Died
24 May 1918
Sources
Barrow News
Cumbria BMD
Ancestry
Place
Walks
Private James Tracey (61235)
15th Battn. South Lancashire Regiment
Barrow News 1 June 1918 reported:
SOLDIER KILLED AT BARROW
A verdict of “accidental death” was returned by a coroner’s jury sitting at the St. Luke’s Hall, Barrow on Saturday morning to inquire into the death of Pte James Tracey (53) of the Workers Battalion South Lancashire Regiment. Deceased was injured at Ramsden Dock on Friday morning and died about ten minutes after admission to the Cambridge-street Military Hospital.
Capt. Francis John Williams said the deceased had been a transport worker for eighteen months.
Pte. Wm. Orr said at 8.40 a.m. on Friday he was barring wagons on the dock side. He assisted to remove the deceased, who was lying on his back on the rails. He complained of his back.
Answering Ald. A. Barrow, O.B.E., who represented the Furness Railway Co., witness said they did not get between the rails to bar a wagon.
Pte. John Bowman, a tipper, said he heard the man above shout “Look at your mate”. He then went to the deceased and assisted in removing him to the camp.
Pte. Durham said he was on night work and saw the deceased brought to the hut door. He asked what had happened, and deceased said he was barring up when a wagon came along and he was caught between the buffers. His back was hurt.
Mr. Harold Garland, manager for Mr. Coulton Hunter, stevedore, Barrow docks, said men were always told not to get across the rails, but to bar from the side. At the time of the accident the wagon would be clear of the crane.
A verdict as above stated was returned, the coroner remarking that the man who sent the wagon on which (sic) caught the deceased would be unable to see him.
This was a difficult man to find. I’ve done my best, and believe that the following is accurate. Any mistakes are mine!
1881 Census
There is a James Tracey (18) Cotton Piecer, born Mossley, Lancs living on Turnpike Road, Ashton with his parents and siblings in the 1881 Census. This COULD be him.
1891 Census
The same family is living at 36 Stanford Street, Ashton under Lyne in the 1891 Census. James Tracey (28) is still a Cotton Piecer.
1901 Census
Probably the same person is living as a Lodger at 43 Wyre Street, Ashton in the 1901 Census. James Tracey (36) is now a General Labourer, born Mossley.
A Lewis James Tracey married Mary Hannah Mather in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, in Q1 1896. I do not know where the Lewis comes from, but I’m fairly certain it is the right person. The Register of Soldiers Effects refers to a widow, Mary H. Tracey. James Tracey’s place of enlistment is recorded as Fleetwood, Lancs.
1911 Census
In the 1911 Census, Lewis Tracey (43) Married (for 18 years, three children, all still living, is written but crossed out. This was normally for women respondents), Labourer, Concrete Work, born Ashton-under-Lyne was lodging at a very large lodging house in Ashton-under-Lyne run by Daniel Wright? at Water Street, Ashton-under-Lyne. There are only two married men among the twenty-seven lodgers, living in eight rooms. Perhaps Mr. Tracey’s marriage was failing.
Lewis/James Tracey is difficult to identify with any certainty. His wife, however, is easier to find:
Born 5 March 1867, baptised 14 April 1867 at Hyde, Cheshire, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Mather.
1871 Census
1871 Census living at 9 Harper Street, Ashton under Lyne are Hannah Taylor (61) (marital status unclear), no occupation, born Handley, Derbyshire; Elizabeth Mather (30) Daughter, Married, born Hyde, Cheshire; Jno (John) W. Mather (4) Grandson, born Ashton u L, Lancs; Mary H. J. Mather (3) Granddaughter, born Ashton u Lyne; Ann E. Mather (11 mo) Granddaughter, born Asthon u Lyne; and Martha Carry? Carney? (25) Daughter, Married, Hat Trimmer, born Hyde, Cheshire.
