This is a tricky one. Both lead companies had a policy of only letting
bargains to men who could support themselves should market conditions force
the mining company to lay them off when the next bargains were let. This
meant that the men would have a small-holding, possibly several miles from
the mine and lodge during the week at the mine-shop.
A bargain was an agreement to operate a particular section of the mine at a
price of, say, 28 shillings per bing (896 lbs) of dressed ore and 24
shillings per fathom (6 feet) for deadwork. The group of 4 or 6 men, often
related, were responsible for paying the washers who dressed the ore.
All the mines on Alston Moor came under the London Lead Company which was
run by the Quakers. The mineral rights were originally owned by Lord
Derwentwater who rose in the 1715 rebellion. He was catured and lost his
head on tower Hill, London early in 1716. Being guilty of treason his lands
were forfeit and during the 1830's his mineral rights were given to
Greenwich Hospital (for sailors of the Royal Navy) who in turn leased them
to London Lead Co. LLC in turn leased out the various mines to operators but
ran most themselves.
Blackett-Beaumont were operating around Allenheads and Nenthead.
One problem for family historians is that at least three different counties
are involved, Durham (Stnhope, Weardale, Rookhope, Killhope), Northumberland
(Allenheads, Hunstanworth, Jeffry's, Grove Rake) and Westmoreland /
Cumberland (now lumped together as Cumbria. Just to make things easy, the
diocesan boundaries do not co-incide with the civil boundaries.
The parish records of baptisms, marriages and burials will be in the record
offices associated with the present couonties. These also hold the bargain
books and other records of the mining companies.
You could usefully start with Raistrick's book on mining in the Northern
Pennines.
I hope this is of some help. My lot were called Forster, together with some
Westgarth's. It was a tough job sorting them out.
Good Luck
Malcolm Henry
-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Catherine Walker
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 12:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Lead Mining in Westmorland Co England
Hello,
I am new to list and hope I am doing this correctly. I am researching
WALTON, JACKSON, RAPER surnames. My WALTON ancestors are listed in Long
Marton Parish and lived in Appleby, and the JACKSONS lived in Dufton and
Brampton. Their occupation was lead miners. Thomas Jackson along with his
brother migrated to Virginia in 1793 and later persuaded members of the
Waltons, Raper and PARKIN families to migrate to Virginia, too, and they
took up lead mining there.
I am trying to gather some information about lead mining during that time
frame around 1800. I have learned, so far, that there were two companies,
the London Lead Company and the Blackett-Beaumont Company (although I think
they were in Northumberland). I am trying to figure out which lead mines my
ancestors might have worked, having lived in Appleby, Dufton and Brampton.
I would appreciate any advice, information or suggstions about my lead
mining research and if anyone is related to the above families, I would love
to share information on that branch that migrated to Virginia.
Thank you in advance and best regards,
Catherine Kent Walker
Toccoa GA
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