RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Somerset => Topic started by: tangwa on Friday 01 June 12 11:42 BST (UK)
-
Hello Rootschatters,
Hoping someone may be able to assist or point me in the right direction???
I am a descendant of William Summers who was killed in the Radstock coal mine disaster in 1839.
A reproduction of the news article (London Times Nov 11 1839) states that James Keevil 41 and his two sons Mark 15 and James jun. 13 were also killed after it was found that the rope to descend had been willfully damaged and had lead to the deaths of twelve men.
My interests here are many as I am interested in the lives of these families at the time and also any information regarding William's connections to the Keevil's noted above.
This could be a long shot but...William Summers married Elizabeth Keevil.
(Family publications state she was born in Ireland however I have not been able to verify this. The same publication (The Becketts of Brucknell avail. in The state library of Victoria in Melbourne) states William and Elizabeth were married in Midsomer Norton on the 18th Oct 1838. Their only child Selina was born Aug 24 1839, she was only two months old when her father was killed, Elizabeth later gave her daughter to her sister Selina who was married to James Fussell, this family later immigrated to Aust in 1841).
I was wondering if the Keevil's killed in the mine were related to Elizabeth and therefore William??? is Keevil a popular name during this time in Somerset?? perhaps I am clutching at maybes ???
Any information would be of interest, hoping you can help :) Also does the mine still exist??
many Thanks in advance :)
Tanya, Melbourne, Australia
-
Hi Tanya
Here is a marriage between Elizabeth and William
Name:
Elizabeth Keevill - Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1838
Registration district: Clutton - Inferred County: Somerset
Volume Number: 11 - Page Number: 113
Kinsey
-
Hi kinsey!!
Thank-you for confirming this marriage!! :)
it's so fantastic to have such a quick response :)
I would like to order a copy of this certificate, thank-you for supplying the volume and page number, do I request this through the Somerset OPC??
Thanks in advance, I feel a bit silly, but I'm so confused by all the different parishes and record offices,
Your assistance is greatly appreciated :)
tanya
-
You order official birth, marriage and death certificates for events registered in England and Wales from the General Register Office (GRO) for just £9.25.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Registeringlifeevents/Birthmarriageanddeathcertificates/DG_175628
Stan
-
(The postage may be a little more to Australia).
-
Hi Tanya
All the pits in the Radstock area closed by the 1960s - I believe there is a fine "mining-orientated" local museum in Radstock though, who may be able to give you further information:
www.radstockmuseum.co.uk
Steve
-
Hi
Bit more detail of the marriage from Freereg
St John the Baptist Church at Midsomer Norton, 18 Oct. 1838
William Summers bachelor. Occ. miner. of Midsomer Norton. Grooms Father: Charles Summers~Miner
Elizabeth Keevil spinster. Occ. Servant. of Midsomer Norton. Brides Father: Robert Keevil~Thatcher
Witnesses: Elisha Hewitt and Martha Keevil.
claire
-
Thanks everyone!!
very helpful info, thanks very much :)
It's great to keep investigating this side of my family tree, thanks everyone!!
I guess I just need to search the 1841 census now to see if any of the Keevil's were still in the area and if they had the same father as Elizabeth. ...this should keep me busy :)
Thanks again everyone, Big thanks from OZ!!
Tanya
-
You may already have seen it, but there is a memorial to this event in St John's Church, Midsomer Norton. I'm not sure if I am allowed to link to Wikipedia on here, but if you go to Wikipedia and type in Somerset Coalfield you should find it. :)
-
Hi Janet,
I have a very old photocopy of the memorial, your info was great though as I didn't know where it was :), Wikipedia was also helpful in understanding the geography of the area and different parishes - many thanks!!
Also I noticed you have a name interest in "Moon", I have a Martha Moon born abt 1820 married to Henry Summers born abt 1816. Henry is William's brother.
I also know that William and Henry's father was Charles who married Sarah bull at St Johns in 1814. Charles was also a miner- as noted in above links.
not sure it there is a link but thought I'd throw it out there, :)
It's great learning about this part of the world, I just never knew I had so much English ancestry! :)
Thanks again everyone!
Tanya
-
You might also find this site helpful. wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/Somerset Coalfield Connections.
radstockjeff
-
Hi Tanya Further information on Elizabeth Summers parents Robert Keevil & Martha Flower children Salima, Elizabeth Flower, Martha Flower & Farnham. Salima m, James Fussell, Elizabeth m William Summers &Joseph Roberts son William Keevil Roberts elizabeth died the day William was chrisinted ,& Farnham m Eliza Matthews. Robert the farther can to Australia as a convict in 1835.My interest is in the marrage of Martha Flower marrage to Elisha Keevil and marrage to Mary Ann Nunan when he came to South Australia very difficult to find in correct information. This information may be of use elihu
-
Yes, this is very useful...I initially thought Robert had three wives!! but now I have found a marriage on family search between Martha Keevil and Elisha Keevil. This is very interesting...which Martha?? The mother of Elizabeth or is it her sister?? Martha Jnr would have been very young! I wonder if you could share a little more on this??
