Why so many family deaths and moves out of Forest in 1870s? (General)

by Ashton, Tuesday, October 10, 2006, 03:37 (6612 days ago)

I wonder whether anyone might be able to direct me towards material to read regarding life in the Forest in the 1870s. I have a number of branches of my family tree in the Forest at this time, born and brought up in the area. Then around 1873 several of them of all ages die and shortly after that, several other members move out of the area towards Lancashire, Sheffield etc. I'd like to try and find out if there was a specific illness around this time which might have contributed to the unusual number of deaths, and what precipitated so many of them to move out of the area at this time. Up until this time some of them were successful stonemasons (with their own business employing several men and boys and built several key buildings around Cinderford). They moved to working in coal in Lancashire.

Thanks for any pointers or clues you may be able to provide.