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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Topic started by: delta59 on Monday 11 January 10 12:35 GMT (UK)
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Hello
Could anyone help me on how to locate the inquest details on the death of my Grandfather Cornelius Hupton in 1930, in a mine explosion in Princeton, British Columbia.
I have his death cert, which I sent for and was sent digitally but it wasn't very good and is hard to read.
Many thanks
Del
ps his name is misspelt as Hufton.
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Did you see this thread? http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=e03eccs2na903tuah97hq89tr7&topic=39618.0
I also found this: http://www3.gendisasters.com/mining-explosions-accidents/12397/blakeburn-bc-coal-mine-explosion-aug-1930
In the first thread, there is some interesting information that I think will help you in your search.
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Andarah
Thankyou very much for that. I started the 1st thread off in 2005, for various reasons didn't follow up and am now back on it. I had followed the death cert up and it was sent via e-mail but it is very poor and I can't read it properly. I will get onto Canadian archives and find out about the inquest papers.
The info you gave is great.
Del
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No problem. I wish I could do more. Do you have a gravesite? I drive through Princeton now and then and I may be able to get you a picture if you get me the details - could take me awhile before I got through Princeton again, but I can keep it in mind.
You have Cawleys in Runcorn? I may have a connection with you. I have been researching all the Hampsons in an effort to sort all the different people into the proper lines.
Robert Owen Hampson married Susan Garret (nee Hinman). Susan left Robert and moved in with her sister and brother-in-law. The brother-in-law was a Cawley. She lived with them for 10 years with her children, and her husband's children from his first wife may have been raised by another Cawley relative.
Does any of that sound familiar?
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Hi Andarah
I have a picture of the grave, well a picture of a memorial really, I don't know where he was buried.
It's sad really, he should not have worked that day but stood in for his brother in law(who made a life in Canada). He was hoping to make a new life in Canada for his wife and 2 very small children (1 was my Dad) too and they were ready to move out there :'(
I do have quite a bit of info but I would like the inquest info.
As for Cawley, my cousin & I are researching them. I will look at the info I have, none of the names ring a bell, but I'm not sure if there was enough room. My Cawley had 15 children :)
Del
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Cornelius Hupton is buried at the Princeton Cemetery in Block 11, Section H, Lot 13. DOD is August 13, 1930 (Black Wednesday). If I can help you with anything else, let me know as I live near Princeton.
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Thank you so much for that, another piece in the jigsaw :)
Del
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Hello Hattieghost
Could I be cheeky and ask if you get to the cemetery some time, would you look Cornelius up and see if there is a headstone and if there is could you take a photo and send it to me. I will give you my e-mail address if required.
Many thanks :)
Del
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I am going into Princeton today so as long as there isn't snow on the ground there, I will get a picture for you. We do have a bit of snow where we are here so it will be iffy as to the conditions in Princeton. If there is snow on the ground and I can't get a photo for you, I will wait until the spring and take one then. Keep your fingers crossed. :)
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You are very kind and I hope I am not putting you to too much trouble.
I am waiting with anticipation.
If any of my other relatives are anything to go by there will be nothing there to see. I am fed up of going to graveyards only to find a patch of grass and nothing else. They were too poor to have a gravestone.
Once again many thanks.
Del
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I was up at the Princeton Cemetery today, however, due to snow on the ground no graves could be seen. I have done some research at the Princeton Archives though. Below is what I found in the old newspapers after the mine disaster:
Cornelius Hupton was located in the #1 slope of the #4 Blakeburn mine. "the men were lying, one after the other, along No. 1 slope, strewn like flies. They had fallen in their tracks as they made for the surface. It was the deadly afterdamp rather than the force of the explosion that killed these men. They lay perfectly natural. They did not suffer. They were simply overcome by gas and dropped one by one." (Princeton Star August 21, 1930)
In the same newspaper the following information came from the company office files:
"Cornelius Hupton, digger, English, age 22, married, two children. Signed on September 30, 1929. Widow Mrs. C. Hupton, 27 Mayfield St. Atherton."
Mr. Hupton's body was identified on Tuesday, August 19, 1930. The mine disaster occurred on Wednesday, August 13, 1930.
