Story
Ephraim Whitaker was born in Micklefield in 1859, and was the son of a coal miner of William Whitaker (1824-1881) and Ann Mosby (1827-1896) who married in Sherburn on 26th January 1846. In 1880, he married Mary Ann Weighton (1863-1933), and they had 6 children, who all survived infancy: Joseph William (1880-1933); Jane Ann (1882-1937); Walter (1885-1964); George Henry (1886-1962); Amos (1888-1965); and Victor (1890-1960). By 1881, Ephraim was a coal miner, and was living at 4 East View at the time of the Peckfield Colliery Disaster. Ephraim was not at work on the day of the disaster, but was quickly in attendance, and volunteered to join the rescue parties. His brother Amos Whitaker was killed in the disaster.
Ephraim continued to work at Peckfield Colliery as a coal miner after the disaster, and moved to 10 Sunnybank. By 1911, the family moved to Goldthorpe, Rotherham, to join his youngest brother Ezra (1868-1927), who is pictured below with his second wife Catherine Welsh, and children Agnes Winifred (1890-1980); Roland (1892-1976); and Doris May (1896). Ezra had a mining accident in 1911 and used the compensation money to set up a grocery business. Ephraim continued to work in South Yorkshire as a colliery Byeworker. Ephraim and Ezra were joined in South Yorkshire by their other remaining siblings: Zilpha (1850-1926); and Dorcas (1856-1931). Ephraim passed away on 16th January 1936 (obituary below).
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 