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Hi I've been researching tin mining in Irvinebank north Queensland and in a recent interview with an old tin miner in the area he mentioned the term 'Cousin Jacks for Cornishmen. Have since been trying find the origins of this nickname as I thought it was Australian, who btw have a penchant for nicknames. Would be obliged if anyone could confirm Mason's origin (with respect Mason, just, I have a fussy lecturer)is correct or there are other versions of how or why this moniker came about Vic -----Original Message----- From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of [log in to unmask] Sent: Sunday, 30 April 2000 1:54 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Listen out for "The Cry of Tin" Ok Roger. We had a lot of Cousin Jacks invade the US. In some camps (like the King of Arizona) they were so strong they wouldn't let any other ethnic group work in the mine. Throughout the Western US they were recognized as good miners and usually worked their way up in mine management. In Bisbee Quality Hill, and area for bosses, was also called Cousin Jack Hill. If you are wondering about the term Cousin Jack it was because they would always ask the boss when they first hired, "if 'e add a job for their cousin Jack?" We also called the women cousin Jennies. I was expalining this to a group of senior citizens at an elderhostil last year and one said, "Ja dat makes sense. Dats wot we used to call the mules, Jack and Jennie." I am always looking for poems about mining, preferably old ones, to put in a second book of mining poetry, songs and stories. Mason %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%