Introduction: This is the 48th 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/EAP1364-1-1-47.
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.
Pagination: The pages are not numbered. Therefore, for reference purposes, the first page of the records on Film No. 5 is designated as page 1 (location 5/1), with numbering continuing sequentially through the end of the volume.
Dates: The Council's first meeting took place on 27 March 1769, with the final meeting occurring on 16 October of the same year. All the sessions were convened during the administration of John Skottowe (1764-1782).
AI Generated Summary
Introduction
The Council minutes and quarterly accounts from 1 January 1768/9 to 16 October 1769 record St Helena under Governor John Skottowe, with Matthew Purling and, until 1 April 1769, Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick in Council, and with Lieutenant Governor Daniel Corneille from 7 May 1769. Britain had been at peace with France and Spain since 1763. [Film No. 5–414]
Governance and Administration
Under a Council order of 20 March 1768/9 a vestry met at the chapel in the valley and nominated Richard Goodwin, James Greentree and Jonathan Doveton for sheriff, Jeremiah Smith as constable, four churchwardens and two overseers for each of the East, West and South Divisions; most nominees, among them the secretary Matthew Bazett, Lieutenant Greentree, the factor Doveton and Solomon St Maurice, lieutenant and master at arms, were Company men. On 27 March 1769 the Council named Goodwin sheriff and issued warrants only to Samuel Alexander and St Maurice as churchwardens, leaving Matthew Bazett and Orlando Bagley junior unsworn, and to Elisha Jeakes, Isaac Knipe and George Alexander as overseers. Goodwin, Alexander, St Maurice and Smith were sworn on 24 April 1769. Under a notice of 17 October 1768 the churchwardens were to report when the commons, closed each year from 1 February, were fit for grazing. [Film No. 12–13, 95]
The Council had censured Kirkpatrick on 19 July 1768 for false charges against Corneille, which involved a pencilled paper from Desfountain and Kirkpatrick's own letter ending "Burn this"; Corneille resigned and left the island on 13 July 1768. On 1 April 1769 the Duke of Albany brought the Court of Directors' packet; Kirkpatrick pleaded illness, and the secretary read him the paragraphs dismissing him. The packet also carried orders on Greentree, Bazett and Mahoney that the minutes did not record and granted Beale and Kennedy £30 a year each from 24 June 1768. Kirkpatrick drew full councillor's pay to 31 March 1769, and his paymaster's disbursements for that quarter came before the Council on 17 April 1769. Skottowe and Purling formed the whole Council from 1 April to 7 May 1769. [Film No. 16–17, 38, 59]
On 14 April 1769 the Council protested to Harry Verelst and the Council of Fort William that Bengal had styled the Governor of St Helena "Deputy Governor", stating that the island answered to the Court alone, which used the title Governor, and blaming the Bengal Secretary's Office. [Film No. 33–34]
The civil list for the quarter to 31 March 1769, unchanged from the last quarter of 1768, paid Skottowe £125 0s 0d in salary and £31 14s 9d for servants, Purling £62 10s 0d and the engineer Archibald Mitchell £77 10s 0d. The quarter ran 90 days against 92; salaried men drew full quarterly pay while daily-paid soldiers lost two days, a private drawing £3 15s 0d in place of £3 16s 8d. The post of overseer of the works lapsed after Thomas Payne's dismissal on 12 December 1768, and his successor as clerk of the works, George Bazett, was paid from the contingent account. [Film No. 59–61, 66]
The Speke arrived late on 6 May 1769 with the Court's packet; Corneille landed on 7 May, rejoined the Council on 8 May and drew pay from 6 May as Lieutenant Governor and as captain of the First Company, with £277 2s 6d of arrears from 13 July 1768 paid by the Court's order on 6 May. On 9 May the Council announced the packet's changes. Each officer assented to two unrecorded articles of the general letter before learning of his pay rise. John Bazett and Robert Gurling, perhaps heir to the planter Onesiphorus Gurling, became second lieutenants, a new rank; the pay list names the Fourth Company's new second lieutenant Robert Gosling. William Roberts, acting adjutant since Solomon Jacobs's death, became town adjutant, and Hugh Jones replaced John Bazett as superintendent of the Company's slaves at £40 a year. Thomas Bazett was made superintendent of the works at £100 a year, though the pay list paid him 5s a day to 9 June and £100 a year from 10 June. Commission fees were fixed for the first time at £5 0s 0d for a captain, £3 10s 0d for a first lieutenant and £3 0s 0d for a second lieutenant or adjutant. [Film No. 107, 110–112, 220, 222–223, 243]
