Pitard.net - Buffalo Family

Matthew Colpoys

Matthew Colpoys

Male 1936 - 1983  (47 years)

Personal Information    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Matthew Colpoys 
    Census 1935  [1
    Birth 25 Sep 1936  New York State Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4, 5
    Gender Male 
    Census 1940  Buffalo, Erie Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Death Dec 1983  Buffalo, Erie Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4, 5
    Burial Lackawanna, Erie Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Notes 
    • He was a fireman in the Buffalo Fire Dept., and was killed in the propane explosion on Division St. on Dec. 26, 1983. It was the worst Fire Dept. accident in Buffalo history.

      From firehouse.com: “As firefighters arrived at the scene of a reported propane leak in a three-story radiator warehouse, a massive explosion occurred, killing five firefighters instantly and injuring nine others, three of them critically. The force of the blast blew Ladder 5's tillered aerial 35 feet across the street into the front yard of a dwelling. Engine 1's pumper was also blown across the street with the captain and driver pinned in the cab with burning debris all around them. Engine 32's engine was blown up against a warehouse across a side street and covered with rubble. Two civilians were also killed and another 60 to 70 were injured. While operating at the rescue effort, another 19 firefighters were injured. The blast and ensuing fire ignited 14 residences and damaged as many as 130 buildings over a four-block area. The explosion occurred when an employee was moving an illegal 500-lb. propane tank with a forklift truck and dropped it, breaking off a valve. The gas leaked out, found an ignition source, and the explosion occurred.”
    Person ID I785  BisantzCaldiero
    Last Modified 30 Dec 2023 

    Father Edward "Eddie" J. Colpoys
              b. 22 Jul 1912, New York State Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. Jun 2003, Leon, Cattaraugus Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 90 years) 
    Mother Alice Jordan
              b. 19 Dec 1916, Buffalo, Erie Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 28 Aug 1968, Erie Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 51 years) 
    Family ID F73  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Living 
    Children 
     1. Living
     2. Living
     3. Living
    Family ID F84  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 30 Dec 2023 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 25 Sep 1936 - New York State Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1940 - Buffalo, Erie Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - Dec 1983 - Buffalo, Erie Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Lackawanna, Erie Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this location Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend Address Cemetery Farm Town Parish City County/Shire State/Province Country Region Not Set

  • Reference  Pitard, D.. "Matthew Colpoys". Pitard.net - Buffalo Families. https://buffalo.pitard.net/getperson.php?personID=I785&tree=caldiero1 (accessed March 19, 2024).

  • Sources 
    1. [S57] 1940 United States Federal Census, Year: 1940; Census Place: Buffalo, Erie, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02823; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 64-27.

    2. [S21] U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007.

    3. [S33] United States Social Security Death Index, Number: 072-30-5919; Issue State: New York; Issue Date: 1954-1955.

    4. [S12] Awesome Findagrave Contributors, U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current.

    5. [S38] Web: Obituary Daily Times Index, 1995-2012.