St Helena Records 1765-1766

Introduction: This is the 44th volume in the series of St Helena Records, which summarises the proceedings of official meetings held by the island’s Governor and Council, during which matters of government, defence, supplies, justice and discipline were discussed and recorded.

Source: Images of the original records can be viewed on the British Library’s website: https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP1364-1-1-44.

Referencing Text Locations: A dual numbering system has been adopted, combining the British Library film number with the manuscript’s original page number. These are presented in the format: British Library Film No. / Document Page No.

Text Inaccuracy: This transcription was produced by AI from handwritten document images held on the British Library's website, at about thirty pages per hour. Given the limitations described below, the text should be regarded as unreliable and used only as a search-and-find shortcut: once a relevant section has been located, it must always be checked against the source image via the hyperlinked Film Numbers listed in the main transcription table below.

Three specific problems affected the work. First, AI tends to prioritise meaning and readability at the expense of fidelity to the original, with a strong disposition to normalise spellings, expand abbreviations, and adjust grammar. It is particularly weak with unfamiliar surnames, and scrawled signatures often resist accurate transcription entirely. Transcriptions by eye of documents spanning four centuries have also shown that a single surname could be written in a wide variety of ways: the Crowie family name appears under six different spellings, and the Isaacs family name under sixteen. Searches for surnames are therefore hindered both by genuine variations in the originals and by mistranscriptions introduced by AI, and for this reason are best run phonetically. Second, the AI struggled with the late secretary hand, the script commonly used from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries, in which the letter S appears in a form closely resembling a trailing L. Third, occasional passages in these volumes are written in a hand so obscure or poorly formed as to be difficult to read even by eye, sometimes compounded by heavy ink bleed-through from the reverse side or by the loss of sections of pages.

To mitigate these difficulties, a strict protocol was applied to each image, requiring the AI to rely solely on clearly visible ink strokes and to flag any uncertain reading, thereby reducing the risk of inferred or invented text. Two conventions are used. [...] marks text that could not be read with confidence; this may represent a single unreadable word, a full sentence, or occasionally an entire paragraph. Square brackets around letters or words indicate a conjectural reading supplied by the transcriber: brackets around a whole word, for example [Bazett], mean the entire word was unclear and a probable reading has been supplied, while brackets around individual letters within an otherwise readable word, for example B[a]z[e]tt, mean only those specific letters were unclear in the source and the unbracketed letters were legibly present.

Text Loss: A number of the early pages are tattered with some loss of text.

Pagination: The pages are unnumbered. Therefore, for reference purposes, the first page of the records on Film No. 6 is designated as page 1 (location 6/1), with numbering continuing sequentially through the end of the volume.

Dates: The Council's first meeting took place on 11 August 1764, with the final meeting occurring on 21 April 1766. All the sessions were convened during the administration of John Skottowe (1764-1782).

AI Generated Summary

Introduction

The Council met at the Castle eight times between 12 August and 16 September 1765, on 23, 27 and 30 September and 7, 10, 14 and 21 October 1765, 13 times between 21 October 1765 and 20 January 1766, weekly from 27 January to 7 April 1766 and on 9, 14 and 21 April 1766. Governor John Skottowe presided with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling (also written Burling and Furling) and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick, and the same four signed every meeting. Each meeting read, approved and signed the previous minutes, beginning on 12 August 1765 with those of 5 August 1765, and noted deaths, arrivals and passing ships for the Court of Directors. [Film No. 6, 12, 18, 21, 24, 26, 29, 32, 59-60, 64, 68, 71, 74, 77, 156, 164-165, 169, 171, 176, 178, 180-181, 185, 188-189, 191-192, 194, 198, 256, 258, 260, 268, 277, 293, 303-305, 308-309, 313, 317, 319, 366]

The quarterly accounts for 1 July to 30 September 1765 were entered under 21 October 1765, a date written on about half their pages. Those for 1 October to 31 December 1765 were entered on 20 and 21 January 1766, and those for 1 January to 31 March 1766 were passed on 14 and 21 April 1766. A binder, C. Blame, returned loose sheets on 20 October 1926 with a note that they did not belong to the volumes sent to him; one frame is blank and one page was filmed twice. The Seven Years’ War had ended with the Peace of Paris in 1763. [Film No. 10-11, 106-155, 206-305, 313, 319]

Governance and Administration

The Council audited the gunner’s and steward’s accounts and counted the Company’s cash monthly, and passed the plantation, storekeeper’s and paymaster’s accounts quarterly. Steward Thomas Perrin left the service at his own request once his July 1765 account had passed, and George Bazett replaced him on 13 August 1765. [Film No. 6-9, 18, 29, 32, 64, 98, 162, 165, 169, 185, 194, 198]

A notice of 26 August 1765, signed by Secretary Matthew Bazett, required every inhabitant to deliver a signed return of household, land and cattle to the Secretary’s Office by 20 September 1765 and to pay the year’s rents and dues at the Castle on 30 September 1765. The Company’s warehouses closed from 7 September to 7 October 1765, and on 9 September 1765 Corneille and Purling were named for the customary yearly inspection of stock. [Film No. 22, 31]

The pay list came to £3,006 15s 3½d for the quarter to 30 September 1765 (£5,036 15s 3½d on the cash account page), £3,078 18s 1d to 31 December 1765 and £3,050 17s 11d to 31 March 1766. Each quarter Skottowe drew £125 0s 0d with £31 14s 9d for servants and Corneille £62 10s 0d with £25 0s 0d diet money. Purling drew £62 10s 0d in four payments as councillor and accountant, including diet money and a gratuity. Kirkpatrick had £10 0s 0d as councillor and £45 12s 6d as captain of the First Company, and Captain Archibald Mitchell £77 10s 0d as engineer and £45 12s 6d as captain of artillery. Writers received £5 0s 0d and factors £7 10s 0d, each with £10 0s 0d diet money, and the master mason William Holbrook £30 0s 0d. Chaplain John Thackeray (also Thackery) received £40 0s 0d to 30 September 1765, his salary being £25 0s 0d. [Film No. 77, 79, 94, 97, 106, 228-229, 245, 248, 337-339, 351]

Kirkpatrick was councillor, captain, paymaster and holder of the treasury. Richard Beale was judge advocate at £12 6s 9d, schoolmaster at £3 0s 3d (£3 8s 3d from October 1765) and captain of the Third Company. John Price was marshal and gaoler at £7 10s 0d, Sergeant Phillip Mahoney clerk of the peace at £10 0s 0d, Sergeant Thomas Payne overseer of the Company’s workmen and Lieutenant Solomon St Maurice master at arms. Henry Bazett commanded the Second Company, Thomas Bazett was a lieutenant in the Third, John Bazett was sergeant and superintendent of the Company’s slaves at £10 0s 0d a quarter, and Henry and Matthew held 178 and 205 acres. [Film No. 78-80, 83, 87, 229-231, 234, 238, 249, 338-339, 342, 345]

Storekeeper James Powell (also written Bowell) signed the store accounts on 30 September 1765, reserving the right to correct errors. He divided issues among general charges, diet, garrison, slaves, Malays, plantation, boats, hospital, fortifications and two vessels, and named the gang or place drawing each. The cash account paid him £2 17s 0d for 15 waistcoats and 10 pairs of trousers for the Company’s slaves. [Film No. 106, 125, 142]

General charges for 1 July to 30 September 1765 included timber at £56 9s 5d, with 129 single deals and 13 bundles of laths, and 332 bushels of coal at £23 7s 0d for the armourers’ shop and lime burning. They also covered 172½ gallons of arrack for workmen at £28 3s 9d, scales, beams and weights for the stores at £32 4s 10d, 80 lb of candles for the Castle, 90 lb for the Council and window glass for the Company’s houses. The diet account took 24 gallons of arrack with flour, tea, sugar candy and Florence oil. [Film No. 125-130, 136, 139, 145]

The Council proved the will of soldier Evan Knowles on 28 October 1765 on the oaths of witnesses and registered a mortgage bond for Captain John Howard on 25 November 1765. The accountant reported on 4 November 1765 that the books were balanced to 30 September 1765, two days after a homeward ship arrived, and copies were ordered as quickly as possible. Corneille signed the inventory of 30 September 1765 in place of Powell. [Film No. 162, 165, 167, 169, 180]

General charges for 1 October to 31 December 1765 included arrack for Sunday issues and general work at £57 14s 6d, more than timber, oil and coal combined, and candles at £35 11s 0d, with 150 for the Council and 90 for the Castle. Also charged were a hair comb for the Lieutenant Governor, canvas for Mitchell, tea for the gardener, hooks, lines and sheet lead for the Governor’s fishermen and six rat traps for Plantation House. The diet account included 60 gallons of arrack. A carry-forward of £119 11s 8d reappears on the next page as £130 9s 4d, an unexplained gap of £10 17s 8d. [Film No. 213-218]

Corneille reported on 13 January 1766 that Thomas Warne, the Company’s overseer, was unfit through irregular conduct and neglect of duty, and no reply from Warne was minuted. Warne was dismissed, and Daniel Torque (also written Jongue), overseer at Longwood at £2 10s 0d a quarter, took both posts at the usual £60 0s 0d a year and was released from the garrison. [Film No. 197, 252]

On 24 February 1766 the Council proved two wills on the oaths of witnesses. Thomas Mudge, a garrison soldier, made his by mark on 10 February 1766 and left everything to his cousin Thomas Burkham. Aaron Asdon of His Majesty’s 79th Regiment, a passenger in the Earl of Middlesex, made his on 19 February 1766, leaving his wife Ann in Cumberland £60 0s 0d, his pay arrears and prize money, four silk handkerchiefs and silver shoe buckles, with £6 0s 0d to George Johnson as administrator. Draper’s 79th had taken Manila in 1762. [Film No. 267, 272-273]

The dating of early March 1766 is confused. One meeting is dated Saturday 7 March, which fell on a Friday, and two entries are headed Monday 10 March with different preceding minutes, one of them a meeting of 3 March that does not survive. Packets from the Court of Directors arrived in the Plassey and the Prince of Wales between 6 and 9 March 1766, and the Council told Mitchell and Beale in person what the Company had decided about them without minuting the substance. John Bland, newly arrived from England, was warned that his right to remain depended entirely on his conduct. [Film No. 275-277]

A notice of 24 March 1766 summoned the inhabitants to a vestry at the chapel in Jamestown valley on 31 March 1766. They nominated three men for sheriff, four churchwardens and two overseers for each of the East, West and South Divisions, a coroner and a constable. The Council appointed Samuel Alexander sheriff and Powell coroner, and issued warrants to two churchwardens and one overseer for each division. [Film No. 296, 304]

In the quarter to 31 March 1766 Thomas Harper, clerk of the market, took a fee of £1 2s 10d on beef supplied to the garrison. General expenses included 343⅓ gallons of arrack for workmen at £67 1s 2d and 1,510 lb of cordage, with 150 lb of candles for the Council and 60 lb for the Castle. [Film No. 326-330, 358]

Military Affairs and Defence

Mitchell laid his plans and report on the fortifications before the Council on 13 August 1765. The councillors judged the report accurate, called Sandy Bay almost undefended, thought the batteries so weakly built that repair was essential and praised a proposed mortar battery covering Rupert’s Bay and James Bay. Skottowe asked whether the valleys between Horse Pasture Point and the Needles needed more than walls, and Mitchell answered that further works would only spread the garrison more thinly. Corneille thought the route from Rupert’s Valley to Banks’s unsafe because it ran outside the defences; Mitchell intended a road across the rock inside the Line once the lower battery at Banks’s was repaired, but had omitted it from his report as too minor. [Film No. 14-15]

Corneille also proposed to flatten the redan in the lower Line across James Valley into a straight face carrying one gun, arguing that the surf-damaged outer wall of the ditch could then be strengthened and that a sharp point would be breached quickly. Mitchell replied that the wall could be strengthened without touching the redan and doubted that the redan and its six guns had ever been needed, since the bastions would have covered a straight curtain of no more than 200 yards. His view prevailed in the only disagreement minuted. [Film No. 15-16]

The report, addressed to the Governor and Council in August 1765 and copied into the minutes on 16 September 1765, was written after a short time on the island, part of it without a boat. The coastal survey was unfinished, so Mitchell referred to the plan in the English Pilot while admitting its errors. He had served mainly as an artillery officer for eight years, left his plans undecorated and had remarked at a meeting of the Court of Directors that the island had no mortar. [Film No. 34-36, 38-39, 46]

Mitchell described a coast of about 30 miles, almost wholly cliff and rarely under 400 or 500 feet high. A steady south-east wind drove heavy surf on to the windward shore from the Needles to Sugar Loaf Point, roughly two-thirds of the coastline. Landing was possible only in the narrow gullies that islanders called valleys, where he claimed 500 defenders would match 10 times their number. Sandy Bay was the one windward exception, because its two headlands sometimes sheltered it from the surf. [Film No. 36-38]

Ships reached the island’s latitude well to the east, sailed due west and rounded Sugar Loaf Point to the anchorage. The wind then failed, so they kept close under the cliffs or were carried off the bank, and each battery could fire on them in turn. A ship coming past the Needles met shifting gusts from every valley and would have to warp in for the last mile under fire. Westerly winds blew perhaps once in five or six months, sometimes for a week. The plan marked the course with a dotted line and the gun directions in red. [Film No. 39-41]

The upper battery at Banks’s stood about 200 yards from Sugar Loaf Point and some 60 feet above the sea, with six 9-pounders behind a thin wall bound with mud instead of lime mortar. Mitchell advised demolition and a new work with 18-pounders and merlons 9 feet thick instead of 3 feet, faced with brick over a core of earth, sand and a little lime, because the island stone splintered under shot. He was already trying to make bricks from local clay. The lower battery on the beach mounted two 32-pounders and five 18-pounders at the mouth of a gully about 3 miles long. Floods had damaged it through a badly designed channel, and he was building a wider arched culvert. [Film No. 41-43]

Rupert’s Line carried 23 guns: five 32-pounders, one 24-pounder, four 12-pounders and 13 of the 9-pounder size, behind a ditch 18 feet wide and 10 feet deep. Mitchell asked only for new gun openings and a better outer slope. He rejected the battery at Chubb’s Rock that a Mr Hutchinson had proposed to the Directors, because Banks’s and Munden’s already covered the approach. Munden’s stood about 80 feet above the sea with one 32-pounder and 16 guns of the 9-pounder size, and he rated it the most important position on the island. Hutchinson had noted its crumbling rock; Mitchell wanted it demolished and rebuilt with 18-pounders and three more guns, and remeasured both headlands to confirm that the gun platforms would not overlap. Three 13-inch mortars were to stand about 80 feet above Munden’s guns behind an earth bank about 4 feet high. [Film No. 43-46]

Two lines ran about 250 yards across the beach of James Valley. The outer line had a bastion, a half bastion, a central redan, a ditch and a gate with a drawbridge to the landing place. It mounted 25 guns, 20 of them 32-pounders, behind sound masonry and merlons 9 feet thick, but stood so close to the beach that surf damaged the ditch wall. Mitchell proposed only a small outwork before the gate once more pressing works were done. The inner line stood about 18 feet higher with 38 guns, 19 of them 2-pounders that he called old, corroded and fit only for salutes. He wanted 9-pounders and 6-pounders, a new parapet and rebuilt half bastions, the left one extended about 10 yards to reach the rock face. One passage gives the inner line openings for 80 guns and another 50, to be cut to 30. He judged the Castle useless for general defence and of value only if the slaves revolted. [Film No. 46-48]

West of James Valley, one of three small gullies before Lemon Valley needed its rocks cut sheer and a wall built. The Lemon Valley battery of six 6-pounders was to be extended to the hills on either side, with 9-pounders or 12-pounders added in front. Single walls were to close the few gullies between Horse Pasture Point and the Needles. [Film No. 48-49]

Sandy Bay measured about 200 yards across at its narrowest. An old work on the right mounted three guns and the new Blund’s battery at the head four, of illegible calibres. Mitchell proposed a continuous line from the flanks of Blund’s battery across the bay, with a wall about 10 feet high, a rampart and a ditch. Two side inlets were to be walled and the streams passed under the line in two channels closed by portcullises. He preferred a closed line because troops fought more steadily when safe from surprise. Sandy Bay was to be built first, then the upper battery at Banks’s and each work westward in turn. [Film No. 49-51, 53]

All gun platforms needed relaying, and Mitchell complained that islanders had never learnt the purpose of a firing step. Several bomb-proof magazines existed and more could be cut into the dry coastal rock. The barracks were too cramped, the officers’ quarters unfinished and most storehouses in poor repair, and he wanted one or two storehouses made bomb-proof for provisions and valuable goods. He supplied returns of the slaves and of the hired workmen with their cost but declined to estimate the time or cost of the works, because most of the slaves had only recently come from Africa and had no experience of building. [Film No. 43, 51-54]

Returns entered on 16 September 1765 counted 99 men on the fortifications and public works: four Company servants, 44 sergeants, corporals and soldiers, two inhabitants, 25 slave men and 24 slave boys. The 46 hired men cost £846 19s 6d a year, under two sergeants and a corporal as overseers. Mitchell then estimated about three years for the fortifications and two to three more for the military and civil buildings, and expected the growing skill of the Company’s slaves to cut the hired men sharply. His list of guns and ammunition was withheld until the works were approved. [Film No. 56-58]

The garrison comprised four infantry companies under Kirkpatrick, Henry Bazett (written Prozett between October 1765 and January 1766), Beale and Howard, and an artillery company under Mitchell. Each infantry company had a captain, two lieutenants, four sergeants, four corporals, about 70 sentinels and two drummers, or three in the Fourth Company. A sentinel received £3 16s 0½d a quarter, or 10d a day, a corporal £5 6s 5½d (1s 2d) and a sergeant £7 12s 1d (1s 8d). In the artillery a matross received £4 11s 3d (1s 0d), a gunner 1s 4d a day and a sergeant £9 2s 6d (2s 0d). Military pay was about £2,235 in the quarter to 31 December 1765. [Film No. 79-80, 83, 87, 90, 94-95, 230-231, 234-235, 238, 241-242, 245-246, 248, 339-354]

Emanuel Bunner and David Belford enlisted on 4 August 1765, Belford four days after his post as Company gardener ended. Five men, at least four of them artillerymen, each took £10 0s 0d between 14 July and 26 August 1765 to serve five more years. Captain Hardwicke carried home three invalids for £15 0s 0d, named as Robert Bosely, Henry Davis and William Snelson, although the pay list discharged a Robert Davis. [Film No. 79, 81-82, 85, 92, 97-98]

The gunner’s accounts recorded the following guns fired and powder used; the December 1765 powder total and the January 1766 figures are not given. The headings were read as charge weights in July 1765 and as gun sizes in August 1765, the July account is signed P. Mitchell and Mitchell signed the later returns. [Film No. 8-9, 24, 30, 60, 76, 172-173, 179, 186, 192, 196, 262, 278, 315]

Month

Guns

Powder

July 1765

61

99 lb 2 oz

August 1765

93

164 lb 13 oz

September 1765

63

102 lb 12 oz

October 1765

43

85 lb 14 oz

November 1765

26

67 lb 8 oz

December 1765

6

-

February 1766

58

225 lb 13 oz

March 1766

106

196 lb 8 oz

Company ships received nine guns on arrival and departure. Alarms were fired on 16 July, 19 July, 4 August, 15 August and 31 August 1765, the last repeated at Turk’s Cap before a boat from the Calcutta reached Banks’s at 8.15 pm. In July and August 1765 powder also went to the mason for blasting limestone at West Rocks and rock at Banks’s, to the Main Guard and to soldiers shooting goats, while sponges went to the baker and paper to the Secretary’s Office. In September 1765 Captain Jackson and Major Munro each received 13 guns on landing, and an alarm of six guns on 25 September matched the arrival of the Bute’s boat at Banks’s at 3.15 pm. Limestone was blasted on 4, 6 and 11 September, and the overseer at Longwood drew powder and 30 lead balls. [Film No. 8-9, 24, 30, 60, 76]

In the quarter to 30 September 1765 the paymaster paid soldiers for 850½ days at Banks’s portcullis (£42 10s 6d), 891¾ days quarrying and burning limestone (£44 11s 9d), 206½ days of brickmaking (£10 6s 6d) and 134 days assisting at it. Planters sold rafters, purlins and bamboo for the brickworks. Day rates were 1s for labourers and 1s 6d for tradesmen, including the plasterer Samuel Gates and the bricklayer John Wibly. The civilian carpenter Simon Whaley earned 5s and the mason Sutton Sandys 2s 6d, for 31½ days on the portcullis and 40 on the Castle. The fortifications account supplied 259 lb of iron for the portcullis, 12 pieces of oak plank from 4 to 6 inches thick and 124 sandbags. [Film No. 100, 102, 104, 106, 140-141, 177, 254]

Garrison stores for the same quarter furnished the gunners’ barracks and the new barracks with 46 wooden bowls, 34 platters, benches and blankets, and supplied 85 lb of Bohea tea. Twine and sail needles made a target, Florence oil was issued for the field guns and the magazines received 4 lb of candles across two accounts. The warehouse held 140 hat cockades, and men were paid £2 0s 0d for carrying alarm messages at speed. [Film No. 106, 126, 131-132, 140-141, 148]

In October 1765 Munro received 13 guns on going aboard on 14 October and the Bute nine on sailing. The anniversary of the King’s accession on 25 October 1765 drew 21 guns and musketry using 28 lb 4 oz. Salutes came almost wholly from 2-pounders at 1 lb a gun, and one of two copies of the return lacks the gun sizes. An alarm on 1 November 1765 was repeated at Turk’s Cap, and 28 lb of powder went on blasting at Rupert’s and for the Black Hospital. The six guns of December 1765 were an alarm on 28 December for a ship passing far out to sea, and powder was issued four times that month to remake cartridges at the Main Guard. [Film No. 172-173, 179, 186, 192, 196]

A field carriage was reported rotten and a 9-pounder bed broken in November 1765. Three carriages for 32-pounders were condemned and a 12-pounder carriage found rotten in December 1765. [Film No. 186, 196]

Mitchell reported on 11 November 1765 that his brickmaking trials had fallen short through salt in the clay, which made the bricks brittle, unskilled men and the lack of drying sheds. The Council found few bricks in a sample fit to use and ordered a further trial with the clay dug and left to weather for some months. [Film No. 175, 177]

Corneille wrote on 2 December 1765 that a man named Arthur had found limestone at Sandy Bay, where the supply had been thought exhausted, and judged it enough for as long as the island needed. Islanders built with mud mortar, which he thought far worse than anything he had seen elsewhere. He proposed that the Company sell lime at 18d a bushel and asked that the plan go to the Court of Directors. Burning with wood needed three white labourers at 1s a day, 11 slaves and 25 kilns of wood, costing £206 19s 0d for 12,500 bushels, or about 4d a bushel. Coal needed two labourers, six slaves and 30 chaldrons at £2 4s 0d, costing £157 6s 0d for 12,060 bushels, or about 3d. He doubted that wood could be relied on for long, noted that the engineer had already ordered the coal and omitted blasting powder as unknowable. The Council set the price at 1s 3d and agreed to sell whatever its own works could spare. [Film No. 181-184]

The artillery was reshuffled between 2 and 10 December 1765. Six men left it for the infantry, among them Corporal James Long, the bombardier Andrew Barton and the gunner William Fletcher, and six infantrymen entered as matrosses. Nicholas Houghton rose to corporal, John Ferrier and James Purfett to bombardier and John Smith, Thomas Tyler and Thomas Yates to gunner, Yates within four days of joining. Each move was entered as a transfer and a fresh enlistment without reasons. Sergeant John Stewart resigned on 5 December 1765 and served on as a private, Corporal Henry Howell taking his place, and a John Stewart was also listed as a cadet on private’s pay. The gunner Evan Newland took £10 0s 0d to serve five more years. [Film No. 231-232, 234, 236-237, 240-248, 252]

The garrison account for 1 October to 31 December 1765 included train oil at £22 17s 0d, 45 gallons of arrack for drams on muster days, yellow ochre and whiting to colour the accoutrements and a half-hour glass for Banks’s guard. The fortification account was chiefly 733 lb of iron for Banks’s cullis and 107 lb of cordage for raising stones. Paint and linseed oil went on the shed, the guns, the gun carriages and the flanks, and arrack was given to a private owner’s slaves who painted the carriages. General charges carried 279 bushels of coal for burning lime and iron for a forge and stonecutters’ hammers. The paymaster paid for 463 days of lime burning, 170½ days of brickmaking, 51 days of masonry at Banks’s, 921½ days of labouring and 37 of stone blasting at Rupert’s, and 687¾ days and 32½ of blasting at the slave house. Masons repairing the houses of the chaplain and officers earned 3s a day. [Film No. 215, 217-219, 226, 254, 256]

The January 1766 gunner’s account names posts at Lemon Valley, Rupert’s, Banks’s and Sandy Bay. In February 1766 blasting took 130 lb of powder, including 100 lb sent to Sandy Bay on 16 February. The 2-pounders fired 11 guns for the Admiral Stevens, nine each for the Earl of Middlesex and the Plassey and 13 for a Dutch governor on landing. Alarms on 15 and 28 February each took six guns, the first also bringing two 9-pounders into use at Banks’s. Powder and shot were issued for shooting goats at Munden’s Point. [Film No. 262, 278]

On orders from London the Council directed Mitchell on 12 March 1766 to begin the fortifications at Sandy Bay at once, following the plan he had sent to London, reporting quarterly and letting nothing else distract him. At his request Lieutenant Bridgwater was appointed resident overseer of the soldiers and slaves employed, at 3s a day, a cost the Council defended to the Directors because the duty could not be left to sergeants alone. [Film No. 287-288]

Alarms were fired on 2, 10, 13, 16, 22 and 23 March 1766, those of 10, 13 and 16 March for one, three and four ships that passed without calling. The Dutch governor received 13 guns on going aboard on 3 March 1766, and the works took 39 lb 8 oz of powder. Soldiers were paid £0 15s 0d in the last quarter of 1765 and £4 15s 0d in the first of 1766 for bringing express word of ships to windward. [Film No. 254, 315, 358]

William Fletcher, an invalid with three years served, was discharged on 24 February 1766 after supplying a substitute, Hendrick Assenius, a discharged Madras soldier entered among the seamen of the Earl of Middlesex. Richard Goulding was discharged on 31 March 1766 with his term complete, and seven sentinels whose terms had ended were discharged at their own request on 7 April 1766, while two China ships lay in the road. Nineteen soldiers took bounties between 30 January and 23 March 1766 to serve five more years, 13 of them on the last date, at £10 0s 0d or £5 0s 0d for John Twaits, a native of the island. Six invalids went home with Captain Hindman at £5 0s 0d each. The garrison account for the quarter charged 166⅓ gallons of arrack for drams, and cloth, trimmings and 16 hats for the officers’ clothing made up most of its total. [Film No. 271, 274, 298, 308, 333-334, 356]

Mitchell’s letter of 21 April 1766 opened the quarterly reports, which he had himself proposed. His instructions from England had confined him to repairs during his first year. The essential repairs to the Castle were finished, the main leaks at Plantation House stopped and the Company’s other houses refitted. Materials had been gathered for a hospital for the Company’s slaves, which the Council had put off without stated reason. The lower battery at Banks’s was the first fortification repaired: part was pulled down, a long channel was built to carry flood water beneath it, a path was cut along the rocks to Rupert’s Bay and a gully between the two batteries was walled up. The quarter’s stores charged 248 lb of iron and 116 lb of sheet lead to the cullis at Banks’s. [Film No. 336, 364-365]

Mitchell also reported that he had examined the island’s stone soon after arriving and found a very large limestone deposit at Sandy Bay, close to the sea and beside a main work he proposed. A road to the quarry was finished, and the lime burned there needed less sand than English lime and very little coal. Ground, clay, fuel, sheds and a kiln for brickmaking were well advanced. His abstract counted 210 men and boys employed: 114 at Sandy Bay, 64 at James’s Valley and 32 at Plantation House. They included 72 white labourers, 52 men slaves, 11 slave craftsmen and 26 slave boy apprentices, the Council having tripled the labourers after the store ships arrived. Tools, wheelbarrows and an officer’s cot for Sandy Bay were charged to general expenses. [Film No. 328-329, 336-337, 365-367]

Paid labour in the quarter to 31 March 1766 included 1,320 days at the slaves’ house, of which 982 were labouring and 160 plastering, 333 days of limestone quarrying, 236 days at Sandy Bay and 51½ days of brickmaking. The Castle, the Lieutenant Governor’s house, a storehouse on Ladder Hill and stone for a wheat mill were also charged, and a mason’s day cost 3s 6d. [Film No. 327, 360, 362]

Land, Settlement and Agriculture

On 26 August 1765 Holbrook petitioned for waste Company ground in the valley to build a house, and Lieutenant St Maurice received a James Valley plot of 15 feet by 95 feet at £0 15s 0d a year. Holbrook received 40 feet by 68 feet at the same rent on 23 September 1765, when Matthew Bazett leased 15½ acres in the East Division. On 9 September 1765 Benjamin Mason took 31 acres in the West Division and the carpenter John Robinson 28½ acres in the East Division at £0 1s 6d an acre. [Film No. 21-22, 29, 59, 66, 79]

Mitchell reported in August 1765 that the Castle and the Company servants’ houses had recently been repaired. Plantation House, the Governor’s country residence, had no habitable room, decaying timbers and a roof thought beyond repair, which he blamed on wrong methods and meant to complete in the drier months. The island needed a new church and a courthouse for the quarterly courts. A church plan had gone to England and roof timbers were expected with the ships of 1766, but he advised deferring both buildings until the fortifications were finished, since the small church was safe and trained craftsmen would halve the cost. [Film No. 52-53]

The roll of rents and dues paid on 30 September 1765 came to £536 16s 2d on 2,204¾ acres of free land and 1,970 acres of leased land. Rates ran from 1s to 5s an acre, with £1 0s 0d an acre for Margaret Alcock’s 1¼ acres and a peppercorn for six acres held by Francis Wrangham. Purling held the most land, 313½ acres for £37 1s 4d, and Richard Bagley paid the most, £49 11s 1d for 309 acres. Orphans’ estates accounted for 13 holdings and women for eight, Corporal Onesiphorus Beale held 23½ acres and several townspeople paid ground rent alone. The entry for the orphans of William Kennedy shows 17s due and 12s paid. [Film No. 64-67]

The plantation stores account for 1 July to 30 September 1765 names Plantation House, Maldivia, Sandy Bay and Longwood. It issued ox bows, arrack for men breaking in oxen, canvas pads for donkeys, 31 cwt of paddy for poultry and horses, axletrees, ash and oak plank and tar for the wood cart and a case of fleams for bleeding cattle. The inventory held 77 milk pans, 33 pairs of sheep shears, 16 scythes and 10 sickles. The account for 1 October to 31 December 1765 listed yokes and bows for oxen, longcloth for the dairy, scythes, four pairs of sheep shears, Venetian red for marking sheep, arrack for the shearers, 4,535 lb of paddy, 376 lb of rice and fishing lines for Longwood and Sandy Bay. [Film No. 129, 136-137, 147, 151, 153, 222-223]

John Desfountain senior petitioned on 21 October 1765 to renew his lease of 16 acres in the East Division and for an adjoining strip of waste; the lease was renewed and the strip sent for inspection. On 28 October 1765 Captain Henry Bazett asked for waste ground beside Holbrook’s plot to build a house. Holbrook’s request the same day to pass his lease in James’s Valley, beside the house of the cooper James Torbett (written Corbett), to Mitchell and Bazett was approved at once. Julio Fabiana (also Fabiano), who already had leave to stay on the island, asked on 4 November 1765 for 60 fathoms by 50 fathoms beside John Jacks’s house. Leases followed on 2 December 1765 at £0 15s 0d a year each: 60 feet by 44 feet for Bazett and 60 feet by 60 feet for Fabiana. Matthew Bazett had two expired leases for 11 acres in the East Division renewed without inspection on 23 December 1765. [Film No. 163-164, 167-170, 184, 191]

Mitchell wrote on 11 November 1765 that most of the roof of Plantation House, whose prompt repair the Directors had recommended, was close to collapse because its gutters lay almost flat under cracked lead. Robinson offered to finish it with surplus timber from the store. Mitchell wanted to use the dry months and the idle time before the store ship arrived and to line the gutters with terras. The Council required a trial on one gutter first, although he warned that delay would probably lose the dry weather. [Film No. 175-177]

The plantation accounts, signed by Corneille, gave the Company’s livestock at each quarter’s end. Seven horses died in the quarter to 30 September 1765, though the next account has horses rising from seven to nine. In the quarter to 31 December 1765 10 cattle, 62 sheep and 34 goats were killed and 35 sheep and 25 goats died; its wether figures cannot be right, since 39 killed and 16 dead from 45 could not leave 90. In the quarter to 31 March 1766 20 cattle and 31 sheep were killed and 23 calves and 65 kids were entered as missing, without comment from the Council on 14 April 1766. [Film No. 75, 195, 313-314]

Quarter ending

Cattle

Sheep

Goats

Hogs

Horses

30 September 1765

275

608

243

5

9

31 December 1765

267

532

199

2

9

31 March 1766

238

481

128

-

-

Land was leased from the Company in 1766 at 5s an acre. On 10 February 1766 Matthew Bazett took 11 acres in the East Division and Benjamin Pledger renewed seven acres there; by petition of 10 March 1766 Pledger transferred 18 acres to Desfountain. William Wrangham had leave on 17 March 1766 to sell David Alcock’s 26¾ acres to the highest bidder. Robert Ballard petitioned on 7 April 1766 for a new lease of part of his house in James’s Valley, expiring on 16 April 1766, and Henry Bazett on 21 April 1766 to renew six acres at Sandy Bay; both were granted without recorded conditions. [Film No. 262, 274, 279-280, 293, 308, 368]

Corneille reported on 10 March 1766 that Torque’s count on replacing Warne found 23 cattle and 65 goats missing. Warne blamed miscounting, reliance on the slaves who drove the cattle, mange and dogs. Corneille noted that Warne’s return for 1 April to 30 June 1765 showed an increase of 62 head, in line with normal growth. The Council found a mistake and no fraud and ordered the animals written off in the next quarter. [Film No. 285-286]

Supply and Provisioning

The warehouse held no pepper on 12 August 1765, and Captain John Webb of the London was ordered to land 400 lb gross of the Company’s own cargo. Powell reported on 13 August 1765 that her rice was 5 cwt 2 qr 19 lb short, with 52 cwt 3 qr 21 lb of paddy received. The Council bought from Webb 160 pieces of pork and 307 of beef at £0 3s 0d a piece, six bags of rice and 14 of batty for £87 12s 0d, and purser Henry Hubert gave the receipt. [Film No. 6-7, 16-17]

On 26 August 1765 the Council bought 6,300 lb of rice from the Dutch captain at £0 12s 0d per 100 lb, or £37 16s 0d, against about £1 7s 0d per 100 lb for Webb’s rice. The Calcutta arrived from Bombay on 1 September 1765 with 22 bags of pounded rice weighing 150 Surat maunds and 32 bags of batty. Accountant William Hornby signed her invoice for 316 rupees 1 quarter 78 reas, although its parts add up to 8 reas less. Powell reported on 6 September 1765 that the rice was 2 qr 21 lb short and that only 13 bags of paddy, weighing 20 cwt 1 qr 6 lb, had been delivered. Salt provisions being short that day, the Council bought four casks from her captain, George Thomson, for £73 4s 0d, the price at which it had sold casks to Company ships that year, although he showed that they had cost him £20 0s 0d each at Bombay. The paymaster also bought 248 pieces of beef from Captain Fernell in the quarter. [Film No. 22-25, 28, 98, 100]

The steward’s accounts gave the monthly cost of the Company’s table, with meat consumed where stated. Beef rose in September 1765 while Munro and other visiting officers were ashore. The table also took flour, butter, port, Lisbon and Mountain wine, beer and 60 to 63 bottles of arrack a month in late 1765. The price of 6½ lb of sugar candy fell from £2 10s 8d in July 1765 to £1 0s 8d in August 1765. In the quarter to 31 March 1766 Captain Peters supplied cheese, hams, butter, pickles and spices for the table, which drew 54 gallons of arrack from the stores. [Film No. 7-8, 31, 74, 172, 185, 196-197, 262, 279, 316, 330, 356]

Month

Cost

Mutton

Beef

July 1765

£26 16s 5½d

302 lb

-

August 1765

£23 8s 7d

263 lb

126 lb

September 1765

£26 13s 3d

-

237¼ lb

October 1765

£26 4s 4½d

-

-

November 1765

£17 18s 3d

157 lb

118 lb

December 1765

£26 8s 0d

314 lb

142 lb

January 1766

£22 14s 9d

233 lb

66 lb

February 1766

£19 0s 9½d

-

-

March 1766

£26 4s 9½d

351 lb

102 lb

The warehouse charged Company servants cost plus 10 per cent, planters 25 per cent on cloth, hosiery, hats and shoes and 40 per cent on staples, cordage, hardware and fishing tackle, and Company ships no stated advance. Quarterly sales were as follows; the Admiral Stevens was charged a further £6 14s 10d on a separate account in the last quarter, and no ship is named in the first two. [Film No. 107-125, 198-199, 205-211, 319-326]

Quarter ending

Company servants

Planters

Company ships

30 September 1765

£1,300 13s 10d

£117 13s 2d

£654 6s 4d

31 December 1765

£1,256 11s 6d

£112 12s 7d

£506 19s 11d

31 March 1766

£905 14s 1d

£84 18s 6d

£40 5s 0d

Servants’ purchases to 30 September 1765 were led by salt meat at £234 6s 0d for 2,069 pieces of pork and 274 of beef. Flour followed at £175 14s 4d, 410 gallons of Port, Lisbon and Mountain wine at £124 11s 2d, sugar at £111 17s 6d and Indian long cloth at £108 15s 11d. Tea, at 1,123 lb, cost £62 16s 10d, 482 lb of candles £46 16s 0d and shoes £41 15s 10d for 124 ordinary pairs and 26 for women. Chinese porcelain worth £24 5s 9d included 186 blue and white soup plates at about 6d each, and India cotton stockings sold at a little over 2s a pair against about 7s 6d for English. Servants also bought tea wares, wine glasses, decanters, 10 punch ladles, a box iron, window glass mostly in panes of 6 by 8 inches, buttons, sewing silk, thread, button moulds and 28 locks. [Film No. 107-109, 111-117]

Planters bought two hats, 17 pairs of shoes, short lengths of cloth, sole leather and a calfskin at 25 per cent in the same quarter. Servants bought 4,275 fish hooks and 184 lines, buyers at 40 per cent took 1,300 hooks and 18 dozen lines and the Company’s slave fishermen drew 1,600 hooks and 43½ dozen lines. Ships took salt beef and pork worth £373 14s 9d, rope worth £93 16s 6d, a sloop’s mast at £29 13s 0d and pitch, tar, canvas, coal and timber. [Film No. 110, 118-120, 123-125, 132]

The Bute arrived from Bengal on 25 September 1765 with stores invoiced at 1,106 rupees 14 annas 9 pies: wax candles, 30 bags of rice, 10 bags of fine sugar, 15 bags of paddy and two leaguers of Batavia arrack. The invoice was in current rupees of 16 annas, each of 12 pies, distinguished factory from bazaar maunds and carried as its largest charge 34 rupees 10 annas for a sloop. On 27 September 1765 Captain the Honourable Patrick Maitland asked for 35 puncheons of beef and pork and 100 bags of rice. The Council replied that only 27 casks of salt provisions and 12,200 lb of rice remained for the garrison and slaves, that the rice would run out near the end of December 1765 and the salt meat on 1 March 1766, and that flour was short although the garrison had already lost one bread day a week. It offered 12 casks of salt provisions, 13 cattle, 30 sheep and 3,000 lb of paddy, calling the animals the whole remainder of the year’s stock beyond the 560 lb of beef already issued under the charter party. [Film No. 60-63]

Maitland reported on 30 September 1765 that his officers unanimously refused to sail for Europe without 10 weeks’ provisions. The Council granted five more casks to keep the ship from a foreign port, accepting that it might have to slaughter livestock for the garrison. On 10 October 1765 he wrote that six Company slaves and six of his men could pound barely half the daily need of 200 men, cited the bad weather expected on the passage and asked for about 3,320 lb of rice in exchange for half the paddy. The Council gave 3,000 lb, ordered the 13 cattle aboard with one kept back for slaughter during his stay and agreed to advance cash on charter-party terms, Maitland offering bills on Charles Raymond for the stores. Powell certified the same day that the Bute had not delivered her rice, paddy and sugar and that her two leaguers of arrack held 174 gallons against a gauged 285. [Film No. 67, 71-74]

Only six cattle remained on the Company’s hands on 4 November 1765, when the Princess Augusta needed fresh provisions. The Council therefore issued its yearly cattle notice two months early, requiring every inhabitant to return by 11 November 1765 the cattle available for slaughter in 1766. Her captain wrote on 11 November 1765 that the crew had eaten almost nothing fresh for seven months and mostly had scurvy, that the ship leaked, that her mizzen mast was sprung and that her rudder head had to go ashore for repair. He asked for 14 days’ fresh provisions to carry away, which the Council granted from the cattle due for 1766, judging that a passage to another port might endanger her. [Film No. 170, 174]

A notice of 9 December 1765 summoned every planter to the Castle at 10 am on 16 December 1765. The Council told them that the returns allowed only one beast a week, so the Wednesday market must be supplied with sheep, goats and pigs. Further returns of sheep, goats, pigs, sheep intended for sale, horses by kind and undeclared cattle were due by 23 December 1765. Flour was short that day, the yam crop had failed and no rice remained, the stores having held 133 cwt 1 qr of rice and 156 cwt 3 qr of paddy on 30 September 1765. The Council bought planters’ spare potatoes at 4s a bushel, 1s below the usual price, sold them to the soldiers at 3s in place of bread and charged the difference to the Company. Yams for the slaves were bought at the usual 3s a hundredweight, because the Company’s own plantations were too young to bear. [Film No. 162, 187-189]

Servants’ purchases to 31 December 1765 included 3,093 pieces of salt beef worth £309 16s 0d, 1,869 pieces of pork, 12 cwt 3 qr of rice against 48 cwt in the previous quarter, 242 lb of Bohea against 617 lb and 6,269 lb of sugar. They also bought long cloth worth £79 15s 7d, 174 pairs of men’s shoes, broadcloth, paint, china, window glass and fishing tackle. Planters’ purchases, entered on 21 January 1766, included 165 lb of tea, chiefly congou, 487 lb of sugar, 417 lb of cordage, 13 lb of sole leather, six shoemaker’s knives and small lots of nails, window glass, paint, fishing gear and chinaware. Men’s everyday shoes cost them 5s a pair against under 4s on the Company’s valuation. Ships took 11 puncheons of beef and six hogsheads of pork for £303 2s 6d, 57 cwt 2 qr 2 lb of cordage, rice, paddy, 670 lb of flour, coal, canvas, paint and two half-minute glasses. [Film No. 198-211]

Private suppliers were paid in 1765. Mary Seale sold 33,150 yams, mostly at 3s a hundred, and Lieutenant Desfountain 7,800 at 2s 6d, costing £61 5s 9d for the slaves; Seale’s 30,900 yams at 3s should have cost £46 7s 0d, not the £49 17s 0d entered. Together they also sold 22,000 suckers. William Young supplied 47 loads of stone, and Torbett sold 49 gallons of sour beer at 2s a gallon. [Film No. 250, 254]

The garrison was badly short of provisions on 27 January 1766. The Council bought from Captain John Griffin of the Admiral Stevens, arrived from Bengal on 23 January 1766, 61 bushels of wheat, 305½ gallons of arrack at 4s a gallon and over 15 cwt of sago for £131 10s 6d. The paymaster’s account gives 305 gallons, 13 cwt 2 qr 13 lb of sugar and £131 8s 6d. The ship also landed 1,000 lb of rice, 246 lb of flour and a yawl belonging to the Company. [Film No. 258-259, 356, 358, 362]

The Earl of Middlesex arrived from Madras on 15 February 1766 with 26 bags of rice, 33 of paddy and 450 gallons of Batavia arrack. Her invoice, signed by the accountant Richard Fairfield, came to 184 pagodas 35 fanams 52 cash with charges, and Powell reported 106 lb of rice, 59 lb of paddy and 5 gallons of arrack short. On 24 February 1766 the Council bought 3,711 lb of pork from her commander, Henry Fletcher, at 6d a pound. It returned the pork unpaid in early March, once store ships had brought ample salt provisions, and so kept £92 15s 6d. [Film No. 267-268, 270, 274-275]

Letters of 14 March 1766 to Lord Clive at Fort William, Robert Palk at Fort St George and Charles Crommelin at Bombay set out the island’s orders under its 1 per cent allowance. Bengal was asked for eight maunds of wax candles and 200 pieces of dosooties by each ship, Madras for 146 pieces of longcloth, 50 pairs of cotton stockings and Cuddalore diaper for table linen, and Bombay for 200 pieces of Surat chelloes. The balance was to come in arrack, rice and paddy, and the Directors had ordered Bengal and Bombay to send a double quantity of rice. The letters cited an increase in slaves and went by way of China in the Prince of Wales. [Film No. 289-291]

Powell’s account of 31 March 1766 listed stores short or damaged from the two store ships. The Prince of Wales failed to deliver 62 deals, a topmast and a barrel of turpentine, landed 73 square feet of window glass broken and was 50 gallons short in 370 of beer. Most wine casks were about a gallon short, but one hogshead of Lisbon in each ship lacked 7 or 8 gallons. [Film No. 302-303]

In the quarter to 31 March 1766 Hindman sold 340 lb of paddy because the stores held none, and Orlando Bagley junior supplied 166¼ bushels of potatoes for the garrison. Soldiers were paid for 278½ days of catching fish for the garrison, and William Jenkins baked 66 batches of bread for the garrison and 16 for the slaves. Servants’ purchases included salt beef and pork worth £334 10s 2d, long cloth, shoes, flour, sugar, 1,050 hooks and 96 lines. [Film No. 319-326, 356, 358, 360, 362]

Trade and Shipping

Arrivals and departures of ships were minuted as follows. [Film No. 6, 8, 18, 23-25, 29-30, 32, 60, 74, 169-172, 178, 180, 258, 263, 267, 275-277, 293, 295-296, 305, 313, 315-317]

Ship

Arrived

Sailed

Royal George

-

1 July 1765

Valentine

-

15 July 1765

Carnarvon

16 July 1765

11 August 1765

Pitt

18 July 1765

8 August 1765

Earl of Lincoln

20 July 1765

2 August 1765

London

4 August 1765

18 August 1765, for England

West Friesland (Dutch), from Batavia

15 August 1765

27 August 1765, for Rotterdam

Calcutta, from Bombay

1 September 1765

Night of 8 September 1765

Bute, from Bengal

25 September 1765

14 October 1765, for England

Princess Augusta, from China

2 November 1765

19 November 1765, for England

Admiral Stevens, from Bengal

23 January 1766

Night of 3 February 1766

Earl of Middlesex, from Madras

15 February 1766

6 March 1766

Prince of Wales, store ship

2 March 1766

4 April 1766, for China

Plassey, store ship

Not stated; saluted in February 1766

4 April 1766, for China

Earl of Elgin, from China

23 March 1766

4 April 1766

Admiral Pocock, from China

23 March 1766

2 April 1766, for England

Duke of Richmond, from China

24 March 1766

4 April 1766

Salisbury, from China

6 April 1766

13 April 1766, for England

Dutton, from China

6 April 1766

13 April 1766, for England

Duke of Gloucester, from China

15 April 1766

-

Queen Sophia Magdalena (Danish), from China

17 April 1766

-

Queen Julian Maria (Danish), from China

18 April 1766

-

Santa Conception (Portuguese), from Rio de Janeiro

19 April 1766

-

Talbot, from China

19 April 1766

-

The West Friesland, of 700 tons, 30 guns and 70 men, carried sugar, coffee and pepper. Two 9-pounders fired shot to bring her to, the only shot fired that month, and she received 13 guns on arrival and departure. Her commander appears as Hollman and as Bernardus Halleman. An unidentified ship passed far out to sea on 10 September 1765. [Film No. 18, 23-24, 30, 32]

Purling mustered each arriving ship for deserters. Webb’s roll for the London, reported on 13 August 1765, named three passengers: Captain Richard Moore, Mrs Moore and Mr Burr. Thomson’s roll for the Calcutta, reported on 6 September 1765, included 10 French prisoners, three men discharged from the Bombay garrison and several seamen with Portuguese names. The Bute, reported on 7 October 1765, carried Major Hector Munro (also written Monro) and the remnant of His Majesty’s 89th Regiment: six officers, a surgeon, 27 other ranks, six women and two children. A lieutenant of the 79th Regiment and two former Company servants from Bengal also took passage in her. Munro had commanded at Buxar in 1764, and his Highland regiment was going home to be disbanded. [Film No. 12-13, 26-27, 68-69, 71]

Hardwicke sold the Company a longboat for £35 0s 0d in the quarter to 30 September 1765, and Thomson received £5 0s 0d for the passage of Robert Shelton, a seaman of His Majesty’s Navy. Seamen left ashore from the Lord Holland, the Valentine, the Pitt and one unnamed ship were kept at 6d a day for between 11 and 27 days, among them Robert Hodge of the Lord Holland and James Thomson of the Valentine. William Price, left by the Bute, was kept for 20 days at the same rate. [Film No. 98, 100, 106, 252, 254]

Stores to 30 September 1765 gave rope, spars and plank to the Fly, called a cutter by the storekeeper and a schooner by the paymaster, and spars to the Mercury snow. The boats’ account included 773 lb of rope, salt meat for the longboat crew, fittings for the engineer’s boat and arrack for men hauling up the longboat. Three soldiers each drew £6 0s 0d a year for work in the Fly, the longboat and other craft. The inventory held 196 cwt of rope worth £360 17s 2d, chiefly cable of 3½ and 4 inches, anchors worth £156 1s 0d, including one of nearly 11 cwt and one lying on the West Rocks, and masts and spars worth £43 17s 8d, including a foremast of 49 feet, two topmasts of 53 feet and a teak topmast. [Film No. 98, 100, 137-139, 142-143, 145, 155]

A boat from the Princess Augusta landed at Banks’s at 4.30 pm on 1 November 1765, and Purling reported no deserters in her on 11 November 1765. Her commander is Thomas Maddison in the muster roll and Baddison in his own letter and bills. The Fly was condemned on 9 December 1765 as unfit for her purpose and very poor in the bottom, to be broken up to repair the longboats, after drawing 9 cwt 3 qr of cordage that quarter. Fabiano was paid £5 0s 0d for breaking her up, with 65¾ days of soldiers’ labour. The boat account for October to December 1765 covered 34 single deals, 12 oars, tar, rosin and 76 lb of nails and spikes; eight longboat men drew £1 10s 0d each, and a boat was bought from John Criswell for £4 0s 0d. The boats took 1,831 lb of cordage at £32 8s 5d in the quarter to 31 March 1766. [Film No. 169-172, 174, 187, 223-227, 250, 252, 332-337, 355, 362]

Purling found no deserters in the Earl of Middlesex on 24 February 1766, in the Earl of Elgin, the Admiral Pocock and the Duke of Richmond on 31 March 1766 or in the Salisbury and the Dutton on 9 April 1766. The rolls list many Dutch, German, French and Portuguese names, and the Earl of Middlesex carried seamen entered under single names. Her passengers were Christian Van Teylingen, the Dutch Governor of Negapatnam, with three children, a secretary and eight servants, eight officers and 42 private soldiers of the 79th Regiment, a Madras merchant and a Bombay surgeon. Departure needed leave, and Powell petitioned before sending his son Richard away in her. Although she is said to have sailed on 6 March 1766, business on 7 and 10 March treats her as present. [Film No. 270-271, 275-278, 298-302, 309]

The 10 working days allowed by charter for unloading the Prince of Wales and the Plassey had expired by 14 March 1766, and Captains Jonathan Court and William Peters were ordered to sail. High surf then closed the landing place. Both lodged protests on 24 March 1766, Court stating that nothing could be landed for eight days and that ballast and water needed 10 more, and the Council certified the facts. Unloading took 642½ paid days. The Council wrote to the supercargoes at Canton on 14 March 1766, enclosing the charter agreement, victualling bill and manifest of the Prince of Wales and reporting one chest of treasure shipped in the Plassey on the Company’s account. It asked for oblong table china, two blue and white tea sets and the forwarding of its Indian letters. [Film No. 289, 292, 297-298, 356]

The China ships of 23 and 24 March 1766 each sent a boat ahead to Banks’s. The Admiral Pocock brought seven tubs of sugar and chests of bohea and congou tea on an invoice of 103 taels 5 mace 7 candareens, dated at Canton on 30 November 1765 and signed by 12 supercargoes. Three ships on 16 March and six on 18 March 1766 were seen passing without calling. The Salisbury and the Dutton each carried seven chests of sugar and three of tea, invoiced at just over 115 taels and 114 taels at Canton on 3 January 1766 by 12 supercargoes, and took three supercargoes home as passengers. The Dutton delivered her sugar 44 lb short, and her third tea chest is entered as Congo at the Singlo price. The Council bought a longboat from Captain John Wyche of the Salisbury for £30 0s 0d on 14 April 1766. [Film No. 293, 295-296, 305-307, 309-313, 316]

The two Danish ships were bound for Copenhagen with tea, porcelain and silk: the Queen Sophia Magdalena of 1,100 tons, 26 guns and 150 men, and the Queen Julian Maria under Captain Smit of 900 tons, 26 guns and 140 men. The Santa Conception, of 30 tons and seven men, was bound for Angola. A boat from the Talbot reached Banks’s at 11.30 am on 19 April 1766. Her invoice of 3 January 1766 came to 129 taels 1 mace 8 candareens for five chests of sugar, two of tea and four half chests of plain porcelain, with 2 per cent allowed for breakage. [Film No. 317-318]

Finance and Accounting

The treasury opened July 1765 with £7,101 13s 1d. Bills on the Court of Directors brought in £230 0s 0d for Robert Wood on 8 July and £50 0s 0d for Ninnian Ballentine on 11 July, the Valentine paid £235 2s 5d on 13 July and the Earl of Lincoln £12 7s 9d on 31 July. The month closed at £7,629 3s 3d, of which £539 15s 0d was in cash notes no longer usable, a sum carried unchanged in later months. [Film No. 19-20]

Bills were sold on 5 August 1765 for Nicholas Pearce at £147 0s 0d and Jeffrey Jackson at £219 0s 0d. The Carnarvon paid £99 16s 5d and the Pitt £252 13s 4d on 6 August, and the London £10 7s 4d on 17 August. Kirkpatrick paid in £100 0s 0d on 13 August for bills payable to Allen Auld or his order 90 days after sight, entered in the cash book under Auld’s name alone. The Dutch paid £760 0s 0d for bills on 26 August: £400 0s 0d to Halleman, £200 0s 0d to Andries Lorentzen and £160 0s 0d to Hendrick Eckhard. August closed at £9,218 0s 4d, and neither month shows any payment out. [Film No. 16, 23, 33-34]

September 1765 opened at £9,272 0s 4d. Receipts were £67 9s 1d from the Calcutta on 8 September, the rents, £1,413 7s 0d from Powell for stores sold in the quarter, £136 2s 8d from the plantation and £17 10s 0d for public house licences. The paymaster was advanced £3,632 1s 8d on 30 September 1765, leaving £7,811 3s 7d, of which £539 15s 7d is entered as cash notes. [Film No. 163]

Kirkpatrick signed his paymaster’s account on 30 September 1765, reserving the right to correct errors, and presented it on 21 October 1765. Cash received is given as £3,632 1s 8d on two pages and £5,632 1s 8d on three, and the credit side closed at £5,632 1s 8d. Another run of credit pages reaches only £506 3s 4½d of payments. Robinson’s pay rose from £53 0s 0d to £100 0s 0d a year on 29 July 1765 without stated reason. [Film No. 79, 81, 97-99, 101-106]

Stores issued without sale were charged by department as follows. The fortifications figure for the first quarter is incomplete, and the last quarter had a separate account of £3 12s 1d for the new work at Sandy Bay. The garrison subtotal for the second quarter changes from £38 3s 1d to £38 7s 1d between pages. [Film No. 125-142, 213-227, 326-337]

Account

To 30 September 1765

To 31 December 1765

To 31 March 1766

General charges

£188 12s 3d

£181 6s 4d

£234 3s 9d

Diet

£19 9s 10d

£27 10s 10d

£24 17s 10d

Garrison

£30 14s 5d

£40 8s 9d

£208 8s 3d

Slaves

£230 16s 10d

£90 3s 9d

£164 14s 1d

Malays

£11 14s 4d

£5 18s 11d

£2 17s 8d

Plantation

£16 1s 5d

£20 8s 7d

£29 10s 7d

Boats

£34 15s 4d

£18 4s 1d

£40 8s 7d

Hospital

£8 13s 10d

£13 12s 0d

£18 2s 8d

Fortifications

£42 18s 1d

£17 6s 3d

£12 0s 10d

Fly

£21 8s 2d

£19 13s 10d

-

Mercury

£2 11s 1d

-

-

The inventory of 30 September 1765 valued European goods at £4,447 19s 5d and all stores at £6,571 5s 10d. Its largest items were salt meat at £1,244 11s 10d, in 49 hogsheads of pork and 49 puncheons of beef, sugar and sugar candy at £859 14s 1d, long cloth at £558 13s 2d, 371 cwt of flour at £302 19s 3d and candles at £243 14s 6d. Nails stood at £209 16s 5d, 1,055 pairs of men’s ordinary shoes at £209 10s 4d, 935 gallons of arrack at £146 13s 10d, more than 2,000 pieces of china at £82 3s 1d and a still with worm and tub at £10 12s 4d. Also held were 663 gallons of linseed oil, over 25,000 fish hooks, about half of the large number 1 size, about 160 locks, 21 lb of whipcord and 383 pairs of shoe buckles after one pair sold. Damaged cloth, hosiery and 459 spoiled sail needles stayed on the books at value. The store’s 53,910 Irish copper halfpence, with a face value of £112 6s 3d, were valued at £112 3s 4d. [Film No. 115, 143-147, 149-150, 152, 154-162]

In the copy of the inventory a sum carried forward as £1,027 10s 11d is brought forward as £1,029 10s 11d, four successive pages repeat £2,931 7s 7d and one sequence breaks off at £3,664 17s 11d. Several figures for twine and candlewick have faded beyond reading. [Film No. 115-116, 150-162]

Powell presented on 28 October 1765 his account of stock lost in the year to 30 September 1765 through leakage, wastage, short weight and breakage, and the Council accepted his declaration that the losses were unavoidable. The minute charged £62 16s 2d to profit and loss, the account closed at £68 16s 2d and its subtotals add to £68 6s 2d; sugar candy was the largest loss at £19 10s 0d. A notice of 25 November 1765 announced an auction of damaged Company goods at the Market House on 2 December 1765 for cash only. The auction account, dated 1766, came to £18 3s 2d: 86½ yards of bunting fetched £1 1s 3d, about 3d a yard against roughly 1s charged to ships, and 3 cwt 3 qr 10 lb of sugar candy £5 7s 6d, with sail needles and lead nails. [Film No. 165-166, 180, 210, 212]

The October 1765 cash account recorded one payment, £170 0s 0d lent to Munro for the 89th Regiment against bills on John Purling in London, payable to the Court 90 days after sight and minuted on 7 October 1765. It opens at £7,311 3s 7d and shows notes of £39 15s 0d, each £500 0s 0d below the adjoining months. On 18 November 1765 the Council issued bills on the Court at 90 days: £770 0s 0d to the captain of the Princess Augusta and £180 7s 0d to her chief mate William Boyd, payable to Matthew Perchard. The ship also paid £56 8s 1d, and November closed at £8,647 18s 8d. [Film No. 70, 178-179, 190]

The cash account for the quarter to 31 December 1765, closed on 20 January 1766, showed receipts of £10,093 15s 7½d including an opening balance of £8,647 18s 8d, with £1,369 4s 1d from Powell for stores sold and the licences. Kirkpatrick was debited £3,487 16s 9½d on 31 December 1765, £408 18s 8½d above the pay list, leaving £6,066 3s 10d in coin besides the notes. His account balanced at that sum on one page, while another run of credit pages reaches only £264 12s 5½d of other payments. [Film No. 248-257, 269, 294]

Powell signed the stores accounts on 31 December 1765 as accountant, reserving errors, although the pay list names him storekeeper and gives the accountant’s salary to Purling. Earlier accounts had omitted 45 gallons of muster-day arrack and one quarter of Torque’s pay. Several totals in the sales accounts passed on 20 January 1766 are faded, and running totals do not always carry forward exactly. [Film No. 198, 200-205, 218-219, 227-228, 252]

January 1766 passed with no cash movement, although Griffin had signed a receipt for his provisions. In February 1766 the Council received £416 10s 0d from Griffin on the ship’s account, £396 0s 0d for bills on the Directors payable to Captain John Durand at 90 days and £21 0s 0d on the slaves’ account. Coin rose to £6,899 13s 2d, the February opening balance being 8d below the January close. [Film No. 258, 260, 269, 294]

A memorial of 10 March 1766, signed by about 20 leading inhabitants including several officials, accused Bland of secretly buying up the private trade brought in the two store ships. James Upham, third mate of the Prince of Wales, produced a contract signed in England on 19 November 1765. Under it Upham carried beer, wine, Hungary water, hosiery and 10 hams in his own name at Bland’s risk, and Bland was to pay £130 0s 0d for the goods and £52 0s 0d for freight. Payment was required in Spanish dollars valued at 5s 4⅛d an ounce, which the Council reckoned at about 4s 7d a dollar against the 5s at which the Company paid them out. Court admitted placing goods with Bland and Peters denied any dealing. Bland was rebuked, allowed to sell only Court’s goods openly while Court stayed and forbidden all other trade on pain of removal, and publicans and shopkeepers were ordered not to deal with him or lose their licences. [Film No. 280-285]

March 1766 opened at £7,439 8s 2d. Receipts included £1,003 8s 1d on 14 March from a chest of treasure brought by the Prince of Wales, £990 12s 7d from Powell for stores sold, small sums from three ships and £2 3s 6d for lime sold from the fortifications. A Captain Cornelle, perhaps the Lieutenant Governor, paid in £80 0s 0d on 31 March for bills payable to Christopher Baron. Kirkpatrick’s paymaster’s account, signed that day, balanced at £3,904 11s 7d: the pay list and £853 13s 8d of other payments, including £185 0s 0d in bounties, about £200 0s 0d for soldiers’ extra work and £40 5s 6d for 805½ days of longboat crews. The treasury then held £5,699 1s 2d including the notes. [Film No. 304-305, 355-356, 358, 360, 362-364]

Bills on the Court at 90 days after sight were sold in April 1766. Kirkpatrick paid in £400 0s 0d on 7 April for bills payable to Mrs Mary Hall. On 9 April the Governor took £300 0s 0d payable to Robert Wood, Captain David Rice of the Dutton £827 0s 0d, Wyche £450 0s 0d and Giles Minifie, captain’s steward of the Salisbury, £65 0s 0d. [Film No. 308, 311-312]

Slavery and Coerced Labour

A return attached to Mitchell’s report of August 1765 listed 53 Company workers on the public works. Four were salaried servants: a master mason, an assistant mason, a master carpenter and a master armourer. Thirteen were trained slaves: five masons, five carpenters and three armourers. Fourteen adult male slaves brought by Captain Skottowe worked as labourers, and of his 22 slave boys 13 were apprenticed to the masons, three to brickmaking, two to bricklaying, two to plastering and one each to the carpenters and armourers. The return of 16 September 1765 gave five masons, four carpenters, two armourers and 14 labourers among the slave men. [Film No. 55, 57-58]

The plantation account for 1 July to 30 September 1765 entered slave deaths and births beneath the livestock. Essex, Highgate, Joe Taylor, Flora, Hannah and Prince died, a boy named James Chatham was born and the slaves were issued 71,266 lb of island yams. The paymaster spent £0 14s 2d on tape for the Company’s women slaves. [Film No. 75, 100]

Stores for the slaves in that quarter comprised over 84 cwt of rice at £30 13s 5d, salt beef and pork at £74 16s 9d, flour for the sick alone, 130 blankets at £35 15s 0d, 46 pieces of chelloes, 75 yards of kersey and 91 yards of osnaburg. Shoes went only to slaves at the Castle, in 32 pairs for men and four for women and boys. Slave stonelayers, carpenters and fishermen drew arrack, and long cloth worth £15 10s 0d was issued for women in childbirth and the customary clothing of slave women. The Black Hospital, an infirmary for slaves, received 24 deals, and 19 boys’ shirts were entered as sailors’ clothing. A padlock was issued for the slaves’ house, with 1 lb of candles and a riveted horn lantern for overseers to inspect it, and 2 lb of whipcord for whips was charged to the garrison. [Film No. 132-134]

The Malays’ separate account for the same quarter supplied tea, sugar, Florence oil, arrack, black and scarlet broadcloth, shalloon, cotton stockings, channel pumps and china including a teapot. Their number and status are not stated. [Film No. 134-135]

Corneille’s letter of 2 December 1765 gave the number and yearly cost of the Company’s slaves. The average was £4 2s 3d a head, which he raised to £10 0s 0d to cover the purchase price. [Film No. 182]

Year

Slaves

Cost

1761

187

£775 17s 4d

1762

204

£675 17s 8d

1763

201

£784 9s 6d

1764

202

£954 10s 6d

1765

284

£1,276 16s 5d

In the quarter to 31 December 1765 Cork died on 23 October, Dawson on 14 November, Jilly on 22 November and Erasmus on 27 December. A boy named Gabriel was born on 2 November, and another boy born on 13 December died the same day. The slaves were issued 22,224 yams from the plantation and 3,290 bought yams. [Film No. 195]

The storekeeper’s account headed Blacks for that quarter included rice and paddy at £49 15s 6d, with 66 cwt 2 qr of paddy beaten into rice. The craftsmen received 43 pairs of shoes, the slaves at the Castle stockings and mohair coat buttons, and the fishermen and stonelayers 66½ gallons of arrack. Sugar went to the sick and to the slaves at Christmas, half a piece of longcloth to women in childbirth and 1 lb of sugar candy as a reward for killing wild cats. A blank key was cut for the slave house, candles were issued for inspecting it and salt went to a group called the Ungango slaves. The garrison account issued 4 lb of whipcord for whips. The Malays received beef, rice, tea and one piece of pork. A man styled Nacodah Reholleem, an eastern title for a ship’s master, received an allowance of £1 12s 6d and house rent of £1 0s 0d, as did Nockqueda Bockullen in the next quarter. [Film No. 218-222, 252, 358]

Samuel Bowers petitioned on 1 January 1766 that his boat, his only livelihood, had been lost on the night of 27 December 1765 and that Company slaves had certainly taken it. Custom held owners liable for damage done by their slaves, and on 6 January 1766 the Council paid him its cost of £5 5s 0d; the paymaster entered the boat as wrecked by the Company’s slaves. No evidence, motive or punishment was minuted. [Film No. 192, 197, 252]

George Butler, captain’s steward of the Admiral Stevens, bought the freedom of Grace Tanner on 3 February 1766 for £21 0s 0d, her value in the general books. She was a Company slave who had saved his life when he fell ill on the island some years before. The Council agreed because it held more slave women than it could usefully employ, and the cash account entered her as sold. [Film No. 259, 294]

Four slave boys were apprenticed by the minutes of 10 February 1766, under agreements backdated to 1 October 1765 after a trial. George Daniel and Frank went to Robinson for five years and Belford and Luke to Holbrook, the Company feeding and clothing them. [Film No. 266]

By about 10 March 1766 no yams in the Company’s plantations were more than six months old, and they needed six months more. The planters said they had barely enough for their own families, and a little over 1,000 lb of rice remained. Until the crop or more rice arrived, the Council gave each male slave three bread days a week at a cost of 1s, reckoned 2½d cheaper than yams at 3s a hundred. Corneille blamed the shortage on the ill health of the overseer Bazett, who died at the start of June 1765. [Film No. 280, 285-286]

In the quarter to 31 March 1766 Dolton died on 12 February, Underwood and the boy Fuller on 14 February and a boy on 1 April. Three boys were born: John Emanuel on 18 January, William Frank on 22 January and Job Scanderbag on 20 February. The slaves received 63,815 yams from the plantations and 32,700 bought from Elizabeth Lamb, Margaret Alcock and Mary Seale. Their stores included salt beef and pork at £89 16s 2d, 3,767 lb of flour, 1,467 lb of sago and 93 lb of Bohea tea. Slave craftsmen received 37 pairs of shoes and 30 yards of canvas, a woman in childbed 12 yards of long cloth, a sick woman a blanket and the overseer 1 lb of candles for inspecting the slaves’ house. The garrison account charged 2 lb of whipcord for whips, slave fishermen were issued tackle and the Malay account was mainly rice, beef and arrack. [Film No. 314, 331-334, 358, 362]

Mitchell wrote on 21 April 1766 that the labouring slaves brought from Africa by Captain Skottowe had been of very little use. He called them raw, slow, weak and sickly, with about a third generally in the hospital, though becoming healthier and more skilful. [Film No. 366]

Crime and Punishment

Soldier William Isaac Ford was found missing on 8 August 1765, the day the Pitt sailed. Searches of the Carnarvon and the London found nothing, and the Council concluded that he had deserted in the Pitt. [Film No. 6, 12-13, 79]

The pay list recorded reductions without cause. George Rowe was reduced from corporal on 9 July 1765 and the drummer Henry Howell took his place. In the artillery Robert Cunningham was reduced to matross on 22 July, and John Grainger, John Jack and Thomas Tyler each stepped up one rank. Tyler and the gunner William Brown were reduced on 5 August, replaced by David Dennis and Esau Nowland. On 23 September 1765 Thomas Pearce was reduced in the Third Company and James York promoted, and John Sheens was reduced in the Fourth, where Thomas Ferris became corporal. A John Sheen entered the First as a private the next day. Corporal William Gordon and the gunner Thomas Jones were reduced on 25 November 1765, replaced the same day by Thomas Matthews and John Cox. [Film No. 80, 82, 87, 90-92, 94-97, 238, 240, 246-247]

The clerk of arraigns received 12s for two days at the criminal court and the crier 10s in the quarter to 30 September 1765. The two shared £0 12s 6d in the next quarter, as did the clerk of arraigns and prosecutor in the quarter to 31 March 1766. No case, charge or verdict is recorded. [Film No. 106, 254, 339]

Five soldiers crewing the longboat deserted to the Admiral Stevens as she sailed on the night of 3 February 1766: George Exton, Francis Clancey, John Lawrence, Henry Crabb and John Shrubshall. The coxswain William French swore that Crabb and Shrubshall vanished aboard at about six in the evening, and that Griffin answered that the ship was the Company’s as much as the longboat. The other three jumped into the ship’s boat while it towed the longboat towards its moorings. The Council fired two guns and hoisted a light, and Lieutenant Thomas Bazett chased the ship for half an hour until she put out her lights and made sail. Thomas Clark, a matross, received shoes worth £0 4s 0d to replace a pair lost when he swam out for a boat, which was rowed after the ship to search her. [Film No. 263-265, 330, 353]

Timothy Bryan, another soldier, swore that on 2 February 1766 the chief mate kept him aboard, sent him punch and wine and asked him to sail. A sixth soldier, John Herring, was missing after the ship left, and his clothes were found near the shore. Griffin’s letter from the road admitted one man hidden aboard and pleaded darkness. The pay list struck off Crabb, Exton, Clancy and John Hoving on 3 February and Lawrence on 4 February, each with 34 days’ pay and from all four companies between them, and John Strubshall on 28 February 1766. [Film No. 264-266, 340, 343, 345-347, 350]

John Seale and James Goudy were each fined 20s 0d on 17 February 1766 for boarding the Earl of Middlesex and buying salt provisions from her seamen against standing orders. On 24 February 1766 the Council itself bought 99 lb of pork from the same seamen at 5½d a pound; the paymaster entered 990 lb for £14 7s 11d. [Film No. 268, 274, 358, 363]

Eight sergeants and corporals were reduced to the ranks in early 1766, each vacancy being filled the same day. Sergeant John Fish and artillery sergeant Richard Waterhouse fell on 10 February, Corporal William Stapleford on 15 February, Corporal Anthony Reynolds on 17 February, Sergeant William Robinson on 24 February and Sergeant Thomas Woffington on 28 February. Corporal Thomas Newton and Sergeant David Patton followed on 24 March 1766. Corporal Thomas James moved from the Fourth Company to be sergeant in the Second. [Film No. 339, 342-343, 345-346, 349, 351]

Health, Religion and Education

The hospital account from 1 July 1765 supplied sugar, flour, rice, 9½ gallons of train oil for lamps and canvas, twine and nails for cots, and the doctor’s shop received candles and sugar candy. General charges bore a ditching shovel for digging graves and two coffins, and the garrison bore deals and nails for soldiers’ coffins. The account for the last quarter of 1765 was led by 403 lb of sugar, 403 lb of flour and 342 lb of rice. Robert Barclay, the surgeon, was paid £35 3s 2d for the whole of 1765 at 7d a day for each man, which implies about 1,200 patient-days. The garrison account for the quarter to 31 March 1766 charged six deals and 6 lb of nails for coffins. [Film No. 125-126, 128-129, 131, 139-140, 225, 250, 333-334]

One Bible, two New Testaments, a prayer book and three spelling books were sold in the quarter to 30 September 1765. The warehouse then held 13 Bibles, 21 prayer books, 14 New Testaments and 13 primers, and the fort church received a mop, carnation tape and sewing silk. Servants bought seven primers and one Book of Common Prayer in the next quarter, and a planter one New Testament for £0 1s 8d. Two books of common prayer were sold and glass was issued for the church in the quarter to 31 March 1766, when the drum major received £1 0s 0d for teaching young drummers. [Film No. 115, 126, 129, 144, 198, 200-205, 207-209, 320, 329, 338-339]

Social Order

Deaths were minuted or entered in the pay lists as follows. The funerals of Godby, Knowles, Mudge and Asdon each used 2 lb 4 oz of powder. Knowles, a tailor and private in the Second Company, made his will on 21 October 1765, leaving everything to William Pinchen, a shoemaker in the same company, before witnesses Benjamin Granger and Richard Plafford. [Film No. 18, 24, 30, 59-60, 79, 165, 167, 172, 185, 192, 194, 198, 231, 258, 267, 278, 340, 344, 347, 352]

Date

Death

23 July 1765

William Johnson, soldier

18 August 1765

Jonathan Godby, soldier

28 August 1765

Sarah, daughter of Corporal Henry Howell

17 September 1765

Elizabeth, daughter of James Torbett, cooper

24 September 1765

Ann, daughter of James Greentree, planter

22 October 1765

Evan Knowles, soldier

8 December 1765

Amelia, daughter of Stephen Young, planter

About 5 January 1766

Thomas Jones, soldier, who hanged himself

7 January 1766

Corporal John Grainger

18 January 1766

Susannah, wife of John Bagley, planter

22 or 23 January 1766

John Arlinstall (also Archinstale), soldier

11 February 1766

Thomas Mudge, soldier

The longboat crew petitioned on 6 January 1766 against their pay of £6 0s 0d a year, which they reckoned at 4d a day, saying the work had become constant, dangerous and exposed at all hours. Mitchell confirmed that it was harder than any soldier’s labour on the works. The Council restored the former rate of 1s a day and appointed French coxswain of a second longboat at £20 0s 0d a year for as long as two boats were needed. [Film No. 193]

James Gowdy, a soldier with about 12 months served, asked on 6 January 1766 to be released. Mudge, whose own term had ended, agreed to serve the four years remaining, and the Council, thinking him a good soldier, discharged Gowdy. [Film No. 194]

Personalities

John Dobson, a corporal of the Second Company, was discharged on 7 October 1765 and appointed armourer from 1 October 1765 for the three years left on his contract. The pay list already showed him as armourer from 10 July 1765 on full corporal’s pay, with eight days’ shop work at 1s 6d a day. Samuel Perry combined a private’s pay with £1 5s 0d for cleaning clocks and instruments, and Criswell was both matross and coxswain of the longboat. [Film No. 70, 79, 84, 86, 96, 100]

George Bird was paid £3 8s 0d in 1765 for work at the Castle. He supplied six tin candlesticks and coloured, gilded and painted two sunflowers from which candle branches hung. [Film No. 250]

French told Griffin on 3 February 1766 that he hoped he was too much of a gentleman to cripple the Company’s longboat. [Film No. 263-265]

Film No.

Page No.

OCR Transcription

Modern Interpretation and analysis

1

EAP 1364 St Helena

Document Name and Date St. HELENA RECORDS 1765-1766
Photographer PETER
Date photographed 13 JAN 2022

Additional comments

2

Book cover

3

Blank page

4

Blank page

5

Blank page

6

1

Island St Helena

12th August 1765.

At a Consultation held on Monday the 12th Day of August 1765

at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Danl. Cornelly Esqr. Lieut. Govr.

Mr. Mattw. Pierling

Captn. Thos. Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and Signed dated

the 5 August 1765.

Thursday the 8th Sailed the Honorable Company's Ship Pitt for

England

Yesterday Do. the Honorable Company's Ship Caernarvon for

England

William Isaac Ford Soldier being

missed the day the Pitt Sailed, We suppose he deserted in that

Ship, as the Caernarvon and London have been searched and he

not found on board them

There being no Pepper in the Honorable Company's

Stores we sent the following Order to Captn. Webb vizt.

The Council of St Helena met at the Castle on Monday 12 August 1765. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick sitting as members of the Council.

The councillors began by approving and signing the minutes of their meeting held on 5 August 1765.

Two Company ships sailed for England in the interval. The Pitt put to sea on Thursday 8 August, and the Carnarvon followed on Sunday 11 August.

A soldier named William Isaac Ford was found to be missing on the day the Pitt sailed. The Council concluded that he deserted aboard her, because searches of the Carnarvon and the London turned up no trace of him.

The Company's warehouse held no pepper at all. To deal with the shortage, the Council sent an order to Captain Webb.

Interpretations

The Council did not simply assume that the absent Ford went off in the first ship to leave. Instead it searched the two vessels still within reach, the Carnarvon before her departure and the London still at anchor, and settled on the Pitt only by elimination. Soldiers of the garrison were Company servants bound to their service, and on so remote an island the only way out was by sea, so a sailing day was the moment of greatest risk. Searching outward-bound ships was the practical check on desertion. Recording the conclusion in the consultation book probably also served to alert the Company in England, where the man could be looked for when the Pitt arrived.

The consolidated reference file was not among the uploads, so this rewrite draws on the manuscript alone.

7

2

12th August

To Captn. John Webb Commander of Ship London

Sir

You are hereby Ordered to send on Shore 400 Ps. qrs. lb of

the Honorable Company's Pepper for the Use of this Island.

We are Sir

(signed) Your humble Servants.

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

St Helena M. Purling

12th August 1765 Thos. Kirkpatrick

The Gunners, and Stewards Accounts for the Month

of July last, were this day brought in, which were examined and

approved, and are as follow (vizt.)

Sundry's Expended at the Honorable Company's

Table in the Month of July 1765 vizt.

To 17 Bottles Port Wine

£ 1.5.6

56 Do. Lisbon

4

9 Do. Mountain

13.6

20 Do. Beer

4.2

144 lb Beef

3.2.4

302 lb Mutton

6.13.4

Carried Over £ 16.3.10

The Council wrote to Captain John Webb, commander of the Company ship London, instructing him to land 400 lb gross weight of the Company's pepper for the island's use. Governor Skottowe and his three councillors signed the order at St Helena on 12 August 1765.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

The gunner and the steward each submitted their accounts for July 1765, and the Council checked and approved both. The steward's account set out the food and drink consumed at the Company's table during that month.

17 bottles of port wine, £1 5s 6d

56 bottles of Lisbon wine, £4 0s 0d

9 bottles of Mountain wine, £0 13s 6d

20 bottles of beer, £0 4s 2d

144 lb of beef, £3 2s 4d

302 lb of mutton, £6 13s 4d

Carried forward, £16 3s 10d

Interpretations

Lisbon was a white wine shipped from the Portuguese capital, drawn from vineyards along the Tagus. It was widely drunk in eighteenth-century England as a cheaper alternative to French wines, which bore heavy duties during the long rivalry with France. Mountain was a sweet, fortified wine from the hills behind Málaga in southern Spain, named for the slopes where its grapes grew. Both travelled well on long voyages, which made them practical stock for a garrison far from any vineyard.

With the Company's warehouse empty of pepper, as the Council recorded earlier on 12 August 1765, the ordinary source of supply had failed. Rather than wait for a store ship from England or buy from a private trader, the Council reached into the London's hold. The pepper aboard was already the Company's own property, loaded in the East and bound for sale in London. By drawing on it in transit, the Council could supply the island at once without spending money, simply shifting Company goods from one account to another. Specifying the weight as gross, which included the bags or packing, told Captain Webb exactly how much to land against his cargo records.

The Company's table was the public table kept at the Castle, where the Governor, councillors and senior officers dined at the Company's expense. Its costs were therefore audited by the Council each month like any other public account. That explains why bottles of wine and pounds of mutton appear in an official register alongside military stores and shipping orders.

8

3

1765

Brought over£ 16.3.10

6 Bottles Arrack

3.9.6

4 Fowls

6

6 lb Candy

2.10.8

376 lb Flower

2.8.5½

38 lb Butter

1.18

£ 26.16.5½

Artillery Stores Expended in Month of

July 1765

Guns Fired, lb 4, lb 3, lb 2, lb 1, lb Expended

1. Departed the Royal George: Guns Fired 10, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 10, lb 1 0, lb Expended 10

2 Powder to the Mason, to Blow Lime Stone at the West Rocks: Guns Fired 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, lb Expended 6

Do. to Do. to Blow Rocks at Banks's: Guns Fired 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, lb Expended 6

15th Departed the Valentine: Guns Fired 9, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 9, lb 1 0, lb Expended 9

16 Double Alarm: Guns Fired 9, lb 4 3, lb 3 3, lb 2 0, lb 1 3, lb Expended 18

Arrived the Caernarvon: Guns Fired 9, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 9, lb 1 0, lb Expended 9

18th Arrived Pitt: Guns Fired 9, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, lb Expended 9

19th An Alarm: Guns Fired 6, lb 4 2, lb 3 2, lb 2 0, lb 1 2, lb Expended 12

20th Arrived the Earl of Lincoln: Guns Fired 9, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 9, lb 1 0, lb Expended 9

Powder priming at Sundry Times: Guns Fired 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, lb Expended 7.3

Do. for repairg. the Cartridges at the Main Guard: Guns Fired 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, lb Expended 2.12

Powder for Signals: Guns Fired 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, lb Expended 1.4

Total: Guns Fired 61, lb 4 5, lb 3 5, lb 2 46, lb 1 5, lb Expended 99[...]

The steward's account of food and drink consumed at the Company's table in July 1765 continued as follows.

Brought forward, £16 3s 10d

6½ bottles of arrack, £3 9s 6d

4 fowls, £0 6s 0d

6½ lb of sugar candy, £2 10s 8d

376 lb of flour, £2 8s 5½d

38 lb of butter, £1 13s 0d

Total, £26 16s 5½d

The gunner's account recorded the artillery stores used during July 1765. For each occasion it gave the number of guns fired, the number fired under each of four charge weights of 4 lb, 3 lb, 2 lb and 1 lb, and the weight of powder consumed.

The Royal George sailed on 1 July 1765, with 10 guns fired, 4 lb charges 0, 3 lb charges 0, 2 lb charges 10, 1 lb charges 0 and powder used 10 lb.

Powder issued to the mason for blasting limestone at West Rocks, 2 July 1765: guns fired 0, 4 lb charges 0, 3 lb charges 0, 2 lb charges 0, 1 lb charges 0, powder used 6 lb

Powder issued to the mason for blasting rocks at Banks's, 2 July 1765: guns fired 0, 4 lb charges 0, 3 lb charges 0, 2 lb charges 0, 1 lb charges 0, powder used 6 lb

The Valentine sailed on 15 July 1765, with 9 guns fired, 4 lb charges 0, 3 lb charges 0, 2 lb charges 9, 1 lb charges 0 and powder used 9 lb.

Double alarm, 16 July 1765: guns fired 9, 4 lb charges 3, 3 lb charges 3, 2 lb charges 0, 1 lb charges 3, powder used 18 lb

The Carnarvon arrived on 16 July 1765, with 9 guns fired, 4 lb charges 0, 3 lb charges 0, 2 lb charges 9, 1 lb charges 0 and powder used 9 lb.

The Pitt arrived on 18 July 1765, with 9 guns fired, 4 lb charges 0, 3 lb charges 0, 2 lb charges 0, 1 lb charges 0 and powder used 9 lb.

Single alarm, 19 July 1765: guns fired 6, 4 lb charges 2, 3 lb charges 2, 2 lb charges 0, 1 lb charges 2, powder used 12 lb

The Earl of Lincoln arrived on 20 July 1765, with 9 guns fired, 4 lb charges 0, 3 lb charges 0, 2 lb charges 9, 1 lb charges 0 and powder used 9 lb.

Priming powder used on various occasions: guns fired 0, 4 lb charges 0, 3 lb charges 0, 2 lb charges 0, 1 lb charges 0, powder used 7 lb 8 oz

Powder for making good the cartridges at the Main Guard: guns fired 0, 4 lb charges 0, 3 lb charges 0, 2 lb charges 0, 1 lb charges 0, powder used 2 lb 12 oz

Powder for signals: guns fired 0, 4 lb charges 0, 3 lb charges 0, 2 lb charges 0, 1 lb charges 0, powder used 1 lb 4 oz

Total: guns fired 61, 4 lb charges 5, 3 lb charges 5, 2 lb charges 46, 1 lb charges 5, powder used 99 lb 2 oz

Interpretations

Arrack was a strong spirit distilled in Asia, most often from the fermented sap of the coconut palm or from rice and molasses, with Batavia and Goa among its best-known sources. Company ships returning from the East carried it in quantity, and it was the base of the punch drunk throughout the British settlements. Sugar candy was sugar crystallised slowly from a concentrated syrup into large hard lumps, much of it made in China and shipped westward. Its price here, far above that of the flour or butter by weight, reflects its status as an imported luxury rather than a kitchen staple.

Gunfire served the island as both courtesy and warning system. Salutes marked each Company ship's arrival and departure, while alarm guns summoned the garrison and inhabitants to their posts when unidentified sail appeared. A double alarm drew on the heavier charges, which carried the sound further across the island's valleys and so reached the outlying posts.

Gunpowder was a military store, yet the gunner issued it to the mason for quarrying limestone at West Rocks and clearing rock at Banks's. Recording these issues in the artillery account kept every pound of powder under the gunner's audit, whatever its eventual use. Limestone was burnt to make lime for mortar, so the Company's building works depended on the same magazine that supplied the batteries.

The column headings give only pound weights, without naming what they measured. They are read here as charge sizes, since the figures beneath them divide each occasion's guns fired among the four weights.

9

4

12th August

2 Handspikes broke

6 lb Tallow for the use of Carts

1 Quire Paper for the Secretary's Office

6 lb Match burnt at the Main Fort

1 Spunge Staff for the Dragoones

4 Spunge for the Baker

3 Sheep Skins 150 Nails for Coating Spunges

1 Tompian Broke on the Line

(signed) P. Mitchell

Thomas Perrin the Honorable Company's

Steward desiring to quit the Service we Granted his request and

appointed George Bazeth Steward in his Room

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

The gunner's account for July 1765 went on to list further stores that were used up or damaged during the month.

2 handspikes broken

6 lb of tallow for greasing the carts

1 quire of paper for the Secretary's Office

6 lb of slow match burnt at the Main Fort

1 sponge staff for the Dragones

4 sponges for the baker

3 sheepskins and 150 nails for re-covering sponges

1 tompion broken on the Line

P. Mitchell signed the account.

Thomas Perrin, the Company's steward, asked to leave its service. The Council agreed and appointed George Bazett as steward in his place. Governor Skottowe and the three councillors signed the minutes of the meeting.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

Several of these items belonged to the everyday handling of muzzle-loading cannon. A handspike was a stout wooden lever used to shift and aim a gun on its carriage, and hard use broke them regularly. Slow match was a cord of twisted fibre soaked so that it smouldered steadily for hours, and a lighted length was kept at the Main Fort so the guns could be fired at once. A sponge was a staff tipped with a head covered in sheepskin, which was dampened and thrust down the barrel after each shot to kill any burning residue before the next charge went in. The sheepskins and nails were for re-covering worn heads. A tompion was a wooden plug fitted into the muzzle to keep out rain, sea spray and dirt, and the Line was the fortified sea wall guarding the landing at James Town.

The four sponges issued to the baker were probably the same long-handled swabs, used to clean out the oven after the fire was raked away. Their appearance in the gunner's account shows that the magazine served as a general store for the Company's establishment. The tallow for the carts and the paper for the Secretary's Office point the same way.

Perrin's account for the Company's table in July 1765 was examined and approved at this same meeting of 12 August 1765, before his departure was agreed. Settling his last month's figures first meant the Council released him from the post with no outstanding account against his name, and Bazett took over the steward's charge from a clean starting point.

10

5

Dr Sir

These sheets do not belong to the books

sent for binding

Yours

C Blaine

20/10/26 "Binder"

A binder named C. Blame wrote a short note to his client on 20 October 1926. He explained that certain sheets did not belong to the books sent to him for binding, and he signed the note in his capacity as binder.

Interpretations

The binder faced a simple choice when these loose sheets turned up among the volumes. Stitching them into the nearest book would have been the easy course, but he set them aside and returned them with a note instead. That decision kept stray leaves from being fixed permanently into a register where they had no place, which would have confused the order and authority of the record for later readers.

11

6

Blank page

12

7

13th August

At a Consultation held on Tuesday the 13th Day of August 1765 at

the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Captn. Thoms. Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed, dated the 12th

August 1765

Mr. Matthew Purling reports that he has been

on board the Ship London to Muster her Company and enquire for

deserters but found none, her Muster Roll is as follows vizt.

Muster Roll of Ship London

John Webb

Commander

Thoms. Motley

Chief Mate

Thoms. Timbrill

2d Do.

Henry Yelo. Price

3d Do.

John Child Pin[...]

4th Do.

John Ward

5th Do.

James Davis

Surgeon

Henry Hubert

Purser

John Dransford

Boatswn.

Hen. Mich. Coyt

Gunner

Benj. Hoare

Carpenter

Willm. Jame

Midshipm

Christr. Thorby

Midshipman

Nathl. Coleman

Do.

Patrick Haye

Do.

John Wright

Do.

Daniel Cole

Do.

Henry Skinner

Quartermastr.

Smith Lee

Do.

Alexr. Gillon

Do.

James Boyne

Do.

Timothy Ryan

Do.

George Thod

Boatsn. Mate

Ven Nichs.

Do. 2d Do.

Thoms. Stevenson

Gunrs. Mate

Geo. Coller

Carpr. Do.

Joseph Greenway

Coo[...]

Sam. Greenway

Sailma[...]

Jacob Sprunk

Cooper

Edwd. Ford

Caulker

Jos. Dawson

Carpr. Do.

Jos. Sharpe

Capt. Stew[...]

John Haggy

Ships C[...]

Willm. Gilleroy

Capt. Cook

Den. Craggan

Ships Do.

Anthy. Bond

Butch[...]

The Council met again at the Castle on Tuesday 13 August 1765. Governor John Skottowe presided, joined by Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council.

The councillors approved and signed the minutes of their meeting held on 12 August 1765.

Purling reported on his visit to the London. He went aboard to call the roll of her crew and to look for deserters, but found none. The ship's muster roll read as follows.

John Webb, commander

Thomas Motley, chief mate

Thomas Timbrill, second mate

Henry Yelverton Price, third mate

John Child Purvis, fourth mate

John Ward, fifth mate

James Davis, surgeon

Henry Hubert, purser

John Drawnford, boatswain

Henry Michael Coyt, gunner

Benjamin Hoare, carpenter

William James, midshipman

Christopher Thirby, midshipman

Nathaniel Coleman, midshipman

Patrick Haye, midshipman

John Wright, midshipman

Daniel Cole, midshipman

Henry Skinner, quartermaster

Smith Lee, quartermaster

Alexander Gillon, quartermaster

James Boyne, quartermaster

Timothy Ryan, quartermaster

George Shird, boatswain's mate

Leonard Nicholls, boatswain's second mate

Thomas Stevenson, gunner's mate

George Coller, carpenter's mate

Joseph Greenway, caulker

Samuel Greenway, sailmaker

Jacob Sprunk, cooper

Edward Ford, caulker's [...]

Joseph Dawson, cooper's mate

Joseph Sharpe, captain's steward

John Haggy, ship's steward

William Gilleroy, captain's cook

Dennis Craggan, ship's cook

Anthony Bond, butcher

Interpretations

A muster was a roll call in which every man named on the ship's books had to answer in person. On 12 August 1765 the Council recorded that the London had already been searched for the missing soldier William Isaac Ford without success. This formal muster went a step further. By checking each face against the roll, Purling could expose anyone aboard who was not entered on the ship's books, which a search of the hold alone could miss. Copying the full roll into the Council's register also gave the island a fixed record of exactly who sailed in the ship, useful if a man later went missing ashore or turned up where he should not be.

Sending a councillor rather than a junior officer gave the muster the Council's own authority. A commander might resent inspection of his crew by a subordinate, but he could hardly refuse a member of the island's governing body acting under its orders.

13

8

13th August

Saml. Banks

Caulkers

Henry Jenkins

Baker

Fran. Mayaffray

Seaman

Wm. Kates

Do.

James Watts

Do.

Willm. Rossitar

Do.

Mich. Fielding

Do.

Will Moore

James Spence

John Haggy

John Dickey

Even Johnson

Peter Gelaspy

John Fling

Thos. Hudden

Willm. Scott

Robert Backter

Joseph Bragg

Fran. Benson

John Gaffney

Adam Trimble

Peter Nindall

James Tea

Math. Wilkinson

Nath. Willson

Seaman

John Mitchell

John Potts

Wm. Pendergrass

Joseph Carter

Even Phillips

John Vaughan

Paush Cross

John Ashins

John Whitecomb

Walter Dixson

Christ. Monson

Gunny. Johnson

Alexr. Young

Willm. Beck

David Norris

John Forbes

John Chambers

Patr. Maggin

Willm. Peal

John Mater

Step. Woone

Willm. Barradine

[...]

Wm. Obrien

Seaman

Willm. Ellmes

Benj. Robinson

George Timms

Danl. Lucas

John Juett

Richd. Eldrige

Wm. Frazer

Wm. Dick

Thos. Field

Geo. Payne

Willm. Gebbs

Saml. Tennie

Peter Bordon

Alexr. Callender

Geo. Saager

John Clampton

Thos. Glosester

James Barton

Antony Pitt

Davis Marshall

Wm. Ross

Edwd. Evans

Edwd. Hardesone

Passengers

Capt. Richd. Moore

Mrs. Moore

Mr. Burr. (signed) John Webb

The muster roll of the London continued with the rest of her crew, followed by her passengers.

Samuel Banks, poulterer

Jerry Jenkins, baker

Francis Mayaffray, seaman

William Hates, seaman

James Watts, seaman

William Rossitar, seaman

Michael Fielding, seaman

William Moore, seaman

James Spence, seaman

John Haggy, seaman

John Dirkey, seaman

Even Johnson, seaman

Peter Gelaspy, seaman

John Fling, seaman

Thomas Hudden, seaman

William Scott, seaman

Robert Backter, seaman

Joseph Bragg, seaman

Francis Benson, seaman

John Gaffney, seaman

Adam Trimble, seaman

Peter Hindall, seaman

James Fea, seaman

Matthew Wilkinson, seaman

Nathaniel Willson, seaman

John Mitchell, seaman

John Potts, seaman

William Pendergrass, seaman

Joseph Carter, seaman

Even Phillips, seaman

John Vaughan, seaman

Parish Cross, seaman

John Askins, seaman

John Whitecomb, seaman

Walker Dixson, seaman

Christopher Monson, seaman

Gunny Johnson, seaman

Alexander Young, seaman

William Beck, seaman

David Norris, seaman

John Forbes, seaman

John Chambers, seaman

Patrick Maggin, seaman

William Peal, seaman

John Mater, seaman

Stephen Woone, seaman

William Barradine, seaman

William Obrien, seaman

William Ellmes, seaman

Benjamin Robinson, seaman

George Timms, seaman

Daniel Lucas, seaman

John Juett, seaman

Richard Eldrige, seaman

William Frazer, seaman

William Dick, seaman

Thomas Field, seaman

George Payne, seaman

William Gibbs, seaman

Samuel Fennie, seaman

Peter Bordon, seaman

Alexander Callender, seaman

George Saager, seaman

John Clampton, seaman

Thomas Glosester, seaman

James Barton, seaman

Antony Pitt, seaman

Davis Marshall, seaman

William Ross, seaman

Edward Evans, seaman

Edward Hardestone, seaman

The ship also carried three passengers.

Captain Richard Moore

Mrs Moore

Mr Burr

John Webb signed the roll as commander.

Interpretations

Webb's signature turned the roll into a personal certificate. By putting his name to the list, the commander vouched that it named every soul aboard his ship. Should a missing soldier or runaway later be found in the London, the signed roll would show that Webb had given the island a false account, leaving him answerable to the Council and to the Company in England. The passengers were entered for the same reason, since a man hiding from the garrison could as easily pose as a traveller as a sailor.

A poulterer, a baker and a butcher on the roll point to how an East Indiaman fed its people on a long passage. Live poultry, sheep and pigs were carried in pens on deck, and the poulterer tended the birds until they were killed for the officers' and passengers' tables. Fresh bread and meat of this kind were largely reserved for the great cabin, while the ordinary crew lived mainly on salt provisions and biscuit.

14

9

1765

The Engineer this Day laid before Us his Plans and

Observations of the several Fortifications of this Island to be transmitted

to the Honorable Company, which was accordingly read before Us, and we

are of opinion that he has given a very exact state of the present

Situation of the Fortifications, as well as a great addition of Strength

to this Island from the proposed Works, he has offered for the

Honorable Company's Approbation particularly that at Sandy

Bay which we look upon to be in a very Defenceless Situation at

present, and as to the Repairs of the Batterys look upon it as

essential from the Weakness of their present Construction which

we apprehend when compleated will put this Island in a proper

posture of Defence. We must further observe the Utility of the

Mortar Battery proposed and look upon the Situation as highly

fitting, as it commands Ruperts Bay as well as James's Bay

The following Observations were made vizt.

The Governor then asked the Engineer whether the Seaward

Valleys from Horsepasture point to the Needles required some further

Works than the Walls he proposes, to which he replied that the

Multiplying the Works would only devide the Garrison, and that the

Walling them up as he mentioned in his General Observations would be quite

sufficient

The Lieutenant Governor then observed to Captain Mitchell

that the Communication from Ruperts Valley to Banks's is without

the Fortification of Ruperts, therefore he thinks improper, desires the

opinion of the Engineer whether a Road practiced over the Rock within

the Line will not be essential.

The Company's engineer presented the Council with his plans and a report on all the island's fortifications, which were to be sent to the Company in England. The councillors read the report and judged it an accurate account of the defences as they stood. They also believed the new works he proposed for the Company's approval would greatly strengthen the island.

Sandy Bay was singled out as especially vulnerable, since the Council regarded it as almost undefended. The batteries were so weakly built that the Council considered their repair essential. Once all this work was finished, the councillors expected the island to be properly equipped to resist attack. They also praised the proposed mortar battery, finding its site well chosen because it covered both Rupert's Bay and James Bay.

Discussion of the plans then turned to several specific questions.

Governor Skottowe asked the engineer whether the valleys running down to the sea between Horse Pasture Point and the Needles needed more than the walls he proposed. The engineer answered that adding further works would only spread the garrison more thinly. Walling off the valleys, as his general report recommended, would be enough.

Lieutenant Governor Corneille then raised a concern with Captain Mitchell. The route linking Rupert's Valley with Banks's ran outside the defences at Rupert's, which the Lieutenant Governor considered unsafe. He asked the engineer whether a road cut across the rock inside the Line would be necessary.

Interpretations

The Governor's question invited the obvious answer that more fortification meant more security. Captain Mitchell rejected it on the practical ground that every new work needed men to hold it, and the garrison was finite. Scattering soldiers across many small posts would leave each too weak to resist a landing, whereas walls across the valley mouths could be held by a few men and required no permanent guard. On a small island with a fixed body of troops, the engineer judged that concentration mattered more than coverage.

A mortar fired its shell in a high arc rather than along a flat line, so it could strike ships from behind a ridge that would block ordinary cannon. That explains how a single battery could command both Rupert's Bay and James Bay, which lie on either side of a steep spur of rock. One well-placed mortar could therefore threaten an enemy anchoring in either bay without exposing its own position to return fire.

Sending the plans to the Company for approval reflected the limits of the Council's own authority. Major works required money from London, and the Council could endorse proposals but not commit the Company to paying for them. Its favourable opinion, recorded alongside the plans, was meant to carry weight with the Directors when they came to decide.

The artillery account for July 1765, approved on 12 August 1765, bore the signature of P. Mitchell. He was probably the same Captain Mitchell who served as engineer, which would place both the island's guns and its fortifications under one officer.

15

10

13th August

To which he returned the following Answer vizt.

The above Observation is certainly very just, and the

Alteration proposed with regard to the Road, had been before

mentioned by the Engineer as a Work he proposed going about as

soon as the Repairs of Banks's lower Battery were compleated,

but did not think it of sufficient Consequence to be included

among the other Alterations proposed in his Remarks

The Lieutenant Governor ask's the Engineer whether

the Redan of the Curtain of the lower Line of James's Valley

would not be better Constructed if the Saliant Angle was made

flat as a Face with one Gun pointed to the Bay, as it would then

allow of strengthening the Counterscarp of the Ditch, which from

its present Construction is liable to be washed away by the surge

Consequently very weak. Supposing an Enemy to be in a situation

to Batter it, which if defended by a proper Counterscarp must cover

the Talus of that Flank, and if properly constructed better able to

bear an Enemy's Fire from a Number of Shot, than what it will

by its present Construction, by being an Acute Angle, supposing

even that a few Shott might take Place, would certainly sooner

practice a Breach than the above Method proposed would subject

it to, covered by an outward work.

My opinion with regard to the above Redan is, that

as the Wall of the Counterscarp before the Saliant Angle is capable of

being strengthened so as to resist the Violence of the surf, no immediate

Alteration of it is therefore necessary. If however when the other more

necessary Improvements of the Present Works are compleated, the

Alteration above mentioned was to take place, I think it would

be

Captain Mitchell agreed that the Lieutenant Governor's point was well made. He had already mentioned the road as a job he meant to start as soon as repairs to the lower battery at Banks's were finished. He had left it out of the alterations listed in his report only because he judged it too minor to include.

The Lieutenant Governor next asked about the redan in the curtain wall of the lower Line across James Valley. He suggested flattening its sharp point into a straight face mounting a single gun trained on the bay. This change would allow the outer wall of the ditch to be strengthened. As things stood, that wall was so exposed to the surf that it risked being washed away and was therefore very weak.

His reasoning turned on what would happen under bombardment. A sound outer ditch wall would shelter the sloping foot of that flank from enemy guns. A flat face, well built and screened by an outer work, would stand up to heavy fire far better than the present design. With the point as sharp as it was, he argued, even a handful of hits would open a breach sooner.

In reply, the engineer gave his view that the outer wall of the ditch in front of the point could be strengthened enough to withstand the surf. For that reason he saw no need to alter the redan straight away. He then went on to consider how the change should be handled if it were made once the more pressing improvements to the existing defences were complete.

Interpretations

The engineer's answer set aside the Lieutenant Governor's proposal to rebuild the redan in favour of a smaller repair. The underlying problem was the surf eating away the ditch wall, and the Lieutenant Governor treated reshaping the whole work as the way to solve it. Captain Mitchell separated the two issues. Strengthening the wall alone would stop the erosion, while the redesign could wait until the works he regarded as more urgent were done. On an island where labour and money for fortification were scarce, he chose the repair that dealt with the immediate danger at the least cost.

A redan was a V-shaped projection built out from a defensive wall, and the curtain was the straight stretch of wall between such projections. The counterscarp was the outer face of the ditch in front of a fortification, and the talus was the sloping base of a wall. The Lieutenant Governor's worry was that a sharp point offered an enemy an easy target to batter, since shot striking near the tip would bring down the thin masonry quickly.

The road over the rock inside the Line shows how the engineer decided what went into his report. Captain Mitchell omitted it as too minor to include, even though he fully intended to build it. The report bound for London probably listed only works large enough to need the Company's sanction, while lesser jobs were carried out on the island as routine maintenance without being referred home.

16

11

1765

be very proper, tho at the same time I must be of Opinion, that as the Six

Guns mounted in the Redan can only be of Service in Obstructing an

Enemy getting in a proper Station to batter this Line, & could be of no

service afterwards, this work was rather unnecessary from the beginning

and would very well be supply'd by having the Curtain Continued the

whole way as it would then not have been more than Two hundred

Yards in Extent and would be sufficiently Flanked by the Bastion at

the right and the half one on the left; as well as by the two demibastions

at the Extremities of the interior Line

The Storekeeper this day delivered the following Account

of Stores short received from the Ship London vizt.

Account of Stores short received from Ship London

vizt.

Rice short weight

C. qrs. lb 5.2.19

Paddy received

52.3.21

(signed) James Powell Storekeeper

St Helena 13th Augt. 1765

Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick applied to Us to pay one

hundred pounds into the Honorable Company's Cash which Sum we

have received and given him Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Honble.

the Court of Directors payable to Mr. Allen Stuld (or order) Ninety

eight dated this day

Bought of Captain Webb on Account of the

Honble. Company the following particulars vizt.

Captain Mitchell considered that reshaping the redan, if carried out once the more urgent improvements were finished, would be entirely sensible. Even so, he doubted the redan had ever been needed. Its six guns could only hinder an enemy trying to set up a battery against the Line, and after that they would serve no purpose. In his view, simply extending the curtain wall the whole way across would have done the job just as well. The wall would then have been no more than 200 yards long. It would also have been adequately covered by the bastion on the right, the half bastion on the left and the two half bastions at each end of the inner Line.

James Powell, the storekeeper, handed in an account of stores from the London that fell short on delivery. He signed it at St Helena on 13 August 1765, recording the weights by hundredweight, quarter and pound.

Rice short in weight: 5 cwt 2 qr 19 lb

Paddy received: 52 cwt 3 qr 21 lb

Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick asked to pay £100 0s 0d into the Company's treasury. The Council accepted the money and in return gave him bills of exchange, dated the same day, drawn on the Court of Directors in London. The bills were payable ninety days after sight to Allen Auld or to anyone he named.

The Council also bought a number of goods from Captain Webb on the Company's behalf.

Interpretations

The bills of exchange given to Kirkpatrick show how money moved between St Helena and England without coin crossing the ocean. The Company's treasury on the island needed cash to pay the garrison and buy supplies, while officers and inhabitants often wanted to send savings home. By paying coin into the local treasury, Kirkpatrick received a written order instructing the Directors to pay the same sum in London. The words "or order" made the bill transferable by endorsement, so Auld could pass it to someone else in settlement of a debt. The ninety days' grace gave the Company time to arrange payment after the bill was presented.

Paddy was rice still in its husk, straight from the threshing floor and not yet milled. It kept better than cleaned rice on a long voyage, since the husk protected the grain from damp and insects, but it yielded noticeably less edible rice by weight once husked. Rice was a staple ration on St Helena, fed to slaves and garrison alike, and much of it came from India aboard Company ships. The storekeeper's signed statement of the shortfall gave the Company formal grounds to hold the ship's commander to account for the missing weight.

Captain Mitchell's objection to the redan rested on the principle of flanking fire. Bastions were angled projections at the corners of a wall, placed so their guns could sweep along the face of the curtain between them. Any enemy reaching the foot of a straight wall would be exposed to fire from both sides. A short curtain already covered this way needed no further projection in its middle, which is why the engineer regarded the redan's guns as a costly duplication.

17

12

13th August

The Honoble. Company

To John Webb Dr.

To 2 Casks of Pork

qt. 160 pieces at 3/

£ 24

4 do. Beef

307 Do. @ 3/

46.1

6 Bags Rice

Wt. 7.1.14 37/6d.

11.5

14 Do. Betty

Wt. 12.1.20 9/

6.6

£ 87.12

Received the Contents

(signed) For Capt. John Webb

Hen Hubert

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

The Council recorded the goods it bought from Captain John Webb as a debt owed to him by the Company, priced as follows.

2 casks of pork containing 160 pieces at £0 3s 0d a piece, £24 0s 0d

4 casks of beef containing 307 pieces at £0 3s 0d a piece, £46 1s 0d

6 bags of rice weighing 7 cwt 1 qr 14 lb at £1 17s 6d a bag, £11 5s 0d

14 bags of batty weighing 12 cwt 1 qr 20 lb at £0 9s 0d a bag, £6 6s 0d

Total, £87 12s 0d

Henry Hubert acknowledged payment in full on Webb's behalf. Governor Skottowe and the three councillors then signed the account.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

Batty was the name used in western India for paddy, meaning rice still in its husk, and the term came from the Malayalam word for unmilled grain. Its cheapness beside the cleaned rice reflects how much of its weight was husk. By weight, the batty cost roughly a third of the price of the rice, since a large share would be lost as chaff once it was pounded or milled on the island. Company ships loading in Indian ports took on batty because the husk shielded the grain from damp and weevils on the long passage.

Salt pork and beef were packed in casks as standard cut pieces, each of a fixed approximate weight, so that rations could be issued by counting rather than weighing. Pricing both meats by the piece at the same rate shows the account followed that convention. The meat was probably surplus from the ship's own provisions, which commanders were allowed to sell once their voyage no longer needed it.

The purchase came on 13 August 1765, the same day the storekeeper reported that rice from the London had arrived short in weight. The Council thus made up part of the shortfall at once by buying rice and batty from the ship's commander directly. Henry Hubert, whose name appears as purser on the London's muster roll, signed the receipt, since settling accounts with those ashore was part of a purser's duties.

18

13

19th August

At a Consultation held on Monday the 19th Day of August 1765

at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Dan Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Capt. Thos. Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed dated the

13th August 1765

Thursday the 15th Arrived a Dutch Ship from Batavia called

the West Friesland Captain Hollman burthen

seven hundred Tons carrys thirty Guns and seventy

Men loaden with Sugar, Coffee, and Pepper

bound to Rotterdam

Yesterday Sailed the Honorable Company's Ship London for

England

Do. Died Jonathan Godby Soldier

Counted and examined the Honorable

Company's Cash for the Month of July last, which is as follows vizt.

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 19 August 1765. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick attending as members of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 August 1765 were read, approved and signed.

A Dutch ship, the West Friesland, reached the island from Batavia on Thursday 15 August 1765. Commanded by Captain Hollman, she measured 700 tons, mounted 30 guns and carried a crew of 70. Her cargo of sugar, coffee and pepper was bound for Rotterdam.

The Company's ship London left for England on Sunday 18 August 1765. Jonathan Godby, a soldier of the garrison, died that same day.

The councillors then counted and checked the Company's cash for July 1765.

Interpretations

The Council logged the West Friesland's tonnage, armament and crew as carefully as her cargo and destination. A foreign ship of 30 guns lying in the road was a real force beside a small garrison, and knowing her strength told the Governor what she could do if relations with the Dutch turned hostile. Only six days earlier, on 13 August 1765, the Council had discussed weaknesses in the island's batteries and the Line across James Valley. Entries of this kind also built up a record, sent home with the consultations, of how much Dutch shipping passed the island and what it carried.

19

14

19th August

Cash Dr.


1765

July 1. To Balance remaining

£ 7101.13.1

8th To Exchange for a Set of Bills drawn upon the

Honorable the Court Directors payable to

Robert Wood Esqr. (or Order)

230

11. To do. for a Set Do. drawn as above payable to

Mr. Ninnian Balentine (or Order)

50

13th To Ship Valentine

235.2.5

31. To Ship Earl of Lincoln

12.7.9

£ 7629.3.3

The Company's cash account for July 1765 set out the money received into the treasury during the month.

Balance in hand, 1 July 1765, £7,101 13s 1d

Cash received for a set of bills of exchange on the Court of Directors, payable to Robert Wood or his order, 8 July 1765, £230 0s 0d

Cash received for a set of bills of exchange on the Court of Directors, payable to Ninnian Ballentine or his order, 11 July 1765, £50 0s 0d

The Valentine paid £235 2s 5d into the treasury on 13 July 1765.

The Earl of Lincoln paid £12 7s 9d into the treasury on 31 July 1765.

Total, £7,629 3s 3d

Interpretations

The payments from ships fit the dates of their visits recorded in the artillery account approved on 12 August 1765. The Valentine settled with the treasury on 13 July 1765 and sailed two days later, on 15 July, while the Earl of Lincoln, which arrived on 20 July, paid near the end of the month. These sums were probably commanders settling for provisions, water and stores supplied from the Company's warehouses during their stay. Collecting before a ship sailed mattered, since once she left the road there was no practical way to recover a debt from her.

The bills sold to Robert Wood and Ninnian Ballentine worked in the same way as those given to Captain Kirkpatrick on 13 August 1765. Their value lay in turning private coin on the island into money payable in London, which kept the treasury supplied with cash for local spending.

20

15

1765

Per Contra Cr.


1765

July 31. By Balance remaining vizt.

In Specie

7089.8.3

In Cash Notes of no use

539.15

7629.3.3

£ 7629.3.3

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

The other side of the July 1765 cash account showed what remained in the treasury at the close of the month.

Balance in coin, 31 July 1765, £7,089 8s 3d

Balance in cash notes no longer usable, 31 July 1765, £539 15s 0d

Balance remaining, 31 July 1765, £7,629 3s 3d

Total, £7,629 3s 3d

Governor Skottowe and the three councillors signed the account.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

The account recorded no payments at all out of the treasury during July 1765. Every penny received that month, as entered on the facing side, remained in hand at the end of it, so the closing balance matched the full total of receipts. Wages, purchases and other island costs were evidently met by other means, such as credit, stores issued in kind, or settlement in a later month, leaving the cash chest untouched.

Nearly £540 of the balance was held in notes that could no longer be used as money. Keeping them in the count preserved the Company's claim to their value, since writing them off would have concealed a loss the Directors needed to see. Their presence also reveals that paper was circulating on the island as a substitute for coin, and that some of it had lost its currency while still sitting in the Company's own treasury. The Council's balance therefore overstated the money it could actually spend by that amount.

21

16

26th August

At a Consultation held on Monday the 26th Day of August

1765 at the

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Capt. Thoms. Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 19th

August 1765.

William Holbrook, Mason this day

presented the following Petition vizt.

To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esquire

Governor &ca. Council of St Helena

The humble Petition of William Holbrook

Sheweth

That your Petitioner is desirous of hiring a small

piece of the Honorable Company's Waste Ground lying in this

Valley, to Erect a House upon, humbly requests that your Worship

and Council will be pleased to Grant him a Lease for the

same

And your Petitioner will ever pray

(signed)

26th August 1765 William Holbrook

Ordered the said Ground to be Viewed

The Council met on Monday 26 August 1765, with Governor John Skottowe in the chair. Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick also attended as members of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 August 1765 were read, approved and signed.

William Holbrook, a mason, submitted a petition to the Governor and Council dated 26 August 1765. He explained that he wanted to rent a small plot of unused Company land in the valley so that he could build a house on it. He therefore asked the Council to grant him a lease of the ground.

The Council ordered an inspection of the plot before reaching a decision.

Interpretations

All land on St Helena belonged to the Company, and settlers held it under lease rather than as outright owners. Waste ground was land not yet let to anyone, and the Company kept firm control over who could build on it and on what terms. A lease tied the tenant to rent and conditions set by the Council, so granting one was a way of managing the island's settlement as much as raising income.

The Council did not grant or refuse Holbrook's request outright but first sent someone to look at the ground. Building close to the town and its defences needed care, and only a fortnight earlier, on 13 August 1765, the councillors had examined plans for the Line and batteries around James Valley. An inspection would show whether a house on the plot would obstruct the works, encroach on a neighbour or occupy land the Company wanted for its own use.

Holbrook was perhaps the same mason who drew gunpowder in July 1765 for blasting limestone at West Rocks and rock at Banks's, as recorded in the artillery account approved on 12 August 1765. If so, he was a craftsman already working on Company projects and seeking to settle permanently near his work.

22

17

1765

Ordered the following Advertizement to be

Published vizt.

Island St Helena 26th August 1765.

This is to give Notice to all the Inhabitants of the said

Island, that they are hereby required to send into the Secretary's Office

on, or before the 20th September next ensuing, an exact signed Account

of their Family's, Lands and Cattle, and attend at the Castle on

Monday the 30th of the said Month to pay their Rents and Revenues

due to the Honorable Company for the Year past

Notice is hereby further given that the Honorable

Company's Stores will be shut from the 7th September to the 7th October

next.

Per Order of Council

(signed)

Mw. Bazett Secy.

We this day Executed a Lease to Lieutenant Solomon

St Maurice for a piece of Ground in James Valley containing fifteen

Feet in Front and ninety five feet in Depth at fifteen Shillings

Pr. Annum

Bought on Account of the Honble. Company

of the Captain of the Dutch Ship six thousand, and three hundred

pounds

The Council ordered a public notice to be issued in its name, dated at St Helena on 26 August 1765. Every inhabitant was to deliver a signed and accurate return of their household, land and cattle to the Secretary's Office by 20 September 1765. They were then to come to the Castle on Monday 30 September 1765 to pay the rents and dues owed to the Company for the past year. The notice also announced that the Company's warehouses would close from 7 September to 7 October 1765. Matthew Bazett, the Secretary, signed it on the Council's authority.

The Council granted a lease to Lieutenant Solomon St Maurice for a plot in James Valley. The ground measured 15 feet along its frontage and 95 feet deep, and the rent was set at £0 15s 0d a year.

The Council also bought a consignment weighing 6,300 lb from the captain of the Dutch ship on the Company's behalf.

Interpretations

The returns demanded from every household served as the basis of the island's rent collection. By requiring each family to declare its members, land and cattle in writing ten days before rent day, the Council had a signed statement against which to check what each owed. A false return could be exposed against the Company's own lease records, and the signature made the householder personally answerable for it. The same returns gave the Council a yearly count of the island's population and livestock, which mattered on an island where cattle were scarce and closely controlled.

Closing the warehouses for a full month around rent day was probably meant to allow the annual stocktaking and balancing of the store accounts. Shutting them also stopped islanders from running up fresh debts for goods just as their yearly dues were being settled, so the account of what each person owed stood fixed while it was paid.

The only Dutch vessel recorded in the road at this time was the West Friesland, which arrived from Batavia on 15 August 1765.

23

18

26th August

pounds Rice for which we paid him twelve Shillings Pr. hundred

Amounting to thirty seven pounds sixteen Shillings

We this day Granted the following Bills of Exchange

drawn upon the Honorable the Court of Directors vizt.

One Set to Captain Bernardus Halleman for

four hundred pounds payable to himself (or Order)

One set to Mr. Andries Sorentzen for two hundred

pounds payable to himself (or Order)

And one Set to Mr. Hendrick Eckhard for one hundred

and Sixty pounds payable to himself (or Order) all drawn at

Ninety days sight

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

The goods bought from the Dutch captain were 6,300 lb of rice, for which the Council paid £0 12s 0d per 100 lb, a total of £37 16s 0d.

The Council also issued bills of exchange drawn on the Court of Directors in London. Each set was payable to the named person or to anyone he nominated, and all fell due ninety days after sight.

Captain Bernardus Halleman, £400 0s 0d

Andries Lorentzen, £200 0s 0d

Hendrick Eckhard, £160 0s 0d

Governor Skottowe and the three councillors signed the minutes.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

Captain Halleman was the commander of the West Friesland, the Dutch ship from Batavia that arrived on 15 August 1765. He and two others, probably officers or passengers from the same ship, paid £760 0s 0d in coin into the Company's treasury and took English bills payable in London in exchange. For Dutch seamen returning from the East with money earned or traded there, a bill on the East India Company offered a safe way to carry wealth home without risking coin at sea. For the island, the transaction brought a substantial sum of hard money into a treasury that relied on passing ships for its cash. The arrangement shows St Helena acting as a clearing point for private money from rival European trades, not just for English ships.

The Dutch rice was far cheaper than the rice bought from Captain Webb on 13 August 1765. Webb's rice cost £11 5s 0d for 7 cwt 1 qr 14 lb, which works out at about 27s per 100 lb, while the Dutch captain charged 12s. Batavia lay at the heart of a major rice-growing region and ships loaded there cheaply, whereas Webb's supply came from India through the Company's own trade. With the island already short of rice from the London, the Council took the opportunity to secure a large quantity at less than half the recent price.

24

19

2d September

At a Consultation held on Monday the 2d Day of September 1765

at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Capt. Thos. Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed, dated the 26th

August 1765.

Tuesday the 27th August sailed the Dutch Ship Westfriesland for

Rotterdam

Wednesday the 28th Do. died Sarah the Daughter of Henry Howell

Corporal

Saturday the 31. Arrived the Calcutta's Boat at Banks's a Quarter

of an Hour past eight o'Clock at Night

Yesterday Do. the Honorable Company's Ship Calcutta from

Bombay and brought Us the following Supplies vizt.

Invoice of Ship Calcutta

Rice Beaten fine 22 Bags qt. 150 S. Md.

20 Bags @ 6¾ S. Md. is 135 S. Md.

2 Do. @ 7½ Do. is 15 Do.

S. Md. 150 @ 1.1.3 Pr. S. Maund

199.3.50

Batty 32 Bags @ 3 parah is Morah Parah 3.21 @ 19.1 Pr. Morah

73.3.60

Carried over

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 2 September 1765. Governor John Skottowe presided, joined by Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 August 1765 were read, approved and signed.

The Dutch ship West Friesland left for Rotterdam on Tuesday 27 August 1765. On the following day Sarah, daughter of Corporal Henry Howell, died.

A boat from the Calcutta reached Banks's at a quarter past eight on the night of Saturday 31 August 1765. The Company's ship Calcutta herself arrived from Bombay on Sunday 1 September 1765, carrying supplies for the island.

The Calcutta's invoice listed the goods as follows.

Rice, cleaned by pounding, 22 bags weighing 150 Surat maunds in all

20 bags of rice at 6¾ Surat maunds a bag, 135 Surat maunds

2 bags of rice at 7½ Surat maunds a bag, 15 Surat maunds

150 Surat maunds of rice at 1 rupee 1 quarter 3 reas per Surat maund, 199 rupees 3 quarters 50 reas

32 bags of batty at 3 parahs a bag, 3 morahs 21 parahs, at 19 rupees 1 quarter per morah, 73 rupees 3 quarters 60 reas

Carried forward, 0 rupees 0 quarters 0 reas

Interpretations

The Surat maund was the standard weight of the western Indian trade, reckoned at roughly 37 lb, so the 150 maunds of rice came to a little over 5,500 lb. Rice beaten fine had been pounded in a mortar to strip the husk and polish the grain, the usual method of cleaning rice in India before mills were common. The batty, still in its husk, was measured differently, by the parah and morah, which were measures of volume rather than weight. The invoice's own figures show 25 parahs to the morah, since 96 parahs appear as 3 morahs and 21 parahs.

Measuring the rice by weight and the batty by volume followed Indian market practice. Cleaned rice was a finished food whose value lay in its weight of edible grain, while unhusked paddy varied so much in how much it yielded that it was traded by the basket. The Council on St Helena therefore received the two grains in different units and had to convert both into English weights when they entered the Company's stores.

25

20

2d September

Brought over

Charges on Merchandize

Gunny Bags for Rice Bags

35 @ 5 Pr. Ct.

8.3

Dully Bags for Do.

22 @ 3 Pr. Bag

16.2

Gunny Bags for Batty

32, 12 Do. @

8

Twine for sewing Do.

2

Lascares for Do. @ 17 Pice @

4.1

Hamallage carrying the Rice & Batty to the Pier Head

2.60

Boat hire for Do.

2.2

42.2.60

Rupees 316.1.78

Errors Excepted

(signed) Wm. Hornby Acct.

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

An invoice for rice and batty, reckoned in Indian money, continued with the costs of bagging the grain and getting it aboard ship. The page carried forward no figure from the one before.

Brought forward, 0 rupees 0 quarters 0 reas

35 gunny bags for the rice at 5[...], 8 rupees 3 quarters 0 reas

22 dutty bags for the rice at 3 quarters a bag, 16 rupees 2 quarters 0 reas

32 gunny bags for the batty at 1 quarter each, 8 rupees 0 quarters 0 reas

Twine for sewing up the bags, 0 rupees 2 quarters 0 reas

Lascars for sewing up the bags at 17 pice each, 4 rupees 1 quarter 0 reas

Porterage for carrying the rice and batty to the Pier Head, 2 rupees 0 quarters 60 reas

Boat hire for taking the rice and batty off, 2 rupees 2 quarters 0 reas

Total of charges, 42 rupees 2 quarters 60 reas

Total of the invoice, 316 rupees 1 quarter 78 reas

William Hornby signed the account as accountant, reserving the right to correct any errors. Governor Skottowe and the three councillors added their signatures at St Helena on 2 September 1765.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

The account was kept in the money of western India, where the rupee divided into four quarters and each quarter into 100 reas. The column headings are not written out, but the middle column never rises above three and the third runs into tens, which fits that division. The pice was a small copper coin used to pay daily wages. Gunny was coarse sacking woven from jute, the standard packing for grain shipped out of India. Dutty was a heavier, closer-woven cotton cloth, which explains why dutty bags cost three times as much as gunny ones and were used for the cleaned rice rather than the batty. Lascars were Indian labourers and seamen, hired here to stitch the filled bags closed. Porterage appears in the manuscript under the Indian term hamallage, from the word for a porter who carried goods on his back or head.

The words "errors excepted" above Hornby's signature were a standard reservation in merchants' accounts. They left room to correct mistakes of arithmetic or omission later, so the figures bound the Company without locking in any slip in the reckoning.

The countersignature of the St Helena Council turned an invoice made out in India into a charge accepted on the island's books. The cost of the grain, together with every bag, length of twine and boat hire needed to ship it, became part of the value at which the Company's stores would carry the rice and batty.

26

21

6th September

At a Consultation held on Friday the 6th Day of September 1765 at

the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Capt. Thos. Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 2d

September 1765

Mr. Matthew Purling reports that he has

been on board the Ship Calcutta to Muster her Company and enquire for

deserters but found none. her Muster Roll is as follows vizt.

Muster Roll of Ship Calcutta

Geo. Thomson

Commander

Wm. Hambly

Chief Mate

Thos. Baldwin

2d Do.

Nath. Hedges

3d Do.

Alex. Oswald

4th Do.

Chas. Janaway

5th Do.

Robt. Bury

6th Do.

Thos. Williamson

Surgeon

William Hadslay

Purser

Geo. Haldane

Boatswain

Saml. Evans

Caulker

Alex. Seaver

Sailmaker

Alex. Hugh

Cooper

Thos. Reading

Armourer

Ralph Emerson

Carpr. Mate

Thos. Martin

Gunr. Do.

John Richmond

Cook Do.

Edwd. Latham

Midshipm.

Wm. Alexander

Ships Steward

John Harvey

Capt. Do.

Wm. Cooling

Gunrs. Mate

Alex. Milne

Do.

Robt. Atkins

Do.

Andw. Stein

Do.

Geo. Littlejohn

Do.

Thos. Spikes

Quartermast.

John Steel

Quartermaster

Wm. Smith

Do.

John Maclauchlan

Do.

Andrew Conzalton

Capt. Cook

John Westenzer

Do.

Chas. Roberts

Chief Mates Do.

Thomas Haslem

2d Do. Do.

Robt. Macgray

Surgeons Do.

Wm. Garthside

Carpenters Do.

Wm. Coulter

Gunners Do.

James Morison

Seaman

Alex. Watson

Thoms. Andrews

Close examination of the roll cells.The Council met at the Castle on Friday 6 September 1765. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick present as members of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 1765 were read, approved and signed.

Purling reported that he boarded the Calcutta to call the roll of her crew and search for deserters, but found none. The ship's muster roll ran as follows.

George Thomson, commander

William Hambly, chief mate

Thomas Baldwin, second mate

Nathaniel Hedges, third mate

Alexander Oswald, fourth mate

Charles Jamways, fifth mate

Robert Burg, sixth mate

Thomas Williamson, surgeon

William Hadslay, carpenter

George Haldane, boatswain

Samuel Evans, caulker

Alexander Sewer, sailmaker

Alexander Keugh, cooper

Thomas Reading, armourer

Ralph Emerson, carpenter's mate

Thomas Martin, gunner's mate

John Richmond, boatswain's mate

Edward Latham, ship's cook

William Alexander, ship's steward

John Harvey, captain's steward

William Curling Ginston, midshipman

Alexander Milne, midshipman

Robert Atkins, midshipman

Andrew Stein, midshipman

George Littleton, midshipman

Thomas Spikes, quartermaster

John Steel, quartermaster

William Smith, quartermaster

John Maclauchlan, quartermaster

Andrew Congalton, captain's servant

John Westonzee, captain's servant

Charles Roberts, chief mate's servant

Thomas Haslem, second mate's servant

Robert Macgray, surgeon's servant

William Garthside, carpenter's servant

William Coulter, gunner's servant

James Morrison, seaman

Alexander Watson, seaman

Thomas Andrews, seaman

Interpretations

The Council's first recorded muster, of the London on 13 August 1765, followed directly on the disappearance of the soldier William Isaac Ford. No such trigger preceded this one. A councillor boarded the Calcutta within days of her arrival and checked her crew against her books as a matter of course. What began as a response to a single desertion was being applied to every Company ship in the road, making the muster a standing check rather than an occasional search.

The servants listed under the captain, mates, surgeon, carpenter and gunner were a recognised part of an East Indiaman's company. Senior officers were entitled to a set number of servants, usually boys or young men learning the sea under their master's eye. The servant's pay was often drawn by the officer he served, so the allowance was as much a perquisite of rank as a means of training. Entering them by name on the roll meant each counted as a crew member, and a stranger could not be passed off as an officer's boy.

27

22

6th September

John Lamb

Seaman

Thoms. Jones

John Cooley

Edward Anthony

Adam Nelson

Benj. Limebon

Alexr. Nicholson

Willm. Alexander

John Berry

John Duthie

John Youngson

Willm. Bailey

Christian Ashman

Robt. Hanning

John Lake

James Gray

Joseph Smith

Patrick Berry

Manl. Dacosta

John Hinchly

James Maclaggan

John Macpherson

Seaman

Willm. Lindsey

Manuel Dasylva

David Juner

John Mead

John Medre

Andrew Layall

John Duncan

Francis Skoonter

Samuel Clark

Aaron Aaronson

Lawrence Connell

Matthias Rutten

Willm. Downes

John David

Anthony Joseph

John Gospert

Edwd. Madgill

John Harvey

Richd. Carter

[...]

John Augustine

Seam.

James Seaton

Samuel Thornton

Willm. Grayham

Saml. Fenn

Willm. Porter

David Brawley

Willm. Rogerson

Joseph Small

Edward Harris

John Collins

Thoms. Lasley

John Parry

Wm. Anderson

Saml. Nichols

Willm. Walters

Thoms. Wynn

Willm. Steel

Alexr. Brown

William Brithy

Thos. Severe

Passengers

Mr. John Adams

Capt. John Jackson

Mr. Henry Hinde Pelly

Mr. Samuel Vaux

Ten French Prisoners

Three Dischd. Men from the Garrison at Bombay

(signed) Geo: Thomson

The Calcutta's muster roll went on to list the rest of her seamen, followed by her passengers.

John Lamb, seaman

Thomas Jones, seaman

John Cooley, seaman

Edward Anthony, seaman

Adam Nelson, seaman

Benjamin Limebon, seaman

Alexander Nicholson, seaman

William Alexander, seaman

John Berry, seaman

John Duthie, seaman

John Youngson, seaman

William Bailey, seaman

Christian Arhman, seaman

Robert Hanning, seaman

John Like, seaman

James Gray, seaman

Joseph Smith, seaman

Patrick Berry, seaman

Manuel DaCosta, seaman

John Hinckly, seaman

James Maclaggon, seaman

John Macpherson, seaman

William Lindsey, seaman

Manuel DaSylva, seaman

David Juner, seaman

John Mead, seaman

John Medro, seaman

Andrew Layall, seaman

John Duncan, seaman

Francis Skoonter, seaman

Samuel Clark, seaman

Aaron Aaronson, seaman

Lawrence Connell, seaman

Matthias Rutton, seaman

William Downes, seaman

John David, seaman

Anthony Joseph, seaman

John Gosport, seaman

Edward Macgill, seaman

John Harvey, seaman

Richard Carter, seaman

John Augustine, seaman

James Seaton, seaman

Samuel Thornton, seaman

William Grayham, seaman

Samuel Fenn, seaman

William Porter, seaman

David Brewley, seaman

William Rogerson, seaman

Joseph Small, seaman

Edward Harris, seaman

John Collins, seaman

Thomas Lasley, seaman

John Parry, seaman

William Anderson, seaman

Samuel Nicholl, seaman

William Walters, seaman

Thomas Wynn, seaman

William Steel, seaman

Alexander Brown, seaman

William Brithy, seaman

Thomas Severe, seaman

The ship also carried passengers.

John Adams

Captain John Jackson

Henry Hinde Pelly

Samuel Vaux

10 French prisoners

3 men discharged from the garrison at Bombay

George Thomson signed the roll as commander.

Interpretations

The passengers included ten French prisoners and three soldiers discharged from the Bombay garrison, the two groups with the strongest reasons to slip ashore. Prisoners had every motive to escape, while discharged soldiers were no longer bound to any Company post and might try to settle on the island without permission. By recording their number on the signed roll, the Council fixed the count that Captain Thomson had to carry away when the Calcutta sailed. Any shortfall at her departure would point straight to a man who had gone missing ashore.

Several names on the roll, among them Manuel DaCosta, Manuel DaSylva and Anthony Joseph, suggest Portuguese or Indo-Portuguese seamen. Company ships commonly lost men to disease and desertion during their time in the East and made up the numbers from sailors recruited in Indian ports. The roll therefore records a crew that was probably far more mixed in origin when it reached St Helena than when it had left England.

28

23

1765

Bought of Captain Thomson on Account of the

Honorable Company four Casks [...] of Salt Provision for

which we paid him seventy three pounds four Shillings he

producing a Bill wherein he was charged twenty pounds Pr. Cask for

it at Bombay therefore as the Island is in want of Salt Provisions

we agreed to give him the same Price as we have sold several Casks

this Year to the Honorable Company's Ships

The Storekeeper this day delivered the following

Account of Stores short received from the Ship Calcutta vizt.

Account of Stores short received from Ship

Calcutta vizt.

Rice Short Weight

C. qrs. lb 2.21

Paddy recd. in 12 Bags

20.1.6

Do. 19 Bags short delivered

(signed)

St Helena Jas. Powell Storekeeper

6th Sept. 1765

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

The Council bought four casks of salt provisions from Captain Thomson for the Company and paid him £73 4s 0d. Thomson produced a bill showing that the casks had cost him £20 0s 0d each at Bombay. The island was short of salt provisions, so the Council agreed to buy them. It paid him the same price at which it had sold several casks to the Company's ships earlier in the year.

James Powell, the storekeeper, then handed in an account of stores from the Calcutta that fell short on delivery, signed at St Helena on 6 September 1765.

Rice short in weight: 0 cwt 2 qr 21 lb

Paddy received in 13 bags: 20 cwt 1 qr 6 lb

Paddy not delivered: 19 bags

Governor Skottowe and the three councillors signed the minutes.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

Thomson's bill gave the Council an obvious figure to pay, £20 0s 0d a cask or £80 0s 0d in all. The Council passed over it and paid £73 4s 0d instead, the price it charged Company ships when it sold salt meat to them from its own stores. The reasoning was one of consistency. The Company could not sensibly buy salt provisions from one of its commanders at a higher rate than it sold them to others, and Thomson's cost at Bombay was his own affair. The island's need for the casks made the Council willing to buy, but not to accept the seller's price.

The shortfall from the Calcutta differed sharply from that of the London, recorded on 13 August 1765. The London's rice came in more than 5 cwt light, while the Calcutta's fell short by less than 3 qr. The paddy told the opposite story. The Calcutta's invoice, entered on 2 September 1765, listed 32 bags of batty, yet only 13 reached the stores, leaving 19 bags entirely missing. The storekeeper's signed statement gave the Company the record it needed to call the commander to account for the lost bags.

29

24

9th September

At a Consultation held on Monday the 9th Day of September 1765

at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Capt. Thoms. Kirkpatrick

The last Consultation was read, approved, & signed dated 6th Sept.


1765

Last Night sailed the Honorable Company's Ship Calcutta

for England.

We this day Executed the two following Leases vizt.

One to Mr. Benjamin Mason for a piece of Land

containing thirty one Acres, lying in the West Division of this Island

at one Shilling and sixpence Pr. Acre

And one to John Robinson Carpenter for a piece of

Land containing twenty eight and an Half Acres, lying in the East Division

of this Island, at one Shilling and six pence Pr. Acre

The Gunners & Stewards Accounts for the Month

of August last were this day brought in, which were examined and

approved and are as follow vizt.

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 9 September 1765. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick in attendance.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 1765 were read, approved and signed.

The Company's ship Calcutta left for England on the night of Sunday 8 September 1765.

The Council granted two leases of land on the same day. Benjamin Mason received 31 acres in the island's West Division, and John Robinson, a carpenter, received 28½ acres in the East Division. Both plots were let at £0 1s 6d an acre.

The gunner and the steward then submitted their accounts for August 1765. The Council examined and approved both, and their details followed.

Interpretations

These country leases throw the value of town land into sharp relief. On 26 August 1765 Lieutenant Solomon St Maurice took a plot in James Valley measuring 15 feet by 95 feet, about a thirtieth of an acre, for £0 15s 0d a year. At the rate charged to Mason and Robinson, a whole acre in the countryside cost only £0 1s 6d. Ground in the valley, where the town, the landing place and the Company's warehouses stood, was therefore worth hundreds of times as much per acre as farmland in the interior. Space in the narrow valley was scarce and in demand from tradesmen, officers and shopkeepers, while upland acres could only be made profitable through years of clearing and grazing.

The island was split for administration into an East and a West Division, and each lease recorded which one held the land. The divisions provided the framework for assessing rents, mustering the militia and organising inhabitants for public duties, so placing a grant within one of them fixed where the tenant's obligations fell.

30

25

1765

Artillery Stores Expended in the Mo. Augt. 1765

Guns Fired, Shot Fired, lb 9, lb 4, lb 3, lb 2, lb 1, Powder Expended lb Oz

1. Powder for the Fortifications: Guns Fired 0, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 6

2d Departed the Earl of Lincoln: Guns Fired 9, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 2, lb 3 0, lb 2 7, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 11

24 Small Cartridges delivered to the Main Guard: Guns Fired 0, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 1.8

4th An Alarm: Guns Fired 6, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 2, lb 3 2, lb 2 0, lb 1 2, Powder Expended lb Oz 12

Arrived the London: Guns Fired 9, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 9, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 9

12 Small Cartridges for the Shootg. of Goats: Guns Fired 0, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 12

8th Departed the Pitt: Guns Fired 9, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 9, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 9

12 Small Cartridges delivered to the Main Guard: Guns Fired 0, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 12

11 Departed the Caernarvon: Guns Fired 9, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 9, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 9

14 Powder delivered for Blowg. Lime Stone: Guns Fired 0, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 6

15th An Alarm: Guns Fired 6, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 2, lb 3 2, lb 2 0, lb 1 2, Powder Expended lb Oz 12

Arrived the Westfriesland a Dutch Ship: Guns Fired 13, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 13, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 13

24 Small Cartridges delivered to the Main Guard: Guns Fired 0, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 1.8

Fired to Bring the Dutch Ship too: Guns Fired 2, Shot Fired 2, lb 9 2, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 9

18. Powder for the Funeral of Jonn. Godby Soldier: Guns Fired 0, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 2.4

Departed the London: Guns Fired 9, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 9, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 9

20 Small Cartridges delivered to the Main Guard: Guns Fired 0, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz [1].9

22 Powder to Blow Lime Stone: Guns Fired 0, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 6

27th Departed the Westfriesland a Dutch Ship: Guns Fired 13, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 13, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 13

Powder for Blowing Lime Stone: Guns Fired 0, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 6

31. An Alarm: Guns Fired 6, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 2, lb 3 2, lb 2 0, lb 1 2, Powder Expended lb Oz 12

An Alarm at Turks Cap for the same Ship: Guns Fired 2, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 2, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 4

Powder for prim. at different times: Guns Fired 0, Shot Fired 0, lb 9 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb Oz 11.8

Total: Guns Fired 93, Shot Fired 2, lb 9 2, lb 4 10, lb 3 6, lb 2 69, lb 1 6, Powder Expended lb Oz 164.13

1 Hand spike broke on the Line

40 lb Tallow for the use of the Long Boat, Carts, & Schooner

Expended one Skein of Match

Six Hand spikes delivered for the Fortifications

(signed) Archd. Mitchell

The gunner's account for August 1765 recorded the artillery stores used during the month. For each occasion it gave the guns fired, the shot fired, the number of 9-pounders, 4-pounders, 3-pounders, 2-pounders and 1-pounders used, and the powder consumed.

Powder for the fortifications, 1 August 1765: guns fired 0, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 6 lb 0 oz

The Earl of Lincoln sailed on 2 August 1765, with guns fired 9, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 2, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 7, 1-pounders 0 and powder used 11 lb 0 oz.

24 small cartridges issued to the Main Guard, 2 August 1765: guns fired 0, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 1 lb 8 oz

Alarm, 4 August 1765: guns fired 6, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 2, 3-pounders 2, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 2, powder used 12 lb 0 oz

The London arrived on 4 August 1765, with guns fired 9, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 9, 1-pounders 0 and powder used 9 lb 0 oz.

12 small cartridges for shooting goats, 4 August 1765: guns fired 0, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 0 lb 12 oz

The Pitt sailed on 8 August 1765, with guns fired 9, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 9, 1-pounders 0 and powder used 9 lb 0 oz.

12 small cartridges issued to the Main Guard, 8 August 1765: guns fired 0, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 0 lb 12 oz

The Carnarvon sailed on 11 August 1765, with guns fired 9, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 9, 1-pounders 0 and powder used 9 lb 0 oz.

Powder issued for blasting limestone, 14 August 1765: guns fired 0, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 6 lb 0 oz

Alarm, 15 August 1765: guns fired 6, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 2, 3-pounders 2, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 2, powder used 12 lb 0 oz

The Dutch ship West Friesland arrived on 15 August 1765, with guns fired 13, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 13, 1-pounders 0 and powder used 13 lb 0 oz.

24 small cartridges issued to the Main Guard, 15 August 1765: guns fired 0, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 1 lb 8 oz

Firing to bring the Dutch ship to, 15 August 1765: guns fired 2, shot fired 2, 9-pounders 2, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 9 lb 0 oz

Powder for the funeral of Jonathan Godby, soldier, 18 August 1765: guns fired 0, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 2 lb 4 oz

The London sailed on 18 August 1765, with guns fired 9, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 9, 1-pounders 0 and powder used 9 lb 0 oz.

Small cartridges issued to the Main Guard, 20 August 1765: guns fired 0, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 0 lb 9 oz

Powder for blasting limestone, 22 August 1765: guns fired 0, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 6 lb 0 oz

The Dutch ship West Friesland sailed on 27 August 1765, with guns fired 13, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 13, 1-pounders 0 and powder used 13 lb 0 oz.

Powder for blasting limestone, 27 August 1765: guns fired 0, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 6 lb 0 oz

Alarm, 31 August 1765: guns fired 6, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 2, 3-pounders 2, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 2, powder used 12 lb 0 oz

Alarm at Turk's Cap for the same ship, 31 August 1765: guns fired 2, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 2, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 4 lb 0 oz

Priming powder used on various occasions: guns fired 0, shot fired 0, 9-pounders 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 11 lb 8 oz

Total: guns fired 93, shot fired 2, 9-pounders 2, 4-pounders 10, 3-pounders 6, 2-pounders 69, 1-pounders 6, powder used 164 lb 13 oz

The account closed with a note of other stores used or issued.

1 handspike broken on the Line

40 lb of tallow for greasing the longboat, the carts and the schooner

1 skein of slow match used

6 handspikes issued for the fortifications

Archibald Mitchell signed the account.

Interpretations

The only shot fired all month went towards the West Friesland on the day she arrived, when two 9-pounders were fired with ball to bring her to. A ship approaching the island was expected to stop and show her identity before entering the road, and a foreign vessel that failed to do so was halted by shot across her path. The Dutch ship was later saluted with 13 guns on both arrival and departure, more than the nine given to Company ships, so the firing reflected procedure rather than hostility. The use of ball for this purpose also confirms that the pound weights heading the columns referred to the size of gun, since the heaviest pieces were the ones loaded with shot.

The alarm on 31 August 1765, repeated at Turk's Cap for the same ship, matches the arrival of the Calcutta's boat at Banks's at a quarter past eight that night, as recorded on 2 September 1765. The Calcutta herself anchored the next day. A sail sighted off the coast at dusk, with no means of telling friend from foe, was enough to turn out the garrison.

Powder use rose sharply from July, when 61 guns and 99 lb 2 oz were recorded, to 93 guns and 164 lb 13 oz in August. The difference came from heavier shipping traffic, with the London, Pitt and Carnarvon all sailing, the Dutch ship's two larger salutes, three alarms rather than two, and the shotted firing that brought her to.

The small cartridges for shooting goats were musket charges issued to soldiers sent out to cull the wild goats that roamed the island. Goats stripped young trees and vegetation, and keeping their numbers down protected both the Company's pasture and the island's remaining woodland. The powder for Jonathan Godby's funeral paid for the volleys fired over a soldier's grave, a mark of military honour given even to a private man.

31

26

9th September

Sundry's Expended at the Honorable Company's Table in the Month

of August 1765 vizt.

19 Bottles Port Wine

£ 1.2.6

41 Do. Lisbon

3.1.6

15 Do. Mountain

1.3.6

34 Do. Beer

6.3

62 Do. Arrack

3.9.6

126 lb Beef

2.12.6

263 lb Mutton

5.10.5

10 Fowles

15

1 Duck

1.6

39½ lb Butter

1.19.6

62 lb Candy

1.3

312 lb Flour

1.19.9

£ 23.8.7

Appointed the Lieut. Governor and Mr.

Purling to inspect and take the Remains of the Honorable

Company's Stores for the present Year as Usual

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

The steward's account listed the food and drink consumed at the Company's table during August 1765.

19 bottles of port wine, £1 8s 6d

41 bottles of Lisbon wine, £3 1s 6d

15 bottles of Mountain wine, £1 3s 6d

34 bottles of beer, £0 6s 3d

6½ bottles of arrack, £3 9s 6d

126 lb of beef, £2 12s 6d

263 lb of mutton, £5 10s 5d

10 fowls, £0 15s 0d

1 duck, £0 1s 6d

39½ lb of butter, £1 19s 6d

6½ lb of sugar candy, £1 0s 8d

312 lb of flour, £1 19s 9d

Total, £23 8s 7d

The Council appointed Lieutenant Governor Corneille and Matthew Purling to carry out the yearly inspection of the Company's warehouses and record the stock remaining, as was customary. Governor Skottowe and the three councillors signed the minutes.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

The stocktaking explains the notice of 26 August 1765, which announced that the Company's warehouses would close from 7 September to 7 October. With no goods going in or out, the two councillors could count what remained without the figures shifting under them. The count came just before rent day on 30 September, so the Company's stock and the inhabitants' dues would be settled in the same season. Appointing a councillor alongside the Lieutenant Governor, rather than leaving the work to the storekeeper, placed the check in the hands of men who answered for the Company's property, not the man whose accounts were being checked.

Set beside the July account approved on 12 August 1765, the table cost less in August, falling from £26 16s 5½d to £23 8s 7d. Most of the saving came from smaller quantities of meat and Lisbon wine. Mutton fell from 302 lb to 263 lb, beef from 144 lb to 126 lb and Lisbon from 56 bottles to 41, while cheaper port, Mountain and beer rose slightly.

The sharpest change was in sugar candy. The same 6½ lb cost £2 10s 8d in July but only £1 0s 8d in August, less than half the earlier price. The West Friesland arrived from Batavia on 15 August 1765 with sugar in her cargo, and the island's supply was perhaps replenished from her at a much lower cost than before.

32

27

16th September

At a Consultation held on Monday the 16th Day of September 1765

at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Captn. Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 9th

Day September 1765.

Tuesday the 10th Passed by a Ship at a great distance

Counted and examined the Honorable Company's

Cash for the Month of August last, which is as follows vizt.

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 16 September 1765. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick present as members of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 1765 were read, approved and signed.

An unidentified ship sailed past the island far out to sea on Tuesday 10 September 1765.

The councillors then counted and checked the Company's cash for August 1765.

Interpretations

The entry about a ship that never came near the island shows how closely the coast was watched. Lookouts on the heights reported every sail they saw, and the Council recorded even a vessel too distant to identify. Company ships homeward bound were expected to call at St Helena, so a ship passing it by was perhaps a foreign vessel or a private trader with reasons to avoid the Company's officers. Logging such sightings in the consultations sent the information home to the Directors, who could set the dates against ships reported elsewhere.

33

28

16th September

Cash Dr.


1765

August 1. To Balance remaining

£ 7629.3.3

5th To Exchange for two sets of Bills drawn upon the

Honorable the Court of Directors payable as

follows vizt.

One set to Nicholas Pearce Esqr. for £ 147

One do. to Mr. Jeffrey Jackson for 219

366

6th To Ship Caernarvon

99.16.5

To Ship Pitt

252.13.4

13. To Exchange for a set of Bills drawn upon the

Honorable the Court of Directors payable to Mr.

Allen Auld for

100

17th To Ship London received the Balance of her Account

10.7.4

26 To Exchange for 3 Sets of Bills drawn upon

the Honorable the Court of Directors payable as

follow vizt.

One set to Mr. Barnadus Halleman for £ 400

One do. to Mr. Andres Lorentzen £ 200

One do. to Mr. Hendrick Eckhard 160

760

£ 9218.4

The Company's cash account for August 1765 set out the money received into the treasury during the month.

Balance in hand, 1 August 1765, £7,629 3s 3d

Cash received for two sets of bills of exchange on the Court of Directors, 5 August 1765, £366 0s 0d

One set payable to Nicholas Pearce, £147 0s 0d

One set payable to Jeffrey Jackson, £219 0s 0d

The Carnarvon paid £99 16s 5d into the treasury on 6 August 1765.

The Pitt paid £252 13s 4d into the treasury on 6 August 1765.

Cash received for a set of bills of exchange on the Court of Directors payable to Allen Auld, 13 August 1765, £100 0s 0d

The London paid £10 7s 4d into the treasury on 17 August 1765, clearing the balance of her account.

Cash received for three sets of bills of exchange on the Court of Directors, 26 August 1765, £760 0s 0d

One set payable to Bernardus Halleman, £400 0s 0d

One set payable to Andries Lorentzen, £200 0s 0d

One set payable to Hendrick Eckhard, £160 0s 0d

Total, £9,218 0s 4d

Interpretations

The London's entry is the first to state plainly what the ships' payments were for. She cleared the balance of her account on 17 August 1765 and sailed for England the next day. Each Company ship evidently ran an account with the island for the provisions, water and stores it drew during its stay, and settled it before leaving the road. The Pitt and the Carnarvon both paid on 6 August, two and five days before they sailed on 8 and 11 August 1765 respectively.

The cash book recorded each bill by the person to whom it was payable, not by the person who handed over the money. The £100 entered on 13 August under Allen Auld's name was in fact paid by Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick, as the consultation of that day records. The treasury account alone therefore could not show who was moving money off the island, and only the minutes connected each payment to the man behind it.

34

29

1765

Per Contra Cr.


1765

August 31. By Balance remaining vizt.

In Specie

8678.5.4

In Cash Notes of no use

539.15.0

£ 9218.4

The following Observations of the Engineers upon the

Fortifications &c. We agreed to have Entered upon this Day

Consultation vizt.

The other side of the August 1765 cash account showed what remained in the treasury at the close of the month.

Balance in coin, 31 August 1765, £8,678 5s 4d

Balance in cash notes no longer usable, 31 August 1765, £539 15s 0d

Total, £9,218 0s 4d

The Council agreed to enter in the day's minutes the engineer's observations on the fortifications and related matters, which followed.

Interpretations

For a second month running, the treasury paid nothing out. As in July 1765, the whole of the month's receipts stayed in the chest, and the unusable notes stood at exactly the same figure. The cash on the island was building steadily from ship payments and bills sold to private remitters, while the costs of the garrison and the island's works were met in other ways. The treasury acted less as a paying office than as a reserve holding coin for the Company.

The engineer's plans and observations were first read to the Council on 13 August 1765, when they were described as intended for the Company in England. Copying them into the minutes as well, rather than simply forwarding the original, kept a full text on the island and placed it in the record the Directors received with the consultations. Any later dispute over what the engineer had recommended, and what the Council had endorsed, could then be settled from the minute book itself.

35

30

16th September

An Account of the present State of the Fortifications

and Defences of the Island St Helena, together with Remarks upon the

same and Proposals relative to the Alterations and Additions which it

is apprehended may be necessary, in Order to compleat them.

To which are annexed Plans of the principal Works as

they now stand, as well as of those which are proposed to be constructed;

All of which are humbly submitted to the Consideration

of the Worshipfull the Govr. and Council of this Island, by

their most Obedient humble Servant

Rd. Mitchell Captn. of Engineers in

St Helena the Service of the honble. East India Compy.

August 1765

Before I enter upon a particular Description of the

several Fortifications and Works constructed for the Defence of this

Island, I think it necessary to premise a few general Observations

relative to the Advantages which in point of Strength and

security it enjoys from Nature, to which I am the rather

induced, as some of these are extremely considerable and (I had

almost said) peculiar to this Island.

The Short time I have been here, during part of

which I was unprovided with a Boat, has prevented me from

compleating my general Survey & Mensuration of the Coast, so as to

enable me to accompany those Remarks with an accurate Chart of

the

The engineer's report bore the title of an account of the present state of St Helena's fortifications and defences. It included his comments on them and his proposals for the changes and additions he believed were needed to complete them. Plans of the main works were attached, showing both those already standing and those he proposed to build. Archibald Mitchell, captain of engineers in the East India Company's service, addressed the whole to the Governor and Council at St Helena in August 1765.

Mitchell opened by explaining that, before describing each fortification in detail, he would set out some general points about the strength and security the island drew from nature. He gave this prominence because some of these natural advantages were very great and, in his view, almost unique to St Helena.

He noted that he had been on the island only a short time. For part of that period he had no boat at his disposal. As a result he had not yet finished his survey and measurement of the coastline, and so could not yet attach an accurate chart to his remarks.

Interpretations

Mitchell chose to begin with what nature had done for the island rather than with the works men had built. That ordering shaped the argument of the whole report. When Governor Skottowe asked on 13 August 1765 whether the seaward valleys between Horse Pasture Point and the Needles needed more than walls, Mitchell answered that further works would only scatter the garrison. His confidence rested on the premise set out here, that the island's cliffs and narrow landing places already did much of the work of defence. Fortification needed only to close the few gaps nature had left open, not to cover the whole coast.

The want of a boat was no small obstacle for an engineer surveying St Helena. The island's defence turned on knowing exactly where an enemy could land, and the coast could only be properly measured and charted from the sea, since sheer cliffs made much of it impossible to follow on foot. Mitchell depended on the Council to supply a boat, and the delay he describes shows how even the Company's own engineer relied on local officials for the means to carry out his work.

36

31

1765

the whole, I must therefore refer the Reader, for what regards the following

general Observations, to a Plan of the Island published in a Collection

of Charts, intitled the English Pilot, which, however erroneous in

Regard to particular Parts of it, will be found sufficient to convey a

general Idea of the whole, and to elucidate the subsequent Remarks.

In the first Place then it is to be observed That all the Coast of this

Island (which may be about Thirty Miles in Circuit) consists of an

almost uninterrupted Chain of inaccessible Rocks or rather Mountains,

rising in a Direction nearly perpendicular to the Shore, to a Height

seldom less than Four or Five Hundred Feet, and some times much

more.

Secondly the Wind, which blows here almost invariably from the

South East, occasions so constant and considerable a Surf along the

Windward Coast of the Island (which may be said to comprehend

about two Thirds of the whole) as renders it for the most part

impracticable to land any where within that Compass; And

Lastly the Ascent from those Gullies, or as they are here very improperly

called) Vallies, which are here and there interspersed throughout the

Coast of this Island, and are the only Places where an Enemy can

possibly effect a Landing, are so extremely steep, rugged and in some

Places, so hard to discover; and in general terminate at such considerable

distances from the Coast, as would render it next to impracticable for an

Enemy to get into the Country, if ever so inconsiderably opposed by the

Garrison; I will venture to say that Five hundred Men would be

much more than a Match for Ten Times their number in this situation.

As these Vallies contain the principal Fortifications of the Island

And will of Consequence often be mentioned in the Course of these

Remarks

Margin Notes:

Capt. Mitchell's Report

Plan

[...]

Wind

Gullies

Because his survey of the coast was unfinished, Mitchell referred readers to a plan of the island printed in a collection of charts called the English Pilot. He acknowledged that the plan was wrong in places but judged it good enough to give a general picture of the island and to make sense of the remarks that followed.

His first point was that almost the entire coastline, about 30 miles round, formed an unbroken wall of rock that no one could climb. These cliffs, which he likened to mountains, rose almost straight up from the shore to heights of rarely less than 400 or 500 feet and sometimes far more.

Second, the wind on St Helena came almost always from the south-east. It drove such a steady and heavy surf against the windward coast, roughly two-thirds of the island's shoreline, that landing anywhere along that stretch was usually impossible.

Finally, an enemy could come ashore only in the gullies scattered along the coast, which islanders misleadingly called valleys. The climb out of them was extremely steep and rough, the route was in places hard even to find, and the gullies mostly ended a long way inland. Mitchell judged that an invader would find it almost impossible to reach the interior if the garrison offered even slight resistance. He was ready to claim that 500 defenders in such ground would be more than a match for ten times their number.

Mitchell noted that these valleys held the island's main fortifications and would therefore feature often in his remarks.

Interpretations

The English Pilot was the standard English collection of sea charts and sailing directions, first compiled in the late seventeenth century and reissued in many editions over the following decades. It was a working book for ships' masters rather than a survey of record, and its plans of small islands were often copied from older sources with little correction. Mitchell's reliance on it shows that in 1765 the Company had no accurate map of its own island, one of the very gaps his unfinished coastal survey was meant to fill.

The south-east wind explains the layout of the defences discussed on 13 August 1765. With the windward two-thirds of the coast closed by surf, a hostile landing could only come on the sheltered leeward side, where James Bay and Rupert's Bay lie. That is why the Line across James Valley, the batteries at Banks's and the proposed mortar battery commanding both bays carried so much weight in the Council's discussion. Nature had already narrowed the island's exposure to a short stretch of coast, and the works were concentrated there.

Mitchell's objection to the local word "valley" was more than pedantry. The term suggested open, level ground that troops could march up, when the reality was a narrow ravine with a difficult climb at its head. By insisting on the distinction, he was correcting an impression that might lead the Directors in London to overestimate the island's vulnerability and spend money on works the terrain made unnecessary.

37

32

16th September

Remarks, I shall here describe them once for all, by saying, that they are no

other than the Intervals between the different Ranges of Mountains, which,

running in Directions nearly parallel to each other and perpendicular to the

Coast, generally unite near the Center of the Island.

These Gullies or if you please to call them Bottoms, most of

which are extremely narrow and remarkably rugged, seem formed by Nature

with no other Intention than to carry off those Torrents, which

precipitate themselves from the interior Parts of the Island; And

taking their Rise (as I have already observed) near the Center,

terminate towards the Coast in Breaches of various Dimensions where

an Enemy, if not opposed, might disembark without much Difficulty.

I have already remarked that the opposite Coasts of this Island are

distinguished by the Names of Windward and Leeward, on Account of the

Wind blowing constantly from the same Quarter: The former of these

may be said to comprehend all the Eastward Coast of the Island,

lying between the Rocks called the Needles and Sugar Loaf Point. I

say, may be said to comprehend, because tho the Wind does not

blow directly upon every Part of that Coast, yet the whole is very

considerably affected by it, and is seldom without such a surf as

would deter an Enemy from any Attempt towards Landing in

this Quarter of the Island

On this Account it will be the less necessary to be very particular

in my Observations, relative to this Part of the Coast, and in Fact

(Sandy Bay excepted, in Regard to which as it has a extensive

Beach, and is sometimes Sheltered from the Surf by the two Points

of Land which form the Bay, I shall be very particular in my

Remarks, and have accordingly annexed a Plan of it) there are

no Gullies or Bays in this Part of the Island which can

properly be called practicable, For tho a few of them have

Beaches

Margin Notes:

(Vallies)

Windward Leeward Sides

Windward Side

Mitchell defined the valleys once and for all as the gaps between the island's ridges of high ground. These ridges ran roughly parallel to one another and at right angles to the coast, and most of them met near the centre of the island.

He described the gullies, which could also be called bottoms, as mostly very narrow and exceptionally rough. In his view they seemed shaped by nature purely to drain away the torrents that rushed down from the island's interior. Each began near the centre and ran out to the coast in an opening of some width. At these openings an enemy facing no resistance could come ashore without much trouble.

The two sides of the island were known as windward and leeward, because the wind always blew from the same direction. Mitchell placed the windward coast along the whole eastern side, between the rocks known as the Needles and Sugar Loaf Point. He chose his wording carefully, since the wind did not strike every part of that coast head-on. Even so, the whole stretch felt its effects, and the surf there was nearly always heavy enough to discourage any attempt at a landing.

For that reason Mitchell saw little need to describe this coast in detail. Sandy Bay was the one exception. The bay was fairly wide, and at times the two headlands enclosing it sheltered it from the surf, so he promised a full account and attached a plan of it. Otherwise, he maintained, no gully or bay on the windward side could truly be called fit for a landing. He then began to qualify that point with regard to a few of them.

Interpretations

Mitchell's treatment of Sandy Bay explains why the Council, on 13 August 1765, singled it out as the most defenceless spot on the island. Lying on the windward coast, it should in principle have been protected by the surf like the rest of that shore. Its width and the shelter given by its two headlands meant that on calmer days the surf could drop enough for boats to land. A bay that was usually safe but occasionally open was a particular danger, since a garrison accustomed to trusting the surf might leave it lightly guarded on exactly the day an enemy could get ashore.

His description of how the valleys formed was really an account of where an enemy could land. Each gully that drained the interior also cut a break through the cliffs, so the island's water courses and its weak points were one and the same. Understanding the pattern of ridges and gullies allowed the engineer to predict every possible landing place from the shape of the land, rather than having to find them one by one from the sea.

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1765

Breaches, wherein very smooth Weather, [...], Troops might

possibly be able to land; yet the Difficulties to be surmounted

before an Enemy could get into the Country are so very great, that

I apprehend nothing less than an absolute negligence and

Supineness in the Garrison could ever endanger the Island from

any Attempt made in this Quarter.

I come now to speak of that Division of the Coast denominated the

Leeward, which, from what has been said, contains that Part of

the Shore lying between Sugar Loaf Point and the Needles to the

Westward. This may be again subdivided into two Parts. One

containing the Coast between Sugar Loaf and Horse-Pasture

Points, and the other comprehending the Shore between this last and

the Needles.

As the former of these contains the Road where the Company's

Ships come to Anchor, The principal Fortification called James's Fort

which is likewise the Capital of the Island, and all the principal Defences

and Works of any Consequence (Sandy Bay excepted) I shall therefore

confine my Remarks chiefly to this Part of the Coast, for which Purpose

I have annexed a particular Plan of it, laid down from an exact

Survey taken by myself, in which are delineated all the Batteries

constructed for its Defence with the Number and Direction of the Guns

mounted on each Battery, and annexed to it are Plans of the two

principal Batteries which I apprehend it will be necessary to

construct anew.

As these Plans are drawn with no other intention than

to illustrate the Remarks which accompany them, and to enable the

Reader to form a just Idea of the Defences of those Parts of the

Coast they represent, I have therefore been only attentive to this

single Object without endeavouring at that Elegance and Ornament,

which in these Sorts of Drawings are of no real Use, and of which

Margin Notes:

Leeward Side

A few of the windward gullies were wide enough that troops might perhaps get ashore in exceptionally calm weather. Even so, Mitchell judged that an enemy would face such obstacles in climbing inland that only complete carelessness and idleness on the part of the garrison could put the island at risk from that side.

He then turned to the leeward coast, which ran westward from Sugar Loaf Point to the Needles. He divided it into two stretches. The first lay between Sugar Loaf Point and Horse Pasture Point, and the second ran from Horse Pasture Point to the Needles.

The first stretch held the anchorage where the Company's ships lay, the main fortification of James Fort, which also served as the island's capital, and every defensive work of any importance apart from Sandy Bay. Mitchell therefore concentrated his remarks on this part of the coast. He attached a detailed plan of it, drawn from a careful survey he carried out himself. The plan showed every battery built to defend the shore, with the number of guns on each and the direction in which they pointed. Plans of the two main batteries that he believed would need complete rebuilding were attached to it.

Mitchell explained that his plans served only to illustrate his remarks and to give readers an accurate picture of the defences they showed. He had kept strictly to that purpose. He had therefore made no attempt at the decorative finish common in such drawings, which he regarded as serving no real purpose.

Interpretations

Military plans of the period were often finished as display pieces, with washes of colour, ornamented cartouches and elaborate lettering, partly to impress the patrons who received them. Mitchell deliberately set that convention aside. His drawings were working documents meant to let the Directors in London judge the defences and the cost of improving them, and ornament would only have delayed their completion. Coming from an engineer who had arrived recently and still lacked the time and boat to finish his coastal survey, the choice also reflects the pressure to send usable information home quickly.

The two batteries Mitchell proposed to rebuild from the ground up connect with the Council's verdict on 13 August 1765. The councillors then described the island's batteries as so weakly built that repairing them was essential. Mitchell's plans gave that judgement its practical form, singling out the two works whose weakness was beyond patching.

Mitchell placed the real risk on the windward side not in the terrain but in the garrison's alertness. The cliffs and surf did the work of defence there, provided the soldiers kept watch. That reasoning underlies the island's system of lookouts and alarm guns, seen in the artillery accounts, which turned out the garrison whenever a sail approached.

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16th September

I must confess myself in a great Measure incapable, from the little

Practice I have had in things of this Sort, for these Eight Years past,

during which time I chiefly acted in the Capacity of an

Artillery Officer

Before I enter upon a particular Detail of the several

Batteries, it will be necessary to say something relative to the

manner in which all Ships bound here are obliged to make the Island,

But more particularly of the Course they must steer in Order to get

an Anchor in the Road: As upon this last Circumstance the

Disposition of the principal Batteries chiefly depends

It is universally known that all Vessels bound to this Island take

Care, by the Time they arrive in its Latitude, to be considerably to

Windward of it; In which case, by steering afterwards a West

Course, they can hardly fail falling in with it. When they get

sight of the Island they then direct their Course towards the

North East End of it, in Order to proceed to the Road by the Way of

Sugar Loaf Point: for should they attempt to come round the

South West End of the Island, they would find themselves, after

passing the Needles, so much baffled by the different Flaws of

Wind issuing in all Directions from the several Vallies as they

pass along, as would render it impossible for them to proceed,

unless they stood off to a considerable Distance from the Island,

in Order to get the true Wind. And even then they would find it

extremely difficult to Work into the Road, as the Wind to Leeward of

the Island seldom blows for five Minutes together in the same

Direction, sometimes coming out of one Valley, sometimes another:

Besides it is to be considered that an Enemy would by this Means

have to work in, in the Face of a great Number of Guns that

would not fail to rake them. And if, after coming on the Road

and

Margin Notes:

Course taken by Ships

Mitchell admitted that he was largely out of practice in that kind of fine draughtsmanship. For the previous eight years he had served mainly as an artillery officer.

Before going through the batteries one by one, he explained how ships bound for St Helena had to approach the island, and especially the route they took to reach the anchorage. The placing of the main batteries depended above all on that route.

Every ship heading for the island made sure to be well to the east of it by the time it reached the island's latitude. By then sailing due west, a ship could hardly miss it. Once the island was in sight, the ship steered for its north-eastern end and came round Sugar Loaf Point to reach the anchorage.

Mitchell explained why no ship came the other way, round the south-western end. After passing the Needles, a vessel would be thrown about by sudden gusts blowing in every direction out of the valleys along that shore. It could make no headway unless it stood well out to sea to find the steady wind. Even then, working into the anchorage would be very hard, since on the sheltered side of the island the wind rarely held the same direction for five minutes, blowing first from one valley and then from another. An enemy taking that route would also have to beat slowly in under a great number of guns, which would sweep its decks from end to end.

Interpretations

The method of approach Mitchell described was known as running down the latitude. Before reliable means of finding longitude at sea were in general use, a navigator could fix his latitude accurately from the sun but not his east-west position. Ships bound for so small an island therefore aimed to reach its latitude deliberately well to the east, then sailed due west along that line until it appeared. Because the prevailing wind blew from the south-east, this also kept them to windward, so they could run down to the island with the wind behind them rather than struggle against it.

The approach dictated the whole design of the defences. Every ship, friend or enemy, had to come round Sugar Loaf Point and run along the north-eastern stretch of coast to reach the road. That is why the batteries at Banks's and Rupert's, and the mortar battery proposed to cover both Rupert's Bay and James Bay, sat where they did. The island's guns did not need to cover the whole leeward shore, only the single channel that wind and navigation forced every vessel to use.

