Tynewydd Disaster

[albionwriter]

One of the rescuers named Abraham Dodd, was unlucky not to be one who received an Albert medal.  He appears on the 1881 census, but disappears completely after that.  Can any find what happened to him?

Taking about the water unduntation at Porth, Rhondda, in 1877.

[RayDen]

Was Abraham the one born 1855 living in Pontypridd in 1881 with his wife Mary J and daughter Margret?  If so in 1900 he (they) were living in the USA at a place called Belt, Cascade, Montana and he was still working as a miner.

Not entirely sure as yet but by 1906 I think Abraham and his wife may be in Canada.  They had 2 grandchildren with them in 1900 (6 & 4 years old) and both had been born in Canada.  Their daughter Margret was married to someone call Barnes.

Perhaps after being refused a medal because he spoke out against the mine owners he decided that he did'nt have a future in Wales and decided to leave?

Ray

[albionwriter]

Thank you Ray.  Your reply is fantastic.  I have just finished writing a book about the Tynewydd disaster and the last piece in the book was to be about Abraham Dodd, but I could not find out where he had gone.  I have the newspaper report that is said to have stopped him having a medal, but there is nothing critical said about any management. Perhaps he was vocally critical?  A few weeks after the 'inundation' he was working in the Ynyshir Colliery, where he got severely burnt underground.  He was also before that arrested for assaulting a policeman at Pontypridd.

Your reply has made my day, thanks once again Ray.

gareth

[RayDen]

Hi Gareth

The information I have about Abraham came from a piece in the Welsh Coal Mines website.  You probably have this but here is the link for anyone else interested: http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamEast/Tynewydd.htm

If you want copies of the census send me you email address by pm and I will forward them to you.

Ray

[RayDen]

Done a bit more digging.  Think he went to Canada first believe I have him on a ship to Canada in 1884.  Have just found the 1891 Canada census with Abraham, Mary Jane and Margaret.  It does say they are from England but I believe it is them.

Here is a link to the 1906 & 1911 Canada census information: http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/View.jsp?id=11143&highlight=8

Also have Abraham on the 1921 census.  He is shown as a widower and is now a Timber boss.  Not found his death as yet.

Here is a link to the 1900 US census on Mocavo, you can look at the image:
http://www.mocavo.com/search?plus_fname%5B%5D=Abraham&plus_lname%5B%5D=Dodd&q=Belt&start=0&limit=100

Ray

[albionwriter]

Hello Ray

Have gone through the census returns links you gave me.  Thanks very much.  The things I really need if you can provide them are 1.  The name of the boat he sailed on and the date.  2.  His date and place of death.

Any help you can get with these would be greatly appreciated.

Gareth

[RayDen]

Hi Gareth

I have an Abraham Dodd (Abrah Dodd) leaving from Liverpool and arriving 7 Sept 1884 in Quebec on the ship SARMATIAN.  He was on his own.  Not found his place of death.

Ray

[albionwriter]

Cheers  Ray

Have you a link to the 1821 census please?  You say he was a timberman, remarkable occupation for someone 65/66 years of age.

The last news I had of him was a year before, in September 1883: -  At Pontypridd Police Court on Wednesday a collier, well known in the district as “Happy Dodd," one of the heroes of Tynewydd, was brought up in custody, charged with waylaying and assaulting Acting-Sergeant Row, Ynyshir. 

Thanks for all the help you have given me.

Gareth

[RayDen]

Hi Gareth

Don't have a link to the 1921 census, its on A..try.  Looking at the original it says Timber Boss but also that it was in a coal mine.  It also shows that he was in fact unemployed and had been unemployed for 14 weeks due to illness.  A timber boss may have been having something to do with pit props?