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Albert Cray

Male 1872 - 1899  (27 years)


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  • Name Albert Cray 
    Born 1872  Radstock, Somerset, England, UK Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Colliery Accident
    Gender Male 
    Died 15 Aug 1899  Radstock, Somerset, England, UK Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Accident at Wellsway Colliery - 1st August 1899

      Albert Cray with others had entered the cage in order to ascend the shaft but owing to a misunderstanding as regards the signals in the absence of a regular hitcher, the engineman lowered the cage into the sump in which there was hot water from condensed steam. They were all more or less severely scalded and this man died from the effects on the 15th.

      The hitcher who had left the pit and the overman who did not replace him were returned by the Coroner's jury for manslaughter.

      Died from severe scalds received at Welleway Colliery, Radstock
      A misunderstanding between the engineman and banksman resulted in a tragic error.

      With John Dando and Alfred Wilton, Albert Cray entered the middle deck of a three decker cage to be drawn up. When in, Lewis Hills signalled to the engine driver, William Beaverstock to pull up a little to allow others to get on to the lower deck.

      The cage ascended about a foot and was then lowered into a sump hole which contained boiling water. Hills was not sufficiently experienced to put on the catches (brakes) to stop the cage being lowered into the sump for he was not the regular man for "rapping". He was John Davis who received an extra shilling a week to perform the duty.

      Beaverstock who had been employed at the pit 24 years said he had not received the proper signal to ascend which was three knocks and should have been given when somebody entered the cage.
      The upper deck of the cage was usually filled first and for this purpose the lower deck had to be lowered into the sump.

      Benjamin Gullick who was on the upper deck said he had heard no signal. He admitted he was breaking a rule when he himself failed to signal upon enterlng.

      Edward Gregory of Midsomer Norton, a miner for fifty years (30 of them at Welleway) said he did not hear a single signal and did not understand the rapping. He had never read the rules. Simon Simmons and Frederick Gregory had been in the cage with him.

      The inquest jury decided that there was a case to answer by John Davis the rapper, who it was said left his post before time and Eli Hamilton, the under-bailiff of the colliery.

      Both men were arrested on a charge of manslaughter and admitted to bail.

      http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/site/database/result/62527.html
    Person ID I15086  Lasbury Family
    Last Modified 10 Jan 2024 

    Father George Cray
              b. 1838, Radstock, Somerset, England, UK Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 1915, Clutton, Somerset, England, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years) 
    Mother Martha Dando
              b. 1839, Radstock, Somerset, England, UK Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 1901, Radstock, Somerset, England, UK Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 62 years) 
    Married 22 Apr 1858  Radstock, Somerset, England, UK Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    St. Nicholas Church, Radstock, Somerset, England, UK 
    Marriage Witness 22 Apr 1858 
    Job Cray, Mary Hobbs & Eliza Dando 
    Family ID F4221  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Wife Emily Jane Whittock
              b. 1873, Radstock, Somerset, England, UK Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 6 Jun 1892  Radstock, Somerset, England, UK Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Address:
    St. Nicholas Church, Radstock, Somerset, England, UK 
    Marriage Witness 6 Jun 1892 
    Charles Whittock & Eliza Cray 
    Children 
     1. Beatrice Maud Cray
              b. 1893, Radstock, Somerset, England, UK Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 1968  (Age 75 years)
     2. William James Cray
              b. 1896, Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England, UK Find all individuals with events at this location
     3. Elsie Elizabeth Cray
              b. 1898, Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England, UK Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified 10 Jan 2024 
    Family ID F5259  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 1872 - Radstock, Somerset, England, UK Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - Address:
    St. Nicholas Church, Radstock, Somerset, England, UK - 6 Jun 1892 - Radstock, Somerset, England, UK
    Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 15 Aug 1899 - Radstock, Somerset, England, UK Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth