Hi Louise
John Naisbit ( born Isle of Man as you again have confirmed ) was a colliery undermanager at Tudhoe, County Durham.
His rescue attempts during the Tudhoe Colliery explosion of 1882 are publicly documented. He and a colleague were first to the scene, overcome with fumes. John Naisbit “died” at least once and was revived. His colleague did not recover.
Accounts on the excellent Durham Mining Museum website. This site and books like
"Durham Mining Disasters" by Maureen Anderson , Wharncliffe books, 2008 show the slaughterhouse of coalmining at the time.
Bright ( a deputy ie a supervisor) - was killed in a stone fall at Tudhoe in 1899 and is buried in St. Bartholomew`s, Croxdale.
I found his grave in the snow last year and someone had still been putting flowers there.
I think Cuthbert and Jane prob travelled for mining work to the IoM from Whitehaven as there was a regular service.
Jack