New Risca Mine Disaster 1880

[SeaThreePeeO]

I have two ancestors George Yemm/Yem b 1838 Blakeney, Gloucestershire and his eldest son Meshach William Yemm/Yem/Yenn b Bream 1859 Woodside Glouscestershire.

I have since found out that both were killed in the New Risca Mine Disaster on 15th July 1880.  I am currently awaiting their death certficates.

I was wondering is anyone has any information or an idea where I can find out more on the New Risca Disaster and what would have happened to the widows and children left behind.

Any help most gratefully received

[Arranroots]

Hi C3PO

There's a contemporary account here (I daresay you've already seen it?)

http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/Gwent/RiscaPit.htm


In my experience, widows often rapidly remarried, especially if there were children to support.

Kind regards, Arranroots 

[SeaThreePeeO]

Thanks for the information Arranroots.

From what I have found George's widow Anne didn't remarry until 1894, 14 years after the disaster.

She appears on the 1891 Census listed as a widow with two school aged children at home to support.  However the enumerator has complete obliterated what was put in the occupation column for Anne, so it is impossible to read.  So she must have been doing something to support herself and children.  But I guess I will never know what.

[Arranroots]

If she's the one at 107 Queen's St, Aberystruth it says "living on own means", so she must have received some kind of income (possibly supported by relatives?)  Not sure what compensation arrangements were in place at that time, if any.  That would make an interesting investigation!

There are several websites dedicated to mines and mining disasters that you could contact - or you could ask Rootschatter Dennford who is an ex-miner and might know.

[winspeare]

Hi, I am helping someone who has a great great grandfather named George Yemm (married to Ann Walding) who died before 1881.  I have estimated his birth as 1838 in Blackeney, Gloucestershire.  My friend descends from his son William H Yemm, b ca. 1870 in Bream and was a coal hewer as was his son William George Yemm (1891-1962).  The latter's son was Ivor Roy Yemm who immigrated to the USA.  Sounds as if you are from the same family. 

[hanes teulu]

Welshnewspapers on line
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/home

Search key "risca" restricted to "1880" (using right/left date slider bars) delivers a number of hits re the explosion

[hanes teulu]

The Bristol Mercury, 16 July 1880 carries a lengthy report of the disaster and among the 119 listed whoare -

"Meshach Yemm, age 20, haulier, Newtown
George Yemm, age 38, bottom cutter, Newtown

[SeaThreePeeO]

Hi, I am helping someone who has a great great grandfather named George Yemm (married to Ann Walding) who died before 1881.  I have estimated his birth as 1838 in Blackeney, Gloucestershire.  My friend descends from his son William H Yemm, b ca. 1870 in Bream and was a coal hewer as was his son William George Yemm (1891-1962).  The latter's son was Ivor Roy Yemm who immigrated to the USA.  Sounds as if you are from the same family.

Hi Winspeare.  George Yemm (1838 - 1880) who died in the New Risca Mine disaster is my great x3 grandfather.  His son William H Yemm had a daughter Violet Yemm in 1910, she was my maternal grandmother's mother.  Unfortunately my grandmother passed away in February last year.  She always wanted to know more about the Yemm side of her family as there was a rumour one of her Yemm ancestors shot and murdered a games keeper.  I haven't been able to find any records to support this.

I would be most interested in contacting your friend.