John David James was a 22 year old single man, who lived at Cwm Garnant Farm. This abode was only a few hundred yards from where Garnant Colliery was sited. The original farmhouse was demolished in the early part of the 20th century, when the new railway track was constructed. A new farmhouse was built further up the hill.
At the time of the 1871 census, John was 8 years old. His father, David James, was a 37 year old Coal Miner who was born in Llanedi, Carmarthenshire. John's mother, Margaret, was 36 years old and born in the parish of Bettws. The household at the time also consisted of three of John's brothers and his sister. Their ages were as follows:
According to the 1871 census, all of the children, including John, were born in the parish of Bettws, except for Thomas, who was born in the parish of Llanguick. John David James also had another brother; William, who would have been approximately 13 years old in 1871. He was not listed at the family abode on the 1871 census. William died on 14th March, 1880, aged only 22 years old.
Living with the family in 1871, was a domestic servant named Sarah Thomas. She was aged only 13 and born in the parish of Bettws.
The 1881 census, shows that the family were still living at Cwm Garnant Farm, in the parish of Bettws. The household still consisted of the above children, but John, who was now aged 19, had two more sisters: Margaret James was aged 9 and Hannah James was 5. There was still a servant girl living with the family, but Sarah Thomas was no longer there. The servant was, at this time, Rachel Rees, aged 20, from the parish of Llandybie.
John David James' mother, Margaret, died on 19th October, 1887, aged 55. John's Father, David James, died on 7th April, 1890, aged 58. Both are buried at Old Carmel cemetery in Gwaun Cae Gurwen, next to their son, William.
By the time of the 1901 census, Charles James was head of the household at Cwm Garnant Farm. He was a 26 year old single man. The census document shows his occupation as farmer. Listed with him, is his brother Joseph and sisters, all of whom are unmarried;
There is also a farm servant living with the family; Joseph J. Lewis, aged 16. He was born in the parish of Llandybie.
A man named Daniel Williams was in the cage on the morning of the accident
and one of his descendants tells the following tale:
John David James approached Daniel Williams before the cage started it's descent
and politely asked him if he would swap places with him. He wished to start
work as soon as possible in order to finish in time to attend a funeral. Daniel
Williams agreed to the young man's request and so it was John David James who
met his untimely death in such tragic circumstances.
There was a rumour at the time, that John David James and the Thomas Michael who was working the keeps, were at odds for the love of the same woman. It is impossible to substantiate this claim now; but it did give rise to some suspicion regarding whether the sad event was a deliberate act of malice on the part of Thomas Michael, who some said, seized the opportunity to get rid of his love rival. This matter was never raised during the court proceedings and it should be noted that newspapers reported that Thomas Michael had the support of many of his colleagues. Would this have been the case if they had any real belief that he had committed such an act?
John David James is buried near his parents, at Hen Carmel cemetery; Gwaun Cae Gurwen. Buried with him is a sister; Elizabeth, who died on 28th February, 1869. She was only 2 weeks old. The inscription on their headstone reads as follows:
ER COF AM
ELIZABETH,
MERCH DAVID A MARGARET JAMES,
CWMYGARNANT PLWYF Y BETTWS,
BU FARW CHWEF. 28, 1869, YN BYTHEFNOS
OED. HEFYD JOHN,
EU ANWYL FAB,
YR HWN OEDD UN OR DEG A CYFARFYDDASANT
AU DIWEDD, TRWY DORIAD RHAFF PWLL Y GARNANT,
BOREU YR 16, O IONAWR 1884,
YN 22AIN OED.
"GOSTYNGODD EFE FY NERTH AR Y FFORDD, BYRHAODD FY
NYDDIAU."
John David James' Headstone at Old Carmel
John David James' family are still at Cwm Garnant Farm, although, as stated at the top of this page, the farmhouse is now in a different location to the original. Unfortunately, no picture of John David James is in existance as far as the family are aware.
Census Doc Refs: