Story
William Crosthwaite (1836-1888) and Ann Steels (1838-1911) married in 1860, and had several children who were involved In the Peckfield Colliery Disaster. Thomas Crosthwaite (1860-1938) was rescued from the pit, whilst his younger brothers Israel and Herbert were also rescuers at the pit disaster.
Herbert Johnson Crosthwaite was born in Austhorpe, Whitkirk in 1863, and was initially a pony driver, before becoming a coal miner. He married Eliza Hayes in Sherburn on 30th November 1885. Eliza was the sister of George Hayes, who was killed in the disaster. In 1891 Herbert was living at 8 East View, and had another of his wife’s brothers, John Hayes and his wife lodging with them. After his wife Eliza passed away in 1891, Herbert re-married Mary Hannah Wilson (1864-1933) in Harrogate on 29th October 1892, and they came back to live at 33 Crescent. After Herbert’s brother Thomas was safely rescued from the pit, Herbert moved on to try and find his brother-in-law George Hayes. After the disaster, Herbert and his wife left Micklefield and moved to Providence Terrace, Harrogate, where they both worked at the baths. Herbert was an attendant, and Mary Hannah was a masseuse. At the age of 46, Herbert joined the Army Service Corp and served in the First World War, in which he sustained a fractured rib. Herbert passed away in Harrogate in 1927, aged 64.
Israel Crosthwaite (pictured above left) was born on 14th February 1865, also in Austhorpe. He was a labourer in 1881, but then followed his older brothers into coal mining. Israel married Mary Jane Rhodes (1869-1942, pictured above right) on 26th September 1887. In 1891 they briefly lived in Ackworth, then came back to Mary’s home village of Kippax, where they were living at the time of the Peckfield Colliery Disaster. Israel was a volunteer rescuer at the pit head, seeking to save his brother Thomas, who survived.
After the disaster, Israel left Gibson Lane, Kippax and moved to Leeds, where he passed away on 12th November 1920, aged 55, and was brought back to Kippax for burial. His son Leonard (1888-1926, pictured below) was injured in the First World War.
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 