Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi everyone

A relative of mine, James Watts Field, was killed in an accident at the age of 25 on the then new underground at Marble Arch on 6 October 1900. He was a guard on the railway and was on a "working holiday" from Australia.

The accident seemed to receive quite a bit of publicity at the time, with the coroner's verdict being published in the Times on 11 October 1900, and various other articles appearing in the Times, Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, the London Standard and the Morning Post during October 1900.

I have a photograph of his grave which I assume is somewhere in London (the photographer is J. C. Gray, of 512 Harrow Road, Paddington). However non-one in the family seems to know where this grave is located and the photograph does not state where it is taken.

I have a suspicion that it may be Kensal Green Cemetery - only because it is in the right area of London, not far from where he lived and worked.

It is possible to make out a number on the memorial - 38299. I am not sure what this signifies.

Also the memorial has the name "Cusworth" inscribed on its base - could this be the stonemason?

If anyone can suggest how I might go about finding out where James is buried I'd be very grateful. I would love to be able to visit the grave if it still exists.

Thanks and regards

Sean

I hope somebody may be able to assist you, however I think that possibly London is a little out of our geographical area of knowledge. I have tried the London Metropolitan Archives, whose records are available on Ancestry, but he's not listed there.

There is a London and Middlesex Board on Rootschar http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.ph ... ,24.0.html whose members would have more local knowledge and I hope they would be able to give you some better advice as to location, perhaps even recognise the area surrounding the gravestone.

PS do you have the newspaper write ups about the accident?

Hi Sean

There is a web site for Kensal Green Cemetery, London and can be 'Googled' easily.

This has always been a private cemetery, i.e. not owned by the parish or church.

Hope you may be able to get somewhere with this or rule it out.


Regards


Juno

Hello Sean,
This is the link for a Contact and Query Form for Kensal Green Cemetery:

http://www.kensalgreencemetery.com/contact/index1.html

If they can't assist you directly they might be able to point you in the direction of a central records/registry archive for burials in London. Do you have his London home address from his death certificate and do you know his religion?

Death: FIELD, James Watts
Registration district: Paddington, London
Year of registration: 1900; Dec qtr
Age at death: 25
Volume no: 1A; Page no: 40

The Cusworth could be John Cusworth [or his company], a noted stonemason who did much work in Kensal Green and other cemeteries. See a reference to him here: http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/detai ... ?id=203836

Thanks everyone for the responses and tips.

James' home address per his death certificate was 45 Shepherd Bush rd., Hammersmith.

I have an article from The Times of 8 October 1900 and a report on the Coroner's findings also in The Times of 11 October.

I might put in a search request to Kensal Green and see if that turns up anything.

Thanks again.

Sean

Happy news, found James at Kensal Green Cemetery.

Will visit when next in London.

Thanks to all for suggestions and hints.

Sean

Well done, thanks for bringing us up to date