Report – Jonathan Maughan – 18 Dec 1719

May it please your Honours

       As my former letters would intimate, that so soon as the Water was Drawne out of the Soles (or lowest workings) at the Groves of Jeffreys; and Shildon, that I would not make any delay of making my report (To Your Honours) the condition they are in: through the favour of the late rains, they have gott the lowest workings in the Sunn Veine at Jeffreys cleared of water: whereupon I immediately viewed the same; and found them not so good as expected. As mine (to your Honours) of the seventh of November would signifie, that the then present (or upper workings) were Tollerable good; they continue so as yet; and in all probability may: tho att present they give great prices per Bing for Working, which is partly occasioned by the want of Shafts and sumps at the foreheads which obliges them to employ a great many labourers to bring the metal on banke. The best Workings in the Soles is a forehead at No. 8 and the upper workings at the said number are much better then these at No. 9, relation being had unto the mapp I sent you for the said Numbers: as to the Midle Workings or these behind the forefields, some are pretty good but those are not much to be observed, because they will soon be cutt out.

       It is always a Rule in Mining: that as the forefields are good or bad and the streak of ground hopefull or unhopefull, together with the conveniences of Smelting, being free from Water, the Silver that the Lead produces, nearness to a Market etc. So are the mines Vallueable or invallueable.

       With most Humble Submission it is my Opinion that when the vains at Jeffrey’s are Driven from No. 4 & 8 forty fathoms to the East, and then should prove even as now in the Sunn Vaine, would in all probability be a valueable Grove, my reason is because the Oar in the North or Old Vaine Dibbs from them, in the Soles (or lowest workings) which if should rise againe into the Upper Sills, would be very promising, and if should not, would be the contrary, the Mine being wrought as Deep as the Gynn will suck the water, that the lower Sills cannot be wrought without removing the Gynn’s; and placeing them upon the Vaine in Boltsbourn between the Liberties of the Publick and that of Mr John Ord’s, or otherways by Driving of a Levell between No. 5 & 6 as the prickt line in the Mapp doth show. I dare not Say that Shee will or will not prove a good Mine: Only this, there are a great many good Symptoms of her proving a good and lasting Grove. The greatest artist in Minery cannot tell further then what they are when they see them; and can only guess at what they may be by their Symptoms; The Quantity of Oar Jeffreys Grove hath Produced from the 27th Feb 1717/18 To the 18th November 1719, I gave Mr Slaughter an Acc[oun]t in mine of the 23rd Ultima: there hath been little Delivered since.

       As to the Shafts, Levels and Driffts that are out of Repair. Mr Wetherley hath promised me they shall be putt into good and sufficient repair, whether Mr Gray purchase or take again or not; and hath given Orders Accordingly to the Workmen to Repair them. I omit here explaining the Terms used in Mining, as to Shaffts, Sumps etc being I did it in an Estimate of Jeffreys Grove Laid before your Honours the 2nd of June 1718. 

       As to Shildon they have not gott the Water Drawne out; there is no Oar wro[ugh]t at her as yet; Shall make no delay of Reporting the Condition Shee is in, so soon as the Water is out; I looke upon it as a great Neglect in in these Concern’d in Shildon, that do not bring Water Sufficient to cause the Gynns to go Summer and Winter which may be done without any great Charge, as shall Demonstrate when makes my Report of the said Grove.

       The lease of Shildon from Thomas Foster esq to John Doubleday bears date the tenth of March Anno 1706, the term Twenty One years, the Duty every seventh part, the Limmits is all Vaines Opened and not Opened which are within half a mile of Shildon every way. The Lessee by a Covenant doth oblige himself to spend or Lat out £100-0- in Working and Carrying on the Grove at Shildon every year or Desist from Working.

       In mine of the 8th August 1718 gave (Your Honours) Acc[oun]t, that there were some of the Blands: pretended to have taken a Lease of the Groves at Jeffreys and Shildon; of one Mr Phillip Peck and claimed a Tytle thereto By Virtue of a Grant from Queen Elizabeth To The Society of Marchants in London; they continue yet to amuse People, and particularly these to whom they have sold shares, with the hopes that they shall be put into Possession of the said Groves at the expiration of Mr Greys Lease; having prevail’d with one Nicholas Armstrong: to allow me the priviledge of sending the Inclosed Assignment to Your Honours to peruse that may see the great Presumption of these men. Humbly desiring that it may be Return’d after Perusal according to my Promise to him.

       I am with great obedience

       Your Honours Most Obedient and very Humble Serv[an]t

       Jonathan Maughan



Wolsingham 18th December 1719



 [in a different hand, across bottom of report]:

Jonathan Maughan’s report of Jeffrey’s and Sheldon Grove dated 18th December 1719