James Thomas GLASSON

When Emily returned to New Zealand in 1890 on the 'Rimutaka' she had only two children with her - six year old William richardson and two year old Mary jane. James thomas remained with his uncle and aunt.

1891 Census   Sun/Mon 5/6th April 1891
Source:       FHL Film  TNA Ref RG12
              Piece 1858 Folio 54 Page 30 Sched 196
Dwelling:     21 Tolver Road
Place:        Penzance, Cornwall, England

Name             Rel   Mar Age  Occupation         Status    Birthplace
John Glasson     Head   M   44  Tailor             Employer  Cornwall, Lelant
Mary Glasson     Wife   M   38                               Cornwall, Penzance
James T Glasson  Neph        6                               New Zealand, British Subject
John Arundell    F-i-L Wid  64  Showmaker          Neither   Cornwall, Gulval
Agnes Thomas     S-i-L  M   26                               Cornwall, Penzance 

1901 Census   Sun/Mon 31st March/1st April 1901
Source:       FHL Film  TNA Ref RG13
              Piece 2254 Folio 5 Page 4 Sched 11
Dwelling:     11 St James Street
Place:        Penzance, Cornwall, England

Name                  Rel  Mar Age  Occupation               Status       Birthplace
John Glasson	     Head  Wid  53  Tailor                   Own account  Cornwall, Lelant
James thomas Glasson  Son   S   15  Potato Merchants Assit.  Worker       New Zealand,
                                                                          Christchurch

Right: Map locating 11 St James' Street Penzance

It is believed that James Thomas GLASSON joined the Royal Navy in 1902. There is no record of James Thomas GLASSON in the 1911 census.

1815info7b, sheet 2

James Thomas GLASSON enlisted in the army to serve during Wold War One. His record records:

132266 Corporal James Glasson 251^st Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers.

He enlisted 13 April 1915, aged 30 years and 8 months (height 5 foot 5 inches - 165cm) as 20982 Glasson of the Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry, from Hayle, Cornwall

Prior to enlistment he had been a Fitter Labourer at the Cordite Process House, National Explosives Works, Hayle. In 1888 the National Explosive works were established on Upton Towans (giving it the alternative name "Dynamite Towans"). Originally built to supply the local mining industry it soon grew to supply the military, and during the First World War employed over 1500 people. The remote location on the Towans proved a wise move as there were a number of accidents resulting in explosions.

Above: The remains of the National Explosives works at Dynamite Towans Source: Walking West Cornwall

He transferred to Royal Engineers and served in.

When the 251st Tunnelling Company was formed at Rouen, it took over from 170th in the Loos area in October 1915, around Cuinchy-Cambrin-Auchy, where it remained for a considerable time. It blew the last mine fired by the British in the Great War, near Givenchy, on 10th August 1917. Source: The Long, Long Trail - Tunnelling Companies RE Right: A map locating position of 251st Tunnelling Company RE

1815info7b, sheet 3

On 15 December 1916 James Thomas GLASSON was discharged as 'No longer fit for service' to Market Street, Copperhouse, Hayle, Cornwall. Soon after, in the first quarter of 1917, he married Evelyn Mary MARTIN (GRO ref:: Redruth 5c 267), who was born in the fourth quarter of 1897 (GRO ref: Redruth  5c 190).

He died on 06 January 1920, (GRO ref: Redruth 5c 238) presumably as a result of TB contracted from working in the Cordite Process House and in the tunnels of Picardy, and is buried in Redruth.

Evelyn and the three boys left their home at 1 Barnoose Place, Illogen near Redruth. On 29 June 1922 they boarded the Shaw Savill & Albion steamship 'Athenic' at Southampton, bound for Wellington, via Panama. The family move to Eyerton, near Oxford, New Zealand, probably to stay with Emily, the boys grandmother. In 1922 Evelyn married Mr Gebbie. Right: A contemporary postcard of S.S. & A.Co 'Athenic' of 7592 tons, carrying 489 passengers on direct sailing to Wellington

Above: The names of Evelyn Glasson and her family as they appear on the embarkation register. Source: The Nation Archives, Kew, London

Copperhouse, Hayle

Looking at the industrial history of Hayle it is understandable why the National Explosives Works was based there and why James thomas was a fitter.

During the Cornish mining boom, Hayle had two of the three largest mine engine foundries in the world. Harvey’s Foundry, Hayle (1779-1903) was indisputably the greatest of the Cornish foundries, producing the largest steam engines ever built. It became the foremost engine foundry in the world, with an international market served through their own port at Foundry town, Hayle. The Copperhouse Foundry (1820-1869) was so named as it was the site of the copper smelters for the mines in the area.

Above: Copperhouse, Hayle 1890

1815info7b, sheet 4

Before the Cornish Copper Company was established in 1758 Cornish ore was shipped to South Wales. A copper smelter was set up at at Ventonleague (Copperhouse Creek) and a canal was dug to bring vessels right up to the works. Copperhouse Pool was later modified to serve as a tidal reservoir to allow ships to travel up as far as the dock, and to flush or sluice the channel to keep it clear of sand and silt. A complex set of social and industrial relationships was established in Hayle through the rivalry between the foundries. This directly steered development within the port of Hayle towards two geographically distinct and rival urban areas; Harvey & Co at Foundry beside the railway line and its rival beside the estuary at Copperhouse. The smelting process generated large amounts of waste.
		Above: Fore Street, Copperhouse, 1900

The copper slag was cast into large heavy dark bricks called locally 'Scoria Blocks' which were used as a building material in the town and can be seen today in many buildings. The blocks were sold at 9d (about 3p) for 20 and given free to employees of the CCCo to build their own houses. Despite the demolition of much of Copperhouse Foundry and key elements of Harvey's, as an historic industrial town and port, Hayle is still largely intact. Much of its harbour infrastructure survives, together with key industrial and public buildings, and a good range of workers' housing, villas and early shop fronts.
	Above: Copperhouse Square, 1905

Hayle is a settlement of unique character and great historical significance, contained within a landscape of equal merit.

Sources:
Copperhouse Foundry, Hayle, Cornwall
Cornish Mining World Heritage - Harvey's and Copperhouse
Cornish Mining World Heritage - Hayle
Genuki - Hayle, St Elwyn
Pictures of Hayle - vintage photographs

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This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass	Version A.2 Updated 28 November 2011