Robert Williams
| Robert Williams | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
1864 Minffordd |
| Died |
1947 Minffordd |
| Employer | FR Co. |
| Occupation | Locomotive superintendent |
| Predecessor | William Williams |
| Successor | Morris Jones |
| Spouse | Annie Hughes |
| Children | Robert Charles Williams |
| Parents | Job Williams |
| FR People | WHR People | |
Robert Williams was locomotive superintendent of the Festiniog Railway between 1909 and 1927.
Biography[edit]
Robert Williams was born at Minffordd in a house on the Up side of Quarry Lane, opposite Lottie's in 1864. He was the son of Job Williams, lately Minffordd crossing Keeper. His cousin Ann Jones was the mother of H. T. Jones.
He started work on the Festiniog Railway as an Apprentice Fitter about 1881 and is shown as such in the 1881 census living at Minffordd Crossing House (note this is possibly not the house now known as Lottie's). He married Annie in 1904 and they had a son, Robert Charles, in 1906.
He rose to become the last, resident, Locomotive Superintendent of the old FR Co, taking over not only the office from William Williams (no relation) in 1909, but also his residence at No. 3 Boston Lodge Cottages.
From September 1915, Williams oversaw the adaptation of parts of Boston Lodge to serve as a National Shell Factory and he was retained by the Ministry of Munitions to manage the factory. Hugh Hughes deputised for him in regards the company business
At the end of February 1919 he asked to be re-instated as Locomotive Superintendent, to which the board agreed that he would be re-instated, at a salary of £2 10/- (£2.50) per week, plus war bonus, of £5, from April 1st.
In early November 1922, he was instructed, by Colonel Stephens to visit and inspect the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways stock then stabled at Dinas. In 1923, he was off on company business again, this time to Wake's Geneva yard at Darlington. Gowrie, from the NWNGR had been here unused since 1918. Although wanted by some FR people, its purchase was not sanctioned.
In 1924, a 'spy' by the name of Corfield for the Colonel took a trip on James Spooner and the resulting report brought a reprimand, blaming Williams for not using the available labour to its best advantage
During the General Strike of 1926, it was Williams and the apprentices who keep the trains running. Unfortunately, whilst there was a steady decline in business, there was also a decline in the condition of the locomotive stock. Williams was retired by Stephens in November 1927. Morris Jones who had come back into the company employ in July 1926 was put in charge of the Works in his place in January 1928.
For a character sketch of Robert Williams (or "Toby Jug" as he was nick named behind his back) see Dan Wilson's rendering of Reg Crick's telling of life as an apprentice and how while the cat was away the mice would play.[1]
After he left the railway he lived in Minffordd and died in 1947. He is buried in Minffordd graveyard.
Additional photogrpahs[edit]
Robert Williams is confirmed as the person in the photo known as Boyd26H. (click here to see) This photo is labelled "A Group taken in the Works Yard before the First War". It is believed to be around 1913. It is not all staff from the yard at that time. There was a list attached to the original which declares who the people are. This person is believed to be in the third row from the back and the twelth person from the left handside.
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Robert Williams c1900
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Robert Williams grave
Census Entry for 1881[edit]
| An entry has been found for this person at Minffordd Crossing House |
| where the year of birth is recorded as: 1865 in Minffordd |
| The occupation given is: Apprentice Fitter |
Census Entry for 1891[edit]
| An entry has been found for this person at Minffordd Crossing House |
| where the year of birth is recorded as: 1865 in Minffordd |
Census Entry for 1911[edit]
| An entry has been found for this person at Minffordd Crossing House |
| where the year of birth is recorded as: 1865 in Minffordd |
| The occupation given is: Loco Superintendent |
| It is believed, married to Annie (1904) |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- Boyd, James I.C. (1975) [1959]. The Festiniog Railway 1800 - 1974; Vol. 1 - History and Route. Blandford: The Oakwood Press. pp. 173, 176–177, 179, 181, 192, 194, 199, 201, 209, 220–221, 245. ISBN 0-8536-1167-X. OCLC 2074549.
- Boyd, James I.C. (1975) [1959]. The Festiniog Railway 1800 - 1974; Vol. 2 Locomotive and Rolling Stock and Quarry Feeders. Blandford: The Oakwood Press. pp. 367, 567, 569. ISBN 085361-168-8.
- ^ "Power Structure Re-Jug", Ffestiniog Railway Magazine, Issue 047, page(s): 001