Hampton Mining and Smelting Co. - 1863 or 1865 dated Stock Certificate

Stock Civil War Dated with 25 cents revenue stamp! Rare! Some staining. 1 available with paper loss for $50.

The Mines again changed ownership. These mining companies appear to have change owner- foreseen as sanguine of success as any of their predecessors, but were like them doomed to disappointment. Though the indications seemed to suggest rich deposits, the cost of obtaining the mineral and putting it upon the market, left a very slight margin of profit. Messrs. Pinch and Patterson labored diligently a number of years, but finally, the work was stopped, probably from want of funds, and the mines again became idle. In the meantime the property passed into possession of Edward Anthony of New York; he made no attempt to expand its resources, but in April, 1863, sold the same to Stephen Hills Jr., of New York, who conveyed it to the "Manhattan Silver Lead Mining Co." for $500,000. This transfer seems to have covered the mineral lands once owned by Sampson Simpson, then by Wm. Bowdoin and others, afterwards by Perkins Nichols, David Hinkley, and company, and subsequently by Messrs. Stearns & Sturgis. This company, the same year, sold the Southampton mine farmlands, consisting of eighty-three and one-half acres, to Thos. E. Hastings for $50,000. He immediately transferred that and other mining rights of which he be-came possessed, to the "Hampton Mining and Smelting Co." of Boston, for $450,000. This company proceeded to open the mineral lands, having obtained control of both mines, commencing operations in 1863. Ninety feet of the adit still remained to be completed, and the work was carried on upon a much larger scale than ever before. About one hundred fifty men, mostly French Canadians, were employed. Two powerful steam engines were put into operation, machine and blacksmith shops were erected, and an efficient crushing machine brought into use. The business was managed by Thomas E. Hastings and C. W. Elton, and for two years or more, work at the lead mines was much more lively than at any time since their discovery. Mingled with the lead was a sprinkling of silver, and a few specimens of copper, as well as coal, were found. The output, however, was limited, and after an expenditure of considerable money, the corporation became bankrupt in 1865.

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