Copper Ladies

The census records across the 19th century provide a detailed look at the “Copper Ladies,” a distinct female workforce formally identified as Copper Dressers. These women and girls were essential to the Amlwch mining industry, performing the labor-intensive task of breaking and sorting copper ore at the surface

While the most common designation is “Copper Dresser”, the sources include several variations of this role that highlight the specific nature of their work:

Copper Grinders: In the later decades, such as 1881, women like Jane Williams (22), Ellin Williams (16), and Ellen Roberts (26) were recorded as “Coper Mines Grinders” or “Coper Grinders”.

Copper Cutters: In 1851, Margared Williams (41) was uniquely listed as a “Copper Cutter”.

Ochre Makers: Earlier records, such as the 1841 census, list related roles like Hannah Roberts (20), an “Ochre maker” at Mona Yard

The census shows that copper dressing was a life-long occupation for many women, ranging from childhood to old age:

Child Labor: Girls as young as 12 were active in the trade, such as Margaret Williams (12) in 1861. Other young dressers included 14-year-olds like Mary Hughes and Hannah Hughes.

Active Adults: The majority were in their 20s and 30s, such as Ann Davies (25) and Catherine Wrench (40).

Longevity and Retirement: Some women continued working into their 60s. Ann Lewis was listed as a dresser at age 60, while Mary Williams was recorded as a “Retd Copper Dresser” at age 65 in 1851.

These women were often clustered in specific neighborhoods or near industrial sites:

Llaithdy and School Street: These areas saw high concentrations of copper dressers, including Jane Thomas and Ann Williams.

Cerrig y Bleiddia: This neighborhood housed multiple dressers, such as Mary Roberts and Ann Lewis.

Pentrefelein and Bank Port: Large groups of dressers lived here, often in households where men were listed as copper miners or smelters.

Copper dressing was frequently a family trade. It was common to see multiple women in one household employed as dressers. For example:

The Edward family in 1851 had three women—Ann (24), Cathrin (20), and Mary (20)—all listed as copper dressers.

In some cases, widows turned to this trade to support their families, while in others, daughters worked alongside their mining fathers to bolster the household income.

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Search for Copper ladies in the Amlwch census data.

