Reading List of the Dead
Reading List of the Dead
Three aspects that should be considered.
On 22nd October the early shifts of more than 230 men had gone down the mine as usual at 5.30am. It was a gloomy start to the Monday and the villagers were beginning to go about their business when, at 8.45am, a huge underground explosion heard for miles around rocked Blantyre and sent flames from two of the five pits.
Whilst we should always remember the Blantyre Mining Disaster on that day and of the 216 men and boys who lost their lives, together with thoughts of their families and loved ones, there are three aspects that also need some consideration of that catastrophic day.
Firstly, of the 216 miners who lost their lives (the numbers of dead vary as to which source you use, between 207 – 216), 94 were aged under 21 and 48 of them 16 and younger. Three of them were only 12 years old. Take a moment to imagine your own son, nephew or grandson going down the Pit at that young age and losing his life in the process. My memory fails me at the time of writing, but I do recall that one of the 12 year olds who died was on his first day down the Pit.
Name/Occupation | Adress |
Age |
Pit No. |
James Allan Coal miner |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
22 |
3 |
Peter Anderson Pony driver |
Hunthill Blantyre |
15 |
3 |
Thomas Baxter Coal miner |
Priestfield Terrace Blantyre |
21 |
3 |
William Black Fire inspector |
Priestfield Terrace Blantyre |
38 |
2 |
Thomas Bolton Drawer |
48 Hall St, Blantyre |
15 |
2 |
James Bolton Pit bottomer |
48 Hall St, Blantyre |
17 |
2 |
Thomas Bolton Drawer |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
16 |
2 |
William Bolton |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
13 |
2 |
William Boyle Coal miner |
8 Hall Street Blantyre |
49 |
3 |
Simon Boyle Drawer |
8 Hall Street Blantyre |
15 |
3 |
Owen Brannaghan Coal miner |
Stonefield, Blantyre |
19 |
2 |
Michael Brannan Coal miner |
20 Dixon Street,Blantyre |
26 |
2 |
James Brodie Coal miner |
Causeystanes Blantyre |
25 |
2 |
James Brown |
11 McAlpines Land Blantyre |
43 |
2 |
John Brown Coal miner |
11 McAlpines Land Blantyre |
18 |
2 |
James Brown Coal miner |
11 McAlpines Land Blantyre |
14 |
2 |
John Burns Coal miner |
McAlpine’s Land Blantyre |
33 |
3 |
Thomas Burns Coal miner |
McAlpine’s Land Blantyre |
24 |
2 |
Peter Burns Coal miner |
McAlpine’s Land Blantyre |
13 |
2 |
Patrick Burns Coal miner |
Larkfield, Blantyre |
34 |
2 |
Andrew Burt Coal miner |
10 Dixon Street Blantyre |
24 |
3 |
Michael Cairns Coal miner |
46 Dixon’s St Blantyre |
29 |
2 |
John Campbell Coal miner |
Dixon’s Rows Blantyre |
33 |
3 |
William Campbell Coal miner |
Kirkton, Blantyre |
35 |
2 |
William Campbell Coal miner |
Kirkton, Blantyre |
14 |
2 |
Peter Carlin Coal miner |
2 Hall St Blantyre |
34 |
2 |
Peter Carmichael Coal miner |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
17 |
3 |
John Cavanagh Coal miner |
