Henry Danson's Tragic Death in a Horse & Cart

It is never too late to discover new information on an ancestor,  as more and more Records come online.  Such was the case last week for me.  

I first wrote a  profile on my great great grandfather Henry Danson (1806-1881)  many years ago  in pre-Internet days. He lived near Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire  and the standard resources provided me with a good picture emerging of his life, his family (6 daughters and 3 sons) and his occupations as a farmer and later in life as a bridge toll collector.  at nearby Singleton.

I am a regular user of newspapers online**  and in a very casual browsing  of the Danson name,  I came across a wonderful find -  an obituary and a coroner’s report  on Henry's death - and discovered information on Henry that was completely new to me.

Blackpool & Gazette Herald:  11^th November 1881. 

" DEATH OF AN OLD INHABITANT. Few men were better known in the Fylde than Mr Henry Danson who died at Shard Bridge Tollhouse on the 29th ult. aged 75.    

He was born at Trapp Farm, Carleton, at which place he resided until he was nearly 6o years old. After leaving the Trapp he took a farm at Warbreck, but only occupied it for a few years.  Shortly after leaving Warbreck he was appointed toll-collector at Shard Bridge, which occupation he held up to the time of his death. 

He was brought up as a farmer. When a young man he had few equals at any kind of farm labour. At staking, thatching, mowing, or ploughing, he did his work in such a manner as made him noted for miles round as a first-class man. In the management of horse he was quite at home, and always had his team under perfect command. He was also a famous judge in horse flesh, and for many years possessed a breed of horses well known and much admired in the Fylde for their endurance and good constitution. They were known by the name of "Robin Hood's breed," and many of the old farmers at the present day think they are not excelled if equaled by the present breed of horses. He was a kind neighbour. His motto ever was "to do unto others as he would they do unto him."

What a lovely description of my great great grandfather  - and a wonderful find, as in Britain,  unlike  the USA,  it is not customary to write such tributes to a person, unless they have made their mark in some distinctive way in their community - as clearly Henry Danson had.  I  had no idea he was well known locally and had never heard of the breed of Robin Hood horses, as Robin Hood country was much further south around Nottingham.

But as I found later, there were some omissions in the obituary on the nature of Henry's death.  For another newspaper report  revealed the details.

Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser: Wednesday 02 November 1881

“FATAL FALL FROM A CART. On Monday evening Mr. Gilbertson held an inquest at Poulton-le-Fylde, on the body of Henry Danson, collector of the Shard Bridge tolls. The deceased, who was 75 years old, was riding in a cart with Mr. John  ? farmer, on the way to Poulton, when the horse took fright and jumped forward. Danson was standing in the cart leaning on his stick at the moment he  was jerked out upon the road. He was attended Mr. Winn, surgeon, but could never walk afterwards, his left thigh being injured, and he had an attack of pleurisy fortnight before his death, which occurred on Thursday night last. The jury returned verdict of Death  from the effects of injuries received, and resulting illness, through fall from a cart."

It is both sad and ironic that Henry,  noted for his skill with horses,  should have died,  whilst driving his horse and cart.   

Henry was buried in the graveyard of St. Chad's Church, Poulto-le-Fylde. 

A photograph taken by my uncle Harry Rawcliffe Danson, great grandson of Henry above. 

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Note – I would never have searched in a Manchester Paper for a report relating to Poulton – a lesson that a wider search by county, rather than by place or newspaper  can  be more productive.

** Sources

• Find My Past British Newspapers  
• British Newspaper Archive
  
  

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