Baptismal records indicate that Thomas Varker was b. 23 Nov 1800 in Breage, Cornwall, England - the son of James Varker [1772–1836] and Susanna Carter [1776–1806] of England.
Thomas became a naturalized citizen of the United States [along with his brother, James Varker] in Davidson County, North Carolina in 1841.
Available information on Thomas [transcribed exactly as was originally written:
The Silver Mine in North Carolina.
“Thinking that some account of the mineral productions of North Carolina might be acceptable to the readers of “The Friend,” the following statements are furnished for insertion, if the editor thinks proper. .
The mines of this state are wrought extensively for gold, and are said to give employment to about 20,000 men; but by far the most interesting one which I have ever witnessed is the Lead Mine, or King’s Mines, as it is usually called. Having heard frequent reports of the great interest which would be excited by seeing this mine, and the operations of preparing and smelting the ore, I determined to pay a visit during the vacation of the Boarding School; and accordingly, in company of one of the students, set out one afternoon, and rode twenty-three miles to the house of J. W. Thomas, where we were entertained very kindly.Next morning, after an early breakfast, we proceeded on seven miles to the Conrad Hill, which is worked for gold. This mine is owned by Governor Morehead and Charles Fisher, one of our late members to Congress; the line between their lands crossing on the Hill. I had an introductory letter to E. P. Wade, Morehead manager, who gave us all necessary attention in examining the mine. Having provided us with lights, he accompanied us in the first place to the bottom of the main shaft, or pit, which is 100 feet deep. We then struck off in an easterly direction following the excavation which had been formed by taking out the gold ore, to the distance of about 100 or 125 feed. The size of the vein varies, as well as its inclination, and is also forked in many places, so that when the whole body of ore was removed, the openings under ground were as extensive as the rooms of a common house. When the mine was first opened, they thought too much of out a large quantity of ore every day and paid too little attention to the security of their operations; the consequence of which was, that on one occasion an area of something like 1000 square feet caved in, filling up the mine, and leaving a corresponding depression on the surface. This has since been removed, and in our subterranean peregrination, we walked immediately under the part that had once fallen in. The vein contains considerable quantities of feldspar, and some hæmatite, and the ore yields from one to two dollars per bushel. .
After exploring this part of the mine, we returned to the surface, and went to the foot of the hill, on the south side, where we entered a tunnel, and walked nearly in an upright posture, about 100 yards, into the bowels of the hill. At the end of this passage we saw two sturdy hands plying the pumps, by which the mine is drained. The water, which is very clear, runs off in a beautiful stream along the bottom of the tunnel. These pumps are kept in motion day and night, and even then, hardly keep the water low enough. We looked into the well, and were convinced that one of the hands did not exaggerate any, when he said “Warter’s no scace artick’le here.” .
We then turned off at nearly a right angle, and followed a second tunnel, about thirty yards, to the pumps which drain Fisher’s part of the mine. The miners are very fond of this water, and think that its use is highly favourable to health. Catching some of it in an inverted bell, which they used as a drinking cup, we quenched our thirst, and passed on among the hands, and again to the surface through another shaft, about seventy-five feet deep. This mine has been in operation fourteen years. .
From hence we made our way through many turns, to the place known under the names of the Lead Mine, the Silver Mine, or King’s Mine. The latter appellation is from Roswell A. King, one of the proprietors. It is situated in the south-eastern part of Davidson county, about ten miles from Lexington, and has been in operation a little over four years. I had a letter to King, but on my arrival, learned that he was from home. I, however, was acquainted with Jesse Aydlotte, one of his superintendents, who formerly had a son at the Boarding School, and on informing him of our business, he very politely answered, that he would show us the whole of the operations above ground, which only he had anything to do with; he directed them through the day, and his son John, during the night. Through them we were introduced to Varker, who has charge of the operations in the lower regions. The latter being particularly engaged, we had no opportunity of going down into the mine before the next day; and therefore spent the interval in examining the different processes through which the ore is carried after its elevation to the surface. The first of these is called “bucking”; and consists simply in beating the ore, with a view of making it finer. The bucking-house, has about two-thirds of the floor raised nearly waist-high to a common sized boy; and on the edge of this raised portion, are fitted plates of iron, six or eight inches in diameter. Each boy is furnished with an iron mallet; and the ore lying in heaps before them, is raked down on to these plates, and after being sufficiently reduced is scraped off on to the lower platform. After this, it is placed in a set of inclined troughs, and the water which is drawn from the mine, and used for washing off the slime, &c., carries it along down to another house, where it undergoes a third process, called gigging. In this house are a number of vats, similar to those in a tan-yard, and a quantity of ore being thrown into an iron-bottomed sieve, is dipped into them and twirled around, by which means it is for a moment or two suspended in the water, and thus the heavier and more valuable parts fall to the bottom of the seive. This is then taken out, the top part raked off and thrown aside, again to be carried through the same process. The gigged ore is now removed to the calcining furnace, where it is thoroughly baked, being kept for some time at a read heat; the object of which is to drive off the sulphur. When this is accomplished, the ore is ready for smelting. The smelting furnaces consist of a cast-iron basin, termed a cupal, with bricks built up on its edge to the height of five or six feet, and carried out as a chimney. These being heated by means of charcoal, the ore mixed with lime, is thrown in at an orifice fixed for the purpose, and secured by an iron door. The furnaces are kept intensely hot; and so great is the exhaustion consequent on attending to them, that three hands are appropriated to each. They take it in rotation, eight hours each in the twenty-four; for the furnaces are kept going, without intermission, till they blow out, as it is termed. They usually draw off the metal at the end of every eight hours into pigs, weighing seventy or eighty pounds each. This metal is a combination of lead and silver, and the average proportion gives 1000 dollars worth of silver to the ton of metal. It is sent to Philadelphia for the purpose of having the metals separated; and I was informed by Aydlotte, that they had sent of 150,000 .lbs. during the last fourteen months. They are now about erecting a separating furnace on the hill at the mine. These furnaces are formed of the ashes of burned bones, which is the least fusible substance that can be cheaply procured. We saw them draw off several pigs of metal; the stream being so large and bright, that the whole form of the spectator would be reflected by it as from a mirror. .
