Died
7th October 1914
Sources
Place
Walks
Themes
James Lindow
In the Sankey photograph (above) note the glass bowls containing the wreaths, and the grill protecting one of the glass bowls.
TOKEN OF ESTEEM
FROM COURT 6050
A.O. FORESTERS
JAMES LINDOW
DIED OCTR 7TH 1914,
AGED 48 YEARS
“A FAITHFUL OFFICER”
to which has been added
ALSO ISABELLA, HIS WIFE
DIED AUGT 11TH 1950
AGED 80 YEARS
James Lindow was baptised at Haverthwaite on 1 April 1866.
1871 Census
Living at Browedge, Haverthwaite in the 1871 Census are James Lindow (50) Farmer of 38 acres and Carter, born Trout Beck (sic), Westmorland; Mary Anne Lindow (47) Farmer’s Wife, born Cartmel, Lancs.; Anne Lindow (21) House work, born Upper Holker – as were the rest of the household); Isaac Lindow (14) no occupation recorded; John Lindow (10) Scholar; James Lindow (5) Scholar; George Lindow (1) and Ellinor (sic) Walker (12) Servant. Ellinor could be the daughter of close neighbour Mary Walker (39) Widow, Charwoman, born Hawkshead, who has two other children aged 10 and 6 yrs at home.
1881 Census
In the 1881 Census James Lindow is living with his family of origin at Farm House, Haverthwaite (there are several farmhouses in the list, with no identifying names). Father James Lindow (60) is a farmer of 80 acres employing 2 men and 1 boy, born Troutbeck, Westmorland; Mary Ann Lindow (57) Farmer’s Wife, born Cartmel, Lancs (as were all the rest of the family); William Lindow (26) Basket Maker; Isaac Lindow (24) Stockbroker’s Clerk; John Lindow (20) Farmer’s Son; James Lindow (15) Farmer’s Son; and George Lindow (11) Scholar. Catherine Hughes (18) Domestic Servant, born Southport; and Thomas Cheque or Cheyne? (16) Farm Servant Indoor, born Ulverston, complete the household.
1891 Census
James Lindow’s future wife Isabella Cowley was living with family at 2 Waddington Buildings, Whitehaven in the 1891 Census. The household was Isabella Cowley (53) Widow, no occupation recorded, born Maryport, Cumberland; Isabella Cowley (21) no occupation recorded, born Harrington, Cumberland; Edward Cowley (19) Grocer’s Assistant, born Whitehaven; and James Cowley (18) General Labourer, born Whitehaven.
I have not been able to find James Lindow in the 1891 Census. He was not living with his parents, nor in the Thwaite Street/ Brewery Street part of Barrow (as far as I can tell). It probably means that his name has been misspelt, making it impossible to search for.
1901 Census
In the 1901 Census James Lindow (34) Brewery Foreman born Cartmel, Lancs, is living at 2 Thwaite Street, Barrow with his family: Isabella Lindow (31) born Harrington, Cumberland; Margaret I. Lindow (7) born Barrow; James E. C. Lindow (6) born Barrow; and Winifred Lindow (2 months) born Barrow. Agnes Picking (19) General Servant (Domestic) born Barrow, completes the household.
1911 Census
The 1911 Census shows the Lindow family at 32 Whitehead Street, Barrow. The Head of the Household is James Lindow (45) Brewery Foreman, born Browedge (Backbarrow), Lancashire; Isabella Lindow (41), born Harrington, Cumberland; Margaret Isabel Lindow (17) Dressmaker, born Barrow; James Edward Cowley Lindow (16) Apprentice Joiner, Shipyard, born Barrow, and Winifred Lindow (10) School, born Barrow.
James Lindow was an active member of the Ancient Order of Foresters, and mentioned as a member of the Executive Committee in Barrow in a number of newspaper articles.
After the grave had first been published on the website (Jan 2024), I belatedly discovered the story behind James Lindow’s death (March 2024). The Barrow News 10 October 1914 had the following:
Barrow News, 10 Oct 1914SHOCKING FATALITY
BARROW MAN FALLS TO HIS DEATH
HEAD TERRIBLY INJUREDA Barrow foreman, named James Lindow, and employed by Messrs. Case and Co., brewers, suffered a terrible death on Wednesday afternoon. Along with an employee named Betham, deceased was in the engine room at the brewery, and was endeavouring to reach a hoist rope, which descends through a hole (covered by a trap door) into the lower chamber.
The door guarding the hole was lifted at the time, and when deceased was reaching for the rope he slipped and fell headlong into the cellar, a distance of about 12ft. He seemed to strike the floor with his head, and that member was very badly damaged in consequence.
Betham at once descended to the hapless man’s assistance, and with great expedition he was removed to the North Lonsdale Hospital.
He had barely reached that institution, however, when death occurred. As a matter of fact, the staff had not had time to put him to bed when he expired. The facts were duly reported to the Coroner.
Deceased was aged about 44, and lived at 32 Whitehead-street.THE INQUEST
At the inquest, held at the North Lonsdale Hospital, on Friday, Isabella Lindow, wife of the deceased, gave evidence of identification.
Albert Betham, 14, Church-street, told of how the accident occurred. When Lindow fell, witness went down to his assistance, and spoke to him, but got no answer. He held his head up until the office boy came, and the ambulance was telephoned for, and he was removed to the hospital. Only one side of the trap door, through which Lindow fell, was open, the rest of it being fenced in. He had reached too far, and overbalanced himself.
Dr. Piere (sic) Du Toit, one of the hospital doctors, said Lindow died about five minutes after admission from injury to his head.
The Coroner said that strictly speaking the Factory Inspector should have been present, but the only question for him would be to deal with the fencing of the door, and the jury had heard that all the sides were fenced, except the one in which the beer is landed. It seemed to him there was no necessity for the Factory Inspector to be present. He had explained the matter to him on the telephone.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”. Mr. R. B. D. Bradshaw, solicitor, attended the inquiry, and expressed on behalf of Messrs. Case and Company their sorrow at the sad occurrence, and their sympathy with the family and relatives.
1939 Register
In the 1939 Register, living at 2 Thwaite Street, Barrow, were Isabella Lindow (DoB 19 April 1969) Widow, Manageress of Off Licence and Winifred Hawkins (DoB 5 February 1901) Married, Unpaid Domestic Duties.
The National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1955 (note date) has:
LINDOW Isabella of 2 Thwaite-street Barrow-in-Furness Lancashire died 11 August 1950 Probate Lancaster 7 February to Winifred Hawkins (wife of Albert Hawkins). Effects £310 15s.
The very next entry is James Edward Cowley Lindow of 309 Rawlinson Street, who died at Steel Hoop Mill Barrow Steel Works on 8 January 1955.
No-one is certain why Edward Sankey took photographs of graves in the period 1910-1920 or later. Were they advertising the skills of his friend William Hull, or later Hull and Fairbairn? Were they to be made into postcards that the bereaved family could send to members who were not able to attend the funeral?
The historic photograph is from the Sankey Family Photographic Collection, courtesy of Cumbria Archives.
