Update of the past NEWS........25th May 1878

 

Catch up on the full story of last weeks NEWS.............
 

*Ann Oates –

Ann was a sempstress who was causing shock throughout Chesterfield after she lost her temper and threw a pair of sewing shears at Thomas Swinscoe on 20^th May.

Ann was a colleague of Thomas and she worked alongside him for Mr Brown the tailors of Corporation Street, Chesterfield.  On the day of the 20^th May she and Thomas had quarrelled and Ann had lost all her self-control.  She threw various items at Thomas first including soap and a bodkin. 

The shears hit Thomas on his calf and caused two wounds, one of which entered his limb.  The incident had caused Thomas to bleed severely and in July that year when the case went to court he was still receiving care from Mr Bluett the surgeon.

At the hearing the jury decided that Ann was guilty but “recommended her to mercy”.  She was lucky and received a sentence of four months hard labour.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ X  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

*Thomas Marriott –

Thomas was named in the obituaries of last week’s NEWS.  His full name was actually Samuel Thomas Marriott and he was 32 years old.  He had lived in Chesterfield and worked for Messrs John Turner and Son previously. 

Latterly though he lived at 1 Goldsmith Street, Stockport Road, Manchester and was employed by the Manchester Equitable Co-Operative Society.  On Saturday morning he was busy at work in the shop on Downing Street cutting bone from a piece of beef.  The manager of the store witnessed what he thought was Thomas stop work and throw the knife away from him.  On checking closer he found that the knife had in fact slipped off of the meat and entered the groin of Thomas.  There was a large amount of blood and he was taken to the Royal Infirmary but sadly so great was the injury that Thomas died later that afternoon.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded at the inquest on Monday by the Manchester City Coroner.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ X  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Echoes of our Past NEWS.............. 25th May 1878

 

Read all about it……. Echoes of our past NEWS

What was in the local news this weekend in 1878?

MAIN NEWS –

*Chesterfield woman stabs man –

A woman named Ann Oates was the topic of conversation and certainly much speculation after she lost her temper and stabbed a man named Thomas Swinscoe.

Ann lived on Eyre Street just minutes away from the scene of the attack on Corporation Street.  Thomas lodged at the Flying Dutchman public house on Knifesmith Gate.  He was a tailor journeyman and he worked as foreman for Mr Brown the tailor on Corporation Street.  He was a member of the Tailor’s Union. 

Now, Mr Oates Ann's husband was also a tailor and on the day of the incident he had called on Thomas to ask his professional opinion on what price to put on a garment he had tailored.   Thomas however did not reply, he continued in his work at the time.  This made Mr Oates furious and he “bounced out of the shop, filled with rage”.  When he arrived home he relayed the event to his wife Ann.  Ann being the dutiful wife was most annoyed that he husband had been treated with such contempt and the fact that she had been drinking did much to fuel the situation.

She stormed from the house and along to face Thomas and have it out with him.  Once at the workshop where Thomas was busy practising his trade she began to tell him of her annoyance at his behaviour but Thomas was not fazed, in fact he “received her outbursts of wrath with stolidity that only increased her exasperation”.  Ann was becoming more and more annoyed, she became violent and threw a chair, a piece of soap and a pair of scissors but still Thomas did not budge from his position sitting crossed legged on the floor.  Eventually her anger got the better of her and she grasped hold of a large pair of sewing shears and threw them towards his legs.  The blades were said to be “a foot long and nearly two inches wide”.  They hit Thomas just below the knee and entered his body with full force. 

There was another employee at the workshop and he witnessed the event, but being scared by Ann’s actions he did nothing.  Poor Thomas had to remove the blade from his own leg and await Police Sergeant Yeomans to apprehend the uncontrollable Ann. 

Thomas was despatched off to the hospital where he had his wound dressed by Mr Bluett the surgeon.  Police Constable Gilbert took Ann into custody.  She was still defiant of her actions, stating “Swinscoe ought to be dead; he was not fit to be in the Union”.

As for the actions of Thomas, why did he not answer Mr Oates in the first place?  Why did he not respond to the rants and raves of Ann?  Well he was profoundly deaf and had simply not heard Mr Oates questions or Ann’s rants; I do however wonder how he managed to ignore her when she began throwing all of the items at him.

