Hi - wonder if anyone can help? I've searched various mining terms website but have been unable to find the following, which relates to my grandfather, Thomas MORTON who, aged 19 in the 1901 census, was a: Coalminer - off hand (below ground). It's the 'off hand' bit I'm having trouble with. I know he had a clubbed foot, so it's unlikely that he did very manual work. Well, that's a guess on my part. Maybe he didn't have any problems because family anecdotes say that he went on, in later life, to being a 'shot-putter' or some such term. Anyway, he placed the shot for controlled explosions. Clubbed foot and all, he must have been able to run! If anyone know what he would have done as a coalminer 'off hand' I'd be obliged. Cheers, Jackie