Isabella beloved wife of William Turnbull, of Herrington Pit who died Feb 8th 1890 aged 49 years Also Robert their son who died Dec 8th 1877 aged 18 years Also William their son who died Feb 21st 1879 aged 13 years Also Robert William their son who died Nov 28th 1882 aged 2.1/2 years Buried St Cuthberts New Herrington

Name: Thomas Maddison Of Shiney Row, beloved son of William and Mary Maddison Age: 25 Date: 16th Dec 1890 8:30 p.m., 4th hour of shift Occupation: Shifter Colliery: North Biddick Owner: Sir G Elliot MP Town: North Biddick County: Durham Notes: Suffocated by gasses from old workings. 3 killed. In affectionate remembrance of Joseph the beloved son of William and Mary Maddison of New Penshaw, who died Janry 24th 1886 aged 15 years 8 months also Thomas the beloved son of William and Mary Maddison of Shiney Row who lost his life being suffocated with gas at North Biddick Colliery December 16th 1890 aged 25 years. This accident happened at North Biddick Colliery on the 16th December, in the Low South Maudlin Seam, whereby Thomas Laverick, borer, Thomas Maddison and George Gouldsbro', shifters, all young men, lost their lives.

It appears that there was a place being driven towards some old workings which contained gas and water, and David Shield, borer, with Thomas Laverick as his assistant, were engaged boring, when they holed into the old workings from which rushed gas and water.

The gas had evidently been too much for Laverick, and Shield, feeling that he was fast becoming overpowered, made his way out. About 200 yards outbye Thomas Maddison and George Gouldsbro' were working, and on seeing Shield come out, knew something must be wrong, and bravely rushed into the place to save Laverick, but, unfortunately, on reaching him they, too, were overcome by the effects of the gas, and were suffocated before assistance could reach them. Very shortly after the accident occurred, on word being sent to him, the undermanager and others went to the place to try if possible to rescue the three men. After making some alterations in the ventilation, and getting as much fresh air thrown into the place as they possibly could, they succeeded, after some hours, in getting to the men, and safely plugging the bore-hole, but found that the men had been dead sometime.

The place was afterwards examined, and it was found to have been worked in every way in compliance with General Rule 13.

An inquest was held on the 19th December. The following is part of the evidence given

Mr. W. Foggin, the manager of the colliery, during his examination said that Shields and Laverick were boring in a place approaching some old workings. It was expected to reach the latter, which were about 100 years old, at about 100 yards from where the men were boring. He was guarded partly by plans of the old workings, but from what had since transpired they were, he found, not correct. All the requirements of the Act of Parliament had been observed. Owing to the fact that the old plans were not to be relied on, instructions were given to take extreme precautions in boring.

David Shield said he was a borer, and went down the pit on the 16th December, and took with him all necessary gear and tackle. lie was assisted by Thomas Laverick. Work was commenced at about 5 o'clock, and went on steadily until the borehole was 10 yards in length. He was visited during this time by the master-shifter, and about a quarter of an hour after the latter left he found they had holed or got a "breaker." Then all arrangements were made, care being taken to see that all was safe, to take off the rods, no signs being shown at the time of either gas or water. After having taken off nine rods, and also taken down the machine, the remaining six rods were left in the hole. Laverick then took the mell in his hand, to be in readiness to drive a plug in as soon as the other rods were taken out. As soon as the rods were withdrawn a rush of water and gas came away with them. He and Laverick were both knocked down by the suddenness of the rush, but recovered and endeavoured to force the plug into the hole. Laverick only partly hit the plug, and it seemed as though he had been overpowered with the bad gas which was issuing from the hole, and faintly made some allusion to help. He knew nothing more until he found himself at the bottom of the shaft amongst some men.

This was all the evidence of importance, after which the jury returned their verdict. They unanimously found that the deceased men bad come to their deaths by being suffocated by a sudden rush of foul air from old workings, and that the case was accidental; and further, that they believed every precaution necessary had been taken by Mr. Foggin to prevent such a calamity.

The manager afterwards had samples of the gas and water examined, when it was proved that the gas these men died from was sulphuretted hydrogen.

