Tyneside Family History.

Age of children starting work down the pit.
In these districts many children begin work in the coal mines at very early ages. One case is recorded in which a child was taken into the pit at four and a half years old and several at five and between five and six.

Women working in the pit.
There is an absolute exclusion of all female workers no women are employed below in the pits or on the bank.

Working hours. In these districts the regular hours of work are twelve being usually from four o'clock in the morning to four in the afternoon. But the children and young persons often leave their homes for the pit as early as one or two o'clock in the morning; and although they may not be actually at work in the pit for longer than twelve hours, yet they are always absent from their homes at least thirteen hours, and commonly more in some cases sixteen hours daily.

Night work.
In a large proportion of the coal mines of these districts there is no night work, yet it is be no means uncommon in some mines occasionally boys and young men work in the pits what is termed double and triple shifts, that is, for 24 or 36 consecutive hours; and some instances of working a quadruple shift of for 48 consecutive hours; a period during which it is scarcley credible that the human frame can sustain such labour.

Meal times.
There is no regular time set apart for meals; the children sometimes stop fifteen minutes to eat their "bait" but in many cases they never rest from their work even as long as this for refreshment.

Holidays Allowed to children and young people in the mines.
The boys have a fortnight holiday at Christmas and a day on Good Friday, and sometimes Easter Monday.

Joseph Cadwell. Going to 15. has been down several pits for 5 years. Gets up at 4 O'clock and goes down the pit at quarter past 4 and comes up at night at 5 O'clock. Working as a putter in an easy place about a mile in. Can only read very easy words. Cannot write. Goes to Sunday school and to chapel sometimes {Looks pale and very unhealthy.}

William Kirkley. Age 19. Has been in the pits for 10 years. Puts a tram by himself. Has worked 30 hour shifts about six or seven times. Reads fairly. writes his name. Goes to night school. Often goes to meetings on Sundays. Some little lads go to night school, but few big lads. Witness is learning algebra now and has just started.

Thomas Beiles. Age 18. Puts a tram by himself. Has been down the pit 9 years. Was at West Moor [or Killingworth] Pits till this last binding. The places in Seghill Pit are the most level for putting. Once had his leg broken in West Moor pit about 4 years ago and was off 4 months. Had his coller bone broken 3 years ago and was off a month. Has know some old men short of breath. Can read [very fairly]. Writes his name. Goes to no school or chapel now. Was at night school for a year.

John Young. Age 18. Puts atram by himself. Has been down pits 5 years. Once stood a 36 hour shift at Thornley pit. Can read [well]. Writes his name. Goes to no school now.

William Reay. Aged 17. Has been in pits 10 years. Is laying the way. Works 8 hours. Never hurt down pit. Is the nephew of the under-viewer. Gets 3s. a day. Reads very [fairly]. Writes his name. Goes to no school now, and seldom to chapel.

George Charlton. Aged 18. Has been down pits 8 years. Three at Cramlington. Is now putting a tram by himself. Has been short of breath since he went down, but is not troubled by it much now. Putters are far overlong at work. They could work just as much in 10 hours as they do in 12. It might be better to shorten the hours. All putters, he is sure, would like shorter hours. Has stooden 24 hour shifts three or four times. Was once wrenched in his hip two years since by putting and was off for about three weeks. A good part of the boys have been strained by puttinghas been off work. It is nearly level putting here and it is middling good air. Reads [well]. Writes his name. Goes to no school now. seldom goes to chapel. Was at night school for 2 years.

James Reid. Aged about 18. Has been down pits about 9 years. Down Cowpen pit about 6 years and 3 years in Seghill. Cowpen has worse air than Seghill. Puts about 2 score or 2 and a half score a day and is paid 1s. 7d. a score. Some men swear down the pit. Can read [fairly]. Writes his name. Goes to no school or chapel now. Went to night school for abou a year.

