Forest of Dean FHT Forum - Henry T. GWILLIAM/Fanny POWELL/H LEYSHON

Henry T. GWILLIAM/Fanny POWELL/H LEYSHON (reply)

tuffers64 — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 10:10:14 +0000

Henry Gwilliam and Hubert Leyshon were killed by the falling of a huge fall of stone from the roof in Eastern United Colliery, on 5th February 1914. They were filling coal into coal trucks at the time of the fall and were killed instantly. Eric (ky) Warren once told me that his father recalled that the lumps of rock were so big that they had to be blasted apart in order to get the bodies out from underneath. A lad named Horace Evans was badly injured in the initial fall, but survived. The coal was being worked "to the rise" and the coal heaved out and downwards, causing the roof to fall. The men's bodies were brought out with due reverence in bags, due to their horrific injuries.
This case was well known in mining circles, but as most of the old miners have passed on now, the story is gradually fading. I am doing my best to make sure this does not happen.
Dave Tuffley

Henry T. GWILLIAM - Coal Mining Accident (reply)

MPGriffiths — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 09:39:08 +0000

http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/site/disasters

Henry T GWILLIAM 1914 can be found on the above site.

'Taking out a pillar of coal on the rise side etc etc. a piece of rock 12 foot long, 7 foot side and 5 foot thick, fell from the roof - 2 killed

Owner, H.Crawshay & Co

Henry T. GWILLIAM/Fanny POWELL/H LEYSHON (reply)

MPGriffiths — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 16:44:36 +0000

As your Grandmother died last year aged 99 - year of birth was 1914

Kate GWILLIAM - mother's maiden name POWELL - July/August/September 1913 - Westbury on Severn

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Just had a quick look at Ancestry Public Members Tree (not sure if any of these are yours?) or how much information you have

There are 3 trees with Henry Thomas GWILLIAM and Fanny POWELL

cath jones 105 family tree
Diane's Cornish/Dean Tree
Carey Family Tree **

1911 Census, Penbryn Cwn Pen Coed, Glamorgan

GWILLIAM

Henry Thomas - 40 - all born Little Dean
Fanney - 42
Beatrice - 17
Edith - 14
Jane - 12
Frances - 10
Rose - 8
Henry - 8 months

Henry Thomas GWILLIAM death listed as 5 February 1914, Eastern United Colliery, Ruspidge, East Dean

Fod Records

Burial at Littledean, 8 February 1914

Henry Thomas GWILLIAM
residence: Eastner United Colliery Ruspidge
age 43
Memoranda: Body brought from Littledean, Died 5 February 1914
No. of Grave 24.

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Ancestry Probate

GWILLIAM Henry Thomas of Littledean, Gloucestershire, Collier, died 5 February 1914 at Eastern United Colliery Ruspidge East Dean Gloucestershire. Adminstration Gloucester 18 September to Fanny GWILLIAM Widow. Effects: £82

Burial at Littledean Independent - 9 February 1914

Herbert LEYSHON, age 26 -residence: Broad St. Littledean

??
(can find a HUBERT aged 22 and a Collier 1911 census - and Freebdm lists death Hubert aged 26 Herbert)

1911 Census, Pleasant Style, Littledean
LEYSHON
Hubert - 22 - collier, married 1 year, born Steam Mills, Glos
Elizabeth - 22 (maiden name MORRIS - married 1910 - WoS Register Office)
Dorothy - 1 month

1901 Census, Littledean

William DEANE - 35, Collier, Timberman, born Littledean - Glos
Fanny DEANE - 31, born Dudley, Staffs
Hubert LEYSHON, 10 Wife's son, born Drybrook

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Fod Records - Marriage - 2 Sept 1894, Littledean

William DEANE age 25, Widower - Miner
father: James DEANE
married
Fanny LEYSHON - 24, Spinster
father: William LEYSHON, Tin Worker

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If this is the correct Hubert LEYSHON, his wife Elizabeth gave birth to twins (Hubert & Elizabeth) - 23 August 1914 and had them christened - 23 September 1914 at Littledean Independent.

Hilda Elizabeth LEYSHON, Widow, age 33 - of Broad St, Littledean - married Walter BAYLIS - 28 April 1923 at Littledean Independent.

***

From the Carey Tree

GWILLIAM/POWELL
Children

Beatrice May 1893-1973
Edith Edlith - 1897
Mary Jane - 1909
Frances Maud - 1901-1967
Florence Rose - 1902 - 1979 ***
Ivy Doris - 1906-1982
Evyd - 1907
Henry Thomas - 1910-1972

****

and from this tree: Florence Rose GWILLIAM married Dennis Wentworth ROBINS - October 1922, Westbury on Severn

This marriage is found on Gloucesteshirebdm

http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/bmd/

- 1922 Register Office, Westbury on Severn Forest of Dean

NAILERS - Gwilliam, Littledean sessions (reply)

MDC — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 13:54:16 +0000

Henry Thomas Gwillam was my great grandfather and had a large family I have been trying to trace, his wife was Fanny from Cinderford, Henry Tomas was killed in a mining accident and his youngest daughter my grandmother Kate Gwillam only passed away last year aged 99. Henry Thomas was killed along with a Mr Leyshon. I don't know if there are any family members still in the Forest area.