The Court's increases ran from 6 May 1769, the day the orders landed. In the quarter to 30 June Skottowe drew £172 1s 7d and Purling £73 4s 10d under five heads, and Phillip Mahoney's salary as clerk of the peace was raised to £20 a year. In the quarter to 30 September Skottowe drew £150 0s 0d, a rate of £600 a year against £500, with £31 14s 9d for servants; Corneille £62 10s 0d salary and £25 0s 0d table allowance, £350 a year, besides £59 6s 3d as captain and a mutton allowance of £3 a quarter backdated to 6 May; Purling's councillor's salary rose from £15 0s 0d to £32 10s 0d a quarter, the secretary Matthew Bazett's and storekeeper James Powell's from £17 10s 0d to £27 10s 0d and the factors' from £7 10s 0d to £12 10s 0d or £15 0s 0d. The rise excluded the tradesmen: the master mason William Holbrook drew £30, the carpenter John Robinson £25 and the cooper and armourer £15 each, as before. [Film No. 220–221, 241, 315–317, 343]
William Wrangham conducted the paymaster's business from 1 April 1769 and was paid for it from that date, drawing £47 2s 0d under six heads in the quarter to 30 June. On 19 June the Council kept him as assistant to the accountant at £50 0s 0d a year extra until the Company's wishes were known, since no other servant had worked in that office and Purling had no time for the general books, and it proposed that the paymaster always be a civil servant ranking with the storekeeper and secretary, citing the "many blunders and mistakes" of Kirkpatrick, who had handled close to £4,000 a quarter. The same day it appointed James Desfountain to the accountant's office and William Webber Doveton to the Secretary's Office as writers at £20 a year and asked the Court to confirm them; the collector of customs, Bartholomew Wright, had been drawn away from that office at shipping times. Wright had been collector from 6 May at £30 a year, but in the quarter to 30 September he drew £12 10s 0d, a rate of £50, and the writer John Goodwin drew house rent. [Film No. 160–161, 221, 316]
Corneille was absent ill on 26 June 1769. On 1 July the Council granted the sergeant major 1s a day extra, subject to the Court's approval; James Goudy drew 2s 8d a day as sergeant major against an ordinary sergeant's 20d. [Film No. 164, 166–167, 319]
A notice of 28 August 1769 required every inhabitant to return a signed account of family, land and cattle by 20 September and to pay the year's rents in person at the Castle on 30 September, and closed the stores from 9 September to 9 October. On 4 September the Council named Corneille, who held no post in the storekeeper's or accountant's department, to take the annual account of stock. On 2 October Thomas Bazett reported the quarter's works and the Council fixed the order of the next; it also recorded that repairs to Corneille's house rested on an order of 2 March 1766/7. [Film No. 274, 282, 301–302]
Military Affairs and Defence
The gunner's account for March 1768/9 recorded 223 guns and 656 pounds 6 ounces of powder, nearly all on alarms and salutes: 11 guns for Major Gowan going aboard on 13 March 1768/9, 15 for seven ships passing on 18 March 1768/9, and on 29 March two shot from Banks's, the month's only live rounds. April 1769 used 215 guns and 568 pounds 12 ounces; every Company ship received nine guns on arrival and departure, Purling's Battery at Banks's, completed in August 1768, fired its first recorded alarm from two 18-pounders on 1 April, and six 18-pounders gave a double alarm for five unknown ships on 23 April. May used 194 guns and 389 pounds 3 ounces, with 17 for Corneille's landing, 15 for a Dutch ship, 11 for the French Saint Étienne and nine for the Danes; gun bores were searched with wool. June, the first account signed by Thomas Bazett, used 87 guns and 427 pounds 3 ounces: 21 guns for the King's birthday on 4 June included a newly mounted 32-pounder and two 24-pounders, an 18-pounder at Purling's Battery fired at an undeclared French ship, probably Le Sage, on 2 June, and blasting took 100 pounds at Mitchell's Line on 6 June and 104 pounds at Munden's Point on 25 June. [Film No. 29, 108–109, 145–147, 173]
Blasting at Munden's Point took 104 pounds of powder in July 1769 and 112 pounds in August, with more for stone at the ferry; alarms used 4-pounders and 1-pounders, and the August return listed worn stores for 32-pounders and 24-pounders. Roger Carter, entered as "Governor Carter", received 17 guns on landing on 14 July and leaving on 4 August. Lieutenant Welch's funeral on 22 August used 4 pounds 15 ounces of powder against 2 pounds 4 ounces for Private William Holmes. September used 55 guns and 163 pounds 13 ounces: 11 for the Essex sailing on 14 September and nine for the Shrewsbury on 18 September, three 18-pound shot from Purling's Battery on 22 September to bring to a Dutch ship, probably the Rhynsburg, and 11 guns on her arrival on 23 September and 15 on her departure on 30 September. Small stores included copper rivets for the drums, tallow for the main fort's portcullis and the Longwood carts and paper for signal cartridges. Express messengers carrying alarms numbered 26 at 5s each in the quarter to 30 June and five in the quarter to 30 September. [Film No. 241, 249, 264, 284, 306, 341]
