Radstock well way pit coal disaster 1839

[tangwa]

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

[kinsey]

 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

[tangwa]

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

[stanmapstone]

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

[Mike in Cumbria]

(The postage may be a little more to Australia).

[Old Bristolian]

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

[..claire..]

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

[tangwa]

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

[Bagpuss_Janet]

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.