Mr William John Clapp – Surgeon to the Nantyglo Ironworks

Mr William John Clapp.
Mr William John Clapp (1833-1902). Mr W. J. Clapp, Surgeon to the Tillery Collieries and Nantyglo Iron Works and inventor, was born in 1833 at Exeter Devon, England. The son of Mr William Murray Clapp and Mary Ann Clapp nee Cooke. His father Mr W. M. Clapp was an Ironmonger, Coal Merchant and Colliery proprietor of the Tillery Colliery Level, Abertillery and the Cwmnant-y-groes at Six Bells.

Medical Career.
On the 1851 census, Mr William John Clapp was living at St James Palace, Exeter, Devon. His age was stated as eighteen and his occupation was listed as being a dentist’s helper.

The Royal Artillery.
In February 1855, the Monmouthshire Merlin newspaper printed – Surgical Appointment, which had appeared in the London Gazette on the 6th of February 1855 Mr William John Clapp son of Mr Clapp of Clifton Place, St Woolas, Newport has received his commission as Assistant Surgeon to the Royal Artillery.

Marriage.
On the 25th of August 1855 Mr William John Clapp, Surgeon at the Cavalry Depot, Canterbury, married Miss Euphemia Jane Aitken (1835-1876), daughter of Mr David Aitken of the Admiralty, Camden Town. The Marriage took place at St Pancras, London.

The Ordnance Medical Department.
In 1856, Mr W. J. Clapp was Assistant Surgeon in the Ordnance Medical Department.

Private Practice.
In 1856 Mr Clapp began his private practice as works surgeon.

The Tillery Collieries, Abertillery.
During the latter half of the 1850’s, Mr William John Clapp was the surgeon to the Tillery Colliery and levels, Abertillery and the family address was stated as being Abertelery, a miss-spelling of Abertillery.

Nantyglo Ironworks.
On the 1861 census, Mr William John Clapp was listed as being a surgeon and was lodging at the Bush Hotel, Market Road, Nantyglo. I believe that it was at this time he became surgeon to the Nantyglo Iron Works.

Patents Records.
On Saturday 12th of September 1863, Mr W. J. Clapp of Nantyglo and Mr N. Coats of the Sirhowy Iron Works, had a patent for improved armour plates for vessels, turrets, targets and forts etc. Dated March 1863.

Doctors House, Nantyglo.
On the 1871 census, Mr William John Clapp was still surgeon to the works and lived with his wife Mrs Euphemia Jane Clapp at Doctors House, Nantyglo.

Coal Cutter Invention.
On Tuesday 23rd of September 1873, the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer newspaper ran a story of the “Nant-y-glo Coal Cutting Machine” prepared by its inventor Dr William John Clapp. The machine was described as having continuous motion will an 11 drill machine driven by compressed air at 50lb per square inch. It could travel on rails at 35 yards per hour and can be controlled by 2 people doing the work of 9 to 10 men. It was later stated that the collieries owned by the Nantyglo Company had favoured a heavier machine.

Coal Cutter in use at a Colliery.
On Saturday 16th of May 1874, just eight-months after the demonstration of the “Nant-y-glo Coal Cutting Machine” by Dr Clapp, the Wigan Observer and District Advertiser reported that the machine was now in operation, though it did not state which colliery it was being used.

The Universal Coal Cutting Machine.
On Friday 10th of March 1876, the Monmouthshire Merlin reported on a trial of the Universal Coal Cutting Machine, Mr W. J. Clapp’s improved machine for holing and cutting coal seams which was made at the works of the Tangye Bros, Steel Engineers of Newport, Monmouthshire. For the demonstration on the previous day, the Thursday 9th of March, a huge block of coal had been procured from the Cwmnant-y-groes Colliery’s Tillery Seam, owned and worked by Messrs Clapp and Williams, the former being the father of the inventor and patentee. The block of coal measured 6′ 2″ inches in length, 3′ 8″ in width and 2′ 2″ thick. It weighed 1 ton 13cwt and was brought to Newport on Wednesday 8th of March 1876.

