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Bignall Hill Colliery Explosion 1874

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Disasters | Mining Disasters | England Mining Disasters |Staffordshire Mining Disasters | Bignall Hill Colliery Disaster 1874

Contact: David Moss

Summary

  • Date: 24 December 1874
  • Location: Bignall Hill, Audley, Audley, Staffordshire (approximately 53 degrees 3' N, 2 degrees 16' W)
  • Victims: 17 casualties
  • Cause: Explosion
  • sources [1]
"The colliery was the property of the representatives of the late Josiah Wedgewood and an explosion occurred in the Bullhurst Seam...The jury brought in the following verdict: We wish to express our opinion that there was not enough care taken in the working of this mine and naked lights ought not to have been used..."

Josiah Wedgewood was possibly a descendant of Josiah Wedgewood.

Victims
Name Age Those they left behind Address Sourced Bio Connected Category
James Handley 28
Henry Machin 35 wife & 2 children
Enoch Procter 32 wife & son
Samuel Plevin 26 wife & son [2]
Thomas Turner 17 parents & 4 siblings
Alexander Obery 21 parents and 2 siblings
William Cotton 18 [3]
Frank Browning 18 parents & 5 siblings
William Bentley 26
Joseph Ashley 23 wife & daughter [4]
John Lunt 17 parents & 6 siblings
Henry Halfpenny 20
George Cotton 28 wife, daughter, parents, siblings
Joseph Mayer 60 wife & more than 5 children
Levi Browning 45 wife & 7 children
John Plevin 23
William Dudley 34 wife & daughter [5]

Sticker:

Mining Emblem
... ... ... died in the Bignall Hill Colliery Explosion 1874 disaster on 24-December 1874

Research Notes

possible birth, census, death records

James Handley 28

An 1861 census record for Tunstall with family -

  • "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59058c7fe9379091b15619b6 : viewed 26 Jun 2022), James HANDLEY in household of James HANDLEY, 19, Piccadilly St, Staffordshire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/1925, Folio 105, Page 7, Schedule 42, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

death

Henry Machin 35

An 1861 census record for Burslem with family -

  • "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59058ee1e9379091b1572c23 : viewed 26 Jun 2022), Henry MACHIN in household of Thomas MACHIN, 23, High St, Staffordshire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/1928, Folio 40, Page 32, Schedule 135, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

An 1871 Chatterley census records Henry Machin 32 labourer with family - Maria Machin Wife 28 Samuel Machin Son 2 Ciceley Machin Daughter 0

death aged 35

Enoch Procter 32

The 1861 census for Audley shows Enoch 19 (coal miner) with family

  • "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590588e9e9379091b15463ea : viewed 26 Jun 2022), Enoch PROCTER in household of Ralph PROCTER, Briery Brook, Staffordshire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/1919, Folio 17, Page 28, Schedule 143, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

death aged 32

Samuel Plevin 26

Samuel Plevin 23 (agricultural labourer) is recorded in the 1871 Burland census with family - Emma Plevin Wife 21 Joseph Plevin Son 1

death aged 26

Thomas Turner 17

Thomas Turner aged 2 is recorded in the 1861 census of Wolstanton with family - TURNER Charles Head M M 36 Coal Miner TURNER Mary Ann Wife M F 32 TURNER Hannah Dau U F 12 Scholar TURNER George Son U M 11 Scholar TURNER John Son U M 7 Scholar TURNER James Son U M 5 Scholar TURNER Thomas Son U M 2

  • "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59058af6e9379091b1555f24 : viewed 26 Jun 2022), Thomas TURNER in household of Charles TURNER, Rookery, Staffordshire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/1923, Folio 96, Page 14, Schedule 88, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

death aged 17

Alexander Obery 21

Alexander 8 is recorded in the 1861 census of Bignall End with family - OBERY James Head M M 32 Farm Labourer OBERY Mary A Wife M F 36 OBERY Maria J. Dau - F 10 Scholar OBERY Alexandra Son - M 8 Scholar