Mitchell's eight years as an artillery officer explain why he signed the gunner's monthly accounts as well as the engineer's report. The artillery account for August 1765, approved on 9 September 1765, bore his name. The Company had placed both the island's guns and its fortifications in the hands of one man whose training lay chiefly in gunnery.

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35

1765

and perhaps within less than a Mile of the Shore, they found themselves

obliged to warp in the rest of the way, they would certainly find this

impracticable, on Account of the constant and excessive Fire they

would be exposed to from the different Batteries on Shore, as will

evidently appear from the Plan.

It must nevertheless be observed that the such a Wind as

would enable a Vessell or Vessels to come into the Road by the South

West End of the Island be very rare in this Latitude, yet Westerly

Winds have been known to prevail here for a Week together, But as they

seldom occur oftner than Once in Five or Six Months, and as their

Duration is often Momentary and always very precarious, it would

be by much too great an Uncertainty for an Enemy, after a long

Voyage, to wait here in hopes of so very precarious an Event.

From what has been said it will appear that there is no

other certain Way of arriving at the Road, but by coming round the

North East End of the Island And even then if Ships, after doubling

Sugar Loaf Point, where the true Wind generally leaves them,

and the Eddies commence, do not keep close under the Shore all the

way between that and the Road, they run no small Hazard of

being blown entirely off the Bank, or at best be forced to come to an

Anchor at so great a Distance from the Shore as, if an Enemy, would

oblige them to warp in a considerable Way before they could do

any Injury to the Batteries on Shore, which, as I before observed, I

apprehend would be wholly impracticable.

This Circumstance of being obliged to hug the Shore

between Sugar Loaf Point and the Road, gives the Island

a prodigious Advantage over an Enemy that should attempt this

Road, as they would by this Means be exposed to such a Continued

and multiplied Fire from the different Batteries as they passed

along, as hardly any Number of Ships would be able to

overcome

Even if an enemy ship came round the south-western end and reached within a mile of the shore, it would then have to warp itself in for the rest of the distance. Mitchell was certain this would fail, because the vessel would face heavy and unbroken fire from the shore batteries the whole time. His plan, he noted, made this plain.

He acknowledged that winds of the kind that would carry a ship into the anchorage from the south-west, though very rare in those latitudes, did sometimes blow from the west for a week at a stretch. Such winds came perhaps once in five or six months, however. They often died away almost at once and could never be relied upon. An enemy arriving after a long voyage could not afford to wait offshore on the chance of so uncertain an event.

The only dependable way into the anchorage was therefore round the north-eastern end of the island. Even on that route, the steady wind usually dropped away once a ship rounded Sugar Loaf Point, leaving only eddies. A vessel that failed to keep close inshore all the way from the point to the anchorage risked being carried clean off the bank. At best it would have to anchor so far out that an enemy would have to warp a long way in before its guns could harm the shore batteries. Mitchell repeated his view that this could not be done.

Ships had no choice but to keep tight under the cliffs between Sugar Loaf Point and the anchorage. This gave the island an enormous advantage against an attacker. Each ship would pass along the whole line of batteries, under fire from one after another, and Mitchell doubted that any number of ships could survive it.

Interpretations

Warping was the method of moving a ship when the wind would not serve. The crew rowed a small anchor out ahead in a boat, dropped it, and then hauled the ship up to it by heaving on the cable, repeating the process over and over. It was slow, exhausting work, and a ship being warped could neither manoeuvre nor bring its broadside to bear freely. Under the fire of shore batteries it would be almost helpless, which is why Mitchell regarded an attack that depended on warping as hopeless.

The bank was the shelf of shallower water off the leeward coast where a ship's anchor could reach the bottom and hold. Beyond its edge the sea fell away too deep for anchoring, so a ship blown off the bank could not stop at all and would drift out to sea, perhaps unable to regain the island against the wind for days. The narrowness of this anchoring ground was itself a defence, since it confined any attacker to a small area already covered by the guns.

Mitchell's dismissal of the westerly winds turned on the position of an attacking fleet rather than on seamanship alone. Ships arriving after months at sea would be short of water and fresh food and often carrying sick men. Waiting offshore for a wind that might come in five or six months, and might last only moments, was out of the question.

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16th September

This will sufficiently appear from the annexed Plan, where the Dotted

Line points out the Ordinary Track of Ships in their approach to the Road,

and the Red Lines crossing each other serve to show the Direction of

every Gun mounted on the several Batteries along the Coast

Having now premised what I had to say on this Part of my Subject,

I shall next descend to a particular Description of Each respective

Battery, and beginning with Banks's upper Battery on the right,

shall enumerate their several Advantages and Defects, and propose

such Repairs and Additions as I apprehend will be necessary to

compleat the whole

Banks's upper Battery is situated about Two hundred Yards

distant from Sugar Loaf Point, and is built upon the edge of

a Rock about Sixty feet above the Level of the Sea, It has at

Present Six Nine Pounders Guns mounted on it and enjoys great

advantages in Point of situation on account of its Vicinity to the

above mentioned Point, where Ships in coming round are obliged to

luff up close under the Land, and must consequently pass directly

under the Front of this Battery: It likewise commands the

Entrance into Ruperts Bay, and in some Measure the whole

Coast between Sugar Loaf Point and the Road.

With all these Advantages of situation, it has been

constructed so very weakly, having but a very thin and unsubstantial

Revetment, & that too built entirely with Dirt Mortar, that I am

thoroughly persuaded even the very firing of the Guns now mounted

on it, small as they are, would soon bring it Down.

I am therefore of opinion it will be necessary to pull it

intirely down, and in the Room of it I would propose to construct

another after the Model contained on Plan 1; which in point

of Dimensions is as large and mounts as many Guns as the

Extent

Margin Notes:

Banks's upper Battery

The attached plan showed this clearly. A dotted line traced the usual course ships followed into the anchorage, and red lines crossing one another marked the direction in which every gun along the coast was pointed.

With that part of his subject complete, Mitchell moved on to describe each battery in turn. He began with the upper battery at Banks's, on the right of the line, and intended to set out the strengths and weaknesses of each before proposing the repairs and additions needed to complete the defences.

The upper battery at Banks's stood about 200 yards from Sugar Loaf Point, built on the lip of a rock some 60 feet above the sea. Six 9-pounder guns were mounted on it. Its position gave it great advantages, since ships rounding the point had to turn up close under the land and so passed directly beneath its guns. It also covered the entrance to Rupert's Bay and, to some extent, the whole coast between Sugar Loaf Point and the anchorage.

For all these advantages of position, the battery itself was very poorly built. Its retaining wall was thin and flimsy, and the masonry was bound only with mud rather than proper lime mortar. Mitchell was convinced that the shock of firing its own guns, light as they were, would soon shake it to pieces.

He therefore advised demolishing the battery completely. In its place he proposed a new one built to the design shown in Plan 1.

Interpretations

Mitchell rejected the obvious course of repairing a battery that already stood on the best site on the coast. The fault lay not in damage that could be patched but in how the work was built from the start. A revetment was the wall of stone or brick that held up the face of an earthen rampart, and his was bound with mud, which washed out and crumbled under vibration. No amount of patching could make such a structure strong enough to carry guns in action, so the only remedy was to clear it away and begin again on the same spot.

The mud mortar explains why gunpowder kept appearing in the artillery accounts for blasting limestone. Powder was issued to the mason for this purpose at West Rocks in July 1765 and three more times in August 1765, as recorded in the accounts approved on 12 August and 9 September 1765. Burnt limestone produced the lime needed for true mortar. Without a local supply, earlier builders had made do with mud, and the island's weak batteries were the result. The quarrying under way in 1765 was laying the foundation for the stronger works Mitchell now proposed.

To luff up was to steer a ship's head closer into the wind. Rounding Sugar Loaf Point, a vessel had to turn sharply in towards the land to keep the shelter of the shore and stay on the bank. That forced turn slowed it at exactly the moment it passed under the upper battery at Banks's, which made the site so valuable.

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1765

Extent of the Rock will admit of, & instead of the Nine Pounders mounted at

present on the Battery, which are by much too small to do any considerable

Execution against Shipping, I would have eighteen Pounders. The other

Alterations will sufficiently appear from the Plan and Section annexed to

it. I shall therefore only observe in general, that the Merlons, in the

Battery I propose to construct, are some feet thick instead of three

only as they are at present, with this further Difference that instead

of being composed wholly of Stone as they are at present, I propose

to have them faced only with Brick, and the interior Part, filled up

with a Composition of Earth, Sand and a little Lime, which when

properly mixed will adhere very strongly, and in case of being battered

by Shipping, will render the Battery much safer and more tenable

than in the other Way, since it is well known that the Splinters which

the Enemy's Shott drive from the Stones (especially that sort of them which

is most common on this Island) often do more Mischief to those on that

Battery than the Shott themselves

I am the rather induced to take this Method, as I have Reason

to believe, from the Nature of the Clay, that excellent Bricks may be

made on this Island, which I am now endeavouring to accomplish,

and if I succeed, will prove a general Benefit to the Island

and particularly to the Company

Almost under the upper Battery stands Banks's lower Battery,

which is built on the Beach with which a Gulley extending about

Three Miles into the Country is terminated towards the Sea. On this

Battery are mounted Two Thirty two and Two Eighteen Pounders,

which sufficiently protect the Beach, & would very much gall an

Enemy after having passed the upper Battery all the way to the Road,

Its Situation too is such and it is so well protected by the upper

Battery & by that on Mundens Point, as would render it

very difficult for Ships to bring their Broadsides to bear against it.

Margin Notes:

Banks's lower Battery

The new upper battery at Banks's was to be as large, and to carry as many guns, as the rock would allow. Mitchell also wanted its present 9-pounders replaced with 18-pounders, since the smaller guns were far too light to do serious damage to ships. The rest of the changes were shown in the plan and cross-section attached.

He drew attention to one general feature of his design. The merlons of the new battery would be 9 feet thick rather than the present 3 feet. They would also be built differently. Instead of solid stone, they would have only a facing of brick, with the core packed with a mixture of earth, sand and a little lime. Mitchell explained that this blend bound together very firmly when properly mixed. Under bombardment from ships, it would make the battery much safer to hold than solid stone. Everyone knew that the fragments of stone knocked loose by enemy shot often did more harm to the gunners than the shot itself, especially with the kind of stone most common on the island.

Mitchell had a further reason for preferring this method. The clay on the island led him to believe that excellent bricks could be made there, and he was already working to produce them. If he succeeded, the island as a whole would benefit, and the Company in particular.

Almost directly beneath the upper battery stood the lower battery at Banks's. It was built on the beach at the seaward end of a gully that ran about 3 miles inland. Two 32-pounders and five 18-pounders were mounted on it, which gave the beach ample protection. These guns could also harass an enemy for the whole distance from the upper battery to the anchorage. The lower battery was so placed, and so well covered by the upper battery and by the battery on Munden's Point, that ships would find it very hard to turn their broadsides against it.

Interpretations

Mitchell turned away from the obvious material for the new merlons, the solid stone used in the existing battery and readily available on the island. Merlons were the solid sections of a parapet between the gun openings, shielding the gunners as they worked. Stone looked strong, but when struck by a cannon ball it shattered into flying fragments that killed and maimed the men behind it. An earth core faced with brick absorbed shot instead, the ball burying itself in the soft fill without throwing out splinters. The local stone, which he singled out as especially prone to this, made the choice all the more pressing on St Helena.

The brick-making Mitchell was attempting would free the Company from a costly dependence on imports. Bricks shipped from England took up valuable cargo space and arrived at great expense, so an island supply would cut the cost of every future work. Taken together with the limestone being quarried for mortar in July and August 1765, his efforts show the engineer trying to build the island's defences from its own materials rather than from goods carried thousands of miles by sea.

The change from 9-pounders to 18-pounders reflected the work the battery had to do. A 9-pound ball could do little against the thick oak sides of a large warship, whereas an 18-pounder could smash through them. The upper battery at Banks's was the first that every ship passed at close range, so Mitchell wanted guns there heavy enough to cripple a vessel rather than merely annoy it.

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16th September

The Masonry of this Battery is tolerably substantial, but by a

mistake in constructing the Passage which serves to carry off the great

Quantities of Water which come down this Gully in Torrents under

the Battery, some part of it has been greatly damaged: This I

have already pulled down and am now constructing an Arch & Water

passage considerably wider and stronger than the former; by which

Means this Battery will be effectually secured against any future

Injuries of this Sort. The Platforms too of this Battery, as indeed

of every other on the Island, having been laid without any seeming

regard either to Dimensions or Slope, must be taken up and new

laid. The whole must be new pointed and a proper Banquette

Made, the Use of which they do not seem to have known here.

Next to this Battery follows Ruperts Line, which serves to

defend a Bay and Valley of the same Name, and has mounted on it

the following Pieces of Ordnance vizt.

32 Pounrs.

8

24 Do.

1

12 Do.

4

9 Do.

15

Total 28

The whole Line has a Ditch before it Eighteen Feet wide

and Ten Deep, with a Glacis or rather Counterscarp, for the Slope

of the former is left unfinished.

As this Work has been built at different Times & by

People apparently ignorant of the fundamental Rules in

constructing Defences, it is therefore irregular; yet as it is well

Flanked, has a Ditch and Glacis to protect the Revettment

& is besides extremely well covered by Banks's two Batteries

and by Mundens, I think it may be made sufficient for the

Defence of this Valley, without any very considerable

Alterations.

Margin Notes:

Ruperts

The masonry of the lower battery at Banks's was reasonably solid. However, the channel built beneath it to carry off the floods that poured down the gully had been badly designed, and part of the battery had suffered serious damage as a result. Mitchell had already pulled down the faulty section. He was now building a new arched culvert, much wider and stronger than the old one, which would protect the battery from any such damage in future.

The gun platforms there, as on every other battery on the island, had been laid with no apparent attention to their size or slope. Mitchell judged that all of them had to be lifted and relaid. The whole battery also needed repointing, and a proper firing step had to be built, since islanders seemed never to have learnt its purpose.

Next in line came Rupert's Line, which guarded the bay and valley of that name. Its guns were listed as follows.

32-pounders, 5 guns

24-pounders, 1 gun

12-pounders, 4 guns

9-pounders, 13 guns

Total, 23 guns

A ditch 18 feet wide and 10 feet deep ran along the whole front of the Line. Beyond it lay an outer slope, which Mitchell thought better described as a counterscarp, because its sloping face had never been completed.

The Line had been put up piecemeal over the years by builders who evidently knew nothing of the basic principles of fortification, and it was irregular as a result. Even so, it had good flanking fire, a ditch and outer slope that shielded its walls, and strong cover from the two batteries at Banks's and the one at Munden's. Mitchell therefore believed it could be made fit to defend the valley without any major changes.

Interpretations

Rupert's Line was badly designed, and an engineer trained in the rules of fortification might have been expected to recommend rebuilding it properly. Mitchell chose to leave it largely as it stood. The difference from his verdict on the upper battery at Banks's, which he wanted demolished, lay in what each work had to do. The upper battery faced ships directly and had to withstand their fire, so flimsy construction made it useless. Rupert's Line sat behind the guns of Banks's and Munden's, which would engage an enemy first, and its faults of layout mattered less when it was already shielded. Irregular but serviceable was good enough where other works carried the main burden.

Several of the faults Mitchell listed concerned the practical handling of guns. A platform was the floor of timber or stone on which a gun carriage stood, laid with a slight slope so that the gun ran back on firing and could be pushed forward again with little effort. A badly laid platform made every shot slow and laborious. A banquette was a raised step behind a parapet, allowing soldiers to stand and fire over it with muskets. Repointing meant raking out decayed mortar from the joints of the masonry and filling them afresh.

The damage done by flood water confirms Mitchell's earlier description of the gullies as channels made by nature to carry torrents from the interior to the sea. The lower battery at Banks's stood squarely at the mouth of one such gully, about 3 miles long. Building a fortification across a water course without allowing enough room for the floods meant the battery was undermined by the very feature that made the beach a landing place.

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1765

The Embrasures which are at present vilely constructed, will

require a thorough Change: The Glacis may be much improved and a good

Banquette formed behind the Parapet, which here, as at all the other

Works, has been totally neglected.

On the West side of Ruperts Bay is situated Chubbs Rock, where

Mr. Hutchinson, in the Remarks he gave in to the Court of Directors relative

to the Fortifications of this Island, gives it as his opinion a Small Battery

ought to be built, in Order to annoy Ships as they approach the Road, for

which its Situation is extremely well adapted. Tho' I agree with him

intirely in Regard to the Advantage of the situation, yet as I apprehend the

End he proposes by it will be sufficiently answered by the Batteries already

constructed, and those that are proposed to be so at Banks's and Mundens,

I must therefore give my opinion against the Necessity of constructing any

additional Battery at this Place

Munden's Battery which comes next in Order is situated upon a

Point of Land projecting considerably beyond the Line of the Coast, it has

therefore a very extensive Command on both sides; It stands almost

perpendicularly over the Sea, about Eighty Feet above the Level of the

Water, and has mounted on it One Thirty two, and Thirteen Nine Pounders

This Battery is certainly the most advantageous and

important placed in Situation of any on the whole Island: It is nearly Central

with Respect to the Batteries on this Part of the Coast, (which are almost

the only Ones of consequence on the Island) every one of which it in some

Degree covers: Its own situation, on Account of its Height above the

Sea, secures it in a great Measure from being batter'd by Shipping, and

it not only commands the whole Coast to the Eastward as far as the

Sugar Loaf, but likewise serves to protect the Road, to flank the Line

in James's Valley and to range the whole Coast to the Westward as

far as the Guns will reach

Margin Notes:

Chubb's

Mundens

Rupert's Line still needed several improvements. Its gun openings were wretchedly built and had to be completely remade. The outer slope could be greatly improved, and a proper firing step had to be built behind the parapet, a feature neglected here as at every other work on the island.

Chubb's Rock stood on the western side of Rupert's Bay. A Mr Hutchinson, in remarks he had submitted to the Court of Directors on the island's fortifications, had recommended building a small battery there to harass ships as they approached the anchorage. Mitchell fully agreed that the site was well suited to that purpose. He believed, however, that the batteries already in place and those proposed for Banks's and Munden's would achieve the same result. He therefore advised against building any further battery at Chubb's Rock.

Munden's battery came next. It stood on a point of land jutting well out beyond the line of the coast, which gave its guns a very wide field of fire on either side. Perched almost sheer above the sea at a height of about 80 feet, it carried one 32-pounder and sixteen 9-pounders.

Mitchell considered Munden's the best and most important position on the entire island. It lay roughly in the middle of the batteries along this stretch of coast, which were almost the only ones of any significance, and gave each of them some protection. Its height above the sea largely shielded it from bombardment by ships. Its guns covered the whole coast eastward as far as Sugar Loaf Point. They also protected the anchorage, swept the front of the Line in James Valley and reached along the coast to the west as far as their range allowed.

Interpretations

Hutchinson's proposal for Chubb's Rock was already before the Directors, and the easy course for Mitchell would have been to endorse a recommendation they had received from an earlier adviser. He conceded that the site was well chosen but still argued against building there. His reason followed the principle he gave the Council on 13 August 1765, when he warned that multiplying works would only divide the garrison. Every additional battery needed guns, stores and men to serve it, drawn from a small and fixed establishment. If Banks's and Munden's already covered the approach, a battery at Chubb's Rock would spread the defenders more thinly without adding real strength.

The reference to Hutchinson shows how the Company gathered advice on distant fortifications. Engineers and officers sent their remarks directly to London, where the Directors could compare one report against another. Mitchell wrote knowing his opinions would be read alongside his predecessor's, which is why he addressed Hutchinson's proposal openly rather than passing over it in silence.

Embrasures were the openings cut through a parapet for guns to fire through. Their shape mattered greatly, since a poorly angled embrasure restricted how far a gun could traverse and funnelled enemy shot towards the crew. Calling those at Rupert's Line vilely built meant they hampered the guns behind them as much as they protected them.

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16th September

As to what regards the present condition of this Battery I

must not only agree with Mr. Hutchinson who thinks that as it

stands on a Shiving Rock it may have some Defects, but must add

that it appears to me to be so very defective and weakly constructed as

not to be able to withstand the shock of its own Guns, much less those

of an Enemy. In a Word, what I have already said in Respect to

Banks's upper Battery, will hold equally good in Regard to this,

nor do I apprehend it can any otherwise be improved than by

pulling down the whole & building a new One in the same Place

For this Purpose I have given a Plan of the Battery I

would propose to construct with Section, which in Point of Form

differs chiefly from the former One by having Two more Embrasures on

the right fronting Banks's and an additional Gun on the Left,

all of which I would have to be Eighteen Pounders, for the Reason

I have already given when speaking of Banks's. The Scale

annexed to the Plan will shew the Dimensions of the several Parts,

which are beyond Comparison more substantial than the present,

and would render this Battery itself, as its Situation certainly

is, the most important and extensively usefull of any on the Island

I shall here obviate an Objection that may be made against

the two proposed Plans for Banks's and this place, which is,

that the Guns appear to be so much crowded as not to admit of

sufficient Room for their recoiling clear of each other. This was

owing to the confined Dimensions of the two Points of Land on

which they are proposed to be seated which on my first survey

did not appear to admit of the smallest Prolongation of

any of the Faces but since drawing these Plans I have

measured their extent more accurately and find they will both

admit of being so far enlarged as to prevent the Platforms from

interfering with each other, which I apprehend will be

sufficient.

Margin Notes:

Mundens

Mitchell agreed with Mr Hutchinson that Munden's battery probably had faults, since it was built on crumbling rock. He went further, however. In his judgement the battery was so poorly and flimsily built that it could not stand the shock of firing its own guns, let alone an enemy's. Everything he had said about the upper battery at Banks's applied equally here. He saw no way to improve it except by demolishing it entirely and building a new one on the same site.

He had supplied a plan and cross-section of the replacement battery. Its layout differed from the old one mainly in having two more gun openings on the right, facing Banks's, and one more gun on the left. For the reason he had given in discussing Banks's, he wanted every gun to be an 18-pounder. The scale attached to the plan showed the size of each part, all far more solid than in the existing work. Built this way, the battery would match the importance of its site and become the most valuable on the island.

Mitchell then dealt with a likely objection to both his designs for Banks's and Munden's. The guns appeared packed so tightly that they might not have room to recoil without striking one another. The cramped size of the two headlands caused this, since on his first survey neither seemed to allow any of the battery faces to be lengthened at all. After drawing the plans, however, he measured the ground more carefully. He found that both sites could be widened just enough to keep the gun platforms from overlapping, which he believed would be sufficient.

Interpretations

A cannon on a wheeled carriage leapt back several feet each time it fired, held only by heavy breeching ropes. Each gun therefore needed its own clear platform behind the embrasure, wide enough for the recoil and for the crew to sponge, reload and run it forward again. Guns set too close together would collide or foul each other's ropes, and the crews would get in each other's way. Mitchell's objection to his own plans was a real one, and he answered it by remeasuring the ground rather than by reducing the number of guns.

Mitchell opened his verdict on Munden's by agreeing with Hutchinson before going further than him. Having just rejected Hutchinson's proposal for Chubb's Rock, he now showed the Directors that his differences with his predecessor were not a matter of course. Where Hutchinson had seen only possible defects, Mitchell found a battery unfit to fire its own guns. Building on an opinion the Directors had already received gave his harsher conclusion more weight than if he had stood alone.

A shivering rock was one that split readily into flakes or slabs, the kind of loose, layered stone that broke away under weathering or vibration. Building on such a foundation was doubly dangerous for a battery, since the shock of gunfire loosened both the masonry and the rock beneath it. That explains why Mitchell treated the site and the structure together as reasons for rebuilding from the ground up.

46

41

1765

At a Consultation which was held by the Court of Directors relative

to the Fortifications of this Place, at which I had the Honour of being

present, I took the Liberty to express my Surprise that on an Island which

could only be attacked by Shipping there was not to be found a single

Mortar mounted on any of the Defences; which is the more remarkable,

as this Species of Ordnance is infinitely more formidable to Vessels

than Guns on Account of the greatness of their Execution and their

extensive Range.

In the Course of my survey I could be at no loss in fixing on the

proper Spot for such a Battery, as this of Munden's by its Position

which as I observed before is nearly in the Center of the most accessible

Part of the Coast, & by its projecting beyond the other Points of Land

offers every Advantage that can be wished for.

In the separate Plan therefore, which I have given of Mundens,

I have chosen a Situation about Eighty Feet above the Gun Battery,

where I would propose to plant Three Thirteen Inch Mortars,

having an Epaulement about Six feet high before them to protect

them against Random Shott: Its lofty situation preventing its being

regularly fired at.

Having now finished my Remarks on this important Post,

I proceed to give a Description of the Works constructed for the

Defence of the Road, as well as of the Capital of the Island

which stands in James's Valley, or as it is generally stiled by

way of Preeminence the Valley.

These Works consist of two Lines of Guns, one behind the

other, extending quite across the Beach, which is about 250 Yards

in Extent.

The Exterior Line has a Bastion on the right, a

Demi-Bastion on the left, two very short Curtains, and a

Redan in the Center, the whole has a Ditch before it,

terminated

Margin Notes:

Proposed Mortar Battery

James Town Lines

Mitchell recalled a meeting of the Court of Directors on the island's fortifications, which he had been honoured to attend. There he voiced his surprise that an island open to attack only from the sea had not a single mortar mounted in any of its defences. He found this all the more striking because mortars were far more dangerous to ships than ordinary guns, owing to the destruction they caused and the great distance they could reach.

During his survey he had no difficulty choosing the right place for a mortar battery. Munden's, as he had already explained, lay close to the centre of the most exposed stretch of coast and jutted out beyond the other headlands. It offered every advantage he could want.

His separate plan of Munden's therefore marked a site about 80 feet above the gun battery. There he proposed to mount three 13-inch mortars behind a protective bank of earth about 4 feet high, which would guard them against stray shot. Their height would prevent any ship from taking proper aim at them.

With his remarks on Munden's complete, Mitchell turned to the works defending the anchorage and the island's capital in James Valley, which islanders commonly called simply the Valley.

These defences consisted of two lines of guns, one behind the other, running right across the beach for about 250 yards.

The outer line had a bastion on the right, a half bastion on the left, two very short stretches of curtain wall and a redan in the middle. A ditch ran along the whole of its front.

Interpretations

Mitchell placed his mortars not alongside the guns at Munden's but on higher ground well above them. A mortar threw its shell in a high arc, so it needed no clear line of sight down to the water and could fire from a position ships could barely see. Raising the battery 80 feet above the guns put it beyond the reach of aimed fire from below, since a ship's guns could not be elevated far enough to hit it. That height allowed him to protect the mortars with a low bank of earth rather than a full parapet, saving labour and material on an island where both were scarce. This is the mortar battery the Council praised on 13 August 1765 for commanding both Rupert's Bay and James Bay.

A 13-inch mortar was the heaviest kind in common service, a short, thick-walled piece that hurled a hollow iron shell filled with powder. The shell burst on or above its target, and a single hit could set a ship on fire or smash through its decks into the hold. Ships carried no comparable weapon of their own, which explains Mitchell's surprise that the island's defenders had never mounted one.

Mitchell's account reveals that he came to St Helena with a brief already shaped in London. He had attended a meeting of the Court of Directors on the island's fortifications and raised the lack of mortars there before he ever saw the place. His recommendation was therefore not a fresh discovery but the fulfilment of a view he had put to the Directors in person, which gave it all the more chance of being approved.

The name the Valley, used on its own for James Valley and the town within it, explains the wording of William Holbrook's petition of 26 August 1765. He asked for waste ground in "this valley" without naming it, because to islanders there was only one place meant by the term.

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16th September

terminated by a thick Wall which forms the Counterscarp. It serves

to protect the Revettment from being injured by the Violence of the

Surf, as well as covers it from the Fire of an Enemy.

This Line has mounted on it the following Guns vizt.

32 Pound.

20

24 Do.

2

12 Do.

1

9 Do.

2

Total 25

On the right of the Line is a Gate and Draw Bridge which lead

to the Landing Place

The interior Line, which is raised about 18 Feet

above the Level of the other, consists of a Curtain terminated at each

Extremity by a half Bastion, & contains Embrasures for 50 Pieces

of Cannon, but has only the following mounted on it vizt.

9 Pound.

7

6 Do.

7

4 Do.

4

3 Do.

1

2 Do.

19

Total 38

Behind the Center of the Line stands a small Square Fort

called the Castle, in which is the Governors house: It is of no

Consequence in Regard to the general Defence of the Island, and

could only be serviceable in case of any Insurrection among the

Slaves

As to the present Condition and Solidity of these Works

to begin with the Exterior Line, The Masonry seems to be strong

and in good Repair. The Revettment, which is very Solid, is

sufficiently protected as high as the Cordon by the thick Wall

which forms the Counterscarp, and the Merlons are very

substantial, being Nine Feet thick & all of very Solid and Good

Masonry

Margin Notes:

Outer Line

Upper Line

The Fort

Condition of Outer Line

Close examination of the two ordnance tables.The ditch in front of the outer line ended in a thick wall forming its outer face. This wall shielded the main rampart from the battering of the surf and also screened it from enemy fire. The guns mounted on the outer line were as follows.

32-pounders, 20 guns

24-pounders, 2 guns

18-pounders, 1 gun

9-pounders, 2 guns

Total, 25 guns

A gate and drawbridge on the right of the line led through to the landing place.

The inner line stood about 18 feet higher than the outer one. It consisted of a single curtain wall ending in a half bastion at each end. It had openings for 80 guns, but carried only the following.

9-pounders, 7 guns

6-pounders, 7 guns

4-pounders, 4 guns

3-pounders, 1 gun

2-pounders, 19 guns

Total, 38 guns

Behind the middle of the line stood a small square fort known as the Castle, which contained the Governor's residence. Mitchell judged it of no importance to the island's general defence. In his view it would be of use only if the slaves rose in revolt.

Turning to the state and strength of these works, Mitchell began with the outer line. Its masonry appeared sound and well kept. The main rampart was very solid and was adequately shielded up to the level of its projecting top course by the thick outer wall of the ditch. The merlons were also very strong, standing 9 feet thick and built entirely of excellent masonry.

Interpretations

Mitchell's remark about the Castle reveals what the Company's own engineer regarded as one of the island's real dangers. The fort at the heart of James Town contributed nothing against an attack from the sea, yet he saw a purpose for it as a refuge and stronghold if the slaves rose. Slaves formed a large part of the island's population, and the seat of government was built and kept as a place the Governor and garrison could hold against them. The defences of St Helena thus faced inward as well as outward, guarding the Company against the labour force on which the island depended as much as against foreign enemies.

The inner line had openings for 80 guns but carried only 38, and half of those were 2-pounders, far too light to harm a ship. The artillery accounts help explain why so many small guns were kept there. In July and August 1765 nearly every salute to an arriving or departing ship was fired from 2-pounders, as the accounts approved on 12 August and 9 September 1765 show. The inner line, overlooking the anchorage from the town, was the natural place for saluting, and its many light guns probably served that ceremonial purpose more than any defensive one.

The outer line already had merlons 9 feet thick, the same thickness Mitchell proposed for his rebuilt batteries at Banks's and Munden's. It was the one work on the island he found well built, and it gave him a working standard against which to measure the rest. The cordon was the rounded course of stone running along the top of a rampart's face, marking where the masonry wall ended and the parapet began.

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1765

Masonry. The greatest Defect of this Line arises from its being

constructed so near the Beach, as not to leave Room for having the Ditch

of a proper Width, particularly before the Saliant Angles where it is

extremely contracted, notwithstanding which the Wall of the Counterscarp

in these places & particularly in Front of the Redan, is frequently

damaged by the Violence of the Surf, which sometimes breaks quite

over it. Upon the whole however I do not apprehend any other

Alterations of this Line immediately necessary, besides new laying

the Platforms & forming a proper Banquette. If when the more

essential Works are compleated, a small Ravelin was

constructed before the Gate or Sortie, it would strengthen this Part,

which in its present Situation is I think rather exposed

The Masonry of the interior Line is far inferior to that of the

other, However I am of opinion that the Curtain, with the Addition

of a new Parapet, may remain as it is at present. As to the two half

Bastions at the Extremities of this Line, I believe they will require

to be entirely rebuilt with this Alteration, that the one on the Left,

instead of terminating as it does at present about Ten Yards from

the Rock, should be continued quite up to it. The Embrasures on

this Line are by far too much crowded, Instead of Fifty as there

are at present, I would only have Thirty Platforms for Guns,

which I think ought to be Nine Pounds for the Demi Bastns.

and six Pounds for the Flanks and Curtain, Those mounted

on both at present, besides being too small to do Execution

against an Enemy, are of themselves Old Honeycomb'd

& can only be made Use of, as they are at present, in saluting.

Between James's and Lemon Valley are three narrow

and inconsiderable Gullies specified in the Plan, one of which

will require to have the Rocks which terminate them, to the

scarped & to be afterwards walled up

Margin Notes:

Condition of Inner Line

Breaches openings of these Vallies

Mitchell regarded the outer line's chief weakness as its position too close to the beach. This left no room for a ditch of proper width, especially in front of the projecting point, where the ditch narrowed sharply. Despite that, the surf often damaged the outer wall of the ditch at those places, above all in front of the redan, and sometimes broke right over it. On the whole, however, he saw no need for other immediate changes to this line beyond relaying the gun platforms and building a proper firing step. Once the more pressing works were finished, a small detached outwork in front of the gate would strengthen that point, which he considered rather exposed as it stood.

The masonry of the inner line was much poorer than that of the outer. Even so, Mitchell believed the curtain wall could be kept as it was, provided it received a new parapet. The two half bastions at either end would have to be completely rebuilt. He wanted the one on the left extended right up to the rock face, instead of stopping about 10 yards short of it as it did at present.

The gun openings on the inner line were packed far too closely together. Mitchell proposed cutting their number from fifty to thirty. He wanted 9-pounders on the half bastions and 6-pounders on the flanks and the curtain. The guns now mounted there were too light to harm an enemy, and were also old and pitted with corrosion. As things stood, they were fit only for firing salutes.

Three small, narrow gullies lay between James Valley and Lemon Valley, all marked on the plan. In one of them, the rocks at the seaward end would need to be cut back to a sheer face and then closed off with a wall.

Interpretations

Faced with a line pierced for fifty guns, most of them empty or filled with useless pieces, the obvious course was to fill every opening with serviceable cannon. Mitchell chose instead to reduce the number of openings to thirty. Crowded embrasures left too little room for each gun to recoil and be served, and each extra opening weakened the parapet around it. Fewer, better guns with space to work would deliver more effective fire than a long row of crowded ones. The same concern with crowding shaped his answer to the possible objection to his plans for Banks's and Munden's.

Honeycombed guns were cannon whose bores had become pitted and cavernous through rust and long use. Such a barrel could burst when fired with a full charge and ball, killing its own crew. Firing a blank salute needed only a light charge and placed far less strain on the metal, so worn-out guns could be kept for ceremonial use long after they were unsafe for action. Mitchell's verdict confirms that the many 2-pounders on the inner line, which fired nearly all the salutes recorded in the artillery accounts, were no longer weapons of war.

Mitchell's report confirms the problem the Lieutenant Governor raised with him on 13 August 1765, when Corneille warned that the surf was washing away the outer wall of the ditch in front of the redan. Mitchell had replied that the wall could be strengthened without rebuilding the redan, and he repeats here that no immediate alteration was needed. A ravelin was a detached, wedge-shaped outwork built in front of a gate to shield it from direct attack. Scarping a rock meant cutting its face back to a sheer drop that no one could climb.

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16th September

The Battery for the Defence of Lemon Valley is mounted with six

6 Pounders. It is but a very poor Work, & will at least require to have

its Front considerably enlarged, so as the Flanks may join the Hills

on both Sides the Valley, & by that means inclose the whole, which

will make Room for a few more Guns which ought to be 9 or 12 Pound.

The Guns at present on it will serve for the two Flanks.

I have now finished my Observations on that Part of the Coast contained in

the first Plan, in which I have been the more particular, as this is

naturally by much the most accessible part of the Island, & where

almost all the Works of consequence have been erected

What remains of the Leeward Coast, lying between Horse Pasture

Point and the Needles, as the whole is inaccessible with

Exception to a few inconsiderable Gullies, which can only require a

single Wall for their Defence, I need say no more concerning it.

There remains then only the Windward Division of the Island to be

described, with regard to which I have already made some Remarks by

which it will appear that there is little or no danger to be

apprehended from any Attempt of an Enemy on this Part of the

Coast, exclusive of Sandy Bay, of which I have annexed a

Plan, & shall now particularly Describe.

This Bay is situated towards the South End of the Island, is

about Two hundred Yards across in the narrowest Part of it. It is

terminated by an open sandy Beach which extends quite across

the Bay.

In the Plan I have given of it I have included not only the

present Defences of this Bay, but likewise those additional

Works I propose to construct there, which are to be distinguished

from

Margin Notes:

Lemon Valley

West Leeward Vallies

Sandy Bay

The battery defending Lemon Valley carried six 6-pounders. Mitchell judged it a very poor work. At the least, its front would have to be greatly extended so that its flanks reached the hills on either side of the valley and closed it off completely. That would make room for a few heavier guns, which he thought should be 9-pounders or 12-pounders. The guns already there could then be used on the two flanks.

This completed his remarks on the stretch of coast shown in his first plan. He had gone into particular detail there because it was by far the most accessible part of the island by nature, and nearly all the important defences had been built along it.

The rest of the leeward coast, between Horse Pasture Point and the Needles, was entirely impossible to land on apart from a few minor gullies. A single wall would be almost enough to defend any of them, so Mitchell had nothing further to add about that stretch.

Only the windward side of the island now remained. His earlier remarks had already shown that an enemy could pose little or no danger there, with the single exception of Sandy Bay. He had attached a plan of the bay and now turned to describe it in detail.

Sandy Bay lay towards the southern end of the island and measured about 200 yards across at its narrowest point. An open sandy beach ran the full width of its head.

His plan of the bay showed both its existing defences and the additional works he proposed to build there, drawn so that the two could be told apart.

Interpretations

Mitchell's plan for Lemon Valley turned on extending the battery from hillside to hillside. A battery that stood in the middle of a valley mouth could be bypassed by troops landing on the beach and working round its ends, then attacking it from behind or simply marching inland past it. Joining its flanks to the slopes on either side made it a continuous barrier with no way round. That was the same principle he applied to the minor gullies further west, where a single wall across the mouth was enough to deny an enemy any path inland.

He also found a use for the battery's existing 6-pounders rather than replacing them. Guns on the flanks fired along the face of the work at men already close to it, where range and weight of shot mattered far less than in firing out to sea. The light guns too weak to harm a ship were still effective against troops in the open at short distance. Placing them on the flanks and the heavier 9-pounders or 12-pounders in front matched each gun to the task it could actually perform.

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1765

from each other by the former being drawn with black and the latter with

red Lines.

The present Defences of this Bay consist of two Batteries; The

One a very Old Work, situated on the right side of the Bay mounting three

The other at the bottom of the Bay called from the name of the Builder Blunds Battery is mounted with four

Pounders and two four Pounders. The remaining Part of the Bay, as well

as two Inlets One on each Side of it, remains intirely Open

With regard to the Battery on the right, tho it is a very Old Work

yet as it stands very commodiously for flanking the Bay and as its

Guns could not be easily dismounted by an Enemy, by reason of the

Obliquity of their Fire, I therefore think it may be rendered very usefull.

As to Blund's Battery, tho it must be allowed that

(considering it in the Light of a distinct Battery, unconnected with

any other & built to protect the Bay) a much more commanding

situation might have been found; Yet as it is a new Work, & in good

Repair, I have endeavoured so to contrive my Plan for compleating the

Defence of this Bay, as to render it as usefull as possible.

For this Purpose I propose (as may be seen in the Plan) to

extend a Line from each of its Flanks, quite across the Bay, so as to

inclose the whole: This Line will consist of a Revettment about Ten

Feet high, having a narrow Rampart behind it, & a Ditch in Front

of the same Breadth as the Rampart, with a Glacis sloping down to

the Edge of the Beach. The two small inlets to the right and left of the

Bay will be defended by a Wall and parapet for Musquetry

I have preferred this Method of securing the whole to that of

constructing separate Batteries, where the intermediate Spaces are

left open, because I have had occasion (from my own Experience) to

observe that Troops acting on the Defensive never behave with so

much Coolness, Confidence & Intrepidity as when they know their

Situation to be such as secures them from a Surprize or Sudden Assault

from an Enemy.

Margin Notes:

[...]

The two were told apart by colour, with existing works drawn in black and proposed ones in red.

Sandy Bay was defended at present by two batteries. One was a very old work on the right side of the bay, mounting three [...]. The other, at the head of the bay, was named Blund's battery after the man who built it and carried four [...]-pounders. The rest of the bay, together with two small inlets on either side of it, was completely unprotected.

Mitchell considered the battery on the right well worth keeping despite its age. It was ideally placed to fire along the length of the bay. An enemy would also find its guns hard to knock out, because ships would be firing at it from a sharp angle. He believed it could be made very useful.

Blund's battery presented a different case. Mitchell admitted that, judged as a stand-alone battery with no other work supporting it, a far better position could have been chosen. However, it was newly built and in good condition. He had therefore designed his plan for completing the bay's defences so as to make the best possible use of it.

To that end he proposed, as the plan showed, to run a line from each of its flanks across the whole bay, closing it off entirely. The line would consist of a retaining wall about 10 feet high with a narrow rampart behind it. In front would run a ditch as wide as the rampart, with a gentle outer slope falling to the edge of the beach. The two small inlets on either side of the bay would be closed with a wall and a parapet for musket fire.

Mitchell explained why he preferred one continuous line to a series of separate batteries with open ground between them. His own experience had taught him that troops on the defensive never fought with such calm, confidence and courage as when they knew their position was safe from surprise or a sudden rush.

Interpretations

The usual way to defend a bay was to place batteries at the best firing points and leave the ground between them open, since guns did the real work against ships. Mitchell chose to close the whole of Sandy Bay with a continuous line instead, and his reason lay not in engineering but in how soldiers behaved. Men posted in a detached battery knew an enemy could land in the gaps and come at them from the side or rear, and that fear weakened their resolve even before any attack. A closed line removed that anxiety, leaving the defenders free to concentrate on the enemy in front. For a garrison as small as St Helena's, where every man counted, the steadiness of the troops was worth the cost of the extra walling.

Mitchell's treatment of Blund's battery shows him weighing the cost of what already existed against the ideal. Elsewhere he recommended demolishing the upper battery at Banks's and Munden's, but those were well sited and badly built. Blund's was the reverse, soundly built on a poor site. Rather than abandon a new work in good repair, he redesigned the defences around it so that the line extending from its flanks made up for the weakness of its position.

The old battery on the right gained its value from the angle of fire. Ships attacking the bay would have to lie off its mouth, and from there a battery on the side of the bay presented only a narrow, oblique target that was hard to hit squarely. Its own guns, meanwhile, could sweep straight across the beach where an enemy would try to land.

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16th September

I propose to unite the various Torrents of Water which descend

into this Bay from the interior Parts of the Island, into two Channels:

The one to pass under the Line to the Right of Blund's Battery,

which will likewise serve as a Passage to the Old Battery, and the

other under the Flanking Line on the left, both of them to be secured

by Port-Cullises. The new Guard House will be secured from an

Enemy's Fire by the Front of Blunds and the whole Bay (when

the Work is compleated) put on an Equality in Point of Strength,

with the other accessible Parts of the Island.

I have now finished every thing I had to say respecting the

Fortifications and Defences of this Island, which I have

endeavoured to treat with that plainess and Perspicuity as may

serve to give the Reader a just Idea of the present Defences of

this Island, and to enable him to form some Judgement of the

Propriety and Necessity of those Alterations and Additions I have

proposed to make to them.

I shall now say something relative to the principal

Buildings military and civil which it will be necessary to

construct as soon as the Fortifications are once compleated,

Among the former the Powder Magazines claim the first

place, of which there are several excellent Ones, & Bomb

Proof already compleated in some of the different Batteries,

nor will it be a Work either of much Difficulty or time to increase

the Number of these where they be wanted, as the Rocks along

the Coast of this Island are in general easily excavated, & being

without Springs of Water for the most Part afford very dry

and convenient Bomb Proofs for this Purpose.

With Regard to the other military Storehouses, they are

more wanted except at the Main Fort where some new ones of

no great Extent will want to be constructed & the present Ones

put in proper Repair.

One or two Guard Rooms must likewise be built.

Margin Notes:

Sandy Bay

Powder Magazines

Store houses

Mitchell proposed to gather the various streams that flowed down into Sandy Bay from the interior and carry them in two channels. One would run beneath the line to the right of Blund's battery, where it would also give access to the old battery. The other would run beneath the flanking line on the left. Each was to be closed by a portcullis. The front of Blund's battery would shield the new guardhouse from enemy fire. Once the work was finished, the whole bay would be as strong as any other part of the island where a landing was possible.

This completed everything Mitchell had to say about the island's fortifications and defences. He had aimed to write plainly and clearly, so that readers could form an accurate picture of the defences as they stood. He also hoped they could judge for themselves whether the changes and additions he proposed were sound and necessary.

He then turned to the main buildings, military and civil, that would need to be put up once the fortifications were complete.

Among the military buildings, powder magazines came first. Several excellent ones, proof against bombardment, had already been built at some of the batteries. Adding more wherever they were needed would take little effort or time. The rock along the island's coast was generally easy to cut, and since most of it held no springs, chambers carved into it made dry, convenient and shell-proof stores for powder.

As for other military storehouses, none were needed except at the main fort. There a few small new ones would have to be built and the existing ones put into good repair.

One or two guardrooms would also be required.

Interpretations

The water channels at Sandy Bay show Mitchell applying a lesson learned elsewhere on the island. At the lower battery at Banks's, a badly built drain beneath the work had let floods damage the masonry, and he was already rebuilding it with a wider and stronger arch. At Sandy Bay he designed for the torrents from the start, gathering them into two planned channels rather than letting them find their own way under the new line. Every opening under a defensive wall was also a possible way through it, which is why each channel was to be closed with a portcullis, a heavy grating that let water pass but barred entry to men.

A bomb-proof was a chamber with a roof thick enough to withstand mortar shells falling from above. Gunpowder had to be kept both dry and protected, since damp spoiled it and a single shell striking an exposed store could destroy a battery. Building such vaults in masonry was slow and costly. On St Helena the coastal rock offered a ready-made solution. A chamber cut into solid rock had a natural roof many feet thick, and because the rock held no springs, the powder stayed dry. Here again Mitchell turned the island's own materials and geology to account, as he had with its clay for bricks and its limestone for mortar.

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The Barracks for the Garrison which are at present too much confined

must be enlarged & apartments made for the Officers, which were begun

but left unfinished.

With regard to the Storehouses which contain the Provisions for

the Garrison & the Honble. Company's Stores, they are in the same

Condition with most of the other public Buildings belonging to the

Company, the greatest Part of which are in very bad Repair & will

want to be thoroughly refitted, as soon as the other Works which are

more immediately and essentially wanted are once compleated.

I should think that when the hurry of the Works is once

over, if one or two Storehouses were made Bomb Proof, in order to

serve as a Safe place for the Provisions of the Garrison & the most

valuable of the Company's Stores, it would be a very proper

Measure.

The other principal Buildings belonging to the Company are the

Governors house in the Fort, called the Castle, his house in the Country

called the Plantation house, and the Houses of the Company's servants,

of which the first and last have just undergone a thorough Repair.

The Plantation house having been constructed on a bad

Plan from the beginning, particularly having such Defects in the

Roof as have hitherto from want indeed of taking proper Methods been

thought irreparable, has been left unfinished without having a

single habitable Room in the whole.

As the whole Building and particularly the Timbers suffer

greatly & would soon be rendered useless, if allowed to remain much longer

in its present Condition, I therefore propose to set about compleating

it as soon as the dry Season sets in.

The other Buildings wanted for the Convenience of the

Island are a new Church and Sessions house, or Place for the

Quarterly Courts of Judicature to sit in. I find a Plan of the former

has been sent home, and that the proper Timbers for the Roof are

sea[...]

Margin Notes:

Dwelling Houses

The barracks were too cramped for the garrison and had to be enlarged. Quarters for the officers had been started there but never finished, and these too needed completing.

The storehouses holding the garrison's provisions and the Company's goods were in the same state as most of the Company's public buildings, the greater part of which were in very poor repair. All of them would need a thorough overhaul once the more urgent and essential works were finished.

Mitchell suggested that, when the rush of building had passed, one or two storehouses should be made proof against bombardment. These would serve as a safe store for the garrison's food and for the most valuable of the Company's goods.

The Company's other main buildings were the Governor's residence within the fort, known as the Castle, his country residence called Plantation House, and the houses of the Company's servants. The Castle and the servants' houses had recently been fully repaired.

Plantation House had been badly designed from the start. Its roof in particular had faults that were thought impossible to fix, though Mitchell put this down to nobody having tried the right methods. The house had been left unfinished as a result and did not contain a single room fit to live in.

The whole building, and especially its timbers, was deteriorating badly and would soon be beyond saving if left much longer in that state. Mitchell therefore proposed to begin completing it as soon as the dry season arrived.

The island also needed a new church and a courthouse where the quarterly courts could sit. Mitchell understood that a plan for the church had already been sent to England and that suitable timbers for its roof were awaited.

Interpretations

The accepted view on the island was that the roof of Plantation House could not be repaired, and the building had been left to decay on that assumption. Mitchell refused to accept it, attributing the failure to poor methods rather than to any real impossibility. His reason for acting was the condition of the timbers. Imported wood was costly and slow to replace on an island with little timber of its own, and every season of exposure brought the frame closer to ruin. Completing the house promptly would save the investment already made, while further delay would mean rebuilding it from scratch. That the Governor's own country residence stood uninhabitable shows how far the Company's buildings had been neglected before Mitchell's arrival.

The proposal to make storehouses proof against bombardment reflects St Helena's dependence on supplies brought by sea. In a siege, the garrison could hold out only as long as its food lasted, and the island already struggled to keep its stores full. The London delivered rice short in weight on 13 August 1765, and the Calcutta left 19 bags of paddy undelivered on 6 September 1765. Protecting the provisions was as essential to the island's defence as protecting its powder.

The quarterly courts were the island's regular sittings for trying civil disputes and criminal cases, held four times a year under the Governor and Council. Their lack of a dedicated building meant justice was dispensed in whatever room could be found, which did little for its dignity or authority. A proper courthouse would give the Company's legal power on the island a fixed and visible home.

Mitchell's plan to begin work on Plantation House once the dry season set in reflects the island's southern-hemisphere seasons. Rain fell most heavily in the cooler months from around May to August, so the drier, warmer period beginning in spring offered the best conditions for opening up and reroofing a building.

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expected by next Years Storeships: I must however take the Liberty to

give my opinion with Regard to the Impropriety of Undertaking either

of these Works, till all the Repairs of the Fortifications are compleated,

as this Last is certainly an Object of infinitely more Consequence &

more immediately wanted than the other. When the Island is once made

thoroughly Defensible, it will then be time enough I apprehend to

construct such other Buildings as may tend to the Utility &

Convenience of the Island.

With regard to the present Church, tho it must be allowed to

be much too small to contain a large Audience, yet I have not hitherto

been able to perceive any very great Inconvenience from this Cause.

And as it is in no immediate Danger of falling, I should think it

might suffice for a few Years longer, by which time as the Company

will have a much greater Number of Artificers train'd up than they

have at present, it, as well as the Sessions house may be built,

at One half the Expence it would cost at present.

With regard to the Order, in which I would choose to proceed

in respect to the Fortifications I think that Sandy Bay, as being

in its present State the most defenceless Part of the Island, should

therefore be the first new Work to be Undertaken; After which, beginning

with Banks's upper Battery I would proceed along the Coast to

the Westward, compleating each as it fell in my Way.

In respect to the Time it may take up, and the Expence that

will attend the compleating of these, I apprehend it is impossible

to ascertain either with any Degree of Precision: for this Reason

that as almost all the Company's Workmen & Artificers consist

at present of Slaves the greatest Part of whom, being but just

arrived from Africa, are intirely unexperienced and will be of no very

great service for some time, no Calculation can therefore be

formed with Respect to the Quantity of Work they will be able

to perform

Margin Notes:

Church

Order of proceeding with the work

The timbers for the church roof were expected to arrive with the following year's ships. Mitchell nevertheless felt bound to advise against starting either the church or the courthouse until every repair to the fortifications was finished. Making the island defensible mattered far more and was needed far sooner. Once that was done, there would be time enough to put up other buildings for the island's use and comfort.

He acknowledged that the existing church was much too small for a large congregation. Even so, he had not yet seen this cause any serious difficulty. Since the building was in no immediate danger of collapse, he thought it could serve for a few more years. By then the Company would have trained many more craftsmen than it had at present, and both the church and the courthouse could be built for half of what they would cost now.

On the order of work for the fortifications, Mitchell placed Sandy Bay first, since it was currently the least defended part of the island. After that he would start with the upper battery at Banks's and work westward along the coast, completing each work as he reached it.

He could not estimate with any accuracy how long the work would take or what it would cost. Nearly all the Company's labourers and craftsmen were slaves, most of them only recently brought from Africa. They had no experience of such work and would be of limited use for some time. As a result, there was no way to calculate how much they would be able to accomplish.

Interpretations

A plan for the new church had already been sent to England and the roof timbers were on their way, so the natural course was to build it when they arrived. Mitchell argued for waiting, and gave two reasons. Defence came first, since an island that could not hold off an attack had no use for a finer church. The second reason was economic. The Company was training its own workforce, and in a few years skilled hands would be available to build at half the present cost. Holding back the civil buildings allowed the scarce labour of the moment to go entirely into the fortifications, while the later works would benefit from the skills gained on them.

Mitchell's closing remarks reveal that the Company's building programme rested on slave labour. Most of its workmen were Africans newly brought to the island, untrained in masonry, carpentry or any other building craft. The Company intended to turn them into skilled artificers, whose work would then cost it nothing beyond their keep. That explains how Mitchell could expect the church and courthouse to cost half as much in a few years' time. The savings depended on slaves learning trades whose value would pass entirely to their owner. It also explains why he could give no timetable or estimate, since the pace of every work hung on how quickly men who had never laid a stone could be taught to build.

Mitchell's choice to begin at Sandy Bay agreed with the Council's view on 13 August 1765, when the councillors singled out the bay as especially defenceless.

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It is evident that this is very different from the Manner of carrying on

Works in Europe, where the Artificers being perfect in their several Professions,

the Quantity of Work that can be perform'd in any limited Time may be

easily reduced to a Calculation

However to ascertain this Matter with all the Precision it will

admitt of, I shall here subjoin Returns of the Number of the Company's

Slaves at present employed in the public Works of this Island, with

the Number of hired Workmen & the Expence attending them & shall

conclude with some General Remarks concerning them

Mitchell observed that this was quite unlike the way building work was carried out in Europe. There, craftsmen were fully trained in their trades, so the amount of work they could complete in a given time could be worked out without difficulty.

To settle the question as precisely as the circumstances allowed, he attached returns showing how many of the Company's slaves were currently employed on the island's public works. These also gave the number of hired workmen and what they cost. He intended to end with some general observations about them.

Interpretations

Unable to give the Directors a firm estimate of time or cost, Mitchell did not offer a guess dressed up as a forecast. He supplied instead the raw figures on which any estimate would have to rest, the numbers of slaves and hired men and the cost of the hired labour. That allowed the Directors in London to judge the scale of the workforce for themselves and to watch how its output changed in later returns as the newly arrived slaves gained skill. It also protected Mitchell, since a figure he could not stand behind would have been held against him if the works ran late or over budget.

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Return of Artificers Labourers, and Apprentices, belonging to the Honorable Company at present employed on the Fortifications and

other public Works of this Island

Masons Master, Masons Assistant, Masons Workmen, Masons Apprentices, Masons Total, Carpenters Master, Carpenters Workmen, Carpenters Apprentices, Carpenters Total, Armourers Master, Armourers Workmen, Armourers Apprentices, Armourers Total, Brickmakers Apprences, Bricklayers Do., Plaisterers Do., Labourers, Total

Companys Servants, with Fixed, Anual Salaries: Masons Master 1, Masons Assistant 1, Masons Workmen 0, Masons Apprentices 0, Masons Total 2, Carpenters Master 1, Carpenters Workmen 0, Carpenters Apprentices 0, Carpenters Total 1, Armourers Master 1, Armourers Workmen 0, Armourers Apprentices 0, Armourers Total 1, Brickmakers Apprences 0, Bricklayers Do. 0, Plaisterers Do. 0, Labourers 0, Total 4

Slaves who has been trained up as Artificers: Masons Master 0, Masons Assistant 0, Masons Workmen 5, Masons Apprentices 0, Masons Total 5, Carpenters Master 0, Carpenters Workmen 4, Carpenters Apprentices 1, Carpenters Total 5, Armourers Master 0, Armourers Workmen 2, Armourers Apprentices 1, Armourers Total 3, Brickmakers Apprences 0, Bricklayers Do. 0, Plaisterers Do. 0, Labourers 0, Total 13

Men Slaves brought by Captain Skottowe: Masons Master 0, Masons Assistant 0, Masons Workmen 0, Masons Apprentices 0, Masons Total 0, Carpenters Master 0, Carpenters Workmen 0, Carpenters Apprentices 0, Carpenters Total 0, Armourers Master 0, Armourers Workmen 0, Armourers Apprentices 0, Armourers Total 0, Brickmakers Apprences 0, Bricklayers Do. 0, Plaisterers Do. 0, Labourers 14, Total 14

Boy Do. employed as follows: Masons Master 0, Masons Assistant 0, Masons Workmen 0, Masons Apprentices 13, Masons Total 13, Carpenters Master 0, Carpenters Workmen 0, Carpenters Apprentices 1, Carpenters Total 1, Armourers Master 0, Armourers Workmen 0, Armourers Apprentices 1, Armourers Total 1, Brickmakers Apprences 3, Bricklayers Do. 2, Plaisterers Do. 2, Labourers 0, Total 22

Total: Masons Master 1, Masons Assistant 1, Masons Workmen 5, Masons Apprentices 13, Masons Total 20, Carpenters Master 1, Carpenters Workmen 4, Carpenters Apprentices 2, Carpenters Total 7, Armourers Master 1, Armourers Workmen 2, Armourers Apprentices 2, Armourers Total 5, Brickmakers Apprences 3, Bricklayers Do. 2, Plaisterers Do. 2, Labourers 14, Total 53

The first return listed the craftsmen, labourers and apprentices belonging to the Company who were then employed on the fortifications and other public works.

Company's servants on fixed annual salaries: master masons 1, assistant masons 1, mason workmen 0, mason apprentices 0, total masons 2; master carpenters 1, carpenter workmen 0, carpenter apprentices 0, total carpenters 1; master armourers 1, armourer workmen 0, armourer apprentices 0, total armourers 1; brickmaker apprentices 0, bricklayer apprentices 0, plasterer apprentices 0, labourers 0, total 4

Slaves already trained as craftsmen: master masons 0, assistant masons 0, mason workmen 5, mason apprentices 0, total masons 5; master carpenters 0, carpenter workmen 4, carpenter apprentices 1, total carpenters 5; master armourers 0, armourer workmen 2, armourer apprentices 1, total armourers 3; brickmaker apprentices 0, bricklayer apprentices 0, plasterer apprentices 0, labourers 0, total 13

Adult male slaves brought by Captain Skottowe: master masons 0, assistant masons 0, mason workmen 0, mason apprentices 0, total masons 0; master carpenters 0, carpenter workmen 0, carpenter apprentices 0, total carpenters 0; master armourers 0, armourer workmen 0, armourer apprentices 0, total armourers 0; brickmaker apprentices 0, bricklayer apprentices 0, plasterer apprentices 0, labourers 14, total 14

Slave boys brought by Captain Skottowe and placed as shown: master masons 0, assistant masons 0, mason workmen 0, mason apprentices 13, total masons 13; master carpenters 0, carpenter workmen 0, carpenter apprentices 1, total carpenters 1; master armourers 0, armourer workmen 0, armourer apprentices 1, total armourers 1; brickmaker apprentices 3, bricklayer apprentices 2, plasterer apprentices 2, labourers 0, total 22

Total: master masons 1, assistant masons 1, mason workmen 5, mason apprentices 13, total masons 20; master carpenters 1, carpenter workmen 4, carpenter apprentices 2, total carpenters 7; master armourers 1, armourer workmen 2, armourer apprentices 2, total armourers 5; brickmaker apprentices 3, bricklayer apprentices 2, plasterer apprentices 2, labourers 14, total 53

Interpretations

The return shows the whole of the Company's building workforce resting on four salaried men. A master and an assistant mason, a master carpenter and a master armourer were the only free craftsmen listed, and every other worker was a slave. These four had to direct the labour and teach the trades of nearly fifty slaves, most of them newly arrived and unskilled. That narrow base of expertise explains why Mitchell could put no figure on the time or cost of the works, and why he expected costs to fall sharply once more slaves had learned their trades.

The 22 boys brought by Captain Skottowe were placed straight into apprenticeships across every building trade, 13 of them with the masons. In England an apprentice was a free youth bound by indenture to a master for a fixed term, usually seven years, after which he could work for wages in his own right. On St Helena the form of apprenticeship was borrowed but its purpose reversed. The boys would never become independent journeymen, and the skill they acquired would add to their value as the Company's property. Choosing boys rather than men for training was a deliberate investment in a workforce that would serve the Company for decades.

The three brickmaker apprentices show Mitchell's plan to make bricks on the island already being put into effect. In his report he described the local clay as promising and said he was working to produce bricks from it, which would supply the faces of the new merlons at Banks's and Munden's. Assigning boys to the trade at the outset meant the island would have its own brickmakers once the method was proven.

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Return of the Artificers and Labourers in the Pay of the Honoble. Company, and employed on the Fortifications, and other public Works, with the

Anual Expence attending them.

Sergeants, Corporals, Soldiers, Inhabitants, Total, Yearly Pay £, Yearly Pay s, Yearly Pay d

Overseers: Sergeants 2, Corporals 1, Soldiers 0, Inhabitants 0, Total 3, Yearly Pay £ 54, Yearly Pay s 15, Yearly Pay d 6

Masons: Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 0, Inhabitants 1, Total 1, Yearly Pay £ 39, Yearly Pay s 2, Yearly Pay d 6

Carpenters: Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 2, Inhabitants 1, Total 3, Yearly Pay £ 131, Yearly Pay s 14, Yearly Pay d 6

Armourers: Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Total 1, Yearly Pay £ 23, Yearly Pay s 9, Yearly Pay d 0

To Navigate the Company's Long Boats Cockswain: Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Total 1, Yearly Pay £ 30, Yearly Pay s 0, Yearly Pay d 0

Sailors: Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 6, Inhabitants 0, Total 6, Yearly Pay £ 36, Yearly Pay s 0, Yearly Pay d 0

Stone Blowers: Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Total 1, Yearly Pay £ 23, Yearly Pay s 9, Yearly Pay d 0

Painters: Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Total 1, Yearly Pay £ 23, Yearly Pay s 9, Yearly Pay d 0

Plaisterers: Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Total 1, Yearly Pay £ 23, Yearly Pay s 9, Yearly Pay d 0

Stone Sawyers: Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Total 1, Yearly Pay £ 23, Yearly Pay s 9, Yearly Pay d 0

Brickmakers: Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 3, Inhabitants 0, Total 3, Yearly Pay £ 46, Yearly Pay s 18, Yearly Pay d 0

Brick layers: Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Total 1, Yearly Pay £ 23, Yearly Pay s 9, Yearly Pay d 0

Tanners: Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Total 1, Yearly Pay £ 23, Yearly Pay s 9, Yearly Pay d 0

Labourers: Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 22, Inhabitants 0, Total 22, Yearly Pay £ 344, Yearly Pay s 6, Yearly Pay d 0

Total: Sergeants 2, Corporals 1, Soldiers 41, Inhabitants 2, Total 46, Yearly Pay £ 846, Yearly Pay s 19, Yearly Pay d 6

The second return listed the craftsmen and labourers paid by the Company for work on the fortifications and other public works, with the yearly cost of each group.

Overseers: sergeants 2, corporals 1, soldiers 0, inhabitants 0, total 3, yearly pay £54 15s 6d

Masons: sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 0, inhabitants 1, total 1, yearly pay £39 2s 6d

Carpenters: sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 2, inhabitants 1, total 3, yearly pay £131 14s 6d

Armourers: sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, total 1, yearly pay £23 9s 0d

Coxswain of the Company's longboats: sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, total 1, yearly pay £30 0s 0d

Sailors of the Company's longboats: sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 6, inhabitants 0, total 6, yearly pay £36 0s 0d

Stone blasters: sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, total 1, yearly pay £23 9s 0d

Painters: sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, total 1, yearly pay £23 9s 0d

Plasterers: sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, total 1, yearly pay £23 9s 0d

Stone sawyers: sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, total 1, yearly pay £23 9s 0d

Brickmakers: sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 3, inhabitants 0, total 3, yearly pay £46 18s 0d

Bricklayers: sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, total 1, yearly pay £23 9s 0d

Tanners: sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, total 1, yearly pay £23 9s 0d

Labourers: sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 22, inhabitants 0, total 22, yearly pay £344 6s 0d

Total: sergeants 2, corporals 1, soldiers 41, inhabitants 2, total 46, yearly pay £846 19s 6d

Interpretations

The hired workforce was almost entirely military. Of the 46 men on the return, 44 were sergeants, corporals and soldiers of the garrison, and only two were civilian inhabitants. Soldiers took on building work for extra pay on top of their military wages, which gave the Company a ready pool of labour on an island with few free workmen to hire. The arrangement came at a price to the island's defence. Every soldier quarrying stone or carrying bricks was absent from his post, and in his report Mitchell had warned that the garrison was too small to be divided among many works. The same men he counted on to hold the batteries were the ones building them.

Taken together with the return of the Company's own slaves, the two lists show the full labour force on the public works. Skilled direction came from a handful of salaried masters, the bulk of the trained labour from soldiers working for extra pay, and the rest from slaves, most of them newly arrived and still learning their trades. The soldiers' wages were a yearly cash cost to the Company, whereas the slaves cost only their keep once bought. That difference underlay Mitchell's expectation that building would become far cheaper as the slave apprentices gained skill and could replace paid soldiers.

The coxswain and six sailors drawn from the garrison crewed the Company's longboats, which carried stores, stone and men around the coast and out to ships in the road. The boats were essential to the building works, since many batteries were easier to reach by sea than over the island's steep ground. Mitchell's complaint that he lacked a boat during part of his survey suggests these few craft were already fully occupied.

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General Return of the Number of Artificers and Workmen of all the Denominations now employed on the Fortifications and other public

Works of this Island

Company Servants, Sergeants, Corporals, Soldiers, Inhabitants, Slaves Men, Slaves Boys, Total

Overseers: Company Servants 0, Sergeants 2, Corporals 1, Soldiers 0, Inhabitants 0, Slaves Men 0, Slaves Boys 0, Total 3

Masons: Company Servants 2, Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 0, Inhabitants 1, Slaves Men 5, Slaves Boys 0, Total 8

Carpenters: Company Servants 1, Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 2, Inhabitants 1, Slaves Men 4, Slaves Boys 0, Total 8

Armourers: Company Servants 1, Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Slaves Men 2, Slaves Boys 0, Total 4

Crew for the Long Boats &c.: Company Servants 0, Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 7, Inhabitants 0, Slaves Men 0, Slaves Boys 0, Total 7

Painters: Company Servants 0, Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Slaves Men 0, Slaves Boys 0, Total 1

Plaisterers: Company Servants 0, Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Slaves Men 0, Slaves Boys 0, Total 1

Brickmakers: Company Servants 0, Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 3, Inhabitants 0, Slaves Men 0, Slaves Boys 0, Total 3

Bricklayers: Company Servants 0, Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Slaves Men 0, Slaves Boys 0, Total 1

Tanners: Company Servants 0, Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Slaves Men 0, Slaves Boys 0, Total 1

Stonesawyers: Company Servants 0, Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Slaves Men 0, Slaves Boys 0, Total 1

Stoneblowers: Company Servants 0, Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 1, Inhabitants 0, Slaves Men 0, Slaves Boys 0, Total 1

Labourers: Company Servants 0, Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 22, Inhabitants 0, Slaves Men 14, Slaves Boys 0, Total 36

Apprentices: Company Servants 0, Sergeants 0, Corporals 0, Soldiers 0, Inhabitants 0, Slaves Men 0, Slaves Boys 24, Total 24

Total: Company Servants 4, Sergeants 2, Corporals 1, Soldiers 41, Inhabitants 2, Slaves Men 25, Slaves Boys 24, Total 99

The third return combined both earlier lists into a single count of every craftsman and workman, of every kind, then employed on the fortifications and other public works.

Overseers: Company's servants 0, sergeants 2, corporals 1, soldiers 0, inhabitants 0, slave men 0, slave boys 0, total 3

Masons: Company's servants 2, sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 0, inhabitants 1, slave men 5, slave boys 0, total 8

Carpenters: Company's servants 1, sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 2, inhabitants 1, slave men 4, slave boys 0, total 8

Armourers: Company's servants 1, sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, slave men 2, slave boys 0, total 4

Crew for the longboats and other boats: Company's servants 0, sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 7, inhabitants 0, slave men 0, slave boys 0, total 7

Painters: Company's servants 0, sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, slave men 0, slave boys 0, total 1

Plasterers: Company's servants 0, sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, slave men 0, slave boys 0, total 1

Brickmakers: Company's servants 0, sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 3, inhabitants 0, slave men 0, slave boys 0, total 3

Bricklayers: Company's servants 0, sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, slave men 0, slave boys 0, total 1

Tanners: Company's servants 0, sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, slave men 0, slave boys 0, total 1

Stone sawyers: Company's servants 0, sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, slave men 0, slave boys 0, total 1

Stone blasters: Company's servants 0, sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 1, inhabitants 0, slave men 0, slave boys 0, total 1

Labourers: Company's servants 0, sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 22, inhabitants 0, slave men 14, slave boys 0, total 36

Apprentices: Company's servants 0, sergeants 0, corporals 0, soldiers 0, inhabitants 0, slave men 0, slave boys 24, total 24

Total: Company's servants 4, sergeants 2, corporals 1, soldiers 41, inhabitants 2, slave men 25, slave boys 24, total 99

Interpretations

The overseers were two sergeants and a corporal, so the works ran under military command rather than civilian management. Soldiers and slaves laboured side by side, and the men set over them were the same non-commissioned officers who kept discipline in the garrison. That gave the overseers authority to punish idleness or disobedience among both groups, and it fitted the works into the island's existing chain of command under the Governor.

Every apprentice on the return was a slave boy, and no column for soldiers, inhabitants or Company servants showed a single trainee. The skilled workforce of the future was therefore being drawn entirely from slaves. The soldiers would eventually leave with their regiments, and the island had few free inhabitants willing to take up building trades, so the Company built its long-term capacity on a labour force it owned outright.

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By these Returns the Number of Workmen of all Denominations now

employed on the Fortifications will evidently appear, as well as the annual Expence

of that Part of them, which are hired at so much per Day. With regard to whom it

is to be observed, that as the Company's Slaves will be Daily becoming more

expert in their respective Employments, the Number of these will be soon greatly

diminished, which will be considerable saving to the Company

With respect to the Time it will probably take up to finish what

immediately regards the Fortifications, I should think that three Years would

be nearly sufficient for this Purpose, and perhaps between two and three

Years more will be required to construct the several Buildings military

and Civil, the most important of which have been already specified

As to the Ordnance & Ammunition that will be wanting for the proposed

Works and for compleating the General Proportion for the Island, it will be time

enough to enumerate these when the Works themselves are once approved of

and in a great Measure Constructed.

I have now finished all the observations I think necessary to make

relative to the Defences of this Island in the Course of which I have

endeavoured to be as full and Explicit as possible. If nevertheless I have omitted

any Point of Consequence I hope the Gentlemen will be so good as remind

me of it in Order to its being properly discussed.

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

Mitchell noted that the returns showed the number of workmen of every kind employed on the fortifications, together with the yearly cost of those hired by the day. He pointed out that the Company's slaves were growing more skilled at their trades every day. As they did, the number of hired men could soon be cut sharply, which would save the Company a good deal of money.

He estimated that the fortifications themselves would take about three years to complete. A further two to three years would perhaps be needed for the military and civil buildings, the most important of which he had already described.

He did not yet list the guns and ammunition the new works would require, or the additions needed to bring the island up to its full standard allowance. There would be time enough to do so once the works had been approved and largely built.

Mitchell closed by saying that his observations on the island's defences were complete, and that he had tried to make them as full and clear as possible. If he had left out anything of importance, he hoped the Council would point it out so that it could be properly discussed.

Governor Skottowe and the three councillors signed the minutes.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

Mitchell held back his list of guns and ammunition even though his report already called for new 18-pounders at Banks's and Munden's and three 13-inch mortars. Setting out the full requirement now would have been the natural way to complete the report. He chose to wait because guns and stores came from England at great expense and many months' delay, and ordering them before the Directors had approved the works risked sending out ordnance for batteries that might never be built, or built to a different design. Tying the order to approval and construction meant the island would receive exactly what the finished works needed. The general proportion was the standard allowance of guns, powder, shot and stores fixed for a garrison of a given size, against which shortfalls were measured and supplies ordered.

Having said earlier that the time and cost of the works could not be calculated with any precision, Mitchell still gave the Directors an estimate of about three years for the fortifications and up to three more for the buildings. The figure was a working guide rather than a firm commitment. It also rested on the slaves gaining skill as he expected, which explains why he paired it with his forecast that hired labour would soon decline.

59

54

23d September

At a Consultation held on Monday the 23d Day of October 1765 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Captn. Thoms. Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed dated the 16th September


1765

Tuesday the 17th Died Elizabeth Daughter of James Torbett Cooper

We this day Executed the two following Leases vizt.

One to Mr. Matthew Bazett for a piece of Land

containing fifteen Acres and an half, lying in the East Division of this

Island

And One to William Holbrook Mason for a piece of Ground

containing forty feet in front and sixty eight feet in Depth, lying in

James's Valley, at 15/ Pr. Annum.

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 23 September 1765. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick in attendance as members of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 1765 were read, approved and signed.

Elizabeth, daughter of James Torbett, a cooper, died on Tuesday 17 September 1765.

The Council granted two leases that day. Matthew Bazett received 15½ acres of land in the island's East Division. William Holbrook, a mason, received a plot in James Valley measuring 40 feet along its frontage and 68 feet deep, at a rent of £0 15s 0d a year.

Governor Skottowe and the three councillors signed the minutes.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

Holbrook's lease completed the process begun on 26 August 1765, when he petitioned for a small piece of unused Company ground in the valley on which to build a house. The Council then ordered the plot inspected before deciding. The grant four weeks later shows the inspection raised no objection. His plot was wider but shallower than the one leased to Lieutenant Solomon St Maurice on the same day as Holbrook's petition, yet both paid the same £0 15s 0d a year. The rent for town ground was evidently set at a standard figure rather than measured strictly by area.

Matthew Bazett was the Council's own Secretary, who signed the public notice of 26 August 1765 calling on inhabitants to declare their households, land and cattle. His grant shows the Company's officials taking up land on the same terms as other settlers. Holding both an office and an estate tied such men more closely to the island's fortunes and gave them a direct stake in its farming as well as its administration.

60

55

27th September

At a Consultation held on Friday the 27th Day of September 1765 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Capt. Thoms. Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed, dated the 23d Septemb.


1765

Tuesday the 24th Died Ann Daughter of Mr. James Greentree Planter

Wednesday the 25 Arrived the Bute Boat at Banks's at a Quarter of an

Hour past three in the Evening

Do. Do. the Honble. Company's Ship Bute from Bengal

and brought Us the following Supplies vizt.

Invoice of Ship Bute

Wax Candles

No. 1 @ 4 4 Chests Qt. Factory Maunds 3 @ 70 Rs. Pr. Md.

560

Rice

1 @ 30 30 Bags Qt. Bazar Maunds 60 @ As. Pd. 2.3 Pr. Bt. Md. is

115.3.3

Sugar Fine

1 @ 10 Bags Qt. Factory Maunds 20 @ Rs. As. 7.4 Pr. Md.

145

Paddy

1 @ 15 15 Bags Qt. Do. 22½ @ As. 15 Pr. Md.

21.1.6

Carried over [.]41.5

The Council met at the Castle on Friday 27 September 1765. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick present as members of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 1765 were read, approved and signed.

Ann, daughter of James Greentree, a planter, died on Tuesday 24 September 1765.

A boat from the Bute reached Banks's at a quarter past three in the afternoon of Wednesday 25 September 1765. The Company's ship Bute arrived from Bengal the same day with supplies for the island.

The Bute's invoice listed the goods as follows.

Wax candles, chests numbered 1 to 4, 4 chests weighing 8 factory maunds at 70 current rupees per maund, 560 rupees 0 annas 0 pies

Rice, bags numbered 1 to 30, 30 bags weighing 60 bazaar maunds at 2 rupees 3 annas per maund, 115 rupees 3 annas 3 pies

Fine sugar, bags numbered 1 to 10, 10 bags weighing 20 factory maunds at 7 current rupees 4 annas per maund, 145 rupees 0 annas 0 pies

Paddy, bags numbered 1 to 15, 15 bags weighing 22½ bazaar maunds at 15 annas per maund, 21 rupees 1 anna 6 pies

Carried forward, 841 rupees 5 annas 0 pies

Interpretations

Bengal used two different maunds, and the invoice is careful to say which applied to each item. The factory maund was the Company's own standard weight, used in its warehouses and fixed at a little under 75 lb. The bazaar maund was the weight used in the local markets and was heavier, at roughly 82 lb. Goods bought in the bazaar, such as rice and paddy, were weighed by the market standard, while candles and fine sugar were reckoned by the Company's. The St Helena storekeeper had to know which maund was meant to check the weights on delivery, since the same number of maunds meant different quantities of goods.

The money of account was likewise particular to Bengal. The current rupee was a unit used for bookkeeping rather than an actual coin, divided into 16 annas and each anna into 12 pies. This differs from the reckoning of the Calcutta's invoice from Bombay entered on 2 September 1765, which divided the rupee into quarters and reas. Each Company presidency kept its accounts in its own local system, and St Helena received invoices in whichever one the supplying port used.

The Bute's boat came ashore at Banks's before the ship herself reached the anchorage, just as the Calcutta's boat had done on 31 August 1765. An incoming Company ship evidently sent a boat ahead to the first battery to identify herself, so the garrison knew a friendly vessel was approaching before she came under the guns along the coast.

Wax candles of beeswax gave a brighter, cleaner and less smoky light than the tallow candles in common use, and cost several times as much. A consignment of this size was perhaps meant for the Castle, the Company's table and the church.

61

56

27th September

Brought over 841.5

Batavia Arrack

2 Leaguers @ Rs. As. 86.12 Pr. Leaguer

187.5.6

1028.10.6

Charges Merchandize

95 Gunny Bags & Sowing

13.7.6

4 Chests & Packages

17.2.6

1 Peon

2.3.3

Cooleys Victuals

5

Weighmen

5

Mootsuddies

5.9

Sloopkire

34.10

10 Matts

13

Boat hire

4.5.3

78.4.3

Current Rupees 1106.14.9

Errors Excepted

(signed) Richd. Wilk Sub Accompt.

We this day received the following Letter from

Captain Maitland vizt.

The Bute's invoice continued with the following goods and charges.

Brought forward, 841 rupees 5 annas 0 pies

Batavia arrack, 2 leaguers at 68 rupees 12 annas per leaguer, 137 rupees 5 annas 6 pies

Value of goods, 1,028 rupees 10 annas 6 pies

95 gunny bags and sewing, 13 rupees 7 annas 6 pies

4 chests and packing, 17 rupees 2 annas 6 pies

1 peon, 2 rupees 3 annas 3 pies

Food for the coolies, 0 rupees 5 annas 0 pies

Weighmen, 0 rupees 5 annas 0 pies

Mootcashire, 5 rupees 0 annas 9 pies

Hire of a sloop, 34 rupees 10 annas 0 pies

10 mats, 0 rupees 13 annas 0 pies

Boat hire, 4 rupees 5 annas 3 pies

Total of charges, 78 rupees 4 annas 3 pies

Total in current rupees, 1,106 rupees 14 annas 9 pies

Richard Wills signed the account as sub-accountant, reserving the right to correct any errors.

The Council also received a letter from Captain Maitland that day.

Interpretations

The largest single charge, the hire of a sloop, reflects how Company ships loaded in Bengal. Large East Indiamen could not safely come up the Hooghly to Calcutta itself, so they lay at anchor far downriver while their cargo was brought out to them in smaller vessels. Every chest and bag had to be carried from the warehouses, weighed, packed and then shipped down the river by sloop before it could be stowed aboard. That river passage cost more than all the other handling charges put together, an expense the Bombay invoice entered on 2 September 1765 did not carry, since ships there loaded close to the shore by boat.

A leaguer was a very large cask, holding roughly 150 gallons, used particularly in the Dutch trade for shipping arrack in bulk. Batavia arrack, distilled in Java from sugar cane and rice, was the most highly regarded of the eastern spirits. Its arrival by way of a Company ship from Bengal shows how goods from the Dutch East Indies passed through the trading ports of India and entered British supply chains, even though the two companies were commercial rivals.

The other charges record the Indian labour behind the shipment. A peon was a messenger or attendant hired to escort goods and carry orders, coolies were porters paid by the day and fed while they worked, and the weighmen checked each consignment on the scales before it left the warehouse.

62

57

1765

To the Honble. John Skottowe Esqr. President Governor

&c. Council of St Helena

Honble. Sir & Sirs

I beg that you will please to Order the Ship Bute to be supplied

from the Honble. Company's Store House with thirty five Puncheons of

Beef & Pork, and one Hundred Bags of Rice, without which it will be

impossible for me to proceed to Sea with the Number of Men that I

have now on board. I beg that you will likewise Please to give Orders to the

Storekeeper to supply the said Ship with what other Stores she may want

and am with due respect

Honble. Sir & Sirs

Your most Obedient, Humble Servant

St Helena (signed)

27 September 1765 Patk. Maitland

To which we returned him the following Answer vizt.

To the Honble. Patrick Maitland Commander of

the Ship Bute

Sir

In answer to your Demand of 35 Casks of Salt

Provision & 100 Bags of Rice, we inform you that the Present State of the

Island is such, that there only remains for the use of the Garrison and

Slaves 27 Casks of the former and 12200 Rice which upon the nicest

Calculation the Salt Provision will last only until the 7 March, and

the Rice to the latter end of December, neither have we flour to last until

the

A letter from Captain Patrick Maitland, dated at St Helena on 27 September 1765, was addressed to Governor Skottowe and the Council. Maitland asked them to order the Bute supplied from the Company's warehouse with 35 puncheons of beef and pork and 100 bags of rice. Without these, he said, he could not put to sea with the number of men he had on board. He also asked the Council to direct the storekeeper to provide whatever other stores the ship needed.

The Council sent a reply to Maitland as commander of the Bute. It informed him that the island could not readily spare what he asked. For the garrison and the slaves, only 27 casks of salt provisions and 12,200 lb of rice remained. By the most careful reckoning, the salt meat would run out on 1 March 1766 and the rice towards the end of December 1765. The island's flour, too, was insufficient.

Interpretations

Maitland's request exposed the strain at the heart of St Helena's purpose. The island existed to refresh the Company's ships on their way home, yet its own food came largely from those same ships. Earlier in the year the Council had sold salt meat to passing Company vessels, as it noted on 6 September 1765 when buying four casks from Captain Thomson at the price it charged them. By late September the garrison and slaves had barely five months of salt meat left. Every cask handed to an outgoing ship brought the island closer to hunger before the next supply arrived.

The Bute herself had just landed 30 bags of rice and 15 bags of paddy for the island, as her invoice recorded on 27 September 1765. Maitland now asked for 100 bags back. The exchange shows how little the Company's deliveries to St Helena were matched to its needs, since a ship could unload provisions for the island while lacking enough for her own voyage.

A puncheon was a large cask, typically holding between 70 and 80 gallons, used for shipping salt meat as well as spirits. The title "Honourable" given to Maitland marked him as the son of a peer, a rank that set him apart from most Company commanders and perhaps explains the formal courtesy of the Council's reply.

63

58

27th September

the 7 of March though one bread day a Week have been struck off

from the Garrison; Under such disagreeable circumstances we are

sorry to acquaint you that it is impossible to comply with your

large demands; But being Anxious to give you all the assistance

in our Power as far as our present Situation will admit, we have

fallen upon the following measures to supply you vizt.

Salt Provisions

12 Casks

Live Cattle

13

Sheep

30

Paddy

8000 lb

The above particulars are all we can possibly furnish you with, as

you have the whole remainder both of Cattle and Sheep of this Years

Stock, besides ten of the Honble. Company's Sheep, and six Cattle

exclusive of 360 Charter Party Beef allowed this Year for the

Shipping, Having now given you a state of what we can do for

you, we further recommend your providing yourself with what

Hogs Sheep, Goats and other Provisions you can procure from the

Planters, the Paddy above mention we are in hopes you may fall

upon some Method to make it useful instead of Rice. These

Supplys with what you have on board and what you may be

able to procure we hope will be sufficient to enable you to proceed on

your Voyage to England, as the Provisions you expend here will lessen

your Sea Stock, we apprehend we have no Occasion to recommend

dispatch to you

We are Sir

St Helena

27th September 1765 Your most humble Servants

John Skottowe (signed) John Skottowe

Dan Corneille Dan Corneille

Purling M Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick Thos. Kirkpatrick

The flour would not last until 1 March 1766 either, even though the garrison's ration had already been reduced by one bread day a week. In these difficult conditions, the Council regretted that it could not meet Maitland's large demand. It was nonetheless keen to help him as far as its circumstances allowed, and had arranged to supply him with the following.

12 casks of salt provisions

13 live cattle

30 sheep

3,000 lb of paddy

The Council made clear that it could provide nothing more. The cattle and sheep it offered were all that remained of the year's stock, along with ten of the Company's own sheep and six of its cattle. This was over and above the 560 lb of beef already allowed to the ships that year under their charter terms.

Having explained what it could do, the Council advised Maitland to buy whatever pigs, sheep, goats and other provisions he could obtain from the planters. It hoped he would find some way of using the paddy in place of rice. The Council expected that these supplies, together with what he had aboard and whatever he could buy, would be enough to see him home to England. Since every day in port ate into the stores meant for the voyage, it saw no need to urge him to make haste.

Governor Skottowe and the three councillors signed the reply at St Helena on 27 September 1765, and also signed the minutes.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

A Company commander would normally expect the island's warehouse to supply what he asked, since refreshing the ships was St Helena's main purpose. The Council refused Maitland's request for 35 puncheons and 100 bags of rice and offered a much smaller package instead, giving its reasons plainly. With salt meat expected to run out on 1 March 1766 and the garrison's bread already cut, handing over most of the remaining stock would have left the island's own people without food. Rather than leave Maitland unprovided, the Council substituted what the island could spare: live animals from the year's breeding stock and paddy in place of cleaned rice. It also pointed him towards the planters, shifting part of the burden onto the island's private farms.

The charter party was the formal contract between the Company and the owners of each ship it hired. Among its terms was an allowance of fresh beef to be issued at St Helena, a recognised entitlement rather than a favour. The Council's mention of the 560 lb already given out that year showed Maitland that the ships had received their contractual due, and that anything further came from the island's own reserves.

The closing remark about dispatch was a polite but pointed hint. A ship's crew lying in the road ate its own sea stores while waiting, so every day's delay made the voyage home harder to supply. By noting this without making it an order, the Council pressed Maitland to sail promptly without overstepping its authority over a Company commander.

64

59

30th September

At a Consultation held on Monday the 30th Day of September 1765

at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Capt. Thoms. Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed dated the 27th Sept.

1765.

Pursuant to an order in Consultation of the 26th of August last

the Planters this day attended to pay their Rents and Revenues, due to

the Honble. Company for the Year past, which amounts to £ 536.16.2

the Rent Roll is as follows vizt.

Ground Rent, Free Land, Lease Land, £, s, d

Samuel Alexander: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 34, Lease Land 37½, £ 11, s 1, d 6

John Alexander 15½ Acres @ 1/ Pr. Ac.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 7½, Lease Land 10½, £ 12, s 3, d 6

George Alexander: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 28, Lease Land 38, £ 15, s 12, d 0

Margaret Alcock 1½ Ac. at 20/ Pr. Ac. 20 at 4/ Pr. Acre: Ground Rent 3/6, Free Land 40, Lease Land 60½, £ 11, s 14, d 6

Onesiphorus Beale Esqr.: Ground Rent 10/6, Free Land 10, Lease Land 13½, £ 4, s 8, d 0

Richard Bird Senr. 5 Ac. at 4/ Pr. Ac.: Ground Rent 5/, Free Land 61½, Lease Land 82½, £ 11, s 10, d 8½

John Bagley: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 36, £ 9, s 0, d 0

Richard Bagley 12 Ac. at 4/ Pr. Ac. 3 at 1/6 Pr. Ac. 4½ Ac. at 2/ Pr. Ac. 12¾ Ac. at 3/ Pr. Ac. Ground Rent for 10 Months at 15/ Pr. Ann.: Ground Rent 17½, Free Land 126½, Lease Land 132½, £ 49, s 11, d 1

Orlando Bagley 5 Ac. at 1/6 Pr. Ac. 21 Ac. at 2/6 Pr. Ac.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 41½, Lease Land 25½, £ 19, s 16, d 3

Matthew Bazett 8½ @ 1/ Pr. Ac. 9½ @ 4/ Pr. Ac. for 6 Months: Ground Rent 10/, Free Land 143, Lease Land 63, £ 21, s 7, d 3

Henry Bazett 2 at 4/ Pr. Ac. 4½ @ 2/6 Pr. Ac.: Ground Rent 5/, Free Land 117½, Lease Land 65½, £ 21, s 5, d 9

Carried over: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 647, Lease Land 714¼, £ 200, s 9, d 6½

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 30 September 1765. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick present as members of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 1765 were read, approved and signed.

In line with the order made on 26 August 1765, the planters came in that day to pay the rents and dues owed to the Company for the past year. These came to £536 16s 2d in all. The rent roll set out each landholder's ground rent, the acres held as free land and as leased land, and the sum paid.

Samuel Alexander: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 3¼ acres, leased land 37½ acres, paid £11 1s 6d

John Alexander, including 15½ acres at £0 1s 0d an acre: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 71¾ acres, leased land 70¾ acres, paid £18 3s 6d

George Alexander: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 28 acres, leased land 58 acres, paid £15 18s 0d

Margaret Alcock, including 1¼ acres at £1 0s 0d an acre and 20 acres at £0 4s 0d an acre: ground rent £0 3s 6d, free land 40 acres, leased land 60¼ acres, paid £17 14s 6d

Onesiphorus Beale, corporal: ground rent £0 10s 6d, free land 10 acres, leased land 13½ acres, paid £4 8s 0d

Richard Beale senior, including 5 acres at £0 4s 0d an acre: ground rent £0 5s 0d, free land 41½ acres, leased land 38½ acres, paid £11 13s 8½d

John Bagley: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 36 acres, paid £9 0s 0d

Richard Bagley, including 12 acres at £0 4s 0d an acre, 3 acres at £0 1s 6d an acre, 4¼ acres at £0 2s 0d an acre, 12¾ acres at £0 5s 0d an acre, and ground rent for 10 months at £0 13s 2d a year: ground rent £0 11s 4d, free land 126½ acres, leased land 182½ acres, paid £49 11s 1d

Orlando Bagley senior, including 4 acres at £0 1s 6d an acre and 21 acres at £0 2s 6d an acre: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 41½ acres, leased land 84¼ acres, paid £19 16s 3d

Matthew Bazett, including 8½ acres at £0 1s 0d an acre and 9½ acres at £0 4s 0d an acre for 6 months: ground rent £0 10s 0d, free land 142 acres, leased land 63 acres, paid £21 7s 3d

Henry Bazett, including 2 acres at £0 4s 0d an acre and 4½ acres at £0 2s 6d an acre: ground rent £0 5s 0d, free land 112½ acres, leased land 65½ acres, paid £21 5s 9d

Carried forward: free land 647½ acres, leased land 714¾ acres, paid £200 9s 6½d

Interpretations

The roll divided each planter's holding between free land and leased land, two different kinds of tenure. Free land was probably ground granted to earlier settlers on the original terms of settlement, held at a small fixed charge in return for obligations such as militia service. Leased land was let more recently at a rent per acre set when each lease was granted. Many families held both, so a single planter's payment combined old privileged holdings with newer commercial ones. Ground rent was a separate charge for house plots, mostly in the town.

The acre rates noted against individual names varied widely, from 1s up to 4s and 5s, and in one case 20s an acre for Margaret Alcock's small plot. The leases granted to Benjamin Mason and John Robinson on 9 September 1765 were set at 1s 6d an acre. Such differences reflected the quality and position of the land, and probably the date each lease was made, since better ground near the town or with water fetched more. A small plot at 20s an acre was perhaps garden ground close to James Town.

The roll shows that land on St Helena was not held only by free men of planter rank. Onesiphorus Beale, a corporal of the garrison, appears as a landholder with both free and leased ground, and Margaret Alcock held more than 100 acres in her own name. Soldiers who settled on the island could combine military pay with farming, and women could hold land and answer for its rent like any other planter.

Matthew Bazett's rent on part of his land was charged for only six months, and Richard Bagley's ground rent covered ten months. Rents were reckoned from the date a holding began, so land taken up partway through the year paid only for the portion actually held.

65

60

30th September

Ground Rent, Free Land, Lease Land, £, s, d

Brought over: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 647¼, Lease Land 714¼, £ 200, s 9, d 6½

Orlando Bagley Junr. 19 Ac. at 1/6 Pr. Acre: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 63, £ 12, s 8, d 6

William Burnhams Esqr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 29, Lease Land 15, £ 5, s 4, d 0

William Beale: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 33¼, Lease Land 17¼, £ 6, s 5, d 0

Robert Ballard: Ground Rent 13/, Free Land 15½, Lease Land 0, £ 1, s 8, d 6

Thoms. Colgraves Esqr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 13¼, Lease Land 91¼, £ 23, s 9, d 6

Joseph Chamberland: Ground Rent 15/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 15, d 0

John Dovetons Esqr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 86½, Lease Land 8, £ 6, s 6, d 6

Jonathan Doveton Ground Rent for 10 Mo. @ 15/ Pr. Annum: Ground Rent 10/6, Free Land 128¾, Lease Land 4, £ 8, s 5, d 3

Isaac Doveton: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 77¼, Lease Land 9½, £ 6, s 5, d 3

Joseph Desfountains Esqr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 20, Lease Land 71, £ 18, s 15, d 0

John Desfountain: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 93¼, Lease Land 32¾, £ 12, s 17, d 0

Henry Easthope: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 14, Lease Land 36, £ 9, s 14, d 0

James Easthope: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 11, Lease Land 8, £ 2, s 11, d 0

Sarah Fudge: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 4, £ 1, s 0, d 0

Michael Frost: Ground Rent 15/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 15, d 0

Richard Goodwin: Ground Rent 10/6, Free Land 49, Lease Land 27, £ 9, s 14, d 6

Thomas Greentree 33½ acres at 4/ Pr. Ac. 3 acres at 1/6 Pr. Ac.: Ground Rent 5/, Free Land 96½, Lease Land 72, £ 20, s 10, d 6

James Greentree Ground Rent for 10 Mo. @ 20/ Pr. Ann.: Ground Rent 17/6, Free Land 48, Lease Land 55, £ 17, s 0, d 6

Onesiphorus Greslings Esqr. 9 acres @ 1/6 Pr. Ann.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 23, Lease Land 9, £ 1, s 16, d 6

Thomas Harpers Esqr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 19¼, Lease Land 46¾, £ 12, s 13, d 6

Thos. Hayes Esqr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 30, Lease Land 4, £ 2, s 10, d 0

Margaret Harper: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 10, Lease Land 26, £ 7, s 0, d 0

Thomas Harper: Ground Rent 10/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 10, d 0

Henry Harper: Ground Rent 12/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 12, d 0

John Jacks: Ground Rent 16/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 16, d 0

Elisha Jacks: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 25, Lease Land 5, £ 2, s 10, d 0

Gabriel Jacks: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 8, £ 2, s 0, d 0

Carried Over: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 1753½, Lease Land 1556¼, £ 463, s 11, d 7½

The rent roll continued with the following landholders.

Brought forward: free land 647½ acres, leased land 714¾ acres, paid £200 9s 6½d

Orlando Bagley junior, including 19 acres at £0 1s 6d an acre: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 63 acres, paid £12 8s 6d

Orphans of William Burnham: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 29 acres, leased land 15 acres, paid £5 4s 0d

William Beale: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 33¾ acres, leased land 17¼ acres, paid £6 5s 0d

Robert Ballard: ground rent £0 13s 0d, free land 15½ acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £1 8s 6d

Orphans of Thomas Colgrave: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 13¼ acres, leased land 91¼ acres, paid £23 9s 6d

Joseph Chamberlain: ground rent £0 15s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 15s 0d

Orphans of John Doveton: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 86½ acres, leased land 8 acres, paid £6 6s 6d

Jonathan Doveton, including ground rent for 10 months at £0 15s 2d a year: ground rent £0 10s 6d, free land 128¾ acres, leased land 4 acres, paid £8 5s 3d

Isaac Doveton: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 77¼ acres, leased land 9½ acres, paid £6 5s 3d

Orphans of Joseph Desfountain: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 20 acres, leased land 71 acres, paid £18 15s 0d

John Desfountain: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 93¼ acres, leased land 32¾ acres, paid £12 17s 0d

Henry Easthope: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 14 acres, leased land 36 acres, paid £9 14s 0d

James Easthope: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 11 acres, leased land 8 acres, paid £2 11s 0d

Sarah Tunge: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 4 acres, paid £1 0s 0d

Michael Frost: ground rent £0 15s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 15s 0d

Richard Goodwin: ground rent £0 10s 6d, free land 49 acres, leased land 27 acres, paid £9 14s 6d

Thomas Greentree, including 33½ acres at £0 4s 0d an acre and 5 acres at £0 1s 6d an acre: ground rent £0 5s 0d, free land 96½ acres, leased land 72 acres, paid £23 10s 6d

James Greentree, including ground rent for 10 months at £1 0s 3d a year: ground rent £0 17s 6d, free land 48 acres, leased land 55 acres, paid £17 0s 6d

Orphans of Onesiphorus Gurling, including 9 acres at £0 1s 6d an acre: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 23 acres, leased land 9 acres, paid £1 16s 6d

Orphans of Thomas Harper: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 19¾ acres, leased land 46¾ acres, paid £12 13s 6d

Orphans of Thomas Hayes: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 30 acres, leased land 4 acres, paid £2 10s 0d

Margaret Harper: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 10 acres, leased land 26 acres, paid £7 0s 0d

Thomas Harper: ground rent £0 10s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 10s 0d

Henry Harper: ground rent £0 12s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 12s 0d

John Jacks: ground rent £0 16s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 16s 0d

Elisha Isacke: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 25 acres, leased land 5 acres, paid £2 10s 0d

Gabriel Isacke: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 8 acres, paid £2 0s 0d

Carried forward: free land 1,753½ acres, leased land 1,556¾ acres, paid £463 11s 7½d

Interpretations

Seven holdings on this page were entered under the orphans of a dead landholder rather than under a living tenant. The land stayed with the family, and its rent continued to be paid to the Company, while the heirs were still children. Someone had to manage the farm and answer for the rent on their behalf, usually a guardian or the surviving parent, and the Council's oversight of these estates kept the land productive and the Company's income secure until the heirs came of age. Listing the orphans by name on the rent roll also fixed their claim to the land in an official record, protecting it against encroachment by neighbours or relatives.

Five people on the page paid ground rent alone, with no farmland at all: Joseph Chamberlain, Michael Frost, Thomas Harper, Henry Harper and John Jacks. These were householders holding only a building plot, almost certainly in James Town, and probably earned their living from a trade, shop or Company employment rather than farming. The roll thus captures two distinct communities, planters in the country and townspeople in the Valley, both answerable to the Company as landlord.

Sarah Tunge and Margaret Harper held land in their own names, joining Margaret Alcock on the previous page. Widows commonly kept a family holding after a husband's death, and the rent roll treated them exactly as it did male tenants.

66

61

1765

Ground Rent, Free Land, Lease Land, £, s, d

Brought over: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 1753½, Lease Land 1556¼, £ 463, s 11, d 7½

Thomas Kirkpatrick: Ground Rent 39/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 14, £ 5, s 9, d 0

Isaac Knipe: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 30, Lease Land 23½, £ 7, s 7, d 6

William Kennedys Esqr.: Ground Rent 17/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 17, d 0

Eleanor Leach: Ground Rent 12/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 12, d 0

Elizabeth Lamb: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 10, £ 2, s 10, d 0

Benjamin Mason 31 Ac. @ 1/6 Pr. Ac.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 42, Lease Land 73½, £ 15, s 1, d 0

Frederick Merchant: Ground Rent 2/6, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 2, d 6

Elizabeth Moore: Ground Rent 5/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 5, d 0

Solomon St Maurice Gro: Rent for 10 Months @ 15/ Pr. Gro: Rent for 1 Ac. at 15/ Pr. Annum: Ground Rent 13/9, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 13, d 9

Matthew Purling 9½ at 1/ Pr. Ac. 3 Ac. at 4/ Pr. Ac. Gro: Rent for 10½ Months at 24/ Pr. Annum: Ground Rent 24/6, Free Land 205, Lease Land 108½, £ 37, s 1, d 4

James Powell: Ground Rent 3/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 3, d 0

John Price: Ground Rent 15/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 15, d 0

Benjamin Pledger 3 Ac. at 4/ Ac.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 5, Lease Land 18¾, £ 4, s 15, d 9

John Pritchard: Ground Rent 10/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 10, d 0

Agnes Pritchard John Robinson 22½ Ac. at 1/6 Pr. Ac.: Ground Rent 6/, Free Land 41¼, Lease Land 41½, £ 7, s 14, d 0

William Seale 5½ Acres at 1/6 Pr. Acre: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 7, Lease Land 36, £ 8, s 7, d 9

Benjamin Seale: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 11, Lease Land 10½, £ 2, s 11, d 3

John Seales Esqr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 10, Lease Land 7½, £ 2, s 7, d 6

Martha Scott Gr. Rent for 10 Mo. at 12/6 Pr. Ann.: Ground Rent 10/5, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 10, d 5

Nathan Sample: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 25, Lease Land 8½, £ 3, s 7, d 6

John Sherkey: Ground Rent 3/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 3, d 0

James Torbett: Ground Rent 12/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 12, d 0

John Twaits Esqr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 9, Lease Land 38½, £ 10, s 1, d 6

Thomas Townsend: Ground Rent 15/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 15, d 0

John Worrals Esqr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 42½, £ 10, s 12, d 6

Joshua Worrals Esqr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 31, Lease Land 33, £ 9, s 16, d 0

Carried over: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 1871¼, Lease Land 1793¾, £ 527, s 1, d ½

The rent roll continued with the following landholders.

Brought forward: free land 1,753½ acres, leased land 1,556¾ acres, paid £463 11s 7½d

Thomas Kirkpatrick: ground rent £1 19s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 14 acres, paid £5 9s 0d

Isaac Knipe: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 30 acres, leased land 23½ acres, paid £7 7s 6d

Orphans of William Kennedy: ground rent £0 17s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 12s 0d

Eleanor Leach: ground rent £0 12s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 12s 0d

Elizabeth Lamb: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 10 acres, paid £2 10s 0d

Benjamin Mason, including 31 acres at £0 1s 6d an acre: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 42 acres, leased land 73½ acres, paid £15 1s 0d

Roderick Merchant: ground rent £0 2s 6d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 2s 6d

Elizabeth Moore: ground rent £0 5s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 5s 0d

Solomon St Maurice, ground rent for 10 months at £0 15s 0d a year and for 1 month at £0 15s 0d a year: ground rent £0 13s 9d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 13s 9d

Matthew Purling, including 9¾ acres at £0 1s 0d an acre, 3 acres at £0 4s 0d an acre, and ground rent for 10½ months at £1 4s 2d a year: ground rent £1 4s 10d, free land 205 acres, leased land 108½ acres, paid £37 1s 4d

James Powell: ground rent £0 3s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 3s 0d

John Price: ground rent £0 15s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 15s 0d

Benjamin Pledger, including 3 acres at £0 4s 0d an acre: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 5 acres, leased land 18¾ acres, paid £4 15s 9d

John Pritchard: ground rent £0 10s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 10s 0d

James Pritchard: ground rent £0 7s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 7s 0d

John Robinson, including 22½ acres at £0 1s 6d an acre: ground rent £0 6s 0d, free land 41¼ acres, leased land 41½ acres, paid £7 14s 0d

William Seale, including 5½ acres at £0 1s 6d an acre: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 7 acres, leased land 36 acres, paid £8 7s 9d

Benjamin Seale: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 11 acres, leased land 10¼ acres, paid £2 11s 3d

Orphans of John Seale: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 10 acres, leased land 7½ acres, paid £2 7s 6d

Martha Scott, ground rent for 10½ months at £0 12s 5d a year: ground rent £0 10s 8d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 10s 8d

Nathan Sample: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 25 acres, leased land 8½ acres, paid £3 7s 6d

John Shirkey: ground rent £0 3s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 3s 0d

James Torbett: ground rent £0 12s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 12s 0d

Orphans of John Twaits: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 9 acres, leased land 38½ acres, paid £10 1s 6d

Thomas Townsend: ground rent £0 15s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 15s 0d

Orphans of John Worrall: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 42½ acres, paid £10 12s 6d

Orphans of Joshua Worrall: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 31 acres, leased land 33 acres, paid £9 16s 0d

Carried forward: free land 1,871¼ acres, leased land 1,793¾ acres, paid £527 1s 0½d

Interpretations

Several of the men who governed the island appear here as the Company's tenants. Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick and Matthew Purling, both members of the Council, paid rent like any other landholder, and Purling held more land than anyone else on the page. James Powell, the storekeeper, paid ground rent on a house plot. The councillors who sat in judgement on rents and leases were themselves bound by the same terms, and their own payments passed through the same roll that recorded everyone else's.

Solomon St Maurice's entry shows how a new lease entered the accounts. Alongside ten months' rent on an existing plot, he paid for a single month at £0 15s 0d a year, the rate set when the Council granted him ground in James Valley on 26 August 1765. The rent year evidently closed at the end of September, so a lease begun in late August was charged for one month only. Benjamin Mason's 31 acres at £0 1s 6d an acre, granted on 9 September 1765, likewise appear on the roll within weeks of the lease being signed.

James Torbett, who paid ground rent on a town plot, was the cooper whose daughter Elizabeth died on 17 September 1765, as recorded at the meeting of 23 September 1765.

67

62

30th September

Ground Rent, Free Land, Lease Land, £, s, d

Brought over: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 1871½, Lease Land 1793¾, £ 527, s 1, d ½

Frances Wrangham Exx. at a sepparate Comtar. Gr. Rent for 10½ Months at 14/ Pr. Ac.: Ground Rent 12/4, Free Land 62, Lease Land 6, £ 3, s 14, d 4

Thomas Warne 6 Ac. at 1/6 Pr. Acr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 16, Lease Land 36, £ 8, s 7, d 10½

William Wrangham: Ground Rent 26/6, Free Land 144, Lease Land 83, £ 29, s 5, d 6

Jane Wilson: Ground Rent 2/6, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 2, d 6

Joseph Whaleys Esqr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 17½, Lease Land 13¼, £ 4, s 12, d 11

William Young: Ground Rent 5/, Free Land 79½, Lease Land 25, £ 10, s 9, d 6

Stephen Young: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 20, Lease Land 8½, £ 3, s 2, d 6

Total: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 2204¾, Lease Land 1970, £ 536, s 16, d 2

Captain Maitland this day acquainted Us, that he

had held a Consultation with his Officers, and that they were Unanimously of

Opinion that they could not Attempt to go for Europe, without having 10 Weeks

Provision on board and further laid before Us that the addition of five

Casks of Salt Provision more with what we have already granted,

thinks he may be able to proceed on his Voyage to England, Upon

which we came to a resolution for the safety of the Ship and to

prevent her putting into any foreign Port to give him the

Additional supply of five Casks, at the risk of being necessitated

to kill upon the live Stock for the use of the [...] Garrison if we

have not an early Storeship.

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

The rent roll ended with the following landholders.

Brought forward: free land 1,871¼ acres, leased land 1,793¾ acres, paid £527 1s 0½d

Francis Wrangham, including 6 acres at a peppercorn rent and ground rent for 10½ months at £0 14s 4d a year: ground rent £0 12s 4d, free land 62 acres, leased land 6 acres, paid £3 14s 4d

Thomas Warne, including 6¼ acres at £0 1s 6d an acre: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 16 acres, leased land 36 acres, paid £8 7s 10½d

William Wrangham: ground rent £1 6s 6d, free land 144 acres, leased land 83 acres, paid £29 5s 6d

Jane Wilson: ground rent £0 2s 6d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, paid £0 2s 6d

Orphans of Joseph Whaley: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 17¾ acres, leased land 13¼ acres, paid £4 12s 11d

William Young: ground rent £0 5s 0d, free land 79½ acres, leased land 25 acres, paid £10 9s 6d

Stephen Young: ground rent £0 0s 0d, free land 20 acres, leased land 8½ acres, paid £3 2s 6d

Total: free land 2,204¾ acres, leased land 1,970 acres, paid £536 16s 2d

Captain Maitland informed the Council that he had consulted his officers. They agreed unanimously that they could not set out for Europe without ten weeks' provisions aboard. Maitland added that, with five more casks of salt provisions on top of what the Council had already granted, he believed he could make the voyage to England.

The Council resolved to give him the five extra casks. It did so to keep the ship safe and to stop her from calling at a foreign port, even though this might force it to slaughter livestock to feed the garrison if no store ship arrived soon. Governor Skottowe and the three councillors signed the minutes.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

Three days earlier, on 27 September 1765, the Council told Maitland that 12 casks were all it could possibly spare, with salt meat for the garrison expected to run out on 1 March 1766. It now reversed that position and found five more. The reason it gave was the danger of the alternative. An East Indiaman short of food would have had to put into a foreign port on the way home, most likely a Portuguese, Spanish or French one, exposing a valuable Company cargo to delay, port charges, private trading by her officers and the attention of rivals. The Council judged that risk to outweigh the risk to its own stores. It accepted that the island might have to eat into its breeding cattle and sheep, the very stock on which future supplies depended, if the store ship came late. The formal consultation Maitland held with his officers gave the request a weight the Council could not easily dismiss, since a unanimous judgement on the ship's safety, put in writing, would stand against the Council if the Bute came to grief after being refused.

Francis Wrangham held six acres at a peppercorn rent, a nominal payment of a single peppercorn a year. Such a rent produced no income at all. Its purpose was to acknowledge that the land belonged to the Company and that Wrangham held it as a tenant, preserving the Company's title while effectively granting him the use of the ground for nothing. It was usually a mark of favour or a reward for service.

68

63

7th October

At a Consultation held on Monday the 7th Day of October 1765 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Captain Thoms. Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed, dated the 30th Septemb.


1765

Mr. Matthew Purling reports that he has

been on board the Ship Bute to Muster her Company and enquire for

Deserters but found none her Muster Roll is as follows vizt.

Patrick Maitland

Comr.

Chas. Dean

Chief Mate

Robert Lindsey

2d Do.

William Isley

3d Do.

Phillip Dempster

4th Do.

Ralph John Campbell

5th Do.

Charles Greenhill

Surgn.

William Pearson

Purser

Robt. Taylor

Midshipm [...]

Willm. Roberson

Midshipm

Robert Townsend

Do.

John Howeson

Do.

John Carmichael

Do.

Chas. Ross

Gunner

John Corbett

Carpenter

Richd. Davis

Caulker

Francis Mosault

Sailmakr.

John Folwell

Surg. Mate

Henry Candy

Gunrs. Do.

Samuel Potter

Carpentr. Do.

Marmaduck Kingbank

Do.

Willm. Robertson

Boatswn.

Geo. Story

Boatswn. Mte.

Ogilvy Gead

Capt. Stewd.

Thoms. Jackson

Ships Do.

Robt. Laws

Capt. Cooks

James Deas

Ships Do.

John Hill

Coopers Mate

Thos. Porker

John Donaldson

Henry Beall

John Crafts

Qr. Master

Robt. Donald

Seaman

George Seward

John Eaton

Seaman

Andrew Munro

John Hinks

Patrick Stanton

James Wolleston

John Stamper

Thomas Martin

John Street

Richard Stubbs

William Steward

Robert Smith

Adam Gawen

James Ferguson

Willm. Seawright

Willm. Robertson

Robert Lyndon

William Crafts

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 7 October 1765. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick in attendance as members of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 September 1765 were read, approved and signed.

Purling reported that he had boarded the Bute to call the roll of her crew and search for deserters, and had found none. The ship's muster roll read as follows.

Patrick Maitland, commander

Charles Dean, chief mate

Robert Lindsey, second mate

William Tiley, third mate

Phillips Dempster, fourth mate

Ralph John Campbell, fifth mate

Charles Greenhill, surgeon

William Pierson, purser

Robert Taylor, midshipman

William Robertson, midshipman

Robert Townsend, midshipman

John Howson, midshipman

John Carmichael, midshipman

Charles Ross, gunner

John Corbett, carpenter

Richard Davis, caulker

Francis Marsault, sailmaker

John Selwell, surgeon's mate

Henry Candy, gunner's mate

Samuel Potter, carpenter's mate

Marmaduke Kingbault, caulker's mate

William Robertson, boatswain

George Story, boatswain's mate

Ogilvy Geddes, captain's steward

Thomas Linkon, ship's steward

Robert Laws, captain's cook

James Deas, ship's cook

John Kell, cooper's mate

Thomas Porter, quartermaster

John Donaldson, quartermaster

Henry Beall, quartermaster

John Crafts, quartermaster

Robert Donald, seaman

George Toisand, seaman

John Eaton, seaman

Andrew Monro, seaman

John Hinks, seaman

Patrick Stanton, seaman

James Walleiston, seaman

John Stamper, seaman

Thomas Martin, seaman

John Street, seaman

Richard Stubbs, seaman

William Steward, seaman

Robert Smith, seaman

Adam Gawen, seaman

James Ferguson, seaman

William Seawright, seaman

William Robertson, seaman

Robert Lynton, seaman

William Crafts, seaman

Interpretations

This muster carried more weight than the routine checks made of the London and the Calcutta. On 27 September 1765 Maitland based his request for provisions on the number of men he had aboard, and the Council then stretched its dwindling stores to supply him, granting five extra casks on 30 September 1765 at the risk of slaughtering the island's livestock. A roll taken by a councillor before the ship sailed fixed exactly how many mouths those provisions had to feed. It confirmed that the numbers Maitland relied on were real, and ensured that no man from the garrison or the island slipped aboard to share food the island could barely spare.

69

64

7th October

Willm. Hatton

Seaman

Thos. Cambell

John Welder

Christn. Gasker

Bastion Simmons

Peter Smith

William January

John Bute

Willm. Myers

Henrick Myers

John Ainsworth

John Perry

Thomas Chapman

Samuel Donnelly

Thomas Edwards

Chas. Elphinston

Gabriel Lingcroft

Carl Johan Norman

Seaman

Richd. Haselwood

Samuel Waistcoat

Henry Brame

Henry Ayers

Joseph Campbell

Garret Gibbons

Thomas Blair

Charles Steward

Forfar

John English

John Hugly

William Walsh

George Hinton

Jasper Ruddings

Willm. Barrell

[...]

Duncan

Servant

Donald Munro

Donald McLell

George Horough

Thoms. Philcock

William McCow

Duncan Thomson

Finlay McDonald

John Monroe

Francis Mitchell

George McKenzie

Murdock McPherson

Hugh Ross

Tobben

True

John Christian

James Roberts

Passengers

Major Hector Munro

Capt. Duncan McPherson

Charles Gordon

Lieut. Alexr. McPherson

John McPherson

Henry Gilchrist

Surgeon James Arthur

Serjeants Seven

Corporals Seven

Drummers four

Private Men Nine

(signed)

Women Six

Children two, all

belonging to his Majestys

89 Regiment

Lieut. Frederick Wincent of his

Majestys 79 Regiment

Capt. George Whitchcott,

George Hay late in

the Service of the Honble. Company

at Bengall

Mr. Richard Bendy

Patk. Maitland

The Bute's muster roll continued with the rest of her seamen, followed by her passengers.

William Hatton, seaman

Thomas Cambell, seaman

John Welder, seaman

Christopher Gaster, seaman

Bastion Simmons, seaman

Peter Smith, seaman

William January, seaman

John Bute, seaman

William Myers, seaman

Henrick Myers, seaman

John Ainsworth, seaman

John Perry, seaman

Thomas Chapman, seaman

Samuel Donnelly, seaman

Thomas Edwards, seaman

Charles Elphinston, seaman

Gabriel Lingrust, seaman

Carl Johan Norman, seaman

Richard Haselwood, seaman

Samuel Waistcoat, seaman

Henry Brame, seaman

Henry Ayers, seaman

Joseph Campbell, seaman

Garrot Gibbons, seaman

Thomas Blair, seaman

Charles Steward, seaman

Forfar, seaman

John English, seaman

John Hugly, seaman

William Walsh, seaman

George Hinton, seaman

Jasper Rubling, seaman

William Darrell, seaman

Duncan Lamont, seaman

Donald Munro, seaman

Donald McFell, seaman

George Horough, seaman

Thomas Shellouch, seaman

William McCow, seaman

Duncan Thomson, seaman

Finlay McDonald, seaman

John Monroe, seaman

Francis Mitchell, seaman

George McKenzie, seaman

Murdoch McPherson, seaman

Hugh Ross, seaman

Tobbin, seaman

True, seaman

John Christian, seaman

James Roberts, seaman

The passengers were listed as follows.

Major Hector Munro, His Majesty's 89th Regiment

Captain Duncan McPherson, His Majesty's 89th Regiment

Captain Charles Gordon, His Majesty's 89th Regiment

Lieutenant Alexander McPherson, His Majesty's 89th Regiment

Lieutenant John McPherson, His Majesty's 89th Regiment

Lieutenant Henry Gilchrist, His Majesty's 89th Regiment

Surgeon James Arthur, His Majesty's 89th Regiment

7 sergeants, His Majesty's 89th Regiment

7 corporals, His Majesty's 89th Regiment

4 drummers, His Majesty's 89th Regiment

9 private soldiers, His Majesty's 89th Regiment

6 women, His Majesty's 89th Regiment

2 children, His Majesty's 89th Regiment

Lieutenant Frederick Wincant, His Majesty's 79th Regiment

Captain George Whitchcott, formerly in the Company's service in Bengal

George Hay, formerly in the Company's service in Bengal

Richard Bendy

Patrick Maitland signed the roll as commander.

Interpretations

The passenger list explains the scale of Maitland's demand for provisions on 27 September 1765. Besides her own crew, the Bute was carrying the remnant of a King's regiment home from India, with its officers, sergeants, corporals, drummers, private soldiers, soldiers' wives and children. These were people the ship had to feed for the whole voyage but whose rations were not part of an ordinary East Indiaman's stores. When Maitland wrote that he could not sail with the number of men he had on board, he was describing a ship crowded well beyond her normal complement. That burden helps account for the Council's decision of 30 September 1765 to stretch its own failing stores with five more casks.

The 89th was a Highland regiment raised during the Seven Years' War and sent to India, where it fought in the Company's wars in Bengal. Major Hector Munro was its commander and had led the Company's forces to victory at Buxar in 1764. The regiment was being brought home to be disbanded, so the men aboard the Bute were the last of a unit whose service had helped establish British power in Bengal. The wives and children travelling with them were the families permitted to follow the regiment on campaign, who now returned with it at the end of its service.

70

65

As we are in want of an Armourer and John Dobson

Corporal being a good one, we have discharged him from the Garrison,

and Appointed him to that Employ, to serve three Years the remainder

of his Contracted Time, at the Usual Salary, to commence from the 1.

Instant

Major Munro applied to Us for £ 170 out

of the Honble. Company's Cash, for the use of his Majesty's eighty

ninth Regiment, which sum we have advanced him and taken

Bills drawn upon John Purling Esqr. at Ninety Days Sight dated

this Day

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

The Council needed an armourer. John Dobson, a corporal, was skilled at the trade, so the Council discharged him from the garrison and appointed him to the post. He was to serve for the three years remaining on his contract, at the standard salary, with effect from 1 October 1765.

Major Munro asked the Council to advance £170 0s 0d from the Company's treasury for the use of His Majesty's 89th Regiment. The Council lent him the money and in return took bills, dated the same day, drawn on John Purling in London and payable ninety days after sight. Governor Skottowe and the three councillors signed the minutes.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

The returns of the public works, entered on 16 September 1765, show that most skilled men on the island's projects were soldiers working their trades for extra pay while remaining in the garrison. Dobson could have been kept on that footing. The Council chose instead to discharge him and make him a civilian employee of the Company. A soldier on extra pay could be called back to his duties, posted elsewhere or lost when his time expired. By tying his new post to the three years left on his enlistment, the Council secured a full-time armourer for a fixed term without releasing him from service early. The arrangement turned an existing military obligation into a civilian one on terms the Company controlled.

Munro's loan ran in the opposite direction to the usual transactions with the treasury. Normally islanders and passengers paid coin in and took bills payable by the Directors in London, as recorded in the cash accounts for July and August 1765. Here the Company paid coin out and took bills drawn on a private person in London, who would repay the sum there. The island's growing cash reserve, which had seen no payments at all during those two months, gave the Council the means to supply a King's regiment in need. Recovering the money through a bill on London meant the advance cost the Company nothing beyond the delay in repayment.

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10th October

At a Consultation held on Thursday the 10th Day of October 1765

at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Capt. Thoms. Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was, read, approved, and Signed dated the 7th

October 1765

We this day received the following Letter from

Captain Maitland vizt.

To the Honble. John Skottowe Esqr. President Govern.

&c. of Council of St Helena

Honoble. Sir & Sirs

I am sorry to Acquaint you of the great difficulty that I

find in Beating the Paddy into Rice, the six Company's Slaves and as

many of my own People is scarcely able to beat half the Quantity that

will serve Two Hundred Men Pr. day. So that it will take my People at the

rate we go on at present, Eighty days to beat forty days Rice, which is

not quite the Quantity that I want to make up ten Weeks Rice,

And if I should happen to meet with bad weather, which there is

reason to expect of this season of the Year: I think it will be running

a great risque of being drove to the utmost distress for want.

I must therefore beg leave to request that you will if possible spare me

Twenty days Rice, which is about Three Thousand three Hundred &

twenty Pounds, in Lieu of one half the Paddy that you have been

pleased

The Council met at the Castle on Thursday 10 October 1765. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick present as members of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 1765 were read, approved and signed.

The Council received another letter from Captain Maitland, addressed to the Governor and Council. Maitland reported that husking the paddy into rice was proving very difficult. Six of the Company's slaves, working alongside the same number of his own men, could barely pound half the daily amount needed to feed 200 men. At that pace his crew would need 80 days to clean 40 days' worth of rice, which still fell short of the ten weeks' supply he required. He expected bad weather at that time of year, and feared that meeting it would leave the ship in grave danger of running out of food. He therefore asked the Council, if it could, to let him have twenty days' rice, about 3,320 lb, in exchange for half of the paddy it had already supplied.

Interpretations

The Council had told Maitland on 27 September 1765 that it hoped he would find some way to use the paddy in place of rice. His letter showed how unrealistic that hope was. Paddy had to be pounded in wooden mortars to loosen the husk, then winnowed to separate the grain, all by hand. Even with the Company lending six slaves to the work, the labour could not keep pace with the needs of a ship carrying around 200 people. Grain that looked like a reasonable substitute in the storekeeper's account became, in practice, food that could not be prepared fast enough to be eaten.

The figure of 200 men a day confirms how heavily the Bute was burdened. Her muster roll, entered on 7 October 1765, listed her crew together with the officers, soldiers, women and children of the 89th Regiment, and Maitland now had to feed all of them. His fear of bad weather was well founded. A ship leaving St Helena in October would reach the northern Atlantic in late autumn or early winter, when storms could delay her for weeks and stretch every ration aboard.

The loan of six Company slaves to work on a ship's provisions shows the Company's labour force being used beyond the island's own projects. The same slaves listed among the public workmen could be lent wherever the Company's interest required, including to help a Company ship prepare for sea.

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1765

pleased to Order; For I think I may be able to Beat the other twenty Days

Rice in going through the trade Winds, If you are pleased to comply with

this Request I shall then be ready to Sail for Europe on Sunday Evening.

I hope you will have no objection to take my Bills on Charles

Raymond Esqr. for the Amount of what Provisions and Stores I have

received out of the Honorable Company's Store Houses, as also to grant me

Money of Bills to pay the Planters, I am with due Respect

Honble. Sir & Sirs

St Helena Your most Obedient Humble Servant

10th October 1765 (signed) Patk. Maitland

Upon which we returned him the following Answer vizt.

To the Honble. Patrick Maitland Commander

of Ship Bute

Sir

For the reasons you have set forth in your Letter of this Days date

we have agreed at all events to spare you 3000 lb of rice in lieu of half of the Paddy

we promised you

With respect to your Demand of Cash from the Honorable

Company, we are ready to comply with your request as soon as we know the

Sum, at the same time Acquainting you that all Money taken up by the

Commanders for the use of their Ships must be upon Charter Party Terms.

We are likewise to Acquaint you that we have Ordered the eighteen live

Cattle for you to take on board, and reserved one for to kill while here which is

all you can possibly be supplyed with. We are Sir

St Helena Your most humble Servants

10th October 1765 Matw. Purling (signed) John Skottowe

Thos. Kirkpatrick Dan Corneille

Maitland explained that he expected to pound the remaining twenty days' rice while sailing through the trade winds. If the Council agreed to his request, he would be ready to leave for Europe on the evening of Sunday 13 October 1765. He hoped the Council would accept his bills drawn on Charles Raymond to cover the provisions and stores he had received from the Company's warehouses. He also asked for money or bills with which to pay the planters. He signed the letter at St Helena on 10 October 1765.

The Council replied to Maitland as commander of the Bute the same day. In view of the reasons he had given, it agreed in any case to let him have 3,000 lb of rice in exchange for half of the paddy promised to him. It was also ready to advance the cash he wanted from the Company once he told it the sum required. The Council reminded him, however, that any money commanders drew for the use of their ships had to be taken on the terms of the charter party. Finally, it informed him that it had ordered the thirteen live cattle to be put aboard his ship, keeping one back to be slaughtered for him while he remained in port. This was all the supply the island could possibly give. Governor Skottowe and the three councillors signed the letter.

Interpretations

The charter party was the contract under which the Company hired each ship from her owners, and it set out what costs fell on the owners and what on the Company. By insisting that any cash Maitland drew must be taken on those terms, the Council ensured the money would be charged to the ship's owners and deducted from what the Company owed them for freight, not treated as a gift from the island's treasury. Maitland's offer of bills on Charles Raymond pointed the same way. Raymond was the ship's husband, the managing owner who handled her accounts in London, so the bills shifted the cost of the provisions onto the owners who would ultimately answer for them. The Company supplied the food on the island and recovered its value at home.

Maitland's plan to pound the rest of the paddy in the trade winds reflects the conditions of the passage north from St Helena. The south-east trades blew steadily and moderately, giving a ship days of easy sailing with a level deck and little work aloft. Those were the only conditions in which men could spend hours at the mortars without risk. He needed the cleaned rice for the stormy latitudes later in the voyage, when no such work would be possible.

His request for money to pay the planters shows he had followed the Council's advice of 27 September 1765 to buy pigs, sheep, goats and other food from the island's farms. Planters wanted coin or a reliable bill, not a ship captain's promise, so Maitland needed the Company's treasury to stand behind his purchases before the farmers would part with their stock.

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10th October

The Storekeeper this day delivered the following Account

of Stores short received from Ship Bute vizt.

Account of Stores short received from Ship Bute

vizt.

No. 1 1 Leagr. Arrack gages Gallon 90 wants to fill Gallo. 69

2 1 Do. Do. Do. 135 Do. Do. 42

225

111

111

Gallons 1[.]4 received

30 Bags Rice

15 Do. Paddy

10 Do. Sugar

Short delivered

(signed)

St Helena James Powell Storekeeper

10th October 1765

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

James Powell, the storekeeper, handed in an account of stores from the Bute that fell short on delivery, signed at St Helena on 10 October 1765.

Leaguer of arrack no. 1: gauged at 140 gallons, short of full by 69 gallons

Leaguer of arrack no. 2: gauged at 145 gallons, short of full by 42 gallons

Total gauged: 285 gallons, short of full by 111 gallons, received 174 gallons

30 bags of rice not delivered

15 bags of paddy not delivered

10 bags of sugar not delivered

Governor Skottowe and the three councillors signed the minutes.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

Gauging a cask meant measuring its full capacity with a calibrated rod, and the gap between that capacity and the liquid actually inside was the ullage. Some loss of spirits on a long voyage was expected, through leakage at the seams and evaporation in the heat of the hold. A shortfall of 69 gallons in a single leaguer, nearly half its contents, went far beyond ordinary wastage. Arrack in the hold was a constant temptation to seamen, who could tap a cask and plug the hole, and such losses were often pilfering rather than leakage. The storekeeper's figures gave the Company the evidence to charge the missing spirits to the ship.

The Bute's invoice, entered on 27 September 1765, listed 30 bags of rice, 15 bags of paddy and 10 bags of fine sugar for the island. The storekeeper now recorded every one of those bags as undelivered. During the same fortnight the Council was drawing on its own failing stores to supply the Bute, granting salt meat, livestock, paddy and finally 3,000 lb of rice in exchange for paddy. The certificate preserved the Company's claim against the ship for goods the island had been promised but never received, at the very moment the island was feeding her from what little it had left.

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69

14th October

At a Consultation held on Monday the 14th Day of October 1765 at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Captain Thos. Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed dated the 10th

October 1765.

This day Sailed the Honorable Company's Ship Bute for England

The Plantation Account for the last Quarter, and the

Gunners and Stewards Accounts for the Month of September were this

day brought in, which were examined and approved, and are as follow

vizt.

Sundry's Expended at the Honble. Compy's Table in the Month of Septemr.


1765

8 Bottles Port Wine

12

45 Do. Lisbon

3.7.6

16 Do. Mountain

1.4

30 Do. Beer

6.3

60 Do. Arrack

3.7.6

237 lb Beef

4.7.6

260 Mutton

5.7.6

2 Lambs

1

3 Pigs

15

9 Fowls

11.6

70 lb Candy

1.4

29 lb Butter

1.9

350 Flour

2.1.3

£ 26.13.3

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 14 October 1765. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick present as members of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 1765 were read, approved and signed.

The Company's ship Bute left for England that day.

The account of the Company's plantation for the past quarter was submitted, together with the gunner's and steward's accounts for September 1765. The Council examined and approved them all, and their details followed. The steward's account set out the food and drink consumed at the Company's table during September 1765.

8 bottles of port wine, £0 12s 0d

45 bottles of Lisbon wine, £3 7s 6d

16 bottles of Mountain wine, £1 4s 0d

30 bottles of beer, £0 6s 3d

6½ bottles of arrack, £3 7s 6d

237¼ lb of beef, £4 17s 9d

200 lb of mutton, £5 17s 6d

2 lambs, £1 0s 0d

3 pigs, £0 15s 0d

9 fowls, £0 11s 6d

7 lb of sugar candy, £1 4s 0d

29 lb of butter, £1 9s 0d

330 lb of flour, £2 1s 3d

Total, £26 13s 3d

Interpretations

Beef at the Company's table rose from 126 lb in August, as entered on 9 September 1765, to 237¼ lb in September, and lambs and pigs appeared for the first time. The table's total stood at £23 8s 7d for August and £26 13s 3d for September. The change coincides with a crowded month in the road. The Calcutta lay at anchor until 8 September and the Bute arrived on 25 September carrying Major Munro and the officers of the 89th Regiment. Visiting commanders and officers of rank were customarily entertained at the Governor's table, and the heavier spending on fresh meat probably reflects that hospitality. It came at a time when the Council was telling Maitland the island could spare almost nothing, which shows how differently the island's scarce livestock was rationed between the Governor's guests and the ships' companies.

The plantation account covered the Company's own farm, run by its slaves to produce cattle, sheep, vegetables and other food for the garrison and the Company's establishment. Its accounts were rendered quarterly rather than monthly, reflecting the slower cycle of farming. Read alongside the provision crisis of late September, they showed the Council how much the Company's own land was contributing to the island's food supply at a time when imported stores were running low.

The Bute sailed on Monday 14 October 1765, a day later than the Sunday evening departure Maitland had planned in his letter of 10 October 1765.

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14th October

Account of the Honble. Company's Stocks of Neat Cattle &c. from the 1 July to the 30th September 1765 vizt.

Neat Cattle Bulls, Neat Cattle Cows, Neat Cattle Calves, Neat Cattle Yearlings, Neat Cattle Heifers, Neat Cattle Steers, Neat Cattle Oxen, Neat Cattle Total, Sheep Ewes, Sheep Weathers, Sheep Lambs, Sheep Rams, Sheep Total, Goats Ewes, Goats Weathers, Goats Kids, Goats Rams, Goats Total, Hogs Sows, Hogs Shoats, Hogs Pigs, Hogs Boars, Hogs Total, Horses Horses, Horses Mares, Horses Total, Asses [...], Asses [...], Asses Total, Poultry Fowls, Poultry Ducks, Poultry Turkeys, Poultry Geese

Remaining 1 July: Neat Cattle Bulls 3, Neat Cattle Cows 74, Neat Cattle Calves 111, Neat Cattle Yearlings 47, Neat Cattle Heifers 27, Neat Cattle Steers 20, Neat Cattle Oxen 16, Neat Cattle Total 298, Sheep Ewes 2[.]2, Sheep Weathers 78, Sheep Lambs 212, Sheep Rams 7, Sheep Total 589, Goats Ewes 150, Goats Weathers 37, Goats Kids 71, Goats Rams 8, Goats Total 266, Hogs Sows 1, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 1, Horses Horses 8, Horses Mares 6, Horses Total 14, Asses [...] 1, Asses [...] 1, Asses Total 2, Poultry Fowls 35, Poultry Ducks 16, Poultry Turkeys 5, Poultry Geese 4

Encreased: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 8, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 8, Sheep Ewes 0, Sheep Weathers 0, Sheep Lambs 90, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 90, Goats Ewes 0, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 39, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 39, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 9, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 9, Horses Horses 1, Horses Mares 1, Horses Total 2, Asses [...] 0, Asses [...] 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 18, Poultry Ducks 11, Poultry Turkeys 10, Poultry Geese 0

Total: Neat Cattle Bulls 3, Neat Cattle Cows 74, Neat Cattle Calves 119, Neat Cattle Yearlings 47, Neat Cattle Heifers 27, Neat Cattle Steers 20, Neat Cattle Oxen 16, Neat Cattle Total 306, Sheep Ewes 202, Sheep Weathers 78, Sheep Lambs 302, Sheep Rams 7, Sheep Total 679, Goats Ewes 150, Goats Weathers 37, Goats Kids 110, Goats Rams 8, Goats Total 305, Hogs Sows 1, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 9, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 10, Horses Horses 9, Horses Mares 7, Horses Total 16, Asses [...] 1, Asses [...] 1, Asses Total 2, Poultry Fowls 53, Poultry Ducks 27, Poultry Turkeys 15, Poultry Geese 4

Killed: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 6, Neat Cattle Calves 0, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 10, Neat Cattle Steers 10, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 26, Sheep Ewes 18, Sheep Weathers 36, Sheep Lambs 2, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 56, Goats Ewes 40, Goats Weathers 10, Goats Kids 3, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 53, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 4, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 4, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses [...] 0, Asses [...] 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 23, Poultry Ducks 0, Poultry Turkeys 0, Poultry Geese 0

Dead: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 1, Neat Cattle Calves 0, Neat Cattle Yearlings 1, Neat Cattle Heifers 1, Neat Cattle Steers 1, Neat Cattle Oxen 1, Neat Cattle Total 5, Sheep Ewes 3, Sheep Weathers 0, Sheep Lambs 12, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 15, Goats Ewes 6, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 2, Goats Rams 1, Goats Total 9, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 1, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 1, Horses Horses 5, Horses Mares 2, Horses Total 7, Asses [...] 0, Asses [...] 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 0, Poultry Ducks 9, Poultry Turkeys 1, Poultry Geese 0

Remaining 30th July: Neat Cattle Bulls 3, Neat Cattle Cows 67, Neat Cattle Calves 119, Neat Cattle Yearlings 46, Neat Cattle Heifers 16, Neat Cattle Steers 9, Neat Cattle Oxen 15, Neat Cattle Total 275, Sheep Ewes 271, Sheep Weathers 42, Sheep Lambs 288, Sheep Rams 7, Sheep Total 608, Goats Ewes 104, Goats Weathers 27, Goats Kids 105, Goats Rams 7, Goats Total 243, Hogs Sows 1, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 4, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 5, Horses Horses 4, Horses Mares 5, Horses Total 9, Asses [...] 1, Asses [...] 1, Asses Total 2, Poultry Fowls 30, Poultry Ducks 18, Poultry Turkeys 14, Poultry Geese 4

Changed the Species: Neat Cattle Bulls 3, Neat Cattle Cows 87, Neat Cattle Calves 58, Neat Cattle Yearlings 50, Neat Cattle Heifers 30, Neat Cattle Steers 30, Neat Cattle Oxen 17, Neat Cattle Total 275, Sheep Ewes 354, Sheep Weathers 145, Sheep Lambs 102, Sheep Rams 7, Sheep Total 608, Goats Ewes 109, Goats Weathers 34, Goats Kids 93, Goats Rams 7, Goats Total 243, Hogs Sows 1, Hogs Shoats 4, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 5, Horses Horses 4, Horses Mares 5, Horses Total 9, Asses [...] 1, Asses [...] 1, Asses Total 2, Poultry Fowls 30, Poultry Ducks 18, Poultry Turkeys 14, Poultry Geese 4

Blacks Dead

Essex

Highgate

Joe Taylor

Flora

Hannah

Prince

Girls

1 Boy born named James Chatthom

Yam Expended for the Slaves

lb 71.266

(signed) Dan Corneille

The account of the Company's livestock for the quarter from 1 July to 30 September 1765 recorded the numbers of each kind of animal held, gained, killed and lost.

Cattle remaining 1 July 1765: bulls 3, cows 74, calves 111, yearlings 47, heifers 27, steers 20, oxen 16, total 298

Cattle increase: bulls 0, cows 0, calves 8, yearlings 0, heifers 0, steers 0, oxen 0, total 8

Cattle total: bulls 3, cows 74, calves 119, yearlings 47, heifers 27, steers 20, oxen 16, total 306

Cattle killed: bulls 0, cows 6, calves 0, yearlings 0, heifers 10, steers 10, oxen 0, total 26

Cattle died: bulls 0, cows 1, calves 0, yearlings 1, heifers 1, steers 1, oxen 1, total 5

Cattle remaining 30 September 1765: bulls 3, cows 67, calves 119, yearlings 46, heifers 16, steers 9, oxen 15, total 275

Cattle regraded by age: bulls 3, cows 87, calves 58, yearlings 50, heifers 30, steers 30, oxen 17, total 275

Sheep remaining 1 July 1765: ewes 292, wethers 78, lambs 212, rams 7, total 589

Sheep increase: ewes 0, wethers 0, lambs 90, rams 0, total 90

Sheep total: ewes 292, wethers 78, lambs 302, rams 7, total 679

Sheep killed: ewes 18, wethers 36, lambs 2, rams 0, total 56

Sheep died: ewes 3, wethers 0, lambs 12, rams 0, total 15

Sheep remaining 30 September 1765: ewes 271, wethers 42, lambs 288, rams 7, total 608

Sheep regraded by age: ewes 354, wethers 145, lambs 102, rams 7, total 608

Goats remaining 1 July 1765: ewes 150, wethers 37, kids 71, rams 8, total 266

Goats increase: ewes 0, wethers 0, kids 39, rams 0, total 39

Goats total: ewes 150, wethers 37, kids 110, rams 8, total 305

Goats killed: ewes 40, wethers 10, kids 3, rams 0, total 53

Goats died: ewes 6, wethers 0, kids 2, rams 1, total 9

Goats remaining 30 September 1765: ewes 104, wethers 27, kids 105, rams 7, total 243

Goats regraded by age: ewes 109, wethers 34, kids 93, rams 7, total 243

Hogs remaining 1 July 1765: sows 1, young hogs 0, pigs 0, boars 0, total 1

Hogs increase: sows 0, young hogs 0, pigs 9, boars 0, total 9

Hogs total: sows 1, young hogs 0, pigs 9, boars 0, total 10

Hogs killed: sows 0, young hogs 0, pigs 4, boars 0, total 4

Hogs died: sows 0, young hogs 0, pigs 1, boars 0, total 1

Hogs remaining 30 September 1765: sows 1, young hogs 0, pigs 4, boars 0, total 5

Hogs regraded by age: sows 1, young hogs 4, pigs 0, boars 0, total 5

Horses remaining 1 July 1765: horses 8, mares 6, total 14

Horses increase: horses 1, mares 1, total 2

Horses total: horses 9, mares 7, total 16

Horses killed: horses 0, mares 0, total 0

Horses died: horses 5, mares 2, total 7

Horses remaining 30 September 1765: horses 4, mares 5, total 9

Horses regraded by age: horses 4, mares 5, total 9

Asses remaining 1 July 1765: male asses 1, female asses 1, total 2

Asses increase: male asses 0, female asses 0, total 0

Asses total: male asses 1, female asses 1, total 2

Asses killed: male asses 0, female asses 0, total 0

Asses died: male asses 0, female asses 0, total 0

Asses remaining 30 September 1765: male asses 1, female asses 1, total 2

Asses regraded by age: male asses 1, female asses 1, total 2

Poultry remaining 1 July 1765: fowls 35, ducks 16, turkeys 5, geese 4

Poultry increase: fowls 18, ducks 11, turkeys 10, geese 0

Poultry total: fowls 53, ducks 27, turkeys 15, geese 4

Poultry killed: fowls 23, ducks 0, turkeys 0, geese 0

Poultry died: fowls 0, ducks 9, turkeys 1, geese 0

Poultry remaining 30 September 1765: fowls 30, ducks 18, turkeys 14, geese 4

Poultry regraded by age: fowls 30, ducks 18, turkeys 14, geese 4

Below the table the account recorded the Company's slaves who had died during the quarter, together with one birth and the yams issued as food.

Essex, slave, died

Highgate, slave, died

Joe Taylor, slave, died

Flora, slave girl, died

Hannah, slave girl, died

Prince, slave girl, died

James Chatham, slave boy, born

Yams issued to the slaves, 71,266 lb

Daniel Corneille signed the account.

Interpretations

The deaths and the birth of the Company's slaves were entered at the foot of the livestock account, on the same page as the cattle, sheep and goats. Six names were recorded as lost and one child as gained, in the same terms of decrease and increase used for the animals above them. The Company counted its slaves as plantation stock, an asset whose numbers had to be accounted for each quarter alongside its herds. The newborn was given a full English name, James Chatham, chosen by his owners, while the adults who died were known by single names or names such as Essex and Highgate, taken from English places. The yams issued to them show the slaves fed on a crop grown on the island rather than on the imported rice and salt meat that were running short for the garrison.

The account clarifies the Council's letter to Captain Maitland of 27 September 1765, which said the Bute was receiving the whole remainder of the year's stock of cattle and sheep. The herd still stood at 275 cattle and 608 sheep at the end of the quarter, so the island was not stripped of animals. What the Council treated as available for use was the year's surplus, the increase beyond what was needed to keep the breeding herd intact. Cows, ewes and rams were capital, and only the young animals and those past breeding could be killed or sold without reducing the island's future supply. That distinction explains why the Council could refuse Maitland further livestock while its own pastures held hundreds of animals.

The final line of the table regraded every animal by age. Over three months, calves grew into yearlings, yearlings into heifers and steers, and lambs into ewes and wethers, so the counts in each class had to be redistributed even though the total stayed the same. The regraded figures became the opening numbers for the next quarter.

Lieutenant Governor Corneille signed the account because the Company's plantation and its stock were under his direct management, reporting to the Council each quarter.

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Artillery Stores expended in the Month of Septem.


1765

Guns Fired, lb 4, lb 3, lb 2, lb 1, Powder Expended

1. Arrived the Calcutta: Guns Fired 9, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 9, lb 1 0, Powder Expended 9

12 Small Cartridges delivered to the Main Guard: Guns Fired 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended 12

Salute for Captain Jacksons coming on Shore: Guns Fired 13, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 13, lb 1 0, Powder Expended 13

4th Delivered to Blow Lime Stone: Guns Fired 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended 6

6th Do.: Guns Fired 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended 6

8 24 Small Cartridges for the Main Guard: Guns Fired 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended 1.8

Salute for Captain Jacksons going on board: Guns Fired 13, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 13, lb 1 0, Powder Expended 13

11th Powder to Blow Limestone: Guns Fired 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended 6

23d Do. for the Long Wood: Guns Fired 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended 8

25. An Alarm: Guns Fired 6, lb 4 2, lb 3 2, lb 2 0, lb 1 2, Powder Expended 12

Arrived the Bute: Guns Fired 9, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 9, lb 1 0, Powder Expended 9

26th Salute to Major Munro coming on Shore: Guns Fired 13, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 13, lb 1 0, Powder Expended 13

Powder to repair the Main Guard Cartridges: Guns Fired 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended 8

Do. for priming at different Times: Guns Fired 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended 12.8

Total: Guns Fired 63, lb 4 2, lb 3 2, lb 2 57, lb 1 2, Powder Expended 102.12

Tallow for the use of the Carpenters, and Boats

lb 22

Old Handspikes delivered for the Company's use

6

Lead Balls to the Overseer of the Long Wood

30

Handspikes Expended at Practice

2

(signed) R. Mitchell

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

The gunner's account for September 1765 recorded the artillery stores used during the month. For each occasion it gave the guns fired, the number of 4-pounders, 3-pounders, 2-pounders and 1-pounders used, and the powder consumed.

The Calcutta arrived on 1 September 1765, with guns fired 9, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 9, 1-pounders 0 and powder used 9 lb 0 oz.

12 small cartridges issued to the Main Guard, 1 September 1765: guns fired 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 0 lb 12 oz

Salute for Captain Jackson landing, 1 September 1765: guns fired 13, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 13, 1-pounders 0, powder used 13 lb 0 oz

Powder issued for blasting limestone, 4 September 1765: guns fired 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 6 lb 0 oz

Powder issued for blasting limestone, 6 September 1765: guns fired 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 6 lb 0 oz

24 small cartridges for the Main Guard, 8 September 1765: guns fired 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 1 lb 8 oz

Salute for Captain Jackson returning aboard, 8 September 1765: guns fired 13, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 13, 1-pounders 0, powder used 13 lb 0 oz

Powder for blasting limestone, 11 September 1765: guns fired 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 6 lb 0 oz

Powder for Longwood, 23 September 1765: guns fired 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 0 lb 8 oz

Alarm, 25 September 1765: guns fired 6, 4-pounders 2, 3-pounders 2, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 2, powder used 12 lb 0 oz

The Bute arrived on 25 September 1765, with guns fired 9, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 9, 1-pounders 0 and powder used 9 lb 0 oz.

Salute for Major Munro landing, 26 September 1765: guns fired 13, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 13, 1-pounders 0, powder used 13 lb 0 oz

Powder for making good the Main Guard's cartridges: guns fired 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 0 lb 8 oz

Priming powder used on various occasions: guns fired 0, 4-pounders 0, 3-pounders 0, 2-pounders 0, 1-pounders 0, powder used 12 lb 8 oz

Total: guns fired 63, 4-pounders 2, 3-pounders 2, 2-pounders 57, 1-pounders 2, powder used 102 lb 12 oz

The account closed with a note of other stores used or issued.

22 lb of tallow for the carpenters and the boats

6 old handspikes issued for the Company's use

30 lead balls issued to the overseer at Longwood

2 handspikes broken at gun practice

Archibald Mitchell signed the account, and Governor Skottowe and the three councillors added their signatures.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Purling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

The salutes show the island's ceremonial scale of rank. A Company ship arriving received nine guns, but individual officers of standing received thirteen when they came ashore, the same honour given to the Dutch ship West Friesland in August. Captain John Jackson, listed among the Calcutta's passengers on 6 September 1765, was saluted both on landing and on returning aboard, and Major Munro of the 89th Regiment received thirteen guns the day after the Bute arrived. The guns marked a visitor's rank as much as his arrival, and each salute was paid for in powder the island kept in short supply.

The powder and 30 lead balls issued to the overseer at Longwood point to musket shooting rather than gun drill. Longwood was a stretch of Company woodland and pasture in the island's interior. The issue was probably for culling the wild goats that damaged trees and grazing there, in line with the cartridges supplied for shooting goats in August 1765.

The alarm on 25 September 1765 matches the arrival of the Bute's boat at Banks's that afternoon, as recorded on 27 September 1765. As with the Calcutta's boat on 31 August, a boat sighted off the coast was enough to turn out the garrison before the ship herself was identified.

The month's firing came to 63 guns and 102 lb 12 oz of powder, against 93 guns and 164 lb 13 oz in August and 61 guns and 99 lb 2 oz in July. September saw only two Company ships arrive and no departures saluted, so the main occasions for firing were the honours paid to visiting officers.

77

72

21. October

At a Consultation held on Monday the 21 Day of October 1765 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Capt. Thoms. Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and Signed, dated the 21 October

1765.

The Paymaster brought in his Accounts and the

Storekeeper his Collections for the Quarter ending the 30 September last

which were examined and approved, and are as follow vizt.

List of the Honble. Company's Officers & Servants upon the Island

St Helena with their several Salary's Diet Money &c. for the Quarter

Commencing the 1 July and ending the 30th Day of September 1765 vizt.

John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Salary

125

Do. Allowance for Servants as usual

31.14.9

156.14.9

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Saly.

62.10

Do. Diet Money

25

87.10

Matthew Purling of Council Saly.

15

Do. Accomptant

17.10

Do. Diet Money

15

Do. Gratuity

15

62.10

Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council Saly.

7.10

Do. House Rent

2.10

10

Archibald Mitchell Engineer Salary

50

Do. Diet Money

25

Do. House Rent

2.10

77.10

Carried Over £ 394.14.9

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 21 October 1765. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick present as members of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 1765 were read, approved and signed.

The paymaster submitted his accounts, and the storekeeper his collections, for the quarter ending 30 September 1765. The Council examined and approved both, and their details followed. The first was a list of the Company's officers and servants on St Helena, with their salaries, food allowances and other payments for the quarter from 1 July to 30 September 1765.

John Skottowe, Governor, salary, £125 0s 0d

John Skottowe, Governor, customary allowance for servants, £31 14s 9d

John Skottowe, Governor, total, £156 14s 9d

Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, salary, £62 10s 0d

Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, food allowance, £25 0s 0d

Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, total, £87 10s 0d

Matthew Purling, member of Council, salary, £15 0s 0d

Matthew Purling, as accountant, £17 10s 0d

Matthew Purling, food allowance, £15 0s 0d

Matthew Purling, gratuity, £15 0s 0d

Matthew Purling, total, £62 10s 0d

Thomas Kirkpatrick, member of Council, salary, £7 10s 0d

Thomas Kirkpatrick, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Thomas Kirkpatrick, total, £10 0s 0d

Archibald Mitchell, engineer, salary, £50 0s 0d

Archibald Mitchell, engineer, food allowance, £25 0s 0d

Archibald Mitchell, engineer, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Archibald Mitchell, engineer, total, £77 10s 0d

Carried forward, £394 14s 9d

Interpretations

Matthew Purling's pay shows how the Company's servants on the island built an income from several posts at once. His salary as a councillor was modest, but he was also paid as accountant and received a food allowance and a gratuity on top. Small salaries attached to many offices allowed the Company to keep its establishment cheap on paper while rewarding its trusted men through extra duties. The arrangement also concentrated authority, since the same councillor who approved the island's accounts was paid to keep them.

Mitchell's salary as engineer stood well above that of any councillor and came close to the Lieutenant Governor's. The Company was paying for scarce professional skill. Few men trained in fortification would serve on a remote island, and the size of his salary reflects the importance the Directors attached to the works he had come to plan and direct.

Captain Kirkpatrick's small salary and house rent came on top of his military pay as a captain of the garrison, which was accounted for separately. His seat on the Council was an additional office rather than his main livelihood, which explains why his entry here was the smallest of the five.

78

73

1765

Brought over £ 394.14.9

John Thackeray Chaplain Saly.

25

Do. Diet Money

15

40

Matthew Bazett Secretary Saly.

17.10

Do. Diet Money

15

Do. House Rent

2.10

35

James Powell Storekeeper Saly.

17.10

Do. Diet Money

15

Do. House Rent

2.10

35

William Wrangham Factor Saly.

7.10

Do. Diet Money

10

Do. House Rent

2.10

Do. Assistant to the Governor

10

30

Jonathan Doveton Factor Salary

7.10

Do. Diet Money

10

Do. Assistant Storekeeper

5

22.10

Britannicus Wright Writer Salary

5

Do. Diet Money

10

Do. House Rent

2.10

17.10

John Goodwin Writer Saly.

5

Do. Diet Money

10

15

Robert Barclay Surgeon Salary

9.15

Do. Diet Money

10

Do. House Rent

2.10

22.5

John Pritchard Surgeon Mate Saly.

6.5

Do. Diet Money

10

Do. House Rent

2.10

18.15

Richard Beale Judge Advocate

10

Do. Schoolmaster

3.0.3

13.0.3

Samuel Alexander

7.10

Thomas Warne Overseers

12.10

20

Carried over £ 664.3

The list of the Company's salaried officers and servants continued as follows.

Brought forward, £394 14s 9d

John Thackeray, chaplain, salary, £25 0s 0d

John Thackeray, chaplain, food allowance, £15 0s 0d

John Thackeray, chaplain, total, £40 0s 0d

Matthew Bazett, Secretary, salary, £17 10s 0d

Matthew Bazett, Secretary, food allowance, £15 0s 0d

Matthew Bazett, Secretary, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Matthew Bazett, Secretary, total, £35 0s 0d

James Powell, storekeeper, salary, £17 10s 0d

James Powell, storekeeper, food allowance, £15 0s 0d

James Powell, storekeeper, house rent, £2 10s 0d

James Powell, storekeeper, total, £35 0s 0d

William Wrangham, factor, salary, £7 10s 0d

William Wrangham, factor, food allowance, £10 0s 0d

William Wrangham, factor, house rent, £2 10s 0d

William Wrangham, as assistant to the Governor, £10 0s 0d

William Wrangham, total, £30 0s 0d

Jonathan Doveton, factor, salary, £7 10s 0d

Jonathan Doveton, factor, food allowance, £10 0s 0d

Jonathan Doveton, as assistant storekeeper, £5 0s 0d

Jonathan Doveton, total, £22 10s 0d

Britannicus Wright, writer, salary, £5 0s 0d

Britannicus Wright, writer, food allowance, £10 0s 0d

Britannicus Wright, writer, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Britannicus Wright, writer, total, £17 10s 0d

John Goodwin, writer, salary, £5 0s 0d

John Goodwin, writer, food allowance, £10 0s 0d

John Goodwin, writer, total, £15 0s 0d

Robert Barclay, surgeon, salary, £9 15s 0d

Robert Barclay, surgeon, food allowance, £10 0s 0d

Robert Barclay, surgeon, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Robert Barclay, surgeon, total, £22 5s 0d

John Pritchard, surgeon's mate, salary, £6 5s 0d

John Pritchard, surgeon's mate, food allowance, £10 0s 0d

John Pritchard, surgeon's mate, house rent, £2 10s 0d

John Pritchard, surgeon's mate, total, £18 15s 0d

Richard Beale, judge advocate, £10 0s 0d

Richard Beale, as schoolmaster, £3 0s 3d

Richard Beale, total, £13 0s 3d

Samuel Alexander, overseer, £7 10s 0d

Thomas Warne, overseer, £12 10s 0d

Samuel Alexander and Thomas Warne, overseers, total, £20 0s 0d

Carried forward, £664 3s 0d

Interpretations

The titles of writer and factor were the lower rungs of the East India Company's civil career ladder. A young man entered the service as a writer, essentially a clerk, and rose by seniority to factor, then junior merchant and senior merchant. Each grade carried a fixed salary that was deliberately small, with the real income coming from allowances, extra posts and opportunities for private trade. On St Helena, where private trade was limited, factors such as Wrangham and Doveton supplemented their pay by taking on additional duties as assistant to the Governor or assistant storekeeper.

Many of the names on the pay list appear also on the rent roll entered on 30 September 1765. Jonathan Doveton, William Wrangham, Richard Beale, Samuel Alexander and Thomas Warne were all landholders paying rent to the Company, and John Pritchard and James Powell held town plots. The island's officials, overseers and surgeons came from the same small circle of families who farmed its land. The Company was at once their employer, their landlord and their government, and the same men collected its rents, kept its accounts and paid its dues.

Richard Beale combined the posts of judge advocate and schoolmaster. The judge advocate was the legal officer who prepared and conducted prosecutions before courts martial and advised the island's courts on procedure. Joining that role with teaching the island's children shows how a small community had to draw every educated function from a handful of men, whatever the apparent mismatch between the duties.

79

74

  1. October
  2. Brought over £ 664.3

William Holbrook Master Mason Saly.

30

Thomas Townsend Stone Mason Saly.

19.10

49.10

John Robinson Carpenters Saly. from July 1 to 28

Inclusive at £ 55 Pr. Year

4.1.3½

Do. from July 29 at £ 70 Pr. Year

17.10.8½

21.11.11½

Joseph Chamberlain Carpenter Mate Saly.

12.10

Phillip Mahoney Clerk of the Peace Saly.

10

John Bazett Superintendant over the Honble. Compys. Lands

10

David Pelford Gardener to the 31 July

3.6.8

Thomas Watts Gardener from Augt. the 1

6.13.4

James Torbett Cooper

8.15

Thomas Perrin Steward to the 12th August

3.10.8

George Bazett Do. from the 13th Do.

3.18.10½

Samuel Perry Clock & Instrument Cleaner

1.5

Thomas Payne overseer of the Honble. Compys. Workmen

6.16.10½

Zedekiah Saunderson Groom

2

George Steet Armourer to the 9 July

16

John Dobson Do. from the 10th Do.

3.4

Solomon St Maurice Master at Arms

6.5

John Criswell Patron of the Long Boat

7.10

John Price Marshall and Goaler

7.10

William Smith Clark

5

91.11.5

First Company

Thomas Kirkpatrick Captain Saly.

45.12.6

Solomon St Maurice Lieut. Salary

18.5

Do. Diet Money

6.16.10½

Do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10½

Carried Over £ 912.9

The list of the Company's salaried officers and servants continued with its craftsmen and lesser officials, followed by the officers of the first company of the garrison.

Brought forward, £664 3s 0d

William Holbrook, master mason, salary, £30 0s 0d

Thomas Townsend, stonemason, salary, £19 10s 0d

Masons, total, £49 10s 0d

John Robinson, carpenter, salary from 1 to 28 July inclusive at £53 0s 0d a year, £4 1s 3½d

John Robinson, carpenter, salary from 29 July at £100 0s 0d a year, £17 10s 8[...]d

John Robinson, carpenter, total, £21 11s 11½d

Joseph Chamberlain, carpenter's mate, salary, £12 10s 0d

Phillips Mahoney, clerk of the peace, salary, £10 0s 0d

John Bazett, superintendent over the Company's [...], £10 0s 0d

David Belford, gardener, to 31 July, £3 6s 8d

Thomas Watts, gardener, from 1 August, £6 13s 4d

James Torbett, cooper, £8 15s 0d

Thomas Perrin, steward, to 12 August, £3 10s 8d

George Bazett, steward, from 13 August, £3 13s 10½d

Samuel Perry, cleaner of clocks and instruments, £1 5s 0d

Thomas Payne, overseer of the Company's workmen, £6 16s 10½d

Zedekiah Saunderson, groom, £2 0s 0d

George Street, armourer, to 9 July, £0 16s 0d

John Dobson, armourer, from 10 July, £8 4s 0d

Solomon St Maurice, master at arms, £6 5s 0d

John Criswell, coxswain of the longboat, £7 10s 0d

John Price, marshal and gaoler, £7 10s 0d

William Smith, clerk, £5 0s 0d

Craftsmen and lesser officials, total, £91 11s 5d

First company: Thomas Kirkpatrick, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

First company: Solomon St Maurice, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

First company: Solomon St Maurice, lieutenant, food allowance, £6 16s 10½d

First company: Solomon St Maurice, lieutenant, house rent, £2 10s 0d

First company: Solomon St Maurice, lieutenant, total, £27 11s 10½d

Carried forward, £912 0s 9d

Interpretations

William Holbrook, the mason who petitioned for a plot of waste ground in the valley on 26 August 1765 and received his lease on 23 September 1765, was the Company's master mason. His salary here confirms that the man seeking to build a house near the town was the senior craftsman on the island's works, the one who directed the masonry Mitchell planned. The powder issued to "the mason" for blasting limestone in the artillery accounts was therefore drawn by the man responsible for all the Company's stonework.

Several of the posts on this page were the machinery of law and order. The clerk of the peace kept the records of the island's courts and drew up their proceedings, the marshal served summonses and enforced the courts' orders, and the gaoler held prisoners awaiting trial or punishment. Combining marshal and gaoler in John Price meant the officer who arrested a person was also the one who kept him locked up, a concentration of power typical of a small establishment.

Captain Kirkpatrick's pay as commander of the first company stood at £45 12s 6d for the quarter, against only £7 10s 0d as a member of Council. His military command was his principal employment, and his seat on the Council came as an addition to it. Solomon St Maurice likewise drew pay twice over, as lieutenant of the company and as master at arms, the officer responsible for the garrison's weapons and small-arms drill.

John Robinson's pay as carpenter rose from £53 0s 0d to £100 0s 0d a year from 29 July 1765. The page gives no reason, but the rise came in the season when Mitchell was surveying the defences and preparing his plans, and it perhaps marks Robinson's promotion to lead the carpentry on the coming works.

80

75

1765

Brought over £ 912.9

Samuel Desfountain Lieut. Saly.

18.5

Do. Diet Money

6.16.10½

Do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10½

Solomon Jacob Adjutant Saly.

22.16.3

Do. Diet Money

6.16.10½

29.13.1½

Sergeants

John Steward

7.12.1

Phillip Mahoney

7.12.1

Thomas Payne

7.12.1

William Bannister

7.12.1

30.8.4

Corporals

Anthoney Reynolds

5.6.5½

Joseph Stacey

5.6.5½

William Bunn

5.6.5½

George Rowe July 9th Reduced

10.6

Do. Centinel from July 10

3.9.2

19.19.½

Drummers

Henry Howell July 9 made Corporal

10.6

Do. Corporal from 10th July

4.16.10

Richard Plaffet

5.6.5½

Joseph Beecham

5.6.5½

16.3

Centinels

John Stewart

3.16.½

John Allis

3.16.½

John Artenstall

3.16.½

John Allman

3.16.½

Centinels Carried over £ 15.4.2

Carried over £ 1035.13.4½

The list of the garrison's officers and men continued as follows.

Brought forward, £912 0s 9d

Samuel Desfountain, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Samuel Desfountain, lieutenant, food allowance, £6 16s 10½d

Samuel Desfountain, lieutenant, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Samuel Desfountain, lieutenant, total, £27 11s 10½d

Solomon Jacob, adjutant, salary, £22 16s 3d

Solomon Jacob, adjutant, food allowance, £6 16s 10½d

Solomon Jacob, adjutant, total, £29 13s 1½d

John Steward, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Phillip Mahoney, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Thomas Payne, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

William Bannister, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Sergeants, total, £30 8s 4d

Anthony Reynolds, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Joseph Stacey, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

William Dunn, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

George Rowe, corporal to 9 July, then reduced in rank, £0 10s 6d

George Rowe, private soldier from 10 July, £3 9s 2d

Corporals, total, £19 19s 0½d

Henry Howell, drummer to 9 July, then made corporal, £0 10s 6d

Henry Howell, corporal from 10 July, £4 16s 10d

Richard Plaffet, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Joseph Beecham, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Drummers, total, £16 0s 3d

John Stewart, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Allis, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Artenstall, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Allman, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Private soldiers carried forward, £15 4s 2d

Carried forward, £1,035 13s 4½d

Interpretations

George Rowe was reduced from corporal to private soldier on 9 July 1765, and on the same day Henry Howell was promoted from drummer to corporal. The paired entries show demotion working as a tool of discipline. Reducing a non-commissioned officer cost him rank, authority and pay at a stroke, and his place was filled at once from below, so the company's strength in corporals never fell. A promotion that followed directly on another man's disgrace also served as a visible lesson to the rest of the garrison. Henry Howell was the corporal whose daughter Sarah died on 28 August 1765, as recorded on 2 September 1765.

Two of the sergeants held civil posts as well. Phillip Mahoney was also clerk of the peace and Thomas Payne overseer of the Company's workmen, both listed on the previous page of the pay list. The return of public workmen entered on 16 September 1765 recorded the works overseen by two sergeants and a corporal. The garrison's non-commissioned officers thus formed the backbone of the island's civil administration as well as its military discipline, each drawing a second salary for duties performed alongside his soldiering.

The pay list called its private soldiers sentinels, the term then usual in the Company's forces for the ordinary rank and file. An adjutant was the officer who assisted the commander with the daily administration of the garrison, issuing orders, keeping its records and overseeing drill.

81

76

  1. October
  2. Brought over £ 1035.13.4½

Centinels brought over £ 15.4.2

James Avery

3.16.½

James Armstrong

3.16.½

Thomas Berwick

3.16.½

John Brown

3.16.½

John Buckmans

3.16.½

Thomas Blake

3.16.½

Moses Baffin

3.16.½

John Brill

3.16.½

John Barnes

3.16.½

Timothy Bryan

3.16.½

Emanuel Bunner Entd. 4th August

2.8.4

David Belford Entd. Do. Do.

2.10.10

Edward Cocker

3.16.½

Henry Crabb

3.16.½

William Clifford

3.16.½

Patrick Conner

3.16.½

Isaac Day

3.16.½

Henry Dudley

3.16.½

John Davis

3.16.½

John Dove

3.16.½

David Davies

3.16.½

James Drake

3.16.½

Thomas Durham

3.16.½

James Dunn

3.16.½

Samuel Eales

3.16.½

Adam Evans

3.16.½

Cornelius Fish

3.16.½

William French

3.16.½

Jonathan Godby Augt. 13th Died

2.10

Centinels Carried over £ 121.1.3

Carried Over £ 1035.13.4½

The list of the garrison's private soldiers continued as follows.

Brought forward, £1,035 13s 4½d

Private soldiers brought forward, £15 4s 2d

James Avery, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Armstrong, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Berwick, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Brown, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Buckmans, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Blake, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Moses Baffin, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Brill, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Barnes, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Timothy Bryer, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Emanuel Bunner, private soldier, enlisted 4 August, £2 8s 4d

David Belford, private soldier, enlisted 4 August, £2 10s 10d

Edward Cocker, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Crabb, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Clifford, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Patrick Connor, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Isaac Day, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Dudley, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Davis, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Dove, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

David Davies, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Drake, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Durham, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Dunn, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Eales, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Adam Evans, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Cornelius Fish, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William French, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Jonathan Godby, private soldier, died 18 August, £2 0s 10d

Private soldiers carried forward, £121 1s 3d

Carried forward, £1,035 13s 4½d

Interpretations

Pay was reckoned to the day, so a soldier's entry ended exactly when his service did. Jonathan Godby, whose death on 18 August 1765 was recorded on 19 August 1765 and whose funeral volleys appear in the August artillery account, was paid only up to that date. Emanuel Bunner and David Belford, who enlisted on 4 August, were paid from that date forward. The Company paid nothing for days a man was not on its books, and the quarterly list allowed the Council to check every broken period against the dates of death, enlistment, promotion and discharge recorded elsewhere.

David Belford had appeared on the previous page of the pay list as the Company's gardener up to 31 July 1765. Four days later he enlisted as a private soldier. A civilian post that ended on the last day of July was followed almost at once by enlistment, showing how the garrison absorbed men who lost or left other Company employment on an island with few alternative livelihoods.

82

77

1765

Brought over £ 1035.13.4½

Centinels brought over £ 121.1.3

William Greenwood

3.16.½

John Grainger

3.16.½

Thomas Ferris Sept. 23 Transfd.

3.10.10

William Hawks

3.16.½

William Henderson

3.16.½

James Hodge

3.16.½

John Houston

3.16.½

Edward Haddock

3.16.½

William Holmes

3.16.½

William Johnson July 5th Died

1.3.4

Richard Knight

3.16.½

William Luke

3.16.½

Duncan McClean

3.16.½

William Mumford

3.16.½

John May

3.16.½

Thomas Meares

3.16.½

John McAllester

3.16.½

John Pickering

3.16.½

Thomas Pearce

3.16.½

Michael Read

3.16.½

Thomas Roberts

3.16.½

William Robertson

3.16.½

Thomas Ransome

3.16.½

William Rollands

3.16.½

Johannes Relf

3.16.½

Thomas Rogers

3.16.½

William Sowby

3.16.½

John Springthorp

3.16.½

John Sheens Entd. 24th September

5.10

Centinels Carried over £ 224.18.4

Carried Over £ 1035.13.4½

The list of the garrison's private soldiers continued as follows.