William Morton. Aged 18. Puts a tram by himself. Has been down the pits 6 years. Was one year at Cramlington. and one at Thornley. Did not like Thornley. Strained his feet when he was first putting. Once stood a double shift at Cramlington and once here, going with the deputies and greasing rolleys. Now makes about 3s. a day. Reads [fairly]. Writes his name. Goes to no school or place of worship now.

John Alexander. Aged 15. Leads the wood. Makes 2s. a day. Works 1O'clock in the morning to 1 in the afternoon every night. Sometimes goes down Sunday night . Works six shift per week always. Ha sbeen down 2 years. Was working on the bank at other pits. Is ofter bad with dizziness at times, mostley when down the pit ; and sometimes throws up his victuals when he is in bed. Has stooden 24 shifts now and then. Reads [fairly]. Writes his name. Goes to night school now and then, and to chapel sometimes.

John Routledge. Aged 15. Has been down this pit for 2 years putting as a half marrow. Worked at bank for 5 years before he went down the pit. Likes the pit because he gets more money. Gives the money to his parents. Would like to be some trade. Would like to work shorter hours for less wages. Can read [fairly]. Writes his name. Goes to night school now and then. Goes to chapel often.

William Turner. Aged 15. Minds a flat; chalkes on the corves; puts the staples into the tubs etc. Has been down 6 years. Was at King pit at Wreckington. There he found himself short of breath from dust. Was often dizzy about a year or two back. Has stooden 24 hour shifts and once 36 here. Reads [fairly]. Writes his name. Goes to night school sometimes, and chapel sometimes.

William Wood. Aged 13. Has been down the pits 4 years. Is adriver. Has been lamed thrice in his leg by the rolleys running over him. At worst was off a fortnight. Once or twice has stood 24 hour shifts.

Thomas Hedley. Aged 13. Puts as a half marrow. Has been down 6 years in the pit. Was once off with sickness. Once he had his arm broken from rolleys running over him. Once stood double shift of 24 hours. It is an easy place where he puts now.

Of the library at this colliery Mr. Carr gives the following account: The libary at this colliery was established in the year 1834, and has been of considerable use: it now consists of 900 volumes of usefull reading. Two magazines are taken, but no novels are allowed. There is a librarian and a secretary, with a committee of twelve, elected annualy from amongst its members; and two days of the week books are recieved and given to the different members. I know instances where members can not read, but employ one of their children to do so. This is a great source of amusment to them, and is the cause of parents exerting themselves as much as possible in giving their offspring as good and education as possible, which I am proud to say ids frequently the case in our little colliery village.

George Soulsby Aged 16. Is called a chalker on; chalks down all the pits work. Asks everywaggon driver that passes him as he sits by the rolley way side what crane he came from; has each crane drivers name chalked down on a deal board, and against the name he puts down what load of coals is being taken past him. The cranes are named by the boys and men names such as "Black Horse" and "Sandgate" etc. At the end of the days work the craneman comes, and counts what is chalked down and puts it in a book, and sends it to the overman.Goes down to work at 4 O'clock [am], and comes up at 4 in the afternoon; takes his victuals down with him for the day; eats his breakfast, consisting of cold coffee brought down in a bottle, and bread, when he wants it, or can get a few minutes time generaly about 8 o'clock; the same with his dinner, which generaly is a bag of meat and bread; he then gets nothing more till he goes home; has as much as he wants to eat. He earns 2s. a day; lives with his parents; gives money to them; they treat him well; is happy and well in health. The overman and men often find fault with him, but never beat him. Sometimres and generally now, works in Heaton pit.

Joseph Rousaby. Aged 15. Is a stone leader; puts away the stones in a heap by the side. Goes down at 2 o'clock [am], comes up at 12 o'clock in the day. Gets 1s. 8d. per day.

William Giles. Aged 15. I a craneman. Hoists the corve from the tram on to the rolley; keeps account on a deal what hewer the corve comes from. Goes down at 5[a.m.], comes up at 5[p.m.]. Gets 2s. a day. A bottle of warn coffee comes down to him in a corf at breakfast. Takes meat and bread down for dinner.

