(Answered on the BLAENAUGWENT list - copied here for the benefit of MON
listmembers)
Alison,
I did a Google search for "purse of gold" and "address" and came up
with quite a few returns for those terms. They are all associated with
some sort of commemoration upon retirement.
It looks as though the "address" is often described as an
"illuminated address" (i.e. illustrated) - perhaps what we would today call
a certificate or testimonial. It could have been encased in a leather or
wood holder, with some words of appreciation, and signed by various
people.
If you search
www.images.google.com for "illuminated address" you
will get images of many beautifully decorated presentation certificates.
If you search regular
google.com and look for "illuminated address"
you will get plenty of results, but will have to overlook the ones
related to lighted house numbers! There are a lot of addresses housed in
archives, or of course, kept as family treasures.
It is clear that presentations for service often included money
(purse of gold), and an illuminated address. Being "subscribed for" most
likely meant that the men paid for it themselves - perhaps taking up a
collection to do so.
That was a very informative search; something I would never have done
if you hadn't sent your email. You learn something new every day!
Kathy
Orlando, Florida
-----Original Message-----
From: Alison [mailto:alison@skippers.org.uk]
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 6:09 PM
To: MONMOUTHSHIRE-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: [Mon] Tredegar Company/gold purse & address
My great-great grandfather, David DAVIES (c1824-1896), was an Overman for
thirty years, at various pits owned by the Tredegar Company. These included
Whitworth, No. 8, Ash Tree, Bedwellty and Darren Level. According to his
obituary, when he retired in 1892, he was presented with "a purse of gold
and an address subscribed for by the workmen generally".
Can anyone tell me what the purse of gold and address are likely to have
been please? I am also keen to find out more about the Tredegar Company and
the pits where David Davies worked.
Thank you for your help.
Alison
Malvern, UK
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