Lucy Thomas
| Lucy Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Lucy Williams Llansamlet, Wales |
| Baptised | 11 March 1781 |
| Died | 27 September 1847 Abercanaid, Wales |
| Occupation | coalowner |
| Relatives | 1st Baron Merthyr grandson-in-law |
Lucy Thomas, (baptised 11 March 1781 – 27 September 1847), was a Welsh businesswoman and colliery owner known as 'the mother of the Welsh steam coal trade'. Thomas, with her son, took over the running of her husband's coal mine after his death in 1833. Much of Thomas' subsequent success as a businesswoman were embellished by Merthyr historian Charles Wilkins, who wrote one of the few articles on her life in 1888. It is now believed that, George Insole, a Cardiff agent was the architect of her success, though this does not diminish Thomas' position as one of the few women coal owners in industrial Britain. Oral history of the Thomas line (through Amelia Thomas [Grand daughter of Lucy]) does tell of Lucy attending the coal exchange in Cardiff only to be told she could not enter. She sent a male clerk in her employ into the Insole owned Coal Exchange with a letter informing the establishment 'My coal is equal (sic) superior to any mans, failure to grant entry will lead to my business lining another's pockets'.
Thomas was baptized in Llansamlet, south Wales on 11 March 1781. Born Lucy Williams to Job Williams and his wife, Ann James. She married Robert Thomas at Llansamlet on 30 June 1802. Robert was a contractor of a coal level, providing fuel for Cyfarthfa Ironworks. They had eight children, six sons and two daughters.
In 1828 Robert Thomas took up an annual tenancy from Lord Plymouth for the opening and mining of a small coal level at Waun Wyllt, near Abercanaid, south of Merthyr. The contract forbade Robert Thomas from trading with the four local ironworks which were under the ownership of Lord Plymouth. Although little was expected from the level, it was the first to hit the 'Four Foot Seam, a rich deposit of high quality steam coal. The mine initially sold its coal to local households in Merthyr and Cardiff, with a tramline being constructed from Thomas' level to the Glamorganshire Canal to allow transportation to Cardiff Docks. Within a couple of years of the level being opened Robert was in contract with George Insole a Cardiff trader. In November 1830 Insole had agreed the shipment of 413 tons of steam coal from Waun Wyllt to London.
In 1833 Robert Thomas died. Lucy Thomas and their eldest son Robert were granted probate and from that time Insole's payments for the coal dispatched were paid to them. Through Insole a contact was written with Messer's Wood and Company to supply the London-based coal merchants for a quantity of 3,000 tons of coal per year. These early deals with the London markets helped establish the reputation of Welsh coal and how Thomas became known as 'The Mother of the Welsh Steam Coal Trade'. Although Thomas and her son Robert were credited with this success, it is now believed that much of this success was down to Insole. The embellishment of Thomas' achievements are today attributed to Merthyr historian Charles Wilkins, who wrote an account of Thomas in 1888. Wilkins had a penchant for imaginative touches and his work gave the impression of Thomas as an enterprising woman who looked to set up new markets, whereas evidence now suggest that this work was conducted by her agents. Further research has also shown that coal had been shipped to London from Wales before either of the Thomas' began extracting coal from their level, with shipments from Llanelli and Swansea being exported to the capital as early as 1824.
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