Story
George Robertshaw was born in 1856 in Flockton near Wakefield, and was the son of William Robertshaw (1823-1891) and Emily Josephine Matterson (1824-1875), who married in Leeds on 4th September 1850. At the age of 15, George was already a coal miner, and had moved to Micklefield by 1881 to work at Peckfield Colliery. He initially lodged with William Whitaker and his son Amos, who was killed in the Colliery disaster. George married Sarah Ann Grainger (1861-1888) on 20th January 1883 in Sherburn in Elmet, and had three children before Sarah passed away aged 27. George re-married Mary Denison (1859-1935) in 1890, and they went on to have 7 more children, whilst living at 15 Crescent, and some of these children went on to marry members of families with links to the Peckfield Colliery Disaster, including Henry Robertshaw (1891-1950) who married Sarah Jane Dean (1891-1975), who was the daughter of William Francis Dean, killed in the disaster. George’s daughter Edna Robertshaw (1895-1988) married William Goodall (1895-1980), who was the son of rescuer Henry Goodall (1860-1943); whilst another son Edgar Robertshaw (1898-1967) married Martha Moakes (1901-1991), daughter of another rescuer, Thomas Moakes (1876-1941). One of George’s sons Edwin was killed during the First World War aged 23, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916.
George was 39 years-old on the day of the disaster, and whilst he was not at work, he quickly made his way to the pit top, and volunteered to join the early rescue parties. Along with Colliery Manager, Charles Houfton, he was instrumental in saving Thomas Crosthwaite, and helping to rescue the other 14 miners who were in that group of survivors. After the disaster, George continued to live at 15 Crescent, and worked as a coal miner. He died on 20th August 1930 aged 73.
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 