Deaths in Sunderland Shipyards

[Ryhopelad]

I have the information you require on Henry Simpson who tragically died on the 14th March 1951. Henry was working at Sir James Laing's Shipyard, Deptford when he was struck by planks which fell from a crane which was being used to lift them into position. 

Will contact you by personal message with my email address and if you can forward yours to me I will be only to pleased to forward the information I have.

Ryhopelad

[Jenregan]

I am extremely grateful for this information, as is my Mam and uncle who sadly never knew his Dad. Looking at the date of death, it was just two days before my Nana’s (his wife’s birthday). How hard it must have been. I have a picture of him and knew that he was a quite but kind man and he often played the piano at a pub, that’s really all I had so this means so much.

Thank you for this information. I will forward to you my email.
 

[willsy]

Am just starting to look more into my husbands family and came across the death of Joseph Blacklock/Blakelock as reported in the Sunderland Daily Echo May 20 1878. I have found the newspaper with the report of his death and have his burial records if you need them.

If you have anymore information that would be great.

[Ryhopelad]

Thanks for your message concerning the death of Joseph Blacklock, I have a copy of the report in my records and have been considering for some time whether to include it in my research. My reason for this is the accident concerning Joseph the vessel he was working on had come into port to load and unload cargo and has such is not a shipyard related death. I have no other information on Joseph but if I can help in any way please get in touch.

Thanks again

Ryhopelad 

[willsy]

Hello Ryhopelad

Thanks for your reply, I nearly didn't post having wondered about it being on the boat and am just starting to look at the possible family link. Still baby steps so far with the family so thank you for your offer of help, this family had some deaths at sea so new territory for me as I am used to shoemakers and FWK.

One thing I have noticed that differs from my burials in Leicester is that a few of the men are buried on there own, including Joseph, despite being married, have you come across this in the cemetery records?

[Ryhopelad]

Hello willsy

Regarding a husband & wife being buried in different plots I have come across this on a number of occasions. This could come down to being unable to afford to purchase a plot for a number of family burials so as they died they were buried in the next available plot. In the case of my own grandparents on my mam's side they were buried in different cemeteries, even though they were living in Monkwearmouth when he died my grandfather was buried in Sunderland Cemetery and then my grandmother was buried in Mere Knolls Cemetery, Monkwearmouth. As they did not purchase the plot my grandfather was buried in when my grandmother died there was no available space for her to be buried with him as other burials had already taken place. A family member did recall that it was my grandmother's family (her brothers & sisters) who made the decision to have her buried in Mere Knolls as they paid the costs of the funeral and this was also where other members of her family had been buried. How far it is true I cannot say for certain.

Ryhopelad

[willsy]

Thanks Ryhopelad

The later burials I have, have helped me no end, so it was very strange to see these few gentlemen buried in a single plot.

[Lydia2017]

My grandfather William Weston Robinson died on 2 April 1930 after an accident at Sir John Priestman's shipyard.
"Died of injuries sustained at work at Sir John Priestman's shipyard".  We have his death card/holy picture which gives those details.

Death Cert says "fracture of the skull due to falling down the hold of a ship in course of construction whilst following his employment; accidental".

interestingly despite my many searches of the British National newspaper database to which I subscribe and letter to coroner in the area it does not seem to have been reported in the newspapers at the time which is unusual as most inquests were. Nor does the John Priestman trust have any records of it. My huge coincidence the shipyard owner - Sir John Priestman was an organist and he played the organ at the wedding of the parents of my father in 1917 in Sunderland. My father the child of that union then married my mother in 1953, my mother being the only child left without a father aged 4 months on that death in 1930 at the shipyard.

It would be a good to have some public list of all these deaths just as there are for coal miners. The death had huge implications and my grandmother never married again nor had any more children.

[stanmapstone]

The British Newspaper Archive does not have any copies of the Sunderland Echo for 1930.

Stan