Buckingham Gold: Booker’s Mine
It’s late winter of 1835. Got some extra cash? You can invest in the very lucrative Booker’s Gold Mine.
On the second Monday in March, Commissioners met at the store house of Leitch and Shaw, in Maysville (Buckingham Court House), ready to sell shares of stock in Booker’s Gold Mine.
Rolfe Eldridge, Buckingham County Clerk, was one of the six Commissioners supervising the sale.
See below for details.
slate river ramblings . . . . 
“Almost certainly,” the Samuel Jones, mentioned as a commissioner, was Samuel Jones (d. 1838), son of Josias Jones. Josias’ home was called “Wilderness” and it is in western Buckingham Co. The house has been restored by Stephen Ramsey. There is a graveyard on the premises.
John, Many thanks for your comment. I look forward to learning more about “Wilderness.” Joanne
Thanks.
Dear Reader,
I have understood that the Booker Gold Mine was on Tongue Quarter Creek above “Hooper’s Mt.” This place was two miles west of Willis Mt. and just north of the lake made by damming Tongue Quarter Creek. My Grandmother’s family lived on this place from 1760 until 1900 and had the custom of finding gold in Tongue Quarter Creek. I understand some people are currently panning for gold in this same neighborhood.
Harry Stuart Holman
Thank you, Harry. I’ll do a little research and look for descriptions dating from the 1830s-1840s.
Where was the mine located in the County?
David, the gold vein runs north to south in the eastern part of the county, near the Cumberland County border. There were numerous mines that came and went. I don’t know the exact location of Booker’s Mine. Perhaps another Slate River Ramblings reader will comment. Gold Hill was one of Buckingham County’s postoffices, located where today’s Route 610 crosses Highway 15. Google maps will pinpoint it for you. Joanne
From Sprouse’s Corner (intersection of Rte. 60 and 15), travel about 2 miles South on Rte. 15 toward Farmville, On the left, you will see Goldmine Church Road. The Booker Goldmine Road use to go to the right and was about 3/4 mile from Rte. 15. However, the state closed the road and removed the bridge at the goldmine. It can also be accessed from Rock Mill Road if that portion of the road is istill open.
Thanks, Hal, for providing this information.