19thC Hughesovka to 21stC Donetsk

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Jan 2022 MY PERSONAL REFLECTIONS: FROM HUGHESOVKA (1870) TO DONETSK (1995)
2 My Personal Reflections: From Hughesovka to Donetsk – Author: Dr David Probert - Jan 2022
Preface
Recent events in Donetsk, Ukraine have inspired me to write this short article
that summarises my family connection with the Donbas Region. The City of
Donetsk was established way back in 1870 as a mid-19th
C Industrial “Public-
Private Partnership between the Welsh Entrepreneur John Hughes & the
Russian Government. The Welsh enterprise quickly started-up to mass produce
Steel related to the massive growth of the 19th
C Russian Railways. In 1877 my
Great Great Grandfather – Edwin James Williams - was hired by John Hughes
as his Chief Mining Engineer & Geologist for the New Russia Company Limited.
He worked in Hughesovka, Donbas for 25 years with subsequent promotion to
Chief Colliery Manager for the numerous deep mines & thousands of workers.
The establishment of this highly successful and profitable enterprise in the
Donbas resulted in the creation of a unique Industrial city state that evolved its
own strong & robust cultural values centred on coal mining & steel production.
Just over 150 years have passed from 1870 – 2022 & the regional tensions in
Donbas are reaching “boiling point”. In my Personal Postscript I provide a brief
historical analysis & the way forward that may avoid the potentially tragic
destruction & eradication of the Ukrainian Industrial City State of Donetsk.
Dr David E. Probert West Berkshire, UK

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Personal Reflections: From Hughesovka (1870) to Donetsk (1995)
(1) New Russia Company: 1869
Welsh Steel Entrepreneur John Hughes signed an agreement with the Russian Government
in April 1868 for the development of a steel works for the production of railway lines for
which there was an urgent need as railways expanded across the Russia. At the time this
region was referred to in contemporary atlases as either “South Russia” or “New Russia” so
it was natural for Hughes to register his company in London as the “New Russia Company
Limited” (NRC) in July 1969. He travelled to the region by sea in 1870 to start construction of
the massive steel works and subsequently the coal mines. Fig 1 NRC Share Certificate)
(2) Hughesovka: 1870 – 1924
The community established by John Hughes in the middle of the desolate Steppes
Landscape became known as “Hughes Town” – or in Russian Language – “Hughesovka”
(Юзовка – Yuzovka). Hughes needed experienced professionals to support the start-up
operations & so he hired a small team from South Wales that already had years of relevant
experience in disciplines such as Steel Works Operations & Mining Engineering & Operations.
And so it was that my Great Great Grandfather – Edwin James Williams – was hired as the
Chief Mining Engineer & Geologist for the New Russia Company for 25 years from 1877 to
1902. He was subsequently promoted to the position of Chief Colliery Manager with overall
responsibility for ALL the coal mining operations across Hughesovka. This included the
operational management of the “Big Pit” which was the deepest & most productive mine in
South Russia producing almost 1Millions Tons of Coal/Year. (Fig 2: Hughesovka Iron Works)
(See also Fig 12: Plan of Hughesovka Works & New Russia Company Operations – 1890s)
Edwin James Williams travelled to Russia with his daughter – Evelina Williams (My Great
Grandmother – Evelina Probert) – who went to the English School that was efficiently
established by Hughes for the education of the ex-pat workers children. Evelina returned to
South Wales in 1884 where she married my Great Grandfather – Rev Enoch Evan Probert
(Baptist Minister) in Abercarn Baptist Church on the 15th
June 1885. It is also worthy of
interest to note that the Minister officiating for the Marriage Ceremony was my Great Uncle
– Rev Herbert Elijah Probert (Younger brother of Rev Enoch Probert) – who also had a
distinguished career as a pioneering Baptist Missionary in the Congo (1885 – 1887 : “Life &
Scenes in Congo” – Published 1889 - https://archive.org/details/lifescenesincong00prob ).
There is a fine oil painting of Edwin James Williams Home in Hughesovka (Fig 4:Oil Painting)
that is now archived in the National Museum of Wales (Cardiff) as well as several documents
relating to his 25 years working for the New Russia Company.
The Welsh family connections during these times were really close. Edwin’s 1st
Cousin –
Augusta James married the younger son of John Hughes – Arthur David Hughes (Fig 12) – at