On the next morning we prepared to go into the mine. Captain Varker very kindly furnished us with some miners’ clothes, and a candle apiece. There are two main shafts, one of these being 100, and the other 160 feet deep. There are several levels, as they are called. They strike off at various depths, and explore the hill by means of tunnels. These excursions, at different distances from the surface, are termed levels; thus they have a forty feet, one hundred feet, and a ten feet level, &c. These stories under ground communicate with each other by passages other than the shafts; and there are so many descents and ascents, cross-ways and turnings, that the whole taken together, constitutes a labyrinth which is perhaps not less intricate than that of Dædalus. At any rate, I presume there are very few who would be willing to explore these meandering passages without a trusty guide. In some places the tunnels are high enough to allow a person to stand erect, and so wide that he cannot touch each side with his extended hands. All this was once filled with rich ore, and there are yet vast quantities above, below, and on each side of the tunnels. The work hitherto done, being only for the purpose of thoroughly exploring the mine, and showing whether they might go on and erect the necessary furnaces, &c. .
Some of the rooms exhibited all the realities of the fairy-dwellings, being coloured off in almost every shade, from the deepest black to pure white, interspersed with green, blue, red, yellow, &c. in some places, beautiful chrystals of blue vitriol have shot out from the sides of the tunnel since the mine was opened, in the same manner as the frost will shoot up in a damp place on a cool winter’s morning. There are masses of the chrystalized (glass) carbonate of lead in almost every part; and the miners recently struck, what, in their language, is called a vogue. I say, in their language, for Captain Varker informed us that the miners have a dictionary of their own, and make but little use of any other. This is simply a closed cavern; and the one alluded to was high enough to allow a man to stand upright in it, and ten feet long. It was moreover completely studded all round with the fine white chrystals of the carbonate of lead. We were shown one apartment of exceeding richness, which Captain Varker told us, he offered King 1000 dollars for the privilege of working in, for his own benefit, one hour, by himself, alone, and King refused. This was before any of the ore had been disturbed. .
Every part of the mine is timbered up in the most secure manner; presenting in this respect a very different appearance from the Conrad hill. Indeed, while in the latter, the stranger could not pass through many places without a peculiar feeling of dread. In this mine, after looking round him for a few minutes, he feels as much confidence concerning his safety from danger, as if he were sitting by his own fire-side. We descended to the bottom of the water shaft, (160 feet deep,) some fifty feet of which is cut all the way through a solid and very hard rock. In this shaft, two buckets, containing about forty gallons each, are continually playing; and the effect of these, when empty, striking against the timber, is indeed grand. To one stationed in a distant part – at first will be heard a rumbling sound, not unlike distant thunder, which, by being reverberated through these subterraneous passages, will increase in sharpness, and then gradually die away to a mellow plaintive tone. .
To attempt a description of the Cabinet would be useless. It contains many beautiful carbonates, yellow hexagonal chrystals of the phosphate of lead, blue vitriol chrystalized, rubies and a great many pieces of native silver, etc.
The dwellings of the miners, some seventy-five in number, form a considerable little town; and it may be stated, that good provision is made for the education of all the children who reside therein. A teacher is employed by the year, - paid by the proprietors of the mine, - and to him every miner has the privilege of sending his children without it costing him a farthing.” N. M. .
Note: N. M. is presumed to be the author of the article..
The above article was obtained from the Library of Congress by L. Michael “Mike” Kaas while digging up some more info on the Silver Hill Mine, and who thought it would be of interest. He had no idea that this would be my Great-grandfather!
The original article appeared in The Friend, a religious and literary journal, dated October 29, 1842, pp. 35-36. It mentions the Mine Captain, Varker. To maintain accuracy, all spellings are as indicated as in the original document.”
My Note – above article was published four days after Thomas Varker married Mary Ann Wright Gaddis, in Davidson County, NC.) Transcribed by Shirley Varker Gragg - Great-granddaughter of Captain Thomas Varker and Mary Ann Wright.
DEATH OF THOMAS VARKER:
Fatal Explosion. Mining accident in Mecklenburg County, NC – May 10, 1854 " It is our painful duty to announce that an explosion of powder took place at the Hopewell Copper Mine, in this county, on Wednesday, the 10th instant, by which two men lost their lives and another severely, if not fatally injured. The two first were Marshall McKoy, the Superintendent of the mining operations and Captain Varker, late of Greensboro, N. C. and the last a Dutchman, whose name we have not learned. Mr. McKoy was a worthy and highly esteemed citizen of Mecklenburg county and leaves a disconsolate wife and nine children to mourn his sudden death. Captain Varker was also much esteemed by his new friends and neighbors, and leaves a wife and six children to deplore his untimely end. The catastrophe is said to have happened in the following manner. The three were in the Counting Room, where there were four kegs of powder, one of which had been opened, and was left uncovered, when the Dutchman, and only survivor of the three, in attempting to hang up a drawing knife, which he had been using, dropped from his pipe a coal of fire, which fell into the open keg of powder. He, however, denies that he had any fire in his pipe, and says that there was powder on the floor, which was ignited by the friction of his feet upon the floor, though the other two, it is alleged, said before they died that they saw the fire drop from the pipe. The Dutchman is still very low, and expresses a wish that he may not survive, after having unfortunately caused the death of his two friends. -- Whig."
The above obituary was originally reported by the North Carolina Whig, a weekly newspaper in the area.
Thomas became a naturalized citizen of the United States [along with his brother, James Varker] in Davidson County, North Carolina in 1841.
Available information on Thomas [transcribed exactly as was originally written:
The Silver Mine in North Carolina.
“Thinking that some account of the mineral productions of North Carolina might be acceptable to the readers of “The Friend,” the following statements are furnished for insertion, if the editor thinks proper. .
The mines of this state are wrought extensively for gold, and are said to give employment to about 20,000 men; but by far the most interesting one which I have ever witnessed is the Lead Mine, or King’s Mines, as it is usually called. Having heard frequent reports of the great interest which would be excited by seeing this mine, and the operations of preparing and smelting the ore, I determined to pay a visit during the vacation of the Boarding School; and accordingly, in company of one of the students, set out one afternoon, and rode twenty-three miles to the house of J. W. Thomas, where we were entertained very kindly.Next morning, after an early breakfast, we proceeded on seven miles to the Conrad Hill, which is worked for gold. This mine is owned by Governor Morehead and Charles Fisher, one of our late members to Congress; the line between their lands crossing on the Hill. I had an introductory letter to E. P. Wade, Morehead manager, who gave us all necessary attention in examining the mine. Having provided us with lights, he accompanied us in the first place to the bottom of the main shaft, or pit, which is 100 feet deep. We then struck off in an easterly direction following the excavation which had been formed by taking out the gold ore, to the distance of about 100 or 125 feed. The size of the vein varies, as well as its inclination, and is also forked in many places, so that when the whole body of ore was removed, the openings under ground were as extensive as the rooms of a common house. When the mine was first opened, they thought too much of out a large quantity of ore every day and paid too little attention to the security of their operations; the consequence of which was, that on one occasion an area of something like 1000 square feet caved in, filling up the mine, and leaving a corresponding depression on the surface. This has since been removed, and in our subterranean peregrination, we walked immediately under the part that had once fallen in. The vein contains considerable quantities of feldspar, and some hæmatite, and the ore yields from one to two dollars per bushel. .
After exploring this part of the mine, we returned to the surface, and went to the foot of the hill, on the south side, where we entered a tunnel, and walked nearly in an upright posture, about 100 yards, into the bowels of the hill. At the end of this passage we saw two sturdy hands plying the pumps, by which the mine is drained. The water, which is very clear, runs off in a beautiful stream along the bottom of the tunnel. These pumps are kept in motion day and night, and even then, hardly keep the water low enough. We looked into the well, and were convinced that one of the hands did not exaggerate any, when he said “Warter’s no scace artick’le here.” .
We then turned off at nearly a right angle, and followed a second tunnel, about thirty yards, to the pumps which drain Fisher’s part of the mine. The miners are very fond of this water, and think that its use is highly favourable to health. Catching some of it in an inverted bell, which they used as a drinking cup, we quenched our thirst, and passed on among the hands, and again to the surface through another shaft, about seventy-five feet deep. This mine has been in operation fourteen years. .
From hence we made our way through many turns, to the place known under the names of the Lead Mine, the Silver Mine, or King’s Mine. The latter appellation is from Roswell A. King, one of the proprietors. It is situated in the south-eastern part of Davidson county, about ten miles from Lexington, and has been in operation a little over four years. I had a letter to King, but on my arrival, learned that he was from home. I, however, was acquainted with Jesse Aydlotte, one of his superintendents, who formerly had a son at the Boarding School, and on informing him of our business, he very politely answered, that he would show us the whole of the operations above ground, which only he had anything to do with; he directed them through the day, and his son John, during the night. Through them we were introduced to Varker, who has charge of the operations in the lower regions. The latter being particularly engaged, we had no opportunity of going down into the mine before the next day; and therefore spent the interval in examining the different processes through which the ore is carried after its elevation to the surface. The first of these is called “bucking”; and consists simply in beating the ore, with a view of making it finer. The bucking-house, has about two-thirds of the floor raised nearly waist-high to a common sized boy; and on the edge of this raised portion, are fitted plates of iron, six or eight inches in diameter. Each boy is furnished with an iron mallet; and the ore lying in heaps before them, is raked down on to these plates, and after being sufficiently reduced is scraped off on to the lower platform. After this, it is placed in a set of inclined troughs, and the water which is drawn from the mine, and used for washing off the slime, &c., carries it along down to another house, where it undergoes a third process, called gigging. In this house are a number of vats, similar to those in a tan-yard, and a quantity of ore being thrown into an iron-bottomed sieve, is dipped into them and twirled around, by which means it is for a moment or two suspended in the water, and thus the heavier and more valuable parts fall to the bottom of the seive. This is then taken out, the top part raked off and thrown aside, again to be carried through the same process. The gigged ore is now removed to the calcining furnace, where it is thoroughly baked, being kept for some time at a read heat; the object of which is to drive off the sulphur. When this is accomplished, the ore is ready for smelting. The smelting furnaces consist of a cast-iron basin, termed a cupal, with bricks built up on its edge to the height of five or six feet, and carried out as a chimney. These being heated by means of charcoal, the ore mixed with lime, is thrown in at an orifice fixed for the purpose, and secured by an iron door. The furnaces are kept intensely hot; and so great is the exhaustion consequent on attending to them, that three hands are appropriated to each. They take it in rotation, eight hours each in the twenty-four; for the furnaces are kept going, without intermission, till they blow out, as it is termed. They usually draw off the metal at the end of every eight hours into pigs, weighing seventy or eighty pounds each. This metal is a combination of lead and silver, and the average proportion gives 1000 dollars worth of silver to the ton of metal. It is sent to Philadelphia for the purpose of having the metals separated; and I was informed by Aydlotte, that they had sent of 150,000 .lbs. during the last fourteen months. They are now about erecting a separating furnace on the hill at the mine. These furnaces are formed of the ashes of burned bones, which is the least fusible substance that can be cheaply procured. We saw them draw off several pigs of metal; the stream being so large and bright, that the whole form of the spectator would be reflected by it as from a mirror. .
On the next morning we prepared to go into the mine. Captain Varker very kindly furnished us with some miners’ clothes, and a candle apiece. There are two main shafts, one of these being 100, and the other 160 feet deep. There are several levels, as they are called. They strike off at various depths, and explore the hill by means of tunnels. These excursions, at different distances from the surface, are termed levels; thus they have a forty feet, one hundred feet, and a ten feet level, &c. These stories under ground communicate with each other by passages other than the shafts; and there are so many descents and ascents, cross-ways and turnings, that the whole taken together, constitutes a labyrinth which is perhaps not less intricate than that of Dædalus. At any rate, I presume there are very few who would be willing to explore these meandering passages without a trusty guide. In some places the tunnels are high enough to allow a person to stand erect, and so wide that he cannot touch each side with his extended hands. All this was once filled with rich ore, and there are yet vast quantities above, below, and on each side of the tunnels. The work hitherto done, being only for the purpose of thoroughly exploring the mine, and showing whether they might go on and erect the necessary furnaces, &c. .
Some of the rooms exhibited all the realities of the fairy-dwellings, being coloured off in almost every shade, from the deepest black to pure white, interspersed with green, blue, red, yellow, &c. in some places, beautiful chrystals of blue vitriol have shot out from the sides of the tunnel since the mine was opened, in the same manner as the frost will shoot up in a damp place on a cool winter’s morning. There are masses of the chrystalized (glass) carbonate of lead in almost every part; and the miners recently struck, what, in their language, is called a vogue. I say, in their language, for Captain Varker informed us that the miners have a dictionary of their own, and make but little use of any other. This is simply a closed cavern; and the one alluded to was high enough to allow a man to stand upright in it, and ten feet long. It was moreover completely studded all round with the fine white chrystals of the carbonate of lead. We were shown one apartment of exceeding richness, which Captain Varker told us, he offered King 1000 dollars for the privilege of working in, for his own benefit, one hour, by himself, alone, and King refused. This was before any of the ore had been disturbed. .
Every part of the mine is timbered up in the most secure manner; presenting in this respect a very different appearance from the Conrad hill. Indeed, while in the latter, the stranger could not pass through many places without a peculiar feeling of dread. In this mine, after looking round him for a few minutes, he feels as much confidence concerning his safety from danger, as if he were sitting by his own fire-side. We descended to the bottom of the water shaft, (160 feet deep,) some fifty feet of which is cut all the way through a solid and very hard rock. In this shaft, two buckets, containing about forty gallons each, are continually playing; and the effect of these, when empty, striking against the timber, is indeed grand. To one stationed in a distant part – at first will be heard a rumbling sound, not unlike distant thunder, which, by being reverberated through these subterraneous passages, will increase in sharpness, and then gradually die away to a mellow plaintive tone. .
To attempt a description of the Cabinet would be useless. It contains many beautiful carbonates, yellow hexagonal chrystals of the phosphate of lead, blue vitriol chrystalized, rubies and a great many pieces of native silver, etc.
The dwellings of the miners, some seventy-five in number, form a considerable little town; and it may be stated, that good provision is made for the education of all the children who reside therein. A teacher is employed by the year, - paid by the proprietors of the mine, - and to him every miner has the privilege of sending his children without it costing him a farthing.” N. M. .
Note: N. M. is presumed to be the author of the article..
The above article was obtained from the Library of Congress by L. Michael “Mike” Kaas while digging up some more info on the Silver Hill Mine, and who thought it would be of interest. He had no idea that this would be my Great-grandfather!
The original article appeared in The Friend, a religious and literary journal, dated October 29, 1842, pp. 35-36. It mentions the Mine Captain, Varker. To maintain accuracy, all spellings are as indicated as in the original document.”
My Note – above article was published four days after Thomas Varker married Mary Ann Wright Gaddis, in Davidson County, NC.) Transcribed by Shirley Varker Gragg - Great-granddaughter of Captain Thomas Varker and Mary Ann Wright.
DEATH OF THOMAS VARKER:
Fatal Explosion. Mining accident in Mecklenburg County, NC – May 10, 1854 " It is our painful duty to announce that an explosion of powder took place at the Hopewell Copper Mine, in this county, on Wednesday, the 10th instant, by which two men lost their lives and another severely, if not fatally injured. The two first were Marshall McKoy, the Superintendent of the mining operations and Captain Varker, late of Greensboro, N. C. and the last a Dutchman, whose name we have not learned. Mr. McKoy was a worthy and highly esteemed citizen of Mecklenburg county and leaves a disconsolate wife and nine children to mourn his sudden death. Captain Varker was also much esteemed by his new friends and neighbors, and leaves a wife and six children to deplore his untimely end. The catastrophe is said to have happened in the following manner. The three were in the Counting Room, where there were four kegs of powder, one of which had been opened, and was left uncovered, when the Dutchman, and only survivor of the three, in attempting to hang up a drawing knife, which he had been using, dropped from his pipe a coal of fire, which fell into the open keg of powder. He, however, denies that he had any fire in his pipe, and says that there was powder on the floor, which was ignited by the friction of his feet upon the floor, though the other two, it is alleged, said before they died that they saw the fire drop from the pipe. The Dutchman is still very low, and expresses a wish that he may not survive, after having unfortunately caused the death of his two friends. -- Whig."
The above obituary was originally reported by the North Carolina Whig, a weekly newspaper in the area.
