Edward Nielson and Catherine Banks Nielson

The life of Scottish Coal Miners was a difficult one.  Back then, in Scotland, they were known as colliers, and they were "thriled" to the land owned by the Lord or Baron.  Thriled means they were "staked" or tied/bound legally to the land.  They were essentially slaves, and scholars use that term when writing about the colliers now.  They could not remove themselves from the mine they were thriled to without the risk of arrest and prosecution.    

Edward was a Coal Hewer (one who broke up the coal at the face of the mine) and Catherine was a Coal Bearer.  They had to work together as a Team, and did so 12 hours a day, 6 days a week and were paid by the weight of the coal they brought from the face to the surface of the mine.  Incredible work, and although they were uneducated and most likely illiterate, they are a wonderful example to me of handwork and persistence.