Why so many family deaths and moves out of Forest in 1870s? (General)
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.
Why so many family deaths and moves out of Forest in 1870s?
I'm no expert, but the death rate was appaling. My family was in The Forest in the 19th Century. So I trawled the Parish Registers of St John's, Cinderford. As well as the rector/vicar there were two curates. They were kept very busy burying people.
My GGrandmother had 12 children. She lost second son within a year in 1861. That is probably nothing special. She lost two daughters to scarlet fever in 1871. One was about four, the other three. She was lucky.
My GGrandfathers sister Mary Waite/Griffiths had between 11 and 13 children. About 5 died in childhood.
The population was exploding, and there was immigration from Wales, and there was a lack of housing. Although capitalists came in to open up large scale coal mines (Richard Crawshay for instance) it was difficult to make much money. Life was very hard for ordinary folk.
Roger
Henry Crawshay - Iron Master
by slowhands 
, proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Tuesday, October 10, 2006, 12:57 (6620 days ago) @ Roger Griffiths
Henry Crawshay , Iron Master came from Essex and settled in Oaklands Park Awre (1840's) and Cheltenham (1880's).
Henry Crawshay and Co Ltd, had many Iron and coal interests in the forest
Henry Crawshay - Iron Master
by m p griffiths , Sunday, January 20, 2013, 15:07 (4326 days ago) @ slowhands
Gloucester Citizen - Wednesday 26 June 1895
SALES BY AUCTION
BLAKENEY
3 and a half Miles from Newnham and on the G.W.R. BRUTON, KNOWLES AND PRIDAY
Have received instructions from the Trustees of the late Mrs HENRY CRAWSHAY to SELL BY AUCTION, at the VICTORIA HOTEL, NEWNHAM, on Friday 28 June, 1895, at 4 for 5 o'clock in the afternoon -
A VILLA RESIDENCE known as "YEW TREE COTTAGE' occupying a charming elevated position at Blakeney about two miles from Awre Station on the Great Western Railway and in the occupation of the Rev. W Davies, as yearly tenant.
Together with a large GARDEN and an excellent PASTURE ORCHARD, the whole containing about 3c 1r 4p
Further particulars may be had of Messrs. Gann and Walford, Solicitors, Abergavenny, or the Auctioneers.
Why so many family deaths and moves out of Forest in 1870s?
by Gill Newbury , Tuesday, October 10, 2006, 08:02 (6620 days ago) @ Ashton
In my tree I had a father and son who died within a month of each other in 1866 aged 23 and 62. The cause of death for the father was typhoid.
Regards
Gill
Why so many family deaths and moves out of Forest in 1870s?
by 10noyrum , Wednesday, October 11, 2006, 06:19 (6619 days ago) @ Ashton
My ancestors moved to South Wales from the Forest of Dean simply to find work, which they found in abundance. The old, small scale coal mines and tin industries in areas like Bristol, the Forest and Somerset were running down at a time when huge quantities of deep-mine coal were being discovered in South Wales. The presence of iron ore, coal and limestone in the "Top Towns" such as Ebbw Vale, Merthyr Tydfil etc led also to a burgeoning of the iron, steel and tin-plate industries. The minerals were made accessible by the great developments in engineering and steam power at the time. Railways were built to transport the output to the great ports of Cardiff, Newport and Swansea. It is difficult to exagerate the difference of scale and opportunity which such "up and coming" areas presented to our ancestors in the 19th century. The proximity of South Wales to Gloucestershire, Somerset and Devon made it a convenient place to move and the skill sets brought by these people meant they found work with little difficulty.