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Blog. No. 22  The Ballard of Frank Vingoe  (part one)

I have been researching the story of William Francis Vingoe born 1845 in St Just died 3rd November 1893 in Silver City, New Mexico, This is the first part of his story. A friend has kindly sung it to the tune of  " Sweet Betsy from Pike ". No copywrite on the music so it is fine. click below to hear it sung.

Barrowing Rock.

In  1840s the mines of the St Just district in Cornwall, U.K. employed approximately 2,300 workers (men, women and children) representing 33% of the Town population

When William Francis Vingoe was born in July 1844, his father, Israel, was 54 and his mother, Jenifer, was 36. He was the 7th child. And this is his story.


The Ballard of Frank Vingoe a miner from St Just  Part 1 click for song.

I’ll tell you a tale of Frank Vingoe from Just.

That’s Saint Just in Cornwall where mining is tough.

As a young boy dreamt a miner he'd be,

Looking for gold in some far Country.

Chorus And go looking for gold in a far Country.

 

A boy of just ten when he started to work

Capun said “Get on boy and don’t you shirk”.

Worked on the Dressing floor barrowing rocks,

The lessons learned would not be forgot.

Chorus The lessons learned would not be forgot.

 

 Brother James two years later said Frank come with me

Time to go mining out under the sea,

So they climbed down the ladder it t’was black as pitch

Frank just kept going although feeling sick


When they got down there was nothing to see

They walked for a mile out under the sea.

The work it was hard for the tin they did seek,

Hand drilling the holes hammers going beat beat.

 

Feeling so tired body bloodied and bruised

John put in the powder and lit up the fuse.

Then run for the shaft to get away from the blast

 And climbed sixty fathoms back up to grass.


The years they soon passed one, two, three, four.

Brothers taught well, which opened the door

The Mining school was where he would be

Taught letters,  numbers, and Surveying you see.

 Chorus: Taught letters,  numbers, and Surveying you see.

                It will be Surveying for he.

 



Left school at fifteen and in my working life have had some 50 jobs, these range from merchant seaman to managing a 400-acre farming estate. My years as a Greenpeace campaigner were probably the most satisfying fighting to defend the wildlife and environment. 10 generations of my wife Sandra Vingoe's family are descended from Sennen in Cornwall U.K. and we have just celebrated 56 years of marriage and have one son who lives with us.in Cornwall.

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