Jacob Chivers

Jacob Chivers (c1815-1883) of Jacob Chivers and Son

c.1815 Born in the Forest of Dean.

Jacob started as an engineer at the Cambrian Iron and Spelter Co works at Maesteg but had extended his interests to operating a lead mine in Spain. He made his fortune after purchasing a lead mine near Cartegena in Spain. His daughter Elizabeth was born in Cartagena in 1848. As a working partner he took on Thomas Bright, an iron founder at Carmarthen, who retired when Jacob's son Thomas, born at Maesteg in 1843, entered the business.

He then returned to the UK and became a major employer and benefactor.

1860 Jacob Chivers, while living in Aberdare, purchased the Kidwelly Tin Works with the initial help of his brother Caleb, a chemical manufacturer living at Myrtle Hill, Carmarthen.

They also had interests in shipping. In 1865 Thomas Chivers was the owner of the barque 'Sultan'.

1865 Left the Partnership with Thomas Chivers, carrying on the business of Ironfounders at Aberdare, in the county of Glamorgan. All debts received by Thomas Chivers.

By 1869 he was mayor of Kidwelly

1873 'NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, THAT the PARTNERSHIP heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned, JACOB CHIVERS, THOMAS CHIVERS, and GEORGE SMITH, carrying on business at Aberdare, in the County of Glamorgan, as Iron and Tin Plate Manufacturers, under the firm or style of "Chivers, Son, and Smith," was DISSOLVED by mutual consent on the 1st day of October instant. All Debts due to and owing from the late Co-partnership will be received and paid by the said Jacob Chivers. Dated this Sixteenth day of October, 1873. JACOB CHIVERS. THOMAS CHIVERS. GEORGE SMITH.'

1874 The Chivers acquired the Yspitty works at Loughor. They employed, as manager, Rushton Turnock, who purchased it from them in 1878.

Up to 1876 the Chivers ran Ffrwd colliery in Pembrey and were in partnership with George Smith at the Gadlys Ucha Tinplate Works, Aberdare, but withdrew in 1873.

1877 Partnership dissolved - Jacob Chivers and Son, Kidwelly, iron and tin plate manufacturers — Jacob Chivers and Son, Yspitty Works, near Lougher, iron and tin plate manufacturers.

1878 'THE PARKEND TIN WORKS. The negotiations for the purchase of the Parkend Tinplate Works, by Mr Jacob Chivers, have fallen through. Mr Chivers contemplates building a works near the Hawkwell Colliery, his property on the other side of the Forest.'

1879 'CINDERFORD. An extensive new tin-plate manufactory has been opened this week in the Cinderford Valley, the property of Messrs Jacob Chivers and Bright, these gentleman being well known in South Wales. The machinery combines all the newest improvements, and the works are laid out on the best plans for economic tin-plate making.'

1879 'CINDERFORD. TIN WORKS.—-Mr Jacob Chivers has recently started a new mill in connection with his tin-plate manufactory, and a second puddling furnace will be ready in a few days. Prices for tin-plates have again given way this week.'

1879 'FOREST OF DEAN. WAGES.- Two important advances in wages have been made in Dean Forest. Messrs Crawshay and Son have given their ironworkers a rise of 5 per cent, and Messrs Jacob Chivers and Co. have increased the wages of the men in their tinplate works by 7 1/2 per cent.'

1883 Death notice (two printed together): 'March 31, at Rheola, Cinderford, Jacob Chivers, late of Kidwelly aged 68 years. CHIVERS.— March 31st, at his residence, Rheola, Cinderford, Gloucestershire, Jacob Chivers, Esq., aged 68 years.'

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Contemporary newspaper report:-

'MARRIED. On Saturday, the 7th instant, by licence, at Margam, by the Rev. David Evans, Mr Jacob Chivers, of the Margam Tin Works, to Miss Elizabeth Bright, daughter of Mr Bright, of the said Works.'

1866 Kidwelly Petty Sessions.
A petty sessions was held at the Guildball, on Monday, before Edmund Blathwayte, Esq., mayor, and J. G. M Roberts, Esq.
Mr. Jacob Chivers charged Elijah Edmunds, David Davies, and William Williams, with leaving their service.— Defendants appeared.— Complaiaant said; " The defendants contracted to serve Jacob Chivers and Son, at the Tinplate Works in this borough, Edmunds as rollerman, Davies as a doubler, and Williams as a furnace-man, and they entered the service, and have been with us about two or three years, it being a condition that the contract is not to be put to an end to without a month's notice from either party. The pay is monthly, and there is a payment fortnightly on account. The pay is calculated at so much per box, and their labour was to be exclusively at our disposal. On the 12th inst., they absented themselves from our service, and were absent also on the 11th (Elijah the whole day), and on the 13th the three were absent. They had given no notice of their intention to leave. They had not any consent or any other lawful excuse. There was sufficient water for them to work, and if not there would be no excuse for their leaving. Their absence has been the cause of much inconvenience and loss. We suffer a loss by being unable to fulfil our contracts, and all the workmen above them were stopped by their misconduct.— Reuben Eynon said: I am agent to Messrs. Jacob Chivers and Son. The defendants were one and all absent on the 12th instant, without any excuse so far as I am aware of. My attention was called to the works at midnight of the 11th inst., and I found a jug of beer with the defendants, which I took from them. They were neglecting their work. Edmunds said he was not well, and could not eat without the beer, and I gave it back. On the next day, or rather night, they were absent altogether at the time they should have been there. There was plenty of water there, and there was no excuse for their not working on that account. In consequence of their absence the tinmill work was stopped entirely, occasioning loss to my employers.— Mr. Chivers re-examined : They were absent altogether on the night of the 12th inst., and had not the slightest excuse for being away. Edmunds earns about 40s. per week, and Davies and Williams from 25s. to 30s. They were paid until the end of last month.— The defendants were ordered to return to their work, and the wages now due to them to be abated.'

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