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
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.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
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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... |
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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... |
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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. |
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