hello

i'm trying to find out more information about a pit disaster in 1891, unfortunately all i know is the pit was around the west dean area. my grandfather was only 11 at the time and he was trapped down there with other men for about 4 days.

i am looking for any information i can find on this subject.

many thanks

barbara

a name might help us ???

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

28/05/1893
Bowkett Edwin
45
Shaftman
Foxes Bridge

Fell part way (150 yd) down the shaft in consequence of the breakage of the bridle chains of the cage on which they were ascending. They, with another man (who escaped by clutching the guides), were employed in the shaft at pump repairs. Having had the cage out of the rake for the purpose of getting to the pump, they omitted to properly steady it before signalling to be drawn up to the surface. They were two wire rope guides or conductors for the cage which, being somewhat slack, allowed of oscillation resulting in the cage catching under the end of the spindle for working the top kep clack of the pump, and the consequent snapping of the chains. Four wire rope guides have been applied and the spindle has also been shortened. 3 killed.

28/05/1893
Milling Henry
56
Shaftman

28/05/1893
Mountjoy Thomas
41
Shaftman

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

hello

my grandfathers name was alfred john page, his father was john page who was also a labour in a cole mine.

many thanks for your help

1891 Oldcroft
John Page abt 1839 St Briavels, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean, Gloucestershire
Mary Ann Page abt 1845 St Briavels, Gloucestershire, England Wife West Dean, Gloucestershire
Alfred John Page abt 1881 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean, Gloucestershire

The mines nearby would have been the Bailey's, New Engine, and the mines at Pillowell and Whitecroft

http://www.lightmoor.co.uk/forestcoal/EastDean.html

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Looking for the reason for the death of Theophilus John Russell, 25 years old. Died in April 1891. Occupation was given as Fireman, and address as Gorsty Knoll, so I assume he died somewhere near Coleford area.
Did he die in a mining accident, or fire? Can anyone help please. Regards, Brian

Have searched the Mining Fatalities records to be found on Forest of Dean Local History Society CD and he is not listed. Nor is he to be found in the Inquests on this site.
It is possible that there is a report in a local newspaper that may provide the answer and which one of our users has access to otherwise you may have to obtain the death certificate.

Mike

Thanks Mike, will have to 'bit the bullet' and send for the death cert. Brian

Hi Brian,
Am I right in thinking he's a "fireman" on the 1891 Census, I've been unable to find him on there ?.
However I could find him as simply John Russell on the 1881 as a "general labourer" and his 1887 marriage PR says he's a "collier". I very much doubt any "fireman" in those days in the Dean would be employed as a fulltime professional firefighter; indeed 80odd years later the local brigades were still volunteers aka "retained", I know Cinderford was, they probably still are.
The term most usually described the stoker of a steam engine, which seems likely given John's previous jobs, that engine could have been a stationary winding engine at the pit head, or maybe a smaller engine driving the ventilation fans at the bigger/most modern pits. Alternatively he may have been employed maintaining the fires that were burnt within ventilation outlet shafts to ensure a draught of fresh air thro' the underground workings of smaller/older pits.

As Mike suggested the best source may well be a newspaper report. I've tried various searches on the excellent Welsh Newspapers site looking for "Dean Forest miner" etc etc, filtered to just the 1890s, but sadly no luck in this case. It does carry quite a few such accidents(usually reporting on the Inquest), not unusual events then sadly, hopefully you'll have more luck than me.
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/home

I couldn't find anything on the BNA site either ?. However please note these sites don't carry the Forest's own "Mercury" archives, to search them means visiting Cinderford library if you're able.

Finally this database includes a great many, but not all, of the mining deaths across the UK; again I couldnt find your John Russell listed.
http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/site/disasters/index.html

Sorry couldnt be more help, but feel free to search the site's yourself, they often give surprisingly different "hits" for just a little tweeking of the search words.

Jeff

1891 Census, Monmouth, page 30, District 15, Gorsty Knoll (using his middle name)

John RUSSELL - 25 - Fireman Stationery Engine - born West Dean
Elizabeth - 26 - born English Bicknor
Caroline - 2
Mary - 2 months

My you're "at work" early today M, hope this means your preparing for a nice day on the golf course, hope it stays dry for you before the alltocommon Easter rain.
Many thanks for confirming my suspicion, how ever I searched him, either name or location wise, LDS didn't have the 1891 Census for some reason, so thanks again.

Hi, John's daughter was baptised at Parkend 12th April 1891 and her father was described as a 'fireman'. When she married in 1915 he is described as a collier (deceased).

But thanks for the help and I will, on my next visit into 'them there hills' look into the records at Cinderford.

Brian, ex East Dean Grammar and Drybrook