Hugh Coamby. Age 14. Is a wood leader. Carries the props that support the roof. Gets 1s. 8d. a day. Goes down at 2 a.m., comes up at 8 a.m. His father is overman, and he think he is better off on this account. Is ateacher in the Methodist Sunday school. These four preceeding witnesses all read well, write and spell; go to night schools only occasionally, always Sunday school [Methodist]. They reply pretty well to general questions on moral and religious subjects.

Mathew Robson. Aged 15. Leads stones gets 1s. 8d. a day. Has no father; his mother is letter carrier; is rather delicate in health and apperance and sometimes feels faint, but not often from his work.

James Whitfield. Aged 15. Is a driver. His work is not hard. Goes down at 5p.m comes back up at 5p.m. Gets 1s. 3d. per day. Lives with his parents; gives his wages to them. Goes to night school.

William Arnold. Aged 14. Works in the same pit lives the same way, goes to night school. These three witnesses all read spell and write pretty well.

Thomas Cockburn. Aged 13. Leads stones. Goes down at 2 and comes up at 2 p.m. Gets 1s.8d. a day. Takes the stones out of the corves, and puts them in a heap. Thinks he is worked rather too hard, and is sometimes unwell.

John Kelly. Aged 11. Hangs tokens on corves. Gets 1s. 3d. a day.

William Donelly. Aged 13. A driver gets 1s. 3d. a day.

John Jobson. Aged 11. Hangs tokens on corves. Gets 1s. 3d. a day.

Edward Donelly. Aged 13. Cleans the tram way from coal and muck with two pieces of hemp and gets 10d. a day.

George Donelly. Aged 12. Trapper gets 10d. a day.

Sir, I have not been long in practice at Carville, therefore am very unable to give you a satisfactoryt account with respect to the boys employed in collieries. As far as my obsevation goes there is no particular disease more than another which they are subject to; generally speaking they are in good health. They are placed in the pit when very young , which checks the growth of the body; and when they attain the age of puberty they seldon exhibit the well developed, vigorous, and muscular apperance which people present who are employed in the open air. I have observed pitmen to be very subject to hernia, and am inclined to believe they are more afflicted with it than other classes of labouring people. That is all the information that I am able to give at present. I am, etc. J. Aitchison Surgeon, Carville, April 8, 1841.

George Swindel age 48 Hewer for 24 years ; is now propping was not 7 years old when he went to the pit.

George Atkinson aged 18, Putter, went to the pit about 8 years old.

William Barnes age 14, Putter, went to pit at 10 years old. Feels pains in his back at nights. Is sometimes weak in the thighs.

Henry Oliver age 14, Putter, can smell when they get to the foul air it makes them dizzy.

Henry Flecher age 10. Is a driver. Feels sick down the pit. A fortnight ago he was so sick in the middle of the day he had to be carried home. Often throws his meat up in the mid-day. Some of them bring their meat or bait home again, not having the stomach for it. Some do not get a good feed at all, from being poor.

Thomas Flecher age 14. Was putting as a foal when he was 8 years old at this colliery. Found the work o'er hard for him. Made him very sick. Made him throw up his meat about 3 years since. Felt pain in his back, and weak in the legs. Many a boy is hardly able to get up in the morning.

William Atkinson is 12 years old in August. The men that come here say that the putting here is harder than other collieries, on account of the ways and places not being well kept in order.

George Mitford age 15. Leads wood, used to put for 6 years. Started as a foal at 9 years of age. Cannot read or write; goes to no school whatever.

William Holt age 17. A putter. First went to pits between 9 and 10. Kept a door.

The boys when questioned collectively, futher say that the way is so dirty, and the pit so warm, the lads often get tired very soon.
The boys down the pit are sometimes beaten by deputies and others with the whip-handles and axe-shaft (handle of the axe) One boy wrenched himself once with the corves sticking, and this is a great source of trouble in this pit.

Ralph Maugham age 12.

William Hindmarsh age 10 next August.

James Adamson age 16 last April.

James Long age 16.

George Jack age 14.

Robert Smith age 17 next August.

