Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1910 & 19

James Hart (1868 - 1913)


James Hart was an Insurance Agent whose hobby was cycling. It was whilst cycling in Yorkshire that he came off his bicycle and receive a fatal injury.


James was born in 1868 in Pendleton. His father was James Hart (born 1833 in Ireland) who was an Overlooker in a Flax Mill in 1861, a Coach Builder Labourer in 1881 and a Grocer in 1891. His mother was Rachel (nee Lennon) Hart (born in 1837 in Ireland). He had three siblings: William (born 1857 in Pendleton), Mary (born 1859 in Pendleton), and John (born 1863 in Pendleton). In 1871 the family lived in Sovereign Street Pendleton. Rachel was not present although James's grandmother Margaret Hart (born 1805 in Ireland) was. In 1881 they lived at 14, Rockley Street, Pendleton and there was still no sign of his mother Rachel. His father's status was given as married.


On 1st January 1888 James Hart married Ada Ann Ashworth at St Mary the Virgin Church, Eccles. He was aged 20 and a Maker Up. Ada was aged 19, the daughter of William Ashworth (deceased), an Overlooker and Ellen, a Silk Weaver. In 1891 James and Ada lived with Ada's mother Ellen Ashworth, and their two children: John (born 1889 in Pendleton) who sadly died in 1893 aged 5, and Ernest (born 1890 in Pendleton). In 1896 they had a daughter Effie, born in Pendleton who married Francis Fotheringham in 1923, but died in 1931 aged 34. In 1901 the family lived at 79 Gorton Lane, Chorlton-on-Medlock where James was a Beer House Keeper. In 1911 they lived at Hersey Street, Pendleton where James was an Agent.


James and Ada were members of a Cycling Club and it was whilst cycling through Rishworth, Yorkshire on 11th May 1913 that James had an accident and died the following day. The Halifax Evening Courier of 14th May 1913 reported the Coroner's Inquest. The cycling party consisted of 16 riders, had set off from Salford heading to Ripponden via Rishworth and planning to head back via Black Stone Edge. At the time of the accident they were heading down hill towards Ripponden. James was riding a BSA cycle with 2 speed gears, a back-peddling back brake, a front wheel brake and the wheels had wooden rims. James was riding in front and seemed to be going faster than the group. The road had a bend and James disappeared 'round the bend. When the others turned the bend they saw that James had come off his cycle and was laying on the road, unconscious. A few minutes later a doctor from Huddersfield came up in his motorcar. He examined James, said he had slight concussion and took him to Halifax Infirmary. One of the riders who gave evidence at the Inquest said that he examined James's cycle and found that the back brake would not act. He said that the front brake must have been used too severely as the left shoe had caught one of the spokes. The house Surgeon at Halifax Infirmary said that James had suffered from a haemorrhage at the base of the brain and died the following morning, Monday 12th May. The Coroner's verdict was "Accidental death." James was 45 years old.


James was buried in grave F/CE/1425 at Weaste Cemetery on 17th May with his son John. Although Ada Ann remarried in 1915 to William Shepley, when she died in 1938, she was buried with James, John and Effie at Weaste Cemetery.