OTHER ITEMS –

*Riotous behaviour –

Another woman was misbehaving this week, Mary Ann Farr who was known to the police as “a common prostitute” was arrested after she and a friend left the Bird In Hand public house and were then found fighting in the Market Place.  Mary Ann was being especially violent using “most filthy language”.  Police Constable Wray took her to the cells and she appeared in front of the Police Board.  They were also told how she had a list of 11 previous convictions and so she was sent to gaol for 1 month with hard labour.

*Hard times –

A poor collier named Joseph Dunn was charged with “sleeping in an outhouse at Newbold”.  He was found sleeping amongst some straw at the pottery owned by Mr Pearson. 

The area had been suffering lately from theft of fowls and other items and so they did not wish to encourage vagrants to sleep in the out houses.

At the hearing Joseph asked “what must a poor collier chap to in these times?”  Mr Barnes replied “I see you have been committed to Derby already”.  Joseph was again sent to Derby Gaol for seven days.

*Theft of a whip –

John Burton an unemployed farm servant was charged with stealing a whip belonging to William Garland a butcher of Stonegravels.  He pleaded guilty and was admitted to gaol for 14 days hard labour.

*Assaulting the Police –

Several offences occurred this week when the locals assaulted the Police –

v  James Peach – assaulted P.C Robinson – fined 20s or 14 days gaol

v  Frederick Collins and James Taberer – assaulted P.C Wrenn and P.C Mustrow – Frederick Collins gaoled for 3 months, James Taberer fined 20s and costs

v  James McKenzie a militia man – assaulted P.C Mostoe – committed to gaol for 14 days

*Stealing mutton –

Thomas James found himself in trouble after he allegedly stole 2 ½ lbs of mutton belonging to the butcher Samuel Spencer.  On the Saturday evening Thomas had enquired as to the price of the meat and only a short while later it was found to be missing. 

Thomas was gaoled for 14 days with hard labour.

MARRIAGES –

*Mr John Radford to Miss Annie Bates only daughter of Mr G G Bates of Bull Bridge on 21^st May at Heague Church, Derbyshire

DEATHS –

*Maria Loney aged 67 years on 16^th May at Youlgreave, wife of the late William Loney surgeon of Macclesfield

*James Atkin aged 24 years at the Queens Hotel, Chesterfield on 20^th May

*Mary Bateman aged 57 years at Dixon’s Road on 19^th May

*William Kidger aged 3 years at St Marys Place on 20^th May

*Mary Shentall aged 66 years at Bath Terrace on 18^th May

*Thomas Marriott aged 32 years at Manchester, late of Chesterfield, butcher

*Arthur Wright aged 4 years at Spread Eagle Yard on 20^th May

SPORT –

*Football steeplechase –

There was a football steeplechase at Staveley Town which drew a large crowd. 

There were 3 heats which were run and won by –

v  Heat 1 – Hernshawe

v  Heat 2 – Barnet

v  Heat 3 – G Marples

Each man was presented with a box of cigars.

AND FINALLY…

*Scarlett fever –

Around 20 cases of Scarlett Fever had been noted in the area of Dronfield.  One death had taken place from the disease.   The area was taking all precautions available to prevent the disease spreading.

Update of the Past NEWS ........ 19th May 1900

 

Catch up on the full story of last weeks NEWS.............
 

*Archibald Sims –

Archibald was the young lad who was severely reprimanded after he was caught stealing eggs from Mr Woodhead at Clowne nr Chesterfield.

Archibald was the son of George and Hannah Sims and was born in Whittington a nearby village.  The family lived at Crown Yard, Whittington on the 1891 census and Archibald was one of a very large brood of children –

Francis aged 18 years

John aged 14 years

Edith aged 12 years

Charles aged 11 years

Miriam aged 9 years

George aged 7 years

Bertram aged 4 years

Archibald aged 2 years

Nelly aged 2 months

The house must have been full to the rafters with children.  Their father George was 45 years old and worked as a coal miner along with Francis his eldest son.  Another son John had begun his colliery career as a pony driver.  George was not from the area, he was born in Whinthorpe, Nottinghamshire. 

By 1901 the family have moved to Clowne, they are living at aptly named Pit Row where the miners of the area lived together in their row of terraced houses.  The family has shrunk though, so there would have been more room for the Sims family.  Only three of the sons are still living with their parents; George aged 18 years, Bertram aged 14 years and Archibald aged 12 years.  Notably the youngest daughter Nelly is not living with them.  There is a death for a 1 year old "Nellie" Sims in 1893 so it looks like this may well have been poor little Nellie.