I thought I'd also mention that I have "Ann Mary Keevil" as daughter of Robert and Marther Keovil
I have not confirmed this, it is on free reg.
Thanks for your info Elihu :)
-
Hi Tanya
Thanks for your reply.
Robert Keevil (1784-d Aus) m Martha Flower(1786-1822) children
1- Salima(1809-1891) d Nirranda Vic m James Fussell (1809-1893)
2-Ann Mary (1812-?) m Robert Keevil (1803-1857) 1831
3-Martha Flower(1815-?) m Elisha Keevil (1809-?1886Aus)
4-Elizabeth Flower(1818-1842) m (1)William Summers(1814-1839)-1 child Selina Jane
(1839-1920) m Alfred Beckett (1828-1913) (2)Joseph Roberts(1796-1842) 1 child -
William Keevil Roberts (1842-1923) m Lucy Bilson(1848-1909)
5-Farnham Flower(1821-1849)d Werribee Vic m Eliza Matthews1847 -1child William Henry(1847-1915) m Margaret Galloway-8 children
Very confusing at times when there are same christian names and Keevils married Keevils. Robert and Elisha are brothers and married sisters Ann Mary and Martha Flower
Martha Flower used her maiden name as some of her childrens second name.
There may some more information plus some you already have.
elihu
-
Mornings! I've started to trace my family tree and is relation to James Keevill who died with his two sons in the mining diaster....just gonna pop down in town to take a picture of the memorial as I believe the surnames are spelt wrong, I think they have it down as Keevil but its two Ls on the end, it's very confusing as for ages I didn't think they were related because of how there name was spelt
-
Hi Wunderchar!
I've noticed many variations of the name Keevil, and have since noticed so many on the census in this area. I would be very interested to know if you discover your ancestors and any links to my Elizabeth Keevil and her husband William Summers during your research.
Tanya in OZ :)
-
tangwa im also a relation of william summers.
-
hi tanya, my great gran was rose summers, i dont remember her but i do remember her brother and sister, may summers and charlie summers i think he told me he was born in 1893 in midsomer norton. rory
-
Welcome to the Family Rory ;D
Thanks for your PM, i thought I'd add some info here for others in case their is a whole tribe of us out there (fingers crossed).
I believe William's parents to be Charles Summers (1780-1869) and Sarah Bull (1789-1852), however I am not 100% sure.
Subsequent research suggested that Charles and Sarah had approx 10 Children; Henry, Elijah, Maria, Jane, Charles, Sarah Langford, Elisha, Issac, Mark and Eliza. I have taken this info from the census and other online family trees, so errors there well may be. (if anyone could confirm this, it would be great :)).
Are any of these names popping up in your line? I would think your GG-Gran Rose may be a descendant from this generation.
Hopefully we can find the link :)
all the best from OZ,
Tanya
-
Hi Tanya
Thanks for your reply.
Robert Keevil (1784-d Aus) m Martha Flower(1786-1822)
elihu
Does anyone have any further info on Birth, marriage or death details for Robert Keevil? I can not find any death info in Aust. I believe Robert may have returned to England after he was granted release (ex-convict) in 1844. I have seen a Robert Keevil in 1851 or 1861 census as a pauper??
possible info below is from online resources and unsourced family trees- can anyone verify I have the right details?
Robert Keevil - son of John Keevil (1734 - 1818) and Betty Cheivers (1735 - 1816)
I'm still hoping this branch of the "Keevil's" will help me find a link to the lost Keevils in the mine disaster. It has been suggested that Robert and James Keevil (41) may have been brothers??
Thanks to everyone who is still researching this, I really appreciate it :)
-
I visited the Radstock Museum today and read a poster... after some internet search came across this thread. so sad about the Keevil family and all the victims.
See the attached poster, I'm not sure if this will help your search.
-
(http://i761.photobucket.com/albums/xx251/radstockjeff/DSCF7675.jpg) (http://s761.photobucket.com/user/radstockjeff/media/DSCF7675.jpg.html)
The Miners' Memorial stone in Midsomer Norton Parish churchyard
-
(http://i761.photobucket.com/albums/xx251/radstockjeff/DSCF9118_zpsjfh8nbkt.jpg) (http://s761.photobucket.com/user/radstockjeff/media/DSCF9118_zpsjfh8nbkt.jpg.html)
Engine house at Wellsway Colliery Radstock
-
Thanks to everyone who has shared their links and other research including all the pictures, this has been a very insightful journey.
Happy Families!