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You are probably perplexed as to why there should be a page called America on this website which is about a small village in Wales. One word links Rhandirmwyn and America and that is mining. The hard rock lead miners were well suited to work in the anthracite mines of America and in the mid to late1800’s many left for a better life in this wonderful place full of promises and wealth. You would be surprised as to how many left this beautiful valley to start a new life there. Most settled in the State of Pennsylvania in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre which were anthracite mining areas. Others settled in other states also. If you are a descendant or relative of anyone who left this area then I would love to hear from you. Are you searching for relatives who left for America, or are you living there or anywhere else for that matter and looking for your ancestors who originated from Rhandirmwyn or the upper Tywi (Towy) valley. Let me have your story.
Many who left ended up as miners but others went in search of other vocations and did very well. Here are the stories of some of these people. There are many more which will be included in due course.
Morgan B Williams
Morgan was born in Rhandirmwyn on 17th September 1831. (as yet we have no details of his family background but are working on it). In 1856 he left for Australia returning to Wales in 1861 but once more he was on the move and in March 1862 he left for America and settled in Scranton, Pennsylvania where he worked in the coal mines.
He moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in September 1865 and was later appointed superintendent for the Leigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, a position he held for fourteen years. He was a member of the school board and of the city council for twelve years. In 1884 he served on the Pennsylvania State Senate and was a member of the Chicago World’s Fair Commission.
Morgan B Williams was elected to the Fifty Fifth Congress as a republican and sat in the United States House of Representatives from 1897 until 1899 as the representative for Pennsylvania’s 12th congressional district.
He remained engaged in coal mining and was vice president and general manager of the Red Ash Coal Company. He died in 1903.
John T Williams
John T Williams was born at Cwmsaethau Farm, Rhandirmwyn in 1839 a son of Barbara and Thomas Williams. He went to the local school. At the age of 16 he went to work at the Nantymwyn lead mine but in 1859 at the age of 20, John T. left for America, sailing from Swansea and landing four weeks later in New York. He settled in Scranton, Pennsylvania and worked at the Hampton Mine of the Delaware, Lockwana and Eastern Railroad Company. It was not long however before John T. was on the move once more, this time heading for California in search of gold. In 1861 he boarded a steam ship in New York and sailed via Panama to San Francisco. He remained in California for five years, mining at San Juan. It would seem that like many others he failed to find his fortune but John T. was not a man who gave in easily. He returned to Scranton and in 1867 he married Mary Lewis who was from Neath, Pennsylvania. Her family roots were in Trecynon, near Aberdare, Wales. They settled in Hampton Street, Scranton and had five children. John T. went back to work in the mines and became foreman. However he started to invest in mining and was described in one census as a landlord and capitalist. In 1874 he was one of the original stockholders when the West Side Bank was formed.
In 1884 after the death of his father John T. paid a visit to Rhandirmwyn to see his mother. Soon after he was nominated by the Republican Party as their candidate for the state legislator for Pennsylvania and was elected to this position by a 1300 majority. This position was a very responsible one and he was in reality a member of the government for the Sate of Pennsylvania with responsibility for the enactment of state laws.
In 1886 he embarked on a general mercantile business under the company name Williams and Co. He was in partnership with another John Williams, this time it was John H. Williams whose roots were also in Rhandirmwyn. It was a very successful venture. John T. was also director of the Scranton Packing Company and had large interests in coal mining. He was a director and treasurer of the Cambrian Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
In 1896 John T. was a delegate to the Republican National Congress which was held at St Louis where William McKinley was first nominated as the republican candidate for the President of the United States. He was elected in 1897 and was in office until 1901.
John T. became president of the West Side Bank and died in 1903.
(We are grateful to Martha Phillips, Scranton, John T. Williams’ granddaughter for this information).
Thomas D Evans. - From Rhandirmwyn to Pennsylvania