In 1911 Archibald is still living at home with his parents and one brother; Bertram.  The boys are both working as coal miner hewers.  Their father George is documented as being 59 years old which doesn’t tally with previous census returns.  From this census we are also told that George and Hannah have been married 19 years, they have born a grand total of 19 children, but sadly only 9 are still living, they had lost 10 children.  Hannah must have had enough on her plate in May 1900 without young Archibald getting in to trouble, but I haven’t found any other mention of him on the wrong side of the law so hopefully he learnt his lesson. 

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ X ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

*Priscilla Thompson –

Priscilla was the mother who allegedly assaulted a girl who was in an argument with her daughter Lily. 

In 1891 Priscilla is married and living on Durrant Road in the centre of Chesterfield with her husband Albert Thompson and their children; Lillie aged 6 years, May aged 5 years, Oliver aged 3 years ad baby George A aged 3 months.

The family set up seems to have changed by 1901 because Priscilla is still recorded as married but is living along with all her children with 47 year old Tom Brassington.  She is employed or at least documented as a servant to Tom.  He is a coal miner below ground.    

Ten years further on and things are again changed; Priscilla is still recorded as married but now lives as a servant with a Robert Brassington and her youngest son George.  They live in Sheffield now at 284 Shirland Lane.  Robert is a coal miner hewer, is this the same man as she lived with 10 years earlier? Possibly, he was unmarried and it looks like Priscilla followed him, maybe as his “wife”.

So what happened to Albert Thompson?  There is a death registered for an Albert Thompson in 1902 but why would Priscilla still class herself as married? Had the pair parted before and thus she was unaware that he had died?  Or was the death for another Albert Thompson?

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ X ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Echoes of our Past NEWS ........... 19th May 1900

 

Read all about it……. Echoes of our past NEWS

What was in the local news this weekend in 1900?

MAIN NEWS –

*School boy theft –

A poor young lad named Archibald Sims was made example of after he was caught red handed stealing eggs from a Mr Woodhead.

Mr Woodhead lived near to the school at Clowne and there was a boundary wall which separated him from the school.  This wall was next to his orchard and children being children it was a regular occurrence that they would climb the wall and steal his produce. 

On this day young Archibald aged 10 years old had stolen eggs and it was decided that the situation should be taken in hand and an example be set to warn off other mischievous children. 

Joseph Woodhead aged 17 years old told the Bench how he saw Archibald take one duck egg and two hen eggs valued at 4d.  When Joseph shouted after him he threw the hen eggs on the ground.

Archibald had no choice but to plead guilty.  He was fined 10s and warned “next time you’ll be ordered to have a good flogging”.

Archibald’s mother was in court, she told the Bench how poor Archibald had received a beating at school, in front of the whole school.  She didn’t think he needed to be punished any further.

OTHER ITEMS –

*Ill treatment of wife and children –

Annie E Kirk of Chatsworth Road applied for a separation order after she had left her husband on the Sunday earlier.

She told the court how Richard Kirk was regularly cruel to her after he had been out drinking on a Saturday.  He would arrive home abusive and beat her and their children.  Richard was a fettler and earned roughly 35s per week.  It was said that he was a hard worker but the drink let him down.

The couple had four children; aged in between 13 years and 7 years old.

The court agreed the separation order and gave Annie custody of the children.  Richard was ordered to pay her 12s per week maintenance.

*Waiting for the doctor –

John Yarwood a Glossop man lost his patience after the doctor was unable to see a doctor on 16^th May.

John had been admitted to Chesterfield Workhouse as a casual inmate.  Mr R J Barradell the Master told how John had asked to see a doctor as his feet “were very bad”.  He didn’t get his wish and was off to begin his work as he passed four windows in the infirmary ward.  He smashed each window, which each had 11 panes of glass.

When asked why he had done this he replied “I asked to see the doctor and they would not let me see him, so I broke the window that was how it was”.  The Chairman at the court asked if he thought be breaking the windows the doctor would appear, to which John replied “yes”.

John was found guilty of causing 22s 6d worth of damage.  He was sentenced to be gaoled at Derby for two months with hard labour.  His reply “I shall be able to see a doctor there”.

