Availability of Lead in the Colonies

[Artificer]

Guy with a lode of even low grade lead ore nearby was likely to throw chunks of ore onto the fire while he was rendering fat for soap and candles or while his wife was doing the wash. Every so often, dig in the ashes for lumps of lead. No great effort, no extra firewood and no lead to buy.

Common sense solutions rather than wallet solutions.

I don't mean to pick an argument, but that does not sound very likely.

First, one would have to actually be in a place where such lead ore could be found.

Sure, you could refine lead in a fire like that, but it does not seem to be a hot enough fire and last long enough to smelt the ore. I'm thinking you would wind up with at most burnt/ash covered ore? Or am I missing something?

I think the common sense way for hard scrabble frontier folks in the 18th century was shoot deer, butcher them to eat and sell the hides they did not need for lead and other items they needed.

Gus

 

[SgtErv]

My observations in research kind of muddies the already murky waters...

I haven't found any mention of obtaining lead in over mountain supply runs (Viriginia/PA revolutionary era) during which they traded pelts for iron, salt, and tools.

I have, however, found a ton of mentions of needing the stuff. Militia officers asked for it along with powder in almost every piece of correspondence. The Continentals were in desperate need of it in Fort Pitt and rarely got it, either, from what I gather.

To the south in Chiswell, VA, Col. William Preston ordered that a lead mine be detailed a guard. Also, there were saltpeter caves and mention of local manufacture of powder in small quantities. There are also stories of gouging out fired lead from trees and such for reuse. That there was always a shortage of it in the area is apparent, of course, the same is true for many things

Not sure if this is helpful or not, but it's what I've found. I'm sort of puzzled on why there is little or no mention of obtaining lead on te frontier settlers' yearly supply runs.

 

[Artificer]

Did Fort Pitt get their lead from the mine at Ft. Roberdeau (near modern day Altoona) in that period?

Gus

 

[SgtErv]

I am not sure. I have not run across any mention thereof. I did find evidence that shipments of ammunition came all the way from New Orleans, though. via the Virgnian agent *******. One of these flotillas was ambushed by Girty in 1779

 

[Artificer]

I do not know a lot about Fort Pitt, but I do know that Captain Willing took a small detachment of Continental Marines from Fort Pitt on January 10, 1778 aboard the armed barge/row galley the "Rattletrap" down the Ohio and wound up in New Orleans in March of the following year. Many of those "Marines" were most likely, and for the most part, drawn from the local militia near Fort Pitt and surrounding areas. Even modern Marine Corps historians do not have much information on them as to where they got their supplies for that trip, though.

Gus

 

[Artificer]

I do not know a lot about Fort Pitt, but I do know that Captain Willing took a small detachment of Continental Marines from Fort Pitt on January 10, 1778 aboard the armed barge/row galley the "Rattletrap" down the Ohio and wound up in New Orleans in March of the following year. Many of those "Marines" were most likely, and for the most part, drawn from the local militia near Fort Pitt and surrounding areas. Even modern Marine Corps historians do not have much information on them as to where they got their supplies for that trip, though.

Gus

OOPs, too late to edit, but I meant to say wound up in New Orleans in March of that year.

My apology.
Gus

 

[George]

In June, 1777 during the siege of Boonesboro and Logan's fort, Benjamin Logan successfully made a quick trip back to the east to bring a supply of powder and lead.

That same year, George Rogers Clark and John Gabriel Jones were bringing a large supply of lead back from the east to the Kentucky settlements and were attacked on the Ohio river. They buried a lot of lead and returned later to retrieve it.

I've never seen reference to frontiersmen smelting lead. I have read many accounts describing desperate attempts to get lead when supplies were low, or of individuals reclaiming shot lead, etc., because of difficulty obtaining any. None of them ever seemed to consider smelting any. I think's that idea is a modern supposition.

John Dabney Shane interview of William Clinkenbeard: "We were saving of lead. I shot a buffalo, got the bullet, and then shot a deer, after chewing the bullet round.", and "He wanted to save his ammunition, for we got none except what travelers brought coming out from Virginia."

