IN MEMORIAM
Amos Jackson
Hurt about October 1867 · died 19 April 1868 · age 25
Fall of roof while preparing a blast
Allerton Bywater · T. R. Carter, Wakefield · of Glass Houghton
His life
Amos Jackson was baptised at Castleford on 20 March 1843, entry No. 778, son of Robert Jackson, coal miner, and Ann, of Glass Houghton. The curate was R. H. Kempsey. West Yorkshire Archive Service D147/1/3.
On 30 March 1851 the family was at Glass Houghton, in the ecclesiastical district of Castleford. Robert Jackson, 52, agricultural labourer, born Glass Houghton, was head. With him were George, 18, coal miner; William, 13, coal miner; David, 10, agricultural labourer; and Amos, 7, at home. All born Glass Houghton. HO 107/2330, folio 224. The census age is a year light. Baptised in March 1843, he was eight that week.
On 7 April 1861 he was a lodger in the house of John Hepworth, coal miner, 24, of Glass Houghton, in Castleford township. Amos was unmarried, a coal miner, born Glass Houghton. The schedule gives him 17. He was 18. RG 9/3438, folio 89, schedule 25. No marriage has been found. A wife is not invented.
By 1867 he was employed in the Allerton Bywater pit of Mr T. R. Carter, of Wakefield. That is the owner named by the Leeds Times. The older indexes often print the firm as Carter and Co.
The accident
No paper gives the day of the fall. The Leeds Times of 25 April 1868 says it was about six months before the inquest, so about October 1867. He was preparing a blast. A portion of the roof fell on him and fractured his spine.
He was taken to the Infirmary and remained there eighteen weeks. He was then removed to his friends. He lingered, completely paralysed, until Sunday 19 April 1868, when he died. The inquest sat on Friday 24 April. “Sunday” in a Saturday paper of the 25th is the 19th, not the 26th.
The Leeds Mercury of the same day says he died from injuries received through a fall from the roof of a pit at Allerton Bywater, some six months ago. “Fall from the roof” is the Mercury’s phrase. The Times is the fuller account, and it says the roof fell upon him.
Coroner’s report and conclusion
Mr Emsley, borough coroner of Leeds, held the inquest. It had been adjourned so that the Government inspector might be present. The jury’s verdict was accidental death.
Yesterday, an inquest was held at Leeds, by Mr. Emsley, on the body of Amos Jackson, a coal miner. Deceased had been employed in the Allerton Bywater Pit, of Mr. T. R. Carter, (Wakefield), and about six months ago while preparing a blast, a portion of the roof fell upon him and fractured his spine. He was taken to the Infirmary, where he remained for eighteen weeks, at the expiration of which period he was removed to his friends. He lingered in a completely paralysed condition until Sunday, when death resulted. A verdict of “Accidental death” was recorded by the jury.
Leeds Times, Saturday 25 April 1868, page 5. “Yesterday” is Friday 24 April. “Sunday” is 19 April.
An adjourned inquest was held yesterday before the Leeds borough coroner, on the body of a man named Amos Jackson, who died recently from injuries he had received through a fall from the roof of a pit at Allerton Bywater, some six months ago. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.” The inquest had been adjourned that the Government inspector might be present.
Leeds Mercury, Saturday 25 April 1868, page 8.
Sources and citations
Castleford parish baptism register, 20 March 1843, entry 778. Amos, son of Robert and Ann Jackson, Glass Houghton, coal miner. D147/1/3.
1851 census, Glass Houghton, HO 107/2330, folio 224. Robert Jackson and sons George, William, David and Amos.
1861 census, Castleford, Glass Houghton, RG 9/3438, folio 89. Amos Jackson, lodger, unmarried, coal miner, in the house of John Hepworth.
Leeds Times, 25 April 1868, page 5. Leeds Mercury, 25 April 1868, page 8.
Corrections
- Date. 19 April 1868 is the day he died, not the day of the fall. The fall was about six months earlier, about October 1867. No exact day has been found.
- Age. 25, from the baptism of 20 March 1843. The 1851 age of 7 and the 1861 age of 17 are each a year light.
- Cause. Fall of roof while preparing a blast, spine fractured. He was not killed on the spot. Eighteen weeks in the Infirmary, then at home, paralysed, until 19 April.
- Owner. The Times names Mr T. R. Carter, of Wakefield. Home was Glass Houghton, not Allerton Bywater.
Authors