*Mother accused of assault –

Priscilla Thompson found herself in trouble after she was accused of assaulting Amelia Bates on Sheffield Road on 9^th May.  Priscilla lived close by on Wharf Lane at Stonegravels.

Mrs Bates told the court how on the day in question Priscilla had firstly insulted her daughter then struck her.  She said that there was bad language used against them also by Priscilla.

Priscilla denied the assault but did admit to having asked the young girl Bates why she continually insulted her daughter. 

Witnesses were called, one being Mr Ben Stead who was a neighbour of Priscilla.  He told how he did hear “some very bad language” but did not see Priscilla strike Amelia.  A man named Mr Bradley who worked as a fried fish merchant was called and gave a good character to Amelia Bates who worked as an assistant for him.  He said that Amelia came into the shop after the assault in an “exhausted state” and said she had been assaulted by Priscilla.

Next to the stand was Lily Thompson, the daughter of Priscilla and the daughter whom it looks like she was protecting.  Lily said that she was with her mother at the time of the incident and that she had not assaulted Amelia.

Amelia argued that Lily was not with her mother at the time and so Ben Stead was recalled to cooborate either story.  He confirmed that Lily was not there at the time and that in fact Priscilla was with a man and that the pair was so drunk they “could hardly stand”.

After deliberation the jury found Priscilla guilty and she was fined 5s and costs or to be gaoled for 7 days.

MARRIAGES –

*David John Davies of Abercorn to Sarah Ellen (Cissie) Mosley daughter of the late Robert Mosley of Wormhill at Ashford Parish Church on 14^th May

*John Henry Smith to Mary Hannah Whitstone at Chesterfield Parish Church on 16^th May

DEATHS –

*Mary Marr aged at Victoria Street West on 17^th May, widow of the late Edward Marr

*George William Lancaster aged 2 weeks on 10^th May at Blackwell

*Nellie Fox aged 9 years on 11^th May at Speedwell, Staveley

*Herbert Saxton aged 4 years on 11^th May at Hackenthorpe

*Sarah Watts aged 75 years at Killamarsh on 13^th May

*Annie Whitehead Winfield aged 5 years on 12^th May at Ridgeway

*John Hewitt aged 62 years on 12^th May at Staveley

*John Taylor aged 19 years on 13^th May at Hasland

*Eliza Burkitt aged 31 years on 14^th May at Whittington

*Ethel Booth aged 2 years on 15^th May at Chesterfield

SPORT –

*Billiard Match –

An “interesting” match was played by the billiards teams for Darley Dale and Matlock Liberal Club.  The showdown took place at the Whitworth Institute, Darley Dale. 

The home players won the match scoring 706 points to 572. 

AND FINALLY…

*Doncaster Races –

Great Central Railways were offering excursions to the races on 24^th and 25^th of May for the people of Chesterfield to enjoy the Doncaster Spring Races. 

The train would leave Chesterfield at 09.50am, Sheepbridge and Brimington at 09.55am, Staveley Works at 10.00am and finally Staveley Town at 10.04 am. 

 

Update of the past NEWS....... 11th May 1861...........

Catch up on the full story of last weeks NEWS.............

*William E Hull –

William was the hero in last week’s NEWS after he selflessly lost his own life whilst trying to save that of another.

William was born around 1838 at Leicestershire.  Only weeks earlier he was recorded on the 1861 census; he was lodging with Charles and Elizabeth Porter in Derby.  He was described as single, aged 23 years old and working as a railway porter.

William was the son of his namesake; William Eaglefield Hull and Ann Hull.  He was born at Market Harborough the son of a labourer.  Aged 13 years old William was working as an errand boy, the railways must have been a fantastic sight for a lad of his age.  The London and North West Railway opened a line in between Northamptonshire and Market Harborough on 16^th February 1859.  William would have been right in the middle of all the excitement and of course some opposition to the railway being built.  He probably thought himself a very lucky lad when he was given a job by the railways. 

William was returned to his home town of Market Harborough by train journey and he was buried at St Mary’s Church graveyard.

For more information on the LNWR line click this link

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ X ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 

*Two men killed at West Staveley Colliery –

The men killed at Staveley colliery were David Bann (not Band as incorrectly documented in the local newspaper) and Charles Day (not Mr Key as again incorrectly recorded in the local newspaper). 

