"Of mining stock" isn't quite the same thing as having been a miner, and certainly the same goes to a North-East origin. Despite having grown up on the Durham coalfields I certainly wouldn't claim any direct mining links. Thinking about it, my maternal grandfather was down Kibblesworth pit, but as he died well before I was born I can't really claim him as much of an influence.

Tommy Armstrong has been mentioned, but a more recent example is Johnny Handle.

Not that a good song has to have come from direct experience, certainly not, but excessive claims should be resisted.