Joseph Turnbull In loving rememberance of Joseph Turnbull, Engineer, of Lumley and Harraton Collieries who died 1st Oct 1891, aged 61

Name: John Appleton, Age: 29 Date: 20th Mar 1893 6:30 a.m., 3rd hour of shift Occupation: Hewer Colliery: Dorothea Owner: Earl of Durham Town: Fence Houses County: Durham Notes: While hewing in a jud he exposed a slip, and a fall of stone took place killing him. Buried:St. Cuthberts Churchyard, West Herrington John, the beloved son of John Wm. & Elizabeth Appleton, of New Herrington who lost his life at the Dorothea Pit, March 20th 1893, aged 29 years. the above John Wm. Appleton died July 20th 1895 aged 60 years also the above Elizabeth who died Feb 4th 1923 aged 79 years

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Name: Matthew R Ferguson, Age: 13 Yrs 6 mths Died: 2nd Jun 1893 Accident: 2nd Jun 1893 3:45 p.m., 10th hour of shift Colliery: Houghton Company: Earl of Durham Occupation: Door Keeper Notes: Crushed while attempting to get on an engine set of tubs, contrary to orders. Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle In memory of Matthew the beloved son of James & Elizabeth Ferguson who accidentally lost his life in Houghton Pit June 2nd 1893 aged 13 years & 6 months

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Name: Richard Laidler, Age: 21 Date: 09 Nov 1893 Occupation: Wasteman ** Colliery: Margaret Pit, Newbottle Owner: Earl of Durham Town: Fence Houses County: Durham Notes: Died from injuries received from a fall of stone while drawing a prop on November l5th, 1890. ** From 1849: Generally old men, who are employed in building pillars for the support of the roof in the waste, and in keeping the airways open and in good order. Their wages are about 2s. 4d. per day. A master wasteman has (under the viewer or underviewer) the charge of the waste, and should be a steady and careful man, and have some skill in ventilation. His wages are about 21s. per week (1849).

In Remembrance of Margaret The beloved wife of John Laidler, Of Success Row, who died Decr 13th 1889, aged 62 years Also the above John Laidler Who died July 6th 1903, Aged 76 years Joseph Son of the above Who lost his life in the Margaret Pit, June 3rd 1885, aged 19 years Also Richard Laidler, son of the above Who died November 9th 1893, through an Accident received in the Margaret Pit, on the 15th November 1890, aged 21 years

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John Pugh Crome age 14 Died: 13th Aug 1894 Accident: 13th Aug 1894 10:15 a.m., 5th hour of shift Colliery: Houghton Company: Earl of Durham Occupation: Driver, a fall of stone from roof, as he was taking an empty set of tubs into station, caused by some timber being displaced, which caught and killed him instantly. [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 23 Aug 1894 pg 4] Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle In loving memory of John Pugh the beloved son of John and Eliza Crome who lost his life in Houghton Pit August 13th 1894, aged 14 years

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Thomas Henry Anderson, age 42 Died: 17th Aug 1898 Accident: 17th Aug 1898 Colliery: Herrington Company: Lambton Collieries Ltd. Occupation: Deputy, a fall of stone occurred in the Hutton Seam engine plane, and while it was being cleared away some side stone fell and displaced the timber, and this caused a second fall from the roof, which caught and killed these three men [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 17 Aug 1898 pg 4; inquest - 19 Aug 1898 pg 4, 20 Aug 1898 pg 3] Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle   Thomas Henry the beloved husband of Mary Anderson who was accidentally killed at New Herrington Colliery August 17th 1898 aged 42 years also Percival Henry & Elizabeth Hannah children of the above who died in infancy

 

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Robert Armstrong Nicholson, age 13 Died: 18th Sep 1894 Accident: 18th Sep 1894 12:00 p.m., 6th hour of shift Colliery: Margaret Pit, Newbottle Company: Earl of Durham Occupation: Driver, run over by a set of full tubs, supposed to have been hanging on his pony when the hook slipped off [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 20 Sep 1894 pg 3] Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle In loving memory of Robert Armstrong the beloved son of Robert & Margt. Nicholson who accidentally lost his life at the Margaret Pit Sept 18th 1894 aged 13 years also Mary their daughter died August 13th 1889 aged 1 year

