b. 1823 Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. d. 07/02/1900 Tamworth, Staffordshire.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 01/05/1882 Baddesley Colliery, Warwickshire.
Samuel Spruce AM
Samuel was born in Wolverhampton, one of nine children born to George and Elizabeth Spruce (nee Cook). From an early age, Samuel went down the mines, and would slowly work his way up the ranks from collier, to mining engineer, to colliery manager, then finally consulting mining engineer. In 1845, he married Esther Beardmore in Staffordshire, and they had four children, though tragically both Esther and their youngest daughter Mary died in the birth in 1850. A year later, Samuel re-married to Sarah Whitehouse in Dudley. Samuel and Sarah had a further four children, but again tragedy struck as Sarah died giving birth to a daughter Fanny in February 1857. Fanny also died just a month later. Finally, in 1861, Samuel married for a third time to Elizabeth Beardmore in Birmingham, though again, she died shortly after a stillborn son was born in January 1864. Samuel never re-married. Samuel died in February 1900 aged 77.
AM CITATION:
THE Queen has been graciously pleased to confer “The Albert Medal” on the following persons, for conspicuous gallantry displayed on the occasion of the Fire and Explosion at the Baddesley Colliery in May last:— ” The Albert Medal of the First Class.” Mr. Reuben Smallman, Mining Engineer. Mr. Arthur Henry Stokes, Inspector of Mines. Charles Day, Collier. Charles Chetwynd, Collier. « The Albert Medal of the Second Class.” Mr. Samuel Spruce, Mining Engineer. Mr. Frederick Samuel Marsh, Certified Colliery Manager. Mr. Thomas Harry Mottram, Certified CollieryManager. William Morris, Collier. William Pickering, Collier. Joseph Chetwynd, Collier.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD. SOLD AT SPINKS IN JULY 2014.
Acknowledgement:
Spink & Son – Image of the Samuel Spruce Albert Medal.