On 14 April 1769 Captain Alexander Stewart of the Duke of Albany offered to carry condemned iron guns to England free as ballast. Mitchell, captain of artillery, returned 46 unserviceable guns from the old works, mostly 2-pounders, 6-pounders and swivels; on his advice the Council kept the 12-pounder, the four 9-pounders and 10 of the 6-pounders for the new batteries until guns ordered from England arrived and shipped the other 31 on 15 April. The shipping list gave eight swivels against three in the return and omitted five 6-pounders. The same day the Council sent Bombay a copy of its unanswered artillery indent of 1768. [Film No. 32–33, 35, 108]
Mitchell told the Council on 2 January 1768/9 that the completion of Munden's Point would mark his departure, and on 6 March 1768/9 reported Lemon Valley finished but for the gun platforms. In the quarter to 31 March Lemon Valley drew hinges, a padlock, plate iron, gutters and dog nails, and Munden's Point 410 pounds of cordage, 389 pounds of iron and 21 pounds of German steel; stone saws went to Sandy Bay and nails to the alarm house. Each work took about 1,491 labourers' days at 1s, against nearly 6,900 at Lemon Valley and 2,300 at Munden's Point in the last quarter of 1768, and Munden's Point took 540 days of stone blowing, 310 of masonry and 135 of smiths' work at 1s 6d. Lieutenant Thomas Bazett, superintendent at Lemon Valley and Mitchell's recommended successor, was lodged there by Gabriel Jeakes for 13 weeks at £1 0s 0d. [Film No. 56–58, 79, 81]
The Company's yawl was lost in the surf in January 1768/9. On 27 March 1769 the Council bought the engineer a cutter with oars, masts and sails for £25 0s 0d to carry materials to Munden's Point and rigged her from the stores; the minutes name the seller as Captain Sadler, who had paid £29 0s 0d for her, but the paymaster's voucher names Captain Lauder of the Duke of Gloucester. [Film No. 13, 58, 79]
On 17 April 1769 Mitchell reported Lemon Valley finished and its plan sent to England; at Munden's Point the rampart stood at full height and the battery platform was complete, with the merlons, gun and mortar platforms, main magazine, a ready-powder store in each flank and a guardhouse still to do. Sickness had kept soldiers on guard, so of the two demi-bastions in James's Valley one was only nearly pulled down; a violent surf had damaged Sandy Bay. The Council called the delay unavoidable and promised every man essential duties could spare. Mitchell, in uncertain health, had sought an early passage to Europe, but the Court, writing by the Duke of Albany, told him to await its orders, and he professed his readiness to obey. [Film No. 85–87]
At the same meeting the Council put to Mitchell the Court's question in the 42nd paragraph of its general letter on the new merlons of the upper battery at Banks's. He had overseen the building of such merlons in the South Bastion at Gibraltar as a lieutenant in the King's Artillery, where shot marks on the Moorish castle, built of the same materials, showed their strength; he had used them at Purling's Battery and Munden's Point, which ships could bombard, and cheaper stone at Sandy Bay and Lemon Valley, where only boats could close, judging the island's flinty stone dangerous under cannon fire. The record never names the material. [Film No. 84]
In the quarter to 30 June 1769 Munden's Point drew £46 10s 1d of stores, including 1,633 pounds of cordage, trowels, sieves, watering cans and paint. The general fortifications drew £117 11s 9d, including 2,044 pounds of cordage, stone saws, crowbars, riddles and 12 wheelbarrow wheels for a quarry at Sandy Bay, four baulks for sheer legs, iron-bound cat blocks and 150 pounds of sheet lead for hoisting guns at Banks's, 96 pounds of stone colour for gun carriages at Banks's and on the Lines and bunting in red, blue and white worth £15 9s 11d for a flag for the main fort; Robert Cunningham was paid £1 10s 0d for making the Union flag. The paymaster paid 600 days of soldiers' labour at Munden's battery at 1s, and 40 gallons of arrack went to the men on the works. [Film No. 215–219, 249, 343]
On 14 June 1769 Mitchell surrendered, against a receipt signed by Skottowe, Corneille and Purling, plans of the fortifications of James's Valley, Sandy Bay (two), Lemon Valley and Munden's Point, the upper battery at Banks's, Plantation House, the Lieutenant Governor's house and the elevation of a church for James's Valley; the Council refused to tear up those he had drawn for his own use. His remarks of the same day for Thomas Bazett left the Lemon Valley platforms awaiting Purbeck stone after the alteration at Sandy Bay, Munden's Point drawn for quick completion and the James's Valley demi-bastions next, with a traverse against enfilade, then a new parapet and platforms for the curtain. Breakneck Valley, whose old wall was badly placed, and Friar's Valley lay between James's Valley and the Horse Pasture, and Tom Tom's, Old Woman's and Swanley Valleys between the Horse Pasture and South West Point; walls across valleys were to be buttressed and filled behind so torrents could pass over. The coast from Sandy Bay to Prosperous Bay needed no works except against "gross surprise and neglect" of the lookouts in war. Prosperous Bay and Turk's Cap were the real landing places, too remote for shore works, and the 4-pounder battery at Turk's Cap too weak; he proposed 50 men to hold the routes inland, pickets on the headlands, a flying party between the posts and the fort's four 6-pounder field guns moved forward. [Film No. 155–158, 215, 217]
