Their father, Francis, for a time managed a nail warehouse there for Ambrose Crowley.
Most of the family were involved in trade as ironmasters or ironmongers (in this context meaning a manufacturer of iron goods).
Samuel built Penydarren House on the opposite bank of the River Taf, as a home for the family locally.
The business was financed by William Forman of the Tower of London,[1] who provided all the capital, partly on mortgage but taking a share in it himself.
William Forman offered the works for sale in 1859, and the Dowlais Iron Company bought the mineral ground.