occupation

Gamekeeper

dates

Born: 27 Jul 1852, Brill, Bucks

Baptised: 26 Sep 1852, Waterperry, Oxon

Married: Martha HINTON, 25 Dec 1888,
                Waterperry

Died: 28 Jul 1929

residence

The Lodge, Waterperry, Oxon

submitted by

Joan YEARSLEY (great-granddaughter)

related faces

Kate SLATER (daughter)

Background information

Joseph SLATER’s occupation was gamekeeper.  The family lived at the Lodge in Waterperry, Oxfordshire.

Family legend has it that Joseph was travelling back from his first wife’s burial in Scotland and there was a terrible train crash.  Joseph was injured and lost his arm.  The arm was buried with one of the casualties from the train wreck. 

I’ve now learned that he lost his arm in the Shipton Railway Accident of 24 December 1874. The following is from a general report of Saturday 26th December giving, amongst other information, details of the injured lying at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford:

“Joseph SIMMONDS, of Waterperry (whose arm was amputated and who lies in a very precarious condition) was visited on Friday night by his brother and a friend, and, though scarcely able to speak, on being asked how he felt, answered that he was ‘much better,’ ‘very nicely,’ and so-on, showing the greatest fortitude under his sufferings.  He is not likely, however, to recover.”

But a follow-up report from Oxford written on the night of Sunday 27th at 11pm states:

“through the kindness of Mr. HALLEWELL, the secretary of the Radcliffe Infirmary” we find amongst 46 patients hurt in the crash “Joseph SIMMONS, Waterperry, amputation of right arm, severe laceration of the head, and other injuries - better”

It remains a mystery regarding the burial of the wife, Scotland and of course using the name SIMMONDS/SIMMONS.  The 1891 census has Joseph and Martha listed as SIMMONS with Martha’s son Harry HINTON also in residence.

Joseph’s birth was actually registered as Joseph SIMMONDS,  birthdate 27th July 1852, son of Joseph SLATTER and Sarah WELCH (née Yates) in Brill, near Thame.