The Pit where the disaster happened was known locally as Pwll Perkins after the Perkins family who once owned it. Their company name was Perkins and Sons and these were the registered owners in 1869, though they were not the original owners. An advert in the Cambrian, offering the lease for Garnant Colliery in 1830, named a Mr Daniel Jones as the Lessee.
On the 1851 census, Richard Perkins was the head of the household. He was born at Newent, Gloucester c.1800. The census is difficult to read, but part of his occupation given on the census document, appears to be: "Landed Prospector - Coal Master and Shipper." Unfortunately, the name of their abode has not been written on the census document, but the next property on the census form was called "Godre Bach". The village has also been omitted but the parish is stated as Betws and the Ecclesiastical parish is Christchurch.
His wife was called Mary Ann Perkins and she was from Homerton in Middlesex, born c.1799. Their children were listed as follows:
Also Listed there was Mary Ann's Nephew, Robert Humphrey Martin, born c.1840 at Swansea. His occupation was given as Scholar.
Two Servants were employed and living at the Perkins abode in 1851:
Francis Heineken Perkins, married Julia Augusta Sheppard (born c.1832 in London)
at Tenby in October 1854.
They lived at Garnant House and had several children. Their first son was born
in August 1855 and their second son was born on 1st September 1857. By the time
of the 1861 census, Francis had become a colliery owner and they now had three
sons, named as follows:
Also at Garnant House in 1861 was Richard Perkins (Francis' father). He was listed as a Visitor. His occupation was listed as Retired Colliery Owner. The Cambrian newspaper reported in the 6th July, 1866 edition, that Richard Perkins died at Garnant on 30th June 1866, aged 66.
Two servants were employed and living with Francis' household in 1861:
Francis and Julia had a daughter who was born on 27th September 1863. The 1871
Census shows Francis and his family living at Shenfield House, New Road, Llanelly.
Francis' occupation was given as Coal Proprietor and Merchant. The household
consisted of Francis' wife, their three sons; Francis, Alfred and Charles; their
daughter, Mary E. Perkins and another son, Ernest H. Perkins, aged 3.
Listed with them at their home was Richard W. Perkins, (Francis' elder brother),
a Coal Proprietor and Merchant, and they had a visitor named Octavia R. Dunsford,
born c1843 at St Pancras, Middlesex.
There were three servants living at Shenfield House:
It is uncertain as to when the Perkins family sold Garnant Colliery to the Garnant Collieries Company, but by the time of the 1881 census, they had relocated to Bronllys Castle, Bronllys, Breconshire. Francis Perkins was now a Farmer of 34 Acres. He was listed as being a Retired Collery Proprietor. Charles Richard Perkins iss the only Son listed at their abode, but several other people were living there, including their ward: Florence Mary Gray, born c.1872 in India. A Nephew, Travers Henisken Perkins, born c.1864 at Swansea was living there and also a visitor named Lucy Burtchell, born c.1826 at Hatfield, Yorkshire.
There were two boarders at Bronllys Castle:
I am informed that Octavia Richardson Dunsford, was the cousin of Adelaide Dunsford , wife of Christian Henry Perkins.
There were three servants living at Bronllys Castle::
Census Doc Refs: