Tommy Knockers/Tommy Knackers First heard of in Western Pennsylvania coal mines in 1820's by Cornish miners who worked there, when the California gold rush began these Cornish miners were sought after by the managers out west. They would recruit family members of miners already here, boss would ask " Do you have any family that wants to work? " and the miner would reply " My cousin jack could come if you pay for his boat ride.." immigrant miners or cousin jacks, were known in the early western workforce. As the miners moved west from Pennsylvania so did their superstitions thrived and spread westward through the mines. Tommy Knockers are the Cornish equivalent to a Irish Leprechauns and English Brownies. Germans called them Berggeister, or Bergmannlein meaning " mountain ghosts " or " little miners ".
Cornish believed the little men were souls of the Jews who crucified Christ and were sent by the Romans to work as slaves in the tin mines, this belief was so strong that Tommy Knockers were head on Jewish holidays. Described as being no taller than two feet, greenish pale color, wearing traditional miners outfit, they have been known to have committed both good and bad deed through the centuries often playing practical jokes and pranks, stealing unattended tools and food. Knockers or Knackers as it is pronounced comes from the knocking on the mine walls just before a cave in, caused by creaking earth and timbers. Some thought the sounds of hammering were malevolent indicting certain death or injury while others saw their knocking as warnings for the miners that a collapse was imminent same thought it was good luck or that it would lead to finding a rich ore body. Thought to bring favors of wealth when Tommy Knockers were being " good ". Being bad on the otherhand brought nothing but misery, injury or death. If a hammer was missing it was the Tommy Knockers, but the miners if they escaped a sudden collapse they were thanking the Tommy Knockers. Miners would offer food or different offerings to seal their good graces and protection with the Knockers. For my Ghost Adventure fans, Ghost Adventures Season 13 episode 1 (2016) The crew is in Idaho Springs, Colorado, traveling deep into the eerie Phoenix Gold Mine. Once there, Zak Bagans learns about a heinous murder that haunts the mine and the entire team makes contact with a tiny, malicious spirit known as a Tommy Knocker(knacker) -Mikethehikingguide #historicarchaeology #mikethehikingguide #tommyknockers #tommyknackers #miners #Colorado #California #Pennsylvania #coalminersdaughter
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