George Bowes (prospector)
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George Bowes (died 1606) was an English prospector. He mined for gold in Scotland.
George was a son of Sir George Bowes of Streatlam and Dorothy Mallory. He married Magdalen Bray, daughter of Sir Edward Bray.
Coal and copper
In 1595 he planned a coal mine on his own estate of Beddick Waterville.[1] In 1602 he was allowed to mine for copper in the Knowsley estate belonging to the Earl of Derby.[2] At Caldbeck near Keswick, in 1602, Bowes and Francis Nedham (a son of George Nedham or Needham) reported on old copper workings and lead which contained a proportion of silver.[3][4]
Surveying the gold fields in 1603
Bowes became interested in mining for gold in Scotland, probably hearing of the work of George Douglas of Parkhead and of Cornelius de Vos who had strong links with the mines in Keswick. He wrote in 1603 that James VI had invited him to come to Scotland twice before the Union of the Crowns, by means of his uncle, the ambassador Robert Bowes.[5]
He wrote a paper describing his reasons for seeking gold on Crawford Moor. He mentioned he had worked in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, and at Keswick. Napier of Merchiston had shown him samples of gold ore.[6] At the request of the Privy Council, Godolphin went to Carlisle to meet Bowes and Bevis Bulmer in November 1603.[7]
Bowes wrote to Earl of Suffolk while he was at Leadhills on 10 December 1603, describing the geology, and mentioned an earlier venture when he tried to form a partnership with Thomas Foulis, who had exclusive rights from James VI, but was discouraged by Queen Elizabeth.[8] In another letter he described a story from an old miner's father of the discovery of a vein of gold in the time of James IV or Regent Albany, ninety years earlier, which they backfilled and hid. Bowes was understandably cautious about these stories, which came from his rival Bevis Bulmer's employees, and men who would be grateful for work in new mining ventures.[9]
Bowes, Napier of Merchiston, Bevis Bulmer and John Brode sent a joint letter from Edinburgh on 29 December 1603 to the Privy Council. They had surveyed the gold mining region according to the king's orders given at Wilton in November. Gold had previously been found by Bulmer in the head of a long stream that descended to the Elvan water, and on Steroc brae that descends to Wanlock water, in the Glengonnar water, and the Crawick water that flows into the Nith. Although much gold had been found, no vein bearing gold had been discovered, despite finds of gold mixed with spar. The Scottish miners had not searched for veins of ore until Bulmer and Thomas Foulis had recently dug for copper. Bulmer and his workers insisted they had not found a vein. The places were remote with no dwelling places, especially for works managers, and timber for houses and lodgings would have to be brought from Leith.[10]
