Josiah Hitchens

Who is Josiah Hitchens?

Founder of Devon Great Consols Company, which operated the mine of the same name, and which became the largest Copper mine in the world from about 1850 to 1880. Having discovered the minerals he took a lease on the land from the Duke of Bedford and formed a company on the old cost book system of eights. Initially there were 1,024 shares but this was increased to 10,240. They were issued at less than £1 each but soon were being traded for £800. Wheal Maria was the first area of the mine to be developed. Hitchens also investigated the prospects of other mining areas close by. In 1851, he took a 21 year lease to prospect in Cann Wood, Borringdon with the Parker's of Saltram. Later he visited Meldon Mine near Okehampton in 1864, and his notes show that it was previously called "Okehampton Wheal Maria".

His wife had a daughter, announced in the "West Britain" on 10 June 1842, in Tavistock.