First Name	Surname	DOB	Age	Residence	Occupation	Source	Notes
Agnes	Rowlands	1800	71	Gadfa	At the mines	1871 Llanelian	with Hughes family (relative)
Amelia	Owen	1805	56	Tyn Llidiart	Copper miner	1861 Amlwch
Ann	Davies	1826	25	Parys Mountain	Copper lady	1851 Amlwch	lodger with Humphreys fam.
Ann	Edmund	1837	34	Cerrig Man?	Working in copper mines	1871 Amlwch	d. John + Catherine
Ann	Edward	1823	28	Glan Gors	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian
Ann	Edward	1827	24	Tyn y Grallt	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. Thomas + Mary
Ann	Edwards	1816	25	Croes Llian	Copper breaker	1841 Amlwch	d. of Ann (75 yrs)? widow
Ann	Jones	1831	20	Mona Yard	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. Richard + Lettisa
Ann	Jones	1835	16	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1851 Llanwenllyfo	d. Stephen + Susannah
Ann	Lewis	1781	60	Cerrig y Bleddia	Copper breaker	1841 Amlwch	living with Mary Roberts (CB) and mother Ellen Evans?
Ann	Nearny	1835	46	Mona Yard	Yard keeper	1881 Amlwch	b. Ireland, d. of Abigail (95) b. Ireland
Ann	Owen			Factory	Miner	1801 Amlwch
Ann	Parry	1808	43	Rhwynk	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. Grace (73) pauper miners widow
Ann	Parry	1829	32	Rhwynk	Dresser at mine	1861 Amlwch	Single
Ann	ALLEN	1838		Nebo	Copper Lady (Manuf)	Anglesey 1881
Ann	DAVIES	1826			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Ann	EDWARD	1827			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Ann	EDWARD	1823			Dau/Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Ann	HUGHES	1811			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Ann	JONES	1831			Cop Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Ann	JONES	1865			Copper Dresser	Anglesey 1881
Ann	JONES	1857			Copper Miner Wife	Llanelian 1881
Ann	JONES	1849			Copper Miners Wife	Llanelian 1881
Ann	PARRY	1808			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Ann	THOMAS	1867			Copper Lady (Manuf)	Anglesey 1881
Ann	THOMAS	1845			Copper Miners Wife	Llanelian 1881
Ann	THOMAS	21/12/1853			Wife of George Thomas Agent	Amlwch burial
Ann	WILLIAMS	1812			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Ann	Allen	1838	43	Nebo	Copper Lady (Manuf)	1881 Llaneilian
Ann	Hughes	1806?	45?	Caes Clwtt	Copper mine dresser	1851 Amlwch
Ann	Hughes	1866	15	Pensarn	Copper miner labr	1881 Llanwenllwfo	d. of Jane (57) widow
Ann	Hughes	1856	15	Pen Llwyd	Working in the copper mines	1871 Amlwch	d. William + Jane
Ann	Jones	1835	26	Pensarn	Copper dresser	1861 Llanwenllwfo	d. Stephen + Susannah
Ann	Jones	1846	25	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1871 Llanwenllfo
Ann	Jones	1851	20	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1871 Llanwenllfo	d. Richard + Hannah
Ann	Jones	1865	16	Pensarn	Copper dresser	1881 Llaneilian	d. Owen + Margt
Ann	Thomas	1852	25	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1871 Llanwenllwfo	d. Elizabeth (55) pauper
Ann	Thomas	1867	14	Pensarn	Copper lady (manuf)	1881 Llaneilian	d. Richard + Elizabeth
Ann	Williams	1812	39	Trerdath	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch
Ann	Williams	1822	29	Capel	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	d. Elinor (72) widow
Ann M.	Jones	1866	15	Pensarn	Copper miners lab	1881 Llanwenllwfo	d. of Thomas + Sarah
Anne	Edmund	1832	17	Cerris	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	d. John + Catherine
Anne	Edward	1816	35	Pensarn	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian
Anne	Hughes	1808	53	Bonc Eithin	Working at copper mine	1861 Amlwch
Anne	Jones	1845	16	Ty Tywyval?	Copper lady	1861 Llandyfrdog	d. Jane (54) widow
Anne	Jones	1832	19	Hengwesa	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	d. Hugh + Jane
Anne	Lewis	1778	73	Tyn Llidiart	Pauper, formerly copper dresser	1851 Llanwenllwfo
Anne	EDWARD	1816		Pensarn	Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Anne	HUGHES	1777		Penybonk	Miner’s Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Anne	JONES	1832			Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Anne	JONES	1776		Pensarn	Miner’s Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Anne	Owen	1811		Pengraig	Copper Dresser	A1861
Anne	PARRY	1780		Pengorffwysfa	Miners Wid	Llaneilian 1851
Anne	THOMAS	1816		Ty Cynta	Miners wife	Llaneilian 1851