  • "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59058935e9379091b1547c1d : viewed 26 Jun 2022), Alexandra OBERY in household of James OBERY, Town Fields, Staffordshire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/1919, Folio 93, Page 14, Schedule 74, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

Alexander 18 (coal miner) is recorded in the 1871 Wood Lane, Audley census with his family - James Obery Father 44 labourer Mary Ann Obery Mother 46 Clement Obery Brother 7

death aged 21

William Cotton 18

The 1861 census for Burslem shows William 6 with family - COTTON Henry Head M M 31 Coal Miner COTTON Edna Wife M F 30 Coal Miners Wife COTTON John Son - M 8 Potter COTTON William Son - M 6 COTTON Frederick Son - M 1

  • "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59058f37e9379091b1574137 : viewed 26 Jun 2022), William COTTON in household of Henry COTTON, 60, Peel St, Staffordshire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/1928, Folio 99, Page 33, Schedule 155, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

death aged 18

Frank Browning 18

Frank Browning aged 4 is recorded in the 1861 census of Audley - BROWNING Noah Head M M 35 Coal Miner BROWNING Martha Wife M F 43 BROWNING Selina Dau U F 13 Scholar BROWNING Sarah Dau U F 11 Scholar BROWNING Enoch Son - M 9 Scholar BROWNING Daniel Son - M 6 Scholar BROWNING Frank Son - M 4 BROWNING George Son - M 2

  • "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590588dde9379091b15460ed : viewed 26 Jun 2022), Frank BROWNING in household of Noah BROWNING, Chapel Street, Staffordshire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/1919, Folio 10, Page 14, Schedule 71, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

Frank Browning aged 14 (coal miner) is recorded in the 1871 census of Audley with family - Noah Browning Father 44 coal miner Martha Browning Mother 53 Enock Browning Brother 18 coal miner Daniel Browning Brother 16 coal miner George Browning Brother 12 scholar

death aged 18

William Bentley 26

William Bentley 13 is recorded in the 1861 census of Hanley with family - BENTLEY John Head M M 44 Shoe Maker BENTLEY Mary Wife M F 41 BENTLEY William Son - M 13 Potter BENTLEY Joseph Son - M 10 Potter BENTLEY Eliza Dau - F 5 Scholar BENTLEY Richard Son - M 1m

  • "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59059244e9379091b158b165 : viewed 26 Jun 2022), William BENTLEY in household of John BENTLEY, Birch Street, Staffordshire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/1933, Folio 39, Page 28, Schedule 149, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

death aged 26

Joseph Ashley 23

Joseph Ashley 11 is recorded in the 1861 census of Tunstall with family - ASHLEY Thomas Head M M 36 Boatman ASHLEY Sarah Wife M F 34 ASHLEY George Son - M 13 ASHLEY Joseph Son - M 11 ASHLEY Thomas Son - M 9 ASHLEY Phebee Dau - F 7 ASHLEY Amelia Dau - F 5

  • "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59058db6e9379091b156927a : viewed 26 Jun 2022), Joseph ASHLEY in household of Thomas ASHLEY, Oxford (-), Staffordshire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/1926, Folio 161, Page 36, Schedule 0, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

Joseph aged 23 coal miner is recorded in the 1871 Tunstall census with family - Bessy Ashley Wife 23 Sarah Ashley Daughter 1

death aged 23

John Lunt 17

John Lunt 3 is recorded in the 1861 census of Audley with family - LUNT Hannah Head W F 39 LUNT Henry Son U M 14 Coal Miner LUNT George Son - M 12 Coal Miner LUNT Hannah Dau - F 10 Scholar LUNT Joseph Son - M 7 Scholar LUNT David Son - M 5 Scholar LUNT John Son - M 3

  • "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590588ebe9379091b154651b : viewed 26 Jun 2022), John LUNT in household of Hannah LUNT, Haugher Wall, Staffordshire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/1919, Folio 20, Page 34, Schedule 173, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

