C is for COALMINER or COLLIER

My Leach ancestors were from a long line of coalminers.

John Leach was born in Wales, Hawarden Flint to be exact, way back in 1819. He was the son of William Leach, a collier, and Anne nee Ellis. John followed in his father’s footsteps and headed down the mines. 

Baptism of John Leach in 1819. Courtesy Cheshire Public Records.

Throughout the 18th century, coal mining was industrious in northern Wales however production waned in the 1800s and many Welsh miners migrated eastwards to the coal producing counties of Northumberland and Durham here was a huge demand for coal due to the Industrial Revolution. By 1849 John Leach was working in Durham and married Ann Moore in Brick Garth, Hougton Le Hole. A few years later they migrated to Australia. 

By 1861 the Leach family were residing in Wallsend, near Newcastle NSW, well-known for its coal deposits. It was here my great Grandfather John William, was born in 1862.  John passed away on in 1868 from the miner's lung disease, pyaemia. 

West Wallsend Colliery, 1888. Courtesy State Records NSW

John William commenced work at the Wallsend Colliery when he was 14 years old and he worked there until his death, in his 59th year, in 1920.  My Grandfather Bill remembers waiting at the colliery gate as a young boy and walking home with father and his miner friends. 

Mining was a dangerous occupation in the 18th and 19th centuries.  Fatalities due to accidents and underground explosions were very common and the average life expectancy was short. His death was recorded as tuberculosis which silicosis was often confused with. He left four children aged from 4 to 12 years.

Original birth certificate of John William Leach in 1910. 

 There is more about the Leach family here if you are interested. 

FATAL COLLIERY ACCIDENT OF THOMAS LEACH 1886

John Leach, who was born in Hawarden Flint,Wales married Ann Moore in 1849 Brick Garth, Hougton Le Hole, Durham. John, a coal miner, had moved there for work. A few years later they migrated to Australia, sometime between 1855-1858, with their children Mary Ann and William. They stayed in Tasmania for several years where daughters, Rebecca and Sarah were born.

By the end of 1861 the Leach family had moved to the Newcastle area of NSW, renowned for its coal deposits and made their home in Wallsend. Four more sons were born William Thomas, my Great Grandfather John William, Ellis and Thomas (1867) named for his maternal grandfather. Tragedy struck the family when three of the Leach children died in the early 1860s and you can read more about their deaths in an earlier post. Sadly the patriarch John Leach, passed away on 23 October 1868 from the miner's lung disease, pyaemia. At the time Thomas was just over 18 months old.

West Wallsend Colliery, 1888. Courtesy State Records NSW

Another tragedy struck the family when 19 year old, Thomas was involved in a fatal colliery accident at the Wallsend Colliery on 23 October 1868.  Thomas had just knocked off work for the day and was coming out of the tunnel, leading his horse. It was reported in the Department of Mines, Annual report 1886 that he “was employed as a brakesman on a self acting incline in the Wallsend Colliery” and “was engaged in bringing some damaged skips up on the no. 1 tunnel to the surface" but was hit by some skips. The accident killed Thomas and Dr Tomlin who examined him, advised the death was caused by a "fracture of the skull, and must have been instantaneous." Numerous accounts of the accident appeared in Trove newspapers all over the country. The most in-depth coverage was from the Newcastle Morning Herald and the Maitland Mercury. 

Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, 3 August 1886 p. 6 

The consequence was a collision and the infliction of a fatal injuries to the unfortunate young man. Thomas was killed instantly, as was his horse and another. Maitland District Coroner gave a verdict of ‘accidental’ to the death of Thomas Leach. 

Wallsend Colliery, Newcastle from the Australian Town & Country Journal 18 January 1890, p. 24

According to the Newcastle Morning Herald The jury considered all of the facts surrounding the incident and reported the following verdict:

That Thomas Leach died at the Wallsend Colliery on the 29 day of July 1886. We are of opinion that his death was accidentally caused by a collision between skips being driven by the deceased and several loaded skips coming in a contrary direction.We desire to express our opinion that sufficient care has not been used heretofore in the lowering of these loaded skips, and recommended that more stringent rules should be adopted by the colliery authorities in order to avoid future accidents.

Thomas was buried the same day at the Old Wallsend Cemetery and a headstone once marked his grave. This was possibly paid for by the colliery or a subscription from the local community. The inscription on his headstone was recorded, and states "What partings here we have. How hard they seem to come, but we have to part no more when we get safe at home."  Sadly the headstone no longer stands as this cemetery closed in 1896 and was apparently converted to parkland in the 1950s. Fortunately information from the headstones were recorded before removal. 

TROVE TUESDAY ~ CHILDHOOD DEATHS IN WALLSEND

My Great Grandfather John William Leach (1862-1920) was one of seven children born to Welshman John Leach and his wife, Ann Moore who came from Durham. The family migrated to Australia in the mid-1850s and first settled in Tasmania for several years before moving to Wallsend near Newcastle, NSW by 1861. Three of John and Anne’s children lost their lives in early childhood in Wallsend and up until recently little was known of the details. Searching the historic newspapers on Trove has provided more information. 

