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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Breconshire => Topic started by: VioletRose on Monday 03 May 21 15:30 BST (UK)

Title: question about miners
Post by: VioletRose on Monday 03 May 21 15:30 BST (UK)
Hello,

I'm trying to track down a great-great-grandfather which means looking for a John Davies in Ystradgynlais, 1860. I know he died in or as a result of a mining accident in Jan 1901, I know he was married to Mary Jones who died July 1919 (ran a shop on Water Street by Teddy Bear bridge that her son in law E A Yerbury the butcher became involved with) and I think I have the right marriage cert. for him which lists his father as John Davies (deceased).

I just wondered if I was missing something obvious, so wanted to ask if mining companies had details of workers or if the only records I can find are that of the accident/ death report.

Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: iluleah on Monday 03 May 21 15:48 BST (UK)
I guess you have these
http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/DisastersList.htm

http://www.ystalyfera-history.co.uk/mining-accidents-disasters.html
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: wilcoxon on Monday 03 May 21 16:06 BST (UK)
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3475276/3475278/89/https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3475276/3475278/89/

Same name and place,  but that's all.
I suppose you would need the death certificate to see the cause of death, presuming he died later.
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: VioletRose on Monday 03 May 21 16:12 BST (UK)
that's him, he died a few days after the accident, I have burial and probate, missing a death cert

and now I feel like slapping my own forehead, that might have a birth date on it?
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: osprey on Monday 03 May 21 16:27 BST (UK)
date of birth would not be on a death cert at that time.
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: VioletRose on Monday 03 May 21 16:30 BST (UK)
wasn't sure,

back to headbanging a brick wall

thanks for the help
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: wilcoxon on Monday 03 May 21 16:39 BST (UK)
John Davies Mar qtr 1901, registered Ponterdawe.
GRO index gives age as 41.
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: VioletRose on Monday 03 May 21 16:48 BST (UK)
1860 is what I've been looking at although his headstone in St Cynog's says 1859

thank you all for the replies
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: osprey on Monday 03 May 21 16:56 BST (UK)
not necessarily.   ;)

Address given on burial is Oddfellow Street, so is this Mary & family in 1901?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSMD-DP6

Son Thomas born in Blaenavon and some children born Ystradyfodwg.

1891 census 102 Duffryn St, Home Penrhys, Ferndale RG12/4429 folio 84 pg 55
John Davies head mar 32 coal miner b. Ystradgynlais
Mary wife 32 b. Mon, Blaenavon
Thomas son 10
Mary A dau 8
Wm J son 5
David son 3
children all born Ferndale

Possibility for John in 1881 at 80 Duffryn Street, single born Ystradgynlais. RG11/5304 folio 89 pg 8.
At the same address there's a Thomas Davies age 21 also born Ystradgynlais who could be a brother.

When and where did John marry Mary?
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: osprey on Monday 03 May 21 17:04 BST (UK)
if he was 41 at death in Jan 1901, he quite likely had not had his birthday that year so born 1859.
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: wilcoxon on Monday 03 May 21 17:19 BST (UK)
Are there any clues on the marriage certificate,  names that could be siblings.
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: VioletRose on Monday 03 May 21 17:37 BST (UK)
the tree I've been given to work from has them getting married, Oct 25th, 1881 in Llanwonno
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: osprey on Monday 03 May 21 18:29 BST (UK)
could you confirm that the family I gave in 1901 & 1891 is correct or not?

1911 in Water Street
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWXV-3PT

marriage 25 Oct 1881 Llanwonno parish church
John Davies 22 bach collier Blaenllechau father John Davies deceased
Mary Jones 22 spinster Blaenllechau father Thomas Jones collier
witnesses Edgar Turner & John Rosser
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: VioletRose on Monday 03 May 21 18:33 BST (UK)
apologies osprey,

yes, they're correct
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: osprey on Monday 03 May 21 18:46 BST (UK)
thanks, helps to know ages and places of birth.

I think this could be Mary in 1881 working in the Dyffryn Arms, head of a household Thomas Rosser.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2W9-HZH4
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: VioletRose on Monday 03 May 21 19:05 BST (UK)
I've got her parents written down as Thomas Jones and Jane Samuel but as you can probably tell, I'm fairly new to family history research and hadn't really looked into her too much

Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: osprey on Monday 03 May 21 19:41 BST (UK)
think that looks ok for Mary's parents

Mary in 1871, parents Thomas & Jane

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V556-436

birth reg for sister Hannah jun qtr 1864 Abergavenny has mmn as Samuel
& Mary Jones june qtr 1859 Abergavenny vol 11a pg 65 mmn Samuel

marriage Sunday Oct 11 1857 parish church of Trevethin
Thomas Jones 22 bach collier Pontypool father Thomas Jones collier
Jane Samuel 21 spinster Pontypool father John Samuel miner
witnesses Harriette(?) Birch & John Powell

Jane Samuel in 1851
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGT5-2KQ

It's a pity there's no occupation given for John's father on the marriage certificate.
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: osprey on Monday 03 May 21 20:41 BST (UK)
there is a John Davies of the right age with father John, a shoemaker, in Ystradgynlais but he is still in the area unmarried in later census years.