John Lunt 13 stepson, coal miner is recorded in the 1871 census of Audley with family - Levi Browning 40 coal miner Hannah Browning 49 mother Elija Browning 12 daughter William Browning 10 son Hannah Lunt 20 step-daughter, servant Joseph Lunt 18 stepson, coal miner David Lunt 15 stepson, coal miner Sabina Lunt 10 step-daughter

John's death aged 17

Henry Halfpenny 20

Henry Halfpenny 6 is recorded in the 1861 census of Madeley-

  • "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590588b9e9379091b15437a3 : viewed 26 Jun 2022), Henry (Jnr) HALFPENNY in household of Henry HALFPENNY, Little Madeley, Staffordshire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/1918, Folio 80, Page 18, Schedule 99, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. (accessed 26-6-2022)

death aged 20

George Cotton 28

George Cotton 14 (coal miner) is recorded in the 1861 census of Audley with family -

COTTON Edward Head M M 38 Agricultural Labourer COTTON Ann Wife M F 3 COTTON George Son U M 14 Coal Miner COTTON Mary Ann Son - F 11 Scholar COTTON Martha Dau - F 7 Scholar COTTON Edward Dau - M 3

  • "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590588dbe9379091b1546060 : viewed 26 Jun 2022), George COTTON in household of Edward COTTON, Village, Staffordshire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/1919, Folio 9, Page 11, Schedule 56, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

George Cotton 24 (coal miner) is recorded in the 1871 census of Audley with family - Hannah Cotton Wife 18 Florence Anne Cotton Daughter 0

George's death aged 28

Joseph Mayer 60

The 1861 census for Ravens Lane, Audley shows Joseph 47 (coal miner) with family - MAYER Joseph Head M M 47 Coal Miner MAYER Dinah Wife M F 51 MAYER William Son U M 18 Coal Miner MAYER Elisha Son U M 16 Coal Miner MAYER Mary Dau U F 13 Scholar MAYER Dinah Dau - F 8 Scholar MAYER James Son - M 5 Scholar

  • "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590588e7e9379091b1546352 : viewed 26 Jun 2022), Joseph MAYER, Ravens Lane, Staffordshire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/1919, Folio 16, Page 25, Schedule 131, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

Levi Browning 45

Levi aged 40 is recorded in the 1871 Audley census with family - Hannah Browning Wife 49 Elija Browning Daughter 12 William Browning Son 10 Hannah Lunt 20 Joseph Lunt 18 David Lunt 15 John Lunt 13 Sabina Lunt 10

Levi's death aged 45

John Plevin 23

death aged 23

William Dudley 34

An 1861 census record shows William 22 with family -

  • "General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5905b5a4e9379091b1713a91 : viewed 26 Jun 2022), William DUDLEY in household of Jeremiah DUDLEY, Harris's Yard, Staffordshire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/2053, Folio 64, Page 5, Schedule 20, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

The 1871 Hanley census shows William 27 miner with family - Harriett Dudley Wife 23 Margaret E Dudley Daughter 6

William's death aged 34

Sources

  1. https://www.nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/accidents-disasters/staffordshire/bignall-hill-colliery-explosion-audley-1874/ "BIGNALL HILL. Audley, Staffordshire. 24th. December, 1874." (accessed 6-6-2022)
  2. "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL74-SLWK : 8 July 2020), Samuel Plevin, 28 Dec 1874; citing Burial, Audley, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Archive Service, Stafford; FHL microfilm 101,424,681. (accessed 3 Sep 2023)
  3. "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL7W-Y6LZ : 8 July 2020), William Cotton, 27 Dec 1874; citing Burial, Audley, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Archive Service, Stafford; FHL microfilm 101,424,681. (accessed 3 Sep 2023)
  4. "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL74-3H4G : 8 July 2020), Joseph Ashley, 28 Dec 1874; citing Burial, Audley, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Archive Service, Stafford; FHL microfilm 101,424,681. (accessed 3 Sep 2023)
  5. "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL7H-HK5D : 8 July 2020), William Dudley, 29 Dec 1874; citing Burial, Chesterton, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Archive Service, Stafford; FHL microfilm 7,566,562. (accessed 3 Sep 2023)
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