RootsChat.Com

Thanks for the replies

I have read lots of articles about the accident - the internet is a wonderful thing however did we manage without it!  As I mentioned it was Sarah Taylor's age which threw me but having looked into it more and listening to everyones comments I am sure it was her, some bodies were not found for a few days and we don't know who was still around to give precise information.  The youngest victim still has no name as the hop pickers had moved on and when they found her there was none left who knew who her name, how sad.
Best wishes Emma

As next week is the anniversary of the Hartlake Bridge Tragedy I have been looking at the family again.  My partner is descended from Jeremiah and Sarah Taylor (nee Fisher) via their daughter Alice Taylor and Mesheck Hearne. 

I am trying to establish if I have the right Sarah Taylor, on the Hartlake Bridge memorial it states she was 55 when she died but our Sarah Taylor would have been older about 66/67 (born 1785ish)?  As far was we know her husband died on Wimbledon Common in a fight in 1831. 

Does anyone know if this is just a mistake on the memorial, there must have been so much confusion with all the casualties?  Her son and grandson both called Thomas also died.

Many thanks Emma

The Hartlake Bridge tragedy happened in 1853 when a bridge over the Medway collapsed as a wagon load of hop pickers were crossing, killing 30.

As next week is the anniversary of the Hartlake Bridge Tragedy I have been looking at the family again.  My partner is descended from Jeremiah and Sarah Taylor (nee Fisher) via their daughter Alice Taylor and Mesheck Hearne. 

I am trying to establish if I have the right Sarah Taylor, on the Hartlake Bridge memorial it states she was 55 when she died but our Sarah Taylor would have been older about 66/67 (born 1785ish)?  As far was we know her husband died on Wimbledon Common in a fight in 1831. 

Does anyone know if this is just a mistake on the memorial, there must have been so much confusion with all the casualties?  Her son and grandson both called Thomas also died.

Many thanks Emma

Hi Victor

Many thanks for that information, to fill in all I know about Sarah Ann Orr (Ellen and Willie's sister) married a Samuel Semple Caldwell in 1914 and had 2 children John Harold Caldwell (known as Harry) who is my Grandfather who is now 91 and William Reginald Caldwell (known as Uncle Bill) who was a member of Bomber Command in WW2 and tragically killed on the night of 12/12th July 1943.  I would love to see your family tree my e-mail address is MODERATOR COMMENT: email address removed to avoid spam and other abuses. Please use personal message system to share email addresses. Thank You  best wishes Emma