Evidence of Children to the 1842 Commission

Below are some of the extracts of evidence given by some of the younger colliery employees to the 1842 Royal Commission into Working Conditions.

David Morgan aged 13 years [Collier] Dinas Colliery

...Been 4 years at work; works 12 hours from 7 morning to 7 night; never been to school; gets plenty to eat; does not like to work so long; would like to be up to move about; goes to the Methodist chapel to learn to be good – good means going to heaven; heaven is up above the sky; often heard of the evil one; has heard the preacher say we shall all go to heaven if we do not curse and swear; they never taught me any commandments, and Moses I never heard of; some boys have books at Sunday School which they say are Bibles. Can earn 7s to 9s weekly.

William Evans aged 10 years [Air-Boy] Eirw Colliery

...Can’t speak English; don’t go to day school or Sunday school. Father works in the pit. Earns about 4s.6d. a week; has been four or five years in the pit – can’t say how long but a long time...

Phillip Davies aged 10 years [Haulier] Dinas Colliery

...I have been driving horses below ground three years, and was 12 months before at a trap door; when the traps used frequently to fall asleep; works 12 hours; would go to school if the work were not so long; cannot go now as I have to work on the night as well as the day shifts; the night work is done by group who work about [alternate weeks]; never was at school...

Matthew Lewis aged 11 years [Collier] Dinas Colliery

...Began work at 7 years old; works 12 hours daily, sometimes longer; was burned by fire-damp three years ago, when the air-door was laid aside 6 months … the pain was very great; several others were burned at the same time; one almost to death; feels very sore at times from the new skin being very tender. Speaks a little Welsh; does not understand a word of English; no scriptural knowledge.