George Jordan age 12.

Thomas Todd does not know his age but appears to be about 8 or 9 years old. Has been down the pit a year. Keeps a door. Never Beaten.

Henry Scattary aged about 10. Keeps a door. No one strikes him. Father is a shifter. Has 2 brothers keeping a door and a switch and 2 others one putting and the other driving a rolley. Can read letters. Never been to day school. Goes to Sunday School.

Thomas Scattary aged 13.

Saunders Blackburn nearly 10.

Joseph Macenzie has been down the pit a year.

Joseph Beany. age 14 has been down the pit 3 years. Has a brother age 17 chalking on and his father is a hewer.

George Laws nearly 14 nephew of the Under Viewer. Has been down the pit nearly 5 years.

Michael Jobling aged 13 has been down pit 5 years.

Matthew Blackburn age 15 has been down the pit about 5 years.

Robert Harrison aged 16 has been down the pit 6 or 7 years. At school for 2 to 3 years but played truant has forgotten every thing he learned.

Surtis Blackburn age 17 last January. Down pit for 10 years.

John Beany age 17 has been down 6 different colleries. Is now greasing rolleys and chalking on the work. Gets 2s. a day.

Robert Crawford age 16 has been down pit 6 years.

Thomas Batty age 93 went down the pit when he was about 6 or 7. Always had good health and fortune. About 40 years ago he was made an overman. He used to work as a hewer in Hartley colliery for 10 or 12 hours a day. The overman had 10s. a day.

Ralph Hall age 77 has worked down the pit for 70 years gets 15s. a week, and a house and firing. Is tolerably healthy.

George Beresford age 13.

George Foster age 16.

Joseph Peel age 14 last March.

Edward Wright age 19 on June 11th. down the pit 12 years.

Joshua Stephenson age about 8 years. Down pit 2 years or more.

Ralph Hardy age 16.

Thomas Finey age about 18.

William Clough age 19 to 20 has been down the pit 9 or 10 years.

Joseph Doxford age 21 has been in pits 3 years was at sea before. Never was very healthy.

George Kendall age 17 has been down the pit 7 years. Is now a putter.

William Simpson age 6 has been down a week keeps a door. Is frightened when his candle goes out. Goes in about a mile by.

Robert Thwaites age between 9 and 10. Goes to Sunday school, night school and chapel.

John Thompson aged about 12 is a driver.

William Duffell age between 13 and 14. Drives acuddy and helps up gets about 1s.8d. a day.

Michael Finley age about 15 has been down 6 years.

Edward Davidson age 14 November 6th next. Has been down the pit a year.

Robert Clark age 16 nearly. Minds a flat-keeping account of the work, and guides the train onto the waggon way.

George Dodds age between 16 and 17 is a putter.

Caleb Hardy Age 17 putter has been down 8 years.

James Walker age 19 has been down the pit 8 or 9 years.

John Nixon age about 19.

Mr Cousens, Schoolmaster, Killingworth.
Has been 30 years a Collier, and 40 years amongst collieries, has been here 12 years. A very great difference exists in some parents; some keep them well at school; thinks that widows and work men who could afford it least have kept their children longest at school. Those who have had the largest families and fewest workers have often kept their families longest at school. In a general way a man best able to school his children is the least willing. One man having a family of eight children (George Young) kept them all at school, althought two of them were able to work; and supported his family out of his own earnings. He took no drink, no butter, and very little meat, in order to accomplish this, yet this man was the most violent chartist, though not taking up arms. He circulates the 'Northern Star' but is a great friend of education, a Methodist. The would be an exception to general rules. Knew one other instance of this sort: they were brothers in law. George Young would average 20 shillings a week, not more; he had to find out of this all his work tools, his picks, power, and candles, and sixpence a fortnight for coal money, and sixpence a fortnight to a doctor for attending his family, the village doctor, besides supporting the benefits society by subscribing 8d. a fortnight. This man paid his way regularly, and the family was decent and healthy. The parents do not think the pit injures the children's health.