Author: johngcolclough
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Indentured Servitude in Colonial America: A Gateway to the New World.
Introduction to Indentured Servitude During the Great Migration, thousands of English immigrants arrived in America, with roughly 80% coming as indentured servants. This system was born out of economic need: the cost of travel to America was prohibitive, so many English men and women signed contracts agreeing to labor in exchange for passage, shelter, and…
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Puddlers in the Iron Works.
It is almost impossible to look at a census return from Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales and not come across iron workers described as Puddlers. I thought I’d offer a quick outline of these: Puddlers in the Merthyr Tydfil Ironworks: Forging Iron and Community. In the 19th century, Merthyr Tydfil was one of the most…
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The Life of a Late 18th-Century Pontypool Nail Maker: A Glimpse Through His Belongings
Late 18th century Pontypool nail maker, a list of his worldly goods. This is the inventory made for his probate around 1785. Wearing apparel 10 shillings.One feather bed and bedstead and old pair of curtains one coverlet. £1.One flock bed and bedstead and two old coverlets. 8 shillings.Four pairs of flaxen sheets, one table cloth…