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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Durham => Topic started by: Mofamily on Thursday 16 September 10 12:00 BST (UK)
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My gg grandfather George Bullen (ag. lab) b: 1853 was born in Stow Bedon, Norfolk and moved to the NE to work in the mines. He apparently (according to a family story) had an accident and with his compensation he bought a fruiterers shop in Blind Lane, Silksworth.
I believe he was only a relatively young man when this happened so it was a long time ago. My question is was compensation given in those days ??? If so, how much was it likely to be ???
Mo
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The Employers' Liability Act was passed in 1880, and the Workmen's Compensation Act of 1897 considerably increased the employers' obligations, however the coal owners attempted to shift their burden on to the Miners' Permanent Relief Fund set up in 1862. But the Durham Miners Association would not listen to such an arrangement and there was set up, for County Durham only, a Joint Committee representing the associations of coal owners and miners, which would decide upon the liability of the employer and upon the amount to be awarded in each case, the whole sum of compensation being provided out of the employers own joint funds.
Stan
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He was a coal miner in the 1881 Census, and a greengrocer in the 1894 Directory, I cannot find him in the 1891 census, but in 1901 he is a Fruiterer in 11 Blind Lane, Tunstsall. The building is still there.
Stan
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As far as I can see the Miners' Permanent Relief Fund only paid a weekly amount while the miner was disabled, and not a lump sum.
Stan
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Thanks Stan
I wonder how he did it ???
Mo
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Possible entry in 1891 ( transcribed on FindMyPast as Ballen)
RG number: RG12 Piece: 4141 Folio: 109 Page: 60
BALLEN, George Head Married M 36 1855 Coal Mining Lamp Man
Stow Bedon
Norfolk
BALLEN, Agnes Wife Married F 36 1855
Washington
Co Durham
BALLEN, Eleanor Daughter F 14 1877 Domestic At Home
Co Durham New Silksworth
BALLEN, Sarah Daughter F 13 1878
Co Durham New Silksworth
BALLEN, Ann Daughter F 1 1890
Co Durham New Silksworth
Boo
He was a coal miner in the 1881 Census, and a greengrocer in the 1894 Directory, I cannot find him in the 1891 census, but in 1901 he is a Fruiterer in 11 Blind Lane, Tunstsall. The building is still there.
Stan
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hi Mo,i had a ancestor who died in a pit in 1900.His widow made a claim against the NCOMPA (Northumberland Coal Owners Mutual Protection Association).Liability was admitted for the amount of three years earnings less cost of gunpowder and she received £291 5s 9d.
I got this info from the Northern History website which was freely available but this info doesn't seem to be online now.This info should be available but i'm not sure where,maybe the Durham Record Office?
Steve
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hi Mo,i had a ancestor who died in a pit in 1900.His widow made a claim against the NCOMPA (Northumberland Coal Owners Mutual Protection Association).Liability was admitted for the amount of three years earnings less cost of gunpowder and she received £291 5s 9d.
I got this info from the Northern History website which was freely available but this info doesn't seem to be online now.This info should be available but i'm not sure where,maybe the Durham Record Office?
Steve
Yes, it probably would have been about that time as he was a coal mining lamp man (thanks to tickettyboo) in 1891 (whatever that is), but by 1901 he had the shop.
Don't suppose he got that much, but could have been enough for a downpayment. (don't know what his injuries were).
Pity the website isn't available anymore as I don't live anywhere near Durham.
Never mind - it makes more sense now.
(why less cost of gunpowder)?
Mo
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As a Lampman he would be working in the lamp room on the surface, maintaining the lamps that were issued to the miners. As he was in the lamp room it looks as though he was not fit enough to work underground.
Stan
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hi Mo,i'm not sure how the cost of gunpowder comes in to it,but a hewer bought the gunpowder from the coal company so the cost was probably deducted from his wages.
Steve
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Thanks everyone. :)
Looks as if he had his accident between 1881 and 1891 as he was a coal miner before he was a lampman.
Maybe he saved up a weekly disablement payment while working as a lamp man and then bought the shop.
Who knows :-\
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Hi Mo we have a Connection my grandfather George Henry Bullen also had roots in Stow Bedon , I have looked at your family on many occasions and I have a theory, (NOT YET PROVEN) however if you look at the family as a whole, many if not all of them gained money around the same time, Dan had enough money to become a tenant farmer, other members bought shops etc, including your own family, my mother told me how my grandfather inherited a farm, however he was cheated out of his inheritance by another family member. My theory is did the family inherit money from someone,????.