Anne	WILLIAMS	1822			Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Catherine	Edwards	1845	16	Cemaes Rd	Working mines copper	1861 Amlwch	d. William + Elizabeth
Catherine	Ellis	1838	23	Cemaes Rd	Working in mines	1861 Amlwch	gd. Robert + Catherine
Catherine	Jones	1816	35	Pensarn	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	d. Modlan (73) see below
Catherine	Jones	1821	40	School St	Copper miner	1861 Llaneilian	d. Magdalen (80) pauper
Catherine	Jones	1849	22	Conig Heddia	Working in the copper mines	1871 Amlwch	d. John + Ann
Catherine	Jones	1853	18	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1871 Llanwenllfo	neice of Richard + Hannah
Catherine	Owen	1848	23	N side, Pentrefelin	Working in copper mines	1871 Amlwch	d.Jane (50) widow, baker
Catherine	Pritchard	1828	23	Maes Llwyn Uchaf	Working at copper mine	1851 Amlwch
Catherine	Roberts	1830	21	Bryn?	Working at the mines	1861 Lanwenllwyfo	d. Jane (67) widow
Catherine	Rowland	1830	21	Tynllain	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	d. John (45) miner widower
Catherine	Williams	1854	17	Refail Bach	Dressing copper	1871 Amlwch	d. Margaret (47?) widow, pauper
Catherine	Wrench	1848	13	Pentrefelein	Copper dresser	1861 Amlwch	d. of Jane
Catherine	HUGHES	1762			Mother	Dyfrydog 1851
Catherine	PRICHARD	1828			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Catherine	Wrench	1821		Pentrefelein	Copper Dresser	A1861
Cathrin	Edwards	1821	28	Glan y Gors Hir	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	d. of Catherine (66) pauper
Cathrin	EDWARD	1831			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Cathrine	EDWARD	1785		Glanygors Hir	Miners Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Cathrine	ROBERTS	1783		Penlan	Miners Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Cathrine	ROWLAND	1830		Tyn Llain	Dau/Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Cathrine	WILLIAMS	1805		Pensarn	Miner’s Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Dorothy	Griff			Pentrefelin Hen	Miner	1801 Amlwch
Edwards	ANN	1816		Croes Llian	Coppr dresser	Amlwch 1841
Elinor	ROBERTS	1826			Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Elizabeth	Chartrid	1836	15	Tres y Llyn	Dressing copper	1841 Llaneilian	d. of Hugh (copper miner)
Elizabeth	Davies	1825	26	Ty Newydd	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. Richard + Jane
Elizabeth	Davis	1820	31	Llyncoch	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	d. John + Mary
Elizabeth	Hughes	1801	50	Cerris	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian
Elizabeth	Hughes	1805	46	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1851 Llanwenllyfo	d. Ellen Robinson (76) pauper widow
Elizabeth	Hughes	1855	16	Ty ?	Dressing copper	1871 Amlwch	with aunt Margaret Roberts (pauper) blind
Elizabeth	Jones	1825	26	Trerdath	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d.of Ellinor (52)
Elizabeth	Jones	1833	38	Miners Arms, Pensarn	Copper miner + Miners Arms	1871 Llanwenllfo	wife of Richard
Elizabeth	Jones	1857	14	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1871 Llanwenllfo	d. Richard + Hannah
Elizabeth	Owen	1864	17	Pensarn	Copper dresser	1881 Llanelian	d. Richard + Ann
Elizabeth	Pritchard	1806	35	Glanafon Isa	Copper dresser	1841 Llaneilian	with d. Ann Hughes (15)? + lodger (74)
Elizabeth	Thomas	1814	37	Carreg Cwm Nach?	Copper lady (manuf)	1851 Amlwch
Elizabeth	Thomas	1837	14	Carreg y ?	Copper lady	1851 Amlwch
Elizabeth	Thomas	1848	13	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1861 Llanwenllwyfo	d. Elizabeth (44)
Elizabeth	Thomas	1850	21	Tyn y Nant	Dressing copper	1871 Amlwch	d. Thomas + Ellen
Elizabeth	Williams	1857	14	Refail Bach	Dressing copper	1871 Amlwch	d. Ellen (42) pauper
Elizabeth	Williams	1858	13	Refail Bach	Dressing copper	1871 Amlwch	d. Margaret (47?) pauper
Elizabeth	DAVIES	1820			Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Elizabeth	DAVIES	1825			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Elizabeth	Davies	1834		Brimstone Yard	Copper Dresser	A1861
Elizabeth	EVANS	1851		Reval Bach	Miner’s Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Elizabeth	HUGHES	1853		Tyddynod Bach	Cop Miners Widow	Anglesey 1881
Elizabeth	HUGHES	1853		Tyddynod Bach	Cop Miners Widow	Anglesey 1881
