His life

Francis Stoker was a banksman at Allerton Bywater, born in the village about 1822. Age 39 on 7 April 1861, 48 on 2 April 1871, and 50 at burial in November 1872 agree, within a year.

He married Mary Hutchinson at Ledsham on 29 May 1858, after banns, entry 136. He was of full age, a bachelor, a labourer, of Allerton Bywater. His father was Francis Stoker, labourer. Mary was of full age, a spinster, of Fairburn, daughter of George Hutchinson, labourer. The witnesses were Joseph Hutchinson, Harriet Hutchinson and John Holmes. The clergyman was James J. B. London.

On 7 April 1861 he was head of a household at Allerton Bywater, a colliery banksman, with Mary, 27, born Fairburn, and their daughter Elizabeth, 1, born Allerton Bywater. RG 9/3431, schedule 41.

Alice, daughter of Francis and Mary Stoker, of Allerton Bywater, was baptised there on 25 July 1866, entry 45. He was then set down as a labourer. Allerton Bywater parish register P3/1/1.

On 2 April 1871 the household was still at Allerton Bywater. Francis, 48, colliery banksman, born Allerton Bywater; Mary, 38, born Fairburn; Elizabeth, 11; Thomas, 9; Alice, 6; and Francis, 1. The four children were born in the village. RG 10/4637, schedule 57. The Mercury’s “wife and four children” is this household.

A Francis Stoker, widower, 76, sawyer, born Ulleskelf, was head of a separate household in the village that night, schedule 60. The marriage names the father as Francis Stoker, labourer. The ages fit a father and son. They were not in the same house, so the link is likely, not proved.

The supplied 1851 sheet of Allerton Bywater, HO 107/2329, households 38 to 41, does not contain him. He is not placed in a household that year from these papers.

The accident

On Wednesday night, 6 November 1872, in a gale, he was at his usual work at the mouth of the pit. A gust of wind carried him off his feet, and he fell to the bottom of the shaft. Death was instantaneous. The Friday papers say he was cut to pieces, and the Mercury says fearfully mutilated. The plate does not show that.

One Bradford account adds that he was blown down, or fell through the giving way of some tubing at the top of the pit. The Yorkshire Post and the Leeds Mercury do not mention tubing. They agree on the gale, the pit mouth, and the fall. He was buried at Allerton Bywater on Saturday 9 November, entry 178, age 50, abode Allerton Bywater, by G. Winterbotham, vicar. P3/3/1.

Coroner’s report and conclusion

No inquest paper has been traced in this set. The papers of Friday 8 November are the account.

A melancholy and fatal accident happened at Mr Carter’s colliery, Allerton Bywater, near Castleford, on Wednesday night, by which Francis Stoker, the banksman, met a most shocking and painful death. It appears the deceased, whilst engaged in his usual work at the mouth of the pit, was carried by a gust of wind off his feet (the night being very boisterous) and precipitated to the pit bottom. The poor fellow was cut to pieces. He was an old and valued servant, and leaves a widow and four children to bewail his untimely end.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, Friday 8 November 1872. The Leeds Mercury of the same day is to the same effect, and names the wife and four children.

During the gale of wind on Wednesday night, the banksman at Mr Carter’s colliery, Allerton Bywater, near Castleford, was blown down or fell through the giving way of some tubing at the top of the pit, and he was precipitated to the bottom of the shaft. Death was instantaneous.

Telegraph and Argus, Bradford, Friday 8 November 1872. The Bradford Daily Telegraph of the same day names him, and spells the village Ailerton.

Sources and citations

Ledsham marriage register, 29 May 1858, entry 136. Francis Stoker and Mary Hutchinson.

1861 census, Allerton Bywater, RG 9/3431, schedule 41. 1871 census, Allerton Bywater, RG 10/4637, schedules 57 and 60.

Allerton Bywater baptism register, 25 July 1866, entry 45, Alice Stoker. P3/1/1. Burial register, 9 November 1872, entry 178, age 50. P3/3/1.

Yorkshire Post, 8 November 1872. Leeds Mercury, 8 November 1872. Bradford Daily Telegraph, 8 November 1872. Telegraph and Argus, 8 November 1872.

UK Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths Index: F. Stoker, 50, 6 November 1872, Castleford, T. M. Carter and Co., banksman, fell down shaft.

Corrections

Date. Wednesday night before the Friday papers of 8 November is 6 November 1872. The index agrees. Buried 9 November.
Age. 50, from the burial and the index. The 1861 age of 39 and the 1871 age of 48 agree.
Cause. Fell the shaft from the pit mouth in the gale. One paper adds that tubing at the top gave way. Not an underground fall.
Name and place. Francis Stoker, not F. only. Allerton Bywater, not Ailerton. Owner T. M. Carter. Castleford is the registration district. The 1851 sheet supplied does not contain him.