Brought forward, £1,035 13s 4½d

Private soldiers brought forward, £121 1s 3d

William Greenwood, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Grainger, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Ferris, private soldier, transferred 23 September, £3 10s 10d

William Hawks, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Henderson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Hodge, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Houston, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Haddock, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Holmes, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Johnson, private soldier, died 23 July, £1 3s 4d

Richard Knight, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Luke, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Duncan McClaron, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Mumford, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John May, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Meares, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John McAllester, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Pickering, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Price, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Michael Read, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Roberts, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Robinson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Ransome, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Rollands, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Silvanus Relf, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Rogers, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Swaby, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Springthorp, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Sheen, private soldier, enlisted 24 September, £0 5s 10d

Private soldiers carried forward, £224 18s 4d

Carried forward, £1,035 13s 4½d

Interpretations

The quarter's entries show the garrison losing and gaining men steadily. William Johnson died on 23 July and Jonathan Godby on 18 August, Thomas Ferris was transferred out on 23 September, and George Rowe and Henry Howell changed rank in July. Against these losses, Emanuel Bunner and David Belford enlisted on 4 August and John Sheen on 24 September. Recruits drawn on the island itself kept the companies near strength between the occasional drafts of soldiers sent out from England, which could take many months to arrive. Each change was entered to the exact day, so the pay list doubled as a running record of the garrison's numbers.

83

78

  1. October
  2. Brought over £ 1035.13.4½

Centinels brought over £ 224.18.4

Edward Siny

3.16.½

John Taylor

3.16.½

Richard Tettington

3.16.½

William Tipper

3.16.½

Luke Vernon

3.16.½

John Wellingdale

3.16.½

Benjamin Wise

3.16.½

Thomas Windall

3.16.½

John Weston

3.16.½

George Wall

3.16.½

Richard Yonces

3.16.½

Thomas Yates

3.16.½

270.10.10

Second Company

Henry Bazett Captain Saly.

45.12.6

Michael Frost Lieut. Salary

18.5

Do. Diet Money

6.16.10½

Do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10½

John Wm. Welch Lieut. Saly.

18.5

Do. Diet Money

6.16.10½

Do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10½

Serjeants

John Bazett

7.12.1

Thomas Wellington

7.12.1

William Greenough

7.12.1

John Fish

7.12.1

30.8.4

Carried over £ 1437.8.9½

The list of the garrison's private soldiers ended, and the officers and sergeants of the second company followed.

Brought forward, £1,035 13s 4½d

Private soldiers brought forward, £224 18s 4d

Edward Terry, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Taylor, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Tottington, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Tippes, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Luke Vernon, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Wellingdale, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Benjamin Wise, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Windall, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Weston, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

George Wall, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Jones, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Yates, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Private soldiers, total, £270 10s 10d

Second company: Henry Bazett, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

Second company: Michael Frost, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Second company: Michael Frost, lieutenant, food allowance, £6 16s 10½d

Second company: Michael Frost, lieutenant, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Second company: Michael Frost, lieutenant, total, £27 11s 10½d

Second company: John William Welch, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Second company: John William Welch, lieutenant, food allowance, £6 16s 10½d

Second company: John William Welch, lieutenant, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Second company: John William Welch, lieutenant, total, £27 11s 10½d

Second company: John Bazett, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Second company: Thomas Wellington, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Second company: William Greenough, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Second company: John Fish, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Second company sergeants, total, £30 8s 4d

Carried forward, £1,437 8s 9½d

Interpretations

The Bazett name runs through the Company's establishment on the island. Henry Bazett commanded the second company, John Bazett served as one of its sergeants and as a superintendent of Company property, Matthew Bazett was Secretary to the Council, and George Bazett had become steward of the Company's table on 13 August 1765. Henry and Matthew Bazett also appear on the rent roll of 30 September 1765 as substantial landholders. On a small island where the Council filled most posts itself, one family could come to hold military command, civil office and land at the same time. Such concentrations gave the leading families a strong hold on island affairs and a direct interest in the Company's administration, since their incomes depended on it from several directions at once.

84

79

1765

Brought over £ 1437.8.9½

Corporals

William Shepherd

5.6.5½

Samuel Gerd

5.6.5½

Thomas Newton

5.6.5½

John Dobson

5.6.5½

21.5.10

Drummers

Robert Davis

5.6.5½

Francis Seoane

5.6.5½

10.12.11

Centinels

Samuel Allston

3.16.½

Thomas Adams

3.16.½

Joseph Barkes

3.16.½

William Birch

3.16.½

William Brooks

3.16.½

Jacob Brown

3.16.½

Robert Brown

3.16.½

Thomas Bott

3.16.½

Nicholas Bristol

3.16.½

Daniel Bye

3.16.½

James Byrne

3.16.½

William Bill

3.16.½

John Brown

3.16.½

Edward Couzens

3.16.½

Thomas Cheerly

3.16.½

William Conquest

3.16.½

William Clay

3.16.½

John Crawley

3.16.½

Centinels Carried over £ 68.[.].9

Carried over £ 1469.7.6½

Margin Notes:

10d

The second company's pay list continued with its corporals, drummers and private soldiers.

Brought forward, £1,437 8s 9½d

William Stapleford, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Samuel Cord, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Thomas Newton, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

John Dobson, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Corporals, total, £21 5s 10d

Robert Davis, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Francis Scoane, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Drummers, total, £10 12s 11d

Samuel Allstone, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Adams, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Banks, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Birch, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Brooks, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Jacob Brown, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Brown, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Bell, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Nicholas Brashel, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Daniel Bye, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Byrne, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Bell, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Brown, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Couzens, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Cheverly, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Conquest, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Clay, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Crawley, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Private soldiers carried forward, £68 8s 9d

Carried forward, £1,469 7s 6½d

Interpretations

John Dobson still drew a full corporal's pay for the quarter ending 30 September 1765. On 7 October 1765 the Council discharged him from the garrison and appointed him armourer, with his new salary starting on 1 October. Timing the change to the first day of a new quarter meant his military pay closed cleanly on one list and his civilian salary opened on the next, with no broken period to calculate and no risk of his being paid twice for the same days.

85

80

  1. October
  2. Brought over £ 1469.7.6½

Centinels brought over £ 68.[.].9

William Carfree

3.16.½

Robert Dickens

3.16.½

William Dinman

3.16.½

George Exton

3.16.½

William Finch

3.16.½

William Isaac Ford Desertd. 8th August

1.12.6

William Fullwood

3.16.½

William Fry

3.16.½

George Fearnon

3.16.½

John Forbes

3.16.½

John Godbsole

3.16.½

John Gray

3.16.½

Robert Green

3.16.½

Charles Goulding

3.16.½

Thomas Green Augt. 1 Transfd.

1.6.8

James Gates

3.16.½

William Harris Senr.

3.16.½

William Harris Junr.

3.16.½

Abraham Harding

3.16.½

John Harwood

3.16.½

Samuel Hiles

3.16.½

William Hookley

3.16.½

John Holbrook

3.16.½

James Hudson

3.16.½

Thomas Haites

3.16.½

William Hayes

3.16.½

Robert Hopkinson

3.16.½

William Hunt

3.16.½

Samuel Instone

3.16.½

Centinels Carried Over £ 174.1.½

Carried Over £ 1469.7.6½

The second company's list of private soldiers continued as follows.

Brought forward, £1,469 7s 6½d

Private soldiers brought forward, £68 8s 9d

William Carfrae, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Dickens, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Durman, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

George Exton, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Finch, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Isaac Ford, private soldier, deserted 8 August, £1 12s 6d

William Fullwood, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Fry, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

George Freeman, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Forbes, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Godsole, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Gray, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Green, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Charles Goulding, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Gunn, private soldier, transferred 1 August, £1 6s 8d

James Gates, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Harris senior, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Harris junior, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Abraham Harding, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Harwood, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Hiles, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Hockley, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Holbrook, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Hudson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Hailes, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Hayes, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Hopkinson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Hunt, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Instone, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Private soldiers carried forward, £174 1s 0½d

Carried forward, £1,469 7s 6½d

Interpretations

The pay list closes the story of William Isaac Ford. On 12 August 1765 the Council recorded that he went missing on the day the Pitt sailed and concluded he had deserted aboard her, since searches of the Carnarvon and the London failed to find him. The paymaster now entered him as a deserter from 8 August, the very day the Pitt left the road. His pay ran only to that date, and the formal entry turned the Council's inference into an official record of desertion. That record would follow him to England, where a man who had deserted the Company's service could be pursued, denied any wages still owing and barred from further employment.

86

81

1765

Brought over £ 1469.7.6½

Centinels brought over £ 174.1.½

Richard James

3.16.½

William Johnson

3.16.½

Jeremiah Jourden

3.16.½

Samuel Kitson

3.16.½

Evan Knowles

3.16.½

Henry Kirkham

3.16.½

Edmond Leach

3.16.½

John Lewis

3.16.½

Thomas Mudge

3.16.½

Henry Miller

3.16.½

James Mannington

3.16.½

John Morris

3.16.½

Samuel Perry

3.16.½

William Pinchen

3.16.½

Stephen Prior

3.16.½

Abraham Pring

3.16.½

Thomas Richards

3.16.½

John Christian Shiff

3.16.½

Thomas Stevens

3.16.½

Benjamin Stringer

3.16.½

William Stone

3.16.½

John Shrubshall

3.16.½

John Sabourin

3.16.½

Avery Sherman

3.16.½

John Tucker

3.16.½

Thomas Wyatt

3.16.½

Thomas Wintill

3.16.½

276.14.2

Carried Over £ 1746.1.8½

The second company's list of private soldiers ended as follows.

Brought forward, £1,469 7s 6½d

Private soldiers brought forward, £174 1s 0½d

Richard James, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Johnson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Jeremiah Jourden, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Kitson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Evan Knowles, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Kirkham, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Edmond Leech, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Lewis, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Mudge, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Miller, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Mannington, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Morris, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Perry, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Pinchen, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Stephen Peir, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Abraham Pingo, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Richards, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Christian Shiff, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Skewers, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Benjamin Stringer, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Stone, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Shrubshall, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Sabourin, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Avery Truman, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Tucker, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Wyatt, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Winsill, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Private soldiers, total, £276 14s 2d

Carried forward, £1,746 1s 8½d

Interpretations

Samuel Perry, listed here as a private soldier, also appeared earlier in the same pay list as the Company's cleaner of clocks and instruments. The practice of soldiers holding a second paid post was not confined to sergeants such as Phillip Mahoney and Thomas Payne. Even a private with a useful skill could draw a civilian salary alongside his military pay, which gave the Company access to tradesmen it could not otherwise have found among the island's small free population.

87

82

  1. October
  2. Brought over £ 1746.1.8½

Third Company

Richard Beale Captain Saly.

45.12.6

Thomas Bazett Lieut. Saly.

18.5

Do. Diet Money

6.16.10½

Do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10½

John Bridgwaters Lieut. Saly.

18.5

Do. Diet Money

6.16.10½

Do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10½

Sergeants

Roger Wilsden

7.12.1

William Robinson

7.12.1

Barnard Millard

7.12.1

David Patton

7.12.1

30.8.4

Corporals

William Roberts

5.6.5½

Thomas Pearce Septr. 23 reduced

4.19.2

Do. Centinel from the 24th Sept.

5.10

William Gorden

5.6.5½

John Vaughan

5.6.5½

21.2.½

Drummers

John Twaits

5.6.5½

George Carney

5.6.5½

10.12.11

Centinels

Richard Ashford

3.16.½

James Anderson

3.16.½

Centinels Carried over £ 7.12.1

Carried Over £ 1909.1.3

The pay list continued with the officers and men of the third company.

Brought forward, £1,746 1s 8½d

Third company: Richard Beale, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

Third company: Thomas Bazett, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Third company: Thomas Bazett, lieutenant, food allowance, £6 16s 10½d

Third company: Thomas Bazett, lieutenant, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Third company: Thomas Bazett, lieutenant, total, £27 11s 10½d

Third company: John Bridgwater, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Third company: John Bridgwater, lieutenant, food allowance, £6 16s 10½d

Third company: John Bridgwater, lieutenant, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Third company: John Bridgwater, lieutenant, total, £27 11s 10½d

Roger Wilson, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

William Robinson, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Barnard Millard, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

David Patton, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Sergeants, total, £30 8s 4d

William Roberts, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Thomas Pearce, corporal to 23 September, then reduced in rank, £4 19s 2d

Thomas Pearce, private soldier from 24 September, £0 5s 10d

William Gordon, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

John Vaughan, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Corporals, total, £21 2s 0½d

John Twaits, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

George Carney, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Drummers, total, £10 12s 11d

Richard Ashford, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Anderson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Private soldiers carried forward, £7 12s 1d

Carried forward, £1,909 1s 3d

Interpretations

Richard Beale, captain of the third company, was the same man listed earlier in the pay list as judge advocate and schoolmaster. As judge advocate he prepared and conducted prosecutions before courts martial, and as captain he commanded soldiers who might be brought before them. On a garrison of three companies, the officer responsible for bringing charges was himself one of the three commanders whose men he would prosecute. The arrangement reflects the shortage of educated men on the island more than any design, but it placed considerable power over military discipline in one pair of hands.

Thomas Pearce was reduced from corporal to private soldier on 23 September 1765, the second such demotion in the garrison that quarter after George Rowe's in July. Unlike Rowe's case, no promotion of another man to fill his place appears on this page of the list.

88

83

1765

Brought over £ 1909.1.3

Centinels brought over £ 7.12.1

Charles Abraham

3.16.½

Henry Brown

3.16.½

Jacob Britt

3.16.½

Mark Botts

3.16.½

Benjamin Bennett

3.16.½

John Blackorne

3.16.½

Frederick William Beard

3.16.½

William Caleb Baldwind

3.16.½

Richard Brown

3.16.½

John Cork

3.16.½

Joseph Chamberlain

3.16.½

William Clifton

3.16.½

William Carr

3.16.½

Francis Clancey

3.16.½

John Chapman

3.16.½

Michael Downey

3.16.½

Robert Davis

3.16.½

Edward Dodley

3.16.½

Charles Eagles

3.16.½

William Foster

3.16.½

John Fosson

3.16.½

Alexander Gray

3.16.½

Foster Gambel

3.16.½

Archibald Grayham

3.16.½

Richard Gregory

3.16.½

Felix Hyder

3.16.½

John Holliard

3.16.½

John Herring

3.16.½

Centinels Carried Over £ 114.1.3

Carried over £ 1909.1.3

Margin Notes:

[...]

The third company's list of private soldiers continued as follows.

Brought forward, £1,909 1s 3d

Private soldiers brought forward, £7 12s 1d

Charles Abraham, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Brown, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Jacob Britt, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Mark Bolls, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Benjamin Bennett, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Blickhorne, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Frederick William Beard, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Caleb Baldwin, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Brown, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Cork, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Chamberlain, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Clifton, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Carr, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Francis Clancey, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Chapman, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Michael Downey, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Davis, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Dudley, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Charles Eagels, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Fester, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Foxson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Alexander Gray, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Fisher Gambel, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Archibald Grayham, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Gregory, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Felix Hyder, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Hilliard, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Herring, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Private soldiers carried forward, £114 1s 3d

Carried forward, £1,909 1s 3d

89

84

  1. October
  2. Brought over £ 1909.1.3

Centinels brought over £ 114.1.3

William Hill

3.16.½

William Hopkins

3.16.½

Thomas Jones

3.16.½

Josiah Johnson

3.16.½

Robert Johnson

3.16.½

Samuel Johnson

3.16.½

Richard Johnson

3.16.½

James Kemp

3.16.½

Richard Linney

3.16.½

James Lee

3.16.½

John Long

3.16.½

John Landgridge

3.16.½

Edward Lamburn

3.16.½

Bryan Lynch

3.16.½

John Lemmon

3.16.½

Charles Mountague

3.16.½

Richard Moyce

3.16.½

Thomas Morriss

3.16.½

Thomas Matthews

3.16.½

John Miller

3.16.½

James Moyce

3.16.½

Abraham Major

3.16.½

John Pupwater

3.16.½

Thomas Perry

3.16.½

James Procter

3.16.½

Henry Pinchen

3.16.½

William Perkis

3.16.½

John Robenson

3.16.½

Centinels Carried over £ 220.10.5

Carried over £ 1909.1.3

The third company's list of private soldiers continued as follows.

Brought forward, £1,909 1s 3d

Private soldiers brought forward, £114 1s 3d

William Hill, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Hopkins, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Jones, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Josiah Johnson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Johnson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Johnson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Johnson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Kemp, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Linney, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Lee, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Long, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Langridge, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Lamburn, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Bryan Lynch, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Lemmon, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Charles Mountague, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Moyce, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Morriss, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Matthews, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Miller, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Moyce, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Abraham Major, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Pipewater, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Perry, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Procter, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Pinchen, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Perkis, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Robinson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Private soldiers carried forward, £220 10s 5d

Carried forward, £1,909 1s 3d

90

85

1765

Brought over £ 1909.1.3

Centinels brought over £ 220.10.5

Robert Stack

3.16.½

Adam Scott

3.16.½

David Scott

3.16.½

John Smith

3.16.½

John Shiland

3.16.½

John Schelchem

3.16.½

Henry Standford

3.16.½

John Thompson

3.16.½

Thomas Tayler

3.16.½

Joseph Upton

3.16.½

Richard Vincent

3.16.½

John Wiburd

3.16.½

Thomas Ward

3.16.½

John Ward July 2d Discharged

6.8

Edward Welsh

3.16.½

John Waters

3.16.½

James York Sept. 23 made Corporal

3.10.10

Do. Corporal from 24th September

3.2

231.16.8½

Fourth Company

John Howard Capt. Saly.

45.12.6

Henry De Lanne Lieut. Saly.

18.5

Do. Diet Money

6.16.10½

Do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10½

Thomas Lambert Lieut. Saly.

18.5

Do. Diet Money

6.16.10½

Do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10½

Carried over £ 2291.14.2½

The third company's list of private soldiers ended, and the officers of the fourth company followed.

Brought forward, £1,909 1s 3d

Private soldiers brought forward, £220 10s 5d

Robert Stack, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Adam Scott, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

David Scott, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Smith, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Shirland, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Scotchem, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Standford, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Thompson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Taylor, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Uffin, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Vincent, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Wiburd, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Ward, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Ward, private soldier, discharged 2 July, £0 6s 8d

Edward Welsh, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Waters, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James York, private soldier to 23 September, then made corporal, £3 10s 10d

James York, corporal from 24 September, £0 8s 2d

Private soldiers, total, £231 16s 8½d

Fourth company: John Howard, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

Fourth company: Henry De Lanne, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Fourth company: Henry De Lanne, lieutenant, food allowance, £6 16s 10½d

Fourth company: Henry De Lanne, lieutenant, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Fourth company: Henry De Lanne, lieutenant, total, £27 11s 10½d

Fourth company: Thomas Lambert, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Fourth company: Thomas Lambert, lieutenant, food allowance, £6 16s 10½d

Fourth company: Thomas Lambert, lieutenant, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Fourth company: Thomas Lambert, lieutenant, total, £27 11s 10½d

Carried forward, £2,291 14s 2½d

Interpretations

James York was promoted to corporal on 23 September 1765, the same day Thomas Pearce of the same company was reduced to the ranks. The two entries complete the pattern seen in July, when George Rowe's demotion was matched at once by Henry Howell's promotion. Each company kept a fixed number of corporals, and a man broken for misconduct was replaced the same day from among the private soldiers. Discipline and promotion operated as a single act, so the company never lacked a corporal and every private could see that the stripes one man lost could pass straight to another.

91

86

21 October

Brought over £ 2291.14.2½

Sergeants

John Fleming

7.12.1

Thomas Bailey

7.12.1

John Simcox

7.12.1

Daniel Arman

7.12.1

30.8.4

Corporals

John Sheens Sept. 23 Redd. & Transfd.

4.19.2

William Sherman

5.6.5½

Thomas James

5.6.5½

Jonathan Inke

5.6.5½

20.18.6½

Drummers

John Martin

5.6.5½

George Mills

5.6.5½

John Slade

5.6.5½

15.19.4½

Centinels

John Allen

3.16.½

William Allen

3.16.½

Robert Allum

3.16.½

George Bennett

3.16.½

John Brooke

3.16.½

Richard Bickerstaff

3.16.½

William Blackman

3.16.½

John Brilleott

3.16.½

John Bower

3.16.½

John Beecham

3.16.½

John Blackwell

3.16.½

Joseph Blackwell

3.16.½

Centinels Carried Over £ 45.12.6

Carried Over £ 2359.5½

The fourth company's pay list continued with its sergeants, corporals, drummers and private soldiers.

Brought forward, £2,291 14s 2½d

John Fleming, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Thomas Bailey, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

John Simcox, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Daniel Armain, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Sergeants, total, £30 8s 4d

John Sheens, corporal to 23 September, then reduced in rank and transferred, £4 19s 2d

William Sherman, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Thomas James, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Jonathan Luke, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Corporals, total, £20 19s 6½d

John Martin, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

George Mills, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

John Slade, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Drummers, total, £15 19s 4½d

John Allen, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Allen, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Allum, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

George Bennett, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Brooke, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Bickerstaff, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Blackman, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Billett, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Bower, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Beecham, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Blackwell, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Blackwell, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Private soldiers carried forward, £45 12s 6d

Carried forward, £2,359 0s 5½d

Interpretations

John Sheens was reduced from corporal and transferred out of the fourth company on 23 September 1765. On the next day a John Sheen entered the first company as a private soldier, paid from 24 September. He was almost certainly the same man, demoted and moved to another company to serve in the ranks. Transfer added a further sting to demotion, since it removed a disgraced man from the soldiers he had once commanded and placed him among strangers.

The same date recurs across the garrison's pay lists. On 23 September 1765 Thomas Pearce was reduced in the third company and James York promoted in his place, Thomas Ferris was transferred out of the first company, and Sheens was reduced and moved. So many changes on a single day point to a general reckoning of discipline, perhaps following an inspection or a court martial, though the pay list itself gives no reason.

92

87

1765

Brought over £ 2359.5½

Centinels brought over £ 45.12.6

Robert Boisly Disch. 1 Augt.

1.6.8

James Cartwright

3.16.½

George Capeling

3.16.½

William Cooksay

3.16.½

Duncan Cameron

3.16.½

James Culsher

3.16.½

John Cunningham

3.16.½

John Cary

3.16.½

Richard Close

3.16.½

Josiah Cummings

3.16.½

John Campen

3.16.½

John Carfoot

3.16.½

Robert Davis Disch. 1 Augt.

1.6.8

Edward Davis

3.16.½

John Deale

3.16.½

John Erskeye

3.16.½

Thomas Ferris Ent. Sept. 24th made Corporal

3.2

George Green

3.16.½

Richard Goulding

3.16.½

John Gilmore

3.16.½

Edward German

3.16.½

Joseph Good

3.16.½

James Goudy

3.16.½

Henry Harringbury

3.16.½

James Henry

3.16.½

Thomas Hilliard

3.16.½

Stephen John

3.16.½

Christian Johnson

3.16.½

Centinels Carried over £ 143.15.½

Centinels brought over £ 2359.5½

Margin Notes:

[...]

The fourth company's list of private soldiers continued as follows.

Brought forward, £2,359 0s 5½d

Private soldiers brought forward, £45 12s 6d

Robert Bosely, private soldier, discharged 1 August, £1 6s 8d

James Cartwright, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

George Capeling, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Cooksay, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Duncan Cameron, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Culsher, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Cunningham, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Cary, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Close, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Josiah Cummings, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Campen, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Carfoot, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Davis, private soldier, discharged 1 August, £1 6s 8d

Edward Davis, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Deale, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Eustone, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Ferris, entered the company 24 September and made corporal, £0 8s 2d

George Green, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Goulding, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Gilmore, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Edward German, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Good, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Goudy, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Harringbury, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Henry, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Hilliard, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Stephen John, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Christian Johnson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Private soldiers carried forward, £143 15s 0½d

Carried forward, £2,359 0s 5½d

Interpretations

Thomas Ferris, entered on the first company's list as transferred out on 23 September 1765, joined the fourth company the next day and was made corporal at once. His arrival filled the place left by John Sheens, the fourth company's corporal who was reduced and transferred on 23 September, and who entered the first company as a private on 24 September. The two men in effect changed places. Ferris rose from the ranks into a corporal's post in a company where he had not served before, while Sheens lost his stripes and went to serve as a private among soldiers who had not known him as an officer. Moving each man to a fresh company spared both the awkwardness of serving alongside those who had watched the exchange.

93

88

21 October

Brought over £ 2359.5½

Centinels brought over £ 143.15.½

Thomas Kilock

3.16.½

Richard Kempton

3.16.½

William Lambon

3.16.½

Thomas Lee

3.16.½

Thomas Lyox

3.16.½

John Laurence

3.16.½

Richard Moreton

3.16.½

Simon Mason

3.16.½

Murdock McCloud

3.16.½

William Mitchell

3.16.½

Jonathan Mallett

3.16.½

John Moore

3.16.½

Thomas Marshall

3.16.½

John Newton

3.16.½

Martin Newman

3.16.½

John Oswald

3.16.½

John Pluck

3.16.½

Daniel Patrick

3.16.½

Stephen Papps

3.16.½

William Parker

3.16.½

Francis Powell

3.16.½

James Richardson

3.16.½

Patrick Riley

3.16.½

Thomas Rutherford

3.16.½

John Scotcher

3.16.½

John Shaw

3.16.½

William Seabron

3.16.½

John Swindall

3.16.½

Centinels brought over £ 250.4.2½

Carried over £ 2359.5½

The fourth company's list of private soldiers continued as follows.

Brought forward, £2,359 0s 5½d

Private soldiers brought forward, £143 15s 0½d

Thomas Kilock, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Kempton, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Lambon, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Lee, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Lyes, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Lawrence, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Moreton, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Simon Mason, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Murdoch McCloud, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Mitchell, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Jonathan Mallett, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Moon, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Marshall, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Newton, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Martin Newman, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Oswald, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Pluck, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Daniel Patrick, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Stephen Papps, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Parker, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Francis Powell, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

James Richardson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Patrick Riley, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Rutherford, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Scotcher, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Shaw, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Schonen, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Swindall, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Private soldiers carried forward, £250 4s 2½d

Carried forward, £2,359 0s 5½d

94

89

1765

Brought over £ 2359.5½

Centinels brought over £ 250.4.2½

Zedekiah Saunderson

3.16.½

Roderick Shaffer

3.16.½

Thomas Tuffnel

3.16.½

John Thompson

3.16.½

Jeremiah Worrill

3.16.½

William Wade

3.16.½

John Woods

3.16.½

Thomas Williams

3.16.½

Thomas Wade

3.16.½

284.0.7

Artillery Company

Archibald Mitchell Capt. Saly.

45.12.6

Nathan Sample Lieut. Saly.

18.5

Do. Diet Money

6.16.10½

Do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10½

Thomas Leech Lieut. Saly.

18.5

Do. Diet Money

6.16.10½

Do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10½

Sergeants

John Whitchurch

9.2.6

Adam Watson

9.2.6

John Shelly

9.2.6

Richard Waterhouse

9.2.6

36.10

Corporals

James Long

6.16.10½

Robert Cunningham July 22d Reduced

1.13

Do. Matross from July 23

3.10

John Cox

6.16.10½

Thomas Collier

6.16.10½

25.13.7½

Carried over £ 2806.3.4

The fourth company's list of private soldiers ended, and the officers, sergeants and corporals of the artillery company followed.

Brought forward, £2,359 0s 5½d

Private soldiers brought forward, £250 4s 2½d

Zedekiah Saunderson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Roderick Shaffer, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Tuffnel, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Thompson, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Jeremiah Worrill, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

William Wade, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

John Woods, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Williams, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Wade, private soldier, £3 16s 0½d

Private soldiers, total, £284 0s 7d

Artillery company: Archibald Mitchell, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

Artillery company: Nathan Sample, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Artillery company: Nathan Sample, lieutenant, food allowance, £6 16s 10½d

Artillery company: Nathan Sample, lieutenant, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Artillery company: Nathan Sample, lieutenant, total, £27 11s 10½d

Artillery company: Thomas Leach, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Artillery company: Thomas Leach, lieutenant, food allowance, £6 16s 10½d

Artillery company: Thomas Leach, lieutenant, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Artillery company: Thomas Leach, lieutenant, total, £27 11s 10½d

John Whitchurch, artillery sergeant, £9 2s 6d

Adam Watson, artillery sergeant, £9 2s 6d

John Shirtly, artillery sergeant, £9 2s 6d

Richard Waterhouse, artillery sergeant, £9 2s 6d

Artillery sergeants, total, £36 10s 0d

James Long, artillery corporal, £6 16s 10½d

Robert Cunningham, artillery corporal to 22 July, then reduced in rank, £1 13s 0d

Robert Cunningham, matross from 23 July, £3 10s 0d

John Cox, artillery corporal, £6 16s 10½d

Thomas Collier, artillery corporal, £6 16s 10½d

Artillery corporals, total, £25 13s 7½d

Carried forward, £2,806 3s [...]d

Interpretations

Every rank in the artillery company was paid more than its counterpart in the infantry companies. An artillery sergeant received £9 2s 6d for the quarter against £7 12s 1d for an infantry sergeant, and an artillery corporal £6 16s 10½d against £5 6s 5½d. The difference was a premium for skill. Gunners had to judge charges, lay and elevate their pieces, handle powder safely and keep the guns in working order, and trained men were hard to find and harder to replace on a distant island. The higher pay helped keep them in the Company's service.

A matross was the private soldier of the artillery, who assisted the gunners in hauling, loading, sponging and running out the guns. Robert Cunningham's reduction from corporal to matross on 22 July 1765 followed the same pattern of demotion seen in the infantry companies, though his reduced rate remained above that of an infantry private.

Archibald Mitchell drew pay as captain of the artillery company in addition to his salary as engineer, confirming that he commanded the island's gunners as well as designing its fortifications. His combined income placed him among the best paid of all the Company's servants on St Helena.

95

90

21 October

Brought over £ 2806.3.11

Bombardiers

Andrew Barton

6.16.10½

John Grainger July 22d made Corporal

1.13

Do. Corporal from 23 July

5.5

Nicholas Houghton

6.16.10½

Robert Gillson

6.16.10½

27.8.7½

Gunners

William Fletcher

6.1.8

John Jack July 22d made Corporal

1.9.4

Do. Bombardier from 23 July

5.5

Eustice White

6.1.8

John Turner

6.1.8

James Parfett

6.1.8

John Martin

6.1.8

Thomas Jones

6.1.8

William Brown to y 5 Aug. Reduced

2.8

Do. Matross from y 6 August

2.16

48.8.4

Drummers

George Garrett

5.6.5½

Robert Saunders

5.6.5½

10.12.11

Matrosses

William Benson

4.11.3

Benjamin Burton

4.11.3

Isaac Buck

4.11.3

John Bower

4.11.3

James Bottomley

4.11.3

John Coop

4.11.3

Matrosses Carried over £ 27.7.6

2892.12.9½

The artillery company's pay list continued with its bombardiers, gunners, drummers and matrosses.

Brought forward, £2,806 3s 11d

Andrew Barton, bombardier, £6 16s 10½d

John Grainger, bombardier to 22 July, then made corporal, £1 13s 0d

John Grainger, artillery corporal from 23 July, £5 5s 0d

Nicholas Houghton, bombardier, £6 16s 10½d

Robert Gillson, bombardier, £6 16s 10½d

Bombardiers, total, £27 0s 7½d

William Fletcher, gunner, £6 1s 8d

John Jack, gunner to 22 July, then promoted, £1 9s 4d

John Jack, bombardier from 23 July, £5 5s 0d

Eustice White, gunner, £6 1s 8d

John Turner, gunner, £6 1s 8d

James Parfett, gunner, £6 1s 8d

John Martin, gunner, £6 1s 8d

Thomas Jones, gunner, £6 1s 8d

William Brown, gunner to 5 August, then reduced in rank, £2 8s 0d

William Brown, matross from 6 August, £2 16s 0d

Gunners, total, £48 0s 4d

George Garrett, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Robert Saunders, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Drummers, total, £10 12s 11d

William Benson, matross, £4 11s 3d

Benjamin Burton, matross, £4 11s 3d

Isaac Buck, matross, £4 11s 3d

John Bower, matross, £4 11s 3d

James Bottomley, matross, £4 11s 3d

John Coop, matross, £4 11s 3d

Matrosses carried forward, £27 7s 6d

Carried forward, £2,892 12s 9½d

Interpretations

A single demotion on 22 July 1765 set off a chain of promotions through the artillery company. Robert Cunningham was reduced from corporal to matross that day, as the previous page of the pay list records. On the same day John Grainger rose from bombardier to fill the corporal's place, and John Jack rose from gunner to fill the bombardier's place Grainger left. Each vacancy was filled from the rank immediately below, so one man's fall advanced two others. Every soldier in the company could see that misconduct above him opened a path upward, which gave each rank a stake in the discipline of the ranks above it.

The artillery's ranks ran in a distinct ladder, from matross to gunner, bombardier, corporal and sergeant. A bombardier was originally the specialist who handled mortars and shells, and by this period the rank sat between gunner and corporal. William Brown's reduction from gunner to matross on 5 August shows that demotion could reach the lowest steps of the ladder as well as the non-commissioned officers.

96

91

1765

Brought over £ 2892.12.9½

Matrosses brought over £ 27.7.6

John Criswell

4.11.3

Thomas Clark

4.11.3

Edmond Conner

4.11.3

Adam Critchton

4.11.3

John Dowde

4.11.3

David Dennis to y 5th August made Gunner

1.16

Do. Gunner from 6th August

3.14.2

Thomas McFarling

4.11.3

Daniel Finn

4.11.3

Joseph Fellows

4.11.3

Robert Frankish

4.11.3

John Ford

4.11.3

Christian Granawalt

4.11.3

Thomas Garell

4.11.3

Thomas Green Ent. 2d Aug.

2.19

Laurence Holt

4.11.3

William Hodges

4.11.3

John Jacks

4.11.3

William Jenkins

4.11.3

Daniel Maloney

4.11.3

George Marshall

4.11.3

Thomas Nimble

4.11.3

Evan Nowland the 5 Augt. made Gunner

1.16

Do. Gunner from 6th Do.

3.14.8

George Nelson

4.11.3

John Osburn

4.11.3

William Fowlton

4.11.3

Samuel Smith

4.11.3

Godfrey Smith

4.11.3

Matrosses Carried over £ 136.17.10

Carried over £ 2892.12.9½

Margin Notes:

10d

The artillery company's list of matrosses continued as follows.

Brought forward, £2,892 12s 9½d

Matrosses brought forward, £27 7s 6d

John Criswell, matross, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Clark, matross, £4 11s 3d

Edmond Conner, matross, £4 11s 3d

Adam Critchton, matross, £4 11s 3d

John Dowde, matross, £4 11s 3d

David Dennis, matross to 5 August, then made gunner, £1 16s 0d

David Dennis, gunner from 6 August, £3 14s 2d

Thomas McFarling, matross, £4 11s 3d

Daniel Finn, matross, £4 11s 3d

Joseph Fellows, matross, £4 11s 3d

Robert Frankish, matross, £4 11s 3d

John Ford, matross, £4 11s 3d

Christian Granawalt, matross, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Garrell, matross, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Gunn, matross, entered 2 August, £2 19s 0d

Laurence Holt, matross, £4 11s 3d

William Hodges, matross, £4 11s 3d

John Jacks, matross, £4 11s 3d

William Jenkins, matross, £4 11s 3d

Daniel Maloney, matross, £4 11s 3d

George Marshall, matross, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Nimble, matross, £4 11s 3d

Esau Nowland, matross to 5 August, then made gunner, £1 16s 0d

Esau Nowland, gunner from 6 August, £3 14s 8d

George Nelson, matross, £4 11s 3d

John Osburn, matross, £4 11s 3d

William Poulton, matross, £4 11s 3d

Samuel Smith, matross, £4 11s 3d

Godfrey Smith, matross, £4 11s 3d

Matrosses carried forward, £150 17s 10d

Carried forward, £2,892 12s 9½d

Interpretations

David Dennis and Esau Nowland were both promoted from matross to gunner on 5 August 1765, the same day William Brown was reduced from gunner to matross. As in the July changes, a fall in rank was matched at once by promotion from below, keeping the gunners' numbers up.

Thomas Gunn, entered on the second company's list as transferred out on 1 August 1765, joined the artillery as a matross the next day. A transfer from the infantry to the gunners was a step up in pay, since a matross earned more than a private soldier, and it suggests the artillery drew on the infantry companies for promising recruits. John Criswell, coxswain of the Company's longboat in the list of civil servants, also served as a matross, another instance of a soldier holding a paid civilian post alongside his place in the ranks.

97

92

21 October

Brought over £ 2892.12.9½

Matrosses brought over £ 150.17.10

John Smith

4.11.3

Samuel Spencer

4.11.3

Gregory Southernwood

4.11.3

William Snelson Disch. 1 Aug.

1.12

Thomas Tyler July 22d made Gunner

1.2

Do. Gunner to 5th August

10.8

Do. Matross from 6th August

2.16

Daniel Tong

4.11.3

Thomas Watts

4.11.3

John Webley

4.11.3

Richard Wellman

4.11.3

William Phillips

4.11.3

193.16.6

£ 3086.15.3½

The artillery company's list of matrosses ended, closing the pay list for the quarter.

Brought forward, £2,892 12s 9½d

Matrosses brought forward, £150 17s 10d

John Smith, matross, £4 11s 3d

Samuel Spencer, matross, £4 11s 3d

Gregory Southernwood, matross, £4 11s 3d

William Snelson, matross, discharged 1 August, £1 12s 0d

Thomas Tyler, matross to 22 July, then made gunner, £1 2s 0d

Thomas Tyler, gunner to 5 August, £0 10s 8d

Thomas Tyler, matross from 6 August, £2 16s 0d

Daniel Tong, matross, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Watts, matross, £4 11s 3d

John Webley, matross, £4 11s 3d

Richard Willman, matross, £4 11s 3d

William Phillips, matross, £4 11s 3d

Matrosses, total, £193 16s 6d

Total for the quarter, £3,006 15s 3½d

Interpretations

Thomas Tyler's entry completes the chain of changes in the artillery company. He was promoted from matross to gunner on 22 July 1765 to fill the place John Jack vacated when Jack became a bombardier, the day Robert Cunningham was broken. Tyler held his new rank for only a fortnight before being reduced again on 5 August, the same day as William Brown. The promotions of David Dennis and Esau Nowland to gunner on that date filled the two places he and Brown had lost. A promotion was evidently no guarantee of permanence, and a man who failed to satisfy his officers in his new rank could be returned to the ranks within weeks.

The pay list for the quarter came to £3,006 15s 3½d, yet the cash accounts for July and August 1765 showed no payments at all out of the treasury. The garrison and the Company's servants were evidently not paid in coin from the cash chest month by month. Their wages were probably settled through credit at the Company's warehouses, against which goods drawn by soldiers and their families were set off, or held as balances due until a later reckoning. The pay list recorded what each man had earned, while the store accounts recorded much of how he had been paid.

Thomas Watts, listed here as a matross, was also the gardener engaged from 1 August 1765 in the list of civil servants, another soldier holding a second paid post.

98

93

1765

Thomas Kirkpatrick Paymr. Dr.

1765 To Cash Received

£ 3632.1.8

Carried over £ 3632.1.8

Per Contra Cr.

1765 July 14 By Cash paid Nicholas Houghton for reinlisting

to serve the Honble. Company five Years longer

as a Soldier

10

16 By Cash paid George Nelson for Do.

10

10th By Cash paid Thomas Collier for Do.

10

17th By Cash paid Isaack Pouch for Do.

10

26th By Cash paid John Criswell for Do.

10

By Cash paid Captn. Fernell for 248 lb Beef @ 1/ Pr. lb

12.8

By Cash paid Captn. Hardwicke for the passage

of Robt. Boseley, Henry Davis and Wm. Snelson

three Invalids

15

By Cash paid Do. for a Long Boat bought

for the use of the Honoble. Company

35

By Cash paid Capt. Webb for 307 lb of Beef @ 3/ Pr. lb

46.1

By Cash pd. Do. for 160 lb of Pork at 3/ Pr. lb

24

By Cash paid Do. for 6 Bags of Rice wt. Cwt. qrs. lb 7.1.14

11.5

Carried over £ 193.14

The paymaster's account kept by Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick recorded the cash he received and the payments he made from it.

Cash received, 1765, £3,632 1s 8d

Carried forward, £3,632 1s 8d

Against this he entered the following payments.

Paid to Nicholas Houghton for re-enlisting to serve the Company as a soldier for five more years, 14 July 1765, £10 0s 0d

Paid to George Nelson for re-enlisting on the same terms, 6 August 1765, £10 0s 0d

Paid to Thomas Collier for re-enlisting on the same terms, 10 August 1765, £10 0s 0d

Paid to Isaac Pouch for re-enlisting on the same terms, 17 August 1765, £10 0s 0d

Paid to John Criswell for re-enlisting on the same terms, 26 August 1765, £10 0s 0d

Paid to Captain Fernell for 248 pieces of beef at £0 1s 0d a piece, £12 8s 0d

Paid to Captain Hardwicke for the passage home of three invalid soldiers, Robert Bosely, Henry Davis and William Snelson, £15 0s 0d

Paid to Captain Hardwicke for a longboat bought for the Company's use, £35 0s 0d

Paid to Captain Webb for 307 pieces of beef at £0 3s 0d a piece, £46 1s 0d

Paid to Captain Webb for 160 pieces of pork at £0 3s 0d a piece, £24 0s 0d

Paid to Captain Webb for 6 bags of rice weighing 7 cwt 1 qr 14 lb, £11 5s 0d

Carried forward, £193 14s 0d

Interpretations

Five soldiers each received £10 0s 0d during July and August 1765 for agreeing to serve another five years. Nicholas Houghton was a bombardier, Thomas Collier an artillery corporal, and George Nelson and John Criswell matrosses, so at least four of the five belonged to the artillery company. A bounty of this size was more than two quarters' pay for a matross. It was cheaper than the alternative of shipping out and training a raw recruit from England, a process that could take a year or more before the new man was any use at the guns. The payments show the Company concentrating its retention money on the trained gunners it could least afford to lose.

Robert Bosely and William Snelson were the men recorded in the pay list as discharged on 1 August 1765. Discharged soldiers no longer fit for service were termed invalids, and the Company paid a ship's commander to carry them home rather than leave them on the island without employment. Sending them away removed men who would otherwise become a burden on the island's scarce provisions and its small charitable resources.

The purchases from Captain Webb correspond exactly to the account of goods bought from him on 13 August 1765, when the Council recorded the 307 pieces of beef, 160 pieces of pork and six bags of rice. That account was signed as received by the purser Henry Hubert, and this entry shows the money passing through the paymaster's hands.

99

94

21st October

Thomas Kirkpatrick Paymr. Dr.

To Cash brought over

£ 3632.1.8

Carried over £ 3632.1.8

The paymaster's account kept by Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick continued on the receiving side, where only the sum brought forward was entered.

Cash brought forward, £3,632 1s 8d

Carried forward, £3,632 1s 8d

100

95

1765

Per Contra Cr.

Brought over £ 193.14

By Cash paid Capt. Webb for 14 Bags of Paddy wt. Cwt. qrs. lb 12.1.20

6.6

By Cash paid for 9 lb 1 oz. of Soap at 1/6 Pr. lb bought at the

Shops for the use of the Honble. Company's Women Slaves

14.2

By Cash paid Adam Evans for making Cushions &c. for the

Honble. Company's Boat employ'd by the Engineer

15

By Cash paid for 6300 lb of Rice bought of Capt. Halleman

at 12/ Pr. 100

37.16

By Cash paid Capt. Thomson of the Calcutta for the Passage of

Robert Mallen Seaman belonging to his Majesty's Navy

5

By Cash paid Do. for 4 Casks of Salt Provision at £ 18.6 Pr. Cask

70.4

By Cash paid the Widow Bazett for 9 load of Bamboos Canes

at 3 Pence for thatching for the Honble. Company

1.2.6

By Cash paid Mr. Benjn. Mason for 26 Rafters used at the

Brick works at 1/ Pr. Raf.

1.6

By Cash paid Do. for 20 Girts of Ruches used at Do. at

6 Pr. Girt

2

By Cash paid Mr. Jonathan Doveton for 10 load of Bamboos

at 2 used at Do.

1.12.6

By Cash paid Thomas Warne for 11 Do. used at Do.

1.7.6

By Cash paid John Dobson for 8 Days Work in the

Armourers Shop at 1/6

12

By Cash paid Wm. Harris for 1 Days work in Do. @ 1/6

5.6.6

By Cash paid Wm. Jenkins for Baking 13 Batches of Bread

for the Garrison this Quarter at 1/3 Pr. Batch

6.10

By Cash paid Wm. Holmes for a Quartr. work in the Fly Schooner

Long Boat &c. at the rate of £ 6 Pr. Ann. allowance

1.10

By Cash paid Timothy Bryan for Do.

1.10

By Cash paid George Elton for Do.

1.10

Carried over £ 341.16.2

The paymaster's payments continued as follows.

Brought forward, £193 14s 0d

Paid to Captain Webb for 14 bags of paddy weighing 12 cwt 1 qr 20 lb, £6 6s 0d

Paid for 9½ pieces of tape at £0 1s 6d a piece, bought in the shops for the Company's women slaves, £0 14s 2d

Paid to Adam Evans for making cushions and other fittings for the Company's boat used by the engineer, £0 15s 0d

Paid for 6,300 lb of rice bought from Captain Halleman at £0 12s 0d per 100 lb, £37 16s 0d

Paid to Captain Thomson of the Calcutta for the passage of Robert Shelton, seaman of His Majesty's Navy, £5 0s 0d

Paid to Captain Thomson for 4 casks of salt provisions at £18 6s 0d a cask, £73 4s 0d

Paid to the widow Bazett for 9 loads of bamboo cane used as binders for thatching for the Company, £1 2s 6d

Paid to Benjamin Mason for 26 rafters used at the brickworks at £0 1s 0d a rafter, £1 6s 0d

Paid to Benjamin Mason for 80 lengths of purlin used at the brickworks at £0 0s 6d a length, £2 0s 0d

Paid to Jonathan Doveton for 13 loads of bamboo at £0 2s 6d a load, used at the brickworks, £1 12s 6d

Paid to Thomas Warne for 11 loads of bamboo used at the brickworks, £1 7s 6d

Paid to John Dobson for 8 days' work in the armourer's shop at £0 1s 6d a day, £0 12s 0d

Paid to William Harris for 71 days' work in the armourer's shop at £0 1s 6d a day, £5 6s 6d

Paid to William Jenkins for baking 13 batches of bread for the garrison during the quarter at [...] a batch, £6 10s 0d

Paid to William Holmes for a quarter's work in the Fly schooner, the longboat and other craft, at an allowance of £6 0s 0d a year, £1 10s 0d

Paid to Timothy O'Bryan for the same, £1 10s 0d

Paid to George Exton for the same, £1 10s 0d

Carried forward, £341 16s 2d

Interpretations

The payments for rafters, purlins and bamboo show Mitchell's brickworks taking shape during the quarter. In his report of August 1765 he wrote that he was trying to make bricks from the island's clay, and the return of public workmen on 16 September 1765 listed three slave boys apprenticed as brickmakers. A brickworks needed a roofed shed to dry the moulded bricks out of the rain before firing, and the timber framing and bamboo thatching bought here were for that building. The materials came from the island's own planters, Benjamin Mason, Jonathan Doveton, Thomas Warne and the widow Bazett, so the new industry drew on local resources from the outset.

John Dobson was paid by the day for eight days in the armourer's shop before the Council appointed him armourer on 7 October 1765, describing him as a good one. The daily work gave the Council a chance to judge his skill before committing to a three-year appointment, and its confidence in him rested on what he had already shown at the forge.

Several entries close transactions recorded earlier. The rice from Captain Halleman matches the purchase of 26 August 1765, and the four casks from Captain Thomson match the salt provisions bought on 6 September 1765 at the price the island charged Company ships. The tape bought for the Company's women slaves was probably for making or trimming their clothing, which the Company supplied as their owner.

101

96

21th October

Thomas Kirkpatrick Esqr

Dr

To Cash brought over

£ 5632 1 [...]

Carried over£ [...]

The account of Thomas Kirkpatrick Esquire, dated 21 October, recorded no new entries on this page. The cash total from the previous page was brought forward on the debit side and passed on unchanged to the next.

Cash brought forward, £5,632 1s 8d

Carried forward, £5,632 1s 8d

Interpretations

The account sat on the debit side of the ledger, which charged Kirkpatrick personally with the cash recorded against his name. Each sum entered there was money he had received or been advanced, and he remained answerable for it until matching credits showed how it had been spent or repaid. By the time of this page the running total stood at £5,632 1s 8d, which made him accountable for a very large sum.

102

97

1765.

Per Contra

Cr

Brought over

£ 341 16 2

By Cash paid Jeremiah Nonal for one Month Do

10

By Cash paid John Herring for 46 Days Do Do

15

By Cash paid John Laurence for 2 Month Do Do

1

By Cash paid Jno Shutupall for 65 Days Do Do

1 1 8

By Cash paid Francis Clanay for 30 Days Do Do

12 10

By Cash paid Jno Chapman for Do Do Do

12 10

By Cash paid Willm French for Do Do

12 9

By Cash paid Rich. Houghton for making a Target 2 Days @ 2/6

5

By Cash paid Wm French for sail makers Work for the Fly

Schooner 2 1/2 Days at 1/6 p Day

3 9

By Cash paid sundry Soldiers for 18 1/2 Days Carpenters

Work on board the Fly Schooner at 1/6 p Day

1 3 3

By Cash paid Willm Ford for 4 Days Work in caulking

the Yawl 1/6 p Day

6

By Cash paid Wm Brown for 8 Days Painting at the Castle

at 1/6 p Day

12

By Cash paid Do for 14 Days Painting the long Boat

Target, Officers Heaven &c 1/6 p Day

1 1

By Cash paid Barnes Procter sawyer 6 Days at 1/6 p Day

9

By Cash paid sundry Soldiers for 22 Days work in getting

of Wood in Rats Gut to Burn Lime

2 2

By Cash paid Do 206 1/2 Days Work in making of Bricks

10 6 6

By Cash paid Do for 32 Days work on Ladder Hill long

Wood &c

1 2

By Cash paid Do 101 1/2 Days in the Stores

5 1 3

By Cash paid Simon Whaley Carpenter 35 Days Work

at the Castle at 5/ p Day

8 15

Carried over

£ 3[...]8 3

The credit side of the account for 1765 set out a run of cash payments to labourers, craftsmen and soldiers for work done around the settlement. Each sum discharged part of the cash charged against the account on the opposite page.

Brought forward, £341 16s 2d

Paid Jeremiah Nonal for 1 month's work, £0 10s 0d

Paid John Herring for 46 days' work, £0 15s 0d

Paid John Laurence for 2 months' work, £1 0s 0d

Paid John Shutepall for 65 days' work, £1 1s 8d

Paid Francis Clanay for 38 days' work, £0 12s 10d

Paid John Chapman for 38 days' work, £0 12s 10d

Paid William French for 38 days' work, £0 12s 9d

Paid Richard Houghton for making a target, 2 days at 2s 6d a day, £0 5s 0d

Paid William French for sail-making on the Fly schooner, 2½ days at 1s 6d a day, £0 3s 9d

Paid various soldiers for 18½ days of carpentry aboard the Fly schooner at 1s 6d a day, £1 3s 3d

Paid William Ford for 4 days caulking the yawl at 1s 6d a day, £0 6s 0d

Paid William Brown for 8 days painting at the castle at 1s 6d a day, £0 12s 0d

Paid William Brown for 14 days painting the longboat, the target, the officers' houses and other work at 1s 6d a day, £1 1s 0d

Paid Barnes Proctor, sawyer, for 6 days at 1s 6d a day, £0 9s 0d

Paid various soldiers for 22 days cutting wood in [...] Gut to burn lime, £2 2s 0d

Paid various soldiers for 206½ days making bricks, £10 6s 6d

Paid various soldiers for 32 days of work on Ladder Hill, Longwood and elsewhere, £1 2s 0d

Paid various soldiers for 101½ days of work in the stores, £5 1s 3d

Paid Simon Whaley, carpenter, for 35 days' work at the castle at 5s a day, £8 15s 0d

Carried forward, £383 3s 0d

Interpretations

Placed opposite the debit page dated 21 October, this credit side showed how the cash charged against Thomas Kirkpatrick was laid out. Every wage entered here reduced the sum for which he stood answerable. The account would balance only when these payments matched the £5,632 1s 8d carried on the debit side.

The garrison doubled as the island's labour force. Soldiers were hired by the day to cut fuel, burn lime, make bricks, work in the stores and serve as carpenters aboard the Fly. This was paid work on top of their military duties, and it gave the authorities a ready workforce on an island with few free hands to hire.

A clear wage scale ran through the page. Soldiers, sawyers, painters and caulkers all received a flat 1s 6d a day, whereas Simon Whaley, a skilled carpenter, earned 5s a day for his work at the castle. Richard Houghton's 2s 6d a day for making a target sat between the two rates.

Lime and bricks were the basic building materials of the settlement. Lime came from burning shell or limestone in a kiln, which needed large amounts of wood, hence the soldiers sent to cut fuel before the burning. Mixed with sand and water, it made the mortar and plaster used in walls and buildings.

The target that Houghton built and Brown painted was probably a mark for gunnery or musket practice by the garrison. The yawl was a ship's small boat, and caulking meant forcing oakum and pitch into the seams of its planking to keep it watertight.

103

98

21st October

Thomas Kirkpatrick Esqr

Dr

To Cash brought over

£ 5632 1 [...]

Carried over

£ 5632 1 [...]

The account of Thomas Kirkpatrick Esquire, dated 21 October, again showed no new entries on its debit side. The cash total from the previous page passed straight through to the next.

Cash brought forward, £5,632 1s 8d

Carried forward, £5,632 1s 8d

Interpretations

The debit total held at £5,632 1s 8d from one opening to the next, while the credit side opposite it grew page by page through wage payments. The charge against Kirkpatrick was therefore a fixed body of cash received at the outset, which he then worked down through spending. The account was a record of how that one advance was used rather than of a stream of fresh receipts.

104

99

1765

Per Contra

Cr

Brought over

£ 378 3

By Cash paid Simon Whaley for 20 Days Work at Banks's Port

Cullis @ 5/

1 5 0

By Cash paid Sundie Soldiers for 1 1/2 Days Work at Bricks

1 6

By Cash paid Jno Chamberlain's Apprentice for 24 Days

Carpenters Work @ 1/ p Day

1 4

By Cash paid Sundry Soldiers for 134 Days Work in assisting

the Brickmakers at 1/ p Day

6 14

By Cash paid Do for 69 Days Work at the Officers Apartts

@ 1/

3 9

By Cash paid Do for 37 3/4 Days at the Smith and Coopers

Shops

1 17 9

By Cash paid Do for 50 Days work at the Castle

2 10

By Cash paid Do 853 1/2 Do at Banks's port Cullis

42 14 9

By Cash paid Do 891 3/4 Do in getting and Burning Lime

Stone

44 11 9

By Cash paid Do for 72 1/2 Do in Making an Arch at Barren

Hill

3 12 6

By Cash paid Do for 33 Do Carpenters Work at Banks's

Port Cullis 1/6

2 12 6

By Cash paid Do for 6 Do Carpenters Work repairing

the Officers Houses @ 1/6

9

By Cash paid Do for 10 1/2 Do Carpenters Work at the Castle

15 9

By Cash paid Do for 7 Do Carpenters Work making Tables

and Formes for the Barracks

10 6

By Cash paid Do for 18 Days Seamen Work for Gled

and to get Flour for Mortar

1 7

By Cash paid Do for 100 1/2 Days Work on Stone & Flower

at Banks's Cullis & getting Lime Stone

7 10 4 1/2

Carried over

£ 506 3 4 1/2

The credit side of the 1765 account continued with wages for building and repair work, much of it on the defences at Banks's and on lime and brick production.

Brought forward, £383 3s 0d

Paid Simon Whaley for 29 days' work at Banks's portcullis at 5s a day, £7 5s 0d

Paid [...] Solomon for holiday work at the brickmaking, £0 7s 6d

Paid John Chamberlain's apprentice for 24 days of carpentry at 1s a day, £1 4s 0d

Paid various soldiers for 134 days helping the brickmakers at 1s a day, £6 14s 0d

Paid various soldiers for 69 days' work at the officers' apartments at 1s a day, £3 9s 0d

Paid various soldiers for 38¾ days at the smith's and cooper's shops, £1 18s 9d

Paid various soldiers for 50 days' work at the castle, £2 10s 0d

Paid various soldiers for 850½ days' work at Banks's portcullis, £42 10s 6d

Paid various soldiers for 891¾ days quarrying and burning limestone, £44 11s 9d

Paid various soldiers for 72½ days building an arch at [...] Hill, £3 12s 6d

Paid various soldiers for 35 days of carpentry at Banks's portcullis at 1s 6d a day, £2 12s 6d

Paid various soldiers for 6 days of carpentry repairing the officers' houses at 1s 6d a day, £0 9s 0d

Paid various soldiers for 10½ days of carpentry at the castle, £0 15s 9d

Paid various soldiers for 7 days of carpentry making tables and benches for the barracks, £0 10s 6d

Paid various soldiers for 18 days of sawing for a sled and fetching [...] for mortar, £1 7s 0d

Paid various soldiers for 150¼ days raising stone and [...] at Banks's and fetching limestone, £7 10s 4½d

Carried forward, £506 3s 4½d

Interpretations

The page showed a two-tier rate for soldiers' labour. General work such as helping the brickmakers or labouring at the officers' apartments paid 1s a day, while carpentry by soldiers paid 1s 6d. Simon Whaley, a civilian carpenter, still drew 5s a day, more than three times the best soldier's rate. The garrison thus supplied cheap labour, and the few trained craftsmen on the island commanded a sharp premium.

Most of the money on this page went into two linked operations. The work at Banks's portcullis absorbed more than 850 soldier-days, and the quarrying and burning of limestone almost as many. Banks's lay on the coast and formed part of the island's sea defences, so the lime supplied the mortar for strengthening a fortified position. A portcullis was a heavy grated gate dropped into grooves to close an entrance, fitted here to the defensive line at Banks's.

Against the previous credit page, the scale of spending changed sharply. That page had recorded payments of a few shillings to a few pounds, with brickmaking the largest item at £10 6s 6d. On this page two items alone came to more than £87, which pointed to a major programme of fortification work under way in 1765.

The forms made for the barracks were long backless benches, the standard seating in soldiers' quarters and mess rooms. The cooper's shop made and repaired casks, which were essential on an island that depended on stored provisions and water.

105

100

21st October

Thomas Kirkpatrick Esqr

Dr

To Cash brought over

£ 5632 1 [...]

Carried over

£ 5632 1 [...]

The debit side of Thomas Kirkpatrick Esquire's account, dated 21 October, carried no fresh entries on this opening. Its cash total moved forward to the next page exactly as it had arrived.

Cash brought forward, £5,632 1s 8d

Carried forward, £5,632 1s 8d

106

101

1765

Per Contra

Cr

Brought over

£ 506 3 4 1/2

By Cash paid the Stone Sawyer 4 1/2 Do Days Work @ 1/6

6 9

By Cash paid Saml Gales Plasterer 31 1/2 Do Work on the Castle

@ 1/6

2 8 4 1/2

By Cash paid Do for 38 Days @ 1/6

2 17

By Cash paid Sutton Sundy Masons 41 1/2 Days Work at

the Port Cullis at Banks's @ 2/6

5 18 1 1/2

By Cash paid Do 40 Days work on the Castle @ 2/6

5

By Cash paid Jno Witby Bricklayer for 28 Days Work at

Banks's Port Cullis @ 1/6 p Day

2 2

By Cash paid Do 36 1/2 Days work at the Castle @ 1/6

2 14 9

By Cash paid for the Subsistence of two Sledge Seamen

of the Ship Lord Holland 27 Days @ 6 p Day

13 6

By Cash paid James Thomson of the Ship Valentine

for Do 19 Days @ 6

9 6

By Cash paid Wm Brooks and Thos Nichols Do from

the Ship Pitt 11 Days @ 6 p Day

11

By Cash paid Jno James from the Ship Stormont 21 Days

at 6 p Day

10 6

By Cash paid Sundry Men coming Express w. Alarms

2

By Cash paid Vingadoo Rickabum his Allowance

1 12 6

By Cash paid Do for Hiring Land

1

By Cash paid the Clerk of Arraignes Sessions 2 Days

12

By Cash paid the Provider of the Court

10

By Cash paid Mr James Powell for 13 Waistcoats & 19 pr

of Trousers for the use of the Honble Companys Slaves

2 17

By the Amount of the pay List

£ 3036 13 5 1/2

£ 5632 1 8

St Helena

Septemr 30th 1765

Errors Excepted

(Signed)

Thos Kirkpatrick Esqr

The final page of the 1765 credit side recorded wages for masons, plasterers and bricklayers, the upkeep of seamen left on the island, court costs and clothing for slaves, before closing the account on 30 September 1765.

Brought forward, £506 3s 4½d

Paid the stone sawyer for 4½ days' work at 1s 6d a day, £0 6s 9d

Paid Samuel Gates, plasterer, for 32¼ days' work on the castle at 1s 6d a day, £2 8s 4½d

Paid Samuel Gates for a further 38 days at 1s 6d a day, £2 17s 0d

Paid Sutton Sandys, mason, for 31½ days' work on the portcullis at Banks's at 2s 6d a day, £3 18s 9d

Paid Sutton Sandys for 40 days' work on the castle at 2s 6d a day, £5 0s 0d

Paid John Wibly, bricklayer, for 28 days' work on Banks's portcullis at 1s 6d a day, £2 2s 0d

Paid John Wibly for 36½ days' work on the castle at 1s 6d a day, £2 14s 9d

Paid for the keep of Robert Hodge, seaman of the Lord Holland, for 27 days at 6d a day, £0 13s 6d

Paid for the keep of James Thomson of the Valentine for 19 days at 6d a day, £0 9s 6d

Paid for the keep of William Brooks and Thomas Nichols from the Pitt, 11 days each at 6d a day, £0 11s 0d

Paid for the keep of John James from the [...] for 21 days at 6d a day, £0 10s 6d

Paid various men for carrying alarm messages at speed, £2 0s 0d

Paid [...] his allowance, £1 12s 6d

Paid [...] for house rent, £1 0s 0d

Paid the clerk of arraigns for 2 days at the criminal court, £0 12s 0d

Paid the court crier, £0 10s 0d

Paid Mr James Powell for 15 waistcoats and 10 pairs of trousers for the Honourable Company's slaves, £2 17s 0d

Amount of the pay list, £5,036 15s 3½d

Total, £5,632 1s 8d

Thomas Kirkpatrick signed the account at St Helena on 30 September 1765, reserving the right to correct any errors.

Interpretations

The credit side closed at £5,632 1s 8d, exactly the sum charged against Kirkpatrick on the debit pages dated 21 October. The account therefore balanced, and his signature discharged him from the cash he had received. The note reserving errors kept the way open for later correction if an auditor found a mistake.

Almost all of the money went on the pay list, which dwarfed every other item on these pages put together. The wages for brickmaking, lime burning and fortification work, large as they looked, were a small addition to the regular payroll of the garrison and establishment.

The 6d a day paid for the keep of individual seamen from the Lord Holland, the Valentine, the Pitt and another vessel showed the Company maintaining sailors who had been put ashore from its ships. Each man was costed by the day until he left, so the expense could be charged to the right account.

The clerk of arraigns and the court crier were officers of the criminal court. The clerk read out the charges against prisoners and recorded pleas, while the crier called the court to order and summoned parties. Paying them from the same cash as builders and seamen showed how a single account funded every branch of island government.

The payment to James Powell revealed that the Company itself clothed the slaves it owned. Waistcoats and trousers were issued as basic working dress, and their cost was met from the public account like any other running expense of the settlement.

Masons stood above other building trades in the wage scale. Sutton Sandys drew 2s 6d a day, while the plasterer and bricklayer received 1s 6d, the same rate paid to soldiers doing carpentry on the previous page.

107

102

21st October

Collection of Goods Sold and delivered out of the Honorable Companys

Ware Houses from 1st of July to the 30th September 1765 viz

Sold to the Honble Companys Servants at 10 p Ct viz

806 lb Sugar

44 15 2

898 [...] Candy

67 5 10

111 17 6

Flour viz

357

25 14 4

160 2 14 Bisket

150

175 14 4

Tea viz

360 Congo

22 15 9

126 Single

2 15 5

617 Bohea

31 9 10

62 16 10

Soap 247

30 17 1

Salt viz

200 Cape Salt

15 5

7 1/2 Bushels Engh

1 14 5

2 9 10

Beef and Pork viz

274 Ps Beef

27 8

2069 Do Pork

206 18

234 6

Starch 67

1 17 8

Shalloon viz

22 1/2 Scarlet Shall

3 12 5

69 1/2 Coloured Do

7 1 10

10 14 3

Carried over

£ 670 14

Under the date 21 October, the record set out the goods sold and issued from the Honourable Company's warehouses between 1 July and 30 September 1765. The first section covered sales to the Company's own servants at a mark-up of 10 per cent.

Sugar, 806 lb, £44 13s 2d

Sugar candy, 698½ lb, £67 3s 10d

Sugar total, £111 17s 6d

Flour, 357 [...], £25 14s 4d

Flour, 160 bushels and 2¼ [...], £150 0s 0d

Flour total, £175 14s 4d

Congou tea, 380 lb, £22 13s 9d

Singlo tea, 126 lb, £2 13s 5d

Bohea tea, 617 lb, £31 9s 10d

Tea total, £62 16s 10d

Soap, 247 lb, £10 17s 7d

Cape salt, 200 lb, £0 15s 5d

English salt, 7½ bushels, £1 14s 5d

Salt total, £2 9s 10d

Salt beef, 274 pieces, £27 8s 0d

Salt pork, 2,069 pieces, £206 18s 0d

Beef and pork total, £234 6s 0d

Starch, 67 lb, £1 17s 8d

Scarlet shalloon, 22½ yards, £3 12s 5d

Coloured shalloon, 69½ yards, £7 1s 10d

Shalloon total, £10 14s 3d

Carried forward, £670 14s 0d

Interpretations

The Company's warehouses acted as the island's main shop for its own employees. Officials, soldiers and other servants bought staple foods and cloth from the stores at cost plus 10 per cent, rather than from private traders. The small mark-up covered freight and handling while keeping prices well below what passing ships' crews or private dealers might charge on a remote island. It also gave the Company a hold over its people, who depended on its stores for daily necessities.

Several items were unfamiliar staples of the period. Sugar candy was sugar crystallised slowly into large hard lumps, used as a sweetmeat and to sweeten tea. Congou, Singlo and Bohea were grades of Chinese tea shipped home in Company vessels. Bohea was the cheapest black tea, Congou a better black tea, and Singlo a green tea. Cape salt came from the Cape of Good Hope, the nearest supply port, while English salt was shipped out from Britain and cost far more for the quantity.

Salt beef and pork were sold by the piece, the standard measure for meat packed in brine in casks for ships and garrisons. Pork far outsold beef, with 2,069 pieces against 274, which showed that salted pork formed the bulk of the meat ration drawn from store.

Shalloon was a light, closely woven worsted cloth made chiefly in England and used to line coats and uniforms. The scarlet cloth matched the colour of military coats, so most of it probably went into garrison dress. Starch was used to stiffen linen, and soap was sold in bulk because households had no other ready source on the island.

108

103

1765

Brought over

£ 670 14

Buckram 20 1/2 Yards

1 3

Rice and Paddy viz

40 2 26 Rice

17 15 11

12 19 Paddy

2 12 5

20 8 4

Oil viz

58 1/2 Gall. Sallad

7 0 7

10 1/2 Do Linseed

2 10

23 Bottls Florence

3 7 4

12 11 7

Hats viz

5 Mens Hatts

4 16 10

6 Boys Do

2 3

6 17 1

Candles 482

46 16

Leather viz

112 lbs

5 9 8

5 Calfskins

2 9 7

7 19 3

Twine viz

62 Skeins Twine

1 14 11

5 1/2 Cott Wick

7 2

2 2 1

Arrack 11 Gall

2 15

Corks 22 7/12 Gross

2 17 10

Cordage 418 1/2

8 19 6

Coffee 52

1 9 4

Long Ells viz

45 1/2 Yards Blue

4 3 10

20 Do Scarlet

2 10 5

6 14 3

Carried over

£ 811 4 6

The tally of goods sold from the Company's warehouses to its servants between 1 July and 30 September 1765 continued with cloth, rice, oil, hats, candles and a range of household and ship's stores.

Brought forward, £670 14s 0d

Buckram, 20½ yards, £1 0s 3d

Rice, 48 cwt 0 qr 26 lb, £17 15s 11d

Paddy, 12 cwt 0 qr 19 lb, £2 12s 5d

Rice and paddy total, £20 8s 4d

[...] oil, 38½ gallons, £7 0s 7d

Linseed oil, 10½ gallons, £2 0s 10d

Florence oil, 25 bottles, £3 7s 2d

Oil total, £12 11s 7d

Men's hats, 5, £4 16s 10d

Boys' hats, 6, £2 0s 3d

Hats total, £6 17s 1d

Candles, 482 lb, £46 16s 0d

Leather, 112 lb, £5 9s 8d

Calfskins, 5, £2 9s 7d

Leather total, £7 19s 3d

Twine, 62 skeins, £1 14s 11d

Cotton candlewick, 5½ lb, £0 7s 2d

Twine and wick total, £2 2s 1d

Arrack, 11 gallons, £2 15s 0d

Corks, 22½ gross, £2 17s 10d

Rope, 418½ lb, £8 19s 6d

Coffee, 52 lb, £1 9s 4d

Blue long ells, 45½ yards, £4 5s 10d

Scarlet long ells, 20 yards, £2 10s 3d

Long ells total, £6 15s 3d

Carried forward, £811 4s 6d

Interpretations

Several goods on this page would be unfamiliar today. Buckram was a coarse linen or cotton cloth stiffened with glue or size, used to stiffen collars, hat brims and the linings of coats. Paddy was rice still in its husk, cheaper than milled rice and sold for people to clean and pound themselves or to feed livestock. Florence oil was fine olive oil from Tuscany, shipped in straw-covered flasks and used for cooking and salads, while linseed oil, pressed from flax seed, went into paint and the treatment of wood.

Arrack was a strong spirit distilled in India and the East Indies from palm sap, rice or sugar cane, and reached St Helena on Company ships returning from the East. Long ells were a cheap, hard-wearing woollen serge from the west of England, sold in long lengths. The blue and scarlet cloth matched the colours of soldiers' and seamen's clothing, and the scarlet length echoed the scarlet shalloon sold on the previous page.

Candles were the largest single item at £46 16s 0d for 482 lb, more than any foodstuff except rice. With no other source of artificial light, every household, guardroom and office drew on the Company store for tallow candles, and the separate sale of cotton wick showed that some people dipped their own. The sale of corks by the gross pointed to bottling on the island, perhaps of wine, beer or arrack bought in bulk from ships.

109

104

21st October

Brought over

£ 811 4 6

Thread viz

13 Whited Brown

5 11 10

6 Coloured

1 1 6

6 13 4

Canvas viz

115 1/2 Yds Osnabrigs

5 10

8 Ps 14 1/2 Yds Engh Canvas

7 10 9

13 9

Challow 14 Ps

7 12 3

Sago 50

12 6

Ticking 2 Yds

5 4

Oars 6

1 5 6

Lead viz

58 Sheet Lead

12 1

21 Shot

4 9

16 10

Pepper 20 1/2

11 7

Blankets 10

2 19 2

Dorotees 1 Ps

11 5

Pease 2 1/2 Bushels

1 1 10

Nails viz

1 1/2 lb 2d Nails

11 2

5 3d Do

4 7 1/4

20 4d Do

12 11

54 6d Do

1 11 6

62 10d Do

1 11

12 20d Do

5

4 40d Do

1 7

2 1/2 lb Glaz Brads

4 0 1/2

1 1/2 Tacks

2 2 1/2

10 1/2 Floor Brads

3 11

5 Spikes

1 9

5 9 9

Carried over

£ 852 4 9

The list of goods sold from the Company's warehouses to its servants in the quarter ending 30 September 1765 went on to cover thread, cloth, provisions, lead and a full range of nails.

Brought forward, £811 4s 6d

Whited-brown thread, 13 lb, £5 11s 10d

Coloured thread, 6 lb, £1 1s 6d

Thread total, £6 13s 4d

Osnaburg canvas, 115½ yards, £5 10s 0d

English canvas, 8 pieces and 14½ yards, £7 10s 9d

Canvas total, £13 0s 9d

Chelloes, 14 pieces, £7 12s 3d

Sago, 30 lb, £0 12s 6d

Ticking, 2 yards, £0 5s 4d

Cans, 6, £1 5s 6d

Sheet lead, 58 lb, £0 12s 1d

Lead shot, 21 lb, £0 4s 9d

Lead total, £0 16s 10d

Pepper, 20 lb, £0 11s 7d

Blankets, 10, £2 19s 2d

Devetees, 1 piece, £0 11s 5d

Peas, 2½ bushels, £1 1s 10d

Twopenny nails, 14½ lb, £0 11s 2d

Threepenny nails, 5 lb, £0 4s 7½d

Fourpenny nails, 20 lb, £0 13s 11d

Sixpenny nails, 54 lb, £1 11s 6d

Tenpenny nails, 62 lb, £1 11s 0d

Twentypenny nails, 12 lb, £0 5s 0d

Fortypenny nails, 4 lb, £0 1s 7d

Glaziers' brads, 2½ lb, £0 4s 0½d

Tacks, 1½ lb, £0 2s 0½d

Floor brads, 10 lb, £0 3s 11d

Spikes, 5 lb, £0 1s 9d

Nails total, £5 9s 9d

Carried forward, £852 4s 9d

Interpretations

The range of building hardware on this page showed the Company store serving as the island's builders' merchant as well as its grocer. Servants bought nails in eleven sizes, sheet lead, brads and spikes for their own houses and outbuildings. Without a private ironmonger on the island, anyone repairing a roof, laying a floor or glazing a window had to draw these goods from the Company at the 10 per cent mark-up.

Nails were graded in pennies, an English trade measure that originally reflected the price of a hundred nails and later indicated length. Twopenny nails were short and fine, while fortypenny nails were heavy spikes several inches long for framing timber. Brads were small nails with almost no head, so floor brads could be driven below the surface of boards and glaziers' brads held panes of glass in their frames. The biggest sales were in sixpenny and tenpenny nails, the general-purpose sizes for carpentry.

Several textiles were specialised trade goods. Osnaburg was a coarse, unbleached linen named after the German town of Osnabrück, widely used for sacking, work clothes and slave clothing. Chelloes were cheap checked or striped cotton cloths woven in India and carried west by the Company, sold by the piece. Ticking was a tightly woven striped linen or cotton used to cover mattresses and pillows so feathers or straw could not work through. Whited-brown thread was a half-bleached linen thread, cheaper than fully white thread and used for everyday sewing. The cloth entered as devetees, sold by the single piece, was probably another eastern textile.

Sago, a starch extracted from the pith of palms in the East Indies, was sold as small pearls and boiled into puddings or invalid food. Like the arrack on the previous page, it reached St Helena on Company ships returning from the East, which gave the island access to Asian goods that were still luxuries in much of England.

110

105

1765

Brought over

£ 852 4 9

Hooks and Lines viz

3 1/2 No 2 Lines

5 16 11

144 3 Do

2 12

3 4 Do

3 4

3 Lay Do

0 1

5 Hambro Do

7 6

500 No 1 Hooks

1 6

1500 9 Do

1 11 11 1/2

500 12 Do

2 0 1/2

575 13 Do

5

50 14 Do

6

925 15 Do

7 4

225 11 Do

3 11

12 10 10

Shirts viz

1 Ps 17 Yds Oznabs Linnen

3 9

36 Yds Brown Holland

3 13 6

2 Shirts

9 10

7 4 1

Broad Cloth viz

12 1/2 Yards Scarl

10 16 9

16 1/2 Do Blue

11 10 6

8 1/2 Do F. Grey

8 3 7

8 1/2 Do Black

7 14 8

2 1/2 Do Brown

2 12 11

3/8 Do Green

5 5

41 3 10

Turners Ware viz

23 Hog Brushes

14 4 1/2

9 Hair Brooms

15 9

Turners Ware Carried over

1 10 1 1/2

Carried over

£ 913 12 6

The account of goods sold from the Company's warehouses to its servants in the quarter ending 30 September 1765 continued with fishing tackle, shirting, broadcloth and wooden household wares.

Brought forward, £852 4s 9d

Number 2 fishing lines, 37, £3 16s 11d

Number 3 fishing lines, 144, £2 12s 0d

Number 4 fishing lines, 3, £0 3s 4d

Log lines, 3, £0 3s 1d

Hambro lines, 3, £0 7s 6d

Number 1 fish hooks, 500, £1 6s 0d

Number 9 fish hooks, 1,500, £1 11s 11½d

Number 12 fish hooks, 500, £0 2s 8½d

Number 13 fish hooks, 575, £0 5s 0d

Number 14 fish hooks, 50, £0 0s 6d

Number 15 fish hooks, 925, £0 7s 4d

Number 11 fish hooks, 225, £0 3s 11d

Hooks and lines total, £12 10s 10d

Irish linen for shirts, 1 piece of 17 yards, £3 0s 9d

Brown holland for shirts, 36 yards, £3 13s 6d

Shirts, 2, £0 9s 10d

Shirting total, £7 4s 1d

Scarlet broadcloth, 12½ yards, £10 16s 9d

Blue broadcloth, 16½ yards, £11 10s 6d

Fine grey broadcloth, 8½ yards, £8 3s 7d

Black broadcloth, 8½ yards, £7 14s 8d

Brown broadcloth, 2½ yards, £2 12s 11d

Green broadcloth, ⅝ yard, £0 5s 5d

Broadcloth total, £41 3s 10d

Hog-bristle brushes, 23, £0 14s 4½d

Hair brooms, 9, £0 15s 9d

Wooden wares carried forward, £1 10s 1½d

Carried forward, £913 12s 6d

Interpretations

The sale of more than 4,000 fish hooks and nearly 200 lines in a single quarter showed how much the island's people relied on fishing. Fresh meat was scarce and costly on St Helena, and the salt beef and pork sold from store was the stuff of rations rather than choice. Sea fish caught from the rocks and from small boats gave servants and their households a cheap source of fresh food. Hooks and lines were graded by number, and the heavy sales of the smaller and middling sizes suggested fishing for the abundant inshore species.

Broadcloth was a dense, fine woollen cloth from the west of England, woven wide and then shrunk and finished to a smooth felted surface. It was the material for good coats and uniforms, and its price set it apart from the coarser long ells and shalloon sold on earlier pages. Scarlet broadcloth cost about 17s a yard, the dearest colour because of the expensive dyes needed, and its leading place in sales matched the scarlet of officers' coats.

Brown holland was an unbleached linen, originally from the Low Countries, used for shirts, aprons and covers. Irish linen was a finer bleached linen produced in Ulster. Hambro line was a light cord named after Hamburg, used for lashing and small rigging, while log lines carried the knotted cord used to measure a vessel's speed through the water.

The heading for wooden wares covered goods traditionally made by turners on a lathe, such as handles, bowls and the stocks of brushes and brooms. Hog-bristle brushes were stiff brushes for scrubbing or painting, and hair brooms were softer sweeping brooms, all of which had to be imported because the island had little suitable timber or craft production of its own.

111

106

21st October

Brought over

£ 913 12 6

Turners Ware brought over

£ 1 10 1 1/2

3 Jemb J Rawsiers

12 7 1/2

4 Paint Do

2 2

10 Punch Ladles

6 3

2 Mops

2 6

1 Birch Broom

4 1/2

2 Bowls

3 1/2

2 Lobon Basket

1 8

2 Flaskets

6 4

3 3 1

Iron Ware viz

20 Pr Locks

10 10

1 Cupb Do

3 1/2

2 Pr Kitchen Bellows

7 9

2 Rag Stones

3 1/2

10 Scyth Do

2 3 1/2

3 Black Jugs

6

1 Small Gimblet

2 1/2

1 Pad Lock

1 8

3 Small Fry Pans

6 6

1 Stock Lock

3 1/2

1 Closet Do

3 1/2

2 Chest Do

3 7

1 Pr Door Tail Hinges

12 8

1 Bar Iron

3 1/2

1 Barr Cupbd Lock

7 11

1 Garden Rake

1 6

3 Spring Rat Traps

2 7

2 Iron rimd Locks Dr Rimd

13 4

1 lb Brass Wire

11

8

Iron Ware Carried over

4 17 11 1/2

Carried over

£ 916 15 7

The record of goods sold from the Company's warehouses to its servants in the quarter ending 30 September 1765 went on with the remaining wooden wares and then a long run of ironmongery.

Brought forward, £913 12s 6d

Wooden wares brought forward, £1 10s 1½d

[...] brushes, 5, £0 12s 7½d

Paint brushes, 4, £0 2s 2d

Punch ladles, 10, £0 6s 3d

Mops, 2, £0 2s 6d

Birch broom, 1, £0 0s 4½d

Ox bows, 2, £0 3s 0½d

[...] baskets, 2, £0 1s 8d

Flaskets, 2, £0 6s 4d

Wooden wares total, £3 3s 1d

[...] locks, 20, £0 10s 10d

Cupboard lock, 1, £0 5s 0½d

Kitchen bellows, 2 pairs, £0 7s 9d

Ragstones, 2, £0 3s 1½d

Scythe stones, 10, £0 2s 3½d

[...], 3, £0 6s 0d

Small gimlet, 1, £0 0s 2½d

Padlock, 1, £0 1s 8d

Small frying pans, 3, £0 6s 6d

Stock lock, 1, £0 3s 1½d

Closet lock, 1, £0 3s 7d

Chest lock, 1, £0 12s 8d

Cross-tail hinges, 1 pair, £0 0s 5½d

Box iron, 1, £0 7s 11d

Box cupboard lock, 1, £0 1s 6d

Garden rake, 1, £0 2s 7d

Spring rat traps, 3, £0 13s 4d

Iron-rimmed locks with brass knobs, 2, £0 11s 0d

Brass wire, 1 lb, £0 0s 8d

Ironmongery carried forward, £4 17s 11½d

Carried forward, £916 17s 7d

Interpretations

The page offered a close view of domestic life among the Company's servants. Kitchen bellows, frying pans, box irons, mops and brooms were the ordinary furniture of a household, and all of them had to come from the Company store. A box iron was a hollow smoothing iron with a chamber into which a heated iron slug or hot coals were placed, so it stayed hot longer than a solid flat iron. The ten punch ladles pointed to the popularity of punch, a mixed drink of spirit, sugar, citrus and water, which fitted the sales of arrack and sugar recorded on earlier pages.

The number and variety of locks stood out. Twenty-five locks of different kinds were sold in one quarter, for cupboards, closets, chests and doors, with padlocks and stock locks alongside. A stock lock was a large lock set into a wooden case fixed to the face of a door. Such demand suggested households anxious to secure stores, liquor and valuables in a small settlement where servants, soldiers and slaves lived close together.

Several items reflected farm and garden work on the island. Ox bows were the curved wooden collars that passed under the neck of a draught ox and fixed it to the yoke, showing that oxen were used for ploughing and hauling. Scythe stones were whetstones for sharpening scythe blades in the field, and ragstones were coarse sharpening stones for edged tools. A flasket was a long, shallow basket, often with two handles, used for carrying laundry or produce.

Cross-tail hinges had one long strap fixed across a door and a short leaf fixed to the frame, a simple pattern used on outhouse and cupboard doors. A gimlet was a small hand tool with a screw point for boring holes in wood before driving a nail or screw.

112

107

1765

Brought over

£ 916 17 7

Iron Ware brought over

£ 4 17 11 1/2

1 Chafing Dish

7 4

4 Hand Hatchets

7 9

1 Hasp

0 1/2

2 Garden Hoes

2 3

4 Shod Shovels

8 6

4 1/2 Doz Wood Screws

1 8 1/2

2 Pr Smt H Hinges

3 8

3 Hilters

3 4

1 Reap J Knife

1

1 Brickd Trowel

1 9

7 4 3

China Ware viz

10 Guz and Basons

1 3

6 1/2 Snacks

14 8

19 1/2 Dishes & Plates

11 4 8

9 Sauce Boats

3 1

186 Blue & W Soop Plates

4 14 3

12 Chamber Pots

12

8 Turreens

1 3

10 Tea Setts

10

30 Flag Pr Cups & Saucers

13 9

12 3d Do Do Do

3 9

32 Bowls

1 6 8

3 Blue & W Bak J Dishes

7 3

9 Salled Do

3 10

1 Soop Do

3 6

2 Mugs

3 4

24 3 9

Carried over

£ 948 7 9

The account of goods sold from the Company's warehouses to its servants in the quarter ending 30 September 1765 finished the ironmongery and moved on to a large consignment of china.

Brought forward, £916 17s 7d

Ironmongery brought forward, £4 17s 11½d

Chafing dish, 1, £0 4s 4d

Hand hatchets, 4, £0 7s 9d

Hasp, 1, £0 0s 4½d

Garden hoes, 2, £0 2s 5d

Iron-shod shovels, 4, £0 8s 6d

Wood screws, 4½ dozen, £0 1s 8½d

[...] H hinges, 2 pairs, £0 3s 8d

Halters, 3, £0 5s 4d

Reaping knife, 1, £0 1s 0d

Bricklayer's trowel, 1, £0 1s 9d

Ironmongery total, £7 4s 5d

Quart [...] basins, 10, £1 3s 0d

[...], 6½, £0 14s 8d

Dishes and plates, 19 sets, £11 4s 8d

Sauce boats, 7, £0 3s 1d

Blue and white soup plates, 186, £4 14s 3d

Chamber pots, 12, £0 18s 0d

Tureens, 8, £1 8s 0d

Teapots, 10, £0 10s 0d

[...] cups and saucers, 20, £0 13s 9d

[...] cups and saucers, 12, £0 5s 9d

Bowls, 32, £1 6s 8d

Blue and white baking dishes, 3, £0 7s 3d

Salad dishes, 7, £0 5s 10d

Soup dish, 1, £0 5s 6d

Mugs, 2, £0 3s 4d

China total, £24 5s 9d

Carried forward, £948 7s 9d

Interpretations

The china sold here was Chinese export porcelain, carried west in the holds of Company ships returning from Canton. Heavy porcelain made useful ballast below the lighter tea cargoes, and St Helena lay directly on the homeward route. As a result the island's servants could buy full dinner services, tureens, sauce boats and 186 blue and white soup plates at little more than 6d a plate. Porcelain of this kind was spreading through middle-class English homes in the same decade, but servants on St Helena had it from the first unloading, with only the Company's 10 per cent added.

The china sales alone, at £24 5s 9d, came to more than three times the whole of the ironmongery. Dinner and tea wares such as teapots, cups and saucers matched the heavy sales of tea and sugar recorded at the start of the quarter's account, which together showed tea drinking as a settled habit of the island's households.

A chafing dish was a metal pan set over a small charcoal burner, used to keep food warm at table or to cook gently. Shod shovels were wooden shovels with an iron edge fixed to the blade, cheaper than all-iron shovels and suited to digging soil. H hinges took their name from their shape when open, two upright leaves joined by a short crosspiece, and were common on cupboard and room doors. A reaping knife was a short curved blade for cutting corn or grass by hand, which, with the hoes, rake and scythe stones on earlier pages, pointed to small-scale cultivation by the Company's servants.

113

108

21st October

Brought over

£ 948 7 9

Haberdashery viz

111 Sowing Silk

2 19

76 Do Mohair

1 18

3 lb Ferry

13 10 1/2

18 Doz Mohair Coat Buttons

9 9

20 Do Do Br Do

7 6

1 Pr Cam Soap

7 1/2

1 Doz Silver Wire Br Buttons

2 3

2 Doz Do C Do

9 8

2 Do Do Br Do

4 4

2 1/6 D Gilt C Do

7 3

4 Do Do Br Do

6 8

1/2 Yard Tabby

4 8

2 Gro Horn Moulds

4 10

8 13 9

Paint viz

33 Blue Smalts

2 6 8

6 lb Indico

6 0

111 Whiting

2 9

6 Barrl Black

3 10 1/2

2 W Lead mixd

10

314 W Do dry

16 10

9 Stone Colour

4 10 1/2

6 Verdit Red mixd

3 1 1/2

2 1/2 Do Do dry

6 1/2

1 lb Verdit

2 2

8 Red Lead

2 2

3 1/2 Y Oaker

0 1/2

2 Umber

7

4 Y Oaker Dry

0 1/2

Carried over

£ 967 10 6

The account of goods sold from the Company's warehouses to its servants in the quarter ending 30 September 1765 continued with sewing goods and buttons, followed by a range of paints and pigments.

Brought forward, £948 7s 9d

Sewing silk, 11 oz, £2 19s 0d

Mohair thread, 16 oz, £1 18s 0d

Ferret tape, 3 pieces, £0 13s 10½d

Mohair coat buttons, 18 dozen, £0 9s 9d

Mohair waistcoat buttons, 20 dozen, £0 7s 6d

[...], 1 paper, £0 0s 7½d

Silver wire waistcoat buttons, 1 dozen, £0 2s 5d

Silver wire coat buttons, 2 dozen, £0 9s 8d

Silver wire waistcoat buttons, 2 dozen, £0 4s 4d

Gilt coat buttons, 2 dozen, £0 7s 3d

Gilt waistcoat buttons, 4 dozen, £0 6s 8d

Tabby silk, 4 yards, £0 4s 8d

Horn button moulds, 2 gross, £0 4s 10d

Sewing goods total, £8 13s 9d

Blue smalt, 35 lb, £2 6s 8d

Indigo, 6 lb, £6 0s 0d

Whiting, 1 cwt, £0 2s 9d

[...] black, 6 lb, £0 3s 10½d

White lead ground in oil, 2 lb, £0 0s 10d

White lead in powder, 54 lb, £0 16s 10d

Stone colour, 9 lb, £0 4s 10½d

[...] red ground in oil, 6 lb, £0 3s 1½d

[...] red in powder, 2½ lb, £0 0s 6½d

Verdigris, 1 lb, £0 2s 2d

Red lead, 8 lb, £0 2s 2d

Yellow ochre, 3½ lb, £0 0s 9½d

Umber, 2 lb, £0 0s 7d

Yellow ochre in powder, 4 lb, £0 0s 9½d

Carried forward, £967 10s 6d

Interpretations

Paint was sold in two forms, already ground in oil and ready to apply, or as dry powder for the buyer to grind and mix himself. The powder was far cheaper by weight, which explained why 54 lb of dry white lead sold against only 2 lb ready mixed. Households painting their own woodwork saved money by doing the grinding at home, and the sale of linseed oil on an earlier page supplied the binding medium.

The pigments covered the standard house painter's range of the period. White lead, made by corroding lead in vinegar fumes, was the base of almost every light paint. Red lead served as a rust-proof primer for iron. Yellow ochre and umber were natural earths giving yellows and browns, while verdigris, a green crust formed on copper, provided the only common green. Stone colour was a ready-mixed pale grey or buff imitating dressed stone, popular for exterior walls and doors. Whiting was chalk ground fine and washed, used for limewash, putty and distemper.

Blue smalt was powdered cobalt glass, used as a pigment and to whiten linen in the wash by masking yellowness. Indigo, a deep blue dye made from the leaves of an Asian plant, also served as a laundry blue and to dye cloth at home. At £6 0s 0d it was by far the most expensive item on the page, a sign of how highly the dye was valued.

The button entries showed that most clothing was made up on the island rather than bought ready-made. Coat buttons were large and waistcoat buttons smaller, and they came in mohair, silver wire and gilt to suit different ranks and purses. Horn button moulds were the discs over which cloth or thread was worked to make covered buttons. Ferret was a narrow silk or cotton tape used for binding edges, and tabby was a plain-woven, often watered silk used for linings and waistcoats.

114

109

1765

Brought over

£ 967 10 6

Pitch and Tar viz

3 1/2 Gall Tar

3 5

1 Brl Pitch

2 2 7

7 Rosin

16 8

3 7 8

Pewter viz

3 Chamber Pots

4 10

3 Basons

13 1

1 8 11

Glass Ware viz

31 Sqr Glass 8 by 10

2 4

166 Do Do 6 by 8

3 9 2

9 Tumblers

3 10

2 Sqr Glass 11 by 17 1/2

6

10 Do Do 10 by 12

3 19

1 Do Do 11 by 19

1 8

1 Do Do 11 by 12 1/2

1 6

31 Wine Glasses

10 9

2 Hand Shades

12 11

1 Beer Glasses

0 1/2

4 Qt Decanters

15 6

9 17 9

Shoes viz

12 1 Pr Shoes Ordiny

27 7 8

11 Do Do fine Shoes

3 7 10

9 Do Do Pumps

2 9 6

3 Do Do Channd Do

1 13 11

8 Do Boys Shoes

1 7 3

Shoes Carried over

£ 36 6 1

Carried over

£ 982 4 10

The quarter's record of goods sold from the Company's warehouses to its servants, up to 30 September 1765, went on to cover pitch and tar, pewter, glass and footwear.

Brought forward, £967 10s 6d

Tar, 3½ gallons, £0 3s 5d

Pitch, 1 cwt 10 lb, £2 2s 7d

Rosin, 7 lb, £0 16s 8d

Pitch and tar total, £3 2s 8d

Pewter chamber pots, 3, £0 13s 10d

Pewter basins, 3, £0 15s 1d

Pewter total, £1 8s 11d

Window panes, 8 by 10 inches, 31, £2 0s 4½d

Window panes, 6 by 8 inches, 166, £3 9s 2d

Tumblers, 7, £0 5s 10d

Window panes, 11 by 17½ inches, 2, £0 6s 0d

Window panes, 10 by 12 inches, 10, £0 19s 0d

Window pane, 11 by 10 inches, 1, £0 1s 8d

Window pane, 11 by 12½ inches, 1, £0 1s 6d

Wine glasses, 31, £0 10s 9d

Candle shades, 2, £0 12s 11d

Beer glass, 1, £0 0s 7½d

Quart decanters, 4, £0 15s 6d

Glass total, £9 17s 9d

Ordinary shoes, 124 pairs, £27 7s 8d

Fine shoes, 11 pairs, £3 7s 10d

Pumps, 9 pairs, £2 9s 6d

Channel pumps, 5 pairs, £1 10s 11d

Boys' shoes, 3 pairs, £1 7s 3d

Shoes carried forward, £36 4s 7d

Carried forward, £982 4s 10d

Interpretations

Window glass was sold by the pane, cut to set sizes measured in inches. The 166 small panes of 6 by 8 inches pointed to sash windows of the older pattern, built up from many small lights held in wooden glazing bars. Each pane had to be shipped out from England and survive the voyage, so households bought them singly as replacements and fixed them with the glaziers' brads and whiting putty sold on earlier pages. The few larger panes, up to 11 by 17½ inches, perhaps served better houses or new sashes.

Shoes were the largest single class of goods on the page, with 124 pairs of plain everyday shoes sold in one quarter. The island had no tannery or shoemaking trade able to meet demand, so footwear for soldiers, servants and households came out ready-made from England. Pumps were light, low-cut shoes with thin soles worn indoors or for dancing and formal dress. Channel pumps had the sole stitching sunk into a groove cut in the leather, which protected the thread from wear and gave a neater finish.

Candle shades were glass chimneys placed over a candle to shield the flame from draughts. They mattered on an island exposed to steady trade winds, where open doors and windows would otherwise blow out the light. Pitch, tar and rosin were the materials for sealing boats and casks and for proofing roofs and timbers against damp. Rosin, the solid residue left after distilling turpentine from pine resin, was mixed with pitch to harden it.

115

110

21st October

Brought over

£ 982 4 10

Shoes brought over

£ 36 6 1

2 Pr Womens Calf

6

7 Do Do Spanish

1 10 11

13 Do Do Calimanco

2 16 4

4 Do Girls Do

14

41 13 10

Books viz

2 Testaments

2 7 1/2

1 Bible

3 9

1 Common Prayer Book

3 1

3 Spelling Do

3 10 1/2

13 4

Cutlery Ware viz

12 S Knives

4 6

2 1/2 Doz Horn Hand Forks

1 7

1 1/2 Horn Combs

2 6

2 Ivory Do

2 6

1 Pr Shoe Buckles

7

2 Doz Sm Hand Knives & Forks

3 2 3

4 18 11

Tin Ware viz

1 Small Horn Lanthorn

3

2 Tin Lamps

6 8

1 Quart Tin

9

1 Hort Horn Lant

5 4

1 Watering Pot

3 10

1 Glass Lant

12 6

1 Hair Sive

11

Tin Ware Carried over

1 15

Carried over

£ 1029 10 11

The record of goods sold from the Company's warehouses to its servants in the quarter ending 30 September 1765 finished the footwear and went on to books, cutlery and tinware.

Brought forward, £982 4s 10d

Shoes brought forward, £36 4s 7d

Women's calf shoes, 2 pairs, £0 6s 0d

Women's Spanish leather shoes, 7 pairs, £1 10s 11d

Women's calamanco shoes, 13 pairs, £2 16s 4d

Women's green calamanco shoes, 4 pairs, £0 14s 0d

Shoes total, £41 15s 10d

New Testaments, 2, £0 2s 7½d

Bible, 1, £0 5s 9d

Book of Common Prayer, 1, £0 3s 1d

Spelling books, 3, £0 3s 10½d

Books total, £0 15s 4d

[...] knives, [...], £0 4s 6d

Horn-handled forks, 2 dozen, £1 0s 7d

Horn combs, 6, £0 2s 6d

Ivory combs, 2, £0 2s 6d

Shoe buckles, 1 pair, £0 0s 7d

[...] knives and forks, 2 dozen, £3 2s 3d

Cutlery total, £5 13s 11d

Small horn lantern, 1, £0 3s 0d

Tin lamps, 2, £0 6s 8d

Quart tin, 1, £0 0s 9d

[...] horn lantern, 1, £0 5s 4d

Watering can, 1, £0 3s 10d

Glass lantern, 1, £0 12s 6d

Hair sieve, 1, £0 0s 11d

Tinware carried forward, £1 15s 0d

Carried forward, £1,027 10s 11d

Interpretations

Women's shoes appeared as a distinct class for the first time, with 26 pairs sold in the quarter. Most were calamanco shoes, whose uppers were made from calamanco, a glossy worsted cloth woven with a satin face and often brightly coloured or patterned. Cloth uppers were cheaper and lighter than leather and suited indoor wear, while the Spanish leather shoes were made from fine tanned goatskin or kid. The sales showed a settled population of wives and daughters among the Company's servants, who needed footwear distinct from the soldiers' heavy shoes.

The Company store was also the island's only bookseller. Only Bibles, New Testaments, a prayer book and spelling books were sold in the quarter, all of them standard texts for religious instruction and teaching children to read. Spelling books taught reading through graded lists of words and short lessons, so their sale pointed to children being taught at home or in a school on the island.

Horn lanterns had windows made of thin translucent sheets of cow horn, which were cheaper and far less fragile than glass. The glass lantern, at four times the price of the small horn one, was a better article perhaps meant for a house or office. A hair sieve had a mesh woven from horsehair, fine enough to sift flour or strain liquids in the kitchen.

116

111

1765

Brought over

£ 1029 10 11

Tin Ware brought over

£ 1 15

1/2 Sab Armd

1 3

2 Globe Lamps

1

1 Gall Funnel

2 3

2 18 6

Serge viz

12 1/2 lb Serge

3 2 6

8 1/2 Scarlet

2 13 8

10 Ps Fustain

14 10

1 1/2 Do Sagathy

5 8 10

11 19 10

Haziers Ware viz

8 Pr India Cott Stockings

17 4 1/2

8 Pr fine Thread Do

19 10 1/2

11 Do Ordiny Do Do

1 15 1 1/2

4 Pr Lea Buck Breeches

2 6 8

10 Do Black Do

4 16 8

5 Pr Boys Stockgs

10 10

2 Do Mens Do

7 11

3 Do Girls Do

7 4

12 Do Engh Cott Do

4 10 6

16 12 3

Deals viz

1 Pine board

4 3

7 Double Deals

1 6 3

3 Single Do

6 5

1 16 11

Grind stones 1

3 1

Carried over

£ 1063 1 6

The tally of goods sold from the Company's warehouses to its servants in the quarter ending 30 September 1765 went on with the last of the tinware, then woollen cloth, stockings and breeches, timber and a grindstone.

Brought forward, £1,029 10s 11d

Tinware brought forward, £1 15s 0d

Sal ammoniac, 1 lb, £0 1s 3d

Globe lamps, 2, £1 0s 0d

Gallon funnel, 1, £0 2s 3d

Tinware total, £2 18s 6d

Serge, 12½ yards, £3 2s 6d

Crewel, 8½ lb, £2 13s 8d

Fustian, 10 yards, £0 14s 10d

Sagathy, 1½ [...], £5 8s 10d

Serge and similar cloth total, £11 19s 10d

India cotton stockings, 8 pairs, £0 17s 4½d

Fine thread stockings, 3 pairs, £0 19s 10½d

Ordinary thread stockings, 11 pairs, £1 15s 1½d

Buckskin breeches, 4 pairs, £2 6s 8d

Black breeches, 10 pairs, £4 16s 8d

Boys' stockings, 5 pairs, £0 10s 10d

Men's stockings, 2 pairs, £0 7s 11d

Girls' stockings, 3 pairs, £0 7s 4d

English cotton stockings, 12 pairs, £4 10s 6d

Hosiery total, £16 12s 3d

Pine board, 1, £0 4s 3d

Double deals, 7, £1 6s 3d

Single deals, 3, £0 6s 3d

Deals total, £1 16s 11d

Grindstone, 1, £0 3s 1d

Carried forward, £1,063 1s 6d

Interpretations

Stockings came from two directions on this page. India cotton stockings, carried west on Company ships, sold at a little over 2s a pair, while English cotton stockings cost about 7s 6d a pair. St Helena's position on the route home from the East meant that Indian goods reached the island cheaply, undercutting English manufactures in a way that was far less common in England itself, where import restrictions on Indian cottons protected domestic makers.

Deals were sawn planks of softwood, usually Baltic pine or fir, sold by standard thickness. A double deal was roughly twice as thick as a single one and was used for floors and heavier joinery, while single deals served for partitions, shelving and boxes. Along with the pine board, they showed that even plain building timber for household repairs had to be imported, because the island had little suitable timber of its own.

Several textiles were specialised woollens. Serge was a hard-wearing twilled worsted used for coats and breeches. Crewel was a loosely twisted worsted yarn used for embroidery and darning, sold by weight. Fustian was a stout cloth of linen and cotton with a raised nap, worn by labourers and used for linings, and sagathy was a light woollen stuff, sometimes mixed with silk, used for coats and waistcoats.

Sal ammoniac, the salt now called ammonium chloride, was used as a flux to clean metal surfaces before soldering and tinning. Its place among the tinware suggested it was bought for mending pots and pans, though it also served in medicine. Buckskin breeches were made of soft leather from deer or sheep, prized for riding and hard wear.

117

112

21st October

Brought over

£ 1063 1 6

Long Cloth viz

1 Pr Y

3 6 11

4 Do W

3 3 8

3 Do B

12 10

9 1/2 Do V

10 17 6

13 Do A

22 17 6

2 Do C

7 2 2

3 Do D

22 3 4

1 Do E

3 6 2

2 Do L

10 13 8

2 Do H

3 19

128 13 11

Bunting viz

6 Yards W

3 1

8 Do B

4 6

7 7

Braziers Ware viz

1 Brass Cock

3 6

1 Sm Tea Kettle

13 6

17

Camblet viz

6 Yds Scarlet

1 4 6

4 Do Blue

17 5

2 1 11

Flannel 1 Yard

1 3

Kersey 8 Do

13 4

Wine viz

77 1/2 G Port

54 1 3 1/2

147 1/2 Do Lisbon

44 13 9 1/2

83 Do Mountn

25 17 1

124 17 2

£ 1300 13 10

The record of goods sold from the Company's warehouses to its servants in the quarter ending 30 September 1765 continued with Indian long cloth, flag cloth, brass wares, woollens and wine.

Brought forward, £1,063 1s 6d

Long cloth marked Y, 1 piece, £3 6s 11d

Long cloth marked W, 1 piece, £3 5s 8d

Long cloth marked B, 3 pieces, £12 10s 0d

Long cloth marked V, 2½ pieces, £10 17s 6d

Long cloth marked A, 5 pieces, £22 17s 6d

Long cloth marked C, 2 pieces, £7 2s 2d

Long cloth marked D, 5 pieces, £22 3s 4d

Long cloth marked E, 1 piece, £3 6s 2d

Long cloth marked L, 2 pieces, £10 15s 8d

Long cloth marked H, 2 pieces, £5 19s 0d

Long cloth total, £108 15s 11d

White bunting, 6 yards, £0 3s 1d

Blue bunting, 3 yards, £0 4s 6d

Bunting total, £0 7s 7d

Brass tap, 1, £0 1s 6d

Small tea kettle, 1, £0 15s 6d

Brass wares total, £0 17s 0d

Scarlet camlet, 6 yards, £1 4s 6d

Blue camlet, 4 yards, £0 17s 5d

Camlet total, £2 1s 11d

Flannel, 1 yard, £0 1s 5d

Kersey, 3 yards, £0 13s 4d

Port wine, 177½ gallons, £54 1s 3½d

Lisbon wine, 147½ gallons, £44 12s 9½d

Mountain wine, 85 gallons, £25 17s 1d

Wine total, £124 11s 2d

Total, £1,300 13s 10d

Interpretations

Wine was the largest single class of goods sold in the quarter, at £124 11s 2d, ahead even of the long cloth and the salt pork. More than 400 gallons went to the Company's servants in three months. Port came from the Douro valley in northern Portugal, Lisbon was a white wine shipped from the Portuguese capital, and Mountain was a sweet wine from the hills around Malaga in southern Spain. All three were fortified or strong wines that survived long voyages, and their prices of around 6s a gallon made them an everyday drink rather than a luxury on the island.

Long cloth was a plain white or unbleached cotton woven in India in unusually long pieces, which gave the cloth its name. Each piece carried a letter mark showing its grade and source, and the Company's warehouse kept the marks when selling it on. The prices ran from a little over £3 to about £4 11s a piece depending on the mark, so buyers chose by quality rather than taking an ungraded bale. Cotton cloth of this kind was used for shirts, shifts, sheets and household linen, and its heavy sales confirmed how readily Indian textiles reached the island.

Bunting was a light, loosely woven worsted used for flags and signal pennants, which would have suited an island that signalled the approach of ships. Camlet was a fine cloth originally of goat's hair and later of wool and silk, used for cloaks and coats. Kersey was a coarse, ribbed woollen cloth from the north of England, valued for warm outer garments and breeches.

118

113

1765

Sold to the Planters at 25 p Ct viz

Camblet viz

13 Yds Blue

3 8 3

7 1/2 Do Red

1 15 2

5 3 5

Shirts 9 Yards brown Holland

2 7

Buckram 2 Do

2 3

Serge 6 1/2 Do Blue

1 17 7

Shalloon 19 Do Coloured

2 2 9

Hats viz

1 Mens Hat

1 2

1 Boys Do

7 7

1 9 7

Long Ells 7 Yards Blue

14 7

Shoes viz

1 Pr Mens Pumps

6 3

1 Do Do Chann Do

7 9

4 Do Do Ordiy Shoes

1

3 Do Womens Spanish

14 10

1 Do Do Calf

3 4

7 Do Boys

1 7 3

3 19 7

Hosiers Ware viz

1 Pr English Cott Stockgs

8 6

6 Do Boys Do

14 9

1 Do Mens Worg Do

4 6

1 Do Do Knit Do

3 9

2 Do Girls Do

3 7

1 Pr Lea Breeches

18 2

2 10 3

Carried over

£ 20 7

Sales from the Company's warehouses to the island's planters in the same quarter were recorded separately, at a mark-up of 25 per cent, beginning with cloth, hats, shoes and stockings.

Blue camlet, 13 yards, £3 8s 3d

Red camlet, 7½ yards, £1 15s 2d

Camlet total, £5 3s 5d

Brown holland for shirts, 9 yards, £2 0s 7d

Buckram, 2 yards, £0 2s 3d

Blue serge, 6½ yards, £1 17s 7d

Coloured shalloon, 19 yards, £2 2s 9d

Man's hat, 1, £1 2s 0d

Boy's hat, 1, £0 7s 7d

Hats total, £1 9s 7d

Blue long ells, 7 yards, £0 14s 7d

Men's pumps, 1 pair, £0 6s 3d

Men's channel pumps, 1 pair, £0 7s 9d

Men's ordinary shoes, 4 pairs, £1 0s 0d

Women's Spanish leather shoes, 3 pairs, £0 14s 10d

Women's calf shoes, 1 pair, £0 3s 4d

Boys' shoes, 7 pairs, £1 7s 3d

Shoes total, £3 19s 7d

English cotton stockings, 1 pair, £0 8s 6d

Boys' stockings, 6 pairs, £0 14s 9d

Men's worsted stockings, 1 pair, £0 4s 6d

Men's knitted stockings, 1 pair, £0 3s 9d

Girls' stockings, 2 pairs, £0 3s 7d

[...] breeches, 1 pair, £0 18s 2d

Hosiery total, £2 10s 3d

Carried forward, £20 0s 7d

Interpretations

The Company ran a two-tier price scale from the same warehouse. Its own servants paid cost plus 10 per cent, as the opening page of the quarter's account recorded on 21 October, while planters paid cost plus 25 per cent for the same goods. The obvious course of charging every buyer alike was set aside so that employment with the Company carried a material benefit in cheaper food, cloth and household goods. The planters were settlers who held land on the island and lived by farming rather than by Company wages, so they still depended on the store but at a higher price.

The planters' purchases were small against the servants'. A single man's hat, a few pairs of shoes and odd lengths of cloth contrasted with the 124 pairs of shoes and hundreds of yards of cloth sold to servants in the same quarter. The steeper mark-up perhaps discouraged planters from buying more than they needed, while their limited cash income from selling produce would also have held their purchases down.

Worsted stockings were knitted from long-staple wool combed so the fibres lay parallel, giving a smooth, strong yarn. Knitted stockings, listed separately at a lower price, were perhaps coarser hand-knitted goods, as against the finer framework-knitted stockings made on machines in the English Midlands.

119

114

21st October

Brought over

£ 20 7

Broad Cloth viz

1 1/4 Yds French Grey

1 7 4

3 Yds Blue

3 7 6

1 1/4 Yds Scarlet

1 4 1

5 12 11

Long Cloth 1 Pr B

2 16 9

Sold at 40 p Cent viz

Sugar & Candy viz

956 Sugar

20 3 4

101 Candy

2 13 11

23 2 3

Flour 363

4 4 1

Tea viz

74 Congo

7 9 6

73 Single

7 7 9

50 Bohea

4 6 3

19 3 11

Sope 57

2 12 3

Rice 9 1 4

4 17 6

Leather viz

7 Sole

9 8

1 Calf Skin

12 8

1 1 8

Canvas 14 Yds Osnbrigs

15 2

Coffee 20

1 5

Cordage 239

6 4 5

Twine viz

36 Skains Twine

1 10

3/4 Cotton Wick

2 1

1 12 1

Carried over

£ 93 14 10

The planters' account for the quarter, under the date 21 October, continued with broadcloth and long cloth at the 25 per cent rate, before a fresh section of staples sold at a mark-up of 40 per cent.

Brought forward, £20 0s 7d

French grey broadcloth, 1¼ yards, £1 7s 4d

Blue broadcloth, 3 yards, £3 7s 6d

Scarlet broadcloth, 1¼ yards, £1 4s 1d

Broadcloth total, £5 12s 11d

Long cloth marked B, 1 piece, £2 16s 9d

Sugar, 956 lb, £20 3s 4d

Sugar candy, 101 lb, £2 13s 11d

Sugar and sugar candy total, £23 2s 3d

Flour, 363 lb, £4 4s 1d

Congou tea, 74 lb, £7 9s 6d

Singlo tea, 73 lb, £7 7s 9d

Bohea tea, 50 lb, £4 6s 3d

Tea total, £19 3s 6d

Soap, 57 lb, £2 12s 3d

Rice, 9 cwt 1 qr 4 lb, £4 17s 6d

Sole leather, 7 lb, £0 9s 3d

Calfskin, 1, £0 12s 8d

Osnaburg canvas, 14 yards, £1 1s 8d

Coffee, 20 lb, £0 15s 2½d

Rope, 239 lb, £6 4s 5d

Twine, 36 skeins, £1 10s 0d

Cotton candlewick, ¾ lb, £0 2s 1d

Twine and wick total, £1 12s 1d

Carried forward, £93 14s 10d

Interpretations

A third price tier appeared on this page. Servants paid cost plus 10 per cent and planters cost plus 25 per cent for cloth and clothing, but the staples in this section, sugar, flour, tea, soap, rice, leather and rope, carried a mark-up of 40 per cent. The page did not name the buyers at this rate. The Company thus charged most heavily on everyday consumables, the goods buyers could least do without, while keeping cloth and clothing at the lower rate.

The colour of the broadcloth, written out here in full as French grey, was a fashionable pale bluish grey used for coats. Sole leather was thick, heavily tanned ox hide cut for the soles of shoes and boots. Its sale alongside a calfskin for uppers suggested that some planters made or mended their own footwear rather than paying for the imported shoes sold on earlier pages.

120

115

1765

Brought over

£ 93 14 10

Thread viz

1/2 lb W Brown

4 9

1 Colourd

4 7

9 4

Candles 22

3 1 5

Sago 9

4 10

Oars 1

3 6

Starch 1

9 9

Pepper 2

1 6

Nails viz

1 2d Nails

1

1 3d Do

1 3

1 4d Do

10

14 1/2 6d Do

11 2

6 10d Do

4 1 1/2

Spikes

1 3 1/2

19 8

Hooks and Lines viz

10 1/2 Doz & Wt 2 Lines

3 3 9

3 Do 3 Do

16 9

4 1/2 Do 4 Do

1 8 10

2 Hambro Do

3 4

425 No 9 Hooks

13 4

150 12 Do

10 1/2

25 13 Do

0

225 1 Do

15 2

200 11 Do

4 6

275 15 Do

2 10

7 12 9

Braziers Ware 1 Pr Steel Snuff

4 4

Carried over

£ 106 14 11

The section of goods sold at a 40 per cent mark-up in the 1765 quarter went on with thread, candles and small provisions, then nails, fishing tackle and a pair of snuffers.

Brought forward, £93 14s 10d

Whited-brown thread, ½ lb, £0 4s 9d

Coloured thread, 1 lb, £0 4s 7d

Thread total, £0 9s 4d

Candles, 22 lb, £3 1s 5d

Sago, 9 lb, £0 4s 10d

Can, 1, £0 5s 6d

Starch, 1 [...], £0 9s 9d

Pepper, 2 lb, £0 1s 6d

Twopenny nails, 1 lb, £0 1s 0d

Threepenny nails, 1 lb, £0 1s 2½d

Fourpenny nails, 1 lb, £0 0s 10d

Sixpenny nails, 14 lb, £0 11s 2d

Tenpenny nails, 6 lb, £0 4s 1½d

Spikes, 3 lb, £0 1s 3½d

Nails total, £0 19s 8d

Number 2 fishing lines, 10½ dozen, £3 5s 9d

Number 3 fishing lines, 3 dozen, £0 16s 9d

Number 4 fishing lines, 4½ dozen, £1 8s 10d

Hambro lines, 2, £0 3s 4d

Number 9 fish hooks, 425, £0 13s 4½d

Number 12 fish hooks, 150, £0 0s 10½d

Number 13 fish hooks, 25, £0 0s 3d

Number 1 fish hooks, 225, £0 15s 2d

Number 11 fish hooks, 200, £0 4s 6d

Number 15 fish hooks, 275, £0 2s 10d

Hooks and lines total, £7 12s 9d

Steel candle snuffers, 1 pair, £0 4s 4d

Carried forward, £106 14s 11d

Interpretations

Fishing tackle again formed the largest group of goods in this section, worth more than all the provisions on the page together. Buyers at the 40 per cent rate took more than 200 lines and over 1,300 hooks, matching the heavy demand recorded on the servants' side of the account. The number 2 and number 9 sizes sold most in both sections, which suggested the same inshore fishing served every class of household on the island.

Candle snuffers were a scissor-like tool with a small box fixed to one blade. They trimmed the charred end of a tallow candle's wick and caught the cut piece, which kept the flame bright and stopped the candle smoking and guttering. With tallow candles the main source of light, as the heavy candle sales elsewhere in the quarter showed, snuffers were an ordinary item in any household.

121

116

21st October

Brought over

£ 106 14 11

Haberdashery viz

12 Sowing Silk

3

3 Do Mohair

4 8

1 Doz Do Br Buttons

6

15 2

Pitch and Tar viz

1/2 Tar

1

1/2 Barl 16 Rosin

1 2 8

1 3 8

Oil viz

1/2 Linseed

4 1

1 1/2 Train

7 10

1 1/2 Florence

3 9

15 8

China Ware viz

4 1/2 B & W Snacks

1 1

6 Flag Pr Cups & Saucers

3 6

2 Bowls

2 4

6 11

Tin Ware viz

4 Tin Lamps

4 4

1/2 Sab Armd

1 8

6

Deals viz

3 Double Deals

14 6

1 Single Do

2 9

1/2 Baulk

6 0

1 3 6

Cutlery Ware 9 Horn Combs

2 3

Pewter 4 Basons

15 6

Carried over

£ 111 19 7

The section of goods sold at a 40 per cent mark-up, under the date 21 October, went on with small amounts of sewing goods, naval stores, oil, china, tinware, timber, combs and pewter.

Brought forward, £106 14s 11d

Sewing silk, 12 skeins, £0 3s 0d

Mohair thread, 3 skeins, £0 1s 8d

Mohair waistcoat buttons, 1 dozen, £0 0s 6d

Sewing goods total, £0 5s 2d

Tar, ½ [...], £0 1s 0d

Rosin, ½ barrel and 16 lb, £1 2s 8d

Pitch and tar total, £1 3s 8d

Linseed oil, ½ gallon, £0 4s 1d

Train oil, 1½ gallons, £0 7s 10d

Florence oil, 1½ bottles, £0 3s 9d

Oil total, £0 15s 8d

Blue and white saucers, 4, £0 1s 1d

[...] cups and saucers, 6, £0 3s 6d

Bowls, 2, £0 2s 4d

China total, £0 6s 11d

Tin lamp, 1, £0 4s 9d

Sal ammoniac, ½ lb, £0 1s 3d

Tinware total, £0 6s 0d

Double deals, 3, £0 14s 6d

Single deal, 1, £0 2s 9d

Baulk of timber, ½, £0 6s 0d

Timber total, £1 3s 6d

Horn combs, 9, £0 2s 3d

Pewter basins, 4, £1 5s 6d

Carried forward, £111 19s 7d

Interpretations

Train oil was oil rendered from the blubber of whales or seals, and sometimes from fish livers. It was the cheapest lamp oil of the period and burned with a smoky, strong-smelling flame, so it lit workshops, guardrooms and poorer households where tallow candles were too costly. It was also used to dress leather and as a lubricant.

A baulk was a roughly squared length of timber, larger than a deal, used for beams, posts and heavy framing. Selling half a baulk showed that the Company store would cut its stock to suit small buyers, which mattered on an island where every length of building timber had to be imported and was too valuable to waste.

122

117

1765

Brought over

£ 111 19 7

Turners Ware viz

2 Scrubing Brushes

6

2 Hog Do

1 6

2 Flaskets Do

8

1 Punch Ladle

10

16 4

Iron Ware viz

4 Hilters

2 10

1 Pad Lock

2 2

1 Cupboard Do

3 11

12 Iron rimd Dr Br Kimbs

7

1 Claw Hammer

2

1 Pruning Saw

2 2

2 Scythe Stones

8

1 Sail Needle

1

1 Box Iron

10 2

1 11

Paint viz

6 lb Indico

13 10 1/2

2 lb Smalts

0 4 1/2

12 lb Blacking

10

4 Whiting

3

1 9 6

Lead viz

17 Sh Lead

4 5

1 Shot

3

4 8

Glass Ware viz

2 Half Pint Glasses

1 6

1 Qt Decant

5

Glass Ware Carried over

6 6

Carried over

£ 116 1 1

The 1765 section of goods sold at a 40 per cent mark-up continued with brushes and baskets, ironmongery, paint, lead and the first of the glassware.

Brought forward, £111 19s 7d

Scrubbing brushes, 2, £0 6s 0d

Hog-bristle brushes, 2, £0 1s 6d

Flaskets, 2, £0 8s 0d

Punch ladle, 1, £0 0s 10d

Wooden wares total, £0 16s 4d

Sifter, 1, £0 2s 10d

Padlock, 1, £0 2s 2d

Cupboard lock, 1, £0 3s 11d

Iron-rimmed lock with brass knobs, 1, £0 7s 0d

Claw hammer, 1, £0 2s 0d

Pruning saw, 1, £0 2s 2d

Scythe stones, 2, £0 0s 8d

Sail needle, 1, £0 0s 1d

Box iron, 1, £0 10s 2d

Ironmongery total, £1 11s 0d

Indigo, 6 oz, £0 13s 10½d

Blue smalt, 2 lb, £0 3s 4½d

Blacking, 12 lb, £0 10s 0d

Whiting, 4 lb, £0 0s 3d

Paint total, £1 9s 6d

Sheet lead, 17 lb, £0 4s 5d

Lead shot, 1 lb, £0 0s 3d

Lead total, £0 4s 8d

Half-hour glasses, 2, £0 1s 6d

Quart decanter, 1, £0 5s 0d

Glassware carried forward, £0 6s 6d

Carried forward, £116 1s 1d

Interpretations

Half-hour glasses were sand timers that emptied in thirty minutes. Aboard ship they kept the count of a watch, with a bell struck each time the glass was turned, and ashore they served for timing guard reliefs, cooking or church sermons. Their presence beside a sail needle, a three-sided needle for stitching heavy canvas, suggested a buyer with a boat or a seafaring trade.

Blacking was lamp black or other soot-based pigment, sold here by the pound for blackening shoes, ironwork and stoves or for mixing into dark paint. A pruning saw had a narrow, often curved blade for cutting branches, which, with the scythe stones, pointed to orchard and garden work on the buyer's land.

123

118

21st October

Brought over

£ 116 1 1

Glass Ware brought over

£ 6 6

2 Beer Glasses

3 4

11 Sqr Glass 10 by 12

12 10

3 Do Do 8 by 10

3 4

2 Do Do 6 by 8

1 1

1 12 1

£ 117 13 2

Sold to the Honorable Companys Ships from the 1st of

July to the 30th September 1765 viz

Pitch viz

6 Bl Tar

10 8

2 1/2 Do Pitch

6 8 9

1/2 Do Turpentine

1 18 2

1 Do & 4 Rosin

3 15 0 1/2

22 2 2 1/2

Nails 164 1/2

3 3 7

Oil viz

35 Gall Linseed

9 12 6

13 Do Train

3 7 6

13

Kersey 3 Yds

6 9

Twine viz

200 Sk Twine

8 15

2 Cott Wick

8

9 3

Iron Ware viz

4 Files

3 8

104 Sail Needs

13

2 Pad Locks

4 5

Carried over

£ 51 3 1 1/2

Under the date 21 October, the 40 per cent section closed with the remaining glassware, and a new section began for goods supplied to the Honourable Company's ships between 1 July and 30 September 1765.

Brought forward, £116 1s 1d

Glassware brought forward, £0 6s 6d

Beer glasses, 2, £0 3s 4d

Window panes, 10 by 12 inches, 11, £0 12s 10d

Window panes, 8 by 10 inches, 3, £0 3s 4d

Window panes, 6 by 8 inches, 2, £0 1s 1d

Glassware total, £1 12s 1d

Total, £117 13s 2d

Tar, 6½ barrels, £10 8s 0d

Pitch, 2½ barrels, £6 8s 9d

Turpentine, ½ barrel, £1 18s 2d

Rosin, 1¼ barrels, £3 13s 0½d

Pitch, tar and turpentine total, £22 8s 2½d

Nails, 164 lb, £5 3s 7d

Linseed oil, 35 gallons, £9 12s 6d

Train oil, 15 gallons, £3 7s 6d

Oil total, £13 0s 0d

Kersey, 3 yards, £0 6s 9d

Twine, 200 skeins, £3 15s 0d

Cotton candlewick, 2 lb, £0 8s 0d

Twine and wick total, £4 3s 0d

Files, 4, £0 3s 8d

Sail needles, [...], £0 13s 0d

Padlocks, 2, £0 4s 5d

Carried forward, £51 3s 1½d

Interpretations

The new section showed St Helena serving as a supply base for the Company's own shipping. Vessels calling on the long voyages to and from the East drew tar, pitch, turpentine, rosin, nails, oil and twine from the island warehouse to repair hulls, rigging and sails before the next leg. Unlike the sales to servants, planters and the 40 per cent buyers, the heading for this section stated no mark-up, which suggested goods passed to the ships as a transfer within the Company's own accounts rather than as a sale for profit.

The naval stores formed a set used together in caulking and preserving a ship. Tar, distilled from pine wood, coated rigging and timber against rot. Pitch, made by boiling tar down, was poured hot into seams over oakum to make them watertight. Turpentine, the volatile spirit distilled from pine resin, thinned paint and tar, while rosin, the solid left behind, hardened pitch so it held in the seams in warm weather. Linseed oil went into paint for the topsides, and train oil served for lamps aboard and to dress leather fittings.

124

119

1765

Brought over

£ 51 3 1 1/2

Cordage 32 2 9

93 16 6

Canvas viz

9 20 Eng Canvas

21 17 6

1 60 Osenbrigs

10 9 1

32 6 7

Beef and Pork viz

13 Puncht Beef

237 6 1

3 Hhds Pork

136 8 8

373 14 9

Rice 44 1 12

23 6 10

Paint viz

43 Barrl Blacking

2

20 Brimstone

3 10

7 Verdigrease

3 6

53 Red Lead

1

20 White Do dry

9 7

4 11

Coals 3 Chaldrons

7 19 2

Deals viz

14 Pr Riga Timber

13 9

2 Elm Boards

19

3 Double Deals

14 3

12 Single Do

1 17

1 Pr of 4 Inch Oak Plank

1 19

1/2 Pr of 6 Do Do Do

1 11 11

7 19 11

Glass Ware 1 Half hour Glass

9

Masts 1 Sloops Mast

29 13

Turners Ware 2 Paint Brushes

1 6

Flour 310

3 11

Grindstone 1

3 7

Carried over

£ 633 10 7 1/2

The 1765 section of goods supplied to the Honourable Company's ships continued with cordage, sailcloth, salt meat, rice, paint, coal, timber and a mast.

Brought forward, £51 3s 1½d

Rope, 32 cwt 2 qr 9 lb, £93 16s 6d

English canvas, 9 bolts and 20 yards, £21 17s 6d

Osnaburg canvas, 1 bolt and 60 yards, £10 9s 1d

Canvas total, £32 6s 7d

Salt beef, 13 puncheons, £237 6s 1d

Salt pork, 3 hogsheads, £136 8s 8d

Beef and pork total, £373 14s 9d

Rice, 44 cwt 1 qr 12 lb, £23 6s 10d

Blacking, 4½ barrels, £2 0s 0d

Brimstone, 20 lb, £0 3s 10d

Verdigris, 7 lb, £0 3s 6d

Red lead, 53 lb, £1 0s 0d

White lead in powder, 20 lb, £0 9s 7d

Paint total, £4 0s 11d

Coal, 3 chaldrons, £7 19s 2d

Riga timber, 1½ pieces, £0 18s 9d

Elm boards, 2, £0 19s 0d

Double deals, 3, £0 14s 3d

Single deals, 12, £1 17s 0d

Oak plank 4 inches thick, 1 piece, £1 19s 0d

Oak plank 6 inches thick, 1 piece, £1 11s 11d

Timber total, £7 19s 11d

Half-hour glass, 1, £0 0s 9d

Sloop's mast, 1, £29 13s 0d

Paint brushes, 2, £0 1s 6d

Flour, 310 lb, £3 11s 0d

Grindstone, 1, £0 3s 7d

Carried forward, £633 10s 7½d

Interpretations

Salt meat made up well over half the value of goods passed to the ships on this page. Thirteen puncheons of beef and three hogsheads of pork, worth more than £373, restocked vessels for the long passage ahead. A puncheon was a large cask holding around 70 to 84 gallons, and a hogshead a slightly smaller one of about 63 gallons, both standard measures for packing meat in brine. The island warehouse thus acted as a victualling store as well as a chandlery, holding provisions shipped out from England in bulk and releasing them to vessels that had run short.

Coal was sold by the chaldron, a large measure of about 25 to 27 hundredweight in London usage. Ships burned it in their galleys and in the armourer's forge, and the island had no fuel of its own beyond scarce wood, so every ton came out in ships' holds. Brimstone, or sulphur, was burned below decks to fumigate holds and drive out vermin, and was also an ingredient in gunpowder and medicine.

Riga timber was fir or pine shipped from the Baltic port of Riga, prized for its straight grain and strength in spars and planking. Elm boards resisted rot when kept wet and served below the waterline, while thick oak plank was used for repairs to the hull itself. The sloop's mast, at £29 13s 0d, was the most costly single article, a reminder that a spar of that size could not be cut anywhere on the island and had to be held in store against the needs of passing vessels.

125

120

21st October

Brought over

£ 633 2 7 1/2

Bunting 4 Yds Red

4 2

Tin Ware viz

24 Lanthorn Leaves

7

2 T Lamps

3 2

1 Quart Funnel

6

4 lb Solder

5 4 1/2

1/2 Salamoniac

3 6

£ 1 9 6 1/2

£ 634 6 4

Charges General Dr for the following Stores Issued from

the 1st July to the 30th Septr 1765 viz

Iron Ware

3 Plaistr Trowels

1 Bricklay Do

Masons and Bricklayers

5

6 Pickaxes Masons

6 4

4 Helves Do

13 9

1 Whip Saw Sawyers use

2 4

1 Stone Do Masons Do

2 9 6

4 Joyners Rubstones Carpts

4 6

13 doz Wood Screws Castle

13 2

4 Spring Rat Traps L Wood & Do

4

1 Ditching Shovel for making Graves

6 11

1 Drill Bow Armourers use

4 6 1/2

19 Files Armour & Do

2 3

6 File Hafts Do

9 6

1 Watch Key G House

4 1/2

3 Stock Locks Castle

3

1 Claw Hammer Brickmakers

3 1 1/2

2 Gimblets Do

1 3 1/2

14 Hd Hamms Helves Workmn

3 1/2

1 Small Fry Pan Workmen

3 6

5 Large Rubbe Stones

1 Smith Do

1 Spitter Lock

Companys Work

2 3 1/2

1 7 6

3 1

8 Spades Do

5 1/2

2 Plaistr Sives

1 12

1 7 1/2

Iron Ware Carried over

£ 11 10 3

Under the date 21 October, the ships' section closed with bunting and tinware, and a new account began charging to general expenses the stores issued for the Company's own use between 1 July and 30 September 1765.

Brought forward, £633 10s 7½d

Red bunting, 4 yards, £0 4s 2d

Lantern horn leaves, 24, £0 7s 0d

Tin lamps, 2, £0 3s 2d

Quart funnel, 1, £0 0s 6d

Solder, 4 lb, £0 5s 4½d

Sal ammoniac, ½ lb, £0 3s 6d

Tinware total, £0 19s 6½d

Total, £654 6s 4d

Plasterers' trowels, 3, and bricklayer's trowel, 1, for the masons and bricklayers, £0 5s 0d

Pickaxes for the masons, 6, £0 6s 4d

Helves for the masons, 4, £0 13s 9d

Whipsaw for the sawyers, 1, £0 2s 4d

Stone saw for the masons, 1, £2 9s 6d

Joiners' rubstones for the carpenters, 4, £0 4s 6d

Wood screws for the castle, 13 dozen, £0 13s 2d

Spring rat traps for Longwood and elsewhere, 4, £0 4s 0d

Ditching shovel for digging graves, 1, £0 6s 11d

Drill bow for the armourers, 1, £0 4s 6½d

Files for the armourers and others, 19, £0 2s 3d

File handles, 6, £0 9s 6d

[...] for the [...] house, 1, £0 0s 4½d

Stock locks for the castle, 3, £0 0s 3d

Claw hammer for the brickmakers, 1, £0 3s 1½d

Gimlets for the brickmakers, 2, £0 1s 3½d

Hand-hammer handles for the workmen, 14, £0 0s 3½d

Small frying pan for the workmen, 1, £0 3s 6d

Large rubbing files, 5, £0 2s 3½d

[...] for Company work, 1, £1 7s 6d

[...] lock for Company work, 1, £0 3s 1d

Spades for Company work, 8, £0 0s 5½d

Plasterers' [...], 2, £1 12s 0d

[...], £1 0s 7½d

Ironmongery carried forward, £11 10s 3d

Interpretations

The heading for general charges marked a change in the nature of the account. The goods in earlier sections were sold, to servants, planters, other buyers or the Company's ships, and so brought cash or credit back. These stores were issued free for the Company's own works and charged as running expenses of government. Each issue named the gang or place that drew it, the masons, sawyers, armourers, brickmakers, the castle or Longwood, which let the store account for every tool as it left the warehouse.

The ditching shovel issued for digging graves showed that burial of the dead was a public charge met from Company stores. On an island where many residents were soldiers, sailors put ashore and slaves owned by the Company, the government took on the cost of interment rather than leaving it to families or a parish.

Lantern leaves were the thin, translucent sheets of horn fitted as windows in horn lanterns, sold separately so broken panes could be replaced. Solder, an alloy of tin and lead, joined and mended tinware, with sal ammoniac used alongside it to clean the metal first. A drill bow was a bow strung with a cord wound round a drill shaft, which spun the bit back and forth as the bow was drawn, and rubstones were whetstones for honing carpenters' chisels and plane irons.

126

121

1765

Iron Ware brought over

£ 11 10 3

1/2 Yellow Spelter Armorer

5 1/2

1 Iron rimd Lock with Brass Knobs Castle

7

1/2 Borax

3 4

1 Packing Needle mending Bags in the

Stores

1 1/2

12 1 2

Twine 3 Sks for mending Bags in the Stores

and Brickmakers use

2 6

Oil viz

12 1/2 Gallns Train

2 2 4

6 1/2 Gall Linseed

1 Bottle Florence

Compy Works Kitchen and Armourer

1 5 6

2 7

3 10 5

Turners Ware viz

7 Paint Brushes Castle

3 6

1 Hair Broom Store use

2 3 1/2

1 Birch Do Masons

3

1 Mop for the Fort Church

1 2 1/2

6 Wood Bowls

6 Platters

Workmen

6 9

7 9

3 Labourers Baskets Companys Work

3 9

1 5 11

Candles viz

30 Castle

7 16 8

90 Council

9 6 3

4 Doctors Shop

7 10

2 Magazines

3 11

17 14 8

Scales & Weights viz

3 Pr Scales and Weights

11 12 11

Scales and Weights Carried over

£ 11 12 11

Carried Over

£ 34 14 3

The general charges for stores issued to the Company's own works in the 1765 quarter continued with the last of the ironmongery and went on to oil, wooden wares, candles and scales.

Ironmongery brought forward, £11 10s 3d

Yellow spelter for the armourer, ½ lb, £0 0s 5½d

Iron-rimmed lock with brass knobs for the castle, 1, £0 7s 0d

Borax, ½ lb, £0 3s 4d

Packing needle for mending bags in the stores, 1, £0 0s 1½d

Ironmongery total, £12 1s 2d

Twine for mending bags in the stores and for the brickmakers, 3 skeins, £0 2s 6d

Train oil for Company works, the kitchen and the armourers, 12½ gallons, £2 2s 4d

Linseed oil for Company works, the kitchen and the armourers, 6½ gallons, £1 5s 6d

Florence oil for Company works, the kitchen and the armourers, 1 bottle, £0 2s 7d

Oil total, £3 10s 5d

Paint brushes for the castle, 7, £0 3s 6d

Hair broom for the stores, 1, £0 2s 3½d

Birch broom for the masons, 1, £0 0s 3d

Mop for the fort church, 1, £0 1s 2½d

Wooden bowls for the workmen, 6, £0 6s 9d

Platters for the workmen, 6, £0 7s 9d

Labourers' baskets for Company work, 3, £0 3s 9d

Wooden wares total, £1 5s 11d

Candles for the castle, 80 lb, £7 16s 3d

Candles for the Council, 90 lb, £9 6s 3d

Candles for the doctor's shop, 4 lb, £0 7s 10d

Candles for the magazines, 2 lb, £0 3s 11d

Candles total, £17 14s 3d

Scales and weights, 3 sets, £11 12s 11d

Scales and weights carried forward, £11 12s 11d

Carried forward, £34 14s 3d

Interpretations

Candles were issued by office, and the allocation showed where public business was done after dark. The castle, seat of the Governor and the garrison command, and the Council between them drew 170 lb in the quarter, while the doctor's shop and the powder magazines received only a few pounds each. The tiny issue to the magazines reflected the danger of naked flame near gunpowder, where light was kept to a minimum and used only inside closed lanterns.

Yellow spelter was a brass solder, an alloy of copper and zinc that melted at a lower heat than the metals it joined, and borax was the flux used with it to keep the joint clean while brazing. Both went to the armourer for repairing gun locks, fittings and other metal parts. The issue of a mop to the fort church showed that the Company maintained the island's place of worship from its own stores, as it met the cost of burials recorded on the previous page.

The three sets of scales and weights, at £11 12s 11d, were among the costliest single issues in the general charges. Accurate weighing lay at the heart of the store system, since almost every sale and issue in the quarter was reckoned by the pound, hundredweight or quarter, and the Company needed standard weights to check both its own staff and the buyers at its counters.

127

122

21st October

Brought over

£ 34 14 3

Scales & Weights brought over

£ 11 13 11

1 Beam

1 Pr Scale Boards

1 Pr Copper Scales & Brass Wts

12 Half Hundreds

2 Quarter Do

Store use Iron Wts

7 3

2 9 6

5 3 7

5

9 10

32 4 10

Braziers Ware 1 Brass Cock

Store use

3 4

Pewter viz

1 Crane

1 Quart Funnel

Store use

15 1

2 3

17 4

Arrack 172 1/2 Gall Sundrys and Workmen

in general

28 3 9

Canvas 5 1/4 Yards Osenbrigs for Baskets

4 6

Nails viz

2 2

23 3

2 4

43 6

20 10

12 20

15 40

10 Spikes

Companys Work

1 4 1/2

1 3

1 2

1 2 5

3 9

4 6

5 4

3 1 1/2

3 7 1

Starch 4 3/4 for Linnen

2 7

Carried over

£ 99 13 1

The 1765 general charges for stores issued to the Company's own use continued, under the date 21 October, with weighing gear, a brass tap, pewter, arrack, canvas, nails and starch.

Brought forward, £34 14s 3d

Scales and weights brought forward, £11 12s 11d

Scale beam for the stores, 1, £7 3s 0d

Scale boards for the stores, 1 pair, £2 9s 6d

Copper scales with brass weights for the stores, 1 pair, £5 3s 7d

Half-hundredweight iron weights for the stores, 12, £5 0s 0d

Quarter-hundredweight iron weights for the stores, 2, £0 9s 10d

Scales and weights total, £32 4s 10d

Brass tap for the stores, 1, £0 3s 4d

Pewter crane for the stores, 1, £0 15s 1d

Pewter quart funnel for the stores, 1, £0 2s 3d

Pewter total, £0 17s 4d

Arrack for various purposes and the workmen generally, 172½ gallons, £28 3s 9d

Osnaburg canvas for buckets, 5¼ yards, £0 4s 6d

Twopenny nails for Company work, 2 lb, £0 1s 4½d

Threepenny nails for Company work, 23 lb, £1 0s 5d

Fourpenny nails for Company work, 2 lb, £0 1s 2d

Sixpenny nails for Company work, 43 lb, £1 2s 5d

Tenpenny nails for Company work, 20 lb, £0 8s 9d

Twentypenny nails for Company work, 12 lb, £0 4s 6d

Fortypenny nails for Company work, 15 lb, £0 5s 4d

Spikes for Company work, 10 lb, £0 3s 1½d

Nails total, £3 7s 1d

Starch for linen, 4¼ lb, £0 2s 7d

Carried forward, £99 15s 1d

Interpretations

The issue of 172½ gallons of arrack to the workmen in one quarter showed spirits used as part of the reward for labour. Soldiers and others hired by the day for brickmaking, lime burning and work on the defences, as the wage pages for 1765 recorded, also received drams of arrack from the Company's stock. At £28 3s 9d it was the largest single item among the general charges so far, and a cheap way of keeping men at hard work on an island where cash wages were low.

The weighing gear issued to the stores formed a complete set for heavy goods. A scale beam was the great balance arm hung from a frame, with scale boards slung from each end on which sacks and casks were set. Half-hundredweight and quarter-hundredweight iron weights went on the opposite board, so goods could be checked in the cwt and qr units used throughout the sales pages. The copper scales with brass weights served for smaller, finer quantities such as tea or spices.

A pewter crane was a bent tube used as a siphon to draw liquor from a cask without disturbing the sediment, the companion of the brass tap and funnel issued alongside it for drawing off wine, arrack and oil in the stores.

128

123

1765

Brought over

£ 99 13 1

Paint viz

2 1/2 Blue Smalts for Linnen

4 8

4 Indico Do

7 6

13 Barrl Black

2 Red Lead

33 W Lead mixed

3 Ven Red Do

1/2 Copperas

13 Whiting

1/2 Verdigrease

2 1/2 Yell Oaker mixd

1/2 Umber

Compys Work

7 7

3 1/2

12 4 1/2

2 3 1/2

3

9

1 1 1/2

6 1/2

1/4

1 13 5

Glass viz

12 Sqr 8 by 10

17 Sqr 6 by 8

3 Sqr 10 by 12

Repr the Compys Houses

2 6

6 4

4 9 1/2

13 8

Deals viz

3 Elm Boards

22 double deals

129 Single

1 Pr 8 3/4 Riga Timber

6 1/2 Pr Elm Plank

2 1/2 Pr Oak Do of 5 Inches

1 3/4 Pr Do of 6 Inches

1 1/2 Pr Ash Do

132 Bundle Laths

1 Pr Oak plank of 4 In

2 Coffins

2 1/2 Baulks

Compys Work

11 4 1/2

3 14 8 1/2

14 4 10

4 2 11

5 16 3

4 2 6

3 16 4

2 2

7 10 3

1 6 11

1 12 2

1 2 1

£ 56 9 5

Carried over

£ 159 5 7

The 1765 general charges for stores issued to the Company's own use went on with paint, window glass and a large issue of timber.

Brought forward, £99 15s 1d

Blue smalt for linen, 2½ lb, £0 4s 3d

Indigo for linen, 4 oz, £0 7s 6d

[...] black for Company work, 13 lb, £0 7s 7d

Red lead for Company work, 2 lb, £0 0s 5½d

White lead ground in oil for Company work, 33 lb, £0 12s 4½d

Venetian red ground in oil for Company work, 5 lb, £0 2s 3½d

Copperas for Company work, ½ lb, £0 0s 3d

Whiting for Company work, 12 lb, £0 0s 9d

Verdigris for Company work, ½ lb, £0 1s 4½d

Yellow ochre ground in oil for Company work, 2½ lb, £0 0s 6½d

Umber for Company work, ½ lb, £0 0s 0¾d

Paint total, £1 18s 5d

Window panes for repairing the Company's houses, 8 by 10 inches, 12, £0 8s 6d

Window panes for repairing the Company's houses, 6 by 8 inches, 17, £0 6s 4d

Window panes for repairing the Company's houses, 10 by 12 inches, 3, £0 4s 9½d

Glass total, £0 19s 8d

Elm boards for Company work, 3, £0 11s 4½d

Double deals for Company work, 22, £5 14s 8½d

Single deals for Company work, 129, £14 4s 10d

Riga timber for Company work, 1¾ pieces, £4 2s 11d

Elm plank for Company work, 6½ pieces, £5 16s 3d

Oak plank 5 inches thick for Company work, 2½ pieces, £4 2s 6d

Oak plank 6 inches thick for Company work, 1¾ pieces, £3 16s 4d

Ash plank for Company work, 1½ pieces, £2 2s 0d

Laths for Company work, 13 bundles, £7 10s 3d

Oak plank 4 inches thick for Company work, 1 piece, £1 6s 11d

Coffins, 2, £1 12s 2d

Baulks of timber for Company work, 2½, £1 3s 2d

Timber total, £56 9s 5d

Carried forward, £159 5s 7d

Interpretations

The two coffins charged to general expenses confirmed that the Company paid for burials outright, supplying the box as well as the grave-digging shovel issued earlier in the same quarter. Those buried at public cost were perhaps soldiers, seamen put ashore and slaves owned by the Company, who had no family on the island to bear the expense.

Timber was by far the largest charge on the page, at more than £56, and almost all of it went into the Company's building programme. The 129 single deals, 22 double deals and bundles of laths fitted the construction recorded in the wage pages for 1765 at Banks's, the castle and the officers' apartments. Laths were thin strips of split wood nailed across studs or joists as a base for plaster, so their issue pointed to new internal walls and ceilings. Window glass for repairing the Company's houses showed the Company acting as landlord to its officials, keeping their quarters in repair from its own stores.

Venetian red was an earth pigment of iron oxide, originally from Italy, giving a warm brick-red for doors, shutters and ironwork. Copperas, or green vitriol, was iron sulphate, used to darken paint, to fix dyes and to make ink. The blue smalt and indigo issued for linen served as laundry blue, masking the yellow cast of washed cloth in the Company's kitchens and public buildings.

129

124

21st October

Brought over

£ 159 5 7

Cordage 65 for the Companys Works

1 3

Sope 19 for Linnen

12 3

Haberdashery viz

2 Pr Carnation Tape

1 Skn Silk

for the Church

1 1 1/2

3 1/2

17

Lines viz

12 No 2

2 4

1 Sash

1 Hambro

Compys Work

3 5

1 7

6

1 6

7

Cutlery Ware viz

1 Case of Steams for Bleedg Cattle

5 6

1 Pruning Knife for Gardener

11

6 5

Challoe 1 Pr for Rubbers in the Castle

9 10

Corks 3 Sheet for the Castle

6

Coals 332 Bushels for the Armorers Shop and

Burn Lime

23 7

Tin Ware viz

2 Tin Lamps

1 Qt Gall Funnel

Compys Work

1 6

2 2

Lead 4 1/2 Sheet Do

3 8

Candy 4 for the doctors Shop

8 9

Iron Pots 1 large Iron Kettle for Boiling Soap

1 8

2 3

£ 188 12 3

Under the date 21 October, the general charges for stores issued to the Company's own use in the 1765 quarter ran on through cordage, soap, lines, tools, coal and kitchen gear to a closing total.

Brought forward, £159 5s 7d

Rope for the Company's works, 6 lb, £0 1s 3d

Soap for washing linen, 19 lb, £0 12s 3d

Carnation tape for the church, 2 pieces, £0 1s 1½d

Sewing silk for the church, 1 skein, £0 0s 5½d

Sewing goods total, £0 1s 7d

Number 2 lines for Company work, 12, £0 3s 5d

Number 4 lines for Company work, 2, £0 1s 7d

Sash line for Company work, 1, £0 0s 6d

Hambro line for Company work, 1, £0 1s 6d

Lines total, £0 7s 0d

Case of fleams for bleeding cattle, 1, £0 5s 6d

Pruning knife for the gardener, 1, £0 0s 11d

Cutlery total, £0 6s 5d

Chelloes for cleaning cloths at the castle, 1 piece, £0 9s 10d

Corks for the castle, 3 [...], £0 0s 6d

Coal for the armourers' shop and for burning lime, 332 bushels, £23 7s 0d

Tin lamps for Company work, 2, £0 1s 6d

Two-gallon funnel for Company work, 1, £0 2s 2d

Tinware total, £0 3s 8d

Sheet lead for Company work, 42 lb, £0 8s 9d

Sugar candy for the doctor's shop, ¾ lb, £0 1s 8d

Large iron kettle for boiling [...], 1, £2 3s 0d

Total, £188 12s 3d

Interpretations

Coal was the costliest item on the page, and its use showed a shift in how lime was burned. Earlier in 1765 soldiers had been paid to cut wood for the lime kilns, but this quarter 332 bushels of imported coal went to the armourers' forge and the kilns together. Wood was scarce on the island, and the scale of the building programme perhaps made it necessary to fire the kilns with coal brought out in ships' holds, despite the cost of more than £23.

A fleam was a small lancet with a triangular blade, often several of different sizes folded into one case, used to open a vein. Bleeding was standard treatment for sick cattle and horses, and the issue of a case of fleams showed that the Company kept its own livestock and saw to their care from public stores. The sugar candy sent to the doctor's shop was used in medicine, dissolved to soothe coughs and sore throats or to sweeten bitter remedies.

Carnation tape was a narrow tape dyed a pinkish red, issued with sewing silk for the church, perhaps for repairing hangings, cushions or the binding of books and vestments. Sash line was the cord running over a pulley inside a sash window frame to carry the counterweight, so its issue fitted the window repairs to the Company's houses recorded on the previous page. Chelloes cut up as rubbing cloths at the castle showed the cheap Indian cotton put to plain household use.

130

125

1765

Diet Expences Dr for the following Stores Issued

from the 1st July to the 30th September 1765

Beef and Pork viz

2 Ps Beef

6 3 1/2

19 Ps Pork

2 15 9 1/2

3 2 1

Sugar and Candy viz

200 Candy

4 3 4

24 Sugar

6

4 9 4

Flour 737

5 7 1 1/2

Arrack 24 Gall

3 12 6

Oil 6 Bottles Florence

15 9

Rice 100

8 1

Pease 1 Bushel Split

8 9

Pepper 10

5

Salt 1 Bushel

4 11

Tea viz

6 Single

7 6

2 Congo

2 6

10

£ 19 9 10

A separate account charged as diet expenses the provisions issued from the stores between 1 July and 30 September 1765.

Salt beef, 2 pieces, £0 6s 3½d

Salt pork, 19 pieces, £2 15s 9½d

Beef and pork total, £3 2s 1d

Sugar candy, 20 lb, £4 3s 4d

Sugar, 24 lb, £0 6s 0d

Sugar and sugar candy total, £4 9s 4d

Flour, 737 lb, £5 7s 6d

Arrack, 24 gallons, £3 13s 6d

Florence oil, 6 bottles, £0 15s 9d

Rice, 100 lb, £0 8s 1d

Split peas, 1 bushel, £0 8s 9d

Pepper, 10 lb, £0 5s 0d

Salt, 1 bushel, £0 4s 11d

Singlo tea, 6 lb, £0 7s 6d

Congou tea, 2 lb, £0 2s 6d

Tea total, £0 10s 0d

Total, £19 9s 10d

Interpretations

Food and drink issued from the stores were kept apart from the general charges and entered under their own heading as diet. The clerk could have folded these provisions into the long list of tools, timber and candles charged to general expenses on the preceding pages, but chose to separate them so the cost of feeding could be seen at a glance. The mix of goods, with Florence oil, tea, sugar candy and arrack alongside flour and salt meat, pointed to a table kept at public expense, perhaps for officials or for those the Company was bound to maintain.

Split peas were dried peas with the husk removed and the seed split in two, which made them cook quickly into the thick pottage that formed a staple of shipboard and garrison diet. Salt was issued by the bushel for curing and seasoning, since fresh meat on the island had to be preserved for keeping.

131

126

21st October

Garrison Dr for the following Stores Issued from the 1st of

July to the 30th Septr 1765 viz

Tea viz 85 Bohea

3 17 11

Oil 37 1/2 Gall

14 13 5

Nails viz

1 3

7 6

21 10

12 20

4 40

4 Spikes

makg Forms for the Garrison

Repr Garrn Barrks Coffins &c

3 1/2

3 7 1/2

9 2 1/2

6 9 1/2

1 5

1 3

1 3

Deals viz

32 Single Deals

1 double Do

makg Forms & Coffins

3 10 2

3 5

3 13 7

Tin Ware 1 Tin Lamp for the use the Garrn Barks

9

Iron Ware viz

1 Small Fryg Pan Do Do

2 8

2 Helves New Barracks

1 2

3 10

Turners Ware viz

46 Wood Bowls

34 Platters

Garrn Barrks & Garrison

2 11 9

2 3 11

4 15 8

Blankets 5

1 7 6

Thread viz

1 Coloured

3 3

1/2 Wh Brown

3 5

6 8

Carried over

£ 30 2 11

Under the date 21 October, a further account charged to the garrison the stores issued for the soldiers' use between 1 July and 30 September 1765.

Bohea tea, 85 lb, £3 17s 11d

Oil, 37½ gallons, £4 13s 5d

Threepenny nails for benches, gunners' barracks repairs, coffins and other work, 1 lb, £0 0s 3¾d

Sixpenny nails for the same work, 7 lb, £0 3s 7¾d

Tenpenny nails for the same work, 21 lb, £0 9s 2¼d

Twentypenny nails for the same work, 13 lb, £0 6s 9¾d

Fortypenny nails for the same work, 4 lb, £0 1s 5d

Spikes for the same work, 4 lb, £0 1s 3d

Nails total, £1 3s 0d

Single deals for benches and coffins, 32, £3 10s 2d

Double deal for benches and coffins, 1, £0 3s 5d

Timber total, £3 13s 7d

Tin lamp for the gunners' barracks, 1, £0 0s 9d

Small frying pan for the gunners' barracks, 1, £0 2s 8d

Tool handles for the new barracks, 2, £0 1s 2d

Ironmongery total, £0 3s 10d

Wooden bowls for the gunners' barracks and the garrison, 46, £2 11s 9d

Platters for the gunners' barracks and the garrison, 34, £2 3s 11d

Wooden wares total, £4 15s 8d

Blankets, 5, £1 17s 6d

Coloured thread, 1 lb, £0 3s 3d

Whited-brown thread, ½ lb, £0 3s 5d

Thread total, £0 6s 8d

Carried forward, £30 2s 11d

Interpretations

The garrison had its own account, separate from the general charges and the diet expenses, so the cost of maintaining the soldiers could be set against the military establishment. Wooden bowls and platters by the dozen, benches, a frying pan and blankets were the basic furnishings of barrack life, issued to the gunners' barracks and the new barracks rather than bought by the men. The plain turned wooden ware suited a soldiers' mess, where pewter or china would have been costly to replace.

The timber and nails for coffins showed that soldiers who died were buried at the cost of the garrison account. Coffins for others had been charged to general expenses earlier in the same quarter, which meant the clerk divided burial costs according to whether the dead belonged to the military or to the civil establishment.

132

127

1765

Brought over

£ 30 2 10

Canvas 4 Yds Engh for a Cot

4 6

Lines 2 Whip Cord for Whips

6

Glass 3 Squares 6 by 8

1 1

£ 30 14 5

Blacks Dr for the following Stores Issued from the 1st July

to the 30th September 1765 viz

Hooks and Lines viz

600 No 9

350 1

100 12

125 13

425 14

Hooks for Fishermen

13 6

16 7 1/2

10 1/2

11

3 5

Doz 21 2 2

11 3

11 4

Lines for Do

10 6 3

12 1 7

Blankets 130

35 15

Sugar 164

1 18 5

Tea 6 lb Bohea

3 6

Deals 24 Single for the Black Hospital

2 4 2

Beef and Pork viz

154 Ps Pork

22 12 4

332 Ps Beef

52 4 5

74 16 9

Sailors Cloaths 19 Boys Shirts

2 12 2

Arrack 27 1/2 Gall for the Stonelayers Carpenters &

Fishermen

4 9 11

Carried over

£ 136 19

The garrison account for the quarter closed with a few further items, and a separate account then charged the stores issued for the Company's slaves between 1 July and 30 September 1765.

Brought forward, £30 2s 11d

English canvas for a cot, 4 yards, £0 4s 6d

Whipcord for whips, 2 lb, £0 6s 0d

Window panes, 6 by 8 inches, 3, £0 1s 7d

Total, £30 14s 5d

Number 9 fish hooks for the fishermen, 600, £0 13s 6d

Number 1 fish hooks for the fishermen, 350, £0 16s 7½d

Number 12 fish hooks for the fishermen, 100, £0 0s 10½d

Number 13 fish hooks for the fishermen, 125, £0 0s 11d

Number 14 fish hooks for the fishermen, 425, £0 3s 5d

Number 2, 3 and 4 fishing lines for the fishermen, 21½, 11 and 11 dozen, £10 6s 3d

Hooks and lines total, £12 1s 7d

Blankets, 130, £35 15s 0d

Sugar, 1 cwt 4 lb, £1 18s 5d

Bohea tea, 60 lb, £3 0s 6d

Single deals for the Black Hospital, 24, £2 4s 2d

Salt pork, 154 pieces, £22 12s 4d

Salt beef, 332 pieces, £52 4s 5d

Beef and pork total, £74 16s 9d

Boys' shirts as sailors' clothing, 19, £2 12s 2d

Arrack for the stonelayers, carpenters and fishermen, 27½ gallons, £4 9s 11d

Carried forward, £136 19s 0d

Interpretations

The Company's slaves had their own account, kept apart from the garrison and the civil charges so the cost of the slave workforce could be measured. The entries showed slaves working in skilled and productive roles: stonelayers, carpenters and fishermen all drew arrack, and the fishermen received some 1,600 hooks and more than 40 dozen lines. Fishing by slaves supplied food for the slave population itself and reduced the Company's need to issue salt meat, though more than £74 of beef and pork still went to them in the quarter.

The 130 blankets issued at once, worth more than £35, perhaps marked a general distribution to the whole body of Company slaves as the southern-hemisphere winter months of July to September closed. The Black Hospital, for which 24 deals were issued, was a separate infirmary for slaves, showing that the Company kept sick slaves apart from the soldiers and civilians treated elsewhere.

Whipcord was a hard-twisted cord of hemp or catgut, here issued expressly for making whips. Charged to the garrison account just before the slaves' section opened, it recorded the physical means of discipline alongside the blankets and food. A cot, made from the English canvas issued at the same point, was a canvas bed slung like a hammock with a wooden frame, used for the sick or wounded.

133

128

21st October

Brought over

£ 136 19

Shoes viz

32 Pr Mens Ordinary

2 Pr Womens Calf

2 Pr Boys

Bl in the Castle

6 8

3 4

6 3

6 19 7

Rice 8456

36 13 5

Long Cloth viz

8 Pr U

2 Pr I

1 Pr No 6

7 Yds 7

for lying in Women and to

Cloath the Black Women as

Usual

11 1 4

2 15 4

1 8

5 4

15 10

Hosiers Ware viz 1 Pr Women Stockgs

3 1

Oil 1/2 Gall Train

4 2

Challow 46 Pr

22 14 3

Iron Ware viz

3 Small Fryg Pans

3 1

1 Pad Lock for the Blacks House

1 6

9 7

Twine 2 Skeins for the Fishermen

1

Lead 27 Shot

4 4

Thread viz

12 Coloured

1 19

4 W Brown

1 7

3 6

Flour 11 for the Silk

1 7

Sope 2

1 3

Kersey 3 Pr 25 Yds to Cloath ye Blacks

8 17

Carried over

£ 226 4 3

Under the date 21 October, the account of stores issued for the Company's slaves in the 1765 quarter continued with shoes, rice, cloth and household goods.

Brought forward, £136 19s 0d

Men's ordinary shoes for the slaves at the castle, 32 pairs, £6 8s 0d

Women's calf shoes for the slaves at the castle, 2 pairs, £0 5s 4d

Boys' shoes for the slaves at the castle, 2 pairs, £0 6s 3d

Shoes total, £6 19s 7d

Rice, 84 cwt 3 qr 6 lb, £30 13s 5d

Long cloth marked U for women in childbirth and the customary clothing of the slave women, 3 pieces, £11 1s 4d

Long cloth marked I for the same purpose, 2 pieces, £2 15s 4d

Long cloth number 6 for the same purpose, 1 piece, £1 8s 0d

Long cloth number 7 for the same purpose, 7 yards, £0 5s 4d

Long cloth total, £15 10s 0d

Women's stockings, 1 pair, £0 3s 1d

Train oil, 1½ gallons, £0 4s 2d

Chelloes, 46 pieces, £22 14s 3d

Small frying pans, 3, £0 8s 1d

Padlock for the slaves' house, 1, £0 1s 6d

Ironmongery total, £0 9s 7d

Twine for the fishermen, 2 skeins, £0 1s 0d

Lead shot, 2 [...], £0 4s 4d

Coloured thread, 11 lb, £1 19s 0d

Whited-brown thread, 4 lb, £1 7s 0d

Thread total, £3 6s 0d

Flour for the sick, 11 lb, £0 1s 7d

Soap, 2 lb, £0 1s 3d

Kersey for clothing the slaves, 3 pieces of 25 yards, £8 17s 0d

Carried forward, £226 4s 3d

Interpretations

The long cloth issued for women in childbirth showed the Company making a standing provision for slave mothers. The entry tied it to the customary clothing of the slave women, so lying-in allowances were a regular part of the slave account rather than an occasional kindness. Children born to Company slaves became Company property, and support for mothers at birth served the Company's interest in sustaining its workforce without buying new slaves.

The padlock for the slaves' house pointed to the locking of slave quarters at night. Placed beside the whipcord issued for whips on the previous page, it showed the means of confinement and punishment entered in the same plain ledger as rice, cloth and blankets.

Shoes went expressly to the slaves at the castle, 32 pairs for men and a few for women and boys. These were the household and working slaves attached to the seat of government, and the issue set them apart from those employed in the fields, fishing or building elsewhere, for whom no footwear appeared in the account. Rice, at more than 84 cwt in the quarter, formed the staple food of the slave ration, far cheaper than the flour issued only in small amounts for the sick.

134

129

1765

Brought over

£ 226 4 3

Canvas 91 Yds Osenbrigs to Cloath ye Blacks

3 12

Pepper 3

1 6

Turners Ware viz

6 Platters

4 W Bowls

for the Blacks at the usual Plan

7 9

4 6

12 3

Candles 1 for the Overs to Examine the Black

House

1 11

Tin Ware 1 Rivetted Horn Lanthorn to Examine

the Black House

4 11

£ 230 16 10

Malley Dr for the following Stores Issued from the 1st

July to the 30th September 1765 viz

Tea 3 Bohea

2 9

Sugar 20

5

Beef 10 Ps

1 11 5

Oil viz

1/2 Gall Train

1 8 1/2

1 Bottle Florence

2 7 1/2

4 4

Salt 1/2 Bushel

1 3

Pepper 1

6

Sope 6

3 11

Arrack 2 1/2 Gall

2 2

Rice 120

8 3

Broad Cloth viz

2 3/4 Black

2 6 9

2 Scarlet

1 12 10

4 5 7

Carried over

£ 7 11 7

The account of stores issued for the Company's slaves in the 1765 quarter closed with cloth, wooden ware and the means of lighting night inspections, and a separate account then opened for the Malays.

Brought forward, £226 4s 3d

Osnaburg canvas for clothing the slaves, 91 yards, £3 12s 0d

Pepper, 3 lb, £0 1s 6d

Platters for the slaves at the [...] plantation, 6, £0 7s 9d

Wooden bowls for the slaves at the [...] plantation, 4, £0 4s 6d

Wooden wares total, £0 12s 3d

Candles for the overseers to inspect the slaves' house, 1 lb, £0 1s 11d

Riveted horn lantern for inspecting the slaves' house, 1, £0 4s 11d

Total, £230 16s 10d

Bohea tea, 3 lb, £0 2s 9d

Sugar, 20 lb, £0 5s 0d

Salt beef, 10 pieces, £1 11s 5d

Train oil, ½ gallon, £0 1s 8½d

Florence oil, 1 bottle, £0 2s 7½d

Oil total, £0 4s 4d

Salt, ½ bushel, £0 1s 3d

Pepper, 1 lb, £0 0s 6d

Soap, 6 lb, £0 3s 11d

Arrack, 2½ gallons, £0 2s 2d

Rice, 120 lb, £0 8s 3d

Black broadcloth, 2¾ yards, £2 6s 9d

Scarlet broadcloth, 2 yards, £1 12s 10d

Broadcloth total, £4 5s 7d

Carried forward, £7 11s 7d

Interpretations

The candles and riveted horn lantern issued so the overseers could inspect the slaves' house showed a routine of night checks on slave quarters. Taken with the padlock for the same house and the whipcord recorded earlier in the quarter, the entries revealed a system of locking, inspection and punishment run through the ordinary store account. The overseers were the men set over the slave gangs, and the lantern let them search the house after dark.

The Malays had an account of their own, distinct from the general body of slaves. The goods issued to them differed sharply from the slave ration of rice, salt meat and coarse osnaburg. They received tea, sugar, Florence oil, arrack and black and scarlet broadcloth, the fine woollen sold elsewhere for officers' and gentlemen's coats. The separate heading and the quality of the goods pointed to Malays holding a higher standing than the Company's other slaves, perhaps as skilled workers or as people brought from the East under particular terms.

135

130

21st October

Brought over

£ 7 11 7

Shalloon viz

4 Yds Coloured

7 2

1 Do Scarlet

2 3

9 5

Hosiers Ware 2 Pr Cotton Stockgs

13 8

Haberdashery viz

5 Skn Silk

2 6

3 Mohair

2 1

4 7

Thread 1/2 W Brown

3 4

Buckram 3 Yards

2 9

Blankets 1

5 6

Long Cloth 1/2 Pr Y

1 10 5

Iron Ware 1 Helve

7

Shoes 1 Pr Chand Pumps

6 2

China Ware viz

6 Blue & White Soop Plates

2 9

6 Do & Do Snakers

1 3

2 Bowls

1 2

1 Tea pot

2

6 4

£ 11 18 4

Under the date 21 October, the account of stores issued for the Malays in the 1765 quarter continued with cloth, sewing goods, footwear and china before reaching its total.

Brought forward, £7 11s 7d

Coloured shalloon, 4 yards, £0 7s 2d

Scarlet shalloon, 1 yard, £0 2s 3d

Shalloon total, £0 9s 5d

Cotton stockings, 2 pairs, £0 13s 8d

Sewing silk, 5 skeins, £0 2s 6d

Mohair thread, 3 skeins, £0 2s 1d

Sewing goods total, £0 4s 7d

Whited-brown thread, ½ lb, £0 3s 4d

Buckram, 3 yards, £0 2s 9d

Blanket, 1, £0 5s 6d

Long cloth marked Y, ½ piece, £1 10s 5d

Tool handle, 1, £0 0s 7d

Channel pumps, 1 pair, £0 6s 2d

Blue and white soup plates, 6, £0 2s 9d

Blue and white saucers, 6, £0 1s 3d

Bowls, 2, £0 1s 2d

Teapot, 1, £0 0s 2d

China total, £0 6s 4d

Total, £11 14s 4d

Interpretations

The Malays received the full set of materials for making European-style clothes. Broadcloth and shalloon for coats and linings, buckram to stiffen collars and fronts, silk and mohair thread and long cloth for shirts all appeared in the same quarter. Together with cotton stockings and channel pumps, the issues pointed to garments cut and sewn on the island to a standard well above the osnaburg and kersey issued to the Company's other slaves.

Their china, a teapot, saucers, bowls and soup plates, matched the tea and sugar recorded on the account's opening page. The Malays thus kept a household with the habits of the Company's own servants, a further sign that the clerk treated them as a distinct group whose upkeep was costed on more generous terms.

136

131

1765

Plantation Dr for the Stores Issued from the 1st July to the

30th September 1765 viz

Rice and Paddy viz

3149 Paddy

233 Rice

for Poultry and Horses

6 7 8

1 11

7 3 7

Turners Ware viz

9 Labourers Baskets for the sd Plantn

6 9

6 Ox Bows for Oxen

8 3

15

Lines viz

1 No 4

1 Hambro

to make Pads for Asses

5

1 6

1 11

Arrack 1/2 Gall for Men breaking Oxen

1 8

Canvas 3 English to make Pads for Asses

3 4

Cordage 21 for Thatching

7 5

Nails

1 40

1 20

1/2 10

6 1/2 6

repg Pasture Gates W Carts &c

4 1/2

4 1/2

2 1/2

3 4 1/2

4 4

Iron Ware viz

2 Hand Hatchets

2 Garden Rakes

1 Claw Hammer

3 Stock Locks

Plantn House Maidn Garden and Pastures

3 6

4 10

1 3 1/2

3 1 1/2

6 Pick Axes Sandy Bay Plantations

13 9

1 Scythe Stone Long Wood

2

7 Plate Iron for the Wood Cart

2 7

1 19 5

Carried over

£ 11 1 8

A further account charged to the Company's plantation the stores issued for farming between 1 July and 30 September 1765.

