I am trying to trace a mining accident in which my great grandfather was injured and later died in the infirmary in Edinburgh.
His name was John Johnston of Burnvale cottage, Bathgate and he worked in a shale mine...possibly either Starlaw or Pumpherston.
I think he died around about 1929 and he would have been around 56 years old as he was born in 1873.
Can anyone help or give me any ideas of where to look.
Thanks
TRYING TO TRACE A MINING ACCIDENT.....
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nelmit
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Re: TRYING TO TRACE A MINING ACCIDENT
Hello,mrsmotty wrote:I am trying to trace a mining accident in which my great grandfather was injured and later died in the infirmary in Edinburgh.
His name was John Johnston of Burnvale cottage, Bathgate and he worked in a shale mine...possibly either Starlaw or Pumpherston.
I think he died around about 1929 and he would have been around 56 years old as he was born in 1873.
Can anyone help or give me any ideas of where to look.
Thanks
I know there are some experts here who will point you in the right direction but have you looked first of all at John's death entry on Scotlands People? There is one who did die in 1929 as you stated.
This should tell you if he died in an accident and where. It will probably give an RCE number where further information can be obtained.
I would imagine a mining accident would also have been reported in The Scotsman newspaper. http://archive.scotsman.com/
Hope this helps.
Annette M
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Ted
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hbaird
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Hello Mrs M,
My family history crusade started two years ago with an incident just like yours. We knew that my Great Grandfather was injured in a mining accident in Calderbank in 1907, and that he died from those injuries a week later. We couldn't find his death entry on SP so, the first place we looked for information was in the local newspaper archives held in the local library - the story proved to be better than the RCE entry because it went into more detail.
I couldn't quite take it in when I found the story and I think he was watching over my shoulder at the time as I experienced the eeriest feeling as I was reading it for the first time.
Good luck with the search.
My family history crusade started two years ago with an incident just like yours. We knew that my Great Grandfather was injured in a mining accident in Calderbank in 1907, and that he died from those injuries a week later. We couldn't find his death entry on SP so, the first place we looked for information was in the local newspaper archives held in the local library - the story proved to be better than the RCE entry because it went into more detail.
I couldn't quite take it in when I found the story and I think he was watching over my shoulder at the time as I experienced the eeriest feeling as I was reading it for the first time.
Good luck with the search.
Searching for: Baird, McCusker, McGugan, Kelly,McCulloch, Meikle, McCartney
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DavidWW
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Unfortunately Scottish Mining Museum only covers coal mining, and doesn't have any records relating to shale or ironstone mining.
The Almond Valley Heritage Centre, - http://www.almondvalley.co.uk/ - preserves and interprets artefacts from a variety of local industries particularly Oil Shale mining, butI don't know if it has the type of detailed records held by the Scottish Mining Museum on coal miners.
David
PS Later, - was his wife Elizabeth McMeekin, and his parents John Johnstone and Helen Knox?, - in which case a family story has become embroidered down the years, as this 53 year old John was a pitheadman, but died of bronchitis, emphysema and heart failure.
dww
The Almond Valley Heritage Centre, - http://www.almondvalley.co.uk/ - preserves and interprets artefacts from a variety of local industries particularly Oil Shale mining, butI don't know if it has the type of detailed records held by the Scottish Mining Museum on coal miners.
David
PS Later, - was his wife Elizabeth McMeekin, and his parents John Johnstone and Helen Knox?, - in which case a family story has become embroidered down the years, as this 53 year old John was a pitheadman, but died of bronchitis, emphysema and heart failure.
dww
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mrsmotty
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Thanks for all the replies. I've been frantically searching through the Scotsman archives all morning.
His wife was Isabella Johnston nee Fisher (they were married in July 1899) and his parents were Thomas Johnston and Margaret Johnston nee Morris.
He was born at Starlaw, Bathgate on 11 April 1873.
My Gran clearly remembered the day she walked out to meet her father coming home from work but her brother (who worked with him) came running towards her saying there had been a terrible accident. My Aunt, who was only about 5 years old at the time, can remember going to visit him in the infirmary before he died and his back was broken. My Mum spoke to her last night and she says it was definitely something to do with a hutch that had come off the rails.
My Gran also remembers people talking about how he had saved others lives and lots of people bringing gifts of food etc to the house in the days after he died.
His wife was Isabella Johnston nee Fisher (they were married in July 1899) and his parents were Thomas Johnston and Margaret Johnston nee Morris.
He was born at Starlaw, Bathgate on 11 April 1873.
My Gran clearly remembered the day she walked out to meet her father coming home from work but her brother (who worked with him) came running towards her saying there had been a terrible accident. My Aunt, who was only about 5 years old at the time, can remember going to visit him in the infirmary before he died and his back was broken. My Mum spoke to her last night and she says it was definitely something to do with a hutch that had come off the rails.
My Gran also remembers people talking about how he had saved others lives and lots of people bringing gifts of food etc to the house in the days after he died.
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DavidWW
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This one is beginning to severely bug me, not least because I live in Deans !!
There isn't a record that I can see in Bathgate registration district several years either side of 1929, but then, that's no surprise, since, if he died in hospital in Edinburgh, the death may well have been registered there.
And then there's always the possibility of a spelling variation, mis-transcription, etc., etc., ....................
If the Scotsman index doesn't help then there just has to be something in the local newspapers......
Meanwhile, the following background info on Deans and Starlaw ...............
Deans and Starlaw
In Deans there are thirty-six .houses leased to the Pumpherston Oil Company. . Twenty-four houses consist of room and kitchen, and twelve have an attic in addition. Rental for the former is 2s. 9d., and for the latter is 3s. 3d. per week, inclusive of rates. Coal-cellars are provided, but no washhouses.
