Robert Harrington Gardner

M, b. 6 August 1883, d. 29 April 1907
FatherJohn Gardner b. 30 Sep 1847, d. 12 May 1893
MotherAnnie Little b. c 1846, d. 25 Nov 1925
Relationship2nd cousin 2 times removed of David Gardner Crouch
ChartsDescendants of Matthew Gardner and Margaret Martin
Birth*Robert Harrington Gardner was born on 6 August 1883 at 2 Kirklee Road, Partick, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.1  
(Son) CensusHe appeared on the census of 1891 as the son of John Gardner at Garney House, Fossoway and Tulliebole, Kinross-shire, Scotland.2 
Death of FatherHis father John Gardner died on 12 May 1893 at 46 Sardinia Terrace, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.3 
(Son) CensusRobert Harrington Gardner appeared on the census of 1901 as the son of Annie Little at Camden Villa, East Montrose Street, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, Scotland.4 
Occupation*Robert Harrington Gardner was an apprentice to the electrical engineering department before 29 April 1907 at The British Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Company, Trafford Park, Lancashire, England.5 
Death*He died on 29 April 1907 at The British Westinghouse Electrical and Manufacturing Company, Trafford Park, Lancashire, England, at age 23 from "the effects of shock from a current of electricity from the terminals of an electric testing table."5,6 
Last Edited31 Jul 2011

Citations

  1. [S236] Scotland, birth certificate for Robert Harrington Gardner, 1883; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 11 October 2010); citing statutory births 646/03 1156, Lanarkshire, Partick registration district; General Registry Office, Edinburgh.
  2. [S238] 1891 census of Scotland, Kinross-shire, Fossoway and Tulliebole parish and registration district, enumeration district (ED) 6, household schedule no. 8, p. 2, John Gardner household; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 11 October 2010); citing GRO Census 1891 461/00 006/00 002.
  3. [S240] Scotland, death certificate for John Gardner, 1893; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 12 October 2010); citing statutory deaths 646/03 0402, Lanarkshire, Partick registration district; General Registry Office, Edinburgh.
  4. [S239] 1901 census of Scotland, Dunbartonshire, Row parish, Row registration district, enumeration district (ED) 2, household schedule no. 222, p. 38, Annie Gardner household; digital image, ScotlandsPeople (http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk : accessed 12 October 2010); citing GRO Census 1901 503/00 002/00 038.
  5. [S568] England, death certificate for Robert Harrington Gardner, died 29 April 1907; citing 8c/422/461 [or 8c/422/46], Barton Upon Irwell registration district and Stretford subdistrict; General Registry Office, Southport.
  6. [S718] "APPRENTICE ELECTROCUTED. Westinghouse Works Accident. Evidence at the Inquest.," Manchester Evening News, 01 May 1907, p. 3, col. 4.

    APPRENTICE ELECTROCUTED

    Westinghouse Works Accident.

    Evidence at the Inquest

    Mr. J. F. Price, the county coroner, held an
    inquest at Old Trafford, to-day, touching the
    death of an electrical apprentice named Robert
    H. Gardner (23), of Helensburgh, Scotland, but
    who lived in Seymour Grove, Old Trafford, who
    was electrocuted by gripping two live terminals
    at the Westinghouse Works, Trafford Park, on
    Monday morning last.

    W. D. Wivell, an electrician employed in the
    testing room at the works, said the deceased
    was working at a testing table, to which was
    affixed apparatus for the generating of elec-
    tricity. He did not know what the deceased
    was doing at the testing table. Witness was
    working at the next table, with his back to
    Gardner, and when he happened to turn round
    he saw the deceased's legs in the air behind the
    table at which he was working. Witness
    moved forward, and saw that deceased was in
    a half-reclining position, his back on the floor,
    and his hands gripping the two live terminals
    of the table, which were at an electrical pres-
    sure of 440 volts.  He endevoured to pull him
    off the terminals, but was unable to do so.
    After witness had summoned assistance he
    managed to pull the deceased away with the
    help of another electrician.  Gardner was then
    unconscious, and apparently dead.  Artificial
    respiration was resorted to and medical assist-
    ance summoned, but without avail.

    The witness further stated that Gardner had
    no occasion whatever to touch the terminals,
    and the latter would be perfectly aware what
    the consequences were if he did touch them.

    Asked by the Coroner if he could suggest any
    reason for his doing so, witness said he might
    have slipped on the iron bed-plate and clutched
    at the terminals, unthinkingly, to save himself
    from falling.

    C. E. Ward, electrical engineer, who had
    charge of the testing table at which deceased
    was working, gave corroborative evidence.

    Thomas Smith, who was in charge of the
    testing department at the works, said that the
    deceased's duty was to see that everything was
    in order at his table, and see that the bearings
    and cables did not run hot, and his suggestion
    as to why deceased gripped the terminals was
    that he was feeling at the cables which led up
    to the terminals, and he, unthinkingly, lifted
    his hands too far up, and consequently they
    came into contact with the terminals.  He did
    not think that the idea of the deceased slipping
    was feasible.

    Questioned as to whether he did not think
    that the terminals should have insulated caps,
    he said that, in his opinion, there was no more
    danger than at an ordinary switchboard.

    A verdict of accidental death was returned.