John Hay was the manager of Garnant Colliery at the time of the disaster in January 1884. He would have been about 39 years old, with ten years experience as a colliery manager. He had been manager of Garnant Colliery since July 1882. He was also manager of the Brynamman Collieries, who were, as he stated at the inquest; his "Great Employers". He stated at Thomas Michael's trial that he had 17 years colliery experience.
John's birth was announced in "The Cambrian" newspaper's 18th January, 1845 edition. The announcement referred to his father as a civil engineer.
The 1851 census tells us that John's father was a 38 year old mineral agent.
He was also named John Hay and his birthplace was given as Pembrey, Carmarthenshire.
John's mother was named Elinnor (nee Jones) and was born in Swansea; she was
aged 35.
John was aged 6 and had three siblings; Elizabeth, aged 9, Hanah, aged 3 and
Martha, aged 9 months. Elizabeth and John were both born at Llanelly, Carmarthenshire,
whilst Hanah was born in Llangyfelach, Glamorganshire. Martha was born in Llanguick.
The family were living at "Cwmllynfell Agents Cottage Caegurwaen",
in the parish of Llanguick
There was also a lodger at the abode; William Jones, aged 12. His occupation was given as assistant coal haulier. His place of birth was Swansea.
By 1861, John Hay, now a 17 year old land and mineral surveyor, was living with his uncle at Penclawdd Lodge in the parish of Llanrhidian Higher. John's uncle, Edward Hay, was a 60 year old mining engineer, whose place of birth was Pembrey, Carmarthenshire. John's aunt was named Ann. Her place of birth was Carmarthenshire, but I am unable to make out the full place name from the census document. Her age is also open to interpretation; the census taker's writing could be read as either 39 or 69! There is also a house servant at the abode; 20 year old Mary Davies from Carmarthenshire (full place name unreadable).
The 15th February, 1867 edition of "The Cambrian", announced the birth of a son to the wife of John Hay, Land and Mineral Surveyor. The baby was born at Cadoxton, near Neath, on 10th February 1867. There is, however, no reference to him on the 1871 census.
The 1871 census shows John Hay (aged 25), as a married man. His wife, Jane, was also aged 25 and they had two children; John, aged 2 and Mary Ellen aged 1. The family were living at Ystalyfera in the parish of Llanguick. John's occupation is shown as surveyor (land and mineral). Jane's place of birth is shown as Swansea, whilst the children were born in Llanguick.
Another edition of "The Cambrian", printed on 29th October, 1875, announced the birth of a daughter, born on 16th October, 1875. The announcement also refers to John Hay as the manager of Cwmllynfell Colliery.
That year, John Hay of Cwmllynfell, was one of the purchasers of shares in Ystalyfera Public Hall. This was announced in the 3rd December, 1875, edition of "The Cambrian".
Another article in "The Cambrian", printed on 30th March 1877, announces the birth of a daughter, born on 26th March, 1877. Here, John Hay is referred to as a mining engineer.
Yet another birth was announced in the 31st May, 1878, edition of "The Cambrian". This marked the birth of a son, born on 28th May, 1878 at Coed-Ffalde, near Ystalyfera. Again, John Hay is referred to as a mining engineer.
By 1881, John Hay, and his family were living at Brynamman House, Brynamman.
He was aged 36 and the census lists his occupation as mining engineer, although
he had by now, been working as a colliery manager for several years.
John and Jane's children were aged as follows:
All the children were born in the parish of Llanguick, except for Thomas Jones Hay, who was born in the parish of Llandilofawr. There was also a domestic servant living at the abode. She was named Elizabeth Davies, aged 15, from Llanguick.
Brynamman House, 2006.
The 1891 census shows the family living at 86 Brynymor Road, St Mary's, Swansea. John's occupation is listed as Colliery Manager and he was now aged 46. John and Jane's children are listed as follows:
There is also a domestic servant listed at the address; Mary E. Widdows, aged
32, born in Lancashire. The census also tells us that John Hay was bilingual,
whilst the rest of the household spoke only English.
John Hay's eldest child (also named John), listed on the 1881 census, is not
listed in 1891. Instead, their youngest son, aged 5, has been named John.
