Thomas Hood 1745-1820s (Part.4 - 1773-1820s)
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1745-63 | 1765-69 | 1770-73 | 1773-1820s
Thomas Hood 1773-1820s
At the baptism of his forth son named John, born on the 14th February 1773, Thomas was then living at the village of Niddry Mill, but stayed there only a short time before moving a short distance to Huntershall. This colliers village was described many years later as a 'wretched assemblage of dingy, low-roofed, tile covered hovels, each of which perfectly resembled all the others...'. Their next three children were born there; first a daughter named Jean born in February 1775, followed by two more sons, Thomas in 1777 and David in 1780. By the time their eigth child William was born in 1782, the family were at Gilmerton. William was the second son of that name indicating that first one born in 1766 has already died.
Eventually the family moved for the final time to Redrow in the neighbouring parish of Newton, where their last two children, Katherine and Alexander were born in 1785 and 1787 respectively. Redrow was a small colliers village belonging to Sir Archibald Hope of Craighall.
Thomas and Violet continued to work at Hope’s collieries for the remainder of their life, and in 1802 the colliery books also show five of their children also working at Craighall. Thomas was assisted by his youngest son Alexander, while his daughters Jean and Katherine worked as coalbearers. His sons David and Thomas (described as 'Thomas Hood Junr’ to differentiate him from his father) were also working as colliers, but later that year his son Thomas, went to the neighbouring Sheriffhall Colliery where he remained for over 20 years.
To ensure a steady workforce, a ‘bounty’ was paid to colliers and others for agreeing to work for the next year; £1.1.0 for men and £0.10.6 for women. These payments are noted in the colliery accounts but a few of the actual agreements still survive for Craighall.
Thomas's signature on a bounty agreement for "one years service from and after the 3 July 1803’ .
Thomas still worked occasionally as a coal hewer, even as late as 1807 with Violet acting as his bearer, but over the next few years he worked less and less as a coalhewer due to his age and was increasingly employed on other duties collectively known as "oncost" work; for instance 'redding' - maintaining the height of the underground tunnels and clearing them of fallen rock or coal as the roof slowly collapsed and 'banking' - hooking and unhooking the coal hutches being raised to the surface.
It's interesting to note that wherever Thomas worked or whatever job he was doing, his wife Violet always worked at the same pit, their daughter Katherine also worked as a bearer alongside them when younger and for a short period during 1810 while her husband was in the militia. When coalhewing, the hewer’s wife and children usually acted as his bearers, but it seems that at Craighall, married couples may have been kept together as much as possible even when performing oncost work.
In September 1809 Thomas was injured by a fall of coal, and was lent £1.1.11 "when hurt with Diamond Coal falling. A month later he received a payment described as "Paid a treat to Thos Hood 5/- ", coming so soon after the accident it was probably a goodwill payment.
Little is known of him or his wife after 1813, but on 31 June 1826 Violet Inglis died at Craighall and was buried the following day at Newton Churchyard.