Baptismal records indicate that Thomas Varker was b. 23 Nov 1800 in Breage, Cornwall, England - the son of James Varker [1772–1836] and Susanna Carter [1776–1806] of England.
Thomas became a naturalized citizen of the United States [along with his brother, James Varker] in Davidson County, North Carolina in 1841.
Available information on Thomas [transcribed exactly as was originally written:
The Silver Mine in North Carolina.
“Thinking that some account of the mineral productions of North Carolina might be acceptable to the readers of “The Friend,” the following statements are furnished for insertion, if the editor thinks proper. .
The mines of this state are wrought extensively for gold, and are said to give employment to about 20,000 men; but by far the most interesting one which I have ever witnessed is the Lead Mine, or King’s Mines, as it is usually called. Having heard frequent reports of the great interest which would be excited by seeing this mine, and the operations of preparing and smelting the ore, I determined to pay a visit during the vacation of the Boarding School; and accordingly, in company of one of the students, set out one afternoon, and rode twenty-three miles to the house of J. W. Thomas, where we were entertained very kindly.Next morning, after an early breakfast, we proceeded on seven miles to the Conrad Hill, which is worked for gold. This mine is owned by Governor Morehead and Charles Fisher, one of our late members to Congress; the line between their lands crossing on the Hill. I had an introductory letter to E. P. Wade, Morehead manager, who gave us all necessary attention in examining the mine. Having provided us with lights, he accompanied us in the first place to the bottom of the main shaft, or pit, which is 100 feet deep. We then struck off in an easterly direction following the excavation which had been formed by taking out the gold ore, to the distance of about 100 or 125 feed. The size of the vein varies, as well as its inclination, and is also forked in many places, so that when the whole body of ore was removed, the openings under ground were as extensive as the rooms of a common house. When the mine was first opened, they thought too much of out a large quantity of ore every day and paid too little attention to the security of their operations; the consequence of which was, that on one occasion an area of something like 1000 square feet caved in, filling up the mine, and leaving a corresponding depression on the surface. This has since been removed, and in our subterranean peregrination, we walked immediately under the part that had once fallen in. The vein contains considerable quantities of feldspar, and some hæmatite, and the ore yields from one to two dollars per bushel. .
After exploring this part of the mine, we returned to the surface, and went to the foot of the hill, on the south side, where we entered a tunnel, and walked nearly in an upright posture, about 100 yards, into the bowels of the hill. At the end of this passage we saw two sturdy hands plying the pumps, by which the mine is drained. The water, which is very clear, runs off in a beautiful stream along the bottom of the tunnel. These pumps are kept in motion day and night, and even then, hardly keep the water low enough. We looked into the well, and were convinced that one of the hands did not exaggerate any, when he said “Warter’s no scace artick’le here.” .
We then turned off at nearly a right angle, and followed a second tunnel, about thirty yards, to the pumps which drain Fisher’s part of the mine. The miners are very fond of this water, and think that its use is highly favourable to health. Catching some of it in an inverted bell, which they used as a drinking cup, we quenched our thirst, and passed on among the hands, and again to the surface through another shaft, about seventy-five feet deep. This mine has been in operation fourteen years. .
From hence we made our way through many turns, to the place known under the names of the Lead Mine, the Silver Mine, or King’s Mine. The latter appellation is from Roswell A. King, one of the proprietors. It is situated in the south-eastern part of Davidson county, about ten miles from Lexington, and has been in operation a little over four years. I had a letter to King, but on my arrival, learned that he was from home. I, however, was acquainted with Jesse Aydlotte, one of his superintendents, who formerly had a son at the Boarding School, and on informing him of our business, he very politely answered, that he would show us the whole of the operations above ground, which only he had anything to do with; he directed them through the day, and his son John, during the night. Through them we were introduced to Varker, who has charge of the operations in the lower regions. The latter being particularly engaged, we had no opportunity of going down into the mine before the next day; and therefore spent the interval in examining the different processes through which the ore is carried after its elevation to the surface. The first of these is called “bucking”; and consists simply in beating the ore, with a view of making it finer. The bucking-house, has about two-thirds of the floor raised nearly waist-high to a common sized boy; and on the edge of this raised portion, are fitted plates of iron, six or eight inches in diameter. Each boy is furnished with an iron mallet; and the ore lying in heaps before them, is raked down on to these plates, and after being sufficiently reduced is scraped off on to the lower platform. After this, it is placed in a set of inclined troughs, and the water which is drawn from the mine, and used for washing off the slime, &c., carries it along down to another house, where it undergoes a third process, called gigging. In this house are a number of vats, similar to those in a tan-yard, and a quantity of ore being thrown into an iron-bottomed sieve, is dipped into them and twirled around, by which means it is for a moment or two suspended in the water, and thus the heavier and more valuable parts fall to the bottom of the seive. This is then taken out, the top part raked off and thrown aside, again to be carried through the same process. The gigged ore is now removed to the calcining furnace, where it is thoroughly baked, being kept for some time at a read heat; the object of which is to drive off the sulphur. When this is accomplished, the ore is ready for smelting. The smelting furnaces consist of a cast-iron basin, termed a cupal, with bricks built up on its edge to the height of five or six feet, and carried out as a chimney. These being heated by means of charcoal, the ore mixed with lime, is thrown in at an orifice fixed for the purpose, and secured by an iron door. The furnaces are kept intensely hot; and so great is the exhaustion consequent on attending to them, that three hands are appropriated to each. They take it in rotation, eight hours each in the twenty-four; for the furnaces are kept going, without intermission, till they blow out, as it is termed. They usually draw off the metal at the end of every eight hours into pigs, weighing seventy or eighty pounds each. This metal is a combination of lead and silver, and the average proportion gives 1000 dollars worth of silver to the ton of metal. It is sent to Philadelphia for the purpose of having the metals separated; and I was informed by Aydlotte, that they had sent of 150,000 .lbs. during the last fourteen months. They are now about erecting a separating furnace on the hill at the mine. These furnaces are formed of the ashes of burned bones, which is the least fusible substance that can be cheaply procured. We saw them draw off several pigs of metal; the stream being so large and bright, that the whole form of the spectator would be reflected by it as from a mirror. .
