Story
Rayner Scrimshaw was born in Thorpe Willoughby, Selby in 1869, to a Blacksmith, George Scrimshaw (1841-1879) and his wife Elizabeth Hildred (1843-1907). George was born in Hemswell, Lincoln, and Elizabeth (known as Bessie) was from Crayke, Lincoln. They married on 25th May 1865 in Brattleby, Lincoln, before moving to Thorpe Willoughby, and then East Garforth. After George passed away at the age of 37, Bessie worked as a Tailoress to raise her six children.
Aged 18 years, Rayner enlisted in the Scots Guards, but he discharged himself after 41 days service. In 1890, Rayner joined the Huddersfield Police Force, and in 1891, he was lodging in Huddersfield. On 12th April 1893, it was reported in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner that Rayner was a Police Constable, and was giving evidence in a trial:
Rayner was 5ft 10 inches tall, had brown hair and blue eyes. He left Huddersfield after serving there for 4 years and nine months, and became a labourer for a short time, before being appointed to the East Morley Police Division on 27th September 1894. He was re-appointed as a police constable again on 26th October 1894, but resigned compulsorily from the Police Force on 13th March 1895, and then returned to his parents’ place of birth to marry Patty Dickinson from Summercotes, Lincoln in January 1896.
A specimen of Rayner’s handwriting exists from his time in the Police (below):
On 30th April 1896, Rayner was 27 years-old, and was living with his mother and brothers in East Garforth. Having left the Police Force, he was now working as a coal miner at Peckfield, and set off for work as usual at 05:30am. He was working with Francis Rainbird Edwards in Capell’s Bord when the explosion occurred just 400 metres away from them. The explosion travelled up the Old North Road, but the fire did not reach Capell’s Bord, and Frank and Rayner had time to react. They both tied their handkerchiefs around their mouths to combat the effects of afterdamp, and made their way back towards the old North Road, the way they had come in. Rayner had received a severe head injury from a roof fall and died before reaching the Old North Road. Francis got nearer but he too died from the effects of after damp poisoning.
The bodies of Rayner and Francis were brought out of the mine on 2nd May 1896. Rayner’s mother, Bessie was waiting at the pit head for news, and went into hysterics when her son was laid out in the Joiner’s Shop. She vowed not to leave without him, and burst into violent sobs, before demanding to wash his body, and took off one of Rayner’s boots. A relative, possibly her son Arthur, persuaded her to leave the scene, but Bessie took her son’s boot with her.
Rayner’s body was identified at the Inquest by his brother Arthur Scrimshaw, who was also a coal miner. He stated that Rayner had no injuries, although this contrasts with the Yorkshire Post reporter who stated Rayner had a severe head injury caused by a falling roof. Arthur married two years later and named his first child George Rayner Scrimshaw (1898-1976)
Rayner had no children. His widow Patty re-married James Adams of Fairburn in 1900. She passed away in 1948, and both are buried at Micklefield. Another of Rayner’s younger brothers was Sydney Ernest Scrimshaw (1876-1950) who moved to Derbyshire and is pictured below:
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 