Paddy for poultry and horses, 31 cwt 1 qr 9 lb, £6 7s 8d

Rice for poultry and horses, 2 cwt 3 qr 3 lb, £1 0s 11d

Rice and paddy total, £7 8s 7d

Labourers' baskets for the plantation, 9, £0 6s 9d

Ox bows for the oxen, 6, £0 8s 3d

Wooden wares total, £0 15s 0d

Number 4 line for making pads for the donkeys, 1, £0 0s 5d

Hambro line for making pads for the donkeys, 1, £0 1s 6d

Lines total, £0 1s 11d

Arrack for the men breaking in oxen, ½ gallon, £0 1s 8d

English canvas for making pads for the donkeys, 3 yards, £0 3s 4d

Rope for thatching, 21 lb, £0 7s 5d

Fortypenny nails for repairing pasture gates, carts and other work, 1 lb, £0 0s 4½d

Twentypenny nails for the same work, 1 lb, £0 0s 4½d

Tenpenny nails for the same work, ½ lb, £0 0s 2½d

Sixpenny nails for the same work, 6½ lb, £0 3s 4¾d

Nails total, £0 4s 4d

Hand hatchets for the plantation house, Maldivia, the garden and the pastures, 2, £0 3s 6d

Garden rakes for the same places, 2, £0 4s 10d

Claw hammer for the same places, 1, £0 1s 3½d

Stock locks for the same places, 3, £0 8s 1½d

Pickaxes for the Sandy Bay plantations, 6, £0 13s 9d

Scythe stone for Longwood, 1, £0 0s 2d

Plate iron for the wood cart, 7 lb, £0 2s 7d

Ironmongery total, £1 19s 5d

Carried forward, £11 1s 8d

Interpretations

The plantation account showed the Company running its own farms at several places across the island, including the plantation house, Maldivia, Sandy Bay and Longwood, with gardens and pastures attached. The stores charged to it served livestock and field work rather than building: ox bows, pads for donkeys, rope for thatching, gates and carts. Working animals did the hauling and carrying, with oxen yoked for ploughing and carting and donkeys loaded with packs on the island's steep tracks.

Paddy rather than milled rice went to the poultry and horses. The clerk issued more than 31 cwt of the unhusked grain against less than 3 cwt of clean rice, since paddy cost far less and needed no milling to serve as feed. The small quantity of rice perhaps went to younger birds or sick animals that could not manage the husk.

The half gallon of arrack issued to the men breaking in oxen showed spirits given as a reward for dangerous work. Breaking an ox meant training a young animal to accept the yoke and pull, a slow and risky task with a strong, unwilling beast. The pads for the donkeys were padded saddles of canvas and cord, which protected the animals' backs from the loads they carried.

137

132

21st October

Brought over

£ 11 1 8

Shirts 4 Yds Brown Holland Pads for Asses

7 4

Oil 1 Gall Train use of the Long Wood

3 4

Deals viz

2/3 Pr Ash Plank to repr W Cart

1 12

2/3 Pr Oak Do of 6 Inch repr Carts

1 10 4

3 2 4

Tar 2 Gall for the Wood Cart

1 8

Cart Wheels 2 Axletrees for Do

17 7

Sand Bags 12 for Sandy Bay Plantation

7 6

£ 16 1 5

Boats Dr for the following Stores Issued from the 1st July

to the 30th September 1765 viz

Nails viz

1 2

5 3

1 4

9 6

12 10

for Boats in General

8 1/2

2 2 1/2

7

4 3 1/2

5 3

13 5

Oil viz

7 Gallons Linsd

1/2 Do Train

Boats in General

1 7 7

1 8

Lead 50 1/2 Sheet

1 9 3

6 4

Carried over

£ 2 9

Under the date 21 October, the plantation account for the 1765 quarter closed with cart repairs and sandbags, and a separate account then charged the stores issued for the Company's boats between 1 July and 30 September 1765.

Brought forward, £11 1s 8d

Brown holland for donkey pads, 4 yards, £0 7s 4d

Train oil for use at Longwood, 1 gallon, £0 3s 4d

Ash plank for repairing the wood cart, ⅔ piece, £1 12s 0d

Oak plank 6 inches thick for repairing carts, ⅔ piece, £1 10s 4d

Timber total, £3 2s 4d

Tar for the wood cart, 2 gallons, £0 1s 8d

Axletrees for the wood cart wheels, 2, £0 17s 7d

Sandbags for the Sandy Bay plantation, 12, £0 7s 6d

Total, £16 1s 5d

Twopenny nails for the boats generally, 1 lb, £0 0s 8¼d

Threepenny nails for the boats generally, 3 lb, £0 2s 2¼d

Fourpenny nails for the boats generally, 1 lb, £0 0s 7d

Sixpenny nails for the boats generally, 9 lb, £0 4s 3½d

Tenpenny nails for the boats generally, 12 lb, £0 5s 3d

Nails total, £0 13s 5d

Linseed oil for the boats generally, 7 gallons, £1 7s 7d

Train oil for the boats generally, ½ gallon, £0 1s 8d

Oil total, £1 9s 3d

Sheet lead, 30 lb, £0 6s 4d

Carried forward, £2 9s 0d

Interpretations

The wood cart absorbed most of the plantation's closing charges, with new axletrees, ash and oak plank and tar all issued for it in the quarter. An axletree was the fixed wooden beam on whose ends the wheels turned, and it wore quickly under heavy loads on rough ground. The cart's constant repair reflected the labour of hauling firewood and timber over the island's steep tracks, where carts broke down far faster than on level English roads.

The Company's boats had their own account, just as the garrison, the slaves, the Malays and the plantation did. Splitting the stores by department let the clerk show how much each branch of island life cost to keep running. Linseed oil for the boats went into paint to protect their hulls from sun and salt water, and sheet lead was used to patch seams and sheathe the parts of a boat most exposed to wear.

138

133

1765

Brought over

£ 2 9

Pitch & Tar viz

1 1/2 Barl 13 1/2 Gall Tar

2 8 5

1 1/2 Do Pitch

2 15 2

22 Rozen

4 7

40 Turpentine

8 4

5 16 6

Paint viz

21 Ven Red dry

4 4 1/2

12 Red Lead

2 9

12 White Do dry

4 6

6 Verdigrease

1 3 4 1/2

1/2 Copperas

3

6 Whiting

3

20 Brimstone

4 2

1 19 2

Thread 1/2 Coloured for the Engrs Boat

1 8

Canvas 5 Yds Osnbrigs Do

5 7

Cordage 773 Boats in General

13 13 9

Haberdashery 1 Pr Carnatn Tape

7

Beef & Pork viz

16 Ps Pork

2 Ps Beef

Long Boat Men

2 7

6 3

2 13 3

Leather 3 1/2 Sole

3 3

Oars 6

1 3 3

Twine 3 Sks Engineers Boat

1 6

Iron Ware viz

3 Hand Hatchets

9 1/2 Rod Iron

Long Boat

5 3

2 3

7 6

Carried over

£ 28 13 3

The account of stores issued for the Company's boats in the 1765 quarter continued with naval stores, paint, rope, rations for the longboat crew, oars and iron.

Brought forward, £2 9s 0d

Tar, 1 barrel and 13½ gallons, £2 3s 5d

Pitch, 1½ barrels, £2 15s 2d

Rosin, 22 lb, £0 4s 7d

Turpentine, 4 lb, £0 3s 4d

Pitch and tar total, £5 16s 6d

Venetian red in powder, 21 lb, £0 4s 4½d

Red lead, 12 lb, £0 2s 9d

White lead in powder, 12 lb, £0 4s 6d

Verdigris, 6 lb, £1 3s 4½d

Copperas, ½ lb, £0 0s 3d

Whiting, 6 lb, £0 0s 3d

Brimstone, 20 lb, £0 4s 2d

Paint total, £1 19s 2d

Coloured thread for the engineer's boat, ½ lb, £0 1s 8d

Osnaburg canvas for the engineer's boat, 5 yards, £0 5s 7d

Rope for the boats generally, 773 lb, £13 13s 9d

Carnation tape, 1 piece, £0 0s 7d

Salt pork for the longboat crew, 16 pieces, £2 7s 0d

Salt beef for the longboat crew, 2 pieces, £0 6s 3d

Beef and pork total, £2 13s 3d

Sole leather, 3½ lb, £0 3s 3d

Oars, 6, £1 3s 5d

Twine for the engineer's boat, 3 skeins, £0 1s 6d

Hand hatchets for the longboat, 3, £0 5s 3d

Rod iron for the longboat, 9½ lb, £0 2s 3d

Ironmongery total, £0 7s 6d

Carried forward, £28 15s 3d

Interpretations

The salt meat issued to the longboat crew was charged to the boats' account rather than to diet or the garrison. Feeding the boatmen thus counted as part of the cost of running the boat, so the full expense of each vessel could be read in one place. The longboat was the largest of the Company's boats, used to carry stores, water and men between ships at anchor and the shore.

The engineer's boat had its own issues of canvas, thread and twine, which showed the island engineer kept a boat for his work. The fortification works at Banks's and elsewhere recorded earlier in 1765 lay along the coast, and a boat let the engineer reach and survey positions that were difficult to approach overland.

Sole leather on a boat was used to line oar ports and protect the oars where they worked against the gunwale, and to make washers and pump valves. Rod iron was round bar iron, worked by the smith into bolts, rings and fittings for the longboat.

139

134

21st October

Brought over

£ 28 13 3

Arrack 2 1/2 Gallons for hauling up the

Long Boat

8 3

Deals viz

7 Elm Boards

1 6 6 1/2

3 Single deals

6 7 1/2

2 Elm Planks

1 15

2/3 Pr Ash Do

1 12

5 2

Braize 5 Yds Red for the Engrs Boat

11 3

£ 34 15 4

Hospital Dr for the following Stores Issued from the

1st July to the 30th September 1765 viz

Sugar 187

2 6 9

Flour 187

1 7 3

Salt 1 1/2 Bushel

5 6

Rice 407

1 9 5

Oil viz

9 1/2 Gall Train

1 11 10

1/8 Do Linseed

6

1 12 4

Iron Ware viz

1 Small Frying Pan

2 8

1 Helve

7

3 3

Canvas 9 Yds Eng for Cots

19 1

Carried over

£ 7 14 7

Under the date 21 October, the boats' account for the 1765 quarter closed with arrack, timber and baize, and a separate account then charged the stores issued for the hospital between 1 July and 30 September 1765.

Brought forward, £28 15s 3d

Arrack for hauling up the longboat, 2½ gallons, £0 8s 3d

Elm boards, 7, £1 6s 6½d

Single deals, 3, £0 6s 7½d

Elm planks, 2, £1 15s 0d

Ash plank, ⅔ piece, £1 12s 0d

Timber total, £5 0s 2d

Red baize for the engineer's boat, 5 yards, £0 4s 3d

Total, £34 15s 4d

Sugar, 187 lb, £2 6s 9d

Flour, 187 lb, £1 7s 3d

Salt, 1½ bushels, £0 5s 6d

Rice, 4 cwt 0 qr 7 lb, £1 9s 5d

Train oil, 9½ gallons, £1 11s 10d

Linseed oil, ⅛ gallon, £0 0s 6d

Oil total, £1 12s 4d

Small frying pan, 1, £0 2s 8d

Tool handle, 1, £0 0s 7d

Ironmongery total, £0 3s 3d

English canvas for cots, 9 yards, £0 10s 1d

Carried forward, £7 14s 7d

Interpretations

The arrack issued for hauling up the longboat showed the heavy boat being dragged clear of the water by hand after use, a task that called on many men at once. The Company rewarded the effort with a dram, as it did the men breaking in oxen on the plantation and the slaves working as stonelayers and fishermen, so spirits served across the island's accounts as a standard payment for hard or dangerous labour.

The hospital had an account of its own, separate from the Black Hospital supplied from the slaves' account earlier in the quarter. Its stores were chiefly food suited to invalids, sugar, flour and rice, with train oil for lighting the wards through the night and English canvas for making cots. The heavy issue of oil, more than 9 gallons in three months, pointed to lamps kept burning while patients were nursed.

Baize was a coarse woollen cloth with a long nap, often dyed red or green, used for linings, covers and cushions. In the engineer's boat it perhaps covered the seats or lined a chest for instruments and plans.

140

135

1765

Brought over

£ 7 14 7

Turners Ware viz

1 Scrubg Brush

2 11

2 Birch Brooms

8

3 7

Twine viz

1 Skn Twine for Cots

6

1/2 Cotton Wick

1

1 6

Nails viz

3 3

4 6

2 10

for Cots

2 2 1/2

2 1

10 1/2

5 2

Glass 10 Squares 8 by 10

7 1

Paint 3 Whiting

1

Tea 2 Bohea

1 10

£ 8 13 10

Fortifications Dr for the following Stores Issued from

the 1st July to the 30th Septr 1765 viz

Iron 250 for Banks's Port Cullis &c

2 13 11

Twine 5 Skains for mending Sand Bags and

making a Target

2 6

Candles 2 Use of the Magazines

3 11

Sand Bags 124

3 17 6

Turners Ware 2 B Brooms

8

Carried over

£ 6 18 6

The hospital account for the 1765 quarter closed with brushes, cot materials, glass and tea, and a separate account then charged the stores issued for the fortifications between 1 July and 30 September 1765.

Brought forward, £7 14s 7d

Scrubbing brush, 1, £0 2s 11d

Birch brooms, 2, £0 0s 8d

Wooden wares total, £0 3s 7d

Twine for cots, 1 skein, £0 0s 6d

Cotton candlewick, ½ lb, £0 1s 0d

Twine and wick total, £0 1s 6d

Threepenny nails for cots, 3 lb, £0 2s 2½d

Sixpenny nails for cots, 4 lb, £0 2s 1d

Tenpenny nails for cots, 2 lb, £0 0s 10½d

Nails total, £0 5s 2d

Window panes, 8 by 10 inches, 10, £0 7s 1d

Whiting, 3 lb, £0 0s 1d

Bohea tea, 2 lb, £0 1s 10d

Total, £8 13s 10d

Iron for Banks's portcullis and other work, 259 lb, £2 13s 11d

Twine for mending sandbags and making a target, 5 skeins, £0 2s 6d

Candles for the magazines, 2 lb, £0 3s 11d

Sandbags, 124, £3 17s 6d

Birch brooms, 2, £0 0s 8d

Carried forward, £6 18s 6d

Interpretations

The fortifications account tied the store issues to the building work paid for in the wage account that Thomas Kirkpatrick closed on 30 September 1765. That account had paid soldiers for more than 850 days of labour and Simon Whaley and other craftsmen for further work on Banks's portcullis. The 259 lb of iron charged here supplied the bars, straps and fittings for the same gate, so the cost of the portcullis was spread across two ledgers, labour in one and materials in the other.

Sandbags were filled with earth and stacked to build or repair parapets and gun platforms, absorbing shot better than masonry. The 124 issued in the quarter, together with twine to mend them, pointed to earthwork defences being kept in order alongside the stone works. The target made with the same twine matched the target built and painted for the garrison on the wage pages earlier in 1765, which suggested regular gunnery or musketry practice.

The hospital's cots were made on the spot from English canvas, twine and nails, as the canvas issued on the previous page and the nails and twine here showed. Building them locally from stores was cheaper than importing finished beds, and the canvas frames could be washed, mended and moved as patient numbers changed.

141

136

21st October

Brought over

£ 6 18 6

Oil viz

4 Bottles Florence for Field pieces

10 6

3/4 Train

2 6

13

Lines viz 7 No 4

2 9

Deals viz

56 Single Deals

16 double Do

1 Coffin

for Banks Cullis & Works there

6 3 8

2 14 4

3 2

2/3 Pr Riga Timber

1 13 2

3 Pr Oak plank of 4 Inc

4 Pr Do Do of 5 Do

5 Pr Do Do of 6 Do

Do

4 7

7 14 7

11 1 10

33 11 4

Nails viz

4 6

20 10

22 20

8 40

6 Spikes

for Banks's

2 1

3 9

8 3

2 10

1 11

1 3 10

Iron Ware viz

1 Splinter Lock

5 1/2

1 Stock Do for the Mount

2 3 1/2

2 Hand Hammer Helves

6

1 Large Fryg Pan Workmn at the Fort

3 11

6 Sail Needles to make a Target

6

8 1

Paint 1 Barl Blacking

7

[...]

£ 42 18 1

Under the date 21 October, the fortifications account for the 1765 quarter continued with oil for the guns, heavy timber and nails for Banks's, and ironmongery for the works.

Brought forward, £6 18s 6d

Florence oil for the field guns, 4 bottles, £0 10s 6d

Train oil, ¾ gallon, £0 2s 6d

Oil total, £0 13s 0d

Number 4 lines, 7, £0 2s 9d

Single deals for Banks's portcullis and the works there, 56, £6 3s 8d

Double deals for the same works, 16, £2 14s 4d

[...] for the same works, 1, £0 3s 2d

Riga timber for the same works, ⅔ piece, £1 13s 2d

Oak plank 4 inches thick for the same works, 3 pieces, £4 0s 7d

Oak plank 5 inches thick for the same works, 4 pieces, £7 14s 7d

Oak plank 6 inches thick for the same works, 5 pieces, £11 1s 10d

Timber total, £33 11s 4d

Sixpenny nails for Banks's, 4 lb, £0 2s 1d

Tenpenny nails for Banks's, 20 lb, £0 8s 9d

Twentypenny nails for Banks's, 22 lb, £0 8s 3d

Fortypenny nails for Banks's, 8 lb, £0 2s 10d

Spikes for Banks's, 6 lb, £0 1s 11d

Nails total, £1 3s 10d

[...] lock, 1, £0 0s 5½d

Stock lock for the Mount, 1, £0 2s 3½d

Hand-hammer handles, 2, £0 0s 6d

Large frying pan for the workmen at the fort, 1, £0 3s 11d

Sail needles for making a target, 6, £0 0s 6d

Ironmongery total, £0 8s 1d

Blacking, 1 [...], £0 0s 7d

Carried forward, £42 18s 1d

Interpretations

Thick oak plank made up most of the timber cost, with twelve pieces of 4 to 6 inch stock worth more than £22. Plank of that thickness was laid as gun platforms, the solid wooden floors on which cannon stood and recoiled, and was also used to frame heavy gates such as the portcullis at Banks's. Single and double deals and Riga timber, lighter stock, went into the lesser carpentry of the same works.

Florence oil, the fine olive oil sold to servants by the bottle, was here issued for the field guns. Cleaning and lubricating the iron and brass of gun carriages and fittings with a pure vegetable oil prevented rust without leaving the sticky residue that cheap train oil formed. The large frying pan for the workmen at the fort showed that the building gangs cooked their own food on site, while sail needles for making a target confirmed that the garrison's targets were stitched from canvas.

142

137

1765

Fly Cutter Dr for the following Stores Issued from the 1st

July to the 30th Septembr 1765 viz

Cordage 781

13 2 5

Twine 2 Sks

1

Iron Ware 4 Sail Needles

4

Masts viz

1 Spar 23 Ft long

15 7

1 1/2 Do

1 15 5

2 11

Deals viz

1 1/2 Pr Oak plank of 6 Inch

3 5 5

1 Pr Ash Do

2 8

5 13 5

£ 21 8 2

Mercury Snow Dr for the following Stores Issued from

the 1st July to the 30th Septemr 1765

Masts viz

1 Spar 24 Feet long

15 8

1 1/2 Do

1 15 5

2 11 1

£ 2 11 1

St Helena

30th Septemr 1765

Errors Excepted

(Signed)

James Powell Storekeeper

The store accounts for the 1765 quarter ended with charges against two of the Company's island vessels, the Fly cutter and the Mercury snow, for stores issued to them between 1 July and 30 September 1765.

The Fly cutter's account ran as follows.

Rope, [...], £13 2s 5d

Twine, 2 skeins, £0 1s 0d

Sail needles, 4, £0 0s 4d

Spar 22 feet long, 1, £0 15s 7d

Spars, 1½, £1 15s 5d

Masts and spars total, £2 11s 0d

Oak plank 6 inches thick, 1½ pieces, £3 5s 5d

Ash plank, 1 piece, £2 8s 0d

Timber total, £5 13s 5d

Total, £21 8s 2d

The Mercury snow's account ran as follows.

Spar 24 feet long, 1, £0 15s 8d

Spars, 1½, £1 15s 5d

Masts and spars total, £2 11s 1d

Total, £2 11s 1d

James Powell, the storekeeper, signed the accounts at St Helena on 30 September 1765, reserving the right to correct any errors.

Interpretations

The quarter's records were divided between two officers, each answerable for a different kind of public property. Thomas Kirkpatrick signed for the cash on 30 September 1765, and James Powell signed for the stores on the same date. Each closed his account with the same reservation of errors, which allowed an auditor to correct mistakes without the signatory being held to have made a false return.

Powell's name had already appeared in Kirkpatrick's cash account, where he received £2 17s 0d for 15 waistcoats and 10 pairs of trousers supplied for the Company's slaves. The storekeeper responsible for the Company's goods was thus also selling clothing to the Company in a private capacity. Holding the warehouse keys while trading with the same employer gave him a position that the separate cash and store accounts were meant to keep under check.

The Fly was the same vessel whose carpentry and sail-making were paid for in the wage account earlier in 1765, there described as a schooner and here as a cutter. Both terms denoted small, fast vessels used for local work, a cutter having a single mast with a large fore-and-aft sail. A snow such as the Mercury was a two-masted vessel rigged like a brig, with a small extra mast stepped just behind the mainmast to carry a spanker sail. Spars of 22 and 24 feet were masts or yards for these small craft, too long to be cut from any tree on the island and so held in store for repairs.

143

138

21st October

Inventory of Stores remaining in the Honble Compys Ware

Houses the 30th September 1765 viz

Anchors viz

5 Anchors

1 Do on the West Rocks

3 Iron Hoops

2 Stocks

93 10 10

1 Anchor Stock 16 Feet long

6 3 7

1 Do 10 C 33 qrs 6

56 6 7

156 1

Bunting viz

10 Ps 30 1/2 Yds Red

7 1/2 Yds Do damagd

17

10 Ps 3 1/2 Yds Blue

1 Ps 36 1/4 Yds Do damagd

14 15 9

7 Ps 18 Yds White

2 Ps 42 1/4 Yds Do damagd

12

43 15 9

Broad Cloth viz

32 1/2 Yds Scarlet

2 1/2 Yds Do damaged

27 9 7

21 3/4 French Grey

19 8

10 Black

8 15

24 Blue

21 12

7 1/2 Dark Brown

6 11 3

23 1/2 Light Brown

24 2 9

108 7 3

Blankets 41

11 3 6

Buckram 8 Ps 7 1/4 Yds

9 3

Carried over

£ 323 12 6

Under the date 21 October, the record went on to an inventory of the stores remaining in the Honourable Company's warehouses on 30 September 1765.

Anchors, 5; anchor on the West Rocks, 1; iron hoops, 3; anchor stocks, 2; together, £93 10s 10d

Anchor stock 16 feet long, 1, £6 3s 7d

Anchor of 10 cwt 3 qr 6 lb, 1, £56 6s 7d

Anchors total, £156 1s 0d

Red bunting, 10 pieces and 30½ yards, with 7½ yards damaged, £17 0s 0d

Blue bunting, 10 pieces and 3½ yards, with 1 piece and 36¼ yards damaged, £14 15s 9d

White bunting, 7 pieces and 18 yards, with 2 pieces and 42¼ yards damaged, £12 0s 0d

Bunting total, £43 15s 9d

Scarlet broadcloth, 32½ yards, with 2½ yards damaged, £27 9s 7d

French grey broadcloth, 21¼ yards, £19 0s 8d

Black broadcloth, 10 yards, £8 15s 0d

Blue broadcloth, 24 yards, £21 12s 0d

Dark brown broadcloth, 7½ yards, £6 11s 3d

Light brown broadcloth, 23½ yards, £24 2s 9d

Broadcloth total, £108 7s 3d

Blankets, 41, £11 3s 6d

Buckram, 8 [...] and 7¼ yards, £0 9s 3d

Carried forward, £323 12s 6d

Interpretations

The closing inventory completed the quarter's store accounting. Powell had already listed every sale and every issue between 1 July and 30 September 1765, and this stocktaking put a money value on what was left. Set against the stock held at the start of the quarter and the goods received from ships, it allowed an auditor to check that nothing had gone missing from the warehouses unaccounted for.

Damaged goods stayed on the books rather than being written off. Bunting and scarlet broadcloth spoiled in store, perhaps by damp, moth or rough handling, were counted and valued alongside sound stock. This kept the storekeeper answerable for the full quantity in his charge and left any decision to discard or sell off spoiled goods to higher authority.

The anchors were held for ships rather than island use. A vessel that lost an anchor while riding in the road could draw a replacement from store before sailing on, and the heavy anchor of nearly 11 cwt, valued at more than £56, suited a large Company ship. The single anchor recorded on the West Rocks was perhaps set there as a fixed mooring point. An anchor stock was the crossbar fitted at the top of the shank, which turned the anchor so that one fluke dug into the seabed; a wooden stock 16 feet long belonged to a big anchor.

144

139

1765

Brought over

£ 323 12 6

Braziers Ware viz

9 Brass Skimmers at 2/9 1/4 each

1 2 4

1 Do Do @ 2/8 each

2 8

2 Do Do @ 14/4 each

1 8 8

1 Warming Pan

11 3

11 Hasty Do with Covers

14 7 11

2 Do Do without Do

1 9 8

12 Large Brass Cocks

2 13 4

12 Bottling Do

2 4

1 Boyling Pot of 8 Gall

2 2 5

1 Copper Kettle of 6 Do

1 13 5

2000 Brass Nails

17 8

1 Pr Candlesticks

7 8

3 Pr Steel Snuffers

1 4

3 Saucepans of 2 Gallons

3 6

5 Do of 1 1/2 Do

3 8 9

2 Do of 3/4 Do

16 6

2 1/2 Brass Wire

7 6

24 Copper Plate

1 13 9

4 Boilers for the Crane

4 10 7

2 1/2 Brass for Soldering

6 2

45 2 7

Books viz

13 Bibles

2 11 3

21 Common Prayr Books

2 13 8

14 Testaments

16 8

13 Primmers

3 9

6 10 4

Beef & Pork viz

49 Hhds 14 Ps Pork

599 9

49 Puncs 44 Ps Beef

645 11 1

1244 11 10

Carried over

£ 1624 17 3

The inventory of stores remaining in the Company's warehouses on 30 September 1765 continued with brass and copper wares, books and salt meat.

Brought forward, £323 12s 6d

Brass skimmers at 2s 9¼d each, 9, £1 2s 4d

Brass skimmer at 2s 8d, 1, £0 2s 8d

Brass skimmers at 11s 4d each, 2, £1 2s 8d

Warming pan, 1, £0 11s 3d

[...] pans with covers, 11, £14 17s 11d

[...] pans without covers, 2, £1 9s 8d

Large brass taps, 12, £2 13s 4d

Middling brass taps, 12, £2 0s 4d

Boiling pot holding 8 gallons, 1, £2 2s 5d

Copper kettle holding 6 gallons, 1, £1 13s 5d

Brass nails, 2,000, £0 17s 3d

Candlesticks, 1 pair, £0 7s 3d

Steel candle snuffers, 3 pairs, £1 4s 0d

Saucepans holding 2 gallons, 3, £3 6s 0d

Saucepans holding 1½ gallons, 5, £3 0s 9d

Saucepans holding ¾ gallon, 2, £0 16s 6d

Brass wire, 2½ lb, £0 7s 6d

Copper plate, 2½ [...], £1 13s 9d

Rollers for the crane, 4, £4 10s 7d

Brass for soldering, 2¾ lb, £0 6s 2d

Brass and copper wares total, £45 2s 7d

Bibles, 13, £2 11s 3d

Books of Common Prayer, 21, £2 13s 3d

New Testaments, 14, £0 16s 3d

Primers, 13, £0 3s 9d

Books total, £6 10s 4d

Salt pork, 49 hogsheads and 14 pieces, £599 0s 9d

Salt beef, 49 puncheons and 44 pieces, £645 11s 1d

Beef and pork total, £1,244 11s 10d

Carried forward, £1,624 17s 3d

Interpretations

Salt meat dominated the stock, worth £1,244 11s 10d against little more than £300 for everything listed before it. Set against the quarter's issues, the reserve was large. Servants bought 2,343 pieces of beef and pork, the ships took 13 puncheons of beef and 3 hogsheads of pork, and the slaves, the garrison and other departments drew more. Forty-nine casks of each meat still remained, enough to carry the island through several months without a fresh supply. Holding so much in reserve protected the settlement against delayed shipping, since St Helena depended on vessels from England for almost all its preserved food.

The four rollers for the crane pointed to a crane at the landing place for hoisting casks and heavy goods from boats. Rollers were laid under heavy loads so they could be moved along a wharf or up a slope, and their value of more than £4 showed they were substantial pieces, perhaps of iron or heavy timber.

A primer was a small elementary book used to teach children their letters and basic prayers, usually containing the alphabet, the Lord's Prayer and the catechism. With the spelling books sold during the quarter, the stock of primers, Bibles and prayer books showed the Company supplying the means of religious instruction and basic literacy on the island.

145

140

21st October

Brought over

£ 1624 17 3

Blocks viz

4 Iron bound Cat

1 5 8

2 Snatch Do

1 7 6

1 Do Single Do

5

4 Do dead Eyes

2 14 6

1 double Long Tackle

4 9

1 Do Block of 14 Inches

1 Do Do of 11 Do

12

1 Single Do of 14 Do

5

6 14 5

Copper Money 53960 Irish half pence

112 2 4

Coals 6 Chaldrons

13 4

Canvas viz

11 Ps 43 Yards English

23 15 7

2 Ps 34 Yds Osenbrigs

9 8 4

600 yards Tickg

31 10

64 13 11

Cordage

70 2 11 of 4 Inc

23 2 19 3 1/2

65 23 3 1/2

13 1 4 3

13 2 1/2

2 2 20 Twine Thread

196 1 23

360 17 12

Cart Wheels viz

3 Pr Cart Wheels

20 4 9

7 Wheel Barrows

4 13

9 Spare Sides

15

8 Axletrees

3 10 8

29 3 5

Carried over

£ 2212 3 6

The inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765, set down under the date 21 October, continued with ships' blocks, copper coin, coal, canvas, rope and wheeled equipment.

Brought forward, £1,624 17s 3d

Iron-bound cat blocks, 4, £1 5s 3d

Iron-bound snatch blocks, 2, £1 7s 6d

Iron-bound single block, 1, £0 5s 0d

Iron-bound deadeyes, 4, £2 14s 6d

Double long-tackle block, 1, £0 4s 9d

Double block of 14 inches, 1, and double block of 11 inches, 1, £0 12s 0d

Single block of 14 inches, 1, £0 5s 0d

Blocks total, £6 14s 5d

Irish copper halfpence, 53,910, £112 3s 4d

Coal, 6 chaldrons, £15 4s 0d

English canvas, 11 pieces and 4½ yards, £23 15s 7d

Osnaburg canvas, 2 pieces and 34 yards, £9 8s 4d

Ticklenburg linen, 600 yards, £31 10s 0d

Canvas total, £64 13s 11d

Rope of 4 inches, 70 cwt 2 qr 11 lb

Rope of 3¾ inches, 22 cwt 2 qr 19 lb

Rope of 3½ inches, 63 cwt 0 qr 23 lb

Rope of 3 inches, 18 cwt 1 qr 4 lb

Rope of 2½ inches, 13 cwt 0 qr 0 lb

[...] thread, 2 cwt 2 qr 20 lb

Rope total, 196 cwt 1 qr 23 lb, £360 17s 2d

Cart wheels, 3 pairs, £20 4s 9d

Wheelbarrows, 7, £4 13s 0d

Spare sides for wheelbarrows, 9, £0 15s 0d

Axletrees, 3, £3 10s 3d

Wheeled equipment total, £29 3s 5d

Carried forward, £2,212 3s 6d

Interpretations

The store held 53,910 Irish copper halfpence, worth £112 3s 4d. The Company kept small change as a stock in its warehouse rather than leaving the island to rely on whatever coin passing ships brought. Wages, store sales and countless small payments recorded through the quarter were reckoned in pence and halfpence, and a remote island with no mint needed a reserve of low-value coin to keep them flowing. Irish halfpence were lighter and cheaper to obtain than English copper, which made them a practical choice for a colony where the Company controlled what passed as money.

Rope was the most valuable single stock after the salt meat, at over £360 for more than 196 cwt. Rope was graded by its circumference in inches, so the 4-inch and 3½-inch sizes that made up the bulk of the stock were heavy cables and hawsers for mooring and rigging large ships. Together with the anchors and blocks, it showed the warehouse holding a ship chandler's reserve for vessels arriving damaged from the long passage.

Ships' blocks were pulleys used in rigging and for hoisting. A cat block raised the anchor to the cathead at the bow, a snatch block had a side opening so a rope could be dropped in without threading the end through, and deadeyes were round wooden blocks with three holes used to set up the shrouds supporting a mast. Ticklenburg was a coarse, unbleached linen named after the German district of Tecklenburg, widely used for slave clothing, sacks and bedding.

146

141

1765

Brought over

£ 2212 3 6

Cutlery Ware viz

12 Horse Combs

3 2

17 Shoe Knives

5 8

3 Butchers Do

11

3 doz Ivory Handle Knives & Forks

4 13

1 Do Horn Do & Do

9 4

11 Cases Steams

1 10 3

4 Chopping Knives

5 10

21 doz & 11 Pr Shoe Buckles

25 12

29 Do Knee Do

1 5 11

11 doz & 4 Pr Leather Garters damaged

2 doz 1 Pr Do good

2 6 6

36 12 5

Camblet viz

7 Yds Blue

16 1/2 Do damaged

1 1 4

7 3

17 1/4 Do Scarlet

3 4

11 8 4

Corks 53 3/4 Gross

6 7 2

Deals viz

134 Double Deals

22 17 10

267 Single Do

29 9 7

10 Wainscot Boards

3 7 6

3 Elm Do

1 7 10

4 Pr Ash plank

9 12

1 Elm Do

17 6

2 Oak Do of 4 Inches

2 14

1 1/2 Do Do of 5 Do

3 6 6

3/4 Do Do of 6 Do

1 13 3

4 8/12 Pr Riga Timber

12 1 4

Deals Carried over

£ 87 7 4

Carried over

£ 2266 11 11

The inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with cutlery and small leather goods, camlet, corks and a large stock of timber.

Brought forward, £2,212 3s 6d

Horse combs, 12, £0 3s 2d

Shoemakers' knives, 17, £0 3s 8d

Butchers' knives, 3, £0 0s 11d

Ivory-handled knives and forks, 3 dozen, £4 13s 0d

Horn-handled knives and forks, 1 dozen, £0 9s 4d

Cases of fleams, 11, £1 10s 3d

Chopping knives, 4, £0 5s 10d

Shoe buckles, 31 dozen and 11 pairs, £25 12s 0d

Knee buckles, 27 pairs, £1 5s 11d

Leather garters, 11 dozen and 4 pairs damaged, and 2 dozen and 1 pair sound, £2 6s 6d

Cutlery total, £36 12s 5d

Blue camlet, 7 yards, £1 1s 4d

Blue camlet, damaged, 16½ yards, £7 3s 0d

Scarlet camlet, 17¼ yards, £3 4s 0d

Camlet total, £11 8s 4d

Corks, 53½ gross, £6 7s 2d

Double deals, 134, £22 17s 10d

Single deals, 267, £29 9s 7d

Wainscot boards, 10, £3 7s 6d

Elm boards, 5, £1 7s 10d

Ash plank, 4 pieces, £9 12s 0d

Elm plank, 1 piece, £0 17s 6d

Oak plank 4 inches thick, 2 pieces, £2 14s 0d

Oak plank 5 inches thick, 1½ pieces, £3 6s 6d

Oak plank 6 inches thick, ¾ piece, £1 13s 3d

Riga timber, 4⅗ pieces, £12 1s 4d

Timber carried forward, £87 7s 4d

Carried forward, £2,266 11s 11d

Interpretations

The stock of shoe buckles showed how slowly some goods moved through the store. Nearly 400 pairs remained on hand, valued at £25 12s 0d, while the servants bought only a single pair in the whole quarter. Buckles were fashion goods shipped out in bulk, and once buyers on the island had what they needed the surplus sat in the warehouse for years. Every unsold pair kept the Company's money tied up in stock that earned nothing.

The same pattern held for the fleams. Eleven cases remained, against one case issued to the general charges for bleeding cattle during the quarter, so the store held enough for years of ordinary use. The large reserves of timber, by contrast, reflected steady demand from the building programme, which consumed deals and plank in quantity every quarter.

Wainscot was quartersawn oak, cut so the grain showed a fine figure, imported chiefly from the Baltic and used for panelling rooms and making good furniture. Knee buckles fastened breeches below the knee, and leather garters held up stockings, both standard parts of men's dress. A horse comb was a currycomb for grooming, and shoemakers' knives had short, stout blades for cutting and paring leather.

147

142

21st October

Brought over

£ 2266 11 11

Deals brought over

£ 87 7 4

1 Pr Barrack Oak Plank

1 0 9

21 1/2 Coffins

4 7 9

1 Baulk

3 10

93 10 8

Earthen Ware viz

77 Milk Pans

3 1

1 Collering Do

4 3

6 Cheese Steel Do

2 Do Do Do broke

1 6 3

4 12 4

Flour 371

302 19 3

Grindstone viz

1 @ 6/1 1/2

6 1 1/2

2 @ 2/9 1/4

5 6 1/2

11 8

Glass Ware viz

77 Wine Glasses

2 4 11

23 Wine & Water Do

1 9 2

9 Quart decanters

1 11 6

10 Pt Do

1 3 4

5 Cruets

5

3 Four Hour Glasses

10

1 Three Do Do

3 4

8 Half Do Do

3 2

11 Do Minute Do

5 9

3 Pr Salts @ 3/3

1 4 9

2 Pr Do @ 6/ 1/2

12 1

5 Candle Shades

1 9 3

Glass Ware Carried over

£ 11 12 3

Carried over

£ 2668 6 3

Under the date 21 October, the inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with the last of the timber, earthenware, flour, grindstones and glass.

Brought forward, £2,266 11s 11d

Timber brought forward, £87 7s 4d

Danzig oak plank, 1 piece, £1 0s 9d

[...], 21½, £4 7s 9d

Baulk of timber, 1, £0 3s 10d

Timber total, £93 10s 8d

Milk pans, 77, £3 1s 0d

Colander, 1, £0 4s 3d

Close-stool pans, 6, and 2 broken, together £1 6s 3d

Earthenware total, £4 12s 4d

Flour, 371 cwt, £302 19s 3d

Grindstone at 6s 1½d, 1, £0 6s 1½d

Grindstones at 2s 9¼d each, 2, £0 5s 6½d

Grindstones total, £0 11s 8d

Wine glasses, 77, £2 4s 11d

Wine-and-water glasses, 23, £1 9s 2d

Quart decanters, 9, £1 11s 6d

Pint decanters, 10, £1 3s 4d

Glass urinals, 5, £0 5s 0d

Four-hour glasses, 3, £0 10s 0d

Three-hour glass, 1, £0 3s 4d

Half-hour glasses, 8, £0 3s 2d

Minute glasses, 11, £0 5s 9d

Salt cellars at 8s 3d a pair, 3 pairs, £1 4s 9d

Salt cellars at 6s 0½d a pair, 2 pairs, £0 12s 1d

Candle shades, 5, £1 9s 3d

Glassware carried forward, £11 12s 3d

Carried forward, £2,668 6s 3d

Interpretations

Flour was the second largest stock after salt meat, at 371 cwt worth £302 19s 3d. Grain grew poorly on the island, so bread depended on flour shipped out in casks, and the Company held a reserve large enough to bridge long gaps between supply ships. Together the meat and flour accounted for well over half the value of the whole inventory, which showed the warehouse's first purpose as a food reserve for a settlement that could not feed itself.

The sand glasses of different lengths formed a set for timekeeping at sea and ashore. Four-hour glasses measured a full watch aboard ship, half-hour glasses marked the bells within it, and minute glasses were used with the log line, sold during the quarter, to time how fast the knotted line ran out and so reckon a ship's speed. Without clocks reliable enough for shipboard use, these glasses were standard equipment that vessels needed to replace.

The 77 milk pans pointed to dairying on the island. They were wide, shallow earthenware dishes in which fresh milk was left to stand so the cream rose and could be skimmed off for butter, which fitted the Company's own cattle recorded in the plantation account. Close-stool pans were the earthenware vessels set inside a close stool, a boxed seat used as an indoor privy. Glass urinals served for the sick, letting a physician examine a patient's urine, a standard part of diagnosis at the time, while wine-and-water glasses were tall glasses for drinking wine diluted with water.

148

143

1765

Brought over

£ 2668 6 3

Glass Ware brought over

£ 11 12 3

136 Sqr Glass 10 by 12

2 4 4

134 Sqr 8 by 10

6 13

51 Sqr 6 by 8

19 2

27 13 9

Hats viz

12 Mens Hats

10 11

14 Boys Do

4 5 2

14 16 2

Haberdashery viz

12 1/2 Whale Bone

1 1/4 Do Do damaged

3 12 6

9 9 Silk

17 4 7

11 Mohair

16 16 9

7 Pr Carnatn Tape

3 11

Gro doz 19 11 Mohair Coat Buttons

7 16 4

2 3 Do Br Do

9

38 doz Silver Wire C Do

8 14 2

5 1/2 doz Do Do Br Do

11 11

64 doz Do Coat Do

5 7 1

52 doz Do Breast Do

2 4

3 1/2 doz Do Coat Do

2 10

8 doz yellow Mett C Do

4

63 Gro Horn Moulds

7 3 6

3 doz Silver Breast Buttons

6 1

7 1/2 doz Gilt Coat Do

1 2 10

4 doz Do Breast Do

6 1

110 Cockades

1 14 4

3 Gro Worsted Lace

2 11

7 Pr Union Cord

15 9

Haberdashery Carried over

£ 77 12 8

Carried over

£ 2710 16 2

The inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with window glass, hats and a large stock of sewing goods and buttons.

Brought forward, £2,668 6s 3d

Glassware brought forward, £11 12s 3d

Window panes, 10 by 12 inches, 136, £8 4s 4d

Window panes, 8 by 10 inches, 184, £6 12s 0d

Window panes, 6 by 8 inches, 51, £0 19s 2d

Glassware total, £27 13s 9d

Men's hats, 12, £10 11s 0d

Boys' hats, 14, £4 5s 2d

Hats total, £14 16s 2d

Whalebone, 12½ lb, with 1¼ lb damaged, £3 12s 6d

Sewing silk, 9 lb 9 oz, £17 4s 7d

Mohair thread, 11 lb, £16 16s 9d

Carnation tape, 7 pieces, £0 3s 11d

Mohair coat buttons, 19 gross 11 dozen, £7 16s 4d

Mohair waistcoat buttons, 2 gross 3 dozen, £0 9s 0d

Silver wire coat buttons, 33 dozen, £8 14s 2d

Silver wire waistcoat buttons, 5½ dozen, £0 11s 11d

Silver wire coat buttons, 64 dozen, £5 7s 1d

Silver wire waistcoat buttons, 52 dozen, £2 4s 0d

Silver wire coat buttons, 3½ dozen, £0 2s 10d

Yellow metal coat buttons, 8 dozen, £0 4s 0d

Horn button moulds, 65 gross, £7 3s 6d

Silver waistcoat buttons, 3 dozen, £0 6s 1d

Gilt coat buttons, 7½ dozen, £1 2s 10d

Gilt waistcoat buttons, 4 dozen, £0 6s 1d

Cockades, 140, £1 14s 4d

Worsted braid, 3 gross, £2 11s 0d

Union cord, 7 pieces, £0 15s 9d

Sewing goods carried forward, £77 12s 8d

Carried forward, £2,710 16s 2d

Interpretations

The 140 cockades pointed to military dress. A cockade was a rosette or knot of ribbon worn on the side of a hat, and in the British service it was black, marking the wearer as a soldier or officer of the Crown. Holding so many in store let the garrison replace worn or lost hat badges on its own uniforms without waiting for a ship.

Whalebone was baleen, the flexible horny plates from the mouths of certain whales, cut into strips to stiffen women's stays, bodices and hooped petticoats. Its presence in the store, with silk, mohair and button moulds, showed that the island's women had their clothes and underpinnings made up locally from imported materials. Worsted braid was narrow woollen braid for binding and trimming garments, while union cord was a cord made from mixed fibres, usually linen and cotton twisted together.

149

144

21st October

Brought over

£ 2710 16 2

[...] brought over

£ 77 12 8

[...]

1 3

[...] Thread

16 6

[...] Tabby

11 13 7

2 Ps White Buckram

1 10 11

92 14 4

Hosiers Ware viz

28 Pr Girls Stockings

22 Pr Do Do damaged

5 10 5

3 Pr Womens Do

3 Pr Do Do damaged

1 4 3

26 Pr Mens Cotton Stockings

3 17 3

25 Pr Fine Thread Do

7 10

98 Pr Do Ordinary Do Do

14 3 9

1 Pr Do Wove Do

3 7

17 Pr Do Knit Do

2 11

20 Pr Boys Do Do

4 Pr Do Do damaged

2 7

4 Pr Scarlet Worsted Breeches

2 2

44 10 1

Hooks & Lines viz

600 No 9

12700 1

200 2

3500 11

2750 12

3350 13

1000 15

625 14

Hooks

13 4

30 3 3

9

2 13 3

1 13 3

1 6 6

7 1

3

Hooks and Lines Carrd Over

£ 37 12 10

Carrd Over

£ 2848 7

Under the date 21 October, the inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with the remaining sewing goods, stockings and breeches, and the stock of fish hooks.

Brought forward, £2,710 16s 2d

Sewing goods brought forward, £77 12s 8d

[...], 3 [...], £1 0s 3d

[...] thread, [...], £0 16s 6d

Tabby silk, [...], £11 13s 7d

White buckram, 2 pieces, £1 10s 11d

Sewing goods total, £92 14s 4d

Girls' stockings, 28 pairs, with 22 pairs damaged, £5 10s 5d

Women's stockings, 5 pairs, with 5 pairs damaged, £1 4s 3d

Men's cotton stockings, 26 pairs, £3 17s 3d

Men's fine thread stockings, 25 pairs, £7 10s 0d

Men's ordinary thread stockings, 98 pairs, £14 3s 9d

Men's worsted stockings, 1 pair, £0 3s 7d

Men's knitted stockings, 1 pair, £0 2s 11d

Boys' stockings, 20 pairs, with 4 pairs damaged, £2 7s 0d

Scarlet worsted breeches, 4 pairs, £2 2s 0d

Hosiery total, £44 10s 1d

Number 9 fish hooks, 600, £0 13s 4d

Number 1 fish hooks, 12,700, £30 3s 3d

Number 2 fish hooks, 200, £0 0s 9d

Number 11 fish hooks, 3,500, £2 13s 3d

Number 12 fish hooks, 2,750, £1 13s 3d

Number 13 fish hooks, 3,350, £1 6s 6d

Number 15 fish hooks, 1,000, £0 7s 1d

Number 14 fish hooks, 625, £0 5s 0d

Hooks and lines carried forward, £37 12s 10d

Carried forward, £2,848 0s 7d

Interpretations

The store held almost 25,000 fish hooks, more than half of them the large number 1 size. Set against the quarter's issues, about 4,000 hooks sold to servants, more than 1,300 at the 40 per cent rate and some 1,600 issued to the slave fishermen, the stock covered roughly three quarters of ordinary demand. The size mix had shifted, however. Only 600 number 9 hooks remained after heavy sales of that size to every class of buyer, while number 1 hooks, used for larger fish, had built up in quantity, which suggested the island's fishermen worked mainly with the smaller sizes and the large hooks moved slowly.

Damaged hosiery, like the damaged cloth and garters on earlier pages, was counted with sound stock under a single value. Girls' stockings stood out, with 22 of the 50 pairs spoiled, perhaps by moth or damp in the warehouse during the island's cooler, wetter winter months.

150

145

1765

Brought over

£ 2848 7

Hooks & Lines brought over

£ 37 12 10

1000 No 5 Hooks

18 7

32 1/2 doz No 2

18 1/2 doz 3

33 1/2 doz 4

Lines

5 13 9

3 12 10

8 2

12 Hambro Do

12

8 Deep Sea Do

2

5 1/2 Knot Sash Do

6 1

21 Whip Cord

3 2 7

62 6 8

Iron and Steel viz

74 2 6 Iron

18 2 11

1 1 8 Steel

2 17 5

21 4

Iron Ware viz

2 Iron rimd Locks A

2 5

1 Do Do B

1 1 1

2 Do Do D

2 4 2

1 No 2

17 8

34 Iron rimd Locks wth Brass Knobs

11 4

15 S Bolt Do

5 10

18 Chest Do

2 14

30 Cupboard Do

4 5

13 Splinter Do

8 7

6 Barrk door Do

1 10

11 Do Do Do wth Br Knobs

4 2 6

4 Do Do Cupboard Do

5 6

22 Stock Locks

4

50 Lead Nails damaged

1 2 11

46 Pr Shutter Hinges

4 16 9

Iron Ware Carried over

£ 46 2 11

Carried Over

£ 2931 7 7

The inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with fishing and other lines, bar iron and steel, and a large stock of locks and hinges.

Brought forward, £2,848 0s 7d

Hooks and lines brought forward, £37 12s 10d

Number 5 fish hooks, 1,000, £0 12s 7d

Number 2 fishing lines, 32½ dozen, £5 13s 9d

Number 3 fishing lines, 18½ dozen, £3 12s 10d

Number 4 fishing lines, 33½ dozen, £8 2s 0d

Hambro lines, 12, £0 18s 0d

Deep-sea lines, 8, £2 0s 0d

Sash line, 5½ knots, £0 6s 1d

Whipcord, 21 lb, £3 2s 7d

Hooks and lines total, £62 6s 8d

Bar iron, 14 cwt 2 qr 6 lb, £18 2s 11d

Steel, 1 cwt 1 qr 8 lb, £2 17s 5d

Iron and steel total, £21 0s 4d

Iron-rimmed locks marked A, 2, £2 0s 5d

Iron-rimmed lock marked B, 1, £1 1s 1d

Iron-rimmed locks marked D, 2, £2 4s 2d

Iron-rimmed lock number 2, 1, £0 17s 8d

Iron-rimmed locks with brass knobs, 34, £11 4s 0d

Spring-bolt locks, 15, £5 10s 0d

Chest locks, 18, £2 14s 0d

Cupboard locks, 30, £4 5s 0d

[...] locks, 13, £0 8s 7d

Partition door locks, 6, £1 10s 0d

Partition door locks with brass knobs, 11, £4 2s 6d

Partition cupboard locks, 4, £0 5s 6d

Stock locks, 22, £4 0s 0d

Lead nails, damaged, 50 lb, £1 2s 11d

Shutter hinges, 46 pairs, £4 16s 9d

Ironmongery carried forward, £46 2s 11d

Carried forward, £2,931 7s 7d

Interpretations

The stock of 21 lb of whipcord held in reserve, against the 2 lb issued for whips during the quarter, showed that the means of punishment were kept on hand like any other routine supply. The same store held 160 locks of different kinds, which matched the heavy demand for locks among servants recorded earlier and the padlock issued for the slaves' house.

Deep-sea lines were long, heavily weighted sounding lines used from a ship to measure the depth of water far from shore and to bring up samples of the seabed. Lead nails were soft nails of lead, or iron nails with lead heads, used to fix sheet lead on roofs and gutters, where ordinary iron would rust and stain the metal. Bar iron and steel were the raw stock for the island's smiths and armourers, worked into tools, fittings and gun parts as the need arose.

151

146

1765

Brought over

£ 2931 7 7

Iron Ware brought over

£ 46 2 7

46 Brass Rings

3 6

2 Pr Planking Cards

12 8 1/2

82 Pr Barrk Hinges

6 16 8

16 Broad Hoes

1 13 7

14 Garden Do

16 4

3 Grubbg Do

8 9

33 Pr Sheep Shears

2 1 11

10 Adzes

1 15 2

9 Gouges

3 1

4 Edging Irons

13 3

1 Tursing Do

2 11 1/2

10 Pick Axes

1 11 3

1 Auger

5 1/2

24 Paper Bills

7 6

37 Helves

1 1 7

5 Do for Hand Hatchets

1 3

2 Plaisterers Trowels

3 4

3 Brick layers Do

4 9

159 Packing Needles

1 3 2

10 Pr H Hinges with rising Joints

1 11 8

11 Pr Shutter Hinges

1 4 9

1 Pr Side Do

1

39 Pr H Hinges

3 5

16 Scythes

4 4 5

16 Do Stones

3

3 Pr Stone Saw heads

16 4 1/2

3 Stones Do

13 6

1 Whip Do

2 9 6

3 Cross Cut

3 7 3

Iron Ware Carrd Over

£ 85 3

Carrd over

£ 2931 7 7

The inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with the long run of ironmongery, chiefly hinges, farm and garden tools, and woodworking and masonry tools.

Brought forward, £2,931 7s 7d

Ironmongery brought forward, £46 2s 11d

Brass rings, 46, £0 3s 6d

[...] cards, 2 pairs, £0 12s 3½d

[...] hinges, 82 pairs, £6 16s 3d

Broad hoes, 16, £1 13s 7d

Garden hoes, 14, £0 16s 4d

Grubbing hoes, 3, £0 8s 9d

Sheep shears, 33 pairs, £2 1s 11d

Adzes, 10, £1 15s 2d

Gouges, 9, £0 3s 1d

Edging irons, 4, £0 13s 3d

Turfing iron, 1, £0 2s 11½d

Pickaxes, 10, £1 11s 3d

Auger, 1, £0 0s 5½d

[...] bills, 24, £0 7s 6d

Tool handles, 37, £1 1s 7d

Handles for hand hatchets, 5, £0 1s 3d

Plasterers' trowels, 2, £0 3s 4d

Bricklayers' trowels, 3, £0 4s 9d

Packing needles, 159, £1 3s 2d

H hinges with rising joints, 10 pairs, £1 11s 8d

Shutter hinges, 11 pairs, £1 4s 9d

Side hinges, 1 pair, £0 1s 0d

H hinges, 39 pairs, £3 5s 0d

Scythes, 16, £4 4s 5d

Scythe stones, 16, £0 3s 0d

Stone saw handles, 3 pairs, £0 16s 8½d

Stone saws, 3, £0 13s 6d

Whipsaw, 1, £2 9s 6d

Crosscut saws, 3, £0 17s 3d

Ironmongery carried forward, £85 0s 3d

Carried forward, £2,931 7s 7d

Interpretations

The farm tools in store showed how the island's land was worked. Broad hoes and grubbing hoes broke ground and cleared roots, edging irons cut neat borders to beds and paths, and a turfing iron, a flat spade with a bent handle, lifted turf in sheets. Thirty-three pairs of sheep shears pointed to flocks large enough to need regular shearing, which fitted the pastures and livestock recorded in the plantation account.

H hinges with rising joints had a spiral knuckle that lifted the door slightly as it opened, so it cleared a carpet or uneven floor and swung shut under its own weight. The whipsaw and crosscut saws covered the two main ways of cutting timber: a whipsaw was a long framed saw worked by two men to rip logs lengthwise into planks over a pit, while a crosscut saw cut across the grain to length. An adze was a cutting tool with an arched blade set at right angles to the handle, used to shape and dress beams.

152

147

1765

Brought over

£ 2931 7 7

Iron brought over

£ 85 3

4 Gun Smiths Saws

2 15

2 Joyners Rubstones

6 10

5 Pruning Saws

7 6

1 Hand Do

7 7

3 Joyners Hatchets

6

27 Hand Do

2 7 3

83 Gimblets

1 2

4 Stone Wedges

2 8

9 Jack Spits

2 11 7

40 Sail Needles

459 Do Do damaged

2 2

113 Files

2 16 6

9 Smiths Rubbers

2 3 11

2 Spades

12

24 Ditching Shovels

5 6 2

17 Setting Hamrs

5 14 10

9 Drill Boxes

1 1 1/2

1 Bill Hook

2 3 1/2

63 Masons Tools

4 5 4

93 doz Wood Screws

1 12

1 Pr Dovetail Hinges

4 5

1 Large Jack

7 10 2

1 Midling Do

4 18

4 Small Do

10 1 10

2 Pr Fryg Pans

3 11

3 Mauls

1 4 7 1/2

8 Pr Hand Bellows

1 11 8

2 Pr Smiths Do

10 7 10

3 Corn Emery

2 7

Iron Ware Carried over

£ 156 3 3 1/2

Carried over

£ 2931 7 7

The inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with tools for smiths, joiners and masons, and with roasting jacks and bellows.

Brought forward, £2,931 7s 7d

Ironmongery brought forward, £85 0s 3d

Gunsmiths' saws, 4, £2 15s 0d

Joiners' rubstones, 2, £0 6s 10d

[...] saws, 5, £0 7s 6d

Handsaw, 1, £0 7s 7d

Joiners' hatchets, 3, £0 6s 0d

Hand hatchets, 27, £2 7s 3d

Gimlets, 83, £1 0s 2d

Stone wedges, 4, £0 2s 3d

Jack spits, 9, £2 11s 7d

Sail needles, 40, with 459 damaged, £2 2s 0d

Files, 113, £2 16s 6d

Smiths' rubbing files, 9, £2 5s 11d

Spades, [...], £0 12s 0d

Ditching shovels, 24, £5 6s 2d

[...] hammers, 17, £5 14s 10d

Drill boxes, 9, £3 1s 1½d

Billhook, 1, £0 2s 3½d

Masons' tools, 63, £4 5s 4d

Wood screws, 9 dozen, £1 12s 0d

Dovetail hinges, 1 pair, £0 1s 5d

Large roasting jack, 1, £7 10s 2d

Middling roasting jack, 1, £4 18s 0d

Small roasting jacks, 4, £10 1s 10d

Frying pans, 2, £0 3s 11d

Mauls, 3, £1 4s 7½d

Hand bellows, 8 pairs, £1 11s 3d

Smiths' bellows, 2 pairs, £10 7s 10d

Corn emery, 3 lb, £0 2s 1d

Ironmongery carried forward, £136 3s 3½d

Carried forward, £2,931 7s 7d

Interpretations

The roasting jacks were among the costliest single tools in store, the six together worth more than £22. A jack was a clockwork device driven by a falling weight, which turned a spit slowly before an open fire so meat roasted evenly without a servant turning it by hand. The nine jack spits held with them were the iron rods that carried the joint, and their presence showed the Company equipping kitchens for roasting fresh meat in the better households and the castle.

Smiths' bellows were large, paired leather bellows mounted beside a forge to drive air through the fire and raise the heat needed to work iron. At more than £10 for two pairs, they were expensive equipment held against the failure of those in use at the armourers' and smiths' shops. Corn emery was emery ground to a coarse grain, used with oil to scour and polish metal, and drill boxes held the bits for a bow drill such as the one issued to the armourers during the quarter.

The 459 damaged sail needles far outnumbered the 40 sound ones. Steel needles rusted readily in a damp warehouse, and their survival on the books showed again how spoiled stock stayed in the storekeeper's charge rather than being written off.

153

148

1765

Brought over

£ 2931 7 7

Iron Ware brought over

£ 156 3 3 1/2

10 1/2 Flour Emery

4 6

13 1/2 Spelter

1 9 1

5 3/4 Borax

4 4 2

5 Wire Rat Traps

1 9 7

31 Spring Do Do

2 14 3

3 Box Irons

1 1 6

6 1/2 Case Hardening

12

3 Plaisterers Sives

1 11

4 Coffee Mills

1 10 9

6 Chaffing Dishes

2

3 Plane Irons

1

10 Sets Jack Wheels

3 7 3

11 Jack Chains

19

4 Jacks Weights & Shifters

1 16

28 Squared Squares

1 14 5

65 Blank Keys

2 7 4

3 Drill Strings

12

221 plate Iron

4 2 10

9 1/2 Rod Do

2 2

4 Hash pans

1 Sauce Pan

Hamd Iron

3 10 2

11 2 1/2

12 Scrapers

1 3

1 Claw Hamer

1 6

50 File Hafts

3 2

1 Standing Vice

1 13 1

1 Pr Screw Stocks

11 7

10 Sickles

3 9

5 Iron Bindg Wire

5

Iron Ware Carrd Over

£ 196 7 3

Carried Over

£ 2931 7 7

The inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with more ironmongery, including spare parts for roasting jacks, smiths' materials and kitchen wares.

Brought forward, £2,931 7s 7d

Ironmongery brought forward, £136 3s 3½d

Stone emery, 10½ lb, £0 4s 6d

Spelter, 13½ lb, £1 9s 1d

Borax, 5¼ lb, £4 4s 2d

Wire rat traps, 5, £1 9s 7d

Spring rat traps, 31, £2 14s 3d

Box irons, 3, £1 1s 6d

Case-hardening compound, 6 lb, £0 12s 0d

Plasterers' sieves, 3, £1 11s 0d

Coffee mills, 4, £1 10s 9d

Chafing dishes, 6, £2 0s 0d

Plane irons, 3, £0 1s 0d

Roasting jack wheels, 10 sets, £3 7s 3d

Roasting jack chains, 11, £0 19s 0d

Roasting jack weights and [...], 4, £1 16s 0d

[...] squares, 28, £1 14s 5d

Blank keys, 65, £2 7s 4d

Drill strings, 3 [...], £0 12s 0d

Plate iron, 221 lb, £4 2s 10d

Rod iron, 9½ lb, £0 2s 2d

[...] pans of hammered iron, 4, £3 10s 2d

Saucepan of hammered iron, 1, £0 11s 2½d

[...], 12, £1 0s 3d

Claw hammer, 1, £0 1s 6d

File handles, 50, £0 3s 2d

Standing vice, 1, £1 13s 1d

Screw stocks, 1 pair, £0 11s 7d

Sickles, 10, £0 8s 9d

Iron binding wire, 5 lb, £0 5s 0d

Ironmongery carried forward, £196 7s 3d

Carried forward, £2,931 7s 7d

Interpretations

The spare wheels, chains and weights for roasting jacks showed the store keeping parts to repair the clockwork jacks listed on the previous page rather than replacing whole machines. Blank keys served the same purpose for the large stock of locks, letting a smith cut a new key to fit a lock whose original had been lost.

Case-hardening compound was a mixture, usually of charcoal, bone or horn, packed round iron and heated so that carbon entered the surface and turned it to a thin skin of hard steel. Smiths used it for tools, gun parts and lock mechanisms that needed a hard wearing face over a tough core. Screw stocks were the frames holding dies for cutting threads on bolts, and a standing vice was a heavy vice fixed to a bench with a leg running to the floor, able to take the hammering of a smith's work.

The four coffee mills fitted the coffee sold to servants and planters during the quarter. Coffee was bought as whole roasted or green beans, and each household ground its own in a small hand mill as it brewed.

154

149

1765

Brought over

£ 2931 7 7

Iron Ware brought over

£ 196 7 3

8 Garden Rakes

19 4

13 Rag Stones

4

2 Cast Back for a Forge

1 17 4

9 Drill Bows

1 3

200 8 2

Iron Kettles 3

6 15 2

Kersey viz

7 Ps 23 Yds Kersey

16 13 8

2 Ps 10 Yds Baize

7 5

23 18 8

Leather viz

3 3 7 Sole

20 4

15 Calf

7 9 5

27 9 9

Lead viz

2 1 Shot

2 5 10

10 Yds 2 Inch pipe

4 15 6

7 1 4

Long Ells 16 1/2 Yds Blue

1 7 6

Nails viz

4 1 6 2

16 11 4 1/2

13 18 3

53 12 7

3 3 21 4

12 17 3

14 24 6

41 9 2

13 2 2 10

33 2 4 1/2

6 1 19 20

13 9 7 1/2

6 3 40

11 19 9

Nails Carried over

£ 183 2 1 1/2

Carried over

£ 3198 3 2

The inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with the last of the ironmongery and went on to kettles, woollen cloth, leather, lead and a heavy stock of nails.

Brought forward, £2,931 7s 7d

Ironmongery brought forward, £196 7s 3d

Garden rakes, 8, £0 19s 4d

Ragstones, 12, £0 4s 0d

Cast-iron backs for a forge, 2, £1 17s 4d

Drill bows, 9, £1 0s 3d

Ironmongery total, £200 8s 2d

Iron kettles, 3, £6 15s 2d

Kersey, 7 pieces and 23 yards, £16 13s 8d

Baize, 2 pieces and 10 yards, £7 5s 0d

Kersey and baize total, £23 18s 8d

Sole leather, 3 cwt 3 qr 7 lb, £20 0s 4d

Calfskins, 15, £7 9s 5d

Leather total, £27 9s 9d

Lead shot, 2 cwt 1 qr 0 lb, £2 5s 10d

Lead pipe 2 inches wide, 10 yards, £4 15s 6d

Lead total, £7 1s 4d

Blue long ells, 16½ yards, £1 7s 6d

Twopenny nails, 4 cwt 1 qr 6 lb, £16 11s 4½d

Threepenny nails, 13 cwt 0 qr 15 lb, £55 12s 7d

Fourpenny nails, 3 cwt 3 qr 21 lb, £12 17s 3d

Sixpenny nails, 14 cwt 0 qr 24 lb, £41 9s 2d

Tenpenny nails, 13 cwt 2 qr 2 lb, £33 2s 4½d

Twentypenny nails, 6 cwt 1 qr 19 lb, £13 9s 7½d

Fortypenny nails, 6 cwt 0 qr 3 lb, £11 19s 3d

Nails carried forward, £183 2s 1½d

Carried forward, £3,198 8s 2d

Interpretations

The store held more than 61 cwt of nails worth £183 2s 1½d, far beyond the few hundredweight sold and issued during the quarter. Every nail for the island's houses, barracks, boats and fortifications had to come from England, and the Company kept years of supply on hand so the building programme at Banks's, the castle and the barracks never stalled for want of them.

The 10 yards of 2-inch lead pipe pointed to piped water at some point in the settlement, perhaps carrying water from a spring or cistern to the town, the castle or the landing place for watering ships. Lead was the standard material for such pipes because it could be bent and joined on site.

The cast-iron backs for a forge were thick plates set behind the hearth to protect the brickwork from the intense heat of the fire. The nearly 4 cwt of sole leather and 15 calfskins showed that shoemaking and mending went on locally despite the large stock of imported shoes, since leather in the hide let a cobbler resole and repair footwear that would otherwise be thrown away.

155

150

21st October

Brought over

£ 3198 3 2

Nails brought Over

£ 183 2 1 1/2

3 3 Scupper

2 3

2 12 Coopers Rivets

5 8 2

1 Glazr Brads

2 8 5

1/2 Tacks

11 1/2

3 Barrack Nails

1 8

3 3 Flooring Brads

1 9

6 2 2 Spikes

11 10

3 24 Clench

2 9 6

209 16 5

Masts viz

1 Teak Top Mast

7

1 Bow Sprit

8 10 6

1 Boom

5 10

2 Top Masts 11 Inc diamr 53 Feet Long

6 1

1 Bow Sprit 16 Do 34 Do

7

1 Top Mast 10 Do 31 Do

2 10

1 Sprit Sail Yd 7 1/2 Do 32 Do

1 5

1 Spar for a Stey Yard 22 Do

15 7

1 Fore Mast 15 1/2 Inc diamr 49 Do

7 10

1 Oak Cheek

1 10 3

1 Main Cap

1 5 4

43 17 8

Oil viz

220 Gall Train

46 19 2

663 Do Linseed

131 10 3

161 Bottles Florence

21 5 3

199 14 8

Oars 67

13 1

Carried over

£ 3669 17 11

Under the date 21 October, the inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with specialised nails, a stock of masts and spars for shipping, oil and oars.

Brought forward, £3,198 8s 2d

Nails brought forward, £183 2s 1½d

Scupper nails, 0 cwt 3 qr 3 lb, £2 0s 3d

Coopers' rivets, 2 cwt 0 qr 12 lb, £5 8s 2d

Glaziers' brads, 0 cwt 1 qr 0 lb, £2 8s 5d

Tacks, ¾ lb, £0 0s 11½d

Barrack nails, 0 cwt 3 qr 0 lb, £1 8s 0d

Floor brads, 0 cwt 3 qr 3 lb, £1 9s 0d

Spikes, 6 cwt 2 qr 2 lb, £11 10s 0d

Clench nails, 0 cwt 3 qr 24 lb, £2 9s 6d

Nails total, £209 16s 5d

Teak topmast, 1, £7 0s 0d

Bowsprit, 1, £3 10s 6d

Boom, 1, £5 10s 0d

Topmasts 11 inches across and 53 feet long, 2, £6 1s 0d

Bowsprit 16 inches across and 34 feet long, 1, £7 0s 0d

Topmast 10 inches across and 31 feet long, 1, £2 10s 0d

Spritsail yard 7½ inches across and 32 feet long, 1, £1 5s 0d

Spar for 2 studding-sail yards, 22 feet long, 1, £0 15s 7d

Foremast 15½ inches across and 49 feet long, 1, £7 10s 0d

Oak cheek, 1, £1 10s 3d

Main cap, 1, £1 5s 4d

Masts and spars total, £43 17s 8d

Train oil, 220 gallons, £46 19s 2d

Linseed oil, 663 gallons, £131 10s 3d

Florence oil, 161 bottles, £21 5s 3d

Oil total, £199 14s 8d

Oars, 67, £13 1s 0d

Carried forward, £3,664 17s 11d

Interpretations

The masts and spars formed a reserve for ships arriving damaged after storms on the long passage. A vessel that had sprung a topmast or lost a bowsprit could be refitted at St Helena rather than limping on to the Cape or England. The teak topmast was Indian timber, carried west on Company ships, while the larger spars, up to 53 feet long and more than 15 inches across, were too big to be cut anywhere on the island. A cheek was a shaped piece of timber bolted to the side of a mast to support the trestle-trees, and a cap was the heavy wooden block that joined the top of one mast to the foot of the mast above it.

Linseed oil was held in remarkable quantity, 663 gallons worth more than £131. Almost all of it went into paint, which protected timber from the strong sun and sea air on ships, boats, gun carriages and buildings. The scale of the stock reflected how much woodwork the Company had to keep painted against weathering.

Several of the nails had specialised uses. Clench nails were driven through overlapping boat planks and bent over on the inside, the method used to build clinker boats. Scupper nails had broad flat heads for fixing leather or lead flaps over the drain holes in a ship's side, and coopers' rivets fastened the iron hoops of casks.

156

151

1765

Brought over

£ 3669 17 11

Paint viz

15 1 21 Whiting

1 16

1 1 2 Umber

1 15 6

21 Stone Oaker

9 2 1/2

1/2 Armenian Bole

13 11 1/2

1 13 Indico

11 14 4

27 2 13 White Lead dry

43 6 6

1 16 Do Do mixed

2 8

5 17 Stone Colour

13 16 5 1/2

1 3 22 Olive Do

19 6

1 5 Sky Blue

3 1 2

3 Verdigrease

16 7 3

1 2 25 Pearl Colour

4 5

2 9 Chocolate Do

1 17 11

1 2 8 Ven Red mixed

4 8

1 3 3 Yell Oaker mixd

2 1 3 1/2

1 2 6 Ven Red dry

1 16 3

3 White Copperas

4 6

1 2 10 Red Lead

2 9

2 dry Colours

5

2 2 11 Blue Smalts

20 8

1 1 19 Yell Oakr dry

1 9 9

7 2 Brimstone

3 3 3

1/4 Prussian Blue

7 4

28 Barrl Blacking

2 3 6

172 14 7

Pumps 1

12 13 5

Pease & Beans viz

2 Bushels Split Pease

17 6

1 1/2 Do Beans

2 12 6

3 10

Carried over

£ 3855 15 11

The inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with a large stock of paints and pigments, a pump and dried pulses.

Brought forward, £3,669 17s 11d

Whiting, 15 cwt 1 qr 21 lb, £1 16s 0d

Umber, 1 cwt 1 qr 2 lb, £1 15s 6d

Stone ochre, 0 cwt 0 qr 21 lb, £0 9s 2½d

Sugar of lead, ½ lb, £0 13s 11½d

Indigo, 1 cwt 0 qr 13 lb, £11 14s 4d

White lead in powder, 27 cwt 2 qr 13 lb, £43 6s 6d

White lead ground in oil, 1 cwt 0 qr 16 lb, £2 3s 0d

Stone colour, 5 cwt 0 qr 17 lb, £13 16s 5½d

Olive colour, 1 cwt 3 qr 22 lb, £19 6s 0d

Sky blue, 0 cwt 1 qr 5 lb, £3 1s 2d

Verdigris, 0 cwt 3 qr 0 lb, £16 7s 3d

Pearl colour, 1 cwt 2 qr 25 lb, £4 0s 5d

Chocolate colour, 0 cwt 2 qr 9 lb, £1 17s 11d

Venetian red ground in oil, 1 cwt 2 qr 8 lb, £4 0s 3d

Yellow ochre ground in oil, 1 cwt 3 qr 3 lb, £2 1s 3½d

Venetian red in powder, 1 cwt 2 qr 6 lb, £1 16s 3d

White copperas, 0 cwt 3 qr 0 lb, £4 0s 6d

Red lead, 1 cwt 2 qr 10 lb, £2 0s 9d

Dry colours, 0 cwt 0 qr 2 lb, £0 5s 0d

Blue smalt, 2 cwt 2 qr 11 lb, £20 3s 0d

Yellow ochre in powder, 1 cwt 1 qr 19 lb, £1 9s 9d

Brimstone, 7 cwt 2 qr 0 lb, £3 3s 3d

Prussian blue, ¼ lb, £0 7s 4d

Blacking, 23 barrels, £2 3s 6d

Paint total, £172 14s 7d

Pump, 1, £12 13s 5d

Split peas, 2 bushels, £0 17s 6d

Beans, 11½ bushels, £2 12s 6d

Peas and beans total, £3 10s 0d

Carried forward, £3,858 15s 11d

Interpretations

The paint stock held ready-mixed colours with names drawn from house decoration: stone colour, olive, pearl, chocolate and sky blue. These were the standard shades for panelling, doors and shutters in Georgian rooms, and their presence showed the Company finishing its buildings to current English taste rather than leaving them in bare limewash. White lead, the base of almost every light colour, made up the bulk of the stock at more than 27 cwt.

Two items acted as driers rather than colours. Sugar of lead, a salt made by dissolving lead in vinegar, and white copperas, zinc sulphate, were stirred into oil paint in small amounts to make it set faster, which mattered in damp weather. Prussian blue was a strong, deep blue pigment made chemically from iron salts, far more powerful than smalt or indigo and costly by weight, which explained why only a quarter pound was held.

The single pump, valued at £12 13s 5d, was perhaps a ship's chain or suction pump held for a vessel whose own had failed, since a leaking ship depended on its pumps to stay afloat on the long passage home.

157

152

21st October

Brought over

£ 3852 15 11

Pewter viz

3 Quart Funnels

6 9

2 Qt Pots

5 6

2 Half Gallon Do

10 11

3 Pint Do

6 4

2 Cranes

1 10 2

3 Pewter Dishes @ 3/4

11 Do Do @ 6/6

damaged

1 5

3 11 6

1 Worm Tub & Still

10 12 4

7 Pewter Chamber Pots

1 5

1 Gall Pot

9

1 Cullender

7 7 1/2

5 Basons

11 10 1/2

20 17 5

Pitch & Tar viz

1/4 Barrl Turpentine

15

1 Do Rozin

1 13 11

2 13 11

Starch 2 1 5

7 14 7

Salt 20 Bushels

5

Sope 5 3 1

21 16 7

Shalloon viz

49 1/4 Yds Scarlet

5 12 10

41 Do Colourd

3 13 5

9 6 3

Serge viz

17 Yds Scarlet Serge

4 17 9

3 Ps Fustian

6 6

1 Do 19 1/2 Yds Sagathy

6 12

17 15 9

Carried over

£ 3944 5

Under the date 21 October, the inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with pewter, a still, naval stores, starch, salt, soap and woollen cloth.

Brought forward, £3,858 15s 11d

Pewter quart funnels, 3, £0 6s 9d

Pewter quart pots, 2, £0 5s 6d

Pewter half-gallon pots, 2, £0 10s 11d

Pewter pint pots, 3, £0 6s 4d

Pewter cranes, 2, £1 10s 2d

Pewter dishes at 8s 4d each, 3, £1 5s 0d

Pewter dishes at 6s 6d each, damaged, 11, £3 11s 6d

Still with worm and tub, 1, £10 12s 4d

Pewter chamber pots, 7, £1 0s 5d

Pewter gallon pot, 1, £0 9s 0d

Pewter colander, 1, £0 7s 7½d

Pewter basins, 5, £0 11s 10½d

Pewter total, £20 17s 5d

Turpentine, ½ barrel, £0 15s 0d

Rosin, 1 barrel, £1 13s 11d

Pitch and tar total, £2 8s 11d

Starch, 2 cwt 1 qr 5 lb, £7 14s 7d

Salt, 20 bushels, £5 0s 0d

Soap, 5 cwt 3 qr 1 lb, £21 16s 7d

Scarlet shalloon, 49¼ yards, £5 12s 10d

Coloured shalloon, 41 yards, £3 13s 5d

Shalloon total, £9 6s 3d

Scarlet serge, 17 yards, £4 17s 9d

Fustian, 3 pieces, £6 6s 0d

Sagathy, 1 piece of 19½ yards, £6 12s 0d

Serge and similar cloth total, £17 15s 9d

Carried forward, £3,944 0s 5d

Interpretations

The still with its worm and tub, valued at £10 12s 4d, gave the Company the means to distil spirits on the island. The still itself was the pot in which a fermented wash was heated, the worm was the coiled pipe leading from it, and the tub held cold water round the worm so the vapour condensed into liquor. Spirits were issued in quantity throughout the quarter as a reward for labour, and a still let the Company produce some locally rather than relying wholly on arrack shipped from the East. It may also have served the doctor's shop for distilling medicinal waters.

The pewter vessels were graded by capacity, from pint to gallon pots, and served the stores and kitchens for measuring and serving liquor. The eleven damaged pewter dishes stayed on the books at a reduced price of 6s 6d each against 8s 4d for sound ones, the only place in the inventory where damage was shown by a lower valuation rather than counted at a single figure with good stock.

158

153

1765

Brought over

£ 3944 5

Shirts viz

24 Rolers

2 16

27 1/2 Ps Irish Linnen

44 17 3

13 Yds Brown Holland

1 13

49 6 3

Sailors Cloaths viz

132 Mens Shirts

22 2 11

103 Boys Do

1 Do Do damaged

14 6 11

51 Do Jackets and Breeches

20 9 6

53 Mens Do

33 Pr Do Breeches

2 Pr Mens Do damaged

27 4 9

167 Dutch Caps

8 2 5

92 6 6

Scales & Weights viz

2 Beams

14 6

1 Pr Scale Boards

3 19 8

18 5 8

Shoes viz

1055 Pr Mens Ordinary

209 13 4

7 Pr Do Fine Pumps

1 14 9

1 Pr Do Channel

6 2

3 Pr Do Shoes

16 9

3 Pr Do Boys Do

9 5

2 Pr Womens Calimanco

7 9

1 Pr Do Spanish

3 11

10 Pr Do Calf

1 6 8

1 Pr Girls Do

2 2

2 Pr Stretchers

5 2

215 6 1

Carried over

£ 4319 4 11

The inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with shirting, sailors' clothing, scales and a very large stock of shoes.

Brought forward, £3,944 0s 5d

Rollers, 24, £2 16s 0d

Irish linen, 27½ pieces, £44 17s 3d

Brown holland, 13 yards, £1 13s 0d

Shirting total, £49 6s 3d

Men's shirts, 132, £22 2s 11d

Boys' shirts, 103, with 1 damaged, £14 6s 11d

Boys' jackets and breeches, 51, £20 9s 6d

Men's jackets, 53, men's breeches, 33 pairs, and men's breeches damaged, 2 pairs, together £27 4s 9d

Dutch caps, 167, £8 2s 5d

Sailors' clothing total, £92 6s 6d

Scale beams, 2, £14 6s 0d

Scale boards, 1 pair, £3 19s 3d

Scales and weights total, £18 5s 3d

Men's ordinary shoes, 1,055 pairs, £209 10s 4d

Men's fine pumps, 7 pairs, £1 14s 9d

Men's channel pumps, 1 pair, £0 6s 2d

Men's fine shoes, 3 pairs, £0 16s 9d

Boys' shoes, 3 pairs, £0 9s 5d

Women's calamanco shoes, 2 pairs, £0 7s 7d

Women's Spanish leather shoes, 1 pair, £0 5s 11d

Women's calf shoes, 10 pairs, £1 6s 8d

Girls' shoes, 1 pair, £0 2s 2d

Shoe stretchers, 2 pairs, £0 5s 2d

Shoes total, £215 6s 1d

Carried forward, £4,319 4s 11d

Interpretations

The stock of 1,055 pairs of men's ordinary shoes was enough for many quarters. During the quarter 124 pairs went to servants, 32 pairs to the slaves at the castle and a few to planters, so the store held roughly six or seven quarters' supply. Shoes were bulky but durable, and holding a deep reserve protected the garrison and workforce against a long gap in shipping, at the cost of more than £209 of the Company's money sitting idle in the warehouse.

The sailors' clothing was ready-made slop clothing, the standard dress sold to seamen. Men's and boys' shirts, short jackets, breeches and Dutch caps, close-fitting knitted woollen caps, could be supplied to crews of Company ships who had lost or worn out their kit on the voyage. The 19 boys' shirts issued to the slaves as sailors' clothing during the quarter came from this same stock.

Shoe stretchers were wooden lasts in two parts with a wedge or screw between them, pushed into a shoe to ease it wider where it pinched. Their place among the stock suggested that imported shoes, made to English sizes, did not always fit the feet they were sold to.

159

154

[...]

Brought over

£ 4319 4 11

Twine viz

2 1 15 Twine

[...]

2 Cotton Wick

[...]

[...]

Ticking 2 Ps 14 Yards

36 9 1

Thread viz

15 1/2 Whited Brown

5 8 6

93 Coloured

16 11 6

22

Tin Ware viz

1 2 13 Solder

8 3 7

36 Tin Lamps

1 7

14 Cankens

10 3

10 Gallon Funnels

1 1 8

11 Quart Do

4 4

2 Pudding Pans

2 11

2 Watering Pots

1 12 3

36 Lanthorn Leaves

1 13 9

3 Globe Lamps

1 3 10

2 Salamoniac

15 6

3 Glass Lanthorns

1 19 8

19 2 1

Turners Ware viz

42 Paint Brushes

1 5 10

36 Scrubg Do

3 19 2

22 Hair Brooms

2 18 7

7 Fishermans Spokes

10 6

9 Yoakes for Oxen

8 2 7

Turners Ware Carried over

£ 16 16 8

Carried over

£ 4417 16 3

The inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with twine, ticking, thread, tinware and wooden wares.

Brought forward, £4,319 4s 11d

Twine, 2 cwt 1 qr 15 lb, £[...]

Cotton candlewick, 2 [...], £[...]

Twine and wick total, £[...] 2s 3d

Ticking, 3 pieces and 14 yards, £36 9s 1d

Whited-brown thread, 15½ lb, £5 8s 6d

Coloured thread, 92 lb, £16 11s 6d

Thread total, £22 0s 0d

Solder, 0 cwt 1 qr 15 lb, £3 3s 7d

Tin lamps, 36, £1 7s 0d

Cannikins, 14, £0 10s 3d

Gallon funnels, 10, £1 1s 3d

Quart funnels, 11, £0 4s 4d

[...] cans, 2, £0 2s 11d

Watering cans, 2, £1 12s 3d

Lantern horn leaves, 36, £1 13s 9d

Globe lamps, 3, £1 3s 10d

Sal ammoniac, 2 lb, £0 15s 6d

Glass lanterns, 3, £1 19s 8d

Tinware total, £14 2s 1d

Paint brushes, 42, £1 5s 10d

Scrubbing brushes, 36, £3 19s 2d

Hair brooms, 22, £2 18s 7d

[...], 7, £0 10s 6d

Ox yokes, 9, £3 2s 7d

Wooden wares carried forward, £16 16s 8d

Carried forward, £4,417 16s 3d

Interpretations

The figures for twine and wick could not be recovered because the ink at the head of the page had faded too far to read.

The nine ox yokes held in store matched the ox bows issued to the plantation during the quarter. A yoke was the heavy wooden beam laid across the necks of a pair of oxen, with the curved bows passing beneath each neck to hold it in place, so the store kept both parts to fit out new teams as young oxen were broken in. Cannikins were small tin drinking cans or cups, cheap and unbreakable, suited to soldiers, seamen and labourers.

160

155

1765

Brought over

£ 4417 16 3

Turners Ware brought over

£ 16 16 8

37 Ox Bows

2 10 1

11 Skimming Dishes

3 5

106 Shoe Brushes

2 19 7

3 Butchers Trays

11

2 Pump Boxes

10 Do with Iron Staples

2 1 6

13 Birch Brooms

6 9

9 Mops

10 3

13 Flaskets

1 19 11

11 Bowls

12 5

23 Platers

1 9 9

30 3 2

Total amount of European Goods

£ 4447 19 5

India Goods

Arrack 936 Gallons

146 13 10

Challoes 3 Pieces

1 9 8

Hosiers Ware 2 Pr Cotton Stockings

10 6

Coffee 1 2 21

7 17 6

Sago 2 5

1 6 3

Pepper 3 3 9

10 16

Sugar & Candy viz

227 1 25 Sugar

318 15 9

227 3 26 Candy

3 3 10 Do damaged

540 13 4

859 14 1

Tea viz

6 3 3 Bohea

34 15 9

4 2 Congo

28 2 6

1 2 5 Single

10 16 3

73 14 6

Carried over

£ 5550 1 9

The inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 closed its European section with wooden wares and then began a separate section for goods from India and the East.

Brought forward, £4,417 16s 3d

Wooden wares brought forward, £16 16s 8d

Ox bows, 37, £2 10s 11d

Skimming dishes, 11, £0 3s 5d

Shoe brushes, 106, £2 19s 7d

Butchers' trays, 3, £0 11s 0d

Pump boxes, 2, and pump boxes with iron staples, 10, together £2 1s 6d

Birch brooms, 13, £0 6s 9d

Mops, 9, £0 10s 3d

Flaskets, 15, £1 19s 11d

Bowls, 11, £0 12s 5d

Platters, 23, £1 9s 9d

Wooden wares total, £30 3s 2d

Total value of European goods, £4,447 19s 5d

Arrack, 935 gallons, £146 13s 10d

Chelloes, 3 pieces, £1 9s 3d

Cotton stockings, 2 pairs, £0 10s 6d

Coffee, 1 cwt 2 qr 21 lb, £7 17s 6d

Sago, 0 cwt 2 qr 5 lb, £1 6s 3d

Pepper, 3 cwt 3 qr 9 lb, £10 16s 0d

Sugar, 227 cwt 1 qr 25 lb, £318 15s 9d

Sugar candy, 227 cwt 3 qr 26 lb, and damaged sugar candy, 3 cwt 3 qr 10 lb, together £540 12s 4d

Sugar and sugar candy total, £859 14s 1d

Bohea tea, 6 cwt 3 qr 3 lb, £34 15s 9d

Congou tea, 4 cwt 0 qr 2 lb, £23 2s 6d

Singlo tea, 1 cwt 2 qr 5 lb, £10 16s 3d

Tea total, £73 14s 6d

Carried forward, £5,550 1s 9d

Interpretations

The inventory divided the stock by origin, closing the European goods at £4,447 19s 5d before opening a separate section for India goods. Goods from the East reached St Helena on the Company's homeward ships and were valued on a different basis from those sent out from England, so keeping them apart let the Company's directors judge each trade on its own terms. The split also showed how heavily the island's consumption leaned on the East, with sugar, sugar candy, arrack and tea all drawn from that side of the Company's trade.

Sugar and sugar candy together made up the largest India stock, at nearly £860 for more than 450 cwt. Sugar candy was held in the same quantity as ordinary sugar, which reflected how widely it was used on the island as a sweetener in tea and punch rather than as a rare confection. Arrack, at 935 gallons, was the other great Eastern staple, enough to sustain the issues to workmen and sales to servants for several quarters.

Pump boxes were the wooden valve chambers fitted inside a ship's or well pump, which wore out with constant use and were kept as spares, the ten with iron staples ready for fixing in place. Skimming dishes were shallow wooden dishes for lifting cream off milk set in the pans listed earlier in the inventory, and butchers' trays were wide wooden trays for carrying joints of meat.

161

156

21st October

Brought over

£ 5550 1 9

Long Cloth viz

23 Ps L

137 4

19 Ps D

76 11 1

43 1/2 Ps C

140 9 4

33 Ps A

121 14 6

34 Ps B

77 4 2

1 1/4 Ps H

3 1 10

1/2 Ps E

13 10

1/2 Ps No 5

1 7

1/2 Ps 7

13 8

558 13 2

Candles 25 1 16

243 14 6

China Ware viz

268 Meat Dishes

1172 Do Plates

[...] 1 8

53 Salled Dishes

2 3 6

2 Deep Do Do

10 6

11 Square Baking Do

1 9 4

7 Blue & White Do Do

15 2

34 Soup Dishes

10 6

304 Soup Plates

9 5 2

4 Turreen Soup Do

1 15

16 Half Pint Cups & Saucers

7 2

27 Guglets & Basons

3 12

4 Mugs

6

207 Snackers

2 3 1

93 Bowls

3 19 2

37 Tea Pots

3 12 6

16 Sauce Boats

6 4

China Ware Carried over

£ 80 7 1

Carried over

£ 6392 9 5

Under the date 21 October, the India goods in the inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 continued with long cloth, candles and a large stock of Chinese porcelain.

Brought forward, £5,550 1s 9d

Long cloth marked L, 23 pieces, £137 4s 0d

Long cloth marked D, 19 pieces, £76 11s 1d

Long cloth marked C, 43½ pieces, £140 9s 4d

Long cloth marked A, 33 pieces, £121 14s 6d

Long cloth marked B, 34 pieces, £77 4s 2d

Long cloth marked H, 1¼ pieces, £3 1s 10d

Long cloth marked E, ½ piece, £0 13s 10d

Long cloth number 5, ½ piece, £1 0s 7d

Long cloth number 7, ½ piece, £0 13s 3d

Long cloth total, £558 13s 2d

Candles, 25 cwt 3 qr 16 lb, £243 14s 6d

Meat dishes, 268, and plates, 1,172, together £40 1s 8d

Salad dishes, 58, £2 3s 6d

Deep salad dishes, 2, £0 10s 6d

Enamelled baking dishes, 11, £1 9s 4d

Blue and white baking dishes, 7, £0 15s 2d

Soup dishes, 34, £10 0s 6d

Soup plates, 404, £9 5s 2d

Enamelled soup dishes, 4, £1 15s 0d

Half-pint cups and saucers, 16, £0 7s 2d

Goglets and basins, 27, £3 12s 0d

Mugs, 4, £0 6s 0d

Saucers, 207, £2 3s 1d

Bowls, 95, £3 19s 2d

Teapots, 37, £3 12s 6d

Sauce boats, 16, £0 6s 4d

China carried forward, £80 7s 1d

Carried forward, £6,392 9s 5d

Interpretations

Candles appeared among the India goods rather than with the European stock, which showed that the island's main supply of lighting came from the East. More than 25 cwt was held, worth £243 14s 6d, enough to meet the heavy issues to the castle, the Council and servants' households for many months.

The porcelain stock ran to well over 2,000 pieces, including 1,172 plates and 404 soup plates, yet was valued at little more than £80. The low prices reflected the way Chinese porcelain travelled, packed as ballast in the holds of tea ships, so the Company could hold whole dinner services in reserve at a cost far below their value in England. Enamelled pieces were painted over the glaze in coloured enamels, a finer and dearer decoration than plain blue and white, and were priced accordingly.

A goglet was a long-necked water bottle of porous earthenware or porcelain, common in India. Water kept in an unglazed goglet stayed cool as moisture seeped through the walls and evaporated, and the matching basin stood beneath it, which made the pair a practical washstand set for a warm climate.

162

157

1765

Brought over

£ 6392 9 5

China Ware brought over

£ 80 7 1

10 Chamber pots

15

8 Salts

5

3 Butter Covers & Dishes

9

24 Quart Pint Cups & 30 Saucers

7

82 3 1

Rice and Paddy viz

133 1 Rice

66 12 6

156 3 Paddy

30 10

96 13 4

Total amount of European & India Goods

£ 6571 5 10

St Helena

30th Septr 1765

Errors Excepted

(signed)

Danl Corneille

Mulering

Counted and examined the Honorable Companys Cash

for the Month of September last which was as follows viz

The inventory of stores held on 30 September 1765 closed with the last of the china and the stock of rice and paddy.

Brought forward, £6,392 9s 5d

China brought forward, £80 7s 1d

Chamber pots, 10, £0 15s 0d

Salt cellars, 3, £0 5s 0d

Butter dishes with covers, 3, £0 9s 0d

Quarter-pint cups, 24, and saucers, 30, together £0 7s 0d

China total, £82 3s 1d

Rice, 133 cwt 1 qr 0 lb, £66 12s 6d

Paddy, 156 cwt 3 qr 0 lb, £30 0s 10d

Rice and paddy total, £96 13s 4d

Total value of European and India goods, £6,571 5s 10d

Daniel Corneille signed the inventory at St Helena on 30 September 1765, reserving the right to correct any errors.

The Company's cash for September was then counted and checked, with the sums recorded in detail.

Interpretations

The inventory carried a different signature from the rest of the store accounts. James Powell, the storekeeper, signed for the sales and issues of the quarter, but Daniel Corneille signed for the stock left in the warehouses. Having a second officer count and value what remained meant the storekeeper could not certify his own closing balance, so any gap between what Powell recorded as issued and what Corneille found on the shelves would come to light.

The count of the Company's cash that followed applied the same principle to money. Kirkpatrick had signed his cash account on 30 September 1765, and an examination of the cash actually held for the month set the coins and notes in the chest against his figures. Stores and cash were both checked by someone other than the officer answerable for them.

Paddy was held in larger quantity than milled rice, more than 156 cwt against 133 cwt. As the plantation and slave accounts showed, paddy went chiefly to feed poultry and horses, while milled rice formed the staple of the slave ration, so the two stocks together supported both the island's livestock and its labour force.

163

158

21st October

Cash Dr

1765 Septr 1 To Balance remaining

£ 9218 4

8th To Ship Calcutta

67 9 1

30th To Rents

538 16 2

To James Powell recd of him for Stores Sold in

the Quarter ending this day

1418 7

To Plantation for Provisions Sold

135 2 8

To Licences for Public Houses

17 10

£ 11443 5 3

Per Contra Cr

1765 Septr 30th By Sundry Accounts advanced the Paymaster to

pay Salarys &ca in the Quarter ending this

day

3632 1 8

By Balance remaining viz

In Specie

7271 8

In Cash notes

539 15 7

7811 3 7

£ 11443 5 3

Under the date 21 October, the Company's cash account for September 1765 set out the money received and paid out, with the balance held at the end of the month.

Receipts

1 September 1765, balance in hand, £9,272 0s 4d

8 September 1765, received from the ship Calcutta, £67 9s 1d

30 September 1765, rents, £536 16s 2d

Received from James Powell for stores sold in the quarter ending 30 September 1765, £1,413 7s 0d

Plantation, for provisions sold, £136 2s 8d

Licences for public houses, £17 10s 0d

Total, £11,443 5s 3d

Payments

30 September 1765, sums advanced to the paymaster to meet salaries and other charges for the quarter ending that day, £3,632 1s 8d

Balance in coin, £7,271 8s 0d

Balance in cash notes, £539 15s 7d

Balance in hand total, £7,811 3s 7d

Total, £11,443 5s 3d

Interpretations

The cash account drew together the threads of the quarter's records. James Powell paid into the treasury £1,413 7s 0d for the stores he had sold to servants, planters and other buyers, and the Company's plantation paid in for the provisions it had sold. On the other side, the paymaster drew cash to meet salaries and wages, which he then accounted for in the long list of payments signed by Thomas Kirkpatrick on 30 September 1765. Each officer handled one part of the money, and the treasury account showed how the parts fitted together.

Rents brought in £536 16s 2d, more than a third of what the stores yielded. The Company owned the land of St Helena and let it to planters and others, so it drew a landlord's income alongside its trading profit. The licences for public houses, at £17 10s 0d, showed the Company also controlling and taxing the sale of drink, which gave it both revenue and a means of regulating taverns in a settlement full of soldiers and seamen.

The balance was held partly in coin and partly in cash notes. The notes were paper promises issued on the island and accepted in payment like money, which eased the shortage of coin on a remote station where every shilling had to be shipped in. Most of the balance was still kept in specie, which suggested that coin remained the trusted form of reserve.

164

159

1765

Mr John Desfountain this day presented the

following petition viz

To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr Governor &c

Council of St Helena

The humble Petition of John Desfountain Senr

Sheweth

That your petitioner hath a Lease expired containing

sixteen Acres of Land lying in the East division of this Island, and there

being a small piece of the Honble Companys Waste Land adjoining to the

said sixteen Acres, your Petitioner is therefore desirous of having the same

humbly begs your Worship & Council will grant him the renewal of

the afore said Lease with the addition of the piece of waste Land

beforementioned

And your petitioner will ever pray

St Helena (signed) John Desfountain

21 October 1765

Granted the renewal of the Lease and Ordered the

said Ground to be viewed

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

John Desfountain senior presented a petition to Governor Skottowe and the Council at St Helena on 21 October 1765. He explained that his lease on 16 acres of land in the island's East division had run out. A small strip of the Company's unused land lay next to his holding, and he wanted to take it on as well. He asked the Governor and Council to renew his lease and to add the adjoining piece of land to it.

The Council agreed to renew the lease. Before deciding on the extra land, it ordered the ground to be inspected. The decision was signed by the following members.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

[...] Burling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

The Council split Desfountain's request in two. Renewing an existing lease on land he already farmed was granted at once, but the obvious course of adding the neighbouring strip in the same order was not taken. The Council instead sent someone to view the ground first. Waste land belonged to the Company and was not yet let to anyone, so before handing it over the Council needed to know its extent, its quality and whether it touched roads, water or a neighbour's claim. An inspection protected the Company's property and set a fair basis for the rent the new land would carry.

The petition showed how land on St Helena was held. Settlers did not own their farms outright but leased them from the Company for fixed terms, and when a lease expired the tenant had to apply to the Governor and Council to renew it. This gave the Company steady control over who occupied its land and on what terms, and it explained the £536 16s 2d in rents paid into the treasury in the same quarter. The East division was one of the districts into which the island was divided for administration and the allocation of land.

165

160

22nd October

At a Consultation held on Monday the 22nd day of October 1765 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Captn Thomas Kirkpatrick

of Council

The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed dated the 21 Octr

1765

Tuesday the 22nd Died Evan Knowles Soldier

The Storekeeper brought in his Account of Waste upon

Store goods for the Year ending the 30th September last He declaring

the same to be real & unavoidable. We ordered it to be entered which is as

follow viz

Profit and Loss Dr £ 62 16 2 for Loss

by Leakage, Waistage short weight, and measure by drawing by the

Gallon &c and weighing by the pound &c In the Year ending the

30th September 1765 viz

Arrack viz 33 1/2 Galls

5 9 2

Coffee 33

1 9 2

Rice 4 3 13

1 19 7

Candy 2 1 13

19 10

Sugar 2 17

9 6 3

Cordage 132

11 13

Sope 1 15

4 2

Nails 1 3 7 1/2

3 13 11

Leather 23 Sole

1 1

Pease 1 Bushel

2 9

Starch 20

10 10

Carrd over

£ 59 5 9

A meeting of the Council took place at the castle on Monday 28 October 1765. Those present were Governor Skottowe, Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Mr Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The Council read the minutes of its previous meeting on 21 October 1765, approved them and signed them. A soldier named Evan Knowles had died on Tuesday 22 October.

The storekeeper presented his account of stock lost from the warehouses during the year ending 30 September 1765. He assured the Council that the figures were correct and that the losses could not have been avoided. The Council ordered the account to be recorded in full. It charged £62 16s 2d to profit and loss for goods lost through leakage, wastage and short weight or measure when stock was drawn off by the gallon or weighed out by the pound during the year.

Arrack, 33½ gallons, £5 9s 2d

Coffee, 35 lb, £1 9s 2d

Rice, 3 cwt 3 qr 15 lb, £1 17s 0d

Sugar candy, 2 cwt 1 qr 13 lb, £19 10s 0d

Sugar, 2 cwt 0 qr 17 lb, £9 6s 3d

Rope, 1 cwt 3 qr 2 lb, £11 13s 0d

Soap, 1 cwt 0 qr 15 lb, £4 2s 0d

Nails, 1 cwt 3 qr 7½ lb, £3 13s 11d

Sole leather, 23 lb, £1 1s 0d

Peas, 1 bushel, £0 2s 9d

Starch, 20 lb, £0 10s 10d

Carried forward, £59 5s 9d

Interpretations

The account recognised that goods bought in bulk could never all be sold in full measure. Arrack drawn off a gallon at a time leaked and evaporated from the cask, sugar and candy lost weight as they dried or were spilled when weighed out by the pound, and rope and soap shrank in store. Writing these losses off to profit and loss turned an unavoidable shortfall into a recognised cost of trade, so the gap between what the warehouse received and what it sold would not appear as theft or negligence.

The storekeeper's own declaration was the basis on which the Council accepted the losses. That placed the burden on him to vouch for the account, and his statement became part of the record against which the stock count of 30 September 1765, signed by Lieutenant Governor Corneille, could be compared. An unusually large loss on one item, such as the £19 10s 0d of sugar candy, would stand out in this list and invite questions.

166

161

1765

Brought over

£ 59 5 9

Salt viz

10 Bushels English

2 3 4

2 3 23 Cape

1 9

3 9 1

Paint viz

13 Stone Colour

3 7

1 Olive Do

1 9

3 Pearl Do

2 1

2 Verdigrease

7 9 1/2

9 Venetian Red mixed

4 1 1/2

11 Yell Oaker dry

2 3

3 Chocolate Colour

1 9

1 3 4

Glass Ware viz

11 Sqrs 8 by 10

6 Sqrs 11 by 19

9 Sqrs 6 by 8

4 Sqrs 10 1/2 by 13 3/4

1 Candle Shade

1 Tumbler

broke

7 9 1/2

9

3 4 1/2

3 5

3 10

9

1 12 2

China Ware viz

2 Guglets & Basons

4 Meat Dishes

broke

3 4

8

6 Soop Do Do

1 10

9 Do Plates

4 Snackers

2 Tea Pots

5 Quart Pt Cups & Saucers

3 B & White Baking dishes

1 Salled Dish

1 Mug

broke

4 2

2 10

2

1 9

6 6

1 9

1 6

3 10

£ 68 16 2

St Helena

30th Septr 1765

Errors Excepted

(signed) James Powell Storekeeper

William

The account of stock lost from the warehouses during the year ending 30 September 1765 continued with salt, paint and broken glass and china.

Brought forward, £59 5s 9d

English salt, 10 bushels, £2 3s 4d

Cape salt, 2 cwt 3 qr 23 lb, £1 0s 9d

Salt total, £3 4s 1d

Stone colour, 13 lb, £0 3s 7d

Olive colour, 7 lb, £0 1s 9d

Pearl colour, 3 lb, £0 2s 1d

Verdigris, 2 lb, £0 7s 9½d

Venetian red ground in oil, 9 lb, £0 4s 1½d

Yellow ochre in powder, 11 lb, £0 2s 3d

Chocolate colour, 3 lb, £0 1s 9d

Paint total, £1 3s 4d

Window panes, 8 by 10 inches, broken, 11, £0 7s 9½d

Window panes, 11 by 19 inches, broken, 6, £0 9s 0d

Window panes, 6 by 8 inches, broken, 9, £0 3s 4½d

Window panes, 10½ by 12¾ inches, broken, 4, £0 5s 5d

Candle shade, broken, 1, £0 3s 10d

Tumbler, broken, 1, £0 0s 9d

Glass total, £1 12s 2d

Goglets and basins, broken, 2, £0 5s 4d

Meat dishes, broken, 4, £0 8s 0d

Soup dishes, broken, 6, £1 10s 0d

Soup plates, broken, 9, £0 4s 2d

Saucers, broken, 4, £0 2s 10d

Teapots, broken, 2, £0 2s 0d

Quarter-pint cups and saucers, broken, 5, £0 1s 9d

Blue and white baking dishes, broken, 3, £0 6s 6d

Salad dish, broken, 1, £0 1s 9d

Mug, broken, 1, £0 1s 6d

China total, £3 0s 10d

Total, £68 16s 2d

James Powell, the storekeeper, signed the account at St Helena on 30 September 1765, reserving the right to correct any errors, and William [...] signed with him.

Interpretations

Breakage of glass and china was treated as part of ordinary wastage rather than as a loss someone had to answer for. Fragile goods were unpacked, stacked, counted and handed across the counter many times in a year, and a few broken plates, panes and teapots were the expected cost of trading in them. Listing every broken piece by kind and value, rather than lumping it into a single sum, still let the Council see exactly what had been lost and judge whether the storekeeper's claim of unavoidable loss was reasonable.

Salt lost weight in store as it absorbed and shed moisture with the island's changing damp and dry spells, and some was spilled each time it was measured out by the bushel. Paint ground in oil skinned over and hardened in its pots, while dry pigments were lost as dust in weighing, which accounted for the small losses across the range of colours.

167

162

22nd October

William Pinchen Soldier this day presented

the last Will and Testament of Evans Knowles Soldier deceased

desiring the same might be proved which was accordingly done

upon the Oaths of the Witnesses thereto. The Will is as follows viz

October 21st 1765

I Evan Knowles Taylor & private Centinel in the

Company commanded by Capt Brozett belonging to the Honorable

Company of Merchants trading to the East Indies in the Garrison

of St Helena being of sound Mind but weak in Body make

this my last Will & Testament imprimis I commit my Body to

be buried at the discretion of my Commander & my Soul to the

Almighty praying To receive it with Mercy at the day of Judgement as to

my Worldly Effects I give and dispose of to my trusty and well

beloved Friend William Pinchen Cordwainer in the aforesaid

Company signed in the presence of

Witness my Hand

Evan Knowles Witness Benj Granger

Richd Playford

Captain Henry Brozett and William Holbrook

Master Mason, this day presented the following Petitions viz

To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr Governor

&c Council of St Helena

The humble Petition of Henry Brozett

Sheweth

That your Petitioner is desirous of hiring a small

piece

William Pinchen, a soldier, came before the Council on 28 October 1765 with the last will of Evan Knowles, a fellow soldier who had died on 22 October. He asked for the will to be proved. The Council accepted it as valid once the witnesses had confirmed it on oath.

Knowles had made his will on 21 October 1765. He described himself as a tailor and a private soldier in the company under Captain Prozett, part of the East India Company's garrison on St Helena. Although weak in body, he declared himself of sound mind. He left the place and manner of his burial to his commanding officers and commended his soul to God in the hope of mercy at the Last Judgement. He gave everything he owned to his trusted friend William Pinchen, a shoemaker serving in the same company. Knowles signed the will before two witnesses, Benjamin Granger and Richard Plafford.

Captain Henry Prozett and William Holbrook, the master mason, then each presented a petition. Prozett addressed his to Governor Skottowe and the Council. His petition opened with a request to rent a small piece.

Interpretations

The Council acted as the island's probate court. A will had no legal force until it was proved, and with no separate church or civil court on St Helena, the Governor and Council heard the witnesses on oath and confirmed the document themselves. Proving the will gave Pinchen clear title to Knowles's possessions, which protected him against any later claim and let the garrison settle the dead man's affairs quickly.

Knowles left his burial to the discretion of his officers because the garrison, not his family, would bury him. The stores issued to the garrison account in the quarter just ended included timber and nails for making coffins, so the Company met the cost of a soldier's funeral from public stores. Both Knowles and Pinchen practised trades alongside their military duty, as a tailor and a shoemaker, which fitted the pattern seen in the wage accounts of soldiers earning extra money as craftsmen and labourers.

168

163

1765

piece of the Honble Companys Waste Ground adjoining to the Ground lately

hired by William Holbrook Master Mason to Erect a House upon humbly

requests that your Worship & Council will be pleased to grant him a Lease

for the same

And your Petitioner will ever pray

St Helena (signed)

22nd Octr 1765 Henry Brozett

Ordered the said Ground to be viewed

To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr Governor &c

Council of St Helena

The humble Petition of William Holbrook

Sheweth

That your Petitioner is desirous of disposing of His property

in a Lease for a piece of Ground lying in James's Valley adjoining to the

House of James Torbett Cooper, and the Receipt of Captains Mitchell and

Brozett, as Tenants for the same

And your Petitioner will ever pray

St Helena (signed)

22nd October 1765 Wm Holbrook

Granted

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

Captain Henry Prozett asked Governor Skottowe and the Council to let him rent a small piece of the Company's unused land next to the plot recently taken by William Holbrook, the master mason. He wanted to build a house there and requested a lease for the ground. Prozett signed the petition at St Helena on 28 October 1765. The Council ordered the ground to be inspected.

William Holbrook addressed a petition of his own to the Governor and Council on the same day. He held a lease on a piece of ground in James's Valley, next to the house of James Corbett, a cooper, and wished to dispose of it. He asked the Council to accept Captains Mitchell and Prozett as the new tenants. The Council granted the request, and the decision was signed by the following members.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Burling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

The Council treated the two petitions differently on the same day. Holbrook's request to pass his existing lease to Captains Mitchell and Prozett was granted outright, while Prozett's request for the adjoining waste land was held back until the ground had been viewed. The obvious course of settling both in one order, since they concerned neighbouring plots and the same officer, was passed over. A transfer of land already surveyed and let raised no new questions, whereas fresh Company land had to be measured and assessed before it could be leased. The Council had followed the same practice with John Desfountain's adjoining strip on 21 October 1765.

A tenant could not simply sell or hand on his lease. Holbrook had to petition for the Council's consent before Mitchell and Prozett could take his place, which kept every change of occupier under the Company's eye. The Council could thus refuse an unsuitable tenant and make sure the rent continued to be paid by someone it had approved.

169

164

4th November

At a Consultation held on Monday the 4th Day of November 1765 at

the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 22nd

October 1765

Friday the 1st arrived the Princess Augusta's Boat at Banks's half an

Hour past four oClock in the afternoon

Saturday 2nd Do the Honble Companys Ship Princess Augusta from

China

The Accountant reports that the Honble Companys

Books of Accounts are Ballanced to the 30th September last, We Ordered

them to be Copyd as fast as possible

Julio Fabiana this day presented the following

petition viz

To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr Governor &c

Council of the Island St Helena

The humble Petition of Julio Fabiana

Sheweth

That your Petitioner having obtained liberty to remain upon the

said Island thinks with your Worships Permission and his own

Industrious endeavours he would be able to build himself a House

That he conceives it would not be displeasing to your Worship

to grant him a Lease of some convenient Spot for that Purpose

A meeting of the Council took place at the castle on Monday 4 November 1765. Those present were Governor Skottowe, Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Mr Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The Council read the minutes of its previous meeting on 28 October 1765, approved them and signed them.

A boat from the Princess Augusta had landed at Banks's at half past four on the afternoon of Friday 1 November. The Company's ship Princess Augusta herself arrived from China on Saturday 2 November.

The accountant reported that the Company's account books had been balanced up to 30 September. The Council ordered copies to be made as quickly as possible.

Julio Fabiana then presented a petition to the Governor and Council. He had already received permission to stay on the island. With their approval and through his own hard work, he hoped to build himself a house. He asked the Council to grant him a lease on a suitable plot for that purpose.

Interpretations

Fabiana's petition revealed that living on St Helena was a privilege granted by the Council, not a right. He had first needed formal permission to remain before he could ask for land, which showed the Company controlling who settled on the island as closely as it controlled who held its leases. His name suggested he was not British, and newcomers of that kind were perhaps watched with particular care on a fortified station guarding the route to the East.

The Princess Augusta sent a boat ahead to Banks's a day before the ship came to anchor. Banks's was a defended point on the coast, as the fortification accounts for 1765 showed, and a boat landing there allowed the garrison to identify the approaching vessel before she entered the road. The Council's order to copy the balanced accounts quickly came just as a homeward ship from China arrived, perhaps so that the books could travel to the Company's directors in London aboard her.

170

165

1765

That encouraged with such hopes, your Petitioner has already pitched upon that

ground which joins to John Jacks's House, and as sixty fathom Front upon

fifty in Depth would answer his Intention humbly requests your Worship

and Council will in your Goodness, allow him to build upon the above

premisses on usual Terms and your Petitioner will as in duty bound ever

pray

Ordered the said piece of ground to be viewed

As there were only six head of Cattle left upon the arrival of

the Ship Princess Augusta, and Captain Maddison acquainting Us that

he was in great want of fresh Provision, we were under the necessity

(although it is two Months sooner than the usual return) of Ordering the

following Advertisement to be published viz

Island St Helena

4th November 1765

This is to give Notice to all the Inhabitants upon the said

Island that they are hereby required to send into the Secretary's Office on or

before Monday next the 11th Instant a signed Account of their Number of

Cattle each of them have for slaughter for the Year 1766

Per Order of Council

(signed) Mattw Bazett Secretary

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

Julio Fabiana told the Council that, in hope of a favourable answer, he had already chosen a plot next to John Jacks's house. A site measuring 60 fathoms along the front and 50 fathoms deep would suit his plans. He asked for permission to build there on the usual terms. The Council ordered the ground to be inspected.

Only six cattle remained on the Company's hands when the Princess Augusta arrived, and Captain Maddison reported that his ship badly needed fresh provisions. The Council therefore decided to issue its usual notice to the islanders two months earlier than normal. The notice, dated 4 November 1765, required every inhabitant to deliver a signed return to the Secretary's office by Monday 11 November. Each return was to state how many cattle the owner had available for slaughter in 1766. Matthew Bazett, the Secretary, signed it on the Council's behalf, and the decision was signed by the following members.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Burling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

The Council broke from its normal timetable for the cattle returns. The notice was usually issued two months later, and the obvious course was to wait until then. The arrival of the Princess Augusta with a crew short of fresh food, set against only six cattle left to the Company, forced the Council to act at once. Calling for the returns early let it see straight away how much beef the island could supply, so the ship could be victualled and sent on without waiting.

The returns themselves were a means of controlling the island's meat. Planters had to declare every head of cattle fit for slaughter, which allowed the Council to plan the supply of fresh beef to Company ships and the garrison for the coming year. A planter could not quietly sell his beasts elsewhere or hold them back, since the Company knew in advance what each farm could provide. Fresh meat mattered greatly to crews arriving after months on salt rations, and St Helena's value as a refreshment station depended on having it ready.

Fabiana's plot of 60 by 50 fathoms measured roughly 360 feet by 300 feet, a generous site for a house and garden. As with the requests from Desfountain and Prozett for unused land, the Council would not grant it until the ground had been viewed.

171

166

11th November

At a Consultation held on Monday the 11th Day of November 1765

at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved, and signed, dated the 4th

November 1765

Mr Matthew Burling reports that

he has been on board the Ship Princess Augusta to Muster her

Company and enquire for deserters but found none, her Muster

Roll is as follows viz

Muster Roll of Ship Princess Augusta

Thomas Maddison Commander

Willm Boyed Chief Mate

Robt Kerr 2d Do

Thos Pomeroy 3d Do

John Sharpe 4th Do

Chas Peter Sautuir 5th Do

John Barrett Purser

Robt Sinclair Surgeon

John Cobham Carpenter

John Campbell Boatswain

Wm Haggie Gunner

John Mitchel Capt Stewd

Willm Baxter Ships Do

Willm Jones Sailmaker

Alexander Shann Cooper

Judge Shody Capt Cook

Thos Atkinson Ships Do

John Harrison Carpr 1st Mate

Robt Simpson Do 2d Do

Peter Frazier Surg Mate

John Mitchell Coopers Mt

John Bennett Butcher

Sam Lawrence Quartermr

Mathew Duncan Do

Thos Hunter Do

James Smallwood Caulkr Mte

John Ponsonby Boatswn Do

Andrew Nichols Gunners Do

Samuel Phillips

Iran La Ville Capts Servt

Robt Ogleby Midshipn

Fran Armitage Do

Mark North Mastsmn

Thos Barker 2d Mts Do

Robt Lowe Boats Do

David Bond Gunrs Do

George Rees Carpenters Do

John Fireoub Surg Servt

James Sheppard Seaman

Thos Atkins Seaman

Frances Dulaney

Wm Jennison

George Adamson

John Rees

George Jay

A meeting of the Council took place at the castle on Monday 11 November 1765. Those present were Governor Skottowe, Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Mr Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The Council read the minutes of its meeting on 4 November 1765, approved them and signed them.

Matthew Burling reported that he had gone aboard the Princess Augusta to muster her crew and search for deserters, but had found none. He entered the ship's muster roll as follows.

Thomas Maddison, commander

William Boyd, chief mate

Robert Weir, second mate

Thomas Pomeroy, third mate

John Sharpe, fourth mate

Charles Peter Sautier, fifth mate

John Barrett, purser

Robert Sinclair, surgeon

John Cobham, carpenter

John Campbell, boatswain

William Haggie, gunner

John Mitchell, captain's steward

William Baxter, ship's steward

William Jones, sailmaker

Alexander Shane, cooper

Judge Shedy, captain's cook

Thomas Atkinson, ship's cook

John Harrison, carpenter's first mate

Robert Simpson, carpenter's second mate

Peter Frazier, surgeon's mate

John Mitchell, cooper's mate

John Bennett, butcher

Samuel Lawrence, quartermaster

Matthew Duncan, quartermaster

Thomas Hunter, quartermaster

James Smallwood, caulker

John Ponsonby, boatswain's mate

Andrew Nicholls, gunner's mate

Samuel Phillips, captain's servant

Isaac La Ville, captain's servant

Robert Ogleby, midshipman

Francis Armitage, midshipman

Mark North, [...]

Thomas Barker, [...]

[...] Lowbroke, [...]

David Bond, gunner's mate

George Rees, carpenter's mate

John Freind, surgeon's assistant

James Sheppard, seaman

John Atkins, seaman

Francis Delaney

William Jennison

George Adamson

John Ross

George Jay

Christ[...]

Interpretations

The search for deserters aboard a homeward ship was a standing safeguard of the garrison. Soldiers, servants and slaves on St Helena had no lawful way off the island without the Council's leave, and a ship bound for England offered the easiest means of escape. By sending a member of the Council aboard to call every man by name against the ship's roll, the Company could detect anyone hidden among the crew before the vessel sailed. The roll entered in the consultation book also gave a record against which the crew could be checked again at departure.

The roll set out the full order of an East Indiaman's company. Below the commander stood five mates in rank, then the purser, surgeon and the warrant officers in charge of carpentry, rigging and guns, each with mates and servants of their own. Specialists such as the sailmaker, cooper, caulker and butcher kept the ship and her stores in order on a voyage that could last more than a year. Midshipmen were young men training as officers, and the captain's servants were boys learning the sea under his patronage.

172

167

11th November

Brought over

£ 5 11

38 Bottles Beer

9 6

68 Do Arrack

3 16 6

165 Beef

3 9 9

188 Mutton

3 13 4

12 Fowles

18

2 Turkeys

10

1 Pig

5

1 Lamb

10

62 Butter

3 2

62 Candy

1 5 8

334 Flour

2 3 7 1/2

£ 26 4 4 1/2

Artillery Stores Expended in the Month of October 1765

Guns Fired, 4 Pr, 3 Pr, 2 Pr, Powder Expended

14th Saluted Major Moore going on board: Guns Fired 13, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 2 Pr 13, Powder Expended 13

Saild the Bute: Guns Fired 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 2 Pr 9, Powder Expended 9

25th Fired being the Anniversy of his Majestys Accesn: Guns Fired 21, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 1, 2 Pr 18, Powder Expended 23 8

Fired with small Arms for Do: Guns Fired 0, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 2 Pr 0, Powder Expended 28 4

Powder for priming at different Times: Guns Fired 0, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 2 Pr 0, Powder Expended 8

Do for the Funeral of Evan Knowles: Guns Fired 0, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 2 Pr 0, Powder Expended 2 4

Do for the Main Guard: Guns Fired 0, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 2 Pr 0, Powder Expended 1 12

Total: Guns Fired 43, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 1, 2 Pr 40, Powder Expended 35 14

Copper Rivets for the Bute

50

Worm for a nine pounder Broke

1

Queins broke at the Main Fort

2

Handspikes broke on the Line

4

Do for the Company's Works

6

Tallow for the Boats

10

Cartridge Paper for the Secretary's Office

1

Rammer head for an 18 Broke

1

(signed) Archd Mitchell

An account dated 11 November, continued from an earlier page, recorded further provisions and their cost.

Brought forward, £5 11s 0d

Beer, 38 bottles, £0 9s 6d

Arrack, 63 bottles, £3 16s 6d

Beef, 165 lb, £3 9s 9d

Mutton, 188 lb, £3 13s 4d

Fowls, 12, £0 18s 0d

Turkeys, 2, £0 10s 0d

Pig, 1, £0 5s 0d

Lamb, 1, £0 10s 0d

Butter, 62 lb, £3 2s 0d

Sugar candy, 62 lb, £1 5s 3d

Flour, 334 lb, £2 3s 7½d

Total, £26 4s 4½d

The artillery then reported the guns fired and the powder and equipment used during October 1765. The calibres heading three of the columns could not be recovered, so those guns are identified below only by their place in the table.

14 October 1765, salute for Major Mo[...] going aboard, 13 guns fired, 0 guns of the first calibre, 0 guns of the second calibre, 13 guns of the third calibre, 13 lb 0 oz of powder used

Salute on the sailing of the Bute, 9 guns fired, 0 guns of the first calibre, 0 guns of the second calibre, 9 guns of the third calibre, 9 lb 0 oz of powder used

25 October 1765, salute for the anniversary of the King's accession, 21 guns fired, 2 guns of the first calibre, 1 gun of the second calibre, 18 guns of the third calibre, 23 lb 8 oz of powder used

Musket fire for the same anniversary, 28 lb 4 oz of powder used

Priming at various times, 8 lb 0 oz of powder used

Funeral of Evan Knowles, 2 lb 4 oz of powder used

Main guard, 1 lb 12 oz of powder used

Total, 43 guns fired, 2 guns of the first calibre, 1 gun of the second calibre, 40 guns of the third calibre, 85 lb 14 oz of powder used

Copper rivets for the Bute, 50

Worm for a nine-pounder, broken, 1

Quoins broken at the Main Fort, 2

Handspikes broken on the Lines, 4

Handspikes broken at the Company's works, 6

Tallow for the boats, 10

Cartridge paper for the Secretary's office, 1

Rammer head for a [...]-pounder, broken, 1

Archibald Mitchell signed the artillery return.

Interpretations

Gunpowder was accounted for down to the ounce. Every salute, every round of musketry and even the priming of guns was entered with the exact weight used, because powder was costly, could not be made on the island and was the garrison's means of defence. The return let the Council check the magazines against what the artillery claimed to have fired, in the same way the store accounts checked goods against sales and issues.

Salutes marked the island's public life. A ship sailing or an officer going aboard received a salute in proportion to rank, while the King's accession on 25 October drew 21 guns and a volley of small arms from the garrison. Evan Knowles, whose death on 22 October and will proved on 28 October 1765 were recorded earlier, was buried with musket volleys over his grave, the honour given to a private soldier.

The broken equipment showed the wear of working heavy guns. A worm was a corkscrew-like tool on a long staff for drawing out the remains of a charge from the bore, and a rammer drove the powder and shot home. Quoins were wooden wedges set under the breech to raise or lower the gun's aim, and handspikes were stout wooden levers used to shift the gun carriage, which broke easily under the strain.

173

168

11th November

Brought over

£ 5 11

38 Bottles Beer

9 6

68 Do Arrack

3 16 6

165 Beef

3 9 9

188 Mutton

3 13 4

12 Fowles

18

2 Turkeys

10

1 Pig

5

1 Lamb

10

62 Butter

3 2

62 Candy

1 5 8

334 Flour

2 3 7 1/2

£ 26 4 4 1/2

Artillery Stores Expended in the Month of October 1765

Guns Fired, 4 Pr, 3 Pr, 2 Pr, Powder Expended

14th Saluted Major Moore going on board: Guns Fired 13, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 2 Pr 13, Powder Expended 13

Saild the Bute: Guns Fired 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 2 Pr 9, Powder Expended 9

25th Fired being the Anniversy of his Majestys Accesn: Guns Fired 21, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 1, 2 Pr 18, Powder Expended 23 8

Fired with small Arms for Do: Guns Fired 0, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 2 Pr 0, Powder Expended 28 4

Powder for priming at different Times: Guns Fired 0, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 2 Pr 0, Powder Expended 8

Do for the Funeral of Evan Knowles: Guns Fired 0, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 2 Pr 0, Powder Expended 2 4

Do for the Main Guard: Guns Fired 0, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 2 Pr 0, Powder Expended 1 12

Total: Guns Fired 43, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 1, 2 Pr 40, Powder Expended 35 14

Copper Rivets for the Bute

50

Worm for a nine pounder Broke

1

Queins broke at the Main Fort

2

Handspikes broke on the Line

4

Do for the Company's Works

6

Tallow for the Boats

10

Cartridge Paper for the Secretary's Office

1

Rammer head for an 18 Broke

1

(signed) Archd Mitchell

An account dated 11 November, continued from an earlier page, recorded further provisions and their cost.

Brought forward, £5 11s 0d

Beer, 38 bottles, £0 9s 6d

Arrack, 63 bottles, £3 16s 6d

Beef, 165 lb, £3 9s 9d

Mutton, 188 lb, £3 13s 4d

Fowls, 12, £0 18s 0d

Turkeys, 2, £0 10s 0d

Pig, 1, £0 5s 0d

Lamb, 1, £0 10s 0d

Butter, 62 lb, £3 2s 0d

Sugar candy, 62 lb, £1 5s 3d

Flour, 334 lb, £2 3s 7½d

Total, £26 4s 4½d

The artillery then reported the guns fired and the powder and equipment used during October 1765.

14 October 1765, salute for Major Mo[...] going aboard, 13 guns fired, 0 four-pounders, 0 three-pounders, 13 two-pounders, 13 lb 0 oz of powder used

Salute on the sailing of the Bute, 9 guns fired, 0 four-pounders, 0 three-pounders, 9 two-pounders, 9 lb 0 oz of powder used

25 October 1765, salute for the anniversary of the King's accession, 21 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 1 three-pounder, 18 two-pounders, 23 lb 8 oz of powder used

Musket fire for the same anniversary, 28 lb 4 oz of powder used

Priming at various times, 8 lb 0 oz of powder used

Funeral of Evan Knowles, 2 lb 4 oz of powder used

Main guard, 1 lb 12 oz of powder used

Total, 43 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 1 three-pounder, 40 two-pounders, 85 lb 14 oz of powder used

Copper rivets for the Bute, 50

Worm for a nine-pounder, broken, 1

Quoins broken at the Main Fort, 2

Handspikes broken on the Lines, 4

Handspikes broken at the Company's works, 6

Tallow for the boats, 10

Cartridge paper for the Secretary's office, 1

Rammer head for a [...]-pounder, broken, 1

Archibald Mitchell signed the artillery return.

Interpretations

Gunpowder was accounted for down to the ounce. Every salute, every round of musketry and even the priming of guns was entered with the exact weight used, because powder was costly, could not be made on the island and was the garrison's means of defence. The figures showed a fixed saluting charge of half the weight of shot for each gun: 1 lb for a two-pounder, 1½ lb for a three-pounder and 2 lb for a four-pounder. Salutes were fired from the lightest pieces, saving powder and sparing the heavy guns that defended the coast. The return let the Council check the magazines against what the artillery claimed to have fired, as the store accounts checked goods against sales and issues.

Salutes marked the island's public life. A ship sailing or an officer going aboard received a salute in proportion to rank, while the King's accession on 25 October drew 21 guns and a volley of small arms from the garrison. Evan Knowles, whose death on 22 October and will proved on 28 October 1765 were recorded earlier, was buried with musket volleys over his grave, the honour given to a private soldier.

The broken equipment showed the wear of working heavy guns. A worm was a corkscrew-like tool on a long staff for drawing out the remains of a charge from the bore, and a rammer drove the powder and shot home. Quoins were wooden wedges set under the breech to raise or lower the gun's aim, and handspikes were stout wooden levers used to shift the gun carriage, which broke easily under the strain.

174

169

1765

We this day received the following Letter from Captain

Maddison viz

To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr Governor &c

Council of St Helena

Worshipful Sir & Sirs

The Princess Augusta not having Provision

sufficient for her passage from hence to England I am obliged to request

you will please to take it into your consideration as she cannot with

safety proceed on her Voyage without a further supply, Fresh Provision

is also absolutely necessary for the healths of my Ships Company who for

these seven Months past, have had little or no refreshment till their arrival

at this Island, and the Major part of them are now far gone in the Scurvy,

our principal dependance must be on keeping the People in health, in a

leaky Ship, our Mizen Mast being sprung and our Rudder Head should

so bad, that we are obliged to get it on shore to repair, will be the means of

detaining us some days longer here than we otherways should have been

I am Worshipful Sir & Sirs

Your most obedt humble Servant

St Helena (signed)

11th November 1765 Thomas Maddison

Upon which we sent for Captain Maddison and

desired to know what quantity of fresh provision he required, he acquainted Us

that he could not do with less than fourteen days to carry away with him,

We therefore agreed to supply him out of the next Years return, having a

leaky Ship, and his People very bad with the Scurvy, his going to any other

Port might endanger the safety of the Ship

The Council received a letter from Captain Thomas Baddison of the Princess Augusta, addressed to Governor Skottowe and the Council and dated 11 November 1765. He explained that his ship did not carry enough provisions for the voyage from St Helena to England. She could not safely continue without fresh supplies, and he asked the Council to take this into account.

Fresh food was also essential for the health of his crew. For seven months before reaching the island, the men had eaten little or nothing fresh, and most of them were now badly affected by scurvy. Keeping the crew healthy mattered all the more because the ship was leaking. Her mizzen mast had split, and the head of her rudder was in such poor condition that it would have to be taken ashore for repair. Baddison warned that this work would keep the ship at the island for some days longer than planned.

The Council sent for Baddison and asked how much fresh food he needed. He replied that he could manage with nothing less than fourteen days' supply to take with him. The Council agreed to provide it from the cattle due to be declared for the following year. The ship was leaking and her crew were very sick with scurvy, so the Council judged that sending her on to any other port might put her at risk.

Interpretations

The Council chose to draw on the next year's cattle rather than refuse the request or direct the ship elsewhere. With only six head of cattle left to the Company, the obvious course was to send the Princess Augusta on to another port for supplies. The Council set that aside because a leaking ship with a sick crew might not survive the extra passage. This decision explained the order of 4 November 1765 calling in the islanders' cattle returns two months early, since the Council needed to know at once how much beef the planters could provide for 1766.

Scurvy was the disease of long voyages, caused by a diet without fresh fruit, vegetables or meat. Sufferers grew weak, their gums swelled and bled, old wounds reopened and many died. A ship whose crew was badly affected could not be worked safely, which was why Baddison tied his request for fresh food directly to the danger posed by his leaking hull.

A sprung mast was one split or cracked along the grain, which could give way under the strain of the sails. The rudder head was the top of the rudder, where the tiller fitted to steer the ship, and a weakness there threatened the vessel's ability to steer at all. Lifting it ashore for repair showed the island's role as a place where Company ships could be patched up before the final leg home.

175

170

11th November

Captain Mitchel this day presented the

following Letter to Us viz

To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr Governr

& Council of the Island St Helena

Gentlemen

You may remember that in my Remarks on the

Fortifications of this Island I took Occasion to mention, that as the

Clay in several Parts of this Island appeared to be of a nature very

proper for making Bricks, which, if accomplished would be of the

greatest service as well in the intended repairs of the Fortifications as

on the Construction of the other public Buildings belonging to the

Company, I therefore proposed to make some Tryals on the different

Sorts of Clay in order to ascertain their Quality, and the possibility of

bringing this Measure to bear. The result of these Tryals has not

been so favourable as the appearance of the Clay and the Opinion of

those who had been conversant in this Business gave me Room to

expect, which I apprehend is principally owing to the Clays being

impregnated with a Saline Quality which renders it Brittle and

liable to crack by the Influence of the Sun and Fire. To this may be

added the unskilfulness of those few Persons I could find who had

ever been employed in Works of this Sort, and the want of the proper

shades and other conveniences. I have ordered a Specimen of these

Bricks to be laid before you and shall either make some further

Tryals, or discontinue the Attempt entirely, as you shall please to

give directions

As the immediate Repair of the Plantation House

was recommended by the directors at home and indeed was a Measure

absolutely necessary to prevent its falling into Ruin, I sometime

ago

Captain Mitchell presented a letter to Governor Skottowe and the Council on 11 November 1765. He reminded them that in his earlier report on the island's fortifications he had noted clay in several places that seemed well suited to brickmaking. Locally made bricks would be of great value for repairing the defences and for building the Company's other public works. He had therefore arranged trials of the different kinds of clay to test their quality and to see whether brickmaking could succeed.

The results fell short of what the look of the clay and the advice of experienced men had led him to hope. Mitchell put this chiefly down to salt in the clay, which made the bricks brittle and prone to crack in the sun and in the kiln. The few men he could find with any experience of the work lacked skill, and he had no proper drying sheds or other equipment. He had sent a sample of the bricks for the Council to examine. He offered either to carry out further trials or to give up the attempt altogether, as the Council preferred.

Mitchell then turned to the Plantation House, whose prompt repair the directors in London had recommended and which was badly needed to save the building from falling into ruin.

Interpretations

Mitchell's letter explained the brickmaking recorded in the wage accounts for 1765, where soldiers were paid for 206½ days making bricks and a further 134 days helping the brickmakers. Those payments were the cost of the trials he described. Bricks made on the island would have saved the expense and risk of shipping them from England, which made success worth a real effort, but salt in the clay defeated it.

Salt in clay was a serious fault in brickmaking. As the bricks dried and were fired, the salts drew moisture and crystallised within them, so they cracked, crumbled and flaked. On an island exposed to sea winds and spray, clay near the surface was perhaps bound to carry salt, and without fresh water to wash it out the problem could not easily be cured.

Mitchell left the decision to the Council rather than abandoning the trials on his own authority. That kept the cost of further experiment under its control and placed the choice between persisting and giving up with the body that answered to the directors in London.

176

171

1765

ago took a particular Survey of it, and found that the greatest Part of the Roof

by the absurdity of its Construction, was ready to fall in and that the

drains between the several Pitches, by being made with so little Slope, &

by being very injudiciously covered with Lead, which had crack'd and

blistered in many Places, had leak'd very considerably

As Mr Robinson the Carpenter undertook to compleat

the Roof, with the superfluous Timber now in Store, and as the Companys

Carpenters are not immediately wanted for any other Service I proposed to

have taken the opportunity of the dry season and the Interval before the

Arrival of the Storeship (after which the Workmen will probably have other

Employment) to have completed this Part of the Repairs, after which they

could have compleated the interior Parts of it as Opportunities offered. The Drains

or Gutters I proposed to have covered with Terras, which by giving them a

proper Slope, and by that means preventing the Waters Standing I apprehend

would effectually secure this part from any future Leakage

If however any of the Gentlemen should doubt the possibility

of effecting this, a Tryal may be made by terrassing one of the present

Gutters. The principal Inconvenience of which will be that by this delay

we shall probably lose the opportunity of compleating the Roof during the

dry Season and it is to be questioned whether after the arrival of the

Storeship we ever shall have so much Leisure or so good an

opportunity of compleating this, as the present

I shall be glad to receive the Directions of the Governor &

Council on this subject & have the honour to be with the greatest

Respect

Gentlemen

Your most obedient & most humble Servant

St Helena (signed)

11th Novembr 1765 A Mitchell

On considering the above Letter we sent for Captain

Mitchell

Captain Mitchell's letter of 11 November 1765 went on to describe the state of the Plantation House. He had made a careful survey of the building some time before. Because the roof had been badly designed, most of it was close to collapse. The gutters between the separate slopes of the roof had been laid almost flat and poorly covered with lead, which had cracked and blistered in many places and let in a great deal of water.

Mr Robinson, the carpenter, had offered to finish the roof using surplus timber already held in store. The Company's carpenters were not needed for other work at that moment. Mitchell therefore proposed to use the dry season, and the gap before the storeship arrived, to complete the roof. Once the storeship came, the workmen would probably be taken up with other tasks. The interior could then be finished later as time allowed.

He planned to line the gutters with terras rather than lead. Laid to a proper fall, this would stop water lying in them and protect the roof against leaks in future. If any member of the Council doubted the method, one of the existing gutters could be lined as a trial. Mitchell warned that the delay would probably cost them the chance to finish the roof in the dry months. He doubted whether, once the storeship had arrived, they would again have as much spare labour or as good an opening. He asked for the Council's instructions.

After considering the letter, the Council sent for Captain Mitchell.

Interpretations

Terras was a hydraulic mortar, made by mixing lime with a ground volcanic stone of the same name imported chiefly from the Rhineland through Dutch ports. Unlike ordinary lime mortar, it set hard under water and resisted damp, which made it the standard material for lining cisterns, drains and gutters. Mitchell proposed it because lead had failed on the roof, expanding and contracting in the strong sun until it split and lifted from the boards.

The arrival of the storeship governed the island's labour. When a ship came in with stores from England, carpenters and other workmen were needed to land, unpack and house the cargo, and to repair whatever had been damaged on the voyage. Mitchell's plan used the quiet interval before her arrival, and surplus timber already paid for, so the repair would draw on neither new materials nor labour needed elsewhere.

Mitchell also offered the Council a cautious alternative: a trial on a single gutter before committing to the whole roof. He set against it the real cost of delay, the likely loss of the dry season, so that the Council could weigh the risk of an untried method against the risk of leaving the roof to fail.

177

172

11th November

Mitchell and had a Sample of the Bricks brought before Us which

appears to be very bad and few of them fit for use but considering their

Utility for the use of the Fortifications have consented to another Tryal

and recommended to Captain Mitchell to have the Clay prepared

for some Months before the Working of it as the likeliest method to

extract that Saline Quality

At the same time recommended to Captain Mitchell

to make an experiment of the Terras on one of the Gutters of the Plantation

House before he proceeds to the repairing of the Roof, as any further Expence

would be unnecessary unless he can be positive of securing the Gutters

from Leaking

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

The Council called Captain Mitchell before it and examined the sample of bricks. They proved very poor, and few were fit to use. Even so, the Council judged that bricks would be so useful for the fortifications that a further trial was worth making. It advised Mitchell to have the clay dug and left to weather for some months before working it, as the method most likely to draw out the salt.

The Council also advised Mitchell to test the terras on a single gutter of the Plantation House before starting work on the roof. Any further spending would be wasted unless he could be sure the new lining would keep the gutters from leaking. The decision was signed by the following members.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Burling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

Both of Mitchell's proposals met a cautious answer, though in opposite directions. On the bricks, the sample was bad enough to justify giving up, which Mitchell himself had offered as one choice. The Council kept the trial going because locally made bricks would spare the cost of shipping them for the fortifications, and it set a new condition: clay left to weather for months so that rain and air could leach the salt out before moulding. On the roof, Mitchell had pressed for doing the whole job at once in the dry season and warned that delay would lose it. The Council chose the slower course he had offered only as a concession, a trial on one gutter, preferring to risk the season rather than spend on an untested method.

The pattern showed the Council guarding the Company's money against both waste and lost opportunity. It would pay a little more for further brick trials when the possible saving was large, but it would not commit to a full roof repair until the new material had proved itself on a small scale.

178

173

13th November

At a Consultation held on Monday the 13th Day of November 1765

at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved, and signed dated the 11th

November 1765

We this day Granted the two following Setts of Bills of

Exchange drawn upon the Honorable the Court of Directors viz

One set to Capt Thomas Maddison for seven hundred

and seventy pounds payable to himself or Order

And one set to Mr William Boyd for one hundred &

eighty pounds seven shillings payable to Mr Matthew [...] or order

both drawn at Ninety days sight

Counted and examined the Honorable Companys

Cash for the Month of October last, which is as follows viz

A meeting of the Council took place at the castle on Monday 18 November 1765. Those present were Governor Skottowe, Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Mr Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The Council read the minutes of its meeting on 11 November 1765, approved them and signed them.

The Council issued two sets of bills of exchange drawn on the Company's Court of Directors in London. Captain Thomas Baddison received one set for £770 0s 0d, payable to himself or to whomever he named. Mr William Boyd received the other set for £180 7s 0d, payable to Mr Matthew [...] or his nominee. Both bills fell due ninety days after they were presented in London.

The Council then counted and checked the Company's cash for October, with the sums recorded in detail.

Interpretations

Bills of exchange moved money between St Helena and London without shipping coin. A ship's officer with cash on the island, perhaps from private trade carried in his allowance of cargo, paid it into the Company's treasury and received in return a written order on the directors in London to pay him the same sum there. The island gained coin it badly needed for wages and daily business, while the officer avoided the risk of carrying gold and silver on the voyage home.

Issuing bills in sets meant writing several identical copies, each sent home by a different route or vessel. Whichever arrived first would be paid and the others became void, which guarded against the loss of a single paper at sea. The ninety days' grace after presentation gave the directors time to check the bill against the island's own accounts before paying out.

William Boyd was the chief mate of the Princess Augusta, as the muster roll entered on 11 November 1765 showed. His bill, like his captain's, was probably the proceeds of private dealings during the ship's stay, turned into a draft on London before she sailed.

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174

13th November

Cash Dr

1765 October 1st To Balance remaining

£ 7311 3 7

£ 7311 3 7

Per Contra Cr

1765 Octor 31st By Exchange for a Set of Bills drawn by Major Moore

upon John Purling Esqr payable to the Honble the Court

of Directors

170

By Balance remaining viz

In Specie

7101 8 7

In Cash Notes of no use

539 5

7641 3 7

£ 7311 3 7

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

The Council's examination of the Company's cash for October 1765, entered on 18 November, showed a single payment during the month.

Receipts

1 October 1765, balance in hand, £7,311 3s 7d

Total, £7,311 3s 7d

Payments

31 October 1765, cash given in exchange for a set of bills drawn by Major Monro on John Purling Esquire, payable to the Company's Court of Directors, £170 0s 0d

Balance in coin, £7,101 8s 7d

Balance in cash notes no longer in use, £39 15s 0d

Balance in hand total, £7,141 3s 7d

Total, £7,311 3s 7d

The examination was signed by the following members of the Council.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Burling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

The bill drawn by Major Monro worked in the opposite direction to those issued to Captain Baddison and William Boyd on 18 November 1765. Monro took £170 in coin from the island treasury and handed over a bill on John Purling, his agent or banker in London, who would pay the same sum to the Court of Directors. Monro, who received a salute on going aboard ship on 14 October 1765, thus left the island with cash in hand while the Company recovered the money at home. The treasury acted as a bank for officers coming and going, and every such exchange had to balance against a matching payment in London.

The cash notes were entered separately as no longer in use. Paper notes issued on the island circulated as money only so long as the Company honoured them, and notes withdrawn, damaged or superseded were kept apart from the working balance. Recording them in this way stopped dead paper from being counted as spendable cash while still accounting for every note the treasury held.

The full Council signed the monthly cash examination. No single officer could vouch for the balance alone, and the signatures of the Governor and three councillors made each of them answerable to the directors for the figures.

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175

25th November

At a Consultation held on Monday the 25th Day of November 1765

at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed dated the 13th Novemr

1765

Tuesday the 19th Sailed the Honorable Company's Ship Princess Augusta

for England

Ordered the following Advertizement to be published viz

Island St Helena 25th November 1765

This is to give Notice to all the Inhabitants upon the said

Island, that on Monday next in the afternoon will be sold at Public Auction

at the Market House Sundry damaged Goods belonging to the Honble

Company for ready Money

Per order of Council

(signed) M Bazett Secretary

Captain John Howard this day applied to Us to have a

Mortgage Bond Registered

Granted

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

A meeting of the Council took place at the castle on Monday 25 November 1765. Those present were Governor Skottowe, Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Mr Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The Council read the minutes of its meeting on 18 November 1765, approved them and signed them. The Company's ship Princess Augusta had sailed for England on Tuesday 19 November.

The Council ordered a public notice, dated 25 November 1765, to be issued to all the island's inhabitants. It announced that various damaged goods belonging to the Company would be sold by public auction at the Market House on the afternoon of Monday 2 December, for cash only. Matthew Bazett, the Secretary, signed the notice on the Council's behalf.

Captain John Howard applied to have a mortgage bond entered in the register. The Council granted his request, and the decision was signed by the following members.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Burling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

The auction cleared stock that the inventory of 30 September 1765 had carried as damaged: spoiled bunting and camlet, girls' stockings, leather garters, pewter dishes and hundreds of rusted sail needles. Rather than hold these goods indefinitely at their book value, the Council turned them into coin. Selling at public auction let buyers set the price for imperfect goods, and insisting on cash ruled out the credit that Company servants and planters often expected, so the treasury received money at once.

Registering Captain Howard's mortgage bond showed the Council acting as the island's land registry. A mortgage bond pledged property, usually a lease or a house, as security for a loan. Entering it in the Council's records gave the lender a public claim against the property, so a later buyer or creditor could not take it free of the debt. Since all land was held on Company leases that needed the Council's consent to transfer, a register of charges against those leases let the Council see who held an interest in each holding before approving any change of tenant.

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176

2nd December

At a Consultation held on Monday the 2nd Day of December 1765 at

the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved, and signed dated the 25th

November 1765

The Lieutenant Governor this day presented the following

Letter viz

To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr Governor

and Council

Gentlemen

As the Engineer has already informed you of his success

in having found out Lime Stone at Sandy Bay tho it was thought

sometime ago to have been entirely Exhausted but from my own knowledge

am satisfy'd of a sufficient supply as long as the Island last. I need

not represent to you the Utility of so useful a Discovery but mean to

point out the means of rendering it to the Honorable Company [...]

both for carrying on the Fortifications of this Island which must be

an Acknowledged Advantage, as well as a future Profit I think may

accrue therefrom

As necessity is the Mother of invention, the Practice of

the Inhabitants with respect to their Building strongly Verifies the

above from the use of the Mud Mortar, which I must own I think

very inferior to what I have seen in other Country's Consequently

can only supply the want of a better, particularly as to the outside

and Inside Plaistering of their Houses, I am therefore of opinion

A meeting of the Council took place at the castle on Monday 2 December 1765. Those present were Governor Skottowe, Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Mr Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The Council read the minutes of its meeting on 25 November 1765, approved them and signed them.

Lieutenant Governor Corneille presented a letter to the Governor and Council. Arthur [...] had already reported his success in finding limestone at Sandy Bay. The supply there had been thought some time before to be completely worked out, but Corneille knew from his own observation that it would last as long as the island needed it. He did not think it necessary to argue how valuable the find was. Instead, he wished to show how it could serve the Company, both in building the island's fortifications and as a source of future profit.

Corneille observed that necessity drove invention, and the islanders' way of building proved it. They used a mortar made of mud, which he considered far worse than what he had seen in other countries. He judged it a poor substitute, fit only to make up for the lack of anything better, especially for plastering the inside and outside of houses.

Interpretations

The limestone at Sandy Bay underpinned work already under way. The wage accounts for 1765 paid soldiers for almost 900 days quarrying and burning limestone, and coal was issued for burning lime in the same quarter. A reliable source of stone meant the Company could keep making lime mortar for the defences at Banks's and elsewhere instead of shipping lime from abroad.

Corneille saw a second use beyond the fortifications. Islanders building their own houses relied on mud mortar, clay mixed with water, which washed out in rain and gave walls no lasting strength. If the Company burned lime from Sandy Bay and sold it to the inhabitants, it could improve the island's buildings and earn a steady income, turning a military supply into a commercial one.

182

177

1765

That this Article if made within the Purchase of the Inhabitants will turn

out of great advantage to Them and at the same time very Profitable to the

Honorable Company. For which reason I lay before You Gentlemen an

Estimate of the Yearly expence of that Article both as to the burning of it

with Wood as well as Coals, and apprehend from that Estimate we ought

to fix the price of Eighteen pence p Bushel which will always be a

Considerable Profit to the Honble Company and greatly lessen their

Expence according to the demand made for it, and I think within

Purchase of every Man that can afford to Build. This my Proposal

I lay before You Gentlemen to be Transmitted for the Honble the Court of

of Directors as I imagine it will always be a satisfaction to them to be

informed of the Expence of any Undertaking that we apprehend may be for

their Advantage, and by continuing it even when their necessary Works are

Compleated turn out much to their profit. To make my Estimate as near

as Possible I have taken the whole Expence of their Slaves for five Years

past, and made my Calculation upon an Average one Year with another

what each Slave stands the Honble Company in. I have also added an

additional Evaluation making it up ten pounds p Head to make

allowance for their first Cost, and in so doing believe I have made as

fair a Calculation as the nature of things will admit of. The Accompt

stands thus for Slaves

Slaves, Expence, Each Slave on an Average

1761: Slaves 187, Expence £ 775 17 4, Each Slave on an Average £ 4 2 6

1762: Slaves 204, Expence 675 17 8, Each Slave on an Average 3 6 4

1763: Slaves 201, Expence 784 9 6, Each Slave on an Average 3 18

1764: Slaves 202, Expence 954 10 6, Each Slave on an Average 4 14 6

1765: Slaves 284, Expence 1276 16 5, Each Slave on an Average 4 9 11

£ 21 11 3

Total Expence of each Slave upon an Average for five Years past £ 4 2 3

Corneille went on to argue that lime, if priced within the reach of the islanders, would greatly benefit them and at the same time bring the Company a good profit. He laid before the Council an estimate of the yearly cost of burning lime, both with wood and with coal. On that basis he proposed a fixed price of 18d a bushel. That price would always give the Company a healthy margin and, depending on demand, would greatly reduce its own costs. It would also put lime within reach of anyone who could afford to build.

He asked the Council to send his proposal to the Court of Directors. He believed the directors would always welcome an account of the costs of any venture meant for their benefit. Continuing the work even after the Company's own essential building was finished would, in his view, prove very profitable to them.

To make his estimate as accurate as possible, Corneille had taken the whole cost of the Company's slaves over the past five years. From this he worked out what each slave cost the Company in an average year. He then added a further allowance, bringing the figure up to £10 a head, to cover the original purchase price of the slaves. He believed this was as fair a calculation as the circumstances allowed. His figures for the slaves were as follows.

1761, 187 slaves, total cost £775 17s 4d, average cost per slave £4 2s 6d

1762, 204 slaves, total cost £675 17s 8d, average cost per slave £3 6s 4d

1763, 201 slaves, total cost £784 9s 6d, average cost per slave £3 18s 0d

1764, 202 slaves, total cost £954 10s 6d, average cost per slave £4 14s 6d

1765, 284 slaves, total cost £1,276 16s 5d, average cost per slave £4 9s 11d

Sum of the yearly averages per slave, £20 11s 2d

Average yearly cost per slave over the five years, £4 2s 3d

Interpretations

Corneille treated slaves as capital in the lime works. Their food, clothing and keep averaged about £4 a year each, but he raised the figure to £10 a head to account for their purchase price, spreading the cost of buying a slave across his working years. This was a costing of labour as an investment that wore out, much as a merchant might allow for the depreciation of a ship, and it showed slavery woven directly into the Company's estimates of profit.

The figures revealed a sharp increase in the slave workforce in 1765. Numbers held steady at around 200 from 1762 to 1764, then rose to 284. The extra slaves matched the building programme recorded across the year, with heavy work on Banks's, the castle and the barracks, brickmaking trials and the quarrying and burning of limestone. The rise in total cost, from under £680 in 1762 to more than £1,276 in 1765, came chiefly from the larger number of slaves rather than from higher spending on each.

The 18d a bushel price was set to serve two ends at once. It had to be low enough for ordinary islanders to replace mud mortar with lime, yet high enough to cover the cost of slave labour and fuel and leave a margin for the Company. By asking for the proposal to go to the directors, Corneille sought their approval for turning a military supply into a trade.

183

178

2nd December

Expence of Burning Lime with Wood

3 White Men at 1 Shilling p Day Sundays excepted

£ 46 19

11 Blacks at £ 10 p Year each

110

25 Kills of Wood at £ 2 p Kill

50

£ 206 19

25 Kills at 500 Bushels p Kill makes 12500 Bushels

If 12500 Bushels Costs £ 206 19 1 Bushel Answer 4 pence

With Coals

2 White Men at 1/ p day Sundays excepted

£ 31 6

6 Blacks at £ 10 p Year each

60

30 Chaldrons of Coals at £ 2 4 p Chaldron

66

30 Chaldrons of Coals will burn 12060 Bushels of Lime

£ 157 6

If 12060 Bushels Costs £ 157 6 1 Bushel Answer 3 pence

By the above estimate you will observe that the expence with

Wood exceeds that of Coals by reason of the Number of Hands that is required

to fetch the same, nor do I think that Measure can long be persisted as

the Quality required exceeds what I could have thought. But as the

Engineer has Indented for thirty Chaldron for that purpose, have

made the latter Estimate according to the Quantity of Lime the above

Coals will Burn. I have not included the expence of Powder that may

be required for Blowing, as it was impossible to determine that but by

the softness of the Stone, and the Vein lying near the Surface can amount

to a very trifling addition, and have the Honour to be

Gentlemen

Your most Obedient

most humble Servant

St Helena (signed)

2nd Decemb 1765 Dan Corneille

Corneille set out his estimates for burning lime, first using wood as fuel.

3 white labourers at 1s a day each, excluding Sundays, £46 19s 0d

11 slaves at £10 a year each, £110 0s 0d

25 kilns' worth of wood at £2 a kiln, £50 0s 0d

Total cost with wood, £206 19s 0d

Output, 25 kilns at 500 bushels a kiln, 12,500 bushels of lime

Cost per bushel, 12,500 bushels for £206 19s 0d, 4d a bushel

He then worked out the cost of burning with coal.

2 white labourers at 1s a day each, excluding Sundays, £31 6s 0d

6 slaves at £10 a year each, £60 0s 0d

30 chaldrons of coal at £2 4s 0d a chaldron, £66 0s 0d

Total cost with coal, £157 6s 0d

Output, 30 chaldrons of coal burning 12,060 bushels of lime

Cost per bushel, 12,060 bushels for £157 6s 0d, 3d a bushel

Corneille pointed out that burning with wood cost more because of the many men needed to gather and carry the fuel. He doubted that wood could be relied on for long, since the amount required was greater than he had expected. The engineer had already ordered 30 chaldrons of coal for lime burning, so Corneille based his second estimate on the amount of lime that quantity would produce. He had left out the cost of gunpowder for blasting the stone, because it could not be known in advance. The stone was soft and the seam lay close to the surface, so he expected the extra cost to be very small. Corneille signed the letter at St Helena on 2 December 1765.

Interpretations

The estimates showed lime costing the Company 3d or 4d a bushel to produce, against the selling price of 18d that Corneille had proposed. That margin of four to six times the cost explained his confidence that the trade would be profitable, even after allowing for the slaves' purchase price within the £10 a head he charged for their labour.

The switch from wood to coal reflected the island's shrinking timber. Gathering enough wood for 25 kilns took eleven slaves and three overseers, and Corneille judged the demand could not be met for long. Coal, though it had to be shipped in, needed fewer hands and burned more lime per pound spent. The coal issued for burning lime during the quarter ending 30 September 1765, and the engineer's order for 30 chaldrons, showed the change already under way before Corneille set out his figures.

A chaldron of coal held about 36 bushels. The white labourers paid by the day were perhaps soldiers or free workmen acting as kiln-burners and overseers, while the slaves did the heavy work of quarrying, carrying and stoking.

184

179

1765

As we find by the above Calculation that one Shilling

and three pence will be a considerable profit to the Honble Company, We

have agreed to pursue the Method above represented and to sell to the Inhabitants

what Lime can be spared from their Works

We this day Executed the two following Leases viz

One to Captain Henry Bazett for a piece of ground lying

in James's Valley, containing sixty feet in Front and forty four feet in

Depth at 15/ p Annum

And one to Julio Fabiano for a piece of Ground lying in

James's Valley, containing sixty feet in Front and sixty feet Depth at

15/ p Annum

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

The Council found from Corneille's figures that a price of 1s 3d a bushel would still give the Company a good profit. It agreed to adopt his plan and to sell the islanders whatever lime could be spared from the Company's own works.

The Council also signed two leases that day. Captain Henry Prozett received a plot in James's Valley measuring 60 feet along the front and 44 feet deep, at a rent of 15s a year. Julio Fabiana received a plot in James's Valley measuring 60 feet along the front and 60 feet deep, also at 15s a year. The leases were signed by the following members.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Burling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

The Council set the price of lime below the figure Corneille had proposed. He had recommended 18d a bushel, but the Council fixed it at 1s 3d, judging that the lower price still left a considerable profit over a production cost of 3d or 4d. The cut made lime easier for ordinary islanders to afford, which served Corneille's aim of replacing mud mortar in their houses and was likely to increase sales. The Council also kept the Company's own needs first, offering for sale only what the fortifications and public works could spare.

The two leases followed the inspections the Council had ordered on 28 October and 4 November 1765, when Prozett and Fabiana first asked for land. Both plots lay in James's Valley and carried the same rent of 15s a year, regardless of their slightly different sizes, which suggested a standard charge for a house plot there rather than a rate fixed strictly by area.

185

180

9th December

At a Consultation held on Monday the 9th Day of December 1765 at

the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was, approved and signed, dated the 2nd December

1765

Yesterday died Amelia Daughter of Stephen Young Planter

The Gunners and Stewards Accounts for the Month

of November last were this day brought in, which were examined and

approved, and are as follow viz

Sundry's Expended at the Honorable Company's Table in

the Month of November 1765 viz

16 Bottles Port Wine

1 4

24 Do Lisbon

1 16

6 Do Mountain

9

18 Do Beer

3 7

60 Do Arrack

3 1 6

118 Beef

2 9 2

157 Mutton

3 5 3

1 Kidd

5

35 Butter

1 15

300 Flower

2 3 9

60 Candy

1

£ 17 18 3

A meeting of the Council took place at the castle on Monday 9 December 1765. Those present were Governor Skottowe, Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Mr Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The Council approved and signed the minutes of its meeting on 2 December 1765. Amelia, the daughter of Stephen Young, a planter, had died the previous day.

The gunner's and steward's accounts for November were presented, checked and approved. The steward's account listed the food and drink used at the Company's table during November 1765.

Port wine, 16 bottles, £1 4s 0d

Lisbon wine, 24 bottles, £1 16s 0d

Mountain wine, 6 bottles, £0 9s 0d

Beer, 18 bottles, £0 3s 7d

Arrack, 60 bottles, £3 7s 6d

Beef, 118 lb, £2 9s 2d

Mutton, 157 lb, £3 5s 3d

Kid, 1, £0 5s 0d

Butter, 35 lb, £1 15s 0d

Flour, 300 lb, £2 3s 9d

Sugar candy, 60 lb, £1 0s 0d

Total, £17 18s 3d

Interpretations

The Company kept a public table at the castle, where the Governor, councillors and officials dined, along with guests such as visiting ship captains. Its costs were met from Company funds and checked each month like any other account. The provisions listed on 11 November 1765, with beer, arrack, beef, mutton, poultry and a lamb, belonged to the same table for the month before, and the two lists together showed fresh meat, wine and spirits forming the core of its fare.

The steward bought fresh meat by the pound, beef and mutton at about 5d a pound, and a whole kid, a young goat. Goats ran wild on St Helena and were a ready source of meat when cattle were scarce, as they had been when the Princess Augusta arrived in early November 1765.

The death of a planter's daughter entered in the consultation book showed the Council keeping a running record of deaths on the island, alongside the arrivals and departures of ships.

186

181

1765

Artillery Stores expended in November 1765

Guns Fired, 4 lb, 3 lb, 2 lb, 1 lb, Powder Expended lb, Powder Expended Oz

1 An Alarm: Guns Fired 6, 4 lb 2, 3 lb 2, 2 lb 0, 1 lb 2, Powder Expended lb 12, Powder Expended Oz 0

An Alarm off Turks Cap for the same Ship: Guns Fired 2, 4 lb 2, 3 lb 0, 2 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 4, Powder Expended Oz 0

2 Arrived the Princess Augusta: Guns Fired 9, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 2 lb 9, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 9, Powder Expended Oz 0

4 Powder to the Governor: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 2 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 1, Powder Expended Oz 0

19 Sailed the Princess Augusta: Guns Fired 9, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 2 lb 9, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 9, Powder Expended Oz 0

21 Powder for Blowing Rocks at Ruperts: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 2 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 2, Powder Expended Oz 0

24 Do for repairing the Cartridges at the Main Guard: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 2 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 1, Powder Expended Oz 0

25 Do for Blowing Stone for the Black Hospital: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 2 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 6, Powder Expended Oz 0

29 Do at Ruperts: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 2 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 6, Powder Expended Oz 0

Do for priming at Sundry times: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 2 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 3, Powder Expended Oz 0

Do for Signals: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 2 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 0, Powder Expended Oz 8

30 Do for Blowing: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 2 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 14, Powder Expended Oz 0

Total: Guns Fired 26, 4 lb 4, 3 lb 2, 2 lb 13, 1 lb 2, Powder Expended lb 67, Powder Expended Oz 8

Tallow for the use of Boats, Carts in the Wood, Banks's Cullis Plantn House

and Carpenters

lb 56

Handspike Broke on the Line

1

Field Carriage rotten and not fit for service

1

1 9 Powder Box broke on the Line

1

Handspikes Issued for the use of the Works

6

Sponge staves Do

2

Handspikes broke at Banks's

3

Copper Clouts issued for new Carriages

12

Iron Shod Forks for the use of the Works

4

Handspikes for the Carpenter

6

(signed)

Mitchell

The artillery return for November 1765 listed the guns fired and the powder and stores used during the month.

1 November 1765, alarm, 6 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders, 0 two-pounders, 2 one-pounders, 12 lb 0 oz of powder used

Alarm at Turk's Cap for the same ship, 2 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 0 three-pounders, 0 two-pounders, 0 one-pounders, 4 lb 0 oz of powder used

2 November 1765, salute on the arrival of the Princess Augusta, 9 guns fired, 0 four-pounders, 0 three-pounders, 9 two-pounders, 0 one-pounders, 9 lb 0 oz of powder used

4 November 1765, powder supplied to the Governor, 1 lb 0 oz

19 November 1765, salute on the sailing of the Princess Augusta, 9 guns fired, 0 four-pounders, 0 three-pounders, 9 two-pounders, 0 one-pounders, 9 lb 0 oz of powder used

21 November 1765, powder for blasting rocks at Rupert's, 2 lb 0 oz

24 November 1765, powder for remaking the cartridges at the Main Guard, 1 lb 0 oz

25 November 1765, powder for blasting stone for the Black Hospital, 6 lb 0 oz

29 November 1765, powder for blasting at Rupert's, 6 lb 0 oz

Powder for priming at various times, 3 lb 0 oz

Powder for signals, 0 lb 8 oz

30 November 1765, powder for blasting, 14 lb 0 oz

Total, 26 guns fired, 4 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders, 18 two-pounders, 2 one-pounders, 67 lb 8 oz of powder used

Tallow for the boats, the carts in the wood, Banks's portcullis, the Plantation House and the carpenters, 36 lb

Handspike broken on the Lines, 1

Field gun carriage rotten and unfit for service, 1

Bed for a nine-pounder broken on the Lines, 1

Handspikes issued for the works, 6

Sponge staves issued for the works, 2

Handspikes broken at Banks's, 3

Copper clouts issued for new carriages, 12

Iron-shod trucks for the works, 4

Handspikes for the carpenter, 6

Archibald Mitchell signed the return.

Interpretations

The alarm guns of 1 November showed the island's warning system at work. When a sail was sighted, the lookout posts fired alarm guns so that the garrison could stand to arms until the ship was identified. The second alarm at Turk's Cap was fired for the same vessel, which was the Princess Augusta: her boat landed at Banks's that afternoon and she came into the road the next day to a salute. A full alarm used more powder than the arrival salute itself, since every ship had to be treated as a possible enemy until her colours and signals were confirmed.

Gunpowder served building as much as defence. More than 28 lb in the month went on blasting rock at Rupert's and stone for the Black Hospital, so the magazines also supplied the quarrying for the island's public works. This matched Corneille's remark on 2 December 1765 that powder would be needed to blast limestone, and it explained why the return recorded every pound used for works as carefully as for salutes.

The rotten field carriage and broken gun bed showed how quickly timber decayed in the damp air of the island's heights. A bed was the wooden base on which a heavy gun's carriage rested, and copper clouts were thin plates nailed over the wood of new carriages to protect points of wear. Trucks were the small solid wheels of a gun carriage, here shod with iron for moving loads at the works, and sponge staves carried the wet sheepskin used to swab out the bore after each shot so no burning fragment could set off the next charge.

187

182

9th December

We this day Ordered the following Advertisement to be Published viz

Island St Helena 9th December 1765

This is to give Notice to all the Planters upon the said

Island that they are hereby required to attend the Governor and Council

at the Castle on Monday next at the Hour of ten oClock in the morning

Per Order of Council

(signed) Matthew Bazett Secy

As the Fly Schooner has not answered the purpose

she was intended for and her Bottom being very bad. We determined to

break her up, and apply the Materials towards repairing the Long

Boats &ca

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

On 9 December 1765 the Council ordered a public notice to be issued. It required every planter on the island to attend the Governor and Council at the castle at ten o'clock on the morning of Monday 16 December. Matthew Bazett, the Secretary, signed the notice on the Council's behalf.

The schooner Fly had not served the purpose for which she was intended, and her hull below the waterline was in very poor condition. The Council decided to break her up and use her materials to repair the longboats and other vessels. The decision was signed by the following members.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Burling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

The Council chose to break up the Fly rather than repair her once more. The Company had spent steadily on her through 1765: soldiers and a sailmaker were paid for carpentry and sail work aboard her, and the stores account for the quarter ending 30 September 1765 charged her £21 8s 2d for rope, spars and oak and ash plank. The obvious course was to keep patching her, but the Council judged that further money would be wasted on a vessel that had never done the work expected of her and whose bottom was failing.

Breaking her up turned a failing asset into a store of materials. Her planking, timbers, iron fittings, rigging and sails could all be reused on the longboats and the Company's other boats. On an island with almost no timber of its own, where every plank and spar came by ship, salvaging a hull was a sensible use of what was already on hand.

188

183

16th December

At a Consultation held on Monday the 16th Day of December 1765 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Captain Thos Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved, and signed dated the 9th

December 1765

Pursuant to the Order Published last Monday the

Planters this day attended, when we represented to them the necessity there was

of supplying the Market of a Wednesday with Sheep Goats, and Hogs, as the

return of Black Cattle for the next Year, will not afford more than one

Beast a Week, in consequence of which we Ordered the following Advertise

ment to be published viz

Island St Helena 16th December 1765

This is to give Notice to all the Planters upon the said Island that

they are hereby required to send into the Secretary's Office on or before Monday next

the 23rd Instant a Signed Account of what Sheep Goats and Hogs each of them

have, as likewise the Number of Sheep they intend for sale the next Year

Notice is hereby further given that they are also to transmit an

Account on or before the time abovementioned of their Number of Horses and to

distinguish them by their several Denominations

As the return of the Number of Cattle for Slaughter for the Year 1766

have been already made This is therefore to give further Notice that if any

Person have more than they purpose to sell, that they are also to return them at the

time beforementioned that they may be added to the List

Per Order of Council

(signed) M Bazett Secretary

A meeting of the Council took place at the castle on Monday 16 December 1765. Those present were Governor Skottowe, Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Mr Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The Council read the minutes of its meeting on 9 December 1765, approved them and signed them.

The planters came before the Council as the notice issued the previous Monday had required. The Council explained that the Wednesday market would have to be supplied with sheep, goats and pigs. The returns of cattle for the coming year showed that the island could provide no more than one beast a week.

The Council then ordered a further notice, dated 16 December 1765. Every planter had to deliver a signed return to the Secretary's office by Monday 23 December. Each return was to state how many sheep, goats and pigs the planter owned, and how many sheep he intended to sell during the coming year. By the same date planters also had to report their horses, listed separately by kind. Because the cattle returns for slaughter in 1766 had already been made, the notice added that anyone with more cattle than they had declared for sale should report them as well, so that they could be added to the list. Matthew Bazett, the Secretary, signed the notice on the Council's behalf.

Interpretations

The cattle returns called in early on 4 November 1765 had exposed a serious shortage. One beast a week could not feed the garrison, the officials and the townspeople, still less supply ships calling for fresh meat. The Princess Augusta had already been given fourteen days' fresh provisions drawn from the cattle due for 1766, which reduced the stock further. The Council's answer was to widen the meat supply to smaller animals and to press planters to declare any cattle they had held back.

The Wednesday market was a regulated weekly sale through which planters supplied fresh food to the town. By requiring signed returns of sheep, goats and pigs and of the sheep each planter meant to sell, the Council could plan what the market would offer through the year and hold planters to their declared numbers. Calling the planters in person before issuing the order gave the measure more force than a notice alone, since each man heard the reason directly from the Governor and Council.

The return of horses by kind, whether stallions, mares, geldings or colts, perhaps served a different purpose. Horses were needed for transport and for the island's defence, and a full count let the Council know what mounts and draught animals were available.

189

184

16th December

We also upon the Scarcity of Flour in the Honorable Company's

Stores, and the Yam this Year failing, have Contracted with several of the Planters

for what Potatoes they have to spare at the rate of four Shillings p Bushel

which is a Shilling p Bushel Cheaper than the usual price, but yet too

dear for the Soldier to pay in lieu of Bread, therefore agreed to sell them to

the Garrison at three Shillings p Bushel and charge the other Shilling

to the Honorable Company

As the Honorable Company's Plantations are at

present very Young, and no Rice in their Stores, we have been obliged to

buy some Yams for the Support of their Slaves for which we paid the

usual price of three Shillings p Hundred

Counted and examined the Honorable

Company's Cash for the Month of November last, which is as follows viz

The Council also dealt with a shortage of flour in the Company's stores and the failure of that year's yam crop. It had agreed with several planters to buy whatever potatoes they could spare at 4s a bushel, a shilling less than the usual price. That was still too expensive for the soldiers to pay in place of bread. The Council therefore decided to sell the potatoes to the garrison at 3s a bushel and to charge the remaining shilling to the Company.

