Hello. I’ve just come across your site whilst looking for information about Unstone Silkstone colliery. My 2 x great granddad Edward Gill was apparently killed in an accident there in Dec 1882 he was crushed between a post and a shunting cart as he was unhitching a horse from a cart. I wanted to find out about the place he was killed and where he might be buried. I know his family came from Unstone.
I know a little bit about Edward from my research. He was born in Unstone, his dad was Samuel Gill, a file manufacture. I guess he made files. Edward seems to have liked horses how ironic he was killed because of one. He started out apprenticed to a carter. Then became a hawker after he married Eliza Calladine, my gypsy great, great granny.
Eliza’s family were earthenware dealers. Edward and Eliza only stayed together for a couple of years, then they split up. Eliza married William Johnson in 1884, in Newbold.
Eliza's sister, Elizabeth, married Elijah Hallam a coal miner born Feb 22, 1849. In 1870 Elizabeth and Elijah were residing at Narrow Lane in Chesterfield.
Five years later, while Elijah was working at Albert Colliery, Newbold cum Dunston, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, Elijah saved a number of miners trapped in a smashed pit cage in an accident. He was one of the first two recipients of the Life Saving Medal of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. Frederick Vickers, who also helped in the rescue, was the other recipient at the first award ceremony.
Meanwhile, in 1881, Edward, who was a bit of a naughty chap, was a Colliery Labourer living at 6 Craven Row, Nether Green, Unstone. He was in another relationship, bigamously married to Sarah Ann.
He was killed in 1882 in a colliery accident he was crushed between 2 shunting carts. The inquest report was interesting.
Thanks so much Tracey
Derbyshire Times.
Saturday 16th. December 1882.
Page 1 Col. 4. (Third Edition).
Unstone - Fatal Colliery Accident.
Last evening Edward Gill, aged 43, of Unstone Green, was killed at the Unstone Silkstone Colliery whilst shunting some wagons. He was unhooking a horse from a wagon, and got crushed between a post and a wagon. He was taken home, and died shortly after his arrival. Mr. Congdon, assistant doctor, attended him.
Derbyshire Times.
Wednesday 20th December 1882.
Page 3 Col. 6.
Strange Scene at an Inquest at Unstone.
On Monday afternoon an inquest was held by Mr. Spofforth, deputy coroner, at the Fleur-de-Lis Inn, on the body of Edward Gill, who died on Friday from injuries received whilst shunting wagons at the Unstone Silkstone Colliery. After hearing the evidence touching the death of deceased, the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death".
A contemporary says: -
The enquiry before its close was rendered of special interest by the appearance of a woman named Eliza Gill, who claimed to be the wife of deceased, Edward Gill, to whom she alleged she was married at Chesterfield in the year 1870, and in proof of which she produced the marriage certificate. This unexpected claim on the part of Eliza Gill was seen for a time to have a stunning effect on a second wife of deceased, Sarah Ann Gill, who, after she had recovered from the nervous confused state to which she had been thrown, proceeded to give the necessary proof that she had been married to deceased 2 years and 10 months ago at Sutton-in-Ashfield, in proof of which she also produced the necessary legal document, exciting no little surprise by confessing that she had another husband living in Sheffield when she married Gill. The deceased at the time of his death furnished a house in Unstone Green, and was in an insurance society, and also a club in the colliery where he worked, and the question of the disposal of the effects formed the subject of an interesting discussion. Eliza, the first wife of the deceased, asked a special favour that she might have a pawn ticket for a watch ????? given to her, and further expressed a wish to be permitted to sleep in the house of the deceased the last night before his internment. Sarah Ann, the second wife did not object, whilst the jury was from time to time excited to laughter but the affectionate terms of "Dear", "My Dear", and "Yes, Love", used by the rival wives in addressing each other. It was ultimately arranged, at the suggestion of the coroner, that Mr. Fisher, colliery manager, and police constable Byrne should discharge the expenses connected with the funeral of deceased, and the residue to be hereafter equally divided between the two wives.
The Funeral.
The remains of the unfortunate man were interred on Tuesday afternoon in the new cemetery, at Dronfield, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators. The deceased was followed to his grave but his two widows - Eliza Gill and Sarah Ann Gill. Eliza walked first in the ????? of the procession, as chief mourner, with her son, a fine looking boy of thirteen years, the issue of Eliza's marriage with the deceased. The next in the following was Sarah Ann, the second wife, who leaned upon the arm of Mrs. Gill, deceased's mother, the rest of the procession being his relatives. Both his widow's manifested much grief.
Information from - Derbyshire Times Archive
As you can see there were 2 collieries with the same name, one closed in 1874 near Apperknowle and the other near Unstone Green in 1885.
However I would suggest that the one at Unstone Green is the colliery you are looking for because it was working at the time of the accident in Dec 1882.......
Probably there is a church / cemetery nearby.
Trusting this information will assist you in your quest.
Regards
Bob Bradley |