The actual site of the incident was Stanhope Pit which belonged to the West Staveley Coal Company.  David Bann was aged 30 years old and employed as deputy viewer.  Charles Day was aged 40 years old and worked as a horse keeper.

David Bann was born in Worth, Cheshire.  He was married to Sarah Ann and they did have 4 children; Mary Emma aged 9 years, William Henry aged 7 years, Elizabeth aged 5 years and Leah aged just 1 year.  The family lived on South Street in New Whittington.

Charles Day was born in Wartham, Suffolk.  He was widowed at the time of his death and left two children; a son Thomas aged 16 years old and a daughter Emma aged 11 years old.  The family lived at West Street in New Whittington on the 1861 census but were documented as living at Peaches Row at the time of the incident.  Thomas Day, the son of Charles was called to the inquest and he told how he worked alongside his father as an assistant horse keeper. He and his father had been down the pit at 5am on the Sunday morning to look after the horses. 

At the end of the inquest the jury returned a verdict of “accidental death” but the words which followed were rather harsh “the opinion being that the unfortunate deceased were themselves only to blame”.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ X ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

 

Echoes of our past NEWS ........ 11th May 1861

 

Read all about it……. Echoes of our past NEWS

What was in the local news this weekend in 1861?

MAIN NEWS –

*Courageous death –

William E Hull a porter at the Midland Railway Station at Derby was being hailed a hero after an incident in which William lost his life whilst trying to save that of another.

On Friday 3^rd May a passenger named George Walker of Wooton near Ashbourne foolishly ran and jumped onto the step of one of the carriages of the 7.50pm North Staffordshire train.  The train was in motion at the time and had just commenced leaving the station. 

George had run to the step and attempted to open one of the doors to gain access to the train, but the doors were locked as the previous passenger’s had use the adjacent doors to alight from the train. 

Because William was familiar with this system and had seen George’s actions he knew that it would be impossible to gain entry and thus realised that George was in danger.  William immediately got hold of George and tried to pull him back to safety on the platform.

Tragically for William he lost his footing and fell onto the tracks, six of the carriages ran over his body.  The passengers were said to have been “horror struck at what they had witnessed and screamed loudly”.

An inquest was held and a verdict of accidental death was recorded.  William was described as a “steady man” and had worked for Midland Trains for two years.

George Walker was severely reprimanded for his actions which had been the trigger for this sad event.  He was summoned to appear before the County Magistrates for having infringed “one of the company’s bye-laws”

OTHER ITEMS –

*Incident at West Staveley Colliery –

Two men named David Band and Mr Key were killed as they carried out repairs to the maintenance system at the colliery.  They had nearly completed the work and only had one more part to attend. 

David Band left a wife and four children, Mr Key a wife and two children.

The men were interred on Wednesday 8^th May and a great attendance was noted; both masters and workmen stood side by side to remember the men who were “greatly respected”.

The inquest into the deaths was held at the Wellington Hotel, Staveley and a verdict of accidental death was reached.

*Accidental poisoning at Buxton –

The Kings Head Hotel at Buxton run by Mr Richard Stubbs was at the centre of controversy after Mr Higginbottom of Whaley Bridge and some other friends of his called on the public house.

Mr Higginbottom asked for a bottle of brandy and a bottle of soda water.  After drinking the liquids he became very sick and was vomiting.  Some of the other men with him also experienced the same affects after partaking in the beverages.

The surgeon Mr Flint was called for and he gave the men some medicine to prevent them for being sick further.  The liquids were taken for analysis and the soda water was found to contain “a quantity of corrosive sublimate”. 

It was thought that the bottle had been used to store other liquids before the soda water was poured into it.  The previous liquid was said to have caused the poisoning.

All of the men were fit and well after their symptoms had passed.

*Chesterfield May Fair –

This year’s fair was a success even though the weather was not kind; rain and hail and “a keen driving wind” had put a dampener on the occasion but luckily at lunch time it settled.

The town was full of people all out to have a good day; entertainment was the order of the day.  The market was full of cattle, horses, sheep and pigs were all being shown in their pens but sales were not that good this year. 

MARRIAGES –

*Mr Sampson Oakes to Ann Hodkin at Chesterfield Parish Church on Monday 6^th May

DEATHS –

*Militia man funeral –

The funeral of militia man Henry Pearce took place last Saturday 4^th May at the town cemetery.  He had died the day earlier.

