Story
William was the oldest child born to John Varey (1823-1890) and Mary Ann Calvert (1823-1889). His parents married 31st December 1846 in York, and William grew up in Copmanthorpe. Born in 1848, he married Sarah Ann Harrison on 2nd February 1868 in Sherburn, and is likely to have had a daughter, Jane Harrison in 1865, out of wedlock with Sarah before they married. The couple had Harrison Varey in 1869, and went on to have a further 8 children. William was a Railway Porter when he moved to Micklefield, and initially moved in with his in-laws. By 1881, William was a labourer at the Limestone Quarry, and by 1891, he was a coal miner at Peckfield Colliery, and was living at 2 Bland’s Row. On 29th April 1896, William was 48 years-old, and the family were living at 3 Bland’s Row. William was a Communicant at the church, and was now working at the colliery as a Machine Coal Cutter. He spent the night at home, with his son Harrison Varey, who worked as a Railway Porter, and would later become a Signalman for the North Eastern Railway Company.
Entering the pit, the following morning, William made his way South East towards the Machine Face, and had just started work when the explosion occurred. There were six other men working in this District. William, George Benson and Charles Noble operated the coal cutting machinery, whilst William Naylor Whitaker, John Meakin, William Francis Dean, and William Herring were close by. These men were at the opposite side of the mine to where the explosion occurred, so they were unaffected by the blast, which took place nearly two miles away from their position, but they knew afterdamp would be an issue, and the blast had created many roof falls. Two of the men, George Benson and William Naylor Whitaker moved to No.3 South Bord, which was well ventilated and hoped to be rescued. A pony also remained in this area. The other five men took the Return, and followed the air current towards the No.2 South Bord. William did not get far before afterdamp gas caught up with him, and was the first to fall. He died 160 metres from where William Naylor Whitaker and George Benson were found. Of the other 4 men making their way to the exit, Charles Noble was next to fall at No.2 South Bord, with John Meakin collapsing a few yards in front of him. William Herring and William Francis Dean were a little further on, approaching the No.1 South Bord, but they too were overcome by the gas.
William’s son, Harrison Varey identified his father’s body at the Joiner’s shop, and stated that he looked apparently uninjured. William was buried on the 4th May 1896, having a full Catholic burial. His widow Sarah did not re-marry, and passed away in 1904, aged 50. One of their sons Edward was only 9 years-old at the time, and would later serve in the Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment during the First World War. He was killed in France on 9th October 1917, leaving behind his widow Ann Pennington, whom he’d married in Harrogate on 7th August 1911, and two young children. William’s illegitimate daughter, Jane Harrison, married Fred Atkinson in 1885. Fred fortunately survived the colliery disaster.
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 