James Stoddart 1767 - ?

James and his family appear to had been working at one of the collieries in Newbattle - East Bryans, West Bryans and Lingerwood. Mining has been taking place in Newbattle since the 1100s. By the 1700s the mines in Newbattle were owned by the Marquis of Lothian. Until 1775 colliers were effectively serfs sold by a collier proprietor to his successor and prevented from taking services with any other master without written permission from their owner. In 1775 an Act of Parliament nominally freed them from bondage, but it wasn't until a second act in 1799 fully freed them.

As the son of a coal mine James would probably have most have been put down the pit around 7 years old, working as a as a putter - who dragged coal carts in a harness - or a trapper - who opened the airflow and ventilation doors. At about 14 he would have graduating up to a miner or hewer. I child would have early about 4d a day. 

The Newbattle mine had a daily minimum wage - a darg - of between 21d a day and 5s a day, depending upon the demand for coal. Piece rates were paid after the darg had been reached. Deductions were made for house rent, school fees, lights, tool sharpening and for the doctor. Coal was supplied free but the men had to supply their own tools and provide labour - usually their wife and children - to get coal to the shaft bottom. For this reason people often married young and moved from mine to mine in extended family groups.

Wages were paid fortnightly on 'Pay Friday'. The Benefits Society would - for an annual subscription of a few shillings a year - pay a small weekly wage in the event of being off work for illness - as long as it wasnt drink related - and pay funeral expenses. Membership was restricted to men under 38. Collier families in Newbattle seldom applied for poor releif, generally able to support their ill or aging through their own efforts or through subscription to a Friendly Society. That said, children in mines often has a smaller stature, with the deficiency of ultraviolet light contributing to slow and abnormal bone growth, and illnesses such as black lung took many members of collier families before the age of 50.