded Albert Medal for Bravery, Baddesley Pit Explosion 1882
Andy Cadman - William James London, Creswell Disaste 1950
Also any Information On Frank Lesley London?
Becki Gomersall - I have family members that worked down the pit, what was life like for them?
Beverley Hughes - Any info? My grandfather, Samuel Hughes, died in a pitfall at Sneyd in 1949
Shannon Siddons - Any Information, Michael William Siddons Worked At Bilsthorpe Pit?
K. Gore - Any Info. Ernest Gore, killed in mining accident on 15th Dec 1953, Bentinck Colliery?

	From: Janet McMurray Sent: 13 October 2008 Subject: Looking For Names of Miners in Auchinleck in 1840s to 60s.

Hello from Canada

I wonder if you might have access to the names of miners in Auchinleck in approximately 1840s, 50s or 60s.

Thanks Janet

	From: Vicki Mckenna Sent: 08 September 2008 Subject: 1881 census says my great grandfather Moses Severn was a Pit Manager in Ilkeston

I am researching my great grandfather Moses Severn who was Manager of a pit in Ilkeston, Trowell Moor, according to the 1881 census. I know that he was, unusually for a manager, a union man and seems there is a probability he was dismissed in 1888 for union activity. He was a member of the YMA and in 1888 moved suddenly to Pontypridd where he worked at the coal face and then went on to become the secretary of the SWMA. I am looking for records from the Ilkeston pit to see if I can find out exactly why he was dismissed. How can I try to find these records? Any point in searching at this stage?

Thanks!
Vicki

	From: Lisa Crow Sent: 08 September 2008 Subject: I am trying to confirm my grandfather, John Alfred Hope, worked at Ollerton colliery

Hi, I am trying to confirm my grandfather worked at Ollerton colliery, I cannot find the archives from the NUM, apparently they were lost in the strike. Iron Mountain is no help. Can you point me in the right direction?

I understand you are very busy, but any advice would be appreciated.

His name was John Alfred Hope, D.O.B 9th December 1905 and I believe he was at Ollerton colliery in 1964.

Many Thanks,
Lisa Crow

From: Sent: Subject:	Joyce Lowe 22 August 2008 Samuel Spruce Awarded Albert Medal for Bravery, Baddesley Pit Explosion 1882

Hello Fionn
My Great Great Uncle Samuel Spruce was awarded "The Albert Medal of the second class" for bravery in the Baddesley (Atherstone, Warwickshire) pit explosion on 1 May 1882. I would be very interested to hear from anyone who might have any information on Samuel Spruce. He was a mining engineer and I have reason to believe he was a member of the Geological Society, and carried out surveys for them in Canada. I also think he held a position of Mayor or Alderman. The photo shows him in his robes but they may not be that of a mayor but something akin.

I hope your readers may be able to help.

Thank you.
Regards Joyce Lowe.

The Baddesley Pit Explosion
Celia Parton's Site

SAMUEL SPRUCE, mining engineer, Tamworth, on hearing of the fire at Baddesley Colliery, and that nine miners were entombed, hastened to the spot, in the hope that his long and varied experience might be of service. On arriving at the pit top, he found that an explosion had occurred, that many explorers were burned, and that Mr Dugdale, with others, was still in the mine. After receiving an account of the accident from Mr Smallman, he immediately volunteered to go down, and with Mr Stokes organised and assisted in the first party which entered the pit after the explosion, and proceeded along that perilous route already described until Mr Dugdale was found and rescued. Having no personal acquaintance with the workings of the colliery, being far advanced in life, and knowing so well the imminent danger incurred by anyone entering the mine he displayed an act of conspicuous bravery, which her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen has recognised by conferring on him the decoration of "The Albert Medal of the Second Class".

From: Ian Martin
Sent: 27 March 2012

Joyce Lowe E Mailed you about Samuel Spruce being her Great Grandfather he was also mine, have you her E Mail address or can you give me any information about him?

Yours faithfully
Anthony Spruce.

From:
Sent:
Subject:

Andy Cadman
19 August 2008
Correction - William James London, Creswell Disaste 1950. Also any Information On Frank Lesley London?

Dear Fionn,
Congratulation on your web site, an excellent memorial to the people who died in this tragic event. I am almost certain that William James London in the details below was born in 1899. I have his death certificate and his date of birth would be 1899. Therefore the length of service is almost certainly wrong. I attach his death certificate information to confirm this:-

William James London (59), packer, 4, Appletree Road, Stanfree, leaves a widow, one son and one daughter. He was born in the house next door, 2, Appletree Road, where his parents, Mr. And Mrs. F. London, kept a general store, now run by Mr. Brough. Mr. London, whose brother at Creswell was also killed in the disaster, had worked at Oxcroft and Whitwell Collieries, and had been at Creswell pit for four years. He was a member of Oxcroft Colliery Institute and of the Miners' Club at Shuttlewood. He had been employed as a collier for 45 years.

I hope very much that you can help me with another matter relating to William James London. I believe his son was named Frank Lesley London. However, I have not been able to find evidence to link them. Is the son of William James London named anywhere on your site. Do you Know of anywhere else where I can find the evidence?

If you could help with this it would be really appreciated.
Best Wishes,
Andy Cadman

From: Becki Gomersall
Sent: 18 August 2008
Subject: I have family members that worked down the pit, what was life like for them?

Hi there I came across your website as I am doing family history and I have family members that worked down the pit my father-in-law and husbands granddad. I am just wondering if there are any websites that tell you about what they did and any photos. I have been searching a while now and found nothing

Thanks very much
Becki

You could try 'I was a Miner' and 'Thirty Years Man And Boy' and 'Miners and their families' a series of emails by ex-miners.
And there is Ian Winstanley's site with an illustrated section ' A day in a miners life'

From: Beverley Hughes
Sent: 08 August 2008
Subject: Any information? My grandfather, Samuel Hughes, died in a pitfall at Sneyd in 1949

My grandfather, Samuel Hughes, died in a pitfall at Sneyd in 1949. I would like to hear from people who may have known him or know if he worked on the day of the disaster.

He lived at 29 Leigh Street, Burslem and my father Derek was the second youngest of five children. Dad was born in January 1942.

Regards
Beverley Hughes
Perth , Western Australia

From: Shannon Siddons
Sent: 31 July 2008
Subject: Any Information, Michael William Siddons Worked At Bilsthorpe Pit?

Hello my name is Shannon Siddons.
I don’t no whether you might know the man but my granddad (Michael William Siddons) worked at Bilsthorpe pit and has recently died.

I was wondering if you had any old photographs of my granddad.

From: K. Gore
Sent: 31 July 2008
Subject: Any Info. Ernest Gore, killed in mining accident on 15th Dec 1953, Bentinck Colliery?

I believe that my paternal grandfather Ernest Gore was killed in a mining accident on 15th December 1953 in Bentinck Colliery. I can find no record of this on your site and he is not listed on the miners roll of honour. His wife received industrial injury pension from the mines until her death in 1972.

Pit Terminology - Glossary

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