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Notes
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In 1835 Thomas was very severely burnt when he entered the Pond Level of the Cwn Cannaid mine with a lighted candle. Thomas and Mr Thomas Howell entered the mine to inspect the workings, and imagining the collier was at work in the level, they took in their candles. The collier had not worked there for two or three days and the usual preventatives had been discontinued. Both these men very severely burnt by the explosion of foul air that had collected there. Thomas married Penelope James in 1838 and lived at Pencoedcae (1851 Census), which has been the residence of all Cyfarthfa colliery managers. He was not at home at the time of the 1861 census and Penelope, his wife, is recorded as being a widow at the time of the 1871 census. In 1852 Thomas stood for election to the Merthyr Board of Health, but receiving only 24 votes, he came last in the poll.
In 1859 Thomas prosecutes two children (John Welsh, nine years, and Rachel Scourfield, 12 years) for the theft of coal from a dram road.
Thomas died sometime between 1859 and 1871 but there is no record of his death.
National Museum Cardiff
Title
Thomas Kirkhouse, Hirwaun
Date
c.1835–1840
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 36.3 x W 25.6 cm
Accession number
NMW A 29949
Acquisition method
gift from Sylvia Crawshay, 2012
Work type
Painting