>> I am looking for a publication that might provide surnames of
>> those in Cornwall that were involved in the exportation of tin and copper
>> circa 1600.
>>
Catherine,
In reality not many in Cornwall were involved in the export trade for either
metal.
Copper mining in Cornwall did not take off until the late 17th century.
Attempts, by lessees of the Mines Royal Society, to mine copper ores in the
late 16th century and ship them to Neath, in South Wales, for smelting had
only limited success. By the end of the century there were complaints that
there was insufficient ore, from Cornwall and elsewhere, to keep the smelter
in work. Comments by Carew (Survey of Cornwall, 1602) suggest the shipment
of ore to Neath continued to 1600 but probably not much beyond that date.
See Donald, Elizabethan Copper (Pergamon,1955) particularly pp. 343-368, for
the death throws of the early English copper industry and some of the
individuals involved.
The position in the tin industry was far more complicated. Even under
'normal' circumstances the export of tin metal from Cornwall was generally
in the hands of merchants from outside the county. Tin was subject to a
right of pre-emption by the English Crown. The Crown chose to exercise its
right and in 1601 farmed the pre-emption to London merchants, Brigham and
Weemes. The pre-emption was revoked in 1603 and the King subsequently took
it into its own hands. Thereafter a number of merchants, some having
connections with trading companies, including the Virginian, attempted to
control the supply of tin. Suggest you obtain sight of Haslam, G. An
administrive Study of the Duchy of Cornwall, 1500-1650, unpublished PhD
thesis (Louisiana State University, 1980), particularly chapters V and VI,
for information on some of the individuals involved.
Peter
______________________________________________
Peter Claughton, Blaenpant Morfil, Rosebush, Clynderwen,
Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66 7RE.
Tel. 01437 532578; Fax. 01437 532921; Mobile 07831 427599
University of Exeter - School of Historical, Political and Sociological Studies
(Centre for South Western Historical Studies)
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Mining History Pages - http://www.exeter.ac.uk/~pfclaugh/mhinf/
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