Henry Quick of Zennor

[davidkingmartin]

This posting relates to Henry Quick, the author(?) of rhymed verses/broadsheet ballads. He wrote a mournful ballad about my ggg-father, John Martin, who was trapped in a rockfall in an adit...mid-1800s, possibly near Arthur Caddick`s cottage (Windswept, Top-of -the Hill), or on the Downs, above. ...Nancledra Hill? The writer, Howard Nichols, had a copy of the verses. Can anyone comment on this? DKM.

[Deleted]

D

Do you want a copy?

Lannanta

[davidkingmartin]

Hello! Yes. please, if possible .....here, as a posting or by e-mail.
David.

[Deleted]

Hi David

May take some time but I can tell you that from the poem John MARTYNS was a 26 year old from Ludgvan, due to be married to Sally, was crushed to death when attempting to run an old shaft in the Wheal Tin Croft Mine on the 23rd December 1836.

When I did a Google of the name of that mine it appears as if that mine is only discussed in the book - THE ST IVES MINING DISTRICT (Vol. 2) - Cyril Noall. Dyllansow Truran, Redruth, Cornwall - 1993 ISBN 185 022 0670.

Regards

Allen

[davidkingmartin]

Hello, Iannanta.
Thanks for the info....but there is a problem. JM had a son b1848, Ludgvan, and another b1855. My sources may be unreliable, based upon written accounts by my late father ( a jounalist/writer; John Penwith (pen-name), "Leaves from a Cornish Notebook", 1950 etc. 600 persons attended the funeral (but where, when?).
Possibly, my father latched upon the "wrong" Martin. I am trying to trace the parents of John Martin b1848, Ludgvan, dRSA after 1891, farmed 35 acres Hellengove, married to Levinia (Rowe).
Possible links to "Jeffery" thru mother. D.

[Deleted]

He was aged six and twenty,
Just about to take a wife,
In true love to be united,
And get settled through life.

Stout and tall in limbs and stature,
Strong and active, brisk and gay,
Full of life and health and vigour;
Soon a lump of lifeless clay.

'Twas December three and twientieth,
Friday morning just at ten,
Eighteen hundred six and thirty,
Did take place this solemn scene.

In the bowels of Wheal Tin Croft,
An old mine renew'd of late,
This poor young man he was labouring,
Where he met his sudden fate.

much later near the end in the poem.....

Twelve days in deep mud and water,
Close confined underground,
Till they sunk a pit eight fathoms,
To the place where he was drown'd.

One o'clock on Wednesday morning,
And the fourth of the New Year,
Was poor Martyn's lifeless body
Loosed and taken out the mire.

Home to his dear habitation,
They his body did convey,
And his funeral procession
Was the following Sabbath Day.

To Ludgvan Churchyard was carried,
His poor lifless lump of clay,
In his silent dust interred
Till the Resurrection Day.

'Twas reported near six thousand
Did attend him to his tomb,
Who in funeral rites most solemn
Guarded him to his long home.

I would agree that you must be looking at another John Martyns.

Lannanta

[Cornish Terrier]

G'day David and Allen,

I am quite interested in this story but, as Ludgvan records are a little hard to get at, I am of limited help just now.

However, I do have a copy of Cyril Noall's two volumes on the St Ives Mining District if that will be of help. (Have to find which box they are in, though. )

David - please supply some more information about Levinia Rowe and the Jeffery connection as I may be able to find some help there.

Also - as for Ludgvan Records I would suggest you get in touch with Bill Curnow who is the Online Parish Clerk for that Parish.

Please keep us informed and we can work from there.

Cornish Terrier

[Cornish Terrier]

David - I forgot one thing.

When you say that John Martin "dRSA" after 1891 I am assuming you mean the Republic of South Africa - would that be correct.

If so then there is a chance I might be able to find something for you as I am a subscriber to a List in South Africa which has members who are very helpful.

Let me know and I will try a few contacts for you.

Ian

[davidkingmartin]

Quick/Martin poem: a correction to my original posting. The John Martyns of Ludgvan d.1836 does not appear to be one of mine....maybe a distant relative or my father would not have mentioned the fact in the first place.
The person I thought was "John" was "Joseph", 1815-1867, Ludgvan. He had a brother John (details sought), one of the many off-spring of JamesM., b.1774 and Charity (Carbus/Carbess), 1775-1841,m.1795.
And, of course, there was a Martin family living not a million miles from where the John Martin Adit is said to be located, where JM died in a rockfall (apparently)...near Cledry Hill/Ferndale Cottage.

[Cornish Terrier]

David - have located my copies of Cyril Noall's books.

Had a quick glance at the section about Wheal Tin Croft but there seems to be no mention of the accident and the death of John Martyns.
There is not much more than a couple of paragraphs so is not much help to us.

[davidkingmartin]

Ian: I may have "found" the John Martins/Martyn of the Quick poem.
John b1810, d.8 Jan.1837, Ludgvan, a son of James Martins 1774-1831 and a brother of Joseph 1815-`67 (my g-g-gfather, I think).
The Quick account relates an accident around Christmas and the dates given "match" when combined with my late father`s account. Burial Ludgvan in New Year (1837). Large turnout at funeral, Ludgvan. John was unmarried but wooing a fair young maid.
The mine may not be listed anywhere. I have the impression it was a one-man venture known locally as the John Martin adit. My father speculates as to its precise location but mentions Cledry Hill (see earlier postings) and that the tunnel/shaft may extend under the late Arthur Caddick`s cottage.
I am still seeking confirmatory evidence. One of my "sources" is a OneWorld Tree...not terribly reliable but precise dates are given: death 23 Dec.1836, burial 8 Jan.1837, which "match" the Quick and Martin descriptions exactly.

[Cornish Terrier]

Yes - that all matches with the family of James and Charity but I am still not sure of exactly where James belongs.

In an earlier note I pointed out that I think the 1774 James is the man who married Margaret Berryman and this is assisted by the 1841 Census in which both are listed as being 65 years of age.
Margaret was baptised 11th January 1775 and with James being baptised in 1774 we have a 'perfect match'.

Still work to be done here but at least progress is being made.

Ian