Died
26 January 1943
Born
12 November 1905
Sources
Ancestry
Barrow News
Cumbria BMD
Mr Colin Wane (Grandson)
Place
Themes
Arthur (Arty) Furness Morgan
Colin Wane wrote to me in November 2021 asking if I was interested in his grandfather’s grave and story. I was. Here it is:
Arty Morgan was killed in an industrial accident in January 1943. He left a widow and Colin’s mother (then aged 11) along with her sisters aged 6 and 1. His grave is in front and to the left as you look down from the old Catholic Chapel of Rest. He is interred with his wife and their Grandson Brian, a brother Colin never met as Colin wasn’t born until 1967.
In Memory of
ARTY MORGAN
Died Jan 26th 1943
Aged 38 Years.
Also His Wife
MARGARET
Died Nov 3rd 1975
Aged 70 Years.
And Their Grandson
BRIAN WANE
Died Feb 25th 1960
Aged 3 Years
In Our Thoughts
Arthur Morgan is standing 3rd from the left. I wonder what the celebration was?
The Barrow News 30 January 1943 reported:
Workman Killed By 12ft. Fall
Witnesses at an inquest at the Barrow Police Buildings yesterday could not explain the reason for the fatal fall of Arthur Furness Morgan, of 37, Hood-street, Barrow, who met his death in falling from a 12 feet high roof at Messrs. Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd., on Tuesday.
The deceased, a married man with three children, was employed in stripping corrugated sheets from the roof of a building when he suddenly fell.
Daniel Goodwin, 13G, Egerton Buildings, who was working with the deceased, said Morgan was standing on a ladder against the side of the building with one foot on the eave. “I just heard a shout and when I looked round he was falling to the ground striking the concrete with his head.” He had no idea what caused the fall.
SAW MAN FALLING
William Edward Gerrish, a bricklayer, of 12, Parker-street, Barrow, said he was engaged on work near the building and saw Morgan on the ladder. A few seconds later something seemed to attract his attention and he saw a purlin (a roof lath) falling to the ground and Morgan also falling.
Answering Mr. C. W. Hewlett, H.M. Inspector of Factories, witness said he examined the purlin after the accident and found it had been nailed at both ends.
POLICE OPINION
Sergt. Sargeant said he also examined the purlin and found it to be in sound condition. He advanced the opinion that the weight of the two men on the roof had forced the principals apart with the result that the purlin fell.
Deputy Coroner (Mr. John Poole) returned a verdict that the deceased died from injuries accidentally received. So far as he could see there had been no breach of the factory regulations.
Expressing sympathy on behalf of Messrs. Allert Bros. and Leigh, of Rotherham, a firm of contractors by whom the deceased was employed, and of Messrs. Armstrongs, Ltd., Mr. S. Morgan said it was a most unfortunate accident and one without any real explanation.
From Cumbria BMD we know that Arthur (Arty) had several siblings:
William D. Morgan b. 1893
married Mary A. Moore 1921
George Morgan b. 1896
Died 3 Feb 1916
Joseph Morgan b. 1898
?married Elizabeth J. Courtney 1925
Peter T. Morgan b. 1901
married Florence Woods 1929
and then
Arthur Furness Morgan b 1905
married Margaret Lund 1930
The mother’s maiden name was Kavanagh, though in Joseph’s case it appears spelt Cavanagh.
1911 Census
From Ancestry, the 1911 Census shows Arthur and his parents living at 15 Abercorn Street, Barrow. The household is Michael Morgan (60), Mariner (Vickers Ltd), born Whitehaven. Cumberland; Mary Isabella Morgan (53) Dressmaker, born Whitehaven, Cumb; Annie Kavanagh (22) Niece, Single, General Servant (Domestic), born Whitehaven; William Douglas Morgan (17) Son, Apprentice Rivetter (Vickers Ltd.), born Barrow – as are all the other children; George Morgan (14) Son, Apprentice Rivetter (Vickers Ltd.); Joseph Morgan (12) Son, School; Peter Thomas Morgan (9) Son, School; Arthur Furness Morgan (5) Son, School; Mary Isabella Morgan (1) Granddaughter.
Ship’s Passenger list
On a Ship’s Passenger list for the Cunard vessel RMS Andania (sailing from New York – Liverpool, arriving 17/04/1928), Arthur Morgan, Labourer, is returning from his permanent residence in Canada to 15 Abercorn Street, Barrow in Furness.
1939 Register
In the 1939 Register, Arthur Morgan (DoB 12 November 1905) Occupation - Corrugated Sheeter (Heavy Worker), is living at 37 Hood Street, Barrow, along with Margaret Morgan (DoB 21 February 1905), Unpaid Domestic Duties; Veronica Mary Morgan (crossed out Wane i.e. her married name) (DoB 15 October 1931), At School; Margaret Morgan (crossed out Barnard) (DoB ? February 1937) Under School Age. The 1939 Register was compiled to produce Ration Cards, and to see who was liable for/exempt from call-up.
Cumbria BMD tells us that there was a son – Terence Michael Morgan, born and died 1935, and another daughter Kathleen born in 1942.
Michael Morgan & family
1891 Census
In the 1891 Census, Arthur’s father Michael Morgan (40), born Whitehaven, is the Master of No. 4 Steel Hopper, Barrow in Furness, to be found at Ellesmere Port on the Manchester Ship Canal. No. 4 Steel Hopper was 155 tons, steam-screw dredger. In the 1881 Census Michael, his wife and son, plus a Boarder, were living at 40 Thwaite Street, Barrow. In the 1871 Census he had been a groom for a surgeon in Beckermet, Egremont.
1901 Census
In the 1901 Census they were in 1E Egerton Buildings, Barrow Island. The household was Michael Morgan (55) Head, Mariner (Seas), born Whitehaven, Cumberland; Mary I. Morgan (43), Wife, born Whitehaven, Cumberland; Daniel Morgan (23) Son, Galvaniser (Shipyard), born Barrow, Lancs; Douglas Morgan (7) Son, born Barrow; Joseph Morgan (2), Son, born Barrow; Annie Cavanagh (13) Niece, born Whitehaven, Cumberland; William J. Thompson (45) Boarder, Ship Rivetter, born Whitehaven; Henry E. Weir (45) Boarder, Ship Rivetter, born Whitehaven; George Morgan (4) Son, born Barrow, Lancs.
NB (1) I have no idea why George has been left to last. (2) Ages don’t always match between censuses due to mistakes, mishearings, etc.
