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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Topic started by: phylbill on Wednesday 24 June 09 22:09 BST (UK)
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My great grandfather died in the 1914 mine disaster, his name was William Prosser, my mother was 5 at the time does anyone have any information on the Prosser family? My mothers family was called Lewis and they went to Senghenydd from Somerset. ???
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Hi Phylbill and welcome to Rootschat!
The first google result I got for 'William Prosser Senghenydd' gives his name and address, (as are given for the other victims of the disaster) namely 52 High Street, Senghenydd. He was 28 years of age. I expect you or another Rootschatter will be able to find more information.
Best of luck,
Pinot :)
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Welcome to Rootschat! ;D
What info do you have on William Prosser? Have you found him on the 1911 census?
This list of the victims of the Senghenydd explosion lists their addresses
http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/deathrolls/SenghenyddDead1913.htm
The disaster was 1913 by the way, although his death not registered until march qtr 1914.
Is this the marriage reg?
William Prosser june qtr 1906 Pontypridd vol 11a pg 1042 with Annie Lewis on the same page
If you don't have your great-parents marriage certificate, it would help you to get it as it would give you names of fathers & their occupations to work from. Several William Prossers born 1885 ish.
:-\
post crossed , but I'll ask the questions anyway!
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Thanks for such swift replies it felt good that there were folks out there looking out you. I know little of the Prosser family. I have the marriage certificate of William Prosser to Annie Lewis 25th June 1906 at the Wesleyan methodist chapel Caerphilly. William is down as being an engine driver his father was called John (deceased) and he was down as a coal miner. Is his death 1888 Pontypool Vol 11a.
The only other thing I have is the grave certificate of William No H168 Penyrheol Cemetery. As for the 1911 census I have tried on a number of occasion and just draw a blank. Also I wondered if I had found the family in the 1891 census, wife gwen (was she Gwenllian death 1898), children one being a William but then I lose them all again in the 1901 census, realizing of course parents may have both died before this census. I think I'm rambling!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope to visit Senghenydd before the years out
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think I can see William on the 1911. If you use the advanced search, search on Annie Prosser with William in the household, year of marriage 1906, in Glamorgan only 1 entry shows up in Pontypridd registration district . You could double check with your mother's name as a household member.
If you find that he was born in Monmouthshire, I have a possible family
1901 Tillery Rd, Abertillery RG13/4936 folio 50 pg 40
John Powell head mar 50 colliery labourere above ground b. Brecon town
Sarah wife 47 b. Blaenavon
James Prosser steson 27 coal haulier below ground b. Blaenavon
George Prosser stepson 20 coal haulier below ground b. Blaenavon
William Prosser stepson 18 coal labourer below ground b. Blaenavon
Elizabeth A Powell dau 11 b. Cwmtillery
1891 in Cwmtillery RG12/4354 folio 16 pg 40
1881 11 Coedcaecradock, Blaenavon RG11/5237 folio 74 pg 15
John Prosser head mar 30 haullier b. Llanfoist
Sarah wife 28
James son 7
John son 5
Sarah Jane dau 3
Thomas son 1
all born Blaenavon except where stated
possible death reg
John Prosser 35 march qtr 1885 Bedwelty vol 11a pg 64
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Hi, Well found William and Annie living with Annie's father at 51 High Street Senghenydd in the 1911 census, it says he was born in Merthyr Tydvil so I reckon John and gwen Prosser were his parents. So the search continues but I think I may now have a lead.
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Hi Phylbill
I don't know if you have seen this collection of photographs on the National Library of Wales website:
http://www.llgc.org.uk/index.php?id=senghennydddisaster
Really brings the suffering home, watching all those people waiting for news.....
Regards
Greensleeves
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Oh gosh, those pictures really show the poverty of the Welsh mining community. I looked at those women and children and wondered if any of them were my relatives as I have no early photos at all. Thanks for posting them. :(
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When I first came across those photographs, they affected me deeply, and still do. Although I have no connection with anyone involved in the disaster, I don't think anyone could look at them without appreciating the raw misery which they portray.
If you have not yet visited the Big Pit at Blaenavon (which is part of the National Museum of Wales), I am sure you would find the mining exhibitions there very informative. There is quite a lot of information about various mining disasters in Wales, and you can also go down the pit to see how people used to work.
Regards,
Greensleeves
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::)Hi Phybill..I read with interest of your ancestry involving the Senghenydd Mine Disaster.. My husbands grandfather also was killed in the mine disaster. I have just located his (Robert William Evans) burial place ..Penyrheol Cemetery...In 2013 the 100th year anniversary will occur I hope that we can make the trip from Australia to visit Senghenydd and Penyrhoel Cemetery.