The Company's own plantations were still too young to yield crops, and there was no rice left in its stores. The Council had therefore been forced to buy yams to feed the Company's slaves, paying the usual price of 3s a hundredweight.

The Council then counted and checked the Company's cash for November, with the sums recorded in detail.

Interpretations

The Council chose to subsidise the soldiers' potatoes instead of passing on the full cost. The obvious course was to resell at the 4s a bushel the Company had paid, but the record showed that price was beyond what soldiers could afford as a substitute for bread. By taking a shilling a bushel on itself, the Company kept the garrison fed and avoided the unrest that hunger could provoke among troops on a remote station, at a cost it judged worth bearing.

Stocks had fallen fast since the inventory of 30 September 1765, which recorded 371 cwt of flour, 133 cwt of rice and more than 156 cwt of paddy. Within eleven weeks the rice was gone and flour had run short. The slaves alone had drawn nearly 85 cwt of rice in the previous quarter, and the Princess Augusta had to be supplied for her voyage home. With no supply ship yet arrived, the island fell back on what its own farms could grow.

Potatoes and yams were the island's local staples, grown by planters as a substitute for imported grain. Yams, a starchy tuber, fed the slaves when rice ran out, and their failure that year left the Company exposed. The note that its plantations were still very young showed the Company trying to build up its own food production, but not yet able to rely on it.

190

185

1765

Cash Dr

1765 Novr 1st To Balance remaining

£ 7641 3 7

To Ship Princess Augusta

56 8 1

13th To Exchange for two Sets of Bills drawn upon the Honble

the Court of Directors payable as follows viz

One Set to Captn Thomas Maddison for £ 770

One Set to Mr Matthew Pirchard 180 7

950 7

£ 8647 18 8

Per Contra Cr

1765 Novr 30th By Balance remaining viz

In Specie

£ 8108 3 8

In Cash notes of no use

539 15

£ 8647 18 8

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

The Council's examination of the Company's cash for November 1765 showed receipts from the Princess Augusta and from the bills of exchange issued during her stay.

Receipts

1 November 1765, balance in hand, £7,641 3s 7d

Received from the ship Princess Augusta, £56 8s 1d

18 November 1765, cash received in exchange for two sets of bills drawn on the Court of Directors: one set to Captain Thomas Baddison for £770 0s 0d and one set to Mr Matthew Perchard for £180 7s 0d, together £950 7s 0d

Total, £8,647 18s 8d

Payments

30 November 1765, balance in coin, £8,108 3s 8d

30 November 1765, balance in cash notes no longer in use, £539 15s 0d

Total, £8,647 18s 8d

The examination was signed by the following members of the Council.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Burling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

The cash account confirmed how the bills of exchange granted on 18 November 1765 worked. Captain Baddison and the bill made payable to Matthew Perchard brought £950 7s 0d in coin into the treasury, and in return the Company undertook to pay the same sums in London. The island's stock of coin rose by almost £1,000 in a single month, with no cash paid out at all, which showed how much the treasury depended on visiting ships to replenish its specie.

The £56 8s 1d received from the Princess Augusta was perhaps payment for the fresh provisions and stores supplied to her during her stay. Every ship that called added to the island's cash in this way, through purchases of food, water and stores and through officers turning their private money into bills on London.

191

186

23rd December

At a Consultation held on Monday the 23rd Day of December 1765 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed dated the 16th Decemr

1765

Mr Matthew Bazett this day presented the

following Petition viz

To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr Governor &c

Council of St Helena

The humble Petition of Matthew Bazett

Sheweth

That your Petitioner hath two Leases containing Eleven

Acres of Land lying in the East Division of this Island, expired, humbly

requests that your Worship and Council will grant him a renewal of the

same

And your Petitioner will ever pray

23rd Decr 1765 (signed) Mattw Bazett

Granted

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

A meeting of the Council took place at the castle on Monday 23 December 1765. Those present were Governor Skottowe, Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Mr Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The Council read the minutes of its meeting on 16 December 1765, approved them and signed them.

Matthew Bazett presented a petition dated 23 December 1765. He held two leases covering 11 acres of land in the East division of the island, and both had expired. He asked the Governor and Council to renew them. The Council granted his request, and the decision was signed by the following members.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Burling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

Bazett was the Council's own Secretary, who signed its public notices, yet he had to petition for the renewal of his leases in the same form as any planter. His office gave him no exemption from the Company's control over land. As with John Desfountain's renewal on 21 October 1765, a request to renew land already held and surveyed was granted at once, with no inspection ordered, since nothing new was being taken from the Company's unused ground.

192

187

6th Jany

At a Consultation held on Monday the 6th Day of January 1766 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governr

Mr Matthew Burling

Captn Thos Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed dated the 23rd December

1765

Saturday the 28th December passed by a Ship at a great distance

Yesterday Thomas Jones Soldier Hanged himself

Samuel Bowers this day presented the following Petition viz

To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr Governor and

Council Jany 1st 1766

The humble Petition of Saml Bowers

Sheweth

That your Petitioner having had the misfortune of losing

his Boat on friday night last, and that he is upon a sure foundation that

his Boat was taken away by some of the Slaves belonging to the Honorable

Company, he humbly hopes that your Worship and Council will take this unfortunate

loss into your Consideration, it being the Sole dependance of your Petitioners

support for Subsistance in Life and shall as in duty bound for ever pray

As it is Customary for the Masters to make good

whatever damages at any time are done by their Slaves and it appearing to Us

that the Honorable Company's Slaves had Staved the Petitioners Boat. We

agreed to pay him five pounds five Shillings the Sum she Cost him

The Long Boat Men this day presented the following

Petition viz

A meeting of the Council took place at the castle on Monday 6 January 1766. Those present were Governor Skottowe, Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Mr Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The Council read the minutes of its meeting on 23 December 1765, approved them and signed them. A ship had passed the island far out to sea on Saturday 28 December. Thomas Jones, a soldier, had hanged himself the previous day.

Samuel Bowers presented a petition to Governor Skottowe and the Council dated 1 January 1766. He had lost his boat on the night of Friday 27 December. He was certain that some of the Company's slaves had taken it. The boat had been his only means of earning a living, and he asked the Council to consider his loss.

Owners were customarily held responsible for any damage their slaves caused. The Council was satisfied that the Company's slaves had wrecked Bowers's boat, and it agreed to pay him £5 5s 0d, the amount the boat had cost him.

The longboat crew then presented a petition of their own.

Interpretations

The Council applied to the Company the same rule it would have enforced against any private owner. Under island custom a master answered for the damage his slaves did, and the Company, as the largest slaveholder, accepted that liability once the evidence pointed to its own slaves. It could have used its position to deny the claim or to demand fuller proof, but paying Bowers the full cost of the boat upheld a rule on which every planter relied when his own property suffered at the hands of another man's slaves.

The custom also placed the burden of controlling slaves squarely on their owners. A master who had to pay for every loss had strong reason to watch, lock up and discipline the people he held, which helped explain the padlock, the night inspections of the slaves' house and the whipcord recorded in the Company's own store accounts for 1765.

The death of Thomas Jones was entered without comment beside the passing of a distant ship. A soldier's suicide, like the death of Evan Knowles in October, was recorded as a matter of garrison fact.

193

188

6th January

To the Worshipful Governor & Council

The humble Petition of the Honorable Company's

Long boats Men

Sheweth

That at the time when your Petitioners engaged to serve in

the Long Boat for six pounds a Year the employment was easy and

their attendance not always wanted which with the advantages they

expected to derive from assisting the Honorable Companys Ships

Induced them to accept the terms then offered them

That the manner in which they are now employed is intirely

different, and is become altogether unsuitable as well as extremely

laborious and hazardous Requiring their Constant attendance, Labour

and Vigilance by night as well as by Day, and exposing them to all

the Casualties of Weather, as well as the Intemperance of Climate in a

manner to which none of the rest of the Compys Workmen are at all liable

That our present Salary is only at the rate of fivepence

p Day and Fatigues we go thro requires more for natural Support

We therefore humbly hope you will be pleased to grant

Us such an Addition to our wages as you shall judge the nature of our

employment, and the Fatigues and Dangers attending it deserves

And your Petitioners shall ever pray &c

In consequence of the above Petition and the Engineer having

assured Us that their Labour is more fatiguing than others of the Garrison

employed at the Honble Compys Works, they are often obliged to Work in the

night time. We agreed to pay them one Shilling p Day as formerly

practised, and not keep them at any fixed Salarys. And Capt Mitchell

representing the Necessity of having another Long Boat, We have fixed

Willm French to be the other Coxswain at twenty pounds p Ann for

the time the Service requires the employment of two Boats

The longboat crew addressed their petition to the Governor and Council. When they first agreed to serve in the longboat for £6 a year, the work had been light and they were not always needed. That, together with the extra earnings they expected from helping the Company's ships, had persuaded them to accept the terms offered.

Their work had since changed completely. It had become constant, exhausting and dangerous. They had to be on hand and on watch at all hours, night and day, exposed to every kind of weather in a way that none of the Company's other workmen faced. Their pay worked out at only 4d a day, which was not enough to feed men doing such hard work. They asked the Council to raise their wages to whatever it thought the nature, strain and danger of the work deserved.

The engineer confirmed that their labour was harder than that of any of the soldiers employed on the Company's works, and that they often had to work through the night. The Council therefore agreed to pay them 1s a day, as had been the practice before, instead of a fixed yearly wage. Captain Mitchell also explained that a second longboat was needed. The Council appointed William French as coxswain of the second boat at £20 a year, for as long as the service required two boats.

Interpretations

The Council did more than raise the fixed wage the boatmen asked to have increased. It abandoned the yearly salary altogether and returned to paying by the day at 1s, roughly three times their former rate. Day wages matched pay to the work actually done, so the Company paid heavily in busy seasons when ships were in the road and less in quiet ones. The rate also put the boatmen level with the soldiers paid 1s a day for general labour on the works in 1765, so their pay reflected the same standard the Company already used.

The engineer's word decided the matter. The Council did not take the boatmen's account on trust but asked Mitchell, who directed their work, whether it was as hard as they claimed. His confirmation turned a request into a settled change of pay.

William French had already worked for the Company as a sailmaker, paid for sail work on the Fly in the wage accounts for 1765. Appointing an experienced hand as coxswain of the second boat gave it a skilled seaman in charge. His £20 a year was tied explicitly to the need for two boats, so the post would lapse once that need passed.

194

189

1766

James Goudy Soldier who has served about a twelve Month

of his Contracted time, this day applied to Us for his discharge from the Garrison

having procured Thomas Mudge Soldier whose time is expired to serve the

remaining four Years, as the said Mudge is a good Man we have agreed to

the Exchange and discharged Goudy accordingly

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

At a Consultation held on Monday the 13th day of January 1766 at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thos Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 6th Jany 1766

Tuesday the 7th Died John Grainger Corporal

The Plantation Account for the last Quarter, and the

Gunners & Stewards Accounts for the Month of December last were this day

brought in which were examined and approved, and are as follow viz

James Gowdy, a soldier who had served about twelve months of his agreed term, asked the Council to release him from the garrison. He had found Thomas Mudge, a soldier whose own term had ended, willing to serve the four years remaining on Gowdy's engagement. The Council considered Mudge a good soldier, agreed to the exchange and discharged Gowdy. The decision was signed by the following members.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Burling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

A meeting of the Council took place at the castle on Monday 13 January 1766. Those present were Governor Skottowe, Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Mr Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The Council read the minutes of its meeting on 6 January 1766, approved them and signed them. John Grainger, a corporal, had died on Tuesday 7 January.

The plantation account for the previous quarter and the gunner's and steward's accounts for December were presented, checked and approved, and their figures were entered in the record.

Interpretations

Soldiers on St Helena served for a fixed term, here five years, and could not simply leave before it ended. Gowdy secured his release by finding a substitute, a common practice in armies of the period, in which a man wishing to leave provided another to take his place, often for a payment agreed between them. Mudge, whose own service had run out, chose to re-engage for four more years rather than go home, perhaps for money from Gowdy or because he preferred to stay on the island.

The Council did not grant the exchange automatically. Its approval rested on Mudge being a good man, since the garrison would gain nothing by losing a sound soldier for an unreliable one. The obvious course was to hold Gowdy to his engagement, and the substitute's character was what made the Council set that aside. The arrangement kept the garrison at full strength while giving a soldier a lawful way out.

195

190

13th January

Account of the Honble Companys Stock of Neat Cattle &ca for the Quarter ending the 31st December 1765

Neat Cattle Bulls, Neat Cattle Cows, Neat Cattle Calves, Neat Cattle Yearlings, Neat Cattle Heifers, Neat Cattle Steers, Neat Cattle Oxen, Neat Cattle Total, Sheep Ewes, Sheep Weathers, Sheep Lambs, Sheep Rams, Sheep Total, Goats Ewes, Goats Weathers, Goats Kidds, Goats Rams, Goats Total, Hogs Sows, Hogs Shoats, Hogs Total, Horses Horses, Horses Mares, Horses Total, Asses [...]asses, Asses [...]asses, Asses Total, Poultry Fowls, Poultry Ducks, Poultry Turkey, Poultry Geese

Remaining the 30th Septembr: Neat Cattle Bulls 3, Neat Cattle Cows 37, Neat Cattle Calves 58, Neat Cattle Yearlings 50, Neat Cattle Heifers 30, Neat Cattle Steers 30, Neat Cattle Oxen 17, Neat Cattle Total 275, Sheep Ewes 354, Sheep Weathers 45, Sheep Lambs 102, Sheep Rams 7, Sheep Total 608, Goats Ewes 109, Goats Weathers 34, Goats Kidds 93, Goats Rams 7, Goats Total 243, Hogs Sows 1, Hogs Shoats 4, Hogs Total 5, Horses Horses 3, Horses Mares 4, Horses Total 7, Asses [...]asses 1, Asses [...]asses 1, Asses Total 2, Poultry Fowls 30, Poultry Ducks 18, Poultry Turkey 14, Poultry Geese 4

Encreased: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 3, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 3, Sheep Ewes 0, Sheep Weathers 0, Sheep Lambs 20, Sheep Rams 1, Sheep Total 21, Goats Ewes 0, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kidds 15, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 15, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 1, Horses Mares 1, Horses Total 2, Asses [...]asses 0, Asses [...]asses 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 30, Poultry Ducks 7, Poultry Turkey 5, Poultry Geese 3

Total: Neat Cattle Bulls 3, Neat Cattle Cows 37, Neat Cattle Calves 61, Neat Cattle Yearlings 50, Neat Cattle Heifers 30, Neat Cattle Steers 30, Neat Cattle Oxen 17, Neat Cattle Total 278, Sheep Ewes 354, Sheep Weathers 45, Sheep Lambs 122, Sheep Rams 8, Sheep Total 629, Goats Ewes 109, Goats Weathers 34, Goats Kidds 108, Goats Rams 7, Goats Total 258, Hogs Sows 1, Hogs Shoats 4, Hogs Total 5, Horses Horses 4, Horses Mares 5, Horses Total 9, Asses [...]asses 1, Asses [...]asses 1, Asses Total 2, Poultry Fowls 60, Poultry Ducks 25, Poultry Turkey 19, Poultry Geese 7

Killed: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 4, Neat Cattle Calves 1, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 4, Neat Cattle Oxen 1, Neat Cattle Total 10, Sheep Ewes 19, Sheep Weathers 39, Sheep Lambs 4, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 62, Goats Ewes 12, Goats Weathers 19, Goats Kidds 3, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 34, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses [...]asses 0, Asses [...]asses 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 24, Poultry Ducks 4, Poultry Turkey 0, Poultry Geese 0

Dead: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 1, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 1, Sheep Ewes 10, Sheep Weathers 16, Sheep Lambs 9, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 35, Goats Ewes 13, Goats Weathers 2, Goats Kidds 7, Goats Rams 3, Goats Total 25, Hogs Sows 1, Hogs Shoats 2, Hogs Total 3, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses [...]asses 0, Asses [...]asses 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 2, Poultry Ducks 3, Poultry Turkey 0, Poultry Geese 0

Remaining 31st Decr 1765: Neat Cattle Bulls 3, Neat Cattle Cows 33, Neat Cattle Calves 59, Neat Cattle Yearlings 50, Neat Cattle Heifers 30, Neat Cattle Steers 26, Neat Cattle Oxen 16, Neat Cattle Total 267, Sheep Ewes 325, Sheep Weathers 90, Sheep Lambs 109, Sheep Rams 8, Sheep Total 532, Goats Ewes 84, Goats Weathers 13, Goats Kidds 98, Goats Rams 4, Goats Total 199, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 2, Hogs Total 2, Horses Horses 4, Horses Mares 5, Horses Total 9, Asses [...]asses 1, Asses [...]asses 1, Asses Total 2, Poultry Fowls 34, Poultry Ducks 18, Poultry Turkey 19, Poultry Geese 7

28th Octobr Died Cork

14th Novr Do Dawson

22nd Do Do Jelly

27th Decemr Do Erasmus

2nd Novr Born a male Child

named Gabriel

13th Decemb Do a Male Child

Died the same Day

Yam Expended for the Slaves

32224

Do Bought

43290

Total

25514

(signed) Dan Corneille

The plantation account set out the Company's stock of cattle and other animals for the quarter ending 31 December 1765.

Remaining 30 September 1765, cattle: 3 bulls, 37 cows, 58 calves, 50 yearlings, 30 heifers, 30 steers, 17 oxen, total 275

Remaining 30 September 1765, sheep: 354 ewes, 45 wethers, 102 lambs, 7 rams, total 608

Remaining 30 September 1765, goats: 109 nannies, 34 wethers, 93 kids, 7 billies, total 243

Remaining 30 September 1765, pigs: 1 sow, 4 young pigs, total 5

Remaining 30 September 1765, horses: 3 horses, 4 mares, total 7

Remaining 30 September 1765, donkeys: 1 male, 1 female, total 2

Remaining 30 September 1765, poultry: 30 fowls, 18 ducks, 14 turkeys, 4 geese

Increase, cattle: 0 bulls, 0 cows, 3 calves, 0 yearlings, 0 heifers, 0 steers, 0 oxen, total 3

Increase, sheep: 0 ewes, 0 wethers, 20 lambs, 1 ram, total 21

Increase, goats: 0 nannies, 0 wethers, 15 kids, 0 billies, total 15

Increase, pigs: 0 sows, 0 young pigs, total 0

Increase, horses: 1 horse, 1 mare, total 2

Increase, donkeys: 0 males, 0 females, total 0

Increase, poultry: 30 fowls, 7 ducks, 5 turkeys, 3 geese

Total, cattle: 3 bulls, 37 cows, 61 calves, 50 yearlings, 30 heifers, 30 steers, 17 oxen, total 278

Total, sheep: 354 ewes, 45 wethers, 122 lambs, 8 rams, total 629

Total, goats: 109 nannies, 34 wethers, 108 kids, 7 billies, total 258

Total, pigs: 1 sow, 4 young pigs, total 5

Total, horses: 4 horses, 5 mares, total 9

Total, donkeys: 1 male, 1 female, total 2

Total, poultry: 60 fowls, 25 ducks, 19 turkeys, 7 geese

Killed, cattle: 0 bulls, 4 cows, 1 calf, 0 yearlings, 0 heifers, 4 steers, 1 ox, total 10

Killed, sheep: 19 ewes, 39 wethers, 4 lambs, 0 rams, total 62

Killed, goats: 12 nannies, 19 wethers, 3 kids, 0 billies, total 34

Killed, pigs: 0 sows, 0 young pigs, total 0

Killed, horses: 0 horses, 0 mares, total 0

Killed, donkeys: 0 males, 0 females, total 0

Killed, poultry: 24 fowls, 4 ducks, 0 turkeys, 0 geese

Died, cattle: 0 bulls, 0 cows, 1 calf, 0 yearlings, 0 heifers, 0 steers, 0 oxen, total 1

Died, sheep: 10 ewes, 16 wethers, 9 lambs, 0 rams, total 35

Died, goats: 13 nannies, 2 wethers, 7 kids, 3 billies, total 25

Died, pigs: 1 sow, 2 young pigs, total 3

Died, horses: 0 horses, 0 mares, total 0

Died, donkeys: 0 males, 0 females, total 0

Died, poultry: 2 fowls, 3 ducks, 0 turkeys, 0 geese

Remaining 31 December 1765, cattle: 3 bulls, 33 cows, 59 calves, 50 yearlings, 30 heifers, 26 steers, 16 oxen, total 267

Remaining 31 December 1765, sheep: 325 ewes, 90 wethers, 109 lambs, 8 rams, total 532

Remaining 31 December 1765, goats: 84 nannies, 13 wethers, 98 kids, 4 billies, total 199

Remaining 31 December 1765, pigs: 0 sows, 2 young pigs, total 2

Remaining 31 December 1765, horses: 4 horses, 5 mares, total 9

Remaining 31 December 1765, donkeys: 1 male, 1 female, total 2

Remaining 31 December 1765, poultry: 34 fowls, 18 ducks, 19 turkeys, 7 geese

The account also recorded deaths and births among the Company's slaves on the plantation during the quarter.

23 October 1765, death of Cork

14 November 1765, death of Dawson

22 November 1765, death of Jilly

27 December 1765, death of Erasmus

2 November 1765, birth of a boy named Gabriel

13 December 1765, birth of a boy who died the same day

The yams used to feed the slaves were recorded as follows.

Yams from the plantation issued for the slaves, 22,224

Yams bought, 3,290

Total yams, 25,514

Daniel Corneille signed the account.

Interpretations

The births and deaths of the Company's slaves were entered in the same account as its cattle, sheep and poultry. Cork, Dawson, Jilly and Erasmus appeared directly beneath the tally of animals killed and dead, and the infant Gabriel was recorded like the increase of the flocks. The plantation account treated slaves as part of the stock of the estate, counted for gains and losses at the end of each quarter, which matched Corneille's own costing of slaves as capital at £10 a head on 2 December 1765. Of the two boys born, one died on the day of his birth, and four adults died in three months.

The slaughter figures reflected the meat shortage the Council faced. Only ten cattle were killed in the quarter, against 62 sheep and 34 goats. With cattle scarce, the Company drew its fresh meat chiefly from sheep and goats, the course the Council pressed on the planters at the Wednesday market on 16 December 1765. Losses from disease or accident were also heavy among small stock, with 35 sheep and 25 goats dying rather than being killed, which perhaps reflected poor pasture or exposure in the wet winter months.

Most of the yams fed to the slaves came from the Company's own plantation, with only 3,290 bought from planters after the failure of the crop and the exhaustion of rice reported in December. The yam supply thus carried the slave population through the shortage, though at a level the Council clearly considered precarious.

The table used the standard terms of the period. Neat cattle meant oxen, cows and their young, as distinct from sheep and goats. Wethers were castrated males kept for meat, steers were young castrated bulls being raised for beef or draught, and yearlings were animals in their second year.

196

191

1766

Artillery Stores Expend in the Month Decr 1765

Guns Fired, 4 lb, 3 lb, 1 lb, Powder Expended lb, Powder Expended Oz

2nd Powder to repair the Cartridges at the Main Guard: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 1, Powder Expended Oz 5

5th Do Do: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 1, Powder Expended Oz 0

9th Do to Blow Rocks: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 6, Powder Expended Oz 0

13th Do to repair the Cartridges at the Main Guard: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 0, Powder Expended Oz 10

16th Do to Blow Rocks: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 6, Powder Expended Oz 0

24th Do to repair the Cartridges at the Main Guard: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 1, Powder Expended Oz 2

28th An Alarm for a Ship that went by: Guns Fired 6, 4 lb 2, 3 lb 2, 1 lb 2, Powder Expended lb 12, Powder Expended Oz 0

Powder for signals: Guns Fired 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 0, Powder Expended Oz 8

Total: Guns Fired 6, 4 lb 2, 3 lb 2, 1 lb 2, Powder Expended lb 28, Powder Expended Oz 9

3 Handspikes broke on the Line

3 Gun Carriages for 32 Pounders Condemned

14 lb Tallow for the Carpenters Carts in the Wood, & Boats

20 Iron Shod Trucks for repairg the Trucks Carriages

1 Muscovy Light unserviceable

1 Gun Carriage for 12 Pr rotten

1 Quire Paper for making Portfires

(signed) Archd Mitchell

Sundry's Expended at the Honble Company's Table in the Month of

December 1765

14 Bottles Port Wine

£ 1 1

12 Do Lisbon

1 7

10 Do Mountain

15

24 Do Beer

5

62 Do Arrack

3 9 6

142 Beef

2 18 9

314 Mutton

6 10 10

Carried over

£ 16 7 1

The artillery return for December 1765 listed the guns fired and the powder and stores used during the month.

2 December 1765, powder for remaking cartridges at the Main Guard, 1 lb 5 oz

5 December 1765, powder for remaking cartridges at the Main Guard, 1 lb 0 oz

9 December 1765, powder for blasting rocks, 6 lb 0 oz

13 December 1765, powder for remaking cartridges at the Main Guard, 0 lb 10 oz

16 December 1765, powder for blasting rocks, 6 lb 0 oz

24 December 1765, powder for remaking cartridges at the Main Guard, 1 lb 2 oz

28 December 1765, alarm for a ship passing the island, 6 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders, 2 one-pounders, 12 lb 0 oz of powder used

Powder for signals, 0 lb 8 oz

Total, 6 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders, 2 one-pounders, 28 lb 9 oz of powder used

Handspikes broken on the Lines, 3

Carriages for 32-pounder guns condemned, 3

Tallow for the carpenters, the carts in the wood and the boats, 14 lb

Iron-shod trucks for repairing truck carriages, 20

Muscovy glass light, unserviceable, 1

Carriage for a 12-pounder gun, rotten, 1

Paper for making portfires, 1 quire

Archibald Mitchell signed the return.

The steward's account listed the food and drink used at the Company's table during December 1765.

Port wine, 14 bottles, £1 1s 0d

Lisbon wine, 18 bottles, £1 7s 0d

Mountain wine, 10 bottles, £0 15s 0d

Beer, 24 bottles, £0 5s 0d

Arrack, 62 bottles, £3 9s 6d

Beef, 142 lb, £2 18s 9d

Mutton, 314 lb, £6 10s 10d

Carried forward, £16 7s 1d

Interpretations

Three carriages for 32-pounders were condemned in a single month, with a 12-pounder carriage found rotten as well. The 32-pounders were the heaviest guns defending the island, and without sound carriages they could not be aimed or fired. The losses followed the rotten field carriage and broken nine-pounder bed reported in November 1765, which showed timber decaying steadily in the damp of the island's batteries and leaving the defences dependent on replacements shipped from England.

Powder for remaking cartridges at the Main Guard was issued four times in the month. Cartridges were bags of cloth or paper holding a measured charge, and damp air soon spoiled the powder inside them, so they had to be emptied and refilled regularly to keep the guard's guns ready. Portfires were stiff paper tubes packed with a slow-burning mixture, used to touch off a gun's priming, and the paper for making them was cut and rolled by the gunners themselves. Muscovy glass was mica, split into thin clear sheets and used in place of glass in lanterns because it did not shatter, which made it safe for use near powder.

The table account showed the cattle shortage reaching the castle. Mutton doubled from 157 lb in November to 314 lb in December, while beef rose only slightly, from 118 lb to 142 lb. The Governor's own table thus followed the course the Council urged on the planters at the Wednesday market on 16 December 1765, turning from beef to sheep.

197

192

13th Jany

Brought over

£ 16 7 1

1 Lamb

10

12 Fowls

18

2 Ducks

3

2 Turkeys

10

40 Butter

2

62 Candy

1 2

269 Flour

3 19 3

2 Kids

10

1 Goat

10

£ 26 8

The Lieutenant Governor this day represented to Us

that Thomas Warne the Honble Company's Overseer was a very

improper Person for that Station, on Account of his irregularity's &

neglect of Duty, We therefore have dismissed him from that employ,

and have appointed Daniel Tongue who was Overseer in the Long Wood to

take charge of both departments at the usual Salary of sixty pounds p

Year and discharged him from the Garrison

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

The steward's account of food and drink used at the Company's table during December 1765 continued under the date 13 January 1766.

Brought forward, £16 7s 1d

Lamb, 1, £0 10s 0d

Fowls, 12, £0 18s 0d

Ducks, 2, £0 3s 0d

Turkeys, 2, £0 10s 0d

Butter, 40 lb, £2 0s 0d

Sugar candy, 62 lb, £1 0s 2d

Flour, 269 lb, £3 19s 3d

Kids, 2, £0 10s 0d

Goat, 1, £0 10s 0d

Total, £26 8s 0d

Lieutenant Governor Corneille told the Council that Thomas Warne, the Company's overseer, was quite unfit for the post because of his irregular conduct and neglect of his duties. The Council dismissed him. It appointed Daniel Jongue, already the overseer at Longwood, to take charge of both posts at the usual salary of £60 a year, and released Jongue from the garrison. The decision was signed by the following members.

John Skottowe

Daniel Corneille

Matthew Burling

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Interpretations

The Council did not replace Warne with a new man but gave his duties to Jongue alongside his own, paying one salary of £60 for the two posts. Filling the vacancy in the ordinary way would have meant a second salary. Combining the posts saved the Company money and placed the oversight of its slaves in the hands of a man it already trusted, at a time when the Company's slave workforce had grown to 284 and food was short.

The overseers ran the slave gangs on the Company's plantations and works and inspected the slaves' quarters at night, as the candles and lantern issued for that purpose in 1765 showed. A careless overseer endangered both the discipline of the slaves and the output of the plantations, which explained the Council's readiness to act on Corneille's report. Jongue had been serving as overseer while still a soldier, and releasing him from the garrison turned him into a civilian official wholly in the Company's civil employment.

198

193

20th January

At a Consultation held on Monday the 20th day of January 1766 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 13th [...]

Saturday the 18th died Susannah Wife of John Bagley Planter

The Storekeeper this day brought in his Collections [...]

Paymaster his Accounts for the Quarter commencing the 1 October and [...]

December 1765 which were examined and approved, and are as follo[...]

Collections of Goods Sold and delivered out of the Honble [...]

Ware Houses from the 1st of October to the 31st of December 1765 viz

Sold to the Honble Company's Servants at 10 p Cent viz

Sugar & Candy viz

6269 Sugar

91 2 5 1/2

2135 Candy

43 13 6 1/2

[...]

Tea viz

209 Congo

16 19 7

22 Single

1 15 9

242 Bohea

13 3 8

[...]

Flour viz

1674 Flour

12 4 1

285 22 Do Bisket

24 10

[...]

Sope 183

[...]

Carrd over

£ [...]

A meeting of the Council took place at the castle on Monday 20 January 1766. Those present were Governor Skottowe, Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Mr Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The Council read the minutes of its meeting on 13 January 1766, approved them and signed them. Susannah, the wife of John Bagley, a planter, had died on Saturday 18 January.

The storekeeper presented his record of sales and the paymaster his accounts for the quarter running from 1 October to 31 December 1765. The Council checked and approved them. The storekeeper's record listed the goods sold and issued from the Company's warehouses during that quarter, beginning with sales to the Company's servants at a mark-up of 10 per cent.

Sugar, 6,269 lb, £91 2s 5½d

Sugar candy, 2,135 lb, £43 13s 6½d

Sugar and sugar candy total, £[...]

Congou tea, 209 lb, £16 19s 7d

Singlo tea, 22 lb, £1 13s 9d

Bohea tea, 242 lb, £13 3s 2d

Tea total, £[...]

Flour, 167¼ [...], £12 4s 1d

Flour, [...] bushels, £24 18s 0d

Flour total, £[...]

Soap, 143 lb, £[...]

Carried forward, £[...]

Interpretations

The totals for each class of goods could not be recovered because the ink in the right-hand column had faded beyond reading.

Tea sales to servants fell sharply against the quarter ending 30 September 1765. Singlo dropped from 126 lb to 22 lb, Congou from 380 lb to 209 lb and Bohea from 617 lb to 242 lb. The inventory of 30 September 1765 had left only about 1½ cwt of Singlo in store, so the fall reflected a stock running down with no supply ship arriving to replace it. Sugar moved the other way, with more than 6,000 lb sold against a large reserve of 227 cwt. With flour short and rice exhausted by December, households perhaps leaned more heavily on sugar, which the store still held in plenty.

The storekeeper's sales and the paymaster's accounts were presented together and approved at the same meeting. Setting the goods sold against the money paid out let the Council check each officer's quarter against the other before the accounts went to London.

199

194

20th January

Brought over

£ 457 16 7

Rice and Paddy viz

12 3 Rice

7 3

125 Paddy

5 4

7 5 7

Beef and Pork viz

3093 Ps Beef

309 16

1869 Do Pork

186 18

496 14

Salt 2 1/3

15 1

Candles 422

46 12

Sago 50

1 2 11

Twine 41 Skains

1 2 7

Arrack 7 1/2 Gallons

1 17 6

Starch 53

1 15 4

Coffee 10

9 2

Pepper 43

1 7

Leather viz

133 Sole Leather

6 18 1

10 Calf Skins

3 6 10

12 4 11

Hats viz

5 Mens Hats

4 16 10

10 Boys Do

3 7 1

8 3 11

Buckram 12 Yards

12 6

Cordage 131 1/2

2 19 10

Kersey 7 Yards

10 9

Baize 3 Do

6 10

Corks 5 1/2 Gross

14

Pease 1/2 Bushel

1 2

Carried over

£ 1022 11 2

Under the date 20 January 1766, the record of goods sold to the Company's servants at a 10 per cent mark-up in the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued with provisions, cloth and household stores.

Brought forward, £437 16s 7d

Rice, 12 cwt 3 qr 0 lb, £7 0s 3d

Paddy, 125 lb, £0 5s 4d

Rice and paddy total, £7 5s 7d

Salt beef, 3,093 pieces, £309 16s 0d

Salt pork, 1,869 pieces, £186 18s 0d

Beef and pork total, £496 14s 0d

Salt, 2⅔ bushels, £0 15s 1d

Candles, 422 lb, £46 12s 0d

Sago, 50 lb, £1 2s 11d

Twine, 41 skeins, £1 2s 7d

Arrack, 7½ gallons, £1 17s 6d

Starch, 53 lb, £1 15s 4d

Coffee, 10 lb, £0 9s 2d

Pepper, 43 lb, £1 7s 0d

Sole leather, 133 lb, £6 18s 1d

Calfskins, 10, £5 6s 10d

Leather total, £12 4s 11d

Men's hats, 5, £4 16s 10d

Boys' hats, 10, £3 7s 1d

Hats total, £8 3s 11d

Buckram, 12 yards, £0 12s 6d

Rope, 151½ lb, £2 19s 10d

Kersey, 7 yards, £0 10s 9d

Baize, 3 yards, £0 6s 10d

Corks, 5½ gross, £0 14s 0d

Peas, ⅛ bushel, £0 1s 2d

Carried forward, £1,022 17s 2d

Interpretations

Salt beef sales to servants rose more than tenfold against the quarter ending 30 September 1765, from 274 pieces to 3,093, while salt pork fell slightly from 2,069 to 1,869 pieces. The shift tracked the shortage of fresh meat that the Council confronted in November and December 1765, when only one beast a week could be spared from the island's herds. Households unable to buy fresh beef at the market turned to the casks of salt beef in the Company's store, which the inventory of 30 September 1765 had shown to be ample at 49 puncheons. The large reserve held against delayed shipping thus served instead to bridge a failure of local supply.

Rice sales collapsed at the same time, from 48 cwt in the previous quarter to less than 13 cwt. This matched the Council's report on 16 December 1765 that no rice remained in store, and showed the warehouse selling the last of its stock before running out.

200

195

1766

Brought over

£ 1022 . 17 . 8

Lead Cwt shut

6 . 13

Oars 1

. 4 . 3

Nails viz.

2 . . 2

. 1 . 6½

15½ . . 3

. 12 . 7

16 . . 4

. 10 . 4

44 . . 6

1 . 5 . 2

32 . . 10

. 16 . -

13 . . 20

. 5 . 5

1 . . 40

. 4¾

1 Spikes

. 4¼

1 glazrs Brads

. 1 . 11

1 Board Nail

. 4½

3 . 14 . 7

Pewter 4 Chamber Pots

1 . 2 . 10

Oil viz.

32 Gallns Train

7 . - . 11

14½ Linseed

3 . 1 . 9

15 Bottles Florence

2 . 3 . 9

12 . 6 . 5

Shoes viz.

174 Prs Mens Ordinary Shoes

38 . 3 . 6

3 Prs Do fine Pumps

. 10 . 4½

2 Prs Womens half Leather Shoes

. 5 . 11

1 Pr Do Spanish Do Do

. 4 . 3½

39 . 15 . 1

Shalloon viz.

13½ Yds Coloured

1 . 7 . -

19½ Scarlet

2 . 9 . 2

3 . 16 . 2

Carrd over

£ 1083 . 2 . 3

The account for 1766 continued with the following goods and their values, opening with the total brought forward from the previous page.

Total brought forward, £1,022 17s 8d

Lead shot, 6 lb, £0 1s 3d

Oars, 1, £0 4s 3d

Nails, as follows:

2 lb of twopenny nails, £0 1s 6½d

15½ lb of threepenny nails, £0 12s 7d

16 lb of fourpenny nails, £0 10s 4d

44 lb of sixpenny nails, £1 5s 3d

32 lb of tenpenny nails, £0 16s 0d

13 lb of twentypenny nails, £0 5s 5d

1 lb of fortypenny nails, £0 0s 4½d

1 lb of spikes, £0 0s 4½d

1 lb of glaziers' brads, £0 1s 11d

1 lb of [...] nails, £0 0s 4½d

Subtotal for nails, £3 14s 7d

Pewter chamber pots, 4, £0 12s 10d

Oil, as follows:

32 gallons of train oil, £7 0s 11d

14½ gallons of linseed oil, £3 1s 9d

15 bottles of Florence oil, £2 3s 9d

Subtotal for oil, £12 6s 5d

Shoes, as follows:

174 pairs of men's everyday shoes, £33 3s 6d

3 pairs of men's fine pumps, £0 10s 4½d

2 pairs of women's calfskin shoes, £0 5s 11d

1 pair of women's Spanish leather shoes, £0 4s 3½d

Subtotal for shoes, £39 15s 1d

Shalloon, as follows:

13½ yards of coloured shalloon, £1 7s 0d

19½ yards of scarlet shalloon, £2 9s 2d

Subtotal for shalloon, £3 16s 2d

Total carried forward, £1,083 8s 5d

Interpretations

Train oil was oil rendered from whale blubber or seal fat. It served mainly as lamp fuel and for dressing leather, and its bulk purchase here points to lighting for the garrison, the Company's buildings and the forts. Linseed oil, pressed from flax seed, was the standard base for paint and for treating timber, and would have gone into the constant upkeep of wooden structures, gun carriages and boats. Florence oil was fine olive oil shipped from Tuscany through Leghorn, sold in distinctive straw-wrapped flasks. It was a table and medicinal oil, which explains why it came by the bottle rather than by the gallon and cost far more per measure.

Shalloon was a light, closely woven worsted cloth, named after Châlons-sur-Marne in France. Its main use was as a lining for coats and military uniforms, and the scarlet length in particular matches the lining of soldiers' red coats. Spanish leather was a soft, fine-grained goatskin or sheepskin tanned in the Spanish manner, prized for quality footwear, and its price here sat close to that of a pair of plain men's shoes despite being a single women's pair.

The nails were graded by the old penny system, in which the name originally reflected the price per hundred and later served simply as a size scale, from small twopenny nails up to heavy fortypenny ones. The quantities here are weights, since the sums correspond to a price of roughly sixpence to tenpence a pound. Glaziers' brads were small headless nails used to hold window glass in its frame.

The 174 pairs of ordinary men's shoes stood far apart from every other footwear entry. Such a quantity of plain shoes was probably intended for issue to the soldiers of the garrison or the Company's labourers rather than for private sale, while the handful of fine pumps and women's shoes reflected the smaller demand from officers' and settlers' households.

201

196

2d January

Brought over

£ 1083 . 2 . 3

Thread viz.

6½ lb Brown

2 . 9 . 3

4 Coloured

. 15 . -

3 . 4 . 3

Tin Ware viz.

3 Water Pots

. 13 . 4½

2 Lamps

. 6 . 3

2 Lanthorn Leaves

. 2

1 Tin Quart Funnel

. 5

2 Solder

. 2 . -

1 . 5 . 2

Broad Cloth viz.

9¼ Blue

9 . 13 . 4½

2½ Ln Grey

2 . 2 . 1½

12 Scarlet

10 . 4 . -

3¼ Black

3 . 2 . 6

25 . 2 . -

China Ware viz.

9 Setts Dishes & Plates

9 . - . -

95 Snuchers

1 . 3 . 9

36 B & W Soop Plates

. 13 . 6

7 Camber Pots

. 11 . 2

31 Bowls

1 . 2 . 5

4 Guglets & Basons

. 12 . 4

6 Tea pots

. 5 . 6

1 Soop Dish

. 6 . 6

1 Deep Sallad Do

. 3 . 9

10 Half pint Cups & Saucers

. 5 . -

6 Quart Do & Do

. 1 . 11

1 Enamell Bak[e]d Dish

. 2 . 11

15 . 2 . 3

Carried over

£ 1128 . 5 . 11

The account continued on 2 January with the following goods and their values, beginning from the total carried forward from the previous page.

Total brought forward, £1,083 8s 5d

Thread, as follows:

6½ lb of brown thread, £2 9s 5d

4 lb of coloured thread, £0 15s 0d

Subtotal for thread, £3 4s 5d

Tinware, as follows:

3 water pots, £0 13s 4½d

3 lamps, £0 6s 3d

2 lantern panes, £0 0s 3d

1 tin quart funnel, £0 0s 5d

2 lb of solder, £0 2s 0d

Subtotal for tinware, £1 3s 2d

Broadcloth, as follows:

9¾ yards of blue broadcloth, £9 13s 4½d

2½ yards of iron-grey broadcloth, £2 3s 1½d

12 yards of scarlet broadcloth, £10 4s 0d

3¼ yards of black broadcloth, £3 2s 6d

Subtotal for broadcloth, £25 3s 0d

Chinaware, as follows:

9 sets of dishes and plates, £9 0s 0d

95 saucers, £1 3s 9d

36 blue and white soup plates, £0 13s 6d

7 chamber pots, £0 11s 3d

31 bowls, £1 3s 5d

4 water jugs and basins, £0 12s 4d

6 teapots, £0 5s 6d

1 soup dish, £0 6s 6d

1 deep salad dish, £0 3s 9d

10 half-pint cups and saucers, £0 5s 0d

6 quart cups and saucers, £0 1s 11d

1 enamelled baking dish, £0 2s 11d

Subtotal for chinaware, £15 2s 3d

Total carried forward, £1,128 5s 11d

Interpretations

The chinaware was Chinese export porcelain, carried home in quantity by East India Company ships returning from Canton. Vessels on that route called at St Helena, which made porcelain far easier to come by on the island than its price in England might suggest. The blue and white soup plates were the standard underglaze cobalt ware made in vast numbers for the European market. The manuscript's guglets were narrow-necked water bottles, usually of porous earthenware, that kept drinking water cool through evaporation; the clerk listed them as a set with their basins, so they served as a washstand jug and bowl.

Broadcloth was a dense, heavily fulled woollen cloth, mostly from the West Country and Yorkshire, and the costliest textile on these pages at roughly a pound a yard. The colours were telling. Scarlet, blue, iron grey and black were the shades of officers' coats, facings and formal civilian dress, so this cloth probably supplied uniforms and the clothing of the island's officials rather than everyday wear.

The lantern panes were thin translucent sheets of horn, scraped and pressed flat, which filled the sides of a lantern in place of glass. They were cheap and unbreakable, which suited lanterns carried outdoors and about the forts. The solder on the same list points to tinware being mended locally rather than replaced.

202

197

1765

Brought over

£ 1128 . 5 . 11

Shirts

7 Brown Holland

. 2 . -

2 Prs Irish Linnen

3 . 11 . 2

3 . 13 . 2

Haberdashery viz.

53 Sk[...] [...]

1 . 10 . 11

43 Do Mo[...]

1 . 4 . -

6 lb Whale [...]

1 . 17 . 9

2 Doz Mo[...] [...]

. 9

2 Doz [...]

. 4 . 9½

1 Pr Whi[...] [...]

[...]

1 Pr Gal[...]

[...]

2½ Yards [...]

[...]

3½ Doz [...]

[...]

1 Pr B[...]

[...]

7 . 15 . 9

Braziers Ware viz. 1 Pr Candlesticks

. 3 . 5

Painting viz.

23 Whiting

. 3 . 5

22 Blue Smalts

1 . 14 . 4½

23 Indico

2 . 17 . 9

2 lb Blacking

. 5 . -

2 Ven[...] Red [...]

. 10 . 11

47 White Lead Do

. 19 . 7

54 Stone colour

1 . 9 . 3

2 [...] [...]

. 2 . 3½

16½ White Lead dry

. 5 . 10

½ White Copperas

. 6½

2½ Verdigrease

. 10 . 3½

Paint Carried over

£ 9 . 0 . 1

Carried over

£ 1140 . 3 . 3

The account continued with the following goods and their values, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £1,128 5s 11d

Sheets, as follows:

1 pair of brown holland sheets, £0 2s 0d

2 pairs of Irish linen sheets, £3 11s 2d

Subtotal for sheets, £3 13s 2d

Haberdashery, as follows:

53 [...], £1 10s 11d

43 [...], £1 4s 0d

6 lb of whalebone, £1 17s 9d

2 dozen [...], £0 0s 9d

2 dozen [...], £0 4s 9½d

1 pair of [...], [...]

1 pair of [...], [...]

2½ yards of [...], [...]

3½ dozen [...], [...]

1 pair of [...], [...]

Subtotal for haberdashery, £7 15s 9d

Brass and copper ware: 1 pair of candlesticks, £0 3s 5d

Painting materials, as follows:

23 lb of whiting, £0 3s 5d

22 lb of blue smalt, £1 14s 4½d

23 lb of indigo, £2 17s 9d

2 lb of blacking, £0 5s 0d

2 lb of Venetian red, ground in oil, £0 10s 11d

47 lb of white lead, ground in oil, £0 19s 7d

54 lb of stone-coloured paint, £1 9s 3d

2 [...], £0 2s 3½d

16½ lb of dry white lead, £0 5s 10d

½ lb of white copperas, £0 0s 6½d

2½ lb of verdigris, £0 10s 3½d

Subtotal for painting materials, £9 0s 1d

Total carried forward, £1,140 3s 3d

Interpretations

Most of the haberdashery entries could not be recovered because the lower part of each line is blurred, leaving only the quantities and some of the sums. Whalebone, the one item that survives, was baleen from the mouths of whales rather than bone. It was cut into strips to stiffen women's stays and bodices, so its presence among sewing goods was entirely in keeping.

The painting materials formed a working house-painter's stock. Whiting was finely ground chalk, used as a cheap white filler and in distemper for walls. Smalt was powdered blue glass coloured with cobalt, the standard blue pigment for paint and also used to whiten linen in the wash. Venetian red was a natural iron-oxide earth giving a durable brownish red, favoured for doors, shutters and exposed woodwork. Stone colour was a ready-mixed pale grey-buff paint imitating dressed stone, widely used on render and timber to give buildings a more substantial look.

White lead, supplied both ground in oil and dry, was the main body of almost all light-coloured paint and gave a hard, weather-resistant finish. Verdigris, a green copper acetate, served as a pigment and as a preservative on timber. White copperas was zinc sulphate, added in small quantities to paint as a drying agent, which explains why only half a pound was needed. The heavy weight of white lead and stone colour against the small amounts of pigment points to large surfaces being painted, probably the Company's buildings and fortifications rather than private houses.

Brown holland was an unbleached linen, rough and serviceable, while Irish linen was a finer bleached cloth. The difference in price between the single pair of holland sheets and the two pairs of Irish linen reflected that gap in quality.

203

198

21 January

Brought over

£ 1140 . 3 . 3

Paint brought over

£ 9 . - . 1

6 Chocolate Colour

. 3 . 10½

2 Ven Red dry

. 5½

2 Red Lead

. 7

¼ Umber

. 1

9 . 5 . 1

Iron Ware viz.

32 Iron rimd Locks & Brass Knobs

1 . 1 . 9

3 Chests Do

. 9 . 11

2 Stock Do

. 6 . 5½

4 Splinter Do

. 2 . 2

3 Prs H Hinges

. 3 . 2

2 Hasps & Staples

. 1 . 7½

3 Spring Rat [...]

. 5 . 9½

1 Frying Pan

. 3

1 Smoothing Iron

. 1 . 6½

2 Prs Sheep Shears

. 3 . -

4 Dutch Shovels

. 9 . 9

1 Hand Hatchet

. 1 . 11

2 Scythe Stones

. 8

1 Doz Wood Screws

. 4½

2 Prs Pattens

. 3 . 8½

4 . 2 . 3

Hosiers Ware viz.

2 Prs Wst Stockings

. 4 . 11

11 Do Fine Worsted & Thread Do

1 . 15 . 1

6 Do Do Thread Do

1 . 9 . 10½

7 Do Do Eng Cotton Do

2 . 12 . 7½

3 Prs Scarlt Breeches

1 . 14 . 9

7 . 17 . 3

Carried over

£ 1160 . 18 . -

The account continued on 21 January, beginning from the total carried forward and the running figure for painting materials.

Total brought forward, £1,140 3s 3d

Painting materials brought forward, £9 0s 1d

6 lb of chocolate-coloured paint, £0 3s 10½d

2 lb of dry Venetian red, £0 0s 5½d

2 lb of red lead, £0 0s 7d

¼ lb of umber, £0 0s 1d

Subtotal for painting materials, £9 5s 1d

Ironware, as follows:

3 iron-rimmed locks with brass knobs, £1 1s 9d

3 chest locks, £0 9s 11d

2 stock locks, £0 6s 5½d

4 [...] locks, £0 2s 2d

5 pairs of H hinges, £0 3s 2d

2 hasps and staples, £0 1s 7½d

3 spring rat traps, £0 3s 9½d

1 [...], £0 3s 0d

1 smoothing iron, £0 1s 0½d

2 pairs of sheep shears, £0 3s 0d

2 ditching shovels, £0 9s 9d

1 hand hatchet, £0 1s 11d

2 scythe stones, £0 0s 8d

1 dozen wood screws, £0 0s 4½d

2 pairs of pattens, £0 3s 8½d

Subtotal for ironware, £4 2s 5d

Hosiery, as follows:

2 pairs of [...] stockings, £0 4s 11d

11 pairs of men's ordinary thread stockings, £1 15s 1d

6 pairs of men's worsted stockings, £1 9s 10½d

7 pairs of men's English cotton stockings, £2 12s 7½d

3 pairs of scarlet breeches, £1 14s 9d

Subtotal for hosiery, £7 7s 3d

Total carried forward, £1,160 18s 0d

Interpretations

Stock locks were large locks set in a wooden case and fixed to the face of an outside door, the usual fitting for storehouses and outbuildings. Chest locks secured trunks and sea chests, while hasps and staples allowed a padlock to be added. Taken with the H hinges, these items show doors and containers being fitted out, and the emphasis on locking hardware reflected the need to secure stores on an island where goods were scarce and costly to replace.

Pattens were wooden-soled overshoes raised on an iron ring, strapped over ordinary shoes to keep them clear of mud. Scythe stones were whetstones for sharpening scythe blades in the field. Together with the sheep shears and ditching shovels, they point to the farming side of island life, where pasture, hay and drainage were part of keeping the settlement fed.

Chocolate colour was a dark brown paint, popular for doors, skirting and other woodwork that took hard wear. Umber was a natural brown earth pigment used to darken and warm other colours, and red lead was a bright orange-red lead oxide valued as a priming coat that protected iron and timber from rust and rot. These small additions completed the painting stock begun on the previous page.

Stockings were graded by material, and the prices followed. Thread stockings, knitted from linen yarn, were the cheapest; worsted stockings, from combed long-staple wool, cost more; and English cotton stockings were the dearest per pair, since fine cotton hosiery was still a relatively new and fashionable product of the Nottingham and Derby frame-knitters.

204

199

1766

Brought over

£ 1160 . 18

Glass Ware viz.

50 Sqrs Glass 6 by 8

1 . - . 10

37 Do Do 8 by 10

1 . 10 . 10

1 Do Do 10 by 12

. 1 . 6

2 Box Glasses

. 2 . 7

60 Wine Do

1 . 18 . 4

4 . 14 . 1

Long Cloth viz.

19 Ps Lg A

29 . 15 . 3

6 Do B

18 . - . -

3 Do C

10 . 16 . 4

3 Do D

13 . 6 . -

2 Do L

10 . 16 . -

79 . 13 . 7

Turners Ware viz.

26 Shoe Brushes

. 16 . 3

6 Paint Do

. 3 . 9

1 Scrub Do

. 2 . 5½

2 Hair Brooms

. 4 . 2

1 Bucket

. 3 . 4½

1 . 10 . 6

Deals viz.

1 Doubl Deal

. 3 . 9½

1 Single Do

. 2 . 5½

. 6 . 3

Canvas viz.

40 Yds Osnaburgs

1 . 17 . 7

18 Yds Tecklenburgs

1 . 1 . 2

2 . 18 . 9

Carried over

£ 1250 . 1 . 2

Margin Notes:

[...] 13 . 7

The account continued with the following goods and their values, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £1,160 18s 0d

Glassware, as follows:

50 panes of window glass, 6 by 8 inches, £1 0s 10d

57 panes of window glass, 8 by 10 inches, £1 10s 10d

1 pane of window glass, 10 by 12 inches, £0 1s 6d

2 beer glasses, £0 2s 7d

60 wine glasses, £1 18s 4d

Subtotal for glassware, £4 14s 1d

Longcloth, as follows:

19½ pieces of grade A longcloth, £29 15s 3d

6 pieces of grade B longcloth, £18 0s 0d

3 pieces of grade C longcloth, £10 16s 4d

3 pieces of grade D longcloth, £13 6s 0d

2 pieces of grade E longcloth, £10 16s 0d

Subtotal for longcloth, £79 15s 7d

Turned and brush ware, as follows:

26 shoe brushes, £0 16s 3d

6 paint brushes, £0 5s 9d

1 scrubbing brush, £0 2s 5½d

2 hair brooms, £0 4s 2d

1 flasket, £0 3s 4½d

Subtotal for turned and brush ware, £1 10s 6d

Deal boards, as follows:

1 double deal, £0 3s 9½d

1 single deal, £0 2s 5½d

Subtotal for deal boards, £0 6s 3d

Canvas, as follows:

40 yards of osnaburg, £1 17s 7d

12½ yards of tecklenburg, £1 1s 2d

Subtotal for canvas, £2 18s 9d

Total carried forward, £1,250 1s 2d

Interpretations

Longcloth was a plain-woven Indian cotton, made in long pieces mainly on the Coromandel Coast and shipped to Europe by the East India Company. The letters A to E marked the Company's own quality sorts, which allowed cloth to be priced and issued by grade without measuring the weave each time. At almost £80 it was by far the largest single group on this page, showing how much the island depended on Indian textiles that reached it directly from Company ships rather than by way of London.

Osnaburg and tecklenburg were coarse, unbleached linens named after the Westphalian districts of Osnabrück and Tecklenburg where they were woven. Both were cheap, hard-wearing cloths used for sacking, work clothing and covers, and osnaburg in particular was the standard fabric for clothing slaves across the Atlantic world. Their listing here under canvas reflected that rough, utilitarian character.

Deals were sawn softwood planks, usually Baltic fir or pine, sold in standard sizes; a double deal was thicker than a single one. Their appearance by the single plank, at several shillings each, showed how scarce good building timber was on an island that had lost much of its native woodland.

The window glass came in small standard panes measured in inches, sized for the sash windows of the period, with only a single pane of the larger size. A flasket was a long shallow basket with handles, used for carrying linen or produce. The turners' heading covered brushes, brooms and similar wooden household goods made by turners and brushmakers.

205

200

21st January

Brought over

£ 1250 . 1 . 2

Hooks and Lines viz.

200 No 7

. 10 . 6

50 . . 9

. 1 . 2½

75 . . 13 Hooks

. 7½

150 . . 15

. 1 . 2½

32 . . 2

. 12 . 1

28 . . 4 Lines

. 10 . 1

1 Deep Sea

. 5 . 6

2 Hambro

. 3 . 4

2 . 4 . 7

Cuttlery Ware viz.

1 Doz Pen Knives & Forks

. 10 . 3

1 Pr Teeth Garters

. 4½

1 Shoe Knife

. 4½

. 11 . -

Books viz.

7 Primmrs

. 2 . -

1 Comm Prayer Book

. 3 . 1

. 5 . 1

Serge viz.

3¼ Yds Scarlet Serge

1 . 2 . 2

1 Do Frizilby

. 2 . 11

¾ Pd [...]

. 14 . 9

1 . 19 . 10

Earthen Ware 6 Milk Pans

. 5 . 3

Camblet Eyes Scarlt

1 . 4 . 7

£ 1256 . 11 . 6

Sold

Margin Notes:

[...]

The account continued on 21 January with the following goods and their values, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £1,250 1s 2d

Fish hooks and lines, as follows:

200 fish hooks, size 7, £0 10s 6d

50 fish hooks, size 9, £0 1s 2½d

75 fish hooks, size 13, £0 0s 7½d

150 fish hooks, size 15, £0 1s 2½d

32 fishing lines, size 2, £0 12s 1d

24 fishing lines, size 4, £0 10s 1d

1 deep-sea line, £0 5s 6d

2 Hamburg lines, £0 3s 4d

Subtotal for fish hooks and lines, £2 4s 7d

Cutlery, as follows:

1 dozen knives and forks with staghorn handles, £0 10s 3d

1 pair of leather garters, £0 0s 4½d

1 shoemaker's knife, £0 0s 4½d

Subtotal for cutlery, £0 11s 0d

Books, as follows:

7 primers, £0 2s 0d

1 Book of Common Prayer, £0 3s 1d

Subtotal for books, £0 5s 1d

Serge, as follows:

5½ yards of scarlet serge, £1 2s 2d

1 yard of [...] serge, £0 2s 11d

7½ yards of Scotch serge, £0 14s 9d

Subtotal for serge, £1 19s 10d

Earthenware: 6 milk pans, £0 5s 3d

Camlet, [...], £1 4s 7d

Total, £1,256 11s 6d

The clerk marked the whole account as sold.

Interpretations

The single word written beneath the final total changed the character of the whole run of entries from 1766 onward. These were not stores held for the Company's own use but a consignment of goods that had passed into the hands of buyers on the island. A total of more than £1,250 in plain household, building and clothing goods showed how far the settlers depended on imported stock for almost every manufactured item, from window glass to fish hooks.

The fishing tackle was graded by number, with hooks running from the larger size 7 down to the small size 15 and lines graded by thickness. A deep-sea line was a long, heavy line with weights for fishing in open water off the coast. Hamburg lines were strong lines of a type named after the Hamburg trade in which they were made and sold. The quantities, with hundreds of hooks, point to fishing as a regular source of food for the inhabitants rather than an occasional pastime.

Camlet was a fine woven cloth originally of goat or camel hair, later made from wool, silk or a mixture of the two, and used for cloaks, coats and hangings. Serge was a twilled woollen cloth, harder-wearing than broadcloth and cheaper, so scarlet serge offered a more economical choice for red garments. Primers were small elementary reading books containing the alphabet, prayers and simple lessons, which made them the standard first schoolbook for children. Milk pans were wide, shallow earthenware vessels in which milk stood so that the cream could rise and be skimmed off for butter.

206

201

1766

Sold to the Planters at 25 Pt Ct viz.

Buckram 1 Yard

. 1 . 2

Broad Cloth viz.

6¼ Yds Grey

7 . 7 . 11

1¼ Scarlet

1 . 4 . 3

2½ Brown

2 . 9 . 3

½ Blue

. 11 . 3

11 . 12 . 8

Hosiers Ware viz.

4 Prs Mens fine Thread Stockings

1 . 10 . -

4 Prs Do Eng Cotton Do

1 . 14 . 2

2 Prs Boys Do

. 5 . -

4 Prs Girls Do

. 11 . 2

4 . - . 4

Hats viz.

3 Mens Hats

3 . 6 . -

1 Boys Do

. 7 . 7

3 . 13 . 7

Shalloon 1 Yd Scarlt

. 2 . 10

Shoes viz.

1 Pr Mens Channl Pumps

. 7 . 3½

4 Prs Do Do

1 . 4 . 10

2 Prs Do fine Shoes

. 13 . 11½

1 Pr Boys Do

. 3 . 11

3 Prs Womens Calf Skin Do

. 10 . -

1 Pr Girls Do Do

. 2 . 8½

22 Prs Mens Ordinary Do

5 . 10 . -

8 . 13 . 2

Haberdashery viz.

9 Sks Silk

. 6 . 9

6 Do Mohair

. 3 . 9

½ Doz Silk Br. Buttns

. 1 . 5

. 11 . 11

Carried over

22 . 15 . 6

The goods on this page were sold to the planters at an advance of 25 per cent, as follows.

1 yard of buckram, £0 1s 2d

Broadcloth, as follows:

6½ yards of iron-grey broadcloth, £7 7s 11d

1¼ yards of scarlet broadcloth, £1 4s 3d

2¼ yards of brown broadcloth, £2 9s 3d

½ yard of blue broadcloth, £0 11s 3d

Subtotal for broadcloth, £11 12s 8d

Hosiery, as follows:

4 pairs of men's fine thread stockings, £1 10s 0d

4 pairs of men's English cotton stockings, £1 14s 2d

2 pairs of boys' stockings, £0 5s 0d

4 pairs of girls' stockings, £0 11s 2d

Subtotal for hosiery, £4 0s 4d

Hats, as follows:

3 men's hats, £3 6s 0d

1 boy's hat, £0 7s 7d

Subtotal for hats, £3 13s 7d

1 yard of scarlet shalloon, £0 2s 10d

Shoes, as follows:

1 pair of men's channel pumps, £0 7s 8½d

4 pairs of men's channel pumps, £1 4s 10d

2 pairs of men's fine shoes, £0 13s 11½d

1 pair of boys' shoes, £0 3s 11d

3 pairs of women's calfskin shoes, £0 10s 0d

1 pair of girls' calfskin shoes, £0 2s 8½d

22 pairs of men's everyday shoes, £5 10s 0d

Subtotal for shoes, £8 13s 2d

Haberdashery, as follows:

9 skeins of silk, £0 6s 9d

6 skeins of mohair, £0 3s 9d

½ dozen silk breast buttons, £0 1s 5d

Subtotal for haberdashery, £0 11s 11d

Total carried forward, £[...] 15s 6d

Interpretations

The heading showed the terms of sale rather than the cost of the stock. Goods were passed to the planters at 25 per cent above their recorded value, a fixed advance meant to cover freight, risk and the seller's return without leaving prices to bargaining. The effect showed in the shoe prices. On the 1766 account, 174 pairs of men's everyday shoes stood at £33 3s 6d, or under 4s a pair, while here 22 pairs sold for £5 10s 0d, exactly 5s a pair. Iron-grey broadcloth showed a similar rise, from about 17s a yard on the list of 2 January to well over 20s a yard here.

The buyers named in the heading were the planters, the landholders who farmed the island's plantations. Selling to them at a set advance gave the settlers access to imported goods that no local shop could stock, while tying them to the official supply as their main source of cloth, shoes and household wares.

Channel pumps were light, low-cut shoes in which the sole stitching was sunk into a groove, or channel, cut in the leather, giving a neater edge and a more finished look than ordinary shoes. Buckram was a stiff, coarse cloth treated with glue or size, used to stiffen collars, cuffs, hat brims and the linings of coats. Mohair was yarn spun from the hair of the Angora goat, sold in skeins for sewing buttonholes and trimmings. Breast buttons were the smaller buttons used down the front of a waistcoat or coat, as distinct from the larger coat buttons.

207

202

21st January

Brought over

£ 22 . 15 . 6

Long Cloth viz.

1 Ps A

1 . 14 . 7

2 Do B

5 . 13 . 6

1 Do C

4 . 1 . 11

11 . 10 . -

Thread 3 lb Colr

. 14 . 6

Sold at 40 Pr Cent viz.

Sugar and Candy viz.

48 lb Sug

16 . 17 . 11

21 lb Candy

6 . 3 . 8

22 . 11 . 7

Tea viz.

12 lb Congo

13 . 12 . 3

43 lb Bohea

2 . 19 . 1

1 Sing

. 2 . 3

16 . 13 . 7

Flour 2 Cwt

3 . 1 . 5

Candles 1 lb

1 . 14 . -

Rice 1 lb

. 1 . 9

Soap 4 lb

2 . 7 . -

Oars 12

. 10 . 11

Cordage 41 lb

10 . 17 . 2

Salt 4 Bush

. 3 . 6

Pepper 1 lb

. 9

Twine 3 Sk

6 . 8

Sago 3 lb

1 . 2

Starch 2 lb

1 . 8

Coffee 2 lb

2 . 4

Carried over

£ 99 . 13 . 8

Sales to the planters continued on 21 January with the following goods, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £28 15s 8d

Longcloth, as follows:

1 piece of grade A longcloth, £1 14s 7d

2 pieces of grade B longcloth, £5 13s 6d

1 piece of grade C longcloth, £4 1s 11d

Subtotal for longcloth, £11 10s 0d

3 lb of coloured thread, £0 14s 6d

The following goods were sold at an advance of 40 per cent.

Sugar and sugar candy, as follows:

487 lb of sugar, £16 17s 11d

21[...] lb of sugar candy, £6 3s 8d

Subtotal for sugar and sugar candy, £22 11s 7d

Tea, as follows:

121 lb of congou tea, £13 12s 3d

43 lb of bohea tea, £2 19s 1d

1 lb of singlo tea, £0 2s 3d

Subtotal for tea, £16 13s 7d

268 lb of flour, £3 1s 5d

Candles, 1 [...], £1 14s 0d

12 lb of rice, £0 1s 9d

43 lb of soap, £2 7s 0d

2 oars, £0 10s 11d

417 lb of cordage, £10 17s 2d

4½ bushels of salt, £0 3s 6d

1 lb of pepper, £0 0s 9d

3 [...] of twine, £0 6s 8d

3 lb of sago, £0 1s 2d

3 lb of starch, £0 1s 8d

3 lb of coffee, £0 2s 4d

Total carried forward, £99 13s 8d

Interpretations

Two rates of advance ran side by side on this page. Cloth and thread continued at the 25 per cent recorded on the previous page, while groceries, tea, provisions and ship's stores were marked up by 40 per cent. The higher rate fell on goods that were consumed rather than worn, and on which the planters had no alternative source, so the sellers could take a larger return without losing custom. Imported food and fuel were where the island's dependence on shipping showed most sharply, and the pricing reflected that.

Three grades of Chinese tea appeared. Bohea was the cheapest and most widely drunk black tea, made from coarser leaves; congou was a better black tea, more carefully worked, and here formed the bulk of the purchase; singlo was a green tea of middling quality. All three came from Canton aboard East India Company ships, and the quantity bought by the planters, over 160 lb, showed that tea drinking had spread well beyond the officers' tables.

Sugar candy was sugar crystallised slowly into large, hard lumps on threads, used as a sweetmeat and as a remedy for coughs. Sago was a starchy meal from the pith of East Indian palms, made into puddings and given to invalids as a light, easily digested food. Starch, sold alongside it, was for stiffening linen rather than eating.

The 417 lb of cordage stood out among the provisions. Rope in that quantity served for boats, fishing, hauling and farm work, and its purchase by the planters pointed to the practical demands of working steep land and landing goods through the surf.

208

203

Brought over

£ 99 . 13 . 8

China Ware viz.

1 Chambr Pot

. 2 . 2

1 Sett Dishes and Plates

1 . 3 . 7

3 Enamelld Bakg Dishes

. 11 . 3

2 B & W Bakg Do

. 6 . 2

2 Soop Pots

. 2 . 4

2 Bowls

. 2 . 4

7 Snuchrs

. 2 . 7

2 Guglets and Basons

. 7 . 11

1 Sallad Dish

. 1 . 1

3 . 1 . 5

Lead 22 lb Shot

. 5 . 11

Oil viz.

2½ G Train

. 10 . 9

2½ G Linseed

. 12 . 5

1 . 3 . 2

Glass 2 Sq 8 by 10

. 2 . 2

Pewter 4 Chaml Pots

. 4 . 1

Leather 13 lb Sole

. 18 . 3

Canvas 17½ Yds Osnab

. 19 . 8

Nails viz.

1 . . 2

. 1 . -

2 . . 4

. 1 . 8

10 . . 6

. 7 . 3½

8 . . 10

. 3 . 6

½ . . 3

. 6½

6 Spikes

. 4 . 1

1 . - . 6

Turners Ware 2 Shoe Brushes

. 1 . 6

Carried over

£ 107 . 10 . 4

Sales to the planters continued with the following goods, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £99 13s 8d

Chinaware, as follows:

1 chamber pot, £0 2s 2d

1 set of dishes and plates, £1 3s 7d

3 enamelled baking dishes, £0 11s 3d

2 [...] baking dishes, £0 6s 2d

2 teapots, £0 2s 4d

2 bowls, £0 2s 4d

7 saucers, £0 2s 7d

2 water jugs and basins, £0 7s 11d

1 salad dish, £0 1s 1d

Subtotal for chinaware, £3 1s 5d

22 lb of lead shot, £0 5s 11d

Oil, as follows:

2½ gallons of train oil, £0 10s 9d

2½ gallons of linseed oil, £0 12s 5d

Subtotal for oil, £1 3s 2d

2 panes of window glass, 8 by 10 inches, £0 2s 2d

1 pewter chamber pot, £0 4s 1d

13 lb of sole leather, £0 18s 3d

11½ yards of osnaburg canvas, £0 19s 8d

Nails, as follows:

1 lb of twopenny nails, £0 1s 0d

2 lb of fourpenny nails, £0 1s 8d

10 lb of sixpenny nails, £0 7s 3½d

8 lb of tenpenny nails, £0 3s 6d

½ lb of threepenny nails, £0 0s 6½d

6 lb of scupper nails, £0 4s 1d

Subtotal for nails, £1 0s 6d

Turned ware: 2 shoe brushes, £0 1s 6d

Total carried forward, £107 10s 4d

Interpretations

Almost every item here matched a line in the consignment entered under 1766 and on 2 January, from the pewter chamber pots and enamelled baking dishes to the 8 by 10 inch window panes and the penny-graded nails. The planters were drawing on that same stock in small lots, a pane or two of glass and a few pounds of nails at a time. That pattern pointed to the goods being released piecemeal to individual households as each needed them, rather than being taken up wholesale by a merchant for resale.

Scupper nails were short nails with broad, flat heads, made for fixing leather or lead flashing around the scuppers, the drainage holes in a ship's side. On land the same nails served wherever thin sheet material had to be held flat without tearing. Sole leather was thick, heavy cowhide tanned for the bottoms of shoes and boots, and its sale by weight showed that footwear was being mended or made on the island, not merely bought ready-made.

209

204

21st January

Brought over

£ 107 . 10 . 4

Paint viz.

3 lb Indico

. 13 . 1½

6 W Lead dry

. 2 . 10½

5 Stone Colour

. 3 . 8

18 Ven Red mix'd

. 5 . 2

1 Lamp Black

. 9½

1 Yellw Oaker dry

. 3½

1 . 5 . 11

Iron Ware viz.

2 Hand Hatchets

. 5 . -

1 Dutch Shovel

. 6 . 3

1 Pr Sheep Shears

. 2 . -

1 Stock Lock

. 4 . -

1 Sd Bill Do

. 10 . 4

1 . 7 . 7

Hooks and Lines viz.

250 No 1

. 16 . 10

50 . . 9

. 1 . 6½

28 . . 13 Hooks

. 3½

25 . . 14

. 3½

100 . . 15

. 1 . 4½

18 No 3

. 7 . 4½

6 . . 3

. 2 . 9

18 . . 4 Lines

. 9 . 7½

2 Hambro

. 4 . 4

2 . 4 . 1

Cutlery Ware 6 Shoe Knives

. 3 . -

Books 1 Testament

. 1 . 8

£ 112 . 12 . 7

Sold

Sales to the planters continued on 21 January with the following goods, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £107 10s 4d

Painting materials, as follows:

3 lb of indigo, £0 13s 1½d

6 lb of dry white lead, £0 2s 10½d

5 lb of stone-coloured paint, £0 3s 8d

13 lb of Venetian red, ground in oil, £0 5s 2d

1 lb of bone black, £0 0s 9½d

1 lb of dry yellow ochre, £0 0s 3½d

Subtotal for painting materials, £1 5s 11d

Ironware, as follows:

2 hand hatchets, £0 5s 0d

1 ditching shovel, £0 6s 3d

1 pair of sheep shears, £0 2s 0d

1 stock lock, £0 4s 0d

1 [...] lock, £0 10s 4d

Subtotal for ironware, £1 7s 7d

Fish hooks and lines, as follows:

250 fish hooks, size 7, £0 16s 10d

50 fish hooks, size 9, £0 1s 6½d

25 fish hooks, size 13, £0 0s 3½d

25 fish hooks, size 14, £0 0s 3½d

100 fish hooks, size 15, £0 1s 1d

18 fishing lines, size 2, £0 7s 4½d

6 fishing lines, size 3, £0 2s 9d

13 fishing lines, size 4, £0 9s 7½d

2 Hamburg lines, £0 4s 4d

Subtotal for fish hooks and lines, £2 4s 1d

Cutlery: 6 shoemaker's knives, £0 3s 0d

Books: 1 New Testament, £0 1s 8d

Total, £112 12s 7d

The clerk marked these goods as sold.

Interpretations

Bone black was a deep black pigment made by charring animal bones in a closed vessel, used for black paint and for darkening other colours. Yellow ochre was a natural clay coloured by iron oxide, cheap and lightfast, and widely used for warm yellow and buff paintwork. Indigo, the costliest pigment on this page, was the blue dye from the leaves of the indigo plant, imported from India or the Americas; in paint it gave a deep blue, though it was more often used for dyeing cloth.

The six shoemaker's knives, bought together with the sole leather on the previous page, pointed to a working shoemaker among the planters' households. Shoes, mended and made locally from imported leather, were cheaper to maintain than to replace entirely from the ship-borne stock.

210

205

1766

Sold to the Honorable Companys Ships from 1st of October to the 31st Decemr

1765 viz.

Nails viz.

6 . . 2

10 . . 4

26 . . 6

23 . . 10

76 . . 20

23 . . 40

6 Scuppers

10 Bow

11 Spikes

17 Copr Rivets

6 . 13 . 5

Twine 11 Skeins

. 3 . 2 . 1

Thread 1 lb Colr

. 4 . 10

Paint viz.

20 Lamp Black

. 16 . 8

30 W Lead dry

1 . 13 . 4

40 Red Lead

. 15 . 10

1 Verdigr

. 3 . 6

3 . 16 . 4

Bunting viz.

5 Yds Red

. 5 . 3

5 Do Blue

. 4 . 1

5 Do White

. 5 . 9

. 15 . 1

Lines 2 Hambro

. 4 . 4

Canvas 3 Ps Eng

9 . 16 . -

Oil viz.

44 G Train

10 . 9 . 11

24 G Linseed

6 . 12 . 6

17 . 2 . 5

Carried over

£ 41 . 11 . 6

The stores on this page were sold to the East India Company's ships between 1 October 1765 and 31 December 1765, as follows.

Nails, as follows:

6 lb of twopenny nails

10 lb of fourpenny nails

26 lb of sixpenny nails

23 lb of tenpenny nails

76 lb of twentypenny nails

23 lb of fortypenny nails

6 lb of scupper nails

10 lb of [...] nails

11 lb of spikes

1 lb of copper [...]

Total for all nails, £6 15s 5d

11 skeins of twine, £3 2s 1d

1 lb of coloured thread, £0 4s 10d

Painting materials, as follows:

20 lb of lampblack, £0 16s 8d

30 lb of dry white lead, £1 13s 4d

40 lb of red lead, £0 15s 10d

1 lb of verdigris, £0 3s 6d

Subtotal for painting materials, £3 16s 4d

Bunting, as follows:

5 yards of red bunting, £0 5s 3d

4 yards of blue bunting, £0 4s 1d

5 yards of white bunting, £0 5s 9d

Subtotal for bunting, £0 15s 1d

2 Hamburg lines, £0 4s 4d

3 pieces of English canvas, £9 14s 0d

Oil, as follows:

46½ gallons of train oil, £10 9s 11d

24½ gallons of linseed oil, £6 12s 6d

Subtotal for oil, £17 2s 5d

Total carried forward, £41 11s 6d

Interpretations

The buyers here were not settlers but the Company's own ships, supplied over a three-month period while they lay in the road. The mix of goods showed what a vessel needed after months at sea: heavy nails and spikes for repairs to hull and fittings, canvas for patching sails, oil for lamps and for dressing timber, and red lead and white lead for protecting woodwork and ironwork against salt water. The island thus served as a repair and supply station on the long passage, with its imported stock sold back to the Company's ships as well as to the planters.

Bunting was a light, loosely woven worsted cloth made specifically for flags. Bought by the yard in red, white and blue, it allowed a ship's crew to make or mend ensigns, pendants and signal flags, which wore out quickly in the wind. Lampblack was a fine soot collected from burning oil or resin, used as a black pigment for paint and for blacking rigging and ironwork.

Unlike the sales to the planters, the nails were entered without separate prices and charged as a single sum. Ships' carpenters drew mixed quantities over several weeks, and a single total was simpler to settle against each vessel's account than a priced line for every size.

211

206

20th January

Brought over

£ 41 . 11 . 6

Pitch and Tar viz.

1 Barl 4 Cwt Rozin

2 . 14 . -

¼ Do Turpentine

1 . 1 . -

3 . 15

Cordage 572 . 2 . 2

61 . 7 . 2

Flour 6 Cwt

7 . 3 . 6

Glass Ware viz.

6 Sq Glass 6 by 8

. 3 . 3

2 Half Minute Glasses

. 1 . 9

. 5 . -

Beef and Pork viz.

11 Puncheons Beef

200 . 16 . -

6 Hhds Pork

102 . 6 . 6

303 . 2 . 6

Iron Ware 6 Splinter Locks

. 4 . 9

Coals 3 Chaldrons

9 . 6 . -

Rice and Paddy viz.

26 . 3 . 4 Rice

17 . 2 . 6

35 . 2 . 24 Paddy

11 . - . -

28 . 2 . 6

Deals ½ Pr of 4 Inch Oak plank

1 . 12 . -

Turners Ware 6 Paint Brushes

. 4 . 6

£ 506 . 19 . 11

Sales to the Company's ships continued on 20 January with the following stores, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £41 11s 6d

Pitch and tar, as follows:

1 barrel of rosin, £2 14s 0d

¼ barrel of turpentine, £1 1s 0d

Subtotal for pitch and tar, £3 15s 0d

57 cwt 2 qr 2 lb of cordage, £61 7s 2d

670 lb of flour, £7 3s 6d

Glassware, as follows:

6 panes of window glass, 6 by 8 inches, £0 3s 3d

2 half-minute glasses, £0 1s 9d

Subtotal for glassware, £0 5s 0d

Beef and pork, as follows:

11 puncheons of beef, £200 16s 0d

6 hogsheads of pork, £102 6s 6d

Subtotal for beef and pork, £303 2s 6d

6 [...] locks, £0 4s 9d

3 chaldrons of coal, £9 5s 0d

Rice and paddy, as follows:

26 cwt 3 qr 4 lb of rice, £17 2s 6d

35 cwt 2 qr 24 lb of paddy, £11 0s 0d

Subtotal for rice and paddy, £28 2s 6d

12 ft of 4-inch oak plank, £1 12s 0d

6 paint brushes, £0 4s 6d

Total, £506 19s 11d

Interpretations

Salt meat dominated the page, with beef and pork accounting for more than half of everything sold to the ships over the quarter. A puncheon was a large cask holding roughly 70 to 120 gallons, and a hogshead a somewhat smaller one of about 50 to 60 gallons, both packed with meat in brine. Selling provisions in such bulk turned the island's stores into a victualling depot for homeward and outward ships whose own supplies had run low on the passage.

Paddy was rice still in its husk, as harvested, whereas the rice entered above it had already been husked and cleaned. Paddy weighed more for the same amount of food, which explains its lower price per hundredweight. Taking it unhusked suited a ship's company that could pound it aboard as needed, since rice in the husk kept far better at sea.

Half-minute glasses were small sandglasses running for exactly 30 seconds, used with the log line to measure a ship's speed. A sailor timed how many knots on the line ran out while the glass emptied, which gave the speed in knots. Their sale here showed ships replacing navigational instruments that had broken in use.

Rosin was the hard residue left after distilling pine resin, and turpentine the volatile spirit drawn off in the same process. Both went into the paying and caulking of a ship's seams, mixed with pitch and tar to seal the hull. A chaldron was a large measure for coal, about 25 to 27 hundredweight in the London reckoning, and coal at sea fed the galley fire and the armourer's forge.

212

207

1766

Damaged Goods Sold at Publick Auction viz.

Bunting viz.

7½ Yds Red

. 1 . 3

1 Ps 36 yds ¾ Blue

. 7 . 3

27 Ps 42 ½ Yds White

. 12 . 4

1 . 1 . 3

Broad Cloth 2½ Yds Scarlet

1 . 16 . 6

Cuttlery Ware 11 . 4 Pr Leather Garters

. 1 . 6

Camblet 16½ Yds Blue

3 . 11 . -

Haberdashery 1 lb Whal Bone

. 3

Hosiers Ware viz.

22 Girls Stockings

1 . 2 . 1

3 Do Womens Do

. 2 . 6

4 Prs Boys Do

. 6 . 4

1 . 10 . 11

Candy 3 . 3 . 10

5 . 7 . 6

Sailors Cloaths 2 Prs Breeches

. 3 . 6

Pewter 14 Dishes

3 . 19 . 3

Iron Ware viz.

459 Sail Needles

. 5 . -

50 Lead Nails

. 5 . 6

. 10 . 6

£ 18 . 3 . 2

The damaged goods on this page were sold at public auction in 1766, as follows.

Bunting, as follows:

7½ yards of red bunting, £0 1s 3d

1 piece of blue bunting, 36½ yards, £0 7s 3d

2 pieces of white bunting, 42½ yards, £0 12s 4d

Subtotal for bunting, £1 1s 3d

2½ yards of scarlet broadcloth, £1 16s 6d

Cutlery: 11 pairs of leather garters, £0 1s 6d

16½ yards of blue camlet, £3 11s 0d

Haberdashery: 1 lb of whalebone, £0 0s 3d

Hosiery, as follows:

22 pairs of girls' stockings, £1 2s 1d

3 pairs of women's stockings, £0 2s 6d

4 pairs of boys' stockings, £0 6s 4d

Subtotal for hosiery, £1 10s 11d

3 cwt 3 qr 10 lb of sugar candy, £5 7s 6d

Sailors' clothing: 2 pairs of breeches, £0 3s 6d

14 pewter dishes, £3 19s 3d

Ironware, as follows:

459 sail needles, £0 5s 0d

50 lb of lead nails, £0 5s 6d

Subtotal for ironware, £0 10s 6d

Total, £18 3s 2d

Interpretations

Damaged stock was not put through the fixed advances charged to the planters and the ships, but sold off to the highest bidder. Spoiled goods could not bear a mark-up on their recorded value, and an auction let the market set whatever they would still fetch, turning losses into some return rather than leaving them to rot in the storehouse. The prices showed how deep the loss ran. On the ships' account for October to December 1765, red, blue and white bunting went at roughly a shilling a yard, while here more than 80 yards of it brought in barely a pound, about threepence a yard. A pound of whalebone fetched threepence, against more than six shillings a pound on the earlier haberdashery list.

The goods most affected were cloth, sugar candy and small iron items, the classes most prone to damp, mould, insects and rust after a long voyage and storage in a moist climate. Sugar candy dissolved and caked when it took on water, and needles and nails rusted, which explains their presence here in quantity.

Sail needles were heavy three-sided needles for stitching canvas, used with a leather palm to force them through. Lead nails were short nails with broad heads, made for fixing sheet lead to roofs and gutters. Sailors' clothing, often known as slops, was cheap ready-made wear sold to seamen, and the breeches entered here belonged to that trade.

213

208

28th January

Charges General Dr for the following Stores Issued

from the 1st October to the 31st December 1765 viz.

Nails viz.

23¼ . . 2

1 . - . 9

13 . . 3

. 10 . 6½

13 . . 4

. 3 . 4½

59½ . . 6

1 . 14 . 6½

71 . . 10 for the Compys Works

1 . 15 . -

25 . . 20

. 2 . 9

4 . . 40

. 1 . 7

13 Copper Rivets

. 6 . 9

1 Scupper

. 6

1 Glazrs Brads

. 1 . 11

1½ Tacks

. 2 . ½

6 . 10 . 10

Iron Ware viz.

2 Frying Pans for the Cattle & Men

employd at the Compys Works

. 4 . 4

7 B Hasps for the Cattle Smiths Shop &c

. 5 . 3½

6 Spring Rat Traps Plant. House

. 11 . 7¼

6 Razr Stones

. 1 . 7½

2 Mauls

. 16 . 5

7 Hand Hatchets

. 12 . 3

5 Splinter Locks

. 2 . 5

11 Stock . . Do

1 . 11 . 5

36 Pots Hasps Compys Works

. 2 . 3

1 Cross Cutt Saw

1 . 5 . 9

4 Rakes

. 9 . 3

2 Broad Hoes

. 4 . 9½

16 Helves

. 9 . 4

Iron Ware Carried over

£ 6 . 17 . 6½

Carried over

£ 6 . 10 . 10

On 20 January the general charges account was debited for stores issued between 1 October 1765 and 31 December 1765, as follows.

Nails for the Company's works, as follows:

28¼ lb of twopenny nails, £1 0s 9d

13 lb of threepenny nails, £0 10s 6½d

13 lb of fourpenny nails, £0 3s 4½d

59¼ lb of sixpenny nails, £1 14s 6½d

71 lb of tenpenny nails, £1 15s 0d

25 lb of twentypenny nails, £0 2s 9d

4 lb of fortypenny nails, £0 1s 7d

13 lb of copper [...], £0 6s 9d

1 lb of scupper nails, £0 0s 6d

1 lb of glaziers' brads, £0 1s 11d

1½ lb of tacks, £0 0s 2½d

Subtotal for nails, £6 10s 10d

Ironware, as follows:

2 frying pans for the Castle and the men at the Company's works, £0 4s 4d

7 [...] keys for the Castle, the smith's shop and other places, £0 5s 3½d

6 spring rat traps for Plantation House, £0 11s 7½d

6 [...] stones, £0 1s 7½d

Ironware for the Company's works, as follows:

2 mauls, £0 16s 5d

7 hand hatchets, £0 12s 3d

5 [...] locks, £0 2s 5d

11 stock locks, £1 11s 5d

36 [...] hasps, £0 2s 3d

1 crosscut saw, £1 5s 9d

4 rakes, £0 9s 3d

2 broad hoes, £0 4s 9½d

16 tool handles, £0 9s 4d

Subtotal for ironware carried forward, £6 17s 6½d

Total carried forward, £6 10s 10d

Interpretations

This page recorded a third way in which stock left the storehouse. Goods were neither sold to the planters nor to the ships but issued for the Company's own use, and their value was charged to the general charges account. That account gathered the running costs of governing and maintaining the settlement, so every nail driven into a Company building and every lock fitted to a Company door was booked as an expense of administration. The heading marked general charges as the debtor, meaning the cost was set against the Company's revenue on the island rather than recovered from any buyer.

The named destinations showed where the Company's spending fell. The Castle was the fortified seat of government in Jamestown, housing the Governor, the council and the garrison's command, with a smith's shop among its working buildings. Plantation House was the Company's country residence for the Governor in the interior, and its rat traps pointed to the constant struggle against vermin in stored food and buildings on the island. The bulk of the nails and tools went to the Company's works, its building, repair and road-making gangs.

Mauls were heavy wooden or iron-headed hammers used for driving stakes, wedges and posts. Broad hoes had wide blades for clearing and turning soil, and tool handles were bought loose in quantity because they broke far more often than the iron heads they carried. A crosscut saw was a long two-man saw for cutting timber across the grain, the main tool for felling and sizing trees.

214

209

28th January

Charges General Dr for the following Stores Issued

from the 1st October to the 31st December 1765 viz.

Nails viz.

23¼ . . 2

1 . - . 9

13 . . 3

. 10 . 6½

13 . . 4

. 3 . 4½

59½ . . 6

1 . 14 . 6½

71 . . 10 for the Compys Works

1 . 15 . -

25 . . 20

. 2 . 9

4 . . 40

. 1 . 7

13 Copper Rivets

. 6 . 9

1 Scupper

. 6

1 Glazrs Brads

. 1 . 11

1½ Tacks

. 2 . ½

6 . 10 . 10

Iron Ware viz.

2 Frying Pans for the Cattle & Men

employd at the Compys Works

. 4 . 4

7 B Hasps for the Cattle Smiths Shop &c

. 5 . 3½

6 Spring Rat Traps Plant. House

. 11 . 7¼

6 Razr Stones

. 1 . 7½

2 Mauls

. 16 . 5

7 Hand Hatchets

. 12 . 3

5 Splinter Locks

. 2 . 5

11 Stock . . Do

1 . 11 . 5

36 Pots Hasps Compys Works

. 2 . 3

1 Cross Cutt Saw

1 . 5 . 9

4 Rakes

. 9 . 3

2 Broad Hoes

. 4 . 9½

16 Helves

. 9 . 4

Iron Ware Carried over

£ 6 . 17 . 6½

Carried over

£ 6 . 10 . 10

The general charges account continued in 1766 with the following stores, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £6 10s 10d

Ironware brought forward, £6 17s 6½d

Ironware for the Company's works, as follows:

9 ditching shovels, £1 12s 6d

1 cupboard lock, £0 2s 10d

1 chest lock, £0 3s 0d

2 pickaxes, £0 6s 3½d

1 iron-rimmed [...] lock, £0 5s 0d

1 large standing vice, £1 13s 1d

1 stone saw, £0 4s 6d

5 ditching shovels, £1 2s 1d

1 smith's bellows, £5 5s 3½d

1 plasterer's sieve, £0 10s 4d

½ lb of flour emery, £0 0s 3d

2 smith's rubbers, £0 10s 2½d

2 files, £0 1s 0d

6 needles, £0 0s 6d

2 saws for cutting stone, £0 9s 0d

1 wire rat trap, £0 5s 11d

Subtotal for ironware, £19 15s 4d

Mats [...] for beating paddy, £2 15s 0d

Fish hooks and lines for the Castle, the Governor's fishermen and the Company's works, as follows:

12 fishing lines, size 3, £0 3s 11d

43 fishing lines, size 4, £0 16s 5d

22 fishing lines, size 2, £0 6s 5d

1 [...] line, £0 1s 1½d

3 Hamburg lines, £0 4s 6d

Fish hooks for the Governor's fishermen, as follows:

25 fish hooks, size 7, £0 1s 2½d

50 fish hooks, size 9, £0 1s 1½d

25 fish hooks, size 15, £0 0s 2½d

25 fish hooks, size 12, £0 0s 3½d

25 fish hooks, size 2, £0 1s 2d

Subtotal for fish hooks and lines, £1 16s 4d

Total carried forward, £30 17s 6d

Interpretations

The Governor kept his own fishermen, supplied with hooks and lines at the Company's cost and charged to general expenses alongside the works and the Castle. Fishing on this footing was an official provision rather than a private trade, feeding the Governor's household and probably the Company's people more widely, and its cost sat in the same account as tools and building materials.

The mats for beating paddy connected with the paddy sold to the ships on 20 January. Unhusked rice had to be threshed and pounded to free the grain, and the mats gave a clean surface on which to beat it without losing the rice in the dirt. Their issue as a Company charge showed that paddy was also being processed on the island for the Company's own use.

The tools pointed to a smithy and a stone-working gang. A smith's bellows, by far the costliest single item, drove the forge fire, and a standing vice bolted to a bench held iron while it was filed or bent. Smith's rubbers were coarse heavy files for rough shaping, while flour emery was finely ground abrasive for polishing metal. The stone saws and plasterer's sieve belonged to the masons and plasterers who built and repaired the Company's walls and buildings.

215

210

28th January

Brought over

£ 30 . 17 . 6

Twine 16 Skeins Castle Govr Fish. & Compys Work

. 8 . -

Lead viz.

23 lb Sheet Lead for the Governors Fishery

. 2 . 4

6 Shott and Companys Works

. 1 . 1

. 3 . 5

Turners Ware viz.

3 Hair Brooms

. 10 . 6

2 Mops

. 10 . -

3 Wood Bowls

. 5 . 9

25 Paint Brushes Compys Works & Castle

1 . 3 . 6½

3 Platters

. 2 . 10½

1 Shoe Brush

. 6½

2 Flaskets

. 6 . 2

2 Scurf Brushes

. 4 . 6

1 Birch Broom

. 4½

2 . 14 . 2

Oil viz.

16½ Gallns Train Compys Works

2 . 14 . 1

31½ Gallns Linseed

6 . 4 . -

2 Bottles Florence Doctor & Smiths Shop

. 5 . 3

9 . 3 . 4

Coals 279 Bushels for burning Lime

13 . 4 . -

Cordage 2 lb for tying the Arbor Thatching the Fort

Church and Companys Work

. 4 . 3 . 4

Arrack 37 Galls Sundays & Working general

5 . 14 . 6

Deals viz.

30 Double Deals

5 . 2 . 6

42 Single Do

4 . 12 . 9

1 Baulk Companys Works

. 2 . 10

17 Euffers

3 . 9 . 5

1 Elm Board

. 5 . 7

13 . 13 . 1

Carried over

£ 131 . 9 . 7

The general charges account continued on 20 January with the following stores, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £30 17s 6d

16 skeins of twine for the Castle, the Governor's fishermen and the Company's works, £0 8s 0d

Lead, as follows:

23 lb of sheet lead for the Governor's fishermen, £0 2s 4d

6 lb of shot for the Castle and the Company's works, £0 1s 1d

Subtotal for lead, £0 3s 5d

Turned and brush ware for the Company's works and the Castle, as follows:

3 hair brooms, £0 10s 6d

2 mops, £0 10s 0d

3 wooden bowls, £0 3s 9d

25 paint brushes, £0 13s 6½d

3 platters, £0 2s 10½d

1 shoe brush, £0 0s 6½d

2 flaskets, £0 6s 2d

2 scrubbing brushes, £0 4s 5d

1 birch broom, £0 0s 4½d

Subtotal for turned and brush ware, £2 14s 2d

Oil, as follows:

16½ gallons of train oil for the Company's works, £2 14s 1d

31½ gallons of linseed oil for the Company's works, £6 4s 0d

2 bottles of Florence oil for the doctor and the smith's shop, £0 5s 3d

Subtotal for oil, £9 3s 4d

279 bushels of coal for burning lime, £13 4s 0d

2 cwt 1 qr of cordage for tying the arbour and for thatching at the fort, the church and the Company's works, £4 3s 4d

37[...] gallons of arrack for Sunday issues and general work, £57 14s 6d

Deal boards and timber for the Company's works, as follows:

30 double deals, £5 2s 6d

42 single deals, £4 12s 9d

1 baulk, £0 3s 10d

17 uffers, £3 9s 5d

1 elm board, £0 5s 7d

Subtotal for deal boards and timber, £13 14s 1d

Total carried forward, £119 11s 8d

Interpretations

Arrack was by far the largest charge on the page, costing more than all the timber, oil and coal together. It was a strong spirit distilled in India and the East Indies from palm sap or fermented rice, brought to the island cheaply aboard the Company's ships. Its issue on Sundays and for general work showed drink being used as part of the reward for labour. A regular ration of spirits kept the Company's workmen and soldiers at their tasks and served as a cheap supplement to wages, and charging it to the general account treated it as an ordinary running cost of getting work done.

The coal was bought to burn lime, the essential first step in making mortar and plaster. Limestone or shell was heated in a kiln until it broke down into quicklime, which was then slaked with water for building. Taken with the stone saws and plasterer's sieve on the previous page, it pointed to a sustained programme of masonry on the Company's buildings and defences.

Cordage was issued for thatching at the fort, the church and the works, showing that some of the island's buildings were still roofed with thatch tied down with rope rather than covered in slate or tile. Uffers were rough poles or small spars of Baltic or Norwegian fir, used for scaffolding, rafters and light framing. A baulk was a squared beam of roughly hewn timber, used for heavier structural work.

The Florence oil went to the doctor, who used fine olive oil in medicines and dressings, and to the smith's shop, where it served to oil delicate tools and finished metal. The sheet lead for the Governor's fishermen was perhaps cut up for sinkers on their lines.

216

211

1766

Brought over

£ 130 . 9 . 4

Paint viz.

26 Lamp Blacking

. 14 . 3

1 Umber

. 3

1½ Copperas

. 1 . 5

55 White Lead mixed

. 19 . 10½

703 Whiting

. 14 . 3

47 Ven Red mixed Compys Works

1 . 1 . 6½

20 Verdigrease

3 . 17 . 11

33 Sky Blue

3 . 1 . 2

33 White Lead dry

. 11 . 10½

113 Stone Colour

2 . 16 . 6½

½ Sacar Saturn

. 7

1 Blue Smalts for Linnen

. 1 . 6½

6 Indico

. 11 . 3½

14 . 13 . 4

Candles viz.

90 Castle

150 Council

3 Secretary Office

4 Doctors Shop

3½ Compys Works

35 . 11 . -

Sope 30 for Linnen

2 . 15

Tin Ware viz.

2 Lamps for Men employd at the Compys Work

. 1 . 6

3 lb Solder

. 7 . 2

1 Salmoniac Castle

. 5 . 7½

2 Water Pots Companys Works

. 3 . 1½

1 Globe Lamp

. 13 . 3

1 . 15 . 3

Candy 6 lb for the Govr Gardn & Doctors Shop

1 . 5 . 10

Carried over

£ 176 . 10 . 2

The general charges account continued in 1766 with the following stores, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £130 9s 4d

Painting materials for the Company's works, as follows:

26 lb of bone black, £0 14s 3d

1 lb of umber, £0 0s 3d

1½ lb of copperas, £0 1s 5d

55 lb of white lead, ground in oil, £0 19s 10½d

703 lb of whiting, £0 14s 3d

47 lb of Venetian red, ground in oil, £1 1s 6½d

20 lb of verdigris, £3 17s 11d

33 lb of sky blue, £3 1s 2d

33 lb of dry white lead, £0 11s 10½d

113 lb of stone-coloured paint, £2 16s 6½d

½ lb of sugar of lead, £0 0s 7d

Blueing for linen, as follows:

1 lb of blue smalt, £0 1s 6½d

6 [...] of indigo, £0 11s 3½d

Subtotal for painting materials, £14 13s 4d

Candles, as follows:

90 [...] for the Castle

150 [...] for the Council

3 [...] for the Secretary's office

4 [...] for the doctor's shop

3½ [...] for the Company's works

Total for candles, £35 11s 0d

30 [...] of soap for washing linen, £2 15s 0d

Tinware, as follows:

2 lamps for the men at the Company's works, £0 1s 6d

2 lb of solder for the Castle, £0 7s 2d

1 lb of sal ammoniac for the Castle, £0 5s 7½d

2 water pots for the Company's works, £0 3s 1½d

1 globe lamp, £0 13s 3d

Subtotal for tinware, £1 15s 3d

6 lb of sugar candy for the [...] and the doctor's shop, £1 5s 10d

Total carried forward, £176 10s 2d

Interpretations

The candle issue showed the working shape of the island's government. The Council took 150 units, far more than the Castle with 90, while the Secretary's office, the doctor's shop and the works drew only a few each. Light was a real cost on the island, and the Council's share pointed to its meetings, correspondence and business running well into the evenings, since every consultation and letter to the Company had to be copied by candlelight.

Sal ammoniac was ammonium chloride, used by tinsmiths and smiths as a flux to clean metal surfaces so that solder would take. Issued together with solder for the Castle, it showed that lamps, pots and other tinware were being mended there rather than sent away. A globe lamp was a hanging oil lamp with a glass globe around the flame, the costliest single piece of tinware here, suited to lighting a public room or passage.

Sugar of lead was lead acetate, a sweet-tasting white salt added to oil paint in small amounts to make it dry faster. Sky blue was a ready-mixed pale blue paint, usually white lead tinted with smalt or Prussian blue. The smalt and indigo entered separately were not for paint at all but for linen, where a little blue in the final rinse counteracted yellowing and made washed cloth look whiter.

Sugar candy issued to the doctor's shop was a medicine as well as a sweet, dissolved in water or mixed with other ingredients to soothe coughs and sore throats.

217

212

28 January

Brought over

£ 176 . 10 . 2

Tea 6 for the Fevers and Gardens

. 6 . 6

Canvas viz.

24½ Yds Osnabrgs for Buckets and

Rubbers the Castle

. 9 . 11

29½ Yds Engl Canvas [...] for the [...]

and Captain Mitchel

1 . 13 . 2

2 . 3 . 1

Iron 57 for a Forge & to make stone Hammers

. [...]

China Ware viz.

6 Bowls

. 6 . -

6 Snuchers

. 1 . 3

2 Enameld Bakg Dishes Castle

. 5 . 4

2 Blue & White Do

. 4 . 4

2 Sallad Do

. 1 . 6

. 17 . 5

Thread viz.

1 lb Whited Brown Companys

. 7 . -

2 Coloured Works

. 6 . 10

. 13 . 10

Braziers Ware 1 Bottling Cock

. 3 . 4

Cuttlery 1 Horse Comb for the Lieut Governor

. 3

Pitch and Tar 3 lb Rozin for the Castle

. 6

£ 181 . 6 . 4

The general charges account continued on 20 January with the following stores, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £176 10s 2d

6 [...] of tea for the [...] and the gardener, £0 6s 6d

Canvas, as follows:

24½ yards of osnaburg for buckets and rubbers at the Castle, £0 9s 11d

29½ yards of English canvas for the [...] and Captain Mitchel, £1 13s 2d

Subtotal for canvas, £2 3s 1d

57 lb of iron for a forge and stonecutters' hammers, £0 18s 0d

Chinaware for the Castle, as follows:

6 bowls, £0 6s 0d

6 saucers, £0 1s 3d

2 enamelled [...], £0 5s 4d

2 blue and white [...], £0 4s 4d

2 salad [...], £0 1s 6d

Subtotal for chinaware, £0 17s 5d

Thread for the Company's works, as follows:

1 lb of whited-brown thread, £0 7s 0d

2 lb of coloured thread, £0 6s 10d

Subtotal for thread, £0 13s 10d

Brass and copper ware: 1 [...] cock, £0 3s 4d

Cutlery: 1 hair comb for the Lieutenant Governor, £0 0s 9d

Pitch and tar: 3 lb of rosin for the Castle, £0 0s 6d

Total, £181 6s 4d

Interpretations

Several entries charged the personal use of named officials to the Company's general account. The Lieutenant Governor's hair comb, the canvas issued to Captain Mitchel and the tea for the gardener were small sums, but each showed that the line between the Company's running costs and the private needs of its officers was drawn generously. Household goods for those in office passed through the stores as allowances in kind, a quiet perquisite of holding a post on the island.

The iron was taken to make a forge and to forge hammers for the stonecutters, matching the stone saws and the coal for burning lime recorded earlier on this account. The Company was not simply buying finished tools but having its own smith make them on the spot from bar iron, which was cheaper and more reliable than waiting for replacements to arrive by sea.

Whited-brown thread was linen thread bleached only partly, leaving it a pale fawn rather than a clean white. It was stronger and cheaper than fully bleached thread and served for heavy sewing such as canvas, sacking and work clothing.

218

213

1766

Diet Expences Dr for the following Stores Issued from the 1st October

to the 31st December 1765 viz.

Flour 279 lb

6 . 8 . 2

Candy 186

3 . 7 . 6

Arrack 60 Galls

9 . 2 . 9

Rice 200

1 . - . -

Beef and Pork viz.

3 Ps Beef

. 9 . 5

31 Do Pork

4 . 11 . -

5 . - . 5

Salt 1½ Bushels

. 6 . 4

Tea 9 lb Congo

. 12 . 9

Oil 6 Bottles Florence

. 15 . 10

Pease 1 Bushel

. 1 . 1

£ 27 . 10 . 10

Garrison Dr for the following Stores Issued from the 1st October

to the 31st December 1765 viz.

Oil 136 lb Train

22 . 17 . -

Blankets 6

1 . 10 . -

Arrack 45 Galls for Drams on Muster Days in Dect last Quart

being omitted

7 . 1 . 7

Tea 82 lb Bohea

3 . 15 . 2

Candles 25 for the Officers on Duty

2 . 10 . -

Paint viz.

13 Yell Oaker dry Colouring Accoutrs

. 3 . 9

23 Whiting

. 7

. 4 . 4

Iron Ware viz.

3 Hand Hatchets for the Ser Guards

. 5 . 3

3 Hatchet Helves

. 9

. 6 . -

Carried over

38 . [...]

The diet expenses account was debited for the following stores, issued between 1 October 1765 and 31 December 1765.

279 lb of flour, £6 8s 2d

136 lb of sugar candy, £3 7s 6d

60 gallons of arrack, £9 2s 9d

200 lb of rice, £1 0s 0d

Beef and pork, as follows:

3 pieces of beef, £0 9s 5d

31 pieces of pork, £4 11s 0d

Subtotal for beef and pork, £5 0s 5d

1½ bushels of salt, £0 6s 4d

[...] of congou tea, £0 12s 9d

6 bottles of Florence oil, £0 15s 10d

½ bushel of peas, £0 1s 1d

Total, £27 10s 10d

The garrison account was debited for the following stores, issued over the same period from 1 October 1765 to 31 December 1765.

136½ gallons of train oil, £22 17s 0d

6 blankets, £1 10s 0d

45 gallons of arrack for drams on muster days in December, left out of the last quarter's account, £7 1s 7d

32 lb of bohea tea, £3 15s 2d

25 [...] of candles for the officers on duty, £2 10s 0d

Painting materials for colouring accoutrements, as follows:

13 lb of dry yellow ochre, £0 3s 9d

22 lb of whiting, £0 0s 7d

Subtotal for painting materials, £0 4s 4d

Ironware for the [...] guards, as follows:

3 hand hatchets, £0 5s 3d

3 hatchet handles, £0 0s 9d

Subtotal for ironware, £0 6s 0d

Total carried forward, £38 3s 1d

Interpretations

The diet expenses account gathered the food and drink the Company provided at its own cost, kept separate from the general charges of the works and the Castle. Its contents were those of a household table rather than a ration store: tea, sugar candy, Florence oil and peas alongside the staples of flour, rice and salt meat. Splitting provisions from tools and materials in this way let the Company see exactly what it spent on feeding its people, as distinct from what it spent on building and maintenance.

The arrack issued to the garrison was tied to muster days, when soldiers paraded for inspection and roll call. A dram on those occasions rewarded attendance and helped make an unpopular duty bearable. The note that the December issue had been left out of the previous quarter's account and was now added showed the clerk correcting the record after the event, so that the garrison was charged in full even though the spirit had already been drunk.

The yellow ochre and whiting were issued for colouring the soldiers' accoutrements, the belts, pouches and slings worn with uniform. Mixed into a wash, these cheap earths gave leather and webbing a uniform buff or white finish for parade. The train oil, issued in much larger quantity than to the Company's works, lit the guardrooms, barracks and sentry posts through the night, and the candles for officers on duty served the same purpose in their quarters.

219

214

28th Jany

Brought over

£ 38 . 7 . 1

Tin Ware viz.

2 Lamps to rep. Lanthorns

. 6 . -

11 Lanthorn Leaves

. 3 . 5

. 9 . 5

Turners Ware viz.

3 Wood Bowls for the several Guards

. 3 . 5

16 platters

. 15 . 4

. 18 . 9

Glass Ware 1 Half hour Glass Rank & Guard

. 1 . -

Nails 1 lb Tacks for Drums

. 7

Lines 4 Whip Cord for Whips

. 11 . 11

£ 40 . 8 . 9

Blacks Dr for the following Stores Issued from the 1st

October to the 31st December 1765 viz.

Arrack 66½ Galls for the Fishers Black Corps Stone

Layers Head

10 . 9 . 2

Sugar and Candy viz.

23¼ Sugar for the Sick & Blks at Christms

4 . 3 . 6

1 Candy for Jewish Butcher

for destroyg Wild Cattle

. 5

4 . 3 . 11

Flour 34 for the Sick

. 7 . 10

Beef and Pork viz.

7 Ps Beef

1 . 2 . -

8 Ps Pork

1 . 2 . 6

2 . 4 . 6

Oil 2 Galls Train

. 6 . 1

Carried over

£ 17 . 12 . 1

The garrison account continued on 20 January with the following stores, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £38 7s 1d

Tinware for repairing lanterns, as follows:

3 lamps, £0 6s 0d

11 lantern panes, £0 3s 5d

Subtotal for tinware, £0 9s 5d

Turned ware for the various guards, as follows:

3 wooden bowls, £0 3s 5d

16 platters, £0 15s 4d

Subtotal for turned ware, £0 18s 9d

Glassware: 1 half-hour glass for Banks's guard, £0 1s 0d

½ lb of tacks for drums, £0 0s 7d

4 lb of whipcord for whips, £0 11s 11d

Total, £40 8s 9d

The account kept for the Company's slaves was debited for the following stores, issued between 1 October 1765 and 31 December 1765.

66½ gallons of arrack for the slave fishermen and the Company's stonelayers and [...], £10 9s 2d

Sugar and sugar candy, as follows:

25[...] lb of sugar for the sick and for the slaves at Christmas, £4 3s 6d

1 lb of sugar candy for [...] for killing wild cats, £0 0s 5d

Subtotal for sugar and sugar candy, £4 3s 11d

3½ [...] of flour for the sick, £0 7s 10d

Beef and pork, as follows:

7 pieces of beef, £1 2s 0d

8 pieces of pork, £1 2s 6d

Subtotal for beef and pork, £2 4s 6d

2 gallons of train oil, £0 6s 1d

Total carried forward, £17 12s 1d

Interpretations

The manuscript headed this account simply as Blacks, its term for the slaves owned by the Company and set to work as fishermen, stonelayers and labourers. Giving them a separate account alongside the garrison and the diet table treated their upkeep as a distinct running cost of the settlement. Most of what they received here was not basic subsistence but extras: arrack for the fishermen and stone gangs, sugar at Christmas and food for the sick. These issues worked as incentives within a system of forced labour, rewarding the skilled workers on whom the Company's fishing and building most depended.

The single pound of sugar candy for killing wild cats recorded a bounty paid in kind. Feral cats preyed on poultry, game birds and young livestock, and the Company paid whoever destroyed them. Settling the reward in sweets rather than cash suited a payee who was perhaps a slave with no use for coin, and it cost the Company only fivepence from stock it already held.

The half-hour glass for Banks's guard measured the watches kept by the sentries at that post, so that each turn of duty ran for a fixed time and the guard could be changed or rounds made on schedule. Tacks for drums fixed the heads and braces of the garrison's drums, which beat the calls for the day, and the whipcord was a hard-twisted cord for whip lashes, probably for the drivers of the Company's cattle.

220

215

1766

Brought over

£ 17 . 12 . 1

Tea 75½ Bohea

3 . 9 . 2

Chelloes 1 Ps for a Black Woman

. 9 . 11

Pepper 21 lb

. 10 . 6

Sailors Cloaths viz.

1 Mans Jacket for a Black Boy

1 Pr Breeches

. 2 . ½

2 Shirts

. 6 . 9½

. 14 . 10

Shoes viz.

43 Prs Ordinary for the Handy Crafts Men

8 . 12

1 Pr Womans Calf for a Black Woman in

the Castle

. 2 . 3

8 . 14 . 3

Long Cloth ½ Ps A for the lying in Women

. 13 . 10

Turners Ware viz.

2 Wood Bowls

. 2 . 3

2 Platters

. 1 . 11

. 4 . 2

Iron Pots 1 Large Iron Kettle

2 . 5 . 1

Iron Ware viz.

1 Black Key for the Black House

. 3

25 Sail Needles

. 2 . 1

. 2 . 9

Hosiers Ware viz.

2 Prs Womens Wst Stockgs for the Blacks

. 6 . 2

2 Prs Boys Do in the Castle

. 4 . -

. 10 . 2

Hooks and Lines viz.

25 No 9 Hooks for the Fisherman

. 1½

50 . . 13

12 . . 2 Lines

. 3 . 3½

. 4 . 5

Carried over

£ 35 . 11 . 7

The account for the Company's slaves continued in 1766 with the following stores, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £17 12s 1d

[...] of bohea tea, £3 9s 2d

1 piece of chelloes for a slave woman, £0 9s 11d

21 lb of pepper, £0 10s 6d

Sailors' clothing for a slave boy, as follows:

1 man's jacket, £0 0s 0d

1 pair of breeches, £0 2s 7½d

2 shirts, £0 6s 9½d

Subtotal for sailors' clothing, £0 14s 10d

Shoes, as follows:

43 pairs of everyday shoes for the craftsmen, £8 12s 0d

1 pair of women's calfskin shoes for a slave woman at the Castle, £0 2s 3d

Subtotal for shoes, £8 14s 3d

½ piece of grade A longcloth for the women in childbirth, £0 13s 10d

Turned ware, as follows:

2 wooden bowls, £0 2s 3d

2 platters, £0 1s 11d

Subtotal for turned ware, £0 4s 2d

Iron pots: 1 large iron kettle, £2 5s 1d

Ironware, as follows:

1 blank key for the slave house, £0 0s 8d

25 sail needles, £0 2s 1d

Subtotal for ironware, £0 2s 9d

Hosiery for the slaves at the Castle, as follows:

2 pairs of women's worsted stockings, £0 6s 2d

2 pairs of boys' worsted stockings, £0 4s 0d

Subtotal for hosiery, £0 10s 2d

Fish hooks and lines for the fishermen, as follows:

25 fish hooks, size 9, £0 0s 1½d

50 fish hooks, size 13, £0 0s 0d

12 fishing lines, size 2, £0 3s 3½d

Subtotal for fish hooks and lines, £0 4s 5d

Total carried forward, £35 11s 7d

Interpretations

Chelloes were checked or striped cotton cloths woven in western India, chiefly around Surat, and shipped in quantity by the East India Company. Cheap and colourful, they were widely used for clothing in the tropical and African trades, and a single piece issued to a slave woman would have made her a dress or wrapper.

The issues showed a clear ranking among the Company's slaves. The 43 pairs of shoes went to the craftsmen, the skilled masons, carpenters and smiths whose work was most valuable, while most labourers went without. Slaves attached to the Castle also received stockings and, in one case, calfskin shoes, marking out household servants who were seen by officials and visitors and were dressed accordingly.

The half piece of longcloth for women in childbirth provided swaddling and bedding for mothers and newborns. The Company had a direct stake in those births, since the children of its slaves became its property, and the cloth was a small investment in keeping both mother and child alive.

The slave house was the building where the Company's slaves were lodged, and the blank key, cut to fit on the spot, served to lock it. The large iron kettle was a communal cooking pot, probably for preparing the slaves' meals in bulk.

221

216

28th Jany

Brought over

£ 35 . 11 . 7

Thread viz.

1 lb Whited Brown

. 7 . -

1 lb Coloured

. 3 . 5

. 10 . 5

Salt ½ Bushel for the Ungango Blacks

. 1

Candles ½ lb to examine the Black House

. 2

Canvas 71 Yds Ticklenburgs

3 . 13 . 11

Haberdashery viz.

10 Doz Mohair Coat Buttons Blacks in the Castle

. 6 . 8

6 Sk Silk for the Fishermen for

Lines

. 3 . 1

. 9 . 9

Rice and Paddy viz.

74 . 2 . 26 Rice

37 . 2 . 6

66 . . 2 Paddy beaten into Rice

12 . 13 . -

49 . 15 . 6

£ 90 . 5 . 9

Mallay Dr for the follwg Stores Issued from

the 1st October to the 31st December 1765 viz.

Beef and Pork viz.

16 Ps Beef

2 . 10 . 4

1 Ps Pork

. 2 . 11

2 . 13 . 3

Arrack 6 Gallons

. 12 . 10

Sugar and Candy viz.

30 Sugar

. 12 . 6

6 Candy

. 2 . 6

. 15

Rice 130

. 16 . 3

Carried over

£ 15 . 3 . 4

Margin Notes:

16

The account for the Company's slaves continued on 20 January with the following stores, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £35 11s 7d

Thread, as follows:

1 lb of whited-brown thread, £0 7s 0d

1 lb of coloured thread, £0 3s 5d

Subtotal for thread, £0 10s 5d

½ bushel of salt for the Ungango slaves, £0 1s 0d

½ lb of candles for inspecting the slave house, £0 2s 0d

71 yards of tecklenburg canvas, £3 13s 11d

Haberdashery, as follows:

10 dozen mohair coat buttons for the slaves at the Castle, £0 6s 3d

6 skeins of silk for the fishermen's lines, £0 3s 6d

Subtotal for haberdashery, £0 9s 9d

Rice and paddy, as follows:

74 cwt 2 qr 6 lb of rice, £37 2s 6d

66 cwt 2 qr of paddy beaten into rice, £12 13s 0d

Subtotal for rice and paddy, £49 15s 6d

Total, £90 3s 9d

The account for the Malay slaves was debited for the following stores, issued between 1 October 1765 and 31 December 1765.

Beef and pork, as follows:

16 pieces of beef, £2 10s 4d

1 piece of pork, £0 2s 11d

Subtotal for beef and pork, £2 13s 3d

6 gallons of arrack, £0 18s 10d

Sugar and sugar candy, as follows:

50 lb of sugar, £0 12s 6d

6 lb of sugar candy, £0 2s 6d

Subtotal for sugar and sugar candy, £0 15s 0d

130 lb of rice, £0 16s 3d

Total carried forward, £5 3s 4d

Interpretations

The Company kept its Malay slaves on a separate account from the rest, and the salt issue named a further group, the Ungango slaves, by origin. Sorting slaves by where they had been brought from mattered in practice. Malays from the East Indies and Africans from different regions differed in language, diet and skills, and the Company recorded and provisioned them as distinct groups. The Malay account, heavy in rice and with almost no pork, reflected a diet suited to people from the rice-growing East and perhaps to Muslim practice.

Rice was the staple of the slaves' ration, and at nearly £50 for the quarter it dwarfed every other item. The paddy beaten into rice linked directly to the mats for beating paddy charged to the general account on 20 January. The Company bought unhusked rice cheaply from passing ships and had its own slaves thresh and pound it, turning their labour into a saving on the cost of their food.

The half pound of candles for inspecting the slave house recorded a night search of the quarters where the Company's slaves slept. Such checks confirmed that everyone was present and that nothing forbidden, such as stolen goods, weapons or drink, was hidden there, and they formed a routine part of controlling a captive workforce.

The silk for the fishermen's lines was used to make fine, strong snoods, the short lengths joining the hook to the main line, which fish were less likely to see or bite through. The mohair coat buttons for the slaves at the Castle matched the better clothing issued to household servants on the previous page.

222

217

1766

Brought over

£ 5 . 3 . 4

Tea 5 lb Bohea

. 4 . 7

Oil ½ Train

. 2 . 6

Sope 8 lb

. 5 . 6

Pepper 1 lb

. 6

Salt ½ Bushel

. 2 . 6

£ 5 . 18 . 11

Plantation Dr for the following Stores Issued from

the 1st October to the 31st December 1765 viz.

Rice and Paddy viz.

376 Rice

1 . 13 . 9

4535 Paddy

7 . 16 . 11

9 . 10 . 8

Long Cloth 1 Ps A for the Dairy

1 . 7 . 8

Turners Ware viz.

6 Birch Brooms Plant. House Gard.

. 2 . 3

4 Ox Bows for Oxen

. 5 . 5

2 Pr Yoaks

1 . 16 . 2

2 . 3 . 10

Nails viz.

½ . . 2

. 4½

1 . . 4 to rep. Gates & Hedlocks

. 7

5 . . 6

. 2 . 7½

1 . . 20

. 4½

. 3 . 11

Iron Ware viz.

6 Ditching Shovels Plant. House Garden

1 . 6 . 6

1 Stock Lock

. 2 . 10

Iron Ware Carried over

£ 1 . 9 . 4

Carried over

£ 13 . 6 . 1

The account for the Malay slaves continued in 1766 with the following stores, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £5 3s 4d

5 lb of bohea tea, £0 4s 7d

½ gallon of train oil, £0 2s 6d

3 lb of soap, £0 3s 6d

1 lb of pepper, £0 0s 6d

½ bushel of salt, £0 2s 6d

Total, £5 18s 11d

The Plantation account was debited for the following stores, issued between 1 October 1765 and 31 December 1765.

Rice and paddy, as follows:

376 lb of rice, £1 13s 9d

4,535 lb of paddy, £7 16s 11d

Subtotal for rice and paddy, £9 10s 8d

1 piece of grade A longcloth for the dairy, £1 7s 8d

Turned ware, as follows:

6 birch brooms for the Plantation House garden, £0 2s 3d

4 ox bows for the oxen, £0 5s 5d

2 pairs of yokes for the oxen, £1 16s 2d

Subtotal for turned ware, £2 3s 10d

Nails for repairing gates and [...], as follows:

½ lb of twopenny nails, £0 0s 4½d

1 lb of fourpenny nails, £0 0s 7d

5 lb of sixpenny nails, £0 2s 7½d

1 lb of twentypenny nails, £0 0s 4½d

Subtotal for nails, £0 3s 11d

Ironware for the Plantation House garden, as follows:

6 ditching shovels, £1 6s 6d

1 stock lock, £0 2s 10d

Subtotal for ironware carried forward, £1 9s 4d

Total carried forward, £13 6s 1d

Interpretations

The Plantation account covered the Company's own farm and gardens attached to Plantation House, run as a working estate rather than a private residence. Its stores showed a mixed farm: oxen for ploughing and hauling, a dairy, gardens kept with brooms and drained with ditching shovels, and gates mended against straying stock. The Company produced at least part of its own food, milk and butter there instead of depending entirely on what ships could bring.

The 4,535 lb of paddy, far more than the husked rice issued alongside it, pointed to the slaves working on the estate being fed largely on unhusked rice that they pounded themselves. Buying paddy instead of clean rice cost the Company less per pound, as the price per hundredweight on this page showed, and the labour of husking it fell on the people it fed.

Ox bows were the curved wooden collars passed under an ox's neck and fixed into the yoke, which lay across the necks of a pair of animals and carried the load. Bought in pairs with their bows, the yokes pointed to oxen as the main draught animals on steep ground where horses were less sure-footed. The longcloth for the dairy served as straining cloth for milk and for wrapping and pressing cheese and butter.

223

218

28th Jany

Brought over

£ 13 . 6 . 1

Iron Ware brought over

£ 1 . 9 . 4

6 Scythes Plantation House Garden

1 . 11 . 9

6 Hatchet Helves Long Wood

. 3 . 6

1 Black Key for the Cook

. 2

2 Garden Hoes

. 2 . 4

4 Prs Sheep Shears for Shearing Sheep

. 5 . 4

3 . 12 . 11

Oil 2¾ Galls Overseer in the Long Wood

. 9 . 3

Arrack 5½ Galls for a Sement at Plantation

and for the Sheep Shearers

. 16 . 6

Paint 1 Ven Red dry for markg Sheep

. 2

Cordage 28 for the Oxen

. 9 . 11

Cuttlery Ware viz.

2 Shoe Knives Plantation House Garden

. 8

2 Butchers Do Plantation House

. 8

. 1 . 4

Lines 6 No 4 for the Long Wood & Sandy Bay

. 2 . 4

Pepper 1 lb for the Cattle

. 6

Sugar 31 for a Sement at Plantn House

1 . 3

Twine 1 Skein

. 6

Cart Wheels 1 Axeltree Long Wood

. 3 . 10

£ 20 . 8 . 7

Boat Dr for the following Stores Issued from the 1st

October to the 31st December 1765 viz.

Beef and Pork viz.

3 Ps Beef

1 . 5 . 2

21 Ps Pork

3 . 1 . 8

4 . 6 . 10

Carried over

£ 4 . 6 . 10

The Plantation account continued on 20 January with the following stores, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £13 6s 1d

Ironware brought forward, £1 9s 4d

6 scythes for the Plantation House garden, £1 11s 9d

6 hatchet handles for Longwood, £0 3s 6d

1 blank key for the [...], £0 0s 3d

2 garden hoes, £0 2s 4d

4 pairs of sheep shears for shearing sheep, £0 5s 4d

Subtotal for ironware, £3 12s 11d

2¾ gallons of oil for the overseer at Longwood, £0 9s 3d

5½ gallons of arrack for a [...] at Plantation and for the sheep shearers, £0 16s 6d

1 lb of dry Venetian red for marking sheep, £0 0s 2d

23 lb of cordage for the oxen, £0 9s 11d

Cutlery, as follows:

2 [...] knives for the Plantation House garden, £0 0s 8d

2 butcher's knives for Plantation House, £0 0s 8d

Subtotal for cutlery, £0 1s 4d

6 fishing lines, size 4, for Longwood and Sandy Bay, £0 2s 4d

1 lb of pepper for the Castle, £0 0s 6d

8 lb of sugar for a [...] at Plantation House, £0 [...]s 3d

1 skein of twine, £0 0s 6d

Cart wheels: 1 axletree for Longwood, £0 3s 10d

Total, £20 8s 7d

The boat account was debited for the following stores, issued between 1 October 1765 and 31 December 1765.

Beef and pork, as follows:

3 pieces of beef, £1 5s 2d

21 pieces of pork, £3 1s 8d

Subtotal for beef and pork, £4 6s 10d

Total carried forward, £4 6s 10d

Interpretations

The Plantation account reached well beyond Plantation House itself. Longwood, on the high plain to the east, had its own overseer and drew oil, tools and an axletree for its carts, while fishing lines went to Longwood and Sandy Bay. The Company ran these places as outlying parts of a single estate, with a supervisor on the spot and stores charged centrally, so that grazing, farming and fishing across the island were managed as one enterprise.

Sheep were kept in numbers large enough to need four pairs of shears and a team of shearers, who received arrack for the work. Paying a task gang in spirits for a seasonal job like shearing avoided a cash wage while still drawing willing effort. The Venetian red for marking sheep served to brand each fleece with a daub of colour, showing ownership on an island where Company and private flocks grazed side by side and strays could easily be claimed.

The boat account covered the Company's boats and their crews, who landed cargo, carried messages and ferried people between ships in the road and the shore. Its provisions of salt beef and pork fed the boatmen during their quarter of work.

224

219

1766

Brought over

£ 4 . 6 . 10

Paint viz.

25½ Ven Red mixed

. 11 . 3

3 Yellow Oaker Do

. 7½

2 Barrels Blacking

. 1 . 1½

½ Umber

. 1

¼ Copperas Boats in general

. 3

19 Red Lead

. 4 . 4

2 Verdigrease

. 7 . 4½

2 Stone Color

. 11½

1 . 6 . 10

Nails viz.

8 . . 40

. 2 . 10

3 . . 4

. 1 . 9

15 . . 6

. 7 . 10

31 . . 10 to rep. Boats in general

. 13 . 6

13 . . 20

. 6 . 9

6 Spikes

. 1 . 10

1 . 13 . 6

Deals viz.

34 Single Deals

3 . 15 . 1

1 Elm Board Boats in general

. 5 . 7

1 Wainscot Do

. 6 . 9

4 . 7 . 5

Pitch and Tar viz.

20½ Galls Tar Boats in General

. 17 . 1

½ Barrl Rozin

. 19 . 5

1 . 16 . 6

Oil viz.

2¾ Galls Linseed Boats in general

. 9 . 11

4¼ Do Train

. 14 . 3

1 . 4 . 2

Carried over

£ 14 . 16 . 3

The boat account continued in 1766 with the following stores, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £4 6s 10d

Painting materials for the boats generally, as follows:

25½ lb of Venetian red, ground in oil, £0 11s 3d

3 lb of yellow ochre, ground in oil, £0 0s 7½d

2 [...] of blacking, £0 1s 1½d

½ lb of umber, £0 0s 1d

1 lb of copperas, £0 0s 3d

19 lb of red lead, £0 4s 4d

2 lb of verdigris, £0 7s 4d

2 lb of stone-coloured paint, £0 0s 11½d

Subtotal for painting materials, £1 6s 10d

Nails for repairing the boats generally, as follows:

8 lb of fortypenny nails, £0 2s 10d

3 lb of fourpenny nails, £0 1s 9d

15 lb of sixpenny nails, £0 7s 10d

31 lb of tenpenny nails, £0 13s 6d

13 lb of twentypenny nails, £0 6s 9d

6 lb of spikes, £0 1s 10d

Subtotal for nails, £1 14s 6d

Deal boards for the boats generally, as follows:

34 single deals, £3 15s 1d

1 elm board, £0 5s 7d

1 wainscot board, £0 6s 9d

Subtotal for deal boards, £4 7s 5d

Pitch and tar for the boats generally, as follows:

20½ gallons of tar, £0 17s 1d

½ barrel of rosin, £0 19s 5d

Subtotal for pitch and tar, £1 16s 6d

Oil for the boats generally, as follows:

2½ gallons of linseed oil, £0 9s 11d

4½ gallons of train oil, £0 14s 3d

Subtotal for oil, £1 4s 2d

Total carried forward, £14 16s 3d

Interpretations

The stores issued to the boats in a single quarter amounted to a running rebuild. Thirty-four deals, more than 70 lb of nails and spikes, tar, rosin and paint pointed to planking being replaced and seams recaulked on a regular basis. The Company's boats worked in open water, landing goods and people from ships in the road, and constant wear from the swell and the rocks meant that maintenance was a steady charge rather than an occasional one.

Wainscot was high-grade oak imported from the Baltic, straight-grained and quarter-sawn so that it resisted warping and splitting. It cost more than ordinary deal, and a single board here was perhaps for a part of a boat that took particular strain, such as a thwart, gunwale or transom. Elm, which kept well when constantly wet, was the usual choice for keels and the lower planking of small craft.

225

220

28th Jany

Brought over

£ 14 . 16 . 3

Arrack 2½ Galls for Men employd in the Boats

. 7 . 10

Oars 12 for the Boats in general

2 . 6 . 9

Leather 10 Sole

. 9 . 4

Twine 1 Skein

. 6

Turners Ware 2 Birch Brooms

. 9

Cordage 7 lb

. 2 . 8

£ 18 . 4 . 1

Hospital Dr for the following Stores Issued from

the 1st October to the 31st December 1765 viz.

Tea 14 lb Bohea

. 12 . 10

Sugar 403

5 . - . 9

Flour 403

2 . 18 . 9

Rice 342

1 . 10 . 7

Oil 16 Galls Train

2 . 13 . 8

Salt 2⅔ Bushels

. 10 . 8

China Ware 12 Snuchers

. 2 . 6

Tin Ware 1 Lamp

. 9

Glass 1 Sq 8 by 10

. 9

Turners Ware 2 Birch Brooms

. 9

£ 13 . 12 . -

The boat account continued on 20 January with the following stores, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £14 16s 3d

2½ gallons of arrack for the men working in the boats, £0 7s 10d

12 oars for the boats generally, £2 6s 9d

10 lb of sole leather, £0 9s 4d

1 skein of twine, £0 0s 6d

Turned ware: 2 birch brooms, £0 0s 9d

7 lb of cordage, £0 2s 8d

Total, £18 4s 1d

The hospital account was debited for the following stores, issued between 1 October 1765 and 31 December 1765.

14 lb of bohea tea, £0 12s 10d

403 lb of sugar, £5 0s 9d

403 lb of flour, £2 18s 9d

342 lb of rice, £1 18s 7d

16 gallons of train oil, £2 13s 8d

2½ bushels of salt, £0 10s 8d

Chinaware: 12 saucers, £0 2s 6d

Tinware: 1 lamp, £0 2s 0d

1 pane of window glass, 8 by 10 inches, £0 0s 9d

Turned ware: 2 birch brooms, £0 0s 9d

Total, £13 12s 0d

Interpretations

Sugar was the costliest item issued to the hospital, outweighing flour in both quantity and value. In the medicine of the period it was treated as a restorative, given to the sick in gruels, possets and sweetened drinks, and it helped make bitter remedies palatable. The hospital's weekly diet of rice, flour and sugar formed a light, easily digested ration distinct from the salt beef and pork issued to working men, reflecting a deliberate change of food for those under care.

The sole leather issued to the boats was probably for the leathering of oars, wrapped around the shaft where it worked against the rowlock to stop wear. The dozen new oars bought at the same time pointed to heavy use and frequent breakage in the surf, which matched the steady repairs to the boats recorded on the previous page.

226

221

1766

Fortification Dr for the following Stores Issued from the

1st October to the 31st December 1765 viz.

Iron Ware 733 Iron for Bankss Cullis

. 9 . 3 . 5

Paint viz.

8 White Lead mixed

. 3 . -

14 Barrels Blackg for paintg Field

. 7 . 10½

3 Whiting pieces Gun Carriages

. 1

22 Stone Colour Bankss Cullis &c

. 10 . 6½

½ Stone Umber

. 2

1 . 1 . 8

Oil 5 Galls ¾ Linsd for paintg Field pt Gun Carrgs Bankss Cullis &c

2 . 12 . 10

Turners Ware 12 Paint Brushes

. 6 . 6

Arrack 1¼ Gl for Hills Black to paint Gun Carriages

. 2 . 9

Cordage 197 for raisg Stones at Bankss and hoisting

in the Cullis

3 . 9 . 9

Twine 1 Skein

. 6

Nails viz.

2 . . 40

. 3

12 Spikes

. 3 . 9

. 4 . 5

Iron Ware 13 Plate Iron for Bankss Cullis

. 4 . 10

£ 17 . 6 . 3

Fly Cutter Dr for the following Stores Issued from the

1st October to the 31st December 1765 viz.

Arrack 2 Galls

. 6 . 3

Bunting 2¾ Yds Red

. 1 . 11

Cordage 95 lb

16 . 17 . 10

Carried over

£ 17 . 6 . -

The fortification account was debited for the following stores, issued between 1 October 1765 and 31 December 1765.

Ironware: 733 lb of iron for Banks's Cullis, £9 3s 3d

Painting materials for painting the shed, the guns, the gun carriages and Banks's Cullis, as follows:

8 lb of white lead, ground in oil, £0 3s 0d

14 [...] of blacking, £0 7s 10½d

1 [...] of whiting, £0 1s 0d

22 lb of stone-coloured paint, £0 10s 6½d

½ lb of [...] umber, £0 0s 2d

Subtotal for painting materials, £1 1s 8d

5½ gallons of linseed oil for painting the shed, the guns, the gun carriages and the flanks of Banks's Cullis, £2 12s 10d

Turned ware: 12 paint brushes, £0 6s 6d

[...] gallons of arrack for [...]'s slaves painting the gun carriages, £0 2s 9d

107 lb of cordage for raising stones at Banks's and hoisting at the Cullis, £3 9s 9d

1 skein of twine, £0 0s 6d

Nails, as follows:

2 lb of fortypenny nails, £0 0s 8d

12 spikes, £0 3s 9d

Subtotal for nails, £0 4s 5d

Ironware: 13 lb of plate iron for Banks's Cullis, £0 4s 10d

Total, £17 6s 3d

The account for the cutter Fly was debited for the following stores, issued between 1 October 1765 and 31 December 1765.

2 gallons of arrack, £0 6s 3d

2½ yards of red bunting, £0 1s 11d

9 cwt 3 qr of cordage, £16 17s 10d

Total carried forward, £17 6s 0d

Interpretations

The fortification account showed building work under way at Banks's, the battery guarding one of the island's landing places, already named on the garrison account for its guard and half-hour glass. More than 700 lb of iron, cordage for raising stones and plate iron all went to the works there, which pointed to new masonry and fittings rather than routine upkeep. The flanks, gun carriages and guns were painted at the same time, so the quarter's spending covered both enlarging the defences and protecting the artillery against weather and salt air.

The arrack for a named owner's slaves painting the gun carriages recorded labour hired from a private household rather than drawn from the Company's own slaves. The owner was paid separately, if at all, and the drink went to the workers themselves as an inducement. Painting gun carriages needed many hands for a short period, and borrowing slaves from settlers spared the Company from diverting its own gangs from the masonry.

The Fly was a cutter, a small, fast single-masted vessel. Nearly ten hundredweight of cordage in a single quarter amounted to re-rigging her, and the red bunting was for her ensign or pendant, which identified her as a Company vessel when she sailed on patrol or carried messages around the coast.

227

222

28th Jany

Brought over

£ 17 . 6 . -

Oil 1½ Galls Train

. 5 . 2

Tin Ware 1 Lamp

. 9

Twine 9 Skeins

. 4 . 6

Deals 2 Euffers

. 3 . 2

Nails viz.

½ . . 2

4 . . 20

4 . . 40

4 Spikes

½ Tacks

. 5 . 1

Leather 1 lb Sole

. 11

Candles 4 lb

. 3 . -

Iron Ware 12 Needles

. 1 . -

Lines 2 Deep Sea

. 10 . -

Turners Ware 2 Scrubbg Brushes

. 4 . 5

£ 19 . 13 . 10

St Helena

31st December 1765

Errors Excepted

(signed)

James Rowett Accot

The account for the cutter Fly continued on 20 January with the following stores, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £17 6s 0d

1½ gallons of train oil, £0 5s 2d

Tinware: 1 lamp, £0 0s 9d

9 skeins of twine, £0 4s 6d

Timber: 2 uffers, £0 3s 2d

Nails, as follows:

½ lb of twopenny nails

4 lb of twentypenny nails

4 lb of fortypenny nails

4 spikes

½ lb of tacks

Total for all nails, £0 5s 1d

1 lb of sole leather, £0 0s 11d

4 [...] of candles, £0 3s 0d

Ironware: 12 needles, £0 1s 0d

2 deep-sea lines, £0 10s 0d

Turned ware: 2 scrubbing brushes, £0 4s 5d

Total, £19 13s 10d

James Powell, the accountant, signed the account at St Helena on 31 December 1765, reserving the right to correct any errors.

Interpretations

The closing reservation, a standard merchant's formula, meant that the signature did not bind its maker to every figure above it. Mistakes in addition, pricing or entry could still be put right later without the signer being held to have certified a false account. The quarter's own records showed why this mattered: the garrison account carried 45 gallons of arrack for December muster days that had been left out earlier and were added afterwards. The reservation kept the door open for exactly that kind of correction when the Company's auditors in London compared these figures with the storekeeper's returns.

The account was closed with the date of the quarter's end, 31 December 1765, although the pages around it were written up on 20 and 21 January. The clerk stated the period the issues covered, not the day the copying was done, so that every charge fell into the correct quarter for the Company's books.

228

223

1766

List of the Honble Companys Officers and Servants upon the Island St

Helena with their several Salarys Diet Money &c for the Quarter

commencing the 1st October and ending the 31st December 1765 viz.

John Skottowe Esqr Governor Salary

125 . -

Do Allowance for Servants as usual

31 . 14 . 9

156 . 14 . 9

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Govr Saly

62 . 10 . -

Do Diet Money

25 . -

87 . 10 . -

Matthew Turling of Council Saly

15 . -

Do Accountant

17 . 10 . -

Do Diet Money

15 . -

Do Gratuity

15 . -

62 . 10

Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council Saly

7 . 10 . -

Do House Rent

2 . 10 . -

10 . -

Archibald Mitchel Engineers Saly

50 . -

Do Diet Money

25 . -

Do House Rent

2 . 10 . -

77 . 10

John Stanhoury Chaplain Saly

25 . -

Do Diet Money

15 . -

40 . -

Matthew Bazett Secretary Saly

17 . 10 . -

Do Diet Money

15 . -

Do House Rent

2 . 10 . -

35 . -

James Rowett Storekeeper Saly

17 . 10 . -

Do Diet Money

15 . -

Do House Rent

2 . 10 . -

35 . -

Carried over

£ [...]

The following list set out the salaries, diet money and other allowances paid to the East India Company's officers and servants on St Helena for the quarter from 1 October 1765 to 31 December 1765.

John Skottowe, Governor, salary, £125 0s 0d

John Skottowe, allowance for servants as usual, £31 14s 9d

John Skottowe, total, £156 14s 9d

Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, salary, £62 10s 0d

Daniel Corneille, diet money, £25 0s 0d

Daniel Corneille, total, £87 10s 0d

Matthew Furling, member of Council, salary, £15 0s 0d

Matthew Furling, salary as accountant, £17 10s 0d

Matthew Furling, diet money, £15 0s 0d

Matthew Furling, gratuity, £15 0s 0d

Matthew Furling, total, £62 10s 0d

Thomas Kirkpatrick, member of Council, salary, £7 10s 0d

Thomas Kirkpatrick, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Thomas Kirkpatrick, total, £10 0s 0d

Archibald Mitchel, engineer, salary, £50 0s 0d

Archibald Mitchel, diet money, £25 0s 0d

Archibald Mitchel, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Archibald Mitchel, total, £77 10s 0d

John Sh[...], chaplain, salary, £25 0s 0d

John Sh[...], diet money, £15 0s 0d

John Sh[...], total, £40 0s 0d

Matthew Bazett, secretary, salary, £17 10s 0d

Matthew Bazett, diet money, £15 0s 0d

Matthew Bazett, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Matthew Bazett, total, £35 0s 0d

James Powell, storekeeper, salary, £17 10s 0d

James Powell, diet money, £15 0s 0d

James Powell, house rent, £2 10s 0d

James Powell, total, £35 0s 0d

Interpretations

Basic salary made up only part of what each officer received. Diet money paid for meals in place of a seat at the Company's table, house rent covered lodging for those without official quarters, and gratuities rewarded extra service. For the secretary and the storekeeper, the allowances together came to as much as the salary itself. Paying officials in this layered way let the Company keep the formal salary scale low while adjusting each person's real income to their duties and living arrangements.

Matthew Furling's entry showed how posts were combined. As a councillor he drew a modest salary, but as accountant he received more, and with diet money and a gratuity his total reached four times his council pay. On a small island with few qualified men, a single officer often carried several offices at once, and the pay followed the work rather than the rank.

Governor Skottowe's allowance for servants was entered as usual, marking it as a fixed customary sum rather than an expense he had to justify each quarter. Several people on this list appeared earlier in the stores accounts. The hair comb charged to general expenses on 20 January went to the Lieutenant Governor, Daniel Corneille, and the English canvas issued the same day to Captain Mitchel went to Archibald Mitchel, the engineer, whose responsibility for the island's works explained the large building programme at Banks's on the fortification account.

229

224

28th January

Brought over

£ 504 . 4 . 9

William Wrangham Factor Saly

7 . 10 . -

Do Diet Money

10 . -

Do House Rent

2 . 10 . -

Do Assistant to the Governor

10 . -

30 . -

Jonathan Dereton Factor Saly

7 . 10

Do Diet Money

10

Do Assistant Storekeeper

5

22 . 10

Britannicus Wright Writers Saly

5

Do Diet Money

10

Do House Rent

2 . 10

17 . 10 . -

John Goodwin Writer Saly

5

Do Diet Money

10

15 . 10 . -

Robert Stanley Surgeon Saly

9 . 15

Do Diet Money

10

Do House Rent

2 . 10

22 . 5 . -

John Pritchard Surgeon Mates Saly

6 . 5

Do Diet Money

10 . -

Do House Rent

2 . 10

18 . 5 . -

Richard Beale Judge Advocate Saly

10 . -

Do Schoolmaster

3 . 3 . 3

13 . 10 . 3

Samuel Alexander Overseers Saly

7 . 10

Thomas Warne

12 . 10

20 . -

Carried over

£ 663 . 13

The list of salaries and allowances for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued on 20 January, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £504 4s 9d

William Wrangham, factor, salary, £7 10s 0d

William Wrangham, diet money, £10 0s 0d

William Wrangham, house rent, £2 10s 0d

William Wrangham, pay as assistant to Governor Skottowe, £10 0s 0d

William Wrangham, total, £30 0s 0d

Jonathan Dexton, factor, salary, £7 10s 0d

Jonathan Dexton, diet money, £10 0s 0d

Jonathan Dexton, pay as assistant storekeeper, £5 0s 0d

Jonathan Dexton, total, £22 10s 0d

Britannicus Wright, writer, salary, £5 0s 0d

Britannicus Wright, diet money, £10 0s 0d

Britannicus Wright, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Britannicus Wright, total, £17 10s 0d

John Good[...], writer, salary, £5 0s 0d

John Good[...], diet money, £10 0s 0d

John Good[...], total, £15 0s 0d

Robert B[...]ley, surgeon, salary, £9 15s 0d

Robert B[...]ley, diet money, £10 0s 0d

Robert B[...]ley, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Robert B[...]ley, total, £22 5s 0d

John Pritchard, surgeon's mate, salary, £6 5s 0d

John Pritchard, diet money, £10 0s 0d

John Pritchard, house rent, £2 10s 0d

John Pritchard, total, £18 15s 0d

Richard Beale, judge advocate, salary, £10 0s 0d

Richard Beale, pay as schoolmaster, £3 8s 3d

Richard Beale, total, £13 8s 3d

Samuel Alexander, overseer, salary, £7 10s 0d

Thomas Warne, overseer, salary, £12 10s 0d

Samuel Alexander and Thomas Warne, total, £20 0s 0d

Total carried forward, £663 13s 0d

Interpretations

Factor and writer were grades in the East India Company's civil service, not descriptions of the work done. A writer was the most junior rank, a clerk at the start of his career, and a factor the next step up. On St Helena these men filled whatever posts were needed: William Wrangham served as the Governor's assistant and Jonathan Dexton as assistant storekeeper under James Powell. The extra sums for those duties sat on top of their grade salaries, so rank fixed a man's base pay and his actual job added to it.

Diet money was the largest element of pay for the junior staff. A writer's salary was half his diet allowance, and for the surgeon's mate diet money exceeded salary outright. The Company was in effect paying these young men chiefly to feed themselves, a sign that its formal salaries had not kept pace with the cost of living on an island where almost all food beyond the basics came by ship.

Richard Beale held two posts that had little to do with each other. As judge advocate he advised on and conducted military courts martial for the garrison, and as schoolmaster he taught the island's children. Combining them reflected the shortage of educated men available, since anyone able to read law and keep accounts could equally be set to teaching.

230

225

1766

Brought over

£ 663 . 13 . -

William Holbrook Master Mason Saly

30 . -

Thomas Townsend Stone Mason Saly

19 . 10

49 . 10 . -

John Robinson Carpenters Saly

25 . -

Joseph Chamberlain Carpentr Mate Saly

12 . 10 . -

37 . 10 . -

Phillip Mahoney Clerk of Peace

10 . -

John Bazett Superintendt over ye Hompys Slaves

10 . -

Thomas Watts Gardener

10 . -

James Torbett Cooper

8 . 15 . -

George Bazett Steward

7 . 10

Samuel Perry Clerk & Instrument Cleaner

1 . 5

Thomas Payne Overseer of the Hompys Workmen

6 . 16 . 10½

Zedekiah Saunderson Groom

2 . -

John Dobson Armourer

10 . 10 . -

Solomon St Maurice Master at Arms

6 . 5 . -

John Criswell Patron of the Long Boat

7 . 10 . -

John Price Marshall & Goaler

7 . 10 . -

William Smith Clerk

5 . -

93 . 1 . 10½

First Company

Thomas Kirkpatrick Captain Saly

45 . 12 . 6

Solomon St Maurice Lieut Salary

18 . 5 . -

Do Diet Money

6 . 16 . 10½

Do House Rent

2 . 10 . -

27 . 11 . 10½

Samuel Desfountain Lieut Saly

18 . 5 . -

Do Diet Money

6 . 16 . 10½

Do House Rent

2 . 10 . -

27 . 11 . 10½

Carried over

£ 944 . 11 . 1½

The list of salaries and allowances for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued in 1766, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £663 13s 0d

William Holbrook, master mason, salary, £30 0s 0d

Thomas Townsend, stonemason, salary, £19 10s 0d

Total for the masons, £49 10s 0d

John Robinson, carpenter, salary, £25 0s 0d

Joseph Chamberlain, carpenter's mate, salary, £12 10s 0d

Total for the carpenters, £37 10s 0d

Phillip Mahoney, Clerk of the Peace, £10 0s 0d

John Bazett, superintendent of the Company's slaves, £10 0s 0d

Thomas Watts, gardener, £10 0s 0d

James Torbett, cooper, £8 15s 0d

George Bazett, steward, £7 10s 0d

Samuel Perry, clerk and instrument cleaner, £1 5s 0d

Thomas Payne, overseer of the Company's workmen, £6 16s 10½d

Zedekiah Saunderson, groom, £2 0s 0d

John Dobson, armourer, £10 10s 0d

Solomon St Maurice, master at arms, £6 5s 0d

John Criswell, coxswain of the longboat, £7 10s 0d

John Price, marshal and gaoler, £7 10s 0d

William Smith, clerk, £5 0s 0d

Total for these officers, £93 1s 10½d

First Company:

Thomas Kirkpatrick, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

Solomon St Maurice, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Solomon St Maurice, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Solomon St Maurice, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Solomon St Maurice, total, £27 11s 10½d

Samuel Desfountain, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Samuel Desfountain, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Samuel Desfountain, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Samuel Desfountain, total, £27 11s 10½d

Total carried forward, £944 11s 1½d

Interpretations

The Company's slaves had their own salaried superintendent, John Bazett, paid the same as the gardener and the Clerk of the Peace. His post matched the separate stores account kept for the slaves and the candles issued for inspecting their house on 20 January. Placing a named officer in charge of the Company's slave workforce gave a single person responsibility for their discipline, rations and labour, and made their management a regular branch of the island's administration.

Several men drew pay from more than one post. Thomas Kirkpatrick appeared on the previous list as a councillor and here as captain of the First Company, with his military pay far exceeding his council salary. Solomon St Maurice was both master at arms and a lieutenant in the same company. Civil and military offices were not kept apart on the island, and the same small group of men governed, sat in judgement and commanded the garrison.

The patron of the longboat, rendered here as coxswain, was the man in charge of the Company's principal boat and its crew. The term came from the Portuguese word for a master or skipper and was widely used in the Company's eastern service. John Price combined the offices of marshal and gaoler, carrying out arrests and court orders and keeping the island's prisoners, while Phillip Mahoney as Clerk of the Peace kept the records of the magistrates' proceedings. Together they made up the working machinery of the island's law.

231

226

28th January

Brought over

£ 944 . 11 . 1½

Solomon Jacob Adjutant Saly

22 . 16 . 3

Do Diet Money

6 . 16 . 10½

29 . 13 . 1½

Sergeants

John Stewart Decemr 5th resigned

5 . 10 . -

Do from the 6th December Centinel

1 . 1 . 8

Phillip Mahoney

7 . 12 . 1

Thomas Payne

7 . 12 . 1

William Bannister

7 . 12 . 1

29 . 7 . 11

Corporals

Joseph Stacey

5 . 6 . 5½

Anthony Reynolds

5 . 6 . 5½

William Bunn

5 . 6 . 5½

Henry Howell Decemr 5th made Serjt

3 . 17 . -

Do Sergeant from 6th Do

2 . 3 . 4

21 . 19 . 8½

Drummers

Richard Platfoot

5 . 6 . 5½

Joseph Beecham

5 . 6 . 5½

10 . 12 . 11

Centinels

John Stewart Cadet

3 . 16 . ½

John Allis

3 . 16 . ½

John Arlinstall

3 . 16 . ½

John Allman

3 . 16 . ½

James Avery

3 . 16 . ½

James Armstrong

3 . 16 . ½

Centinels Carried over

£ 22 . 16 . 3

Carried over

£ 1036 . 4 . 9½

The list of salaries and pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued on 20 January, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £944 11s 1½d

Solomon Jacob, adjutant, salary, £22 16s 3d

Solomon Jacob, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Solomon Jacob, total, £29 13s 1½d

Sergeants:

John Stewart, as sergeant until he resigned on 5 December 1765, £5 10s 0d

John Stewart, as private soldier from 6 December 1765, £1 1s 8d

Phillip Mahoney, £7 12s 1d

Thomas Payne, £7 12s 1d

William Bannister, £7 12s 1d

Total for sergeants, £29 7s 11d

Corporals:

Joseph Stacey, £5 6s 5½d

Anthony Reynolds, £5 6s 5½d

William Bunn, £5 6s 5½d

Henry Howell, as corporal until he was made sergeant on 5 December 1765, £3 17s 0d

Henry Howell, as sergeant from 6 December 1765, £2 3s 4d

Total for corporals, £21 19s 3½d

Drummers:

Richard Platfoot, £5 6s 5½d

Joseph Beecham, £5 6s 5½d

Total for drummers, £10 12s 11d

Private soldiers:

John Stewart, cadet, £3 16s 0½d

John Allis, £3 16s 0½d

John Arlinstall, £3 16s 0½d

John Allman, £3 16s 0½d

James Avery, £3 16s 0½d

James Armstrong, £3 16s 0½d

Subtotal for private soldiers carried forward, £22 16s 3d

Total carried forward, £1,036 4s 9½d

Interpretations

Pay was calculated by the day, so a change of rank mid-quarter split a man's entry in two. John Stewart gave up his sergeant's stripes on 5 December 1765 and served the rest of the quarter in the ranks at a lower rate. On the same date Henry Howell was promoted from corporal to fill the vacancy. The garrison did not leave the post empty or bring in an outsider; it promoted from the corporals immediately, keeping the number of sergeants fixed and rewarding a man already known to the officers.

The manuscript called its private soldiers sentinels, the usual term in the Company's forces for men of the lowest rank who stood guard. A cadet among them, John Stewart, was a young man of good family serving in the ranks while he waited for a commission. He drew a private's pay but was marked out as a future officer, and his place on the list showed the route by which the island's lieutenants were often found.

Phillip Mahoney and Thomas Payne, listed here as sergeants, appeared on the previous page as Clerk of the Peace and as overseer of the Company's workmen. Non-commissioned officers were among the few literate and reliable men available, and the Company drew on them for civil posts while keeping them on the military muster.

232

227

[Upper left of the page faded; entries there are partly illegible.]

1766

Brought over

£ 1036 . 4 . 9½

Centinels brought over

[...]

[...] [...]wick Decemr 5th made [...]

[...]

Do Corporal from 6th Decemr

[...]

[...] [...]own

[...]

[...] [...]chmans

[...]

Thomas Blake

3 . 16 . ½

Moses Biffin

3 . 16 . ½

John Britt

3 . 16 . ½

John Barnes

3 . 16 . ½

Timothy Bryan

3 . 16 . ½

Daniel Belford

3 . 16 . ½

Emanuel Bravner

3 . 16 . ½

William Benson Decemr 7th Enlisted

1 . 10

Edward Cockar

3 . 16 . ½

Henry Crabb

3 . 16 . ½

William Clifsold

3 . 16 . ½

Patrick Conner

3 . 16 . ½

Isaac Clay

3 . 16 . ½

Henry Dadley

3 . 16 . ½

John Davis

3 . 16 . ½

John Dew

3 . 16 . ½

Davis Davis

3 . 16 . ½

James Drake

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Durham

3 . 16 . ½

James Dunn

3 . 16 . ½

Samuel Calls

3 . 16 . ½

Adam Evans

3 . 16 . ½

Cornelius Fish

3 . 16 . ½

William French

3 . 16 . ½

William Greenwood

3 . 16 . ½

Centinels Carried over

£ 126 . 19 . 6

Carried over

£ 1036 . 4 . 9½

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued in 1766 with the remaining private soldiers, carried on from the totals of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £1,036 4s 9½d

Subtotal for private soldiers brought forward, £22 16s 3d

[...]wick, as private soldier until made corporal on 5 December 1765, [...]

[...]wick, as corporal from 6 December 1765, [...]

[...] [...]own, [...]

[...] [...]hmans, [...]

Thomas Blake, £3 16s 0½d

Moses Biffin, £3 16s 0½d

John Britt, £3 16s 0½d

John Barnes, £3 16s 0½d

Timothy Bryan, £3 16s 0½d

Daniel Belford, £3 16s 0½d

Emanuel Brewer, £3 16s 0½d

William Benson, from his enlistment on 7 December 1765, £1 0s 10d

Edward Cockar, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Crabb, £3 16s 0½d

William Clifford, £3 16s 0½d

Patrick Conner, £3 16s 0½d

Isaac Day, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Dudley, £3 16s 0½d

John Davis, £3 16s 0½d

John Dow, £3 16s 0½d

David Davis, £3 16s 0½d

James Drake, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Durham, £3 16s 0½d

James Dunn, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Ealls, £3 16s 0½d

Adam Evans, £3 16s 0½d

Cornelius Fish, £3 16s 0½d

William French, £3 16s 0½d

William Green[...], £3 16s 0½d

Subtotal for private soldiers carried forward, £[...]

Total carried forward, £1,036 4s 9½d

Interpretations

The top lines of the page and the closing subtotal for the private soldiers have faded beyond recovery, leaving several names and all their sums unreadable.

The faded entry at the head of the page completed a chain of promotions set off by John Stewart's resignation. When Henry Howell moved up from corporal to sergeant on 5 December 1765, a private soldier was made corporal on the same day to take Howell's place. Each vacancy was filled from the rank immediately below, so that a single resignation passed down through the company and every grade stayed at full strength.

William Benson's entry showed recruitment taking place on the island itself, with his pay starting from the day he enlisted rather than from the beginning of the quarter. A man joining the garrison in December was paid for little more than three weeks, and the clerk's day-by-day reckoning kept the Company from paying for service not yet given.

233

228

28th January

Brought over

£ 1036 . 4 . 9½

Centinels brought over

£ 126 . 19 . 6

John Grainger

3 . 16 . ½

William Hawks

3 . 16 . ½

William Henderson

3 . 16 . ½

James Hodge

3 . 16 . ½

John Houston

3 . 16 . ½

Edward Haddock

3 . 16 . ½

William Holmes

3 . 16 . ½

Richard Knight

3 . 16 . ½

William Lisle

3 . 16 . ½

Duncan McClaren

3 . 16 . ½

William Munford

3 . 16 . ½

John May

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Meares

3 . 16 . ½

John McAllister

3 . 16 . ½

John Pickering

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Rick

3 . 16 . ½

Michael Reid

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Roberts

3 . 16 . ½

William Robinson

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Ransome

3 . 16 . ½

George Rowe

3 . 16 . ½

William Rowlands

3 . 16 . ½

Silvanus Rolf

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Rogers

3 . 16 . ½

William Swatry

3 . 16 . ½

John Springthorne

3 . 16 . ½

John Shares

3 . 16 . ½

Edward Terry

3 . 16 . ½

John Taylor

3 . 16 . ½

Centinels brought over

£ 237 . 4 . 8½

Carried over

£ 1036 . 4 . 9½

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued on 20 January with further private soldiers, carried on from the totals of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £1,036 4s 9½d

Subtotal for private soldiers brought forward, £126 19s 6d

John Grainger, £3 16s 0½d

William Hawks, £3 16s 0½d

William Henderson, £3 16s 0½d

James Hodge, £3 16s 0½d

John Houston, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Haddock, £3 16s 0½d

William Holmes, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Knight, £3 16s 0½d

William Lilly, £3 16s 0½d

Duncan McClaren, £3 16s 0½d

William Munford, £3 16s 0½d

John May, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Meares, £3 16s 0½d

John McAllister, £3 16s 0½d

John Pickering, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Rich, £3 16s 0½d

Michael Reid, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Roberts, £3 16s 0½d

William Robinson, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Ransome, £3 16s 0½d

George Rowe, £3 16s 0½d

William Rowlands, £3 16s 0½d

Silvanus Rolf, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Rogers, £3 16s 0½d

William Searby, £3 16s 0½d

John Springthorne, £3 16s 0½d

John Shears, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Terry, £3 16s 0½d

John Taylor, £3 16s 0½d

Subtotal for private soldiers carried forward, £237 4s 8½d

Total carried forward, £1,036 4s 9½d

234

229

1766

Brought over

£ 1036 . 4 . 9

Centinels brought over

£ [...]

Richard [...]ington

3 . 16 . ½

William Tipper

3 . 16 . ½

Luke Vernon

3 . 16 . ½

John Whittingdale

3 . 16 . ½

Benjamin Wise

3 . 16 . ½

John Weston

3 . 16 . ½

George Wall

3 . 16 . ½

Richard Younas

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Windall

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Yates 6th Decemr Transf

2 . 15 . 10

274 . 4 . 11

Second Company

Henry Bazett Captain Saly

45 . 12 . 6

Michael Frost Lieut Saly

18 . 5 . -

Do Diet Money

6 . 16 . 10½

Do House Rent

2 . 10 . -

27 . 11 . 10½

John Ware Welsh Lieut Saly

18 . 5 . -

Do Diet Money

6 . 16 . 10½

Do House Rent

2 . 10

27 . 11 . 10½

Sergeants

John Bazett

7 . 12 . 1

Thomas Worthington

7 . 12 . 1

William Greenough

7 . 12 . 1

John Fish

7 . 12 . 1

30 . 8 . 4

Carried over

£ 1441 . 14 . 4½

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued in 1766 with the last of the First Company's private soldiers and the officers and sergeants of the Second Company.

Total brought forward, £1,036 4s 9½d

Subtotal for private soldiers brought forward, £237 4s 8½d

Richard Tollington, £3 16s 0½d

William Tipper, £3 16s 0½d

Luke Vernon, £3 16s 0½d

John Whittingdale, £3 16s 0½d

Benjamin Wise, £3 16s 0½d

John Weston, £3 16s 0½d

George Wall, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Youens, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Windatt, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Yates, until his transfer on 6 December 1765, £2 15s 10d

Total for private soldiers, £274 4s 11d

Second Company:

Henry Bazett, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

Michael Frost, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Michael Frost, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Michael Frost, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Michael Frost, total, £27 11s 10½d

John Ware Welsh, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

John Ware Welsh, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

John Ware Welsh, house rent, £2 10s 0d

John Ware Welsh, total, £27 11s 10½d

Sergeants:

John Bazett, £7 12s 1d

Thomas Wolfington, £7 12s 1d

William Greenough, £7 12s 1d

John Fish, £7 12s 1d

Total for sergeants, £30 8s 4d

Total carried forward, £1,441 14s 3½d

Interpretations

The Bazett family held a remarkable share of the island's posts. Henry Bazett commanded the Second Company, Matthew Bazett was secretary, George Bazett was steward and John Bazett was superintendent of the Company's slaves, and a John Bazett also appeared here among the sergeants. On an island with a small settled population, office passed readily within established families, and a single household could reach into the civil administration, the garrison and the management of the slaves at the same time.

Thomas Yates was paid only to 6 December 1765, when he was transferred. His pay stopped on this company's list from that date, and he would have been carried on whichever list he joined, so that no man was paid twice for the same days.

235

230

28th Jany

Brought over

£ 1441 . 14 . 3½

Corporals

William Stapleford

5 . 6 . 5½

Samuel Clare

5 . 6 . 5½

Thomas Newton

5 . 6 . 5½

George Freeman

5 . 6 . 5½

21 . 5 . 10

Drummers

Robert Davis

5 . 6 . 5½

Francis Keane

5 . 6 . 5½

10 . 12 . 11

Centinels

Samuel Alstone

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Adams

3 . 16 . ½

Joseph Banks

3 . 16 . ½

William Birch

3 . 16 . ½

William Brooks

3 . 16 . ½

Joseph Brown

3 . 16 . ½

Robert Brown

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Bott

3 . 16 . ½

Nicholas Bushell

3 . 16 . ½

Daniel Bye

3 . 16 . ½

James Byrne

3 . 16 . ½

William Bell

3 . 16 . ½

John Brown

3 . 16 . ½

Edward Couzens

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Cheverly

3 . 16 . ½

William Conquest

3 . 16 . ½

William Clay

3 . 16 . ½

John Crawley

3 . 16 . ½

William Carfree

3 . 16 . ½

Centinels Carrd over

£ 72 . 4 . 9½

Carried over

£ 1473 . 13 . ½

Margin Notes:

[...]

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued on 20 January with the corporals, drummers and private soldiers of the Second Company.

Total brought forward, £1,441 14s 3½d

Corporals:

William Stapleford, £5 6s 5½d

Samuel Clare, £5 6s 5½d

Thomas Newton, £5 6s 5½d

George Freeman, £5 6s 5½d

Total for corporals, £21 5s 10d

Drummers:

Robert Davis, £5 6s 5½d

Francis Keane, £5 6s 5½d

Total for drummers, £10 12s 11d

Private soldiers:

Samuel Alstone, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Adams, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Banks, £3 16s 0½d

William Birch, £3 16s 0½d

William Brooks, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Brown, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Brown, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Bolt, £3 16s 0½d

Nicholas Bushell, £3 16s 0½d

Daniel Bye, £3 16s 0½d

James Byrne, £3 16s 0½d

William Bell, £3 16s 0½d

John Brown, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Couzens, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Cheverly, £3 16s 0½d

William Conquest, £3 16s 0½d

William Clay, £3 16s 0½d

John Crawley, £3 16s 0½d

William Corfee, £3 16s 0½d

Subtotal for private soldiers carried forward, £72 4s 9½d

Total carried forward, £1,473 13s 0½d

236

231

1766

Brought over

£ 1473 . 13 . ½

Centinels brought over

£ 72 . 4 . 9½

Robert Dickins

3 . 16 . ½

William Drinnan

3 . 16 . ½

George Exton

3 . 16 . ½

William Finch

3 . 16 . ½

William Fullwood

3 . 16 . ½

William Fry

3 . 16 . ½

John Forbes

3 . 16 . ½

William Fletcher Enlisd 10th Decemr

. 18 . 4

John Gisdale

3 . 16 . ½

John Gray

3 . 16 . ½

Robert Green

3 . 16 . ½

Charles Goulding

3 . 16 . ½

James Gates

3 . 16 . ½

William Harris Senr

3 . 16 . ½

William Harris Junr

3 . 16 . ½

Abraham Harding

3 . 16 . ½

John Hawksworth

3 . 16 . ½

Samuel Hylis

3 . 16 . ½

William Hockly

3 . 16 . ½

John Holbrook

3 . 16 . ½

James Hudson

3 . 16 . ½

William Hunt

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Hailes

3 . 16 . ½

William Hayes

3 . 16 . ½

Robert Hopkinson

3 . 16 . ½

Samuel Instone

3 . 16 . ½

William Johnson

3 . 16 . ½

Jeremiah Jordon

3 . 16 . ½

Richard Jones

[...]

Centinels Carrd over

£ 179 . 12 . 3½

Carried over

£ 1473 . 13 . ½

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued in 1766 with further private soldiers of the Second Company.

Total brought forward, £1,473 13s 0½d

Subtotal for private soldiers brought forward, £72 4s 9½d

Robert Dickins, £3 16s 0½d

William Drennan, £3 16s 0½d

George Exton, £3 16s 0½d

William Finch, £3 16s 0½d

William Fullwood, £3 16s 0½d

William Fry, £3 16s 0½d

John Forbes, £3 16s 0½d

William Fletcher, from his enlistment on 10 December 1765, £0 18s 4d

John Girdle, £3 16s 0½d

John Gray, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Green, £3 16s 0½d

Charles Golding, £3 16s 0½d

James Gates, £3 16s 0½d

William Harris the elder, £3 16s 0½d

William Harris the younger, £3 16s 0½d

Abraham Harding, £3 16s 0½d

John Hawksworth, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Hyles, £3 16s 0½d

William Hockley, £3 16s 0½d

John Holbrook, £3 16s 0½d

James Hodson, £3 16s 0½d

William Hunt, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Hailes, £3 16s 0½d

William Hayes, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Hopkinson, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Instone, £3 16s 0½d

William Johnson, £3 16s 0½d

Jeremiah Jordan, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Jones, £3 16s 0½d

Subtotal for private soldiers carried forward, £179 12s 3½d

Total carried forward, £1,473 13s 0½d

237

232

28th January

Brought over

£ 1473 . 13 . ½

Centinels brought over

£ 179 . 12 . 3½

John Jacks Enlistd 3d December

1 . 4 . 2

Samuel Hillson

3 . 16 . ½

Evan Knowles October 2d Deceased

. 13 . 4

Henry Kirkham

3 . 16 . ½

Edmond Leech

3 . 16 . ½

John Lewis Transfd 9th December

2 . 13 . 4

Thomas Mudge

3 . 16 . ½

Henry Miller

3 . 16 . ½

James Mannington

3 . 16 . ½

John Morrice

3 . 16 . ½

Samuel Perry

3 . 16 . ½

William Pinchon

3 . 16 . ½

Stephen Prior

3 . 16 . ½

Abraham Payne

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Richards

3 . 16 . ½

John Christian Rifs

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Rowis

3 . 16 . ½

Benjamin Springer

3 . 16 . ½

John Shrubshall

3 . 16 . ½

William Stone

3 . 16 . ½

John Sabourin

3 . 16 . ½

Gregory Southwood Enlistd 3d Decemr

1 . 4 . 2

Avery Trueman

3 . 16 . ½

John Tucker

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Warrill

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Wyatt Transfd 2d December

2 . 12 . 6

268 . 6 . 8

Carried over

£ 1741 . 19 . 8½

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued on 20 January with the remaining private soldiers of the Second Company.

Total brought forward, £1,473 13s 0½d

Subtotal for private soldiers brought forward, £179 12s 3½d

John Jacks, from his enlistment on 3 December 1765, £1 4s 2d

Samuel Kitson, £3 16s 0½d

Evan Knowles, until his death on 22 October 1765, £0 13s 4d

Henry Kirkham, £3 16s 0½d

Edmond Leach, £3 16s 0½d

John Lewis, until his transfer on 9 December 1765, £2 13s 4d

Thomas Mudge, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Miller, £3 16s 0½d

James Mannington, £3 16s 0½d

John Morrise, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Perry, £3 16s 0½d

William Pinchon, £3 16s 0½d

Stephen Prior, £3 16s 0½d

Abraham Payne, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Richards, £3 16s 0½d

John Christian Ruff, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Norris, £3 16s 0½d

Benjamin Springer, £3 16s 0½d

John Shrubshall, £3 16s 0½d

William Stone, £3 16s 0½d

John Sabourin, £3 16s 0½d

Gregory Southwood, from his enlistment on 3 December 1765, £1 4s 2d

Avery Trueman, £3 16s 0½d

John Tucker, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Worrall, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Wyatt, until his transfer on 2 December 1765, £2 12s 6d

Total for private soldiers, £268 6s 8d

Total carried forward, £1,741 19s 8½d

Interpretations

Evan Knowles's pay ran only to the day of his death on 22 October 1765, three weeks into the quarter. The sum still stood as a charge on the list because wages earned before death were owed to the dead man's estate, to be set against any debts he left on the island or paid to his heirs. Keeping the entry ensured that a soldier's death closed his account cleanly rather than leaving earned pay unrecorded.

Two men, John Jacks and Gregory Southwood, enlisted on the same day, 3 December 1765, and William Fletcher followed a week later. Recruits arriving in a cluster within days of each other pointed to men taken on from a single source at one time, perhaps from a ship in the road, to fill places left by deaths and transfers during the quarter.

238

233

1766

Brought over

£ 1741 . 19 . 8½

Third Company

Richard Beale Captain Saly

45 . 12 . 6

Thomas Bazett Lieut Saly

18 . 5

Do Diet Money

6 . 16 . 10½

Do House Rent

2 . 10

27 . 11 . 10½

John Bridgwater Lieut Saly

18 . 5

Do Diet Money

6 . 16 . 10½

Do House Rent

2 . 10 . -

27 . 11 . 10½

Sergeants

Roger Welman

7 . 12 . 1

William Robinson

7 . 12 . 1

Barnard Millard

7 . 12 . 1

David Patton

7 . 12 . 1

30 . 8 . 4

Corporals

William Roberts

5 . 6 . 5½

William Gordon 25th Novr reduced

3 . 5 . 4

Do Centinel from 26th Do

1 . 10

John Vaughan

5 . 6 . 5½

James Stork

5 . 6 . 5½

20 . 4 . 8½

Drummers

John Roads

5 . 6 . 5½

George Ramsay

5 . 6 . 5½

10 . 12 . 11

Centinels

Richard Ashford

3 . 16 . ½

James Anderson

3 . 16 . ½

Centinels Carrd over

£ 7 . 12 . 1

Carrd Over

£ 1904 . 11 . 11

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued in 1766 with the officers, sergeants, corporals and drummers of the Third Company, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £1,741 19s 8½d

Third Company:

Richard Beale, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

Thomas Bazett, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Thomas Bazett, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Thomas Bazett, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Thomas Bazett, total, £27 11s 10½d

John Bridgwater, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

John Bridgwater, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

John Bridgwater, house rent, £2 10s 0d

John Bridgwater, total, £27 11s 10½d

Sergeants:

Roger Welman, £7 12s 1d

William Robinson, £7 12s 1d

Bernard Millard, £7 12s 1d

David Patton, £7 12s 1d

Total for sergeants, £30 8s 4d

Corporals:

William Babcock, £5 6s 5½d

William Gordon, as corporal until reduced to the ranks on 25 November 1765, £3 5s 4d

William Gordon, as private soldier from 26 November 1765, £1 10s 0d

John Vaughan, £5 6s 5½d

James York, £5 6s 5½d

Total for corporals, £20 13s 8½d

Drummers:

John Fowles, £5 6s 5½d

George Ramsay, £5 6s 5½d

Total for drummers, £10 12s 11d

Private soldiers:

Richard Ashford, £3 16s 0½d

James Anderson, £3 16s 0½d

Subtotal for private soldiers carried forward, £7 12s 1d

Total carried forward, £1,904 11s 11d

Interpretations

William Gordon was reduced from corporal to private on 25 November 1765, and his pay dropped on the following day. Unlike John Stewart, who resigned his sergeant's post, Gordon's change of rank was imposed on him. Reduction to the ranks was the standard punishment for a non-commissioned officer who had misbehaved, and it struck at his pay as well as his standing, so the loss was recorded precisely to the day in the quarterly list.

Richard Beale, already entered as judge advocate and schoolmaster, also commanded the Third Company. His captain's salary was far larger than his pay for the other two posts combined. The same man thus conducted courts martial, taught the island's children and led a company of the garrison, which showed how thinly the Company's educated officers were spread across its civil and military needs.

239

234

28th January

Brought over

£ 1904 . 11 . 11

Centinels brought over

£ 7 . 12 . 1

Charles Abraham

3 . 16 . ½

Henry Brown

3 . 16 . ½

John Britt

3 . 16 . ½

Mark Batts

3 . 16 . ½

Benjamin Bennett

3 . 16 . ½

John Blinkorne

3 . 16 . ½

Frederick Wm Beardsow

3 . 16 . ½

Wm Caleb Baldwin

3 . 16 . ½

Richard Brown

3 . 16 . ½

John Cook

3 . 16 . ½

Joseph Chamberlain

3 . 16 . ½

William Clifton

3 . 16 . ½

William Carr

3 . 16 . ½

Francis Clancey

3 . 16 . ½

John Chapman

3 . 16 . ½

Michael Downey

3 . 16 . ½

Robert Davis

3 . 16 . ½

Edward Dudley

3 . 16 . ½

Charles Edgels

3 . 16 . ½

William Foster

3 . 16 . ½

John Foxen

3 . 16 . ½

Alexander Gray

3 . 16 . ½

Fisher Gamble

3 . 16 . ½

Archibald Grayham

3 . 16 . ½

Richard Gregory

3 . 16 . ½

Felix Hyder

3 . 16 . ½

John Hilliard

3 . 16 . ½

John Herring

3 . 16 . ½

William Hill

3 . 16 . ½

Centinels Carrd over

£ 117 . 17 . 3½

Carried over

£ 1904 . 11 . 11

Margin Notes:

[...]

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued on 20 January with further private soldiers of the Third Company.

Total brought forward, £1,904 11s 11d

Subtotal for private soldiers brought forward, £7 12s 1d

Charles Abraham, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Brown, £3 16s 0½d

John Butt, £3 16s 0½d

Mark Batts, £3 16s 0½d

Benjamin Bennett, £3 16s 0½d

John Blinkhorne, £3 16s 0½d

Frederick William Beardow, £3 16s 0½d

William Caleb Baldwin, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Brown, £3 16s 0½d

John Cook, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Chamberlain, £3 16s 0½d

William Clifton, £3 16s 0½d

William Carr, £3 16s 0½d

Francis Clancey, £3 16s 0½d

John Chapman, £3 16s 0½d

Michael Downey, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Davis, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Dudley, £3 16s 0½d

Charles Edgels, £3 16s 0½d

William Foster, £3 16s 0½d

John Foxon, £3 16s 0½d

Alexander Grey, £3 16s 0½d

Fisher Gamble, £3 16s 0½d

Archibald Graham, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Gregory, £3 16s 0½d

Felix Hyder, £3 16s 0½d

John Hilliard, £3 16s 0½d

John Herring, £3 16s 0½d

William Hill, £3 16s 0½d

Subtotal for private soldiers carried forward, £117 17s 3½d

Total carried forward, £1,904 11s 11d

240

235

1766

Brought over

£ 1904 . 11 . 11

Centinels brought over

£ 117 . 17 . 3½

William Hopkins

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Jones

3 . 16 . ½

Josiah Johnson

3 . 16 . ½

Robert Johnson

3 . 16 . ½

Samuel Johnson

3 . 16 . ½

Richard Johnson

3 . 16 . ½

James Lee

3 . 16 . ½

John Long

3 . 16 . ½

John Langridge

3 . 16 . ½

Edward Lambourne

3 . 16 . ½

Bryan Lynch

3 . 16 . ½

John Limmon

3 . 16 . ½

James Long Enlistd 10th December

. 18 . 4

Charles Neufague

3 . 16 . ½

Richard Mafee

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Morris

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Matthews 25th Novemr made Corpl

2 . 6 . 8

Do Corporal from the 6th November

2 . 2 . -

John Millar

3 . 16 . ½

James Moyce

3 . 16 . ½

Abraham Major

3 . 16 . ½

John Copswater

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Perry

3 . 16 . ½

James Pilldor

3 . 16 . ½

Henry Pinchon

3 . 16 . ½

William Probus

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Prince

3 . 16 . ½

John Robertson

3 . 16 . ½

Robert Rock

Centinels Carrd Over

£ 222 . 1 . 4½

Carried Over

£ 1904 . 11 . 11

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued in 1766 with further private soldiers of the Third Company.

Total brought forward, £1,904 11s 11d

Subtotal for private soldiers brought forward, £117 17s 3½d

William Hopkins, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Jones, £3 16s 0½d

Josiah Johnson, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Johnson, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Johnson, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Johnson, £3 16s 0½d

James Lee, £3 16s 0½d

John Long, £3 16s 0½d

John Langridge, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Lambourne, £3 16s 0½d

Bryan Lynch, £3 16s 0½d

John Lemmon, £3 16s 0½d

James Long, from his enlistment on 10 December 1765, £0 18s 4d

Charles Mourgague, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Mase, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Morriss, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Matthews, as private soldier until made corporal on 25 November 1765, £2 6s 3d

Thomas Matthews, as corporal from 26 November 1765, £2 2s 0d

John Millar, £3 16s 0½d

James Moyse, £3 16s 0½d

Abraham Major, £3 16s 0½d

John [...]water, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Perry, £3 16s 0½d

James Pilder, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Pinchon, £3 16s 0½d

William P[...], £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Pearce, £3 16s 0½d

John Roberson, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Roach, [...]

Subtotal for private soldiers carried forward, £222 1s 4½d

Total carried forward, £1,904 11s 11d

Interpretations

Thomas Matthews was made corporal on 25 November 1765, the same day William Gordon of the Third Company was reduced to the ranks. The vacancy left by Gordon's demotion was filled at once from among the private soldiers, so the company never stood a corporal short and the disgraced man's replacement drew the higher rate from the very next day.

241

236

28th January

Brought over

£ 1904 . 11 . 11

Centinels brought over

£ 222 . 1 . 4½

Adam Scott

3 . 16 . ½

David Scott

3 . 16 . ½

John Smith

3 . 16 . ½

John Shuland

3 . 16 . ½

John Scotcham Transfd 9th December

2 . 18 . 4

Henry Standford

3 . 16 . ½

John Thompson

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Taylor

3 . 16 . ½

Joseph Upton

3 . 16 . ½

Richard Vincent

3 . 16 . ½

John Wybird

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Ward

3 . 16 . ½

Edward Welch

3 . 16 . ½

John Walker

3 . 16 . ½

James Kemp

3 . 16 . ½

Richard Linney

3 . 16 . ½

282 . - . 4

Fourth Company

John Howard Captain Saly

45 . 12 . 6

Henry De Lanne Lieut Saly

18 . 5 . -

Do Diet Money

6 . 16 . 10½

Do House Rent

2 . 10 . -

27 . 11 . 10½

Thomas Lambert Lieut Saly

18 . 5 . -

Do Diet Money

6 . 16 . 10½

Do House Rent

2 . 10 . -

27 . 11 . 10½

Carried over

£ 2287 . 8 . 6

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued on 20 January with the last private soldiers of the Third Company and the officers of the Fourth Company.

Total brought forward, £1,904 11s 11d

Subtotal for private soldiers brought forward, £222 1s 4½d

Adam Scott, £3 16s 0½d

David Scott, £3 16s 0½d

John Smith, £3 16s 0½d

John Shuland, £3 16s 0½d

John Scotsham, until his transfer on 9 December 1765, £2 13s 4d

Henry Standford, £3 16s 0½d

John Thompson, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Taylor, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Upton, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Vincent, £3 16s 0½d

John Wybird, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Ward, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Welch, £3 16s 0½d

John Walker, £3 16s 0½d

James [...]emp, £3 16s 0½d

Richard [...]inney, £3 16s 0½d

Total for private soldiers, £282 0s 4d

Fourth Company:

John Howard, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

Henry De Laune, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Henry De Laune, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Henry De Laune, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Henry De Laune, total, £27 11s 10½d

Thomas Lambert, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Thomas Lambert, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Thomas Lambert, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Thomas Lambert, total, £27 11s 10½d

Total carried forward, £2,287 8s 6d

242

237

1766

Brought over

£ 2287 . 8 . 6

Sergeants

John Fleming

7 . 12 . 1

Thomas Rudy

7 . 12 . 1

John Simcox

7 . 12 . 1

Daniel Armin

7 . 12 . 1

30 . 8 . 4

Corporals

William Readman

5 . 6 . 5½

Thomas Jones

5 . 6 . 5½

Jonathan Lake

5 . 6 . 5½

Thomas Thras

5 . 6 . 5½

21 . 5 . 10

Drummers

John Martin

5 . 6 . 5½

George Wils

5 . 6 . 5½

John Slade

5 . 6 . 5½

15 . 19 . 4½

Centinels

John Allen

3 . 16 . ½

Robert Allum Transfd 9th December

2 . 18 . 4

William Allen

3 . 16 . ½

George Burnell

3 . 16 . ½

John Blackwell

3 . 16 . ½

Joseph Blackwell

3 . 16 . ½

John Brooks

3 . 16 . ½

Richard Bickerstaff

3 . 16 . ½

William Blackman

3 . 16 . ½

John Bullock

3 . 16 . ½

John Bevor

3 . 16 . ½

John Beecham

Centinels Carried over

£ 44 . 14 . 9½

Carried over

£ 2355 . 2 . ½

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued in 1766 with the sergeants, corporals, drummers and private soldiers of the Fourth Company.

Total brought forward, £2,287 8s 6d

Sergeants:

John Fleming, £7 12s 1d

Thomas Hardy, £7 12s 1d

John Simcox, £7 12s 1d

Daniel Armin, £7 12s 1d

Total for sergeants, £30 8s 4d

Corporals:

William Steadman, £5 6s 5½d

Thomas Jones, £5 6s 5½d

Jonathan Lake, £5 6s 5½d

Thomas [...], £5 6s 5½d

Total for corporals, £21 5s 10d

Drummers:

John Martin, £5 6s 5½d

George Wills, £5 6s 5½d

John Slade, £5 6s 5½d

Total for drummers, £15 19s 4½d

Private soldiers:

John Allen, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Allum, until his transfer on 9 December 1765, £2 13s 4d

William Allen, £3 16s 0½d

George Burnell, £3 16s 0½d

John Blackwell, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Blackwell, £3 16s 0½d

John Brooks, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Bickerstaff, £3 16s 0½d

William Blackman, £3 16s 0½d

John Bullock, £3 16s 0½d

John Bever, £3 16s 0½d

John Beacham, [...]

Subtotal for private soldiers carried forward, £44 14s 9½d

Total carried forward, £2,355 2s 0½d

Interpretations

The Fourth Company kept three drummers where the other companies each had two. Drummers beat the calls that ordered the soldiers' day and signalled alarms, and an extra drummer suggested that this company held posts spread far enough apart, or a station busy enough, to need a third man to carry the signals.

Robert Allum's transfer on 9 December 1765 fell on the same day as those of John Lewis of the Second Company and John Scotsham of the Third. Three men moved out of three different companies on a single date pointed to a deliberate redistribution of the garrison, perhaps to man a new or enlarged post, rather than to individual changes made one at a time.

243

238

28th January

Brought over

£ 2355 . 2 . ½

Centinels brought over

£ 44 . 14 . 9½

Andrew Barton Enld 10th Decr

. 18 . 4

James Cartwright

3 . 16 . ½

George Capeling

3 . 16 . ½

William Cootney

3 . 16 . ½

Duncan Cambon

3 . 16 . ½

James Culidas

3 . 16 . ½

John Cunningham

3 . 16 . ½

John Carey

3 . 16 . ½

Richard Clow

3 . 16 . ½

Isaiah Cummings

3 . 16 . ½

John Campin

3 . 16 . ½

John Carfoot

3 . 16 . ½

Edward Daver

3 . 16 . ½

John Deal

3 . 16 . ½

John Everton

3 . 16 . ½

George Green

3 . 16 . ½

Richard Goulding

3 . 16 . ½

John Gillmoor

3 . 16 . ½

Edward German

3 . 16 . ½

Joseph Good

3 . 16 . ½

James Goudy

3 . 16 . ½

Henry Hildenburge

3 . 16 . ½

James Hands

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Hilliard

3 . 16 . ½

Stephen John

3 . 16 . ½

Christian Johnson

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Kilock

3 . 16 . ½

Richard Kempton

3 . 16 . ½

William Lambon

3 . 16 . ½

Centinels Carrd over

£ 152 . 2 . 3½

Carrd over

£ 2355 . 2 . ½

Margin Notes:

[...]

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued on 20 January with further private soldiers of the Fourth Company.

Total brought forward, £2,355 2s 0½d

Subtotal for private soldiers brought forward, £44 14s 9½d

Andrew Barton, from his enlistment on 10 December 1765, £0 18s 4d

James Cartwright, £3 16s 0½d

George Capeling, £3 16s 0½d

William Cockney, £3 16s 0½d

Duncan Cameron, £3 16s 0½d

James Culdes, £3 16s 0½d

John Cunningham, £3 16s 0½d

John Carey, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Cleave, £3 16s 0½d

Isaiah Cummings, £3 16s 0½d

John Campin, £3 16s 0½d

John Carfoot, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Daver, £3 16s 0½d

John Deal, £3 16s 0½d

John Easton, £3 16s 0½d

George Green, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Goulding, £3 16s 0½d

John Gillmore, £3 16s 0½d

Edward German, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Good, £3 16s 0½d

James Goudy, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Hildenburge, £3 16s 0½d

James H[...], £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Hilliard, £3 16s 0½d

Stephen John, £3 16s 0½d

Christian Johnson, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Hidcock, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Kempton, £3 16s 0½d

William Lambon, £3 16s 0½d

Subtotal for private soldiers carried forward, £152 2s 3½d

Total carried forward, £2,355 2s 0½d

244

239

1766

Brought over

£ 2355 . 2 . ½

Centinels brought over

£ 152 . 2 . 3½

Thomas Lee

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Lyne

3 . 16 . ½

John Laurence

3 . 16 . ½

Richard Morton

3 . 16 . ½

Simon Mason

3 . 16 . ½

Murdock McCloed

3 . 16 . ½

William Mitchel

3 . 16 . ½

Jonathan Mallet Transfd 2d Decemr

2 . 12 . 6

John Moue

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Marshall

3 . 16 . ½

John Newton

3 . 16 . ½

Martin Newman

3 . 16 . ½

John Oswald

3 . 16 . ½

John Peck

3 . 16 . ½

Daniel Patrick

3 . 16 . ½

Stephen Papps

3 . 16 . ½

William Parker

3 . 16 . ½

Francis Powell

3 . 16 . ½

James Richardson

3 . 16 . ½

Patrick Riley

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Rutherford

3 . 16 . ½

John Archer

3 . 16 . ½

John Rous

3 . 16 . ½

William Sechman

3 . 16 . ½

John Swindell

3 . 16 . ½

Zedekiah Saunderson

3 . 16 . ½

Roderick Sheffer

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Tefford

3 . 16 . ½

John Thomson

Centinels Carrd over

£ 261 . 5 . 4½

Carrd over

£ 2355 . 2 . ½

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued in 1766 with further private soldiers of the Fourth Company.

Total brought forward, £2,355 2s 0½d

Subtotal for private soldiers brought forward, £152 2s 3½d

Thomas Lee, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Lyne, £3 16s 0½d

John Laurence, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Moreton, £3 16s 0½d

Simon Mason, £3 16s 0½d

Murdoch McLeod, £3 16s 0½d

William Mitchel, £3 16s 0½d

Jonathan Mallet, until his transfer on 2 December 1765, £2 12s 6d

John Mews, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Marshall, £3 16s 0½d

John Newton, £3 16s 0½d

Martin Newman, £3 16s 0½d

John Oswald, £3 16s 0½d

John Peck, £3 16s 0½d

Daniel Patrick, £3 16s 0½d

Stephen Phipps, £3 16s 0½d

William Parker, £3 16s 0½d

Francis Powell, £3 16s 0½d

James Richardson, £3 16s 0½d

Patrick Riley, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Rutherford, £3 16s 0½d

John Satcher, £3 16s 0½d

John [...]ss, £3 16s 0½d

William Seckman, £3 16s 0½d

John Swindell, £3 16s 0½d

Zedekiah Saunderson, £3 16s 0½d

Roderick Shaffer, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Trifford, £3 16s 0½d

John Thomson, [...]

Subtotal for private soldiers carried forward, £261 5s 4½d

Total carried forward, £2,355 2s 0½d

Interpretations

Jonathan Mallet's transfer on 2 December 1765 coincided with that of Thomas Wyatt of the Second Company on the same day, a week before the three transfers of 9 December. Moves out of different companies in two batches a week apart pointed to the garrison being reorganised in stages that month, with men drawn from each company in turn rather than any one unit bearing the whole loss.

245

240

28th January

Brot over

£

Centinels Brot over

£ 261 . 3 . 11½

Jeremiah Morrill

3 . 16 . ½

William Wait

3 . 16 . ½

John Worder

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Williams

3 . 16 . ½

Thomas Watts

3 . 16 . ½

280 . 4 . 2

Artillery Company

Archibald Mitchell Capt Salary

45 . 12 . 6

Nathan Temple Lieut Salary

18 . 5

Do Diet Money

6 . 16 . 10½

Do House Rent

2 . 10

27 . 11 . 10½

Thomas Leech Lieut Salary

18 . 5

Do Diet Money

6 . 16 . 10½

Do House Rent

2 . 10

27 . 11 . 10½

Sergeants

John Whitchurch

9 . 2 . 6

Adam Watson

9 . 2 . 6

John Shirtley

9 . 2 . 6

Richard Waterhouse

9 . 2 . 6

36 . 10

Corporals

James Long Transf 9th Decemr

5 . 5

John Cox

6 . 16 . 10½

Thomas Collier

6 . 16 . 10½

John Grainger

6 . 16 . 10½

25 . 15 . 7½

Carrd Over

£ 2798 . 8 . 1

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued on 20 January with the last private soldiers of the Fourth Company and the officers, sergeants and corporals of the Artillery Company.

Subtotal for private soldiers brought forward, £261 3s 11½d

Jeremiah Morrill, £3 16s 0½d

William Watt, £3 16s 0½d

John Woods, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Williams, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Watts, £3 16s 0½d

Total for private soldiers, £280 4s 2d

Artillery Company:

Archibald Mitchell, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

Nathan S[...], lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Nathan S[...], diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Nathan S[...], house rent, £2 10s 0d

Nathan S[...], total, £27 11s 10½d

Thomas [...], lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Thomas [...], diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Thomas [...], house rent, £2 10s 0d

Thomas [...], total, £27 11s 10½d

Sergeants:

John Whitchurch, £9 2s 6d

Adam Watson, £9 2s 6d

John Shirley, £9 2s 6d

Richard Waterhouse, £9 2s 6d

Total for sergeants, £36 10s 0d

Corporals:

James Long, until his transfer on 9 December 1765, £5 5s 0d

John Cox, £6 16s 10½d

Thomas Collier, £6 16s 10½d

John Grainger, £6 16s 10½d

Total for corporals, £25 15s 7½d

Total carried forward, £2,798 8s 1d

Interpretations

The artillery was paid at a clearly higher rate than the infantry. An artillery sergeant received £9 2s 6d for the quarter against £7 12s 1d in the four foot companies, and an artillery corporal £6 16s 10½d against £5 6s 5½d. Gunnery demanded training in laying, loading and firing heavy guns, and calculating range and charge. The premium recognised that skill and helped keep trained gunners from drifting back into the cheaper ranks of the infantry.

Archibald Mitchell, already listed as the island's engineer, also commanded the Artillery Company. The two posts fitted together naturally, since the engineer who designed and built the batteries at Banks's and elsewhere was the obvious man to direct the guns mounted in them.

James Long left the artillery corporals on 9 December 1765, and a James Long enlisted as a private in the Third Company on 10 December. If these were the same man, his move from a well-paid corporal's post in the artillery to the lowest rank of the infantry on the very next day amounted to a heavy fall in both pay and standing.

246

241

1766

Brought over

£ 2798 . 8 . 1

Bombardiers

Andrew Barton Transfd 9th Decemr

5 . 5 . -

Nicholas Houghton Decr 9th made Corpl

5 . 5 . -

Do Corporal from the 10th December

1 . 13 . -

Robert Gibson

6 . 16 . 10½

John Peck

6 . 16 . 10½

25 . 16 . 9

Gunners

William Fletcher Transfd 9th Decemr

4 . 13 . 4

Eustace White

6 . 1 . 8

John Farrer Decemr 9th made Bombadr

4 . 13 . 4

Do Bombardier from 10th Decemr

1 . 13 . -

James Parfett Decemr 9th made Bombadr

4 . 13 . 4

Do Bombardier from 10th December

1 . 13 . -

John Martin

6 . 1 . 8

Thomas Jones 25th Novr reduced

3 . 14 . 8

Do Matross from 26th Novr

1 . 16

Evan Newland

6 . 1 . 8

David Dennis

6 . 1 . 8

47 . 3 . 4

Drummers

George Garrett

5 . 6 . 5½

Robert Saunders

5 . 6 . 5½

10 . 12 . 11

Matrosses

Robert Allum Enterd 10th Decemr

1 . 2 . -

Benjamin Paston

4 . 11 . 3

Isaac Buck

4 . 11 . 3

William Benson Transfd 6th Decemr

3 . 7 . -

John Bower

4 . 11 . 3

Matrosses Carrd over

£ 18 . 2 . 9

Carried over

£ 2882 . 1 . 1

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued in 1766 with the bombardiers, gunners, drummers and matrosses of the Artillery Company.

Total brought forward, £2,798 8s 1d

Bombardiers:

Andrew Barton, until his transfer on 9 December 1765, £5 5s 0d

Nicholas Houghton, as bombardier until made corporal on 9 December 1765, £5 5s 0d

Nicholas Houghton, as corporal from 10 December 1765, £1 13s 0d

Robert Gibson, £6 16s 10½d

John Peck, £6 16s 10½d

Total for bombardiers, £25 16s 9d

Gunners:

William Fletcher, until his transfer on 9 December 1765, £4 13s 4d

Eustace White, £6 1s 8d

John Ferrier, as gunner until made bombardier on 9 December 1765, £4 13s 4d

John Ferrier, as bombardier from 10 December 1765, £1 13s 0d

James Purfett, as gunner until made bombardier on 9 December 1765, £4 13s 4d

James Purfett, as bombardier from 10 December 1765, £1 13s 0d

John Martin, £6 1s 8d

Thomas Jones, as gunner until reduced on 25 November 1765, £3 14s 3d

Thomas Jones, as matross from 26 November 1765, £1 16s 0d

Evan Newland, £6 1s 8d

David Dennis, £6 1s 8d

Total for gunners, £47 3s 4d

Drummers:

George Garrett, £5 6s 5½d

Robert Saunders, £5 6s 5½d

Total for drummers, £10 12s 11d

Matrosses:

Robert Allum, from his enlistment on 10 December 1765, £1 2s 0d

Benjamin Poulton, £4 11s 3d

Isaac Buck, £4 11s 3d

William Benson, until his transfer on 6 December 1765, £3 7s 0d

John Brewer, £4 11s 3d

Subtotal for matrosses carried forward, £18 2s 9d

Total carried forward, £2,882 1s 1d

Interpretations

The dates on this page explained the cluster of transfers and enlistments spread across the infantry lists. Andrew Barton, William Fletcher and James Long left the artillery on 9 December 1765 and each appeared on 10 December as a newly enlisted private in an infantry company. Robert Allum moved the other way, leaving the Fourth Company on 9 December and enlisting as a matross the next day, while William Benson left the matrosses on 6 December and joined the First Company on 7 December. The clerk entered each move as a fresh enlistment, closing a man's pay in one corps and opening it in the other, so that the quarter's accounts for each unit stayed separate.

The exchange was a deliberate reshuffle rather than a series of chance changes. On the same day that three men left the artillery, Nicholas Houghton was raised to corporal and John Ferrier and James Purfett to bombardier, filling the places emptied above them. The artillery thus kept its skilled grades full by promoting its own men, and let the less valued members of the company go to the infantry at lower pay.

Matrosses were the junior soldiers of the artillery, who helped the gunners haul, load and sponge the guns while learning the trade. Even at this lowest grade they drew £4 11s 3d for the quarter, well above an infantry private's £3 16s 0½d. Thomas Jones's reduction from gunner to matross on 25 November 1765 fell on the same day as William Gordon's in the Third Company and Thomas Matthews's promotion, which suggested a single day of discipline across the garrison.

247

242

28th January

Brought over

£ 2882 . 1 . 1

Matrosses brot over

£ 18 . 2 . 9

James Bottomly

4 . 11 . 3

William Bower

4 . 11 . 3

John Cope

4 . 11 . 3

John Criswell

4 . 11 . 3

Thomas Clark

4 . 13 . 3

Edmond Conner

4 . 11 . 3

Robert Cunningham

4 . 11 . 3

Adam Crichton

4 . 11 . 3

John Doode

4 . 11 . 3

Daniel Finn

4 . 11 . 3

Thomas McFarling

4 . 11 . 3

Joseph Fellows

4 . 11 . 3

Robert Frankish

4 . 11 . 3

John Cox Novemr 25th made Gunnr

2 . 16

Do Gunner from 26th November

2 . 8 . -

Christian Grenawald

4 . 11 . 3

Thomas Garvell

4 . 11 . 3

Thomas Gran

4 . 11 . 3

William Hodges

4 . 11 . 3

Laurence Hall

4 . 11 . 3

William Jenkins

4 . 11 . 3

John Jacks Transfd 2d December

3 . 3 . -

John Lewis Entd 10th December

1 . 2 . -

Daniel Maloney

4 . 11 . 3

George Marshall

4 . 11 . 3

Jonathan Mallet Enlistd 3d Decemr

1 . 9 . -

Thomas Nimble

4 . 11 . 3

George Nelson

4 . 11 . 3

John Osbourn

4 . 11 . 3

Matrosses Carried over

£ 138 . 10 . 9

Carried over

£ 2882 . 1 . 1

Margin Notes:

[...]

[...]

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued on 20 January with further matrosses of the Artillery Company.

Total brought forward, £2,882 1s 1d

Subtotal for matrosses brought forward, £18 2s 9d

James Bottomly, £4 11s 3d

William Brewer, £4 11s 3d

John Cope, £4 11s 3d

John Criswell, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Clark, £4 [...]s 3d

Edmond Conner, £4 11s 3d

Robert Cunningham, £4 11s 3d

Adam Crichton, £4 11s 3d

John Dodds, £4 11s 3d

Daniel Finn, £4 11s 3d

Thomas McFarling, £4 11s 3d

Joseph Fellows, £4 11s 3d

Robert Frankish, £4 11s 3d

John Cox, as matross until made gunner on 25 November 1765, £2 16s 0d

John Cox, as gunner from 26 November 1765, £2 8s 0d

Christian Grunewald, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Gorell, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Green, £4 11s 3d

William Hedges, £4 11s 3d

Lawrence Hall, £4 11s 3d

William Jenkins, £4 11s 3d

John Jacks, until his transfer on 2 December 1765, £3 3s 0d

John Lewis, from his enlistment on 10 December 1765, £1 2s 0d

Daniel Maloney, £4 11s 3d

George Marshall, £4 11s 3d

Jonathan Mallet, from his enlistment on 3 December 1765, £1 9s 0d

Thomas Nimble, £4 11s 3d

George Nelson, £4 11s 3d

John Osborn, £4 11s 3d

Subtotal for matrosses carried forward, £138 10s 9d

Total carried forward, £2,882 1s 1d

Interpretations

The transfers of 2 and 3 December 1765 turned out to be a straight exchange between two men. John Jacks left the matrosses on 2 December and enlisted in the Second Company the next day, while Jonathan Mallet left the Fourth Company on 2 December and joined the matrosses on 3 December. One man stepped down from the better-paid artillery and another stepped up into it on the same pair of dates, which kept the artillery at strength while moving a particular individual out of it. John Lewis's move from the Second Company to the matrosses on 9 and 10 December followed the same pattern.

John Cox's promotion from matross to gunner on 25 November 1765 coincided with the reduction of Thomas Jones from gunner to matross on the same day. The two men simply changed places, with Jones's demotion opening the gunner's post that Cox filled.

John Criswell, entered here as a matross, was also coxswain of the Company's longboat on the civil list. Handling the longboat through the surf and serving the guns of the batteries both drew on strength and seamanship, and the same man was paid for both.

248

243

1766

Brought over

£ 2882 . 1 . 1

Matrosses brought over

£ 138 . 10 . 9

William Phillips

4 . 11 . 3

William Poulton

4 . 11 . 3

Samuel Smith

4 . 11 . 3

Godfrey Smith

4 . 11 . 3

John Smith Decemr 9th made Gunner

3 . 10 . -

Do Gunner from 10th December

1 . 9 . 4

Gregory Southwood Transfd 2d December

3 . 3 . -

Samuel Spencer

4 . 11 . 3

John Scotcher Enterd the 10th Decemr

1 . 2

Thomas Syer Decemr 9th made Gunner

3 . 10 . -

Do Gunner from the 10th December

1 . 9 . 4

Daniel Tongue

4 . 11 . 3

Thomas Watts

4 . 11 . 3

John Webbley

4 . 11 . 3

Richard Wellman

4 . 11 . 3

Thomas Wyatt Enterd 3d December

1 . 9 . -

Thomas Gates Enterd 7th Decr made Gunr 10th Decr

. 3

Do Gunner from the 11th December

1 . 9 . 4

196 . 17 . -

£ 3078 . 18 . 1

Margin Notes:

24

The list of pay for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 continued in 1766 with the last of the matrosses and the grand total for the quarter.

Total brought forward, £2,882 1s 1d

Subtotal for matrosses brought forward, £138 10s 9d

William Phillips, £4 11s 3d

William Poulton, £4 11s 3d

Samuel Smith, £4 11s 3d

Godfrey Smith, £4 11s 3d

John Smith, as matross until made gunner on 9 December 1765, £3 10s 0d

John Smith, as gunner from 10 December 1765, £1 9s 4d

Gregory Southwood, until his transfer on 2 December 1765, £3 3s 0d

Samuel Spencer, £4 11s 3d

John Scotcher, from his enlistment on 10 December 1765, £1 2s 0d

Thomas Tyler, as matross until made gunner on 9 December 1765, £3 10s 0d

Thomas Tyler, as gunner from 10 December 1765, £1 9s 4d

Daniel Torque, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Watts, £4 11s 3d

John Webbley, £4 11s 3d

Richard Willman, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Wyatt, from his enlistment on 3 December 1765, £1 9s 0d

Thomas Yates, as matross from his enlistment on 7 December 1765 until made gunner on 10 December 1765, £0 3s 0d

Thomas Yates, as gunner from 11 December 1765, £1 9s 4d

Total for matrosses, £196 17s 0d

Grand total for the quarter, £3,078 18s 1d

Interpretations

The finished list showed where the Company's money on St Helena went. Of more than £3,000 paid out for the quarter, the civil officers and tradesmen accounted for well under a third, while the four foot companies and the artillery took the rest. The island was first and foremost a garrison, and the cost of holding it with soldiers and guns far outweighed the cost of governing it, more even than all the stores issued to every account over the same three months.

The December reshuffle reached its last stage here. Thomas Yates came into the matrosses from the Second Company on 7 December 1765 and was made a gunner only three days later, when John Smith and Thomas Tyler were promoted on 9 December to fill the places left by William Fletcher and others. A man raised so quickly was perhaps an experienced artilleryman brought in specifically to take a gunner's post, with his brief spell as a matross serving only to bring him onto the company's books. Gregory Southwood and Thomas Wyatt also completed an exchange like that of Jacks and Mallet, Southwood leaving the matrosses on 2 December for the Second Company while Wyatt moved the other way the next day.

249

244

28th Jany

Thomas Kirkpatrick Paymr Dr

1765

31st Decemr To Cash received

£ 3437 . 16 . 9½

Carried over

£ 3437 . 16 . 9½

On 20 January the account of Thomas Kirkpatrick, paymaster, was debited with the cash he had received.

31 December 1765, cash received, £3,487 16s 9½d

Total carried forward, £3,487 16s 9½d

Interpretations

Entering the paymaster as a debtor made him personally answerable for the money placed in his hands. The £3,487 16s 9½d he received stood against his name until he showed how it had been spent, and he would be cleared only when payments to the officers and soldiers were credited to him on the opposite side. This was the standard means by which the Company held its cash-handling officers to account, since any shortfall between what he received and what he could prove he had paid out remained his own debt.

The cash received exceeded the grand total of the quarter's pay list, £3,078 18s 1d, by more than £400. The paymaster's account therefore covered more than the salaries and soldiers' wages alone, and the remainder would have to be matched against other payments he made on the Company's behalf before his account could balance.

Thomas Kirkpatrick already appeared on the pay lists as a member of Council and as captain of the First Company. Adding the office of paymaster put the garrison's cash, one of its companies and a seat in the island's government in the hands of a single man.

250

245

1766

Per Contra

Cr

1765 Decr 3

By Cash paid six Men sent to help to warp the Fly Schooner

into the Road

. 6 . -

By Cash paid John Criswell for a Boat bought of him for

the use of the Honble Company

4 . -

By Cash paid Mr William Young for 7 Posts Tree Fern

3 . 7 . 6

By Cash paid Do for 47 Loads of Stone

Tree Fern

2 . 7

By Cash paid James Torbell for 49 Galls of Sour Beer

at 2 Pr Gall

4 . 13

By Cash paid Roderick Pritchard 6 Gall of Do

6 . 3

By Cash paid George Bird Joiner for 6 Tin Candle

sticks for the Use of the Castle

. 4 . 6

By Cash paid Do for Colouring and Gilding a Tin Flower

to hang a Branch on for the use of the Castle

1 . 4

By Cash paid Do for Coloring and Painting six Do for

the use of the Castle

1 . 10

By Cash paid Do for a Book of Gold leaf Do use

. 4 . 6

By Cash paid Do for painting and finding Flowers for two

Candle Branches Do use

. 5

By Cash paid Sam Desfountain for 7800 Yam at 2/6

Pr Cwt for the use of the Honble Companys Slaves

9 . 15

By Cash paid Do for 10500 Suckers @ 4/ Pr Thousd

2 . 2

By Cash paid Sundry's for Beer Grounds

1 . 8 . 3

By Cash paid Robt Barclay Surgeon for necessarys

found the Hospital from January the 1st to Decr 31st

1765 more than the 7 Pr Day for a Man amountg to

35 . 5 . 2

By Cash paid W Finch for Glazing Work done at the

Castle and Plantation House this Quarter

. 7 . 6

Carried over

78 . 7 . 5

The credit side of Thomas Kirkpatrick's account recorded the following cash payments made in 1765.

The paymaster paid six men sent to help warp the schooner Fly into the road, £0 6s 0d.

Paid to John Criswell for a boat bought from him for the Company's use, £4 0s 0d

Paid to William Young for 7 [...], £8 7s 6d

Paid to William Young for 47 loads of stone, £2 7s 0d

Paid to James Torbett for 49 gallons of sour beer at 2s a gallon, £4 18s 0d

Paid to Roderick [...] for 41 gallons of sour beer, £4 2s 0d

Paid to George Bird for 6 tin candlesticks for the Castle, £0 4s 6d

Paid to George Bird for colouring and gilding a sunflower from which to hang a candle branch at the Castle, £1 4s 0d

Paid to George Bird for colouring and painting a second sunflower for the Castle, £1 10s 0d

Paid to George Bird for a book of gold leaf for the same work, £0 4s 6d

Paid to George Bird for painting and supplying flowers for two candle branches for the same work, £0 5s 0d

Paid to Lieutenant Desfountain for 7,800 yams at 2s 6d a hundred for the Company's slaves, £9 15s 0d

Paid to Lieutenant Desfountain for 10,500 suckers at 4s a thousand, £2 2s 0d

Paid for sundry beer grounds, £1 3s 3d

Paid to Robert Barclay, surgeon, for supplies provided to the hospital from 1 January 1765 to 31 December 1765, at 7d a day for each man, £35 3s 2d

Paid to W. Finch for glazing work at the Castle and Plantation House this quarter, £0 7s 6d

Total carried forward, £78 7s 5d

Interpretations

The hospital was not stocked directly by the Company but supplied by the surgeon, Robert Barclay, at a fixed rate of sevenpence a day for every patient. Under this arrangement the surgeon bore the cost of food and comforts himself and was reimbursed by the head, so the Company knew in advance what each sick man would cost. The system gave the surgeon a reason to buy cheaply, and also a temptation to stint his patients, since every penny saved below the allowance was his own profit.

Samuel Desfountain, a lieutenant of the First Company, sold the Company 7,800 yams for its slaves and 10,500 suckers, the young shoots cut from plantain or banana plants for setting out new plantings. An officer drawing pay from the garrison also supplied it with produce from his own land, which showed how private farming and public office overlapped on the island. The yams fed the slaves directly, while the suckers suggested the Company was extending its own plantations of fruit for future food.

The work done by George Bird for the Castle showed a concern for display in the seat of government. Gilded and painted sunflowers hung from the ceiling held candle branches, a fashionable form of light fitting, and the gold leaf bought for the purpose turned a plain room into one fit to receive the commanders of passing ships and other visitors of rank.

The sour beer bought from James Torbett, the cooper, and another supplier was perhaps a small beer brewed and allowed to turn, issued to labourers as a cheap drink. Beer grounds were the dregs left after brewing, used as yeast to start a new batch or fed to livestock.

251

246

28th January

Thomas Kirkpatrick Paymr Dr

1765 To Cash brought over

£ 3437 . 16 . 9½

Carried over

£ 3437 . 16 . 9½

The debit side of the account of Thomas Kirkpatrick, paymaster, continued on 20 January with the cash he had received.

1765, cash brought forward, £3,487 16s 9½d

Total carried forward, £3,487 16s 9½d

252

247

1766

Per Contra

Cr

1765

Brought over

£ 78 . 7 . 5

By Cash paid Samuel Bowers for his Boat which was

stole by the Honble Companys Blacks

5 . 5

By Cash paid Wm Jenkins for Baking 13 Batches

of Bread for the use of the Garrison @ 10 Pr Batch

6 . 10

By Cash paid Robert Davis for 74 Days Work in the

Armourers Shop @ 1/6 Pr Day

4 . 11 . 6

By Cash paid Wm Harker for 9 Days Do in Do @ 1/6

. 13 . 6

By Cash paid for two Iron Pots for the use of the general

Works

. 7 . -

By Cash paid for six half round Files for Do

. 7 . 6

By Cash paid for the subsistance of Wm Fowe Seaman

left out of the Ship Bute 20 Days @ 6 Pr Day

. 10 . -

By Cash paid John Robinson for 5 Loads of Binders

for the Honble Companys Houses in the St Hood @ 2/6 Pr Ld

. 12 . 6

By Cash paid 8 Men employd in the Long Boat their

Quarters Allowance at £1 . 10 @

12 . -

By Cash paid two Men extraordinary employd in Do

2 Days this Quarter

. 13 . 3

By Cash paid Nocquedah Rocholum his Quarters

Allowance

1 . 12 . 6

By Cash paid for House Rent for Do

1 . - . -

By Cash paid Evan Newland for relieg to serve

the H Company five Years longer as a Soldier

10 . - . -

By Cash paid Daniel Tongue for Overseeing in the

Long Wood this Quart

2 . 10 . -

By Cash paid for Do being omitted last Quarter

2 . 10

Carried over

£ 127 . 10 . 7

Margin Notes:

[...]

The credit side of Thomas Kirkpatrick's account continued with further cash payments made in 1765, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £78 7s 5d

Paid to Samuel Bowers for his boat, wrecked by the Company's slaves, £5 5s 0d

Paid to William Perkins for baking 4[...] batches of bread for the garrison at 3s a batch, £6 10s 0d

Paid to Robert Davis for [...] days' work in the armourer's shop at 1s 6d a day, £4 11s 6d

Paid to William Hacker for 9 days' work in the armourer's shop at 1s 6d a day, £0 13s 6d

Paid for 2 iron pots for the general works, £0 7s 0d

Paid for 6 half-round files for the general works, £0 7s 6d

The paymaster paid for the keep of William Price, a seaman left behind by the ship Bute, for 20 days at 6d a day, £0 10s 0d.

Paid to John Robinson for 5 loads of binders for the Company's houses at Longwood at 2s 6d a load, £0 12s 6d

Paid to 8 men working in the longboat their quarter's allowance at £1 10s 0d each, £12 0s 0d

Paid to 2 men taken on as extra hands in the longboat for 21 days this quarter, £0 18s 8d

Paid to Nacodah Reholleem his quarter's allowance, £1 12s 6d

Paid for Nacodah Reholleem's house rent, £1 0s 0d

Paid to Evan Newland as a bounty for agreeing to serve the Company as a soldier for 5 more years, £10 0s 0d

Paid to Daniel Torque for overseeing at Longwood this quarter, £2 10s 0d

Paid to Daniel Torque for the same duty, left out of last quarter's account, £2 10s 0d

Total carried forward, £127 10s 7d

Interpretations

Evan Newland, a gunner on the artillery list, received £10 to sign on for another five years. That sum was more than two quarters of his gunner's pay. Trained artillerymen were hard to replace on an island thousands of miles from the nearest recruiting ground, and paying a bounty to keep a man already skilled was far cheaper than finding and training a new one.

The Company paid Samuel Bowers in full for a boat wrecked by its slaves. As their owner, the Company was answerable for damage they did to other people's property, much as a master answered for the acts of his servants, and settling the claim from the paymaster's cash avoided a dispute with a settler whose boat was probably part of his livelihood.

The man entered as Nacodah Reholleem bore a title rather than a forename. A nacodah, from the Malay and Persian word for a ship's master, was the captain of a native trading vessel in the eastern seas. His regular quarterly allowance and house rent showed a Malay of some standing maintained by the Company, perhaps as a leader or interpreter among the Malay slaves whose separate stores account appeared earlier.

Soldiers were also hired as day labourers. Robert Davis, entered as a drummer in the Second Company, earned extra wages in the armourer's shop at 1s 6d a day, so the garrison doubled as a pool of skilled and semi-skilled labour for the Company's workshops. The binders bought for Longwood were flexible lengths of wood or cane used to tie down thatch on roofs.

253

248

28th January

Thomas Kirkpatrick Dr

1765 To Cash brought over

£ 3437 . 16 . 9½

Carried over

£ 3437 . 16 . 9½

The debit side of Thomas Kirkpatrick's account continued on 20 January with the cash he had received.

1765, cash brought forward, £3,487 16s 9½d

Total carried forward, £3,487 16s 9½d

254

249

1766

Per Contra

Cr

Brought over

£ 127 . 10 . 7

By Cash paid the Clerk of arraigns and Ranger of the Court

at Sessions

. 12 . 6

By Cash paid Sundry Garrison Men for coming express with

Account of Ships seen to windward

. 15 . -

By Cash paid Mary Seale for 30900 Yam at 3/ Pr C for the

Use of the Honorable Companys Slaves

49 . 17 . -

By Cash paid Do for 2250 Do at 1/6 Pr C for Do use

1 . 14 . 3

By Cash paid Do for 11300 Suckers at 2/6 Pr Thousand

1 . 8 . 9

By Cash paid for 54 Days Carpenters Work for repairs to

the Castle at 1/6 Pr day

4 . 1 . -

By Cash paid for 49 days Do to the Plantation House @ 1/6

3 . 13 . 6

By Cash paid for 18 Do Do Officers Houses

1 . 7 . -

By Cash paid for 7½ Do Do Fly Schooner

. 11 . 7½

By Cash paid for 66 Do Blacksmiths Work at the Castle at

1/6 Pr Day

4 . 19 . -

By Cash paid for 40 Do Bricklayers Do at the Plantation

House at 1/6 Pr Day

3 . - . -

By Cash paid for 23½ Do Masons Do at the Castle

3 . 14 . 9

By Cash paid for 31 Do Do Bankss Fortifn at

3/6 Pr Day

5 . 8 . 6

By Cash paid for 268 Do Labourers Do @ the Castle @ 1/

13 . 8

By Cash paid for 147½ Do Do at the Plant House

7 . 7 . 3

By Cash paid for 463 Do Do burning Lime

23 . 3

By Cash paid for 170½ Do Do making Bricks

8 . 10 . 6

By Cash paid for 65½ Do Do repg the Maldivia

Garden Wall

3 . 5 . 3

Carrd over

£ 264 . 12 . 5½

The credit side of Thomas Kirkpatrick's account continued in 1766 with further cash payments, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £127 10s 7d

Paid to the clerk of arraigns and the crier of the court for attending the court's sittings, £0 12s 6d

Paid to various garrison men for carrying urgent messages reporting ships sighted to windward, £0 15s 0d

Paid to Mary Seale for 30,900 yams at 3s a hundred for the Company's slaves, £49 17s 0d

Paid to Mary Seale for 2,250 yams at 1s 6d a hundred for the same use, £1 13s 9d

Paid to Mary Seale for 11,500 suckers at 2s 6d a thousand, £1 8s 9d

Paid for 54 days' carpentry on repairs to the Castle at 1s 6d a day, £4 1s 0d

Paid for 49 days' carpentry at Plantation House at 1s 6d a day, £3 13s 6d

Paid for 18 days' carpentry on the officers' houses, £1 7s 0d

The paymaster paid for 7½ days' carpentry on the schooner Fly, £0 11s 3d.

Paid for 66 days' [...] work at the Castle at 1s 6d a day, £4 19s 0d

Paid for 40 days' bricklaying at Plantation House at 1s 6d a day, £3 0s 0d

Paid for [...] days' masonry at the Castle, £3 14s 9d

Paid for 51 days' masonry on the fortification at Banks's at 1s 6d a day, £3 16s 6d

Paid for 263 days' labouring at the Castle, £13 3s 0d

Paid for 147½ days' labouring at Plantation House, £7 7s 6d

Paid for 463 days' labouring at lime burning, £23 3s 0d

Paid for 170½ days' labouring at brickmaking, £8 10s 6d

Paid for 65½ days' labouring on repairs to the [...] garden wall, £3 5s 6d

Total carried forward, £264 12s 5½d

Interpretations

Alongside its own slaves and soldiers, the Company hired labour by the day, paying tradesmen 1s 6d and ordinary labourers 1s. The largest single block of hired labour, 463 days, went into burning lime, the same work for which coal was charged to the general account. Lime burning was heavy, hot and continuous work, and the Company bought in extra hands for it rather than drawing its slaves away from farming and fishing. Brickmaking took a further 170 days, so the island was manufacturing its own building materials on a substantial scale.

Mary Seale sold the Company nearly 31,000 yams for its slaves in a single quarter, almost £50 worth, which made her one of its largest suppliers. A woman running a plantation large enough to feed the Company's slaves showed that landholding and trade on the island were open to women, probably widows or heiresses who held land in their own right.

The payment to garrison men for carrying word of ships sighted to windward recorded the island's early-warning system. Lookouts on the high ground spotted vessels approaching from the south-east, the direction of the trade wind, long before they reached the road, and runners carried the news to the Castle so that the guns could be manned and the Governor prepared to receive friend or foe.

The clerk of arraigns read out the charges against prisoners at a criminal trial, and the crier called the court to order and summoned witnesses. Paying them from the paymaster's cash showed that justice on the island was administered directly by the Company and funded as part of its ordinary expenses.

255

250

28th January

Thomas Kirkpatrick Dr

To Cash brought over

£ 3437 . 16 . 9½

£ 3437 . 16 . 9½

The debit side of Thomas Kirkpatrick's account was closed on 20 January with the cash he had received.

Cash brought forward, £3,487 16s 9½d

Total, £3,487 16s 9½d

256

251

1766

Per Contra

Cr

Brought over

£ 264 . 12 . 5½

By Cash paid for 37 Days Stone blasting at Ruperts Valley

at 1/6 Pr Day

2 . 15 . 6

By Cash paid for 63½ Do Bricklayers Work at the L Govr House Do

4 . 15 . 1½

By Cash paid for 2 Days Paint Do Do Do

2 . - . 6

By Cash paid for 22 Do Do at the Castle Do

1 . 13 . -

By Cash paid for 8 Do Stonesawing at Do Do

. 12 . -

By Cash paid for 120 Do Lab Work at L Govr House 1/

6 . 2

By Cash paid for 921½ Do Do @ the Valley @ 1/

46 . 1 . 3

By Cash paid for 697½ Do Do at the Blacks House

34 . 7 . 9

By Cash paid for 32½ Do Stoneblow at Do 1/6

2 . 8 . 1½

By Cash paid for 7 Do Sailmakers Work to the Fly Schoor 1/6

. 10 . 6

By Cash paid for 154 Do Masonry Do for repairs to the

Honorable Companys Houses Inhabited by the Chapl

and Officers at 3 Pr Day

23 . 1 . -

By Cash paid for 376½ Do Labour Work for Do @ 1

18 . 16 . 9

£ 408 . 18 . 8½

By the Amount of the Pay List

3078 . 18 . 1

£ 3487 . 16 . 9½

St Helena 31st Decemr 1765

Errors Excepted

(signed)

Thos Kirkpatrick Paymr

Counted and examined the Honorable Companys Cash for the

Month of December last which is as follows viz.

The credit side of Thomas Kirkpatrick's account was completed in 1766 with the last cash payments, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, £264 12s 5½d

Paid for 37 days' stone blasting at Rupert's at 1s 6d a day, £2 15s 6d

Paid for 63½ days' bricklaying at the Lieutenant Governor's house, £4 15s 3d

Paid for 27 days' painting at the Lieutenant Governor's house at 1s 6d a day, £2 0s 6d

Paid for 22 days' painting at the Castle, £1 13s 0d

Paid for 8 days' stone sawing at the Castle, £0 12s 0d

Paid for 120 days' labouring at the Lieutenant Governor's house at 1s a day, £6 0s 0d

Paid for 921½ days' labouring at Rupert's at 1s a day, £46 1s 6d

Paid for 687¾ days' labouring at the slave house, £34 7s 9d

Paid for 32½ days' stone blasting at the slave house at 1s 6d a day, £2 8s 9d

The paymaster paid for 7 days' sailmaking for the schooner Fly at 1s 6d a day, £0 10s 6d.

Paid for 159 days' masonry on repairs to the Company's houses occupied by the chaplain and officers at 3s a day, £23 17s 0d

Paid for 376¾ days' labouring on the same houses at 1s a day, £18 16s 9d

Subtotal for cash payments, £408 12s 8½d

Amount of the pay list, £3,078 18s 1d

Total, £3,487 16s 9½d

Thomas Kirkpatrick, paymaster, signed the account at St Helena on 31 December 1765, reserving the right to correct any errors. The Company's cash for December was afterwards counted and checked.

Interpretations

The two sides of the paymaster's account now balanced exactly at £3,487 16s 9½d. Every penny Kirkpatrick had received was matched by the pay list and the cash payments, which discharged him of personal liability for the quarter. The count of the Company's cash that followed immediately was the physical check on that paper balance: the coin actually in the chest was counted against what the books said should be there, so that a balanced account could not hide a missing sum.

The heaviest spending on hired labour went to two projects. More than 900 days of labouring and much stone blasting went into works at Rupert's, the valley and bay east of Jamestown that offered a second landing place and needed its own defences. Nearly 700 days of labouring and further blasting went into the slave house, which pointed to a new building or a major enlargement to lodge the Company's slaves, rather than repair of the existing one.

Stone blasting meant breaking rock with gunpowder, both to clear ground and to quarry building stone from the island's hard volcanic rock, and it was paid at the craftsman's rate of 1s 6d a day because of its skill and danger. The masons working on the chaplain's and officers' houses earned twice that rate at 3s a day, the highest wage on the page, which reflected the scarcity of skilled masons on the island.

257

252

Cash Dr

1766 Decem 1 To Balance remaining

£ 8647 . 13 . 8

31 To James Rowett received of him for Stores sold in the Quart

this day

1369 . 4 . 1

To Plantation for Provision Sold

33 . 18 . 2½

To Fortification for Lime Sold

6 . 1 . 3

To two Purbeck Stones Sold

. 15 . 3

To Licences for publick Houses

17 . 10 . -

To Sundry Accounts for Damaged Goods Sold at Publick

Auction

18 . 3 . 2

£ 10093 . 15 . 7½

Per Contra Cr

1765 Decr 31 By Sundry Accounts Advanced the Paymr

to pay Salary &c in the Quarter ending

this day

3487 . 16 . 9½

By Balance remaining viz.

In Spicie

6066 . 3 . 10

In Cash Notes of no use

539 . 15

6605 . 18 . 10

£ 10093 . 15 . 7½

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

Margin Notes:

28th Jany

The Company's cash account for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 was closed on 20 January as follows.

Receipts:

1 December 1765, balance in hand, £8,647 18s 8d

31 December 1765, received from James Powell for stores sold during the quarter, £1,369 4s 1d

Received from the Plantation for provisions sold, £33 18s 2½d

Received from the fortification account for lime sold, £6 1s 3d

Received for 2 Purbeck stones sold, £0 15s 3d

Received for licences for public houses, £17 10s 0d

Received from various accounts for damaged goods sold at public auction, £18 8s 2d

Total, £10,093 15s 7½d

Payments and balance:

31 December 1765, advanced to the paymaster to pay salaries and other charges for the quarter, £3,487 16s 9½d

Balance in hand in coin, £6,066 3s 10d

Balance in hand in unusable cash notes, £539 15s 0d

Total balance in hand, £6,605 18s 10d

Total, £10,093 15s 7½d

Governor Skottowe signed the account with Daniel Corneille, Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

Interpretations

The closing balance separated coin from paper, and more than £500 of the Company's cash on the island was entered as notes of no use. These were paper notes that could not be passed or redeemed on St Helena, perhaps issued elsewhere or no longer honoured, yet the Council could not simply write them off without the Company's authority. Recording them as part of the balance but marking them as useless kept the books honest while flagging the loss to the directors in London, who alone could decide what became of them.

Licences for public houses brought the Company a direct revenue from the island's drink trade. Requiring every alehouse and tavern to hold a paid licence gave the Council a means of limiting the number of drinking places, removing troublesome keepers and controlling the sale of spirits to soldiers and seamen, as well as a small but regular income.

The stores sales of £1,369 4s 1d, paid in by the storekeeper James Powell, made up nearly all of the quarter's new receipts. The Company recovered much of its spending on imported goods by selling them on to planters and ships at a fixed advance, as the sale lists earlier in the account showed. The two Purbeck stones were slabs of the hard, fine limestone quarried in Dorset and shipped as paving and steps. Selling a single pair of them showed that even surplus building stone sent out from England could be turned back into cash on an island that lacked anything comparable.

258

253

27th January

At a Consultation held on Monday the 27th Day of Jany 1766 at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 27th Jany

1766

Monday the 20th Died Digby Son of Mr James Greentree Planter

Thursday the 23d Do John Arlinstall Soldier

Do . . . . Do Arrived the Honble Companys Ship Admiral Stevens

from Bengal

Yesterday passed by a Ship at a great distance

Being in great want of Provisions for the Garrison We have

therefore bought of Captain Griffin the following Articles as Pr Bill viz.

The Honble East India Compy

To Capt John Griffin Dr

To 61 Bushels Wheat @ 7/6

£ 22 . 17 . 6

2 Leaguers Arrack 305½ Galls @ 4/

61 . 2 . -

Sugar 15 . 2 . 13 @ 62/

47 . 11 . -

£ 131 . 10 . 6

Recd the above in full

for John Griffin

(signed)

J Lang

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 27 January 1766, with Governor Skottowe presiding. Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, attended with Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council. The minutes of the previous meeting, dated 20 January 1766, were read, approved and signed.

Digby, the son of James Greentree, a planter, died on Monday 20 January 1766. John Arlinstall, a soldier, died on Thursday 23 January 1766. On the same day the Company's ship Admiral Stevens arrived from Bengal. A ship passed the island far out to sea on 26 January 1766.

The garrison was badly short of provisions, so the Council bought the following goods from Captain John Griffin, as set out in his bill to the Company.

61 bushels of wheat at 7s 6d a bushel, £22 17s 6d

2 leaguers of arrack, 305½ gallons, at 4s a gallon, £61 2s 0d

15 cwt 2 qr 13 lb of sago at 62s a hundredweight, £47 11s 0d

Total, £131 10s 6d

Lang signed a receipt for the full amount on behalf of John Griffin.

Interpretations

The Council bought from a ship's captain because the Company's own stores had run short. Commanders and officers of East India ships were allowed to carry goods on their own account, and arrack, sago and grain from Bengal were exactly the kind of private cargo they brought. Buying from Captain Griffin met an immediate need, but at his price. Arrack charged to the island's accounts in the last quarter of 1765 had cost about 3s a gallon, while Griffin was paid 4s, a third more. The garrison's shortage gave the seller the advantage, and the Council recorded its want of provisions to justify the higher cost to the directors.

A leaguer was a very large cask, used chiefly in the Dutch and eastern trade for arrack and wine, holding around 150 gallons; the two here together held just over 305 gallons. Sago, already met in small quantities among the planters' purchases, was bought here in bulk as a substitute for bread grain, since it kept well and could be cooked into a filling porridge when flour was scarce.

John Arlinstall, whose death was recorded on 23 January 1766, appeared on the pay list for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 as a private soldier in the First Company. His name would now drop from the next quarter's list, with his pay calculated to the day of his death.

259

254

27th January

We have likewise received from the Admiral Stevens

one thousand pounds of Rice two hundred and forty Six pounds of Flour

and a Yawl and Oars all belonging to the Honble Company

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

At a Consultation held on Monday the 3d Day of Febry 1766 at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 27th Jany

1766

Friday the 31st Passed by a Ship at a great distance

George Cutler Capt Steward of the Admiral Stevens

having applied to Us to purchase the Freedom of Grace Tanner one of

the Honble Companys Slave Women in gratitude of her having saved

his Life when Sick upon this Island some Years ago we thought

proper to grant him his request as we apprehend it will not be

detrimental to the Company having a greater number of Slave

Women than we use for he having paid twenty one pounds the price she

stood upon the general Books

The Council also recorded that it had received from the Admiral Stevens 1,000 lb of rice, 246 lb of flour, and a yawl with its oars, all of them the Company's property. Governor Skottowe signed the minutes with Daniel Corneille, Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

The Council met again at the Castle on Monday 3 February 1766, with the Governor presiding. Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, attended with Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council. The minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 1766 were read, approved and signed. A ship passed the island far out to sea on Friday 31 January 1766.

George Butler, the captain's steward aboard the Admiral Stevens, asked to buy the freedom of Grace Tanner, one of the Company's slave women. He wanted to do so out of gratitude, because she had saved his life when he fell ill on the island some years earlier. The Council agreed to his request. It judged that freeing her would cause the Company no harm, since it held more slave women than it could usefully employ. Butler paid £21 0s 0d, the value at which Grace Tanner was entered in the Company's general books.

Interpretations

The Council could easily have refused. Grace Tanner was Company property, and the obvious course for any owner was to keep a working slave rather than part with her. The minutes show why it did not: the Company already had more slave women than it needed, so her labour could be spared, while Butler's payment turned a surplus person into cash. Gratitude was Butler's motive, but the Council's reason was purely economic, and it took care to record that reasoning so the directors could see that no loss had been suffered.

The price of £21 0s 0d was not negotiated but taken from the value at which she stood in the general books. The Company carried each of its slaves as an asset at a fixed valuation, much like a piece of equipment, and releasing one meant removing that sum from the books and replacing it with an equal amount of cash. Setting the price this way kept the accounts balanced and spared the Council any charge of selling Company property below its worth.

The yawl returned by the Admiral Stevens was a ship's boat, a light, broad craft rowed by four or six oars and often fitted with a small sail. It belonged to the Company and had evidently been lent to or carried by the ship. Its return gave the island another boat for the constant work of landing goods through the surf, where the earlier accounts showed boats being wrecked and repaired at heavy cost.

260

255

3d February

Captain John Griffin this day applied to Us to pay three

hundred and ninety six pounds into the Honorable Companys Cash which

sum we have received and given him Bills of Exchange drawn upon

the Honorable the Court of Directors payable to Captain John Durand

(or Order) ninety days after sight

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

At a Consultation held on Monday the 10th Day of February 1766 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thos Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 3d February

1766

Monday the 3d Sailed the Honble Companys Ship Admiral Stevens for

England

The Gunners and Stewards Accounts for the Month of Jany

last were this day brought in which were examined and approved and are

as follow viz.

Captain John Griffin asked on 3 February 1766 to pay £396 0s 0d into the Company's cash on the island. The Council accepted the money. In return it gave him bills of exchange drawn on the Company's Court of Directors, payable to Captain John Durand or to whomever he named, 90 days after they were presented. Governor Skottowe signed the minutes with Daniel Corneille, Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 10 February 1766, with the Governor presiding. Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, attended with Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council. The minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 1766 were read, approved and signed. The Company's ship Admiral Stevens sailed for England on Monday 3 February 1766.

The gunner's and steward's accounts for January 1766 were presented at this meeting. The Council examined them and gave its approval.

Interpretations

The bill of exchange let both sides avoid moving coin across the ocean. Captain Griffin had money on the island, including the £131 10s 6d paid to him for wheat, arrack and sago on 27 January 1766, and would otherwise have had to carry it home in his ship at the risk of loss. By paying it into the Company's chest he received a written order that the directors in London would honour 90 days after it was shown to them. The Company gained hard cash where it was scarce and needed for wages, and settled the debt later in London where its funds were held.

Making the bill payable to Captain John Durand or his order meant Griffin could direct the money to a partner, creditor or agent in England without handling it himself. The words "or order" made the bill transferable, so it could pass from hand to hand by endorsement and serve as currency in the London money market before it fell due.

261

256

3d February

Captain John Griffin this day applied to Us to pay three

hundred and ninety six pounds into the Honorable Companys Cash which

sum we have received and given him Bills of Exchange drawn upon

the Honorable the Court of Directors payable to Captain John Durand

(or Order) ninety days after sight

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

At a Consultation held on Monday the 10th Day of February 1766 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thos Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 3d February

1766

Monday the 3d Sailed the Honble Companys Ship Admiral Stevens for

England

The Gunners and Stewards Accounts for the Month of Jany

last were this day brought in which were examined and approved and are

as follow viz.

Captain John Griffin asked on 3 February 1766 to pay £396 0s 0d into the Company's cash on the island. The Council accepted the money. In return it gave him bills of exchange drawn on the Company's Court of Directors, payable to Captain John Durand or to whomever he named, 90 days after they were presented. Governor Skottowe signed the minutes with Daniel Corneille, Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 10 February 1766, with the Governor presiding. Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, attended with Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council. The minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 1766 were read, approved and signed. The Company's ship Admiral Stevens sailed for England on Monday 3 February 1766.

The gunner's and steward's accounts for January 1766 were presented at this meeting. The Council examined them and gave its approval.

Interpretations

The bill of exchange let both sides avoid moving coin across the ocean. Captain Griffin had money on the island, including the £131 10s 6d paid to him for wheat, arrack and sago on 27 January 1766, and would otherwise have had to carry it home in his ship at the risk of loss. By paying it into the Company's chest he received a written order that the directors in London would honour 90 days after it was shown to them. The Company gained hard cash where it was scarce and needed for wages, and settled the debt later in London where its funds were held.

Making the bill payable to Captain John Durand or his order meant Griffin could direct the money to a partner, creditor or agent in England without handling it himself. The words "or order" made the bill transferable, so it could pass from hand to hand by endorsement and serve as currency in the London money market before it fell due.

262

257

1766

Sheep Skins for Lemon Valley Ruperts Bankss & Sandy Bay

3

Nails for Do

2¾ lb

Match burnt at Ruperts

2 lb

Worm for a 9 Pound Lock at Ruperts

1

Rammer Heads for the different Forts

15

(signed)

A Mitchell

Sundrys Expended at the Honble Companys Table in the Month

of January 1766 viz.

8 Bottles Port Wine

£ . 12 . -

33 Do Lisbon

2 . 9 . 6

13 Do Mountain

. 19 . 6

24 Do Beer

. 6 . -

6½ Do Arrack

3 . 9 . 9

66 Beef

1 . 7 . -

233 lb Mutton

5 . 17 . 6

4 Ducks

. 6 . -

12 Fowls

. 18 . -

15 lb Butter

. 15 . -

9 lb Candy

1 . 12 . -

300 lb Flour

3 . 2 . -

2 Lambs

1 . - . -

£ 22 . 14 . 9

We this day Executed a Lease to Mr Matthew Bazett for Eleven

Acres of Land lying in the East Division of this Island at 5/ Pr Acre

The gunner's account for January 1766 continued with the following stores used at the forts, signed by Mitchell.

3 sheepskins for Lemon Valley, Rupert's, Banks's and Sandy Bay

2½ lb of nails for the same posts

2 lb of slow match burnt at Rupert's

1 worm for a 9-pounder gun, broken at Rupert's

15 rammer heads for the various forts

The following food and drink were used at the Company's table during January 1766.

8 bottles of port, £0 12s 0d

33 bottles of Lisbon wine, £2 9s 6d

13 bottles of mountain wine, £0 19s 6d

24 bottles of beer, £0 6s 0d

6½ [...] of arrack, £3 9s 9d

66 lb of beef, £1 7s 0d

233 lb of mutton, £5 17s 6d

4 ducks, £0 6s 0d

12 fowls, £0 18s 0d

15 lb of butter, £0 15s 0d

9 lb of sugar candy, £1 12s 0d

300 lb of flour, £3 2s 0d

2 lambs, £1 0s 0d

Total, £22 14s 9d

On 10 February 1766 the Council granted Matthew Bazett a lease of 11 acres of land in the island's East Division, at a rent of 5s an acre.

Interpretations

The lease to Matthew Bazett showed how land on St Helena was held. The Company owned the island outright and did not sell its land; instead it let plots to settlers at a fixed annual rent per acre, recorded formally in its register of deeds and leases. The arrangement kept ultimate control of every acre in the Company's hands while drawing a steady income from the settlers who farmed it. Bazett, already the island's secretary on the pay list, was taking up land in his own right, another sign of how officials built up private interests alongside their posts.

The Company's table was the official dining table kept at the Castle, where the Governor and senior officers ate and where commanders of visiting ships were entertained. Its monthly bill, paid by the Company, covered both everyday meals and hospitality. Lisbon wine was a white wine from the region around Lisbon, and mountain wine was a sweet fortified wine from the hills of Málaga in southern Spain. Both were cheaper than claret and widely drunk in Britain and its outposts. The heavy weight of mutton against beef reflected the island's own flocks, which the Plantation account showed being shorn and marked.

The gunner's stores pointed to the routine wear of artillery at the coastal batteries. A worm was a corkscrew-shaped iron head on a long staff, used to draw out unburnt cartridge and wadding from the bore of a gun after firing; a broken one left a gun unsafe to reload. Rammer heads drove the charge and shot home, and the sheepskins were wrapped around sponge heads to swab out the bore and quench any sparks before the next charge went in. Slow match was a cord soaked in saltpetre that smouldered steadily and was kept burning at the batteries to fire the guns.

263

258

10th February

On Monday Night last just as the Ship Admiral

Stevens was getting away William French Coxswain of the Long Boat

that was employed in the Service of that Ship while she was here came

on shore and acquainted Us that five of the Boats Crew Namely George

Exton Francis Clansey John Lawrence Henry Crabb and John

Shrubshall had deserted upon which we immediately made a signal

by firing two Guns and hoisted a Light and sent Lieutenant Thomas

Bazett in a Boat to endeavour to board her and bring the Deserters Back

but he returned without being able to effect it as they did not observe the

Signal but put out their Lights and made all the sail they possibly

could; As we have great reason to suspect these Men had been inveigled

away we took the following depositions viz.

William French Patron of the Long Boat being duly

Sworn saith that on Monday the 3d Instant about six oClock in the

Evening being a long side of the Ship Admiral Stevens went on board her

and desired the Commanding Officer to turn out some of the People to

rouse the Cable onboard the Ship which being done wanting water and

being refused it upon the Quarter Deck was Obliged to go between Decks

and upon his returning again upon the Quarter Deck Missed Henry

Crabb one of the Long Boats Crew he immediately went to the Chief

Mate and acquainted him that one of the Soldiers was missing and

desired he would not detain him to which he answered he would not

nor the Coxswain French; upon which he this deponent went to the Boat

and likewise missed John Shrubshall another of the said Boats Crew

the Captain then Coming on board he the said French went to him

and acquainted him that two of the Boats Crew were missing and hoped

he would not detain them upon which the Captain Answered that

the Ship belonged to the Company as well as the Long Boat the

Captain then asked him if he wanted any Assistance to tow the

Boat to her Moorings he replied that he had four Men left and

Margin Notes:

[...]

On the night of Monday 3 February 1766, just as the Admiral Stevens was getting under way, William French came ashore with news of a desertion. French was coxswain of the longboat that had served the ship while she lay at the island. He reported that five of the boat's crew had deserted: George Exton, Francis Clancey, John Lawrence, Henry Crabb and John Shrubshall.

The Council at once signalled the ship by firing two guns and hoisting a light. It sent Lieutenant Thomas Bazett out in a boat to try to board her and bring the deserters back. Bazett returned without success. The ship ignored the signal, put out her lights and crowded on all the sail she could carry. The Council had strong grounds to suspect that the men had been lured away, and it took sworn statements from witnesses.

William French, coxswain of the longboat, stated on oath that he brought the boat alongside the Admiral Stevens at about six in the evening on 3 February 1766. He went aboard and asked the officer in command to send some of the crew to haul in the cable. That was done. French then needed water and was refused it on the quarterdeck, so he went below to find some. When he came back up, he noticed that Henry Crabb, one of the longboat's crew, was missing.

French went straight to the chief mate and told him that one of the soldiers had gone. He asked the mate not to keep the man aboard. The mate replied that he would hold neither the soldier nor French himself. French then returned to the boat and found that John Shrubshall, another of the crew, was also missing.

When the captain came aboard, French told him that two of the boat's crew had disappeared and asked him not to keep them. The captain replied that the ship belonged to the Company just as much as the longboat did. He then asked French whether he needed help to tow the boat back to her moorings. French answered that he still had four men left.

Interpretations

All five deserters were soldiers of the garrison, entered on the pay list for the quarter ending 31 December 1765: Henry Crabb in the First Company, George Exton and John Shrubshall in the Second, Francis Clancey in the Third and John Lawrence in the Fourth. Soldiers manned the longboat when ships were in the road, which put them alongside outward-bound vessels at the very moment escape was easiest. A departing ship offered the only way off the island, and service in the boats gave men the chance to slip aboard unnoticed.

The captain's answer was an evasion dressed as a principle. By pointing out that the ship and the longboat both belonged to the Company, he implied that a soldier passing from one to the other had done no wrong, and so avoided giving the men up. His later offer of help to tow the boat suggested he wanted French gone quickly. The ship's refusal to answer the signal guns and her dousing of lights confirmed that the deserters were being kept aboard deliberately, with the officers' knowledge.

The Council did not simply note the loss. It took French's evidence under oath, turning his account into a formal deposition that could be sent to the directors in London. A sworn record was needed to bring a charge against the commander of a Company ship, since only the Court of Directors could punish him, and his conduct on the voyage home would otherwise go unchallenged.

264

259

1766

good Oars therefore wanted none upon which the Captain threatened to tow him

four or Five Leagues in the Offing and Ordered the small Boat to be manned

with a White Quarter Master and four Lascars which towed him to the Long

Boats Moorings but the night being dark could not see the Bouy the

Quarter Master then Threatened to cast him loose the said French desired

he would not leave him so as he had no Moorings on board of the Long Boat

but securing himself by a six Oared Boat belonging the Honorable

Company three of the Men Namely George Exton Francis Clansey and

John Lawrence jumped in the Ships Boat and Rowed away to the Ship

and the Quarter Master wished him a good night the Anchor being then

a Peak

Timothy Brion being likewise duly Sworn saith that

on Sunday the 2d Instant being left on board the Ship about nine oClock

at night he asked the Chief Mate to send him on shore as he was a

Garrison Man upon which he replied dont be afraid as you are on board

a Compys Ship and a Companys Servant as well as he was he the said Bryan

then went Forward upon the Forecastle the Commanding Officer Sent his

Black Servant to him and Ordered him upon the Quarter Deck which

Order he Obeyed and upon his coming Forward the Chief mate said my Lad

dont be afraid Ill give you a Letter to the Governor to morrow Morning and

sent him supper a Bowl of Punch and half a Bottle of Red wine and

about a Quarter of an Hour after he came out upon the Quarter Deck again

and asked him the said Brion whether he would go in the Ship with him he

answered no and came on shore in the Long Boat the next morning This said

deponent further declares that being in the Long Boat along side of the Ship

the night she sailed he saw John Shrubshall follow the Coxswain

William French up in the Ship and the said French missing Henry

Crabb and John Shrubshall two Men belonging to the Boat applied to the

Captain for them and heard French say to him he hoped he was more of a

Gentleman than to distress the Companys Long Boat by taken two Men

belonging

Margin Notes:

[...]

[...]

William French went on to state that, having four men and good oars, he needed no help. The captain then threatened to tow him four or five leagues out to sea. Instead he ordered the ship's small boat to be manned by a white quartermaster and four lascars, who towed the longboat towards its moorings. The night was too dark to see the mooring buoy, and the quartermaster threatened to cast the longboat loose. French begged him not to leave it adrift, since it carried no moorings of its own. French made the longboat fast to a six-oared boat belonging to the Company. At that moment three of his men, George Exton, Francis Clancey and John Lawrence, jumped into the ship's boat and rowed off to the ship. The quartermaster wished French good night. By then the ship's anchor was already hove short, ready to be weighed.

Timothy Bryan also gave evidence on oath. On the evening of Sunday 2 February 1766 he had been left aboard the ship at about nine o'clock. He asked the chief mate to have him put ashore, since he belonged to the garrison. The mate told him not to worry, because he was aboard a Company ship and was a Company servant just as the mate was. Bryan then went forward to the forecastle. The commanding officer sent his black servant to fetch him and ordered him to the quarterdeck, and Bryan obeyed.

The chief mate reassured him again and promised to give him a letter for Governor Skottowe the next morning. He sent Bryan a bowl of punch and half a bottle of red wine for his supper. About a quarter of an hour later the mate came back on deck and asked whether Bryan would sail with the ship. Bryan refused, and he came ashore in the longboat the following morning.

Bryan further stated that on the night the ship sailed he was in the longboat alongside her. He saw John Shrubshall follow the coxswain, William French, up the ship's side. When French found Henry Crabb and John Shrubshall missing, he asked the captain to return them. Bryan heard French tell the captain that he hoped he was too much of a gentleman to cripple the Company's longboat by taking two of its crew.

Interpretations

Timothy Bryan's evidence showed that the desertions were not a sudden escape but the end of a deliberate effort by the ship's officers. The night before she sailed, the chief mate kept a garrison soldier aboard, soothed his fears by insisting all were Company servants together, plied him with punch and wine, and then invited him to sail. Bryan refused, but the same approach evidently worked on the five who went. Bryan himself was entered on the pay list for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 as a private in the First Company.

The commander had a practical motive. Ships sailing home after months at sea were often short of hands through death and sickness, and able-bodied men taken from the island filled the gaps at no cost to the vessel. Soldiers were the Company's servants too, so the officers could argue they were merely moving men from one branch of its service to another. For the island the loss was real: five trained soldiers gone from a small garrison that could not easily replace them.

Lascars were seamen recruited in India, commonly serving on East India Company ships alongside European sailors. An anchor hove short, the meaning of the manuscript's phrase, had been hauled in until the cable stood almost vertical, with the ship directly above it and ready to sail at once. That French was cast off at that moment showed how close the ship was to leaving, and how little chance there was of recovering the men once they were aboard.

265

260

10th February

belonging to her he replying that the Ship Belonged to the Company

as well as the Long Boat Captain Griffin then ordered a Candle and

Lanthorn to be got to search below for the aforesaid two Men but soon

after they returned and he heard some body on board the ship say one

of the Soldiers was fallen over board upon which they left the Ship

he further confirms the latter part of Frenches Evidence with regard

to George Exton Francis Clansey and John Lawrence jumping out of the

Long Boat into the Ships Boat and returning with her to the

Admiral Stevens

Lieutenant Thomas Bazett who was the

Officer sent upon being informed of the Desertion of the above Men

being Duly sworn deposeth that on Monday the 3d Instant he was

sent with a Boat between the Hours of eight and nine in the evening to

board the Ship Admiral Stevens which had just weighed Anchor to

stop some Men that had deserted from the Garrison accordingly

pursued the Ship came up with her very fast soon after he observed

for about half an Hour with a Light hoisted for a signal

that her lights disappeared and they made more sail from

which proceedings he supposes they must have seen the Signal

which was a man standing up in the stern of the Boat with a

Lanthorn and Candle in his hand and imagines they put out their

Lights to avoid the Boats boarding of the Ship

John Herring another of the Soldiers being

missed the night the Admiral Stevens Sailed and his Cloaths

found near the Water side we suppose he likewise deserted on board

that Ship

The Governor received the following Letter from Capt

Griffin upon the return of the Long Boat viz.

William French's request to the captain drew the same answer as before: the ship belonged to the Company just as the longboat did. Captain Griffin then ordered a candle and lantern to be brought so that the two missing men could be searched for below decks. The searchers soon came back, and Timothy Bryan heard someone aboard say that one of the soldiers had fallen overboard. With that, French and his party left the ship. Bryan also confirmed the last part of French's evidence. He saw George Exton, Francis Clancey and John Lawrence jump from the longboat into the ship's boat and return with it to the Admiral Stevens.

Lieutenant Thomas Bazett, the officer sent out when the desertion was reported, gave evidence on oath. On the evening of Monday 3 February 1766, between eight and nine o'clock, he was sent with a boat to board the Admiral Stevens, which had just weighed anchor. His orders were to demand the return of men who had deserted from the garrison. He chased the ship for about half an hour with a light hoisted as a signal, and he was gaining on her quickly. Soon afterwards her lights went out and she set more sail. Bazett believed the crew must have seen his signal, which was a man standing in the stern of the boat holding a lit lantern. He thought they had put out their lights to stop his boat from boarding.

Another soldier, John Herring, was found to be missing on the night the Admiral Stevens sailed. His clothes were discovered near the shore. The Council concluded that he too had deserted aboard that ship.

Governor Skottowe received a letter from Captain Griffin when the longboat returned.

Interpretations

The commander who carried off the deserters was the same Captain John Griffin with whom the Council had just done business. On 27 January 1766 it paid him £131 10s 6d for wheat, arrack and sago, and on 3 February 1766, the very day he sailed, it took £396 into the Company's chest and gave him bills on the directors in London. Those bills were the Council's only remaining hold over him. A report of his conduct, backed by sworn evidence, could reach the Court of Directors before he did, and the directors controlled both his future commands and the bills he was carrying home.

The search below decks and the cry that a soldier had fallen overboard looked like a deliberate ruse. A brief search with a candle gave the appearance of good faith, while the claim of a man lost overboard offered a ready explanation for his absence that ended any further enquiry. John Herring's clothes left on the shore served the same purpose for the island: a man who seemed to have drowned would not be looked for. Herring appeared on the pay list for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 as a private in the Third Company.

266

261

1766

To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr Governor of

St Helena

Ship Admiral Stevens in St Helena

Road 3d February 1766

Worshipful Sir

One of the Long Boats Crew has Secreted himself on

board the Ship that I cannot find with all the search I can make and as

the Ship is under way and night comming on I cannot possibly stop the

Ship to search more thoroughly

I am

Worshipful Sir

Your most obedient Servant

Signed John Griffin

We this day put apprentices for five Years George Daniel

and Frank two of the Honble Compys Slave Boys to John Robinson

Carpenter to learn the Trade of a Carpenter as likewise Belford and

Luke two others to William Holbrook to learn the Trade of a mason the

Covenants bear date the 1st of October 1765 they having them from that

time upon Tryal the several Apprentices to be Cloathed and Fed by the

Honorable Company during the term of their Apprenticeship

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

Margin Notes:

[...]

[...]

Captain John Griffin wrote to Governor Skottowe from the Admiral Stevens in St Helena road on 3 February 1766. He reported that one of the longboat's crew had hidden himself aboard and could not be found, however thoroughly the ship was searched. With the ship already under way and night falling, Griffin said he could not possibly stop her to make a fuller search.

The Council apprenticed two of the Company's slave boys, George Daniel and Frank, to John Robinson, the carpenter, for five years to learn his trade. Two others, Belford and Luke, were apprenticed to William Holbrook to learn the mason's trade. The agreements were dated 1 October 1765, since the masters had already had the boys on trial from that date. The Company undertook to clothe and feed all four apprentices for the whole of their training. The Governor signed the minutes with Daniel Corneille, Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

Interpretations

Griffin's letter admitted to a single stowaway when the sworn evidence showed five soldiers taken aboard in full view of his officers, with a sixth, John Herring, missing the same night. Written as the ship was sailing and sent back with the longboat, it was a note meant for the record. By claiming one man had hidden beyond finding and that darkness and the ship's motion prevented a proper search, Griffin set out his own defence before any charge could be made, and the Council entered it in its minutes alongside the depositions that contradicted it.

The apprenticeships showed the Company choosing to train its own slaves rather than go on hiring skilled labour. The paymaster's account for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 paid for hundreds of days of carpentry, bricklaying and masonry at 1s 6d a day, and masons on the officers' houses at 3s. By placing slave boys with John Robinson and William Holbrook, the master carpenter and master mason already on the Company's pay list, the Council aimed to produce craftsmen who would work for food and clothing alone once trained. The backdating to 1 October 1765 confirmed that the boys had first been tested, so that only those suited to the trade were bound for the full five years.

267

262

17th February

At a Consultation held on Monday the 17th Day of February 1766

at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Govr

Mr Matthew Burling

Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 10th

February 1766

Tuesday the 11th Died Thomas Mudge Soldier

Saturday the 15th Arrived the Earl of Middlesex Boat at Bankss

at six oClock in the Morning

Do . . . . Do the Honorable Companys Ship Earl of

Middlesex from Madrass and brought the

following Supplies viz.

Invoice of Ship Earl of Middlesex

R Bags 26 Rice 26 Bags Gross Wt 32 . 2 . 25

Tare @ 2 lb Each . . 1 . 24

Nt 32 . 1 . 1 or 156 Mds @ 99.4.50 Pr Ga

38 . 28 . 75

P Bags 33 Paddy 33 Bags G Wt 30 . 3 . 13

Tare @ 2 lb Each . . 2 . 10

Nt 30 . 1 . 3 or 220 Mds @ 9 Pr Pags

22 . 8 . -

Batavia Arrack

3 Leagrs Gr 450 Galls @ 40 Pags Pr Leagr

120 . -

180 . 32 . 75

Carried over

180 . 32 . 75

Margin Notes:

[...]

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 17 February 1766, with Governor Skottowe presiding. Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, attended with Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council. The minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 1766 were read, approved and signed.

Thomas Mudge, a soldier, died on Tuesday 11 February 1766. At six in the morning on Saturday 15 February 1766, a boat from the Earl of Middlesex landed at Banks's. Later that day the Company's ship Earl of Middlesex arrived from Madras with the following supplies.

The ship's invoice listed the goods as follows.

Rice, 26 bags, gross weight 32 cwt 2 qr 25 lb

Tare at 2 lb a bag, 0 cwt 1 qr 24 lb

Net weight of rice, 32 cwt 1 qr 1 lb, or [...], at [...], 38 pagodas 28 fanams 75 cash

Paddy, 33 bags, gross weight 30 cwt 3 qr 13 lb

Tare at 2 lb a bag, 0 cwt 2 qr 10 lb

Net weight of paddy, 30 cwt 1 qr 3 lb, or [...], at [...], 22 pagodas 8 fanams 0 cash

Batavia arrack, 3 leaguers containing 450 gallons, at 40 pagodas a leaguer, 120 pagodas 0 fanams 0 cash

Total, 180 pagodas 32 fanams 75 cash

Total carried forward, 180 pagodas 32 fanams 75 cash

Interpretations

The invoice was made out in the currency of Madras, where the goods were bought, not in sterling. The pagoda was a small gold coin and the standard unit of account on the Coromandel Coast; it divided into 36 fanams, small silver or gold coins, and each fanam into 80 cash, tiny copper pieces. Keeping the invoice in the currency of purchase preserved the actual cost the Company's servants at Madras had paid, and the island's accountants would later convert it into pounds to bring it into their own books.

Weights were recorded gross, with the tare, the weight of the empty sacking at 2 lb a bag, deducted to give the net amount actually supplied. That calculation mattered because rice and paddy were paid for by net weight, and an allowance for the bags protected the Company from paying grain prices for cloth.

Batavia arrack was distilled at the Dutch port of Batavia in Java from molasses and fermented rice, and was reckoned among the best arracks of the eastern trade. It was shipped in leaguers, the large casks already met in Captain Griffin's sale of 27 January 1766, and this consignment of 450 gallons replenished the supply that had run so short the garrison had to buy from Griffin at 4s a gallon.

The ship's boat landing at Banks's hours before the ship came into the road served to announce her arrival and identify her as a friendly Company vessel, so that the batteries would hold their fire and the Castle could prepare to receive her. Thomas Mudge, whose death was recorded on 11 February 1766, appeared on the pay list for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 as a private in the Second Company.

268

263

1766

Brought over

180 . 32 . 75

Charges Merchandize

Gunny Bags 59 @ 60 Pr %

1 . 27 . 57

Twine for Do 3 @ 2

. 3 . -

Weighing Cooley

. 3 . 40

Tin Plates & Nails

. 10 . 40

Boathire 5 Boats @ 3 fa

1 . 4 . -

Cooly Hire

. 13 . -

Tarpaulin hire 2 Do at 4

. 8 . -

4 . 25 . 57

184 . 35 . 52

184 . 35 . 52

Errors Excepted

(signed) Richd Fairfield Acct

We this day Fined John Seale and James Goudy in the

Sum of twenty Shillings each to the Honble Companys Cash for going

on board of the Ship Earl of Middlesex and purchasing Salt Provision

from the Seamen Contrary to Orders

Counted and examined the Honorable Companys

Cash for the Month of January last which is as follows viz.

The invoice of the Earl of Middlesex continued with the charges on the goods, carried on from the total of the previous page.

Total brought forward, 180 pagodas 32 fanams 75 cash

Charges on the goods, as follows:

59 gunny bags at 60 pagodas a hundred, 1 pagoda 27 fanams 57 cash

Twine for the bags, 0 pagodas 3 fanams 0 cash

Porter's wages for weighing, 0 pagodas 3 fanams 40 cash

Tin plates and nails, 0 pagodas 10 fanams 40 cash

[...] 5 pots at 3 fanams each, 1 pagoda 4 fanams 0 cash

Porters' hire, 0 pagodas 13 fanams 0 cash

Tarpaulin covering for 2 [...] at 4 fanams each, 0 pagodas 8 fanams 0 cash

Subtotal for charges, 4 pagodas 2 fanams 57 cash

Total, 184 pagodas 35 fanams 52 cash

Richard Fairfield, the accountant, signed the invoice, reserving the right to correct any errors.

The Council fined John Seale and James Goudy 20s 0d each, payable into the Company's cash. Both men had gone aboard the Earl of Middlesex and bought salt provisions from her seamen in breach of standing orders.

The Company's cash for January 1766 was afterwards counted and checked.

Interpretations

The fines enforced the Company's control over trade with ships in the road. Seamen often sold off salt beef and pork from their rations, or from stores they had pilfered, to islanders who were short of meat. Such private dealing undercut the Company's own sales of provisions at a fixed advance and drained ships of food they would need on the voyage home. Forbidding settlers and soldiers to board without leave, and fining those who did, kept all trade with passing ships flowing through official channels. James Goudy appeared on the pay list for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 as a private in the Fourth Company, so the order applied to soldiers as much as to settlers.

The charges added at the foot of the invoice brought the cost of the goods up to their full landed price. Gunny bags were coarse sacks woven from jute in Bengal, the standard packing for rice and grain in the eastern trade. The porters, hired at Madras for weighing and carrying, worked for very small sums, and their wages, along with twine, tarpaulin and tin, were all charged to the goods so that the Company knew what each consignment had truly cost before it reached the island.

269

264

Cash Dr

1766 January 1 To Balance remaining

£ 6605 . 13 . 10

£ 6605 . 13 . 10

Per Contra Cr

1766 Janry 31st By Balance remaining

In Spicie

6066 . 3 . 10

In Cash Notes of no use

539 . 15 . -

£ 6605 . 18 . 10

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

Margin Notes:

17th February

The Company's cash account for January 1766 was closed on 17 February as follows.

Receipts:

1 January 1766, balance in hand, £6,605 18s 10d

Total, £6,605 18s 10d

Balance:

31 January 1766, balance in hand in coin, £6,066 3s 10d

31 January 1766, balance in hand in unusable cash notes, £539 15s 0d

Total balance in hand, £6,605 18s 10d

Total, £6,605 18s 10d

Governor Skottowe signed the account with Daniel Corneille, Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

Interpretations

The chest stood untouched for the whole of January 1766, with exactly the same coin and notes at the end of the month as at the start. Yet on 27 January 1766 the Council bought wheat, arrack and sago from Captain John Griffin for £131 10s 6d, and a receipt was signed for the full amount on his behalf. That payment did not pass through the cash account in January. It was perhaps settled against the £396 0s 0d that Griffin paid into the chest on 3 February 1766, so that only the difference changed hands and the Company gave him bills on London for the net sum.

The £539 15s 0d in unusable notes carried over unchanged from the close of the previous quarter. The Council went on counting them as part of the balance month after month, since it had no authority to write them off, and they would remain on the books until the directors in London decided what to do with them.

270

265

24th February

At a Consultation held on Monday the 24th Day of February 1766 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 17th

February 1766

Mr Matthew Burling reports that he has been on

board the Ship Earl of Middlesex to Muster her Company and enquire

for Deserters but found none her Muster Roll is as follows viz.

Muster Roll of Ship Earl of Middlesex

Henry Fletcher Commander

Joseph Smith 1st Mate

Elias Carter 2d Do

George Tibbets 3d

William Turner 4th

William Dalling 5th

John Thomas 6th

John Armstrong Surg

William Webb Do Mate

Joseph Bonnis Gunner

Robert Furling Purser

John Millard Midshipm

Henry Anderson

John Knight

Willm Este

Daniel Erin

Willm Holloway Midshipm

Willm Astell Gunners Mte

James Mincher Bosns Do

Shaduck Fox Do

George Gardner Carpent Do

Robert Scott Caulker

George Castleton Armorer

John Pattingson Carpent

Frances Webble Cook Mte

Thomas Baxter Shipp Stewd

John Small Capt Do

John Ogilvie Ships Cook

James Shep Captns Do

John Dadford Coulterer

Thos Smith Capt Servt

John Merment Do

Frances Clark 1st Mates Servt

Charles Mee Gunners Do

John Whitehead Bosns Do

Geo Twentymen Carp Do

Samuel Collis Quartermaster

Willm Ford

Phillip Atkinson

Allen Steward

Thomas Cape Seaman

Alexr Virt

John Knowles

Alexr Lynn

John Artiss

Humphry Dillon

David Allen

George Barrise

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 24 February 1766, with Governor Skottowe presiding. Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, attended with Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council. The minutes of the meeting held on 17 February 1766 were read, approved and signed.

Matthew Burling reported that he had gone aboard the Earl of Middlesex to muster her crew and search for deserters. He found none. The ship's muster roll read as follows.

Henry Fletcher, commander

Joseph Smith, first mate

Elias Carter, second mate

George Sibbels, third mate

William Turner, fourth mate

William Dalling, fifth mate

John Thomas, sixth mate

John Armstrong, surgeon

William Webb, surgeon's mate

Joseph Bervis, gunner

Robert Farling, boatswain

John Millard, midshipman

Henry Anderson, midshipman

John Knight, midshipman

William Este, midshipman

Daniel Ervin, midshipman

William Holloway, midshipman

William Astell, gunner's mate

James Mincher, boatswain's mate

Shadrach Fox, boatswain's mate

George Gardner, carpenter

Robert Scott, caulker

George Castleton, armourer

John Pattingson, carpenter

Francis Kebble, cook's mate

Thomas Baxter, ship's steward

John Small, captain's steward

John Ogilvie, ship's cook

James Shey, captain's cook

John Dadford, [...]

Thomas Smith, captain's servant

John Morment, captain's servant

Francis Clark, armourer's mate

Charles Mac[...], gunner's mate

John Whitehead, boatswain's mate

George Sweetyman, carpenter's mate

Samuel Collis, quartermaster

William Ford, quartermaster

Phillip Atkinson, quartermaster

Allen Steward, quartermaster

Thomas Cape, seaman

Alexander Vint, seaman

John Knowles, seaman

Alexander Lynn, seaman

John Arliss, seaman

Humphry Dillon, seaman

David Allen, seaman

George Parrise, seaman

Interpretations

The mustering of the Earl of Middlesex was the Council's answer to the loss of six soldiers aboard the Admiral Stevens on 3 February 1766. Instead of relying on a commander's word, a councillor now went aboard in person and called every man on the ship's books by name. Anyone present who was not on the roll could be identified at once as a stranger, and a later muster before sailing could be checked against this one to show whether any islander had been added in the meantime. Having the full roll copied into the minutes gave the Council its own record of who should be aboard when she left.

The roll set out the structure of a large East Indiaman's company. Six mates under the commander reflected the size of these ships and the need for officers to keep watch on long voyages, while the midshipmen were young men training to become officers. The many specialists, from caulker and armourer to the captain's personal steward, cook and servants, showed how much of the crew existed to maintain the ship and serve the commander, with the ordinary seamen forming only a part of the whole.

271

266

24th February

James Lyon Seaman

William Brown

Michl Bailey

John Meachum

John Edwards

Martin Andrews

David Jacks

Elisha Rowley

Christopher Sykes

George Smith

William Wright

Gideon Davis

Daniel Riley

John Jones

Christopher Long

John Brown

Joseph Desoss

Edward Vaughan

John Sherlock

Charles Marrs Seaman

Charles Freshwaks

David Fairweather

Nicholas Robbinson

Bennet Laverett

Nichl LClair

Peter Belgram

William Fowler

Abraham Jacobs

Geo Chavelier

Chas Shelton

Samuel May

William Haywood

George Morris

Joseph Griffin

Edward Saunders

Martin Smith

James Plumber

Henderick Offenius

Joseph Waldow Seaman

Francis Harris

Ignatius Heydeker

Antony Strauss

Thomas Jones

James Gilmore

Etnagh

Bung

Tanglesprong

Legrenell

Francis Galavue

Heidar

John Beckett

Samshagrain

Greenshill

Benham

Manuel John

Markes

St Germain

Passengers

The Honble Christn Van Teylingen Esqr

Governor of Negapatnam

Theodorus Van Teylingen

A Van Teylingen 3 Children

A Gertryda Matthews

P Hasz Secretary

Mr Van Teylingen Servants eight

Mrs MacNabb wife of Lieut MacNabb

M D Castro Merchant of Madrass

John Young Mason Surg of Bombay

Officers of His Majestys 79 Regt

Capt Backhouse

Capt Russell

Lieut Scott

MacNabb

Garnons

Bonjour

Smith

Ensign Spencer

Wm Hering Surgeons Mate

Private Soldiers 42

(signed)

Henry Fletcher

The muster roll of the Earl of Middlesex continued with the rest of her seamen, followed by her passengers.

James Lyon, seaman

William Brown, seaman

Michael Bailey, seaman

John Meachum, seaman

John Edwards, seaman

Martin Andrews, seaman

David Jacks, seaman

Elisha Rowley, seaman

Christopher Sykes, seaman

George Smith, seaman

William Wright, seaman

Gideon Davis, seaman

Daniel Riley, seaman

John Jones, seaman

Christopher Long, seaman

John Brown, seaman

Joseph Desoso, seaman

Edward Vaughan, seaman

John Sherlock, seaman

Charles Marrs, seaman

Charles Freshwater, seaman

David Fairweather, seaman

Nicholas Robinson, seaman

Bernard Saverett, seaman

Nicholas St Clair, seaman

Peter Belgram, seaman

William Fowler, seaman

Abraham Jacobs, seaman

George Chavelier, seaman

Charles Shelton, seaman

Samuel May, seaman

William Haywood, seaman

George Morris, seaman

Joseph Griffin, seaman

Edward Saunders, seaman

Martin Smith, seaman

James Plumber, seaman

Hendrick Assenius, seaman

Joseph Waldon, seaman

Francis Harris, seaman

Ignatius Heydeker, seaman

Antony Strauss, seaman

Thomas Jones, seaman

James Gilmore, seaman

Elenagh, seaman

Buny, seaman

Tanglesbong, seaman

Legonett, seaman

Francis Galowe, seaman

Heidar, seaman

John Beckett, seaman

Samshagrain, seaman

Greoshitt, seaman

Benham, seaman

Manewe John, seaman

Markes, seaman

St Germain, seaman

The passengers aboard were listed as follows.

Christian Van Teylingen, Governor of Negapatnam

Theodorus Van Teylingen, child

A. Van Teylingen, child

A. Gertruyda Matthews, child

P. Hasz, secretary

Servants of Christian Van Teylingen, 8

Mrs MacNabb, wife of Lieutenant MacNabb

C. Castro, merchant of Madras

John Young Mason, surgeon of Bombay

Officers of His Majesty's 79th Regiment of Foot:

Captain Backhouse

Captain [...]ssell

Lieutenant Scott

Lieutenant MacNabb

Lieutenant Garnons

Lieutenant Bonjour

Lieutenant Smith

Ensign Spencer

William King, surgeon's mate

Private soldiers, 42

Henry Fletcher, the commander, signed the roll.

Interpretations

The crew was far from wholly English. Alongside the English and Irish names stood Dutch, German, Portuguese and French seamen, and a group entered by a single name, such as Buny, Heidar, Tanglesbong and Samshagrain, who were almost certainly Indian or other Asian sailors recruited in the East. East Indiamen regularly lost men to disease and desertion in Asian ports and filled their crews with whoever could be found there. A roll this mixed made the Council's search for deserters harder, since a stranger with an English name would stand out, but an islander could not easily pass among them unnoticed by name alone.

The chief passenger was Christian Van Teylingen, the Dutch East India Company's Governor of Negapatnam, a Dutch settlement on the Coromandel Coast south of Madras. A senior official of a rival company travelling home on an English ship, with his family, his secretary and eight servants, showed that the two companies' servants extended practical courtesies to one another in peacetime, and that English ships were often the quickest passage to Europe.

The officers and 42 private soldiers of His Majesty's 79th Regiment were troops of the British Crown rather than of the Company, returning home after service in India. Their presence aboard meant the ship carried a substantial armed body, and their names were recorded with special care in case any of the island's own soldiers tried to hide among them as the ship prepared to sail.

272

267

1766

The Executor of Thomas Mudge Soldier and the

Administrator of Aaron Asdon this day presented the following Wills desiring

the same might be proved which was accordingly done upon the Oaths of

the Witnesses thereto the Wills are as follow viz.

Island St Helena

In the Name of God Amen

I Thomas Mudge Soldier in the Service of the Honble the United Compy

of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies being of sound

Mind and Memory blessed be God tho Weak of Body do make & ordain

this my last Will and Testament in manner and Form following viz.

In the first Place I recommend my Soul unto Almighty God that

gave it and my Body to be decently Buried at the discretion of my

Commanders As touching my Worldly effects I will & bequeath them

unto my true and wellbeloved Cousin Thos Burkham my Sole Executor

giving him full Power to receive all Debts as may be Due unto me at

the time of my Decease And I do hereby revoke and disannul all former

Wills by me at any time or times heretofore made Confirming and

Ratifying this to be my last Will & Testament Signed Sealed and

delivered in the presence of us who have hereunto set our Hands as

Witnesses this Tenth Day of February in the Year of our Lord one

Thousand seven hundred and Sixty six and in the sixth Year of the

Reign of his Majesty King George the Third

(signed)

his

Thos T Mudge

Mark

Witness

James Goudy

Thos Yates

In the Name of God Amen

I Aaron Asdon Soldier in the seventy Ninth Regt of Foot Commd by

Brigadier

The executor of Thomas Mudge, a soldier, and the administrator of Aaron Asdon both presented wills to the Council and asked for them to be proved. The Council proved both wills on the sworn evidence of their witnesses.

Thomas Mudge made his will on the island on 10 February 1766, in the sixth year of the reign of George III. He described himself as a soldier in the service of the East India Company, sound in mind and memory though weak in body. He commended his soul to God and asked to be buried decently as his commanding officers thought fit. He left all his worldly goods to his cousin Thomas Burkham, whom he named as sole executor, with full power to collect any debts owed to him at his death. He cancelled every earlier will he had made. Mudge, who could not write, signed the will with his mark. James Goudy and Thomas Yates witnessed it.

A second will followed, made by Aaron Asdon, a soldier in His Majesty's 79th Regiment of Foot under the command of a brigadier.

Interpretations

Thomas Mudge made his will on 10 February 1766 and died the next day, as the minutes of 17 February 1766 recorded. It was a deathbed will, drawn up in formal language by someone else and marked by a dying man who could not write. Its main purpose was practical: by naming an executor with power to collect debts, Mudge ensured that his unpaid wages, owed to his estate from the day of his last payment to the day of his death, would pass to his cousin rather than be lost.

Probate was granted on the oath of the witnesses alone. In the absence of a church court on the island, the Council acted as the probate authority, and the sworn word of those present at the signing was enough to establish that the mark was Mudge's own and that he had made the will freely. Both witnesses were soldiers: James Goudy, fined only on 17 February 1766 for trading with the Earl of Middlesex, and Thomas Yates, the gunner promoted in December 1765.

Aaron Asdon belonged not to the island's garrison but to the King's 79th Regiment, whose men had arrived as passengers aboard the Earl of Middlesex. His will coming before the Council showed that its authority to prove wills reached anyone who died on the island, whether Company servant or not, so that the estates of passengers could be settled before their ships sailed on.

273

268

24th February

Brigadear Genl Draper and Capt Wm Russels Compy Being Very

Weak of Body But of Perfect Mind and Memory and knowing that it is

Appointed for All men once to die Do make and ordain this my last

Will and Testament in Manner and Form following viz.

In the first Place I Recommend my Soul unto Almighty God who

gave it hoping for Mercy through the Merits of Jesus Christ his Son

our Lord and Redeemer and my Body to the Earth to be Buried at

the discretion of those appointed for that purpose

As touching my Worldly Effects I Will and bequeath them as

follows Item I give and bequeath to my Dear beloved Wife

Ann Asdon the full Sum of Sixty Pound of Good and Lawfull

Money of England with all my Pay arrears of pay and Prize

Money Due to or for me It I likewise Give and Bequeath unto

my Trusty and well beloved Friend George Johnson whom I

appoint my Sole Administrater the Just and full Sum of six

Pound Sterling of Good and Lawfull money of England & St out of

the aforesaid Sixty Pound I likewise Bequeath to my Dearly

Beloved Wife Anne Asdon Living in Exton Parish in the County

Cumberland four Silk Handkerchiefs one Pr of Silver Shoe Buckles

with the Sum above Mentioned Whom I appoint my Sole Executor

hereby revoking all former Wills and Legacys made by or for me

Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of us who have hereunto

Subscribed our Names as Witnesses this nineteenth Day of

February In the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred &

Sixty six And in the Sixth Year of the Reign of his Majesty King

George the Third

(signed)

Aaron Asdon his T Mark

Witness

George Swine

Andrew Rutherford his X Mark

Aaron Asdon served in Captain William Russell's company of the 79th Regiment of Foot, commanded by Brigadier General Draper. He made his will on 19 February 1766, in the sixth year of the reign of George III, while very weak in body but clear in mind and memory. He commended his soul to God, trusting in mercy through Christ, and left his burial to those responsible for it.

Asdon left his wife, Ann Asdon, the full sum of £60 0s 0d in English money. She was also to receive all his pay, any arrears of pay and any prize money owed to him. He named his close friend George Johnson as sole administrator and left him £6 0s 0d, to be taken out of the £60. To his wife, who lived in Eston parish in Cumberland, he further left four silk handkerchiefs and a pair of silver shoe buckles. He named her his sole executrix and cancelled all earlier wills and bequests.

Asdon could not write and signed the will with his mark. George Seune and Andrew Rutherford witnessed it, Rutherford also signing with his mark.

Interpretations

The will divided its duties between two people for a practical reason. Ann Asdon, as executrix, was the one entitled to the estate, but she lived in Cumberland, thousands of miles away. George Johnson, as administrator on the spot, could gather in the money, settle the soldier's affairs on the island and with his regiment, and see the proceeds sent home. His £6 0s 0d was in effect a fee for that work, taken out of the bequest so that the rest reached the widow intact.

Prize money was a soldier's share of the value of enemy property captured in war, divided among the forces that took it according to rank. Payments of prize money were often delayed for years while captures were valued and claims settled, which was why Asdon named it specifically: a share still owed to him at his death would otherwise have been lost to his family.

Captain Russell, whose company Asdon served in, was the officer partly legible as Captain [...]ssell on the passenger list of the Earl of Middlesex. Asdon was thus one of the 42 private soldiers of the 79th Regiment aboard, and his death at St Helena came within days of the ship's arrival on 15 February 1766.

274

269

1766

The Storekeeper this day delivered the following Account of

Stores Short received from the Ship Earl of Middlesex viz.

Account of Stores short received from Ship Earl of

Middlesex viz.

9 . 3 . 22 Rice Short weight

9 . 2 . 3 Paddy

5 G Arrack Waste

St Helena (signed)

24th February 1766 James Rowett Storekr

Bought on Account of the Honble Company the

following Provision viz.

3711 Pork @ 6 Pr lb of Capt Fletcher

£ 92 . 15 . 6

990 Do @ 2½ Pr lb of the Seamen

2 . 5 . 3

£ 95 . - . 9

William Fletcher an Invalid who has served three

Years of his Contracted time having procured Hendrick Offenius a

Discharged Soldier from Madrass who appears to be a good Man to

serve the remainder of his time We have Agreed to the exchange and

discharged the said Fletcher accordingly

Benjamin Pledger this day Petitioned to renew a

Lease for seven Acres of Land lying in the East Division of this Island

Granted

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

James Powell, the storekeeper, presented an account on 24 February 1766 of stores found short on delivery from the Earl of Middlesex.

Rice, short weight, 0 cwt 3 qr 22 lb

Paddy, short weight, 0 cwt 2 qr 3 lb

Arrack lost through leakage, 5 gallons

The Council bought the following provisions for the Company.

3,711 lb of pork from Captain Fletcher at 6d a pound, £92 15s 6d

99 lb of pork from the seamen at 5½d a pound, £2 5s 3d

Total, £95 0s 9d

William Fletcher, an invalid, had served three years of the term he had signed on for. He found a replacement in Hendrick Assenius, a discharged soldier from Madras who seemed a sound man, to serve out the rest of his time. The Council agreed to the exchange and discharged Fletcher.

Benjamin Pledger asked to renew his lease of seven acres in the East Division of the island. The Council granted his request. Governor Skottowe signed the minutes with Daniel Corneille, Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

Interpretations

The Council bought pork from the seamen of the Earl of Middlesex only a week after fining John Seale and James Goudy 20s each for doing exactly that. The prohibition had never been against buying from ships as such, but against private individuals doing so. Purchases made openly for the Company, at a recorded price and entered in the minutes, kept the trade in official hands, while islanders who dealt on their own account were punished for bypassing that control. The seamen's pork was slightly cheaper than the commander's, at 5½d against 6d a pound, which suggested the men were selling surplus ration meat they were glad to turn into cash.

William Fletcher's discharge rested on a substitute. Soldiers were engaged for a fixed term, and an invalid could not simply walk away from his contract; but a fit man willing to finish the term left the Company no worse off. Hendrick Assenius had come aboard the Earl of Middlesex and was entered on her muster roll among the seamen. Taking him into the garrison replaced a soldier who could no longer serve with one who could, and the Council recorded that he appeared a good man as the reason for accepting the trade. Fletcher appeared on the pay list for the quarter ending 31 December 1765, moving from the artillery to the Second Company in December.

The shortages reported by the storekeeper were the usual losses of a long voyage. Grain lost weight as it dried out in the hold and was nibbled by vermin, and casks of arrack seeped through their staves. Recording the shortfall formally allowed the Company to deduct it from the invoice cost rather than pay for goods it never received.

Benjamin Pledger's renewal showed leases running for fixed terms and coming back before the Council when they expired. Renewal was not automatic: the tenant had to petition, giving the Council the chance to review whether the land was being properly used before granting it again.

275

270

1st March

At a Consultation held on Saturday the 1st Day of March 1766 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thos Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 24th Febry

1766

Last night Arrived the Honorable Companys Ship

Plassey from England by which opportunity we received a Packet

from the Honorable the Court of Directors which we opened and read

their Honors Orders to Us upon which we sent for Captain Mitchell

and Mr Richard Beale and acquainted them with the Honorable

Companys Pleasure relative to them

As we have an ample supply of salt Provision by

the Store Ships Captain Fletcher desired he might have the salt Pork

he had spared Us returned to him which we agreed to and have not

paid the Sum of ninety two pounds fifteen Shillings and six pence

mentioned in last Consultation

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

The Council met at the Castle on Saturday 7 March 1766, with Governor Skottowe presiding. Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, attended with Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council. The minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 1766 were read, approved and signed.

The Company's ship Plassey arrived from England on the night of 6 March 1766. She brought a packet from the Court of Directors, which the Council opened and read. The packet contained the directors' orders, and the Council sent for Captain Mitchell and Richard Beale to tell them what the Company had decided concerning them.

The store ships had now brought an ample supply of salt provisions. Captain Fletcher therefore asked to have back the salt pork he had spared the island. The Council agreed, returned the pork and did not pay him the £92 15s 6d recorded at the previous meeting.

Interpretations

The pork bought from Captain Fletcher on 24 February 1766 had been a stopgap. Once the store ships arrived with salt provisions in quantity, the Council had no need of it and every reason to avoid paying for it. Fletcher, for his part, was about to sail on and could use the meat for his own crew and passengers. Returning it suited both sides: the Company kept £92 15s 6d in its chest, and the captain recovered stores worth more to him at sea than the money. Only the small quantity bought from the seamen for £2 5s 3d remained a charge on the Company.

The directors' orders concerning Archibald Mitchell and Richard Beale were not set out in the minutes. Both men held several posts at once, Mitchell as engineer and commander of the artillery and Beale as judge advocate, schoolmaster and captain of the Third Company, and orders from London addressed to them by name affected some of the most important offices on the island. The Council told them in person, which kept the substance of the directors' decision out of the general record.

276

271

3rd March

At a Consultation held on Monday the 3d Day of March 1766 at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 1st

March 1766

Yesterday afternoon Arrived the Honorable Compys

Ship Prince of Wales from England by which conveyance we received a

Packet from the Honorable the Court of Directors which we opened and read

their Orders to Us

Mr James Rowett this day presented the

following Petition viz.

To the Worshipl John Skottowe Esqr Governor &c

Council of the Island St Helena

The humble Petition of James Rowett

Sheweth

That your Petitioner has an opportunity of sending his

Son Richard off the Island upon the Ship Earl of Middlesex requests

your Worship and Council will give him leave so to do

And your Petitioner will ever pray

(signed)

James Rowett

3d March 1766

Granted

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 10 March 1766, with Governor Skottowe presiding. Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, attended with Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council. The minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 1766 were read, approved and signed.

The Company's ship Prince of Wales arrived from England on the afternoon of 9 March 1766. She brought a packet from the Court of Directors, which the Council opened, reading the orders it contained.

James Powell presented a petition to the Governor and Council at the same meeting, dated 10 March 1766. He explained that he had a chance to send his son Richard away from the island aboard the Earl of Middlesex. He asked for permission to do so. The Council granted his request.

Interpretations

No one could leave St Helena without the Council's consent, not even the son of a senior Company official. James Powell was the storekeeper, and the petition shows him following the same procedure as any other inhabitant. The rule gave the Council control over who left and on which ship. That control mattered on an island where every departure meant a ship's passage, a soldier or debtor could vanish aboard an outgoing vessel, and the population was small enough that each loss was felt. Coming only weeks after soldiers deserted aboard the Admiral Stevens, the formal petition and grant served as a record that this departure was authorised, so that Richard Powell could not later be taken for a runaway.

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3rd March

We this day sent for John Blund and acquainted

him with the Honorable Companys Orders relative to him and at

the same time cautioned him to be very Circumspect in his future

Behaviour as his stay upon the Island depended entirely upon it

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

At a Consultation held on Monday the 10th Day of March 1766

at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thos Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 3d

March 1766

Thursday the 6th Sailed the Honble Companys Ship Earl of Middlesex for [...]

This day Passed by a Ship at a great distance

The Gunners and Stewards Accounts for the Month

of February last were this day brought in which were examined and

approved and are as follow viz.

The Council sent for John Bland and told him what the Company's orders said about him. At the same time it warned him to be extremely careful in his future conduct, since his right to remain on the island depended entirely on it. Governor Skottowe signed the minutes with Daniel Corneille, Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 10 March 1766, with the Governor presiding. Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, attended with Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council. The minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 1766 were read, approved and signed.

The Company's ship Earl of Middlesex sailed for [...] on Thursday 6 March 1766. A ship passed the island far out to sea on 10 March 1766.

The gunner's and steward's accounts for February 1766 were presented at this meeting. The Council examined them and gave its approval.

Interpretations

Living on St Helena was a privilege the Company granted and could withdraw. The directors in London had sent orders concerning John Bland, and the Council's warning made plain that continued residence was conditional on good behaviour. Since every inhabitant depended on Company land, Company stores and Company ships, the power to send a man away by the next vessel was a powerful means of discipline, and it reached settlers who held no office and drew no pay as well as the Company's own servants.

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10th March

Artillery Stores Expended in the Month of Febry

1766

Guns Fired 9 lb, Guns Fired 4 lb, Guns Fired 3 lb, Guns Fired 2 lb, Guns Fired 1 lb, Powder Expended lb, Powder Expended Oz

1 Powder for Blowing Rocks at Ruperts: Guns Fired 9 lb 0, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 12, Powder Expended Oz 0

3 Do to Overseer of Long Wood: Guns Fired 9 lb 0, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 1, Powder Expended Oz 0

4 Sailed the Admiral Stevens: Guns Fired 9 lb 11, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 11, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 11, Powder Expended Oz 0

5 Powder for Blowing Rocks at Ruperts: Guns Fired 9 lb 0, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 6, Powder Expended Oz 0

10 Do for Do at Sandy Bay: Guns Fired 9 lb 0, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 12, Powder Expended Oz 0

13 Do for Lieutenant Governor: Guns Fired 9 lb 0, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 1, Powder Expended Oz 0

14 Do for the Funeral of Thos Mudge: Guns Fired 9 lb 0, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 2, Powder Expended Oz 4

13 Do for Shooting Goats on Murderers point: Guns Fired 9 lb 0, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 0, Powder Expended Oz 12

15 An Alarm: Guns Fired 9 lb 6, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 22, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 2, Powder Expended lb 12, Powder Expended Oz 0

Do at Banks for the same Ship: Guns Fired 9 lb 22, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 9, Powder Expended Oz 0

Arrived the Earl of Middlesex: Guns Fired 9 lb 9, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 9, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 9, Powder Expended Oz 0

Saluted a Dutch Governor coming ashore: Guns Fired 9 lb 13, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 13, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended Oz 0

16 Powder sent to Sandy Bay to Blow Rocks: Guns Fired 9 lb 0, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 100, Powder Expended Oz 0

17 Do for repairing the Cartridges of the Main Guard: Guns Fired 9 lb 0, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 0, Powder Expended Oz 12

21 Do for the Funeral of Asdon of Genl Drapers Regimt: Guns Fired 9 lb 0, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 2, Powder Expended Oz 4

22 Do for repairing Cartridges of the Main Guard: Guns Fired 9 lb 0, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 0, Powder Expended Oz 9

25 Do: Guns Fired 9 lb 0, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 1, Powder Expended Oz 8

28 An Alarm: Guns Fired 9 lb 6, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 22, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 2, Powder Expended lb 12, Powder Expended Oz 0

Arrived the Plassey: Guns Fired 9 lb 9, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 9, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 9, Powder Expended Oz 0

Powder for Priming at Sundry Times: Guns Fired 9 lb 0, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 7, Powder Expended Oz 12

Fired as Signals to the Admiral Stevens: Guns Fired 9 lb 2, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 2, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 2, Powder Expended Oz 0

Powder for Signals: Guns Fired 9 lb 0, Guns Fired 4 lb 0, Guns Fired 3 lb 0, Guns Fired 2 lb 0, Guns Fired 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 1, Powder Expended Oz 0

Total: Guns Fired 9 lb 53, Guns Fired 4 lb 24, Guns Fired 3 lb 4, Guns Fired 2 lb 44, Guns Fired 1 lb 4, Powder Expended lb 225, Powder Expended Oz 13

Tallow Expended for Sundries this Month

12 lb

Ramr Heads broke at Exercise at the different Forts

3

Sheep Skins for Coating Spunges

1

Nails for Do

100

Tompion broke at Bankss

1

Balls for Shooting Goats

12 oz

Nails for Spunges at the Main Fort

30

Shot Trucks for the Flag Staff

1

Match for the Works at Sandy Bay

6 lb

Handspikes for the Companys Works

7

Large Copper Nails for mendg the Kettles of the Middlesex

70

Small Do for Do

30

(signed)

A Mitchell

The artillery stores used during February 1766 were recorded on 10 March 1766 as follows, with the number of guns fired by calibre and the gunpowder used.

1 February 1766, gunpowder for blasting rocks at Rupert's, 0 guns fired, 12 lb 0 oz of powder

3 February 1766, gunpowder for the overseer at Longwood, 0 guns fired, 1 lb 0 oz of powder

The garrison saluted the Admiral Stevens, firing 11 guns, all 2-pounders, and using 11 lb 0 oz of powder.

5 February 1766, gunpowder for blasting rocks at Rupert's, 0 guns fired, 6 lb 0 oz of powder

10 February 1766, gunpowder for blasting rocks at Sandy Bay, 0 guns fired, 12 lb 0 oz of powder

13 February 1766, gunpowder for the Lieutenant Governor, 0 guns fired, 1 lb 0 oz of powder

14 February 1766, gunpowder for the funeral of Thomas Mudge, 0 guns fired, 2 lb 4 oz of powder

13 February 1766, gunpowder for shooting goats at Munden's Point, 0 guns fired, 0 lb 12 oz of powder

15 February 1766, an alarm, 6 guns fired: 0 nine-pounders, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders, 0 two-pounders and 2 one-pounders, 12 lb 0 oz of powder

15 February 1766, alarm at Banks's for the same ship, 2 guns fired, both nine-pounders, 9 lb 0 oz of powder

The garrison fired 9 guns, all 2-pounders, when the Earl of Middlesex arrived, using 9 lb 0 oz of powder.

Salute to a Dutch governor coming ashore, 13 guns fired, all two-pounders, 13 lb 0 oz of powder

16 February 1766, gunpowder sent to Sandy Bay for blasting rocks, 0 guns fired, 100 lb 0 oz of powder

17 February 1766, gunpowder for repairing the Main Guard's cartridges, 0 guns fired, 0 lb 12 oz of powder

21 February 1766, gunpowder for the funeral of Asdon of General Draper's regiment, 0 guns fired, 2 lb 4 oz of powder

22 February 1766, gunpowder for repairing the Main Guard's cartridges, 0 guns fired, 0 lb 9 oz of powder

25 February 1766, gunpowder for repairing the Main Guard's cartridges, 0 guns fired, 1 lb 8 oz of powder

28 February 1766, an alarm, 6 guns fired: 0 nine-pounders, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders, 0 two-pounders and 2 one-pounders, 12 lb 0 oz of powder

The garrison fired 9 guns, all 2-pounders, when the Plassey arrived, using 9 lb 0 oz of powder.

Gunpowder for priming at various times, 0 guns fired, 7 lb 12 oz of powder

The garrison fired 2 guns, both 2-pounders, as signals to the Admiral Stevens, using 2 lb 0 oz of powder.

Gunpowder for signals, 0 guns fired, 1 lb 0 oz of powder

Total, 58 guns fired: 2 nine-pounders, 4 four-pounders, 4 three-pounders, 44 two-pounders and 4 one-pounders, 225 lb 13 oz of powder

Other artillery stores used during the month were listed as follows.

12 lb of tallow for various purposes

3 rammer heads broken at exercise at the various forts

1 sheepskin for covering sponges

100 nails for covering sponges

1 tompion broken at Banks's

12 lb of shot for shooting goats

30 nails for sponges at the Main Fort

1 [...] truck for the flagstaff

6 [...] of slow match for the works at Sandy Bay

7 handspikes for the Company's works

The gunner also issued 70 large copper nails and 30 small copper nails for mending the kettles of the Middlesex. Mitchell signed the account.

Interpretations

More than half of all the gunpowder used in February went not into the guns but into blasting rock. The 100 lb sent to Sandy Bay on 16 February 1766, with smaller amounts for Rupert's, accounted for about 130 lb of the month's 225 lb. These were the same works recorded in the paymaster's account, where hired men were paid for stone blasting at Rupert's and labouring at Sandy Bay. The garrison's magazine served as the island's quarry store, and the gunner's account made the cost of building the defences visible alongside the cost of manning them.

The guns themselves were fired chiefly as signals and courtesies. Each ship that arrived was saluted, and the Dutch Governor of Negapatnam, Christian Van Teylingen, received 13 guns when he came ashore from the Earl of Middlesex. Nearly all salutes were fired from the small 2-pounders, which used about a pound of powder a shot, against more than 4 lb for a 9-pounder. The two 9-pounders fired at Banks's during the alarm of 15 February 1766 used almost as much powder as the entire salute to the Earl of Middlesex, which explains why the heavy guns were kept for real warning.

The alarms followed the sighting of strange ships. Fired from a set mix of 4-, 3- and 1-pounders, they called the garrison to its posts until an approaching vessel was identified. The funerals of Thomas Mudge and Aaron Asdon each used the same 2 lb 4 oz of powder, the standard allowance for the volleys fired over a soldier's grave, whether he belonged to the island's garrison or to a King's regiment passing through.

Powder and shot were also issued for shooting goats at Munden's Point. Feral goats ranged across the island and stripped vegetation from the steep slopes, and culling them was a regular charge on the garrison's stores. A tompion was a wooden plug fitted into a gun's muzzle to keep out rain and sea spray, and handspikes were heavy wooden levers used to shift guns on their carriages and to move stone at the works.

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10th March

Sundrys Expended at the Honble Compys Table in the Month of

February 1766 viz.

15 Bottles Port Wine

£ 1 . 2 . 6

36 Do Lisbon

2 . - . -

12 Do Mountain

. 18 . -

27 Do Beer

. 6 . 7½

6 Do Arrack

3 . 7 . 6

125 lb Beef

1 . 5 . 5

251 lb Mutton

5 . 3 . 4

12 Fowles

. 18 . -

1 Lamb

. 10 . -

12 lb Butter

. 12 . -

24 lb Candy

1 . 3 . -

243 Flour

1 . 10 . 5

£ 19 . - . 9½

We this day Executed the renewal of a Lease to

Benjamin Pledger for a piece of Land containing seven Acres lying

in the East Division of this Island at 5/ Pr Acre

Benjamin Pledger this day presented the

following Petition viz.

To the Worshipl John Skottowe Esqr Governor &c

Council of the Island St Helena

The humble Petition of Benjamin Pledger

Sheweth

That your Petitioner is desirous of assigning his

right to eighteen Acres of Land lying in the East Division of this

Island

The following food and drink were used at the Company's table during February 1766, as recorded on 10 March 1766.

15 bottles of port, £1 2s 6d

36 bottles of Lisbon wine, £2 [...]

12 bottles of mountain wine, £0 18s 0d

27 bottles of beer, £0 6s 7½d

60 bottles of arrack, £3 7s 6d

125 lb of beef, £1 5s 5d

251 lb of mutton, £5 3s 4d

12 fowls, £0 18s 0d

1 lamb, £0 10s 0d

12 lb of butter, £0 12s 0d

24 lb of sugar candy, £1 3s 0d

248 lb of flour, £1 10s 5d

Total, £19 0s 9½d

The Council completed the renewal of Benjamin Pledger's lease of seven acres in the East Division of the island, at a rent of 5s an acre.

Benjamin Pledger also presented a petition to Governor Skottowe and the Council. He stated that he wished to transfer to someone else his right to 18 acres of land in the island's East Division.

Interpretations

A tenant could not simply sell or hand over his lease; he had to petition for leave to assign it. The Company let land to particular people on particular terms, and approving each transfer let the Council judge whether the incoming holder was acceptable and able to work the land and pay the rent. Pledger's two transactions on the same day pointed to a settler reshaping his holdings, keeping a small plot on renewal while giving up a much larger one, perhaps because he could no longer farm 18 acres or had found a buyer willing to pay for his interest in them.

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275

1766

Island and to Accept of Mr John Desfountain Tenant for the same

And your Petitioner will ever pray

(signed)

10th March 1766 Benjamin Pledger

Granted

The Honorable Company not having any Yams in their

Plantations above six Months old which is six Months too soon to Dig

We this day assembled the Planters to know what Yams they could spare

in consequence of which they inform Us that all their Plantations were so very young

that they had scarce sufficient to

support their Families and having no other resource for Feeding the

Slaves with Bread kind we therefore came to a resolution of giving

them three Bread days a Week each Man which upon a computation

amounts to one Shilling Pr Week and Proportionably to Women and

Children We find by the above Computation that it comes Cheaper by

two pence half penny Pr Week to each Man as the price of Yams are three

Shillings Pr Hundred which expedient we thought the best to fall upon

as we have an ample Supply of Flour until the Plantations are fit

to dig or we receive a supply of Rice having at present but a little more

than one thousand pounds in Store

We this day received the following Memorial from several of the

principal Inhabitants viz.

To the Worshipl John Skottowe Esqr Governor & Council

Whereas your Memorialists have reason to suspect that

great part of the Private Trade brought out by the Gentlemen in the two

Storeships for the Supply of this Island have clandestinely and

contrary to the Regulations established by the Governor and Council

been monopolized by Jno Bland just arrived from England which

has an Evident Tendency to distress not only the Companys Servants

but

Margin Notes:

[...]

Benjamin Pledger's petition went on to ask that John Desfountain be accepted as tenant of the 18 acres in his place. Pledger signed it on 10 March 1766, and the Council granted it.

None of the yams in the Company's plantations were more than six months old, and yams needed a further six months before they were fit to dig. The Council therefore called the planters together to find out how many yams they could spare. They replied that their own plantations were so young that they barely had enough to feed their families. With no other source of starchy food for the slaves, the Council decided to give each man three bread days a week. By the Council's reckoning, this cost 1s a week for each man, with smaller amounts for women and children. The same calculation showed the change saved 2½d a week for every man, since yams cost 3s a hundred. The Council judged this the best course, because it held ample flour. The arrangement was to last until the plantations were ready to dig or a fresh supply of rice arrived, as only a little over 1,000 lb of rice remained in store.

Several of the leading inhabitants presented a memorial to Governor Skottowe and the Council the same day. They suspected that much of the private trade goods brought out by the gentlemen aboard the two store ships to supply the island had been secretly bought up by John Bland, who had just arrived from England. This broke the rules laid down by the Governor and Council, and the memorialists warned that it plainly tended to harm the Company's servants and others besides.

Interpretations

The Company's obvious course was to go on feeding its slaves on yams, which it had bought in quantity from Mary Seale at 3s a hundred in the last quarter of 1765. With its own crop unripe and the planters unable to sell, that course was closed, and the Council switched to flour instead. The minutes record the reason in figures: three bread days a week cost 1s for each man, 2½d less than the equivalent in yams. A forced change thus turned out cheaper, and the Council took care to show the directors that it had not only filled the gap but saved money doing so.

The memorial against John Bland explained the warning the Council had given him on 3 March 1766, when he was told that his stay on the island depended on his behaviour. Goods brought out as private trade by ships' officers were meant to be sold openly to the inhabitants under rules set by the Council. A newcomer who bought up the whole stock could resell it at whatever price he chose. Buying up supplies to control the market in this way, known as engrossing, struck hardest on a small island where no other source existed until the next ship, which is why the leading settlers combined to complain.

John Desfountain, accepted as tenant of Pledger's 18 acres, shared his surname with Lieutenant Samuel Desfountain, who supplied the Company with yams and suckers in the same quarter. The Desfountain household was evidently building up its landholding, and the transfer placed a substantial plot in the hands of a family already producing food for sale.

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10th March

but also the Inhabitants of this Island in General

Your Memorialists have therefore taken the Liberty of

laying the said Matter before you for your Consideration and Redress

St Helena (signed)

10th March 1766

Henry Bazett

Richd Goodwin

A Mitchell

Wm Wrangham

Isaac Doveton

Matthw Bazett

Robert Barclay

John Thackery

James Greentree

Jon Doveton

Richd Beale Junr

Richd Bagley

Orlando Bagley

John Alexander

Britt Alexr Wright

John Goodwin

John Desfountain

Od Bagley Junr

Benj Mason

Simon Whaley

Isaac Knipe

After reading the above Memorial we were further

informed that John Bland had Contracted with Mr James Upham

third Officer of the Prince of Wales for all his Venture to be convinced

thereof we sent for the said Mr Upham who appearing before Us

acknowledged

The memorialists stated that Bland's conduct would harm not only the Company's servants but the island's inhabitants in general. They had therefore brought the matter before the Governor and Council for consideration and redress. The memorial was dated at St Helena on 10 March 1766 and signed by the following.

Henry Bazett

Richard Goodwin

Mitchell

William Wrangham

Isaac Doveton

Matthew Bazett

Robert Barclay

John Thackery

James Greentree

Jonathan Doveton

Richard Beale the younger

Richard Bagley

Orlando Bagley

John Alexander

Britannicus Alexander Wright

John Goodwin

John Desfountain

Orlando Bagley the younger

Benjamin Mason

Simon Whaley

Isaac Knipe

After reading the memorial, the Council learned further that John Bland had made an agreement with James Upham, third officer of the Prince of Wales, to take the whole of Upham's private trade goods. To test the report, the Council sent for Upham. Upham came before the Council and made an acknowledgement.

Interpretations

The memorial was signed by many of the island's own officials as well as its planters. Henry Bazett commanded the Second Company, Matthew Bazett was secretary, Mitchell was engineer and commander of the artillery, Robert Barclay was surgeon and William Wrangham was assistant to the Governor. These men had a direct stake in the private trade goods brought by ships' officers, since they bought their own clothing, wine and household goods from them. A single buyer cornering the whole supply threatened their own purses as much as anyone's, and their names gave the complaint a weight the Council could hardly ignore.

A ship's officer's venture was the allowance of private goods he was permitted to carry and sell on his own account, a valuable part of his earnings. Selling the entire venture in one bargain to a single dealer was quicker and surer for Upham than retailing it piece by piece to islanders. For Bland it meant control of a large share of the goods available on the island until the next ship arrived. The Council's rules existed precisely to stop such bulk deals and keep the goods on open sale.

Among the signatories, James Greentree had lost his son Digby on 20 January 1766, and John Goodwin was the writer whose surname was only partly legible on the pay list for the quarter ending 31 December 1765.

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1766

acknowledged that he was under a Contract with Bland for his whole

Venture to the Island and pulled the said Contract out of his Pocket

from which it appeared Clearly to Us that the said Bland had taken

unjustifiable Methods to monopolize great part of the Goods and

Merchandize brought out in the Store Ships and not only so but had

contracted with the said Mr Upham to pay Dollars to him Considerably

under the Currency of the Island as will appear by the following Contract

viz.

Be it Remembered That it is agreed

between James Upham third Mate of the good East

India Ship or Vessel called the Prince of Wales

Jonathan Court Commander of the one part and

John Bland of the Island St Helena Gentn of

the other part as follows that is to say

Whereas the said Ship Prince of Wales is now bound out

(with Gods permission) on a Voyage to the East Indies in the Service of the

United Company of Merchants Trading there And the said James Upham

is appointed and to go on board the said Ship Prince of Wales and to remain and proceed with the said Ship

in the Station and Quality

of third Mate now the said James Upham doth Covenant and agree to

and with the said John Bland his Executors and Administrs by these

Presents That he the said James Upham shall and will take onboard

the said Ship Prince of Wales In the name of him the said James Upham

and under his protection but for and on Account of him the said John Bland

the following Goods being the Property of him the said James Upham that is

to say Two Chests of Beer half a Chest of Wine Half a Chest of Hungary

Water and one Box of the size or dementions of three feet and three Ins in

length two feet and two Inches in breadth and two feet and two Inches in

Depth which said Box contains a parcel of Hosiery And ten hams all

which said Goods abovementioned the said Jas Upham doth promise and

agree

Margin Notes:

[...]

James Upham admitted that he was bound by a contract with John Bland covering his entire stock of private goods for the island. He took the contract out of his pocket and showed it to the Council. The document made it clear that Bland had used improper means to gain control of much of the goods brought out in the store ships. It also showed that Bland had agreed to pay Upham in dollars, against the rules for the island's currency. The terms of the contract were as follows.

The agreement was made between James Upham, third mate of the East India ship Prince of Wales, commanded by Jonathan Court, and John Bland of St Helena, gentleman. It recited that the Prince of Wales was about to sail, God willing, on a voyage to the East Indies in the Company's service, and that Upham had been appointed to sail in her as third mate. Upham undertook to Bland and his heirs that he would carry certain goods aboard the ship in his own name and under his own protection, though on Bland's account. The goods were described as Upham's property and consisted of two chests of beer, half a chest of wine and half a chest of Hungary water. They also included a box of hosiery measuring 3 feet 3 inches long, 2 feet 2 inches wide and 2 feet 2 inches deep, together with ten hams. The contract went on to set out what Upham promised concerning these goods.

Interpretations

The contract was drawn up in England before the Prince of Wales sailed, which showed that Bland had arranged to corner Upham's goods well in advance rather than striking a bargain once he reached the island. By having the goods shipped in Upham's name and under his protection, Bland borrowed the officer's legitimate allowance of private trade while keeping the real interest for himself. On arrival the goods would appear to be an officer's ordinary venture, when in fact they were already Bland's stock for resale.

Payment in dollars broke the island's monetary rules. Spanish silver dollars circulated widely in the eastern trade, but the Council fixed the rate at which coin passed on St Helena so that prices and wages were reckoned in a single standard. A private contract settled in dollars at a rate agreed between the parties sidestepped that official rating and drew scarce silver away from ordinary circulation. The Council treated it as a separate offence alongside the cornering of goods.

Hungary water was a perfumed spirit distilled from rosemary and other herbs in alcohol, used as a toilet water and taken as a remedy for faintness and headaches. It was a fashionable luxury, and together with wine, beer, hosiery and hams it made up exactly the kind of small, high-value goods that islanders depended on officers to bring.

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10th March

agree to deliver unto the said John Bland (the Dangers of the Seas Excepted)

at the Island of Saint Helena within Six Days after the Arrival of the

said Ship at the said Island of Saint Helena And the said John Bland

doth hereby for himself his Executors and Admins Promise and Agree to bear

and run all risques of the said Goods untill the Arrival of the said Ship at

the Island of Saint Helena aforesaid and upon the Arrival of the said Ship

at the said Island the said John Bland doth Covenant and Agree to

receive and take the said Goods into his Custody and Possession within

the said Six days after the arrival of the said Ship at the said Island

and further the said John Bland doth hereby for himself his Executors

and Administrs Covenant Promise and Agree that he the said John

Bland shall and will well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto the

the Sum of one hundred and thirty pounds Sterling money for the abovementioned Goods and

said James Upham or his Order for the Freight and Carriage of the said

Goods the Sum of fifty two pounds sterling Money of Great Britain

immediately at and upon the delivery of the said Goods to the said John

Bland or his Order And the said John Bland doth also Covenant promise and

one hundred and thirty Pounds as well as the said Sum of

Agree that the payment of the said Sum of fifty two Pounds shall be

well and truly paid unto the said James Upham or his Order in

Spanish Dollars without any Covin fraud or delay and the said

Spanish Dollars shall be computed rated and Valued at and after

the Rate of five Shillings and four pence and one eighth of a Penny

Sterling Per Ounce being the Current price of Spanish Dollars now

the City of London in the Kingdom of Great Britain In Witness

whereof the said Parties to these presents have hereunto Interchangably set

their Hands and Seals this nineteenth day of November in the Sixth Year

of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of

great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so

forth and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty five

Sealed and delivered (being first duly Stampt) in the (signed) James Upham

presence of the several Interlinations hereon appearing

being first made John Bland

(signed) John Willis

Robt Stead

Under the contract, James Upham agreed to hand the goods over to John Bland at St Helena within six days of the ship's arrival there, barring loss at sea. Bland, for his part, undertook to bear every risk to the goods until the ship reached the island, and to take them into his own keeping within those six days. He further bound himself to pay Upham, or anyone Upham named, £130 0s 0d sterling for the goods and £52 0s 0d sterling for their freight and carriage, both due as soon as the goods were delivered. All of this money was to be paid in Spanish dollars, honestly and without delay. The dollars were to be valued at 5s 4⅛d sterling an ounce, which was stated to be their current price in London.

Both men signed and sealed the contract on 19 November 1765, in the sixth year of the reign of George III. The document was stamped as the law required and witnessed by John Willis and Robert Stead. The witnesses noted that the words added between the lines had been written in before the signing.

Interpretations

Bland's undertaking to bear all risks until the ship arrived was the decisive clause. In law, whoever carried the risk of loss was the real owner, so the goods were Bland's from the moment they were loaded, whatever the contract said about Upham's property and protection. The arrangement let Bland ship a cargo of his own inside an officer's personal allowance of private trade, which the Company granted to its officers alone and which no outsider was entitled to use.

The freight charge of £52 0s 0d on goods worth £130 0s 0d amounted to 40 per cent of their value, far above any ordinary shipping rate for a few chests and a box. Upham was in effect being paid for the use of his privilege rather than for carriage, and Bland expected to recover that cost and more by reselling the goods on an island where he had cornered the supply.

Valuing the dollars by weight at the London price of silver tied the payment to the bullion market in England rather than to the rate at which dollars passed on St Helena. The difference worked in favour of one party at the expense of the island's fixed standard, which was why the Council singled out the payment in dollars as a breach of its currency rules. The words added between the lines, which inserted the £130 0s 0d price into a clause originally covering freight alone, were certified by the witnesses as made before signing, a precaution that stopped either party from later claiming the contract had been altered.

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In consequence of the above proceedings we sent for the Captains

Court & Peters and enquired of them whether Bland had engrossed any part

of their Private Trade the Former said he had put some things into his

Hands which he had promised to let him have the disposal of when in

England but the latter declared he had no concern with him in any shape

we therefore recommended it to the Captains to expose their Goods in a Shop or

in some publick way that the Inhabitants in general might have an

opportunity of supplying themselves and at the same time observed to them that

they might keep their Shop were they pleased provided they had respect to

the Publick in the disposal of their Goods which they promised to do

The Steps Bland hath taken towards establishing

himself a Merchant and for that purpose endeavouring to engross several

Goods and Merchandize is very Extraordinary besides attempting to

introduce a bad president by lowering the Stated currency of the Dollar

Money from five Shillings to about four and seven pence when they

are constantly paid out of the Honorable Companys Cash at five Shillings

is a proceeding if once made a precedent of will be highly prejudicial

to the Island in General and may probably create continual disputes

between the Inhabitants and the Gentlemen of the Shipping and

attended with every evil such a transaction is capable of producing

in order therefore effectually to put a stop to these irregularitys so

early introduced among Us by Bland we ordered him before Us and

after reprimanding him for this beginning of his bad behaviour we

told him that as Captain Court had put some Goods in to the said

Blands hands he might dispose of them for him provided he exposed them

in a Shop or in such manner that the Publick might supply

themselves with the necessarys they wanted but this to continue only

during Captn Courts stay at the same time strictly forbidding him

to carry on Trade Traffick or Merchandize in any Shape or under

any pretence whatsoever as we apprehended it would be attended with

great

Margin Notes:

[...]

Following these proceedings, the Council sent for Captain Court and Captain Peters and asked whether Bland had bought up any part of their private trade goods. Court said he had placed some goods in Bland's hands, having promised in England to let him sell them. Peters declared that he had no dealings with Bland of any kind. The Council urged both captains to set out their goods in a shop or some other public place, so that all the inhabitants would have a chance to buy what they needed. It added that the captains could run their own shop if they wished, provided they had regard to the public in selling their goods. Both captains promised to do so.

The Council regarded Bland's efforts to set himself up as a merchant, and to buy up goods for that purpose, as most unusual. He had also tried to set a damaging precedent by lowering the recognised value of the dollar from 5s to about 4s 7d, although the Company's cash always paid dollars out at 5s. The Council judged that this practice, if allowed to stand, would do great harm to the whole island. It would probably cause constant disputes between the inhabitants and the officers of the ships, with all the trouble such disputes could bring.

To put a firm stop to these irregularities, which Bland had introduced so soon after his arrival, the Council ordered him to appear before it. It rebuked him for this early misconduct. It then told him that, since Captain Court had already placed goods with him, he might sell them on Court's behalf. He could do so only by setting them out in a shop or in some other way that let the public buy what they needed, and only while Captain Court remained at the island. At the same time the Council strictly forbade him to carry on any trade or dealing in goods, in any form or on any excuse, since it feared that serious harm would follow.

Interpretations

The value Bland set on the dollar followed directly from his contract with James Upham. Pricing dollars by weight at the London rate of 5s 4⅛d an ounce worked out at about 4s 7d a coin, against the 5s at which the Company paid them out on the island. The Company met its wages and bills in dollars at 5s, so if traders took them at only 4s 7d, every soldier, labourer and official paid in dollars would find his money buying about 8 per cent less. Bland's private bargain thus threatened a hidden cut in the income of everyone the Company paid, which explains why the Council treated the currency question as seriously as the cornering of goods.

The Council stopped short of the obvious course of seizing Bland's goods or banning him outright from selling them. Captain Court had already entrusted goods to him under a promise made in England, and cancelling that arrangement would have penalised a Company commander as well as Bland. The Council instead allowed the sale on its own terms: open display, public access, and only for as long as Court stayed. The goods reached the inhabitants, Court's interest was respected, and Bland was barred from turning the episode into a permanent business.

The remedy for the captains followed the same logic. Rather than forbid their private trade, the Council asked them to sell it openly in a shop, so that every inhabitant had an equal chance to buy. The aim was not to suppress the officers' trade, which the Company allowed, but to stop any single dealer standing between the ships and the island.

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10th March

great inconveniency's to the Companys Servants and Inhabitants in general

That in Breach of these our Orders we would look upon it as a forfeiture of the

Honorable Companys Indulgence and in that case were determined to

put their Orders in Execution by Sending him forthwith from the Island

We then directed the Publicans and Shopkeepers to attend Us and Ordered

them in Blands presence not to deal with him in the Mercantile Way

for any Commodity or Goods whatsoever under the Penalty of having

their Licence taken from them And directed the Secretary to acquaint

the Gentlemen in answer to their Memorial that we had taken every

method we could suggest to prevent the said Blands Monopolizing

and to assure them we should at all times discourage him from

usurping any thing to their disadvantage

The Lieut Governor having represented to Us that on

the appointment of Danl Tonge as Overseer to the Honble Compy in

the Room of Thomas Warne Dismissed he ordered said Tonge to take

an exact Account of the Stock which he reported deficient of twenty three

Black Cattle and sixty Five Goats Thinks that there has been no

fraud in said Warne as the Increase in the Quarterly Return from 1st

April to 30th June 1765 amounting to sixty two to which he refers equals

the Increase of what the Honorable Companys Stock produces yearly

And as to the deficiency of Goats imagines from the Number that have

of late Died throughout the whole Island and the many Complaints

We have had of Dogs destroying them thinks can be the only reason to

Account for that Decease And lay no further Charge against the late

Overseer Warne than Stopping that deficiency from him as he must

have known it long before he was turned out of the Service for his

many other repeated Neglects of the Honble Companys Business must

further observe that from the Ill state of Health of the Overseer Bazett

who died the beginning of June last 1765 was he supposed the occasion

of

The Council warned Bland that any breach of these orders would be treated as forfeiting the favour the Company had shown him. In that case it was determined to carry out the Company's orders and send him off the island at once. The Council then summoned the publicans and shopkeepers. In Bland's presence it ordered them not to trade with him in any goods whatever, on pain of losing their licences. It also told the secretary to reply to the gentlemen who had signed the memorial. The reply was to assure them that the Council had taken every step it could think of to stop Bland cornering the market, and that it would always discourage him from encroaching on their interests.

The Lieutenant Governor reported on the Company's livestock. When Daniel Torque replaced the dismissed Thomas Warne as the Company's overseer, Corneille ordered Torque to make an exact count of the stock. Torque found 23 cattle and 65 goats missing. Corneille did not believe Warne had committed any fraud. Warne's quarterly return for 1 April 1765 to 30 June 1765 had shown an increase of 62 head, and Corneille judged that figure to match the normal yearly growth of the Company's herds. He put the loss of goats down to the many deaths among goats across the whole island and the frequent complaints of dogs killing them, which he thought the only explanation. He brought no further charge against Warne beyond his failure to report the shortfall. Warne must have known about it long before his dismissal, which had followed many other repeated failures in the Company's business. Corneille added that the overseer Bazett, who died at the start of June 1765, had been in poor health, and he believed this lay behind part of the trouble.

Interpretations

The licensing system gave the Council the means to enforce its ruling against Bland. Every publican and shopkeeper on the island traded under a licence the Council could revoke, so ordering them in Bland's presence to refuse his business cut him off from every retail outlet at a stroke. The threat of sending him from the island backed this up with the heaviest sanction available, since a merchant removed from St Helena lost both his market and his investment.

Thomas Warne's dismissal opened the way to an obvious charge: livestock had gone missing on his watch, and an overseer was answerable for what he was given to manage. Corneille set that course aside and gave his reasons. Warne's reported increase matched what the herds could naturally produce, which argued against a fraud covered up by false returns. The goats had died across the whole island, not just on the Company's land, and dogs were a known cause. The lesser charge of concealing the loss was enough, since Warne had already been dismissed for other failures and pursuing him further would gain the Company nothing.

The manuscript's black cattle meant ordinary beef cattle of the dark breeds common in Britain, the standard term for cattle as distinct from horses or sheep. A full count on the change of overseer was the routine check that fixed responsibility at the moment of handover, so that any later losses fell on the new man and earlier ones on the old.

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1766

of the bad situation in which he found the Honble Companys Plantations

and the principal cause of the present Scarcity of yams for Feeding the Slaves

And Submits it to the Governor and Councils Examinations for a further

Inquiry

10th March 1766

Upon which we sent for the said Warne to Enquire of him

how the deficiency in the Honorable Companys Stock arose he declares that

the Cattle wanting was owing to a mistake either in his counting of them

or his trusting too much to the Blacks who coursed them in the different

pastures the Goats many of them died with the mange and were killed by

Dogs

From the above it appears to Us that the deficiency in

the Stock must have risen from a mere mistake and from no fraud in the

said Warne We therefore directed them to be wrote off in the next Quarters

Accounts

We are further of opinion that the present scarcity of Yams

in the Plantations must be owing to the reasons the Lieut Governor

Assigns in the above representations but as they are (altho young) now in good

order we are in hopes there will not be that deficiency the next Year

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

Margin Notes:

[...]

Lieutenant Governor Corneille believed that the poor health of the late overseer Bazett explained the bad condition in which he had found the Company's plantations. In his view it was also the main reason for the present shortage of yams to feed the slaves. He laid the matter before the Governor and Council for further enquiry in a report dated 10 March 1766.

The Council then sent for Thomas Warne and asked how the loss of the Company's stock had come about. Warne said the missing cattle were the result of a mistake, either in his own counting or in relying too much on the slaves who drove the cattle between the different pastures. Many of the goats had died of mange, and dogs had killed others.

The Council concluded from this evidence that the shortfall in the stock arose from a simple mistake and not from any fraud by Warne. It ordered the missing animals to be written off in the next quarter's accounts.

The Council also agreed that the present shortage of yams in the plantations was due to the causes the Lieutenant Governor had given. The plantations, though young, were now in good order, and the Council hoped there would be no such shortage the following year. Governor Skottowe signed the minutes with Daniel Corneille, Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

Interpretations

Writing the missing animals off in the next quarter's accounts closed the matter in the books without charging anyone for the loss. The Company's stock was carried as an asset, much as its slaves were, and a deficiency left standing would have to be explained to the directors every quarter until it was resolved. Removing it as an accepted loss, with the Council's finding of honest mistake recorded alongside, gave the directors a reason for the reduction and spared the Council from pursuing a dismissed overseer who had little to pay with.

Warne's explanation showed how the Company's herds were actually managed. The overseer did not tend the cattle himself; the Company's slaves drove them across scattered pastures, and the overseer relied on their reports for his counts. Blaming that reliance placed the fault on a system that left the true number of animals known only to those who had no stake in keeping it accurate.

The yam shortage that the Council had met on 10 March 1766 by switching the slaves to bread days now had an official cause. The plantations had been neglected during Bazett's final illness, and fresh plantings had to grow for a year before they could be dug. Accepting this explanation justified the temporary flour ration to the directors and set a date by which the Company's own food supply was expected to recover.

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282

12th March

At a Consultation held on Wednesday the 12th Day of March 1766 at

the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 10th

March 1766

We this day met in Consultation to consider the Honble

Companys Orders with respect to the carrying on the Fortifications

came to a resolution of setting about them with all possible expedition

therefore gave the Engineer the following Order viz.

To Captain Archibald Mitchell Engineer of

the Island St Helena

Sir

In consequence of the Honorable Companys Directions

to Us for Expediting their Works with Deligence and Frugality We hereby

Order you immediately to set about the Fortifications at Sandy Bay

according to the Plan sent Home as first intended by you to be carried

into Execution You are to give Us a Quarterly Return of the Progress you

make And that no other object whatsoever shall take off your Attention

to the Fortifications we further require you at other times to let Us know

whatever may be necessary or wanting for that purpose As there shall

be no Obstacle or Impediment thro our means to that care and deligence

that our masters expect from your Abilitys and Attention to their Service

We are

Sir

St Helena (signed) Your humble Servants

12th March 1766 John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

M Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

The Council met at the Castle on Wednesday 12 March 1766, with Governor Skottowe presiding. Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, attended with Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council. The minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 1766 were read, approved and signed.

The Council met to consider the Company's orders about building the island's fortifications. It resolved to begin the work as quickly as possible and sent the engineer a written order.

The order was addressed to Captain Archibald Mitchell, engineer of St Helena, and dated 12 March 1766. It explained that the Company had told the Council to press on with its works both diligently and economically. Mitchell was therefore to start at once on the fortifications at Sandy Bay, following the plan he had originally drawn up and sent to London. He was to report on his progress every quarter. Nothing else whatever was to distract him from the fortifications, and he was to tell the Council at any time what he needed for the work. The Council promised to put no obstacle in the way of the care and diligence the directors expected from his skill and attention to their service. The Governor signed the order with Daniel Corneille, Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

Interpretations

The order revealed part of what the directors' packets of early March had contained. On 7 March 1766 the Council had sent for Mitchell to tell him privately of the Company's wishes concerning him, and the instruction now issued showed that those wishes centred on the fortifications. The directors had approved the plan Mitchell sent home, and the Council's insistence that nothing else should take his attention was pointed. Mitchell held several posts at once, as engineer and as captain of the Artillery Company, and the order made the defences his first duty above all others.

Sandy Bay was already the scene of heavy preparation. In February 1766 the gunner had sent 100 lb of powder there to blast rock, and slow match had been issued for the works. The order turned that preparatory clearing into a formal programme of construction under the engineer's direct charge.

The demand for quarterly returns, joined to the directors' call for economy, gave the Council a regular check on how the money was being spent. Fortification was among the costliest undertakings on the island, consuming labour, powder, stone and lime, and periodic reports allowed both the Council and the Court of Directors to judge whether progress justified the expense.

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283

Upon our delivering the above Order to Captain Mitchell

he represented to Us the necessity there will be of appointing a Commissioned

Officer as Overseer of the Works carrying on at Sandy Bay to reside Constantly

there and have the whole care and management of seeing that the People do

their Duty and execute such directions as he shall receive from time to time

from the Engineer and keep Order and regularity amongst them As we are

convinced of the Necessity of such a Person from the Number of Garrison

Men as well as Slaves that will be requisite for that great Work we

have appointed Lieut Bridgwater as Overseer during the time of

Executing the Works at three Shillings Pr day as we are persuaded this

Additional Expence will answer the end we propose by keeping the

People strictly to their Work which ought not to be trusted to Sergeants only

and as such Expences are unavoidable hope it will meet with the

Honble Companys Approbation as we shall always pay that due attention to

Oeconomy in the prosecution of putting the Island in a proper state of

Defence

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

Margin Notes:

[...]

When the Council handed Captain Mitchell his order, he told the Council that a commissioned officer would have to be appointed as overseer of the works at Sandy Bay. The officer would need to live there permanently and take full charge of the workforce. His duties would be to make sure the men did their work, to carry out the engineer's instructions as they came, and to keep order and discipline among them.

The Council agreed that such a man was needed, given the large number of garrison soldiers and slaves the great undertaking would require. It appointed Lieutenant Bridgwater as overseer for as long as the works lasted, at 3s a day. The Council believed this extra cost would achieve its purpose by keeping the workforce strictly at their tasks, a duty that should not be left to sergeants alone. It hoped the Company would approve the expense as unavoidable, and promised always to keep economy in view while putting the island into a proper state of defence. Governor Skottowe signed the minutes with Daniel Corneille, Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

Interpretations

The cheaper course was to leave the work gangs under the garrison's sergeants, who were already on the pay list and would cost nothing extra. The Council set that aside because the workforce at Sandy Bay was to be large and mixed, combining soldiers and slaves on a remote site far from the Castle. Sergeants lacked the authority to command such a body on their own, and only a commissioned officer living on the spot could hold it to the engineer's programme day after day.

The cost was considerable. At 3s a day, Bridgwater's allowance came to more than £13 a quarter on top of his lieutenant's salary of £18 5s 0d, nearly doubling his pay. Coming only weeks after the directors had urged both diligence and frugality, the Council took care to explain why the expense was justified and to pledge its continued attention to economy. The minute was written as much for the directors' eyes as for the island's own record. John Bridgwater appeared on the pay list for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 as a lieutenant in the Third Company.

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284

14th March

At a Consultation held on Friday the 14th Day of March 1766 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthew Burling

Captain Thos Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 12th

March 1766

The ten working days allowed by Charter party

for unloading the Ships Prince of Wales and Plassey being

expired We gave Captains Jonathan Court and William Peters

Sailing Orders in writing to make the best of their way to China

according to the Directions they had received from the Honorable

the Court of Directors to whom we likewise gave the

following Letters to the several Settlements in India viz.

To the Rightt Honble Lord Clive President

and Governor &c Council of Fort William

My Lord and Sirs

We addressed you last under date of 3d of April 1765

by way of China since which we have received your favours by the

Ships Vansittart and Bute

We desire you will be pleased to send Us for the use of this

Island eight Maunds of good Wax Candles by each Ship two hundred

Pieces Desoosees and the rest of the one Pr Cent in Arrack Rice and Paddy

Our Honble Masters having informed Us that they have

Ordered a double quantity of Rice to be sent Us from your Presidency

without any diminution to our Annual Indents we make no doubt

of

The Council met at the Castle on Friday 14 March 1766, with Governor Skottowe presiding. Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, attended with Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council. The minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 1766 were read, approved and signed.

The ten working days allowed under the charter agreements for unloading the Prince of Wales and the Plassey had now run out. The Council therefore gave Captain Jonathan Court and Captain William Peters written orders to sail and make the best of their way to China, as the Court of Directors had instructed. It also gave them letters for several of the Company's settlements in India.

The first letter was addressed to Lord Clive, President and Governor, and the Council of Fort William. The Council noted that it had last written to them on 5 April 1765, by way of China, and had since received their letters by the Vansittart and the Bute. It asked them to send, by each ship, eight maunds of good wax candles and 200 pieces of dosooties for the island's use, with the rest of the island's one per cent allowance to be made up in arrack, rice and paddy. The directors had informed the Council that they had ordered Bengal to send a double quantity of rice without reducing the island's usual annual orders, and the Council expressed full confidence that this would be done.

Interpretations

The ten working days written into the charter agreement fixed how long a hired ship could be kept in port for unloading. The Company chartered its East Indiamen from private owners, and every day beyond the agreed time would have to be paid for as compensation for delay. Sending Court and Peters on their way the moment the period expired kept the Company clear of such charges, and the Council recorded the expiry to show it had used the full time allowed and no more.

St Helena drew much of its supply from Bengal, then governed from Fort William at Calcutta under Lord Clive. The island's one per cent was a fixed share set aside on the Bengal ships for its needs, filled with whatever the Council requested. Asking for candles, cloth, arrack, rice and paddy showed how far the island's food and household goods came from India rather than England. The directors' order for a double quantity of rice answered the shortage that had forced the slaves onto bread days on 10 March 1766.

A maund was the standard Indian weight, reckoned in Bengal at about 75 lb, so eight maunds of candles came to roughly 600 lb on each ship. Dosooties were a strong, coarse cotton cloth woven in Bengal with paired threads in the warp and weft, cheap and durable, and widely used for working clothes and for issue to slaves.

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1766

of your compliance as our Consumption from the increase of Slaves is much

greater than usual

This goes by way of China on the Honble Companys Ship

Prince of Wales enclosed you will receive a List of Ships arrival and

departure to and from this Island since our last

We are

My Lord and Sirs

Your most Obedient & humble Servants

(signed) John Skottowe

St Helena Daniel Corneille

14th March 1766 Matthw Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

To the Honble Robert Palk Esqr President

and Governor &c Council of Fort St George

Honble Sir and Sirs

We did our selves the Pleasure of writing last to you by

way of China under date of 3d April 1765 since that time your Letters

of the 25th March and 13th October 1765 have been duly received

We request you will send for the Consumption of this

Place twelve pieces Long Cloth at twelve Pagodas Pr Piece twelve pieces at

ten Pagodas Pr Piece twelve pieces at eight Pagodas Pr Piece eighty Pieces at

three and an half Pagodas Pr Piece and thirty Pieces at two and an half

Pagodas Pr Piece fifty Pair of good Mens Cotton Stockings of Sizes Fine

Diaper from Cuddalore for two dozen of Table Cloths and twelve dozen of

Napkins and the rest of the one Pr Cent in Arrack Rice and Paddy

This Letter will be forwarded to your Presidency from

China

Margin Notes:

[...]

The Council ended its letter to Fort William by explaining that the island's consumption had grown far beyond the usual because of the increase in the number of slaves. The letter was sent by way of China aboard the Company's ship Prince of Wales, with a list enclosed of the ships that had arrived at and left the island since the Council last wrote. Governor Skottowe signed it at St Helena on 14 March 1766, together with Daniel Corneille, Matthew Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

The second letter was addressed to Robert Palk, President and Governor, and the Council of Fort St George. The Council noted that it had last written to them by way of China on 3 April 1765, and had since received their letters of 23 March 1765 and 13 October 1765.

The Council asked Fort St George to send longcloth for the island's use in several grades. It wanted 12 pieces at 12 pagodas a piece, 12 pieces at 10 pagodas and 12 pieces at 8 pagodas. It also asked for 80 pieces at 3½ pagodas and 30 pieces at 2½ pagodas. In addition it requested 50 pairs of good men's cotton stockings in assorted sizes, and enough fine diaper from Cuddalore to make two dozen tablecloths and 12 dozen napkins. The rest of the island's one per cent allowance was to be made up in arrack, rice and paddy. The Council explained that this letter would reach Fort St George by way of China.

Interpretations

The Council justified its larger requests by pointing to the growing number of slaves on the island. More slaves meant more rice, paddy and coarse cloth to feed and clothe them, and the plea for a bigger supply from Bengal sat alongside the directors' own order for a double quantity of rice. The island's slave population was rising faster than its own plantations could feed, which tied St Helena ever more closely to supply from India.

The longcloth was ordered by price per piece rather than by quality letter. The most expensive pieces, at 12 pagodas, were nearly five times the cost of the cheapest at 2½ pagodas. The range matched the graded longcloth sold to the planters and entered on the island's account from 1766, from fine cloth for the better households to rough pieces for working dress. Diaper was a linen or cotton woven with a small repeating diamond pattern, the standard fabric for table linen. Cuddalore, a Company settlement south of Madras, was known for producing it. The tablecloths and napkins were perhaps meant for the Company's table at the Castle.

Both letters travelled by way of China rather than directly to India. Ships leaving St Helena outward bound for Canton could carry mail that would be passed on to Madras and Calcutta from there, since there was no regular direct route from the island to the Indian presidencies. Correspondence therefore moved slowly and indirectly, and replies could take a year or more to arrive.

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14th March

China We have Enclosed you a List of Ships that have touched here since

our last

We are

Honble Sir and Sirs

Your most Obedient humble Servants

(signed) John Skottowe

St Helena Daniel Corneille

14th March 1766 Matthw Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

To the Honble Charles Crommelin Esqr

President and Govr &c Council of Bombay

Honble Sir & Sirs

Our last Advices to you went by our Honble

Masters Ship Salisbury since that time we have received your

Letters under date of the 23d April and 14th May 1765

We desire you will send for the use of this Island two

hundred pieces Surat Challoes and the rest of the one Pr Cent in Rice & Paddy

Our Honble Masters having informed Us that they

have Ordered a double quantity of Rice to be sent Us from your Presidency

without any diminution to our Annual Indents we make no doubt of

your Compliance as our Consumption from the increase of Slaves is

much greater than Usual

This Letter goes by the Ship Prince of Wales bound

to China we have sent you Enclosed a List of Ships arrival and departure

to and from this Place since the 3d April 1765

We are

Honorable Sir and Sirs

Your most obedient humble Servants

St Helena (signed) John Skottowe

14th March 1766 Dan Corneille

Matthw Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

The Council's letter to Fort St George enclosed a list of the ships that had called at the island since it last wrote. Governor Skottowe signed it at St Helena on 14 March 1766, together with Daniel Corneille, Matthew Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

The third letter was addressed to Charles Crommelin, President and Governor, and the Council of Bombay. The Council noted that its last letter to them had gone by the Company's ship Salisbury, and that it had since received their letters of 23 April 1765 and 14 May 1765. It asked Bombay to send 200 pieces of Surat chelloes for the island's use, with the rest of the island's one per cent allowance to be made up in rice and paddy.

The directors had informed the Council that they had ordered Bombay to send a double quantity of rice without reducing the island's usual annual orders. The Council expressed full confidence that Bombay would comply, explaining that the island's consumption had grown far beyond the usual because of the increase in the number of slaves. The letter was to travel aboard the Prince of Wales, bound for China, with a list enclosed of the ships that had arrived at and left the island since 3 April 1765. The Governor signed it at St Helena on 14 March 1766, together with Daniel Corneille, Matthew Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

Interpretations

The directors had ordered a double quantity of rice from both Bengal and Bombay at once, and the Council pressed each presidency in nearly identical words. Drawing on two separate sources spread the risk of a failed harvest or a lost ship, and showed how seriously the Company in London took the island's food shortage. The same justification, the growing number of slaves, ran through both letters, so that neither presidency could treat the request as a routine order to be trimmed.

Bombay was asked only for cloth, rice and paddy, with no arrack, which the island drew instead from Bengal and Batavia. The 200 pieces of chelloes were to come from Surat, the main weaving centre of western India under Bombay's control, and were the same checked cotton cloth already issued to the Company's slave women.

292

287

1766

To the President and other Supracargoes of Council

at Canton

Gentlemen

We wrote to you last under date of the 3d April 1765

since that time your several Advices have been duly received

Enclosed we have transmitted you the Ship Prince of

Wales's Charter Party Victualling Bill and Manifest of Goods together with

a Packet from the Honorable Company directed to you likewise a List of

what Ships have arrived here since our last

By the Plassey we have consigned you on Account

of the Honorable Company one Chest of Treasure as Pr Invoice and Bill of

Lading Enclosed

We request the Table China you send Us next year may

be of the oblong pattern and please to add to our Indent of Last Season two

Tea Setts of Blue and White [...]

The several Letters directed to the Presidencys in

India we desire you will forward by the first opportunity

We are

Gentlemen

Your most Obedient humble Servants

(signed) John Skottowe

St Helena Dan Corneille

14th March 1766 Matthw Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

[...]

Margin Notes:

[...]

The fourth letter was addressed to the President and the other supercargoes forming the Council at Canton. The Council noted that it had last written to them on 3 April 1765, and that their various letters had since arrived safely. It enclosed the charter agreement, victualling bill and cargo manifest of the Prince of Wales, together with a packet from the Company addressed to them and a list of the ships that had called at the island since its last letter.

The Council also reported that it had shipped one chest of treasure aboard the Plassey on the Company's account, and enclosed the invoice and bill of lading for it. It asked that the table china sent to the island the following year should be of the oblong pattern. It further asked Canton to add two tea sets of blue and white [...] to the island's order from the previous season. Finally, it asked Canton to forward the letters for the presidencies in India by the first opportunity.

Governor Skottowe signed the letter at St Helena on 14 March 1766, together with Daniel Corneille, Matthew Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick. He then signed the minutes of the meeting with Daniel Corneille and Burling.

Interpretations

The chest of treasure sent to Canton turned the island's surplus coin into working capital for the China trade. Tea, silk and porcelain at Canton could be bought only with silver, and the Company was always short of it there. The cash account closed on 17 February 1766 showed more than £6,000 in coin lying in the island's chest. Rather than leave it idle, the Council shipped part of it on to Canton, where it helped pay for the cargoes that the same ships would carry home.

