| Born: | 16th October 1858 |
| Died: | 16th January 1884 |
| Age at Death: | 25 |
| Place of Death: | Pwll Perkins Colliery, Garnant. |
| Buried at: | Bethesda Chapel Cemetery, Cwmamman Road, Glanamman, with wife Lucy. |
| Fathers Name: | Thomas Michael of Pen yr Heol and Bryncethin Fach, Bryncethin Road, Garnant. |
| Mothers Name: | Anne |
| Wife's Maiden Name: | Lucy Hughes |
At the time of the 1861 census, Thomas was living at Gorsgoch, a farm at Gwaun Cae Gurwen in the parish of Llanguick. He was living with his parents, his elder brother William and his two sisters. Thomas was aged 3, William was 22, Hannah was 4 and Elizabeth was 2. By the time of the next census in 1871, William had died and his sisters had taken employment as servant girls at separate households.
William is buried at Bethesda Cemetery on Cwmamman road, Glanamman. He lies next to his parents.
Thomas is listed on the 1871 census as living with his parents and two younger brothers, William and David, at Penyrheol which is at the top of Bryncethin Road, Garnant. He is listed as being 12 years old and despite his youth, he was already working as a collier.
On the 1881 census, again, he is living with his parents and two brothers, William and David, but now at Bryncethin Fach in Garnant, which is further down from Penyrheol. I am not convinced that Thomas and his family had in fact moved. The census shows two listings for Bryncethin Fach and none for Penyrheol, suggesting that the census taker may have made a mistake with the property names. Thomas' father died in 1883 and his headstone states that his abode had been "Penyrheol".
Thomas' occupation is again listed as being a coal miner. His age here, is given as 23 years old.
On the 2nd February 1883, Thomas married Lucy Hughes, possibly at Bethesda Chapel, as her father, David Hughes was a deacon there. Thomas was 24 and his bride was aged 26. Lucy became pregnant with their first and only child within a few months. They lived next door to Lucy's parents at Bryngrenig, a row of cottages on the A474, Cwmamman road, Glanamman.
Lucy Michael 1856 - 1884
Six days after Thomas died, his son was born. He was named Thomas David Michael. Unfortunately the baby was orphaned when he was only seventeen days old. His mother died, they say, of a broken heart.
Thomas David Michael
Thomas David Michael was raised by his Grandparents on his mothers side; David and Mary Hughes and brought up at Bryngrenig (now 152 Cwmamman Road, Glanamman). They also raised a granddaughter, Hannah Mary Hughes; Thomas David's cousin. She was only 2 years old at the time of the 1871 census and remained with them until she died in 1915, at the relatively young age of 46.
Thomas David Michael was given a trade. Although he spent some time as a collier, he also trained as a carpenter and built or commissioned several houses in the valley. He married Hannah Irving, whose family owned the Forge at Llandyfan and they had three sons and a daughter. Thomas David became renown for his skill with hunting dogs.
Thomas and Lucy are buried together at Bethesda Chapel, Glanamman.
Headstone at Bethesda Chapel, Glanamman
Bethesda Chapel, Glanamman. Photo taken March 2007.
Memorial Card for Thomas and Lucy
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