Wigan Album
Mining
10 Comments
Photo: Rev David Long
Item #: 18888
I have a list of 68 men and boys killed, but I don't know whether this represents the 68 killed in the first explosion on September 6th, or whether it represents all those identified as having been killed in both explosions (the other being on the 19th, when a team were examining the shaft to see if the fire from the first explosion had abated) - with 5 of those killed in the original explosion being unidentified. If anyone has information on this I would be grateful if you could get in touch.
Also get in touch if you would like to help me with this project.
Reverend Long, I have what is probably the same list you have which gives 68 names Wouldn't it be nice to finally see the men listed? Should you feel that I could be of any assistance in supporting your efforts please e-mail me. I will always remember your kindness in showing me Richard Holland's name on the Roll of Honour in St. Mary's some years ago.
My email will appear with this Comment, for any who want to get in touch. I hope to have an estimate of the likely cost of the project by early next week.
Rev. Long, is this a memorial to the disaster or a grave for Thomas Knowles? Where are the remains of those bodies recovered buried? I ask making comparisons to the memorial in Abram Churchyard.
The inscriptions on the Memorial read: "To the memory of the men and boys who were killed by the explosions at the Moss Pits, Ince, on the 6th and 19th September 1871" "Erected as a mark of respect by Thomas Knowles MP"
Thanks to Freda Chorlton's work on the cemetery records (available under 'Stuff' on this site), we have found that at least 39 victims are buried in common graves (i.e. unmarked) in the space to the right of the Memorial. This includes four of the five men killed in the second explosion, 18 who were identified before burial, and the remains of 17 who were unidentifiable. A further three named victims, including the 5th of those killed on the 19th, are in the Roman Catholic section of Wigan Cemetery. Enquiries continue to locate the burial places of the remaining 32 or 33 victims.
From this, you can see that I have made some progress since my original posting - the list of 68 has grown to 69, and the five killed on the 19th have now been identified.
We now have the names, ages, and occupations of all but one of the victims, but little other information. There's a job to be done tracking the victims down in the 1871 Census returns to find out where they lived, and their family details.
The RC victim in Wigan Cemetery killed on the 19th is the only one we have fuller details of. He was a 49 year-old carpenter, of 3 Dansons Yard, Warrington Road, Ince. He was among those removing the covers off the shaft in an attempt to reach the bodies of those killed on the 6th - presumably because his two sons, John (17) and Thomas (15) were among the dead. From the names we have, it seems fathers died with their sons on the 6th, but we need to confirm this with the Census returns.
The comparison with the Maypole Disaster is interesting. This was of similar size (75 killed), but took place before press photography allowed images of the scene, grieving families, funeral processions, etc. to be broadcast instantly around the country. Although the disaster was reported widely (in the New York Times as well as the London Times), there were no photos, and it soon faded from memory - unlike the Maypole. The latter had the added poignancy that most of the victims were entombed where they died, whereas the Moss Pits victims were eventually brought up for burial.
5 Fatalities. 19.09.1871.
SAMUEL SHUTTLEWORTH. colliery carpenter.Married Elizabeth Hackett St.Catherine Wigan. 1863. 1871.census Ellams Fold Ince. Wife and two children still at same address. Death registered April-Jun 1874 Hindley as were 24 of the casualties of the original explosion. I wonder what criteria constituted sufficient proof of identification for registration of the deaths?
ZACHARIAH ASHURST b.1817 Chistened Upholland. 21.07.1817. son of Henry and Jane. Married Mary Ann Holme All Saints Wigan 1849. 1871census. resident at Cemetery Road, Ince. Wife, five children and dau.in law at same address. Death registered Oct-Dec. 1871 Hindley.
THOMAS FARRIMOND foreman sinker/underlooker.b.1812 Lamberhead Green. Married Ellen Parkinson at All Saints, Wigan in 1841. Ellen died 1866. hence by 1871 census. a widower at Arley Terrace, Ince 5 children still living at same address. Death registered Oct-Dec. 1871 Hindley.
WALSH. a browman and father of John and Thomas Walsh killed in original explosion. No correlation with 1871 cens.
One report records name of the fifth casualty as PEAK. No correlation with 1871 cens.
Well done, Stan. Can you email me to save more involved discussions here? Freda Chorlton may have identified the 5th man - as Joseph Peet, 28, buried 22 Sept 1871.