Mullins, John (1838-1894)

One of the most famous British water diviners. He was born at Colerne, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, on November 12, 1838, into a family of 11 children. His father was a stone mason and Mullins followed the same trade. At the age of 21, while employed by Sir John Ould to build a house in Gloucestershire, a dowser (water diviner) was employed to locate a water supply. Various people present tried their hand with the divining-rod, including Ould's daughter, who was frightened when the rod suddenly turned over violently. An abundant water supply was found at the spot.

Ould was most impressed and later asked all the workmen on his estate, about 150 men, to try divining with a rod. When Mullins tried, the rod moved so violently it snapped in two. Thereafter Mullins was considered a dowser, although he continued in his trade as mason. When he first attempted to locate a water source for Ould, he located a spring yielding 200 gallons per hour. After that, Mullins was much in demand as a water diviner.

He married in 1859 and continued his trade as a mason, however he devoted the last twelve years of his life to dowsing and well-sinking. Such was his confidence in his talent that he made no charge for the expensive work of well-sinking if a good supply of water was not found. In fact, he was immensely successful, locating over five thousand sources of water.

After his death in May 1894, his business was carried on by his sons, one of whom was a dowser, although not so successful as his father. The firm of John Mullins & Sons was one of the most famous businesses of its kind, claiming royal patronage.

Sources:

Mullins, John. The Divining Rod and Its Results in Discovery of Springs. N.p., 1880.