Having just read Simon's email about two brothers who moved to Yorkshire prompts me to ask just how many made the journey. My own great grandfather - James Merrick was born in Newent c 1855 but moved up to South Yorkshire coalfield being married in Sheffield in 1877. Family tradition says he and his gaffer walked the whole way looking for work. Like Simon, I would like to know more about the mining industry in the Forest in the 1860's and 70's. Was it going through a period of decline? Cathy Bryan [email protected]

Cathy My Grandfather Albert Watkins, lived at Ruardean in the Forest and was a coal there there. Then in the depression years of the 1930's after being out of work for 5 years moved north to the city of Manchester with his family in the search of a different type of work. You will find the following on the Forest of Dean Genealogy Pages which I maintain, it a very interesting article supplied by Avril Wood. Ruth's Story A fascinating insight into the hard times she and her family endured - particularly in their younger years. It seems incredible now that less than 100 years ago men would WALK 100 miles or more to find work! Ruth, concludes her article with the following: Quote: What a lot of changes in my life. At the beginning no cars, no Concorde, no planes, no water- toilets, no electric, no wireless, no television. Now we have everything, but not everyone seems to have the happiness we had. How you spend your time is more important than how you spend your money. You can always put money matters right but time is gone forever. People today seem intent on having material possessions without taking time off to enjoy what they possess. Perhaps we would be happier if we spent our time more wisely instead of spending our money. Forest of Dean Genealogy Pages http://members.iinet.net.au/~davwat/royalfor/ Enjoy David Watkins Western Australia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At 3:29 PM +0100 28/5/01, Cathy Bryan wrote: : Having just read Simon's email about two brothers who moved to Yorkshire : prompts me to ask just how many made the journey. My own great grandfather - : James Merrick was born in Newent c 1855 but moved up to South Yorkshire : coalfield being married in Sheffield in 1877. Family tradition says he and : his gaffer walked the whole way looking for work. : : Like Simon, I would like to know more about the mining industry in the : Forest in the 1860's and 70's. Was it going through a period of decline? : : Cathy Bryan : [email protected]