George Semple

SEE "Timeline" for chronological order of life events including any photos and documents as available; SEE "Media" for any documents and photos included from "Timeline" as available.

George Semple was born around 1845 (a) in Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, Scotland, son of Robert and Mary (Pyper/Piper) Semple.

On 27 September 1867, George married Marion Nimmo in Avondale, Lanarkshire, Scotland. At the time of their marriage, Marion was working as a silk handloom weaver.

George worked as an agricultural laborer, although by the 1871 census, he was working in the coal mines. George and Marion had at least 5 children: Robert (27 October 1867), Joseph (26 December 1868), Janet (26 February 1871), Robert (26 November 1873) and Mary Piper (15 November 1876) Semple. On 17 December 1867, firstborn son, Robert, died as an infant.

On 22 October 1877, George Semple, around age 30, died in the Blantyre mine explosion. George would have begun his descent into the mines at about 5:30 am that morning, once the safety checks had been completed. There was nothing unusual detected. At about 9 am, there was an explosion affecting two of the pits. Very few survivors were brought up from the affected pits, and most of those that came out alive later died in the hospital as 218 men and boys lost their lives. George left behind a family of 4 children. His youngest child, Mary, was only 1 years old.

Footnotes: (a) Oct 1877 Blantyre Mining casualty list states his age as 32 at his death.

References: Scotland Census; Family researcher Sarah Semple Brisk; Blantyre Mining Disaster Casualty List; SEE Documents as available under “Media” or “Timeline” events

Links: http://www.blantyre.biz/Names-Of-The-Dead.html; Link:http://www.gritquoy.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I133280&tr...; Link:http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/search/results?sourcecategory=census...

Note: Overview arranged by family researcher Jim Semple, Jr., subject to additions & corrections.