The Other Side of Sixty-Five: Kingston Earthquake and Return to England

Granny Hackett with her daughter and six of her Great-grandchildren

PART 2 of Ernest Hackett's story... Romans 8:18-30

My brother Nathan and my cousin Sharon offered more information on the Hackett family since my last post, so I may update the following information at a later date. Nevertheless, here is a start at the next installment of Ernest and Kate's story.

"The 1907 Kingston earthquake which shook the capital of the island of Jamaica with a magnitude of 6.2 on the moment magnitude scale on Monday January 14, at about 3:30 p.m. local time, is described by the United States Geological Survey as one of the world's deadliest earthquakes recorded in history."source

Cólon 1907

Dear Kate,

Just a few lines to let you know that I am yet alive but I am still suffering from severe pain...for 6 months and have not been able to work. I do not enjoy good health...

I have not much to say at present. I will try to send some money over by next mail for the Lord has open the way for me once more...

My cousin Sharon wrote to me this week,

"When I was in Florida one year I visited the Panama Canal Museum. They had a whole section about the West Indians going to work on the Panama Canal. The one thing they were told was they would not survive and to bring their coffins. The curator gave me a website to look for our great grandfather's application to work at the Panama Canal".

West Indians provided the bulk of the workforce for the construction of the Panama Railroad and the Panama Canal, and between 1850 and 1914, untold numbers sacrificed their lives, limbs and mental faculties to the Panama project. (source) It is possible that 22,000 workers died during the French construction period and hospital records indicate that 5609 workers died during the American construction period. West Indian workers were paid poorly and lived in substandard housing. The Americans hired them because they could pay them even less than they would have to pay American Negroes. Olive Senior wrote a highly recommended book to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Panama Canal in 2014 called Dying to Better Themselves. It is priced as a textbook on Amazon and is unavailable in our local library, but I would love to read it to understand Ernest's story better. I do not know if the injuries Ernest describes in the letter are from the earthquake or from his work on the canal project.

After the Kingston earthquake, Catherine Hackett decided to return to England with Eveline and baby John. My aunt told me the Salvation Army paid for their passage. John apparently died during the voyage and was buried at sea. Ernest wrote this goodbye letter.

So good bye until we meet again, be it the will of God. Kiss the children for me. I 'dear' not say any more for my heart is full of grief and sorrow. God only knows I am still **** looking unto Jesus. Dear Kate do not forget God and his mercies.

I am yours, Ernest

affectionate Husband

Catherine returned to England and lived with her family. Nathan found information about the household in the 1911 census. Ernest continued to work on the canal project and sent money and letters as he was able.

Part 3, the final post of the story, will be published tomorrow.

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Census 1911

Catherine Mary Hardman

Census • England and Wales Census, 1911

Cite this Record

"England and Wales Census, 1911," database: 3 May 2019), Catherine Mary Hardman in household of John Hardman, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

Copy Citation

Event Type	Census
Name	Catherine Mary Hardman
Sex	Female
Age	29
Event Date	1911
Event Place	Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Event Place (Original)	Ashton Under Lyne, Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire, England
Sub-District	Ashton Town
Registration District	Ashton Under Lyne
Birth Year (Estimated)	1882
Birthplace	Ashton U Lyne, Lancashire
Marital Status	Single
Occupation	COTTON REELER
Number in Family	5
Relationship to Head of Household	Daughter

Catherine Mary Hardman's Parents and Siblings

John Hardman

Father

Ashton U Lyne, Lancashire

Event Type	Census
Name	John Hardman
Sex	Male
Age	56
Event Date	1911
Event Place	Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Event Place (Original)	Ashton Under Lyne, Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire, England
Sub-District	Ashton Town
Registration District	Ashton Under Lyne
Birth Year (Estimated)	1855
Birthplace	Ashton U Lyne, Lancashire
Marital Status	Married
Occupation	COTTON WARPER
Number in Family	5
Relationship to Head of Household	Head
Registration Number	RG14