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Since my first article on this subject was published in the Mineralogical Record (Burr, 1992), a large amount of additional information has come to light which ties up many of the loose ends. Much of this information has very kindly been supplied to me by Roger Flindall of Long Eaton, England, who produced a large, unpublished report on the Bage mine in 1986 with the title: "The History of the Bage and Venture Mines."
THOMAS PEARSON
Unfortunately, there seem to have been rather a lot of Thomas Pearsons in the Matlock region, and it is not always easy to distinguish between them in old records. However, the "Tom Pearson of Matlock" who "got the muriate of lead for Mr. Greville" was probably Thomas Pearson of Matlock Bath. A pedigree of the family to which he belonged was compiled by T.N. Ince, a solicitor at Wirksworth. in 1833, but it should be noted that such pedigrees are not always reliable. His father is given as Thomas Pearson of Matlock, a miner. Thomas Pearson of Matlock Bath (ca. 1760-ca. 1830) is given as a "petrifactioner" (dealer in geological specimens etc.). One of his brothers is given as Benjamin Pearson of Wirksworth. This was probably the Benjamin Pearson who was agent for the Gang mine just to the north of the Bage mine (and also drained by the Cromford level) during the mid 1780's. Benjamin Pearson of Wirksworth had a son, Thomas Pearson of Wirksworth, who died at an advanced age in 1831.
In 1913, a well-known local mining historian, David Palmer Pearson (died 1932), described Thomas Pearson (of Matlock?) as his great grandfather, and recorded that he was given the title to various veins at Upperwood, Matlock Bath. on October 1, 1774 (Pearson, 1913).
Local newspapers indicate that Thomas Pearson of Matlock Bath was a member of the Matlock area association for prosecuting felons during the 1790's, which suggests that he must have been a reasonably well-established tradesman. Local newspapers also record the marriage in 1833 of a William Pearson of Matlock, who was also a "petrifactioner."
It would seem that Thomas Pearson of Matlock Bath was also a miner, for the Matlock Barmaster's (Mining Commissioner's) books have an entry for January 3, 1810, stating that: "Thomas...