On the next morning we prepared to go into the mine. Captain Varker very kindly furnished us with some miners’ clothes, and a candle apiece. There are two main shafts, one of these being 100, and the other 160 feet deep. There are several levels, as they are called. They strike off at various depths, and explore the hill by means of tunnels. These excursions, at different distances from the surface, are termed levels; thus they have a forty feet, one hundred feet, and a ten feet level, &c. These stories under ground communicate with each other by passages other than the shafts; and there are so many descents and ascents, cross-ways and turnings, that the whole taken together, constitutes a labyrinth which is perhaps not less intricate than that of Dædalus. At any rate, I presume there are very few who would be willing to explore these meandering passages without a trusty guide. In some places the tunnels are high enough to allow a person to stand erect, and so wide that he cannot touch each side with his extended hands. All this was once filled with rich ore, and there are yet vast quantities above, below, and on each side of the tunnels. The work hitherto done, being only for the purpose of thoroughly exploring the mine, and showing whether they might go on and erect the necessary furnaces, &c. .
Some of the rooms exhibited all the realities of the fairy-dwellings, being coloured off in almost every shade, from the deepest black to pure white, interspersed with green, blue, red, yellow, &c. in some places, beautiful chrystals of blue vitriol have shot out from the sides of the tunnel since the mine was opened, in the same manner as the frost will shoot up in a damp place on a cool winter’s morning. There are masses of the chrystalized (glass) carbonate of lead in almost every part; and the miners recently struck, what, in their language, is called a vogue. I say, in their language, for Captain Varker informed us that the miners have a dictionary of their own, and make but little use of any other. This is simply a closed cavern; and the one alluded to was high enough to allow a man to stand upright in it, and ten feet long. It was moreover completely studded all round with the fine white chrystals of the carbonate of lead. We were shown one apartment of exceeding richness, which Captain Varker told us, he offered King 1000 dollars for the privilege of working in, for his own benefit, one hour, by himself, alone, and King refused. This was before any of the ore had been disturbed. .
Every part of the mine is timbered up in the most secure manner; presenting in this respect a very different appearance from the Conrad hill. Indeed, while in the latter, the stranger could not pass through many places without a peculiar feeling of dread. In this mine, after looking round him for a few minutes, he feels as much confidence concerning his safety from danger, as if he were sitting by his own fire-side. We descended to the bottom of the water shaft, (160 feet deep,) some fifty feet of which is cut all the way through a solid and very hard rock. In this shaft, two buckets, containing about forty gallons each, are continually playing; and the effect of these, when empty, striking against the timber, is indeed grand. To one stationed in a distant part – at first will be heard a rumbling sound, not unlike distant thunder, which, by being reverberated through these subterraneous passages, will increase in sharpness, and then gradually die away to a mellow plaintive tone. .
To attempt a description of the Cabinet would be useless. It contains many beautiful carbonates, yellow hexagonal chrystals of the phosphate of lead, blue vitriol chrystalized, rubies and a great many pieces of native silver, etc.
The dwellings of the miners, some seventy-five in number, form a considerable little town; and it may be stated, that good provision is made for the education of all the children who reside therein. A teacher is employed by the year, - paid by the proprietors of the mine, - and to him every miner has the privilege of sending his children without it costing him a farthing.” N. M. .
Note: N. M. is presumed to be the author of the article..
The above article was obtained from the Library of Congress by L. Michael “Mike” Kaas while digging up some more info on the Silver Hill Mine, and who thought it would be of interest. He had no idea that this would be my Great-grandfather!
The original article appeared in The Friend, a religious and literary journal, dated October 29, 1842, pp. 35-36. It mentions the Mine Captain, Varker. To maintain accuracy, all spellings are as indicated as in the original document.”
My Note – above article was published four days after Thomas Varker married Mary Ann Wright Gaddis, in Davidson County, NC.) Transcribed by Shirley Varker Gragg - Great-granddaughter of Captain Thomas Varker and Mary Ann Wright.
DEATH OF THOMAS VARKER:
Fatal Explosion. Mining accident in Mecklenburg County, NC – May 10, 1854 " It is our painful duty to announce that an explosion of powder took place at the Hopewell Copper Mine, in this county, on Wednesday, the 10th instant, by which two men lost their lives and another severely, if not fatally injured. The two first were Marshall McKoy, the Superintendent of the mining operations and Captain Varker, late of Greensboro, N. C. and the last a Dutchman, whose name we have not learned. Mr. McKoy was a worthy and highly esteemed citizen of Mecklenburg county and leaves a disconsolate wife and nine children to mourn his sudden death. Captain Varker was also much esteemed by his new friends and neighbors, and leaves a wife and six children to deplore his untimely end. The catastrophe is said to have happened in the following manner. The three were in the Counting Room, where there were four kegs of powder, one of which had been opened, and was left uncovered, when the Dutchman, and only survivor of the three, in attempting to hang up a drawing knife, which he had been using, dropped from his pipe a coal of fire, which fell into the open keg of powder. He, however, denies that he had any fire in his pipe, and says that there was powder on the floor, which was ignited by the friction of his feet upon the floor, though the other two, it is alleged, said before they died that they saw the fire drop from the pipe. The Dutchman is still very low, and expresses a wish that he may not survive, after having unfortunately caused the death of his two friends. -- Whig."
The above obituary was originally reported by the North Carolina Whig, a weekly newspaper in the area.