Thomas Bazett's report of 3 July 1769 stated that from April to June the workmen had gathered materials for a guardhouse and powder magazines at Munden's Point, repaired surf damage at Mitchell's Line, taken the roof off Plantation House, repaired Company houses in James's Valley and cut embrasure and cordon stones; the Council ordered him to press on at Munden's Point, finish the Lemon Valley platforms and gather materials for the east bastion in James's Valley. [Film No. 169, 173]
In the quarter to 30 September 1769 soldiers drew 1s a day extra as labourers and 1s 6d as skilled men: Munden's Battery took 5,467 labourers' days, about 60 men a day, at over £350, and 549¼ days of stone blowers' work; the east bastion took 301 days of stonecutters' and 1,592 labourers' work; the rest went on the Lemon Valley platforms, rails for the Mount, the Lieutenant Governor's house, sentry boxes, boats and gun carriages. The same account paid for pulling down Plantation House, which no minute records, and 112 days of labour, with 23½ gallons of arrack, for bringing cannon down from Longwood and Plantation House. Stores for the general works cost £122 3s 8d, of which coal for burning lime took £67 18s 6d, besides padlocks for the lime house, stone saws for the Sandy Bay quarry, 122 pounds of iron for rails at the Mount and Sandy Bay and timber for barrows and handles. Munden's Point drew £44 3s 9d, including 13 pickaxes, 43 handles, 4 pounds of cordage and timber worth £34 12s 6d in 100 deals, seven pieces of Riga timber and four of oak; Lemon Valley drew £21 3s 11d, mostly oak and Riga timber. On 2 October Thomas Bazett reported stone carried to Lemon Valley for the platforms and proposed further work at Munden's Point, repairs to Mitchell's Line and the demolition and rebuilding of the east bastion, and the Council ordered all three pressed on. [Film No. 264, 284–285, 301–302, 345, 347, 384–387]
On 5 October 1769 the rock face dug out to Mitchell's design for the magazine at Munden's Point fell, killing Private Daniel Armin, who had re-enlisted for £10 0s 0d on 10 April, and badly injuring another soldier. On 13 October Corneille reported cracks through what would have been the magazine roof in rock of solid layers parted by "rotten earth" and advised blasting off the overhanging eastern point and building a magazine of masonry on the battery; Bazett's separate report agreed, and the Council resolved that day to abandon the excavation. The inventory of 30 September held 77 pickaxes, 153 spades, 101 iron shovels, 19 crowbars, five screw jacks, the largest valued at £7 10s 2d, 32 masons' stone rammers, over 120 trowels and over 130 masons' chisels. [Film No. 241, 303, 312–313, 398–401]
The pay list came to £3,008 0s 5d for the last quarter of 1768, £2,920 8s 7d for the quarter to 31 March 1769, £3,334 12s 1½d for the quarter to 30 June, nearly three-quarters of it for some 400 soldiers, and £3,469 8s 7d for the quarter to 30 September, which the paymaster's account gives as £3,489 8s 7d. Daily pay was 10d for a private, 14d for a corporal and 20d for a sergeant of foot, and in the artillery 12d for a matross, 16d for a gunner, 18d for a corporal or bombardier and 2s for a sergeant; officers drew fixed quarterly sums. Lieutenant Thomas Leech, suspended for six months from November 1768, drew nothing in the first quarter while John Shirley drew full pay acting for him; Leech returned as first lieutenant of the artillery on 6 May and headed it after Mitchell's resignation. Nathan Sempill's lieutenancy was divided between him on half pay and Robert Gibson acting, under an arrangement of 14 November 1768, while the Court considered his pension; Gibson still drew exactly half a second lieutenant's pay in the second and third quarters, and a Nathan Sample drew a pension of £13 15s 11d in the second. New second lieutenants from 6 May were Charles Ross Stewart, also adjutant, and William Caldwell in the First Company, John Bazett in the Second, Thomas Statham in the Third and Gosling in the Fourth. In the third quarter Corneille, Henry Bazett, Richard Beale and John Howard commanded the four companies. [Film No. 72, 75, 223–224, 230, 233, 236–239, 319, 329, 338]
