I suspect the main work of a smith at this time would have been
sharpening picks for miners. Whilst most pits of any size would have
required the service of a smith and would probably have employed at
least one, their job would have been quite distinct from that of the
miners. A census entry of miner suggests to me some form of
underground work connected with getting the coal, particularly if the
individual eventually became a fireman. William Hallan must have
changed job, either because he thought he could earn more money as
a collier or for personal reasons.
David Poyner
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Eve Gardner" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 11:59 PM
> Subject: [MINING-HISTORY] Blacksmiths and mining
>
>
> > William Hallam (1819-1888) was a miner but not from a mining family
> > -- thus, he didn't fall into mining naturally or as a matter of
> > course. His father was a blacksmith and William was trained as a
> > smith. Some time after 1848 William became a miner and in the 1871
> > census he was said to be a fireman at a coal pit. This was his title
> > also when he died in 1888. My question is, would his being a smith
> > have been an advantage in applying for work at the mines? Was there
> > a job in the mines in the 1840s and 1850s that would have required
> > the training of a smith?
> >
> >
> > --
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> > 29/06/2005
> >
> >
>
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