I grew up knowing that one of my ancestors was a fireman who died while trying to save a girl.
Today I found a cool history online which stated:
"Firemen of the joint Old Fire Office and Bath Sun Fire Office brigade led by Abraham Marchant "keeper of the fire engines" were quickly on the scene and attempted to rescue the servant from her room in the attic, using a borrowed ladder. The ladder broke and Abraham Marchant fell to his death from the attic window. The fire was eventually extinguished at 3:00am on Sunday 9 July through "the great exertions of the persons present". Mr. Dimond's premises were extensively damaged.
Abraham Marchant, who lived at 9 Peter Street, was a carpenter by trade. He left a widow and eight children, "seven of whom were entirely dependent on their father's labour for their support." Mrs. Marchant was pregnant with their ninth child. A subscription list was opened immediately to help the family, with the Upper and Lower Assembly Rooms, all the Banks, Libraries, and principal inns being advertised as places where subscriptions might be received. Heading the list of subscribers were:
The proprietors of the Bath Sun Fire Office £100
The proprietors of the Old Fire Office £50
Mr. Dimond £20
A sympathiser contributed "the making of the necessary clothing for the widow and family, and the loan of necessary articles for the funeral." So successful was the appeal that the promoters announced that the list would close on the following Monday, 24 July 1815. Writing of Abraham Marchant, the Bath Journal said "A more industrious, honest and humble character than the deceased could not exist."
There was an entrance to a mall in Bath named after the family, essentially in honor of Abraham Marchant's sacrifice. The sign has been torn down and the area is now known as the "New Marchant's Passage" but I believe it is residential now. I need to visit Bath sometime!
I hope that I can be seen as a similar man of character.
Today I found a cool history online which stated:
"Firemen of the joint Old Fire Office and Bath Sun Fire Office brigade led by Abraham Marchant "keeper of the fire engines" were quickly on the scene and attempted to rescue the servant from her room in the attic, using a borrowed ladder. The ladder broke and Abraham Marchant fell to his death from the attic window. The fire was eventually extinguished at 3:00am on Sunday 9 July through "the great exertions of the persons present". Mr. Dimond's premises were extensively damaged.
Abraham Marchant, who lived at 9 Peter Street, was a carpenter by trade. He left a widow and eight children, "seven of whom were entirely dependent on their father's labour for their support." Mrs. Marchant was pregnant with their ninth child. A subscription list was opened immediately to help the family, with the Upper and Lower Assembly Rooms, all the Banks, Libraries, and principal inns being advertised as places where subscriptions might be received. Heading the list of subscribers were:
The proprietors of the Bath Sun Fire Office £100
The proprietors of the Old Fire Office £50
Mr. Dimond £20
A sympathiser contributed "the making of the necessary clothing for the widow and family, and the loan of necessary articles for the funeral." So successful was the appeal that the promoters announced that the list would close on the following Monday, 24 July 1815. Writing of Abraham Marchant, the Bath Journal said "A more industrious, honest and humble character than the deceased could not exist."
There was an entrance to a mall in Bath named after the family, essentially in honor of Abraham Marchant's sacrifice. The sign has been torn down and the area is now known as the "New Marchant's Passage" but I believe it is residential now. I need to visit Bath sometime!
I hope that I can be seen as a similar man of character.