Williams near Merthyr Tydfil pre-1882

[Warren]

Greetings from Pennsylvania!

Short story, my grandmother's father and grandfather were both born in Abercanaid and immigrated to the US in 1882. My GG Grandfather was a coal miner in Ohio (his obituary called him last of the old time coal miners) and I am trying to find out if he worked in the mines in Wales and which ones, plus did his father or any of his relatives work in the mines or what they did for a living?  And why they left and came to the US?

I am also in coal, a retired coal mining engineer with 47 years experience. I did not find out that I had any relatives in coal until I had been working for 7 years. I am also a coal mine history buff and have been helping local historical societies with their coal mining heritage and setting up some small museums in and around the Pittsburgh area.

I would appreciate an assistance or pointing me in the right direction, about coal mine in the Merthyr area that would have operated prior to 1882 that William Henry Williams could have worked at.. or where they might have lived, etc...

This looks like an awesome forum with lots of amazing information!

Thanks in advance!

Attached is what I think is my Williams relatives....







Retired Coal Mining Engineer

[mikemerthyr]

Hello Warren,
There are a number of coal mines he could have worked in some men walked miles to go to work.Most of the mines at the top end of Merthyr valley were small drift mines into the sides of the mountains/hills. These were providing coal for the iron works. There were a few that were not very deep mines near Abercanaid 1 Gethin Pit 1849-1920 2 Waun Wilt 1824-1879. The deep mines were further down the valley in Merthyr Vale colliery (Nixon Navigation 1869- 1989) and in Treharris Colliery ( Harris Navigation then Deep Navigation 1872-1991).
Hope this helps
Mike

[Warren]

That helps a bunch, Mike! Appreciate the response! I had no idea even where to start. Does Wales (or some government agency) have any kind of mine map repository? Or online database?

[jgs]

This is a bit of a long shot but do read

morgdavfamtree.wordpress.com/2022/12/30/welsh-ancestors-of-the-williams-families-in-wilkes-barre-us/

These are Williams miners in Pennsylvania.

John

[Warren]

Thanks John! I will certainly check that out!

[mikemerthyr]

Hi Warren,
There is a website called Welsh Coal mines have a look at that site it has a forum you can ask questions on and lists of collieries/pits around Wales for the Merthyr/Abercanaid area you need to look in Glamorgan East district.The list of mines/pits is on the left hand side click on name and it gives location it gives details of mine depth, number of men working there, accidents, output, etc. There are very few if any lists of mine workers names who worked at any mines to my knowledge only names of any killed in accidents.For locations of mines they are marked on Ordnance survey maps. Also go to National library of Scotland website side by side maps page this shows old maps and present day aerial shot of location where ever the mouse cursor is on one map is on same palace as on other. Hope this helps you.

Mike

[Warren]

Thank you so much, Mike! Have joined that forum on Welsh coal mines. Also have learned that my GGGrandfather Williams may have come over here in 1871 and 1873, probably to find a home and get a job (earn some money) and the rest of the family came later.

Appreciate the help!