Sickness ran through the garrison from January to April 1769, with no diagnosis recorded. Deaths were Private William Robinson on 5 January 1768/9, Private Henry Brown on 18 January 1768/9, the adjutant Solomon Jacobs on 7 February 1768/9, Private Richard Gregory, drowned at Munden's Point, on 12 February 1768/9, Matross Daniel Maloney on 27 February 1768/9, Sergeant Thomas Collier of the artillery on 11 March 1768/9, Private Joseph Banks on 20 March 1768/9, Private Matthew Palmer on 1 April 1769, Sergeant John Fleming on 5 April, Private James Bullett on 7 April, James Gates on 17 or 18 April, John Beauchamp on 19 April, Robert Dickson (Dickens in the pay list) on 20 April, Robert Brown on 7 May, William Bunn, Thomas James and Corporal Thomas Blake on 29 May, the recruit John Seale on 21 June, Matross John Lewis after a fall from the rocks on 28 July, William Holmes on 15 August, Lieutenant John Ham White or Welch on 21 August and Charles Golding on 1 or 2 September. The sexton was paid 2s 6d a grave for eight soldiers in each of the first two quarters. Bunn, Blake and James also appear among discharged soldiers paid subsistence on 14 June. [Film No. 15, 21, 55, 61, 63, 67–70, 72, 74, 81, 86, 90, 225, 227–228, 234, 236, 249, 258, 260, 267, 321, 323, 329]
Discharges followed the homeward ships: Cornelius Fish and John Fish, a sergeant broken on 6 October 1768, on 13 February 1768/9 as the Valentine prepared to sail, James Byron on 13 March 1768/9 with the Royal Captain and Bute, John Weston, Robert Davis, John Watson and Richard Vincent on 27 and 28 March and Sergeants Thomas Pearce and William Rowlands, Matross Martin Newman and Private Thomas Wellington on 3 April. James Hogg left the Second Company on 14 February 1768/9 but kept his post as carpenter's mate under his five-year undertaking of 7 November 1768. William Luke and Andrew Grimes left by finding substitutes, Philip Cook, who enlisted on 30 March, and Arundel Evans; Gunner John Osborne was released on finding George Hains, on 2 April by the minutes and 27 April by the pay list. Matross John Webley was discharged under the Court's orders without completing his term or finding a substitute, on 6 April by the minutes and 3 April by the pay list. Seven soldiers took discharges between 2 May and 12 June. Richard Wellman, Thomas Roberts and Nicholas Bushell were discharged on 10 July and drew seven days' subsistence at 6d until the Dutton sailed, Stephen Pappe on 17 July, John Tack, reduced from artillery sergeant to matross on 24 July, on 26 July, after which he shipped home as a seaman in the Dutton, and John Jacks and Thomas Richards on 14 August. John Foxon and William Ford, discharged as invalids on 19 July, went home in the Sea Horse at £5 0s 0d each paid to Captain Dampier. [Film No. 11, 13, 20, 26–27, 62–65, 67, 101, 106–107, 112, 126, 129, 148, 237–238, 258–260, 267–268, 270, 321, 323–325, 327, 332, 336–337, 339]
On 27 and 29 March 1769 the Council paid 14 soldiers £10 0s 0d each to re-enlist for five years, against £2 10s 0d to new recruits such as John Merritt on 29 March and Andrew Schonier on 30 or 31 March. Abraham Jervis, probably the seaman Abraham Jewer of the Lord Mansfield, enlisted on 8 April. Robert Bruce, surgeon of the Duke of Albany, was paid 5s a head on 22 April for 38 recruits, many entered from 1 April. Re-enlistment at £10 0s 0d followed for Daniel Armain on 10 April, William Cocksay on 13 April, 12 time-expired men on 22 May, among them the artillery corporal James Parfit, the bombardier William Stapleford and the drummer Joseph Becham, Thomas Lyne on 12 June, James Moyce on 26 June and Stephen Price and Thomas Taylor on 3 and 25 September. New men received £2 10s 0d, as William Ferris on 8 April and Thomas Love on 2 May; £5 0s 0d, as John Jacobs on 9 or 10 May and Alexander Henderson of the Horsendon, taken with Captain Jamieson's recorded permission, on 12 June, where one copy of the account gives £3 0s 0d; £3 0s 0d, as John Mayer or Moyse of the York on 24 June; and £4 0s 0d, as Thomas Christian, a seaman of the York, Joseph Vanderhouse or Stephen Vanderhorst and Jacob Peters or Paterson on 2 or 3 July. On 2 October George Watts, Benjamin Seale and Thomas Hayes, island boys, enlisted as drummers and fifer for 40s each and three grown drummers moved into the ranks, and on 13 October James Sullivan, one of 13 invalids in the Thames, enlisted for £5 0s 0d, having served as a soldier at Madras. Discharged men drew 6d a day subsistence until a ship took them. [Film No. 13, 20, 26–27, 79, 107, 112, 126, 148, 165, 167, 171, 241, 245, 247, 251, 302, 314, 324–325, 331–332, 337, 339, 341]