5 Calder St Blantyre |
19 |
3 |
James Cavanagh Colliery drawer |
5 Calder St Blantyre |
16 |
3 |
John Cavanagh Coal miner |
19 Miller Street Blantyre |
23 |
3 |
James Clark Coal miner |
Pilot Acre Blantyre |
19 |
2 |
Turnbull Cleghorn Bottomer |
Hart’s Land Blantyre |
20 |
3 |
James Clyde Coal miner |
44 Dixon St Blantyre |
38 |
2 |
James Clyde Coal miner |
44 Dixon St Blantyre |
12 |
2 |
William Clyde Pony driver |
44 Dixon St Blantyre |
14 |
2 |
John Conaghan Coal miner |
5 Carfin Street Blantyre |
20 |
2 |
John Conlin Pony driver |
57 Calder Street Blantyre |
14 |
3 |
James Cosgrove Coal miner |
15 Carfin St Blantyre |
14 |
3 |
Francis Cosgrove Coal miner |
15 Carfin St Blantyre |
15 |
3 |
John Cox Coal miner |
54 Hall St Blantyre |
46 |
2 |
Andrew Cox Coal miner |
54 Hall St Blantyre |
16 |
2 |
Charles Coyle Coal miner |
Larkfield Blantyre |
21 |
3 |
John Crawford Coal miner |
Stonefield Blantyre |
24 |
3 |
John Crow Coal Miner |
Miller Street, Blantyre |
23 |
3 |
Charles Divers Coal miner |
49 Calder St Blantyre |
27 |
2 |
John Dobie Coal miner |
Dixon’s Rows Blantyre |
25 |
2 |
Thomas Dobie Coal miner |
Dixon’s Rows Blantyre |
27 |
2 |
Patrick Dolan Coal miner |
17 Dixon Street Blantyre |
22 |
3 |
John Dolan Coal miner |
17 Dixon Street Blantyre |
19 |
3 |
William Duncan Roadsman |
Pilot Acre Blantyre |
24 |
|
Robert Eadie Fire inspector |
Kirkton Blantyre |
50 |
2 |
William Fricleton Coal miner |
Burnbank Hamilton |
23 |
3 |
Charles Gainer Coal miner |
Stonefield, Blantyre |
23 |
3 |
Samuel Gardener Coal miner |
Newton, Cambuslang |
21 |
3 |
William Gemmell Coal miner |
Burnbank Hamilton |
19 |
3 |
John Gemmell Coal miner |
Burnbank Hamilton |
22 |
3 |
Matthew Gemmell Coal miner |
Burnbank Hamilton |
31 |
3 |
Joseph Gilmour Underground manager |
Not known |
35 |
2 |
Joseph Gilmour Not known |
Not known |
13 |
2 |
John Gold Coal miner |
Larkfield Blantyre |
28 |
3 |
Benjamin Gold Coal miner |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
24 |
3 |
Andrew Gold Coal miner |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
22 |
3 |
James Gold Coal miner |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
33 |
3 |
Thomas Gracie Coal miner |
Kirkton, Blantyre |
57 |
2 |
William Graham Drawer |
57 Hall Street Blantyre |
13 |
2 |
Robert Halliday Coal miner |
34 Hall St Blantyre |
39 |
3 |
Thomas Halliday Soldier |
34 Hall St Blantyre |
19 |
3 |
Matthew Halliday Coal miner |
Stonefield, Blantyre |
48 |
3 |
Thomas Halliday Coal miner |
Stonefield, Blantyre |
22 |
3 |
John Hamilton Coal miner |
Burnbank Hamilton |
31 |
3 |
William Hanlon Coal miner |
31 Calder Street Blantyre |
23 |
2 |
John Hastie Coal miner |
11 Miller St Blantyre |
16 |
2 |
Thomas Hendry Coal miner |
11 Larkfield, Blantyre |
21 |
2 |
James Hendry Coal miner |
11 Larkfield, Blantyre |
19 |
2 |
John Hendry Pony driver |
11 Larkfield, Blantyre |
14 |
3 |
Robert Hendry Pit bottomer |
11 Larkfield, Blantyre |
15 |
2 |
James Irvine Coal miner |
