AN appeal has been launched to find out more about an 18th century Dartmoor scribe, the self-styled Poet of the Moor.

The search for information has been mounted by the Dartmoor Tourist Association which wants to use the work of Jonas Coaker in a display next year celebrating 50 years of the National Park.

Joy Wishlade, DTA project officer, said: 'We have very little information about Mr Coaker and currently know nothing about the Dartmoor poetry he wrote or the life he led on the moor.'

She said the association first heard of Mr Coaker from a Dartmoor research book but they know little more about him than his name.

So far, all the DTA have managed to find out about Mr Coaker is that he had close connections with the Warren House Inn on the high moors between Moretonhampstead and Two Bridges.

Ms Wishlade said the DTA have seen no examples of Mr Coaker's poetry.

'We just hope somebody will be able to tell us some more about him — apparently Coaker is still very much a Dartmoor name,' she said.

'We are looking for historians or descendants of Mr Coaker who may be able to shed some light on his life and his role as Poet of the Moor.

'Ideally we would like to see some of his poems.'

Peter Parsons of the Warren House Inn confirmed he knew of Mr Coaker's connection with the pub.

'He was a mine captain at the Golden Dagger mines which were in the valley just down below us,' said Mr Parsons.

'He lived at a mine captain's bungalow called Cape Horn — he became licensee in 1823 until 1839,' he said.

He said the tin miners used to use the pub regularly — the original building was burnt down just after Jonas Coaker's time and rebuilt in 1845.

'I think that's when the tradition of the old fire always burning started — all the miners had was working, drinking and gambling and they wanted somewhere warm to spend their evenings — and hopefully their money,' he said.

In addition to the golden anniversary Dartmoor display, the DTA will also be launching a competition to find the Poet of the Moor for the 21st century.

Anyone with any information about Jonas Coaker should call 01822 890567 or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected] or write to the DTA at the High Moorland Business Centre, Duchy Building, Princetown PL20 6QF.