Vacancies were filled from below at once. Sergeant William Roberts of the Third Company acted as adjutant from 7 February 1768/9, the salary divided by days between him and Jacobs. John Dobson, whose evidence at the inquiry of 12 December 1768 had helped clear Mitchell of Payne's charges, and Samuel Bingrave were promoted on 6 January 1768/9, when George Warrington moved from the Third Company to the artillery and William Luke the other way; Samuel Smith's entries are contradictory. Collier's death lifted John Jack to sergeant, Thomas Tyler to corporal, Sedgwick Wetherall to bombardier and William Halsall to gunner on 12 March 1768/9, and William Blavin of the Fourth Company took the matross's place; Samuel Webb replaced Maloney on 28 February 1768/9. Matthew Dunhill became a gunner on 28 April after Osborne's discharge. David Dennis's discharge lifted Thomas Jones, Charles Abraham and George Smith on 7 May. Corporals John Granger and William Smith were reduced after 32 and 78 days, Sergeants Samuel Johnson on 22 May, Joseph West on 12 June and Stephen Piper on 15 June, George Roe on 24 July, Thomas Townsend on 26 July and Samuel Packer on 28 July, Corporal Thomas Palmer on 11 September, Gunner Dunhill on 17 July and Gunner George Smith on 21 August, replaced by George King and James Walter; John Millard resigned his corporal's rank on 3 April. No offence is recorded. [Film No. 61, 67, 72–74, 223, 226–227, 229–231, 233–234, 237–239, 318–325, 333–336]
The artillery drew matrosses from the foot companies: William Cutts on 28 April 1769, as Jonathan Mallet returned to the infantry, William Pink on 6 May, James Walter on 23 May, John Coleman on 13 June, Alexander Henderson on 11 July, James Dunn on 26 July and Samuel Peacock on 29 July. Thomas Little and Abraham Miller exchanged companies on 28 April, which one entry dates 17 April against the 27 days paid, and Patrick Newland and John Blain on 6 and 7 August. The cadet Richard Mason, serving from 15 May at a sergeant's 20d, was commissioned in Welch's place on 28 August until the Company's wishes were known. [Film No. 228, 232, 234–236, 238–239, 274–275, 319, 321, 325, 333–336]
The garrison account for the quarter to 30 June 1769 came to £1,217 17s 5d, chiefly the yearly clothing: coats and breeches £734 1s 2d, hats £51 18s 10d and 400 pairs of stockings £64 3s 4d, issued to 291 privates, 16 corporals, 16 sergeants and 14 drummers and, in the artillery, 12 matrosses, 8 gunners, 4 bombardiers, 4 corporals and 4 sergeants, with the marshal's coat and 6 watch coats; 385 shirts, 423 pairs of shoes, 393 horsehair stocks, thread for alterations and 204 blankets marked with oil and paint against sale. Salt meat worth £28 10s 2d made good 175 pieces, reckoned at 6 pounds, that weighed light. The account for the quarter to 30 September came to £92 8s 11d, including 47 pounds of tea for the guards, 237 pieces of pork for short weight, 108 hats, 100 of them omitted from the June account, and first kit for recruits. On 30 September the stores held 1,346 soldiers' shirts, 1,261 pairs of men's shoes, 1,091 pairs of stockings, 960 pairs of shoe buckles and 385 cockades but only 127 coats and breeches and 41 soldiers' hats. Invalids drew 93 pieces of pork and 2 of beef in the first quarter, and John Lawrence 9d a day. [Film No. 51, 60, 203–205, 376–377, 392, 394–396, 407–408]
Settlement, Land and Agriculture
On 27 March 1769 the Council granted Nathan Sempill the land Purling had reported could be let, at 5s an acre, and completed leases to James Greentree for 26 acres at Thompson's Hill in the West Division at 2s 6d, part of it barren, requested on 24 October 1768 and valued on 21 November 1768, and to William Hayes for 3 acres in the East Division at 5s. Nails went to gates at the Long Wood pasture after Purling's advice of 27 February 1768/9 that the wooded land there was unfit for private hands. [Film No. 14–15, 53–54]
On 17 April 1769 James Greentree, executor of Thomas Greentree, had his sons James and Walter put in place of Thomas Greentree and Samuel Overton as lives in a lease of 3 acres in Sandy Bay Valley for a fine of half a year's rent for each name, 15s 0d, and an expired lease in James's Valley renewed; on 6 June he had leave to auction leasehold land of the estate. On 10 July the Council renewed a James's Valley plot for the executors and took £7 9s 0d to put two new lives into each of two leases, 33½ acres at 4s and 3 acres at 5s. On 17 July James Greentree asked to enter his son Thomas in those leases in place of Elizabeth Greentree, who had died on 16 May, and paid £3 14s 6d; the cash book entered £11 3s 6d for three lives. New leases for lives were forbidden by the Court, but existing ones could be renewed. [Film No. 87, 143, 171, 253–254, 271]
Kirkpatrick obtained leave on 24 April 1769 to auction his 14 acres of leasehold and the land beside his house in James's Valley. On 8 May he petitioned to renew a lost lease for lives of 12 acres he called the Bolans, all its named lives being dead; the Council, with Corneille sitting, granted a 21-year lease at 5s an acre of land it called the Briars in James's Valley. On 29 May Henry Bazett and Mitchell sought waste ground beside the billiard house, which Payne had accused them in December 1768 of building with Company materials, for a kitchen; Corneille found 18 feet of frontage could be spared, and on 12 June the Council granted it to Bazett alone at 3d a foot, 4s 6d a year, executing the lease on 10 July. On 14 June Mitchell transferred his joint interest in two ground-rent leases in James's Valley to Bazett. [Film No. 95, 107–108, 129, 143, 148, 159, 171]
