Arthur was born on 3rd October 1890 in Tynant, Llanharry, Glamorgan. His parents were Walter Rue and Jane nee Pole. He had one sister who was 1 year older than him.
Brothers followed in 1892, 1893 and twins in 1895 although one of the twins died within a year of life.
In the 1891 census of Tynant Llanharry we see Walter aged 24 (shown as a labourer but working in the colliery), his wife Jane aged 27 with their children Emma aged 1 and Arthur aged 6 months.
Arthur’s parents had moved to Glamorgan from Somerset in the late 1880’s and it seems that his father, Walter began working in the coal mines soon after.
Walter was involved in an accident in the mine in January 1895 when a part of the roof collapsed on him. This appears to have casued spinal injuries and he died on 31st July 1895. Walter was 28 and he left behind a young widow heavily pregant with twins and with 4 other children aged 5 and under including Arthur who was just 4.
Arthur’s mother Jane seems to have got together with another miner soon after and it appears that she and Thomas Edwards had their first child in 1896, a half sister for Arthur.
A further 4 Edwards children were born ending with the youngest in 1905.
Thomas Edwards appears to have raised the Rue children as his own, although they maintained their own name. Certainly the Rue’s and the Edwards’s appear to have got on well enough together.
The family seem to have moved about quite a lot between 1895 and 1910, moving at some time from Llanharry towards Neath and then to Swansea and back towards Crynant.
In the 1901 census they are at “Hut Lletty Lwyd” in Michaelstone Upper – part of the district of Neath which I believe to be near Aberavon. There is Thomas Edwards 41 a coal hewer, Jane Edwards 33, Emmy A Rue 12, Arthur Rue 12, George Rue 10, Oby (poss s/be Alby) Rue 7, Walter Rue 5, Sarah A Edwards 5, Johhny Edwards 2 and William Edwards 5 mths.
As soon as he was old enough it seems that Arthur began work in the coal mines.
In the 1911 census the family are all living at Hendregynen Farm in Crynant, Neath, were Thomas Edwards as head appears to have turned his back on mining to become a farmer. Arthur is shown as aged 21, single and a coal hewer. All his brothers and sisters are with them including his older sister’s first child the 10 month old Nellie Tripp.
I am the proud owner of the original marriage certificate from the marriage of Arthur Rue a 25 year old bachelor, miner, residing at 66 Windsor Road Neath (showing his father as Walter Rue – deceased – a farmer!!) to Margaret Ann Collins a 22 year old spinster also residing at 66 Windsor Road, Neath. The marriage took place on 26th September 1915 in the parish church Neath. The witnesses were H C Collins and Walter Rue.
Maggie Collins was from Neath, her father was Henry Charles Collins a gasworker, born and bred in Neath and her mother was called Minnie.
Arthur and Maggie had their first child, Thomas Leslie Rue. I do not know his date of birth but know that he did not survive long. He was buried on 22nd September 1916 as an infant. At that time the family lived at 1 Llewellyn Street in Neath.
The second child didn’t fair much better, Margaret Eileen Rue was born in 1917 and buried on 19th March 1918. Still the family lived at 1 Llewellyn Street.
The third child, Arthur Henry Rue was born on 9th November 1918. He did much better going on to lead a full life, having 2 sons and surviving until 1999.
Marjorie (known as Peggy) was born in 1920.
One further early death followed the birth of Minnie in 1922. She was buried on 5th April 1922. At that time the family lived at 32 Wallace Road, Neath, although someone, possibly the Collins family continued to reside at Llewellyn Street until at least 1933.
Terrence was the final child born on 9th August 1925.
So having had 6 children, only 3 survived infancy.
Through life Arthur worked as a miner, and I understand he may have worked at Cefn Coed Colliery. This was worked from about 1927 although was not successful until about 1930. I do not know which colliery he was at before that and need some confirmation that this is correct anyway.
Arthur died on 1st September 1938 in Neath. He was just 47. He apparently died of mining related illness although I don’t have confirmation of this either. I believe the family were still at 32 Wallace Road then as that address was given as the address of Maggie Rue by their son, Arthur Henry on signing up for the War in 1939.