The Death of Mrs Euphemia Clapp.
On the 21st of April 1876, Mrs Euphemia Jane Clapp sadly passed away at home at Nantyglo.

Mr Clapp Remarried.
In 1877, Mr William John Clapp married Miss Mary Ann Parry nee Harris of Llanfoist, Abergavenny. Born 1832 at Llanfoist.

On the 1881 census, Mr William John Clapp was listed as Surgeon M.R.L.L. he lived with his wife Mary Ann Clapp and son Mr Thomas John Clapp, an articled clerk and Miss Madelaine Parry, listed as a step-daughter. Also at the premises were – Miss Mary Griffiths, a cook and Miss Emelia Tucker a servant. The address was stated as being near the railway station, Nantyglo.

Patents Records.
On Friday 13th of January 1882, the South Wales Daily News reported on a patent by Mr W. J. Clapp of Nantyglo and Mr Thomas Griffiths of Blaenavon who received letters patent for making steel. They had worked their patent at Messrs Nurse’s Works, Redwood and turned out some marvelous work in soft steel in sheets of wonderful thickness and also in bar steel.

Polishing Compound Invention.
In January 1882, it seems that Mr William John Clapp and Mr Alphonso Howard Notley had invented a polishing compound and on the 10th of January 1882, had entered into an agreement. This agreement was mentioned during the take over of the patent as seen below.

Radiant Patent Polishing Compound Company Ltd.
On Friday 28th of April 1882, the Abergavenny Chronicle issued a report stating that a new company, the Radiant Patent Polishing Compound Company Ltd, had been formed to purchase the work and invention of patents rights granted to Mr William John Clapp a surgeon for material compound for polishing metals and to purchase the premises, machinery, plant and furnace at Nantyglo, Monmouthshire.

The company’s directors of Radiant Patent Polishing Compound Company Ltd were as follows – Capt W. H. H. Walbeoff Wilson J.P., of Abergavenny and Mr Benjamin Lewis Esq of Glanbaiden, Abergavenny. It stated that Mr William John Clapp J.P., of Nantyglo was to be the third director and would join the company after its set-up.

Magistrates Courts.
In 1883 Mr Clapp was reported as attending and presiding over cases at the local Police Courts at Brynmawr.

Patents Records.
On Saturday 28th of July 1883, the South Wales Daily News printed patents information for South Wales and Monmouthshire patent record and Mr W. J. Clapp had applied for a patent for improvements in apparatus for obtaining extracts or infusions from tea, coffee and other drinks and for other purposes.

Patents Record.
On Saturday 24th of November 1883, the South Wales Daily News reported that Mr William John Clapp had applied for a patent for the improvements and treatment of papers for cheques, notes, stamps and other documents in order to prevent fraud.

In the same issue, it was stated that a third year’s stamp duty of £50 was paid by Dr William John Clapp of Nantyglo for a material or compound for polishing metals.

The Ebbw Vale Collieries.
In September 1884, Mr Clapp was reported as being the surgeon to the Ebbw Vale Collieries.

Patents Records.
On Friday 17th of July 1885, the South Wales Echo printed patents information for South Wales and Monmouthshire patent record and Mr W. J. Clapp had applied for a patent for improvements to locking nuts

Bankruptcy Notice and Meeting of Creditors.
On Saturday 8th of May 1886, the Western Mail reported on a meeting of the creditors of Mr William John Clapp of Nantyglo that was held before the Official Receiver at Merthyr on the previous Friday. The newspaper printed Mr Clapp’s business shares since 1856 with the following – One-half share in Hatherleigh, Devonshire £7 10s per year and £37 10s. One-twelfth share in Clapp and Griffith, Steel Convertor Company £500. One-half share in freehold farm and lands, Clapp’s Beer in North Tawton, Devonshire at £40 per year £200. One-third share in safety lamp patents at £50 and also has an interest in seven patents in England, America and France and shares in other companies that doesn’t return anything, he also had a share in Clapp and Co in May 1884 which was valued at £2,500. Mr Clapp stated he had lost money on patents and a loss on his practice as a surgeon caused by unprofitable contracts.

