Mr S BRIGHOUSE held an inquest yesterday at Abram, Wigan, on five more bodies recovered from the Maypole Colliery. Seventy-five men lost their lives in the explosion of August 1908, but only 52 bodies have been recovered.

The bodies, which were largely recognised in each case by the clogs, were those of Samuel EVANS (56),
James WALKDEN (34), John PENNINGTON (42), William DAVIES (24) and Edward FISHWICK (sic) (59). The first four men were datallers; FISHWICK was a contractor. The verdict was that returned at previous inquests.

Dear Fionn
Newspaper report (Guardian 12 April 1911) discovered during research into the FISHWICK name.  I am convinced this refers to Peter FISHWICK.

Greetings, I wonder if you could help me with some of my family history please.   One of my relatives, George Allen, died in the Maypole pit disaster, his body was found on 3rd June 1910, nearly two years after the original explosion.   On your website, you have a postcard picture of some of those who died. Unfortunately, the quality of the web image is not quite good enough for me to make out the names of the people, but I think it is possible that George Allen is the third from the right in the top row, under the letter 'V' in lives.

My grandfather, Anthony Mulligan, from County Mayo, Ireland survived a mine disaster in England at approximately this time.  Is there a list of names of the surviors?

Thank you, in advance, for your help.

Kathleen, USA

I have only recently discovered that my great grandfather Richard Fairhurst was a survivor of the Maypole Pit disaster, he unfortunately went on to die in the Pretoria Mining Disaster a couple of years later.

I have been told that there exists a newspaper photograph taken of the three survivors of Maypole Pit. I have been trying to find a copy of this picture and would appreciate any assistance that could be given in locating this picture.

Yours Stephen Fletcher

--See Email Below--

Thanks for the email regarding Richard Fairhurst, now this opens up a big question for me.   My Great Grandfather definitely died in the Pretoria mine disaster, as there were accounts of my Grandmother receiving relief from the fund whilst she grew up, and this is documented.  But it has been passed down in the family history that he was also involved in the Maypole disaster.  But according to Peter Wood’s research it was a different Richard Fairhurst, which will mean a trip to Wigan and more research.

I must take this opportunity to thank you for your assistance it has been greatly appreciated.

Yours Steve Fletcher 

I've just noticed a message from Stephen Fletcher 27 Sep 2009 in which he stated that his great grandfather Richard Fairhurst was a survivor of the Maypole Pit disaster, and unfortunately went on to die in the Pretoria Mining Disaster a couple of years later. The Richard Fairhurst killed at Pretoria was not the man who survived the Maypole disaster. He was a Boltonian who lived there all his life whereas the Maypole survivor was a younger man born in Ince who was living in Hindley in 1908. Peter Wood

The two contact people responsible for organising the project
(and who take blame for any accountable errors) are Peter Wood and Pamela Clarke.

I am the great-granddaughter of Edward France who died in the Maypole Pit disaster and I have discovered through your web site that he was one of the few who were recovered. According to family memories his brother John France, of Dover Locks, also died in the disaster. John's name does not appear in your web site although a Jethro Frances does. I understand some of the names were difficult to read from the memorial and paper reports and I was wondering if Jethro Frances could be my great uncle John France. There were four years difference in the ages of Edward France and John France and there is four years difference between Edward and Jethro in your web site. If it can be verified that Jethro is John I would be grateful if your web site could include my great uncle John.

Thank you
Kath Quinn nee France.

Records were not good so it is quite possible that John Francis was left off the list or as with the list on the Durham Mining Museum France, J , was actually John France, his address was Dover Locks, Abram on the other hand Ian Winstanley's National Data Base specifies Jethro France.