Genealogy Chat

Hi All It's my first time to post to this board after spending a lot of time reading the messages. I would be interested to find out how many of you have family connections to the Welsh coal mining valleys. All my male ancestors were Coal Miners (yet to find a male with a different occupation!!!) Look forward to hearing from anybody with connections to these areas. Bye for now

I don't any miners in my family but I was looking for a rellie for a friend and discovered her rellie was married to Giacomo Bracchi. From what I've read, he was the first of several Italians who came out to the Rhondda Valley in the 1890s to open up a string of cafes. Seems that all Italian Cafes were known as Bracchis after him. Does anyone remember these? Crista

Yes, we have lots of Italian cafes in the valleys, not as many as years ago, we had Bernis and Servinis to name a few. Ynysybwl is not that far from me Lesley. I live just outside Caerphilly

My husband's grandfather and uncle worked at Elliot's Colliery in Turphil, New Tradegar. They have/had the grand Welsh name of Davies!

Hi Ladies, I have no family link to Ynysybwl, but I was reminded of a time in the 1970s. I was working for Williams Furniture and was sent to Swansea and Newport for a few weeks to sort out some problems at the shops. One of the Managers (The name Dennis? Coggins springs to mind) invited me to spend a few days at his home in Ynysybwl. It was great to wake up in the morning and see the hillside starting outside my window. A lovely memory. Thanks for reminding me. Jim

All but a few of mine were miners (Pontypridd, Aberdare areas). I think some of the 'Old (whatever town) in photographs' books published by Tempus include bits on the Welsh/Italian connection. This site has details of cafe's in Rhondda. Remove brackets. http://www.<geocities.com>/<rhonddaweb>/<rhonddabracchi>.html Sian

oops it disappeared. try again www.<geocities.com>/<rhonddaweb>/<rhonddabracchi>.html Sian

I give up!!

Hi Husband's Grandfather Frank Ingram, although born in North Petherton somerset, married a Kate Masters from Ynysddu and was a coalminer. I think he was in Pontypridd. Husbands Great Grandfather, Isaac Masters, born in Gloucester but lived when married in Ynysddu (Kate's Father) was also a coal miner. Ann Glos

hi kathryn i also live just outside caerphilly where do you live

Hi Kathryn I have connections to Pontypridd and Merythr Tydfil. My Nan's family moved there from Devon for the mines, and one of the family members moved to Merythr when he married. I belive his family stayed there, and certainly some stayed in Pontypridd, although I have yet to trace them. The family name is Trivett. regards Maxine

Message to Sian I find by typing out a website and using the word dot instead of the fullstop it usually works lets see if this works my email addy is knuts67 at hotmail dot com tends to work on friends reunited any way!!!

obviously doesnt work on here knuts 67 at hot mail dot communications ???

got me determined now!!! knuts 67 at hot mail full stop company ??? does this work???

Hello Kathryn - I was born and raise in the Valleys - place called Abercarn. Most of relatives were miners - in fact my sister's first husband was killed in a mining accident in the early 1960's. There is an excellent web site called "The Price of Coal" and just about every pit in the area is mentioned - some with photographs. The guy who writes about the aea I came from actually worked in the same pit as my father, brother, grandfather, uncles (and not forgetting my Mum who worked in the Pit canteen). When I went to school we had to walk underneath a coal transporter that dripped black water all over us and the view from our school class room overlooked the slag heaps - all different now of course, rolling green hills where the slag heaps were. Still the same community spirit though - I live in Nottingham now, and this is a mining county also - but not the same as the "green green grass of home" as Tom would say! Jacqui

Hi Still can't get the web address to work but if you type Rhonddabracchi into search engine, you can get the page about some of the Italian cafe's in the valleys, a few of these in Hannah Street, Porth where some of my ancestors lived. I'm from pontypridd so nice to see a few mentions on this thread. Live in Derby now so not too far from you Jacqueline. Sian

It's great to see so many replies with Welsh valleys connections. Thanks Jacqui for that website info "price of coal", will look that up, cheers. Thanks also Sian, I'll try your suggestion about the search engine for rhondda bracchi. Isn't the internet a marvellous tool? There's also a book (somewhere) called "they worked us to death" and that has names of coal miners too but I can't remember where I heard about it!!!! Duh! I should write these things down. Never mind...another job for the clever little search engine.

Yes Kathryn, I also come from a miners family in the Rhondda ( Treherbert ) the family name on my Fathers side is Beynon, But my Grand-Parents moved to the Rhondda some-time around 1903-05 from the Mumbles ( Oystermouth )

Hi Katherine, I live in Ferndale and my mother was born and bred in Tonypandy! Braachi's cafe is still on Pandy square now run by Teresa Braachi and family and a super cuppa it is !!! Another Italian name that was local is Collonbotti- they had a cafe on Dunraven St Tonypandy- the son went to Londaon and became a bigwig lawyer!! For my part,Ithink it is a shame that so many of the coal records were destroyed-only the major accident records still exist. Although in Tonypandy you can be quite lucky because you can work out which mine someone worked in by where they lived,as certain streets were built solely for the purpose of housing miners from the colliery which built the properties. Sentimental I know but I think the Rhondda Valleys is the best place on earth!! Sinead

Hi Kathryn, My husband's Grandfather and great Uncle came down from Cinderford, Gloucestershire to Pontypridd, to work in the colliery. My Dad's families came from Cornwall and Bristol to work in the Deepest mine in Wales, where my father also worked for 42 years, until he retired 20 years ago. My mother's family worked in Collieries in Blaenavon, Monmouthshire and in Merthyr Tydfil, my mother's Dad was nearly killed during the 'sinking' of one of the collieries. So mining has played a big part in my life and my relative's lives for many years.