Nailers of FoD - Men in Armour for Gloucestershire 1608 (reply)

ChrisL — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 07:10:57 +0000

That's great Michael. Certainly a very handy document, thanks, ChrisL

Nailers of FoD - Men in Armour for Gloucestershire 1608 (reply)

admin2 — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 08:11:59 +0000

The link to Men and Armour in Gloucestershire 1608 has now been added to our Links page under Genealogy Research.

Michael

Nailers of FoD - Men in Armour for Gloucestershire 1608 (reply)

ChrisL — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 00:40:34 +0000

Many thanks MPG. That will be a great resource to have access to! ChrisL

Nailers of the Forest of Dean, Robinsons in Littledean (reply)

ChrisL — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 00:35:17 +0000

Thanks again Jefff for drawing attention to a major error in my tree, I have found that 'Uncle' is correct and I have the wrong brother as the father. Rev George Robinson confirms it too in his all so important letter of 1861!! Thanks ChrisL

Nailers of FoD - Men in Armour for Gloucestershire 1608 (reply)

MPGriffiths — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 11:15:33 +0000

Men in Armour for Gloucestershire 1608 (a list of all able bodied men fit to fight) this includes their age and stature etc

http://www.coaley.net/glos1608/index.php

Can search by occupation: Nailer or by name i.e. ROBINSON -

Littledean

John ROBINSON nailer A40 middle stature A40 means age about 40 - middle stature - means fit to make a musketeer
Adam ROBINSON nailer A40 middle stature
Jeffery WRIGHT servant to Adam ROBINSON nailer A40 tallest stature - means fit to make a pikeman
George ROBYNSON Nailer A 40 middle stature

and again Littledean

Christopher FOLEY servant to the said George ROBINSON A20 lower stature - means fit to serve with a caliver
George GROVE servant to the said George ROBINSON A40 tallest stature

Littledean

Anthony GROVE nailer A40 tallest stature

Fod Records

Baptism at Littledean - 16 June 1817

George GROVE father Anthony

Nailers of the Forest of Dean, Robinsons in Littledean (reply)

ChrisL — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 05:17:59 +0000

On checking again this mystery of 'uncle' v 'cousin', the most likely Robinson to have had coal interests, and was in fact a 'coal proprietor' amongst many other 'irons in the fire', was in fact the one we have as Philip's (1744-1809), died 1809, Father!! John (1712-1784). The fact that John was a Coal Proprietor is in the same 1861 letter from Rev George Robinson as the comment about the 'cousins' who lived over the road!
There are three descendants of this Robinson family living down under in Oz, including yours truly, doing research, so have asked the other two what they think. Do we have the right Father or his he the Brother of the real Father of the Philip who died 1809? ChrisL.

Nailers of the Forest of Dean, Robinsons in Littledean (reply)

ChrisL — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 04:26:20 +0000

Thanks Jefff. You have all the records there that we have, in the right relationships, the only thing is that from another source, Rev George Robinson, one of the 12 children of Philip (1744-1809) ID 185086, wife of Ann Huggins, in a letter of 1861, wrote that Philip (1702-1776) ID 127516 was one of two cousins of John (1712-1784) who is the Father of Philip (1744-1809) ID 185086. Will have a look at it again to see which is the more likely, cousin or uncle. Thanks ChrisL

NAILERS - FoD (Goal Records) (reply)

ChrisL — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 02:02:20 +0000

Thanks Mike, very tempting I'm sure, without a source of fuel, no nails! ChrisL

NAILERS - Gwilliam, Littledean (reply)

ChrisL — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 01:59:59 +0000

Thanks Mike. I have an early memory of Painswick, between my birth in Frampton Cotterell and the time when I left to go to the Isle of Wight when I was 4 years of age. I hadn't come across the Gwilliam family before doing my Robinson family research but they do sound adventurous in many ways! Thanks ChrisL

GWILLIAM - Nailer (Apprentices) (reply)

ChrisL — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 01:54:59 +0000

Thanks MPG, as mentioned before, the dates with the names and occupations are invaluable as you would know! ChrisL

NAILERS - Gwilliam, Littledean (reply)

ChrisL — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 01:51:07 +0000

Thanks Mike, all good material! ChrisL

GWILLIAM - Criminal Records (reply)

