Story
John Walton was baptised in Sherburn in Elmet on 21st April 1844, and was born, raised and stayed in Micklefield. He was the son of agricultural labourer Francis Walton (1813-1860) and Mary Shepherd (1807-1891), who had married on 20th November 1834 in Leeds. Like Edward Simpson, John worked at the old Micklefield Colliery, which was a smaller venture than Peckfield Colliery which eventually replaced it, and John transferred to Peckfield Colliery. In 1865 John married Eliza Wilson (1843-1882), and after her death at the age of 40, he re-married Esther Jewitt (1860-1938) in 1884. The couple and their children lived at 6 Bland’s Row.
On the morning of the disaster, John had been working close to the East Level when the explosion occurred. In the darkness, he was able to meet up with a group of survivors in his district, which included William Appleyard, Caleb Atack, Charles Ball, John Charles Ball, Samuel Clark, Isaiah Evans, Josiah Godber, Sam Grimbley, John Render and John Sissons. This group had to navigate the roof-falls in the East Level and overcome increasing levels of after-damp gas. They also found the body of their deputy James Shillito, helped rescue George Hicks and George Turner, investigated the stables and William Radford’s Office, and assisted the 11 survivors from the Black Bed who were very ill with after-damp poisoning.
John was amongst an early group of miners to be rescued from the pit. He was physically uninjured himself, and helped bring George Turner to the surface. He also accompanied George on the train to Leeds General Infirmary, along with Joseph Atkinson, as George was the Blacksmith in the Stables who had been severely burnt in the blast. John was 52 years-old at the time of the disaster.
After the explosion, John continued to work at Peckfield Colliery, and remained at 6 Blands Row. He passed away in 1928 at the age of 83.
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 