Dear List
In partnership with my Australian cousin Ray Bevan, I've been researching a family of Merthyr area coal mine managers who emigrated from Wales (Thomas John Evans of Merthyr, an early manager of the Harris’ Deep Navigation pit, his son John Evans, their relations, and at least two subsequent generations) Between them, they contributed significantly to coal mining development in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, and John Evans was also one of the major pioneers of the Western Australian Collie-fields.
One of TJ Evans' daughters, Elizabeth, in 1883 married Henry Davies, who was described in later Australian papers as a 'South Wales mining expert and author.'
Surprisingly there appear to have been two Henry Davies' who were active authors and 'experts' in South Wales mining in the 1890-1915 period. The better known was E. Henry Davies, author of 'Machinery for Metalliferous Mines' 1894 and 'The South Wales Coalfield: Geology and Mines', 1901. He also revised and published his father, D. C. Davies’ volume, 'A Treatise on Metalliferous Minerals and Mining’ 1892. There is a good article on his father and himself in the 1996.3 ‘Below’: Journal of the Shropshire Mining and Caving Club ( http://www.shropshirecmc.org.uk/below/1996_3w.pdf <http://www.shropshirecmc.org.uk/below/1996_3w.pdf>)
However the other Henry Davies, who married Elizabeth in 1883, seems less well known. Can anyone tell me more about him and his life and activities?
I know that according to the 1911 census he was 'Director of Mining Instruction' for Glamorgan County Council, running evening classes for mining qualifications, and he produced such volumes as 'The Coal Mines Act 1911 : How to Remember it' and 'Coal Mining - a Reader for Primary Schools and Evening Constitutional Classes’. He was almost certainly also the Henry Davies, Instructor, who was working at the South Wales and Monmouthshire School of Mines, Treforest in 1914 and the 'Director of Mining Instruction’ who lectured in Glynneath in February 1915 ( Aberdare Leader, 13 February 1915)
Any other pointers would be appreciated.
Alwyn Evans
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