Thomas

Miner’s First Name:   Isaac
Miner’s Middle Name:   
Miner’s Last Name:   Thomas
Miner’s Picture:   
Birth Place of Miner:   Plymouth, PA
Miner’s Country:   USA
Arrived in USA:   

Miner Information:
Worked in the following mines: Avondale, Nottingham, Reynolds Colliery, and Washington Mine. Isaac, the third son and sixth child of Thomas and Elizabeth was my grandfather and his mining history follows: Isaac Thomas, son of Elizabeth Edwards Thomas and Thomas William Thomas, began working in the Avondale Mine in Plymouth at the age of 15 as a Door Boy in 1901. His youngest brother William was killed in 1884 at the Nottingham Mine at age 11 while also working as a Door Boy. Isaac had two other brothers; David, who died when he was 49 years old because of complications after a Nottingham accident and Edward who survived a mine accident and lived in poor health until he was 63 years old. After working from 1901 to 1903 as a Door Boy at Avondale, Isaac became a Driver at Nottingham for two years. He was a Slope Man from 1906 until becoming Pulley Man for two years in 1910. From 1912 to 1914 Isaac worked as a miner at Nottingham Colliery. He then became Fire Boss for two years and Flush Lineman for one year. In 1920 Isaac was made Fire Boss at the Reynolds Colliery, Washington Mine. He had this position until 1929 when he became Section Foreman at the monthly rate of $220.00. He later became Mine Foreman at the Reynolds Colliery. His grandchildren remember him at his desk inside the red brick office that still stands today on West Main St. Plymouth. His tin lunch pail with a tea thermos as the lid always intrigued us. His good friend Pat Driscoll lived across the street from that office. Isaac attended school until the end of 7th grade. He later took mining courses for 3 years. His penmanship and printing were beautiful and he kept many journals. Isaac married Annie Northwood and they had 6 sons. The oldest, James, died when he was one year old. Edward, Harold, Thomas, the next three oldest all worked in various mines. Albert was killed in World War II at the age of 27. Russell, the youngest, also fought in the war. Neither Albert nor Russell worked in the mines. Isaac and his family lived on Reynolds St., Plymouth, where he was known as ‘Little Ike’, because ‘Big Ike’, another Isaac Thomas, mine foreman at Nottingham, also lived on Reynolds St. Dr. Robert T. Jones, M.D. advised Isaac to retire because of anthracosilicosis in 1957. Isaac died at age 83 in 1970.

Place & Manner of Miner’s Death:   non-mining related
Died:   5/13/1970
Birth Date:   6/11/1886

Married:   Yes
Place Miner Was Married:   Binghamton, NY

Wife’s Name:   Annie
Wife’s Middle Name:   
Wife’s Last Name:   Northwood
Birth Place of Wife:   Plymouth, PA
Wife’s Country:   USA
Arrived in USA:   
Place & Manner of Wife’s Death:   Kingston, PA
Died:   5/29/1951
Birth Date:   3/21/1888

Number of Children:   6

Child Name 1:   James
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Birth Date:   4/19/1907

Child Name 2:   Edward
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Birth Date:   2/20/1909

Child Name 3:   Harold
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Birth Date:   8/11/1911

Child Name 4:   Thomas
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Birth Date:   12/31/1914

Child Name 5:   Albert
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Birth Date:   1/14/1917

Child Name 6:   Russell
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Birth Date:   1/20/1919

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Child Name 9:   
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Child Name 10:   
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Author’s Name:   Nancy
Author’s Middle Name:   
Author’s Last Name:   Hedden
Relationship to Miner:   Granddaughter