Hi
Blaenavon population increased from a few hundred in 18th century to 13000
in mid 20th. People came from the West Country in large numbers, The early
ones walked if they could not afford to ride and many could not. We know
that when they arrived they lived in hollows and shelters in the ground
they could erect themselves. until houses could be built for them. They had
a rough time but must have been hardy. Archdeacon Coxe book "Journey in
Monmouthshire "describes their position.
AL
----- Original Message -----
From: Nancy/Ted Richings <richings(a)open.org>
To: <MONMOUTHSHIRE-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2001 11:15 PM
Subject: [Mon] Migration to Monmouthshire
I have found my husband's ancestors in Blaenavon, Mon. James BIRT
came
from
Mosely Green, Glocs. to work there as a collier. His wife: Sarah
GOODALL
was born there to Thomas and Mary GOODALL in 1814. Thomas was also a
collier. I cannot find a marriage for Thomas and Mary GOODALL in the
area,
so I am wondering if there was a logical migration pattern into that
industrializing area, or if the workers and families just came from all
over South Wales and the nearby counties? Or perhaps from further away
than that?
Trying to use the IGI as a guide as to the heavies concentration of
Goodalls, leads me to Glocs.---Quenington is one place and another is
Andover, Hampshire. Would these be a likely place to have migrated to
Blaenavon? How did they get there? Walking? By boat? Stagecoach? This
was long before the trains arrived as Thomas and Mary GOODALL'S first
child
was born in 1807. Were there canals by which they might have come
and if
so, how do I find out about the routes of these canals?
It is bad enough when these migrations take place in the USA where I am
familiar with the topography, but in an unfamiliar place it is positively
bewildering. Can anyone help this bewildered searcher?
Thanks for any help, Nancy in Salem, Oregon, way out west in the USA
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