1900 - 1994

Silverwood Mine

 LEARNING FROM AND USING THE MINERS LIST

The Miners list and origin pages are in fact similar to a mini census and like a census there is a great deal to learn from the information given. From this information we can obtain clues which will assist in further research into not just your miner but also regarding historical events from the past which effected migration of workers from one area to another. You will find in certain periods large groups of miners left one mine to to sign on at a neighbouring mine, in this case Silverwood Colliery. Which raises the obvious question why? Was there a problem within the mine they had left, was it a conflict with management, or was it simply that Silverwood was offering a slightly better wage.

It is noted that often family groups would sign on together, miners of a similar age group living on the same street, sometimes non related miners living in the same household would also sign on.  It will be noted on the pages to follow that several miners shared accommodation in the same house when they started at Silverwood, it is not known as yet who actually was named on the rent book in any particular year and who were the lodgers.

Often groups of miners would discuss their situation at their previous employment, at a local Public house or Club over a few pints of beer and agree to re-locate to Silverwood.  It has become obvious that the miners were somewhat nomadic with regard to their place of work and would constantly leave Silverwood and return on several occasions, which points to constantly changing circumstances throughout the mining industry from mine to mine. The constantly varying amount of wages would be the most prominent factor prior to the Nationalization of the industry, as is common in most industries when profit dropped then the mine owners would try and offset that loss by a reduction in wages. Sometimes other factors were involved like the time both cages at Silverwood failed and the mine was closed for a lengthy period until safety was verified in the use of the cages.

With a considerable number of miners whose names appear more than once on the list we can track their movements and changes of address from that time. Remembering that many of these men were lodgers and you would often find that a dwelling would contain two families with possibly other lodgers also residing.

For those of you researching your family tree  the information on the list can be a bonus in several ways. Included in the individual information is the age of each miner which is a tremendous plus when locating that miner on census records as it can greatly reduce the number of people with the same name but of different ages, i.e. if your miner is 37 years old on this list , then you can limit your search to people around that age on your search of the census. [ Ages on census records are not 100% accurate ]

You will find entries from separate years that look like the same miner and often are. The example below shows two entries from those entries you will find that R. E. Gretton between 1919 and 1924 left Silverwood and had worked at the Cadeby Main Colliery prior to his return in 1924. In this case we are assured that both entries are the same miner with the address of  50 Norwood St Dalton given on both those entries.

R E Gretton Collier 1919
R E. Gretton Stoneworker 1924

Using addresses will often give you family groups, who was living with who, and neighbours of your miner.

On the origin pages list you will also find Countries and Counties where some of the miners came from to work at Silverwood thus taking you one step further in your search. Be aware that the origins of miners stated here are their last place of work or residence, and not necessarily their birthplace. i.e. You will find men with obvious Irish names with a listed origin of Wales.

Where a miner has a origin which is non mining related it is reasonable to assume that he has worked in mining previously if he signed on as a Collier, in the near future I will be locating as many mines and other origins [i.e steelworks] as I can  .

Be aware that some of the names were not easy to read therefore there are some spelling errors in surnames, so it is advisable to try looking for sound alike names if you cannot locate your miner, as in Towey and Fowey. First names where only the initial is used can also be frustrating as often that one letter was also hard to read. I have managed to correct some of the errors but would be grateful for any help in correcting others.

Check the top of each origin page for further information as it is intended to update wherever possible each page with helpful details.

JOB CODE ON LIST / JOB/ JOB DESCRIPTION
C = COLLIER
CH  = CHAINS
CO = CORPORAL /  IN CHARGE OF HAULAGE
DM = DAY MAN employed and paid by the day or hours work .
DP = DEPUTY / SUPERVISOR IN CHARGE OF A DISTRICT
DR = DRIVER IN CHARGE OF ENGINE OR PONY
F  = FILLER / FILLER  fills the tubs with coal .
FITTER =  FITTER
HA  = HAULAGE / TRANSPORT UNDERGROUND LOCOMOTIVE OR PONY
MC = MECHANIC
OV = OVERMAN / UNDERGROUND UNDER MANAGER
PB = PIT BOTTOM / WORKED NEAR SHAFT
PD = PONY DRIVER ?
RM = ROAD MAN / MAINTAINED UNDERGROUND ROADWAYS
RP = ROPE / ROPE HAULAGE
SHOT = SHOTFIRER / USED EXPLOSIVES UNDERGROUND
ST=  STONER / SPREADING STONE DUST TO DAMP DOWN INFLAMMABLE DUST

T = ?
WEST= WEST PIT / DISTRICT WORKED IN?
WM = WEIGHMAN / IN CHARGE OF WEIGHBRIDGE
Y = ?

THE MINERS LIST