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.
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.
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