The Coal mining
Cobleys
One of the most surprising results of my research is the length
of time the Cobley family have been involved in the coal mining industry.
Virtually all of the male line from the earliest generation in 1780
up until about 1930 have been colliers. This was not surprising when
from about 1825 they lived in South Wales where from the 18th century to
the mid 20th century the principal industry was coal mining . But it
is for the time they resided in Somerset which is not widely known
for it's coal industry.
So I thought about 150 years in coal mining needed some recognition
hence the theme of this page.
Having grown up in the S Wales valleys surrounded by coal mines I
inevitably learned about the hard and dangerous nature of the work.
A fact that, in the early days, did not stop the owners employing
women and children. 
This was borne out by research that revealed
in 1834 Charles Cobley aged 12 had been working in Buttery Hatch colliery
near Maesycwmmer since he was 9 years old. I have also witnessed the
terrible legacy of the mines with many a strong man reduced to shadows
of their former selves by the effects of pneumoconiosis (coal dust on the lungs).
For the workers it was a case of needs must, as in the 19th century mining was
often the only work available, the wages were invariably poor and the
work often irregular. Everyone who could work did so in order to earn
enough to keep the family fed. The harshness of the work however also
engendered a comaraderie rarely found elsewhere which spilled over into the community.
Alas all but gone now together with the coalmining industry!
It is no wonder that my father and his brothers escaped the mines as
soon as they could and who could blame them! Unfortunately it was not
before some of them contracted the dreaded 'dust'.
What a price to pay for coal!
 |
Cobley Families
(Individual families starting from the earliest known
generation) |
|
Cobley List
(A complete list of individuals with links to members of the
family groups) |
|
Pensford/Publow Census
Extracts |
|
Pensford/Publow Parish Record Extracts
|
|
Cobley Extracts from GRO Marraige Index
(Some extracts mainly from the S. West and S. Wales areas) |