 :-\
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: wilcoxon on Monday 03 May 21 22:33 BST (UK)
I'm not sure if my link worked so here it is again

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3475291/3475293/29/
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: VioletRose on Monday 03 May 21 22:56 BST (UK)
the link seemed to come up twice so I separated it and clicked it, thank you for finding it wilcoxon

I did try looking for an obituary wondering if a list of mourners might give some clues but I didn't get very far.

osprey, I keep being drawn back to an 11 year old John Davies listed as a grandson with a Thomas and Rachel Davies in 1871, so then tried to work out if they had children and where their children might have been in 1861, there is a Margaret b1835 with a Henry Davies from High Bray and a baby John Davies but I'm worried I'm trying to hammer pieces into a puzzle to make them fit.

I think it's going to remain a mystery but do appreciate everyone's input

Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: wilcoxon on Tuesday 04 May 21 12:01 BST (UK)
In 1841 Thomas and Rachel DAVID have 5 children with them, no relationships shown
One is John DAVID aged 6

He isn't with them  in 1851
Ancestry
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: VioletRose on Tuesday 04 May 21 12:56 BST (UK)
I think this is where I get a bit snap happy with the puzzle pieces

I tried mapping where the children on that 1841 census went and thats, where I think I have jumped a big gap in wondering if the Margaret Davies with Henry from HighBray in 1961 might be the same Margaret, daughter of Thomas and Rachel although the 1841 has her as b1838 and the 1861, has her as b1835

and having had another look, I'm not sure the 1851 census I found is the right one because there is another Thomas and Rachel Davies listing with a son John b1835

... going to need a bigger pot of coffee



Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: VioletRose on Tuesday 04 May 21 16:07 BST (UK)
could I be really cheeky and ask if you can see any records for

Jenkin Davies b1853 or Mary Davies b1856 Ystrad

I'm wondering if they all share the same father if they're grandchildren of Thomas and Rachel. I can see index listings for those dates but have no idea how to read them
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: wilcoxon on Tuesday 04 May 21 17:46 BST (UK)
There's a tree on Ancestry for  Jenkin Davies b 1853 Ystradgynlais that's interesting.  His father was John,, mother Anne Williams,  and Thomas and Rachel are on it.
Some of it is a bit dodgy but there might be some useful suggestions to follow up,


Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: wilcoxon on Tuesday 04 May 21 18:01 BST (UK)
DAVIES, JENKIN    LEWIS  GRO Reference: 1853  M Quarter in MERTHYR TYDFIL  
DAVIES, JENKIN    JONES  GRO Reference: 1853  J Quarter in OF NEATH  
DAVIES, JENKIN    EVANS  GRO Reference: 1853  S Quarter in ABERAYRON  
DAVIES, JENKIN    JONES  GRO Reference: 1853  S Quarter in TREGARON  
DAVIES, JENKIN    JONES  GRO Reference: 1853  S Quarter in TREGARON  
DAVIES, JENKIN    THOMAS  GRO Reference: 1853  D Quarter in LAMPETER  
DAVIES, JENKIN    EVANS  GRO Reference: 1853  J Quarter in ABERAYRON  

These are in the GRO index with mothers maiden name,  but it wasn't the law then to register the birth of a child,  so that's another problem.
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: VioletRose on Tuesday 04 May 21 18:13 BST (UK)
thank you so much wilcoxon
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: Mabel Bagshawe on Tuesday 04 May 21 19:31 BST (UK)
Found an inquest report in Welsh - https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3836867/3836874/98/   Not much help

An inquest was held on Saturday in Ystradgynlais, on the body of John Davies, miner, who died as a result of injuries sustained in an explosion at the Ystradgynlais pit on the 16th of this month. A verdict of accidental death was returned

Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: VioletRose on Tuesday 04 May 21 19:46 BST (UK)
thank you Mabel
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: osprey on Tuesday 04 May 21 20:28 BST (UK)
Possible 1851 census for John Davies with grandmother
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG82-BTW

Possible marriage for the John Davies, son of Thomas

7 Nov 1853 parish church of Ystradgynlais
John Davies 24 bach haulier Blaenau father Thomas Davies labourer
Ann Williams 23 spinster Blaenau father John Williams farmer
witnesses J R(?) Walters & William Corbett

Possible marriage 9 April 1831 in Ystradgynlais for Thomas Davies bach & Rachel Rees spinster, both otp, witnesses Thos Watkins & Moses William.

 :-\
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: VioletRose on Tuesday 04 May 21 20:52 BST (UK)
thank you osprey

I started digging around for the Jenkin Davies on one of the censuses with Thomas and Rachel, ended up in Cardiganshire with several names, places, and dates that match other documents, melted my brain a little in the process as there are a lot of Thomas, John, Rachel, and Marys but it does look like it all fits

time to switch from coffee to gin, thank you so very much for your help everyone
Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: wilcoxon on Tuesday 04 May 21 23:05 BST (UK)
I've been looking at that tree I mentioned and it's a mess as far as John Davies is concerned,  they have him buried twice and marrying after his first death.🤔

The John Davies aged 23 buried 14 March 1859 is likely to have been killed.
There is no mention of a wife or his parents in the reports.

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3380834/3380836/10/

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4350290/4350296/48/


Title: Re: question about miners
Post by: VioletRose on Tuesday 04 May 21 23:19 BST (UK)
I think I know that tree  :-[ especially if you search it for a Violet and find one near Pembroke

I've been running crazy on there trying to find puzzle pieces and have filled a couple of people on it with anything that may or may not fit