where will I find accident report.....

audrey · Post by **audrey** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 4:45 pm

I would like to find an accident report 1861-64
Robert Douglas wood forrester died 1 february 1864
death cert says he was parapledia for some years 1861 census gives his occupation wood forrester living LockerbieHill Dryfesdale if he had an accident durring his work would there have been any record of it and would it have been reported in local newspaper who would employ a wood forrester in Dryfesdale

thanks

audrey

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:06 pm

Hi Audrey

Back then I doubt there would be any record kept of an accident at work.
Good employers pensioned them off; bad ones gave the job to someone else as though you didn't exist any more.
I'm from a mining and agricultural village and saw results even in the 1940's. The local mine owner was a 'good' employer. He even provided a doctor for his miner families!

Woodsman was a common occupation. When you look at old maps there were lots of plantations and big estates would probably employ someone to look after their investments (trees) Whether news of an accident would hit the press depends on what else was in the news at the time.
Paraplegia sounds as though he was felled and paralysed by his own tree felling activities or fell off the horse that would be used to draw a cut out of the woods.

Just what you wanted -a History lesson!!

Sorry
Russell

audrey · Post by **audrey** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:20 pm

Russell
thanks I am gratfull for that I like to find out as much as I can thats what family history is to me at least they let him stay in his cottage untill he died

audrey

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:10 pm

Hi Audrey

Back again. I was intrigued by the Lockerbiehill address.
If you go onto www.old-maps.co.uk and put in Lockerbie it offers an 1862 map. From the South end of the town move East and Lockerbiehill looks like a small hamlet with its own well sitting at the side of the road.

I tried in Dryfesdale to find a estate but only found Dryfeholm which could be either a big farm or a large country house. It sits next to Galaberry Plantation and Galaberry hill. Lovely names but miles away from anywhere!!

Russell