Mary Bloomer (buried 1921)

Pall Mall Gazette 23rd Nov 1872

The search for the bodies of the men killed in the Pelsall coal-mine was resumed yesterday morning. About five o'clock three men, named Lees, Goring, and Jaundrell, succeeded in forcing their way about 160 yards from the bottom, and there found eighteen of the missing miners in the very part of the workings which the explorers having been seeking to reach for several days past. Ten lay upon the floor of the mine, seven others were crowded together in a sitting posture on two tubs, and the eighteenth , an old man named Starkey, was just beyond. Their clothes were dry, and the appearance of the place showed that the water had never reached their level. Their deaths must, therefore, be ascribed to choke damp. A party of men at once went down to clear the roads sufficiently to allow of the bodies being got to bank, but this proved a work of great difficulty. The bodies could easily be carried forty yards from where they were found, but the other 120 yards lay through a roadway nearly choked up. The probabilities are, therefore, that all the dead will not reach the surface or some hours. The strictest secrecy with reference to the discovery has been preserved by all concerned, and consequently there were but few persons upon the bank. When brought up the bodies will be taken to the Station Inn and viewed by the coroner and jury at once, in order that the relatives may proceed with the burial. It is proposed that all the dead shall be deposited in one vault.

The Scotsman 13th November 1879

Six men were killed yesterday in the Shortheath pit, belonging to the Pelsall Coal and Iron Company, near Wolverhampton, by an explosion of fire-damp. They were driving a new heading into which it is supposed there was a sudden rush of accumulated gas.

Cradley Heath & Stourbridge Observer 7th an 1888

The Pelsall Boiler Explosion - Yesterday Mr Thoneycroft, the deputy coroner, resumed the inquest at Pelsall touching the deaths of Thomas Elwell, William Lever, and Thomas Ledbury, who were killed by the explosion of a boiler at No 9 colliery of the Pelsall Coal and Iron Company, on the 14th December. John Ward, boiler smith, said he properly repaired the boiler when it was placed at the pit about seven years ago, and he considered it then a good boiler capable of 10 or 12 years' reasonable work without repairs. He had never thought a removal of the brick casing necessary, but a thorough examination was not possible without such removal. Joseph H Bullock, general manager, said the boiler was about 17 or 18 years old. It was used in the ironworks about 10 years at a pressure of about 401lb, per inch.

Walsall Observer July 4 1908

The Late Mr Boaz Bloomer - On Wednesday, 24th alt, the remains of the late Mr Boaz Bloomer were brought from Pecklington. Yorkshire, and interred in the family vault in Pelsall Curchyard. During the morning it became known that the funeral would take place, and a very large number attended to show their respect for the deceased, and their sympathy for the bereaved family, The Body was met at Palsall Station by many who had learned of the interment, and conveyed in a hearse to the church. The friends and relatives who followed were joined by Messrs. E Wilkes, W Stanley, S Taylor, W Leeder, S Riley, C Mann, A Silvers, A H Barnett, and G Harrington. The cortage was met at the church by the Rev. AG Till, Mr JA Lloyd (churchwarden) Mr J Wilson and others. During the impressive service the hymn "Brief life is here our portion" was sung, and as "I know that my Redeemer liveth" was being played the body was conveyed to its resting place. Mr Bloomer, who attainied the age of 80 on the 25th May last, was well known and most highly esteemed in Palsall and neighbourhood some years ago. It will be remembered that at one tie he was the principal owner of the extensive Pelsall Ironworks and collieries. He was for many years a Guardian of the Poor, and a most prominent Wesleyan. Pelsall was largely indebted to him for the splendid Wesleyan church and schools, and on Sunday last touching references were made to his life, work, and death, both in the school (of which he was for many years superintendent) and the church. During the morning service "Blessed are the departed" and the "Dead March" in Saul, were played by the organist. In the village his name and influence are most gratefully remembered, and the deepest sympathy is extended to the various members of his family who now mourn his loss.

Descendants_of_Boaz BLOOMER (1740 - ) courtesy of Pelsall history centre