None of the coal Miners were slaves. They worked down the mines of their own choice (probably very little choice) . The miners took their children down to earn extra money for the family. Of course they may well have not had a choice about going down the mines or any other industry. My Morris family were Copper Furnace men from Swansea area the 1780's up in 19084 when one came up to Tyneside to work in the Tharsis ? Copper works in 1884.
Up to say the 1950's it was "sort" of expected that a son would follow his father into the same industry.
That kind of thing happened in all industries at that time. The worst would be the various Mills around the country.
In no way were these people slaves but conditions were very harsh indeed and to call them slaves demeans those hard worked folk.
Many in the various industries switched to other trades.
I have no idea how involved the Ellison Family were involved with the Hebburn Mines, yes they owned the land where the mines were and would probably be paid a % of what was extracted.
The Ellison family may not have owned the pits but could have leased the land. There would I expect be various shareholders of the mines.
The big pit disaster of 1835 killed 4 of my family and the same pit killed about 2-3 others of family in other accident's plus some very young people.
That pit was working from Walker/Wallsend to Under Hebburn.
WE today cannot know how things were back then so our perception is flawed.
The last 4 lines of Normans post I take exception at the earlier part OK.
Allan C.
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