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My grandmother Julia Hunt and her brother Charles were both born in Bedlington around 1876/78 but our family had previously lived in Norfolk. They returned to Norfolk when both still children. I'm trying to ascertain why their parents would have moved to Bedlington and think this could have been to work in the mines. I would also like to know what form of travel they would have used both ways and what the conditions were like for families who worked in the mines. Also I would like to find out why they came back to Norfolk. I have established that workers were advertised for in Norfolk and my great grandfather was originally a farm worker/labourer. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.2 points
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Hello Walsham wanderer and welcome to the forum! One way to move forward in your research would be to obtain a birth certificate for either Julia or Charles. There you will find both the occupation of the father, John I believe, and more importantly the family's address at the time. It wasn't uncommon for farm workers at that time to be 'contracted' för X number of months with housing provided. Once the harvest was safely in the contract ended and the worker was free/forced to find another contract. Once you have an address I may be able to help you further. BTW Is there any chance that Charles has been married twice?1 point
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Hi Alan, thanks for sending this excellent, very rare, piece of historical Mining Memorabilia! I learned how to use the Vicious Sylvester from my first weeks down Seaton Burn Colliery, at the training gallery, underground, in 1959.It was designated specifically, as a pulling device, and lifting anthing with it was strictly forbidden.. well!.. theoretically! Although it was against the law to use it for lifting machinery, etc, what else could you use, if there was nothing else but the Sylvester! So! It was used for lifting, and over the years many lads lost fingers and thumbs at the very least, and at worst, some were knocked unconcious, and suffered fractured Skulls and Jaws, due to the "Butterfly" catch slipping and either taking fingers into the Sword, or the handle being viciously lashed forward by the weight of whatever was being lifted, usually a Coal cutter Stator, or a Conveyor belt Drive Head.. One lad at Bates, called Peter Brock, was using it correctly, pulling a conveyor belt return boxend, to tighten up the belt, to get it to run. Somehow, bizzarely, the Butterfly catch slipped, as it often did, and took Peter's thumb clean off. The Deputy dressed his hand, which was bleeding through the dressings, and as the Deputy went to phone the surface control centre, to organise an Ambulance, Peter said, seriously, to the Deputy, Eddie, aal just gaan and pull the boxend back, and get the belt gaanin.... The Deputy said a knaa wheor ye are gaaning, and its THIS way.. (pointing in the outbye direction!). Peter was back at work within a few weeks! If you ever saw a flicknife blade fly out, well, the Sylvester handle flew faster than that, it really was a vicious device, and by the later years, they were banned from use altogether.. but we still them had till the pits closed!1 point