Alice Dawkin – Marriage and a New Life

A Register Office Wedding

At just eighteen years old, Alice Dawkin married Thomas Davies in the Bedwelty District Register Office on 30 May 1868. Their decision to marry in a register office, rather than a church, speaks volumes about their social and religious choices.

The Significance of a Civil Marriage

The Marriage Act of 1836 introduced civil marriages in England and Wales, allowing couples to wed outside of the Anglican Church for the first time. This was particularly important for nonconformists such as Welsh Baptists, Methodists, and Congregationalists, who had previously been forced to marry in Church of England ceremonies, even if they did not follow its teachings.

A register office marriage may indicate that Alice and Thomas came from a nonconformist background, rejecting the Anglican Church’s influence over Welsh communities. This was a time of growing nonconformity, where people sought religious freedom and greater independence from traditional authority.

Alternatively, a register office wedding could suggest a quick and practical union. Were there financial or personal reasons that meant a grander church wedding was not an option? The lack of a large religious ceremony may also hint at limited family involvement or support.

Who Was Thomas Davies?

Thomas Davies was born around 1846 in Cardiganshire, a rural Welsh county known for its farming communities and Welsh-speaking population. The Davies family likely moved from this countryside setting to industrial South Wales, where work was more readily available. By the time of their marriage, Thomas was working as a carpenter—a skilled trade in a time of rapid urban expansion.

His father, James Davies, was also a carpenter, suggesting a family tradition in skilled craftsmanship. South Wales was undergoing enormous industrial change, and with the rise of coal mining and steel production, tradesmen such as carpenters were in high demand for building workers’ houses, chapels, and industrial buildings.

Alice’s Father: The Mysterious Albert Milsted

Interestingly, Alice’s marriage certificate records her father as “Alfred Milsted”, rather than Albert. This discrepancy suggests that Alice had little or no contact with her father, which is not surprising given that Albert had abandoned his family years earlier. The mistake could have been made by Alice herself or the registrar, but it reflects her distance from Albert and his life of reinvention elsewhere.

At the time of Alice’s marriage, Albert was living an entirely separate existence. He had remarried and was pursuing a new identity far removed from the past that Alice and her mother had endured.

Life as a Young Bride in Industrial Wales

After their marriage, Alice and Thomas settled in Ebbw Vale, one of the most important industrial towns in Wales. By the 1870s, Ebbw Vale had already developed into a major center for coal mining, ironworks, and steel production.

Living conditions in these rapidly expanding towns were harsh:

• Houses were cramped and often built quickly to accommodate a growing workforce.
• Sanitation was poor, leading to frequent outbreaks of disease such as cholera, typhoid, and tuberculosis.
• Industrial work was dangerous, with high accident rates and widespread lung diseases such as pneumoconiosis (caused by coal dust inhalation).

As a carpenter, Thomas’s work was essential to the town’s expansion, but it was still a physically demanding and insecure occupation. Work was often irregular, and if demand dropped, tradesmen could find themselves out of employment with little warning.

A Growing Family

Over the next twenty-six years, Alice gave birth to fourteen children—a staggering number, even by Victorian standards.

In the 1870s and 1880s, childbirth was highly dangerous for women. Medical care was rudimentary, and complications such as postpartum infections (puerperal fever) and hemorrhaging were common causes of maternal death. Many women suffered from prolapse or long-term pain due to repeated pregnancies with little recovery time.

Despite these risks, Alice survived through it all. Her ability to raise such a large family speaks to her resilience and strength.

Where Did They Live?

Alice and Thomas moved frequently within Ebbw Vale and the surrounding areas, reflecting both the changing economy and the needs of their growing family. One of their later addresses was 27 Beynon Street, Newbridge—a location still close to the mining and steelworking industries.

Housing for industrial workers was often built in rows of terraced houses, providing basic shelter but little comfort. Most had small coal fires for heating, but they lacked indoor plumbing, meaning water had to be fetched from a communal pump or well. Overcrowding was a serious issue, especially for large families like the Davies’.

The Children’s Future

Given the economic structure of South Wales, it is unsurprising that most of Alice and Thomas’s sons ended up working in the collieries (coal mines). Coal was the lifeblood of the Welsh economy, and entire families depended on mining wages.

However, some family members sought a different life. A few moved to the Midlands, where industries such as manufacturing were expanding, and at least one daughter, Florence, emigrated to Canada and married there in 1913. The early 20th century saw a wave of Welsh emigration, with families leaving for Canada, the United States, and Australia, seeking better opportunities away from the dangers of mining.

Life Expectancy and Health Concerns

Living in an industrial town took a heavy toll on people’s health. Common causes of death included:

• Lung diseases (from coal dust, smoke, and poor air quality)
• Tuberculosis (TB), which thrived in overcrowded, damp housing
• Workplace accidents, particularly in mines and steelworks
• Poor nutrition, as working-class families struggled to afford fresh food

Despite these risks, Alice lived until 1929, dying at the age of 79. Her longevity was remarkable, considering the hardships she had endured. However, Thomas’s death date remains uncertain, which is unsurprising given how common the name “Thomas Davies” was in Wales—especially in heavily populated industrial areas like Newbridge and Bedwelty.

Alice’s Strength in the Face of Adversity

Alice Dawkin’s story is one of resilience, endurance, and survival. As the abandoned daughter of Albert Milsted, she had every reason to struggle, yet she found stability in marriage, raised a huge family, and endured the brutal realities of Victorian industrial life.

Her experiences mirror those of thousands of working-class Welsh women, whose lives were shaped by economic necessity, family loyalty, and a quiet determination to survive in an era where poverty, disease, and death were constant companions.

Alice’s story is a testament to the hidden strength of women in history—women whose struggles are often overlooked but whose perseverance shaped generations to come.