On 28 August 1769 the Council executed seven leases in the East Division, large tracts at 1s 6d an acre and small plots at 5s, one keeping Samuel Simpson's land for his orphans, and on 4 September four more at 2s an acre in the East Division and 1s in the South Division. The arrack society asked on 28 August for a strip beside a building it was converting into a cellar; Corneille, not Purling, inspected it and on 4 September proposed 4s a year. [Film No. 274–276, 281–282]
Margaret Alcock wrote on 25 September 1769 for a decision on common land behind her house at Sandy Bay, which she had sought with Mr Scott in 1768, when the Council refused after an unfavourable report and referred her to the Court, which had not answered; Corneille and Purling were sent to inspect. On 16 October Samuel Alexander, Orlando Bagley senior, Jonathan Doveton and Benjamin Mason, executors for the orphans of Thomas Harper, petitioned that it was the only common in the South Division, improved by grass planting on the commons, and asked for an equal share if it were let; a second petition that day came from Samuel Alexander, Richard Beale, George Alexander, John Bagley senior, John Bagley junior and John Scott, its content not surviving. [Film No. 296–297, 414]
The rent roll of 30 September 1769 showed about 4,400 acres in private hands, 2,203¾ free and 2,200 leased, besides ground rents on house plots, mostly in James Town. Richard Bagley held over 300 acres at £50 16s 11d, Purling 313½ acres at £36 6s 8d and Wrangham 232 acres at £30 12s 0d; widows such as Elizabeth Desfountain and Mary Harper held in their own names, and guardians paid for orphans. The minute put rents and dues at £656 3s 0d; the roll and cash account give £606 5s 0½d. [Film No. 297–300, 413]
The overseer John Worrall's livestock account to 31 March 1769 closed with 393 cattle, 649 sheep, 288 goats, 7 pigs, 11 horses and 1 ass. The flock rose from 611 with 45 Cape sheep bought from Captain Purvis of the Valentine in February 1768/9 at 15s and 68 more on 11 March 1768/9, though Captains Mills and Baddison had been paid for 80. The table took 41 sheep, the market and hospital 28 sheep and 3 goats, the slaves 6 goats and the shipping 13 cattle and 47,055 yams were issued, 5,700 of them to stock. Corneille signed the account to 30 June: 175 lambs from the Cape sheep of the Valentine, Kent and Verelst raised the flock to 690 despite 105 killed, 85 of them wethers, and 23 dead; cattle rose to 405 and goats to 292, and six wethers went to the Duke of Richmond. To 30 September cattle rose to 437 with 40 calves and five killed, sheep fell to 635 with 75 killed and 38 dead, goats rose to 313 and pigs to 27 after a litter of 28, the only ass died and six wethers went with Roger Carter in the Dutton. [Film No. 28, 77, 172, 305]
On 13 October 1769 Corneille reported 162 more cattle than when he took charge in 1766, owing to his care and a cut that year in the beef ships could claim under charter party, and proposed a monthly issue of fresh meat to non-commissioned officers and privates at the charter-party price, since they could not pay the planters' 5d a pound and ate no fresh meat all year. The Council resolved to give ships one third of their allowance in the coming year and to begin the monthly issue unless the Court objected. [Film No. 311–312, 314]
Plantation stores cost £18 4s 1d in the quarter to 31 March 1769, including 4,920 pounds of paddy for horses and poultry, a fleam, sheep shears and paint for garden chairs; £39 9s 0d in the quarter to 30 June, including 4,306 pounds of paddy, more pickaxes than spades, scythes, budding knives, dairy cloth and two pairs of cart wheels 2½ feet high at £8 9s 1d; and in the quarter to 30 September 4,285 pounds of paddy, 604 pounds of rice, cordage for the arbour and Longwood, a pair of cart wheels at £4 1s 9d, an axletree, edging irons, pruning knives and brimstone for the horses. Provisions sold from the plantation brought £53 18s 4d, £78 9s 11d and £41 14s 5½d in the three quarters. Samuel Parker was paid £4 10s 0d for 90 days as gardener in the first, James Parker or Packer for 43 days at 1s and three weeks at 5s 10d and Augustine Hitchcock for 15 days at 1s in the second, and Hitchcock 6s a week for 13 weeks in the third; Samuel Shilton carded wool from the Company's flock for the Castle for 23 days at 1s 6d. Lieutenant James Greentree sold 100 onions for planting on 3 June 1769 for £2 10s 0d. The constable's payments for rats and mice, under a bounty of 28 November 1768, fell from £6 18s 2d in the last quarter of 1768 to £1 18s 6d to Joseph Chamberlain in the first quarter of 1769, then £2 3s 6d and 11s 0d with £1 17s 10d. [Film No. 53–54, 77, 79, 81–82, 210–211, 245, 247, 249, 252, 339, 343, 347, 380–381, 413]
Supply and Provisioning
