Life
Moses Pickup, born 5 January 1902, Burnley, Lancashire;
baptised 6 March 1902, Gannow St John, son of Moses Pickup, collier, and Lucy (née Seymour), of Browden Street.
1911 — 70 Dickson Street, Burnley. Father Moses, 29, coal hewer; mother Lucy, 27, cotton weaver; children Moses (9), William Henry (6), James (3), Jane (2), John (8 months). Six children born, five living.
The family moved through Castle Eden, County Durham, then to Leeds. 1921 — they were at Middleton, Leeds. Father, 40, hewer at Middleton Colliery; Moses, 19 years 5 months, bye-work man at the same pit; William Henry, 16, pony driver there.
25 July 1931, St Martin’s, Potternewton: Moses Pickup, 29, bachelor, miner, of 70 Robin Hood, Woodlesford, son of Moses Pickup miner, married Doris Lilian Little, 26, of 14 Laycock Place, Burmantofts. Father of the bride: Henry Little, mason.
He took his Second Class (under-manager) certificate on 29 May 1930 and his First Class (manager) at Doncaster in May 1942.
1939 Register — 35 Barrowby Avenue, Leeds. Moses Pickup, born 5 Jan 1902, colliery under-manager; wife Doris L., born 15 Nov 1904; daughter June C., born 22 June 1934.
By 1943 he lived at Leventhorpe, Woodlesford, and was under-manager at Primrose Hill Colliery, Swillington — one of the Allerton Main pits of T. and R. W. Bower Ltd.
The accident
6 March 1943, Primrose Hill, T. and R. W. Bower Ltd.
Water had collected in an abandoned district beyond a weir at the top of a drift running 1 in 6. The airway connecting with the return drift was sealed. Firedamp accumulated at the top of the water drift. Assisted by two fillers he was clearing the gas with compressed air. Within a few minutes he was overcome. A fireman blew air into his face and went out for help. He was dead when recovered an hour later.
Probate: Pickup Moses of Leventhorpe Woodlesford near Leeds died 6 March 1943 at Primrose Hill Colliery Swillington near Leeds. Administration Wakefield 7 April to Doris Lilian Pickup widow. Effects £491 7s.
Buried Harehills Cemetery, Leeds.
Inspector’s report
Pickup, Moses, 6 March 1943, aged 41, under-manager, T. & R. W. Bower Limited. Water had collected in an abandoned district beyond a weir at top of a drift running 1 in 6 and airway connecting with return drift was sealed. Firedamp accumulated at top of water drift. Assisted by two fillers he was clearing away gas using compressed air and within a few minutes he was overcome. Fireman blew air into his face and went out for help. Dead when recovered 1 hr later.
Authors
