Hi Ray, There is no on-line or indeed any particular off-line resource of employment records of South Wales Collieries and apologies if this is going to sound like me building a series of brick walls in your quest to find your ancestors record of employment:-) The main reason would be the systematic destruction of records prior to vesting day in 1947, but also the natural demise of many collieries before that date saw the destruction of their records, not that we have come across any formal "employment" records as we would probably recognise them today from a modern company. There is, as always, some hope but lies mainly with a great deal of luck as to what records have survived and those that have are still very much piecemeal. One of your main hurdles may well be establishing just what colliery or more likely collieries your ancestor would have worked, it wasn`t unusual for miners to walk many miles to and from work, including over the surrounding mountains to neighbouring valleys, for many reasons, but better paid work and being black-listed in their own valley collieries probably the most common. Then throw into the pot the fact that within a small geographic region he would have had the "choice" of several collieries and the task does sometimes seem insurmountable! However to finish on a positive note, there is hope, particularly with local history societies if your ancestors area is covered by one. In our small area, the 2 mile long Ogmore Valley, between 1865 and 1983 we have seen 14 collieries come and go.......The records that have survived that we have possession of and which would have been available for many collieries dependant on the time they were operating and of course whether they have survived..... 1905 - Contracts Book (every worker signed daily) Ocean Western Colliery 1907 to 1918 - Wyndham Colliery Supplementary Relief Fund 1913 to 1916 Medical Aid society subscriotions, 2nd Rhondda Main Colliery. 1934 to 1939 Ocean Colliery Company Magazine (Full set in British Library) 1938 to 1939 - Banksman`s dispute, Wyndham Colliery. 1958 - Accident book, Ocean Western Colliery Not a lot for 118 years worth of coal mining involving many thousands of men and boys, and there are other records where you "may" glean some information which include but is not limited to: School Admission Records - depends on the diligence of the head and whether they have survived. Parish Records - again depends on the didligence of the incumbent. Ian Winstanley`s Mining Death CDs - They are some non fatal records included. Chapel histories. Local Undertakers records. trade Directories (for managers and under managers) Local press - Particularly around the dates of any disputes in the collieries, of which there were many! Regards, Huw Secretary, OVLH&HS www.ovlhs.co.uk http://moodle.bridgend.gov.uk/ydderwen/course/view.php?id=210 http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003187444024 @YDderwenPTA On 21/09/2013 05:14, James R. Davis wrote: > A great request. I have the same question but for employment records for > these valleys in the late 1830's. My John E. DAVIS (must have been DAVIES) > line came to the USA in 1841 from there. > Peace, James R. Davis, Sacramento, CA > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > On Behalf Of The Lewis family > Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2013 3:02 AM > To: Glam List > Subject: [GLA] Records of employment in South Wales collieries - Rhondda and > Aberdare Valleys > > G'day List > > Haven't made a posting for a while. When I do it is usually asking for help > and it is the case this time. I have been researching my late father-in-law > with a view to writing a short biography of him for the family. He spent > most of his working life either as a collier or as a repairman in the > Rhondda and Aberdare valleys. I know where he worked in 1911 and in 1956 but > not for how long. Where else he may have worked is unclear but most likely > are the collieries in the Mid-Rhondda area. > My wife doesn't know either. Is there an online resource that I can use to > find out. And of course, any other collieries where he may have worked. I am > certain there will be but those I have tried have led nowhere as they seem > only to list books and other material that I have to consult on site mostly > in Swansea. Living in Western Australia makes that a little difficult and we > are not planning a trip any time soon. > > My request is simple to make but will probably not be able to be answered > easily. Are there any online indices which list underground workers in the > Rhondda and Aberdare valleys between 1910 and 1950? > > I look forward to some illuminatory replies to lighten my darkness. > > Yours in anticipation > Ray Lewis > Hazelmere Western Australia

Dear Huw, I learnt a lot from your message, thank you. One thing you could have added to the list 1905-58 was the Monumental Inscriptions of those churches and chapels not forgetting the cemeteries, that have been transcribed and published. Newspaper accounts, in particular when there was a large accident and the men who died are named. Obituaries in plenty, and loads of incidents regarding wife and husband abuse, marriages etc., The Obituaries are wonderful, because usually they name so many people, relatives and friends and the Rhondda, Merthyr and Rhymney papers are full of these, and I am pretty sure that the other areas report in the same way. Although men did, as you say Huw, walk many miles to a pit, I thought about my own mining ancestors in the Rhondda, and all from some of their arrival to the area because of the coal industry in the Rhondda down to my father and his brother, worked in pits which were close to their home. Jill -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Huw Daniel Sent: 21 September 2013 10:49 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [GLA] Records of employment in South Wales collieries - Rhondda and Aberdare Valleys Hi Ray, There is no on-line or indeed any particular off-line resource of employment records of South Wales Collieries and apologies if this is going to sound like me building a series of brick walls in your quest to find your ancestors record of employment:-) The main reason would be the systematic destruction of records prior to vesting day in 1947, but also the natural demise of many collieries before that date saw the destruction of their records, not that we have come across any formal "employment" records as we would probably recognise them today from a modern company. There is, as always, some hope but lies mainly with a great deal of luck as to what records have survived and those that have are still very much piecemeal. One of your main hurdles may well be establishing just what colliery or more likely collieries your ancestor would have worked, it wasn`t unusual for miners to walk many miles to and from work, including over the surrounding mountains to neighbouring valleys, for many reasons, but better paid work and being black-listed in their own valley collieries probably the most common. Then throw into the pot the fact that within a small geographic region he would have had the "choice" of several collieries and the task does sometimes seem insurmountable! However to finish on a positive note, there is hope, particularly with local history societies if your ancestors area is covered by one. In our small area, the 2 mile long Ogmore Valley, between 1865 and 1983 we have seen 14 collieries come and go.......The records that have survived that we have possession of and which would have been available for many collieries dependant on the time they were operating and of course whether they have survived..... 1905 - Contracts Book (every worker signed daily) Ocean Western Colliery 1907 to 1918 - Wyndham Colliery Supplementary Relief Fund 1913 to 1916 Medical Aid society subscriotions, 2nd Rhondda Main Colliery. 1934 to 1939 Ocean Colliery Company Magazine (Full set in British Library) 1938 to 1939 - Banksman`s dispute, Wyndham Colliery. 1958 - Accident book, Ocean Western Colliery Not a lot for 118 years worth of coal mining involving many thousands of men and boys, and there are other records where you "may" glean some information which include but is not limited to: School Admission Records - depends on the diligence of the head and whether they have survived. Parish Records - again depends on the didligence of the incumbent. Ian Winstanley`s Mining Death CDs - They are some non fatal records included. Chapel histories. Local Undertakers records. trade Directories (for managers and under managers) Local press - Particularly around the dates of any disputes in the collieries, of which there were many! Regards, Huw Secretary, OVLH&HS www.ovlhs.co.uk http://moodle.bridgend.gov.uk/ydderwen/course/view.php?id=210 http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003187444024 @YDderwenPTA