Thomas became a naturalized citizen of the United States [along with his brother, James Varker] in Davidson County, North Carolina in 1841.
Available information on Thomas [transcribed exactly as was originally written:
The Silver Mine in North Carolina.
“Thinking that some account of the mineral productions of North Carolina might be acceptable to the readers of “The Friend,” the following statements are furnished for insertion, if the editor thinks proper. .
The mines of this state are wrought extensively for gold, and are said to give employment to about 20,000 men; but by far the most interesting one which I have ever witnessed is the Lead Mine, or King’s Mines, as it is usually called. Having heard frequent reports of the great interest which would be excited by seeing this mine, and the operations of preparing and smelting the ore, I determined to pay a visit during the vacation of the Boarding School; and accordingly, in company of one of the students, set out one afternoon, and rode twenty-three miles to the house of J. W. Thomas, where we were entertained very kindly.Next morning, after an early breakfast, we proceeded on seven miles to the Conrad Hill, which is worked for gold. This mine is owned by Governor Morehead and Charles Fisher, one of our late members to Congress; the line between their lands crossing on the Hill. I had an introductory letter to E. P. Wade, Morehead manager, who gave us all necessary attention in examining the mine. Having provided us with lights, he accompanied us in the first place to the bottom of the main shaft, or pit, which is 100 feet deep. We then struck off in an easterly direction following the excavation which had been formed by taking out the gold ore, to the distance of about 100 or 125 feed. The size of the vein varies, as well as its inclination, and is also forked in many places, so that when the whole body of ore was removed, the openings under ground were as extensive as the rooms of a common house. When the mine was first opened, they thought too much of out a large quantity of ore every day and paid too little attention to the security of their operations; the consequence of which was, that on one occasion an area of something like 1000 square feet caved in, filling up the mine, and leaving a corresponding depression on the surface. This has since been removed, and in our subterranean peregrination, we walked immediately under the part that had once fallen in. The vein contains considerable quantities of feldspar, and some hæmatite, and the ore yields from one to two dollars per bushel. .
After exploring this part of the mine, we returned to the surface, and went to the foot of the hill, on the south side, where we entered a tunnel, and walked nearly in an upright posture, about 100 yards, into the bowels of the hill. At the end of this passage we saw two sturdy hands plying the pumps, by which the mine is drained. The water, which is very clear, runs off in a beautiful stream along the bottom of the tunnel. These pumps are kept in motion day and night, and even then, hardly keep the water low enough. We looked into the well, and were convinced that one of the hands did not exaggerate any, when he said “Warter’s no scace artick’le here.” .
We then turned off at nearly a right angle, and followed a second tunnel, about thirty yards, to the pumps which drain Fisher’s part of the mine. The miners are very fond of this water, and think that its use is highly favourable to health. Catching some of it in an inverted bell, which they used as a drinking cup, we quenched our thirst, and passed on among the hands, and again to the surface through another shaft, about seventy-five feet deep. This mine has been in operation fourteen years. .
From hence we made our way through many turns, to the place known under the names of the Lead Mine, the Silver Mine, or King’s Mine. The latter appellation is from Roswell A. King, one of the proprietors. It is situated in the south-eastern part of Davidson county, about ten miles from Lexington, and has been in operation a little over four years. I had a letter to King, but on my arrival, learned that he was from home. I, however, was acquainted with Jesse Aydlotte, one of his superintendents, who formerly had a son at the Boarding School, and on informing him of our business, he very politely answered, that he would show us the whole of the operations above ground, which only he had anything to do with; he directed them through the day, and his son John, during the night. Through them we were introduced to Varker, who has charge of the operations in the lower regions. The latter being particularly engaged, we had no opportunity of going down into the mine before the next day; and therefore spent the interval in examining the different processes through which the ore is carried after its elevation to the surface. The first of these is called “bucking”; and consists simply in beating the ore, with a view of making it finer. The bucking-house, has about two-thirds of the floor raised nearly waist-high to a common sized boy; and on the edge of this raised portion, are fitted plates of iron, six or eight inches in diameter. Each boy is furnished with an iron mallet; and the ore lying in heaps before them, is raked down on to these plates, and after being sufficiently reduced is scraped off on to the lower platform. After this, it is placed in a set of inclined troughs, and the water which is drawn from the mine, and used for washing off the slime, &c., carries it along down to another house, where it undergoes a third process, called gigging. In this house are a number of vats, similar to those in a tan-yard, and a quantity of ore being thrown into an iron-bottomed sieve, is dipped into them and twirled around, by which means it is for a moment or two suspended in the water, and thus the heavier and more valuable parts fall to the bottom of the seive. This is then taken out, the top part raked off and thrown aside, again to be carried through the same process. The gigged ore is now removed to the calcining furnace, where it is thoroughly baked, being kept for some time at a read heat; the object of which is to drive off the sulphur. When this is accomplished, the ore is ready for smelting. The smelting furnaces consist of a cast-iron basin, termed a cupal, with bricks built up on its edge to the height of five or six feet, and carried out as a chimney. These being heated by means of charcoal, the ore mixed with lime, is thrown in at an orifice fixed for the purpose, and secured by an iron door. The furnaces are kept intensely hot; and so great is the exhaustion consequent on attending to them, that three hands are appropriated to each. They take it in rotation, eight hours each in the twenty-four; for the furnaces are kept going, without intermission, till they blow out, as it is termed. They usually draw off the metal at the end of every eight hours into pigs, weighing seventy or eighty pounds each. This metal is a combination of lead and silver, and the average proportion gives 1000 dollars worth of silver to the ton of metal. It is sent to Philadelphia for the purpose of having the metals separated; and I was informed by Aydlotte, that they had sent of 150,000 .lbs. during the last fourteen months. They are now about erecting a separating furnace on the hill at the mine. These furnaces are formed of the ashes of burned bones, which is the least fusible substance that can be cheaply procured. We saw them draw off several pigs of metal; the stream being so large and bright, that the whole form of the spectator would be reflected by it as from a mirror. .