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Hello Dingaling
My grandfather is also in the Penyrheol cemetery and one of the things I do have is the bill from Caerphilly Urban District Council. His grave is no H168 it cost 7 shillings and 6 pence 10 shillings to bury him 3 shillings and 6 pence to enter his name on the register, 2 shilling and 6 pence for a certificate and 5 shillings for stamp of grant of right of burial. A grand total of 1 pound 8 shillings and 6 pence. I wonder if anything will be done to mark the centenary, worth a little investigation I think. Shame I know so much about his death but so little about his birth and short life. phylbill
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Hi Phybill...I only found where my husbands Grandfather Robert William Evans was buried last week after many years of family research. I wonder if there are any headstones but I feel there would not be in our case the families income was very limited...When Robert Evans died he left a family of four children the fourth child born seven days after his death the child Robert William Evans named after his father was fostered by a relative and to this day we have no knowledge of his whereabouts. My mother in law was only two when her father died and seventeen when her mother Emma Evans past away so family details were limited. I have been able to purchase two books on the Mine Disaster 1..The Valley of the Shadow by John H Brown and 2..Senghenyyd a Brave Communityy by J Basil Phillips. Have you search the records to see if your family received compensation I believe that the families were awarded so much per child unfortunately there is no record of Emma Evans receiving any compensation. I hope that there will be a rememberance ceremony...
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I also have the Basil Phillips book, I have no idea what compensation was given, my mother was five and another baby was on the way born the following March, my gran remarried and had two further children one is still alive living in a home in Bristol, she has dementia so unable to talk to her about the past, which is very sad really. The saddest thing is not having any photo's from those early days I guess they were too poor to have had photo's taken. The research is very time consuming but I shall keep going. I hope to go to Senghenydd before the year is out and will visit the grave yard it will be interesting to see if there are any gravestones. Phylbill
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Hi Phybill, I am trying to locate a map of Penyrhoel Cemetery to show the different sections of the cemetery...may I ask if you do manage to visit the cemetery and have time to spare if you can also take a photo of my Robert William Evans grave...I have been told by the authorities
Robert William Evans is buried in SECTION B PLOT O-454...Kind Regards Dingaling
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It will be a pleasure, I will let you know when I plan to go.
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You can see some recent photos of Senghenydd here. I have put 52 and 51 High street house photos on for you also.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kodak1927/sets/72157622526698631/
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Daicamera, wow what can I say except a very big thank you for the photos. Very soon now I shall see Senghenydd for myself and I was feeling very apprehensive about my visit but those photos have calmed my nerves and I can see that the area is very beautiful. I am sure it will be a visit I shall never forget.
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Your very welcome,I hope you enjoy your visit.
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:DHi Diacamera,
It is Sunday Morning in NSW Australia and I am sitting in my computer room viewing your wonderful photos taken the other side of the world of Senghenydd..I am deeply moved viewing the photographs showing the different aspects of life in Senghenydd and particularly the Senghenydd Mine Monument..From one happy researcher THANK YOU for sharing the snaps with me.
Cheers and THANK YOU once again
Kay P
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Hi Dingaling, It was really great and quite emotional viewing those photos I am pleased you were thrilled by them also. Wasn't it a fantastic thing Diacamera did. It really does look quite wonderful and I shall soon see it for myself I hope my photos's will be as good without the snow please.
When I have been I will post on Rootschat some of my efforts if I get the technology right so keep looking. Regards Phybill
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Hi Phylbil
My gr grandfather was also killed in the 1913 disaster. He left a widow and 5 children, the eldest my grandmother was 14. From her and my grandfather various stories were passed down. Some of which I have been trying to substantiate. She always said she and her sisters were on a train coming home from school. The train stopped for a very long time outside Senghenydd and they knew something had happened but it wasn't till they got home that she found out her father was missing. Another story is the only way of identifying my gr grandfather was through his miner's lamp. I have found the book the Valley of the Shadow by John Brown book pretty good for providing reasons for this. It is definitely worth trying to get hold of. Perhaps someone will republish in time for the anniversary. Sarenid
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I have been deeply touched with the help that I have received on Rootschat.com from fellow researchers in Wales and Scotland who have gone out of their way and taken photographs of towns and located graves for me a task that I had no way of achieving.
I am hoping that when the Anniversary of Senghenydd Mine Disaster in 2013 come around my husband and I will be there to share the day.
Once again THANK YOU
Kay P :D
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Hi Sarenid
I really do hope all the stops are pulled right out for the centenary of the mine disaster and God willing I'll be there. I agree the John Brown book explains a great deal. My mother was only five when her father and grandfather were killed, my gran never talked about it I have no family photo's so I have no idea what my grandfather looked like but I shall continue to find his family line. Regards phylbill
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Hi All, Here are a few more photos I've uploaded.
