Senghenydd

[phylbill]

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.

[pinot]

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 

[osprey]

Welcome to Rootschat!  

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!

[phylbill]

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

[osprey]

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

[phylbill]

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.

[Greensleeves]

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

[phylbill]

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. 

[Greensleeves]

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