On the next morning we prepared to go into the mine. Captain Varker very kindly furnished us with some miners’ clothes, and a candle apiece. There are two main shafts, one of these being 100, and the other 160 feet deep. There are several levels, as they are called. They strike off at various depths, and explore the hill by means of tunnels. These excursions, at different distances from the surface, are termed levels; thus they have a forty feet, one hundred feet, and a ten feet level, &c. These stories under ground communicate with each other by passages other than the shafts; and there are so many descents and ascents, cross-ways and turnings, that the whole taken together, constitutes a labyrinth which is perhaps not less intricate than that of Dædalus. At any rate, I presume there are very few who would be willing to explore these meandering passages without a trusty guide. In some places the tunnels are high enough to allow a person to stand erect, and so wide that he cannot touch each side with his extended hands. All this was once filled with rich ore, and there are yet vast quantities above, below, and on each side of the tunnels. The work hitherto done, being only for the purpose of thoroughly exploring the mine, and showing whether they might go on and erect the necessary furnaces, &c. .
Some of the rooms exhibited all the realities of the fairy-dwellings, being coloured off in almost every shade, from the deepest black to pure white, interspersed with green, blue, red, yellow, &c. in some places, beautiful chrystals of blue vitriol have shot out from the sides of the tunnel since the mine was opened, in the same manner as the frost will shoot up in a damp place on a cool winter’s morning. There are masses of the chrystalized (glass) carbonate of lead in almost every part; and the miners recently struck, what, in their language, is called a vogue. I say, in their language, for Captain Varker informed us that the miners have a dictionary of their own, and make but little use of any other. This is simply a closed cavern; and the one alluded to was high enough to allow a man to stand upright in it, and ten feet long. It was moreover completely studded all round with the fine white chrystals of the carbonate of lead. We were shown one apartment of exceeding richness, which Captain Varker told us, he offered King 1000 dollars for the privilege of working in, for his own benefit, one hour, by himself, alone, and King refused. This was before any of the ore had been disturbed. .
Every part of the mine is timbered up in the most secure manner; presenting in this respect a very different appearance from the Conrad hill. Indeed, while in the latter, the stranger could not pass through many places without a peculiar feeling of dread. In this mine, after looking round him for a few minutes, he feels as much confidence concerning his safety from danger, as if he were sitting by his own fire-side. We descended to the bottom of the water shaft, (160 feet deep,) some fifty feet of which is cut all the way through a solid and very hard rock. In this shaft, two buckets, containing about forty gallons each, are continually playing; and the effect of these, when empty, striking against the timber, is indeed grand. To one stationed in a distant part – at first will be heard a rumbling sound, not unlike distant thunder, which, by being reverberated through these subterraneous passages, will increase in sharpness, and then gradually die away to a mellow plaintive tone. .
To attempt a description of the Cabinet would be useless. It contains many beautiful carbonates, yellow hexagonal chrystals of the phosphate of lead, blue vitriol chrystalized, rubies and a great many pieces of native silver, etc.
The dwellings of the miners, some seventy-five in number, form a considerable little town; and it may be stated, that good provision is made for the education of all the children who reside therein. A teacher is employed by the year, - paid by the proprietors of the mine, - and to him every miner has the privilege of sending his children without it costing him a farthing.” N. M. .
Note: N. M. is presumed to be the author of the article..
The above article was obtained from the Library of Congress by L. Michael “Mike” Kaas while digging up some more info on the Silver Hill Mine, and who thought it would be of interest. He had no idea that this would be my Great-grandfather!
The original article appeared in The Friend, a religious and literary journal, dated October 29, 1842, pp. 35-36. It mentions the Mine Captain, Varker. To maintain accuracy, all spellings are as indicated as in the original document.”
My Note – above article was published four days after Thomas Varker married Mary Ann Wright Gaddis, in Davidson County, NC.) Transcribed by Shirley Varker Gragg - Great-granddaughter of Captain Thomas Varker and Mary Ann Wright.
DEATH OF THOMAS VARKER:
Fatal Explosion. Mining accident in Mecklenburg County, NC – May 10, 1854 " It is our painful duty to announce that an explosion of powder took place at the Hopewell Copper Mine, in this county, on Wednesday, the 10th instant, by which two men lost their lives and another severely, if not fatally injured. The two first were Marshall McKoy, the Superintendent of the mining operations and Captain Varker, late of Greensboro, N. C. and the last a Dutchman, whose name we have not learned. Mr. McKoy was a worthy and highly esteemed citizen of Mecklenburg county and leaves a disconsolate wife and nine children to mourn his sudden death. Captain Varker was also much esteemed by his new friends and neighbors, and leaves a wife and six children to deplore his untimely end. The catastrophe is said to have happened in the following manner. The three were in the Counting Room, where there were four kegs of powder, one of which had been opened, and was left uncovered, when the Dutchman, and only survivor of the three, in attempting to hang up a drawing knife, which he had been using, dropped from his pipe a coal of fire, which fell into the open keg of powder. He, however, denies that he had any fire in his pipe, and says that there was powder on the floor, which was ignited by the friction of his feet upon the floor, though the other two, it is alleged, said before they died that they saw the fire drop from the pipe. The Dutchman is still very low, and expresses a wish that he may not survive, after having unfortunately caused the death of his two friends. -- Whig."
The above obituary was originally reported by the North Carolina Whig, a weekly newspaper in the area.
Gravesite Details
No headstone has been found for either Thomas Varker or Mary Ann Wright; however, given the circumstances of the time, it is highly likely that both are buried here in her Wright family cemetery.
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