If you look at Welsh Newspapers Online https://www.llgc.org.uk/index.php?id=4723 (and links from that to http://newspapers.library.wales/ ) for "Peter Gardner" you come up with a number of items in the Merthyr Express in which Peter Gardner is shown as the Treasurer of the Taff and Cynon District of the South Wales Miners' Federation [known as 'the Fed']. In the article dated 22nd January 1910 there is reference to paying the expenses of the strike at the Navigation pit, and they voted the sum of £10 to the Merthyr Boroughs L.R.C. towards defraying the election expenses of Mr Keir Hardie, and a vote of confidence in Mr. Keir Hardie was carried. http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3815366/3815370/46/ In the edition of 8th October 1910 Peter Gardner presided at a meeting in Merthyr Vale. http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3815847/3815852/47/ At this meeting Mr James Winstone was the main speaker, and referred to the 'Cambrian' dispute and coalowner D.A.Thomas. In the course of the address Mr Winstone said South Wales was the scene of a great tragedy, on the one hand enormous wealth, and power to continue to exploit the workers, and on the other hand extreme poverty. They were opening soup-kitchens in the richest coalfield under God's heaven. No employers anywhere made such immense profits, and yet there were from fifteen to twenty thousand workers who did not receive for a full day's work sufficient to live decent humane lives. After encouraging those present to become missionaries in this fight against capitalism, he advocated the nationalisation of the coal industry. Just occasionally when you are researching someone you had not even heard of a few hours ago you get a window into the world they lived in, and a perception of how they might have viewed it. It would appear that Peter Gardner was an active trade unionist. In fact as far back as 1894 he was vice-chair at a meeting of the Cambrian Miners' Association , at a meeting where W. Abraham MP (Mabon) was present. (South Wales Echo 27 November 1894 http://newspapers.library.wales/view/4601227/4601231/92/ In Merthyr Vale in 1896 he presided at a meeting where 'Mabon' spoke. Merthyr Times and Dowlais Times and Aberdare Echo, 30th January 1896 , http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3099107/3099115/90/ In 1898 South Wales Echo 25th July 1898 (Special edition) Peter Gardner addressed the Merthyr Board of Guardians on behalf of men who were being employed by the Guardians breaking stone in the stone yards, which it was proposed to close. He asked whether his wife and family would have to come into the house (workhouse) if the stone-breaking was stopped. [I assume this was a form of poor relief in which claimants were forced into work. Workhouses were at various time suppliers of broken stone for road-building and repair.] http://newspapers.library.wales/view/4606804/4606807/61/ In 1896 http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3099206/3099211/67/ Merthyr Times and Dowlais Times and Aberdare Echo 16th April 1896 Peter Gardner chaired a meeting of Merthyr Vale Colliery workmen about the election of a medical practitioner to the Colliery. Also in 1896 Merthyr Times and Dowlais Times and Aberdare Echo 30th January 1896 at a meeting addressed by Alfred Thomas MP, Peter Gardner proposed the formation of a Liberal Association at Merthyr Vale. A degree of prescience was shown by the speaker, who referred to the 'Armenian question' and atrocities in Turkey. http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3099107/3099109/6/ In 1910, The Merthyr Express, 6th August 1910 , Mr. Peter Gardner, 18, Bryntaf, Aberfan, desires to THANK the many friends who so kindly assisted him with coupons for the South Wales Daily News free holiday scheme. There were so many from all parts who sent coupons, and, whether successful or not, he feels that his sincere thanks are due to all. http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3815730/3815736/85/ He had previously sought 'coupons' for this free holiday promotion: "MR. PETER GARDNER, 18, Bryntaf, Aberfan, is a candidate for the South Wales Daily News" free holiday. and solicits support of members of t,he Miners' Federation, Manchester- Unity of Oddfellows and R.A.O.B. Coupons should be sent to above address not later than June 4th. Jy. " That item appeared in the Merthyr Express for several weeks in 1910. There is not much on Peter Gardner after 1910, though in 1915 he wrote to the Board of Guardians to complain that the parish doctor had not attended his daughter's confinement until a day after he was sent for. In 1914 he was still district treasurer for the 'Fed'. He appears to have died in 1918. Deaths Mar 1918 Gardner Peter 58 Merthyr T. 11a 787 Google a few of the items and people mentioned and you will see that Peter Gardner was a player in significant social and political developments. Maybe he was appointed to the role of Fed treasurer because his health problems meant he had more time than those in full employment. Maybe he was not working because he had been blacklisted, as many of the officials of the 'Fed' were in later years. There is a book "'The Fed' A History of the South Wales Miners in the 20th Century by Hywel Francis and Dai Smith " which may conceivably have a mention of Peter Gardner, and will certainly show the context of his life and public activities. For photos and a potted history of Merthyr Vale see http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/merthyrvale.htm. There is even a photo of Taff Street. Also http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/aberfan.htm about Aberfan. Aberfan is opposite Merthyr Vale on the other side of the valley of the river Taff. If you are after family history rather than just a list of names and dates, there may be quite a lot to find. Best wishes Jeff ----- Original Message ----- From: "wesixski11 via" <glamorgan@rootsweb.com> To: "glamorgan-request@rootsweb.com" <glamorgan@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2015 2:33 AM Subject: [GLA] Peter Gardner > Hello List. I am rather new to the list but have been reading all the > posts hoping to find a good researcher who I can hire to help with Peter > Gardner and his family. > Peter Gardner was born in about 1859 in Plymouth, Devon, England, and > married Elizabeth (last name unknown) in about 1882 in Merthyr Tydfil, > Glamorgan, Wales. Elizabeth had been born in about 1861 in Swansea, > Glamorgan, Wales. > They had a family of eight children, all born in Merthyr Tydfil: Mary Ann > Gardner, born about 1883; Lydia b. 1885; William b. 1886; Thomas John b. > 1888; John b. 1890; Charlotte b. 1891; Elizabeth b. 1893 and Sarah Vivian, > b. 1900, died 6 May 1986 in Great Neck, Nassau County, New York, USA. > > I have been asked by Sarah Vivian Gardner Hartz’s family (who all live in > the USA) to find out about her ancestors. > Does anyone know of a good, honest researcher who would help me? > Thank you. > Elizabeth Wight > Tacoma, Washington, USA > -- > > To send to the list send to glamorgan@rootsweb.com > GLAMORGAN Family History Mailing List archives etc. are at > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/WLS/GLAMORGAN.html > - > > A web site has been prepared to help you use the Glamorgan List > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~glamorgan/ > > - > A large amount of information, and a wide variety of useful links, may be > found at http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/GLA/ > > - > The South/West Wales Lookup Exchange and Gareth's Help Pages > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~walesle/wal/AW.html and > http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ukwales2/hicks.html > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GLAMORGAN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message