Genealogy Chat

Thank you for confirming that

A colliery fireman does pretty much the same job as a railway engine fireman, viz. stoking a furnace. In a colliery, this furnace was to create a draught, and so ventilate the mine.

Thank you all for replying

Coal Carman - was a coal carter or dealer. He had a wagon and horse. He went to the mine, collected about a ton of coal and delivered it to houses, factories etc. He would often cover very large distances and might take a few days to deliver all his coal before reeturning to the mine for another load.

http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/glossary/glossary.htm


From the same website:

Gang rider - Person riding upon, and in charge of a train of underground waggons

???

Rider 1894:
Attendant on an inclined plane

http://www.dmm.org.uk/educate/mineocc.htm

Also here - see under Journey-man, and also Knocking Wire:

http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/Glossarymain.htm


Re fireman (not so much fighting fires, as checking for inflammable gases):

Penitent or "Fireman" - A man wrapped in wet sacking crawled into the area where gas was suspected and with a lighted candle on a long pole raised it into the roof and hopefully set fire to the gas without it exploding.

http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/glossary/glossary.htm

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=561470.0
http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/forum/read.php?14,44652
http://coalmine.proboards.com/thread/35/fireman
http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/13.html

This doesn't show the jobs you mention, but you might want to keep a note of it....

http://www.worldthroughthelens.com/family-history/old-occupations.php

Colliery Rider .............. could that possibly be riding or controlling pit ponies underground?

Colilery Fireman .... trained to fight fires underground


also look under Coal, not just Colliery, or under Miner

I found my 3x great grandmother on the 1901 census living with four sons and three daughters. All of her sons worked in the mines of South Wales. On the census they all gave different jobs but I cannot find an accurate description of what they all did and wondered if anyone else could help.

The jobs they gave were Carman, Colliery Rider (underground) and Colliery Fireman (underground). The fourth rather helpfully just gave his job as Colliery Lot (surface) so I don't think anyone will be able to help with him but if anyone could help with the other three I'd be grateful.