Francis Black

1814 - 1878  (64 years)

• Name	Francis Black
  Born	1814	, Scotland   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	misfortune, accident, life story
  Misfortune	killed in fall
  Occupation	1852	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	blacksmith
  Occupation	1861	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Blacksmith
  Residence	1861	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Church of Scotland
  Residence	1864	High St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  Occupation	1871	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Blacksmith
  Residence	1871	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Church of Scotland
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-119787
  Died	30 Dec 1878	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I119787	Generations
  Last Modified	6 Apr 2024

  
  

  Family	Catharine,   b. 1814, , Ireland ,   d. 11 Jun 1873, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 59 years)
  Last Modified	7 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F30038	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Sad Accident in Galt An Old Townsman Killed By Falling From the New Bridge It is with the utmost regret that we this week announce the occurrence of a fatal accident at the new iron bridge now nearly completed in this town. The victim was our old and well-known townsman, Mrs. Francis Black, blacksmith; and the particulars of his sad death are as follows: - Mr. Black had been unwell for some time back, but had so far recovered that on Monday he thought he would attend the nomination meeting in the Town Hall. He accordingly did so, and after the meeting was over stopped with his friends on the east side of the river until about tow o'clock in the afternoon, when he proceeded on his way home. When he arrived at the bridge - the planking on which was not yet completed, but crossing on which was comparatively easy by plant laid on the sidewalk part - Mr. Black remarked that he didn't know that it was very safe for him to attempt to cross; but seeing Mr. J.G. McIntosh standing on the bridge, he asked him to give him a hand across. Mr. McIntosh accordingly took Mr. Black by the hand and conducted him safely for some distance; but before reaching the western pier Mr. Black said that he could now manage very well, and Mr. McIntosh accordingly left him. Owing to the fact that the workmen were engaged in putting up the hand railing on the western side of the sidewalk, pedestrians generally stepped up at the western pier from the sidewalk to the carriage way of the bridge, which was planked from there to the end; and it was at this point that the lamentable accident happened. Whether Mr. Black slipped on the plank which sloped from the carriage-way to the sidewalk, or whether he trusted too much to a stick he was carrying and it slipped, will never be known; but the dozens upon the bridge at the time were horrified to see him suddenly fall into the opening beneath him. He first struck the top of the stone pier, and from thence fell with terrible force on to the ice which had formed on the surface of the river. Prompt assistance was instantly rendered the unfortunate man, but he was quite insensible when reached. He was immediately conveyed home, and the best medical aid was quickly in attendance, but he never regained his consciousness and expired about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The apparent injury was several ribs broken, some of which were driven in upon the lungs; but the shock itself was too severe for one of Mr. Black's age to withstand. The deceased had been a resident of Galt for many years, and was widely known in both town and country. He was aged, we understand, about 67 years at the time of his death. He leaves a widow and two children to mourn his loss. Galt Reporter Jan 3 1879 pg 2

  
  

• Sources

  [S313] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1851, Div 1 Pg 7. Francis BLACK Blacksmith Scotland Presbyterian 37 Catharine BLACK Ireland Presbyterian 37 Margaret MERCER Scotland Presbyterian 20 not a member of the family [S570] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1871, Div. 3, Pg. 18. [S1838] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1861, Galt 1861 Div. 5 Page 54. [S313] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1851, Div 1 Pg 7. [S330] Directory - ON, Waterloo - 1864 - County of Waterloo gazetteer and general business directory for 1864.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1814 - , Scotland Occupation - blacksmith - 1852 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Blacksmith - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Church of Scotland - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1864 - High St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Blacksmith - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Church of Scotland - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 30 Dec 1878 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth