I am a new member, but am doing historical research on early mining in the Appalachians and would welcome any insights others might have.
Based on my research, I believe there can be documented four locations with pre-18th century mineshafts in the southern Appalachians, and two sites that appear to have hosted placer mining operations. Four of these are in North Carolina, one in Tennessee and one in Georgia. However, there are a number of rumors or legends of other sites where I've found only limited data. These are:
• In the early 1800’s, a group of Revolutionary War veterans searched for a Spanish silver mine on Coronaka Creek, in the District of Abbeville, near the old Rock Church, northeast of Greenwood, South Carolina. According to legends, the mine had been worked by the Spanish, but most of the Spanish miners were killed by the Cherokee, and the mine was hidden by the tribe. The veterans sank a shaft 60-70 feet on a hillside above the east bank of Coronaka, a little way south of “old Captain Slunge,” John Calhoun’s Revolutionary tub-mill, but never found anything.
• In 1858, it was reported that an old silver mine had been re-discovered in Hancock County, Alabama. The mine, which had large trees growing on and around it, had been walled up with solid masonry. A group of Georgia miners were working the site, and it was reported that the ore was “very rich.” It is not clear where this mine stood, as its stated location, “in Hancock County, near the Morgan and Walker lines,” doesn’t make much sense. Moreover, there appears to be no further account of mining activity beyond the one newspaper account cited (the Huntsville Advocate).
• In a ca. 1900 manuscript, an early resident of Lincolnton, North Carolina mentions evidence of ancient mining from Kings mountain, South Carolina, but provides no further details. According to officials at the National Military Park, there is no known evidence of Spanish era mining, but the area contains a number of mining pits dating from the 19th century gold rush in the region.
• In his 1930 History of Buncombe County, Sondley noted that there had been a persistent tradition of a silver mine once known to exist in the vicinity of Hot Springs, North Carolina, on the French Broad River. He conceded, however, that the story had never been verified nor the mine located.
• According to a 1941 book by a prominent North Carolina judge, there are several tunnels in the ridge underlying the town of Webster, North Carolina, which bear evidence of having been excavated by metallic tools. The Indians informed early settlers that these tunnels had been made much earlier by white men.
I would welcome any information or insights other members might have on these or other old sites. I don't know that anyone will get rich from this research, but there's an intriguing bit of history here that never made it into the history books.
Based on my research, I believe there can be documented four locations with pre-18th century mineshafts in the southern Appalachians, and two sites that appear to have hosted placer mining operations. Four of these are in North Carolina, one in Tennessee and one in Georgia. However, there are a number of rumors or legends of other sites where I've found only limited data. These are:
• In the early 1800’s, a group of Revolutionary War veterans searched for a Spanish silver mine on Coronaka Creek, in the District of Abbeville, near the old Rock Church, northeast of Greenwood, South Carolina. According to legends, the mine had been worked by the Spanish, but most of the Spanish miners were killed by the Cherokee, and the mine was hidden by the tribe. The veterans sank a shaft 60-70 feet on a hillside above the east bank of Coronaka, a little way south of “old Captain Slunge,” John Calhoun’s Revolutionary tub-mill, but never found anything.
• In 1858, it was reported that an old silver mine had been re-discovered in Hancock County, Alabama. The mine, which had large trees growing on and around it, had been walled up with solid masonry. A group of Georgia miners were working the site, and it was reported that the ore was “very rich.” It is not clear where this mine stood, as its stated location, “in Hancock County, near the Morgan and Walker lines,” doesn’t make much sense. Moreover, there appears to be no further account of mining activity beyond the one newspaper account cited (the Huntsville Advocate).
• In a ca. 1900 manuscript, an early resident of Lincolnton, North Carolina mentions evidence of ancient mining from Kings mountain, South Carolina, but provides no further details. According to officials at the National Military Park, there is no known evidence of Spanish era mining, but the area contains a number of mining pits dating from the 19th century gold rush in the region.
• In his 1930 History of Buncombe County, Sondley noted that there had been a persistent tradition of a silver mine once known to exist in the vicinity of Hot Springs, North Carolina, on the French Broad River. He conceded, however, that the story had never been verified nor the mine located.
• According to a 1941 book by a prominent North Carolina judge, there are several tunnels in the ridge underlying the town of Webster, North Carolina, which bear evidence of having been excavated by metallic tools. The Indians informed early settlers that these tunnels had been made much earlier by white men.
I would welcome any information or insights other members might have on these or other old sites. I don't know that anyone will get rich from this research, but there's an intriguing bit of history here that never made it into the history books.