There was a large attendance and Henry was laid to rest after his coffin had been carried by his fellow militia men to the sound of the band playing “Dead March in Saul”.  Prayers were said afterwards and to commemorate Henry’s militia service three volleys of the guns were sounded over the grave.

*John Turner of Canal Wharf aged 33 years

*George Holmes at Chesterfield aged 63 years

SPORT –

*Cricket –

Two schools were head to head this week in a game of cricket; St Marys School against Mr Bowker’s School.  The game was played at the grounds of St Mary’s School who benefited from the familiar territory to win the match.

AND FINALLY…

*”Extraordinary lamb hog” –

We have read in previous NEWS of spectacular animals being shown off to the locals of
Chesterfield in the shop windows of salesmen.  This week was Mr Robert Kirk’s chance; he was to exhibit a lamb hog which weighed in at 130lbs.  The hog was only 13 months old and had been bred and fed by a local man named Mr Matthew Scorer of Scarcliff.

 

Update of the Past NEWS .......... 2nd May 1885

 

 Catch up on the full story of last weeks NEWS.............
 

*Mr Fox of Bakewell –

Mr Fox was the cause of much gossip and speculation in Bakewell after he took his own life. 

The full identity of “Mr Fox” was that of Mr James Fox, quarryman of Ashford In The Water.  He was around 50 years old when he committed suicide.

At the inquest which was held at the Kings Arms, Mill Street, Bakewell his son Matthew Fox was present to confirm that the deceased was James.  Matthew was a farm labourer and also lived at Ashford In The Water. 

On the day of the inquest the Jury had the gruesome task of walking to the quarry where they were to witness first-hand the body of James.  Matthew stated that his father had been acting strangely in the days passed.  Witnesses were called to decipher the events of the tragic day –

John Bond a quarryman from Bakewell told how he saw James at around 7.20am that morning and they had exchanged small talk, James had said “Well Jack” and John had replied “Well Jim”.  John did not see James alive again after that.

George Hawkesworth also a quarryman at Chert Quarries told how around 11am he was alerted by John Bond that James was missing.  He went to Bottom Quarry, an unworked quarry and about 150 yards from the entrance he found the body of James Fox; he was lying in a pool of blood.  About 2 feet away from James lay a razor which was wide open.  P C Keeley was called to scene immediately.

James’s fellow colleagues at the quarry told how James had not been himself for some time, he had been short tempered and in low spirits as though something was troubling him. 

The Deputy Coroner at the inquest gave a verdict of “suicide whilst temporarily insane”.

James was born in Monyash, Derbyshire around 1834; he was married to Elizabeth who died at some time in-between the 1871 census and the 1881 census when James was described as a widower.  The couple had at least the following children; Matthew, David, Elizabeth, Jane and Adam.  Was the death of his wife the reason for poor James’s woes? Does anyone know any more about this family?

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ X ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

*Harry Booker –

 

Harry was the name of the child who was tragically run over by the coach of Dr Rooth at Barlow.

 

An inquest was held at the Peacock Inn at Barlow and the boy’s parents gave evidence along with Gervase Margereson and John Spindley; the coachman.  After hearing all of the statements the jury decided upon a verdict of “accidental death”. 

 

Harry’s birth was registered in the March quarter of 1884.

 

John Spindley the coach driver had been in the employ of the Rooth family for many years, in 1871 he was aged 21 years old and working for them as a servant.  He was born in Osgodby, Lincolnshire.  On the 1881 census John is still living in Dronfield but is now married to Frances and they have a young daughter named Edith.  John must have been devastated when he accidentally killed young Harry as his daughter Edith would only have been a few years older than him.

 

In 1891 John is still employed as a coachman so hopefully he was able to move on with his life after the tragedy.  He has another daughter named Dora Musgrove.  A few years later another daughter arrives; baby Ida.  John and family are living on Callywhite Lane in Dronfield in 1901 and he is now employed as a domestic groom. 

 

Were John’s driving days over?  It looks like it as the 1911 census shows John as a hotel keeper.  He is now 61 years old and is running the Midland Hotel on Chesterfield Road in Dronfield.  France his wife and his youngest daughter Ida Isobel are living at the hotel.  John and Frances were lucky as they are recorded on the census return as only having had three children, but all were still living. 

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ X ~ ~ ~ ~ ~