James Phillips, died 1884

A carte-de-visite showing the grave of ‘James Phillips, the beloved husband of Mercy Phillips, who met with an accident on November 28th 1884, and died November 29th 1884, aged 50 years.’

James and Mercy Phillips appear on the 1881 census living at 1 Cedar Villa in Hornsey, north London. Born at Whitchurch in Hampshire, James gave ‘Railway Messenger’ as his profession. The household included a 22-year-old lodger, Thomas Bottle, an ‘Assistant Turncock.’

The couple had married at St Andrew’s in Barnsbury on 10 August 1862. James Phillips, a porter, was the son of Stephen Phillips, a labourer. Mercy Spettigue was the daughter of Edmund Spettigue, a bookseller.

‘INQUEST — Yesterday afternoon Dr. G. Danford Thomas, coroner of Central Middlesex, held an inquiry at the Royal Free Hospital on the body of James Phillips, aged 56 [sic], chief messenger in the employ of the Great Northern Railway Company, who had been killed by falling from the top of a lift at the general offices, Kings-cross, a depth of 75 ft. As neglect was imputed, Mr. J.P. Grain, barrister, was present on behalf of the company. It appeared from the evidence of William Travers, a messenger, that on Friday evening he and another man were engaged under Phillips in clearing old books from the accountant’s office at the top of the building, to be sent down in the lift. Phillips was at the top placing the books in the lift, while the other men were at the bottom removing them as they came down. Witness and his companion were returning after wheeling away some books, when they heard a rumbling noise and heavy fall, and then saw Phillips lying with some books around him on the floor of the lift. There was a carriage lamp to show light at the top, but it was found after the accident that this lamp was out. There was, however, a light from a gas burner in an adjoining room. Phillips was taken to the hospital, and died on the following morning from the injuries he had received. The skull had been forced down upon the brain, and several ribs were broken. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, but desired to recommend to the company the desirability of having a fixed light at the top of the lift, and a competent man to be specially engaged to work it when in use’ (Morning Post, 4 December 1884).

When the census was taken in 1911, 71-year-old Mercy Phillips was in an inmate at St George’s/ Hanover Square Workhouse in Fulham Road, Chelsea.

Photographer unidentified.