FRIDAY FOTO 8 - JOSEPH FREDERICK SEAMAN

Back once again after a blip of a couple of weeks - hectic family life and a stinking cold are just two of my excuses, but apologies nevertheless!

Anyway. Here we have a photograph of my great-grandfather on my Dad's line - Joseph Frederick SEAMAN. 

Joseph was born in the Everton district of Liverpool on the 18 September 1877. He was the third eldest son of Joseph SEAMAN and Mary RAVENSCROFT of North Wales.

Joseph Frederick married Sarah Anne SMITH of Liverpool in St Dunstan's church, Edge Hill on the 15 April 1900. 

Joseph Frederick and his wife Sarah Anne SEAMAN

After what appears to be quite a long and happy life, in which the couple had at least ten children,  Joseph finally passed away on 17 June 1958 in Newsham Hospital, Liverpool. He died of congestive cardiac failure.   

THOMAS SEAMAN - NEWSPAPER OBITUARY

This is an extract from the Wrexham Advertiser, dated 14 May 1881, which details the death of my great-grandfather (x3), Thomas SEAMAN.

Thomas was tragically killed in a mining accident at Hawarden Colliery in Flintshire, when he was caught in the lift mechanism at the base of the shaft, and his head was crushed.

Thomas' trade at the time was to work as a blacksmith and shoemaker, and he had been going down into the pit to tend to the shoes of the pit ponies which worked there.

I've included the wider segment of the article as well here, as it is interesting to read some of the other items which featured on the page at the time. The language used appears a bit strange in places, and it certainly highlights the fact that the paper was reporting on events in a different age.

Apart from the item on my great-grandfather, I think my favourite is the report of the annual dinner which took place at the Crown Hotel. The paper states that it was '...of a very hilarious nature', and '...the enjoyment was kept up till far on in the evening.' 

I would have liked to be a fly on the wall at that one!