Spence

 

[coloradoclyde]

Supposedly, some early lead smelting was done in the colonies with the ore first coming from the Appalachian region.....

 

[coloradoclyde]

Here is one of many early colonial mines.... http://www.mindat.org/loc-3832.html
Still looking for smelting though. Smelting must have been done locally......

 

[coloradoclyde]

Fort Roberdeau, built in 1778 by Continental Congress member David Roberdeau, was established to smelt lead for bullets. A fortress was needed to protect the mining and smelting of this essential battle supply, since loyal Tories and their Native American allies sought to thwart the revolution and the intrusion of colonial settlement in Sinking Valley.

The fort, never breached by attack, functioned until 1780 when lead supply lines to France were reestablished and the need for smelting Pennsylvanian lead no longer existed

 

[Artificer]

Spence,

Thanks for the excellent documentation.

CC,

I wonder how long they knew of the lead ore near Fort Roberdeau and began mining/smelting it, before they built the Fort? It may have been an excellent source of lead for Fort Pitt, because it was not that far away when compared to other places back further East.

Gus

 

[nhmoose]

http://www.mindat.org/loc-6126.html

1840's

 

[coloradoclyde]

http://www.mindat.org/loc-6126.html

1840's

http://www.mindat.org/loc-3832.html

 

[nhmoose]

There it seems to be!

 

[coloradoclyde]

The Austinville Lead/Zinc Mine in Wythe County, Virginia operated in the 1700’s and was important in the Revolutionary War.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Joseph Briton's Land Grant -- dated March 11, 1752 for 200 acres in Frederick County, on the North River of Cacapehon
(transcribed from document at left -- writing hard to decipher so use with caution) The Right Honourable Thomas Lord Fairfax, Baron of Cameron in that Part of Great Britain called Scotland Proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia: To all to whom this present Writing shall come sends Greeting. Know Ye that for good Causes for and in Consideration of the compensation to me paid And for the annual Rent hereafter Reserved I have given granted and confirmed And by these presents for Me my Heirs and Assigns do Give Grant and Confirm unto Joseph Briton of the County of Frederick a certain tract or parcel of ungranted land in the said County of the N. River of Cacapehon and Bounded as by a Survey thereof made by Mr. George Washington as followeth Beginning at a Line on the side of a Mountain and extended N.3510' two hundred poles to two pines on the side of a very steep Hill thence S.350' One hundred and sixty poles to two pines in very hilly ground thence S.356' two hundred poles to two pines on the side of the aforesaid mountain near a pavement of Rocks thence N.356' one hundred and sixty poles to the Beginning containing two hundred acres. Together with all Rights Member and Appurtenances thereunto belonging Royal Mines Excepted and a full third part of all Lead Copper Tinn Coale Iron mines and Iron Ore that shall be found thereon. To have and to hold the said two hundred acres of land together with all Rights Profits and Benefits to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining Except before Excepted to them? the said Joseph Briton his Heirs and Assigns for Ever. provided the said Joseph Briton his Heirs or assigns therefore yielding and paying to me my Heirs or Assigns or to my certain Attorney or Attorney's Agent or Agents or to the certain Attorney or Attorneys of my Heirs or Assigns proprietors of the said Northern Neck Yearly and every Year on the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel the rent of one shilling Sterling money for every fifty acres of Land hereby Granted and so proportionately for a greater or a lesser Quantity: Provided that if the said Joseph Briton his Heirs or Assigns shall not Pay the before mentioned annual Rent so that the same or any Part thereof shall be behind or unpaid by the space of two whole years after the same shall become Due or Lawfully Demanded that then it shall and may be Lawfull for me my Heirs or Assigns Proprietors as aforesaid my or their certain Attorney or Attorneys Agent or Agents unto the above granted Promises to Renter and Hold the same so as if this grant had never passed Given at my office in the County of Fairfax within my said proprietary under my Hand and Seal. Dated this Eleventh day of March in the twenty fifth year of the Reign of our sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith the Anno One Thousand seven hundred and fifty two.
Fairfax

 

[Twisted_1in66]

There was a lead mine near current day Blacksburg, VA that provided lead in copious quantities during the Revolutionary War.

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:
Dan