1700. 24 July

Copy of a special letter of thanks to Sir Humphrey Mackworth, and also "we are likewise to acknowledge your generous favour in your consenting to have furnaces built in [? near to] Gnoll House, att Neath."

6th September

Letter to be written to Sir Herbert Mackworth and other gentlemen of the committee now at Neath, to enquire why the proportion of Silver was so small from the Refinery there.

Also

An account received that 17 condemned criminals had been pardoned by the King, provided they would, within two months, apprentice themselves to Sir H. Mackworth and partners for five years, to work at the mines. If they refused, or departed the mines, the pardon to be void. The jaylors would not undertake the charge of the criminals brought to London (from Bedford and Aylesbury); the Company having a vessel under charter, which they were obliged to freight to Neath, ten were sent down to that Town by it.

16th October

Reported that two of the criminals sent to Neath hath run away. 27th November

Secretary of State writes to ask whether the Company would take any and what number of Pyrates condemned, to work in the mines; reply "that they could not undertake to keep them without the power of an Act, fearing to incur the censure of Parliament," and then, “The possibility that the gentry and commonalty of Wales would be alarmed and dissatisfyed at it." The Duke of Leeds, the then Governor, concurring in this view of the matter, was asked to explain it to his Majesty [William the Third.]

23 December—

An offer to the Company by several Great Landowners to offer their interest for Sir Humphry Mackworth to be Knight of the Shire for Cardigan-thanks ordered therefor, and the Secretary ordered to attend Sir Hy. in his canvass.

1701.

6 May

Ordered that the Agreement with Sir H. M. touching the Smelting Mills at Neath be taken into consideration at next meeting, and on the 29th May, referred to the Committee at Neath to report upon. Also, ordered that Mr. Waller do send for what number of men he shall require before the harvest, and that he raise what quantity of ore he can, both out of the Copper and Lead veins in Cardiganshire.

1701.

7 July

An order to prepare a draft of proposed Charter.

22 July

Opinion of the Committee that Sir Humphrey and his heirs male should be Perpetual Governors of the Company after death of the Duke of Leeds.

6 October

4

Sir H. M. to give directions for the sayling of the ship 'Mine Adventure' now att Neath.

November

Upwards of 800 partners in the Company.

1702.

16 January—

Attendance on Attorney Gen. for settling the Charter, ordered. 8 September

Secretary reported that he had carried the (silver) bullion to the Tower, but could not get a dye made for the Coyning of the same with the Prince's Armes of Wales without a renewal of a former order.

That Mr. Francis Gwyn have 6 tunns of lead at £9 a tun delivered to him at Neath.

15 December—

Secretary reported that he had obtained a Warrant from the King for the coining our bullion with the Arms of Wales; the Secretary to carry Warrant to the Tower, get a Dye made and the bullion coined, in accordance with the said Warrant.*

1703.

18 February

One Nicholas Newton, with other men, to be sent for from Cardiganshire to Neath to build as many furnaces for the smelting of lead ore as he conveniently can and the place will allow, on that side of the Smelting-house which lies next the hill.

12 March

Mr. Waller to agree as cheap as he can with Robinson, the builder, to go to Neath to erect furnaces there.

* Hawkins, in his "Silver Coins of England,” says, "The Plumes indicate that the Silver was derived from the Welsh Mines of Sir Carberry Price and Sir Humphrey Mackworth; the Rose occurs sometimes with the Plumes, because Silver from the West of England was combined with the Welsh Silver. The Coins with the Plumes were frequently called Quakers' money, because the Company by whom the Mines were worked comprised many persons of that denomination."

1703.

19 March

Mr. Waller agreed to send Newton or Robinson speedily to Neath to build the furnaces for smelting there; and further it was

Ordered

"That the £3 12s. od.* in new Silver, presented to the Queen [Anne] by Sir H. Mackworth,† be repaid him.

The rent for the Smelting Mills, Silver Mills, and Red Lead Mills at Neath, were debated, and it appearing that it was usual to allow rent for a place convenient for building manufactories with all the advantages that those at Neath have, from a great fall of water, and two large wheels one under the other, and especially so near a navigable river as these are, and that the said works were erected in a place where a Tucking Mill once stood, and was taken down to the great loss of Sir H. Mackworth, and whereas other houses, barnes, outhouses, and gardens lye convenient thereto and on view and estimate thereof, the Committee contracted with Sir H. Mackworth for the same at £200 per annum.

