Our historian, Margaret writes:

"Derbyshire was rich in lead and lead mining was the chief occupation in several areas. The lead was one of the reasons that the Romans came to Derbyshire, and also Cornwall, 2000 years since."

"The Pidcocks were involved in this lead mining and branched out as glaziers (leaded windows) and lead on church roofs during the 17th and 18th centuries."

"Copper was also mined on a smaller scale in Derbyshire. So if the John Pidcock in Bucks Co. PA (who reactivated a copper mine on his property in the early 18th century) came from Derbyshire he would be an expert on mining."

"The miners who moved into Yorkshire were descended from nineteenth century coal-mining families in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire; mines in Yorkshire were sunk in the early twentieth century."

"Some of the Derbyshire Pidcocks were lead miners, so it would be natural for them to move into coal mining when the lead mines closed.  In England in general there was a move from the countryside into the towns during the nineteenth century during what is called the "Industrial revolution", and as much of Derbyshire has remained agricultural, with few large industrial towns, it was common for people to move northwards."