Elizabeth	HUGHES	1809		Pensarn	Copper Miners Wife	Llanelian 1881
Elizabeth	HUGHES	1801		Cerrigman	Wid/Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Elizabeth	JONES	1825			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Elizabeth	JONES	1779		Ty Ucha, Gadfa	Miners Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Elizabeth	JONES	1791		Fasgian	Miners Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Elizabeth	Roberts	1834		Voel Newydd	Copper Dresser	A1861
Elizabeth	ROBERTS	1861			Copper Miner Wife	Llanelian 1881
Elizabeth	ROBINSON	1809		Ty Newydd	Miner’s Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Elizabeth	ROOSE	d 3/5/1787			Wife of Johnathon Roose	Amlwch burial
Elizabeth	THOMAS	1814			Cop Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Elizabeth	WILLIAMS	1809		Ty Newydd	Miners wife	Llaneilian 1851
Elizabeth	Parry	1846	25	Fagddu?	Working at the copper mines	1871 Llanwenllwfo	d. Jane Pritchard
Elizabeth	Parry	1851	30	?	Copper mine lab	1881 Llanwenllwfo	d. Jane (61) widow
Ellen	Hughes	1853	18	?	Dressing copper	1871 Amlwch	lodger with Parry family
Ellen	Hughes	1858	13	Pen y Mynydd	Copper dresser	1871 Amlwch	d. William + Ann
Ellen	James	1804	57	Matthew St	Servant in Mona Mine office	1861 Amlwch	widow
Ellen	Jones	1798	63	Matthew St	Working in smelting works	1861 Amlwch	widow
Ellen	Jones	1804	57	Methusalem Street	Servant in Mona Mine office	1861 Amlwch
Ellen	Jones	1824	27	Cerrig Bleddia	Copper lady	1851 Amlwch	d. Elizabeth Roberts (61) widow
Ellen	Jones	1832	19	Pensarn	Working in the mines	1851 Llanwenllyfo	d. Stephen + Susannah
Ellen	Roberts	1824	27	Cerrig y Bleddia	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. John + Jane
Ellen	Roberts	1854	17	Brimstone Yard	Dressing copper	1871 Amlwch	d. Grace (55) pauper
Ellen	JONES	1824			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Ellen	OWEN	1787		Rhosbach`	Miners widow	Llaneilian 1851
Ellen	ROBERTS	1855		Brimstone Yard	Coper Grinder	Anglesey 1881
Ellen	ROBERTS	1824			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Ellen	ROBERTS	1783		Corbwll Bach	Miners Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Ellen	Jones	1865	16	Pensarn	Copper miner labourer	1881 Llanwenllwfo	d. Andrew +Ellen
Ellen	Williams	1839	42	Pensarn	Copper mine lab	1881 Llanwenllwfo	widow
Ellenor	Jones	1799	52	Caes Clwtt	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	widow, d. of John (70) ag lab
Ellenor	Williams	1830	21	Ty Newydd	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. of Henry + Ann
Ellenor	JONES	1799			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Ellenor	JONES	1828			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Ellenor	WILLIAMS	1830			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Ellin	Roberts	1855	26	Brimstone Yard	Copper grinder	1881 Amlwch	d. Grace (67)
Ellin	Williams	1865	16	Pen Mynydd	Copper mine grinder	1881 Amlwch	d. Ellin (m) pauper
Ellin	OWEN	1819		Tair Gors	Miners widow	Llaneilian 1851
Ellin	WILLIAMS	1865		Penmynudd	Coper Mines Grinder	Anglesey 1881
Ellinor	Edmund	1836	15	Cerris	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	d. John + Catherine
Ellinor	Ellis	1799	52	Carcaful?	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian
Ellinor	Jones	1828?	23	Mona Yard	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. Richard + Lettisa
Ellinor	Roberts	1826	25	Cerris	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	widow, living with Ellis family
Ellinor	EDMUND	1836			Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Ellinor	ELLIS	1799			Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Ellinor	OWEN	1795		Pensarn	Miner’s Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Ellinor	WILLIAMS	1779		Cae Capel	Miner’s widow	Llaneilian 1851
Erminia	Jones	1833	18	Mona Yard	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. Richard + Lettisa
Erminia	JONES	1833			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Francis	THOMAS	1819		Pensarn	Wid/Copper Miner	Llaneilian 1851
Grace	Hughes	1793	58	Pen y Bonk	Copper Dresser	1851 Llaneilian
Grace	Hughes	1795	66	Tyn y Pwyll? No. 2	working at the mines	1861 Llanwenllwfo
Grace	Hughes	1856	15	Pen y Mynydd	Dressing copper	1871 Amlwch	with aunt Margaret Roberts (pauper) blind
Grace	Jones	1786	65	Hengwesa	Pauper copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian
