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Generalwelsh mining history 1911

10th Jan 2011 22:32 UTCmalcolm chapman

Our family contains generations of miners from Cornwall and Wales. We have been able to get some history and are continuing research. One mystery concerns my grandfather and family. Prior to 1911 and afterwards they appear to be prospering but in 1911 my grandmother and two children were in the workhouse and there was no trace of my grandfather anywhere.

They all resided in Pontypridd. Glamorgan Wales and the mine where he was employed was in the valley. There were some troubles around that time but they were in the next valley and my Welsh relatives insist that he would not have been involved in that. The question remains. What happened in 1911? Were the difficulties local and to do with the mining industry? It seems my grandfather left the area and his home for a while. There is no record of imprisonment or detention.

Does any historian have any explanation to offer?:?

10th Jan 2011 22:55 UTCDon Saathoff Expert

Malcolmb, could he have been one of the many Welsh miners who came to the US to oversee the young Western US mining boom? You might try 1920 census reports, etc. What was his name?

Don S.

11th Jan 2011 03:26 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Malcolmb,

I know it's Wikipedia, but this might help:

Tonypandy Riots in Wales

11th Jan 2011 12:27 UTCmalcolm chapman

Thanks for your replies. Perhaps I should have been more specific.My grandfather was Edwin Chapman.

Tonypandy was the local trouble I referred to. Relatives insist that Pontypridd was not involved

The family were back together in 1912 as my father was born the following year. Perhaps he could have gone to US and returned but one would expect some family knowledge

11th Jan 2011 15:05 UTCScott Sadlocha

Perhaps a trip to America to explore the mining opportunities there? It would take considerable time to sail across, make travel to the location, assess it, and then travel all the way back. You could try looking up records for disembarking passengers on ships on America's east coast. I know some of this can be checked through the Ellis Island registries, but there are also other locations to check documentation as well.

17th Jan 2011 19:21 UTCLogan Babcock (2)

could he have fallen down one of the mine shafts in the Botallack Area?

the area was a big place for english nobility... they used to go into the mines for fun... but in 1864, a car fell down fast through a shaft and killed 9 people... maybe that was the fate. currently reading Deep Down: a Tale of Cornish Mines. (it was free for kindle :D)

18th Jan 2011 08:31 UTCLloyd Llewellyn Expert

Hello Malcolm,

You might like to try looking here

http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/index.html

Most of the major mines listed have a brief history and I'm sure you could find some reference to any major event which may have affected the lives of your grandparents. Do you know the name of the colliery in which he worked prior to 1911?

The Tonypandy Riots must have had repercutions throughout the area and, if you'll forgive me correcting you, Tonypandy is not in 'the next valley' to Pontypridd, it's just a few miles further up one of the valleys which meet at Pontypridd.

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