Burnbank Hamilton |
36 |
? |
James Kelly Coal miner |
43 Calder St Blantyre |
16 |
3 |
John Kelly Coal miner |
Dixon’s Rows Blantyre |
23 |
3 |
Patrick Kelly Coal miner |
7 Hall Street Blantyre |
27 |
2 |
James Kelly Coal miner |
18 Hall St Blantyre |
33 |
2 |
James Kemp Coal miner |
Merry’s Rows Blantyre |
22 |
2 |
John Kenny Coal miner |
50 Hall St Blantyre |
45 |
3 |
Robert Orr Kirkland Coal miner |
41 Priestfield Tce Blantyre |
20 |
2 |
Nicol Kyle Coal miner |
Kirkton, Blantyre |
35 |
2 |
James Lang Coal miner |
Pilot Acre, Blantyre |
55 |
3 |
Archibald Lang Coal miner |
Kirkton, Blantyre |
25 |
2 |
Hugh Larkin Coal miner |
9 Govan Street Blantyre |
24 |
3 |
James Lauder Coal miner |
Townhill, Hamilton |
20 |
2 |
George Lauder Coal miner |
Townhill, Hamilton |
16 |
2 |
James Liddell Coal miner |
Hall Street Blantyre |
41 |
2 |
John Liddell Coal miner |
Hall Street Blantyre |
12 |
2 |
Thomas Lucas Coal miner |
Pilot Acre, Blantyre |
24 |
3 |
Peter Mackie Coal miner |
Dixon’s Rows Blantyre |
31 |
3 |
James Marshall Coal miner |
14 Calder Street Blantyre |
20 |
2 |
Hugh Martin Coal miner |
Backpriestfield Blantyre |
51 |
2 |
David Martin Coal miner |
Dixon’s Rows Blantyre |
28 |
2 |
Robert McAdams Coal miner |
53 Hall Street Blantyre |
28 |
2 |
Peter McAnulty Coal miner |
57 Hall Street Blantyre |
54 |
2 |
Edward McCallum Coal miner |
21 Hall Street Blantyre |
14 |
2 |
Patrick McCue Coal miner |
23 Dixon Street Blantyre |
19 |
2 |
John McCulloch Coal miner |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
44 |
3 |
John McCulloch Coal miner |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
16 |
3 |
Thomas McCulloch Coal miner |
Hart’s Land Blantyre |
25 |
3 |
James McCusker Coal miner |
Dixon Street Blantyre |
28 |
2 |
Henry McCusker Coal miner |
26 Calder Street Blantyre |
30 |
2 |
Thomas McDonald Coal miner |
1 Gardiner Place, High Blantyre |
29 |
2 |
James McFadzen Coal miner |
Dixon’s Rows Blantyre |
21 |
3 |
John McFadzen Coal miner |
2 Carfin St Blantyre |
23 |
3 |
John McFarlane Coal miner |
Larkfield, Blantyre |
31 |
2 |
James McGarry Coal miner |
62 Hall St Blantyre |
35 |
3 |
Abraham McGhee Coal miner |
Larkfield, Blantyre |
18 |
3 |
John McGhee Coal miner |
Larkfield, Blantyre |
16 |
3 |
William McGhee Coal miner |
Larkfield, Blantyre |
14 |
3 |
James McGown Coal miner |
Gardiner’s Place Blantyre |
24 |
2 |
Gilbert McIntyre Coal miner |
Kirkton Blantyre |
47 |
2 |
William McKay Coal miner |
11 Miller St Blantyre |
48 |
2 |
John McKelvie Coal miner |
Burnbank Hamilton |
19 |
3 |
John McKillop Coal miner |
Burnbank Hamilton |
14 |
3 |
Archibald McKillop Coal miner |
Burnbank Hamilton |
12 |
3 |
James McKinnon Coal miner |
Burnbank Hamilton |
32 |
3 |
Moses McLachlan Roadsman |
Commercial Place Blantyre |
23 |
2 |
Edward McLachlan Pony driver |
1 Jackson Place, Blantyre |
15 |
2 |
William McLachlan Pony driver |
1 Jackson Place, Blantyre |
13 |
2 |
John McLaughlan Coal miner |
