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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Glamorganshire => Topic started by: humptydumpty on Sunday 01 November 09 09:00 GMT (UK)
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Re your reply to "Where do I go from here" you say Aberdare was swamped with people from all over. Could you tell me why that was as my Gr.Grandfather and even his mother later on moved to Aberdare from Norfolk and settled there. ::)
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Hi Humpty, when coal was first discovered in Aberdare and surrounding valleys we had a similar situation here to the American gold rush, people came here from everywhere to work in the coalmines.
So basically they came for work, if you take a look at the 1881 census you will see that people from all over Britain and many parts of the world made up the population of the coalmining valleys.
So next time you here someone fretting about immigration just remember the majority of us are descended from immigrants.
Best Wishes Bethan
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Nice one Bethan!! I would go further and suggest that almost all of us have migrants somewhere in our Ancestry, and if not provable in writing certainly in our DNA.
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Hello Humpty
Yes, I can only agree with both previous posters. Part of my family are from the area and I used to have friends in Aberdare.
When I was doing my family tree I was amazed how many people went to Aberdare for work -- a coal mine.
I used to visit there in the 1970's after the pit had closed and it's a valley that is a dead end. The streets there are amazing, just so steep.
On the census returns of 1871 and 1881 there are people from all over.
One of my family branch had children born all over South Wales, obviously the father looking for work. He was from Wiltshire!
The Italians came to South Wales in vast numbers in the 1880's too, as there were work there was money to be made. That is why there are still large Italian Ice Cream families in South Wales.
Steven
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Some of my relatives moved from Somerset to South Wales in the late 19th century. Reason, Agricultural depression and opening of the coal field.
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Thanks for all your replies. My Gr. Grandfather must have heard of the coal mines in Aberdare but didn,t go down them but ended up selling fish!! This is why I wondered why they chose Aberdare!
My maternal grandfather came to Swansea from Somerset. He was a blacksmith by trade but found work on the docks. So yes, I consider myself a patriotic Welsh girl but my dna would prove otherwise and I probably have a lot of English relatives dotted around!
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Suggest Aberdare chosen because of large labour force, all of whom would require food including fish.
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Hi Steven, lots of my friends are descended from Italian migrants to the valleys, they mostly came from Bardi in Italy, my ancestors were also mostly ag labs from Bedford, Northampton, Carmarthen and Pembroke with a few Huegenot lace makers thrown in for good measure.
Very Best Wishes Bethan
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Moderator comment: post edited and originator informed
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Back in South Wales.
It's been a learning curve doing my family tree and was initially horrified to be honest.......... the amount of English blood in my veins, but I choose to live in England so am coming to terms with it.
Humpty, did you know that Swansea was once a major manufacturer of copper? Might explain why a blacksmith would go and work there. Also there were historic direct boat links between South/West Wales across the channel to England.
I know one route was Cardiff to Western Super Mare.
Another was Swansea to Ilfracombe.
Also Tenby to Ilfracombe.
Am sure there were other links too, but it does show that in the nineteenth century people used these links for work. Also the link between Tenby and Ilfracombe and Cardiff to Western Super Mare carries on to this day (I think) as a tourist link. I know miners from South Wales took holidays in Western Super Mare.
Steven
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Yes, Mothball, I was born and bred in Swansea and my Mother lived in Swansea town itself. She often told me of the copper works and the smell that was in the air as she walked to school. There is now a residential housing complex called The Copper Quarter - a far cry from the old days!!
I remember being taken as a small child on the ferry crossing Swansea to Ilfracombe. We didn't have much money in those days as my father was ill and didn't work (he died when I was 10 years old) so it can't have cost much for the tickets! Swansea was a thriving town with all its industries - sadly lacking in everything now.
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I think that you will find that there are plans to start a ferry service across from Swansea to Ilfracombe again. That's how my grandfather came across I think
Anne
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Yes, Hystericalwriter (I love your name)!!!but I think it's only for foot passengers. Pity really, as if it was a car ferry it would save a lot of congestion on the road down to the West of England. I know I have sat for many hours in jams going to and fro on holidays but there must be a reason. Probably money again!!! or something to do with weight and tides.
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I missed your reply in November, must have been worrying about Christmas......... Hystericalwriter comes from a Welsh man I knew, I write (sort of ) Historical fiction, and he corrupted the term!
I would love to catch that ferry to Ifracombe, haven't heard much about it lately, but I do wonder how many people came across on boats to work in the coal fields.........I have seen so many friends go to Devon and Somerset Archives in search of West country ancestors, and yet they are fiercely 'Welsh'!
Anne :)
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just to confuse matters & not wishing to start a war, but on old maps you find that the west country was SOUTH WALES, im of now then, tara, kali.