Author Topic: Coal mining term?  (Read 1860 times)

Offline bxlnt

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Coal mining term?
« on: Wednesday 07 February 18 03:11 GMT (UK) »
My ancestors lived in Cramlington, Northumberland, and were all coal miners from at least the 1870s. I have come across some people later on who are listed in documents as 'Cartman', 'Contractor's Cartman' and 'Carter'. I'm trying to figure out if this related to carting coal, or if they had left the mines and were working as general carriers. I haven't find the role of 'cartman' on any mining terminology site, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a local term. Can anyone shed any light?

Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Coal mining term?
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 07 February 18 08:58 GMT (UK) »
Welcome to RootsChat
In mining a Cartman or Coal Cartman drives a horse and cart along underground roads. (A Dictionary of Occupational Terms)
See http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=261499.msg1472307#msg1472307

Of course they could have been working as carters delivering coal in the neighbourhood, for a delivery company
Stan
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Offline stanmapstone

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Re: Coal mining term?
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 07 February 18 09:54 GMT (UK) »
Just to add that in the 1881 census there are 178 Colliery Cartmen in Northumberland and Durham.
This is from the 1911 Census
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk