Story
William Thomas Simpson was born in Micklefield on 11th January 1856, and was the youngest son of Edward Simpson (1813-1900) and Sarah Steels (1818-1891) who married in Leeds on 5th August 1839. Edward was a coal miner at the old Micklefield Colliery, as was his eldest son, also called Edward, who was born in 1847, and also worked at both Micklefield and Peckfield Collieries. William was a coal miner too, and was still supporting his parents and living at home until he married Elizabeth Maskill (1860-1937) in 1881, after which they moved to 9 East View, and had seven children. Elizabeth’s sister was Mary Maskill (1844-1910) who married Peckfield Deputy James Benson. James and two of his sons, Fred and George who all killed in the Peckfield Disaster.
One of the survivors was William’s brother Edward, who managed to escape from the Black Bed seam, 240 yards below the surface. Edward had to be helped out, and was almost unconscious when he was taken out of the lift on a stretcher in the first group to be rescued, and then had to be carried home. Given 4 members of his family were in the pit, it is no surprise William volunteered to join the rescue parties, and as he also worked in the pit, his experience would have been particularly useful. After the disaster, William moved to 2 Sunnybank, and was promoted to Colliery Deputy. Sadly he passed away in 1903. His widow, Elizabeth, moved back to 9 East View, and was financially supported by her sons, including Joseph Maskill Simpson, who was killed by a fall of roof at Peckfield Colliery on Christmas Day 1940. He’s pictured below left with his wife Annie Limbert (1884-1954) and his son Everard (1909-1993) and daughter Ida Simpson (1906-1986) who married Joseph Winfield, grandson of Joseph Winfield who was killed in the disaster. Another son Wilfred (1893-1970) went on to marry Gladys Plum (1896-1982) whose father James (1856-1918) was a rescuer at the Peckfield Colliery Disaster.
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 