1881 Census
In the 1881 Census they are still at 9 Harper Street. The household is Thomas Mather (41) Married, Fireman, Cotton Factory, born Rochdale, Lancs; Elizabeth Mather (40) Wife, Card Room Hand, born Hyde, Cheshire; John W. J. Mather (15) Piecer, born Ashton u L, Lancs; Mary H. J. Mather (14) Cotton Weaver, born Ashton u L, Lancs; Ann Elizabeth Mather (11) Scholar, born Ashton u L, Lancs; and Sarah Ann Booth (21) Boarder, Cotton Weaver, born Ashton u L, Lancs. Living as a Boarder next door at 7 Harper street, is Martha Ann Mather (16) Unmarried, Can? Tenter, born Ashton u L, Lancs.
1891 Census
The 1891 Census sees Mary Mather at 2 Albion Street, Ashton under Lyne. She lives with her parents, Thomas Mather (50) Stoker at Cotton Mill, born Ashworth Moor, Lancs; Elizabeth Mather (50), born Hyde, Cheshire; (herself) Mary H. J. Mather (24) Reeler in Cotton Mill, born Ashton under Lyne; Annie E. Mather (3) (sic) no occupation recorded, born Ashton U Lyne; and Rose A. Hopkins (18) Boarder, Card room hand in cotton mill, born Bolton, Lancs. The Annie E. Mather here must be Mary’s daughter, not the Ann Elizabeth Mather from the 1881 Census. This three year-old is listed as Thomas and Elizabeth’s daughter, not granddaughter, as is the case. The relationship is confirmed by a Baptism Record from St James, Ashton under Lyne: born on 26 February 1888, and baptised on 4 April 1888, is Annie Elizabeth Mather, daughter of Mary Hannah Mather (no father on the record) occupation Reeler, of 12 Albion Street, Ashton.
1901 Census
1901 Census finds at 23 Chapel Street, Ashton under Lyne Thomas Mather (57) Widower, General Labourer, born Rochdale, Lancs; John W. J. Mather (35) Son, Cotton Mill Labourer, born Ashton u Lune; Mary H. Jane Tracey (34) Head (i.e. of another household), Cotton Weaver, born Ashton u Lyne; Annie E. Tracey (13) Daughter, School, born Ashton u Lyne; Elizabeth A. Tracey (4) Daughter, born Ashton u Lyne; and Maria Riley (23) Boarder, Single, Cotton Frame Tenter, born Ashton u Lyne.
1911 Census
1911 Census living at 8 Whittington Street, Ashton under Lyne are Thomas Mather (71) Widower, Late Night Watchman, born Ashworth Moor, Rochdale, Lancs; Mary Hannah Tracey (44) Daughter, Married for 15 years, four children, three still living), Weaver (Cotton Mill), born Ashton under Lyne, Lancs; Elizabeth Alice Tracey (14) Grandaughter (sic) Ring Spinner (see rmhh.co.uk/occup/q-r.html#R ), born Ashton under Lyne; Clara Tracey (7) Grandaughter (sic), no occupation recorded, born Ashton under Lyne.
1921 Census
Mary Tracey can be found in the 1921 Census, living at 6 Hodgson Street, Ashton under Lyne. The household is Mary Hannah Tracey (54) Widow, Cotton Mill Weaver, working for Burton & Frost, Ryecroft Street, Ashton under Lyne, born Ashton under Lyne; Clara Tracey (18) Single, Cardroom Frame Tenter, working for Harper Twist, Mossley Road, Ashton, born Ashton; Elizabeth Alice Wood (24) Married, Daughter, Home Duties, born Ashton; William Wood (26) Married, Son-in-Law, Coal Miner (Filler) working for Bradford Colliery Co, Bradford, Manchester, born Ashton; and Kenneth Wood (1) Grandson, born Ashton.
1939 Register
In the 1939 Register, still living at 6 Hodgson Street, Ashton under Lyne, is Mary Hannah Tracey (DoB % March 1867) Widow, Unpaid Domestic Duties; and Clara Tracey (crossed out Bancroft on marriage) (DoB 26 May 1903) Single, Fly Frame Tenter, Cotton Spinning. Next door at 8 Hodgson Street are William Wood (DoB 26 January 1896) Colliery Timber Man and Stone Ripper Below; Elizabeth Alice Wood (DoB 28 June 1897) Unpaid Domestic Duties; and Kenneth Wood (DoB 27 April 1920) Engineer Fitter on Engineering Work and Installing.
Mary H. Tracey died in Q4 1939.