17 Miller St Blantyre |
23 |
3 |
Edward McLaughlan Coal miner |
17 Miller St Blantyre |
18 |
3 |
Thomas McMeechan Coal miner |
28 Calder St Blantyre |
45 |
3 |
James McMillan Stoker |
Larkfield, Blantyre |
30 |
2 |
Robert McNaught Roadsman |
Dixon’s Rows Blantyre |
26 |
3 |
Bernard McTavie Coal miner |
Backpriestfield |
56 |
2 |
Thomas Meechan Coal miner |
Flemington, Cambuslang |
39 |
2 |
Alexander Miller Assistant engine hand |
Unknown |
18 |
2 |
William Miller Coal miner |
8 Govan Street Blantyre |
23 |
2 |
Joseph Miller Coal miner |
Dixon’s Rows Blantyre |
27 |
3 |
John Moir Coal miner |
Barnhill Blantyre |
36 |
2 |
Edward Moir Drawer |
Barnhill Blantyre |
16 |
2 |
Hugh Morgan Coal miner |
5 Calder St Blantyre |
37 |
3 |
Andrew Morrison Coal miner |
Dixon’s Rows Blantyre |
48 |
2 |
William Muir Coal miner |
Burnbank Hamilton |
21 |
3 |
Thomas Murdoch Coal miner |
1 Dixon Street Blantyre |
17 |
2 |
Francis Murphy Coal miner |
Larkfield, Blantyre |
25 |
3 |
James Murphy Coal miner |
8 Carfin St Blantyre |
20 |
3 |
George Murphy Drawer |
8 Carfin St Blantyre |
13 |
3 |
Bernard Murray Coal miner |
Larkfield, Blantyre |
21 |
2 |
James Murray Pit bottomer |
3 Calder Street Blantyre |
50 |
3 |
George Nisbet Coal miner |
Larkfield, Blantyre |
27 |
3 |
John O’Brien Coal miner |
10 Calder Street Blantyre |
24 |
3 |
Peter O’Brien Coal miner |
10 Calder Street Blantyre |
21 |
3 |
John O’Donnell Coal miner |
Larkfield Blantyre |
26 |
3 |
John O’Donnell Coal miner |
14 Miller Street Blantyre |
23 |
3 |
Robert Ovens Coal miner |
12 Hall Street Blantyre |
21 |
2 |
John Park Coal miner |
Kirkton Blantyre |
34 |
2 |
William Primrose Coal miner |
Blantyre Works Blantyre |
17 |
2 |
James Rae Supposed Name |
Unknown |
35- |
? |
Thomas Ramsay Coal miner |
Pilot Acre Blantyre |
25 |
3 |
William Reid Coal miner |
Burnbank Hamilton |
27 |
3 |
James Reid Drawer |
Burnbank Hamilton |
13 |
3 |
George Renwick Coal miner |
Unknown |
48 |
3 |
John Reevie Coal miner |
Dixon’s Rows Blantyre |
59 |
2 |
Alexander Reevie Coal miner |
Dixon’s Rows Blantyre |
19 |
2 |
William Richardson Coal miner |
Kirkton, Blantyre |
17 |
2 |
William Roberts Coal miner |
Larkfield Blantyre |
24 |
3 |
Thomas Roberts Coal miner |
60 Hall Street Blantyre |
20 |
2 |
Moses Roberts Coal miner |
60 Hall Street Blantyre |
17 |
2 |
Samuel Roberts Coal miner |
60 Hall Street Blantyre |
14 |
2 |
Richard Ross Coal miner |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
30 |
2 |
John Russell Coal miner |
Kirkton Blantyre |
20 |
2 |
George Sawers Coal miner |
Kirkton Blantyre |
24 |
3 |
George Semple Coal miner |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
32 |
3 |
William Sharp Coal miner |
48 Calder Street Blantyre |
63 |
2 |
James Sharp Coal miner |
48 Calder Street Blantyre |
40 |
2 |
James Simpson Coal miner |
20 Larkfield Blantyre |
24 |
2 |
Robert Simpson Roadsman |
Burnbank Hamilton |
60 |
3 |
Patrick Smith Coal miner |
Larkfield Blantyre |
40 |
3 |