Grace	Roberts	1831	20	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1851 Llanwenllwfo	d. Evan + Jane
Grace	Rowland	1855	16	Carreg en Moel?	Worker in copper mines	1871 Amlwch	d. Margaret (58 yrs) widow
Grace	EDWARDS	1780		Nebo	Miner’s Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Grace	ELLIS	1864			Copper Lady (Manuf)	Anglesey 1881
Grace	ELLIS	1864			Copper Lady (Manuf)	Llanelian 1881
Grace	ELLIS	1769		Pant y Moch	Miners Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Grace	HUGHES	1793		Penybonk	Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Grace	Ellis	1864	17	Cerrig Man	Copper lady (manuf)	1881 Llaneilian	d. Ann (45) widow, twin?
Hannah	Davies	1834	17	Fron Pits	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. Owen + Elizabeth
Hannah	Hughes	1847	14	Tal y Llyn	Copper miner	1861 Amlwch
Hannah	Hughes	1847	24	Pen y Mynydd	Copper dresser	1871 Amlwch	d. Elizabeth (71) widow
Hannah	Jones	1845	16	Castell	working in parish mine	1861 Llaneilian	d. Elizabeth (55) pauper
Hannah	Jones	1853	18	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1871 Llanwenllfo	d. Richard + Hannah
Hannah	Parry	1848	13	Dyffryn Coch	Working in copper mines	1871 Amlwch	d. Henry + Ellen
Hannah	Phillips	1791	50	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1871 Llanwenllwfo
Hannah	Roberts	1824	27	Tyn Coch	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	d. Thomas + Anne
Hannah	Roberts	1850	21	Hen Waith	Working at the mine	1871 Amlwch	d. John + Jane
Hannah	Thomas	1841	30	Brimstone Yard	Dressing copper	1871 Amlwch	with d. and son (11) at mine
Hannah	DAVIES	1834			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Hannah	ROBERTS	1824			Copper dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Hugh	JONES	1829			Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Hugh	WILLIAMS	1774			Copper Pit Worker	Amlwch 1851
Hughes	MARY	1826		Croes Llian	Coppr dresser	Amlwch 1841
Jane	Morris			Amlwch	Miner	1801 Amlwch
Jane	Owen	1800	51	Trerdath	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch
Jane	Owen	1845	16	Pengraig	Copper dresser	1861 Amlwch	d. Richard + Margaret
Jane	Owen	1856	15	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1871 Llanwenllwfo	d. William + Ann
Jane	Owens	1812	39	Pensarn	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian
Jane	Owens	1844	17	Tyddyn	Working at the mine	1861 Llaneilian	d. Mary Pritchard (42) widow
Jane	Roberts	1801	60	Gadfa	Servant mine….. (crossed out)	1881 Llanelian
Jane	Roberts	1850	31	Gadfa	Servant mine….. (crossed out)	1881 Llanelian	d. of above
Jane	Thomas	1796	45	Llaithdy	Coppr dresser	1841 Amlwch	with Williams family?
Jane	Thomas	1829	22	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1851 Llanwenllwfo	d. William + Ellen
Jane	Thomas	1856	15	Brimstone Yard	Dressing copper	1871 Amlwch	d. Hannah (at mine)
Jane	Williams	1778	73	Llaithdy bach	Pauper, formerly copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	visitor to Roberts family
Jane	Williams	1859	12	Refail Bach	Dressing copper	1871 Amlwch	d. Ellen (42) pauper
Jane	Williams	1859	22	Pen Mynnydd	Copper mine grinder	1881 Amlwch	d. Ellin (m) pauper
Jane	DAVIES	1786		Cae Gadfa	Miners Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Jane	ELLIAS	1810		Tai Isaf Gadfa	Miners wife	Llaneilian 1851
Jane	ELLIS	1860			Copper Lady (Manuf)	Anglesey 1881
Jane	ELLIS	1860			Copper Lady (Manuf)	Llanelian 1881
Jane	ELLIS	1773		Cae Capel	Miner’s Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Jane	HUGHES	1825			Dau/Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Jane	JONES	1830			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Jane	JONES	1819			Engan Drifers Wife	Llanelian 1881
Jane	OWEN	1800			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Jane	Owen	1845		Pengraig	Copper Dresser	A1861
Jane	OWENS	1780		Nebo	Miner’s Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Jane	OWENS	1812		Pensarn	Wid/Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Jane	ROWLAND	1811		Glanygors	Miners Wid	Llaneilian 1851
Jane	THOMAS	1865			Copper Lady (Manuf)	Anglesey 1881
Jane	THOMAS	1865			Copper Lady (Manuf)	Llanelian 1881
Jane	WILLIAMS	1859		Penmynudd	Coper Mines Grinder	Anglesey 1881
Jane	WILLIAMS	1821		Gors Eilian	Miners wife	Llaneilian 1851