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Name: Henry Morrell, age 24 Died: 22 Dec 1894 Accident: 15 Dec 1894 10:00 a.m., 5th hour of shift Colliery: Dorothea Pit, Newbottle Company: Earl of Durham Occupation: Waggon Rider, Broken thigh, the brake of the wagon had not been pinned on, and fell off, deceased fell before the wagons, and was so severely crushed that he died on the 23rd instant Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle In loving memory of Henry Morrell who died through an accident at the Dorothea Pit Philadelphia December 22nd 1894 aged 24 years

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Samuel Clegg
accidentally killed at New Herrington Colliery Jan. 20th 1895

In affectionate remembrance of Samuel the beloved husband of Mary Clegg who was accidentally killed at New Herrington Colliery Jan. 20th 1895, aged 56 years also Thomas, son of the above who lost his life at the above pit Feb. 21st 1884 aged 22 years Isabella, their daughter died Nov. 1st 1884, aged 12 years

Samuel Clegg, age 57
Date:             28th Jan 1895 3:30 p.m., 6th hour of shift
Occupation:  Hewer
Colliery:         Herrington
Owner:           Earl of Durham 
County:          Durham Notes: fall of stone in the face of his working place, his son (Thomas) was killed in the same pit 11 years
                       previously [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 29 Jan 1895 pg 3 col 4; inquest - 30 Jan 1895 pg 3 col 4]

                       Buried: St. Cuthberts Churchyard, West Herrington

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John George House, age 46 Died: 3rd Jun 1885 Accident: 3rd Jun 1885 Colliery: Margaret Pit, Newbottle Company: Earl of Durham Occupation: Back Overman, John left a wife; killed in the 1885 disaster (inrush of water from old workings) Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle John George the beloved husband of Margaret House, who lost his life in the Margaret Pit, June 3rd 1885, aged 46 years also of Margaret widow of the above who died February 21st 1913 aged 73 years

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William Urwin, aged 20 Died: 18 Apr 1896 Accident: 17 Apr 1896 Year Born: abt. 1876 Colliery: Eppleton Colliery Company: Hetton Coal Co. Ltd. Occupation: Putter Notes: Head and neck crushed between roof and top of tub while riding on the limbers. Died the following day

In Loving Memory Of William Son Of Thomas And Rebecca Urwin Of Hetton On Downs Who Met His Death By Accident At Eppleton Colliery April 17th 1896 Aged 20 Years And 10 Months Also William Son Of Joseph And Mary Urwin Who Was Accidently Killed At Hetton Lyons Colliery Dec 3rd 1923 Aged 21 Years Also Robert Who Died In Infancy

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St. Cuthberts Churchyard, West Herrington. Matthew McGee, age 62 Date: 15th Feb 1898 Colliery: Herrington Owner: Lambton Collieries Ltd County: Durham Occupation: Wasteman. While clearing away some loose stone he seems to have disturbed the side and a piece of stone fell away and caught him causing such severe injuries he died half an hour afterwards. Buried in St. Cuthberts Churchyard West Herrington.   Matthew the beloved husband of Ann McGee who was killed down New Herrington Pit Feb 15 1898 aged 62 years also the above Ann McGee who died July 24th 1900 aged 60 years

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William Hodgson, Killed 1898, Aged 22 Years

In Memory Of William The Beloved Son Of Henry And Esther Hodgson Who Was Accidently Killed Aug 22nd 1898, Aged 22 Years Thomas Brother Of The Above Died Jan 15th 1881, Aged 15 Years

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Thomas Richardson, aged 51 Died: 26th Jan 1899 Accident: 26th Jan 1899 Colliery: Herrington Company: Lambton Collieries Ltd. Occupation Shifter, Thomas and another man had removed a chock, and then commenced to move some stones to reset it, when a fall of stone from the roof took place and killed him [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 27 Jan 1899 pg 3 col 2; inquest - 30 Jan 1899 pg 3 col 3] Buried: St. Matthew's Churchyard, Newbottle   Thomas Richardson who was accidentally killed Jan 26th 1899, aged 51 years Erected by his loving sister Margaret Richardson