Chere, Here is a quote from a book written by Betty VanNewkirk titled "Windows to the Past" She was writing about the Welshmen, but I would think they probably recruited other nationalities also. " The mining companies actively recruited men in the Welsh mining region, in some cases paying the travel expenses of entire families to bring them to Maryland. The ship Tiberias, for instance, was chartered by the George's Creek Coal and Iron Company in 1838 to bring 300 miners and their families (and one lady!) from New Port, Wales, to Baltimore and then to Allegany County. " Phyllis