The supercargoes were the Company's merchants at Canton, responsible for buying the tea and other goods that filled the homeward ships. Sending them the charter agreement, victualling bill and cargo manifest of the Prince of Wales gave them everything they needed to manage the ship on arrival: what she carried, what provisions she had drawn and on what terms she was hired. Canton also served as the relay point for letters to Bengal, Madras and Bombay, which is why the Council asked the supercargoes to send them on.

The request for oblong table china and tea sets showed the Castle ordering its tableware directly from China. The island's position on the homeward route let it obtain fine porcelain far more easily than its distance from England might suggest, and the Council's preference for a particular shape showed it buying to its own taste.

293

288

17th March

At a Consultation held on Monday the 17th Day of March 1766 at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut Governor

Mr Matthw Burling

Capt Thos Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 14th March

1766

Yesterday passed by three Ships at a great distance

Mr William Wrangham this day presented

the following Petition viz.

To the Worshipl John Skottowe Esqr Governor

&c Council of St Helena

The Humble Petition of William Wrangham

Sheweth

That your Petitioner requests the favour of your

Worship and Council to give him leave to dispose of to the best Bidder

twenty six Acres and three Quarters of Lease Land belonging to

Mr David Alcock and your Petitioner will ever pray

(signed)

17th March 1766 Wm Wrangham

Granted

Counted and examined the Honorable Companys

Cash for the Month of February last which is as follows viz.

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 17 March 1766, with Governor Skottowe presiding. Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, attended with Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council. The minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 1766 were read, approved and signed. Three ships passed the island far out to sea on 16 March 1766.

William Wrangham presented a petition to the Governor and Council, dated 17 March 1766. He asked for leave to sell to the highest bidder 26¾ acres of leased land belonging to David Alcock. The Council granted his request.

The Company's cash for February 1766 was then counted and checked.

Interpretations

Wrangham was selling land that belonged to someone else, which made him Alcock's agent, perhaps because Alcock was absent from the island or had died. A lease of Company land was a valuable asset in its own right, and the Council's consent allowed it to pass by public sale to whoever offered most. Requiring a petition for each such sale kept the Council informed of every change in who held the island's land, while letting tenants and their representatives realise the value of their holdings. Wrangham, the Governor's assistant and a signatory of the memorial against John Bland, was another official acting in the island's land market alongside his Company duties.

294

289

Cash Dr

1766 Febry 1 By Balance remaining

£ 6605 . 13 . 2

3 To Ship Admiral Stevens received of Capt John Griffin

416 . 10 . -

To Exchange for a Set of Bills drawn upon the Honble

the Court of Directors payable to Capt John Durand or

Order

396 . - . -

To Blacks received for one Woman Sold named Grace

Tanner as Pr Consultation of this day

21 . - . -

£ 7439 . 8 . 2

Per Contra Cr

1766 Febry 28 By Balance remaing viz.

In Specie

6899 . 13 . 2

In Cash notes of no use

539 . 15 . -

£ 7439 . 8 . 2

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

Margin Notes:

1766

The Company's cash account for February 1766 was closed as follows.

Receipts:

1 February 1766, balance in hand, £6,605 18s 2d

On 3 February 1766 the Council received £416 10s 0d from Captain John Griffin on the account of the ship Admiral Stevens.

Received in exchange for a set of bills drawn on the Court of Directors, payable to Captain John Durand or his order, £396 0s 0d

Received on the slaves' account for a woman named Grace Tanner, sold as agreed at the meeting of the same day, £21 0s 0d

Total, £7,439 8s 2d

Balance:

28 February 1766, balance in hand in coin, £6,899 13s 2d

28 February 1766, balance in hand in unusable cash notes, £539 15s 0d

Total, £7,439 8s 2d

Governor Skottowe signed the account with Daniel Corneille, Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

Interpretations

The £21 0s 0d paid by George Butler for Grace Tanner's freedom was booked as a sale on the slaves' account. In the Company's ledgers her release was simply the disposal of an asset at its recorded value, entered alongside ship payments and bills of exchange, with no note of the gratitude that had prompted it. The account confirmed what the minutes of 3 February 1766 implied: to the Company, the transaction was a sale like any other.

All the month's new cash came from the departing Admiral Stevens on a single day, 3 February 1766, when Captain Griffin paid in two separate sums. One, of £396 0s 0d, was exchanged for bills on London; the other, of £416 10s 0d, was credited to the ship's own account, perhaps for stores and provisions supplied to her while she lay in the road. Together they raised the island's coin by more than £800, money the Council would soon partly send on to Canton aboard the Plassey.

295

290

24th March

At a Consultation held on Monday the 24th Day of March 1766 at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr

Mr Matthew Burling

Capt Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 17th March

1766

Tuesday the 18th Passed by six Ships at a great distance

Saturday the 22d Arrived the Earl of Elgins Boat at Bankss a Quarter

of an Hour before ten oClock at Night

Yesterday . . . Do the Honorable Companys Ship Earl of Elgin from

China

Do . . . . . Do the Admiral Pococks Boat at Bankss a Quarter

of an Hour before two oClock in the afternoon

Do . . . . . Do the Honorable Companys Ship Admiral Pocock

from China

This day . . Do the Duke of Richmonds Boat at Bankss at nine

oClock in the Morning

Do . . . . . Do the Honorable Companys Ship Duke of Richmond

from China

The Ship Admiral Pocock brought Us the following

Supplies viz.

Invoice of Ship Admiral Pocock

Sugar W No 52 to 58

Tare, Gross

No 52: Tare 26, Gross 315

No 53: Tare 26, Gross 318

No 54: Tare 28, Gross 310

No 55: Tare 26, Gross 319

No 56: Tare 26, Gross 306

No 57: Tare 26, Gross 314

No 58: Tare 26, Gross 311

Tot: Tare 184, Gross 2193

Gross 2193

184 Tare Do

2009 Nett or 15 . 0 . 6 Cattys @ 4 . 5 Pr Pecul

T m c

67 . 7 . 7 . 0

Carrd over

67 . 7 . 7 . 0

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 24 March 1766, with Governor Skottowe presiding. Daniel Corneille attended with Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council. The minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 1766 were read, approved and signed.

Six ships passed the island far out to sea on Tuesday 18 March 1766. A boat from the Earl of Elgin landed at Banks's at a quarter to ten on the night of Saturday 22 March 1766, and the Company's ship Earl of Elgin arrived from China on 23 March 1766. On the same day a boat from the Admiral Pocock landed at Banks's at a quarter to two in the afternoon, and the Company's ship Admiral Pocock followed from China. At nine in the morning on 24 March 1766 a boat from the Duke of Richmond landed at Banks's, and the Company's ship Duke of Richmond then arrived from China.

The Admiral Pocock brought the following supplies, as listed in her invoice.

Sugar, marked W, tubs numbered 52 to 58, as follows:

Tub 52, tare 26 catties, gross weight 315 catties

Tub 53, tare 26 catties, gross weight 318 catties

Tub 54, tare 28 catties, gross weight 310 catties

Tub 55, tare 26 catties, gross weight 319 catties

Tub 56, tare 26 catties, gross weight 306 catties

Tub 57, tare 26 catties, gross weight 314 catties

Tub 58, tare 26 catties, gross weight 311 catties

Total for 7 tubs, tare 184 catties, gross weight 2,193 catties

Less tare, 184 catties

Net weight of sugar, 2,009 catties, at [...], 67 taels, 7 mace and 7 candareens

Total carried forward, 67 taels, 7 mace and 7 candareens

Interpretations

Three ships from China arrived within two days, each sending a boat ahead to Banks's hours before the ship herself came into the road. The homeward China ships left Canton together on the winter monsoon and often reached St Helena in close succession in the southern autumn. The six ships seen passing on 18 March 1766 may well have belonged to the same season's traffic. The boat sent ahead gave the batteries warning that a friendly Company vessel was approaching, which mattered all the more when several ships appeared at once.

The invoice was drawn up in Chinese weights and money, just as the Madras invoice of the Earl of Middlesex had used pagodas. Weights were given in catties, the standard Chinese unit of about 1⅓ lb; 100 catties made one picul, about 133 lb. The money was reckoned in taels, a weight of silver used as a unit of account. Each tael divided into 10 mace, and each mace into 10 candareens. The Council kept the invoice in the currency of purchase so that the true cost paid at Canton was preserved before conversion into sterling for the island's books.

China sugar, refined in the south of China and packed in tubs, was among the regular goods sent to the island from Canton. Each tub was weighed full and its wooden container deducted as tare, so that the Company paid only for the sugar itself. Shipping the tubs by number made it possible to trace any shortfall on delivery to a particular container.

296

291

1766

Brought over

67 . 7 . 7 . 0

B No 34 1 Chest Bohea Tea

177 Gross

43 Tare

134 Nett is 1 Pecul

19 . -

C No 96 1 Chest Congo

101 Gross

21 Tare

80 Nett is 60 Catty @ 28 Pr Pecul

16 . 8 . 0 . 0

Tales 103 . 5 . 7 . 0

Canton 30th Novemr 1765 Errors Excepted

(signed)

Thos Fitzhugh

Saml Blount

John Burrow

Nathl Garland

Wm Mackenzie

John Searle

Josh De Vesme

Thos Smith

Thos Thomas

Willm Rous

John Walton

Thos Bevan

Ordered the following Advertizement to be published viz.

Island St Helena 24th March 1766

This is to give Notice to all the Inhabitants of the said Island that

they are hereby required to meet in Vestry at the Chappel in this Valley on Monday next

to Chuse Parish Officers for the ensuing Year They are likewise to return three of the

Principal Inhabitants that one may be Elected to serve the Office of Sheriff and to

Chuse a proper Person for a Constable Per order of Council

(signed) M Bazett Secrety

The Admiral Pocock's invoice continued with two chests of tea, carried on from the total for the sugar.

Total brought forward, 67 taels, 7 mace and 7 candareens

Chest marked B, number 34, 1 chest of bohea tea, gross weight 177 lb, tare 43 lb, net weight 134 lb, reckoned as 1 picul, 19 taels, 0 mace and 0 candareens

Chest marked C, number 96, 1 chest of congou tea, gross weight 101 lb, tare 21 lb, net weight 80 lb, equal to 60 catties, at 28 taels a picul, 16 taels, 8 mace and 0 candareens

Total, 103 taels, 5 mace and 7 candareens

The invoice was dated at Canton on 30 November 1765, with the usual reservation for errors, and signed by the following.

Thomas Fitzhugh

Samuel Blount

John Burrow

Nathaniel Garland

William Mackenzie

John Searle

Joseph De Vesme

Thomas Smith

Thomas Thomas

William Bews

John Walton

Thomas Bevan

The Council ordered a public notice to be issued, dated at St Helena on 24 March 1766. It called on all the island's inhabitants to meet as a vestry at the chapel in Jamestown valley on the following Monday, 31 March 1766, to choose the parish officers for the coming year. They were also to put forward the names of three leading inhabitants, one of whom would be chosen to serve as sheriff, and to select a suitable person to act as constable. Matthew Bazett, the secretary, signed the notice on the Council's behalf.

Interpretations

The vestry was the island's parish meeting, modelled on the English system in which householders chose their own officers to manage local affairs such as poor relief, the upkeep of the church and the keeping of order. On St Helena it gave the inhabitants a real if limited say in their own government. The sheriff, however, was not simply elected: the vestry named three candidates and the Council chose one. That arrangement let the settlers propose men they trusted while leaving the final choice, and with it the island's chief officer of law enforcement, in the Company's hands.

The twelve men who signed the invoice at Canton were the supercargoes, the Company's merchants who managed the China trade during the trading season. Their joint signature on even a small consignment for St Helena showed that every invoice leaving Canton passed under the eye of the whole council of supercargoes, so that no single merchant could vouch for goods alone.

297

292

24th March

We this day received the following Letters viz.

To the Worshipl John Skottowe Esqr Governor &c

Council

Sirs

As the Honble the Court of Directors may blame me

for staying so long beyond the time limitted for Charter I here protest

against the surf which has hindered us from landing any thing out of the

Ship these eight days and will now take Us work as hard as we can (the

surf permitting) ten Days at least to get our Ballast and Water on board

I am

St Helena Gentlemen

24th March 1766 Your most Obedient humble Servant

(signed)

Jonn Court

To the Worshipl John Skottowe Esqr Governor

&c Council

Worshipl Sir & Sirs

As my stay here has been longer than the time

Limitted by the Charter party the Honorable Court of Directors may

think it is owing to my Negligence &c but I take this opportunity

to Protest against the Surf which has prevented my despatching the

Ship in due time

I am Worshipl Sir and Sirs

St Helena Your most humble Servants

24th March 1766 (signed) Wm Peters

The Council received two letters on 24 March 1766, both addressed to Governor Skottowe and the Council.

The first came from Captain Jonathan Court. He feared the Court of Directors might blame him for staying so far beyond the time allowed in his charter agreement. He therefore lodged a formal protest against the surf, which for eight days had made it impossible to land anything from his ship. He added that it would now take at least ten more days, if the sea allowed, to get his ballast and water aboard. He signed the letter at St Helena on 24 March 1766.

The second came from Captain William Peters, also dated 24 March 1766. Peters wrote that he had stayed longer than his charter agreement allowed, and that the directors might put the delay down to his negligence. He took the opportunity to lodge a formal protest against the surf, which had prevented him from getting his ship away on time.

Interpretations

A protest was a formal written declaration, lodged with a responsible authority, that a delay or loss had been caused by forces beyond the master's control. By recording it with the Governor and Council, each captain placed on official record that the surf, not his own failings, had kept his ship beyond the agreed time. Hired ships were paid for any extra days in port, and the Company would want to know whether its money had been wasted. The protests protected Court and Peters both from deductions against their owners and from damage to their own reputations with the directors.

The Council had given both captains their sailing orders on 14 March 1766, once the ten working days for unloading had expired. Ten days later both ships were still in the road. St Helena had no harbour, and heavy swells periodically broke on the landing places at Jamestown, stopping all boat traffic between ship and shore. Even after cargo was out, a ship could not sail until she had taken in ballast, stone or shingle to keep her stable once her heavy goods were gone, and fresh water for the voyage ahead. Both of those had to come out by boat from the shore.

298

293

1766

The Surf having been so excessive high for several days past

and still continues so that it is impossible for a Boat to come to the landing

place which has prevented the Storeships from getting their Water and Ballast

on board as represented in the above Letters and consequently renders their stay

here for some time longer unavoidable

John Skottowe

Dan Corneille

Burling

Thos Kirkpatrick

At a Consultation held on Monday the 31st day of March 1766 at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr Lieut

Mr Matthw Burling

Capt Thos Kirkpatrick of Council

The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 24th March

1766

Richard Goulding Centinel this day petitioned

for his discharge from the Garrison having served the Honorable Company

his Contracted time

Granted

Mr Matthew Burling reports that he has been on board

the Ships Earl of Elgin Admiral Pocock and Duke of Richmond to Muster

their Companys and enquire for deserters but found none their Muster Rolls

are as follow viz.

The Council confirmed that the surf had been extremely high for several days and was still running. No boat could reach the landing place, which had kept the store ships from taking in their water and ballast, just as the captains had stated in their letters. Their longer stay was therefore unavoidable. Governor Skottowe signed the minutes with Daniel Corneille, Burling and Thomas Kirkpatrick.

The Council met at the Castle on Monday 31 March 1766, with the Governor presiding. Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, attended with Matthew Burling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as members of the Council. The minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 1766 were read, approved and signed.

Richard Goulding, a private soldier, asked to be discharged from the garrison because he had served the full term he had signed on for with the Company. The Council granted his request.

Matthew Burling reported that he had gone aboard the Earl of Elgin, the Admiral Pocock and the Duke of Richmond to muster their crews and search for deserters. He found none, and he presented the ships' muster rolls.

Interpretations

The captains' protests carried weight only if someone with authority confirmed the facts. By recording its own finding that the surf had closed the landing place, the Council turned two self-interested letters into an officially attested account. The directors in London, reading the papers months later, would see the Governor and Council certifying that the delay was genuine, which settled the question of blame before it could be raised.

Richard Goulding's discharge showed the other side of the bargain that bound William Fletcher. A soldier who had served his full contracted term was entitled to leave, and the Council granted the request without conditions. Goulding appeared on the pay list for the quarter ending 31 December 1765 as a private in the Fourth Company.

The muster of all three China ships confirmed that boarding every arriving vessel had become standard practice after the desertions aboard the Admiral Stevens. Each crew was now called by name against its roll on arrival, giving the Council a fixed record against which any later change could be checked before sailing.

299

294

31 March

Muster Roll of Ship Earl of Elgin,

Thos. Cook Commander

Patk. Carghi Chief Mate

Peter Bearsley 2d. Mte

Richard Cowdries 3d do.

David Hewett 4th do.

Joseph Crone 5th. do.

James Rutherford Surg.

Jno. Delman Purser

Simon Elliot Surg Mte

Wm. Perry Gunner

Wm. Gadsby Caulker

Nichs. Fitzgerald Armr.

William Butcher Mids.

Lewis Leicester Quartmr.

John Brown do.

John Richards do.

Thos. Barmore Capt Stw

John Wallington Ships do.

Richd. Watson [...]

Jno. Holman Capt do.

Saml. Turner Butcher

George Rowel Poulterer

Saml. Brewer Baker

Lawe. Derly Boatsn. Mate

John Rowland Carp. 2d.

John Webster Gunrs. Mte

Saml. Smith Coopr. Mate

Robt. Thornton Baker

Jas. Ridley Seaman

Wiatt Warren

Wm. Thomas Seaman

John Underwood

Hugh Grant

John Brooks

James Williams

Jas. Glass

Delabar Walker

Richd. Wingfield

John Burk Junr.

Dennis Carty

John Cambell

George Cowen

Archd. Robertson

James Surrage

Benjn. Johnson

Jno. Ebbs

Danl. Gallion

John Blackmore

John Carter

Wm. Clark

Geo: Swinney

Wm. London

John Burk

George Crow

Benn. Hogshead

John Butler

Danl. Lock

John Benson

John Strong

Wm. Cashmore

Jas. Martin Seaman

Johannes Vanhorn

John Wilson

Swedall Dear Capt. Servt.

Michl. Curtis Chief Mates do.

Pedro Roberts 2. Mates do.

Patk. Mcnelly Surgeons do.

Wm. Danby Carpenters do.

John Griggs Gunners do.

John Wills Boatsns. do.

James Esbester Seaman

Saml. Bee

Joseph Murren

John Graham

Andrew Watson

Thos. Carmody

Danl. Glass

Wm. Mashman

John Coler

Peter Coller

Nichs. Dufriend

Allan Blair

Jno. Bonnett

John Hammers

John Bromley

Antonia Dacosio

Jno. Crows

John Peter Mintz

Passengers

Mr. Baker

Mr. Bradney (Signed) Thos. Cooke [...]

The muster roll of the ship Earl of Elgin was entered under 31 March and listed her company and passengers as follows.

Thomas Cook, commander

Patrick [...], chief mate

Peter Bearsley, second mate

Richard Bowden, third mate

David Hewett, fourth mate

Joseph Crone, fifth mate

James Rutherford, surgeon

[...] Delman, purser

Simon Elliot, surgeon's mate

William Perry, gunner

William Gadsby, caulker

Nicholas Fitzgerald, armourer

William Butcher, midshipman

Lewis Leicester, quartermaster

John Brown, quartermaster

John Richards, quartermaster

Thomas Basmore, captain's cook

John Wallington, ship's cook

Richard Westron, ship's steward

John Holman, captain's steward

Samuel Turner, butcher

George Rowel, poulterer

Samuel Brewer, baker

Lawrence Denly, boatswain's mate

John Rowland, captain's servant

John Webster, gunner's mate

Samuel Smith, carpenter's mate

Robert Thornton, baker

John Ridley, seaman

Wyatt Warren, seaman

William Thomas, seaman

John Underwood, seaman

Hugh Grant, seaman

John Brooks, seaman

James Williams, seaman

John Glass, seaman

Delabar Walker, seaman

Richard Wingfield, seaman

John Burk junior, seaman

Dennis Carkey, seaman

John Cambell, seaman

George Cowen, seaman

Archibald Robertson, seaman

James Swrrage, seaman

Benjamin Johnson, seaman

[...] Gibbs, seaman

Daniel Gallion, seaman

John Blackmore, seaman

John Canter, seaman

William Clark, seaman

George Swinney, seaman

William London, seaman

John Burk, seaman

George Crow, seaman

Benjamin Hogshead, seaman

John Butler, seaman

Daniel Look, seaman

John Benson, seaman

John Strong, seaman

William Cashmore, seaman

John Martin, seaman

Johannes Sanhorn, seaman

John Wilson, seaman

Tweedall Dear, captain's servant

Michael Curtis, chief mate's servant

Pedro Roberts, second mate's servant

Patrick McInelly, surgeon's servant

William Danby, carpenter's servant

John Griggs, gunner's servant

John Wills, boatswain's servant

James Esbester, seaman

Samuel Bee, seaman

Joseph Murren, seaman

John Graham, seaman

Andrew Watson, seaman

Thomas Carmody, seaman

Daniel Glass, seaman

William Mashman, seaman

John Coler, seaman

Peter Coller, seaman

Nicholas Dufriend, seaman

Allan Blair, seaman

John Bonnett, seaman

John Hammers, seaman

John Bromley, seaman

Antonia Dacosio, seaman

John Crews, seaman

John Peter Mintz, seaman

Mr Baker, passenger

Mr Bradney, passenger

Thomas Cook signed the roll, and the entry was dated in March.

Interpretations

The roll gave a rank only to the officers, tradesmen and servants. The many names that followed without one fell under the heading of seaman set against the first name in each column, and that description was carried down to them here.

Ten of the company were servants attached to individual officers, from the captain down to the boatswain. An East Indiaman's officers were entitled to carry such servants, who were usually boys learning the trade, and the allowance formed part of the privileges of each rank alongside wages.

The ship carried her own butcher, poulterer and two bakers. Those trades served the livestock and fresh provisions kept aboard for the commander's table and the passengers, which explains why a call at St Helena for refreshment mattered so much to a homeward or outward voyage.

The surnames in the roll were read from small and closely written entries, and several, including those of the chief mate, the purser and the seaman Gibbs, could be recovered only in part.

300

295

1766

Muster Roll of Ship Duke of Richmond

Thoms. Hindman Comr.

James Ogilvie Chief Mte

Raymond Snow 2d. do.

Joseph Bradford 3d do.

Henry Huddleston 4th. do.

Archd. Machin 5th do.

George Jeff Purser

John Crowther Surgeon

Geo. Robertson Boatsn.

Wm. Gallaway Gunner

Jas. Dickenson Carpentr.

John Brown Midshipm.

Thomas Taylor do.

Wm. Wittaker do.

John Bland do.

Wm. Dunn Quartermastr.

John Bembridge do.

John Gray do.

John Calf do.

Henry Gilbert Ships Stwd

Danl. Morgan Capt. do.

John [Bay] Boatsn. Mte

David Robinson Gunrs. Mte

Geo. Kind[l] Carpenters Mte

Jas. Maxwell do. 2d. do.

Edward Bryan Cooper

James Rathbone Caulker

William Collins Surgs. Mte

Jno. Bartholomew Capt Cook

Jacb. Roffett Ships do.

Richd. Pellet Caulkers Mate

Wm. Viguers Capt. Servant

Jerem. Richmond do. do.

Thos. Edwards Chief Mates do.

Christn. Heatr[en] 2d. Mtes do.

Samuel Withers Surg do.

Wm. Hodges Boatsns. do.

Clemt. Lattimore Gunners do.

Evan Prescott Carpenters do.

James Still Seaman

Wm. Saunders

Henry [Cuks]

Thos. Johnston

John Wetted

Henry Nelson

Lawrence Killman

Peter Major

David Steward

James Morris

Abl. Tyrel

James Lasley

Danby Hobson

David Morrison

Thos. Green

Draper Davis

Thomas Turner

James Forster

Ackerman Vanest

John Baire

Samuel Skinner

Geo. Cunningham Seaman

John Christopher

John Wood

Wm. Murphy

Peter Lowther

Wm. Crige

Geo. Southerland

Geo. Black

John Wooldridge

Nathl. Gage

John Thompson

Willm. Wyld

Chal. White

Thos. Simpson

Christ. Engleburgh

Barnett Hendrick

James Walker

Jno. Nelldon

Cornnell Brane

Peter D Slaves

Joseph Wary

Michl. Brusky

Chas. Emelions

Glade Oblio

John Fredrick

Pieu L linet

Janker Sallear

John Nitmarsh

John White

John Wahr

(Signed) Thos. Hindman

The muster roll of the ship Duke of Richmond was entered under the year 1766 and listed her company as follows.

Thomas Hindman, commander

James Ogilvie, chief mate

Raymond Snow, second mate

Joseph Bradford, third mate

Henry Huddleston, fourth mate

Archibald Machin, fifth mate

George Jeff, purser

John Crowther, surgeon

George Robertson, boatswain

William Gallaway, gunner

John Dickenson, carpenter

John Brown, midshipman

Thomas Taylor, midshipman

William Wittaker, midshipman

John Bland, midshipman

William Dunn, quartermaster

John Bembridge, quartermaster

John Gray, quartermaster

John Calf, quartermaster

Henry Gilbert, ship's steward

Daniel Morgan, captain's steward

John Ray, boatswain's mate

David Robinson, gunner's mate

[...] Kindl, carpenter's first mate

John Maxwell, carpenter's second mate

Edward Bryan, cooper

James Rathbone, caulker

William Collins, surgeon's mate

John Bartholomew, captain's cook

Jacob Koffett, ship's cook

Richard Pellet, caulker's mate

William Viguers, captain's servant

Joseph Buchmore, captain's servant

Thomas Edwards, chief mate's servant

Christian Heshin, second mate's servant

Samuel Withern, surgeon's servant

William Hodges, boatswain's servant

Clement Lattimore, gunner's servant

Evan Prescott, carpenter's servant

James Still, seaman

William Saunders, seaman

Henry Earks, seaman

Thomas Johnston, seaman

John Waters, seaman

Henry Nelson, seaman

Lawrence Killman, seaman

Peter Major, seaman

David Steward, seaman

James Morris, seaman

[...] Fynel, seaman

James Lasley, seaman

Darby Hobson, seaman

David Morrison, seaman

Robert Green, seaman

[...] Davis, seaman

Thomas Turner, seaman

James Forster, seaman

Ambrosius Vanest, seaman

John Baise, seaman

Samuel Turner, seaman

George Cunningham, seaman

John Christopher, seaman

John Wood, seaman

William Murphy, seaman

Peter Smithen, seaman

William Crego, seaman

George Southerland, seaman

George Black, seaman

John Wooldridge, seaman

Nathaniel Gage, seaman

John Thompson, seaman

William Wyld, seaman

Charles White, seaman

Thomas Simpson, seaman

Christian Engleburgh, seaman

Barnett Hendrick, seaman

James Walker, seaman

John Nelldon, seaman

Cornelius Bune, seaman

Peter D'Slaves, seaman

Joseph Wary, seaman

Michael Brachy, seaman

Charles Emelions, seaman

Glade Oblio, seaman

John Frederick, seaman

Pierre L'lieuet, seaman

Janker Nalleer, seaman

John Witmarsh, seaman

John White, seaman

John Wake, seaman

Thomas Hindman signed the roll as master.

Interpretations

The roll set a rank against the officers, tradesmen and servants only. The word seaman stood against the first of the unranked names and against the head of the last column, and that description was carried down here to every name that followed without one.

A fair share of the foremast hands bore Dutch, German, French or Portuguese names, such as Ambrosius Vanest, Christian Engleburgh, Barnett Hendrick and Pierre L'lieuet. East Indiamen lost men in the East to sickness, desertion and naval impressment, and commanders made up their numbers there with whatever foreign sailors could be hired for the passage home. The roll of the Earl of Elgin, entered under 31 March, showed the same pattern in names such as Johannes Sanhorn, Antonia Dacosio and John Peter Mintz.

The Duke of Richmond carried four midshipmen and four quartermasters against the single midshipman and three quartermasters of the Earl of Elgin, but no butcher, poulterer or baker. She had a cooper instead, the tradesman who kept the water and provision casks tight, and she listed no passengers.

301

296

31 March

Muster Roll of Ship Admiral Pocock

Thoms. Riddel Command

Arthur Gorge Chief Mate

Phils. Bromfield 2d. do.

John Naccat 3d do.

Bryce Hardy 4th do.

Ephrine Robertson 5th do.

Willm. Wilkins Surgeon

Andrew Dyce Purser

Thos. Hill Carpenter

Anthony Smith Boatsn.

Willm. Finley Gunner

Richard Bardoe Ships Stwd.

George Merriman

Jacob Strong

David Rutherford

David Drummond

Midshipn.

Thoms. Gibson Capts. Steward

John Caithness Capt. Cook

John Bishopsop Ships do.

Gilbert Mason Surg. Mte

Albert Nicholls Carpent do.

Henry Plant Boatsn. do.

John Lewis Gunners do.

John Wilson Cooper

William Beats Sailmaker

John Brown

Jacob Smith

Nathanl. Colby

John Johnson

[Quartermastr.]

Alex. Cane

James Hay

James Dalton

James Cuming

John Donnovan

Alexr. Kitchets

John Selgold

John Hederburg

Andrew Taylor

John Stone

Adam Manning

John Debonny

Christ. Flynn Seaman

Joseph Anster

Frederick Johnson

John Bullier

John King

Joseph Daulean

Martin Silver

James Irons

John Harrison

Jacob Buckoff

Danl. Sanders

John Baptiste

Samuel Holford

David Temple

Edward Highland

John Simmonds

Simpson Foxcroft

John Varoll

John Belongue

Phillip Less Seaman

Frank Frankosis

Thomas Han

John Baldwin

Nicholas Bennett

Peter Daviland

John Garnes

John Shovel

John Thompson

John Horn

John Stevenson

John Hammilton

Martin Seabrand

John L Lacons

John [Wilson]

Willm. White

Martin Siven

John Martin

Peter Salmon

Jacob Le Hay

Lewis Penny

Lewis Lewis

John Johnmans

Nichs. Hammond

James Field

Joseph Peres

Samuel Hay

Peter Scott

John Cockburn

John Bober

The muster roll of the ship Admiral Pocock was entered under 31 March and listed her company as follows.

Thomas Riddel, commander

Arthur Gorge, chief mate

Philip Bromfield, second mate

John Nuccall, third mate

Bryce Hardy, fourth mate

Ephraim Robertson, fifth mate

William Wilkins, surgeon

Andrew Dyce, purser

Thomas Hill, carpenter

Anthony Smith, boatswain

William Finley, gunner

Richard Bardoe, ship's steward

George Merriman, midshipman

Jacob Strong, midshipman

David Rutherford, midshipman

David Drummond, midshipman

Thomas Gibson, captain's steward

John Caithness, captain's cook

John Bickerstaff, ship's cook

Gilbert Mason, surgeon's mate

Albert Nicholls, carpenter's mate

Henry Plant, boatswain's mate

John Lewis, gunner's mate

John Wilson, cooper

William Beats, sailmaker

John Brown, quartermaster

Jacob Smith, quartermaster

Nathaniel Coley, quartermaster

John Johnson, quartermaster

Alexander Carr, seaman

James Hay, seaman

James Dalton, seaman

James Cuming, seaman

John Donnevan, seaman

Albert Ketchel, seaman

John Selgold, seaman

John Hederburg, seaman

Andrew Taylor, seaman

John Stone, seaman

Adam Manning, seaman

John Debonny, seaman

Christopher Flynn, seaman

Joseph Anister, seaman

Frederick Johnson, seaman

John Bullier, seaman

John King, seaman

Joseph Deseleau, seaman

Martin Silver, seaman

James Jane, seaman

John Harrison, seaman

Jacob Buckoff, seaman

Daniel Sanders, seaman

John Baptiste, seaman

Samuel Holford, seaman

David Temple, seaman

Edward Highland, seaman

John Simmonds, seaman

Simpson Fixcroft, seaman

John Varoll, seaman

John Belongue, seaman

Philip Lees, seaman

Frank Frankesis, seaman

Thomas Han, seaman

John Baldwin, seaman

Nicholas Bennett, seaman

Peter Daeland, seaman

John Garnes, seaman

John Shovel, seaman

John Thompson, seaman

John Horn, seaman

John Stevenson, seaman

John Hammilton, seaman

Martin Seabrand, seaman

John L'Lacous, seaman

John Allison, seaman

William White, seaman

Martin More, seaman

John Martin, seaman

Peter Salmon, seaman

Jacob Le Hay, seaman

Lewis Penny, seaman

Lewis Lunie, seaman

John Johmans, seaman

Nicholas Hammond, seaman

James Field, seaman

Joseph Jones, seaman

Samuel Hay, seaman

Peter Scott, seaman

John Cockburn, seaman

John Baker, seaman

Interpretations

The roll set a rank against the officers and tradesmen only. A bracket marked four names as midshipmen and another marked a group as quartermasters, while the word seaman stood against Christopher Flynn and Philip Lees alone. That description was carried down here to every name without one, including Alexander Carr, who stood directly beneath the bracketed quartermasters and may have been a fifth of them. The names after each mate in the first column were read as mates' assistants in the order the roll gave them, although the abbreviations there could also be taken as marking officers' servants.

The Admiral Pocock listed no officers' servants at all, where the Earl of Elgin carried ten under the same date of 31 March and the Duke of Richmond eight in her roll of 1766. She carried a sailmaker, a tradesman neither of the other two ships named, and a cooper as the Duke of Richmond did.

Foreign names were again common among the foremast hands, among them John Hederburg, Jacob Buckoff, Joseph Deseleau, John Belongue and Jacob Le Hay. The pattern matched the two earlier rolls and reflected crews made up in the East with whatever sailors could be hired for the passage home.

302

297

1766

Robert Russell

Ignacio Felesman

Capt. Servants

John Knightly Chief Mte Servt.

Willm. Barney 2d. do. do.

Edward Bullen Carpent. do.

Gabl. Berry Seaman

Thoms. Dublin Landman

(Signed)

T Riddell

The Storekeeper this day delivered the following Account of Stores

short received from the Ships Prince of Wales and Plassey vizt.

Account of Stores Short received from the following

Ships vizt. Ship Prince of Wales vizt.

2 Deals 2 1/2 Inch

60 do. 1 1/2 do.

1 Top Mast

1 Barrell Turpentine

Short delivered

280 lb Cordage

44 lb Sole Leather

Short Weight

2 1/2 Bushels Salt Short measure

9 Hair Sieves. damaged by wet and good for nothing

24 Sqr. Glass 8 by 10

1 Sqr. do. 11 by 17

10 Sqr. do. 11 by 17 1/2

3 Sqr. do. 11 by 16.

4 Sqr. do. 11 by 19

4 Sqr. do. 11 by 18

8 Sqr. do. 10 by 14

5 Sqr. do. 10 by 15

1 Sqr. do. 10 by 16

13 Sqr. do. 10 by 12

found broke upon opening the Packages

No. 1 1 Hhd. Red Port Wine Gages 63 Gallons wants to fill 1 Gallon

2. 1 do. do. 60 do. 1

3. 1 do. do. 60 do. 1

183

3

[...] 177 Galls.

The muster roll of the Admiral Pocock closed in 1766 with a further seven names, and Thomas Riddell signed it.

Robert Russell, captain's servant

Ignacio Felesman, captain's servant

John Knightly, chief mate's servant

William Barney, second mate's servant

Edward Bullen, carpenter's servant

Gabriel Berry, seaman

Thomas Dullen, landsman

The storekeeper handed in an account that day of stores received short or damaged from two ships, the Prince of Wales and the Plassey. The shortfalls from the Prince of Wales were as follows.

2 deals of 2½ inch, not delivered

60 deals of 1½ inch, not delivered

1 topmast, not delivered

1 barrel of turpentine, not delivered

280 lb of cordage, under weight

44 lb of sole leather, under weight

2½ bushels of salt, under measure

9 hair sieves, spoiled by wet and useless

24 square feet of glass 8 by 10, broken when the packages were opened

1 square foot of glass 11 by 17, broken when the packages were opened

10 square feet of glass 11 by 17½, broken when the packages were opened

3 square feet of glass 11 by 16, broken when the packages were opened

4 square feet of glass 11½ by 19, broken when the packages were opened

4 square feet of glass 11½ by 18, broken when the packages were opened

8 square feet of glass 10 by 14, broken when the packages were opened

5 square feet of glass 10 by 15, broken when the packages were opened

1 square foot of glass 10 by 16, broken when the packages were opened

13 square feet of glass 10 by 12, broken when the packages were opened

Cask number 1, 1 hogshead of red port wine, gauged 60 gallons, 1 gallon short of full

Cask number 2, 1 hogshead of red port wine, gauged 60 gallons, 1 gallon short of full

Cask number 3, 1 hogshead of red port wine, gauged 60 gallons, 1 gallon short of full

Total gauged, 180 gallons

Total short, 3 gallons

Net, 177 gallons

Interpretations

The account was the island's formal record of what the ships failed to land against their bills of lading. Stores for St Helena were shipped at the Company's risk in the owners' vessels, and a certified statement of shortage and damage gave the Company the means to charge the loss back to the ship's owners or commander when the freight was settled. That purpose explains why the storekeeper separated goods never delivered from goods under weight, under measure, wet or broken, since liability differed with each cause.

Deals were sawn planks of fir or pine, imported from the Baltic and shipped out because the island had almost no building timber of its own. Hair sieves were sieves with a woven horsehair mesh, used for sifting flour and straining liquids. The glass was window glass in cut panes, listed by pane size in inches and measured by the square foot. Sole leather was the thick tanned hide used for the soles of shoes, sent out for the garrison's shoemakers.

Each hogshead of port was gauged, meaning its contents were measured with a gauging rod, and each was found a gallon below its capacity. Small losses of that kind arose from leakage and evaporation through the staves on a long voyage, although pilferage by the crew was a common suspicion.

These seven names showed that the Admiral Pocock did carry officers' servants. They stood at the end of her roll rather than among the officers, so the first part entered under 31 March gave the appearance of a ship without any. Thomas Dullen was rated landsman, the lowest rating aboard, given to a hand with no sea experience.

The sizes of several panes and the unit against the glass were written small and close, and the reading of square feet rested on the abbreviation as it stood.

303

298

31 March

No. 4 1 Hhd Lisbon Wine gages 60 Galls. wants to fill 1 Gall.

5 1 Hhds do. do. 60 do. do. 8

120

9

9

Received 111 Galls.

No. 6 1 Hhd. Mountain gages 60 Galls. wants to fill 1

1

Recd. 59 Gallons

6 Hhds Beer gages 370 Galls. wants to fill 50

50

Received 320 Gallons.

Ship Plassey vizt.

8 Deals of 2 1/2 Inch

10 do. of 1 to 3 Inch

Short delivered

2 Bushels Coals

2 Bushels Salt

Short measure

6 by the Stones

1 Bell Lanthorn to a Top Shade

1 Candle Shade

found broke upon opening the

Packages

7 lb. Cordage Short Weight

No. 1 1 Hhd Port wine gages 60 Galls. wants to fill 1 1/2 Galls.

2 1 Hhd do. do. 60 do. 1 1/2

120

3

3

Received 117 Gallons

No. 3 1 Hhd Lisbon Gages 60 Galls. wants to fill 1 1/2

4 1 Hhd do. do. 60 do. 1 1/2

5 1 Hhd do. do. 60 do. 7

180

10

10

Received 170 Galls.

No. 6 1 Hhd Mountain gages 60 Galls. wants to fill 1

7 1/2 Hhd do. 30 do. do. 1

2

Received 90 Galls.

St. Helena

31 March 1766

[...] James Cowell Storek.

The storekeeper's account of 31 March 1766 went on to list the remaining wine and beer landed short from the Prince of Wales.

Cask number 4, 1 hogshead of Lisbon wine, gauged 60 gallons, 1 gallon short of full

Cask number 5, 1 hogshead of Lisbon wine, gauged 60 gallons, 8 gallons short of full

Total gauged, 120 gallons of Lisbon wine

Total short, 9 gallons of Lisbon wine

Received, 111 gallons of Lisbon wine

Cask number 6, 1 hogshead of Mountain wine, gauged 60 gallons, 1 gallon short of full

Received, 59 gallons of Mountain wine

6 hogsheads of beer, gauged 370 gallons, 50 gallons short of full

Received, 320 gallons of beer

The shortfalls from the Plassey were set out next.

8 deals of 2½ inch, not delivered

10 deals of 1½ inch, not delivered

2 bushels of coals, under measure

2 bushels of salt, under measure

6 scythe stones, broken when the packages were opened

1 bell lantern with a top shade, broken when the packages were opened

1 candle shade, broken when the packages were opened

7 lb of cordage, under weight

Cask number 1, 1 hogshead of port wine, gauged 60 gallons, 1½ gallons short of full

Cask number 2, 1 hogshead of port wine, gauged 60 gallons, 1½ gallons short of full

Total gauged, 120 gallons of port wine

Total short, 3 gallons of port wine

Received, 117 gallons of port wine

Cask number 3, 1 hogshead of Lisbon wine, gauged 60 gallons, 1½ gallons short of full

Cask number 4, 1 hogshead of Lisbon wine, gauged 60 gallons, 1½ gallons short of full

Cask number 5, 1 hogshead of Lisbon wine, gauged 60 gallons, 7 gallons short of full

Total gauged, 180 gallons of Lisbon wine

Total short, 10 gallons of Lisbon wine

Received, 170 gallons of Lisbon wine

Cask number 6, 1 hogshead of Mountain wine, gauged 60 gallons, 1 gallon short of full

Cask number 7, ½ hogshead of Mountain wine, gauged 30 gallons, ½ gallon short of full

Received, 90 gallons of Mountain wine

James Bowell, storekeeper, signed the account at St Helena on 31 March 1766.

Interpretations

Lisbon was a white wine shipped from the Portuguese capital, and Mountain was a sweet wine from the hills behind Malaga in Spain. Both were staple fortified or strong wines of the English trade, chosen for island stores because they kept through a long voyage where lighter wines spoiled. A bell lantern was a glazed lamp with a domed top, and the candle shade was a glass guard set over a candle against draughts. Scythe stones were whetstones for sharpening scythes and sickles, sent out for the island's hay and grain cutting.

The losses were uneven in a way that mattered for the claim against each ship. Most casks were a gallon or so down, the ordinary wastage of a long passage, and the port from the Prince of Wales listed earlier in the same account showed exactly that. One hogshead of Lisbon in each ship stood 7 or 8 gallons short, and the beer from the Prince of Wales lost 50 gallons in 370, nearly a seventh. Shortfalls of that size pointed to leaking casks or to drinking on the voyage, and the cask-by-cask record let the Company single them out.

Several of the smaller entries for the Plassey were closely written, and the readings of the scythe stones, the lantern and the fractions of a gallon short rested on fine judgement of the letter forms.

304

299

1766

Pursuant to the Order in Consultation of the 24th. Instant

the Inhabitants this day assembled at the Chappel in this Valley to chuse

Parish Officers for the ensuing Year, and likewise to return three of the

Principal Inhabitants, that one might be elected to serve the Office of

Sheriff, and to chuse a proper person to serve in that of Constable, they

accordingly returned the following persons vizt.

Messrs. Matthew Bazett

Samuel Alexander

John Alexander

Sheriffs

James Cowell Coroner

Henry Hooper Constable

Richard Goodwin

Henry Bazett

Richard Bagley

James Greentree

Church Wardens

William Beale

Thomas Burnham

Overseers of the East Division

Robert Ballard

William Young

do. of the West do.

Henry Easthope

John Bagley

do. of the South do.

We appointed Mr. Samuel Alexander to serve the Office of

Sheriff, and Ordered Warrants to be drawn for Messrs. Richard Goodwin &

Henry Bazett, Church Wardens, and William Beale, Robert Ballard & Henry

Easthope Overseers

Captain Cornelle this day applied to Us to pay eighty pounds

into the Honorable Company's Cash, which Sum we have received and given

The inhabitants met at the chapel in the valley in 1766 to choose parish officers for the coming year, as the Council directed in its consultation of 24 [...]. The same order asked them to put forward three leading inhabitants, one of whom would be picked as sheriff, and to name a suitable constable. They returned the following names.

Matthew Bazett, nominated for sheriff

Samuel Alexander, nominated for sheriff

John Alexander, nominated for sheriff

James Bowell, coroner

Henry Hooper, constable

Richard Goodwin, churchwarden

Henry Bazett, churchwarden

Richard Bagley, churchwarden

James Greentree, churchwarden

William Beale, overseer of the East Division

Thomas Burnham, overseer of the East Division

Robert Ballard, overseer of the West Division

William Young, overseer of the West Division

Henry Easthope, overseer of the South Division

John Bagley, overseer of the South Division

The Council appointed Samuel Alexander as sheriff. Warrants were ordered for Richard Goodwin and Henry Bazett as churchwardens, and for William Beale, Robert Ballard and Henry Easthope as overseers.

Captain Cornelle applied that day to pay £80 0s 0d into the Company's cash, and the Council received the money.

Interpretations

The inhabitants nominated but the Council chose. Three names went up for sheriff, four for churchwarden and two for each division's overseer, and the Council took one sheriff, two churchwardens and a single overseer for each division. The meeting therefore supplied a shortlist rather than an election result, which kept every parish office in the Council's gift while giving the planters a voice in who was considered. The warrants, not the vote, conferred the office. In an English parish of the same date the vestry itself usually settled its churchwardens and nominated overseers for the justices to confirm, and the sheriff was picked by the Crown from three names, a procedure the island copied for that one office.

Overseers were the parish officers who raised and spent the poor rate, and the three divisions gave each part of the island its own man for that duty. The coroner named by the inhabitants, James Bowell, was the storekeeper who signed the account of short-landed stores on 31 March 1766, so one Company servant held both a salaried post and a parish office.

The month of the consultation that ordered the meeting could not be read.

305

300

31 March

him Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Honorable the Court of Directors

payable to Christopher Baron Esqr. (or Order) ninety days after sight

John Skottowe

Danl. Corneille

M Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

At a Consultation held on Monday the 7th. day of April 1766 at the

Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Capt. Thoms. Kirkpatrick

of Council

The last Consultation was, read, approved, and signed, dated the 31.

March 1766.

Wednesday the 2d. Sailed the Honorable Company's Ship Admiral Pocock

for England

Friday the 4th. do. do. Ships Earl of Elgin

and Duke of Richmond for England

do. do. the Honorable Company's Ships Prince of Wales

and Plassey for China

Yesterday Arrived the Salisbury's, Boat at Banks's half an Hour past

seven o'Clock in the morning

do. do. the Dutton's Boat at Banks's half an Hour past

eight o'Clock in the morning

do. do. the Honorable Company's Ships Salisbury and Dutton

from China and brought Us the following Supply vizt.

Captain Cornelle received bills of exchange for his £80 0s 0d, drawn on the Court of Directors and payable to Christopher Baron or his order 90 days after sight. John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Thomas Kirkpatrick signed the consultation of 31 March 1766.

The Council met at the castle on Monday 7 April 1766. Governor Skottowe attended with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The minutes of 31 March 1766 were read, approved and signed.

The Admiral Pocock sailed for England on Wednesday 2 April 1766.

The Earl of Elgin and the Duke of Richmond sailed for England on Friday 4 April 1766.

The Prince of Wales and the Plassey sailed for China on the same Friday.

A boat from the Salisbury reached Banks's at 7.30 in the morning of 6 April 1766.

A boat from the Dutton reached Banks's at 8.30 that morning.

The Salisbury and the Dutton themselves came in from China later that day, and they brought a supply for the island that was set out in an invoice.

Interpretations

The payment of £80 0s 0d was a remittance, not a debt. Coin was scarce on the island and there was no safe way to send private money home, so a resident paid cash into the Company's treasury and took bills on the Court of Directors in London instead. The Company gained hard money for its local expenses, and the payer gained a sum payable in England. Ninety days after sight meant the Directors had three months from the day the bill was presented to them before payment fell due. The words "or order" made the bill transferable, so Christopher Baron could sign it over to someone else.

Banks's was the battery and lookout post on the coast north-east of the anchorage, which ships from the East passed before reaching the road. Each arriving ship sent a boat ahead to that post to identify herself before she was allowed to come in under the guns, which is why the boats were recorded separately and earlier than the ships.

The three ships whose muster rolls were entered under 31 March 1766 all left for England within four days of that date. The rolls were therefore taken as a check on each company just before sailing, a safeguard against islanders, soldiers or slaves being carried off and against seamen being left behind.

306

301

7th. April

Invoice of Ship Salisbury

No., tare, Gross

Sugar No. 17: tare 29, Gross 326

18: tare 26, Gross 314

19: tare 27, Gross 303

20: tare 25, Gross 304

21: tare 27, Gross 304

21: tare 25, Gross 315

23: tare 26, Gross 315

7 Chests: tare 185, Gross 2181

185 tare

1996 Nett is Picul 14.97 Catty @ T m 4.5 p Pecl.

Tas. m 67.365

No. 37 1 Chest Bohea

180 lb Gross

42 lb tare

138. Nett is Picul 1.03 Catty @ Tas. 19 p Pecl.

19.570

No 99 1 Chest Congo

100. lb Gross

21 lb tare

79 Nett is 59 Catty @ 28 p do.

16.520

No. 107 1 Chest Singlo

82 Gross

19 tare

63 Nett is 47 Catty @ 26 p do.

12.220

Tales 115.675

Canton 3d. Janry 1766.

(signed)

Thoms. Fitzhugh

Saml. Blount

John Burrow

Nathl. Garland

Wm. Mackenzie

John Searle

Stephn. De Visme

Thos. Smith

Thomas Thomas

William Rous

John Walton

Thos. Bevan

The invoice of the Salisbury was entered under 7 April 1766 and set out the sugar and tea she brought for the island from China.

Sugar chest number 17, tare 29 lb, gross 326 lb

Sugar chest number 18, tare 26 lb, gross 314 lb

Sugar chest number 19, tare 27 lb, gross 303 lb

Sugar chest number 20, tare 25 lb, gross 304 lb

Sugar chest number 21, tare 27 lb, gross 304 lb

Sugar chest number 21, tare 25 lb, gross 315 lb

Sugar chest number 23, tare 26 lb, gross 315 lb

7 chests of sugar, total tare 185 lb, total gross 2,181 lb

Sugar net weight, 1,996 lb, equal to 14 piculs 97 catties, at 4 taels 5 mace per picul, 67 taels 3 mace 6 candareens 5 cash

Chest number 87, 1 chest of Bohea tea, gross 180 lb, tare 42 lb, net 138 lb, equal to 1 picul 3 catties, at 19 taels per picul, 19 taels 5 mace 7 candareens 0 cash

Chest number 99, 1 chest of Congo tea, gross 100 lb, tare 21 lb, net 79 lb, equal to 59 catties, at 28 taels per picul, 16 taels 5 mace 2 candareens 0 cash

Chest number 107, 1 chest of Singlo tea, gross 82 lb, tare 19 lb, net 63 lb, equal to 47 catties, at 26 taels per picul, 12 taels 2 mace 2 candareens 0 cash

Total, 115 taels 6 mace 7 candareens 5 cash

The invoice was dated at Canton on 3 January 1766 and signed by the following.

Thomas Fitzhugh

Samuel Blount

John Burrow

Nathaniel Garland

William Mackenzie

John Searle

Stephen De Visme

Thomas Smith

Thomas Thomas

William Rous

John Walton

Thomas Bevan

Interpretations

The three teas were the standard grades of the Canton trade. Bohea was the cheapest black tea, a coarse dark leaf from the Wuyi hills of Fujian that made up the bulk of the Company's cargoes. Congo was a better black tea made from more carefully worked leaf, which explains its price of 28 taels a picul against 19 for Bohea. Singlo was a green tea from Anhui province, the ordinary green of the trade. The sugar was Chinese cane sugar, bought at Canton because it was cheaper to send to the island from there than from England.

The invoice was reckoned in Chinese weights and money. A picul was about 133⅓ lb and was divided into 100 catties, so each chest was weighed in English pounds and then converted. The tael was a weight of silver and not a coin, divided into 10 mace, 100 candareens and 1,000 cash, and all Company accounts at Canton were kept in it. Tare was the weight of the empty chest, deducted from the gross to give the net weight charged.

The 12 signatories were the Company's supercargoes at Canton, the merchants who bought and shipped its cargoes there and acted together as a council. Their joint signature made the invoice the authority for charging the goods to the island's account. The supply was small, seven chests of sugar and one chest of each tea, and was meant for the island's own use and sale from the Company's store, not as cargo.

The second chest numbered 21 stood so in the sequence, where 22 would be expected. Several of the tare and gross weights were closely written, and the price of the Congo tea in particular rested on fine judgement of the figures.

307

302

7th. April

Invoice of Ship Dutton.

No., tare, Gross

Sugar No. 24: tare 27, Gross 307

25: tare 26, Gross 317

26: tare 27, Gross 313

27: tare 26, Gross 304

28: tare 26, Gross 307

29: tare 27, Gross 302

30: tare 27, Gross 310

7 Chests: tare 186, Gross 2160

186 tare

1974 Nett. is Picul 14.80 Catty @ Ta. m 4.5 p Pecl.

Tas. m 66.600

No. 38 1 Chest Bohea

178 Gross

42 tare

136 Nett is Picl. 1.02 Catty @ 19 p Pecl.

19.380

No. 100 1 Chest Congo

100 Gross

21 tare

79 Nett is 59 Catty @ 28 p Pecl.

16.520

No. 108 One Chest Congo

100 Gross

21 tare

79 Nett. is 45 Catty @ 26 p Pecl.

11.700

Tales 114.200

Canton 3d. Janry 1766

(signed)

Thos. Fitzhugh

Saml. Blount

John Burrow

Nathl. Garland

Wm. Mackenzie

John Searle

Stephn. De Visme

Thos. Smith

Thos. Thomas

Wm. Rous

John Walton

Thos. Bevan.

The invoice of the Dutton was entered under 7 April 1766 and set out the sugar and tea she carried from China for the island.

Sugar chest number 24, tare 27 lb, gross 307 lb

Sugar chest number 25, tare 26 lb, gross 317 lb

Sugar chest number 26, tare 27 lb, gross 313 lb

Sugar chest number 27, tare 26 lb, gross 304 lb

Sugar chest number 28, tare 26 lb, gross 307 lb

Sugar chest number 29, tare 27 lb, gross 302 lb

Sugar chest number 30, tare 27 lb, gross 310 lb

7 chests of sugar, total tare 186 lb, total gross 2,160 lb

Sugar net weight, 1,974 lb, equal to 14 piculs 80 catties, at 4 taels 5 mace per picul, 66 taels 6 mace 0 candareens 0 cash

Chest number 88, 1 chest of Bohea tea, gross 178 lb, tare 42 lb, net 136 lb, equal to 1 picul 2 catties, at 19 taels per picul, 19 taels 3 mace 8 candareens 0 cash

Chest number 100, 1 chest of Congo tea, gross 100 lb, tare 21 lb, net 79 lb, equal to 59 catties, at 28 taels per picul, 16 taels 5 mace 2 candareens 0 cash

Chest number 108, 1 chest of Congo tea, gross 100 lb, tare 21 lb, net 79 lb, equal to 45 catties, at 26 taels per picul, 11 taels 7 mace 0 candareens 0 cash

Total, 114 taels 2 mace 0 candareens 0 cash

The invoice was dated at Canton on 3 January 1766 and signed by the following.

Thomas Fitzhugh

Samuel Blount

John Burrow

Nathaniel Garland

William Mackenzie

John Searle

Stephen De Visme

Thomas Smith

Thomas Thomas

William Rous

John Walton

Thomas Bevan

Interpretations

The supercargoes split one consignment evenly between two ships. The Salisbury's invoice, also dated at Canton on 3 January 1766, carried sugar chests 17 to 23 and one chest each of three teas, and the Dutton took the next seven sugar chests, numbered 24 to 30, with a matching three chests of tea at the same prices. Dividing the island's supply in that way meant the loss of either ship on the passage would still leave half of it to arrive.

The last chest was entered as Congo, with the gross, tare and net weights of the Congo chest above it repeated exactly. Its 45 catties and its price of 26 taels a picul did not fit those weights, and the price was the one charged for Singlo in the Salisbury's invoice, where the third tea chest weighed 63 lb net, or 47 catties. The clerk therefore probably copied the name and weights of the preceding entry by mistake, and the chest was perhaps Singlo of about 60 lb net.

Several of the tare and gross figures for the sugar were closely written, and the price of the first Congo chest rested on fine judgement of the figures, as it did in the Salisbury's invoice.

308

303

1766

Robert Ballard this day presented the following

Petition vizt.

To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor of the

Island St. Helena &ca. in Council

The humble Petition of Robert Ballard

Sheweth

That your Petitioner's Lease of part of his dwelling

House in James's Valley expires the Sixteenth Instant April, Wherefore

he humbly intreats your Worship and Council to grant him a New Lease

of the said premisses, and he will ever pray &ca.

Granted.

William Clay, William Pinchen, John Smith, Wooden Hawkes

John Swindell, Francis Powell, and Alexander Gray, Centinels this day

petitioned for their discharges from the Garrison, having served the Honble.

Company their Contracted times.

Granted.

Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick this day applied to Us to pay

four hundred pounds into the Honorable Company's Cash, which Sum we

have, received and given, Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Honble. the

Court of Directors payable to Mrs. Mary Hall (or Order) ninety days after

sight

John Skottowe

Danl. Corneille

M Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

Robert Ballard petitioned Governor Skottowe and the Council on 7 April 1766 about the lease of part of his house in James's Valley. That lease ran out on 16 April 1766, and he asked for a new one on the same property. The Council granted the request.

Seven sentinels asked that day to be released from the garrison, each of them at the end of the term he contracted to serve the Company. The Council granted their discharges.

William Clay

William Pinchen

John Smith

Weltden Hawkins

John Swindell

Francis Powell

Alexander Gray

Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick applied to pay £400 0s 0d into the Company's cash. The Council received the money and gave him bills of exchange drawn on the Court of Directors, payable to Mrs Mary Hall or her order 90 days after sight.

John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Thomas Kirkpatrick signed the consultation.

Interpretations

Ballard held part of his own house on a lease from the Company, which showed how property in James's Valley worked. The Company owned the ground of the town and let plots for fixed terms, so a householder's title lapsed unless the Council renewed it. Renewal by petition kept every town tenancy under the Council's eye and gave it a regular occasion to revise rents or conditions. Ballard was the man for whom a warrant as overseer of the West Division was ordered on 31 March 1766.

Sentinel was the island's term for a private soldier. The men enlisted with the Company for a fixed number of years, and a soldier whose time was up still needed the Council's leave to go, since nobody could quit the island or take passage in a ship without it. The seven discharges came as the Salisbury and the Dutton lay in the road from China on their way to England, which offered the men a passage home.

Kirkpatrick's payment followed the same method of remittance as Captain Corneille's £80 0s 0d on 31 March 1766, at five times the sum. He sat as a member of the Council that accepted his money and issued the bills, and he signed the minute recording it.

309

304

9th. April

At a Consultation held on Wednesday the 9th. Day of April 1766 at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Capt. Thoms. Kirkpatrick

of Council

The last Consultation was, read approved, and signed, dated the 7th.

April 1766.

Mr. Matthew Purling reports that he has

been on board the Ships, Dutton, and Salisbury to Muster their

Company's and enquire for deserters but found none their Muster Rolls are

as follow vizt.

Muster Roll of Ship Dutton

David Rice Commander

Edmond Windle 1. Mate

David Elphinston 2d. do.

Henry Rice 3d. do.

Geo: Young 4th. do.

Danl. Webb 5th. do.

John Rice Surgeon

William Burton Purser

Michael Jolly Carpenter

Richard Tosh Gunner

John Ogilvie Boatswain

John Ransay Mids. & Coxn.

George Newton Midshipm.

Hugh Cuthbert do.

Thomas Roberts do.

John Bradby. do.

Edwd. Hill Quartermaster

Edwd. Robinson do.

John Simonds do.

Henry Johnson do.

Norris Loughran Ships Stwd

Geo: Barnard Capts. Steward

William Moore Cooper

Edward Oarum Caulker

John Webber Sailmaker

Jeremiah Donnovan Armr.

Saml. Jones Capts. Cook

John Roberts Surgs. Mte

Gilbert Clough Carpentrs. Mte

Benj: Gibbon do. 2d. do.

George Moore Gunners do.

William Ward Boatswin do.

Willm. Thomas Caulkrs. Mte

Wm. Howell Capt. Servant

Jos. Sorrid do.

Cæsar Quiyonba 1 Mtes do.

John Gregory 2d. do. do.

Peter Butler Surg do.

Wm. Hazett Gunners do.

Andw. Forbes Boatsws. do.

Matthw. Lord Seaman

Wm. Horn

Thoms. Debuke

Richd. Hall,

Hugh Daby

Henry Rice

Wm. Griffith

John Elphinston

The Council met at the castle on Wednesday 9 April 1766. Governor Skottowe attended with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The minutes of 7 April 1766 were read, approved and signed.

Matthew Purling reported that he went aboard the Dutton and the Salisbury to muster their companies and search for deserters, and that he found none. The muster roll of the Dutton listed her company as follows.

David Rice, commander

Edmond Windell, first mate

David Elphinston, second mate

Henry Rice, third mate

George Young, fourth mate

Daniel Webb, fifth mate

John Rice, surgeon

William Burton, purser

Michael Jolly, carpenter

Richard Tosh, gunner

John Ogilvie, boatswain

John Ramsay, midshipman and coxswain

George Newdon, midshipman

Hugh Cuthbert, midshipman

Thomas Roberts, midshipman

John Bradby, midshipman

Edward Hill, quartermaster

Edward Robinson, quartermaster

John Simonds, quartermaster

Henry Johnson, quartermaster

Norris Loughran, ship's steward

George Barnard, captain's steward

William Moore, cooper

Edward Carum, caulker

John Webber, sailmaker

Jeremiah Donnovan, armourer

Samuel Jones, captain's cook

John Roberts, surgeon's mate

Gilbert Clough, carpenter's first mate

Benjamin Gibbon, carpenter's second mate

George More, gunner's mate

William Ward, boatswain's mate

William Thomas, caulker's mate

William Howell, captain's servant

Joseph Sorrel, captain's servant

Caesar Lavyonba, first mate's servant

John Gregory, second mate's servant

Peter Butler, surgeon's servant

William Hazett, gunner's servant

Andrew Forbes, boatswain's servant

Matthew Lord, seaman

William Horn, seaman

Thomas Debuke, seaman

Richard Hatt, seaman

Hugh Daby, seaman

Henry Rice, seaman

William Griffith, seaman

John Elphinston, seaman

Interpretations

Purling's errand showed what the muster rolls in this register were for. A councillor boarded each homeward ship, called over her company against the roll and looked for men who did not belong, so that no soldier or islander slipped away in her. The Council discharged seven sentinels on 7 April 1766, two days earlier, and the search separated men who left with permission from any who tried to go without it. The rolls of the Earl of Elgin, the Duke of Richmond and the Admiral Pocock, entered under 31 March 1766, came from the same inspection before those ships sailed.

Three of the Dutton's company shared the commander's surname: the third mate Henry Rice, the surgeon John Rice and a seaman Henry Rice. A commander of an East Indiaman had the naming of his officers, and berths commonly went to relations. The second mate David Elphinston and the seaman John Elphinston were perhaps connected in the same way.

The word seaman stood against Matthew Lord alone, and that description was carried down here to the names beneath his. Several surnames were closely written, and those of the first mate's servant, the caulker and the steward rested on fine judgement of the letter forms.

310

305

1766

Albert Dennie Seaman

Richard Walters

Peter Bruce

John Snowden

George Fletcher

William Duncan

David Short

John Hogg

William Harrow

William Hutton

James Green

John Bullworker

William Mc.key

John Moore

Henry Brooks

Robert Thompson

Thomas Brown

William Gibbons Seaman

Willm. Cripps Carprs. Servant

James Shaw Seaman

Thos. Owen

John Germain

John Birin

Geo: Simmerett

William Greeve

Phillip Gibbs

James Quey

Allisson Fell

John Hall

James Mc. Kenzie

Willm. Willson

John Thorp

John Whitman

Claus Johnson

Robert Carmichael

John Johnson Seamn.

John Kidder

Thos. Braney

John Dennis

Danl. Mc. Neal

Thomas Savoy

Francis [Emerson]

Christr. Jones

Wm. Siddens

Etherton Deacon

John Ogilby

John Chapman

Robert Kyle

James Cable

Rober Radford

Joseph Cabridge

Passengers

Saml. Blunt Supra Cargoe

John Burrow do.

William

Joseph

Servants

(Signed) Dad Rice

The muster roll of the Dutton continued in 1766 with the rest of her company and her passengers, and David Rice signed it.

Albert Dennie, seaman

Richard Walters, seaman

Peter Brice, seaman

John Snowden, seaman

George Fletcher, seaman

William Duncan, seaman

David Short, seaman

John Hogg, seaman

William Harrow, seaman

William Hutton, seaman

James Green, seaman

John Bulliworthee, seaman

William McKey, seaman

John Moore, seaman

Henry Brooks, seaman

Robert Thompson, seaman

Thomas Brown, seaman

William Gibbons, seaman

William Cripps, carpenter's servant

James Shaw, seaman

Thomas Owen, seaman

John Germain, seaman

John Bivin, seaman

George Simmeritt, seaman

William Greeve, seaman

Phillip Gibbs, seaman

James Lucy, seaman

Allison Fell, seaman

John Hall, seaman

James McKenzie, seaman

William Willson, seaman

John Thorp, seaman

John Whitman, seaman

Claus Johnson, seaman

Robert Carmichael, seaman

John Johnson, seaman

John Kidder, seaman

Thomas Bearey, seaman

John Dennis, seaman

Daniel McNeal, seaman

Thomas Tursey, seaman

Francis Emerson, seaman

Christopher Jones, seaman

William Teddens, seaman

Etherton Deacon, seaman

John Ogilby, seaman

John Chapman, seaman

Robert Ness, seaman

James Cable, seaman

Robert Radford, seaman

Joseph Cabridge, seaman

Samuel Blunt, supercargo, passenger

John Burrow, supercargo, passenger

William, servant to the passengers

Joseph, servant to the passengers

Interpretations

The two passengers were Company supercargoes going home from Canton. Samuel Blount and John Burrow both signed the invoices dated at Canton on 3 January 1766 for the supplies sent in the Salisbury and the Dutton, so the Dutton carried two of the men who consigned her cargo. Supercargoes of that period did not live permanently in China. They came out for the trading season, bought the cargoes and returned in the ships, which explains their place on a homeward roll.

The two servants were entered by a single name each, William and Joseph, where every member of the ship's company had a surname. That form of entry was usual for slaves or for Asian servants taken into a household abroad, and the two men were perhaps of that kind.

The word seaman stood against the first name in each column and against James Shaw, and that description was carried down here to the names beneath them. Several surnames were closely written, and those of Simmeritt, Bearey, Tursey, Teddens and Cabridge rested on fine judgement of the letter forms.

311

306

9th. April

Muster Roll of Ship Salisbury

John Wyche Commander

John Sealy Chief Mate

Thomas Compton 2d. do.

William Tomlinson 3d. do.

John Hallf 4th. do.

Thomas Winter 5th do.

Robert Thomas Purser

Robert Baldwin Surgeon

Robt. Cooper Midshipn. & Coxn.

Hugh Dougla Gunner

John Smith Carpenter

James Guy Boatswain

James Smith Ships Stewd.

Giles Minifie Capt. do.

Geo: Smith Cooper

George Haydon Midshipm.

Richard Hole do.

Carew Crouch do.

John Saxon do.

Thoms. Griffard Surg Mate

Archibald Cockerill Boats. do.

Henry Parsons do.

Edward Cale Caulker

John Callingwood Carp Mte

Chas. Henry do.

Peter Gosport Gunners Mte

John Domor Sailmakr.

John Angus Coopers Mte

Rober Gray Captains Cook

Christopher Trabrege Ships do.

Robert Collins Quarterm.

Archd. Mcdonald Quarterm.

John Carr do.

Wm. Haleron do.

Thomas Aston Butcher

Thoms. King Seaman

Thos. Tabar

Thos. Midst

Thoms. Lascelles

Wm. Beveridge

Alexr. Thompson

James Lockhard

John Norwood

Thos. Rodden

Michl. Matthews

John Willson

James Wall

Geo: Whaylon

James Rambler

John Morgan

John Jenkins

Lars Bloom

Thomas Marlow

James Hebberd

John Ross

Michl. Dyle

Andw. Brimingham

Willm. Brigs

John Martin

Anthony Demille

Robert Gauger

Alexr. Drage

Wm. Barrett Seaman

Wm. Rea

James Mitchell

James Malcomb

John Williams

John Miller

Danl. Haskins

Thomas Beckwith

John Buth

Thomas Nelson

William Jelf

Hugh Riley

John Taylor

James Skelton

Thomas Willoughby

Joseph Neville

William Stanhouse

David Farrier

John Wood

Franco. Courta

Jacob Ancaska

John Limbrey

Domingo Corea

John Slater Armourer

Wm. Minifie Capt. Servt.

Henry Wickman do.

Hugh Pugh Chief Mte do.

Francis Ford Surgeons do.

James Richardson Gunrs. do.

James Stapleton Boats. do.

Thos. Downs Carpenters do.

The muster roll of the Salisbury was entered under 9 April 1766 and listed her company as follows.

John Wyche, commander

John Sealy, chief mate

Thomas Compton, second mate

William Tomlinson, third mate

John Hall, fourth mate

Thomas Winter, fifth mate

Robert Thomas, purser

Robert Baldwin, surgeon

Robert Cooper, midshipman and coxswain

Hugh Douglas, gunner

John Smith, carpenter

James Guy, boatswain

James Smith, ship's steward

Giles Minifie, captain's steward

George Smith, cooper

George Haydon, midshipman

Richard Hole, midshipman

Carew Crouch, midshipman

John Saxon, midshipman

Thomas Griffard, surgeon's mate

Archibald Cocherill, boatswain's mate

Henry Parsons, boatswain's mate

Edward Cale, caulker

John Collingwood, carpenter's mate

Charles Henry, carpenter's mate

Peter Gosport, gunner's mate

John Dorner, sailmaker

John Angus, cooper's mate

Robert Gray, captain's cook

Christopher Trubrege, ship's cook

Robert Collins, quartermaster

Archibald McDonald, quartermaster

John Carr, quartermaster

William Haleron, quartermaster

Thomas Aston, butcher

Thomas King, seaman

Thomas Tabar, seaman

Thomas Midst, seaman

Thomas Lascelles, seaman

William Beveridge, seaman

Alexander Thompson, seaman

James Lockhard, seaman

John Norwood, seaman

Thomas Rodden, seaman

Michael Matthews, seaman

John Willson, seaman

James Wall, seaman

George Whaylon, seaman

James Rambler, seaman

John Morgan, seaman

John Jenkins, seaman

Lars Bloom, seaman

Thomas Marlow, seaman

James Hebberd, seaman

John Ross, seaman

Michael Dyle, seaman

Andrew Brimingham, seaman

William Brigs, seaman

John Martin, seaman

Anthony Demille, seaman

Robert Gaugor, seaman

Alexander Drage, seaman

William Barrett, seaman

William Rea, seaman

James Mitchell, seaman

James Malcomb, seaman

John Williams, seaman

John Miller, seaman

Daniel Haskins, seaman

Thomas Beckwith, seaman

John Bush, seaman

Thomas Nelson, seaman

William Jelf, seaman

Hugh Riley, seaman

John Taylor, seaman

James Shelton, seaman

Thomas Willoughby, seaman

Joseph Neville, seaman

William Stanhouse, seaman

David Farrier, seaman

John Wood, seaman

Francisco Courta, seaman

Jacob Ancasta, seaman

John Limbrey, seaman

Domingo Corea, seaman

John Slater, armourer

William Minifie, captain's servant

Henry Wichman, captain's servant

Hugh Pugh, chief mate's servant

Francis Ford, surgeon's servant

James Richardson, gunner's servant

James Stapleton, boatswain's servant

Thomas Downs, carpenter's servant

Interpretations

The captain's steward Giles Minifie and the captain's servant William Minifie shared a surname, and the boy was probably the steward's son or brother. Servants' berths were the usual way into a sea career, and they often went to relations of men already aboard, as the three men named Rice in the Dutton's roll of the same date suggested for her commander's family.

The Salisbury carried a butcher, as the Earl of Elgin did in her roll entered under 31 March 1766, where the Dutton, the Duke of Richmond and the Admiral Pocock listed none. She also carried a cooper's mate, a rating none of the other four ships named.

The word seaman stood against Thomas King and William Barrett alone, and that description was carried down here to the names beneath them. Several surnames were closely written, and those of Trubrege, Haleron, Whaylon, Gaugor, Dorner and Ancasta rested on fine judgement of the letter forms.

312

307

1766

Passengers

John Searle Esqr. Supra Cargoe

Elisha Turner do. Servant

(signed)

John Wyche

The Storekeeper this day delivered the following Account of Stores

Short received from the Ship Dutton vizt.

Account of Stores short received from the Ship Dutton vizt.

44 lb Sugar short weight

St. Helena

9th. April 1766.

(signed) James Cowell Storekeeper

We this day granted the following Bills of Exchange drawn upon

the Honorable the Court of Directors vizt.

One set to John Skottowe Esqr. Governor for three Hundred

pounds payable to Robert Wood Esqr. (or Order)

One set to Captain David Rice for eight Hundred and twenty

seven pounds payable to himself or Order.

One set to Captain John Wyche for four hundred and fifty

pounds payable to himself (or Order)

And one set to Mr. Giles Minifie for sixty five pounds

payable to himself (or Order) all drawn at ninety days sight

John Skottowe

Danl. Corneille

M Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

The muster roll of the Salisbury closed in 1766 with her passengers, and John Wyche signed it.

John Searle, supercargo, passenger

Elisha Turner, servant to John Searle

The storekeeper handed in an account that day of stores received short from the Dutton, which James Bowell signed as storekeeper at St Helena on 9 April 1766.

44 lb of sugar, under weight

The Council granted four sets of bills of exchange that day, all drawn on the Court of Directors at 90 days after sight.

Governor Skottowe, £300 0s 0d, payable to Robert Wood or his order

Captain David Rice, £827 0s 0d, payable to himself or his order

Captain John Wyche, £450 0s 0d, payable to himself or his order

Giles Minifie, £65 0s 0d, payable to himself or his order

John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Thomas Kirkpatrick signed the consultation.

Interpretations

Three of the four sets of bills went to men of the two ships then in the road from China: David Rice commanded the Dutton, John Wyche commanded the Salisbury and Giles Minifie was the Salisbury's captain's steward in her roll of 9 April 1766. Officers of East Indiamen were allowed to carry goods on their own account, and they sold part of that private trade to the islanders while the ships lay at anchor. The proceeds came to them in local coin, which was of little use on the voyage, so they paid it into the Company's cash and took bills payable to themselves in London. The sums of £827 0s 0d and £450 0s 0d gave a measure of how much the two commanders sold at the island, and the steward's £65 0s 0d showed that the trade reached well below the rank of officer. The Company in turn recovered the coin it needed to pay the garrison without shipping silver out.

The bills were issued in sets, meaning each was written out in two or three identical copies sent home by different ships. Payment of any one copy cancelled the others, so the loss of a ship did not destroy the claim.

John Searle was another of the supercargoes who signed the invoices dated at Canton on 3 January 1766. He went home in the Salisbury as Samuel Blount and John Burrow did in the Dutton, so the Canton council divided its returning members between the two ships as it divided the island's supply.

The 44 lb of sugar missing from the Dutton related to the seven chests in her invoice, which gave a net weight of 1,974 lb. The storekeeper reweighed the chests on landing against that figure, as he checked the stores from the Prince of Wales and the Plassey on 31 March 1766.

The Governor's own remittance of £300 0s 0d was granted by a Council over which he presided, as Captain Kirkpatrick's £400 0s 0d was on 7 April 1766.

313

308

14th. April

At a Consultation held on Monday the 14th. day of April 1766 at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Capt. Thos. Kirkpatrick

of Council

The last Consultation was, read, approved, and signed dated the 9th

April 1766.

Yesterday Sailed the Honorable Company's Ships

Dutton, and Salisbury for England

The Plantation Account for the last Quarter, and

the Gunners and Stewards Accounts for the Month March last were

this day brought in which were examined and approved and are as follows

vizt.

The Council met at the castle on Monday 14 April 1766. Governor Skottowe attended with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The minutes of 9 April 1766 were read, approved and signed.

The Dutton and the Salisbury sailed for England on 13 April 1766.

Three sets of accounts came before the Council that day: the plantation account for the preceding quarter and the gunner's and steward's accounts for March 1766. The Council examined and approved them.

Interpretations

The plantation account covered the Company's own farms on the island, which were worked by its slaves and supplied the garrison and the shipping with livestock and produce. It came in quarterly, where the gunner and the steward accounted every month. The gunner answered for powder, shot and ordnance stores, and the steward for the provisions issued to the garrison, so both dealt in goods consumed daily and open to waste or theft. Monthly examination by the Council kept those issues under close check, while the slower cycle of the farms needed review only once a quarter.

The Dutton and the Salisbury stayed a week, arriving on 6 April 1766 and leaving on 13 April 1766. Within that week the Council mustered both companies, received their supplies, discharged seven soldiers and issued bills to both commanders.

314

309

1766

Account of the Honble Compys. Stock of Neat Cattle &ca. from the 1. Janry to the 31. March 1766 vizt.

Neat Cattle Sheep Goats Hogs Horses Asses Poultry

Bulls, Cows, Calves, Yearlings, Heifers, Steers, Oxen, Total, Ewes, Weathers, Lambs, Rams, Total, Ewes, Weathers, Kids, Rams, Total, Hogs, Total, Horses, Mares, Total, He Asses, She Asses, Total, Fowls, Ducks, Turkeys, Geese

Remaining the 31.: Bulls 3, Cows 83, Calves 59, Yearlings 50, Heifers 30, Steers 26, Oxen 16, Total 267, Ewes 325, Weathers 90, Lambs 109, Rams 8, Total 532, Ewes 84, Weathers 13, Kids 98, Rams 4, Total 199, Hogs 2, Total 2, Horses 4, Mares 5, Total 9, He Asses 1, She Asses 1, Total 2, Fowls 34, Ducks 13, Turkeys 19, Geese 7

Encreased: Bulls 0, Cows 0, Calves 11, Yearlings 0, Heifers 0, Steers 0, Oxen 4, Total 15, Ewes 0, Weathers 0, Lambs 1, Rams 0, Total 1, Ewes 0, Weathers 0, Kids 0, Rams 0, Total 0, Hogs 0, Total 0, Horses 0, Mares 0, Total 0, He Asses 0, She Asses 0, Total 0, Fowls 22, Ducks 0, Turkeys 7, Geese 0

Total: Bulls 3, Cows 83, Calves 70, Yearlings 50, Heifers 30, Steers 26, Oxen 20, Total 282, Ewes 325, Weathers 90, Lambs 110, Rams 8, Total 533, Ewes 84, Weathers 13, Kids 98, Rams 4, Total 199, Hogs 2, Total 2, Horses 4, Mares 5, Total 9, He Asses 1, She Asses 1, Total 2, Fowls 56, Ducks 13, Turkeys 26, Geese 7

Deficient: Bulls 0, Cows 0, Calves 23, Yearlings 0, Heifers 0, Steers 0, Oxen 0, Total 23, Ewes 0, Weathers 0, Lambs 0, Rams 0, Total 0, Ewes 0, Weathers 0, Kids 65, Rams 0, Total 65, Hogs 0, Total 0, Horses 0, Mares 0, Total 0, He Asses 0, She Asses 0, Total 0, Fowls 0, Ducks 0, Turkeys 0, Geese 0

Killed: Bulls 0, Cows 1, Calves 0, Yearlings 0, Heifers 12, Steers 7, Oxen 0, Total 20, Ewes 14, Weathers 15, Lambs 2, Rams 0, Total 31, Ewes 2, Weathers 0, Kids 1, Rams 0, Total 3, Hogs 0, Total 0, Horses 0, Mares 0, Total 0, He Asses 0, She Asses 0, Total 0, Fowls 30, Ducks 3, Turkeys 4, Geese 0

Dead: Bulls 0, Cows 0, Calves 1, Yearlings 0, Heifers 0, Steers 0, Oxen 0, Total 1, Ewes 16, Weathers 5, Lambs 0, Rams 0, Total 21, Ewes 1, Weathers 2, Kids 0, Rams 0, Total 3, Hogs 0, Total 0, Horses 0, Mares 0, Total 0, He Asses 0, She Asses 0, Total 0, Fowls 0, Ducks 0, Turkeys 5, Geese 0

Remaining: Bulls 3, Cows 82, Calves 46, Yearlings 50, Heifers 18, Steers 19, Oxen 20, Total 238, Ewes 295, Weathers 70, Lambs 108, Rams 8, Total 481, Ewes 81, Weathers 11, Kids 32, Rams 4, Total 128, Hogs 2, Total 2, Horses 4, Mares 5, Total 9, He Asses 1, She Asses 1, Total 2, Fowls 20, Ducks 12, Turkeys 17, Geese 7

Changed the Species: Bulls 3, Cows 82, Calves 26, Yearlings 70, Heifers 18, Steers 19, Oxen 20, Total 238, Ewes 335, Weathers 105, Lambs 31, Rams 10, Total 481, Ewes 81, Weathers 21, Kids 22, Rams 4, Total 128, Hogs 2, Total 2, Horses 4, Mares 5, Total 9, He Asses 1, She Asses 1, Total 2, Fowls 30, Ducks 16, Turkeys 17, Geese 7

Deceased Slaves vizt.

12th. Febry 1 Man named Dolton

14 do. 1 do. do. Underwood

1 Boy do. Fuller

1 April 1 do. do. Cark

Slaves Born vizt.

1 Boy named John Emanuel 18th. Janry

1 do. do. William Frank 22d do.

1 do. do. Job Scanderbag 20th. February

Yam Expended for the Slaves

63.815

do. Bought for do.

32.700

Total

96,515

(signed) Danl. Corneille

The plantation account approved on 14 April 1766 set out the Company's livestock for the quarter from 1 January 1766 to 31 March 1766, and Daniel Corneille signed it.

Remaining on 31 December 1765, cattle: 3 bulls, 83 cows, 59 calves, 50 yearlings, 30 heifers, 26 steers, 16 oxen, total 267 cattle

Remaining on 31 December 1765, sheep: 335 ewes, 90 wethers, 109 lambs, 8 rams, total 532 sheep

Remaining on 31 December 1765, goats: 84 ewes, 13 wethers, 98 kids, 4 rams, total 199 goats

Remaining on 31 December 1765, hogs: 2 hogs, total 2 hogs

Remaining on 31 December 1765, horses: 4 horses, 5 mares, total 9 horses

Remaining on 31 December 1765, asses: 1 he ass, 1 she ass, total 2 asses

Remaining on 31 December 1765, poultry: 34 fowls, 18 ducks, 19 turkeys, 7 geese

Increase, cattle: 0 bulls, 0 cows, 11 calves, 0 yearlings, 0 heifers, 0 steers, 4 oxen, total 15 cattle

Increase, sheep: 0 ewes, 0 wethers, 1 lamb, 0 rams, total 1 sheep

Increase, goats: 0 ewes, 0 wethers, 0 kids, 0 rams, total 0 goats

Increase, hogs: 0 hogs, total 0 hogs

Increase, horses: 0 horses, 0 mares, total 0 horses

Increase, asses: 0 he asses, 0 she asses, total 0 asses

Increase, poultry: 22 fowls, 0 ducks, 7 turkeys, 0 geese

Total, cattle: 3 bulls, 83 cows, 70 calves, 50 yearlings, 30 heifers, 26 steers, 20 oxen, total 282 cattle

Total, sheep: 335 ewes, 90 wethers, 110 lambs, 8 rams, total 533 sheep

Total, goats: 84 ewes, 13 wethers, 98 kids, 4 rams, total 199 goats

Total, hogs: 2 hogs, total 2 hogs

Total, horses: 4 horses, 5 mares, total 9 horses

Total, asses: 1 he ass, 1 she ass, total 2 asses

Total, poultry: 56 fowls, 18 ducks, 26 turkeys, 7 geese

Missing, cattle: 0 bulls, 0 cows, 23 calves, 0 yearlings, 0 heifers, 0 steers, 0 oxen, total 23 cattle

Missing, sheep: 0 ewes, 0 wethers, 0 lambs, 0 rams, total 0 sheep

Missing, goats: 0 ewes, 0 wethers, 65 kids, 0 rams, total 65 goats

Missing, hogs: 0 hogs, total 0 hogs

Missing, horses: 0 horses, 0 mares, total 0 horses

Missing, asses: 0 he asses, 0 she asses, total 0 asses

Missing, poultry: 0 fowls, 0 ducks, 0 turkeys, 0 geese

Killed, cattle: 0 bulls, 1 cow, 0 calves, 0 yearlings, 12 heifers, 7 steers, 0 oxen, total 20 cattle

Killed, sheep: 14 ewes, 15 wethers, 2 lambs, 0 rams, total 31 sheep

Killed, goats: 2 ewes, 0 wethers, 1 kid, 0 rams, total 3 goats

Killed, hogs: 0 hogs, total 0 hogs

Killed, horses: 0 horses, 0 mares, total 0 horses

Killed, asses: 0 he asses, 0 she asses, total 0 asses

Killed, poultry: 30 fowls, 3 ducks, 4 turkeys, 0 geese

Died, cattle: 0 bulls, 0 cows, 1 calf, 0 yearlings, 0 heifers, 0 steers, 0 oxen, total 1 head of cattle

Died, sheep: 16 ewes, 5 wethers, 0 lambs, 0 rams, total 21 sheep

Died, goats: 1 ewe, 2 wethers, 0 kids, 0 rams, total 3 goats

Died, hogs: 0 hogs, total 0 hogs

Died, horses: 0 horses, 0 mares, total 0 horses

Died, asses: 0 he asses, 0 she asses, total 0 asses

Died, poultry: 0 fowls, 0 ducks, 5 turkeys, 0 geese

Remaining on 31 March 1766, cattle: 3 bulls, 82 cows, 46 calves, 50 yearlings, 18 heifers, 19 steers, 20 oxen, total 238 cattle

Remaining on 31 March 1766, sheep: 295 ewes, 70 wethers, 108 lambs, 8 rams, total 481 sheep

Remaining on 31 March 1766, goats: 81 ewes, 11 wethers, 32 kids, 4 rams, total 128 goats

Remaining on 31 March 1766, hogs: 2 hogs, total 2 hogs

Remaining on 31 March 1766, horses: 4 horses, 5 mares, total 9 horses

Remaining on 31 March 1766, asses: 1 he ass, 1 she ass, total 2 asses

Remaining on 31 March 1766, poultry: 20 fowls, 12 ducks, 17 turkeys, 7 geese

After reclassification, cattle: 3 bulls, 82 cows, 26 calves, 70 yearlings, 18 heifers, 19 steers, 20 oxen, total 238 cattle

After reclassification, sheep: 335 ewes, 105 wethers, 31 lambs, 10 rams, total 481 sheep

After reclassification, goats: 81 ewes, 21 wethers, 22 kids, 4 rams, total 128 goats

After reclassification, hogs: 2 hogs, total 2 hogs

After reclassification, horses: 4 horses, 5 mares, total 9 horses

After reclassification, asses: 1 he ass, 1 she ass, total 2 asses

After reclassification, poultry: 30 fowls, 16 ducks, 17 turkeys, 7 geese

The account recorded four deaths among the Company's slaves.

12 February 1766, 1 man named Dolton

14 February 1766, 1 man named Underwood

14 February 1766, 1 boy named Fuller

1 April 1766, 1 boy named Cark

Three slave children were born.

18 January 1766, 1 boy named John Emanuel

22 January 1766, 1 boy named William Frank

20 February 1766, 1 boy named Job Scanderbag

The yams used to feed the slaves were entered last.

Yams issued to the slaves from the plantations, 63,815

Yams bought for the slaves, 32,700

Total yams, 96,515

Interpretations

The row for missing animals was the weightiest in the account. Sixty-five kids out of 98 and 23 calves out of 70 could not be found, where only one calf and three goats were entered as dead. The account therefore separated stock known to have died from stock simply unaccounted for. Young animals grazed loose on unfenced common ground, where they strayed, fell from the cliffs or were stolen, and the entry admitted a loss that nobody could explain. The Council approved the account on 14 April 1766 without recorded comment.

Neat cattle was the old term for bovine animals, as distinct from sheep, goats and horses. The last row regrouped the surviving animals by age without changing any total. Twenty calves moved up to yearlings, most of the lambs were re-entered as ewes, wethers and rams, and ten kids became wethers. A wether was a castrated male sheep or goat, kept for meat.

The animals killed, 20 cattle, 31 sheep and 37 fowls and other poultry, fell in the quarter when the Earl of Elgin, the Duke of Richmond, the Admiral Pocock, the Prince of Wales and the Plassey lay in the road. The slaughter of heifers and steers, not cows or oxen, kept the breeding and working stock intact.

Yams were the staple food of the Company's slaves. The account gave no unit for them, and the figures were probably pounds. About a third of the quantity was bought, presumably from the planters, so the Company's own ground did not feed its slaves.

The death of the boy on 1 April 1766 fell a day after the quarter closed and was added before the account was handed in. The slaves bore single names of the kind masters gave, some of them English surnames, and Scanderbag was taken from the Albanian hero Skanderbeg. Births and deaths of slaves were entered on the same sheet as the livestock, since both were counted as Company stock.

The heading of the opening row gave only the day, and the month of December was supplied from the quarter covered. Several figures were closely written, in particular the remaining ewes, the opening sheep total and the fowls and ducks in the last two rows, and the name of the boy who died on 1 April 1766 rested on fine judgement of the letter forms.

315

310

14th. April

Artillery Stores Expended in the Month of March

1766.

Guns fired, lb 4, lb 3, lb 2, lb 1, Powder Expended lb, Powder Expended oz

2d. An Alarm: Guns fired 6, lb 4 2, lb 3 2, lb 2 0, lb 1 2, Powder Expended lb 12, Powder Expended oz 0

Arrived the Prince of Wales: Guns fired 9, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 9, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb 9, Powder Expended oz 0

3d. Saluted a Dutch Governor going on board: Guns fired 13, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 13, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 0

6th. Departed the Earl of Middlesex: Guns fired 9, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 9, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb 9, Powder Expended oz 0

10th. An Alarm for a Ship that went by: Guns fired 6, lb 4 2, lb 3 2, lb 2 0, lb 1 2, Powder Expended lb 12, Powder Expended oz 0

13th. A Double Alarm for three Ships that went by: Guns fired 11, lb 4 4, lb 3 4, lb 2 0, lb 1 3, Powder Expended lb 23, Powder Expended oz 0

16th. do. for four Ships that went by: Guns fired 13, lb 4 5, lb 3 5, lb 2 0, lb 1 3, Powder Expended lb 23, Powder Expended oz 0

22d. A Double Alarm: Guns fired 6, lb 4 2, lb 3 2, lb 2 0, lb 1 2, Powder Expended lb 12, Powder Expended oz 0

23d. Arrived the Earl of Elgin: Guns fired 9, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 9, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb 9, Powder Expended oz 0

An Alarm: Guns fired 6, lb 4 2, lb 3 2, lb 2 0, lb 1 2, Powder Expended lb 12, Powder Expended oz 0

Arrived the Admiral Pocock: Guns fired 9, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 9, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb 9, Powder Expended oz 0

24th. Arrived the Duke of Richmond: Guns fired 9, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 9, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb 9, Powder Expended oz 0

Powder expended at the Works and differt. Services: Guns fired 0, lb 4 0, lb 3 0, lb 2 0, lb 1 0, Powder Expended lb 39, Powder Expended oz 8

Total: Guns fired 106, lb 4 17, lb 3 17, lb 2 58, lb 1 14, Powder Expended lb 196, Powder Expended oz 8

Paper for making Cartridges

Qrs. 4

Trunk nails for Coating Spunges

100

do. for the use of the Lieut. Governors House

500

Tallow for the use of the Carts &ca.

lb 14

Hand spikes for the Works

13

Spunge Staves for repairing the Spunges

4

Sand Bags for the Works

20

Rammer Heads broke

4

(signed)

Archd. Mitchell

The gunner's account approved on 14 April 1766 listed the artillery stores used in March 1766, and Archibald Mitchell signed it.

2 March 1766, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 charges in the column headed 4, 2 charges in the column headed 3, 0 charges in the column headed 2, 2 charges in the column headed 1, 12 lb 0 oz of powder

2 March 1766, arrival of the Prince of Wales: 9 guns fired, 0 charges in the column headed 4, 0 charges in the column headed 3, 9 charges in the column headed 2, 0 charges in the column headed 1, 9 lb 0 oz of powder.

3 March 1766, salute to a Dutch governor going aboard his ship: 13 guns fired, 0 charges in the column headed 4, 0 charges in the column headed 3, 13 charges in the column headed 2, 0 charges in the column headed 1, 13 lb 0 oz of powder

6 March 1766, departure of the Earl of Middlesex: 9 guns fired, 0 charges in the column headed 4, 0 charges in the column headed 3, 9 charges in the column headed 2, 0 charges in the column headed 1, 9 lb 0 oz of powder.

10 March 1766, an alarm for a ship that passed the island: 6 guns fired, 2 charges in the column headed 4, 2 charges in the column headed 3, 0 charges in the column headed 2, 2 charges in the column headed 1, 12 lb 0 oz of powder

13 March 1766, a double alarm for three ships that passed the island: 11 guns fired, 4 charges in the column headed 4, 4 charges in the column headed 3, 0 charges in the column headed 2, 3 charges in the column headed 1, 23 lb 0 oz of powder

16 March 1766, a double alarm for four ships that passed the island: 13 guns fired, 5 charges in the column headed 4, 5 charges in the column headed 3, 0 charges in the column headed 2, 3 charges in the column headed 1, 28 lb 0 oz of powder

22 March 1766, a double alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 charges in the column headed 4, 2 charges in the column headed 3, 0 charges in the column headed 2, 2 charges in the column headed 1, 12 lb 0 oz of powder

23 March 1766, arrival of the Earl of Elgin: 9 guns fired, 0 charges in the column headed 4, 0 charges in the column headed 3, 9 charges in the column headed 2, 0 charges in the column headed 1, 9 lb 0 oz of powder.

23 March 1766, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 charges in the column headed 4, 2 charges in the column headed 3, 0 charges in the column headed 2, 2 charges in the column headed 1, 12 lb 0 oz of powder

23 March 1766, arrival of the Admiral Pocock: 9 guns fired, 0 charges in the column headed 4, 0 charges in the column headed 3, 9 charges in the column headed 2, 0 charges in the column headed 1, 9 lb 0 oz of powder.

24 March 1766, arrival of the Duke of Richmond: 9 guns fired, 0 charges in the column headed 4, 0 charges in the column headed 3, 9 charges in the column headed 2, 0 charges in the column headed 1, 9 lb 0 oz of powder.

Powder used at the works and on various other services: 0 guns fired, 0 charges in the column headed 4, 0 charges in the column headed 3, 0 charges in the column headed 2, 0 charges in the column headed 1, 39 lb 8 oz of powder

Total: 106 guns fired, 17 charges in the column headed 4, 17 charges in the column headed 3, 58 charges in the column headed 2, 14 charges in the column headed 1, 196 lb 8 oz of powder

Paper for making cartridges, 4 quires

Trunk nails for covering sponges, 100 nails

Trunk nails for the Lieutenant Governor's house, 500 nails

Tallow for the carts and similar uses, 14 lb

Handspikes for the works, 13 handspikes

Sponge staves for repairing the sponges, 4 staves

Sandbags for the works, 20 sandbags

Rammer heads broken, 4 rammer heads

Interpretations

The account showed how the island's warning system worked in practice. An alarm was fired whenever a sail was sighted, to call the garrison and the planters' militia to their posts until the stranger was identified. Six alarms were fired in March 1766, and three of them were for ships that simply sailed past without calling. A double alarm, fired when several ships appeared together, used more guns and nearly twice the powder, since a group of unidentified vessels could be a hostile squadron. The island therefore spent 99 lb of powder in the month on alarms against 58 lb on salutes.

Salutes followed a fixed scale. Each Company ship received nine guns on arriving or leaving, and the Dutch governor, a passenger in a foreign ship calling for refreshment, received 13 as a mark of his rank. The salutes were all fired with the same small charge, one to a gun, where the alarms used a mix of heavier charges so that the report carried across the island.

The equipment listed below the table belonged to the working of the guns. A sponge was a staff with a fleece or cloth head, used wet to put out any burning remnant in the bore after each shot, and the trunk nails fixed the covering to its head. A rammer drove the cartridge and shot home, a handspike was the wooden lever used to shift a gun carriage, and cartridge paper was rolled into tubes to hold measured charges of powder. The 500 nails for the Lieutenant Governor's house showed the gunner's store serving as a general source of ironmongery, charged to his account although the use had nothing to do with artillery.

The arrivals of the Earl of Elgin and the Admiral Pocock on 23 March 1766 and the Duke of Richmond on 24 March 1766 fixed their stay at about ten days, since they sailed for England on 2 April 1766 and 4 April 1766. The Prince of Wales, which arrived on 2 March 1766 and left for China on 4 April 1766, stayed over a month.

The headings over the four columns of charges were written very small. They were read as 4, 3, 2 and 1, probably the weight of each charge in pounds, and that reading rested on fine judgement. The powder for the four ships on 16 March 1766 and the total of the third column of charges were also closely written.

316

311

1766

Sundrys Expended at the Honble. Compys. Table in the Month of March

1766

18 Bottles Port Wine

£ 1

31 do. Lisbon

2.6.6

12 do. Mountain

18

24 do. Beer

5

32 do. Arrack

3.8.6

102 lb. Beef

2.2.1

351 Mutton

7.10

6 Ducks

9

8 Fowles

12

1 Turkey

5

46 lb Butter

2.5

9 [...] lb Candy

1.10.1/2

350 lb Flour

3.12.11

£ 26.4.9 1/2

Being in want of another Long Boat for the use of

the Honorable Company, we bought one of Captain Wyche for which we

paid him thirty pounds

John Skottowe

Danl. Corneille

M Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

The steward's account approved on 14 April 1766 listed the food and drink consumed at the Company's table in March 1766.

18 bottles of port wine, £1 0s 0d

31 bottles of Lisbon wine, £2 6s 6d

12 bottles of Mountain wine, £0 18s 0d

24 bottles of beer, £0 5s 0d

32 bottles of arrack, £3 8s 6d

102 lb of beef, £2 2s 1d

351 lb of mutton, £7 10s 0d

6 ducks, £0 9s 0d

8 fowls, £0 12s 0d

1 turkey, £0 5s 0d

46 lb of butter, £2 5s 0d

9 lb 5 oz of sugar candy, £1 10s 0½d

350 lb of flour, £3 12s 11d

Total, £26 4s 9½d

The Company needed another longboat, and the Council bought one from Captain Wyche for £30 0s 0d.

John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Thomas Kirkpatrick signed the consultation.

Interpretations

The Company's table was the common table kept at the castle at the Company's expense, where Governor Skottowe, the councillors and the senior servants dined and where ships' commanders and passengers of rank were entertained. The steward charged each article at a fixed store price, so the account showed the cost of that hospitality month by month. March 1766 brought seven Company ships and a Dutch governor to the island, which explains a month's consumption of 117 bottles and 453 lb of meat.

Arrack was a spirit distilled in the East from fermented palm sap, rice or sugar cane, shipped from Batavia and Goa and drunk mainly in punch. It was the largest single item of drink in the account, at 32 bottles. Sugar candy was sugar crystallised in large hard lumps, the form in which Chinese sugar was commonly sold and the kind brought in the chests from Canton. The port, Lisbon and Mountain wines were the three kinds landed from the Prince of Wales and the Plassey in the storekeeper's account of 31 March 1766.

The meat and poultry came from the Company's own stock. The plantation account for the quarter to 31 March 1766 recorded 31 sheep, 20 cattle, 30 fowls, 3 ducks and 4 turkeys killed, and the table's mutton, beef and birds for March formed part of that slaughter.

The longboat came from the Salisbury, which Wyche commanded and which sailed for England on 13 April 1766. A homeward ship in the last leg of her voyage could spare a boat, and the Council took the chance to buy one on the spot, where the ordinary course was to ask the Directors to send one out and wait a year or more for it. Wyche received bills for £450 0s 0d on 9 April 1766, and the price of the boat perhaps formed part of the money he remitted.

The weight of the sugar candy and several of the sums were closely written, and the readings of the beef, the candy and the flour rested on fine judgement of the figures.

317

312

21 April

At a Consultation held on Monday the 21st. Day of April 1766 at the Castle

Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor

Mr. Matthew Purling

Capt. Thoms. Kirkpatrick

of Council

The last Consultation was, read, approved, and signed dated the 14th. April

1766

Monday the 14th. Arrived the Duke of Glocester's Boat at Banks's at 8 o'Clock at Night

Tuesday the 15th. do. the Honble. Compys. Ship Duke of Glocester from China

do. do. Died Elizabeth Daughter of Ruth Deffountain

Thursday the 17th. Arrived a Dane Ship from China Called the Queen Sophia

Magdalina Capt. Duxon [...] burthen eleven hundred

Tons, carrys twenty six Guns, and one hundred and fifty Men

loaden with Tea, China Ware and Silk bound to Copenhagen

Friday the 18th. Arrived a Dane Ship from China called the Queen Julian Maria

Capt. Smit, burthen nine hundred Tons, carry twenty six

Guns and one hundred and forty Men, loaden with Tea

China Ware, and Silk bound to Copenhagen

Saturday the 19th. Arrived a Portuguese Vessel from Rio Janeiro called

the Santa Conception, Captain Joze burthen thirty Tons

and carrys seven Men, bound to Angola

do. do. the Talbot's Boat at Banks's, at half an hour past

eleven o'Clock in the forenoon

do. do. the Honorable Company's Ship Talbot from China

and brought Us the following Supply's vizt.

The Council met at the castle on Monday 21 April 1766. Governor Skottowe attended with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick. The minutes of 14 April 1766 were read, approved and signed.

A boat from the Duke of Gloucester reached Banks's at [...] o'clock on the night of Monday 14 April 1766.

The Duke of Gloucester herself came in from China on Tuesday 15 April 1766.

Elizabeth, daughter of Matthew Deffountain, died on the same Tuesday.

A Danish ship from China, the Queen Sophia Magdalena, arrived on Thursday 17 April 1766 under Captain Dixon [...]. She measured 1,100 tons and carried 26 guns and 150 men. Her cargo was tea, porcelain and silk, and she was bound for Copenhagen.

A second Danish ship from China, the Queen Julian Maria, arrived on Friday 18 April 1766 under Captain Smit. She measured 900 tons and carried 26 guns and 140 men, with the same kind of cargo for Copenhagen.

A Portuguese vessel from Rio de Janeiro, the Santa Conception, arrived on Saturday 19 April 1766 under Captain Joze. She measured 30 tons, carried seven men and was bound for Angola.

A boat from the Talbot reached Banks's at 11.30 that Saturday morning.

The Talbot herself came in from China later that day and brought a supply for the island.

Interpretations

The Council recorded foreign ships in far more detail than its own. Each Company ship was entered by name and port alone, where the two Danes and the Portuguese vessel were set down with captain, tonnage, guns, crew, cargo and destination. Those particulars were gathered when the ship's boat reported at Banks's and were sent home to the Directors as commercial intelligence. The Danish Asiatic Company competed with the English Company for tea at Canton, and a count of its ships, their size and their lading told London how much rival tea was on its way to Europe that season.

The two Danish ships were as large as the Company's own Indiamen and more heavily manned, with 150 and 140 men against the 90 or so in each of the English muster rolls entered in March and April 1766. They called for water and fresh provisions, which the island sold to friendly foreigners for cash.

The Santa Conception was a very small craft for an ocean passage, at 30 tons and seven men. A vessel sailing between Brazil and Angola was probably engaged in the Portuguese slave trade, which carried Brazilian tobacco and spirits to Luanda and slaves back. St Helena lay far to the south of the direct track, so she perhaps put in through want of water or stress of weather.

The death of Elizabeth Deffountain was entered among the shipping movements, since the consultations served as the island's running register of events as well as the Council's minutes.

The hour at which the Duke of Gloucester's boat arrived and the second part of the first Danish captain's name could not be read.

318

313

1766

Invoice of Ship Talbot

Four half Chests China Ware vizt.

C W 1 @ 4

No. 1

30 Blue & White Chamber pots @ Mace 300

Tas. 9

100 Blue & White Snackers @ Mace 30

Tas. 3

Tas. m 12

No. 2

15 Blue & White Basons & Guglets @ Mace 350

Tas. 5.250

15 Coloured do. do. Mace 300

Tas. 4.500

Tas. m 9.750

No. 3

20 Blue & White Bowls 1st. Size @ Mace 300

Tas. 6

20 do. do. 2 Mace 250

Tas. 5

8 do. do. 3 Mace 150

Tas. 1.200

6 do. do. 4 Mace 110

Tas. 660

20 do. do. 5 Mace 90

Tas. 1.800

Tas. m 14.660

12 Blue & White Bowls 3d. Size Mace 150

Tas. 1.800

14 do. do. 4 Mace 110

Tas. 1.540

200 do. Snackers Mace 30

Tas. 6

Tas. m 9.340

Tas. m 45.750

2 p Cent for break.

Tas. m 915

Tas. m 44.835

4 Half Chests

Tas. m 1.600

Tales 46.435

Sugar No. 5 @ 9

No., tare, Gross

5: tare 27, Gross lb 301

6: tare 26, Gross 301

7: tare 31, Gross 306

8: tare 28, Gross 310

9: tare 28, Gross 310

5 Chests: tare 140, Gross 1528

140 tare

1388 Nett is Picl. 10.41 Catty @ T m 4.5 p Pecl.

Tas. m 46.845

1 Chest Bohea Tea

178 Gross

42 tare

136 Nett is Picl. 1.2 Catty @ Ts. 19 p do.

Tas. m 19.380

1 Chest Congo

100 Gross

21 tare

79 Nett is Catty 59 @ 28 p do.

Tas. m 16.520

Tales 129.180

Canton 3d. Janry 1766 Errors Excepted

(signed)

Thomas Smith

Thoms. Thomas

Wm. Rous

John Walton

Thos. Bevan

Thos. Fitzhugh

John Burrow

Nathl. Garland

Wm. Mc.kenzie

John Searle

Stephn. De Visme

The invoice of the Talbot was entered in 1766 and set out the porcelain, sugar and tea she brought for the island from China. The porcelain came in four half chests marked C W and numbered 1 to 4.

Half chest number 1, 30 blue and white chamber pots at 3 mace each, 9 taels 0 mace 0 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 1, 100 blue and white saucers at 3 candareens each, 3 taels 0 mace 0 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 1, total, 12 taels 0 mace 0 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 2, 15 blue and white basins and guglets at 3 mace 5 candareens each, 5 taels 2 mace 5 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 2, 15 coloured basins and guglets at 3 mace each, 4 taels 5 mace 0 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 2, total, 9 taels 7 mace 5 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 3, 20 blue and white bowls of the first size at 3 mace each, 6 taels 0 mace 0 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 3, 20 blue and white bowls of the second size at 2 mace 5 candareens each, 5 taels 0 mace 0 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 3, 8 blue and white bowls of the third size at 1 mace 5 candareens each, 1 tael 2 mace 0 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 3, 6 blue and white bowls of the fourth size at 1 mace 1 candareen each, 0 taels 6 mace 6 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 3, 20 blue and white bowls of the fifth size at 9 candareens each, 1 tael 8 mace 0 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 3, total, 14 taels 6 mace 6 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 4, 12 blue and white bowls of the third size at 1 mace 5 candareens each, 1 tael 8 mace 0 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 4, 14 blue and white bowls of the fourth size at 1 mace 1 candareen each, 1 tael 5 mace 4 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 4, 200 blue and white saucers at 3 candareens each, 6 taels 0 mace 0 candareens 0 cash

Half chest number 4, total, 9 taels 3 mace 4 candareens 0 cash

Porcelain, total, 45 taels 7 mace 5 candareens 0 cash

Allowance of 2 per cent for breakage, deducted, 0 taels 9 mace 1 candareen 5 cash

Porcelain after the allowance, 44 taels 8 mace 3 candareens 5 cash

4 half chests for packing, 1 tael 6 mace 0 candareens 0 cash

Porcelain and packing, total, 46 taels 4 mace 3 candareens 5 cash

Sugar chest number 5, tare 27 lb, gross 301 lb

Sugar chest number 6, tare 26 lb, gross 301 lb

Sugar chest number 7, tare 31 lb, gross 306 lb

Sugar chest number 8, tare 28 lb, gross 310 lb

Sugar chest number 9, tare 28 lb, gross 310 lb

5 chests of sugar, total tare 140 lb, total gross 1,528 lb

Sugar net weight, 1,388 lb, equal to 10 piculs 41 catties, at 4 taels 5 mace per picul, 46 taels 8 mace 4 candareens 5 cash

1 chest of Bohea tea, gross 178 lb, tare 42 lb, net 136 lb, equal to 1 picul 2 catties, at 19 taels per picul, 19 taels 3 mace 8 candareens 0 cash

1 chest of Congo tea, gross 100 lb, tare 21 lb, net 79 lb, equal to 59 catties, at 28 taels per picul, 16 taels 5 mace 2 candareens 0 cash

Total, 129 taels 1 mace 8 candareens 0 cash

The invoice was dated at Canton on 3 January 1766, subject to correction of any errors, and signed by the following.

Thomas Fitzhugh

John Burrow

Nathaniel Garland

William Mackenzie

John Searle

Stephen De Visme

Thomas Smith

Thomas Thomas

William Rous

John Walton

Thomas Bevan

Interpretations

The porcelain was Chinese export ware made at Jingdezhen and sold through the Canton merchants. Blue and white was the cheap everyday kind, painted in cobalt under the glaze, and the coloured pieces were enamelled over the glaze. A guglet was a long-necked water bottle, sold with a basin as a washing set for a bedroom. The bowls were graded in five sizes by price, from 3 mace down to 9 candareens. The whole consignment was plain household crockery, chamber pots, wash sets, bowls and 300 saucers, intended for sale to the islanders from the Company's store.

Two charges showed how the Canton trade handled fragile goods. The Chinese sellers allowed 2 per cent off the price for breakage, so the buyer bore the risk of damage in exchange for a fixed discount. The half chests themselves were charged separately at 4 mace each, where the tea and sugar chests were covered by deducting tare.

The Talbot carried the sugar chests numbered 5 to 9, below the 17 to 23 in the Salisbury and the 24 to 30 in the Dutton, and all three invoices bore the date of 3 January 1766. The supercargoes therefore spread one numbered run of sugar over at least four ships, and chests 10 to 16 probably went in another, perhaps the Duke of Gloucester, which arrived on 15 April 1766. The Bohea and Congo chests matched those in the Dutton's invoice in weight and price.

Eleven supercargoes signed, where the two earlier invoices carried 12. The name missing was Samuel Blount, who went home as a passenger in the Dutton.

The article read as saucers and the mark on the half chests were closely written, and both readings rested on fine judgement of the letter forms.

319

314

  1. April.
  2. The Storekeeper this day delivered his Collections and the
  3. Paymaster his Accounts for the Quarter commencing the 1 January
  4. and ending the 31. March 1766. which were examined and approved &
  5. are as follow vizt.
  6. Collection of Goods Sold and delivered out of the Honble Compys.
  7. Ware Houses from the 1. January to the 31 March 1766 vizt.
  8. Sold to the Company's Servants at 10 p Cent vizt.

Sugar and Candy vizt.

3443 lb Sugar

79.7.6

2532 Candy

59.3.5

138.10.11

Flour vizt.

1234 lb Flour

8.19.11

169 C 2 qr 22 lb do. Packed

157.18.4

166.18.3

Tea vizt.

10 lb Congo

15.10

84 Singlo

6.13

13 1/2 Bohea

19.3

8.8.1

Oil vizt.

19 Galls. Train

3.10.5

23 1/2 do. Linseed

5.9

12 Bottles Florence

1.15

10.6.2

Candles vizt. 343 lb

37.17.5

Salt 5 1/2 Bushel

1.9.6

Pepper 55

1.10.11

Coffee 41

1.17.7

Thread vizt.

2 lb W Brown

19.2

6 Coloured

1.2.6

2.1.8

Rice C 13. qr 2. lb 16.

8.12.1

Canvas 16 yds. Ozenbrigs

14

Beef and Pork vizt.

1977 lb Pork

197.14

982 Beef

98.4

2316 1/2 Dutch Pork

38.12.2

334.10.2

Starch 77 lb

2.17.9

Carried over

£ 715.14.6

The storekeeper handed in his collections on 21 April 1766 and the paymaster his accounts, both for the quarter from 1 January 1766 to 31 March 1766. The Council examined and approved them. The first collection covered goods sold and issued from the Company's warehouses in that quarter, beginning with sales to the Company's servants at 10 per cent above cost.

3,443 lb of sugar, £79 7s 6d

2,582 lb of sugar candy, £59 3s 5d

Sugar and sugar candy, total, £138 10s 11d

1,234 lb of flour, £8 19s 11d

169 cwt 1 qr 22 lb of packed flour, £157 18s 4d

Flour, total, £166 18s 3d

10 lb of Congo tea, £0 15s 10d

84 lb of Singlo tea, £6 13s 0d

13½ lb of Bohea tea, £0 19s 3d

Tea, total, £8 8s 1d

19 gallons of train oil, £3 10s 5d

23½ gallons of linseed oil, £5 0s 9d

12 bottles of Florence oil, £1 15s 0d

Oil, total, £10 6s 2d

343 lb of candles, £37 17s 5d

5¾ bushels of salt, £1 9s 6d

55 lb of pepper, £1 10s 11d

41 lb of coffee, £1 17s 7d

2½ lb of whited brown thread, £0 19s 2d

6 lb of coloured thread, £1 2s 6d

Thread, total, £2 1s 8d

13 cwt 2 qr 16 lb of rice, £8 12s 1d

16 yards of Osnaburg canvas, £0 14s 0d

1,977 pieces of pork, £197 14s 0d

982 pieces of beef, £98 4s 0d

2,316½ lb of Dutch pork, £38 12s 2d

Beef and pork, total, £334 10s 2d

77 lb of starch, £2 17s 9d

Carried over, £715 14s 6d

Interpretations

The heading fixed the terms on which the Company's own people bought from its store. Servants paid the invoice cost plus 10 per cent, a privileged rate that covered little more than freight and wastage. The store was the only regular source of imported food and goods on the island, so the mark-up set by the Company governed the cost of living for everyone who depended on it, and the low rate formed part of a servant's pay. The storekeeper's collection was the record of what he sold, which the Council checked each quarter against his stock.

Salt meat dominated the sales, at £334 10s 2d out of £715 14s 6d. The beef and pork were sold by the piece, the standard cut of several pounds packed in brine in casks, where the Dutch pork was sold by weight. Dutch pork was probably bought from ships of the Dutch company or from the Cape, since the island's own livestock could not feed the garrison and the plantation account for the same quarter recorded only 20 cattle and 31 sheep killed.

Several of the goods needed explanation. Train oil was oil rendered from whale blubber, burned in lamps. Florence oil was fine olive oil from Tuscany, shipped in wicker-covered flasks and used at table. Whited brown thread was linen thread half bleached, between the natural brown and the fully white. Osnaburg was a coarse, strong linen first woven at Osnabrück in Germany, used for sacks, sails and working clothes. Packed flour was flour pressed tight into casks in England so that it kept on the voyage.

The sugar, sugar candy and the three teas were the Canton goods of the kind invoiced in the Salisbury, the Dutton and the Talbot in April 1766. The servants bought 84 lb of Singlo against 10 lb of Congo and 13½ lb of Bohea, so green tea was much the island's preferred kind.

The quantity of loose flour and the unit against the pork and beef were closely written, and both readings rested on fine judgement of the figures.

320

315

1766

Brot. over

£ 715.14.6

Starch 11 lb

7.4

Lead vizt.

23. Sheet Lead

4.9

90 Shott

18.9

1.3.6

Leather vizt.

138. Sole

7.3.9

1 Calf Skin

10.11

7.14.8

Twine vizt.

25. lb. Twine

14.4 1/2

1 1/2 Cotton Wick

3.7 1/2

18

Cordage 67 lb

1.6.5

Sago 135 1/2

1.2.7

Buckram 2 1/2 Yards

2.7

Hats 2 Mens

1.18.9

Corks 1 Gross

2.7

Wheat 3450 lb

29

Oars 2

8.7

Kersey 3 Yards

4.7

Ticking 10. do.

1.14.9

Shoes 153 Prs. Mens Ordinary

33.15.9

Books 2 Common prayer

6.2

Iron Ware vizt.

5 Blank Keys

4 1/4

9 Pr. HL Hinges

16.6

1 Pr. Bellows

4.4 1/2

2 Hand Hatchets

3.10 1/2

1 Stock Lock

3.1 1/2

1 Scythe Stone

2 1/2

11 Doz. Wood Screws

4.1 1/2

1 Gimblet

3 1/2

1 Cupboard Lock

3.1 1/2

1 S Bolt do.

8.1

1 Iron rim'd Lock with Brass knobs

8.3

2.16

Paint vizt.

15 Indico

1.10.11 1/4

4 Chocolate

1.9

4 Ven Red mixed

2.1

1 do. do. dry

2 1/2

1 Barrl. Blacking

7 1/2

12 Stone Colour

6.6

19 1/2 Blue Smalts

1.10.4 1/2

28 W Lead dry

9.7 [...]

13 Whiting

[...] 6

4.2.7

Carried over

£ 802.14.4

The storekeeper's collection of goods sold to the Company's servants in the quarter to 31 March 1766 continued from a running total of £715 14s 6d.

Brought over, £715 14s 6d

11 lb of starch, £0 7s 4d

23 lb of sheet lead, £0 4s 9d

90 lb of shot, £0 18s 9d

Lead, total, £1 3s 6d

138 lb of sole leather, £7 3s 9d

1 calf skin, £0 10s 11d

Leather, total, £7 14s 8d

25 lb of twine, £0 14s 4½d

1¼ lb of cotton wick, £0 3s 7½d

Twine, total, £0 18s 0d

67 lb of cordage, £1 6s 5d

135 lb of sago, £1 2s 7d

2½ yards of buckram, £0 2s 7d

2 men's hats, £1 18s 9d

1 gross of corks, £0 2s 7d

3,480 lb of wheat, £29 0s 0d

2 oars, £0 8s 7d

3 yards of kersey, £0 4s 7d

10 yards of ticking, £1 14s 9d

153 pairs of men's ordinary shoes, £33 15s 9d

2 books of common prayer, £0 6s 2d

5 blank keys, £0 0s 4¼d

9 pairs of H hinges, £0 16s 6d

1 pair of bellows, £0 4s 4½d

2 hand hatchets, £0 3s 10½d

1 stock lock, £0 3s 1½d

1 scythe stone, £0 0s 2½d

11 dozen wood screws, £0 4s 1½d

1 gimlet, £0 0s 3½d

1 cupboard lock, £0 3s 1½d

1 [...] lock, £0 8s 1d

1 iron rim lock with brass knobs, £0 8s 3d

Ironware, total, £2 16s 0d

15 lb of indigo, £1 10s 11¼d

4 lb of chocolate paint, £0 1s 9d

4 lb of Venetian red, mixed, £0 2s 1d

1 lb of Venetian red, dry, £0 0s 2½d

1 barrel of blacking, £0 0s 7½d

12 lb of stone colour, £0 6s 0d

19½ lb of blue smalt, £1 10s 4½d

23 lb of white lead, dry, £0 9s 7½d

13 lb of whiting, £0 0s 6d

Paint, total, £4 2s 7d

Carried over, £802 14s 4d

Interpretations

The store supplied the island's trades as well as its kitchens. Shoes were the largest item on the page, with 153 pairs of ready-made men's shoes at £33 15s 9d and a further 138 lb of sole leather for local repair and making. Soldiers and servants wore shoes out quickly on steep, stony ground, and none could be had except through the Company. The 3,480 lb of wheat at £29 0s 0d showed that servants bought grain to grind at home as well as the packed flour entered earlier in the same collection.

The paints were sold as raw pigments, to be ground and mixed with the linseed oil sold from the same store. Venetian red was an earth pigment coloured by iron oxide. Smalt was a deep blue made from glass coloured with cobalt and ground to powder, and it cost about 1s 6d a pound against 5d for white lead. White lead was the standard white base of all oil paint, and whiting was powdered chalk for whitewash and putty. Stone colour and chocolate were ready shades of grey-buff and brown for woodwork. Blacking was a black preparation for leather and ironwork.

The cloths and hardware were ordinary goods of the period under names since lost. Kersey was a coarse, ribbed woollen cloth for working clothes. Ticking was the strong striped linen used to cover mattresses and pillows, and buckram was linen stiffened with glue for lining coats and hats. H hinges were flat hinges whose two leaves formed the letter when open. A stock lock was a lock cased in a block of wood and fixed to the face of a door, and a rim lock was a metal-cased lock fixed the same way. Sago was the starch of an East Indian palm, brought in the China ships and used for puddings and invalid food.

The description of one lock could not be read. Several of the smaller sums in the ironware and paint were closely written, and the readings of the starch, the wheat and the whiting rested on fine judgement of the figures.

321

316

  1. April

Brot. over

£ 802.14.4

Glass Ware vizt.

12 Wine Glasses

5.8 1/2

3 Tumblers

2.1

1 Quart Decanter

3.10 1/2

30 Sqr. Glass 10 by 12

1.5

2 Candle Shades

12.11

2.9.7

Nails vizt.

6 lb 2 d

4.7 1/2

37 1/2 4

17.9

47 6

1.7.5

72 10

1.16

17 20

7.1

12 40

4.9

1 Scupper

6

3/4 Glaz. Brads

1.5 1/2

18 Floor do.

6.9

5.6.4

China Ware vizt.

34 Snackers

8.6

10 Bowls

9.2

12 Teapots

11

1 Soop Dish

6.6

6 Quart Pint Cups & Saucers

1.11

5 Sets Dishes and Plates

5

1 Sallad do.

10

6 Soop Plates

3.1

2 Salts

1.4 1/2

2 Sauce Boats

10 1/2

7.3.3

Haberdashery vizt.

37 Sks. Silk

1.1.7

10 do. Mohair

5

1 Ps. Tape

7 1/2

3 oz. Whale Bone

13.10 1/2

6 doz. Silver Coat Buttons

11.7 1/2

4 doz. Yellow Metal C do.

2.3

3 doz. Mohair do. do.

1.1 1/2

2 Cockades

8

3.1.9

Long Cloth vizt.

13 [...] ps. Long Cloth A

19.8.10

6 do. do. B

15

2 do. do. C

7.4.3

1 do. do. D

4.8.8

3 do. do. L

16.4

62.5.9

Carrd. over

£ 883.6.[...]

The storekeeper's collection of goods sold to the Company's servants in the quarter to 31 March 1766 went on from a running total of £802 14s 4d.

Brought over, £802 14s 4d

12 wine glasses, £0 5s 8½d

3 tumblers, £0 2s 1d

1 quart decanter, £0 3s 10½d

30 square feet of glass 10 by 12, £1 5s 0d

2 candle shades, £0 12s 11d

Glassware, total, £2 9s 7d

6 lb of twopenny nails, £0 4s 7½d

37½ lb of fourpenny nails, £0 17s 9d

47 lb of sixpenny nails, £1 7s 5d

72 lb of tenpenny nails, £1 16s 0d

17 lb of twentypenny nails, £0 7s 1d

12 lb of fortypenny nails, £0 4s 9d

1 lb of scupper nails, £0 0s 6d

¾ lb of glazing brads, £0 1s 5½d

18 lb of floor brads, £0 6s 9d

Nails, total, £5 6s 4d

34 saucers, £0 3s 6d

10 bowls, £0 9s 2d

12 teapots, £0 11s 0d

1 soup dish, £0 6s 6d

6 quart and pint cups and saucers, £0 1s 11d

5 sets of dishes and plates, £5 0s 0d

1 salad dish, £0 0s 10d

6 soup plates, £0 3s 1d

2 salt cellars, £0 1s 4½d

2 sauce boats, £0 0s 10½d

Chinaware, total, £7 3s 3d

¾ lb of silk, £1 1s 7d

10 [...] of mohair, £0 10s 0d

1 piece of tape, £0 0s 7½d

3 lb of whalebone, £0 13s 10½d

6 dozen silver coat buttons, £0 11s 7½d

4 dozen yellow metal coat buttons, £0 2s 3d

3 dozen mohair coat buttons, £0 1s 1½d

2 cockades, £0 0s 8d

Sewing goods and trimmings, total, £3 1s 9d

13 [...] pieces of long cloth marked A, £19 3s 10d

6 pieces of long cloth marked B, £15 0s 0d

2 pieces of long cloth marked C, £7 4s 3d

1 piece of long cloth marked D, £4 8s 8d

3 pieces of long cloth marked L, £16 4s 0d

Long cloth, total, £62 5s 9d

Carried over, £883 6s [...]d

Interpretations

Long cloth was the page's chief item, at £62 5s 9d. It was a plain white cotton cloth woven on the Coromandel coast of India in pieces about 37 yards long, and the Company shipped it in bulk as one of its staple piece goods. The letters marked grades of fineness, and the prices bore that out, running from under £1 10s 0d a piece for A to over £5 0s 0d for L. Islanders made it into shirts, shifts and bed linen. The island therefore dressed largely in Indian cotton, bought from the Company's store at the servants' rate, at a date when the sale of such cloth for wear in England was still restricted to protect the home weavers.

Nails were sold by weight and sized by the old penny scale, in which a higher number meant a longer and heavier nail. Tenpenny nails, about three inches long and the ordinary size for framing, made up the largest quantity at 72 lb. Scupper nails were short nails with broad heads for fixing leather or canvas, brads were thin nails with a small lip in place of a head, and the glazing brads held panes into window frames. The 30 square feet of window glass sold matched the pane size of 10 by 12 that the Prince of Wales landed partly broken in the account of 31 March 1766.

The chinaware was Canton porcelain of the kind invoiced in the Talbot on 3 January 1766. The five sets of dishes and plates at £1 0s 0d each were full table services, and the rest was sold by the piece. Saucers that cost 3 candareens each at Canton sold on the island at a little over 1d.

The trimmings served the island's tailors. Mohair was yarn from the hair of the Angora goat, twisted into thread for buttonholes and woven over wooden moulds to make cloth-covered buttons. Whalebone was the flexible baleen of whales, cut into strips to stiffen stays and bodices. Yellow metal was brass, and a cockade was the ribbon rosette worn on a hat, black for officers and soldiers in the British service.

The unit against the mohair, the fraction in the quantity of long cloth marked A and the pence in the sum carried over could not be read. Several of the smaller sums were closely written, and the readings of the scupper nails and the chinaware prices rested on fine judgement of the figures.

322

317

1766

Brought over

£ 883.6.[...]

Hooks & Lines vizt.

7 doz. No. 2

1.6.10

1 do. 3

4.4

Lines

75 No. 1

3.11 1/2

250 11

4.4 1/2

50 12

8

350 13

3.[...] 1/2

325 15

2.7 1/2

Hooks

2.5.10

Deals vizt.

3 Single

7.4

8 Double

1.10.2

1.17.6

Tin Ware vizt.

4 Tin Lamps

3.4

1 Watering Pot

4.3 1/2

3 lb Solder

3

1/2 Sal Armonica

1.6 1/2

1 Dripping Pan

3.5

15.9

Hosiers Ware vizt.

36 Prs. Mens Ordinary Thread Stockings

1.18.3

2 Prs. English Cotton do.

15

2 Prs. Boys do. do.

4.5

2.17.8

Shirts 2 Prs. Irish Linnen

3.11.2

Turners Ware vizt.

2 Hair Brooms

4.8

6 Shoe Brushes

3.9

8.5

Camblet vizt.

2 Yards Scarlet

8.2

3 do. Blue

10.1

18.3

Shalloon 7 1/2 yards Coloured

15

Broad Cloth vizt.

6 1/4 yds. Blue

6.13.10

1 1/4 do. Scarlet

1.1.3

7.15.1

Pewter 1 Bason

2.5

Braziers Ware vizt.

1 Tea Kettle of 3 Quarts

13.5

2 Flat Candle Sticks

7.7

1.1

£ 905.14.1

The storekeeper's collection of goods sold to the Company's servants in the quarter to 31 March 1766 closed with the following items, carried on from a running total of £883 6s [...]d.

Brought over, £883 6s [...]d

7 dozen fishing lines of number 2, £1 6s 10d

1 dozen fishing lines of number 3, £0 4s 4d

75 fish hooks of number 1, £0 3s 11¼d

250 fish hooks of number 11, £0 4s 4½d

50 fish hooks of number 12, £0 0s 8d

350 fish hooks of number 13, £0 3s 0½d

325 fish hooks of number 15, £0 2s 7½d

Hooks and lines, total, £2 5s 10d

3 single deals, £0 7s 4d

8 double deals, £1 10s 2d

Deals, total, £1 17s 6d

4 tin lamps, £0 3s 4d

1 watering pot, £0 4s 5½d

3 lb of solder, £0 3s 0d

½ lb of sal ammoniac, £0 1s 6½d

1 dripping pan, £0 3s 5d

Tinware, total, £0 15s 9d

36 pairs of men's ordinary thread stockings, £1 13s 3d

2 pairs of English cotton stockings, £0 18s 0d

2 pairs of boys' cotton stockings, £0 4s 6d

Stockings, total, £2 17s 8d

2 pieces of Irish linen for shirts, £3 11s 2d

2 hair brooms, £0 4s 8d

6 shoe brushes, £0 3s 9d

Brooms and brushes, total, £0 8s 5d

2 yards of scarlet camlet, £0 8s 2d

3 yards of blue camlet, £0 10s 1d

Camlet, total, £0 18s 3d

7½ yards of coloured shalloon, £0 15s 0d

6¼ yards of blue broadcloth, £6 13s 10d

1¼ yards of scarlet broadcloth, £1 1s 3d

Broadcloth, total, £7 15s 1d

1 pewter basin, £0 2s 5d

1 tea kettle holding 3 quarts, £0 13s 5d

2 flat candlesticks, £0 7s 7d

Brass and copper goods, total, £1 1s 0d

Total sold to the Company's servants, £905 14s 1d

Interpretations

The hooks and lines pointed to an important part of the island's diet. Servants bought 1,050 fish hooks and 96 lines in a single quarter, far more than sport required. Fish caught from the rocks and from boats was the cheapest fresh food available to soldiers and poorer families, who otherwise lived on the salt beef and pork that made up over a third of the whole collection. The hooks were numbered by size, the higher numbers being the smaller hooks, and the heavy sales of numbers 11 to 15 showed that most fishing was for small inshore fish.

The woollens were the standard English cloths of the Company's export trade. Broadcloth was a fine, dense, heavily fulled wool woven on a wide loom, and at over £1 0s 0d a yard for the blue it was much the dearest fabric in the store. Scarlet and blue were the colours of the garrison's uniform coats, so these short lengths were probably for officers' clothing or for facings and repairs. Camlet was a lighter worsted cloth, sometimes mixed with goat hair or silk, used for cloaks and gowns. Shalloon was a thin twilled worsted used to line coats.

Sal ammoniac was ammonium chloride, sold with the solder as the flux that cleaned the metal so the solder would take. Thread stockings were knitted from linen yarn, the cheap everyday kind at about 11d a pair. Flat candlesticks were low chamber candlesticks with a broad dish and a handle for carrying. Single and double deals differed in thickness, the same fir planks that the Prince of Wales and the Plassey failed to deliver in full on 31 March 1766.

The total of £905 14s 1d measured the servants' purchases at the privileged rate of 10 per cent above cost for one quarter. Food and drink accounted for nearly all of it, and the manufactured goods on the last three pages came to under £200 0s 0d.

The pence in the sum brought over could not be read. Several of the smaller sums were closely written, and the readings of the watering pot, the stockings, the Irish linen and the shalloon rested on fine judgement of the figures.

323

318

21. April

Sold to the Planters at 25 p Cent

Hosiers Ware 6 Prs. Boys Stockings

13.3

Long Cloth 1 Ps. B

2.16.9

Camblet vizt.

4 Yards Scarlet

18.8

3 do. Blue

11.6

1.10.2

Shalloon 7 Yards Coloured

15.9

Broad Cloth 3 1/2 yds. Scarlet

3.7.11

Kersey 1 yd. Baize

2.7

Shoes 1 Pr. Mens Ordinary

5

Sold at 40 p Cent.

Sugar and Candy vizt.

917 lb Sugar

19

306 Candy

8.18.6

27.18.6

Sope 10 lb

9.9

Starch 2 lb

1.8

Lead vizt.

18 lb Sheet Lead

4.10

34 lb Shott

9.2

14

Twine vizt.

4 1/2 lb Twine

3.6

3 lb Cotton Wick

11.1

14.7

Cordage 78 lb

2.7

Oil vizt.

9 Galls. Linseed

2.9.10 1/2

4 do. Train

1.2 1/2

3 Bottles Florence

11.2

3.2.3

Pepper 4 lb

3

China Ware vizt.

6 Bowls

7

6 Soop Plates

4.1

11.1

Nails vizt.

1/2 lb 2 d

6

1 3

1.[...]

1 1/2 6

10.9 1/2

9 10

6.7 1/2

18.7

Oars 1

5.6

Flour 176 lb

2.4

Carrd. over

£ 48.14.11

The storekeeper's collection for the quarter to 31 March 1766 turned next to the planters, who paid more than the Company's servants. Some goods went to them at 25 per cent above cost and others at 40 per cent.

Sold to the planters at 25 per cent

6 pairs of boys' stockings, £0 15s 3d

1 piece of long cloth marked B, £2 16s 9d

4 yards of scarlet camlet, £0 18s 8d

3 yards of blue camlet, £0 11s 6d

Camlet, total, £1 10s 2d

7 yards of coloured shalloon, £0 15s 9d

3¼ yards of scarlet broadcloth, £3 7s 11d

1 yard of baize, entered under kersey, £0 2s 7d

1 pair of men's ordinary shoes, £0 5s 0d

Sold to the planters at 40 per cent

917 lb of sugar, £19 0s 0d

306 lb of sugar candy, £8 13s 6d

Sugar and sugar candy, total, £27 13s 6d

10 lb of soap, £0 9s 9d

2 lb of starch, £0 1s 8d

18 lb of sheet lead, £0 4s 10d

34 lb of shot, £0 9s 2d

Lead, total, £0 14s 0d

4 lb of twine, £0 3s 6d

3 lb of cotton wick, £0 11s 1d

Twine, total, £0 14s 7d

78 lb of cordage, £2 0s 7d

9 gallons of linseed oil, £2 9s 10½d

¼ gallon of train oil, £0 1s 2½d

3 bottles of Florence oil, £0 11s 2d

Oil, total, £3 2s 3d

4 lb of pepper, £0 3s 0d

6 bowls, £0 7s 0d

6 soup plates, £0 4s 1d

Chinaware, total, £0 11s 1d

½ lb of twopenny nails, £0 0s 6d

1 lb of threepenny nails, £0 1s 0¼d

14 lb of sixpenny nails, £0 10s 9½d

9 lb of tenpenny nails, £0 6s 7¾d

Nails, total, £0 18s 7d

1 oar, £0 5s 6d

176 lb of flour, £2 4s 0d

Carried over, £48 14s 11d

Interpretations

The Company ran three prices from one store. Its servants paid 10 per cent above cost, and the planters paid 25 per cent on cloth, stockings and shoes and 40 per cent on groceries, hardware and naval stores. The planters were free inhabitants who held land and sold their produce to the Company and the shipping, so the store treated them as customers to be profited from, where the low rate for servants worked as part of their wages. The two planters' rates also differed by kind of goods. English woollens and Indian cotton carried the lighter charge, perhaps because the Directors wished to encourage their sale, and the Canton sugar and everyday consumables bore the heavier one.

The same articles showed the gap in practice. A piece of long cloth marked B cost a servant £2 10s 0d in the earlier part of the collection and a planter £2 16s 9d. Men's ordinary shoes averaged about 4s 5d a pair to servants and cost a planter 5s 0d.

The planters bought little. Their page ran to £48 14s 11d against £905 14s 1d sold to the servants in the same quarter, and sugar made up more than half of it. Planters fed themselves from their own land and stock and had no need of the salt meat and flour that dominated the servants' purchases, so they came to the store mainly for sugar, oil, cordage and nails.

Baize was a coarse woollen cloth with a raised nap, used for linings and covers, and the storekeeper entered it under his heading for kersey as a cloth of the same class.

Several sums were closely written. The readings of the boys' stockings, the soap, the threepenny nails and the flour rested on fine judgement of the figures.

324

319

Brot. over

£ 48.14.11

Paint vizt.

2 Indico

5.3

32 Stone Colour

1.3.4

2 Ven Red mixed

1.5

38 Whiting

1.7

1 1/2 Copperas

1.3 1/2

15 White Lead dry

7.2 1/2

2 lb Umber

10

50 Red Lead

11.10 1/2

2.13.2

Hooks vizt.

50. No. 1

3.4 1/2

50. 13

6 1/2

3.11

Thread vizt. 3 lb Colloured

14.6

Deals 1 Single

3.2

Iron Ware vizt.

1 Scythe Stone

3

1 Hand Hatchet

2.6

9 Cupboard Locks

1.16

1 Brass Closet Lock

6

2.4.9

Tea vizt.

5 Singlo

10.5

2 Congo

4.2

14.7

Candles 74 lb

10.9.8

Ticking 8 Yards

1.15.10

Salt 1/2 Bushel

[...] 10

Blankets 3

1.3.6

Rice 12 lb

1.9

Corks 1 Gross

3.4

Tin Ware 1 Lamp

1.1

Glass Ware 2 Beer Glasses

3.4

Haberdashery vizt.

3 doz. Silver C. Buttons

7.6

1 doz. Mohair do. do.

1

2 1/2 do. do. W. do.

1.3

6 Sks. Silk

4.6

2 do. Mohair

1.3

15.6

Coffee 1 lb

1.2

Turners Ware 4 Sh. Brushes

2.10

Pork 1 [...]

4

Canvas 3 Ps. English

9.15

Broad Cloth 4 1/2 yds. Black

4.11.8

£ 84.18.6

The storekeeper's collection of goods sold to the planters at 40 per cent above cost in the quarter to 31 March 1766 continued from a running total of £48 14s 11d.

Brought over, £48 14s 11d

2 lb of indigo, £0 5s 3d

32 lb of stone colour, £1 3s 4d

2 lb of Venetian red, mixed, £0 1s 5d

38 lb of whiting, £0 1s 7d

1¼ lb of copperas, £0 1s 3½d

15 lb of white lead, dry, £0 7s 2½d

2 lb of umber, £0 0s 10d

30 lb of red lead, £0 11s 10½d

Paint, total, £2 13s 2d

50 fish hooks of number 1, £0 3s 4½d

50 fish hooks of number 13, £0 0s 6½d

Hooks, total, £0 3s 11d

3 lb of coloured thread, £0 14s 6d

1 single deal, £0 3s 2d

1 scythe stone, £0 0s 3d

1 hand hatchet, £0 2s 6d

9 cupboard locks, £1 16s 0d

1 brass chest lock, £0 6s 0d

Ironware, total, £2 4s 9d

5 lb of Singlo tea, £0 10s 5d

2 lb of Congo tea, £0 4s 2d

Tea, total, £0 14s 7d

74 lb of candles, £10 9s 8d

8 yards of ticking, £1 15s 10d

½ bushel of salt, £0 0s 10d

3 blankets, £1 3s 6d

12 lb of rice, £0 1s 9d

1 gross of corks, £0 3s 4d

1 tin lamp, £0 1s 1d

2 beer glasses, £0 3s 4d

3 dozen silver coat buttons, £0 7s 6d

1 dozen mohair coat buttons, £0 1s 0d

2¼ dozen mohair breast buttons, £0 1s 3d

6 skeins of silk, £0 4s 6d

2 skeins of mohair, £0 1s 3d

Sewing goods and trimmings, total, £0 15s 6d

1 lb of coffee, £0 1s 2d

4 brushes, £0 2s 10d

1 piece of pork, £0 4s 0d

3 pieces of English canvas, £9 15s 0d

4¼ yards of black broadcloth, £4 11s 8d

Total sold to the planters, £84 18s 6d

Interpretations

The planters' page gave a direct measure of the two price scales. A servant paid 2s 0d for a piece of salt pork and about 2s 2½d a pound for candles in the earlier part of the collection. A planter paid 4s 0d for the same piece of pork and about 2s 10d a pound for candles. The surcharge on pork was therefore far above the 40 per cent of the heading, and the Company perhaps priced provisions to planters at a penal rate to keep the salt meat for the garrison. Planters were expected to live off their own stock, and the single piece sold bore that out.

Candles were the planters' largest purchase after sugar, at £10 9s 8d. A farm that slaughtered cattle had tallow of its own, so purchases on that scale suggested that imported moulded candles were preferred to home-made dips or that island tallow was short.

Copperas was green vitriol, iron sulphate, used to make black dye and ink and to darken wood. Umber was a brown earth pigment, and red lead was the orange-red oxide of lead used as a primer on ironwork and timber. Stone colour, at 32 lb, and red lead, at 30 lb, were paints for the outside of houses and farm buildings. Breast buttons were the smaller buttons used on waistcoats, as distinct from the larger coat buttons.

The English canvas was sailcloth sold in whole pieces called bolts, at £3 5s 0d each. Planters had no ships, so it probably served for awnings, sacking and covers for carts and produce.

The whole of the planters' purchases for the quarter came to £84 18s 6d, under a tenth of the £905 14s 1d sold to the Company's servants.

Several of the smaller sums were closely written, and the readings of the salt, the copperas, the beer glasses and the pork rested on fine judgement of the figures.

325

320

21 April

Sold to the Honble. Company's Ships from 1 Janry to the 31 March

1766 vizt.

Nails vizt.

4 lb 3 d

8 6

20 10

18 20

6 40

11 Scupper

12 Spikes

2.10.5

8 Copper Rivets

5.8

2.16.1

Hooks and Lines vizt.

12 No. 2

124 3

24 4

Lines

1.3.3

100 1

50 3

Hooks

7.4

1.10.7

Grindstones 1

8.7

Deals 4 Single

12.10

Tin Ware vizt.

12 Lanthorn Leaves

5.9

1 Quart Funnel

6

1 Lamp

1.1

7.4

Oil vizt.

14 Galls. Linseed

3.17.7

12 Bottles Florence

2.4.9

6.2.4

Paint 10 Verdigrease

2.14.10

Braziers Ware 11 1/2 lb Copper Plate

1.3

Twine 3 Skanes

1.11.6

Canvas 1 Ps. English

3.5

Candles 60 lb

3.10

Cordage 423

11.2.11

£ 40.5

The storekeeper's collection for the quarter from 1 January 1766 to 31 March 1766 then listed the goods sold to the Company's ships.

4 lb of threepenny nails, priced within the group below

8 lb of sixpenny nails, priced within the group below

20 lb of tenpenny nails, priced within the group below

12 lb of twentypenny nails, priced within the group below

6 lb of fortypenny nails, priced within the group below

11 lb of scupper nails, priced within the group below

12 lb of spikes, priced within the group below

The seven kinds of nails and spikes together, £2 10s 5d

8 lb of copper rivets, £0 5s 8d

Nails, total, £2 16s 1d

12 fishing lines of number 2, priced within the group below

12 fishing lines of number 3, priced within the group below

24 fishing lines of number 4, priced within the group below

The three sizes of fishing lines together, £1 3s 3d

100 fish hooks of number 1, priced within the group below

50 fish hooks of number 3, priced within the group below

The two sizes of fish hooks together, £0 7s 4d

Hooks and lines, total, £1 10s 7d

1 grindstone, £0 8s 7d

4 single deals, £0 12s 10d

12 lantern leaves, £0 5s 9d

1 quart funnel, £0 0s 6d

1 tin lamp, £0 1s 1d

Tinware, total, £0 7s 4d

14 gallons of linseed oil, £3 17s 7d

12 bottles of Florence oil, £2 4s 9d

Oil, total, £6 2s 4d

10 lb of verdigris, £2 14s 10d

11½ lb of copper plate, £1 3s 0d

3 skeins of twine, £1 11s 6d

1 piece of English canvas, £3 5s 0d

60 lb of candles, £8 10s 0d

423 lb of cordage, £11 2s 11d

Total sold to the Company's ships, £40 5s 0d

Interpretations

The ships paid the planters' price. Candles cost them 2s 10d a pound, a piece of English canvas £3 5s 0d and Florence oil about 3s 9d a bottle, the same rates charged to planters at 40 per cent above cost in the same collection, where servants paid about 2s 2½d, and 2s 11d for the candles and the oil. The ships belonged to private owners who hired them to the Company, so stores drawn at the island were a sale to an outside party and were charged to the commander at the full rate. The collection gave the Council the record needed to recover the money, either in cash before the ship sailed or by a charge against the owners in London.

The goods were those of a ship making repairs at the end of a long passage. Cordage was the largest item, at 423 lb for £11 2s 11d, followed by candles, canvas and linseed oil. Five homeward and outward ships lay in the road in March 1766, and the modest total of £40 5s 0d showed that they drew on the island's store only to fill gaps, since the store itself depended on what such ships brought out.

Verdigris was the green pigment formed on copper by the action of vinegar, ground in oil to make a green paint for boats and cabin work. It was the dearest paint in the store, at about 5s 6d a pound. Lantern leaves were thin sheets of scraped horn fitted into a lantern in place of glass, since horn would not shatter at sea. Spikes were heavy nails several inches long for fastening planks and timbers, and copper rivets and plate served for repairs to pumps, boilers and the ship's fittings.

The nails, lines and hooks were bracketed in groups with one sum for each group, and the collection gave no separate price for each size. The quantities of the fishing lines were closely written and rested on fine judgement of the figures.

326

321

1766

The Honble. Compys. Ship Adml. Stevens Dr.

for the following Stores Issued from the 1. Janry to the 31 March 1766 vizt.

Hooks and Lines vizt.

12 No. 2

12 4

Lines

8.1

75 15 Hooks

7

8.8

Iron Ware 6 Gimblets

1.5

Nails

1 lb 2 d

1 3

1.5

6 Coopers Rivets

2.9

4.2

Oil 2 Galls. Linsd.

7.11

Paint 4 lb White Lead dry

1.3

Blocks vizt.

1 double Block of 4 Inches

1 do. do. of 11 do.

12

1 Single do. of 14 do.

5

17

Iron 103 lb

2.2.9

Coals 6 Bushels

7.6

Deals 20 Single

2.4.2

£ 6.14.10

Charges General Dr. for the following Stores Issued

from the 1. Janry to the 31. March 1766 vizt.

Nails vizt.

215 lb 2 d

7.7.9 1/2

87 3

3.3.5 1/2

1 4

7

52 6 for the Company's Works in General

1.7.1

62 10

1.7.11 1/2

52 20

19.6

32 40

11.4

5 Coopers Rivets

2.3 1/2

17 Flooring Brads do.

5.8

1 Scupper Nails

5

15.5.3

Paint vizt.

1 1/2 Copperas

1.5 1/4

31 Barrels Blacking do.

17.5 1/4

28 Ven: Red mixed

13.10

Paint Carried over

£ 1.12.8 1/2

Carried over

£ 15.5.3

The storekeeper's collection for 1766 next charged the Admiral Stevens with the stores issued to her between 1 January 1766 and 31 March 1766.

12 fishing lines of number 2, priced within the group below

12 fishing lines of number 4, priced within the group below

The two sizes of fishing lines together, £0 8s 1d

75 fish hooks of number 15, £0 0s 7d

Hooks and lines, total, £0 8s 8d

6 gimlets, £0 1s 5d

1 lb of twopenny nails, priced within the group below

1 lb of threepenny nails, priced within the group below

The two sizes of nails together, £0 1s 5d

6 lb of copper rivets, £0 2s 9d

Nails, total, £0 4s 2d

2 gallons of linseed oil, £0 7s 11d

4 lb of white lead, dry, £0 1s 3d

1 double block of 4 inches, priced within the group below

1 double block of 11 inches, priced within the group below

The two double blocks together, £0 12s 0d

1 single block of 14 inches, £0 5s 0d

Blocks, total, £0 17s 0d

103 lb of iron, £2 3s 9d

6 bushels of coals, £0 7s 6d

20 single deals, £2 4s 2d

Total charged to the ship, £6 14s 10d

A second account charged the island's general expenses with stores issued over the same quarter.

215 lb of twopenny nails for the Company's works in general, £7 7s 9¼d

87 lb of threepenny nails for the Company's works in general, £3 3s 5¼d

1 lb of fourpenny nails for the Company's works in general, £0 0s 7d

52 lb of sixpenny nails for the Company's works in general, £1 7s 1d

62 lb of tenpenny nails for the Company's works in general, £1 7s 1½d

52 lb of twentypenny nails for the Company's works in general, £0 19s 6d

32 lb of fortypenny nails for the Company's works in general, £0 11s 4d

5 lb of copper rivets for the Company's works in general, £0 2s 3½d

17 lb of flooring brads for the Company's works in general, £0 5s 8d

1 lb of scupper nails for the Company's works in general, £0 0s 5d

Nails, total, £15 5s 3d

1½ lb of copperas for the Company's works in general, £0 1s 5¼d

31 barrels of blacking for the Company's works in general, £0 17s 5¼d

28 lb of Venetian red, mixed, for the Company's works in general, £0 12s 10d

Paint so far, carried over, £1 11s 8½d

Carried over, £15 5s 3d

Interpretations

The Admiral Stevens was treated differently from the other ships. Their purchases were entered together as sales at the planters' rate, where she had an account of her own and was charged as a debtor at much lower prices. Her linseed oil stood at just under 4s 0d a gallon against about 5s 6d to the other ships, and her single deals at about 2s 2½d each against 3s 2½d. Those were prices at or near cost, without the 40 per cent added. The Council therefore drew a line between a vessel whose stores were an expense to be recovered in the Company's own books and the hired ships, whose owners were customers.

The blocks, iron and coals marked her needs as repair work. A block was the wooden pulley through which a ship's ropes ran, measured by the length of its shell and made single or double according to the number of wheels inside. Iron and coals were smith's materials, and the island's forge probably made up bolts and fittings for her from them.

Charges General was the heading in the island's books for expenditure that belonged to no single department, chiefly building and repairs to the Company's houses, stores and fortifications. Stores issued for those purposes were not sold to anyone, so the storekeeper debited them to that account at cost to clear them from his stock. The quarter's 215 lb of twopenny nails and 87 lb of threepenny nails were small nails for laths, shingles and light boarding, which pointed to roofing work in hand.

The sum against the iron was closely written and rested on fine judgement of the figures, as did the pence against the twopenny nails and the Venetian red.

327

322

  1. April

Brot. over

£ 15.5.3

Paint brought over

£ 1.12.8 1/2

12 Ven: Red dry

2.6

104 Stone Colour

2.9.10

23 Pear Colour

11.8

64 W Lead mixd. Compys. Works in genl.

1.4.[...]

2 Red do.

5 1/2

3/4 Umber

2 1/4

1/4 Verdigrease

11 1/4

13 Whiting

4

4 Brimstone for the Lieut. Governrs. House

10

6.2.6

Arrack 343 2/3 Galls. Sundry and Workmen in genl.

67.1.2

Candles vizt.

60 lb Castle

6

150 Council

15

32 Officers on Duty

3.4

3 Masons Empd. making a mill for

Grinding Wheat

6

24.10

Turners Ware vizt.

2 Hair Brooms

4.2 1/2

7 Bowls

6.10 1/2

7 Platters

7

8 Labourers Baskets Compys.

8 Ballas do. Works

15.8

4 Plaisterers Brushes

4.8

4 Paint do.

1.10

2 Mops

2.6

1 Birch Broom do.

4 1/2

1 Scrubg. Brush

2.2 1/2

2.5.4

Oil vizt.

3 3/4 Galls. Train. Castle and Compys. Works

12.2

34 1/2 do. Linseed do. & do.

6.15.10

5 Bottles Florence Smith Shop.

Doctors Shop and Armourer.

13.3

8.1.3

Sugar and Candy vizt.

113 lb Sugar for Demented plantn. House

and for a Mower

1.8.3

62 Candy for the Groom Gardenr. &

Doctors Shop

1.5.10

2.14.1

Tea 8 Bohea for the Groom Gardr.

and mower.

7.4

Carried over

£ 126.6.[11]

The storekeeper's account of stores charged to the island's general expenses in the quarter to 31 March 1766 continued from a running total of £15 5s 3d.

Brought over, £15 5s 3d

Paint brought over, £1 11s 8½d

12 lb of Venetian red, dry, for the Company's works in general, £0 2s 6d

104 lb of stone colour for the Company's works in general, £2 9s 10d

23 lb of pearl colour for the Company's works in general, £0 11s 8d

64 lb of white lead, mixed, for the Company's works in general, £1 4s 0d

2 lb of red lead, mixed, for the Company's works in general, £0 0s 5½d

¾ lb of umber for the Company's works in general, £0 0s 2¼d

¼ lb of verdigris for the Company's works in general, £0 0s 11¼d

13 lb of whiting for the Company's works in general, £0 0s 4d

4 lb of brimstone for the Lieutenant Governor's house, £0 0s 10d

Paint, total, £6 2s 6d

343⅓ gallons of arrack for sundry uses and the workmen in general, £67 1s 2d

60 lb of candles for the castle, £6 0s 0d

150 lb of candles for the Council, £15 0s 0d

32 lb of candles for the officers on duty, £3 4s 0d

3 lb of candles for the masons making a mill to grind wheat, £0 6s 0d

Candles, total, £24 10s 0d

2 hair brooms for the Company's works, £0 4s 2½d

7 bowls for the Company's works, £0 6s 10½d

7 platters for the Company's works, £0 7s 0d

8 labourers' baskets for the Company's works, priced within the group below

8 ballast baskets for the Company's works, priced within the group below

The two kinds of baskets together, £0 15s 8d

4 plasterers' brushes for the Company's works, £0 4s 8d

4 paint brushes for the Company's works, £0 1s 10d

2 mops for the Company's works, £0 2s 6d

1 birch broom for the Company's works, £0 0s 4½d

1 scrubbing brush for the Company's works, £0 2s 2½d

Brooms, brushes and wooden ware, total, £2 5s 4d

3⅞ gallons of train oil for the castle and the Company's works, £0 12s 2d

34½ gallons of linseed oil for the castle and the Company's works, £6 15s 10d

5 bottles of Florence oil for the smith's shop, the doctor's shop and the armourer, £0 13s 3d

Oil, total, £8 1s 3d

113 lb of sugar for [...] at Plantation House and for a mower, £1 8s 3d

62 lb of sugar candy for the groom, the gardener and the doctor's shop, £1 5s 10d

Sugar and sugar candy, total, £2 14s 1d

8 lb of Bohea tea for the groom, the gardener and the mower, £0 7s 4d

Carried over, £126 6s 11d

Interpretations

Arrack was the largest charge on the page and showed how the Company paid for labour. The 343⅓ gallons issued in one quarter, at £67 1s 2d, went to workmen as a daily allowance of spirits on top of their wages or rations. Soldiers, slaves and hired men employed on the fortifications and buildings expected a dram as part of the bargain, and the store issued it as a cost of the works in the same way as nails or paint. The price came to about 3s 11d a gallon, so the quarter's allowance cost more than four times all the paint used.

The groom, the gardener and the mower received tea, sugar and sugar candy from the store at the Company's expense. Those men were servants of the Governor's establishment at Plantation House, the country residence, and the issue amounted to payment partly in kind. Bohea, the cheapest tea, was the grade given to them, where the servants who bought for themselves chose Singlo.

The 150 lb of candles for the Council compared with 60 lb for the whole castle and 32 lb for the officers on duty. The allowance covered the lighting of the councillors' own quarters and offices and formed one of the recognised perquisites of a seat at the board.

The three pounds of candles for the masons recorded a project not otherwise mentioned in these pages, the building of a mill to grind wheat. The store sold 3,480 lb of wheat to servants in the same quarter, and a Company mill would turn island or imported grain into flour without dependence on the packed flour shipped from England.

Brimstone was sulphur, burned to fumigate rooms against vermin and infection, which explains its issue to a house and not to the works. Pearl colour was a pale grey paint for interior woodwork. Ballast baskets were strong baskets for carrying stones and earth, used here by the labourers on the works.

The word before Plantation House in the sugar entry could not be read. The small sums against the red lead, umber, verdigris, whiting and brimstone were closely written and rested on fine judgement of the figures.

328

323

1766

Brought over

£ 126.6.11

Cordage 1510 lb for hauling up the Fly Crane Ropes and Compys. Work

26.14.9

Coals 105 Bushels Smiths Shop

7

Iron Ware vizt.

8 Plaisterers Trowels for the Masons

14

8 Helves for the Armorers Shop and Compys. Works

4.6

6 Sail Needles for mending Lime Bags

6

7 Stock Locks for the Lime House on Ladder Hill

1.2.9

7 Blank Keys Carpenters Shop Castle &ca.

5 1/2

25 lb Plate Iron for the Flag Staff at the main Line

9.4

3 Smiths Rubbers armorers Shop

15.8 1/2

1 Cupboard Lock Castle

2.10

1 Iron rimed do. with brass Knobs

6.7

6 Adzes for the Carpenters

1.1.7 1/2

1 Pick Ax Compys. Work

3.2

4 Hand Hatchets

7

1 Iron Beck for a Forge

18.8

3 Hd. Hammers Works at Sandy Bay

5.4

8 Shod Shovels &c

14.10

36 Masons Tools for the Masons

2.9.6

6 Sledge Hammers Works at Sandy Bay

3.10.7

6 Mauls

2.15.8

6 Bricklayers Trowels Masons

8.9

1 Chaffing Dish Castle

6.8

4 Ditchg. Shovels for Works at the Fortificns.

18.1

4 Large Fryg. Pans Men Empld. at do.

14.10

23 Files for the Armorer and Armory

11.6

4 Splinter Locks Company's Works

2

4 Gimblets

11

4 Gun Smiths Saws

2.15

3 Bench Hammers

5.10 1/2

5 Bastard Rubber files

16.8

3 Farriers Rasps

2.9

1 Bench Vice

12

2 Iron Squares Companys Works

3

2 Screw Plates in general

6.6

1 3/4 Bindg. Wire

1.9

2 Rag Stones

5 1/2

12 Hd. Hamr. Helves

5

1 lb Borax

14.7 1/2

1 lb Yellow Spelter

1.6

1 Pr. HL Hinges Storeuse

1.8

Iron Ware Carrd. over

£ 25.12.8

Carried over

£ 160.1.8

The storekeeper's account of stores charged to the island's general expenses in 1766 went on from a running total of £126 6s 11d.

Brought over, £126 6s 11d

1,510 lb of cordage for hauling up the [...], for crane ropes and for the Company's works, £26 14s 9d

105 bushels of coals for the smith's shop, £7 0s 0d

8 plasterers' trowels for the masons, £0 14s 0d

8 tool handles for the armourer's shop and the Company's works, £0 4s 6d

6 sail needles for mending lime bags, £0 0s 6d

7 stock locks for the lime house on Ladder Hill, £1 2s 9d

7 blank keys for the carpenters' shop, the castle and elsewhere, £0 0s 5½d

25 lb of plate iron for the flagstaff at the main line, £0 9s 4d

3 smith's coarse files for the armourer's shop, £0 15s 8½d

1 cupboard lock for the castle, £0 2s 10d

1 iron rim lock with brass knobs, £0 6s 7d

6 adzes for the carpenters, £1 1s 7½d

1 pickaxe for the Company's works, £0 3s 2d

4 hand hatchets, £0 7s 0d

1 iron back for a forge, for the works at Sandy Bay, £1 8s 8d

3 hand hammers for the works at Sandy Bay, £0 5s 8d

8 iron-shod shovels for the works at Sandy Bay, £0 14s 10d

36 masons' tools for the masons, £2 9s 6d

6 sledge hammers for the works at Sandy Bay, £3 10s 7d

6 mauls for the works at Sandy Bay, £2 15s 8d

6 bricklayers' trowels for the masons, £0 8s 9d

1 chafing dish for the castle, £0 6s 8d

4 ditching shovels for the works at the fortifications, £0 18s 1d

4 large frying pans for the men employed at the fortifications, £0 14s 10d

23 files for the armourer and the armoury, £0 11s 6d

4 splinter locks for the Company's works, £0 2s 0d

4 gimlets for the Company's works in general, £0 0s 11d

4 gunsmith's saws for the Company's works in general, £2 15s 0d

3 bench hammers for the Company's works in general, £0 5s 10½d

5 bastard files for the Company's works in general, £0 16s 8d

3 farriers' rasps for the Company's works in general, £0 2s 9d

1 bench vice for the Company's works in general, £0 12s 0d

2 iron squares for the Company's works in general, £0 3s 0d

2 screw plates for the Company's works in general, £0 6s 6d

1¾ lb of binding wire for the Company's works in general, £0 1s 9d

2 rag stones for the Company's works in general, £0 0s 5½d

12 hand hammer handles for the Company's works in general, £0 0s 5d

1 lb of borax for the Company's works in general, £0 14s 7½d

1 lb of yellow spelter for the Company's works in general, £0 1s 6d

1 pair of H hinges for the storehouse, £0 1s 2d

Ironware so far, carried over, £25 12s 8d

Carried over, £160 1s 8d

Interpretations

The tools pointed to a fortification under construction at Sandy Bay. That bay lay on the southern, windward coast, the one landing place on that side of the island and far from the batteries of James's Valley. The store sent six sledge hammers, six mauls, three hand hammers, eight shovels and the iron back for a forge to the works there, the equipment of a gang breaking and dressing stone with a smith on site to sharpen their tools. The 36 masons' tools and the plasterers' and bricklayers' trowels belonged to the same effort, and the four large frying pans showed that the men were fed in camp at the works.

Lime bound the masonry, and the entries traced its handling. The Company kept a lime house on Ladder Hill, the height above the town, fitted that quarter with seven new locks, and the lime travelled in canvas bags mended with sail needles. Lime was scarce and costly on a volcanic island with little limestone, so the store kept it under lock.

The heaviest single charge was 1,510 lb of cordage at £26 14s 9d, used for crane ropes and hauling. Every cask and bale landed at the island was lifted from a boat by crane at the landing steps, and the ropes wore out fast in salt water and surf.

Several tools carried trade names. A maul was a heavy long-handled hammer for driving wedges and splitting rock. An adze was a carpenter's tool with the blade set across the handle, used to dress timber. A bastard file was one of middling coarseness, between rough and smooth. A screw plate was a hardened steel plate with threaded holes for cutting screws by hand, and a rag stone was a coarse whetstone. Borax and spelter went together as a smith's materials for brazing, borax being the flux and yellow spelter the brass solder. A chafing dish was a small brazier holding hot coals to keep food warm at table.

The ironware was carried forward as a separate sub-total of £25 12s 8d and was not yet added into the running total of £160 1s 8d.

The object hauled up with the cordage could not be read. Several sums were closely written, and the readings of the blank keys, the forge back and the gunsmith's saws rested on fine judgement of the figures.

329

324

  1. April

Brought over

£ 160.1.8

Iron Ware brought over

£ 25.12.8

1/2 lb Flower Emery

1/2 Corn do. for the Armory

5 1/4

2 Tenor Saw Files for the Carpenters

1.1/4

12. two foot Rules

11

26.5.2

Deals vizt.

59 Single

6.10.3 1/2

42 Double

7.3.6

12 Eiffer for the Castle and Company's Work

2 1/2

3 Baulks

1.6.6

15.2.4

Lines vizt.

48 No. 4. Carpenters & Mason's use

18.4

1 Hambro

1.7

19.11

Leather 1 Calf Skin to make Gloves

9.11

Thread 1 lb Coloured for the Lime Work

3.5

Glass vizt.

5 Sqr. 8 by 10

3.9

8 Sqr. 11 1/2 by 18 for the Lieut. Govrs. House

12

1 Sqr. 11 by 19 and for Church

1.6

17.3

Iron and Steel vizt.

133. lb Iron for the Armorers and to

1.13.3

8 1/4 Steel make tools for the Masons

3.3

1.16.6

Tin Ware vizt.

2 Tin Lamps for Sandy Bay

1.6

5 Lanth: Leaves and Offrs. Lanthorn

1.7

3.1

Corks 1 Gross Castle

2.5

Starch 3 lb for Linnen

5.2

Canvas vizt.

7 Yards English for a Cot for the Offr. at

7.10 1/2

2 do. Ozenbrigs Sandy Bay and Baskets

1.6 1/2

9.5

Lead 425 lb Sheet Lead Compys. Work and Lt. Govrs. House

3.19.8

Cart Wheels 20 Wheel Barrows do.

15.10

Pewter 1 Galln. Pot Store use

9.4

China Ware vizt.

3 China Bowls

2.6

2 Snakers

5

1 Tea pot

10

3.9

Carried over

£ 227.2.1

The storekeeper's account of stores charged to the island's general expenses in the quarter to 31 March 1766 continued from a running total of £160 1s 8d.

Brought over, £160 1s 8d

Ironware brought over, £25 12s 8d

½ lb of flour emery for the armoury, priced within the group below

½ lb of corn emery for the armoury, priced within the group below

The two kinds of emery together, £0 0s 5¼d

2 tenon saw files for the carpenters, £0 1s 0¼d

12 two-foot rules for the carpenters, £0 11s 0d

Ironware, total, £26 5s 2d

59 single deals for the castle and the Company's works, £6 10s 3½d

42 double deals for the castle and the Company's works, £7 3s 6d

½ [...] for the castle and the Company's works, £0 2s 0½d

3 baulks for the castle and the Company's works, £1 6s 6d

Deals, total, £15 2s 4d

48 lines of number 4 for the carpenters and masons, £0 18s 4d

1 Hambro line for the carpenters and masons, £0 1s 7d

Lines, total, £0 19s 11d

1 calf skin to make gloves for the lime works, £0 9s 11d

1 lb of coloured thread for the lime works, £0 3s 5d

5 square feet of glass 8 by 10 for the Lieutenant Governor's house and the church, £0 3s 9d

8 square feet of glass 11½ by 18 for the Lieutenant Governor's house and the church, £0 12s 0d

1 square foot of glass 11 by 19 for the Lieutenant Governor's house and the church, £0 1s 6d

Glass, total, £0 17s 3d

133 lb of iron for the armourers and to make tools for the masons, £1 13s 3d

8¼ lb of steel for the armourers and to make tools for the masons, £0 3s 3d

Iron and steel, total, £1 16s 6d

2 tin lamps for Sandy Bay, £0 1s 6d

5 lantern leaves for the officer's lantern, £0 1s 7d

Tinware, total, £0 3s 1d

1 gross of corks for the castle, £0 2s 5d

8½ lb of starch for linen, £0 5s 2d

7 yards of English canvas for a cot for the officer at Sandy Bay and for baskets, £0 7s 10½d

2 yards of Osnaburg canvas for a cot for the officer at Sandy Bay and for baskets, £0 1s 6½d

Canvas, total, £0 9s 5d

425 lb of sheet lead for the Company's works and the Lieutenant Governor's house, £3 19s 8d

20 wheelbarrows for the Company's works, entered under cart wheels, £15 10s 0d

1 pewter gallon pot for use in the store, £0 9s 4d

3 china bowls, £0 2s 6d

2 saucers, £0 0s 5d

1 teapot, £0 0s 10d

Chinaware, total, £0 3s 9d

Carried over, £227 2s 1d

Interpretations

The entries for Sandy Bay added an officer to the working party recorded in the earlier part of this account. He received lamps, a lantern and canvas for a cot, the hanging bed of a ship or camp, so a detachment lived at the works under his command through the quarter. The 20 wheelbarrows at £15 10s 0d, the dearest item on the page, served the same labour of moving stone and earth.

The calf skin issued for gloves showed a hazard of the lime works. Quicklime burned the skin on contact, and the men who slaked and carried it needed leather gloves. The Company supplied the hide and thread and left the making to its own workmen, which was cheaper than sending finished gloves from England.

The Lieutenant Governor's house drew stores throughout the collection: 500 trunk nails in the gunner's account for March 1766, brimstone in the paint, and here window glass and a share of 425 lb of sheet lead. Sheet lead covered roofs and lined gutters, so the house was under repair at the Company's expense. The pane sizes matched those landed from the Prince of Wales on 31 March 1766, when 4 square feet of the size 11½ by 18 were found broken.

Emery was a hard mineral ground to powder for polishing metal, and the armoury used it to clean rust from muskets and bayonets. Flour emery was the finest grade and corn emery a coarser one. A baulk was a large squared timber for beams, and a Hambro line was a small three-stranded cord, named from Hamburg, used by masons and carpenters for marking straight lines. Steel was issued with the iron because a mason's chisel was forged of iron with a steel tip welded on to hold an edge.

330

325

1766

Brought over

£ 227.2.1

Iron Pots vizt.

1 of 2 Gallons

3

2 of 13 1/2 do. for the Workmen

1.3.1

2 of 6 do.

12

1.18.1

Cloth vizt.

1 Ps. Long Cloth A

1.7.8

1 Ps. do. do. B for the Castle for Rubbers &ca.

2.5.5

3.13.1

Pitch and Tar 8 lb Rozin for repairs to the Lieut. Govrs. House

1.2

Shoes 1 Pr. Mens Ordinary given to Thos. Clark for a pair

he lost in Swiming for a Boat to Row after the

Adml. Stevens in search of some deserters

4

Masts 1 Main Cap for the Flagstaff at the main fort

1.5.4

£ 234.3.9

Diet Expences Dr. for the following Stores Issued from

the 1. of January to the 31. March 1766 vizt.

