Forest of Dean FHT Forum - Miner or Free Miner

Miner or Free Miner (reply)

llangrove — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:18:32 +0000

Once again, thank you! Four out of the five names you listed, have connections to my family.

Regards,
Cynthia

Miner or Free Miner (reply)

slowhands — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:50:45 +0000

Hawkins James 38 Crossways, Coleford 23 Jan 1888 2170
Hawkins James 31 Joyford, nr. Coleford 17 Nov 1890 2395
Hawkins James 24 Berry Hill, nr Coleford 15 Nov 1895 2595
Hawkins Richard 39 Joyford, nr. Coleford Sept 22nd 1838 529
Hawkins Richard 33 Coleford 30 Aug 1887 2151

Miner or Free Miner (reply)

llangrove — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:23:23 +0000

Dear "Slow",

Is there by any chance a record for James Hawkins or Richard Hawkins? Thanks!

Free Miner 3278 (reply)

Shirleyanne — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 09:39:03 +0000

Thanks for this info. Another contact has sent me a copy of my grandfather's application to be registered as a freeminer (thanks again Sylvia) but I did not have confirmation that he was successful.
His application was dated 5th March 1907, and he was registered on 15th March 1907 - that was fast work by the gaveller.

Free Miner 3278 - Joseph ALLAWAY (reply)

slowhands — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:14:16 +0000

Freeminer 3278
Allaway, Joseph John; age 36
address Sherbourne Road, Birmingham
registered 15 Mar 1907

Freeminers "had" the rights to the extracted minerals - with a share to the Crown - it was possible to hold the Gale but sub-let the extraction work to generate an income without doing the dirty / dangerous work

Free Miner (reply)

Shirleyanne — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 07:54:35 +0000

My grandfather, Joseph John Allaway, was employed at East Slade colliery from March 1887 to April 1889. He moved to Birmingham where he was employed as a 'letters carrier', but applied to be registered as a freeminer in 1907.
Does anyone know why he would have done this? My father thinks that Joe used to get a payment for being a registered freeminer - is this true?

Miner or Free Miner (reply)

slowhands — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:58:27 +0000

Yes ( and no !)

The Freeminers were recorded via the Gaveller, some records exists and a CD has been produced

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=4169#p4173

Miner or Free Miner (reply)

llangrove — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:09:53 +0000

Is there an official list, somewhere, as to who was actually a free miner?

Thanks,
Cynthia

Miner or Free Miner? (reply)

Jean Herbert — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 02:36:20 +0000

Many thanks as always Slowhand for that information. The part about "voriegners" working in the mining industry brought a chuckle, as one of the Herberts, whos'e ancestors were miners from the Forest of Dean, moved to Yorkshire to find work in the industry. They were also classed as "Voriegners" in this neck of the woods. Our own Herbert, born in Wakefield but moved to Leeds when only a few months old is still called a "Voriegner".
Although not directly related to the history of the mining industry in the Forest of Dean, I have files on the mining industry in our area, mainly related to the first "Rack and Pinion" track used to haul coal from the mines in the Middleton area of Yorkshire. I would be pleased to pass on this file to anyone who is interested and may have descendants who possibly worked in the area. Jean Herbert

Miner or Free Miner (reply)

slowhands — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:09:14 +0000

Freeminer

someone who has the right to mine personal plots known as "gales" within the Royal Forest of Dean. In order to earn this right, an individual must be male, born within the ancient administrative district known as the "Hundred of St. Briavels" , and have worked down a mine for a year and a day.

Miner

someone not a Freeminer, and/or an "outsider" or Voreigner working coal/iron etc !

Women in mines ?

Underground the practice was outlawed in the mid 1800's (?); a number of the coal workings where surface/shallow affairs, and of course there were other surface mine jobs - washing and sorting coal, moving wagons etc

Miner or Free Miner?

Jean Herbert — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:05:25 +0000

As a Yorkshire lass, living in a previously thriving Coal Mining area, I expect I should know what the difference is between a "Free Miner" and a "Coal Miner" but I don't. Could someone explain the difference and was this term applied only to the Forest of Dean and surrounding areas or any people working in the industry? I have also come across several mentions of women working in the Mines. I had initially suspected that it was a mistake on the census entry but am coming across this occupation for women too many times for it to be an error. Anyone any ideas? Jean Herbert