Back to your question, how much was the payout for an injury and could it buy a shop, I suppose it all depends on the price of shops compared to the price paid out. I think your Bullen’s went on to buy more than one shop going off memory only here I remember a grocery store too.
As for my grandfather, after a long military history taking part in many campaigns he returned to the Durham mines only to die in a mining accident at Lambton D pit, as did his uncle and his cousin.
My grandmother bought a small holding and a pony and trap with his compensation and the family were fairly well provided for until my grandmother remarried. From then on their standards went downhill as her new husband spent all he could on drink. Eventually the small holding had to be sold off, likewise the pony and trap. She died shortly after, and my mother and her sister were young and were left as orphans, they both went into service at a local hospital, and then during the 2nd world war both served in the NAAFI.
I hope this helps Mo best regards Ashley
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Hi Mo we have a Connection my grandfather George Henry Bullen also had roots in Stow Bedon , I have looked at your family on many occasions and I have a theory, (NOT YET PROVEN) however if you look at the family as a whole, many if not all of them gained money around the same time, Dan had enough money to become a tenant farmer, other members bought shops etc, including your own family, my mother told me how my grandfather inherited a farm, however he was cheated out of his inheritance by another family member. My theory is did the family inherit money from someone,????.
Back to your question, how much was the payout for an injury and could it buy a shop, I suppose it all depends on the price of shops compared to the price paid out. I think your Bullen’s went on to buy more than one shop going off memory only here I remember a grocery store too.
As for my grandfather, after a long military history taking part in many campaigns he returned to the Durham mines only to die in a mining accident at Lambton D pit, as did his uncle and his cousin.
My grandmother bought a small holding and a pony and trap with his compensation and the family were fairly well provided for until my grandmother remarried. From then on their standards went downhill as her new husband spent all he could on drink. Eventually the small holding had to be sold off, likewise the pony and trap. She died shortly after, and my mother and her sister were young and were left as orphans, they both went into service at a local hospital, and then during the 2nd world war both served in the NAAFI.
I hope this helps Mo best regards Ashley
Hi Ashley
Lovely to hear from you. I'll contact you next week as I have some questons. My daughter is getting married at the weekend and my brain has gone to mush.
Mo
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Hi Mo OK and thanks good luck with the wedding our last at home got married in June so I know where you are mind only for the big day. All our best Ashley
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Hi Ashley
I've got my head on straight now ;D
Down to business.
Who was your grandfather's (George Henry Bullen) Uncle? I thought it was Charles who adopted him, i.e. Henry James Bullen's (1820) brother James' (1815) son B:1849 who married Dorothy Leadbeater (not to be confused with Henry James Bullen's (1820) son also Charles who was also born 1849).
However, you say he was called George ??? Bullen ? Edward. Who was he??
You also mention North Carolina. I do know that Benjamin Simon Bullen's son Charles (B: 1894) moved there.
Mo
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Hi again
Forgot about your original post.
As far as I was aware it was only George Bullen (my great great grandfather) who had a Fruiters shop in 11 Blind Lane Terrace, Silksworth. We were always told it was bought from compensation following a pit accident. Hadn't heard of any other inheritance. The shop was taken over by his daughter Sarah and her husband David Parker and the family ran it until it closed. I hadn't heard of any other shops. However, the Parkers, i.e. a son of Sarah and David) had a grocery shop in Silksworth. :-\
I've just noticed you say that your grandfather was George Henry Bullen. Did you mean great grandfather? I know you are not that old, just a bairn like me ;D
Mo
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Hi Ha ha ha Flattery will get you everywhere, George Henry was my grandfather , as to the shops I remember going through some documents at Sunderland Town Centre Library and discovering other shops somewhere or other. I will look through some of my early stuff and see if I can find them. I think your Stow Bedon ancestors and my great grandmother were cousins. If I remember correct, I must look up our connection again my memories going must be my age hi hi all my best hope the wedding went well, Ashley
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Hi Ashley
My direct descendants are Simon Bullen = Mary Faux, Henry James Bullen = Sarah Peck, George Bullen (your great grandmother Frances' brother) = Agnes Forsyth. Their children Eleanor b: Oct 1876, Sarah Jane (my great grandmother) b: March 1878 D: 20.4.1952, Henry B: 20.8.1879 D: 18.4.1881, Thomas B: 17.11.1880 D: 23.2.1881, Alexander B: 26.4.1884 D: 27.5.1885, Ann B: 21.5.1886 D: 22.12.1888, Annie B: 29.7.1889, George Herbert B: 3.2.1894 D: 9.3.1970.
Mo