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11. "Free Jim" It was 1830 and the men streaming into north Georgia were the rowdiest, lustiest rogues imaginable. Many of the wagons were headed toward Pigeon Roost where gold had first been discovered and the clouds of dust raised by the wheels and horses hoofs left a gritty clay coating on Jim Boisclair's face as he walked along the road. He strode on unheeding and even as he knew the journey meant a fresh start his heart was heavy over leaving Augusta. He assisted a South Carolina miner with his horses at one of the watering places and the man offered him a ride-"If ye'll wash your face so's I can tell what ye look like," and Jim gladly complied. Jake Clay who was only a few years older had worked at the Brewer Mine and was now on his way to Dahlonega. Jim was both excited and apprehensive as he heard him talk about gold for he knew he had a problem his companion did not have ... an obstacle that had defeated many good men. It was not lack of determination or courage or even money for he had enough gold coins sewn in his clothing to buy more than one claim. Upon reaching Dahlonega he found a general store where the owner was glad to rent an unused storage room and despite that fact that the occupation sometimes seemed menial to him, he opened a small pastry shop using the skills he had acquired as a boy working for a baker in Augusta. Tall, well built, with black curly hair, amazing bright blue eyes and skin that appeared to be tanned a 112 "Free Jim" 113 golden hue by the sun, Jim Boisclair was a man that people in Dahlonega looked at twice. He was quick to ingratiate himself with his customers and his shop became popular with many of the town's most prominent citizens. One was Dr. J. J. Singleton, Superintendent of the new U.S. Mint who often dropped by in the afternoon to talk and Jim listened attentively. But he absorbed even more eagerly the stories of Duncan, a part Indian miner whom the townfolk regarded with superstitious awe. Duncan had dreams that helped him pinpoint the location of gold and it was he who later discovered the rich Findley vein. Eager as he was to do so Jim could not buy a claim of his own and herein lay his major obstacle to complete social acceptance and fortune-Jim Boisclair was part black. Whether quadroon or octaroon it didn't matter, according to Georgia law no one with black heritage could either buy or sell property. He often asked himself of what use was money if it could not buy property? "I wonder how many slaves old John Calhoun's got working in his mine down near the Chestatee River," speculated Duncan as they talked one day in the bake shop. "From the number I see coming into the store next door, I'd say at least a dozen," replied Jim. He sometimes looked at them and thought how much better off he was than they despite his own problem and, perhaps, that could yet be resolved. Duncan, his part Indian friend, was considered white. If he could find a mine site for sale he believed he could persuade Duncan to purchase it for him and one afternoon when Dr. Singleton was in the shop he asked if he knew of a good mine for sale. "I think I can find one for you. There's gold on most ofthe lots, not just near the Calhoun Mine and Briarpatch mines, 146.105.137] Project MUSE (2024-04-25 15:19 GMT) 114 The Gold Seekers and I'm convinced there is a rich vein that extends beneath my mine and the Yahoola." Mine sites had been distributed by lottery to Revolutionary soldiers, heads of families, widows and orphans as long as they were white. Occasionally these individuals might sell their claim and a week later Singleton came in to tell him of just such an opportunity. He took his glasses off and leaned toward Jim across the counter so that the full impact of his announcement would sink in. "I've found the right mine site for you, Jim. It belongs to an orphan and her guardian is disposed to sell." "Where is it," said Jim, his heart beginning to pound. "Only a short distance and between two...

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