Arrack 54 Galls.

8.9.10

Flour 922 lb

7.13.8

Candy 291

6.1.3

Salt 1 7/8 Bushel

8.1

Rice 12 lb

1.3

Beef and Pork vizt.

2 Ps. Beef

6.7

9 Ps. Pork

1.5.8

1.12.3

Pepper 6 lb

3

Tea 6 Congo

8.6

£ 24.17.10

The storekeeper's account of stores charged to the island's general expenses in 1766 closed with the following items, carried on from a running total of £227 2s 1d.

Brought over, £227 2s 1d

1 iron pot of 2 gallons for the workmen, £0 3s 0d

2 iron pots of 13½ gallons for the workmen, £1 3s 1d

2 iron pots of 6 gallons for the workmen, £0 12s 0d

Iron pots, total, £1 18s 1d

1 piece of long cloth marked A for cleaning cloths and other uses at the castle, £1 7s 8d

1 piece of long cloth marked B for cleaning cloths and other uses at the castle, £2 5s 5d

Cloth, total, £3 13s 1d

8 lb of rosin for repairs to the Lieutenant Governor's house, entered under pitch and tar, £0 1s 2d

1 pair of men's ordinary shoes given to Thomas Clark, £0 4s 0d

1 main cap for the flagstaff at the main fort, £1 5s 4d.

Total charged to general expenses, £234 3s 9d

Thomas Clark received his shoes to replace a pair lost when he swam out to fetch a boat, which was then rowed after the Admiral Stevens to search her for deserters.

A further account charged the Company's table with the stores issued to it between 1 January 1766 and 31 March 1766.

54 gallons of arrack, £8 9s 10d

922 lb of flour, £7 13s 8d

291 lb of sugar candy, £6 1s 3d

1⅜ bushels of salt, £0 8s 1d

12 lb of rice, £0 1s 3d

2 pieces of beef, £0 6s 7d

9 pieces of pork, £1 5s 8d

Beef and pork, total, £1 12s 3d

6 lb of pepper, £0 3s 0d

6 lb of Congo tea, £0 8s 6d

Total charged to the table, £24 17s 10d

Interpretations

The shoes given to Thomas Clark preserved an incident that the consultations did not otherwise record. The Admiral Stevens sailed with men missing from the garrison suspected to be aboard, and no boat lay ready at the landing place to follow her. Clark swam out to bring one in, a crew rowed after the ship and searched her, and he lost his shoes in the water. The Council treated the loss as incurred on duty and replaced the pair from the store at 4s 0d. The entry showed the practical limit of Matthew Purling's musters of 9 April 1766: a search made at anchor could be defeated by men who hid until the ship weighed, and the island's last resort was to chase her under oars before she cleared the road.

The ship charged with stores at cost on her own account earlier in this collection was therefore gone before 31 March 1766, and she left under suspicion of carrying deserters.

The main cap was a ship's fitting, the heavy block of wood that held a topmast to the head of the lower mast. The flagstaff at the main fort was built like a mast in two lengths, and it was repaired that quarter with a new cap and with the 25 lb of plate iron entered earlier in the account. Signals to shipping and to the outlying posts were made from that staff.

The large iron pots, two of them holding 13½ gallons, were cooking vessels for the gangs on the works, of a piece with the frying pans sent to the men at the fortifications. Rosin was the solid resin left after distilling turpentine, melted with tar to seal seams and roof joints.

The table's account covered what the steward drew from the store, where his monthly account of 14 April 1766 priced what was eaten and drunk. He drew 54 gallons of arrack in the quarter and reported 32 bottles used in March 1766 alone. The table also took 291 lb of sugar candy, about ten times the 9 lb 5 oz consumed at it in March, so most of the quarter's issue went into punch or remained in the steward's hands.

331

326

21 April

Blacks Dr. for the follg. Stores Issued from the 1. January to the

31. March 1766 vizt.

Sugar 431 lb

5.7.9

Flour 3767

31.7.10

Rice 649

3.7.7

Oil vizt.

1/2 Gall Train

2.2

1/8 do. Linseed

6

2.8

Tea 9 3/4 lb Bohea

3.6.11

Arrack 52 1/4 Gall for the Plant. Garden and Sick Blacks

8.6.5

Beef and Pork vizt.

220 Ps. Beef

36.8.9

374 Ps. Pork

53.7.5

89.16.2

Pepper 7 lb

3.6

Sago 1467 lb

11.5.2

Shoes vizt.

37 Prs. Mens Ordinary for the Handy Craft Men

7.8

2 Prs. Women Calf Leather for a Black Woman in the

Castle

5.2

7.13.2

Canvas 30 yards Engl. for the Black Artificers

1.13.9

Hooks and Lines vizt.

22 Lines No. 2

6.4 1/2

42 3 for the fisher Men

13.2 1/2

75 Hooks 1

3.7

25 11

4 3/4

25 12 for do.

3 3/4

25 13

2 1/2

125 15

11

1.5

Haberdashery 4 Skanes Silk do.

2.1

Long Cloth 12 Yards A for a Lying in Woman

6.11

Lead 6 1/2 for the fisher Men

1.2

Twine 1 Skain do.

6

Candles 1 lb for the Overseer to examine the Blacks House

2

Blankets 1 for a Sick Woman

5.6

£ 144.14.1

The storekeeper's collection of 21 April 1766 charged the Company's slaves with the stores issued for them between 1 January 1766 and 31 March 1766.

431 lb of sugar, £5 7s 9d

3,767 lb of flour, £31 7s 10d

649 lb of rice, £3 7s 7d

½ gallon of train oil, £0 2s 2d

⅛ gallon of linseed oil, £0 0s 6d

Oil, total, £0 2s 8d

93 lb of Bohea tea, £3 6s 11d

52¼ gallons of arrack for the plantation garden and the sick slaves, £8 6s 5d

220 pieces of beef, £36 8s 9d

374 pieces of pork, £53 7s 5d

Beef and pork, total, £89 16s 2d

7 lb of pepper, £0 3s 6d

1,467 lb of sago, £11 5s 2d

37 pairs of men's ordinary shoes for the slave craftsmen, £7 8s 0d

2 pairs of women's calf leather shoes for a slave woman at the castle, £0 5s 2d

Shoes, total, £7 13s 2d

30 yards of English canvas for the slave craftsmen, £1 13s 9d

22 fishing lines of number 2 for the fishermen, £0 6s 4½d

42 fishing lines of number 3 for the fishermen, £0 13s 2½d

75 fish hooks of number 1 for the fishermen, £0 3s 7d

25 fish hooks of number 11 for the fishermen, £0 0s 4¾d

25 fish hooks of number 12 for the fishermen, £0 0s 3¾d

25 fish hooks of number 13 for the fishermen, £0 0s 2½d

125 fish hooks of number 15 for the fishermen, £0 0s 11d

Hooks and lines, total, £1 5s 0d

4 skeins of silk for the fishermen, £0 2s 1d

12 yards of long cloth marked A for a woman in childbed, £0 6s 11d

6½ lb of lead for the fishermen, £0 1s 2d

1 skein of twine for the fishermen, £0 0s 6d

1 lb of candles for the overseer to inspect the slaves' house, £0 2s 0d

1 blanket for a sick woman, £0 5s 6d

Total charged for the slaves, £164 14s 1d

Interpretations

The account set out what the Company spent from its store to keep its slaves for a quarter. Food made up nearly all of it. Salt beef and pork came to £89 16s 2d, flour to £31 7s 10d and sago to £11 5s 2d, and those issues were additional to the 96,515 yams recorded in the plantation account approved on 14 April 1766. The 594 pieces of salt meat matched the scale of the servants' own purchases, so the slaves received a regular meat ration from imported stores and were not left to live on yams alone.

Sago was the unusual item. The 1,467 lb issued to the slaves compared with 135 lb bought by the Company's servants in the same quarter. It was a cheap starch from the East Indies, at under 2d a pound, and the store used it to stretch the flour and rice. The 93 lb of Bohea, the coarsest tea, and 431 lb of sugar showed that tea had already become an ordinary part of a slave's allowance on the island.

The Company's slaves were not only field labourers. Thirty-seven pairs of shoes and 30 yards of canvas went to craftsmen among them, men who worked as masons, carpenters and smiths on the fortifications and buildings and who needed footwear and working clothes for that labour. A separate group worked as fishermen and drew 64 lines, 275 hooks, lead for sinkers, twine and silk for whipping hooks to lines. Their catch fed the slaves and probably the garrison, and it explains how a single quarter's store issue could be so small in fresh food.

Three entries recorded care of individuals. A woman in childbed received 12 yards of the cheapest long cloth for linen, a sick woman received a blanket, and part of the arrack went to the sick as medicine. Three boys were born to the Company's slaves in January and February 1766, and the cloth was probably issued for one of those births.

The pound of candles for the overseer showed a form of control. He inspected the slaves' house, the building in which the Company's slaves were lodged together at night, and he needed light to count those present and search the quarters after dark.

332

327

1766

Mallay Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1. Janry to the

31. March 1766 vizt.

Beef 5 Ps.

16.7

Arrack 3 1/4 Galls.

10.3

Sugar 26 lb

6.6

Rice 156 lb

15

Tea 3 lb Bohea

2.9

Oil 3/4 Gall Train

2.6

Sope 6 lb

4.1

£ 2.17.8

Plantation Dr. for the following Stores Issued from 1.

January to the 31. March 1766 vizt.

Paddy 2535 lb for poultry and Horses

6.13.2

Iron Ware vizt.

2 Stock Locks

5.10 1/2

4 Shod Shovels for the several Plantations

7.5

6 Scythes for the Garden

1.11.9

9 Garden Hoes

18.6

2 Edging Irons for the Plantation

6.8

1 Turfing do. House Garden

2.11 1/2

6 Garden Rakes

14.6

1 Hand Hatchet for the Pastures

1.9

1 Plantn. Seive for Plantation House Gardn.

10.4

4.11.9

Cart Wheels vizt.

2 Pr. Cart Wheels

8.1.11

3 Axletrees for the Wood Cart

1.6.6

4 Wheel Barrows Muldavia Garden

3.2

12.10.5

Oil vizt.

2 3/4 Galls. Train

9.2 1/2

1/2 do. Linseed for the wood Carts

1.11 1/2

11.2

Nails vizt.

4 lb 6 d

2.1

2 10

10 1/2

6 20 for wood Carts and Sandy Bay

2.3

6 40

2.1 1/2

7.4

Lines vizt.

6. No. 3

1.11

12 4 for the Plantn. House Garden

4.7

6.6

Carried over

£ 25.4

The storekeeper's collection for 1766 next charged an account headed Malay with the stores issued under it between 1 January 1766 and 31 March 1766.

5 pieces of beef, £0 16s 7d

3¼ gallons of arrack, £0 10s 3d

26 lb of sugar, £0 6s 6d

156 lb of rice, £0 15s 0d

3 lb of Bohea tea, £0 2s 9d

¾ gallon of train oil, £0 2s 6d

6 lb of soap, £0 4s 1d

Total charged to the Malay account, £2 17s 8d

A further account charged the plantations with the stores issued to them over the same quarter.

2,535 lb of paddy for the poultry and horses, £6 13s 2d

2 stock locks for the several plantations, £0 5s 10½d

4 iron-shod shovels for the several plantations, £0 7s 5d

6 scythes for the garden, £1 11s 9d

9 garden hoes for the garden at Plantation House, £0 16s 6d

2 edging irons for the garden at Plantation House, £0 6s 8d

1 turfing iron for the garden at Plantation House, £0 2s 11½d

6 garden rakes for the garden at Plantation House, £0 14s 6d

1 hand hatchet for the pastures, £0 1s 9d

1 plasterer's sieve for the garden at Plantation House, £0 4s 4d

Ironware, total, £4 11s 9d

2 pairs of cart wheels for the wood cart, £8 1s 11d

3 axletrees for the wood cart, £1 6s 6d

4 wheelbarrows for the Maldivia garden, £3 2s 0d

Cart wheels, total, £12 10s 5d

2¾ gallons of train oil for the wood carts, £0 9s 2½d

½ gallon of linseed oil for the wood carts, £0 1s 11½d

Oil, total, £0 11s 2d

4 lb of sixpenny nails for the wood carts and Sandy Bay, £0 2s 1d

2 lb of tenpenny nails for the wood carts and Sandy Bay, £0 0s 10½d

6 lb of twentypenny nails for the wood carts and Sandy Bay, £0 2s 3d

6 lb of fortypenny nails for the wood carts and Sandy Bay, £0 2s 1½d

Nails, total, £0 7s 4d

6 lines of number 3 for the garden at Plantation House, £0 1s 11d

12 lines of number 4 for the garden at Plantation House, £0 4s 7d

Lines, total, £0 6s 6d

Carried over, £25 0s 4d

Interpretations

The Malay account stood apart from the one for the Company's slaves and carried a single person's keep: five pieces of beef, 156 lb of rice, tea, sugar, arrack, lamp oil and soap for a quarter. Rice was the staple, where the slaves were fed on flour, yams and sago, and the allowance included soap, which the slaves' account did not. The Company's settlements in Sumatra sent political prisoners and exiles to St Helena, and the account was perhaps the maintenance of one such man, kept at the Company's cost on a ration suited to his own diet. He cost £2 17s 8d for the quarter.

Paddy was rice still in the husk, the cheapest form in which it was shipped from the East. The plantations drew 2,535 lb of it as feed for the poultry and the nine horses and mares counted in the plantation account approved on 14 April 1766. The island therefore fed part of its livestock on imported grain, since its own land grew too little corn to spare any for animals.

The wood cart was the heaviest charge, at nearly £10 0s 0d for wheels and axletrees. Fuel was a constant difficulty on an island largely stripped of trees, and the Company kept carts to haul firewood from the interior to the town and the garrison. The oil was for greasing the axles and treating the timber, and wheels wore out quickly on steep, rocky tracks.

Two gardens appeared by name. Plantation House, the Governor's country residence, received scythes, hoes, rakes, an edging iron for trimming the borders of lawns and a turfing iron for cutting and lifting turf, the tools of an ornamental garden kept in the English manner. Maldivia was a Company garden in the upper part of James's Valley, which grew vegetables and fruit for the table and the shipping. The lines issued to the garden were for setting out straight beds and rows.

333

328

21 April

Brought over

£ 25.4

Turners Ware vizt.

1 Yoak for Oxen

18.1

2 Ox Bows for the Oxhen

2.8

18 B. Brooms for the Plantation House Gard.

7.1

1.7.10

Cordage 16 lb Ropes for the Castle

5.8

Deals 3 double for makg. a Cart

10.3

Tin Ware vizt.

3 Watering Pots Plantn. House Garden

1.12.4

1 Tin Lamp for the Long Wood

9

1.13.1

Cutlery Ware vizt.

2 Budding Knives

1.11

12 Pruning do. Plantn. House Gard.

11.6

13.5

£ 29.10.7

Garrison Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1.

January to the 31. March 1766 vizt.

Tea 90 lb Bohea

4.2.6

Oil vizt.

67 Galls. Train

11.4.9

46 do. Linseed for the several Guards

9.1.1

20.5.10

Lines 2 Whip Cord for makg. Whips

5.11

Twine 4 Skains for mendg. Bags

2

Iron Ware vizt.

3 Sail Needles for mendg. Bags

3

1 Pr. Sheep Shears Artilly. Company

1.4

2 Blank Keys do.

1.5

3

Arrack 166 2/3 Galls. for Drams

26.2.7

Deals 6 Single for Coffins

15.3

Nails 6 lb 6 d do.

3.1

Candles 2 1/2 for the Offrs. Guard Room

5

Blankets 1 for the Second Compy.

5.6

Broad Cloth vizt.

72 1/4 yds. Scarlet

73.12.1

19 1/4 yds. Blue to Cloath the Officers

17.15.6

91.7.7

Carried over

£ 143.16.3

The storekeeper's account of stores charged to the plantations in the quarter to 31 March 1766 closed with the following items, carried on from a running total of £25 0s 4d.

Brought over, £25 0s 4d

1 yoke for the oxen, £0 13s 1d

2 ox bows for the oxen, £0 2s 8d

13 birch brooms for the garden at Plantation House, £0 7s 1d

Wooden ware, total, £1 7s 10d

16 lb of rope for the castle, £0 5s 8d

3 double deals for making a cart, £0 10s 3d

8 watering pots for the garden at Plantation House, £1 12s 4d

1 tin lamp for Longwood, £0 0s 9d

Tinware, total, £1 13s 1d

2 budding knives for the garden at Plantation House, £0 1s 11d

12 pruning knives for the garden at Plantation House, £0 11s 6d

Knives, total, £0 13s 5d

Total charged to the plantations, £29 10s 7d

A further account charged the garrison with the stores issued to it between 1 January 1766 and 31 March 1766.

90 lb of Bohea tea, £4 2s 6d

67 gallons of train oil for the several guards, £11 4s 9d

46 gallons of linseed oil for the several guards, £9 1s 1d

Oil, total, £20 5s 10d

2 lb of whipcord for making whips, £0 5s 11d

4 skeins of twine for mending bags, £0 2s 0d

3 sail needles for mending bags, £0 0s 3d

1 pair of sheep shears for the artillery company, £0 1s 4d

2 blank keys for the artillery company, £0 1s 5d

Ironware, total, £0 3s 0d

166⅓ gallons of arrack for drams, £26 2s 7d

6 single deals for coffins, £0 13s 3d

6 lb of sixpenny nails for coffins, £0 3s 1d

2½ lb of candles for the officers' guard room, £0 5s 0d

1 blanket for the second company, £0 5s 6d

72¼ yards of scarlet broadcloth to clothe the officers, £73 12s 1d

19¼ yards of blue broadcloth to clothe the officers, £17 15s 6d

Broadcloth, total, £91 7s 7d

Carried over, £143 16s 3d

Interpretations

The Company clothed its officers as well as its men. The store issued 72¼ yards of scarlet broadcloth and 19¼ yards of blue at £91 7s 7d, the largest sum in the garrison's account, for officers' uniform coats of red faced with blue. The cloth went out as a charge on the garrison and was not sold, so a commission on the island carried a free issue of the finest fabric in the store. The servants who bought the same blue broadcloth for themselves in that quarter paid over £1 0s 0d a yard.

Whipcord was thin, hard-twisted cord, and the two pounds issued for making whips supplied the lashes used for flogging. Corporal punishment of soldiers and slaves was ordered by the Council and carried out by the garrison, which made up its own instruments from store materials.

The six deals and six pounds of nails for coffins recorded burials at the Company's expense. A single deal made roughly one side or lid, so the quantity covered perhaps two coffins, and the charge to the garrison marked the dead as soldiers. The plantation account for the same quarter listed two men and a boy among the Company's slaves who died in February 1766, but their burials were not charged here.

The arrack was issued as drams, the measured daily tot of spirits served to soldiers on duty. The garrison's 166⅓ gallons stood beside 343⅓ gallons given to workmen and 52¼ to the plantation garden and sick slaves, so the store issued over 560 gallons of spirits in the quarter as an allowance of one kind or another.

The 67 gallons of train oil lit the lamps of the guard posts round the island through the night, and the linseed oil was probably for oiling musket stocks and woodwork at those posts. Longwood was the Company's large plantation and pasture on the eastern plateau. An ox bow was the curved wooden collar that passed under the animal's neck and fastened up into the yoke, and the plantation account showed 20 working oxen at 31 March 1766.

334

329

1766

Brought over

£ 143.16.3

Shalloon 120 yds. Scarlet for the Officers Cloathing

13.15

Buckram 48 yds. for do.

2.4

Shirts 2 Prs. Irish Linnen do.

3.4.8

Haberdashery vizt.

80 Sks. Silk

2.1.8

80 do. Mohair for do.

1.15

48 doz. Silver C. Buttons

11.4

40 doz. do. Bt. do. for do.

4.16.8

19.17.4

Hats 16 Officers

24.17.4

Thread 4 lb Coloured for do.

13.8

£ 208.8.3

Hospital Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1. Janry

to the 31. March 1766 vizt.

Sugar 400 lb

5

Rice 263 lb

1.5

Flour 366.

2.13.5

Salt 1 3/4 Bushels

8.9

Sago 136 lb

3.16.6

Oil vizt.

7 1/2 Galls. Train

1.3.11

6 1/2 do. Linseed

1.5.7

2.9.6

Tin Ware 3 Lamps

2.3

Iron Ware vizt.

2 Sail Needles for Sackg. Mattrasses

2

2 Blank Keys

1.5

1 Pr. HL Hinges

1.8

3.3

Twine vizt.

1 Skane Twine

6

1/2 lb Cotton Wick

1.4

1.10

Thread 1 lb Coloured for makg. Matrasses

3.5

Canvas 49 yds. Ozenbrigs for do.

1.18.9

£ 18.2.8

The storekeeper's account of stores charged to the garrison in 1766 closed with the following items, carried on from a running total of £143 16s 3d.

Brought over, £143 16s 3d

120 yards of scarlet shalloon for the officers' clothing, £13 15s 0d

48 yards of buckram for the officers' clothing, £2 4s 0d

2 pieces of Irish linen for shirts for the officers' clothing, £3 4s 8d

80 skeins of silk for the officers' clothing, £2 1s 8d

80 skeins of mohair for the officers' clothing, £1 5s 0d

48 dozen silver coat buttons for the officers' clothing, £11 4s 0d

40 dozen silver breast buttons for the officers' clothing, £4 16s 8d

Sewing goods and trimmings, total, £19 7s 4d

16 officers' hats, £24 7s 4d

4 lb of coloured thread for the officers' clothing, £1 13s 8d

Total charged to the garrison, £208 8s 3d

A further account charged the hospital with the stores issued to it between 1 January 1766 and 31 March 1766.

400 lb of sugar, £5 0s 0d

263 lb of rice, £1 5s 0d

366 lb of flour, £2 13s 5d

1¼ bushels of salt, £0 8s 9d

496 lb of sago, £3 16s 6d

7⅛ gallons of train oil, £1 3s 11d

6½ gallons of linseed oil, £1 5s 7d

Oil, total, £2 9s 6d

3 tin lamps, £0 2s 3d

2 sail needles for sewing sacking mattresses, £0 0s 2d

2 blank keys, £0 1s 5d

1 pair of H hinges, £0 1s 2d

Ironware, total, £0 3s 3d

1 skein of twine, £0 0s 6d

½ lb of cotton wick, £0 1s 4d

Twine, total, £0 1s 10d

1 lb of coloured thread for making mattresses, £0 3s 5d

49 yards of Osnaburg canvas for making mattresses, £1 18s 9d

Total charged to the hospital, £18 2s 8d

Interpretations

The entries completed a full uniform issue for the garrison's officers. The broadcloth entered earlier in this account made the coats, the scarlet shalloon lined them, the buckram stiffened the skirts and collars, and the silk and mohair sewed the seams and worked the buttonholes. The 16 hats fixed the number of officers at 16, and the 88 dozen silver buttons came to 66 for each man, about the number on a laced coat and waistcoat of the period. The hats cost £1 10s 5½d each, far above the 19s 4½d paid for the men's hats sold to servants in the same collection, and were laced. The whole issue of cloth, trimmings and hats came to about £156 0s 0d, or nearly £10 0s 0d an officer, three quarters of everything the store charged to the garrison in the quarter.

The store issued materials and not finished coats. Tailors on the island, probably soldiers of the garrison working at their trade, cut and made up each uniform, which let the Company ship compact bales of cloth and avoid the cost and misfit of clothing made in London for men it never measured.

The hospital's account showed a sick diet built on sugar, sago, rice and flour, with no salt meat at all. Sago boiled with sugar made a thin, easily digested gruel, the standard food for fever and dysentery patients, and the hospital drew 496 lb of it against 366 lb of flour. Fresh meat and broth for the sick came from the Company's stock and were not charged through the store.

The hospital made its own bedding that quarter. The 49 yards of Osnaburg canvas, sewn with sail needles and coloured thread, made sacking mattresses to be stuffed with straw or dried grass, enough for perhaps eight or ten beds. The oil and cotton wick fed the lamps that burned in the wards through the night.

335

330

21 April

Boats Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the

1. January to the 31. March 1766 vizt.

Pork 2 Ps.

6.7

Nails vizt.

1 lb 2 d

8 1/2

4 3

2.11

2 4

1.2

6 6 for the Boats in general

3.1 1/2

6 10

2.7 1/2

1 40

4 1/4

8 20

3.1/2

13.11

Paint vizt.

6 Ven. Red mixed

2.9

1 yellw. Oaker do.

2 1/2

1 lb Copperas do.

2 1/2

25 Ven Red dry

5.2

16 Brimstone

3.4

11.8

Arrack 1 1/2 Gall. for men employed in the Long Boat

5.1

Cordage 1831. lb for the Boats in general

32.8.5

Oil vizt.

4 1/2 Galls. Linseed do.

17.8

1/4 do. Train

10

18.6

Twine 2 Sks. for the Long Boat

1

Oars 14 for the Yaul and do.

2.14.6

Leather 14 1/4 Sole do.

11.11

Bunting 2 1/2 yds. Red do.

1.9

Candles 1 lb do.

2

Lead 9 1/2 Sheet for the Yaul

1.9

Iron Ware 1 Hd. Hatchet Engn. Boat

1.9

Pitch & Tar vizt.

26 Rozin

3.9

1 Barl. and 14 Galls. Tar Boats in Genl.

1.2.3

1.6

Deals 1 Elm Board to make a Rudder for the

Long Boat

3.9

£ 40.8.7

The storekeeper's collection of 21 April 1766 charged the Company's boats with the stores issued for them between 1 January 1766 and 31 March 1766.

2 pieces of pork, £0 6s 7d

1 lb of twopenny nails for the boats in general, £0 0s 8½d

4 lb of threepenny nails for the boats in general, £0 2s 11d

2 lb of fourpenny nails for the boats in general, £0 1s 2d

6 lb of sixpenny nails for the boats in general, £0 3s 1½d

6 lb of tenpenny nails for the boats in general, £0 2s 7½d

1 lb of fortypenny nails for the boats in general, £0 0s 4½d

8 lb of twentypenny nails for the boats in general, £0 3s 0½d

Nails, total, £0 13s 11d

6 lb of Venetian red, mixed, for the boats in general, £0 2s 9d

1 lb of yellow ochre, mixed, for the boats in general, £0 0s 2½d

¼ lb of copperas for the boats in general, £0 0s 2½d

25 lb of Venetian red, dry, for the boats in general, £0 5s 2d

16 lb of brimstone for the boats in general, £0 3s 4d

Paint, total, £0 11s 8d

1¼ gallons of arrack for the men employed in the longboat, £0 5s 1d

1,831 lb of cordage for the boats in general, £32 8s 5d

4½ gallons of linseed oil for the boats in general, £0 17s 8d

¼ gallon of train oil for the boats in general, £0 0s 10d

Oil, total, £0 18s 6d

2 skeins of twine for the longboat, £0 1s 0d

14 oars for the yawl and the longboat, £2 14s 6d

14¾ lb of sole leather for the yawl and the longboat, £0 11s 11d

2½ yards of red bunting for the yawl and the longboat, £0 1s 9d

1 lb of candles for the yawl and the longboat, £0 2s 0d

9¾ lb of sheet lead for the yawl, £0 1s 9d

1 hand hatchet for the English boat, £0 1s 9d

26 lb of rosin for the boats in general, £0 3s 9d

1 barrel and 4 gallons of tar for the boats in general, £1 2s 3d

Pitch and tar, total, £1 6s 0d

1 elm board to make a rudder for the longboat, £0 3s 9d

Total charged to the boats, £40 8s 7d

Interpretations

Cordage accounted for four fifths of the charge. The boats took 1,831 lb of rope at £32 8s 5d in one quarter, more than the 1,510 lb issued for the cranes and works and more than four times the 423 lb sold to the Company's ships. St Helena had no harbour, so every boat lay at a mooring in the open road or was hauled up the rocks, and all goods and water went between ship and shore under oars through a heavy swell. Mooring ropes, painters and hauling lines chafed through quickly in those conditions, and rope became the island's most heavily consumed naval store.

The other materials were those of routine boat repair. Tar and rosin were melted together and paid into the seams over the caulking. Brimstone was mixed into the coating spread on a boat's bottom, since sulphur helped to keep off the shipworm that bored into planking in warm water. Venetian red was the cheap paint for the hulls, sole leather was nailed round the oars where they bore on the gunwale, and sheet lead patched leaks and lined the wear points. Red bunting was the thin woollen stuff for flags, here enough to mend an ensign.

The longboat drew a new elm rudder, oars and twine, and the arrack went to her crew as their working allowance. The Council bought a second longboat from Captain Wyche of the Salisbury for £30 0s 0d on 14 April 1766, which the wear recorded in this account helped to explain. A longboat was the largest of the island's boats and carried water casks and heavy stores, where the yawl was a lighter rowing boat for passengers and messages.

336

331

1766

Fortifications Dr. for the following Stores Issued from 1.

January to the 31. March 1766 vizt.

Iron & Steel vizt.

248. lb Iron

3.2

9 lb Steel for Banks's Cullis

3.7

3.5.7

Nails vizt.

4 lb 2 d

2.9

8 6

4.2

8 10 for Ruperts. Banks's Cullis

3.6

2 20 and Flag Staff at the main Fort

9

10 40

3.6

32 Spikes

10

1/4 Glazg. Brads

5

1.5.1

Oil vizt.

1 Galloon Linseed

3.11

3/8 do. Train

1.3

5.2

Arrack 1 1/4 Galls. for men employed at Banks's

3.11

Lead 116 lb Sheet for Banks's Cullis

1.1.9

Lines 6 No. 4 do.

2.3

Deals 50 Single

5.10.5

Twine 2 Sks.

1

Paint 6 lb Whiting

2

Iron Ware vizt.

7 Plate Iron for Banks's Cullis

2.7

1 Stock Lock for Ruperts

2.11

5.6

£ 12.10

Sandy Bay Fortification Dr.

Deals

7 Single

15.5

1 Wainscott Board

6.9

1.2.2

Nails vizt.

5 lb 3 d

2.2

6 4

3.6

6 6

3.1 1/2

3 20

1.1 1/2

2 40

8

10.7

Carried over

£ 1.12.9

The storekeeper's collection for 1766 charged the fortifications with the stores issued to them between 1 January 1766 and 31 March 1766.

248 lb of iron for the cullis at Banks's, £3 2s 0d

9 lb of steel for the cullis at Banks's, £0 3s 7d

Iron and steel, total, £3 5s 7d

4 lb of twopenny nails for Rupert's, the cullis at Banks's and the flagstaff at the main fort, £0 2s 9d

8 lb of sixpenny nails for Rupert's, the cullis at Banks's and the flagstaff at the main fort, £0 4s 2d

8 lb of tenpenny nails for Rupert's, the cullis at Banks's and the flagstaff at the main fort, £0 3s 6d

2 lb of twentypenny nails for Rupert's, the cullis at Banks's and the flagstaff at the main fort, £0 0s 9d

10 lb of fortypenny nails for Rupert's, the cullis at Banks's and the flagstaff at the main fort, £0 3s 6d

32 lb of spikes for Rupert's, the cullis at Banks's and the flagstaff at the main fort, £0 10s 0d

¼ lb of glazing brads for Rupert's, the cullis at Banks's and the flagstaff at the main fort, £0 0s 5d

Nails, total, £1 5s 1d

1 gallon of linseed oil, £0 3s 11d

⅜ gallon of train oil, £0 1s 3d

Oil, total, £0 5s 2d

1¼ gallons of arrack for the men employed at Banks's, £0 3s 11d

116 lb of sheet lead for the cullis at Banks's, £1 1s 9d

6 lines of number 4 for the cullis at Banks's, £0 2s 3d

50 single deals, £5 10s 5d

2 skeins of twine, £0 1s 0d

6 lb of whiting, £0 0s 2d

7 lb of plate iron for the cullis at Banks's, £0 2s 7d

1 stock lock for Rupert's, £0 2s 11d

Ironware, total, £0 5s 6d

Total charged to the fortifications, £12 0s 10d

A separate account charged the new fortification at Sandy Bay with stores over the same quarter.

7 single deals, £0 15s 5d

1 wainscot board, £0 6s 9d

Deals, total, £1 2s 2d

5 lb of threepenny nails, £0 2s 2d

6 lb of fourpenny nails, £0 3s 6d

6 lb of sixpenny nails, £0 3s 1½d

3 lb of twentypenny nails, £0 1s 1½d

2 lb of fortypenny nails, £0 0s 8d

Nails, total, £0 10s 7d

Carried over, £1 12s 9d

Interpretations

The Council kept a separate account for Sandy Bay, apart from the one for the existing fortifications. Repairs at Banks's, Rupert's and the main fort were ordinary upkeep, charged together under one heading. The work at Sandy Bay was new construction, and a distinct account let the Directors see what that single project cost and judge it on its own. The tools, lamps, cot and wheelbarrows sent there earlier in this collection were entered under general expenses, so the Sandy Bay account proper took only the materials built into the work itself.

A cullis was a gutter or channel, the term used by builders for a grooved watercourse along a roof or wall. The one at Banks's took 248 lb of iron, 116 lb of sheet lead and plate iron, which pointed to a lead-lined channel carried on iron brackets. Banks's battery stood on a dry, exposed stretch of coast with no spring, and a channel of that kind was probably built to lead rainwater or a piped supply to the guard there. The men who worked on it drew their arrack allowance on the spot.

Rupert's was the battery and line across the mouth of Rupert's Valley, the next bay east of James's Valley and the nearest landing place to the town that an enemy could use. It received a new lock that quarter, and the flagstaff at the main fort took a share of the nails for the repair recorded with its new cap and plate iron.

A wainscot board was a plank of fine-grained oak, imported from the Baltic and used for panelling, doors and furniture. It cost 6s 9d against about 2s 2½d for a fir deal, and at Sandy Bay it probably made a door or shutter for the guardhouse.

337

332

  1. April

Brought over

£ 1.12.9

Iron Ware 2 Stock Locks

2.11

Braziers Ware 1 Bottling Cock

3.4

Tin Ware 2 Lamps

1.6

Oil 1/2 Galln. Train

1.8

Blocks 1 Iron bound for hoisting things out of the Long B.

6.5

Turners Ware 24 Labrs. Baskets

1.3.6

£ 3.12.1

St. Helena

31. March 1766.

Errors Excepted.

(signed)

Js. Cowell Storekeepr.

List of the Honorable Compys. Officers, and Servants upon the

Island St. Helena, with their several Salys. Diet Money &ca. for the

Quarter commencing the 01 Janry and ending the 31. March 1766 vizt.

John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Saly.

125

do. Allowance for Servants as Usual

31.14.9

156.14.9

Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut Governor Saly.

62.10

do. Diet Money

25

87.10

Matthew Purling of Council Saly.

15

do. Accomptant

17.10

do. Diet Money

15

do. Gratuity

15

62.10

Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council Saly.

7.10

do. House Rent

2.10

10

Archibald Mitchell Engineer Saly.

50

do. Diet Money

25

do. House Rent

2.10

77.10

Carried over

£ 394.4.9

The storekeeper's account of stores charged to the fortification at Sandy Bay closed on 21 April 1766 with the following items, carried on from a running total of £1 12s 9d.

Brought over, £1 12s 9d

2 stock locks, £0 2s 11d

1 bottling cock, £0 3s 4d

2 tin lamps, £0 1s 6d

½ gallon of train oil, £0 1s 8d

1 iron-bound block for hoisting goods out of the longboat, £0 6s 5d

24 labourers' baskets, £1 3s 6d

Total charged to the Sandy Bay fortification, £3 12s 1d

James Bowell signed the whole collection as storekeeper at St Helena on 31 March 1766, subject to correction of any errors.

The paymaster's account followed. It listed the Company's officers and servants on the island with the salary, diet money and other allowances due to each for the quarter from 1 January 1766 to 31 March 1766.

Governor Skottowe, salary, £125 0s 0d

Governor Skottowe, customary allowance for servants, £31 14s 9d

Governor Skottowe, total, £156 14s 9d

Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, salary, £62 10s 0d

Daniel Corneille, diet money, £25 0s 0d

Daniel Corneille, total, £87 10s 0d

Matthew Purling, member of Council, salary, £15 0s 0d

Matthew Purling, salary as accountant, £17 10s 0d

Matthew Purling, diet money, £15 0s 0d

Matthew Purling, gratuity, £15 0s 0d

Matthew Purling, total, £62 10s 0d

Thomas Kirkpatrick, member of Council, salary, £7 10s 0d

Thomas Kirkpatrick, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Thomas Kirkpatrick, total, £10 0s 0d

Archibald Mitchell, engineer, salary, £50 0s 0d

Archibald Mitchell, diet money, £25 0s 0d

Archibald Mitchell, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Archibald Mitchell, total, £77 10s 0d

Carried over, £394 4s 9d

Interpretations

The list showed how thinly the Company paid in salary and how much it added in other forms. The Governor drew £500 0s 0d a year and the Lieutenant Governor £250 0s 0d, but a seat on the Council carried only £60 0s 0d a year for Purling and £30 0s 0d for Kirkpatrick. Purling's income was built up from four separate heads, with a second salary as accountant, diet money and a gratuity each equal to or greater than his pay as councillor. The Directors kept fixed salaries low and used allowances and gratuities, which they could grant or withhold, to reward particular men.

Diet money was a cash payment in place of board at the Company's table. Corneille and Mitchell each received £100 0s 0d a year under that head and Purling £60 0s 0d, where the Governor received none because the table was kept in his house at the Company's cost. House rent, at £10 0s 0d a year, went to officers for whom the Company had no quarters.

Kirkpatrick's £10 0s 0d for the quarter covered only his place on the Council, since his pay as a captain of the garrison fell under the military list. He remitted £400 0s 0d to England by bills on 7 April 1766, a sum equal to more than 13 years of his council salary. The Governor remitted £300 0s 0d on 9 April 1766, nearly two quarters of his whole pay. Those remittances showed that the senior men's real earnings came from private trade with the shipping and from their plantations, and not from the Company's wages.

Archibald Mitchell, the engineer, signed the gunner's account of artillery stores for March 1766 and so had charge of the ordnance as well as the works. His £200 0s 0d a year in salary exceeded that of any councillor below the Lieutenant Governor, which reflected the weight the Company placed on the new fortification at Sandy Bay and the repairs at Banks's and Rupert's.

A bottling cock was a brass tap fitted to a cask for drawing off liquor into bottles, issued here for the arrack or water kept for the men at Sandy Bay. The block for hoisting goods out of the longboat showed that materials for that work went round the island by sea and were lifted ashore at the bay, where no road fit for carts crossed the central ridge.

338

333

1766

Brot. over

£ 394.4.9

John Thackery Chaplain Saly.

25

do. Diet Money

15

40

Matthew Bazett Secretarys Saly.

17.10

do. Diet Money

15

do. House Rent

2.10

35

James Cowell Storekeepers Saly.

17.10

do. Diet Money

15

do. House Rent

2.10

35

William Wrangham Factor Saly.

7.10

do. Diet Money

10

do. House Rent

2.10

do. Assistant to the Governor

10

30

Jonathan Doveton Factor Saly.

7.10

do. Diet Money

10

do. Assistant Storekr.

5

22.10

Britannicus Knight Writer Saly.

5

do. Diet Money

10

do. House Rent

2.10

17.10

John Goodwin Writer Saly.

5

do. Diet Money

10

15

Robert Barclay Surgeon Saly.

9.15

do. Diet Money

10

do. House Rent

2.10

22.5

John Pritchard Surgeon Mate Saly.

6.5

do. Diet Money

10

do. House Rent

2.10

18.15

Richard Beale Judge Advocate Saly.

12.6.9

do. Schoolmaster

3.8.3

15.15

John Bridgwaters 10 days Saly.

1.10

Samuel Alexander Overseers

7.10

Daniel Tong

13.7

20.17

William Holbrook Master Mason Saly.

30

Thomas Townsend Stone Mason Saly.

19.10

49.10

John Robinson Carpenters Saly.

25

Joseph Chamberlain do. Mate Saly.

8.15

33.15

Phillip Mahoney Clark of the Peace

10

Carrd. over

£ 761.11.9

The paymaster's list of the Company's officers and servants for the quarter to 31 March 1766 continued from a running total of £394 4s 9d.

Brought over, £394 4s 9d

John Thackery, chaplain, salary, £25 0s 0d

John Thackery, diet money, £15 0s 0d

John Thackery, total, £40 0s 0d

Matthew Bazett, secretary, salary, £17 10s 0d

Matthew Bazett, diet money, £15 0s 0d

Matthew Bazett, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Matthew Bazett, total, £35 0s 0d

James Bowell, storekeeper, salary, £17 10s 0d

James Bowell, diet money, £15 0s 0d

James Bowell, house rent, £2 10s 0d

James Bowell, total, £35 0s 0d

William Wrangham, factor, salary, £7 10s 0d

William Wrangham, diet money, £10 0s 0d

William Wrangham, house rent, £2 10s 0d

William Wrangham, allowance as assistant to the Governor, £10 0s 0d

William Wrangham, total, £30 0s 0d

Jonathan Doveton, factor, salary, £7 10s 0d

Jonathan Doveton, diet money, £10 0s 0d

Jonathan Doveton, allowance as assistant storekeeper, £5 0s 0d

Jonathan Doveton, total, £22 10s 0d

Britannicus Knight, writer, salary, £5 0s 0d

Britannicus Knight, diet money, £10 0s 0d

Britannicus Knight, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Britannicus Knight, total, £17 10s 0d

John Goodwin, writer, salary, £5 0s 0d

John Goodwin, diet money, £10 0s 0d

John Goodwin, total, £15 0s 0d

Robert Barclay, surgeon, salary, £9 15s 0d

Robert Barclay, diet money, £10 0s 0d

Robert Barclay, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Robert Barclay, total, £22 5s 0d

John Pritchard, surgeon's mate, salary, £6 5s 0d

John Pritchard, diet money, £10 0s 0d

John Pritchard, house rent, £2 10s 0d

John Pritchard, total, £18 15s 0d

Richard Beale, judge advocate, salary, £12 6s 9d

Richard Beale, salary as schoolmaster, £3 8s 3d

Richard Beale, total, £15 15s 0d

John Bridgwater, salary for 10 days, £1 10s 0d

Samuel Alexander, overseer, £7 10s 0d

Daniel Long, overseer, £13 7s 0d

Overseers, total, £20 17s 0d

William Holbrook, master mason, salary, £30 0s 0d

Thomas Townsend, stonemason, salary, £19 10s 0d

Masons, total, £49 10s 0d

John Robinson, carpenter, salary, £25 0s 0d

Joseph Chamberlain, carpenter's mate, salary, £8 15s 0d

Carpenters, total, £33 15s 0d

Philip Mahoney, clerk of the peace, £10 0s 0d

Carried over, £761 11s 9d

Interpretations

The civil servants were paid by the Company's graded ranks, and the salaries attached to those ranks were nominal. A writer, the junior clerk, drew £20 0s 0d a year and a factor, the next step, £30 0s 0d. Diet money of £40 0s 0d a year doubled or trebled that sum for each man, so the allowance in place of board was worth more than the salary itself. The scale was the one used in the Company's Indian settlements, where a young man was expected to live on allowances and to make his fortune by private trade as he rose.

The skilled tradesmen were paid on a different footing and came out ahead. William Holbrook, the master mason, drew £120 0s 0d a year in plain salary, more than the chaplain's £100 0s 0d and three times the surgeon's £39 0s 0d. John Robinson, the carpenter, had £100 0s 0d and Thomas Townsend, the stonemason, £78 0s 0d. The Company had to recruit such men in England at a market wage and send them out under contract, since the island could not supply their skills, and the fortification at Sandy Bay depended on them.

Several men on the list held more than one post. Wrangham added £40 0s 0d a year as assistant to the Governor and Doveton £20 0s 0d as assistant storekeeper. Richard Beale served as both judge advocate, the officer who conducted prosecutions before the Council sitting as a court, and schoolmaster. The surgeon's low salary assumed that he would earn fees from private patients and from the ships.

The list also showed who filled the parish offices chosen on 31 March 1766. Matthew Bazett, the secretary, was one of the three men nominated for sheriff, and Samuel Alexander, an overseer on the Company's plantations at £30 0s 0d a year, was the one the Council appointed. James Bowell, the storekeeper, was returned as coroner. The inhabitants' nominations therefore fell largely on the Company's own paid servants.

John Bridgwater was paid for ten days only, which marked a man who entered or left the service within the quarter. Philip Mahoney, the clerk of the peace, kept the records of the island's sessions and received a flat £10 0s 0d with no allowances.

339

334

  1. April

Brought over

£ 761.11.9

John Bazett Superintendant over the HCompys. Slaves

10

James Black Gardener

10

James Torbet Cooper

18.15

George Bazett Steward

7.10

Saml. Perry Clock and Instrument Cleanr.

1.5

Thomas Bayne Overs. of the HCompys. Workmn.

6.16.10 1/2

Zedekiah Saunderson Groom

2.[...]

John Dobson Armorer

10.10

Solomon St. Maurice Master at Arms

6.5

John Cresswell 1. Coxon of the Long Boat

7.10

Willm. French 2d. do.

5

John Price Marshall and Goaler

7.10

William Smith Clark

5

To the Drum Major for instructg. the young

Drummers this Quarter

1

89.1.10 1/2

First Company

Thos. Kirkpatrick Capt. Saly.

45.12.6

Solomon St. Maurice Lieut. Saly.

18.5

do. Diet Money

6.16.10 1/2

do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10 1/2

Samuel Desfountain Lieut Saly.

18.5

do. Diet Money

6.16.10 1/2

do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10 1/2

Solomon Jacob Adjutant Saly.

22.16.3

do. Diet Money

6.16.10 1/2

29.13.1 1/2

Serjeants

Phillip Mahoney

7.12.1

Thomas Bayne

7.12.1

William Bannister

7.12.1

Henry Howell

7.12.1

30.8.4

Corporals

Anthony Reynolds 17th. Febry Reduced

2.16

do. Centinel from 18th. do.

1.16.1/2

Corporals Carried over

£ 4.12.1/2

Carrd. over

£ 1011.11.4

The paymaster's list for the quarter to 31 March 1766 went on from a running total of £761 11s 9d with the remaining civil servants and the first company of the garrison.

Brought over, £761 11s 9d

John Bazett, superintendent of the Company's slaves, £10 0s 0d

James Black, gardener, £10 0s 0d

James Torbet, cooper, £8 15s 0d

George Bazett, steward, £7 10s 0d

Samuel Berry, clock and instrument cleaner, £1 5s 0d

Thomas Bayne, overseer of the Company's workmen, £6 16s 10½d

Zedekiah Saunderson, groom, £2 0s 0d

John Dobson, armourer, £10 10s 0d

Solomon St Maurice, master at arms, £6 5s 0d

John Cresswell, first coxswain of the longboat, £7 10s 0d

William French, second coxswain of the longboat, £5 0s 0d

John Price, marshal and gaoler, £7 10s 0d

William Smith, clerk, £5 0s 0d

The drum major, for teaching the young drummers that quarter, £1 0s 0d

Total for these servants, £89 1s 10½d

First Company

Thomas Kirkpatrick, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

Solomon St Maurice, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Solomon St Maurice, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Solomon St Maurice, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Solomon St Maurice, total, £27 11s 10½d

Samuel Deffountain, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Samuel Deffountain, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Samuel Deffountain, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Samuel Deffountain, total, £27 11s 10½d

Solomon Jacob, adjutant, salary, £22 16s 3d

Solomon Jacob, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Solomon Jacob, total, £29 13s 1½d

Philip Mahoney, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Thomas Bayne, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

William Bannister, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Henry Howell, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Sergeants, total, £30 8s 4d

Anthony Reynolds, corporal until his reduction on 17 February 1766, £2 16s 0d

Anthony Reynolds, sentinel from 18 February 1766, £1 16s 7d

Corporals so far, carried over, £4 12s 7d

Carried over, £1,011 11s 4d

Interpretations

The military pay was reckoned by the day and the civil pay by the year. Kirkpatrick's £45 12s 6d was exactly 10s 0d a day for the 91¼ days of a quarter, a lieutenant's £18 5s 0d was 4s 0d a day, the adjutant's £22 16s 3d was 5s 0d and a sergeant's £7 12s 1d was 1s 8d. The officers' diet money of £6 16s 10½d followed the same rule at 1s 6d a day, against the round £10 0s 0d or more allowed to civil servants. The garrison was therefore paid on the footing of a regiment, with a daily rate that stopped on the day a man died, deserted or was broken.

Anthony Reynolds showed that rule in operation. He was reduced from corporal to the ranks on 17 February 1766, and the paymaster split his quarter at that date, giving him a corporal's rate for 48 days and a private's for the remaining 42. Reduction was the standard punishment for a non-commissioned officer, ordered by the Council or a court martial, and it cut his pay by about a quarter from the next morning.

Several soldiers held paid civil posts on top of their military pay. Solomon St Maurice was lieutenant of the first company and master at arms, the officer in charge of drill and small-arms training. Sergeant Thomas Bayne was overseer of the Company's workmen at 1s 6d a day. Sergeant Philip Mahoney was clerk of the peace at £40 0s 0d a year, more than his sergeant's pay. The Company filled its minor offices from the garrison because the island held few other literate men, and the extra pay bound its best sergeants to the service.

Kirkpatrick's two entries gave his whole official income. His £182 10s 0d a year as captain and £40 0s 0d as councillor made £222 10s 0d, set against the £400 0s 0d he remitted to England on 7 April 1766.

Three members of the Bazett family drew pay in the quarter: Matthew as secretary, John as superintendent of the slaves and George as steward of the Company's table. Henry Bazett was also made a churchwarden on 31 March 1766. Lieutenant Samuel Deffountain shared a surname with Matthew Deffountain, whose daughter Elizabeth died on 15 April 1766. A handful of island families supplied much of the Company's local establishment.

The drum major's £1 0s 0d paid for training boys as drummers, the usual way for sons of soldiers to enter the garrison. The clock and instrument cleaner kept the castle clock and the Company's surveying and navigational instruments in order for £5 0s 0d a year.

340

335

1766

Brought over

£ 1011.11.4

Corporals brought over

£ 4.12.1/2

Joseph Stacey

5.6.5 1/2

Willm. Bunn

5.6.5 1/2

Thomas Berwick

5.6.5 1/2

20.11.5

Drummers

Richard Platfoot

5.6.5 1/2

Joseph Beachum

5.6.5 1/2

10.12.11

Centinels

John Stewart Cadet

3.16.1/2

John Allis

3.16.1/2

John Aitenstale Died the 22d. January

18.4

John Allman

3.16.1/2

James Avery

3.16.1/2

James Armstrong

3.16.1/2

John Brown

3.16.1/2

John Buckmans

3.16.1/2

Thomas Blake

3.16.1/2

Moses Biffin

3.16.1/2

John Bull

3.16.1/2

John Barnes

3.16.1/2

David Belford

3.16.1/2

Timothy Bryen

3.16.1/2

Emanuel Bunner

3.16.1/2

William Benson

3.16.1/2

Edward Cocker

3.16.1/2

Henry Crabb. deserted 3d. February

1.8.4

William Clifford

3.16.1/2

Patrick Conner

3.16.1/2

Isaac Day

3.16.1/2

Henry Dudley

3.16.1/2

John Davis

3.16.1/2

David Davis

3.16.1/2

John Dove

3.16.1/2

James Drake

3.16.1/2

Centinels Carried over

£ 93.11.8

Carried over

£ 1042.15.8

The paymaster's list of the first company for 1766 continued from a running total of £1,011 11s 4d with the remaining corporals, the drummers and the first of the sentinels.

Brought over, £1,011 11s 4d

Corporals brought over, £4 12s 0½d

Joseph Stacy, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

William Bunn, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Thomas Berwick, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Corporals, total, £20 11s 5d

Richard Platfoot, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Joseph Beacham, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Drummers, total, £10 12s 11d

John Stewart, cadet, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Allis, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Archinstale, sentinel, died 22 January 1766, £0 18s 4d

John Allman, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Avery, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Armstrong, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Brown, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Buckmans, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Blake, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Moses Biffin, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Bull, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Barnes, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

David Belford, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Timothy Bryan, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Emanuel Bunner, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Benson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Cocker, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Crabb, sentinel, deserted 3 February 1766, £1 8s 4d

William Clifford, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Patrick Conner, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Isaac Day, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Dudley, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Davis, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

David Davis, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Dove, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Drake, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Sentinels so far, carried over, £93 11s 8d

Carried over, £1,042 15s 8d

Interpretations

A private soldier at St Helena earned 10d a day. The quarter's £3 16s 0½d was that rate for 91¼ days, and corporals and drummers drew 1s 2d a day. The two broken entries confirmed the reckoning to the day: John Archinstale was paid 18s 4d for the 22 days he lived, and Henry Crabb £1 8s 4d for the 34 days before he ran. A soldier of the Company therefore earned about £15 4s 0d a year, out of which he bought his food and clothing from the store at the servants' rate. Salt pork at 2s 0d a piece and shoes at about 4s 5d a pair, the prices in the storekeeper's collection for the same quarter, took a large part of that wage.

Henry Crabb's desertion on 3 February 1766 gave a date and a name to the flight recorded in the storekeeper's account, where Thomas Clark lost his shoes swimming for a boat to chase the Admiral Stevens in search of deserters. Desertion from the island meant getting aboard a ship, and Crabb was perhaps one of the men that boat went after. His pay stopped on the day he went, and the paymaster's entry was the formal record that struck him from the strength.

John Archinstale's death on 22 January 1766 accounted for one of the coffins for which the garrison drew six deals and six pounds of nails that quarter.

John Stewart served in the ranks as a cadet, a young man of some standing who carried a musket on a private's pay while waiting for a vacancy as an officer. The Company used the arrangement to train its future ensigns at no extra cost, and the paymaster noted the status beside his name so that he was not confused with the ordinary recruits.

The roll was kept in alphabetical order of surname, which let the paymaster and the Council check it quickly against the muster of the company.

341

336

  1. April

Brought over

£ 1042.15.8

Centinels brot. over

£ 93.11.8

Thomas Durham

3.16.1/2

James Dunn

3.16.1/2

Samuel Eales

3.16.1/2

Adam Evans

3.16.1/2

Cornelious Fish

3.16.1/2

William French

3.16.1/2

William Greenwood

3.16.1/2

John Grainger.

3.16.1/2

William Hawkes

3.16.1/2

William Henderson

3.16.1/2

James Hodge

3.16.1/2

John Howiston

3.16.1/2

Edward Haddock

3.16.1/2

William Holmes

3.16.1/2

Richard Knight

3.16.1/2

William Lake

3.16.1/2

Dunn. Mc.Claron

3.16.1/2

William Mumford

3.16.1/2

John May

3.16.1/2

Thomas Meares

3.16.1/2

John Mc. Allister.

3.16.1/2

John Pickering

3.16.1/2

Thomas Price

3.16.1/2

Michael Reed

3.16.1/2

Thomas Roberts

3.16.1/2

William Robertson

3.16.1/2

Thomas Ransom

3.16.1/2

George Rowe

3.16.1/2

William Rowland Febry. 17th. made Corporal

2

do. Centinel from do. 18.

2.10.5 1/2

Silvanus Relf

3.16.1/2

Thomas Rogers

3.16.1/2

William Swaby

3.16.1/2

John Springthorpe

3.16.1/2

John Shuns

3.16.1/2

Centinels brought over

£ 223.16.6

Carried over

£ 1042.15.8

The paymaster's roll of sentinels in the first company for the quarter to 31 March 1766 continued from a sub-total of £93 11s 8d, with the main running total standing at £1,042 15s 8d.

Brought over, £1,042 15s 8d

Sentinels brought over, £93 11s 8d

Thomas Durham, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Dunn, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Eales, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Adam Evans, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Cornelius Fish, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William French, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Greenwood, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Grainger, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Hawkes, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Henderson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Hodge, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Howiston, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Haddock, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Holmes, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Knight, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Lake, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Duncan McClaren, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Mumford, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John May, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Meares, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John McAllister, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Pickering, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Price, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Michael Reed, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Roberts, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Robertson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Ransom, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

George Rowe, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Rowland, sentinel until made corporal on 17 February 1766, £2 0s 0d

William Rowland, corporal from 18 February 1766, £2 10s 5½d

Silvanus Relf, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Rogers, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Swaby, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Springthorpe, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Sh[...], sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Sentinels so far, carried over, £223 16s 6d

Carried over, £1,042 15s 8d

Interpretations

William Rowland's promotion and Anthony Reynolds's reduction took place on the same day. Reynolds was broken from corporal to the ranks on 17 February 1766, and Rowland was raised from the ranks to corporal on that date, with the new rates running for both men from 18 February 1766. The company's establishment allowed a fixed number of corporals, so one man's disgrace opened the vacancy that the other filled. The paymaster split each man's quarter at the same point, and the two entries mirrored each other across the roll.

Rowland's second line was labelled as a sentinel's pay from the 18th, but the sum of £2 10s 5½d was higher than the £2 0s 0d for the longer first part of the quarter. The figures therefore fitted a corporal's rate of 1s 2d a day for the remaining 43 days, and the entry was read in that sense.

William French appeared here as a sentinel at 10d a day, and the civil list for the same quarter paid a William French £5 0s 0d as second coxswain of the longboat. A soldier who could handle a boat was worth more to the Company at the landing place than on guard, and the extra £20 0s 0d a year more than doubled his pay.

The main running total stood unchanged at £1,042 15s 8d, since the sentinels were carried forward as a separate sub-total to be added in once the company's roll was complete.

342

337

1766

Brot. over

£ 1042.15.8

Centinels brot. over

£ 223.16.6

John Stewart

3.16.1/2

Edward Terry

3.16.1/2

John Taylor

3.16.1/2

Richard Tottington

3.16.1/2

William Tipper

3.16.1/2

Luke Vernon

3.16.1/2

John Whittingdale

3.16.1/2

Benjamin Wise

3.16.1/2

Thomas Windall

3.16.1/2

John Weston

3.16.1/2

George Wall

3.16.1/2

Richard Youees

3.16.1/2

269.4

Second Company

Henry Bazett Captain Saly.

45.12.6

Michael Frost Lieut. Saly.

18.5

do. Diet Money

6.16.10 1/2

do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10 1/2

John Welch Lieut. Saly.

18.5

do. Diet Money

6.16.10 1/2

do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10 1/2

Serjeants

John Bazett

7.12.1

William Greenough

7.12.1

Thoms. Woffington Feby. 28th. reduced

4.18.4

do. Centinel from the 1 March

1.6.10 1/2

John Tuff Feby. 10th. reduced

3.8.4

do. Centinel from 11th. Feby

2.1.10 1/2

Thomas James Order'd 11th. Febry. made Serjeant

4.3.9

31.3.4

Corporals

William Stapleford Feby 15th. Reduced

2.13.8

do. Centinel from do. 16

1.17.8 1/2

Corporals Carried over

£ 4.11.4 1/2

Carried over

£ 1443.19.3

The paymaster's roll for 1766 finished the sentinels of the first company and opened the second company, with the main running total standing at £1,042 15s 8d.

Brought over, £1,042 15s 8d

Sentinels brought over, £223 16s 6d

John Stewart, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Terry, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Taylor, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Tottington, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Tipper, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Luke Vernon, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Whittingdale, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Benjamin Wise, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Windall, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Weston, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

George Wall, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Youces, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Sentinels of the first company, total, £269 4s 0d

Second Company

Henry Bazett, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

Michael Frost, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Michael Frost, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Michael Frost, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Michael Frost, total, £27 11s 10½d

John Welch, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

John Welch, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

John Welch, house rent, £2 10s 0d

John Welch, total, £27 11s 10½d

John Bazett, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

William Greenough, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Thomas Woffington, sergeant until his reduction on 28 February 1766, £4 18s 4d

Thomas Woffington, sentinel from 1 March 1766, £1 6s 10½d

John Fish, sergeant until his reduction on 10 February 1766, £3 8s 4d

John Fish, sentinel from 11 February 1766, £2 1s 10½d

Thomas James, entered on 11 February 1766 and made sergeant, £4 3s 9d

Sergeants, total, £31 3s 4d

William Stapleford, corporal until his reduction on 15 February 1766, £2 13s 8d

William Stapleford, sentinel from 16 February 1766, £1 17s 8½d

Corporals so far, carried over, £4 11s 4½d

Carried over, £1,443 19s 3d

Interpretations

Four non-commissioned officers of the garrison were broken to the ranks within 19 days. Sergeant John Fish was reduced on 10 February 1766, Corporal William Stapleford on 15 February 1766, Corporal Anthony Reynolds of the first company on 17 February 1766 and Sergeant Thomas Woffington on 28 February 1766. The reductions began a week after Henry Crabb deserted on 3 February 1766, in the quarter when a boat chased the Admiral Stevens in search of deserters. Sergeants and corporals commanded the guards at the landing places and outposts, and a man who got away on their watch brought punishment on them. The cluster of dates suggested that the Council held the guard commanders to account for the escape, though the paymaster's list recorded only the fact and date of each reduction.

Thomas James was entered on the books on 11 February 1766 and made sergeant on the same day, the day after Fish lost that rank. A recruit normally began as a sentinel, so James was probably a man of proven service brought in from outside the company, perhaps a discharged soldier or a sergeant from a passing ship's detachment, to fill a post the Council no longer trusted to the men it had.

A reduced sergeant lost half his pay overnight. The rate fell from 1s 8d a day to 10d, and Woffington's last month as a private brought him £1 6s 10½d against the £2 11s 8d a sergeant earned in the same time.

The first company's roll came to about 70 sentinels at a cost of £269 4s 0d for the quarter. With its captain, two lieutenants, adjutant, four sergeants, four corporals and two drummers, the company cost the Company a little over £460 0s 0d a quarter in pay.

Henry Bazett, captain of the second company, was the man for whom a warrant as churchwarden was ordered on 31 March 1766. John Bazett, a sergeant under him, bore the same name as the superintendent of the Company's slaves on the civil list, and the two entries probably described one man holding both posts.

343

338

  1. April

Brot. over

£ 1443.19.3

Corporals brot. over

£ 4.11.4 1/2

Samuel Curd Febry 28th. made Sergt.

3.8.10

do. Sergeant from 1. March

2.13.9

Thomas Newton March 24th. reduced

4.16.10

do. Centinel from do. 25th.

6.10 1/2

George Freeman

5.6.5 1/2

21.4.1 1/2

Drummers

Robert Davis

5.6.5 1/2

Francis Seeane

5.6.5 1/2

10.12.11

Centinels

Samuel Alston

3.16.1/2

Thomas Adams

3.16.1/2

Joseph Banks

3.16.1/2

William Birch

3.16.1/2

William Brooks

3.16.1/2

Jacob Brown

3.16.1/2

Robert Brown

3.16.1/2

Thomas Botts

3.16.1/2

Nicholas Bushell

3.16.1/2

Daniel Bye

3.16.1/2

James Byrne

3.16.1/2

William Bell

3.16.1/2

John Brown

3.16.1/2

Edward Cozens

3.16.1/2

Thomas Cleverly

3.16.1/2

William Conquest

3.16.1/2

William Clay

3.16.1/2

John Crawley

3.16.1/2

William Carfue

3.16.1/2

Robert Dickens

3.16.1/2

William Drinnan

3.16.1/2

George Exton February 3d. Discharged

1.8.4

John Goodsole

3.16.1/2

John Gray

3.16.1/2

Centinels Carried over

£ 88.17.3 1/2

Carried over

£ 1475.16.3 1/2

Margin Notes:

[...]

The paymaster's roll of the second company for the quarter to 31 March 1766 continued from a running total of £1,443 19s 3d.

Brought over, £1,443 19s 3d

Corporals brought over, £4 11s 4½d

Samuel Curd, corporal until made sergeant on 28 February 1766, £3 8s 10d

Samuel Curd, sergeant from 1 March 1766, £2 13s 9d

Thomas Newton, corporal until his reduction on 24 March 1766, £4 16s 10d

Thomas Newton, sentinel from 25 March 1766, £0 6s 10½d

George Freeman, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Corporals, total, £21 4s 1½d

Robert Davis, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Francis Scane, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Drummers, total, £10 12s 11d

Samuel Alston, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Adams, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Banks, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Brick, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Brooks, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Jacob Brown, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Brown, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Botts, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Nicholas Bushell, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Daniel Bye, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Byrne, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Bell, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Brown, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Cozens, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Crowsley, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Conquest, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Clay, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Crawley, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Carfree, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Dickens, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Drinnan, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

George Exton, sentinel, deserted 3 February 1766, £1 8s 4d

John Goodsole, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Gray, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Sentinels so far, carried over, £88 17s 3½d

Carried over, £1,475 16s 3½d

Interpretations

Two soldiers deserted on the same day. George Exton of the second company left on 3 February 1766, the date on which Henry Crabb of the first company also went, and each was paid £1 8s 4d for the 34 days served. A pair of men from different companies who vanished together had planned it together, and their escape was the occasion on which a boat rowed after the Admiral Stevens to search her. The reductions of Sergeant Fish on 10 February 1766, Corporal Stapleford on 15 February 1766 and Corporal Reynolds on 17 February 1766 followed within a fortnight.

The second company's ranks were reshuffled as a result. Samuel Curd rose from corporal to sergeant on 28 February 1766, the day Sergeant Woffington was reduced, and so took the vacancy that the punishment created. Corporal Thomas Newton was then broken on 24 March 1766, a week before the quarter closed, which left him only seven days' pay as a private at £0 6s 10½d. The company therefore lost two of its four sergeants and two of its corporals to reduction in under seven weeks. Five non-commissioned officers across the garrison were broken in the quarter.

William Clay, listed here at a full quarter's pay, was one of the seven sentinels whose discharge the Council granted on 7 April 1766 at the end of his contracted term. His name on the roll to 31 March 1766 confirmed that he served out his time to the last day before he applied.

A promoted man gained as sharply as a reduced man lost. Curd's 31 days as sergeant brought him £2 13s 9d, against about £1 16s 2d for the same days at a corporal's rate.

344

339

1766

Brought over

£ 1475.16.3 1/2

Centinels brot. over

£ 88.17.3 1/2

Robert Green

3.16.1/2

William Finch

3.16.1/2

William Fullwood

3.16.1/2

William Foy

3.16.1/2

John Forbes

3.16.1/2

William Fletcher February 24th. Discharged

2.5.10

Charles Goulding March 24th. made Corporal

3.9.2

do. Corpl. from March 25th.

9.7 1/2

James Gates

3.16.1/2

William Harris

3.16.1/2

William Harris

3.16.1/2

Abraham Harding

3.16.1/2

John Hawkswood

3.16.1/2

Samuel Hyles

3.16.1/2

William Hockley

3.16.1/2

John Holbrook

3.16.1/2

James Hudson

3.16.1/2

Thomas Hayles

3.16.1/2

William Hayes

3.16.1/2

William Hurd

3.16.1/2

Robert Hopkinson Febry 15th. made Corpl.

1.18.4

do. Corpl. from February 16th.

2.12.9 1/2

Samuel Inspore

3.16.1/2

Richard Jones

3.16.1/2

William Johnson

3.16.1/2

Jeremiah Jordan

3.16.1/2

John Jacks

3.16.1/2

Samuel Kitson

3.16.1/2

Henry Kirkham

3.16.1/2

Edmond Leech

3.16.1/2

Thomas Mudge Febry 11 Died

1.15

Henry Miller

3.16.1/2

James Mannington

3.16.1/2

John Morris

3.16.1/2

Samuel Perry

3.16.1/2

Centinels Carried over

£ 211.13.3

Carried over

£ 1475.16.3 1/2

The paymaster's roll of sentinels in the second company for 1766 continued from a sub-total of £88 17s 3½d, with the main running total standing at £1,475 16s 3½d.

Brought over, £1,475 16s 3½d

Sentinels brought over, £88 17s 3½d

Robert Green, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Frick, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Fullwood, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Foy, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Forbes, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Fletcher, sentinel, discharged 24 February 1766, £2 5s 10d

Charles Goulding, sentinel until made corporal on 24 March 1766, £3 9s 2d

Charles Goulding, corporal from 25 March 1766, £0 9s 7½d

James Gates, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Harris, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Harris, a second sentinel of that name, £3 16s 0½d

Abraham Harding, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Hawkswood, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Hyles, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Hockley, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Holbrook, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Hudson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Hayles, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Hayes, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Hurd, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Hopkinson, sentinel until made corporal on 15 February 1766, £1 18s 4d

Robert Hopkinson, corporal from 16 February 1766, £2 12s 9½d

Samuel Inshore, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Jones, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Johnson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Jeremiah Jordan, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Jacks, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Kitson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Kirkham, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Edmond Leech, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Mudge, sentinel, died 11 February 1766, £1 15s 0d

Henry Miller, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Mannington, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Morris, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Perry, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Sentinels so far, carried over, £211 13s 3d

Carried over, £1,475 16s 3½d

Interpretations

Each reduction in the second company had its matching promotion on this page. Robert Hopkinson was made corporal on 15 February 1766, the day William Stapleford lost that rank, and Charles Goulding was made corporal on 24 March 1766, the day Thomas Newton was broken. The dates agreed exactly, so the company kept its fixed number of corporals and the paymaster recorded only a change of names. A vacancy opened by punishment was filled at once from the ranks, and the prospect of the extra 4d a day gave the privates a direct interest in their corporals' conduct.

Thomas Mudge died on 11 February 1766 and was paid £1 15s 0d for the 42 days he lived. His death and that of John Archinstale of the first company on 22 January 1766 accounted for the two coffins for which the garrison drew deals and nails that quarter.

William Fletcher was discharged on 24 February 1766, in the middle of the quarter and at a time when no homeward ship was recorded in the road. The seven sentinels released on 7 April 1766 left when the China ships offered a passage. A discharge at another season pointed to a man who meant to stay, and time-expired soldiers commonly settled on the island as planters, tradesmen or servants of the Company.

The two men named William Harris were entered on successive lines at the same pay, and the paymaster made no mark to tell them apart.

345

340

1766

Brot. over

£ 1475.16.3 1/2

Centinels brought over

£ 211.13.3

William Pinchen

3.16.1/2

Stephen Prior

3.16.1/2

Abraham Rose

3.16.1/2

Henk. Rolphenous Enterd. 24th. February

1.10

Thomas Richards

3.16.1/2

John Christian [Briss]

3.16.1/2

Thomas Stevens

3.16.1/2

Benjamin Stringer

3.16.1/2

John Strubshall Febry 28th. Deserted

2.9.2

William Stone

3.16.1/2

John Sabourin

3.16.1/2

Gregory Southerwood Febry 28th. made Corpl.

2.9.2

do. Corpl. from February 29th.

1.17.7 1/2

Avery Trueman

3.16.1/2

John Tucker

3.16.1/2

Thomas Wansell

3.16.1/2

264.10.10 1/2

Third Company

Richard Beale Captain Saly

45.12.6

Thomas Bazett Lieut. Saly.

18.5

do. Diet Money

6.16.10 1/2

do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10 1/2

John Bridgwaters Lieut. Saly

18.5

do. Diet Money

6.16.10 1/2

do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10 1/2

Sergeants

Roger We[t]man

7.12.1

William Robinson Febry the 24th. Reduced

4.11.8

do. Centinels from Febry the 25th.

1.10.2 1/2

Barnard Millard

7.12.1

David Patton March 24th. Reduced

6.18.4

do. Centinel from do. 25.

6.10 1/2

28.11.3

Carried over

£ 1869.14.8

The paymaster's roll for 1766 finished the sentinels of the second company and opened the third company, with the main running total standing at £1,475 16s 3½d.

Brought over, £1,475 16s 3½d

Sentinels brought over, £211 13s 3d

William Pincham, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Stephen Prior, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Abraham Rose, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Hendrick Olphenius, sentinel, entered 24 February 1766, £1 10s 0d

Thomas Richards, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Christian Stoifs, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Stowers, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Benjamin Stringer, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Strubshall, sentinel, deserted 28 February 1766, £2 9s 2d

William Stone, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Sabourin, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Gregory Southerwood, sentinel until made corporal on 28 February 1766, £2 9s 2d

Gregory Southerwood, corporal from 1 March 1766, £1 17s 7½d

Avery Trueman, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Tucker, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Wansell, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Sentinels of the second company, total, £264 10s 10½d

Third Company

Richard Beale, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

Thomas Bazett, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Thomas Bazett, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Thomas Bazett, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Thomas Bazett, total, £27 11s 10½d

John Bridgwater, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

John Bridgwater, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

John Bridgwater, house rent, £2 10s 0d

John Bridgwater, total, £27 11s 10½d

Roger Welman, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

William Robinson, sergeant until his reduction on 24 February 1766, £4 11s 8d

William Robinson, sentinel from 25 February 1766, £1 10s 2½d

Barnard Millard, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

David Patton, sergeant until his reduction on 24 March 1766, £6 18s 4d

David Patton, sentinel from 25 March 1766, £0 6s 10½d

Sergeants, total, £28 11s 3d

Carried over, £1,869 14s 8d

Interpretations

A third soldier deserted in the quarter, and a sergeant fell with him. John Strubshall of the second company ran on 28 February 1766, and Sergeant Thomas Woffington of the same company was reduced to the ranks that very day. The coincidence of dates tied the punishment to the escape more closely than any other pair of entries in the list. The earlier desertions of Henry Crabb and George Exton on 3 February 1766 were followed by reductions within one and two weeks, and here the sergeant was broken at once. The Council evidently held the non-commissioned officer on duty answerable for any man who got away.

The third company added two more names to the reductions. Sergeant William Robinson was broken on 24 February 1766 and Sergeant David Patton on 24 March 1766, the day Corporal Thomas Newton of the second company lost his rank. Seven sergeants and corporals across the three companies were reduced between 10 February 1766 and 24 March 1766, from an establishment of about 24. A garrison that broke nearly a third of its non-commissioned officers in six weeks was one in which discipline had failed and was being restored by force.

Gregory Southerwood became corporal on 28 February 1766 and filled the place left when Samuel Curd rose to sergeant in Woffington's room. One desertion therefore set off a reduction and two promotions in a single day. The paymaster dated Southerwood's new rate from the day after 28 February, which fell on 1 March 1766.

Hendrick Olphenius entered the garrison on 24 February 1766 and drew £1 10s 0d for his 36 days. His name was Dutch, and John Christian Stoifs beside him bore a German one. The Company could not keep its ranks full from England alone, and it enlisted foreign sailors and soldiers who came ashore from passing ships. A Dutch governor was saluted going aboard his ship on 3 March 1766, so Dutch vessels lay in the road at about the time Olphenius joined.

Richard Beale, captain of the third company, bore the same name as the judge advocate and schoolmaster on the civil list, and the entries probably described one man holding all three posts. John Bridgwater, his lieutenant, also appeared on the civil list with pay for ten days only, and Thomas Bazett was a fifth member of that family on the Company's books for the quarter.

346

341

1766

Brot. over

£ 1869.14.8

Corporals

William Roberts February 24th. made Sergeant

3.4.2

do. Sergeant from do. 25th.

3.5

John Vaughan March 24th. made Sergeant

4.16.10

do. Sergeant from do. 25th.

13.9

James York

5.6.5 1/2

Thomas Matthews

5.6.5 1/2

22.8.1

Drummers

John Twaits

5.6.5 1/2

George Varney

5.6.5 1/2

10.12.11

Centinels

Richard Ashford

3.16.1/2

James Anderson

3.16.1/2

Charles Abraham

3.16.1/2

Henry Brown

3.16.1/2

Jacob Bull

3.16.1/2

Mark Bulls

3.16.1/2

Benjamin Bennett

3.16.1/2

John Blinkem

3.16.1/2

Frederick William Beard

3.16.1/2

William Caleb Baldwin

3.16.1/2

Richard Broom

3.16.1/2

William Cliffton February 24th. made Corpl.

2.5.10

do. Corpl. from February 25th.

2.2.3 1/2

John Cook

3.16.1/2

Joseph Chamberlain

3.16.1/2

William Carr

3.16.1/2

Francis Clancey Febry 3d. Deserted

1.8.4

John Chapman

3.16.1/2

Michael Downey

3.16.1/2

Robert Davis

3.16.1/2

Edward Dudley

3.16.1/2

Charles Edgels

3.16.1/2

William Foster

3.16.1/2

Centinels Carried over

£ 81.17.3 1/2

Carried over

£ 1902.15.8

The paymaster's roll of the third company for 1766 continued from a running total of £1,869 14s 8d.

Brought over, £1,869 14s 8d

William Roberts, corporal until made sergeant on 24 February 1766, £3 4s 2d

William Roberts, sergeant from 25 February 1766, £3 0s 5d

John Vaughan, corporal until made sergeant on 24 March 1766, £4 16s 10d

John Vaughan, sergeant from 25 March 1766, £0 13s 9d

James York, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Thomas Matthews, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Corporals, total, £22 8s 1d

John Twaits, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

George Varney, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Drummers, total, £10 12s 11d

Richard Ashford, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Anderson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Charles Abraham, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Brown, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Jacob Bull, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Mark Bulls, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Benjamin Bennett, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Blinkorn, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Frederick William Beard, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Caleb Baldwin, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Broom, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Cliffton, sentinel until made corporal on 24 February 1766, £2 5s 10d

William Cliffton, corporal from 25 February 1766, £2 2s 3½d

John Cook, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Chamberlain, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Carr, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Francis Clancy, sentinel, deserted 3 February 1766, £1 8s 4d

John Chapman, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Michael Downey, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Davis, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Dudley, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Charles Edgels, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Foster, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Sentinels so far, carried over, £81 17s 3½d

Carried over, £1,902 15s 8d

Interpretations

Three soldiers deserted together on 3 February 1766, one from each company. Francis Clancy of the third company went on the same day as Henry Crabb of the first and George Exton of the second, and each was paid £1 8s 4d for 34 days. Men drawn from all three companies could only have met and planned off duty, which marked the escape as a concerted one. It was the occasion of the boat sent after the Admiral Stevens, and the three were not brought back, since none drew pay again in the quarter. With John Strubshall on 28 February 1766, the garrison lost four men by desertion in under four weeks.

The third company's promotions followed its reductions step by step. William Roberts rose from corporal to sergeant on 24 February 1766, the day Sergeant William Robinson was broken, and William Cliffton rose from the ranks to corporal on that date to take Roberts's place. John Vaughan was made sergeant on 24 March 1766 when Sergeant David Patton was reduced. Each punishment therefore moved one man down and one or two up, and the company's numbers in every rank stayed the same.

The reductions fell on two days in particular. Sergeant Robinson was broken on 24 February 1766, and Sergeant Patton and Corporal Newton of the second company on 24 March 1766, exactly a month apart. Dates that recurred across companies pointed to sentences handed down together at a sitting of the Council or a court martial, not to separate decisions by each captain.

Joseph Chamberlain, a sentinel here at 10d a day, shared his name with the carpenter's mate paid £8 15s 0d on the civil list for the same quarter. A soldier with a trade was commonly lent to the Company's works and paid for both, as the list showed for the coxswain William French.

347

342

21 April

Brought over

£ 1902.15.8

Centinels bro. over

£ 81.17.3 1/2

John Faxon

3.16.1/2

Allexander Gray

3.16.1/2

Fisher Gamble March 24th. made Corpl.

3.9.2

do. Corporal from do. 25th.

9.7 1/2

Archibald Grayham

3.16.1/2

Richard Gregory

3.16.1/2

William Gorden

3.16.1/2

Felix Hyder

3.16.1/2

John Hilliard

3.16.1/2

John Hovring February the 3d. deserted

1.8.4

William Hill

3.16.1/2

William Hopkins

3.16.1/2

Thomas Jones Jany. 5th. Died

4.2

Josiah Johnson

3.16.1/2

Robert Johnson

3.16.1/2

Samuel Johnson

3.16.1/2

Richard Johnson

3.16.1/2

James Kemp

3.16.1/2

Richd. Linney

3.16.1/2

James Lee

3.16.1/2

John Long

3.16.1/2

John Langridge

3.16.1/2

Edward Lamburn

3.16.1/2

Bryan Lynch

3.16.1/2

John Limmon

3.16.1/2

James Lony

3.16.1/2

Charles Marriague

3.16.1/2

Richard Maye

3.16.1/2

Thomas Morris

3.16.1/2

James Moye

3.16.1/2

Abraham Major

3.16.1/2

John Millar

3.16.1/2

Thomas Pearce

3.16.1/2

John Passwater

3.16.1/2

Thomas Perry

3.16.1/2

Centinels Carrd. over

£ 205.5.10 1/2

Carrd. Over

£ 1902.15.8

The paymaster's roll of sentinels in the third company for the quarter to 31 March 1766 continued from a sub-total of £81 17s 3½d, with the main running total standing at £1,902 15s 8d.

Brought over, £1,902 15s 8d

Sentinels brought over, £81 17s 3½d

John Faxon, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Alexander Gray, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Fisher Gamble, sentinel until made corporal on 24 March 1766, £3 9s 2d

Fisher Gamble, corporal from 25 March 1766, £0 9s 7½d

Archibald Grayham, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Gregory, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Golden, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Felix Hyder, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Hilliard, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Hoving, sentinel, deserted 3 February 1766, £1 8s 4d

William Hill, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Hopkins, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Jones, sentinel, died 5 January 1766, £0 4s 2d

Josiah Johnson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Johnson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Samuel Johnson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Johnson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Kemp, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Linney, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Lee, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Long, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Langridge, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Lamburn, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Bryan Lynch, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Limmon, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Lory, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Charles Marriague, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Maze, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Morris, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Moyce, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Abraham Major, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Millar, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Pearce, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Passwater, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Perry, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Sentinels so far, carried over, £205 5s 10½d

Carried over, £1,902 15s 8d

Interpretations

A fourth man went on 3 February 1766. John Hoving of the third company deserted on the same day as Francis Clancy of that company, Henry Crabb of the first and George Exton of the second, and each drew the same £1 8s 4d for 34 days. Four soldiers leaving at once could not have slipped past a single sentry by chance. They needed a boat or a place in a ship's boat to reach the Admiral Stevens, and the scale of the escape explained why the Council sent a crew to row after her and why it broke seven sergeants and corporals in the weeks that followed. Five men in all deserted in the quarter, counting John Strubshall on 28 February 1766.

Thomas Jones died on 5 January 1766 and was paid 4s 2d for his five days. He was the third soldier to die in the quarter, after John Archinstale on 22 January 1766 and Thomas Mudge on 11 February 1766. The six deals and six pounds of nails issued to the garrison for coffins therefore served three burials, at two boards to a coffin.

Fisher Gamble was made corporal on 24 March 1766, the day Corporal John Vaughan of the same company rose to sergeant in place of David Patton. The single reduction of Patton thus produced two promotions down the line, as Robinson's did on 24 February 1766.

Alexander Gray, paid here for the full quarter, was one of the seven sentinels discharged at their own request on 7 April 1766 when their contracted time ran out.

348

343

1766

Bro. over

£ 1902.15.8

Centinels brought over

£ 205.5.10 1/2

James Proctor

3.16.1/2

Henry Pinchen

3.16.1/2

William Perkes

3.16.1/2

John Robinson

3.16.1/2

Robert Stack

3.16.1/2

Adam Scott

3.16.1/2

David Scott

3.16.1/2

John Smith

3.16.1/2

Henry Standford January 10th. Transfd.

8.4

John Sherlard

3.16.1/2

John Thompson

3.16.1/2

Thomas Tayler

3.16.1/2

Joseph Uffin

3.16.1/2

Richard Vincent

3.16.1/2

John Wyburd

3.16.1/2

Thomas Ward

3.16.1/2

Edward Welch

3.16.1/2

John Waters

3.16.1/2

270.6.11

Fourth Company

John Howard Capt. Saly.

45.12.6

Henry De Laune Lieut. Saly.

18.5

do. Diet Money

6.16.10 1/2

do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10 1/2

Thomas Lambert Lieut Saly.

18.5

do. Diet Money

6.16.10 1/2

do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10 1/2

Sergeants

John Fleming

7.12.1

Thomas Bailey

7.12.1

John Simcox

7.12.1

Daniel Annain

7.12.1

30.8.4

Carried over

£ 2304.7.2

The paymaster's roll for 1766 finished the sentinels of the third company and opened the fourth company, with the main running total standing at £1,902 15s 8d.

Brought over, £1,902 15s 8d

Sentinels brought over, £205 5s 10½d

James Proctor, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Pinchen, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Perkes, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Robinson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Robert Stack, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Adam Scott, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

David Scott, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Smith, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Henry Standford, sentinel, transferred 10 January 1766, £0 8s 4d

John Sherlard, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Thompson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Tayler, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Uffin, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Vincent, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Wyburd, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Ward, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Welch, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Waters, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Sentinels of the third company, total, £270 6s 11d

Fourth Company

John Howard, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

Henry De Laune, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Henry De Laune, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Henry De Laune, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Henry De Laune, total, £27 11s 10½d

Thomas Lambert, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Thomas Lambert, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Thomas Lambert, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Thomas Lambert, total, £27 11s 10½d

John Fleming, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Thomas Bailey, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

John Simcox, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Daniel Arnain, sergeant, £7 12s 1d

Sergeants, total, £30 8s 4d

Carried over, £2,304 7s 2d

Interpretations

The fourth company's four sergeants all drew a full quarter's pay. The first company lost a corporal to reduction, the second two sergeants and two corporals, and the third two sergeants, but no sergeant of the fourth was touched. The companies took turns at the guards round the island, and the fourth was evidently not the one on duty at the landing places when the four men got away on 3 February 1766 or when John Strubshall went on 28 February 1766.

Henry Standford was transferred on 10 January 1766 and paid 8s 4d for his ten days in the third company. A transfer, unlike a discharge, kept him in the Company's service, and his pay for the rest of the quarter fell under whatever company or branch received him. The garrison's artillery company, which drew sheep shears and keys from the store that quarter, was the usual destination for an infantryman moved in that way.

John Smith, entered here for the full quarter, was one of the seven sentinels discharged at the end of their contracts on 7 April 1766.

The garrison was organised as four companies of equal pattern, each with a captain, two lieutenants, four sergeants, four corporals, two drummers and about 70 sentinels. Three companies and the staff brought the pay list to £2,304 7s 2d, so the garrison's wages for a quarter exceeded the whole of the storekeeper's sales to servants, planters and ships together, which came to about £1,030 0s 0d.

349

344

21 April

Bro. over

£ 2304.7.2

Corporals

William Stedman

5.6.5 1/2

Jonathan Lake

5.6.5 1/2

Thomas Ferris

5.6.5 1/2

Thomas James Febry 10th. Transfd.

2.7.10

18.7.2 1/2

Drummers

John Martin

5.6.5 1/2

George Wills

5.6.5 1/2

John Campen

5.6.5

15.19.4 1/2

Centinels

John Allen

3.16.1/2

William Allen

3.16.1/2

George Bennett

3.16.1/2

John Blackwell

3.16.1/2

Joseph Blackwell

3.16.1/2

John Brook

3.16.1/2

Richard Bickerstaff

3.16.1/2

William Blackman

3.16.1/2

John Brilliot

3.16.1/2

John Bower

3.16.1/2

John Beachum

3.16.1/2

Andrew Barton

3.16.1/2

James Cartwright

3.16.1/2

George Capeling

3.16.1/2

William Cooksay

3.16.1/2

Duncan Cameron

3.16.1/2

James Culsher

3.16.1/2

John Cunningham

3.16.1/2

John Carney

3.16.1/2

Richard Close

3.16.1/2

Isaiah Cummings

3.16.1/2

John Carfoot Jany. 20th. Transfd.

16.8

Henry Havenberg

3.16.1/2

James Hendry

3.16.1/2

Centinels Carrd. over

£ 88.5.7 1/2

Carrd. over

£ 2338.13.9

The paymaster's roll of the fourth company for the quarter to 31 March 1766 continued from a running total of £2,304 7s 2d.

Brought over, £2,304 7s 2d

William Stedman, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Jonathan Lake, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Thomas Ferris, corporal, £5 6s 5½d

Thomas James, corporal, transferred 10 February 1766, £2 7s 10d

Corporals, total, £18 7s 2½d

John Martin, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

George Wills, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

John Campen, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Drummers, total, £15 19s 4½d

John Allen, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Allen, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

George Bennett, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Blackwell, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Blackwell, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Brook, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Bickerstaff, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Blackman, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Britliot, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Bower, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Beacham, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Andrew Barton, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Cartwright, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

George Capeling, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Cooksay, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Duncan Cameron, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Culsher, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Cunningham, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Carney, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Close, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Isaiah Cummings, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Corfoot, sentinel, transferred 20 January 1766, £0 16s 8d

Henry Harenburg, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Hendry, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Sentinels so far, carried over, £88 5s 7½d

Carried over, £2,338 13s 9d

Interpretations

The entry for Thomas James settled where the second company's new sergeant came from. He served as a corporal of the fourth company until 10 February 1766, was transferred that day and was entered in the second company on 11 February 1766 as a sergeant, in the place of John Fish, who was broken on 10 February 1766. The Council therefore passed over every corporal of the second company and brought in a man from the one company whose non-commissioned officers kept their ranks throughout the quarter. A promotion from within was the ordinary course, and the choice of an outsider showed how little the second company's own corporals were trusted a week after George Exton deserted from it. Two of them, Stapleford and Newton, were themselves reduced before the quarter ended.

The paymaster handled a transfer by closing the man's account in one company and opening it in the next, so James appeared twice in the list with his quarter divided at the date of the move. John Corfoot, transferred on 20 January 1766, and Henry Standford of the third company, transferred on 10 January 1766, were treated in the same way, though their new entries lay elsewhere in the list.

The fourth company carried three drummers where the first, second and third had two each. The drum major was paid that quarter for teaching young drummers, and the extra place was probably held by a boy under instruction.

350

345

1766

Brought over

£ 2338.13.9

Centinels bro. over

£ 88.5.7 1/2

Edward Davis

3.16.1/2

John Deal

3.16.1/2

John Euston

3.16.1/2

George Gran

3.16.1/2

Richard Goulding

3.16.1/2

John Gilmore

3.16.1/2

Edward Gorman

3.16.1/2

Joseph Good

3.16.1/2

James Goudy Jany 6 Discharged

5

Thomas Hilliard

3.16.1/2

Stephen John

3.16.1/2

Christian Johnson

3.16.1/2

Thomas Killock February 10th. made Corpl.

1.14.2

do. Corporal from do. 11

2.18.7 1/2

Richard Kempton

3.16.1/2

William Lambon

3.16.1/2

Thomas Lee

3.16.1/2

Thomas Lyness

3.16.1/2

John Lawrence February 4th. Deserted

1.8.4

Richard Morton

3.16.1/2

Simon Mason

3.16.1/2

Mordock Mc. Cloed

3.16.1/2

William Mitchell

3.16.1/2

John Moore

3.16.1/2

Thomas Marshall

3.16.1/2

John Newton

3.16.1/2

Martin Newman

3.16.1/2

John Oswald

3.16.1/2

John Pluck

3.16.1/2

Daniel Patrick

3.16.1/2

Stephen Papps

3.16.1/2

William Parker

3.16.1/2

Francis Powell

3.16.1/2

James Richardson

3.16.1/2

Patrick Riley

3.16.1/2

Centinels Carried over

£ 212.9.1/2

Carried over

£ 2338.13.9

The paymaster's roll of sentinels in the fourth company for 1766 continued from a sub-total of £88 5s 7½d, with the main running total standing at £2,338 13s 9d.

Brought over, £2,338 13s 9d

Sentinels brought over, £88 5s 7½d

Edward Davis, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Deal, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Euston, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

George Gran, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Richard Goulding, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Gilmore, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Edward Gorman, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Joseph Good, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Goudy, sentinel, discharged 6 January 1766, £0 5s 0d

Thomas Hilliard, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Stephen John, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Christian Johnson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Killock, sentinel until made corporal on 10 February 1766, £1 14s 2d

Thomas Killock, corporal from 11 February 1766, £2 18s 7½d

Richard Kempton, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Lambon, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Lee, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Lyness, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Lawrence, sentinel, deserted 4 February 1766, £1 8s 4d

Richard Morton, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Simon Mason, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Murdock McCloud, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Mitchell, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Moore, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Marshall, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Newton, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Martin Newman, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Oswald, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Pluck, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Daniel Patrick, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Stephen Papps, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Parker, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Francis Powell, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

James Richardson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Patrick Riley, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Sentinels so far, carried over, £212 9s 0½d

Carried over, £2,338 13s 9d

Interpretations

The fourth company lost a deserter too. John Lawrence was entered as gone on 4 February 1766, a day later than Crabb, Exton, Clancy and Hoving, yet he drew the same £1 8s 4d as they did, the pay for 34 days to 3 February 1766. He therefore left with the other four, and his absence was simply noticed or reported a day late. Five soldiers from all four companies got away together, and with John Strubshall on 28 February 1766 the garrison lost six men by desertion in the quarter out of roughly 290.

The fourth company's sergeants and corporals nonetheless kept their ranks, where the other three companies had men broken. Punishment fell on those who commanded the guard through which the men escaped, not on the companies the deserters belonged to. A soldier off duty could walk out of quarters freely, and the fault lay at the landing place or the post where he reached a boat.

Thomas Killock was made corporal on 10 February 1766, the day Corporal Thomas James left the company on transfer to become a sergeant in the second. The promotion filled that vacancy at once from the fourth company's own ranks.

James Goudy was discharged on 6 January 1766 with 5s 0d for six days, another release outside the shipping season of the kind granted to William Fletcher on 24 February 1766. Francis Powell, paid for the full quarter, was one of the seven sentinels discharged on 7 April 1766.

351

346

  1. April

Bro. over

£ 2338.13.9

Centinels bro. over

£ 212.9.1/2

Thomas Rutherford

3.16.1/2

John Scotcher

3.16.1/2

John Shaw

3.16.1/2

William Scottman

3.16.1/2

John Swindall

3.16.1/2

Zedekiah Saunderson

3.16.1/2

Roderick Shaffer

3.16.1/2

John Slade

3.16.1/2

Thomas Suffret

3.16.1/2

John Thompson

3.16.1/2

Jeremiah Whaerill

3.16.1/2

William Waite

3.16.1/2

John Wood

3.16.1/2

Thomas Williams

3.16.1/2

Thomas Watts

3.16.1/2

269.9.8

Artillery Company

Archibald Mitchel Capt. Saly.

45.12.6

Nathan Sample Lieut. Saly.

18.5

do. Diet Money

6.16.10 1/2

do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10 1/2

Thomas Leech Lieut. Saly.

18.5

do. Diet Money

6.16.10 1/2

do. House Rent

2.10

27.11.10 1/2

Sergeants

John Whitchurch

9.2.6

Adam Watson

9.2.6

John Sharkey

9.2.6

Richard Waterhouse Feby. 10th. reduced

4.2

do. Matross from do. 11

2.10.3

33.19.9

Corporals

John Cox Feby. 10th. made Sergt.

3.1.6

do. Sergeant from 11th. Feby.

5.6

Corporals Carried over

£ 8.2

Carried over

£ 2742.19.5

The paymaster's roll for the quarter to 31 March 1766 finished the sentinels of the fourth company and opened the artillery company, with the main running total standing at £2,338 13s 9d.

Brought over, £2,338 13s 9d

Sentinels brought over, £212 9s 0½d

Thomas Rutherford, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Scotcher, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Shaw, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Scottman, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Swindall, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Zedekiah Saunderson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Roderick Shaffer, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Slade, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Suffrett, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Thompson, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Jeremiah Whovill, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

William Waite, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

John Wood, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Williams, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Thomas Watts, sentinel, £3 16s 0½d

Sentinels of the fourth company, total, £269 9s 8d

Artillery Company

Archibald Mitchell, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d

Nathan Sample, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Nathan Sample, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Nathan Sample, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Nathan Sample, total, £27 11s 10½d

Thomas Leech, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d

Thomas Leech, diet money, £6 16s 10½d

Thomas Leech, house rent, £2 10s 0d

Thomas Leech, total, £27 11s 10½d

John Whitchurch, sergeant, £9 2s 6d

Adam Watson, sergeant, £9 2s 6d

John Shirkey, sergeant, £9 2s 6d

Richard Waterhouse, sergeant until his reduction on 10 February 1766, £4 2s 0d

Richard Waterhouse, matross from 11 February 1766, £2 10s 3d

Sergeants, total, £33 19s 9d

John Cox, corporal until made sergeant on 10 February 1766, £3 1s 6d

John Cox, sergeant from 11 February 1766, £5 0s 6d

Corporals so far, carried over, £8 2s 0d

Carried over, £2,742 19s 5d

Interpretations

The artillery was paid on a higher scale than the infantry. A sergeant of artillery drew 2s 0d a day against 1s 8d in the other companies, a corporal 1s 6d against 1s 2d, and the private gunner, called a matross, 1s 0d against a sentinel's 10d. The work of serving guns required trained men who could handle powder and lay a piece, and the Company paid a fifth more to keep them. A matross was the lowest rank in the artillery, the assistant who loaded, sponged and hauled the gun under a gunner's direction.

An artillery sergeant fell on the same day as the first infantry sergeant. Richard Waterhouse was reduced to matross on 10 February 1766, the date on which Sergeant John Fish of the second company was broken, a week after the five soldiers deserted. The artillery manned the batteries that commanded the anchorage, and a ship leaving the road without clearance could be stopped by a shot from them. The reduction of the sergeant of artillery alongside the sergeant of the guard suggested that both the post at the landing place and the battery above it failed in their duty when the Admiral Stevens sailed. Eight sergeants and corporals were broken in the quarter in all. John Cox, a corporal, took Waterhouse's place the same day.

Archibald Mitchell held two full appointments. He commanded the artillery company at £182 10s 0d a year and served as engineer on the civil list at £200 0s 0d with diet money and house rent, which brought his official income to about £490 0s 0d. That was nearly equal to the Governor's salary and almost double the Lieutenant Governor's.

Two names connected the roll with entries elsewhere. Zedekiah Saunderson drew a sentinel's pay here and a further £2 0s 0d on the civil list as groom, so the Governor's stable was kept by a soldier excused from ordinary duty. John Swindall was one of the seven sentinels discharged on 7 April 1766 at the end of their contracts.

352

347

1766

Brought over

£ 2742.19.5

Corporals brought over

£ 8.2

Thomas Collier

6.16.10 1/2

John Grainger January 7th. Died

10.6

Nicholas Houghton

6.16.10 1/2

22.6.3

Bombardiers

Robert Gilson Jany 7th. made Corpl.

10.6

do. Corporal from 8th. January

6.6.4 1/2

John Jack February 10th. made Corpl.

3.1.6

do. Corporal from do. 11th.

3.15.4 1/2

John Turner

6.16.10 1/2

James Parfitt

6.16.10 1/2

27.7.6

Gunners

John Martin Jany 7th. made Bombardier

9.4

do. Bombardier from Janry 8th.

6.6.4 1/2

Eustace White

6.1.8

Evan Nowland Feby. 10th. made Bombardier

2.14.8

do. Bombardier from February 11.

3.15.4 1/2

David Dennis

6.1.8

John Fox March 10th. Reduced

4.12

do. Matross from March 11th.

1.2.3

Thomas Yates

6.1.8

Thomas Tyler

6.1.8

John Smith

6.1.8

49.8.4

Drummers

George Garratt

5.6.5 1/2

Robert Saunders

5.6.5 1/2

10.12.11

Matrosses

Robert Allum

4.11.3

Benjamin Braten

4.11.3

Isaac Buck

4.11.3

John Bower

4.11.3

James Bottomly

4.11.3

Matrosses Carried over

£ 22.16.3

Carried over

£ 2852.14.5

The paymaster's roll of the artillery company for 1766 continued from a running total of £2,742 19s 5d.

Brought over, £2,742 19s 5d

Corporals brought over, £8 2s 0d

Thomas Collier, corporal, £6 16s 10½d

John Grainger, corporal, died 7 January 1766, £0 10s 6d

Nicholas Houghton, corporal, £6 16s 10½d

Corporals, total, £22 6s 3d

Robert Gilson, bombardier until made corporal on 7 January 1766, £0 10s 6d

Robert Gilson, corporal from 8 January 1766, £6 6s 4½d

John Jack, bombardier until made corporal on 10 February 1766, £3 1s 6d

John Jack, corporal from 11 February 1766, £3 15s 4½d

John Turner, bombardier, £6 16s 10½d

James Parfitt, bombardier, £6 16s 10½d

Bombardiers, total, £27 7s 6d

John Martin, gunner until made bombardier on 7 January 1766, £0 9s 4d

John Martin, bombardier from 8 January 1766, £6 6s 4½d

Eustace White, gunner, £6 1s 8d

Evan Nowland, gunner until made bombardier on 10 February 1766, £2 14s 8d

Evan Nowland, bombardier from 11 February 1766, £3 15s 4½d

David Dennis, gunner, £6 1s 8d

John Fox, gunner until his reduction on 10 March 1766, £4 12s 0d

John Fox, matross from 11 March 1766, £1 2s 3d

Thomas Yates, gunner, £6 1s 8d

Thomas Tyler, gunner, £6 1s 8d

John Smith, gunner, £6 1s 8d

Gunners, total, £49 8s 4d

George Garrett, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Robert Saunders, drummer, £5 6s 5½d

Drummers, total, £10 12s 11d

Robert Allum, matross, £4 11s 3d

Benjamin Braten, matross, £4 11s 3d

Isaac Buck, matross, £4 11s 3d

John Bower, matross, £4 11s 3d

James Bottomly, matross, £4 11s 3d

Matrosses so far, carried over, £22 16s 3d

Carried over, £2,852 14s 5d

Interpretations

The artillery had a longer ladder of ranks than the infantry, and each vacancy moved men up it one step at a time. Below the sergeants came corporals and bombardiers at 1s 6d a day, then gunners at 1s 4d and matrosses at 1s 0d. A bombardier was the non-commissioned officer who prepared shells and fuses and had charge of the mortars. When Corporal John Grainger died on 7 January 1766, the bombardier Robert Gilson took his place and the gunner John Martin became bombardier, all on that day. The reduction of Sergeant Waterhouse on 10 February 1766 produced a longer chain: John Cox rose from corporal to sergeant, John Jack from bombardier to corporal and Evan Nowland from gunner to bombardier. One man's disgrace therefore raised three others.

Promotion in the company went strictly by the next rank below, with no man skipping a step. That practice contrasted with the second company of infantry, where the Council brought in Corporal Thomas James from another company as sergeant on 11 February 1766. The artillery's trades had to be learned in order, and a gunner could not be made sergeant over the heads of the bombardiers.

John Fox was reduced from gunner to matross on 10 March 1766, a date that matched none of the infantry reductions. His offence was therefore a separate one, and the punishment cost him 4d a day.

Grainger was the fourth soldier of the garrison to die in the quarter, after Thomas Jones on 5 January 1766, John Archinstale on 22 January 1766 and Thomas Mudge on 11 February 1766. Four deaths among roughly 330 men in three months was a heavy rate for a healthy station, and the hospital's large issues of sago and sugar in the same quarter pointed to sickness in the garrison that summer.

353

348

21 April

Bro. over

£ 2852.14.5

Matrosses bro. over

£ 22.16.3

William Brown

4.11.3

John Cope

4.11.3

John Cresswell

4.11.3

Thomas Clark

4.11.3

Edmond Conner

4.11.3

Robert Cunningham

4.11.3

Adam Critchton Febry. 10th. made Gunner

2.1

do. Gunner from Feby. 11th.

3.7

John Carfoot Enterd. 21 January

3.10

John Dowse

4.11.3

Daniel Finn

4.11.3

Thomas Mc. Farling

4.11.3

Joseph Fellows

4.11.3

Robert Frankish

4.11.3

Christian Greenawald

4.11.3

Thomas Gorrall

4.11.3

Thomas Green

4.11.3

Lawrence Hall

4.11.3

William Hodges

4.11.3

William Jenkins

4.11.3

Thomas Jones

4.11.3

John Lewis

4.11.3

Daniel Maloney

4.11.3

George Marshall

4.11.3

Jonathan Mallett

4.11.3

Thomas Nimble

4.11.3

George Nelson

4.11.3

John Osbourn

4.11.3

William Phillips January 7th. made Gunner

7

do. Gunner from do. 8

5.12.4

William Poulton

4.11.3

Samuel Smith March 10th. made Gunnr.

3.9

do. Gunner from do. 11

1.9.8

Godfrey Smith

4.11.3

Matrosses Carried over

£ 165.16

Carried over

£ 2852.14.5

The paymaster's roll of matrosses in the artillery company for the quarter to 31 March 1766 continued from a sub-total of £22 16s 3d, with the main running total standing at £2,852 14s 5d.

Brought over, £2,852 14s 5d

Matrosses brought over, £22 16s 3d

William Brown, matross, £4 11s 3d

John Cope, matross, £4 11s 3d

John Cresswell, matross, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Clark, matross, £4 11s 3d

Edmond Conner, matross, £4 11s 3d

Robert Cunningham, matross, £4 11s 3d

Adam Critchton, matross until made gunner on 10 February 1766, £2 1s 0d

Adam Critchton, gunner from 11 February 1766, £3 7s 0d

John Corfoot, matross, entered 21 January 1766, £3 10s 0d

John Dowse, matross, £4 11s 3d

Daniel Finn, matross, £4 11s 3d

Thomas McFarling, matross, £4 11s 3d

Joseph Fellows, matross, £4 11s 3d

Robert Frankish, matross, £4 11s 3d

Christian Greenawald, matross, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Gorrall, matross, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Green, matross, £4 11s 3d

Lawrence Hall, matross, £4 11s 3d

William Hodges, matross, £4 11s 3d

William Jenkins, matross, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Jones, matross, £4 11s 3d

John Lewis, matross, £4 11s 3d

Daniel Maloney, matross, £4 11s 3d

George Marshall, matross, £4 11s 3d

Jonathan Mallett, matross, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Nimble, matross, £4 11s 3d

George Nelson, matross, £4 11s 3d

John Osborn, matross, £4 11s 3d

William Phillips, matross until made gunner on 7 January 1766, £0 7s 0d

William Phillips, gunner from 8 January 1766, £5 12s 4d

William Poulton, matross, £4 11s 3d

Samuel Smith, matross until made gunner on 10 March 1766, £3 9s 0d

Samuel Smith, gunner from 11 March 1766, £1 9s 8d

Godfrey Smith, matross, £4 11s 3d

Matrosses so far, carried over, £165 16s 0d

Carried over, £2,852 14s 5d

Interpretations

Thomas Clark, the man given a pair of shoes from the store, was a matross of the artillery. He lost his own swimming out to fetch a boat so that a crew could row after the Admiral Stevens in search of the deserters. His company served the guns and worked at the landing place below the batteries, which put him on the spot when the alarm was raised. His sergeant, Richard Waterhouse, was reduced on 10 February 1766, so the same incident brought one artilleryman a reward and another a punishment.

John Cresswell, a matross at 1s 0d a day, was also first coxswain of the longboat at £30 0s 0d a year on the civil list. The second coxswain, William French, was a sentinel of the first company. Both of the Company's boat steerers were therefore soldiers, and the allowance nearly trebled Cresswell's pay. The artillery supplied the boats' crews because its men were stationed at the waterside.

The entry for John Corfoot completed a transfer begun in the fourth company's roll. He was struck off there on 20 January 1766 and entered here on 21 January 1766, with his rate rising from 10d to 1s 0d a day. A move from the infantry to the artillery was thus a promotion in pay, and it showed how the artillery kept up its numbers by taking picked men from the other companies.

Each chain of promotion in the company ended on this page with a matross made gunner. William Phillips rose on 7 January 1766, the day Corporal Grainger died. Adam Critchton rose on 10 February 1766, when Sergeant Waterhouse was reduced. Samuel Smith rose on 10 March 1766 to fill the place of John Fox, who was reduced from gunner that day.

354

349

1766

Bro. over

£ 2852.14.5

Matrosses bro. over

£ 165.16

Samuel Spencer

4.11.3

John Scotcher

4.11.3

Henry Stapleford Enter Janry 11

4.[...]

Daniel Tong Jany the 20th. Discharged

1

Thomas Watts

4.11.3

John Webley

4.11.3

Richard Wellman

4.11.3

Thomas Wyatt

4.11.3

£ 198.3.6

£ 3050.17.11

The paymaster's roll for 1766 closed with the last of the matrosses in the artillery company, carried on from a sub-total of £165 16s 0d and a main running total of £2,852 14s 5d.

Brought over, £2,852 14s 5d

Matrosses brought over, £165 16s 0d

Samuel Spencer, matross, £4 11s 3d

John Scotcher, matross, £4 11s 3d

Henry Standford, matross, entered 11 January 1766, £4 0s 0d

Daniel Long, matross, discharged 20 January 1766, £1 0s 0d

Thomas Watts, matross, £4 11s 3d

John Webley, matross, £4 11s 3d

Richard Wellman, matross, £4 11s 3d

Thomas Wyatt, matross, £4 11s 3d

Matrosses, total, £198 3s 6d

Total of salaries, diet money and pay for the quarter, £3,050 17s 11d

Interpretations

The Company's whole establishment on the island cost £3,050 17s 11d in pay for the quarter, or a little over £12,000 0s 0d a year. The civil servants and tradesmen accounted for about £850 0s 0d of the quarter's sum and the five military companies for about £2,200 0s 0d. Nearly three quarters of the wage bill therefore went on the garrison, which showed what the island was to the Company: a fortified watering place held by soldiers, with a small civil staff to supply and account for them.

The island did not find that money from its own resources. The storekeeper's sales for the same quarter came to about £1,030 0s 0d, and most of that was the servants' and soldiers' own wages returning to the Company across the counter. The balance had to be met in coin, which explained the Council's readiness to take cash from Kirkpatrick, Corneille, the Governor and the ships' commanders in April 1766 and give bills on London in exchange. The £2,122 0s 0d received in that way within ten days covered two thirds of a quarter's pay.

Daniel Long was discharged from the artillery on 20 January 1766, and a man of that name drew £13 7s 0d as an overseer on the civil list for the same quarter. The two entries probably described one man, who left the ranks to supervise labour on the Company's plantations or works. His discharge fell outside the shipping season, like those of James Goudy and William Fletcher, and marked a soldier taken into civil employment and not one going home.

Henry Standford's entry completed his transfer. He left the third company on 10 January 1766 and joined the artillery on 11 January 1766, where his pay rose from 10d to 1s 0d a day. John Scotcher and Thomas Watts appeared here as matrosses, and men of the same names stood among the sentinels of the fourth company at full pay for the quarter, so the garrison held two soldiers of each name.

355

350

21st. April 1766

Thomas Kirkpatrick Dr.

1766

March 31. To Cash received

£ 3904.11.7

Carried over

£ 3904.11.7

The paymaster's own account was entered on 21 April 1766 in the name of Thomas Kirkpatrick, and its debit side recorded the money he received.

31 March 1766, cash received, £3,904 11s 7d

Carried down, £3,904 11s 7d

Interpretations

The account identified Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick as the garrison's paymaster. He was charged as a debtor with every pound the treasury advanced to him, and he cleared the charge by showing what he paid out, so the list of salaries and pay for the quarter served as his discharge. The form made him personally answerable for the money. Any sum he could not account for remained a debt from him to the Company.

The cash he drew, £3,904 11s 7d, exceeded the £3,050 17s 11d of the pay list by more than £850 0s 0d. The paymaster's disbursements therefore went beyond wages, and the credit side of the account had to explain the difference.

The office gave Kirkpatrick the handling of the island's largest flow of coin. He was at the same time a member of the Council that examined and approved the paymaster's accounts on 21 April 1766, and he signed the consultations of that month. He paid £400 0s 0d into the Company's cash for bills on London on 7 April 1766, a week after the date on which this money was charged to him.

356

351

1766

Per Contra Cr.

By Cash paid Capt. Griffin for 61 1/2 Bushels Wheat at 7/6 p Bl.

22.17.6

By Cash paid do. for 2 Liagrs. Arrk. containg. 305 Galls. @ 4/ p G

61

By Cash paid do. for 13 C. 2. 13. Sugar at £ 3. 9. p Ct.

47.11

Jany. 31 By Cash pd. John Steward junr. Thomas Nimble, and Wm. Jerman

£ 10. each for relistg. to serve the HCompy. five Years longer each

30

Feby 17th. By Cash pd. John Thompson for relisting to serve as above

10

By Cash pd. John Twaits Native for do.

5

18th. By Cash pd. John May for do.

10

March 23. By Cash pd. Adam Scott, Thomas Morris, Isaac Day, Thos.

Tyler, Daniel Maloney, John Holbrook, William Cliffton, Geo.

Capeling, Thos. Berwick, Samuel Smith, Willm. Phillips,

John Springthorp and James Kemp for relisting to serve as

above £ 10. each

130

By Cash paid Samuel Kittson for 13 days Work Cardg. wool

to make Mattrasses for the Hospitals use at 1/6 p day

19.6

By Cash paid Mr. M Purling for a Window Sash Glazed for the Castle

4

By Cash paid Capt. Hindman for the passage of Michael Reed

Edward Cozens, Charles Edgels, John Cary, Edward Davis,

and Joseph Good, six Inlisted Soldiers £ 5. each

30

By Cash paid Benj. Mason for 102 Goths of Rushes at 6d p Goth

2.11

By Cash paid William Jenkins for baking 66 Batches of bread

at 1/8 p Batch for the use of the Garrison this Quarter

5.10

By Cash pd. do. bakg. 16 Batches Bread for the HCompys. Slaves

1.6.8

By Cash pd. Sundry Garrison Men for 642 days Work at the Stores

unloading the two Store Ships at 1/ p Day

32.2.6

By Cash pd. Orlando Bagley Senr. 1/ p Bushl. 166 1/4 Bushels Potatoes

for the use of the Garrison

8.6.3

By Cash pd. Capt. Peters for the following Articles for the use

of the Honble. Compys. Table vizt.

163 lb Cheese @ 9d. p lb

£ 6.6

4 Hams wt. 76 lb at 1/1 p lb

4.1.8

43 lb Loaf Sugar at 1/3 p lb

2.14

5 Firkins Butter @ £ 3. 3 p Firkg.

15.15

3 Cases Pickles @ 3. 3 p Case

9.9

1/4 Raw Ginger

6

1/4 Turmerick

6

2 Cinamon

3.9

2 Mace

3.9

1/2 lb Nutmegs

4.6

2 Cloves

3.9

Carrd. over

£ [...]

The credit side of Thomas Kirkpatrick's account for 1766 set out the payments he made in cash.

Paid Captain Griffin for 61 bushels of wheat at 7s 6d a bushel, £22 17s 6d

Paid Captain Griffin for 2 leaguers of arrack holding 305 gallons at 4s 0d a gallon, £61 0s 0d

Paid Captain Griffin for 13 cwt 2 qr 13 lb of sugar at £3 9s 0d a cwt, £47 11s 0d

30 January 1766, paid John Steward junior, Thomas Nimble and William Yeoman £10 0s 0d each for re-enlisting to serve the Company five more years, £30 0s 0d

17 February 1766, paid John Thompson for re-enlisting on the same terms, £10 0s 0d

17 February 1766, paid John Twaits, a native of the island, for re-enlisting, £5 0s 0d

10 March 1766, paid John May for re-enlisting, £10 0s 0d

23 March 1766, paid Adam Scott, Thomas Morris, Isaac Day, Thomas Tyler, Daniel Maloney, John Holbrook, William Cliffton, George Capeling, Thomas Berwick, Samuel Smith, William Phillips, John Springthorpe and James Kemp £10 0s 0d each for re-enlisting, £130 0s 0d

Paid Samuel Kitson for 13 days' work carding wool for hospital mattresses at 1s 6d a day, £0 19s 6d

Paid Matthew Purling for a glazed window sash for the castle, £4 0s 0d

Paid Captain Hindman for the passage of six invalid soldiers at £5 0s 0d each, £30 0s 0d

Paid Benjamin Mason for 102 bundles of rushes at 6d a bundle, £2 11s 0d

Paid William Jenkins for baking 66 batches of bread for the garrison that quarter at 1s 8d a batch, £5 10s 0d

Paid William Jenkins for baking 16 batches of bread for the Company's slaves, £1 6s 8d

Paid various men of the garrison for 642½ days' work at the stores unloading the two store ships at 1s 0d a day, £32 2s 6d

Paid Orlando Bagley junior for 166¼ bushels of potatoes for the garrison, £8 6s 3d

Paid Captain Peters for the Company's table, 163 lb of cheese at 9d a lb, £6 2s 3d

Paid Captain Peters for the Company's table, 4 hams weighing 76 lb, £4 1s 8d

Paid Captain Peters for the Company's table, 43 lb of loaf sugar, £2 14s 0d

Paid Captain Peters for the Company's table, 5 firkins of butter at £3 3s 0d a firkin, £15 15s 0d

Paid Captain Peters for the Company's table, 3 cases of pickles at £3 3s 0d a case, £9 9s 0d

Paid Captain Peters for the Company's table, ¼ lb of race ginger, £0 0s 6d

Paid Captain Peters for the Company's table, ¼ lb of turmeric, £0 0s 6d

Paid Captain Peters for the Company's table, 2 oz of cinnamon, £0 3s 9d

Paid Captain Peters for the Company's table, 2 oz of mace, £0 3s 9d

Paid Captain Peters for the Company's table, ¼ lb of nutmegs, £0 4s 6d

Paid Captain Peters for the Company's table, 2 oz of cloves, £0 3s 9d

Carried over, £401 4s 5d

The six invalids sent home with Captain Hindman were Michael Reed, Edward Cozens, Charles Edgels, John Cary, Edward Davis and Joseph Good.

Interpretations

The Company paid soldiers to stay. A man whose contract expired received £10 0s 0d in cash for signing on for another five years, a sum equal to eight months of a sentinel's pay. Nineteen men took the bounty in the quarter, and 13 of them did so together on 23 March 1766, the day the Earl of Elgin and the Admiral Pocock arrived from the East. The timing was deliberate on both sides. A homeward ship in the road gave a time-expired soldier his one real chance to leave, and the Council put the money on the table at that moment. Seven others refused it and were discharged on 7 April 1766. Recruits sent from England cost the Company their passage and several months of unproductive pay, so a bounty to a seasoned man already on the island was the cheaper course.

John Twaits received only £5 0s 0d, and the paymaster marked him as a native. He was a drummer of the third company born on the island. A man with family and no home in England was unlikely to leave whatever he was offered, and the Council halved his bounty accordingly.

The six invalids went home in the Duke of Richmond, which Thomas Hindman commanded and which sailed on 4 April 1766. Her muster roll listed no passengers, so the roll covered only the ship's own company and the invalids were carried outside it. Five of the six stood on the garrison's pay list at full pay to 31 March 1766. The Company paid £5 0s 0d a head, a low charitable rate against the fare of a cabin passenger, and so cleared its ranks of men unfit for duty at a cost of £30 0s 0d.

Soldiers did the island's casual labour at fixed extra rates. Unloading the Prince of Wales and the Plassey took 642½ man-days at 1s 0d a day, more than a sentinel's daily wage and paid on top of it. William Jenkins, a matross, baked the garrison's and the slaves' bread at 1s 8d a batch, and Samuel Kitson, a sentinel of the second company, carded wool at 1s 6d a day. Such earnings were a large part of what made a soldier's 10d a day liveable.

The ships' commanders sold provisions to the Company as well as to the inhabitants. Captain Griffin supplied wheat, sugar and 305 gallons of arrack in leaguers, the large Dutch casks of about 150 gallons in which Batavia arrack was shipped. Captain Peters sold cheese, hams, butter, pickles and spices from England for the Company's table. Those purchases were the private trade of the commanders, and the proceeds returned to them as the bills on London granted in April 1766. Race ginger was ginger in the whole dried root, as distinct from ground.

Matthew Purling, a member of the Council, sold the Company a glazed sash for £4 0s 0d, and Orlando Bagley junior, a planter, supplied 166¼ bushels of potatoes at 1s 0d a bushel. The rushes, bought by the bundle, were probably for thatching or for stuffing the hospital's mattresses.

357

352

21 April

Thomas Kirkpatrick Dr.

1766

March 31 To Cash brought over

£ 3904.11.7

Carried over

£ 3904.11.7

The debit side of Thomas Kirkpatrick's account as paymaster was carried forward under 21 April 1766 without any new entry.

31 March 1766, cash brought over, £3,904 11s 7d

Carried over, £3,904 11s 7d

358

353

1766

Per Contra Cr.

1766

Bro. over

£ 440.8.10

By Cash pd. Eliz. Lamb for 13,350 Yam at 3/ p Hd.

20.6

By Cash pd. do. for 650 Seed do. at 1/6 p Hd.

9.9

By Cash pd. do. for 2,600 Suckers at 2/6 p Hd.

6.6

By Cash pd. Samuel Alexander for 7,400 do. at 2/6 p Hd.

18.6

By Cash pd. do. for 3000 do. at 4/ p Hd.

12

By Cash pd. do. for 2 Rafter for the use of one of the

Honble. Company's Houses

1.8

By Cash pd. do. for 2 Loads Binders at 2/ p Load for do.

4

By Cash pd. Margt. Alcock for 10,000 Yams @ 3/ p Hd.

15

By Cash pd. Thomas Harper Clark of the Market 1/ upon 274 lb of

Beef for the use of the Garrison this Quarter

1.2.10

By Cash paid Capt. Hindman for 340 lb Paddy there being none in

the Honble. Compys. Stores

1.8.4

By Cash pd. do. for a Long Boats Grapnl. Wt. C 2. 0. 16 at £ 3. 2 p Ct.

6.2.1

By Cash pd. Willm. Harris for 77 days work in the Armourers Shop

this Quarter at 1/6 p day

5.15.6

By Cash pd. Henry Davis for 77 days work in do. at 1/6 p day

5.15.6

By Cash pd. Mr. Jonathan Doveton for 10 Loads Bamboos for the

use of the Honorable Compy.

1.5

By Cash paid Wm. Holbrook for 168 lb Iron

5

By Cash paid John Pritchard for a Cask of Stale Beer for the use of

the Honorable Company

4

By Cash paid Adam Evans for makg. 13 Prs. Chair Straps

1

By Cash paid do. for makg. 13 Prs. Pillions

13

By Cash paid Julio Fabiano for breaking up the Fly Cutter

5

By Cash paid Noth quedah Pochullen his allowance

1.12.6

By Cash paid do. for House Rent

1

By Cash paid the Clerk of the Arraigns and Prosecutor of the Court

12.6

By Cash paid Sundry Garrn. Men for coming express wth. Acct.

of Ships to windward

4.15

By Cash paid do. for 10 days Mowing at 2/3 p day

1.2.6

By Cash paid do. 22 do. Work Carpr. breakg. up the F. Schooner

1.13

By Cash paid do. 43 3/4 do. Labourers Work for do. at 1/

2.3.9

By Cash paid do. 5 do. Turning at 1/6 p day

7.6

By Cash paid do. 1 do. Masons Work reprg. the Offrs. House

2.6

Carried over

£ 524.13.3

The credit side of Thomas Kirkpatrick's account as paymaster continued in 1766 from a running total of £440 0s 10d.

Brought over, £440 0s 10d

Paid Elizabeth Lamb for 13,350 yams at 3s 0d a hundred, £20 0s 6d

Paid Elizabeth Lamb for 650 seed yams at 1s 6d a hundred, £0 9s 9d

Paid Elizabeth Lamb for 2,600 suckers at 2s 6d a thousand, £0 6s 6d

Paid Samuel Alexander for 7,400 suckers at 2s 6d a thousand, £0 18s 6d

Paid Samuel Alexander for 3,000 suckers at 4s 0d a thousand, £0 12s 0d

Paid Samuel Alexander for 2 rafters for one of the Company's houses, £0 1s 8d

Paid Samuel Alexander for 2 loads of binders at 2s 0d a load for the same house, £0 4s 0d

Paid Margaret Alcock for 10,000 yams at 3s 0d a hundred, £15 0s 0d

Paid Thomas Harper, clerk of the market, his fee on the beef supplied to the garrison that quarter, £1 2s 10d

Paid Captain Hindman for 340 lb of paddy, there being none in the Company's stores, £1 8s 4d

Paid Captain Hindman for a longboat's grapnel weighing 1 cwt 3 qr 16 lb at £3 2s 0d a cwt, £6 2s 1d

Paid William Harris for 77 days' work in the armourer's shop that quarter at 1s 6d a day, £5 15s 6d

Paid Henry Davis for 77 days' work in the armourer's shop at 1s 6d a day, £5 15s 6d

Paid Jonathan Doveton for 10 loads of bamboos for the Company's use, £1 5s 0d

Paid William Holbrook for 160 lb of iron, £1 8s 0d

Paid John Pritchard for a cask of stale beer for the Company's use, £4 0s 0d

Paid Adam Evans for making 13 pairs of chair straps, £1 0s 0d

Paid Adam Evans for making 13 pairs of [...], £0 13s 0d

Paid Julio Fabiano for breaking up the Fly cutter, £5 0s 0d

Paid Nockqueda Bockullen his allowance, £1 12s 6d

Paid Nockqueda Bockullen his house rent, £1 0s 0d

Paid the clerk of the arraigns and prosecutor of the court, £0 12s 6d

Paid various men of the garrison for bringing express word of ships to windward, £4 15s 0d

Paid men of the garrison for 10 days' mowing at 2s 3d a day, £1 2s 6d

Paid men of the garrison for 22 days' carpenters' work breaking up the Fly cutter, £1 13s 0d

Paid men of the garrison for 43¾ days' labourers' work on the same at 1s 0d a day, £2 3s 9d

Paid men of the garrison for 5 days' sawing at 1s 6d a day, £0 7s 6d

Paid men of the garrison for 1 day's mason's work repairing the officers' houses, £0 2s 6d

Carried over, £524 13s 3d

Interpretations

The Company broke up one of its own vessels that quarter. The Fly was a cutter, a small single-masted craft kept at the island, and the paymaster's entries recorded her end. The storekeeper issued 1,510 lb of cordage partly for hauling her up, Julio Fabiano received £5 0s 0d for taking her to pieces, and carpenters and labourers of the garrison put in 65¾ days on the same task. A vessel hauled ashore and dismantled was past repair, and her timber, iron and copper went back into store. The loss explained the Council's purchase of a longboat from Captain Wyche on 14 April 1766, where it stated that the Company wanted another boat, and the grapnel bought from Captain Hindman for £6 2s 1d was an anchor for a longboat.

The entry for Nockqueda Bockullen named the man behind the storekeeper's account headed Malay. He received a cash allowance of £1 12s 6d and house rent of £1 0s 0d for the quarter, beside the rice, beef, tea and soap issued for him from the store. A person maintained in a rented house with a pension, and not set to labour, was a prisoner of rank and not a slave. The first part of his name was the Malay and Persian title of a ship's master, so he was perhaps a native sea captain sent into exile from the Company's settlements in Sumatra.

The Company bought the staple of its slaves from the planters. Elizabeth Lamb and Margaret Alcock supplied 23,350 yams at 3s 0d a hundred, part of the 32,700 entered as bought in the plantation account for the same quarter. Both sellers were women, probably widows running family plantations. The suckers were offshoots for planting, bought by the thousand for the Company's own ground, and Samuel Alexander, who sold 10,400 of them, was the plantation overseer and the new sheriff appointed on 31 March 1766. He therefore sold produce to the establishment he worked for.

The £4 15s 0d paid to soldiers for bringing word of ships to windward showed how the alarm system worked beyond the guns. Lookouts on the high eastern ridges saw sails long before they reached the road, and a runner carried the news down to the castle on foot. The gunner's account for March 1766 recorded six alarms fired on such reports.

The clerk of the market supervised the sale of meat and took a fee on each pound of beef the garrison bought from the planters. The clerk of the arraigns, who also acted as prosecutor, read the charges and presented the case when the Council sat as a criminal court, and he was paid by the sitting.

Captain Hindman of the Duke of Richmond sold the Company 340 lb of paddy because its own store held none, although the plantations drew 2,535 lb of it in the quarter. The stock ran out before the China ships arrived, and the Council bought at 1d a pound from a ship in the road to keep the horses and poultry fed. The stale beer bought from John Pritchard, the surgeon's mate, was old sour beer, used in place of vinegar for scouring or in mixing size and limewash. The article Adam Evans made in 13 pairs beside the chair straps could not be read.

359

354

21st. April

Thomas Kirkpatrick. Dr.

1766

March 31. To Cash bro. over

£ 3904.11.7

Carried over

£ 3904.11.7

The debit side of Thomas Kirkpatrick's account as paymaster was again carried forward under 21 April 1766 with no new entry.

31 March 1766, cash brought over, £3,904 11s 7d

Carried over, £3,904 11s 7d

360

355

1766

Per Contra Cr.

Bro. over

£ 524.13.3

By Cash paid Sundry Garrison Men for 160 days Labrs. Work repg.

the Honble. Company's Houses

8

By Cash paid do. 17 3/4 days Laborers Work in the Stores 1/ p day

17.9

By Cash paid do. 30 1/4 do. making Mortar for the Hospital

1.10.3

By Cash paid 132 do. for bringing Rafters &c. for the Blacks Ho.

6.12

By Cash pd. do. 2 3/4 do. Paintg. the Long Boat @ 1/6 p day

4.1 1/2

By Cash pd. do. 805 1/2 do. workg. on board do. 1/

40.5.6

By Cash pd. do. 20 do. Carpentrs. Work repg. do.

1.10

By Cash pd. do. 278 1/2 do. Labourers do. Catchg. Fish for the Garrn.

13.18.6

By Cash pd. do. 20 3/4 do. Painters Work used Carps. Hd. Spikes

Gun Carriages and Flag Staff

1.11.1 1/2

By Cash pd. do. 46 do. Carpentrs. Work hewg. Timber for Chl. House

3.9

By Cash pd. do. 160 do. Plaisterers do. for do.

12

By Cash pd. do. 982 do. Labourers do. do.

49.2

By Cash pd. do. 77 1/2 do. makg. Bricks at 1/6 p day

3.17.3

By Cash pd. do. 3 do. Stone Blowr. for a Brick Kiln

4.6

By Cash pd. do. 37 do. Painters Work at the Lieut. Govrs. House

2.15.6

By Cash pd. do. 15 do. Carpenters do. at do.

1.2.6

By Cash pd. do. 10 do. Plaisterers do. at do.

15

By Cash pd. do. 2 do. Glaziers do. at do.

3

By Cash pd. do. 81 3/4 do. Labourers do. at do.

4.1.9

By Cash pd. do. 106 1/2 do. gettg. Lime Stone at 1/6 p day

7.19

By Cash pd. do. 227 do. gettg. do. 1/ p day

11.7

By Cash pd. do. 17 do. repairg. the Lime House at Sandy Bay

1.5.6

By Cash pd. do. 6 do. Stone Sawg. for the Fortifications at do.

9

By Cash pd. do. 31 do. Stone Blowg. at do. at 1/6

2.6.6

By Cash pd. do. 182 do. Labourers do. at do.

9.2

By Cash pd. do. 6 do. Masons Work at 1/6 p day

[11]

By Cash pd. do. 14 do. do. hewg. Stone for a Mill

2.9

By Cash pd. do. 6 do. do. do. for do.

9

By Cash pd. do. 4 do. Stone Blowr. for building a Store

House upon Ladder Hill

6

By Cash paid do. 158 do. Labourers do. for do.

7.18

By Cash paid do. 42 do. Stone Sawg. at the PortCullis at Banks's

3.3

Carried over

£ 724.13.[...]

The credit side of Thomas Kirkpatrick's account as paymaster went on in 1766 from a running total of £524 13s 3d. Every entry was a payment to men of the garrison for extra work.

Brought over, £524 13s 3d

160 days' labourers' work repairing the Company's houses, £8 0s 0d

17¾ days' labourers' work in the stores at 1s 0d a day, £0 17s 9d

30¼ days' making mortar for the hospital, £1 10s 3d

132 days' bringing rafters and other materials for the slaves' house, £6 12s 0d

2¾ days' painting the longboat at 1s 6d a day, £0 4s 1½d

805½ days' work aboard the longboat at 1s 0d a day, £40 5s 6d

20 days' carpenters' work repairing the longboat, £1 10s 0d

278½ days' labourers' work catching fish for the garrison, £13 18s 6d

20¾ days' painters' work on the wood carts, handspikes, gun carriages and flagstaff, £1 11s 1½d

46 days' carpenters' work hewing timber for the slaves' house, £3 9s 0d

160 days' plasterers' work for the slaves' house, £12 0s 0d

982 days' labourers' work for the slaves' house, £49 2s 0d

51½ days' making bricks at 1s 6d a day, £3 17s 3d

3 days' stone blasting for a brick kiln, £0 4s 6d

37 days' painters' work at the Lieutenant Governor's house, £2 15s 6d

15 days' carpenters' work at the Lieutenant Governor's house, £1 2s 6d

10 days' plasterers' work at the Lieutenant Governor's house, £0 15s 0d

2 days' glaziers' work at the Lieutenant Governor's house, £0 3s 0d

81¾ days' labourers' work at the Lieutenant Governor's house, £4 1s 9d

106 days' quarrying limestone at 1s 6d a day, £7 19s 0d

227 days' quarrying limestone at 1s 0d a day, £11 7s 0d

17 days' repairing the lime house at Sandy Bay, £1 5s 6d

6 days' stone sawing for the fortifications at Sandy Bay, £0 9s 0d

31 days' stone blasting at Sandy Bay at 1s 6d a day, £2 6s 6d

182 days' labourers' work at Sandy Bay, £9 2s 0d

6 days' masons' work at 3s 6d a day, £1 1s 0d

14 days' masons' work hewing stone for a mill, £2 9s 0d

6 days' work on stone for the mill, £0 9s 0d

4 days' stone blasting for a storehouse on Ladder Hill, £0 6s 0d

158 days' labourers' work for the storehouse on Ladder Hill, £7 18s 0d

42 days' stone sawing at the cullis at Banks's, £3 3s 0d

Carried over, £724 13s 0d

Interpretations

The garrison was the island's labour force. The page recorded about 3,650 paid working days in a single quarter, the equivalent of 40 soldiers employed every day on building, quarrying, boat work and fishing. The Company paid a flat 1s 0d a day for labouring and 1s 6d for skilled work, on top of a man's military pay of 10d. A soldier put to the works therefore more than doubled his income, and the extra £200 0s 0d on this page alone amounted to a tenth of the garrison's whole wage for the quarter. The arrangement gave the Company cheap labour without hiring anyone and gave the men a strong reason to stay, which fitted the 19 bounties paid for re-enlistment in the same quarter.

The slaves' house was the largest single work. It took 982 days of labouring, 160 of plastering, 46 of hewing timber and 132 of carrying rafters, or 1,320 days at a cost of £71 3s 0d in labour alone. The scale indicated a full rebuilding of the building where the Company's slaves were locked in at night, the same house the overseer inspected by candlelight in the storekeeper's account. The Council spent more on it that quarter than on the fortification at Sandy Bay, where the paid labour came to 236 days.

The crews of the longboat accounted for 805½ days at £40 5s 6d. That figure represented about nine men in the boat every day of the quarter, ferrying water, stores and cargo between the ships and the landing place. The work wore out the boat as well as the rope, and the same page charged carpenters and painters for repairing her.

Fishing for the garrison was organised as paid duty. Soldiers spent 278½ days at it, about three men a day, and the catch was issued as a ration. The Company thus ran a small fishery with its own men beside the one worked by its slaves, and fresh fish supplemented the salt meat that dominated the store's sales.

Lime, brick and stone were all produced on the island by the same hands. Soldiers quarried limestone for 333 days, made bricks for 51½ and blasted rock with powder for a brick kiln, for Sandy Bay and for a new storehouse on Ladder Hill. The gunner's account for March 1766 charged 39 lb 8 oz of powder to the works, which supplied that blasting. The men who drilled and fired the charges earned the skilled rate of 1s 6d.

A mason's day cost 3s 6d, more than three times a labourer's and as much as a lieutenant's daily salary. The rate applied to men hewing stone for the wheat mill, the project for which the store issued candles to the masons, and it showed how scarce trained stonecutters were among the soldiers.

361

356

21st. April

Thomas Kirkpatrick Dr.

To Cash brought over

£ 3904.11.7

£ 3904.11.7

The debit side of Thomas Kirkpatrick's account as paymaster was brought forward under 21 April 1766 and closed.

Cash brought over, £3,904 11s 7d

Total, £3,904 11s 7d

362

357

1766

Per Contra Cr.

Bro. over

£ 724.13

By Cash pd. Sundry Garrison Men 16 1/2 days Work at 3/6 p day

2.17.9

By Cash pd. do. 4 days Carpenters Work at 1/6

6

By Cash pd. do. 58 do. Stone Blowr. do.

4.7

By Cash pd. do. 981 do. Labourers do.

49.1

By Cash pd. do. 27 do. Plaisterers do.

2.6

By Cash pd. do. 35 do. do. at the Castle

2.12.6

By Cash pd. do. 86 1/2 do. Work cutting Stone for do.

6.7.9

By Cash pd. do. 166. do. Carpenters do. at do.

12.9

By Cash pd. do. 94 do. Stone Sawyers do. at do.

7.1

By Cash pd. do. 207 do. Labourers do. at do.

10.7

By Cash paid John Bland for 12 Bottles Mustard and 65 lb

Raisons for the use of the Honble. Companys Table

4.6.9

By Cash pd. for 990 lb Pork bought of the Seamen belongg. to

the Ship Earl of Middlesex

14.7.11

By Cash pd. Mary Seale for 8450. Yam at 3/ p Hd.

12.13

By Cash pd. do. for 300 Yam at 1/6 p Hundred

4.6

£ 853.13.8

By the amount of the pay List

3050.17.11

£ 3904.11.7

St. Helena

31. April 1766

Errs. Excepted

(signed) Thos. Kirkpatrick

Paymr.

Counted and examined the Honorable Company's Cash for

the Month of March last, which is as follows vizt.

The credit side of Thomas Kirkpatrick's account as paymaster closed in 1766 with the following payments, carried on from a running total of £724 13s 0d.

Brought over, £724 13s 0d

Paid men of the garrison for 16½ days' masons' work at 3s 6d a day, £2 17s 9d

Paid men of the garrison for 4 days' carpenters' work at 1s 6d a day, £0 6s 0d

Paid men of the garrison for 58 days' stone blasting, £4 7s 0d

Paid men of the garrison for 981 days' labourers' work, £49 1s 0d

Paid men of the garrison for 27 days' plasterers' work, £2 0s 6d

Paid men of the garrison for 35 days' plasterers' work at the castle, £2 12s 6d

Paid men of the garrison for 36½ days' cutting stone for the castle, £6 7s 9d

Paid men of the garrison for 166 days' carpenters' work at the castle, £12 9s 0d

Paid men of the garrison for 94 days' stone sawyers' work at the castle, £7 1s 0d

Paid men of the garrison for 207 days' labourers' work at the castle, £10 7s 0d

Paid John Bland for 12 bottles of mustard and 65 lb of raisins for the Company's table, £4 6s 9d

Paid for 990 lb of pork bought from the seamen of the Earl of Middlesex, £14 7s 11d.

Paid Mary Seale for 8,400 yams at 3s 0d a hundred, £12 12s 0d

Paid Mary Seale for 300 yams at 1s 6d a hundred, £0 4s 6d

Total of payments other than pay, £853 13s 8d

Amount of the pay list, £3,050 17s 11d

Total, £3,904 11s 7d

Kirkpatrick signed the account as paymaster at St Helena on 31 March 1766, subject to correction of any errors.

The Council then counted and examined the Company's cash for March 1766.

Interpretations

The account balanced to the penny. Kirkpatrick was charged with £3,904 11s 7d received, and his pay list of £3,050 17s 11d and other payments of £853 13s 8d came to exactly that sum, so no balance stood against him or in his favour. An account that closed at nothing was the form the Company required. The paymaster drew from the treasury only what his vouchers covered, the treasury held the island's cash, and the Council's count of that cash, taken immediately afterwards, checked the other half of the transaction.

The Company bought salt pork from common sailors. The seamen of the Earl of Middlesex, which left on 6 March 1766, sold 990 lb at about 3½d a pound. Foremast hands had no trading privilege like their officers, and the meat was probably their own saved rations or a small private stock carried for sale. The Council bought it because the store's salt provisions were the island's largest single article of consumption, and a purchase in the road cost less than freight from England.

John Bland, who sold mustard and raisins for the table, was a midshipman of the Duke of Richmond in her muster roll of 1766. The private trade of the ships thus reached from commanders such as Wyche and Rice, who remitted hundreds of pounds, down to a midshipman with a few bottles and a bag of fruit.

The castle absorbed a large share of the quarter's skilled labour, with 166 days of carpentry, 94 of stone sawing, 36½ of stone cutting and 35 of plastering. The storekeeper's issue of 59 single and 42 double deals for the castle and the Company's works belonged to the same repairs.

Mary Seale was the third woman to sell yams to the Company in the quarter, after Elizabeth Lamb and Margaret Alcock. The three supplied 32,700 between them, which matched the number entered as bought for the slaves in the plantation account approved on 14 April 1766. The 300 sold at half price were seed yams for planting.

363

358

21st. April

Thomas Kirkpatrick Dr.

1766

March 1. To Balance remaining

£ 7439.8.2

4 To Ship Earl of Middlesex

47.10

14 To Account Current London for one Chest Treasure received

from Ship Prince of Wales amounting by Sale to

1003.8.1

31. To Exchange for one Set of Bills drawn upon the Honble. the

Court of Directors payable to Christopher Baron Esqr.

80

To Ship Plassey the received the Balance of her Account

7.5

To Ship Prince of Wales received do.

7.5

To James Cowell received of him for stores Sold in the Quar.

ending this day

990.12.7

To Plantation for Provision Sold

6.10.5

To Licences for Publick Houses

17.10

To fines received of John Seale and James Goudy as

p Consultation of the 17th. February 1766.

2

To Fortification for Lime Sold

2.3.6

£ 9603.12.9

The account of the Company's cash for March 1766 was entered under 21 April 1766 in the name of Thomas Kirkpatrick, and its debit side recorded the money that came in.

1 March 1766, balance remaining in hand, £7,439 8s 2d

4 March 1766, received from the Earl of Middlesex, £47 10s 0d.

14 March 1766, one chest of treasure received by the Prince of Wales and charged to the account current with London, which produced by sale £1,003 8s 1d.

31 March 1766, one set of bills drawn on the Court of Directors and payable to Christopher Baron, £80 0s 0d

31 March 1766, received from the Plassey the balance of her account, £7 5s 0d.

31 March 1766, received from the Prince of Wales the balance of her account, £7 5s 0d.

31 March 1766, received from James Bowell for stores sold in the quarter ending that day, £990 12s 7d

31 March 1766, received from the plantation for provisions sold, £6 10s 5d

31 March 1766, licences for public houses, £17 10s 0d

31 March 1766, fines received from John Seale and James Goudy under the consultation of 17 February 1766, £2 0s 0d

31 March 1766, received from the fortifications for lime sold, £2 3s 6d

Total, £9,603 12s 9d

Interpretations

Kirkpatrick held the Company's treasury as well as the paymaster's office. This account charged him with all the cash on the island, opening with £7,439 8s 2d in hand, and the quarter's £3,904 11s 7d for pay and works passed from it to his second account. One councillor therefore kept the chest, paid the garrison and sat on the board that audited both sets of figures. The Council's only independent check was the physical count of the coin that it made each month.

The chest of treasure was silver sent out from London in the Prince of Wales. The Directors shipped foreign coin, chiefly Spanish dollars, as bullion by weight, and the phrase recording its sale meant that the island's treasury took the coin into circulation at the local rate and credited London with the proceeds of £1,003 8s 1d. The island ran at a loss in cash, since its wage bill of over £12,000 0s 0d a year far exceeded what the store took back, and consignments of silver made up part of the gap. Bills of exchange covered the rest, and the £80 0s 0d from Captain Corneille on 31 March 1766 appeared here as cash received.

The storekeeper's payment tied the two sets of accounts together. James Bowell handed over £990 12s 7d, which equalled the £905 14s 1d sold to the Company's servants and the £84 18s 6d sold to the planters in his collection for the quarter. The sales to the ships were settled separately, and the Earl of Middlesex, the Plassey and the Prince of Wales each paid the balance of an account before sailing.

Public houses were licensed by the Council, and the fees brought in £17 10s 0d. The licence let the Council limit the number of houses selling drink to soldiers and sailors and close any that became disorderly, while taking a revenue from a trade it could not suppress.

James Goudy, fined with John Seale under an order of 17 February 1766, was the sentinel of the fourth company discharged on 6 January 1766. He left the garrison, stayed on the island as a free inhabitant and was before the Council for an offence within six weeks.

The lime sold from the fortifications showed the Company supplying building material to private persons. Soldiers quarried and burned it for the works, and the surplus was sold to inhabitants who had no other source.

364

359

1766

Per Contra Cr.

1766

March 31. By Sundry Accounts Advanced the Paymaster to

pay Saly. &ca. in the Quarter ending this day

3904.11.7

By Balance remaining vizt.

In Specie

5159.6.2

In Cash notes of no use

539.15

5699.1.2

£ 9603.12.9

We this day received the following Letter from Capt. Mitchell

vizt. To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor

&ca. Council of St. Helena

Gentlemen,

Having been pleased to approve of what I proposed

relative to my giving you an Account, at the End of each Quarter, of the

Progress made in the Construction and repairs of the fortifications and other

publick

The credit side of the Company's cash account for March 1766 showed where the money went and what remained.

31 March 1766, advanced to the paymaster on sundry accounts to pay salaries and other charges in the quarter ending that day, £3,904 11s 7d

Balance remaining in coin, £5,159 6s 2d

Balance remaining in cash notes of no use, £539 15s 0d

Balance remaining, total, £5,699 1s 2d

Total, £9,603 12s 9d

The Council received a letter that day from Captain Mitchell, addressed to Governor Skottowe and the Council. It opened by recalling that the Council approved his proposal to report at the end of each quarter on the progress made in building and repairing the fortifications and other public works.

Interpretations

Nearly a tenth of the balance was paper that could not be spent. The treasury held £539 15s 0d in cash notes described as of no use, beside £5,159 6s 2d in coin. Cash notes were paper promises issued by the island's government in earlier years to stand in for scarce silver in local payments. Notes returned to the chest and marked as useless were ones withdrawn from circulation, worn out or no longer accepted, which the treasurer still carried in his balance because they were charged to him until formally cancelled. The entry separated them from the coin so that the Council, counting the chest, knew how much real money the island possessed.

The coin in hand, a little over £5,100 0s 0d, would meet the pay list and works for about one more quarter and a third. The treasury therefore depended on the cash paid in during April 1766 for bills on London, which came to £2,122 0s 0d from Kirkpatrick, the Governor, the two commanders and the steward, and on further silver from home.

Mitchell's letter introduced a new routine of account. The engineer undertook to describe the state of the works every quarter, where the storekeeper's and paymaster's books recorded only the materials issued and the days of labour paid. The Council and the Directors gained by it a means of judging whether the money spent at Sandy Bay, Banks's, the castle and the slaves' house produced results on the ground. The proposal came from Mitchell himself, who commanded the artillery, served as engineer and signed the gunner's account, and it placed his own conduct of the works on record each quarter.

365

360

21 April

public Works under my Direction, during the three foregoing Months, I

shall now begin this Task by a Recapitulation of what has been done towards

the Execution of the Company's Orders since my Arrival on this Island

As the immediate Repair of the Castle (in which some progress had

been made before my Arrival) was recommended by the Court of Directors,

my first Attention was therefore to comply with this part of their Instructions

which, as far as regarded Essentials, has been long since effected some farther

Alterations of no great Consequence are now in hand, by order of the Governor

and will soon be compleated.

The Plantation House, which was also recommended as an Object

of my Attention, and which in fact was going very fast to Ruin, has had

something done to it, The principal Leaks in the Roof have been Stopt: The

Practicability of rendering the whole water tight (which had been despaired

of) has been Shewen, and the Materials for compleating it, as soon as it

can be done without interfering with more essential Works, have been

prepared and collected. The Houses likewise of the Company, which were

very leaky and much out of repair, have been thoroughly refitted, And

materials have been collected by your Order for building an Hospital

for the Companys Slaves, which you have now thought proper to

postpone.

With respect to the Fortifications, as my Operations during the first

Year were, by the Instructions from England, confined to Repairs only,

and Banks's lower Battery (agreeable to the Accounts I gave of it in my

Remarks) was in a very ruinous condition, and demanded an immediate

Attention; I received your Orders, in Consequence of my Representations to

make it my first Work and have accordingly compleated the whole in the

manner I proposed in my remarks, and which I have exhibitted in the

inclosed Plan. As it was necessary to pull some part of it entirely down

and to form a Canal of some extent in Order to convey the Torrents of

Water under the Battery, as well as to make many other Alterations in

almost every part of its first Construction; this has been a Work of

considerable Labour and Duration, as has also been another very

essential Work, which is now compleated and consisted of cutting a

Communication along the Rocks betwixt the above Battery and that

in Ruperts Bay. An accessible Gulley, leading into the Country, and

situated between these two, has been walled up.

Preparations have been made for making Bricks such

as

Captain Mitchell's letter of 21 April 1766 went on to say that he would cover the public works under his direction for the preceding three months. He chose to begin with a summary of everything done to carry out the Company's orders since he arrived on the island.

The Court of Directors recommended the immediate repair of the castle, where some progress was made before he came. He therefore attended to that part of his instructions first. The essential repairs were finished long before, and a few further alterations of small importance were in hand by order of Governor Skottowe and would soon be done.

Plantation House was also named to him as needing attention, and it was falling quickly into ruin. The main leaks in its roof were stopped. He showed that the whole roof could be made watertight, which others despaired of, and the materials to finish it were prepared and gathered for use as soon as more pressing works allowed. The Company's other houses, which leaked badly and were much out of repair, were thoroughly refitted. Materials were collected by the Council's order to build a hospital for the Company's slaves, but the Council now chose to put that building off.

His instructions from England confined him to repairs alone during his first year on the fortifications. The lower battery at Banks's was in a ruinous state, as he reported in his remarks, and needed attention at once. The Council accepted his representations and ordered him to make it his first work. He completed the whole in the way he proposed, as shown in a plan enclosed with the letter. Part of the battery had to be pulled down entirely. A channel of some length was built to carry the torrents of water underneath it, and alterations were made to almost every part of the original construction. The work therefore took much labour and time.

A second essential work was also finished. A path was cut along the rocks to connect the battery at Banks's with the one in Rupert's Bay. A gully between the two, which gave access to the interior, was walled up.

Preparations were made for making bricks.

Interpretations

The letter explained the cullis at Banks's that ran through the storekeeper's and paymaster's accounts. It was the channel Mitchell built to lead flood water beneath the lower battery. The battery stood at the foot of a steep ravine, and the rare but violent rains sent a torrent down on it that undermined the walls. The 248 lb of iron, 116 lb of sheet lead and 42 days of stone sawing charged to the cullis in the quarter to 31 March 1766 were the last stages of that work.

The Directors limited Mitchell to repairs for his first year and withheld authority for new construction. An engineer newly arrived might have been expected to begin on fresh defences, and the restriction showed the Court's caution about cost. It wanted the existing works made sound and his proposals for anything new sent home in his remarks for approval before money was committed. The fortification at Sandy Bay, which had its own account in the quarter to 31 March 1766, therefore belonged to a later stage of his instructions.

The walled gully and the path along the rocks dealt with one weakness. An enemy landing between Banks's and Rupert's could climb the gully into the interior and take both batteries from behind. The wall closed that route, and the path let the two garrisons reinforce each other along the shore without the long march inland.

The Council postponed the hospital for the Company's slaves after ordering the materials collected for it. The letter gave no reason. The paymaster's account for the same quarter showed 1,320 days of labour on the slaves' house, so the Council put the building where the slaves were lodged and secured ahead of the one where the sick among them were to be treated.

Mitchell's claim that he made a roof watertight when others despaired of it, set at the head of a report to his employers, also served as a statement of his own competence. The stores issued to Plantation House garden and the 425 lb of sheet lead for the Company's works in the quarter fitted the repairs he described.

366

361

1766

as clearing the ground, collecting the Clay, and Fewell for burning them,

erecting Sheds and a Brick-Kiln &ca. And the whole is now in great

Forwardness.

As the sending out from England a quantity of Limestone

sufficient to compleat the Fortifications of this Island, would have been

attended with great Inconveniences as well as Expence to the Honble.

Compy. I was at some pains upon my Arrival to examine the natures

of the different kinds of Stones here, and was so luckly in my Researches

as to discover several Sorts of Lime Stone, and particularly a very

large Quarry of it at Sandy Bay (sufficient to last the Island for

ever) where (as it lay convenient for water Carriage, and contiguous

to One of the principal Works I proposed to construct) I have compleated

the proper Preparations for burning and Lodging it, and have, with

considerable Labour compleated a Road to the Quarry itself, which

was before inaccessible. I have already burnt a pretty large Quantity

of it, and find it very good Lime for Building, tho' not requiring so great a proportion

of Sand as that from England, and wanting but very little Coal to burn it, which

is a great Advantage.

These are the principal Works which have been carried on and were

compleated before the Arrival of the Storeships, and if the number of Workmen employed

during the last Year be consider'd, it will I hope be allowed that as much has been

done as could reasonably have been expected. And here I must beg Leave to mention

the Disappointment I have mett with in Regard to the Quantity of Labour I expected

from the Company's Slaves, who (I mean the Labouring Slaves) consisting only of

raw, inactive, weak & sickly Men brought from Africa by Captain Skottowe, have

hitherto been of very little service, and have been generally One third of them in the

Hospital. They are now it is true somewhat more healthy & vigorous, as well

as handy, and begin to be much more serviceable.

I have done myself the Honour to enclose for your Perusal a General Abstract

of the Number of the Workmen now employed, which will likewise shew the respective

Places where they are at Work; And as I have thought it necessary since the Arrival of the

Storeships, to increase the Labourers to three Times their former Number, the Execution

of the Company's Orders will of Consequence be proportionably expedited

I have the Honour to be, with great Respect,

Gentlemen

Your most obedient humble Servant

(signed) A. Mitchell

St. Helena

21st. April 1766

Captain Mitchell's letter of 21 April 1766 described the preparations for brickmaking as clearing ground, gathering clay and fuel for firing and putting up sheds and a kiln. All of it was well advanced.

Shipping enough limestone from England to finish the island's fortifications would have been troublesome and costly to the Company. Mitchell therefore examined the different kinds of stone on the island soon after he arrived. He found several sorts of limestone, and in particular a very large deposit at Sandy Bay, big enough to supply the island permanently. It lay close to the sea for carriage by boat and next to one of the main works he proposed to build. He finished the arrangements for burning and storing the lime there. A road to the quarry, which could not be reached before, was completed with much labour. A fairly large quantity was already burned and proved very good for building. It needed less sand than English lime and very little coal to burn, which he counted a great advantage.

Those were the main works carried on and finished before the storeships arrived. Mitchell hoped the Council would agree that as much was done as could fairly be expected from the number of workmen employed over the previous year. He reported his disappointment at the amount of work obtained from the Company's labouring slaves. They were raw, slow, weak and sickly men brought from Africa by Captain Skottowe, and they were of very little use up to that time. About a third of them were generally in the hospital. He allowed that they were by then somewhat healthier and stronger, more skilful, and beginning to be much more useful.

He enclosed a general summary of the workmen then employed, which showed where each party worked. The Council judged it necessary after the storeships arrived to raise the number of labourers to three times what it was before, and he expected the Company's orders to be carried out faster in proportion.

A. Mitchell signed the letter at St Helena on 21 April 1766.

Interpretations

Mitchell rejected the supply of lime from England and found it on the island instead. Lime was the binding agent of all masonry, and St Helena, a volcanic island, was believed to have almost none, so the expected course was to ship limestone or burned lime out as ballast. He set that aside on grounds of cost and delay and prospected for local stone. The deposit at Sandy Bay was calcareous sand and shell rock on the windward coast. The find explained a run of entries in the accounts for the quarter to 31 March 1766: 333 days of quarrying limestone, the lime house at Sandy Bay repaired and fitted with locks, calf skin for gloves at the lime works, sail needles for mending lime bags and an iron-bound block for hoisting goods out of the longboat. Lime burned at Sandy Bay went round to James's Valley by sea, since no cart road crossed the island.

His remark that the lime needed little coal mattered as much as the stone itself. Fuel was the island's scarcest material, and the store issued 105 bushels of imported coals to the smith's shop alone that quarter. A kiln that burned on brushwood and a little coal freed the works from dependence on shipments of fuel.

The passage on the slaves recorded a direct importation from Africa. Captain Skottowe, who shared the Governor's surname, brought a cargo of men for the Company's works, and they arrived unseasoned to labour and in poor health. A third in hospital at any time was a very high rate of sickness. It accounted for the hospital's heavy issues of sago, sugar and rice in the quarter, for the arrack given to sick slaves and for the two men and a boy who died among the Company's slaves in February 1766. Mitchell judged the men entirely by the work they yielded, and his statement that they were becoming useful described survivors who lived through their first year.

The Council tripled the labourers once the Prince of Wales and the Plassey came in during March 1766. Those ships brought the tools, deals, iron and other stores without which a larger gang could not be set to work, and the paymaster's 642½ days for unloading them marked the start of the increase. The roughly 3,650 days of soldiers' labour paid for in the quarter reflected that decision.

The letter doubled as a defence. Mitchell listed what he achieved, pointed to the small number of workmen and blamed the slaves for the shortfall before anyone accused him of slow progress. A quarterly report that he proposed himself gave him the means to put that case on the record for the Directors.

367

362

21st. April

General Abstract of the Artificers and Labourers employed for the Honble. Compy. at their respective Stations April 21st. 1766

Divisions Smiths Masons Brick Makers Stone Blowers Carpenters Coopers Painters Plaisterers Sailers Overseers

Stations, Smiths Whites, Smiths Blacks, Smiths Black Boy Apprent., Masons Whites, Masons Blacks, Masons Black Boys Apprent., Brick Makers White, Brick Makers Black Boys Appren., Stone Blowers White, Stone Blowers Black Boys Appren., Carpenters White, Carpenters Black, Carpenters Black Boys Appren., Coopers White, Coopers Black, Coopers Black Boy Apprent., Painters Whites, Painters Black Boys Apprent., Plaisterers White, Plaisterers Black Boys Apprent., Sailers Coxswain, Sailers Crew, Overseers Whites, Overseers Black, Stone Sawyers White, Baker White, Labourers White, Men Slaves Black, Total

Sandy Bay Fort: Smiths Whites 1, Smiths Blacks 0, Smiths Black Boy Apprent. 0, Masons Whites 0, Masons Blacks 1, Masons Black Boys Apprent. 2, Brick Makers White 0, Brick Makers Black Boys Appren. 0, Stone Blowers White 6, Stone Blowers Black Boys Appren. 2, Carpenters White 0, Carpenters Black 1, Carpenters Black Boys Appren. 0, Coopers White 0, Coopers Black 0, Coopers Black Boy Apprent. 0, Painters Whites 0, Painters Black Boys Apprent. 0, Plaisterers White 0, Plaisterers Black Boys Apprent. 0, Sailers Coxswain 0, Sailers Crew 0, Overseers Whites 4, Overseers Black 1, Stone Sawyers White 0, Baker White 1, Labourers White 52, Men Slaves Black 43, Total 114

James's Valley Fort: Smiths Whites 2, Smiths Blacks 2, Smiths Black Boy Apprent. 1, Masons Whites 2, Masons Blacks 1, Masons Black Boys Apprent. 4, Brick Makers White 0, Brick Makers Black Boys Appren. 0, Stone Blowers White 0, Stone Blowers Black Boys Appren. 0, Carpenters White 7, Carpenters Black 3, Carpenters Black Boys Appren. 3, Coopers White 1, Coopers Black 1, Coopers Black Boy Apprent. 1, Painters Whites 1, Painters Black Boys Apprent. 1, Plaisterers White 1, Plaisterers Black Boys Apprent. 1, Sailers Coxswain 2, Sailers Crew 12, Overseers Whites 1, Overseers Black 0, Stone Sawyers White 2, Baker White 0, Labourers White 8, Men Slaves Black 6, Total 64

Plantation House: Smiths Whites 0, Smiths Blacks 0, Smiths Black Boy Apprent. 0, Masons Whites 0, Masons Blacks 2, Masons Black Boys Apprent. 4, Brick Makers White 1, Brick Makers Black Boys Appren. 5, Stone Blowers White 0, Stone Blowers Black Boys Appren. 0, Carpenters White 0, Carpenters Black 0, Carpenters Black Boys Appren. 0, Coopers White 0, Coopers Black 0, Coopers Black Boy Apprent. 0, Painters Whites 0, Painters Black Boys Apprent. 0, Plaisterers White 3, Plaisterers Black Boys Apprent. 2, Sailers Coxswain 0, Sailers Crew 0, Overseers Whites 1, Overseers Black 0, Stone Sawyers White 0, Baker White 0, Labourers White 12, Men Slaves Black 3, Total 32

Total: Smiths Whites 3, Smiths Blacks 2, Smiths Black Boy Apprent. 1, Masons Whites 2, Masons Blacks 4, Masons Black Boys Apprent. 10, Brick Makers White 1, Brick Makers Black Boys Appren. 6, Stone Blowers White 6, Stone Blowers Black Boys Appren. 2, Carpenters White 7, Carpenters Black 4, Carpenters Black Boys Appren. 3, Coopers White 1, Coopers Black 1, Coopers Black Boy Apprent. 1, Painters Whites 1, Painters Black Boys Apprent. 1, Plaisterers White 4, Plaisterers Black Boys Apprent. 3, Sailers Coxswain 2, Sailers Crew 12, Overseers Whites 6, Overseers Black 1, Stone Sawyers White 2, Baker White 1, Labourers White 72, Men Slaves Black 52, Total 210

(signed)

Archd. Mitchell Engineer

&ca.

The general abstract enclosed with Captain Mitchell's letter counted the craftsmen and labourers employed for the Company at each station on 21 April 1766, and Archibald Mitchell signed it as engineer.

Sandy Bay fort, smiths: 1 white, 0 slaves, 0 slave boy apprentices

Sandy Bay fort, masons: 0 white, 1 slave, 2 slave boy apprentices

Sandy Bay fort, brickmakers: 0 white, 0 slave boy apprentices

Sandy Bay fort, stone blasters: 6 white, 2 slave boy apprentices

Sandy Bay fort, carpenters: 0 white, 1 slave, 0 slave boy apprentices

Sandy Bay fort, coopers: 0 white, 0 slaves, 0 slave boy apprentices

Sandy Bay fort, painters: 0 white, 0 slave boy apprentices

Sandy Bay fort, plasterers: 0 white, 0 slave boy apprentices

Sandy Bay fort, sailors: 0 coxswains, 0 boat's crew

Sandy Bay fort, overseers: 4 white, 1 slave

Sandy Bay fort, stone sawyers: 0 white

Sandy Bay fort, bakers: 1 white

Sandy Bay fort, labourers: 52 white

Sandy Bay fort, men slaves: 43 slaves

Sandy Bay fort, total: 114 men and boys

James's Valley fort, smiths: 2 white, 2 slaves, 1 slave boy apprentice

James's Valley fort, masons: 2 white, 1 slave, 4 slave boy apprentices

James's Valley fort, brickmakers: 0 white, 0 slave boy apprentices

James's Valley fort, stone blasters: 0 white, 0 slave boy apprentices

James's Valley fort, carpenters: 7 white, 3 slaves, 3 slave boy apprentices

James's Valley fort, coopers: 1 white, 1 slave, 1 slave boy apprentice

James's Valley fort, painters: 1 white, 1 slave boy apprentice

James's Valley fort, plasterers: 1 white, 1 slave boy apprentice

James's Valley fort, sailors: 2 coxswains, 12 boat's crew

James's Valley fort, overseers: 1 white, 0 slaves

James's Valley fort, stone sawyers: 2 white

James's Valley fort, bakers: 0 white

James's Valley fort, labourers: 8 white

James's Valley fort, men slaves: 6 slaves

James's Valley fort, total: 64 men and boys

Plantation House, smiths: 0 white, 0 slaves, 0 slave boy apprentices

Plantation House, masons: 0 white, 2 slaves, 4 slave boy apprentices

Plantation House, brickmakers: 1 white, 5 slave boy apprentices

Plantation House, stone blasters: 0 white, 0 slave boy apprentices

Plantation House, carpenters: 0 white, 0 slaves, 0 slave boy apprentices

Plantation House, coopers: 0 white, 0 slaves, 0 slave boy apprentices

Plantation House, painters: 0 white, 0 slave boy apprentices

Plantation House, plasterers: 3 white, 2 slave boy apprentices

Plantation House, sailors: 0 coxswains, 0 boat's crew

Plantation House, overseers: 1 white, 0 slaves

Plantation House, stone sawyers: 0 white

Plantation House, bakers: 0 white

Plantation House, labourers: 12 white

Plantation House, men slaves: 3 slaves

Plantation House, total: 32 men and boys

All stations, smiths: 3 white, 2 slaves, 1 slave boy apprentice

All stations, masons: 2 white, 4 slaves, 10 slave boy apprentices

All stations, brickmakers: 1 white, 5 slave boy apprentices

All stations, stone blasters: 6 white, 2 slave boy apprentices

All stations, carpenters: 7 white, 4 slaves, 3 slave boy apprentices

All stations, coopers: 1 white, 1 slave, 1 slave boy apprentice

All stations, painters: 1 white, 1 slave boy apprentice

All stations, plasterers: 4 white, 3 slave boy apprentices

All stations, sailors: 2 coxswains, 12 boat's crew

All stations, overseers: 6 white, 1 slave

All stations, stone sawyers: 2 white

All stations, bakers: 1 white

All stations, labourers: 72 white

All stations, men slaves: 52 slaves

All stations, total: 210 men and boys

Interpretations

The abstract showed a deliberate plan to train slaves in the building trades. Twenty-six slave boys were bound as apprentices across eight crafts, ten of them to the masons, five to the brickmakers and three each to the carpenters and plasterers, and 11 grown slaves already worked as smiths, masons, carpenters and a cooper. White craftsmen were soldiers paid 1s 6d to 3s 6d a day on top of their wages, or contracted tradesmen such as the master mason at £120 0s 0d a year. A slave who learned the trade as a boy cost the Company his food and clothing for life. Mitchell therefore placed apprentices beside every white craftsman, with the aim of replacing hired skill by owned skill within a few years. The 37 pairs of shoes and 30 yards of canvas issued to slave craftsmen in the quarter to 31 March 1766 clothed that group.

More than half of the whole workforce stood at Sandy Bay. The fort there employed 114 of the 210, including 52 white labourers, 43 slaves, all six stone blasters and five of the seven overseers. The numbers confirmed the tripling of labourers that Mitchell's letter attributed to the Council after the storeships arrived, and they marked Sandy Bay as the principal new work, sited beside the limestone quarry he opened. The party was large enough to need its own baker and its own smith to sharpen tools.

The white labourers were soldiers. The 72 listed matched the scale of extra work paid for in the paymaster's account, and with the white craftsmen they took over 100 men out of a garrison of about 330 on any working day. The Company's 52 labouring slaves were fewer than the soldiers employed beside them, which bore out Mitchell's complaint that the Africans brought by Captain Skottowe supplied far less labour than expected.

The two coxswains and 12 boat's crew at James's Valley were the longboat's men, counted as part of the works because they carried stone, lime and stores. They corresponded to the first and second coxswains on the civil list and to the 805½ days of boat work paid in the quarter.

Brickmaking was placed at Plantation House, where one white brickmaker worked with five slave boys. The clay ground, sheds and kiln described in the letter therefore lay in the interior near the Governor's country residence, and the bricks were first intended for the repairs to that house.

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363

Captn. Henry Bazett this day presented the following Petition

vizt.

To the Worshipl. John Skottowe Esqr. Governor &ca. Council

The Humble Petition of Henry Bazett

Sheweth

That your Petitioner hath a Lease expired for six

Acres of Land, lying in Sandy Bay, your Petitioner therefore humbly

prays, your Worship and Council will be pleased to grant him a renewal

of the Same

And your Petitioner will ever pray

St. Helena

21st. April 1766

(signed)

Henry Bazett

Granted

John Skottowe

Danl. Corneille

M Purling

Thos. Kirkpatrick

Captain Henry Bazett petitioned Governor Skottowe and the Council on 21 April 1766 about six acres of land at Sandy Bay. His lease of that ground was at an end, and he asked for it to be renewed. The Council granted the request.

John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, Matthew Purling and Thomas Kirkpatrick signed the consultation.

Interpretations

The petition showed that the island's farmland was held on the same footing as its house plots. The Company owned the soil and let it for fixed terms, so a planter's title to his fields lapsed when the lease ran out and revived only by the Council's grant. Robert Ballard renewed the lease of part of his house in James's Valley in the same way on 7 April 1766. The system kept every holding within the Council's reach at regular intervals, which let it adjust rents and refuse a tenant who gave offence.

Bazett was captain of the second company and was named churchwarden on 31 March 1766. A serving officer who also leased farmland was typical of the garrison's senior men, whose plantations supplied produce to the Company and the shipping and earned them more than their pay.

His six acres lay at Sandy Bay, where the Company was then building its principal new fortification and where Captain Mitchell reported a large limestone quarry and a new road on the same day. The Council renewed the lease without recorded conditions, at a time when 114 workmen were stationed in the bay and when land there was gaining in use and value from the works.

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EAP 1364 St Helena

Document Name and Date
St Helena Records 1765–1766

Dimensions (l x h x depth) (cm)
48 cm x 32 cm x 5 cm

No. written pages
363

No. blank pages
6

Spine and cover
Good condition

Inside pages
Pages not numbered
Foxing present
Some pages have tattered edges

Additional comments

Time taken to photograph (hours)
2 hours