By 1901, John and his wife, Jane were living at 3, The Grove, Uplands, Swansea.
Both were aged 56 and John's occupation stated that he was a mining engineer
(own account). Living with them was his daughter Elizabeth M. Hay, now a 24
year old dressmaker and William A. Hay, aged 22, now a colliery foreman. Another
son, Thomas J. Hay, was a land mineral surveyor and lived at the same address
as the above with his wife, Mary Ellen Abbott and their one year old daughter,
Mary E. Hay. Thomas J. Hay was somewhat younger than his wife, being only 20
years old, to her 31 years of age.
John Hay, his son William Aubrey Hay and John's daughter in law, Mary Ellen
Abbot, spoke both English and Welsh, whilst the rest of the household spoke
only English.
The 2nd July, 1903, edition of the "South Wales Daily Post", announced the death of John Hay. He died on the morning of Tuesday 30th June, 1903, having been suffering from ill health from some time. He was taken ill at approximately 6pm the previous Wednesday. He was aged 58. The announcement stated that he was "consulting engineer and manager for Henllys Vale Anthracite Colliery company" at Upper Cwmtwrch, having been connected with the mining industry for "upwards of 30 years". He had also been a "sidesman" at Christ Church in Swansea for the last 15 years and had taken an active part in church work.
He was buried at St Catherines Churchyard, Brynamman, on Monday 6th July, 1903; only two graves away from the Roberts Brothers who died in the Garnant Colliery disaster. Buried with him is his eldest son, John, 15 years old, who died in May 1884; a daughter, Eleanor, only 9 months old and his wife, Jane, who reached the age of 77 before she died.
A service was held in St Catherines Church by Reverend J. H. Watkin-Jones, vicar of Christ Church, Swansea and Reverend J. Morlais Jones, the vicar of Brynamman. The vicars of Garnant and Cwmllynfell also took part. Reverend J. H. Watkin-Jones and Reverend J. Morlais Jones conducted the graveside service. Two funeral marches were played by a Mr Thomas. Also in attendance were his sons and son in laws, various colliery managers and officials, a doctor and a number of workmen and friends, who met the mourners on their arrival at Brynamman. The 7th July, 1903, edition of the South Wales Daily Post, gives a comprehensive list of those in attendance. As was customary at the time, no women were at the service.
The headstone is now difficult to read in places, as the stone has become damaged over time. The inscription is shown below. Where the writing is illegible, it is stated as such:
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
JOHN
SON OF JOHN AND JANE HAY
BRYNAMMAN HOUSE. JOHN DEPARTED
THIS LIFE (illegible, probably MAY) 17, 188(illegible, probably 1884) AGED 15 YEARS.
ALSO (illegible, probably ELEANOR) DAUGHTER OF THE
ABOVE DIED APRIL 10 18(illegible, probably 1886) AGED 9 MONTHS.
ALSO OF JOHN HAY THE ABOVE
NAMED WHO DIED AT (illegible, possibly MALDON) HOUSE THE
GROVE, SWANSEA, JULY (illegible, damage to stone) AGED 58 YEARS.
ALSO JANE THE BELOVED WIFE OF THE ABOVE NAMED
JOHN HAY WHO DIED AT 8 KING EDWARD ROAD
SWANSEA, MARCH 25 1922 AGED 77 YEARS.
Two of John Hay's sons were members of the Cwmamman Urban Council in the early 1900's. William Aubrey Hay was elected in April 1914; his brother Thomas Jones Hay already being a councillor by this time. The 1910 and 1923 editions of Kelly's directory, list Thomas Jones Hay as the landlord of the Plough and Harrow Public House in Glanamman. The 1923 edition of the directory also lists William Aubrey Hay, naming him as one of the private residents of Glanamman. His house name was given as "Myrtwydd", which is situated on Tirycoed Road in Glanamman. The 21st November, 1957, edition of the Amman Valley Chronicle reported that Miss Gwenda Hay, daughter of the late Mr W. A. Hay, of Tircoed Rd, Glanamman, had been appointed Sister at the Amman Valley Hospital. The article also referred to Mr Hay as the former Secretary of Amman United Rugby Club.
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