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the Welsh Free Presbyterian Church in Abercarn. During the early 20th
C she relocated with
her family to a town house in Holland Park, London with a distinguished 20th
C Family Tree!
(3) 19th
Mining Operations:
The living & working conditions in Hughesovka, despite the imported Welsh Physical &
Social Infrastructure was still tough with long winters and Edwin’s Health deteriorated so
that in 1902 he retired and moved back to his Rose Cottage in Abergavenny, South Wales.
Here is the translation of a couple of documents that are preserved in the National Museum
of Wales. It is interesting to note that the 2nd
Document was written and signed by Arthur
David Hughes (Husband of Edwin James Williams - 1st Cousin – Augusta James)
 Ministry of Agriculture & Mining Inspection
- 15th
Feb 1902 - Hughesovka, South Russia –
This certificate is issued to British Subject – Edwin James Williams – in that he having
served as Chief Colliery Manager for the New Russia Company Limited from 1st
May
1877 to 1st
February 1902 has opened under his personal inspection several highly
constructed pits of which the Central Pit of a depth of 136 sajens (952 feet) was for a
long time considered the deepest pit in South Russia and has raised the output of
the pits to 50 million poods or 900,00 tons / year, proving the energetic and skilful
management of Mr Williams.
Signed by the Government Inspector of Mines for South Russia – Mr Routshenko
Fig 5: Original Document from Archives of the National Museum of Wales – Cardiff)
 New Russia Company Limited – 21st
Feb 1902
- Hughesovka, Ekatrinoslav Region, South Russia –
This is to certify that Mr Edwin James Williams has been in the New Russian
Company employ for 25 years as Colliery Manager and Mining Agent at their Works
in South Russia. For the first 20 years he had the Chief Command of all our Collieries
and our Ore Mines, but during the last 5 years his health has been such as to prevent
him taking active command which is the reason for his leaving the Company’s
employ. We have always found him most industrious, energetic and possessing a
wide knowledge of his profession.
Signed by Arthur David Hughes - Son of John Hughes (1815 – 1889)
Fig 6: Original Document from Archives of the National Museum of Wales – Cardiff)

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(4) Donetsk in the 1990s:
During my childhood I was frequently told stories by my Father (Eric Evan Armstrong
Probert) & Great Aunts (Elsie, Flossie & Edwina – Daughters of Evelina Probert – Fig 11) of
my “Great Ancestor” (Edwin James Williams) who worked in a mysterious region called
“Donbas – or the Don Basin). At first I struggled to find out this remote region in my school
atlas until my teenage years when I discovered the Modern City of Donetsk. I was shown
photos of Edwin on a Russian Horse Troika in the Steppes (Fig 3: Russian Troika) and given
19th
C Russian Silver 15 Kopek Coins. These silver coins were bought back by Great
Grandmother from a long vacation trip she made to see her father during the 1890s. Since
then, other archive resources have materialised including those from National Museum of
Wales which all confirm Edwin’s Status as a true Welsh Adventurer & Pioneer in “Donbas”!
(Fig 9: Letter from Edwin to Evelina – Hughesovka Works, South Russia, 3rd
March 1898)
Of course, I was eager to visit Donetsk but the USSR was not easy to visit and I was working
for a major US Computer Business (DIGITAL Equipment Corporation – “DEC”). However, the
fall of the “Iron Curtain” in 1989 and then the dissolution of the Soviet Union opened my
window of travel opportunity. From Nov 1991 to Jan 1999 I was the Official Observer for
DEC on the EARN Board of Directors (European Academic & Research Networks) which
oversaw the development of the Internet across Europe & Beyond. Then in August 1994 I
was appointed EMEA Director of the European Internet Business Group for DEC. So I had an
official mandate to develop the Computer Network marketplace & to establish Internet
Nodes in the new markets of Eastern Europe and Russia/CIS. This proceeded successfully at
a steady pace and by summer 1995 I had time to visit several Regional Ukrainian Cities
including both Odessa and Donetsk. Working with the outstanding DEC Ukraine Team in Kyiv
I was able to establish contact with the Donetsk State Technical University (DTU – Fig 7) & to
establish an Operational DEC Server Node on the Regional Internet. I flew from Kyiv for a 2
day trip to Donetsk & met with so many hospitable & friendly staff & professors at the DTU
(Fig 7: Team Photo). This included contacts with computer network researchers such as Prof
Anatolii Sleptsov & Prof Dimitry Zaitsev who remain colleagues to this present day. I also
established contacts with Professors from the University Department of Mining Geology (Fig
8). Naturally, they invited me to visit a local coal mine close to Donetsk City that was quite
possibly engineered & managed by Great Great Grandfather – Edwin James Williams.
It was an emotional experience visiting the flourishing City of Donetsk in June 1995 & I
sincerely hope that the current extraordinary regional problems may eventually be solved
through patient negotiation. I understand the Donetsk People and their Culture which is
robust and strong from their Russian-Welsh Roots and Mining Heritage. I remain proud that
my ancestor – Edwin James Williams – was able to make such a major contribution to the
development of the Mining Infrastructure & Industry of the Donetsk Region.