Jane	Ellis	1845	16	School St	Working at the mines	1861 Llaneilian	d. of Richard? + Mary
Jane	Ellis	1860	21	Cerrig Man	Copper lady (manuf)	1881 Llaneilian	d. Ann (45) widow
Jane	Genor	1779	72	Cosag	Late copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	lodger with Jane Jones
Jane	Hughes	1825	26	Cerris	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	d. Elizabeth (50) above
Jane	Jones	1830	21	Chapel Street	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. Thomas + Jane
Jane	Jones	1843	18	Ty Tywyval?	Copper lady	1861 Llandyfrdog	d. Jane (54) widow
Jane	Jones	1849	12	Pensarn	working at the mines	1861 Llanwenllwfo	d. Stephen + Susannah
Jane	Jones	1854	17	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1871 Llanwenllfo	d. Thomas + Sarah
Jane	Thomas	1865	16	Pensarn	Copper lady (manuf)	1881 Llaneilian	d. Richard + Elizabeth
John	OWENS	1794		Berach Bach	Wid./Copper Miner	Llaneilian 1851
John	WILLIAMS	1772		Castellmin	Wid/Copper Miner	Llaneilian 1851
Judith	WILLIAMS	1848			Copper Miner Wife	Llanelian 1881
Judy	HUGHES	1781		Penybonk	Miner’s Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Letice	Jones	1815	56	Ty Main	Working in the copper mines	1871 Amlwch
Lettisa	Jones	1818	32	Dyffryn Coch	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. Jane (70) widow
Lettisa	JONES	1819			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Lewis	ANN	1781		Cerrig y bleddia	Coppr dresser	Amlwch 1841
Margared	WILLIAMS	1810			Copper Cutter	Amlwch 1851
Margaret	Jones	1823	28	Trerdath	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. of Ellinor (52)
Margaret	Jones	1832	19	Tanfonwent?	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. Margt (61 yrs)
Margaret	Jones	1837	34	Conig Heddia	Working in the copper mines	1871 Amlwch	d. Robert + Elizabeth
Margaret	Jones	1842	19	Mona Yard	Copper dresser	1861 Amlwch
Margaret	Jones	1848	13	Llaithdy Bach	Picking at copper mines	1871 Amlwch	d. Ann (38) widow
Margaret	Jones	1866	15	Pensarn	Copper lady	1881 Llaneilian	d. David + Margaret
Margaret	Owens	1839	22	Cemaes Road	Copper dresser	1861 Amlwch	d. of Thomas + Mary
Margaret	Pritchard	1838	23	Maes Llwyn Bach	Working in mines	1861 Amlwch	b. Pritchard family
Margaret	Roberts	1839	22	Bryn?	Working at the mines	1861 Llanwenllwyfo	d. Jane (67) widow
Margaret	Roberts	1846	15	Cemaea Road	Working mines	1861 Amlwch	lodger with Anne Roberts (w)
Margaret	Ross	1835	26	Werthyn Bach	Copper dresser	1861 Amlwch	boarder with Sarah Williams
Margaret	Thomas	1847	24	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1871 Llanwenllwfo	d. Richard + Elizabeth
Margaret	Williams	1810	41	Single Row	Cutting copper	1851 Amlwch	d. William (77) widower, turns iron in copper pits
Margaret	Williams	1819	32	Pentrefelin	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. of Robert + Rhoda
Margaret	Williams	1826	35	Pentrefelin	Copper dresser	1861 Amlwch	d. of Rhoda (70) widow
Margaret	JONES	1823			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Margaret	Jones	1842		Mona Yard	Copper Dresser	A1861
Margaret	OWEN	1864			Copper Dresser	Anglesey 1881
Margaret	OWEN	1864			Copper Dresser	Llanelian 1881
Margaret	Owens	1839			Copper Dresser	A1861
Margaret	PARRY	1830		Pensarn	Copper Miner Wife	Llanelian 1881
Margaret	Pritchard	1838		Maes Llwyn Bach	Copper Dresser	A1861
Margaret	Rofs	1835		Werthyn Bach	Copper Dresser	A1861
Margaret	WILLIAMS	1812			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Margaret	Williams	1826		Pentrefelein	Copper Dresser	A1861
Margaret	Williams	1849		Efelbach	Copper Dresser	A1861
Margaret	Owen	1864	17	Pensarn	Copper dresser	1881 Llaneilian	d. Richard + Ann
Margreat	Hughes	1836	15	Pentra Gwynon	Copper Lady	1851 Amlwch	d. Hugh + Margret
Margreat	HUGHES	1836			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Margred	Jones	1821	30	Maen Cheli?	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	d. of Owen + Mary
Margred	Jones	1821	30	Maen ?	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	d. Owen + Mary
Margred	Pritchart	1833	18	Pensarn	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	d. Mary (49)
Margred	Williams	1781	70	Penlan	Pauper, formerly copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian	visitor to Catherine Roberts
