Story
James Mellors was born in 1856 in Greasley, Nottinghamshire, and was the son of a coal miner, William Mellors (1834-1872) and Elizabeth Bircumshaw (1834-1920) who married on 16th January 1854 in Greasley. James followed his father into coal mining at a typically young age. After James’s father died, his mother Elizabeth re-married Ezekiel Hardy (1836-1914) in 1873. James left home became Colliery Deputy at Newstead pit, lodging in the Agent’s House in 1881. He married Betsy Horsley (1855-1914) in Heanor, Derbyshire on 2nd April 1884. The couple had 5 children, and in 1889, James became H.M Inspector of Mines in Leeds, moving to 38 Spencer Place, Potternewton. He began working for Frank Newby Wardell, the Chief Inspector of Mines, and attended hundreds of inquests for miners who were either injured or killed at work, as well as attending and giving evidence at larger coal mining accidents, such as Peckfield. Both James Mellors and Frank Wardell were in attendance at the Peckfield Colliery Disaster, and James was in charge of a rescue party of 8 men. He was living in Outwood, Wakefield at the time.
By 1899, James was promoted to Assistant Inspector of Mines, York and Lincolnshire, and moved to 14 St John’s North, Wakefield. Not all miners were grateful, the same year coal miner Aaron Oldfield was charged with opportunely stealing James’ bag and clothing, worth £5. Living close to St John’s Church in Wakefield, James saw his children marry there, including his daughter Sylvia Daisy Horsley Mellors (1889-1966) who married Colliery Manager, Castleford Cricketer and football player Hezekiah George Soar (1884-1966), of Fryston House, in 1911.
James passed away on 12th April 1935 at High Grange, 126 Whingate, Leeds, and was brought back to Outwood for burial. He left the modern equivalent of £142k in his Will.
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 