Edward Smith Coal miner |
Larkfield Blantyre |
22 |
3 |
James Smith Coal miner |
Dixon’s Rows Blantyre |
35 |
3 |
James Sneddon Coal miner |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
39 |
3 |
James Sneddon Coal miner |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
16 |
3 |
John Sneddon Coal miner |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
19 |
3 |
George Speirs Coal miner |
Barnhill Blantyre |
16 |
2 |
John Speirs Pony driver |
Barnhill Blantyre |
15 |
2 |
William Speirs Coal miner |
Kirkton Blantyre |
28 |
2 |
John Speirs Coal miner |
9 Miller St Blantyre |
13 |
2 |
John Stark Coal miner |
Annsfield Place Blantyre |
29 |
3 |
James Steele Coal miner |
Flemington, Cambuslang |
36 |
2 |
Robert Steele Coal miner |
Flemington, Cambuslang |
13 |
2 |
Alexander Stevenson Coal miner |
15 Govan St Blantyre |
42 |
3 |
John Stevenson Coal miner |
15 Govan St Blantyre |
19 |
3 |
William Stevenson Coal miner |
15 Govan St Blantyre |
14 |
3 |
James Stewart Coal miner |
34 Hall St Blantyre |
19 |
3 |
Robert Stewart Coal miner |
34 Hall St Blantyre |
17 |
3 |
Malcolm Stewart Coal miner |
52 Calder Street Blantyre |
15 |
2 |
John Thomson Colliery hostler |
Larkfield, Blantyre |
17 |
3 |
George Todd Colliery hostler |
Kirkton, Blantyre |
43 |
2 |
Hugh Tonner Coal miner |
13 Calder Street Blantyre |
48 |
2 |
Charles Tonner Colliery drawer |
13 Calder Street Blantyre |
15 |
3 |
John Trayner Pony driver |
Pilot Acre Blantyre |
15 |
3 |
James Vallely Coal miner |
4 Govan Street Blantyre |
22 |
2 |
Neil Ward Coal miner |
Croftfoot Blantyre |
57 |
2 |
Robert Wardrop Pit bottomer |
Dixon’s Rows, Blantyre |
37 |
2 |
Alexander Watt Fire inspector |
Dixon’s Rows, Blantyre |
28 |
2 |
John Young Welsh Coal miner |
Hart’s Land, Blantyre |
22 |
3 |
Francis Welsh Coal miner |
Hart’s Land, Blantyre |
23 |
3 |
James Welsh Coal miner |
Hart’s Land, Blantyre |
15 |
3 |
Andrew White Coal miner |
Larkfield Blantyre |
37 |
2 |
Thomas White Coal miner |
Larkfield Blantyre |
13 |
2 |
Robert White Pony driver |
Auchinraith Blantyre |
16 |
2 |
Thomas Wilson Coal miner |
Larkfield Blantyre |
45 |
3 |
James Wilson Coal miner |
Larkfield Blantyre |
17 |
3 |
Thomas Wilson Coal miner |
Greenfield, Hamilton |
21 |
3 |
Hugh Wilson Coal miner |
55 Calder St Blantyre |
36 |
3 |
William Wilson Coal miner |
55 Calder St Blantyre |
17 |
3 |
James Wilson Drawer |
55 Calder St Blantyre |
14 |
3 |
William Wood Coal miner |
Springfield Terrace Blantyre |
51 |
3 |
James Wright Fire inspector |
3 Priestfield Blantyre |
49 |
2 |
John McEwan Wright Pony driver |
3 Priestfield Blantyre |
17 |
2 |
Note from Bill: When researching this I came across a schematic drawing of the mines showing where each miner was found which was used in the Enquiry in 1877. It was all torn and folded and was amongst unrelated papers in Blantyre Library. I am in the process of having it re-drawn for future use. |
~~~
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