Originally published in the BDHS newsletter, May 2001
By JoAnne Matsumura
They came en masse, these hardy Welsh people from Black Diamond, California, also known as Nortonville, California, to settle here and make this area “The best town on the map.” They brought not only themselves, but the town as well. From mining equipment to tools, furnishings, and all they could possibly carry.
Superintendent Morgan Morgans closed the California affairs of the company in March 1885 and went to his home in Oakland, California. He came to Black Diamond, Washington, in March 1885 and moved to Spokane, Washington, in 1904.
The migration from California to Oregon and Washington Territory had already begun and people were here in time to be counted in the 1885 Washington Territorial Federal Population Census. Who were these 194 Welsh individuals of whom 124 are known to be from Nortonville, California, among the many other ethnic groups, between 1882 and 1885, to Black Diamond, Washington?
From the thesis by Jacqueline Byer Dial, June 1980, with acknowledgements to Carl and Ann Steiert, the following is a positive surname list of those who first came (heads of households):
Abraham, Daniel Rosser
Abraham, Lewis & Ann Abraham, Lewis Armstrong, Wm. John Benedetti, Angelo Botting, David Botting, Kate Boyle, Roger Boxill, Samuel H. Bryant, Mark W. Bryant, Frederick Bryant, James Cardaray, Chas. W. Cantrill, M.L. Davis, Ciarisse Davis, D.B. (David) Davis, David R. Davis, Thos. A. Davis, Thos. X. Davis, William W. Davis, William B. |
Dumas, Louis
Evans, Edward Evans, J.B. Gallagher, Patrick Habenicht, Henry Habenicht, August Habenicht, Albert Heacock, Reese Hewitt, Robert Hunter, James Jones, David Jones, John O. Jones, Lizza Jones, John E. Jones, Thomas F. Jones, William T. Lewis, Elizabeth Mills, John X. Minaglia, Giovanni Morgan, J.W. Morgan, S.S. |
Morgans, Morgan
Morgans, W.P. Murry, Wm. A. Murry, Wm. J. Noakes, Wm. J. Piercy, John Powell, David Thomas, Henry Thomas, Howell J. Turnbull, Alex Vestenys, Peter Vesteny, Peter Watkings, J.B. Watkings, John Watkins, David Weber, David Williams, John Williams, Wm. Henry Wilmot, James Witherow, W.R. End of list |
Ms. Dial also compiled a tentative surname list of individuals that could have migrated from Nortonville, California, to Black Diamond, Washington. The names are:
Abraham, John H.
Davis, David
Evans, David
Jones, Richard
Lee, George
Marino, F.
In addition to the above, the 1885 Washington Territorial Population Census for Black Diamond, Washington, the following surnames are shown with the birthplace as Wales. They are: Hughes, Phillips, Ryan, D. John, Adams, Davies, Harris, Jenkins, and Roberts.
Did you know?
- In the 1890s Welsh families in Black Diamond picked currants nearby to put in their Welsh cookies.
- Over 217 Welsh family names appear in the 1982 Black Diamond Cemetery book.
- Welsh mine workers were paid more than the Italian mine workers.
- A Morgans Fan that forced air into the mine was invented by Morgan Morgans, pre 1885.
- The Welsh were the predominant members at the first initiation of the Black Diamond Mt. Rainier Chapter of Rebekah Lodge #106, September 26, 1896.
I am related to the David Botting ,Alexander Turnbull and Wn Noakes
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I am also related to David Botting, Kate Botting, Wm. Noakes and Alexander Turnbull…
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Lewis John Abraham, born in Black Diamond August 13, 1889, was my father.
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I am Samuel Howard Boxill’s great granddaughter. Are there any pictures of him that you know of
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I am the great great granddaughter of Morgan Morgans. It is wonderful to see history remembered and published!
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