Margred	JONES	1821			Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Margred	JONES	1806		Cerrigman	Miners wife	Llaneilian 1851
Margred	OWENS	1771		Gorlan	Miner’s Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Margred	PRICHART	1833			Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Margret	Jones	1814	37	Nebo	Copper lady	1851 Llaneilian	d.of Margt (72) widow
Margret	BANKS	1845			Coopers Wife	Anglesey 1881
Margret	EDWARD	1809		Tynyrardd	Miners Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Margret	JONES	1866			Copper Dresser	Anglesey 1881
Margret	JONES	1866			Copper Dresser	Llanelian 1881
Margret	JONES	1832			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Margt.	ELLIS	1864			Copper Lady (Manuf)	Anglesey 1881
Margt.	ELLIS	1864			Copper Lady (Manuf)	Llanelian 1881
Margt.	JONES	1844			Copper Lady (Manuf)	Anglesey 1881
Margt.	JONES	1844			Copper Lady (Manuf)	Llanelian 1881
Margt.	Ellis	1864	17	Cerrig Man	Copper lady (manuf)	1881 Llaneilian	d. Ann (45) widow, twin?
Margt.	Jones	1844	37	Maes y Groes	Copper lady (manuf)	1881 Llaneilian	d. Margrt (78) widow
Mary	Davies	1847	14	Bonc Eithin	Copper dresser	1861 Amlwch	d. Samuel + Ellenor
Mary	Edward	1831	20	Tyn y Rallt	Copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	d. Thomas + Mary
Mary	Edwards	1841	20	Cemaes Rd	Working mines copper	1861 Amlwch	d. William + Elizabeth
Mary	Griffiths	1836	35	Maen	Working in the copper mines	1871 Amlwch	d. Mary (60) widow, laundress
Mary	Hughes	1826	15	Croes Llian	Copper breaker	1841 Amlwch	living with Ann Edwards (CB) + mother? Ann
Mary	Hughes	1841	30	Pensarn Square	Worker in Paris mine	1871 Llanelian	widow
Mary	Hughes	1826	15	Bonyonan?	Dressing copper	1841 Llaneilian	d. of William + Mary?
Mary	Jones	1791	50	New street	Miner	1841 Amlwch	husband John (65) smith? son John (16)
Mary	Jones	1835	16	Pensarn	Working at the mines	1851 Llanwenllyfo	lodger with Robert Roberts
Mary	Jones	1865	16	Tan yr allt ??	Copper grinder	1881 Amlwch	d. of John + Rebeca
Mary	Mathew	1858	13	Fron Newydd	Dressing copper	1871 Amlwch	with sibblings Edward + Richard
Mary	Roberts	1806	35	Cerrig y Bleddia	Coppr dresser	1841 Amlwch	living with Ann Lewis (CB) and mother Ellen Evans?
Mary	Roberts	1805	46	Llaithdy Bach	Copper lady	1851 Amlwch
Mary	Roberts	1852	19	Single Row	Working at copper mines	1871 Amlwch	d. Hugh + Elizabeth
Mary	Roberts	1854	27	Gadfa	Servant mine….. (crossed out)	1881 Llanelian	d. of Jane (60) widow
Mary	Williams			Llawellen Isa	Miner	1801 Amlwch
Mary	Williams	1786	65	Tan ?	Pauper, formerly copper dresser	1851 Amlwch	widow, lodger with Hughes family
Mary	EDWARD	1831			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Mary	Hughes	1847		Voel Newydd	Copper Dresser	A1861
Mary	HUGHES	1802		Cerrigman	Miner Wife	Llaneilian 1851
Mary	JONES	1866		Tanrallt	Coper Grinder	Anglesey 1881
Mary	JONES	1824			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Mary	LEWIS	1794		Tair Gors	Miners widow	Llaneilian 1851
Mary	LEWIS	1798		Pant Llabwst	Miners Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Mary	PARRY	1816			Coopers Wife	Anglesey 1881
Mary	PRICHART	1802		Tavern spite	Miner’s Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Mary	ROBERTS	1805			Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Mary	ROBERTS	1841		Pen Y Graig	Mine Engineer Wife	Anglesey 1881
Mary	WILLIAMS	1786			Retd Copper Dresser	Amlwch 1851
Modlan	Jones	1778	73	Pensarn	Copper dresser	1851 Llaneilian
Modlan	JONES	1778		Pensarn	Copper Dresser	Llaneilian 1851
Rebecca	Hughes	1871	10	Pensarn	Copper Miner	1881 Llanwenllwfo	d. of Hugh + Catherine
MARY	Roberts	1806		Cerrig y bleddia	Coppr dresser	Amlwch 1841
Ruth	HUGHES	1796		Llyncoch	Miner’s Widow	Llaneilian 1851
Sarah	Williams	1841	20	Pentrefelein	Copper dresser	1861 Amlwch	d. of Rhoda (70) widow
Sarah	CARTRIT	1827		Llyncoch	Miners wife	Llaneilian 1851
Sarah	ROWLANDS	1849			Copper Miners Wife	Llanelian 1881
Sarah	WILLIAMS	1841		The Vicarage	Copper Dresser	Anglesey 1881
Sarah	Williams	1841		Pentrefelein	Copper Dresser	A1861
Sarah	Jones	1859	22	Pensarn	Copper miners lab	1881 Llanwenllwfo	d. of Thomas + Sarah
Susanah	Hughes	1811	50	Chapel Street	dressing copper ore	1861 Amlwch	living with d. (20) mantua maker
Susanah	Hughes	1811		Chapel Street	Copper Dresser	A1861
JANE	Thomas	1796		Llaithdy	Coppr dresser	Amlwch 1841

