Thomas Michael of Mountain view was the first cousin of Thomas Michael who died in the accident at Garnant Colliery in 1884; their fathers being brothers.
The 1871 census shows Thomas as the eldest son of a household at Raven Row, Garnant. Thomas' father was named William, and he was born about 1820. Thomas' mother was named Mary; she was born about 1832.
In 1871, Thomas, who was born circa 1851, was living with four brothers and two sisters. Their names and approximate years of birth are as follows:
Their father's occupation was given as collier. Although Thomas was aged 19 and Michael was aged 17 at this time, as with the rest of the household, nothing is written on the census regarding their occupation. Thomas' eldest sibling; Sarah, born in 1850, had already left home.
By 1881, the whole of the above household, except Thomas, had moved to Lamb Cottage, again in Garnant. Apart from the two girls who were still at school, the men in the house had all become colliers; except for Charles, who was working as a postman! Charles was later to become the owner of the "Michael Emporium" at Garnant. It passed out of his family after his death on 29th December 1932. A picture of Charles and his household was printed in a book called "The Amman Valley and District, a Photographic portrait", by Brian Lewis.
The 1881 census shows that Thomas had married and had a daughter. Thomas' wife was named Hannah and she was born c.1860. Their daughter was named Mary Adalide Michael, born c.1880. They lived at Godrer Waun Cottage, in the parish of Bettws. The census suggests that he lived two properties away from the Salutation Inn. The 1881 census also lists Thomas' occupation as Insurance Agent.
After the accident at Garnant Colliery in 1884, he was arrested and tried for unlawfully killing the ten men, by misuse of the keeps. The Government Inspector of Mines report for 1884-85, outlines the evidence given at the Cwmamman Inquest and states that Thomas had only been working at Garnant Colliery for a week before the accident took place. This case was eventually thrown out by the judge. This, we are told by reporting newspapers, was met with the approval of many of his fellow workers. By the time of the trial, he was no longer employed at Garnant Colliery. His bail was supported by two men: E. Lewis, Cwmamman, and Thomas Michael, Llandilo, in sums of £25 each. This brings yet another Thomas Michael into the story!
By the time of the 1891 census, Thomas and his family had moved to Mountain View, Garnant. His occupation was coal miner. He was aged 39 and his wife Hannah was aged 30. Their children were listed as follows:
The whole of the household spoke only Welsh.
Both the 1895 and the 1910 editions of Kelly's Directory for South Wales, list Thomas Michael as a shopkeeper, with the 1910 version stating that he had a grocers shop. There is no mention of this on the census documents. His brother Charles is also listed as shopkeeper in the directories.
In 1901, the census information shows Thomas still living at Mountain View, Garnant. He was aged 48 and working as a coal hewer. Thomas' wife, Hannah was aged 40; her employment status was undefined.
By 1901, the couple had six children, two boys and four girls. Their census details were as follows:
The census record for 1901 stated that the whole household was bilingual.
Thomas' wife, Hannah, died on 20th January 1922, aged 61. Thomas survived her by about two and a half years, dying at the age of 72 on 6th August 1924. The couple are buried at Hen Bethel chapel in Glanamman, with their daughter, Maggie Maud Michael, who died on 23rd February 1956, aged 63.
Thomas' headstone at Hen Bethel
Thomas' daughter, Annie Beatrice married Gwilym Evans and the couple lived at Mountain View. Gwilym died at the relatively young age of 48 years old in 1935. Annie, on the other hand lived to the good old age of 81 and died on 23rd February 1974. Buried with the couple at Hen Bethel, is their unnamed baby boy.
The 25th January, 1917 edition of the Amman Valley Chronicle, contained an article congratulating Mr W. Amman Michael of Cwmamman; son of Thomas Michael, on taking the principal baritone part in the world famous operatic company under Sir Thomas Beecham. The article also stated that only a few years previously, William Michael had been working as a collier at the Cawdor Colliery, but was now staged amongst the premier operatic singers of Britain.
William's older brother Robert "Bob" Michael, also became a renown singer in the district.
Census Doc Refs: