William Williams (1835)
William Williams was born around 1835 in Tremadoc. Around 1837/8 he and his parents moved to Hawarden in Flintshire where his father (also William) was an engineer. By 1851 William (snr) was working for the FR and the family were living at 3, Penycob which is now probably 2, Boston Lodge. William jnr (15) and his brother Owen (13) were apprentice fitters at the works. Information in the FR archives suggests William started working for the FR in 1847. His grandfather was Richard Williams, a blacksmith from Tremadoc. It is thought he worked for William Madocks on the construction of Tremadoc.
By 1861 William snr had died and William jnr had married Elizabeth Parry (in 1857). It is believed they then lived in what is now No.3, Boston Lodge. At that time they had two daughters and William's mother was living with them. In total they had 5 children. Among them, John R who trained as a Civil Engineer but went to India to work with G.P.Spooner and ended his career in the locomotive department of the East Bengal Railway in 1917, and William G. who worked for the FR as a fitter and then Loco Foreman.
William's sister, Margaret, married Solomon Owen who also worked at Boston Lodge as a sawyer.
For period after the arrival of the first locos in 1863 he is recorded as being trialled as a driver in October 1863 and as being the driver of Little Wonder in 1870. In Scribners account of the line in 1878 he again was called on to drive Little Wonder to the rescue of The Princess. Therefore during the period from 1870 to 1881 he may have combined driving with being a fitter (and later Works Foreman).
In 1869, he completed the construction of Topsy, a working model steam locomotive of 3.125 inch gauge, for CE Spooner's railway at Bron-y-Garth. Later records suggest he may have been helped by Percy, Charles' son.
In February 1881 was appointed Locomotive Superintendant, suceeding CES, with his salary being increased by 10s (50p) per week.
A further salary increase from £190 15/- (£190.75), was requested in February 1888, but, on direction from CES, he received "free rent" instead. Strangely, Boyd[1] records that his salary in February 1900 was 40/- i.e £104 per year.
From his notes, it was recorded that he recommended R&W Hawthorn Leslie & Co. Ltd of Leeds as his preferred supplier for the new boiler for Princess in 1895, but the Vulcan works won the contract.
Dismissed in June 1909 (62 years service!) with a "pension" of £1 per week terminatable at any time by the Board. He was asked to vacate his lodgings at 3,Boston Lodge at the same time and moved to live in New St., Portmadoc.
He died in December 1915, and an application by his widow, for a continuance on the "pension" was denied
He was succeeded as Loco Superintendant by Robert Williams (no relation)
The period leading up to his dismissal coincided with Board room shuffles and resignations, dismissal of a number of Boston Lodge employees (including his son William.G.Williams) and a report on costs produced externally. Relations across the Cob with Fredrick Vaughan were strained. William Williams carried what became a grudge against the FR to his grave. He was buried at Penrhyndeudraeth Holy Trinity church and his family had to arrange his for cortege to take a route avoiding Boston Lodge, lest the ill-will followed him to his grave.
[edit] References
- ^ Boyd, James I.C. (1975 / 2002). The Festiniog Railway 1800 - 1974; Vol. 2 Locomotive and Rolling Stock and Quarry Feeders. Blandford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 085361-168-8. p565
