Thread: James Meredith

I wonder if someone could help me with this one!
My husband's ancestor, James Meredith was born in 1784 In Little Dean's Hill, Gloucester. His occupation was miner. He died in a mine disaster in Bilston Colliery in 1840. I know this because we have his death certificate, which includes his 'cause of death' and the findings of the coroner. What I cannot find is any mention anywhere else of a mine disaster at Bilston Colliery in 1840.
James had one son, also James, (found on Family Search.org) born in 1819, his mother was I believe, a lady called Matilda, (no surname known) and I can find no marriage for his parent's and no other mention of Matilda.
I just feel that someone, somewhere must have heard about the accident at Bilston Colliery. Surely there is a record of it somewhere!
Living in hope
Dandy99

Why dont you go to the local studies library for Bilston and check out the newspapers of that time, its bound to be in them .

[QUOTE=Hazelnut;223976]Why dont you go to the local studies library for Bilston and check out the newspapers of that time, its bound to be in them , Found on freebmd a death for a
Matilda Meredith dec qtr 1856 Dudley, vol 6c page 37
couldnt find a marraige for them .
Do you know the name of the mine where the disater took place?

This is copied from Wolverhampton Archives and local Studies site,

By the latter part of the 19th century much of the shallow coal had been removed. Coal that was situated deeper underground was obviously more difficult and more expensive to extract, which explains the closure of a number of mines in this period. Between the years 1860 and 1928 a total of 32 mines were abandoned in Wolverhampton, 41 in Wednesfield and Heath Town, and no fewer than 132 in Bilston.

This shows there were at least 132 Pits around Bilston, the only disaster for Bilston that I can find at the moment is for 1865..Does the death cert say anything about which pit he was working in?

Thank you so much for all your replies!
How do I go about finding the newspapers?
All the certificate says is "Bilston Colliery". I didn't realise there were so many in the area.
Must dash! I have an apppointment , but will chack in again when I get back.
Dandy99

Have you tried the local newspaper or Family History Soc covering area

I looked out the Certificate, which is actually "Certified Copy of a Death Entry, and it reads; Thirtieth August 1840 at Bilston Pit Forest of Dean Male 58 yrs James Meredith Collier Killed in a Coal Pit, It is then signed by the Coroner, Gloucester with the date 26th Dec 1840, also signed by the Registrar.

I have been in touch with the Family History Society at Forest of Dean, and some lovely people tried, but could not find him or his wife. They did put me on to his son, and we got some great information about him, but that is another story.

I don't know how to get on to the newspapers of the time, which sounds like an excellent suggestion.

Thank you BigDon for looking for Matilda, but as we have no maiden surname for her, we cannot even find out who she is, and any guesses as to her death date, would be just that - guesses.

Maybe this is one brick wall that cannot be knocked down or even scaled.

Thank you all for trying
Dandy99

I tried looking at the list of mine disasters, but apparently, if there were fewer than four people died, it wasn't included in the list.

is this james seniors baptism

Name:James MeredithGender:MaleBirth Date:abt 1784Christening Date:1 Feb 1784Christening Place:Much Dewchurch, Herefordshire, EnglandFather's Name:James MeredithMother's Name:Elizabeth

Ignore my previous post, the Bilston I was looking at was the best part of 100 miles away from Gloucestershires Forest of Dean. o

Hello Welshlady,
James senior was born in Forest of Dean also, His father was Thomas and his mother was Ann Brayne (Brain). Thank you for trying.
Hi Bigdon,
That's the problem with places having the same name inside a relatively small area! It happens so easily!
Thank you again
Dandy99