If you go to the wonderful site that was mentioned a couple of days ago by Bob Bartleson, go to the Newbattle parish records, and it explains in detail why colliers had to move around so much. It was always for work, and yes, they would have lived in mining housing as they couldn't afford anything else. http://edina.ac.uk/cgi/StatAcc/StatAcc.cgi In a message dated 2/18/01 10:59:17 PM Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes: > Hi, > > I just located an ancestral family (that of Robert BROWN) in the 1851 census > of Newbattle. He and three of his sons were coal miners (youngest, 12), and > the family was residing at 37 Stobhill. Based on the birthplaces of his > children, the family moved frequently. I've recorded below the birthplaces > and approximate years of birth (based upon ages at time of census) of Robert > and family. I'm hopeful that someone can tell me if there were coal mines in > each of these areas and, if so, what factors may have motivated frequent > moves. Also wondering if 37 Stobhill in Newbattle would have been a house > owned by a mining company. > > Robert, born Liberton, age 47, born c. 1804, coal miner > Janet (wife), born Lasswade, age 46, born c. 1805 > Margaret (dau), born Cockpen, age 19, born c. 1832 > John (son), born Inveresk, age 17, born c. 1834, coal miner > Alexander (son), born Newbattle, age 14, born c. 1837, coal miner > William (son), born Cranston, age 12, born c. 1839, coal miner > Janet (dau), born West Calder, age 9, born c. 1842 > Lawson (dau), born Borthwick, age 7, born c. 1844 > Elspath (dau), born Whitburn, age 5, born c. 1846 > > Thank you for your help. > > Best wishes, > Sue Lister > > >