These houses form three sides of a square. Three stand-pipes supply the water. Clothes poles are erected. Privies and ash-pits are in centre of Square. Sewage is by open channel in front of the houses.
At Starlaw the rows consist of thirty houses, twenty of which consist of a room and kitchen, and ten consist of a single apartment. Coal-cellars are provided, but no washhouses. The rental is 2s. 9d. and 1s. l0 1/2d. per week respectively, inclusive of rates. Water is supplied by stand-pipes. The privies and ash-pits are very unsatisfactory. There are four privies for the thirty houses. The sewage is by open channel.
These houses are old, and of a poor type, and ought to be replaced by a much better standard at once. We understand these houses are leased by the Pumpherston Oil Company, and they certainly are by far the most unsatisfactory of this Company's houses.
The total number of houses at Deans and Starlaw is seventy-three, while the population is 422.
David
There isn't a record that I can see in Bathgate registration district several years either side of 1929, but then, that's no surprise, since, if he died in hospital in Edinburgh, the death may well have been registered there.
And then there's always the possibility of a spelling variation, mis-transcription, etc., etc., ....................
If the Scotsman index doesn't help then there just has to be something in the local newspapers......
Meanwhile, the following background info on Deans and Starlaw ...............
Deans and Starlaw
In Deans there are thirty-six .houses leased to the Pumpherston Oil Company. . Twenty-four houses consist of room and kitchen, and twelve have an attic in addition. Rental for the former is 2s. 9d., and for the latter is 3s. 3d. per week, inclusive of rates. Coal-cellars are provided, but no washhouses.
These houses form three sides of a square. Three stand-pipes supply the water. Clothes poles are erected. Privies and ash-pits are in centre of Square. Sewage is by open channel in front of the houses.
At Starlaw the rows consist of thirty houses, twenty of which consist of a room and kitchen, and ten consist of a single apartment. Coal-cellars are provided, but no washhouses. The rental is 2s. 9d. and 1s. l0 1/2d. per week respectively, inclusive of rates. Water is supplied by stand-pipes. The privies and ash-pits are very unsatisfactory. There are four privies for the thirty houses. The sewage is by open channel.
These houses are old, and of a poor type, and ought to be replaced by a much better standard at once. We understand these houses are leased by the Pumpherston Oil Company, and they certainly are by far the most unsatisfactory of this Company's houses.
The total number of houses at Deans and Starlaw is seventy-three, while the population is 422.
David
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mrsmotty
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This may interest you too.
My great great grandfather Thomas Johnston owned "Starlaw", which at that time was a farm with a lot of land. This is where John Johston was born in 1873. Some of the land was allegedly sold to Pumpherston Oil Company.
When Thomas Johnston died there was a fall out between his 2 sons, Thomas Johnston and John Johnston. John moved into a farm house called Lower Starlaw (this is still standing and it is in between Livingston and Bathgate, it normally has a handful of sheep grazing in the field) and got a job in the shale pit. This is where my Gran was born, along with 10 brothers and sisters, 2 of whom died before the age of 2. One of them died at 6 Starlaw Row, although I'm not sure why as they were definitely still living at Lower Starlaw at that time.
Thomas Johnston took over "Starlaw" and later set up Johnston Oil company.
After further fall outs, John Johnston left Lower Starlaw and moved to Burnvale. This is where my Mum was born.
In the 50s, the land that Burnvale stood on was bought by the BMC.
I apologise if you find this extremely boring, I think its really interesting and I wont be happy until I find out the truth about John Johnston's death.
Thanks for your help
My great great grandfather Thomas Johnston owned "Starlaw", which at that time was a farm with a lot of land. This is where John Johston was born in 1873. Some of the land was allegedly sold to Pumpherston Oil Company.
When Thomas Johnston died there was a fall out between his 2 sons, Thomas Johnston and John Johnston. John moved into a farm house called Lower Starlaw (this is still standing and it is in between Livingston and Bathgate, it normally has a handful of sheep grazing in the field) and got a job in the shale pit. This is where my Gran was born, along with 10 brothers and sisters, 2 of whom died before the age of 2. One of them died at 6 Starlaw Row, although I'm not sure why as they were definitely still living at Lower Starlaw at that time.
Thomas Johnston took over "Starlaw" and later set up Johnston Oil company.
After further fall outs, John Johnston left Lower Starlaw and moved to Burnvale. This is where my Mum was born.
In the 50s, the land that Burnvale stood on was bought by the BMC.
I apologise if you find this extremely boring, I think its really interesting and I wont be happy until I find out the truth about John Johnston's death.
Thanks for your help
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DavidWW
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- Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 9:47 pm
Not boring in the least.............mrsmotty wrote:.....much snipped ..............
I apologise if you find this extremely boring, I think its really interesting and I wont be happy until I find out the truth about John Johnston's death.
Thanks for your help
Just interested to find his death record.
David
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mrsmotty
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Death certificate and RCE finally tracked down!! (there was an error on the scotandspeople website)
He died on 14th June 1929 in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh.
The RCE states cause of death as follows:
injuries received on 22 April 1929 through being crushed between a runaway hutch and a brick wall at Deans Oil Works, Bathgate, where he was employed"
Now all I need to do is find the newspaper article.
Does anyone know how to access The Courier archives?
He died on 14th June 1929 in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh.
The RCE states cause of death as follows:
injuries received on 22 April 1929 through being crushed between a runaway hutch and a brick wall at Deans Oil Works, Bathgate, where he was employed"
Now all I need to do is find the newspaper article.
Does anyone know how to access The Courier archives?