Blackwell Colliery Explosion 1895..those who lost their lives
William Martin
William Martin was born in Somercotes in 1849, and moved with the family to Sutton In Ashfield when 1 year old. His father Christopher was a Bacon Dealer, and they must have moved to a farm at Wheatcroft near Crich, where he passed away leaving a young wife Ann, a daughter, and 2 sons, a 3rd being born just a few weeks after his death. William moved with mother and siblings to Swanwick, leaving home aged 22 years to marry Mary Shawcroft at Ripley.( Mary’s photo here)
The birth places of their children shows the moves made as a family: at Ripley 2 sons, William ( 1870) and Thomas (1873): At Huthwaite a son Andrew (1875): At South Normanton 2 Daughters Ruth (1877), and Ann ( 1879), and 3 sons Samuel ( 1882), George (1884), and John Christopher ( 1888): At Stanton Hill a daughter Ada (1890)…9 children in all, 5 of whom were still with mother Mary at Fordbridge Lane, South Normanton in 1901.
The first son William Martin Shawcroft was born before his parents married, but his name leaves no doubt as to who his father was. William married Rebecca Smith of Tibshelf in 1901 and they had 3 sons, William Martin ( 1902), Cyril (1904) and Albert ( 1905), all born in South Normanton.
2nd born Thomas married Myra Clarke in South Normanton in 1898, and they had 4 daughters: Mary (1899), Laura ( 1904), Ruth ( 1906) and Lilly (1910), all born in South Normanton. The whole family were living in Hilcote Street in 1911.
Andrew married Eliza Sherwood of Brick Yard Lane, Sth Normanton in 1896. By 1911 census they had had 9 children, but 4 had died leaving 5; a further 6 children were born after that date, all but one of which survived infancy: Children were Sarah Ann (1900), Thomas (1904), Nellie (1905), Ernest (1906), Minnie (1910), Mary (1911) , Hilda (1915), Willis (1918), Stanley (1920), and Freda (1922). In 1939 Andrew and Eliza were living in Hilcote Street, next door to brother William’s
Ruth married Joseph Owen Garrod of Cheltenham in 1900; they settled in Mount Pleasant Newton and then as a Railway Fireman Joseph could take a home in Midland Terrace, Westhouses. It is thought that Ruth and Joseph did not have children.
Ann married George Kitchener of Skegby, in South Normanton on the same day in 1900 as her sister Ruth married Joe Garrod. Their first son George (1902) was born in Stanton Hill, and the next 3 in South Normanton, Hannah (1904), John (1906), and Thomas (1909). They had lost 2 other children by 1911, by which time they were living on Bacon’s Lane, South Normanton. Another son Basil was born in 1911, but a daughter born 1920 did not survive infancy.
Samuel Martin married Ada Spencer of Hilcote in 1902 and by 1911 they had 3 children and were living in New St. B Winning: George (1903), Jessie May (1905), Harold (1907). A further 5 children followed by 1920: Samuel (1910), Hubert (1912), Gladys (1915), Eric (1918), & Leslie (1920).
George married Elizabeth Ann Stocks in South Normanton in 1907 and they had 4 children, Annie (1907),George (1911), Maurice (1914) and Arthur (1918). George , Elizabeth and Arthur were living at The Bungalow, Blackwell Road in 1939 but sadly just 3 years later Arthur lost his life when serving as an Ordinary Seaman on the Trawler “Notts County”, sunk by a U Boat to the southeast of Iceland on 9th March 1942.
John Christopher married Martha Elizabeth Aldred of Hilcote in 1908 and they had 3 childen by 1911: Ruth ( 1909), John (1909), & Thomas (1911). When John died in 1974, he was living at Downing St South Normanton.
Ada married Thomas Godson Hind in 1913. Tom was born in Sutton on Trent, but moved to lodge at Primrose Hill, Blackwell, for employment at the pit. Ada and Tom had 6 children: Catherine Dorcas (1913), Ruth Mabel (1916), Harry (1918), Barbara (1921), Ada (1922), Jack (1924), 3 of whom were living with Ada and Tom at Park Lane Farm, Shirland in 1939.