Williams Creek is named for Wilhelm Dietz, a Prussian sailor who was one of a party that set out from Lightning Creek and was the first to discover gold on this creek, which was quickly staked by his companions and soon after by others. Williams Creek because the most important and richest digging in the Cariboo goldfields, giving birth to the towns of Richfield, Barkerville and Cameronton, which collectively were also known as Williams Creek. Barkerville and Camerontown were named for two of Dietz's companions, Billy Barker and John Cameron, Barker being the most famous and at times the richest of the Cariboo gold miners. Dietz's claim was not a money-maker and he died in poverty.
Brief history of Williams Creek diggingsedit
The Cariboo gold camp has a storied history as a goldfield dating back to the late 1850s. It is estimated that placer gold in excess of 2 million ounces was captured in the area during the 19th Century. Total value of gold to date reported by 1877 for all claims on Williams Creek was $19,320,000.[2]
Hard rock explorationsedit
In the early 1860s when placer gold production peaked, the search began for lode gold deposits. The Black Jack (Lot 1.B), Home Stake (Lot 4.B), Cornish (Lot 1.F) and the Wintrip (Lot 32.F) were among the first claims to be staked in the area.
During the period 1877–1892, prospecting and testing was done on the major veins: Bonanza (B.C.) Vein, Steadman Vein, Pinkerton Vein, Black Jack Vein (Westport), Proserpine Vein, Perkins Vein and Mount Burns Vein. In 1877–1892, Black Jack and Burns Co. sank a shaft (180 feet) on the Black Jack claim from which three levels were established with a few hundred feet of drifts and crosscuts. Assays greater than $70 per ton were reported.
The larger Cariboo area was home to a number of producing gold mines during the 20th Century.
^Mining Report, John Bowron, BC Government, 1877 (Gold Commissioner for Cariboo)], from British Columbia from the earliest times to the present. Vol. 2, F.A. Howay and E.O.S. Scholefield, Vancouver, 1916, pp. 275-276
williams, creek, british, columbia, williams, creek, important, historical, gold, mining, creek, cariboo, goldfields, central, interior, british, columbia, entering, willow, river, between, barkerville, town, wells, which, headwaters, willow, river, sheephead,. Williams Creek is an important historical gold mining creek in the Cariboo goldfields of the Central Interior of British Columbia entering the Willow River between Barkerville and the town of Wells 1 which is at the headwaters of the Willow River The Sheephead Claim on Williams Creek 1868 Williams Creek is named for Wilhelm Dietz a Prussian sailor who was one of a party that set out from Lightning Creek and was the first to discover gold on this creek which was quickly staked by his companions and soon after by others Williams Creek because the most important and richest digging in the Cariboo goldfields giving birth to the towns of Richfield Barkerville and Cameronton which collectively were also known as Williams Creek Barkerville and Camerontown were named for two of Dietz s companions Billy Barker and John Cameron Barker being the most famous and at times the richest of the Cariboo gold miners Dietz s claim was not a money maker and he died in poverty Brief history of Williams Creek diggings editThe Cariboo gold camp has a storied history as a goldfield dating back to the late 1850s It is estimated that placer gold in excess of 2 million ounces was captured in the area during the 19th Century Total value of gold to date reported by 1877 for all claims on Williams Creek was 19 320 000 2 Hard rock explorations edit In the early 1860s when placer gold production peaked the search began for lode gold deposits The Black Jack Lot 1 B Home Stake Lot 4 B Cornish Lot 1 F and the Wintrip Lot 32 F were among the first claims to be staked in the area During the period 1877 1892 prospecting and testing was done on the major veins Bonanza B C Vein Steadman Vein Pinkerton Vein Black Jack Vein Westport Proserpine Vein Perkins Vein and Mount Burns Vein In 1877 1892 Black Jack and Burns Co sank a shaft 180 feet on the Black Jack claim from which three levels were established with a few hundred feet of drifts and crosscuts Assays greater than 70 per ton were reported The larger Cariboo area was home to a number of producing gold mines during the 20th Century References edit Williams Creek BC Geographical Names Mining Report John Bowron BC Government 1877 Gold Commissioner for Cariboo from British Columbia from the earliest times to the present Vol 2 F A Howay and E O S Scholefield Vancouver 1916 pp 275 276 53 05 00 N 121 34 00 W 53 08333 N 121 56667 W 53 08333 121 56667 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Williams Creek British Columbia amp oldid 1166358229, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