I,m sorry Dingaling, but the house Robert William Evans lived in is no longer with us, It was 26 Stanley street,the next street down from High street.
Most of the odd number houses are still lived in but the other side of the street were demolised I,m afraid.
You can see the rear of the houses in 2 of the photos and in the one photo of the houses,26 Stanley street is on the far left of the photo.
Also,the Stanley street colour photo,the green bank on the left is where the even number houses stood.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kodak1927/sets/72157622666094480/
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Thank you Daicamera for the extra photos on Senghenydd and for letting me know that 26 Stanley Street does not exist anymore I rather know now then later on how disappointed I would have been. All your photos are very much appreciated.
I have been fortunate to have bought two second hand books on the Mine Disaster
1..The Valley of the Shadow John H Brown
2..Senghenydd A Brave Community by J Basil Phillips.
Cheers for now
Kay P :D
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:Hi Diacamera, I have been slowly viewing your photos of Senghenydd and must congratulate you on your collection of photos which capture the different events that have occurred in the township of Senghenydd from 1913 to the present day involving the photos of the Mine 1913, the Rescue and Recovery of 1913, The Anxious Wives and Children Just Waiting on News1913, Mine Memorial, The Town of Senghenyydd as Today, Snow Covered Senghenydd, Senghenydd in Autumn and the different views of the Township.
THANK YOU
Kay P :D
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Hi
I am looking for Trevor Edwards Stanley street Senghenydd anyone know
bjla
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Welcome to Rootschat! ;D
Can you give a bit more info? What period are we talking here? Was he one of the victims of the disaster?
:-\
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Hi
I'm doing a family trace and from what I know he was not in the disaster as he not on the roll of people who died. He lived there with his daughter Julie and Dorian husband, he also had a Son Elwyn and his daughter had 4 children.
I have checked the deaths and he may of been born 1915 or 1899 and am narrowing it down, but will check through the other descendants and see what comes up.
Anyone who knew him would be helpful.
Thank you
bjla
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Been researching my great uncle David Richards and my aunt told me he was killed in a big mining accident near Eglwsylan, from where they came from. Found a David Richards on a list of miners lost in the Senghenydd incident and from that found him on the 1911 census. The question I wanted to ask the locals out there is: Does Gelli Villas, Caerphilly Road still exist or was it one of the line of shacks that were used by miners familes? Thank you in advance from USA
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::)Hi Phybill..I read with interest of your ancestry involving the Senghenydd Mine Disaster.. My husbands grandfather also was killed in the mine disaster. I have just located his (Robert William Evans) burial place ..Penyrheol Cemetery...In 2013 the 100th year anniversary will occur I hope that we can make the trip from Australia to visit Senghenydd and Penyrhoel Cemetery.
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Hello Dingaling, If you get to Senghenydd for Centenary next year go and check out the new Heritage Centre which has all the records, info and artefacts right up to the present. Hundreds of photos on touchscreens - excellent, well worth a visit.
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Hello Phylbill
When I was a youngster living in Senghenydd our milkman was named Prosser (Jack). He had to serve in the latter part of the war and I remember his wife used to come around early with the milk churns to fill up all our jugs! The good old days. They had two sons, around my age who now live in Caerphilly. I wonder if this is the same family you are trying to find out info? I know that in the Heritage Museum in Senghenydd there are phtots of them on their touchscreens. Next time I go down I will try to find out more info.
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Been researching my great uncle David Richards and my aunt told me he was killed in a big mining accident near Eglwsylan, from where they came from. Found a David Richards on a list of miners lost in the Senghenydd incident and from that found him on the 1911 census. The question I wanted to ask the locals out there is: Does Gelli Villas, Caerphilly Road still exist or was it one of the line of shacks that were used by miners familes? Thank you in advance from USA
Hi Cazrcih
Gelli Terrace and Caerphilly Road still exist they are not shacks but terraced houses if you need any further info will try to get some answers for you
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I think this is your William Prosser:
http://graveseekers.co.uk/person/glamorganshire/william-prosser1913149
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I am also searching for my great grandfather who was killed in the disaster. His name was Thomas Ivor Lewis and was wondering if anyone researching their family members had any documents where he is mentioned.
Prompted by the memorial on tv.
Thanks
Gill
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I am also searching for my great grandfather who was killed in the disaster. His name was Thomas Ivor Lewis and was wondering if anyone researching their family members had any documents where he is mentioned.
Prompted by the memorial on tv.
Thanks
Gill
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My great grandfather was Thomas Ivor Lewis, my grandfather was Ivor Lewis, sisters called Miriam, Eva and Hilda, brother Thomas. Mother was called Jemima.
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Hi Caromilne
thanks for getting in touch...knew all your names mentioned. Eva was my grandmother, my mother was Wynn. Would love to speak more. Which line do you follow?
Gill