Coal Mining Disaster

[Catherine123]

Hi

I have discovered that one of my relatives, James Finney, was killed in a coal mining explosion circa 1869 in St Helens, Lancashire. I would like to find out how I go about trying to obtain some further information re: the tragedy.

Any advice or suggestions anyone could offer will be gratefully appreciated.

Regards
Catherine

[Oates]

There's a good chance the local library has information on it. If it was a big disaster it should be very easy to find information on it.

This website could be very useful for you - http://website.lineone.net/~coalmining/index-page3.html
It is run by the curator of the former Lancashire Mining Museum.

Until the 1850’s and the arrival of the Inspectors of Mines records of those killed were rarely kept unless the disaster was particularly large. Some can be tracked down through local press accounts of the time and secondary publications.
After 1850 we have a good record in the six monthly and annual reports of the Inspectors of Mines. I have access to a complete run of the reports, formerly the property of a senior Inspector.

He also offers other information about life in the mines and photos of collieries.

Also look at this page - http://www.dmm.org.uk/names/d1860-69.htm
Scroll down to the very bottom. Only those accidents where 5 or more lives were lost are shown in the table.

Edit - I forgot to mention, failing the sources mentioned above, try the local papers and his death certificate. My great grandfather was killed in a colliery by a two ton stone falling from the roof. Amongst some family photographs there were two reports about the inquest cut from newspapers. The death certificate has a (horribly detailed) post mortem report and the date and verdict of the inquest.

[Catherine123]

Hi Oates

Thank you for your advice. Both the websites you suggested have proved very useful. It seems so obvious now, but at the time I didn't think to visit the local library. As I have managed to find the date the death occurred, I intend to go to there to look through the old newspapers.

Once again, many thanks.

Regards
Catherine

[*bunty*]

Hi Catherine,

Have a look at http://www.cmhrc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/lodts2.htm and this shows James Finney's name as deceased in a coal mine in the year you specified. Contact the owner of these pages, Ian Winstanley, and he will supply the details that he has of the accident. Note also that there were two other Finneys on that list who died (perhaps not in the same accident, but perhaps they did).

*bunty*