Location of 56 Pentre Road Maerdy on right beyond present houses

1891
56 Pentre Road, Maerdy, Ferndale CF43 4DP

Avon House, Danylan Road, Pontypridd

Tennis Court Hotel, 6 Caroline Street, Bridgend

1837
New Market Hall opened on Lady Day, built by the Earl of Dunraven or his ancestors on the site of the old Tennis Courts, which then became the Tennis Court Hotel in Caroline Street and is now Seconds Ahead.
source:
http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/Web1/groups/public/documents/services/010949.hcsp
at a later date it became the Tennis Court Pub.

Bristol Bedminister

Benjamin had a letter send to him in 1932, it went to Pakistan by air mail and on to Ceylon, but missed him and was return to this address 13 Lewis Road, Bedminister, Bristol.

Benjamin's Bristol addresses

Bulwack Cafe site, 5 Church Road, Redfield, Bristol
Owned 1931-1932

Documents

Benjamin voyages to Jakarta (Batavia)

I found passenger records that confirm that Benjamin travelled by ship to Jakarta (Batavia) in 1911; 1915; 1922 and 1928.

Benjamin's Wallet

I have not seen his first Passport but i have found other items relating to travel to Holland and therefore assume he would have travelled there on more than once.

Presentation Silver box from Benjamin's work

It has a hallmark on for 1928 from London

Pictures from Sumatra

Benjamin's Passport

Benjamin's Business Cards

Woodland Row Briton Ferry

Finally a picture of where Benjamin was born, but sadly no more

Photographs of Benjamin's Houses

1932?-1934
4 Jenkins Place, Queens Road, Twynyrodyn, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 0ND

1892?-1902
18 Griffith Street, Maerdy, Ferndale CF43 4DH

Arrivals in Australia

Found a good site listing arrivals in Fremantle 1926-1947 http://naa12.naa.gov.au look for passenger search B. Williams on Esperance Bay 28th Dec 1928 Miss E Williams on Esperance Bay 28th Dec 1928, naughty granny you were not married! B.Williams on Hobson Bay 15th April 1932, so the passport stamp for Fremantle 15th April 1931 is indeed wrong which is what i had concluded a while back.

South Wales Echo 1912

Why this has been changed from the original makes me wonder about rewriting one's own life

From Dutch who's who for Dutch East Indies 1913

The "Adresboek van geheel Nederlands-Indië 1913" gives following information:
Williams, B. - Empl. Mijnbouw Maatschappij Redjang Lebong, Lebong Donok.

Benjamin Williams mining certificates

Williams, Benjamin The Aberdare Merthyr Steam Coal Co., Limited (Mr. Robson) 309 2nd 31 Jan 1888

Certificate of Service (Second Class Certificate) as an Under Manager of Mines granted under the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1877 (50 & 51 Vict. Cap. 58, Sec. 80) From a list published in 1896 covering the period 1888 to 1895 The District column contains the name of the mine (if any) in which acting as Manager at the time of grant of certificate.

Williams, Benjamin South Wales 3,127 2nd 10 May 1897

Certificate of Competency as a Manager of Mines granted under the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887 (50 & 51 Vict. Cap. 58, Secs. 23 and 80) From a list published in 1911 covering the period 1st January 1896 to 31st December 1910

Williams, Benjamin South Wales 1,695 1st 7 Jun 1900

Certificate of Competency as an Under-Manager of Mines granted under the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887 (50 & 51 Vict. Cap. 58, Secs. 23 and 80) From a list published in 1911 covering the period 1st January 1896 to 31st December 1910

From http://www.dmm.org.uk/certs/names_wi.htm

Benjamin Williams History

Brief history for my grandfather:
Benjamin Williams: born July 10th 1862 in 1 Woodland Row, Briton Ferry, Glamorgan.
1872-1878 Collier boy from age of 10 at Steep Coal Measures, Neath Briton Ferry District
1884-1902 Merthyr Stream Coal Collieries as Maerdy Collier; Timberman; Contractor and Official
31/01/1888 2nd Class Certificate No 309
01/01/1893 Night Fireman 6 Foot Seam, North West, Maerdy
1896-1897 2nd Class Certificate in Geology
10/05/1897 2nd Class Certificate as Under Manager No 3127
07/06/1900 1st Class Certificate as Colliery Manager No 1695
Mining and Geology Certificates under Science and Arts Dept, Ferndale
1902 worked for 3 years as a prospector, Mine Foreman and Master Sinker in Ghana
15 months Chida Wassaw Company
10/03/1903 appointed Temporary Manager
17/12/1903 reference worked at Chida Wassaw mine for one year
9 months Prestea Company Block A Gold Mines
12 months Chida Wassaw Gold Mines Company
1905-1907 1st Class Certificate Manager The Lower Gilfach Colliery
1907-1909 under manager at Cynon and Whitchurch Collieries, Cymmer, Port Talbot. Had mining and sinking contracts here.
June 1909-1911 Manager at Llanover Pits, Argoed leaving 31st July 1911
Aug 1911 Lebong Donok Gold mine, Sumatra
1912 Lebong Soelit Gold mine, SumatraLebong Tandai (Simau) Gold Mine, Sumatra”preselected employment as miner till the end of June (1912) and as Mine Captain for the last 2 months”
South Wales Echo article appears to be from September 1912
19/04/1934 Died Tydfil Lodge, Merthyr Tydfil

Looking for Benjamin Williams

Benjamin Williams born Briton Ferry, Wales July 10th 1862
died Merthyr Tydfil, Wales April 19th 1934
Married Cecilia Thomas December 25 1886 Pontycwmer, Llangeinor (1867-1906)
Married Florence Potter 1910 Hampstead, London
Married Emma May Elizabeth Williams ? (1900-1962)
I just do not believe what it says on my father's birth certificate:
February 14th 1927 Bridgend,Wales.