Bankruptcy Notice.
In December 1890 it was reported that Mr W. J. Clapp had become bankrupt, he had to sell his one fourth share in the Cwmnant-y-groes House Coal Colliery.

The Move from Nantyglo.
Soon after Mr Clapp’s banruptcy he and his family left Nantyglo and seemed to have resided in Penarth. On the 1891 census they lived at 11 Earl Street, Penarth, Glamorganshire. Mr Clapp was listed as being a surgeon, M.R.C.S., Surgeon England. He and his wife Mary Clapp was at the premises with Mrs Mary Pavey, listed as his step-daughter.

Patents Records.
On Saturday 18th of February 1893, the South Wales Weekly Argus and Monmouthshire Adviser printed patents information for South Wales and Monmouthshire patent record and Mr W. J. Clapp and Mr Samuel Dickenson Williams had applied for a patent for improvements in means or apparatus employed in the manufacture of iron and steel and other metals.

The Move to Birmingham.
On the 1901 census, Mr William John Clapp had moved to Birmingham and was listed as M.R.C.S., Surgeon England. Mr Clapp was on his own and was a boarder at the home of Mr Robert Gla Hoblyn? (illegible), a retired grocers assistant at 67 Belgrave Road, Edgbaston, Warwickshire England.

The Death of Mr William John Clapp.
On Saturday 8th of March 1902, the Morning Leader newspaper printed – Dr William John Clapp passed away at the age of 69 at Andertons Hotel, Fleet Street, London. His brief obituary stated he had been an army doctor, he abandoned his career in 1886 to devote his time to inventing. He had lately been living at Oakfield Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, England, though at the time of his death Mr Clapp had travelled to London to make arrangement with his patents with the Patent Furnace Syndicate Limited.

The Company of Messrs Clapp and Williams.
As stated, Mr William John Clapp, surgeon to to Nantyglo Works was the son of Mr William Murray Clapp, coal merchant and colliery proprietor of the Tillery Levels and the Cwmnant-y-groes Levels. More below.

Mr William Murray Clapp.
Mr William Murray Clapp (1798-1878). Born in 1798 at Longbenton, Northumberland, England, the son of Rev John Clapp of Devon and Mrs Susan Stukes Hoblyn of East Newlyn, Cornwall, England. Mr William Murray Clapp married Miss Mary Ann Cook of Birmingham, England in 1821. They came to live at St Woolas, Newport, he was an ironmonger and later became a coal merchant and colliery proprietor and formed a partnership with Mr Philip Alfred Williams, as Clapp and Williams. Mr William Murray Clapp passed away in 1878 at Newport, Monmouthshire.

Mr Philip Alfred Williams.
Mr Philip Alfred Williams (1833-1912). Born in 1833 at Beaufort, Monmouthshire. Mr Philip Alfred Williams married Miss Adelaide Amelia Atkinson Isaacson of Brecon, Brecknockshire, in 1854 and they came to reside at Abertillery. In 1871 the census shows that the family were living were living at Parsons Row, Abertillery. At this time, Mr Philip Alfred Williams was listed as a magistrate and colliery proprietor. In 1871 Mr Williams was serving as a County Magistrate for the County of Monmouth, he was serving with Mr Basil Jayne Esq of Clydach House and Lawrence Heyworth Esq of Waenvawr, Newport, Director of the South Wales Colliery Company and others. Mr Philip Alfred Williams passed away in May 1912 at his home in Carmarthenshire, Wales, at the time of his death he was listed as being a director of Messrs Partridge Jones & Co Ltd.

Points of Interest –
The letter in the main featured image is from and signed by Mr W. J. Clapp, on a Nantyglo embossed letterhead. It seems to have been an order for four gallons of French brandy and three dozen brown sherry? from Pullings, dated the 8th of September 1866. Size of the letter is 7″ x 4 1/2″ inches.