Proprietor of Balbardie Pit, who perished in the Winchburgh railway disaster of 13th October 1862. The mineral lease of the lands of Balbardie were advertised for lease in 1861, suggesting that James Hosie's interests at Balbardie were terminated by that time
Mr. Hosie, manager of the Oakley Iron Works Dunfermline, died in consequence of injuries inflicted on the back. There are peculiarly melancholy circumstances connected with the death of this respected gentleman, which are thus alluded to by the Dunfermline Press: "He had been making some inquiries about the merits of a schoolmaster, and was returning home on their conclusion, prepared to start for Falkirk Tryst when a shock, sudden and instantaneous as the bolt of heaven's lightning, broke his spine, and sent him into eternity. It is just about a year now since Mr Hosie took up his residence amongst us, and within the last two months, he had married an amiable widow lady who survives to mourn his loss. Rumour carried to Mrs Hosie vague impression that all was not right; and no sooner did the metropolitan papers arrive, than the surmise was all too surely verified. The melancholy duty of disclosing the sad fact that she was again widow, devolved upon Dr Dow of Carnock. On the doctor entering Blair House, Mrs Hosie at first mistook him for her husband. The moment, however, that she saw her medical adviser, the poor woman understood her position. The shock so sudden, so unanticipated, and unexplained was too much. A bewildering horror took possession of her at once; and, for a time, all effort to alleviate or assuage her grief was unavailing. Early in the forenoon, the Laird of Inzievar, Mr Smith Sligo, crossed to Edinburgh with Dr Dow, to bring the remains of Hosie to Oakley. Through the good offices of Falshaw, all was done required in the preparation for transit. I understand that Mr Smith Sligo has returned with the corpse of his ill-fated manager of Forth Iron Works. Mr Hosie was still comparatively a stranger in the district when death summoned him from this scene of things.
Fife Herald, 16th October 1862
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COLLISION AT WINCHBURGH FUNERALS OF MR.HOSIE AND MR. HEDDERWICK.
A feeling of profound gloom prevailed in Falkirk on Saturday, occasioned by the interment of several of the sufferers by the late railway accident. The first funeral was that of Mr James Hosie, whose remains were brought from Dunfermline shortly after eleven o'clock. A very numerous company of mourners assembled at the Grahamston Station, and the melancholy procession proceeded to the parish church burying-ground, where the Rev. Mr Begg offered up prayer. Immediately after the body was lowered, the entire company proceeded to join the large party already assembled at the house of Alexander Hedderwick, in order to attend the funeral of that gentleman as far as the railway station. Here Mr Begg likewise officiated. The company, to the number of upwards of three hundred—many of whom had come from considerable distances in order to testify their respect for the deceased—formed into procession and marched to the station. The relatives, and a few of the more intimate friends (amongst whom we observed Capt. Smith Sligo of Luzievar, who, by the deaths of Mr Hosie and Hedderwick, has lost both the manager of his extensive iron-works, and his law agent, accompanied the body into Glasgow for interment in the family burying-place on Sighthill. the residence of Mr Hedderwick's aged mother in Walworth Terrace, whither the company proceeded, prayer was offered up by the Rev. Dr Robertson, of the Cathedral, and the Rev. Dr Taylor, of Renfield Street U.P. Church, both of whom, alluded, in touching terms, to the dreadful disaster by which the deceased had been cut off in the prime of life, and in the midst of career of usefulness. It is said that Mr Hosie's death will give rise to three actions against the railway company—one the firm who employed him, another the instance of his widow, and another by the insurance company for repetition. His life was insured, it is said, for £5000.
Dunfermline Press, 22nd October 1862
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......... Mr James Hosie. of Falkirk, at Balbardie. The latter gentleman was one the first successful coalmasters in connection with the Balbardie works was Mr Hosie who, fifty years ago, started the mine, and as there was no railway connection with the works at that time, the coals had to be carted to the depots. It was about the sixties that Hosie met with violent death. He, along with Mr Hedderwick. the renowned solicitor and littérateur from Falkirk, was travelling in the same compartment between Edinburgh and Falkirk, and both were killed in the great railway catastrophe which occurred in the Winchburgh tunnel. Mr Hosie's tragic death was deeply regretted the inhabitants of the town. He resided at Balbardie House, and was considered one of the leading men of the town, taking an active part in public work, and parochial affairs in particular.
Linlithgowshire Gazette, 18th May 1906 See full reference
