Zephaniah Williams

Zephaniah Williams

Zephaniah Williams (1795-1874) a native of Argoed Bedwellty, Monmouthshire was a coal miner or collier and later a Master Collier at Blaina and innkeeper, keeping the Royal Oak at Nantyglo, from where he used to pay his colliers.

Chartist

He was a free thinking man in religious matters and the local Working Men's Association met at his home. It was at this time only natural that such a man would emerge as a natural leader during the Chartist movement in south east Wales.

He was subsequently prosecuted for his part in the Chartist Newport Rising at Newport, Monmouthshire in 1839.

The Newport Rising

Along with John Frost and William Jones, he led a large column of men from the Nantyglo area to march south on the Westgate Hotel, Newport, site of what is sometimes regarded as the greatest armed rebellion in 19th century Britain [Edward Royal, "Chartism", Longman, London: 1996] .

The men assembled at the Welsh oak, Pontymister before marching as one into Newport. Known as the "Blackwood Infidel", he had a reputation as a political Radical, and as an individual prepared to settle disputes in less conventional ways. Some histories refer to his having been prosecuted at Usk in 1833 for blowing up a coal mine in a dispute with the mineowner. Other histories refer to him having been an atheist who vigorously promoted his views - very controversial at the time.

Transportation to Australia for Life

For his part in the Chartist march on Newport he was sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted and he was transported for life to Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania, Australia).

Made his Fortune in Coal

Once there he made plans to escape but remained, eventually being granted a ticket of leave. He discovered coal on the island and made a considerable fortune from it, bringing his wife and family out from Wales to Australia in 1854.

He died a prosperous man at Launceston, Tasmania in May 1874.

External links

* [http://www.gtj.org.uk/item.php?lang=en&id=32805&t=1 Contemporary portrait of Zephaniah in the dock on trial]

References


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