Here in the U.S., "headstone" commonly refers to an engraved monument
stone placed on burial plots in cemeteries. I wonder if the use of the
same word for injurious stones in mines meant that the miner would
likely be sent to his grave by the falling stone?
-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Jon Mein
Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2009 9:03 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Headstones
Hello
I am working on a social history of coalmining in parts of
Pembrokeshire
in the 18th century. One of the sources I have been using is the
coroners'
reports held at the National Library of Wales.
I have come across the expression "headstone" used in 11 reports for
pits
in parishes around Saundersfoot from the 1790s until around 1820 (when
the
reports dry up as a source). Either a miner died because the headstone
fell
on him or the headstone gave way causing the miner who was standing on
it
to fall to the bottom of the shaft.
What was a headstone? Is it just a local expression or more widely
used?
Thanks
Jon
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