Edward Morgan was only 14 years old when he met his death at Garnant Colliery. David Aubrey Lewis' poem says that he was dear to his father and that a host of tears anoint his memory.
On the 1871 census, the address appears to be "Pantyferen", in the hamlet of Ystrad. The parish stated is Llandingat. This is situated between the parishes of Myddfai in the south and Cylycwm in the North.
Edward's Father, Rees Morgan was aged 24 and working as an agricultural labourer. His place of birth was given as Talley. Edwards Mother was named Anne. She was 26 at the time of the 1871 census. Her place of birth was given as Llansadwrn. The children of the household were listed as follows:
Edwards sisters were born in Llansadwrn, as was their mother, while Edward himself and his brother, Thomas, were born in Llandingat.
In 1881, Edward Morgan, aged 10 at the time of this census, was living at Clynboidy Cottages in Lower Brynamman (village given as Caegurwen on the census); as was Dafydd Roberts, another of the 10 men who died.
Rees Morgan, Edward's father, was aged 35 and his occupation was given as Engine Driver. Edward's two elder sisters were no longer listed at the household. On the 1881 census, Edward's siblings were listed as follows:
The inquest into Edward's death was opened at the Farmers Arms, Brynamman, on Friday 18th, 1884. Rees Morgan, (Edward's father), who was an engine driver at Garnant Colliery, was called and spoke to the identification of his son's body. He told the inquest that Edward was 13 years old. Edward had left the house at 3am that morning and he did not hear anything of him again until the accident occurred. The coroner made out the certificate for the burial of Edward's body and Edward was interred that weekend.
The 1891 census information shows Edwards family at what appears to be 24 Pantglynhendy. The household consisted of the following people:
The Family were Welsh speaking, while both boarders were bilingual.
Edward Morgan is buried at Gibea Chapel cemetery, but I have not been able to find his headstone there. When the headstones at Gibea cemetery were relocated, the company which carried out the work documented the headstones and inscriptions where it was possible. The entry in this document for Edward Morgan is shown below:
Entry for Edward Morgan's Headstone. Displayed with permission of David Tom Davies, 31/8/2006.
Census Doc Refs: