Theme for the A-Z Challenge 2023
Family Traits, Quirks and Characteristics
X for eXPERT
My great great grandfather Henry Danson (1806-1881)
Henry Danson (1806-1881) was my great, great grandfather of Poulton le Fylde, Lancashire. I had done a lot of research on his life many years previously, using standard resources. These provided me with a good picture of his life,
his
family (6 daughters and 3 sons) and his occupations as a farmer and
later as a toll collector at nearby Shard Bridge.
But it is never too late to discover new information on an
ancestor, as more and more Records come online. Such was the case
for me.
In 2021 I was doing a casual browsing on the British Newspaper Archive website and uncovered a different sidelight on Henry’s life as an eXPERT in horse flesh.
The result was a fascinating discovery in newspapers that had only recently been indexed - an obituary
and a coroner’s report on Henry's death - and information on
Henry
that was completely new to me.
Blackpool Gazette Herald: 11th November 1881.
The full article went on:
DEATH OF AN OLD INHABITANT.—Few men were better known in the Fylde than Mr. Henry Danson, who died at the Shard Bridge Toll-house on the 29th ult., aged 75 years. 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 horses 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 equalled by the present breed of horses. He was a kind neighbour. His motto ever was "to do unto others as he:would they should 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.
He was regarded as an eXPERT in his field - "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."
I had no idea he was
well known locally as "a famous judge in horse flesh" and had never heard of the breed of Robin Hood
horses, as Robin Hood country was much further south around Nottingham.
**************
But
as I then found 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.
This was a lesson that it is always worthwhile going back to check newspapers online on a regular basis. You never know what you might find on a ancestor.
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Onto Y for YEOMAN
IN CASE YOU MISSED
A for ADVENTUROUS, B for BIGAMOUS, C for CRIMINAL, D for DEVOUT
E for ENTERPRISING & ESTEEMED, F for FEISTY
Good solution for X. It is ironic that the horse expert died in a horse accident. Not uncommon among ancestors, though. One of my husband's ancestors died as a young man when he took his horse and cart into the city from his small town.
ReplyDeleteHenry perhaps wasn’t driving. The accident might not have happened if he had. Standing in the cart doesn’t sound very safe.
ReplyDeleteThe digitisation of newspapers has been, IMO, one of the most influential changes for family history, revealing as they do unexpected aspects of our ancestors’ lives. Yes, it was ironic that he met his death in that way. How wonderful to find the entries.
ReplyDelete