The eldest child of John and Ann, William Thomas Leach died 8 April 1861 as a result of “Scald and Irritative Fever from the Effects of Scald on the constitution” according to the Coroner. He was seven years old and was buried in the Christ Church Burial Ground at Newcastle. 

Just over six months later, tragedy struck again. Eighteen month old Sarah suffered for two days with pneumonia before succumbing, on 30 November 1861 at Wallsend. She was buried the following day at Christ Church cemetery in Newcastle as the cemetery in Wallsend was not established until 1864.  

The Newcastle Chronicle 3 August 1864 p. 3 

Mary Ann Leach was born 17 December 1855 Brick Garth, Hetton-Le-Hole in Durham and travelled to the other side of the world with her parents. On 30 July 1864 Mary Ann was helping her mother Ann, with washing and hanging out the clothes. Her father, John Leach provided the following information at the inquest: He stated he was a miner living at Wallsend:

on Saturday, the day preceding, he saw the child on his return from work ; she was assisting her mother hanging out clothes. Afterwards deceased went to the creek to get some water, and he heard, ten or fifteen minutes afterwards, that deceased had fallen in. He went down to the creek, and with the assistance of a clothes prop managed to secure the body and bring it home.

She went to the nearby creek to collect water and accidentally fell in. Her little friend raised the alarm several minutes after and despite being rescued from the muddy water she passed away. The creek was about 9-10 feet in depth and a child’s hair net was found floating on arrival. Dr Pierce who arrived at the scene tried every method to “restore animation but without success” and he gave his opinion at the inquest that death was caused by phyxia from accidental drowning.  Mary Ann was only eight years old. She was buried at what is now called the old Wallsend. The children lay in unmarked graves. 

Death certificate of Mary Ann Leach 1864

Very sad circumstances for the family. But sadly there was more to come.

TROVE TUESDAY - DEATH OF MOTOR CYCLIST

On 29 January 1938, my Grandfather, John William 'Bill' Leach was riding pillion with his mate Michael Robert Andrews.  A car driven by Frederick William Gray, overtook the motorbike three times on a journey from Mascot Bridge. The third time, the driver swerved towards the bike and on the corner of Botany Road and Coward Street, Mascot, the motorbike struck a post and the driver was killed. Gray was charged with murder.

Bill Leach with wife, Florence on his own motorbike in the early 1930s
Source: Nichols Family Archives

This was the 1930s and times were tough. Bill often fished around Botany Bay and then went around to some of the local hotels to sell his catch. On the day of the accident, Bill and Michael had been to Kogarah Bay.  Bill gave evidence at the inquest, he said that they were returning to Sydney when he noticed a car "that after crossing the Mascot Bridge and turning the corner 100 yards farther an Essex car crossed in front of them and to avoid it the cycle swerved from the concrete road to the side of the street." Andrews and Leach said together, "That was close." Further along the road, the car slowed down and the cycle went past. As drove past, Andrews shouted to the driver, "You fool" and words were exchanged.  Bill then stated that the car "seemed to swerve in upon the cycle" and he shouted, "Look out! Look out!" but the back wheel or some part of the car caught the front wheel of the cycle. He continued, "I had an impression of Andrews being hurled against a post. The next thing I remembered was sitting upon the roadway about 20 feet from the cycle. The car had gone on." 

A witness to the accident, Mrs Irene O'Donnell of Botany, "said that she saw the collision. She would say that the car was deliberately aimed at the motor cycle."

Mr Sabine, a Detective said that Gray had told him he had not stopped because he did not think he was responsible for the accident. Witnesses also mentioned that despite Gray seeing the accident he had not stopped. Andrews was admitted the Royal South Sydney Hospital but died within thirty minutes of admission, from a fractured skull. The coroner found that the death of Andrews was due to a fractured skull and brain injuries that were suffered in the collision. Michael was aged 37 and a fireman living at Alexandria. 

Evidence was given that Gray was an acceptable driver and his car in a satisfactory condition. Gray denied he was guilty but did admit to having consumed several drinks on the day. His version of events were supported by his two passengers, his wife and his brother-in-law.

The original charge of murder was reduced to the lesser charge of manslaughter. "There is no doubt that this is homicide," said the coroner, Mr. Oram, "and, to me, it certainly is punishable homicide. But there is no evidence of express malice, such as is necessary to sustain a charge of murder." Mr Oram said "the evidence did not indicate criminal maliciousness." Bail of £200 was set with two sureties of £200 was allowed. He was later sentenced to two years gaol for the manslaughter.

My grandfather was 27 years old and a building labourer. As a result of the accident he severely injured his wrist, arms and knees. The injuries plagued him for the remainder of his life. Due to his injuries he was in out of hospital and was unable to work for about six months. My Grandmother, Flo had to return to work as a box-maker to make ends meet. Joyce, my Mother, aged four and her two year old sister, Fay had to attend a special nursery school while she was at work. Andrews also left a widow and family.  

Sydney Morning Herald  22 February 1938, p. 12

References
MOTORIST FOR TRIAL. (1938, February 22). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 12. Retrieved March 28, 2016
Drove Cyclist Off Road To His Death (1938, March 27). Truth, p. 25. Retrieved March 28, 2016
ROAD ACCIDENTS. (1938, January 31). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), , p. 14. Retrieved March 29, 2016