Emily McCormick was my great grandmother and is buried with her second husband William McCormick in Llanstainffraid church yard, Aberkenfig (Church of St. Bride in the parish of St. Brides Minor).

Born into a farming and fishing family the Industrial Revolution was to make it's unforgettable mark on the Nicholls family, leaving their native Cornwall and centuries old trades. The first record off the family leaving comes with the 1871 Census record.

The 1851 census records Emily's father John Matthew Nicholls, as a 22 year old seaman living with his family at 8, The Beach, St. Ives, Cornwall

St. Ives - Cornwall

By the 1861 census John Matthew Nicholls is married to Elizabeth Teague.  The marriage took place at the Church of St. Euny, Redruth, Cornwall on the 20th October 1953.

St. Euny - Redruth

John's father was recorded as a Mariner and Emily's a farmer. John is recorded as a Mariner and they are living with Elizabeth's Mother and Sister in Gwenap and have a son John Henry and daughters Emily and Charity.

The 1861 census shows a big move for the Nicholls family to Port Talbot, South Wales - probably a journey undertaken by sea.

John Nicholls and his son John Henry are both employed by the Cornish family of Vivian's.

History have served the Vivian family well, whilst throughout the World history tells the diabolic and barbaric standards and human greed that the

Crawshays of Merthyr Tydfil operated by it's seems to leave the Vivian family somewhat unscathed and almost betray them as great philtratopsis's to the city of Swansea (Abertawe) how unjust and unfair history can be the Vivian's were disgusting greedy uncaring Iron Masters who in modern time would have found themselves imprisoned for corporate manslaughter and never seem to have regretted their deeds.

• Llansantffraid Church, Aberkenfig
• St. Brides Minor

St. Michael's Mount - Marazion

On the 9th November, 1878 Emily married her first husband widower Benjamin Thomas, Benjamin was born the 24th June 19843 to David Thomas and Wife, farmers, Cresswell Quay, Pembrokeshire his first wife Elizabeth died (buried Llangyfelach Church) leaving him with to young children Catherine born 1871 and David 1873.

Cresselly Arms, Cresswell Quay

Cresswell Quay, Pembrokeshire, a hamlet on the river Cresswell (inlet of the Cleddau) with the parishes of Jeffreyston & Carew

Emily and Benjamin had two children John Matthew born 1881 Taibach, Port Talbot and my grandfather Benjamin 1st July, 1882, my grandfather Benjamin was never to know his father - Benjamin Thomas snr. died from injuries sustained at the Cwrt Herbert Colliery, Neath on the 30th March, 1882.

Emily cared for Benjamin and Elizabeth's children as her own and they continued to live with her until they themselves married. On the 2nd February, 1889 Emily married William McCormick (born Tipperary, Ireland) at the Church in Wales Margam Parish Church (Chapel of Ease/HolyCross) Port Talbot.

Chapel of Ease - Margam Parish Church

On the 10th March, 1890 Emily's McCormicks Father John Matthew Nicholls and her brother John Henry Nicholls were killed at the Morfa Colliery and buried in the graveyard of the Chapel of Ease.

A silence fell over the family and little was spoken, the death recorded in the family bible on the same day, the cause and place not told.

Elizabeth