Short title: Heath v Earl of Dover and others. Plaintiffs: Robert Heath and Sir Cornelius...

Short title: Heath v Earl of Dover and others.

Plaintiffs: Robert Heath and Sir Cornelius Vermuyden.

Defendants: Henry [Carey] Earl of Dover, Dawes, Sharpey, Wright, Carier, Curzon, Drywood and others.

Documents: depositions concerning legal rights to mine the Dovegang works following attempts at drainage, Wirksworth, Derbyshire.

Taken 23 August, 13 Charles I.

Deponents for plaintiffs: Anthony Wood of Riber, aged 72, deposed that the works at the Dovegang were drowned with water and the miners struggled to get ore. Sayers had attempted to drain the works wth pumps in partnership with the miners in exchange for half of their ore. Mr Carrier had also attempted to drain the mines using pumps; Henry Buxton of Wirksworth, yeoman, aged 42; Henry Wigley of Seniorfield, gentleman, aged 49, deposed that barmote laws dictated that if mines were left unworked for a year or more, due to problems of ventilation or drainage, then the barmaster can reallocate them; Edward Worsley of Wirksworth, miner, aged 58, deposed that Sayers and others had attempted to drain the Dovegang using buckets and horse pumps allowing the miners at times to work at the ore; Richard Senior of Cowley, gentleman, aged 69; Edward Samuell of Wirksworth, miner, aged 40; Richard Wigley of Cromford, miner, aged 56; Edmond Yates of Matlock, miner, aged 56; Henry Coates of Cromford, miner, aged 36; Lawrence Toplis of Wirksworth, butcher, aged 62; Edward Debankes of Cromford, miner, aged 34; Thomas Coates senior of Cromford, miner, aged 61; Thomas Hardinge of Wirksworth, miner, aged 70; Marcellus Vandueren of London, gentleman, aged 35; Richard Hancocke of Wirksworth, aged 49.

Deponents for defendants: Ralph Marple of Bonsall, miner, aged 40, deposed that drowned or airless works are not always reallocated by the barmaster. The works at Tearsall Groves in Wirksworth were drowned and yet an agreement was reached with the owner, Mr Blackwall, before the mines were drained; Edmund Godbeherd of Middleton Cross, miner, aged 40, whose memory of the Dovegang goes back 20 years [to 1618], deposed that if a miner finds a vein or rake that is water logged that he cannot work 'that then by customes of the myne no pson can take away the said mines or rakes otherwise it would be a great discouragement to the mynors' [that then by customs of the mine no person can take away the said mines or rakes otherwise it would be great discouragement to the miners]. Mr Wright and his partners spend around £3000 draining the Dovegang using engines and by digging a sough [an adit or tunnel driven to drain a mine]. About 4 or 5 years ago he was summoned to act as part of a jury at the Dovegang commission where he was threatened by Captain Molmans. He and the jury gave their names to a document upon the surety that it would not in 'anywaies hurt or infringe the Customes of the mines' [anyway hurt or infringe the customs of the mines]. It was therefore never the intention to give away Dawes' possession of the Dovegang; George Salt of Bonsall, miner, aged 44, deposed that he was summoned to participate in a jury at the Doveganag commission where he was encouraged to sign a document having been promised it did not hinder the rights and customs already practiced at the mine; Anthony Wood junior, of Riber, miner, aged 35, deposed that Heath's actions regarding the Dovegang threatened the miners. if the mines were taken away 'their wives and children would be impoverished and much discouraged from seeking mines'; Jarvis Ward of Bonsall, miner, aged 29; Henry Hall of Wirksworth, shoemaker, aged 51; Thomas Fogg of Wirksworth, miner, aged 55; Adam Haslam of Cromford, miner, aged 48; Anthony Wright of Wirksworth, miner, aged 40; Raph Bradbury of Youlgreave, gentleman, aged 30; Richard Senior of Cowley, gentleman, aged 69; Edward Bradshawe of Bonsall, miner, aged 29; Thomas Hall of Wirksworth, miner, aged 40; Thomas Siddawes of Cromford, miner, aged 30; Adam Harlam of Cromford, miner, aged 48; Thomas Fogg of Wirksworth, miner, aged 55; Anthony Wright of Wirksworth, miner, aged 40; Raphall Bradbury, of Youlgreave, gentleman, aged 30.