Genealogy Chat

just a sec

Hewer, the deceased was KIRVING in the top of the Brockwell seam in a LONGWALL working, when a large stone suddenly dropped from the roof ; the stone broke close off to the coal, but was bounded by a JACKon the left side and a FEATHER EDGEon the right side ; two props set under the feather edge were canted out I think I need to google a lot of things. A whole new coal miner's vocabulary. I had 7 more examples of accidents with strange words but it seems I still don't really understand 'cut and paste' yet. Anyone have an idea of where to look up these terms? My Websters is completely useless. Anne

Anne try this it is a glossary to coal mining terms http://www*readinganthracite*com/history_glossaryd.html (as usual replace * with dots) Michelle

Or try this http://www*osh*govt*nz/resources/glossary-e.shtml It has your feather edging in its glossary Feather Edging = A rough weak edge that may be left after sharpening only one side of a cutter. From Mining Terms of 1888 Kirving—a wedge-shaped excavation, made by the hewer with his pick at the lower part of the seam previous to blasting Michelle

http://www*pastperfect*info/sites/woodhorn/album/photo4.html Has a picture of a Hewer Kirving Michelle

Thank you very much people. I keep forgetting that Ozzies and Kiwis are more likely to be awake now and was expecting to wait a lot longer for an answer. I have noted all of the sites and will look very carefully at them. My gggr and ggr and gr all managed to live long enough to die of 'black lung' none died in pit accidents. It will be very nice to understand some of the words that they must have used in their every day conversations. Thanks again Anne

Your welcome Anne I am just avoiding doing housework at the moment, most of my coal miners from the 1800's and Scotland emmigrated to NZ and Aus to become gold miners. A couple of more recent Uncle's worked in coal mines here in NZ in the 1970's - Michelle