ChrisL — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 01:49:58 +0000

Thanks again MPG. Must have taken tough guys to make tough nails! ChrisL

NAILERS - Littledean (reply)

ChrisL — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 01:47:15 +0000

The decline of the nail making industry started in the second half of the 19th Century when nails began to be made from wire in Birmingham. Thanks for your comment Slowhands, ChrisL

NAILERS - Gwilliam, Littledean (reply)

ChrisL — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 01:43:48 +0000

Thanks Jefff. This is the most amazing, cooperative Forum that I have had the pleasure of coming across. I have a record of a John Gwilliam mentioned in a Robinson (my family) will but haven't yet found out whether they were related family wise or just business wise. They were certainly a very successful nail making family eventually, until the late nineteenth century. Thank, ChrisL

NAILERS - FoD (Goal Records) (reply)

ChrisL — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 01:36:00 +0000

Amazing MPG, thanks very much. I only had one record of a James Gwilliam, the Gwilliam family are one of the well known nail making families of Littledean but I only had one record of a misdemeanour - chopping down a tree unlawfully, for firewood! The dates are very helpful. Thanks, ChrisL

Nailers of the Forest of Dean, Robinsons in Littledean (reply)

Jefff — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 00:38:40 +0000

Hi Chris, no problem, happy to help.

I presume you've probably already found this reference to your ancestors ?
The British History website is always worth a look as this shows !

"Littledean was the home of ironworking and metal trades by the mid 13th century, when four itinerant forges fuelled by timber or charcoal were operating there. Henry of Dean felled a grove before 1282 to provide charcoal and among the forges at work in Littledean at that time was one belonging to a sharesmith. Nailmaking had been established by 1327, when a nailer was one of the wealthier inhabitants, and became the most important trade in Littledean. Seventeen nailers listed in 1608 included men of some wealth, notably members of the Robinson family whose descendants were in the trade until the 19th century. Among the craftsmen of the parish in 1608 were also two pinners."

"In the later 18th century many poor inhabitants continued to depend on nailmaking and mining for a livelihood. Although several nailmakers such as Philip Robinson (d. 1809), who took over his uncle's business in 1776 and acquired some coalworks, prospered, the trade was mostly in the hands of poor labourers working individually. In 1851 it gave employment to 28 parishioners but in the later 19th century it was gradually abandoned and by the First World War had virtually ceased."

From: 'Littledean', A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 5: Bledisloe Hundred, St. Briavels Hundred, The Forest of Dean (1996), pp. 159-173. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=23258
Date accessed: 28 June 2014.

It's interesting to read that these nailmakers are considered to be "poor labourers", which fits-in with the posts further down this thread and their brushes with the law. I must confess this biased metalworker had been thinking they were skilled workers so would have held a reasonable status in life !. I should have known better, rather reminds me of London's silk weavers who had once been highly paid and respected, yet within a few years after 1861 found themselves out of work due to mass-produced French imports. I guess in earlier generations the Dean nailers were better off before they too had to compete with more competition with the factory age.

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From this site's PRs, ref the above;

The uncle ?

Record_ID: 127516
Entry_Number:
Year: 1776
Month: Feb
Day: 24
Surname: ROBINSON
Forenames: Philip
Residence:
Age_at_death:
Officiating_Minister: Benj[amin] Webb Min[iste]r
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P110 IN 1/3
Page_No: 74
Parish_Chapel: Littledean
Soundex: R152

Phillip the nailer ?;

Record_ID: 166005
Entry_Number:
Year: 1745
Month: Feb
Day: 24
Parents_Surname: ROBINSON
Child_Forenames: Phillip
Fathers_Forenames: John
Mothers_Forenames: Jane
Mothers_Surname:
Residence:
Occupation:
Officiating_Minister: Whetham Hill minister
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes: Old style date 1744/45
Register_Reference: P 110 IN 1/3
Page_Number: 18
Parish_Chapel: Littledean
Soundex: R152

Record_ID: 185086
Entry_Number:
Year: 1791
Month: Jun
Day: 24
Parents_Surname: ROBINSON
Child_Forenames: Philip
Fathers_Forenames: Philip
Mothers_Forenames: Ann
Mothers_Surname:
Residence:
Occupation:
Officiating_Minister: Wm Fryer Minister
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P110 IN 1/4
Page_Number: 4
Parish_Chapel: Littledean
Soundex: R152

Record_ID: 326972
Entry_Number:
Year: 1809
Month: Jun
Day: 18
Surname: ROBINSON
Forenames: Phillip
Residence:
Age_at_death: 64
Officiating_Minister: Hanbury Davies Curate
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P110 IN 1/4
Page_No: 11
Parish_Chapel: Littledean
Soundex: R152

(Age fits the 1745 baptism above) The PRs show several earlier Philip Robinsons in Littledean).