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I have made a note in my calendar to go back to the Princeton Cemetery at the end of March (or when the snow is gone) to look for a headstone. I'm sorry I couldn't be or more help right now, but I will get back to you after the snow is gone.
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Thank you so much for this info. Although I never met him, my dad was only 2, I found it very sad. He was in fact 27 when he died he was born in 1903. Thank you so much for going to the cemetery, you are very kind.
I have been in touch with BC archives and they have found the inquest papers and also the probate papers. I think I shall send for them although they are expensive. I have been told however that the inquest papres will have to be passed.
The inquest is a document that will have to be reviewed by the Freedom of Information Manager, as it is not in the public domain in accordance to FOIPIPPA legislation.
The record is a total 131 pages. If you decide to order a copy after it has been cleared it will amount to $75.45.
I look forward to the photograph.
Thank you again.
Del
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I doubt you would get much more information from the inquest papers. The inquest failed to find any one cause. It did rule out lightning but couldn't conclusively rule out dust, the sprayers or the runaway as possibilities. (I got this information from Terry Malanchuk's book) Don Blake does have some information in his book. I can email it to you if you send me your email address. It is the report of the Chief Inspector of Mines, James Dickson.
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Hello again.
Do you know, I never thought to look in the book ::) I have it at home!!! I expect it tells me much of what the inquest papers will tell me. The other papers I have asked them to look for are the probate papers relating to Cornelius which works out much cheaper.
I shall dig out the book and write up info from that to put in my file on Cornelius. Have you any idea what info would be recorded in the probate papers?
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The probate papers normally include what the estate consisted of and how they were disposed.... Since he was married, the most likely disposition would have been to his wife....
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Thanks very much, think I will send for it anyway. I look forward to the photo. Many thanks for all your help.
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The snow is gone and we were able to get a couple of photos of the Blakeburn Disaster grave in Princeton, B.C. Cornelius Hupton does not have a headstone. Attached is a photo of the memorial stone for all of the men who lost their lives in the mining accident and a photo of the site which shows the metal markers on the graves. The markers used to have paper inserts with the men's names, however, over the years, those papers have disappeared. If there is anything else I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask.
(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo221/rsterne/Diane/Hupton1Email.jpg)
(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo221/rsterne/Diane/Hupton2Email.jpg)
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Hi Delta59, Judy here. I did find corneilius grave, he was buried along with other miners who were killed. I have pics that I will post. take care Love Judy
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Hi Delta59, Judy here. I did visit corneilius grave site, in Princeton B.C. I have a photo, which I will post soon. Hope to talk to u soon, I am still in B.C. and live about 2 hurs from Princeton, but hard to get there in winter as the mountain passes get very icy, but will v
be going again in a couple of weeks. I actually feel I have family near me,(grandad cornelius) take care Love Judy
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Robert Owen Hampson married Susan Garret (nee Hinman). Susan left Robert and moved in with her sister and brother-in-law. The brother-in-law was a Cawley. She lived with them for 10 years with her children, and her husband's children from his first wife may have been raised by another Cawley relative.
Does any of that sound familiar?
Hi Andarah!
My great grandmother Eliza lived with Robert Owen Hampson and is listed with him on the 1891 census. We have never found a marriage record for them. He later married Susan Garret. Eliza's death cert has her as Eliza Hollingsworth (nee Cottier) "widow of Thomas Hollingsworth a Ship Captain". Her children were Owen, Jane, Philip...all listed on birth certs with Robert as the father. All three later in life used the name Hollingsworth...very confusing..Have you heard of this by chance?
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Hi Del,
I believe Cornelius Hupton is my great Uncle. He was my great grandad Charles Henry Hupton's Brother and I would like to find out more about this side .
I am not sure how to reply to any messages that you have sent me.
Cheers
bmd
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Hello bmd
I think we have 'spoken' on Ancestry?
Del
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That was really nice of you to take the photo & post the image hattieghost! Nice of you to go out of your way for someone's request...
Welcome to rootschat bmdoy82 ...we can communicate online for genealogy purposes that suit the thread, or by private message for speaking of the living...
(Just one more message posted and you'll be able to do that....) just click on the green scroll by the person's avatar .
J.J.