Durham Mining Museum - James Best

James Best

Age:	51
Died:	8^th Sep 1880
Accident:	8^th Sep 1880 2:20 a.m.
Year Born:	abt. 1829
Colliery:	Seaham
Company:	Marquis of Londonderry
Occupation:	Stoneman
Notes:	address: 25, William Street ; killed in the 1880 explosion (ignition caused by safety lamp or shot firing)
Buried:	[not known]


Description

The text of the report from the Mines Inspector into this disaster is available in the Disaster Reports section of this website.

Extracts from the Inquest into this death.


Disaster Memorial


Memorial

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Names in this memorial picture
Name	Died	Age	Born
Thomas ALEXANDER	8^th Sep 1880	36	1844
William BARRASS	8^th Sep 1880	28	1852
John BATEY	8^th Sep 1880	33	1847
William BELL	8^th Sep 1880	44	1836
James BEST	8^th Sep 1880	51	1829
Joseph BIRBECK	8^th Sep 1880	64	1816
Joseph BOWDEN	8^th Sep 1880	22	1858
William BREEZE	8^th Sep 1880	23	1857
Edward BROWN	8^th Sep 1880	21	1859
George BROWN	8^th Sep 1880	20	1860
George BROWN	8^th Sep 1880	62	1818
Nathaniel BROWN	8^th Sep 1880	20	1860
Patrick CARROLL	8^th Sep 1880	44	1836
Thomas CASSIDY	8^th Sep 1880	22	1858


Compensation Settlement

Residence:	25, William Street
Widow, &c.	Jane Best
Widow Age:	50
Children:	2
Legacies:	£5 0s. 0d.
Fortnightly Allowance:	£0 18s. 0d.

Fatal Accident Benefits.
Accidental Death of Unmarried Member under 18 years of age	£12	0	0
Accidental Death of Members above 18 years of age leaving no dependent relative	23	0	0
Accidental Death of Members above 18 years of age leaving dependent relatives	5	0	0
Widows or other dependent relatives	5s. per week
Each child (if under age) of members accidentally killed	2s. per week
Each child (if under age) of widowers, &c., extra for guardianship	1s. 6d. per week


Related Newspaper Articles

09 Sep 1880	Terrible Colliery Explosion (The Times)
10 Sep 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
13 Sep 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
14 Sep 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
15 Sep 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
15 Sep 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
16 Sep 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
17 Sep 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
18 Sep 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
18 Sep 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
20 Sep 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
21 Sep 1880	Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
23 Sep 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
24 Sep 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
30 Sep 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
01 Oct 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
02 Oct 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
04 Oct 1880	Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
06 Oct 1880	Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
07 Oct 1880	The Seaham Explosion (The Times)
07 Oct 1880	Letters to the Editor, The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
14 Oct 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
20 Oct 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
21 Oct 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
14 Dec 1880	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)
06 Jan 1881	The Seaham Colliery Explosion (The Times)


Further Reading

Mines Inspectors Report into the 1880 Disaster (C. 2924)
Explosions in Coal Mines by W. N. & J. B. Atkinson, published in 1886
Troubled Seams - the Story of a Pit and its People by John E. McCutcheon, published in 1955 by J. Greenwood and Sons


Sources

Report from The Miners' Permanent Relief Fund detailing the members, payments, dependents etc. for the 1880 Seaham Colliery Disaster. Published 2nd October, 1880.


Researchers

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