Story
Arthur Cator was born on 7th January 1873 in Ashill, Norfolk. His parents were James Cator (1847-1928) and Jan Goodbury (1847-1903) who had married on 24th December 1869 in Ashill. Arthur continued to live in Norfolk, but was lodging at 15 Bland’s Cottages in 1891 with George Eaglen (1845-1932) and his wife Hannah Ward, who was also from Ashill. Hannah’s younger brother James Ward was also lodging with them. The Eaglens had moved to Micklefield and had started working at Peckfield Colliery as soon as it had opened.
It is not known to which rescue parties Arthur was attached, but he was one of 34 men listed in the Leeds Mercury on 5th May 1896. The purpose of the list was to recognise the bravery of local miners who had hitherto gone unmentioned by reports which focussed upon the Colliery managers and officials who had led these rescue parties:
“To all the greatest praise is due for their heroic labours, and none will be more anxious that the services of humbler members of the exploring parties should be acknowledged than those who have so successfully led them.”
In Leeds on 19th June 1897, Arthur married Salome Winfield, née Guy (1873-1951), who was the widow of Walter Winfield, one of the three brothers who had been killed in the disaster. Arthur’s brother Walter Cator married Lois Winfield (1876-1943), who was a sister of Walter Winfield. Walter Cator died in 1916 as the result of wounds received during the First World War. By 1901, Arthur’s parents James and Jane had moved to 15 East View, but Arthur and Salome were living in Glasshoughton, with Arthur still working as a coal miner. They later moved and stayed at Smawthorne Avenue, Castleford, where Arthur passed away in 1950, at the age of 77.
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 