2 April

Reported a new Slagg furnace had been erected at the end of the Smelting House next the Town of Neath.

Ordered, that Potters ore be delivered at Neath at £6 a tunn, and

1,200 tunns of Lead to be sold at Bristol at £8 a tunn.

23 April

Secretary to settle the Charter with a Councillor-at-Law, and give such fees as Sir H. Mackworth shall direct.

5 May

What Silver Bullion is already extracted at Neath to be sent to London by the Monmouth carrier.

IO May

Letter writt to Neath to expedite those Furnaces, and spare no charge, but set all hands on that can be gott to worke in the building of same, &c.

25 May

Ordered that Mr. Williams send some Stourbridge bricks ready made, and some Abbey Coal to Mr. Waller, in Cardiganshire, by the next vessel; and that the Test Furnace in the garrett be taken down and fixed in the house at Angel Court, on Snow Hill.

*As £3 12s. od. seems a small value to present to a Queen, it was probably the Silver value of a set of "proofs" of the coins struck for the Co.

† Doubtless as a compliment on her accession to the throne.-G. G. F,

1073.

15 June

Oares to be carried from Neath to Cardiganshire for the smelting in the winter.

That the workmen at Neath go on refining when the smelting is out, and the new furnaces finished.

Sir H Mackworth empowered to buy one great trough or two small ones proper for the river of Neath, and fit for loading or unloading vessels that can't come up that river.

9 July

Committee reports That there ought to be six new Smelting and two new Refining Furnaces at Neath. That refining Lead with so small a produce of Silver as hath lately been, is not to be advantage of the Company. That the men's wages at Neath be the same as at Garrick, and no pay allowed for holidays, when they don't work. That the Silver and Copper now there be sent up by land immediately. That the Lead now there be sent to Bristol, Glo'ster, and Worcester markets.

September

Mr. Waller ordered to supply himself with Mostyn Coal for the winter. 21 November

Refining processes to be kept private,* and no persons to be admitted into the Works but such as are bound to serve the Company in that art.

28 December

Secretary ordered to get the Charter passed by the Queen [Anne] with all the expedition he can.

I February, 1703-4

Ordered that the memorandum given by Mr. Breton (one of the Committee) touching the smelting and refining at Neath, be sent thither by post for the Officers there to answer the same.

12 February

Solicitor-General had inserted the names of the three sons of Sir Humphrey Mackworth in the Charter (viz.; Herbert, Kingsmille, and William), instead of "heirs male," as perpetual Chairmen or Governors of the Company.

16 March

No more than one furnace begun at Neath, but others be finished.

I March

Eleven furnaces to be finished at Neath. Complaint to General Postoffice as to the carrying of Letters to Neath.

* About which practice see my notes on prior pages.-G. G. F.

4 May, 1703-4

The new Charter of Q. Anne incorporating the Company produced. 18 May

Oaths of allegiance and supremacy and for due execution of office, administered.

July, 1704

That Vessels be procured with all expedition to bring metals from Neath to London at 45s. a tunn, if they cannot be procured cheaper. 25 October

Sir H. Mackworth acquainting the Court that the Burgesses of the Town of Neath having endeavoured to impose on this Company some duties on the goods of the Company contrary to law, it is therefore

Resolved

That the Officers belonging to this Company be countenanced and protected against any encroachments or impositions whatsoever, that shall or may happen on that account.

30 October

Complaints about the Post to Neath, that five pounds to be allowed for fixing same and settling a bag to go direct to Neath.

23 May, 1705

The pressing of the servants of the Company belonging to the Works at Neath again taken into consideration, and a determined resistance to such illegal practice determined upon.

4 July

Sub committee report that they had prevailed on Col. Soames, at Bury, to procure the discharge of the men prest at Neath,* and further, that they had prevailed on one Edward Conway, Esq., barrister-atlaw, to go to Neath and attend at the Quarter Sessions with Certioraries to remove all such orders as shall be made by the Justices to the prejudice of this Company.

11 July

Stores wanted at Neath :

1,000 tuns of Oare.

300 bushels of Oats.

100 tuns of Stourbridge Clay.

1,000 Lytharge Casks.

9 August

Ordered that Mr. Ward be Counsell retained to goe down with Sir Humphrey and Sir Thomas Mackworth to Cardiff Great Sessions, on account of the pressing of the men at Neath.*

* Full particulars relative to these irregular proceedings will be found in my "Neath and its Abbey," 8vo., 1845.

G. G. F.