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In 1819 Michael Faraday visited the mines and described the work of the copper ladies.

…The ore is raised from the mine by the whimsy in large heavy masses and is then thrown over a stage onto the ground below where it comes into charge of the cobber’s, principally women and boys. We came up to a large group of these, about 8 or 9 women were sitting on the ground in the midst of heaps of ore of the large and small, their mouths were covered with a cloth to keep the dust of the ore from entering with the breath.

The fingers and thumb of the left hand were cased in strong iron tubes forming a sort of glove. A large hammer was handled in the right hand and a block of ore placed before them served as an anvil. Thus furnished they were employed in breaking lumps of ore into small pieces and selecting the good from the bad.

The good gradually accumulated into a heap before them being the produce of their labour and the earthy and stony parts are carted away. The boys assisted them by fetching lumps and by selecting the broken portions. Altogether they formed an amusing but not an enticing group. These, and indeed all who work at the mines, are paid piece-work according to the quantity and quality of what they produce an assay master being employed to ascertain the latter and overseer the former.
In 1897 the Copper ladies were again described by Griffith Owen, a former miner, in his book called Mynydd Parys
…There was one good thing about conditions of work on Parys Mountain, no women or children were allowed to be employed underground. Unlike other mines, women were employed solely as surface workers; their job was to break up the ore – these were the ‘Copper Ladies’.
The contribution these women made in preparing the copper ore for smelting was an essential one. Until about 1870-72 the ‘copper ladies’, as they were known, were a peculiar element in the neighbourhood of Amlwch. Between the two mines, dozens, if not hundreds of women were employed to break up the ore.
They worked in long timber sheds close to where the ore was brought to the surface. Seated in long ranks, with a block of iron weighing about a hundred-weight called a ‘knockstone’ beside each one of them, the women wore a gauntlet with the fingers protected by a series of iron bands on the left hand. Holding a lump of ore in this left hand, the women struck it with a hammer to remove the waste and to break the ore into a manageable size. This was their daily task throughout the year, for which they were paid twelve pence for the twelve-hour day. The women invariably wore a ‘Jim Crow’ hat under which they had a spotted scarf covering the head, neck and most of the face.