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Fig 1: New Russia Company £100 Share Certificate – 1910 – Personal Collection
Fig 2: British Team @ Hughesovka Iron Works – Edwin James Williams (1st
Right 2nd
Row) &
Arthur David Hughes (3rd
Right 2nd
Row), John James Hughes (2nd
Left, 1st
Row) – 1890s

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Fig3: Edwin James Williams (Far Left) with Horse Drawn Troika – Hughesovka – 1890s
Fig 4: Oil Painting of Edwin James Williams Home – 1890s - National Museum of Wales

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Fig 5: Certificate for Edwin James Williams signed by Government Inspector of Mines South
Russia – Mr Routshenko - 15th
Feb 1902 (English Translation – Left & Russian Original – Right)
Fig 6: Certificate for Edwin James Williams signed: Arthur David Hughes (Son of John Hughes)

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Fig 7: Donetsk Technical University @ Official Launch of Internet Project (Probert 3rd
Right)
Fig 8: David Probert at Donetsk University Dept of Geology & Mine Engineering – June 1995

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Fig 9: Letter from Edwin James Williams to Evelina (Daughter) – South Russia, March 1898
Fig 10: Plan of the Hughesovka Works – New Russia Company Limited – 1890s (Russian)

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Fig 11: Bottom: Elsie Probert (Great Aunt), Rev Enoch Evan Probert, Edwina Probert (Great Aunt)
Top: Percy Probert (Grandfather), Evelina Probert (Great Grandmother), Flossie Probert(Great Aunt)
Fig 12: Arthur David Hughes & Vasily Sergeyevich Dosekin (1829-1900: Kharkiv) Card:1880s

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(5) Personal Postscript
On reviewing this short article that explores my own family connections with the growth of
Hughesovka from 1870 to 1924 & Beyond I had the following thoughts:
(a) 19thC
Industrial City State: Hughesovka was established as a 19th
C “Public-Private
Partnership” between the Russian Government & the Welsh Business – New Russia
Company Limited – that was created through the vision and entrepreneurial genius
of John Hughes. As such it evolved with its own unique “hybrid genes” that
combined the cultures & social-economic values of Ukraine, Russia & Wales. The
workers of the 19th
C Donbas developed an extremely successful Regional Industrial
Complex that shipped Iron & Steel Products across Russia & subsequently the USSR.
(b) 20th
Industrial Heartland: From 1924, Hughesovka was renamed Stalino & then in
1961 President Nikita Khrushchev renamed the City as Donetsk. Despite these name
changes the Donbas Region retained Economic & Cultural Values that were Hybrid –
“Ukrainian-Russian” – within its geographical context of Ukrainian SSR. During my
own visit in June 1995 I saw with my own eyes how different the Region of Donetsk
was to Kyiv, Odesa and Western Ukraine. The architecture and society were still
rooted at that time in the Soviet 1970s/1980s. Indeed, I had already travelled
extensively in Russia during 1991 – 1995 so I was well qualified to make such Socio-
Economic comparisons. Donetsk was still in a “time warp” from the “Industrial City
State” established by John Hughes back in 1870 with its own rich “cultural values”
(c) 21st
Industrial Enigma: For more than 150 years (1870-2020), Donetsk has been the
“Goose that laid Golden Eggs” – at least Iron & Steel, with profits to match! Some
medieval City States survive to this day such as San Marino, Monaco, Vatican City,
Andorra, Liechtenstein as well as the Swiss Cantons. Closer to home I know that King
Edward 1st
tried to conquer Wales in the 13th
C with networks of Castles. However,
the strong Welsh Culture & Language has survived 700+ Years & Wales now has its
own Welsh Assembly & Media Channels. I personally believe that this is the only way
forward for Donbas through some limited autonomy within the Ukrainian State.
(d) The Way Forward for Donetsk: As I write these words it seems that the military
strategies are set to eradicate the Donbas Region resulting in devastating Shelling,
Sabotage, Refugees & Deaths. Such a shame to destroy the “Goose that laid the Gold
Egg”! How much better to re-establish face-to-face negotiations that places value &
respect on these noble & hard working citizens of Donbas. Through no fault of their
own they have grown up in this Unique”Industrial City State”. I believe that
continuation of the military conflict will result in a “barren wasteland” in which
Donetsk Industrial Infrastructure & Mines will be eternally destroyed! Trust &
Autonomy need to be rebuilt under the framework of a Phase 2 – Minsk Agreement.

