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Bill Kerry III - Death of a Child Miner

from Singing The Seam by Various Artists

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about

Documentation of children being injured or killed is rife throughout mining history, until the mid 20th century when law changes prevented under 16 year-olds working in the pits. This floor-song tells the story of Samuel Weston who died falling into the Old Loscoe Pit in 1884. Excerpt from the diary of Joseph Hutsby, who was an official at the Old Loscoe Pit: “Thursday February 29 1844: Laystill at both pits in consequence of a boy falling in the soft coal pit, namely Samuel Weston aged 14 years from Taghill. Mist his foot hould in trying to get a chain to go down in the morning” (thanks to the Heanor & District Local History Society for curating this information)

lyrics

Death of a Child Miner (Kerry)

In 1844, upon the coldest day
Old Loscoe pits they laystill, upon that coldest day
They laystill like they’d done before but on that coldest day
Their laystill was in consequnce of the death of a fallen boy

Samuel Weston wor’is name, and he come from up Taghill
Samuel Weston wor’is name, and he come from up Taghill
He wo’ked the pits darhn Loscoe, and his young life he did risk
And his death it was in consequence of a foot-hold that he missed

Samuel Weston dropped them chains darhn in the deepest shaft
He dropped them heavy chains ag’en darhn in the deepest shaft
Them heavy chains and his frail frame made a sarhnd no one would hear
And his death it was in consequence on his forteenth youngest year

In 1845, on the latest day in May
Old Loscoe pits they laystill, on the latest day in May
They laystill like they’d done before but on that day in May
Their laystill was in conseqence of the death of a fallen boy

credits

from Singing The Seam, released July 2, 2019
Roger Kerry

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Songs & Rhymes From The Mines England, UK

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