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(6) Summary of Figures
Fig 1: New Russia Company £100 Share Certificate – 1910 – Personal Collection
Fig 2: British Team @ Hughesovka Iron Works – Edwin James Williams (1st
Right 2nd
Row) &
Arthur David Hughes (3rd
Right 2nd
Row), John James Hughes (2nd
Left, 1st
Row) – 1890s
Fig3: Edwin James Williams (Far Left) with Horse Drawn Troika – Hughesovka – 1890s
Fig 4: Oil Painting of Edwin James Williams Home – 1890s - National Museum of Wales
Fig 5: Certificate for Edwin James Williams signed by Government Inspector of Mines South
Russia – Mr Routshenko - 15th
Feb 1902 (English Translation – Left & Russian Original – Right)
Fig 6: Certificate for Edwin James Williams signed: Arthur David Hughes (Son of John Hughes)
Fig 7: Donetsk Technical University @ Official Launch of Internet Project (Probert 3rd
Right)
Fig 8: David Probert at Donetsk University Dept of Geology & Mine Engineering – June 1995
Fig 9: Letter from Edwin James Williams to Evelina (Daughter) – South Russia, March 1898
Fig 10: Plan of the Hughesovka Works – New Russia Company Limited – 1890s (Russian)
Fig 11: Bottom: Elsie Probert (Great Aunt), Rev Enoch Evan Probert, Edwina Probert (Great Aunt)
Top: Percy Probert (Grandfather), Evelina Probert (Great Grandmother), Flossie Probert (Great Aunt)
Fig 12: Arthur David Hughes & Vasily Sergeyevich Dosekin (1829-1900: Kharkiv) Card:1880s
(7) Selected References on Hughesovka & John Hughes
i. E. G. Bowen (1978) – JOHN HUGHES (Yuzovka) 1814–1889: University of Wales Press
ii. Theodore H. Friedgut (1989): Iuzovka and Revolution – Volume 1: Life and Work in
Russia’s Donbas – 1869 – 1924 – Princeton University Press
iii. Susan Edwards (1992) - HUGHESOVKA – Юзовка – A Welsh Enterprise in Imperial
Russia – A Glamorgan Record Office Publication
iv. Theodore H. Friedgut (1994): Iuzovka and Revolution – Volume 2 Politics and
Revolution in Russia’s Donbas: – 1869 – 1924 – Princeton University Press
v. Hughes & Hughesovka (Юз и Юзовка - 2000) – Authors: Гайдук В.А., Ляшенко
В.Г., Мозговой В.И., Навка И.П. – Published by Донецк: «Фирма «Кардинал»
vi. Colin Thomas (2009) - Dreaming a City – From Wales to Ukraine – The Story of
Hughesovka/Stalino/Donetsk (With DVD – Hughesovka & the New Russia)

19thC Hughesovka to 21stC Donetsk

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