Canton invoices signed on 13 and 14 December 1768 numbered the island's sugar candy as one series of 59 chests at 7.5 taels a picul, about 4,000 pounds net per ship: the Grosvenor carried chests 1 to 14, the Lord Mansfield 15 to 29, the Harcourt 30 to 44 and the Pacific 45 to 59, nearly 16,000 pounds, about four times the island's use from July to December 1768. Plain sugar at 4.5 taels ran in a second series of about 3,760 pounds a ship: the Asia 1 to 14, the Clive 15 to 28 and the True Briton 43 to 56, with 29 to 42 arriving in the Tilbury on 24 April 1769, the last lot in the Horsendon on 2 June and chests 71 to 84, 3,737 pounds, in the Sea Horse on 8 July, making 84 chests in six ships and over 22,000 pounds. Servants had bought more than 6,000 pounds of sugar a quarter in 1768. On 19 May 1769 the Council asked Canton for 10 tons of sugar candy a year until further notice. [Film No. 6–7, 17–19, 31, 93, 127–128, 141–142, 170]
The London, arriving from China on 22 April 1769, brought china matching piece for piece and price for price the lot landed from the Duke of Gloucester, about 1,000 pieces in all, with tea giving the island over 1,800 pounds of Bohea and over 700 pounds each of Congo and Hyson skin for the year. The supercargoes had allowed 2 per cent off the china for breakage. The Castle took a new china service worth £10 15s 11d in the first quarter. [Film No. 14, 50, 91–92, 179]
Stores arrived short or damaged throughout the year. On 20 March 1768/9 Powell reported a meat dish, bowl, saucer and breakfast cup broken in the Duke of Gloucester and 24 pounds of sugar candy wasted from each of the Lord Mansfield and Harcourt. On 17 April 1769 he sorted the Duke of Albany's shortfalls into goods missing from intact packages, goods never shipped, breakage and loss by drying or leakage; they included four powder searchers, used to probe gun bores, while Mitchell kept 15 old guns in service, and six hogsheads of Lisbon, mountain and port wine 10 gallons short at 358 gallons. On 29 April the London's china was broken and the Queen's rice, sugar, paddy and candles short, one of her leaguers of arrack losing 17 gallons and the other 8. On 1 May the Calcutta's rice was 4 hundredweight 1 quarter 6 pounds short. On 22 May the Speke's brushes and mops were spoiled at packing, lock keys corroded by sal ammoniac in the same cask, a hogshead of Lisbon wine leaked through a stave smeared with tallow and chalk and 31 round shot for 18-pounders, which the island could not cast, were missing. The York's rice lost 2 hundredweight 1 quarter on 27 June. On 13 October the Thames's rice, sugar, paddy and 38 pounds of candles were entered as wastage and her two leaguers of arrack, gauged at 284 gallons, were 21¼ gallons short. [Film No. 14, 88–89, 100–101, 105, 122–124, 166, 310]
The Council's letters of 14 April 1769, sent in the Duke of Albany by way of Bencoolen, asked Bengal for eight maunds of the best wax candles in each ship with the usual arrack, rice and paddy, Madras for 110 pieces of longcloth in four grades from 8 to 2½ pagodas and 50 pairs of cotton stockings, and Bombay for 100 pieces of Surat chelloes with rice and paddy. Bengal sent identical consignments of rice, sugar, paddy, wax candles and Batavia arrack in the Valentine, Kent, Verelst, Queen (23 April, 1,505 rupees 11 annas 6 pies, distinguishing the heavier bazaar maund from the factory maund), Salisbury (22 May, 1,552 rupees 12 annas), Shrewsbury (28 August) and Thames (7 October, made up at Calcutta though she sailed from Madras, with sloop hire of nearly 100 rupees and a sum carried forward of 1,440 rupees 6 annas against a total of 1,440 rupees 8 annas). From Bombay the Calcutta (28 April) and York (21 June, invoiced by William Hornby) each brought 42 bags of fine rice, 32 of batty and a corge of chelloes for 850 rupees, and the Grenville (13 August) and Essex identical lots of 45 bags of beaten rice and 32 of batty worth 508 rupees. The Dutton from Madras on 14 July brought 28 pieces of superfine longcloth at 132 pagodas a corge, 40 fine at about 60 and 10 middling at about 20, rice at 80 pagodas a garce of about 9,000 pounds, paddy and two leaguers of Batavia arrack, totalling 579 pagodas 34 fanams 62 cash and signed for the accountant John Call. [Film No. 33–35, 94, 96, 116, 142, 164, 175–176, 260, 263, 269, 272–273, 303–304]
The Council bought from commanders at fixed prices: in the first quarter Captain Purvis's bill of 13 February 1768/9, £45 15s 0d, covering the Valentine's sheep, tar, pitch and Payne's passage, coal from Captain Tanner and sweet oil from Captains Lauder and Saunders; 1,246 pieces of salt beef and pork at 2s from George Stainforth of the Queen, £124 12s 0d, on a bill of 29 April 1769, though the payment is dated 26 April; table provisions and iron from Stewart of the Duke of Albany for £40 10s 0d and £3 2s 0d on 23 April; 378 pieces from William Hunt of the Tilbury for £37 16s 0d on 8 or 9 May; preserves, French brandy and 24 packs of playing cards from Jeffery Jackson of the Speke on 23 May; 44 hundredweight 2 quarters of rice at 7s 6d from John Wycke or Wyse of the Salisbury on 1 June; 560 pieces at 2s and 43 hundredweight of rice at 8s from George Hayter of the York for £73 4s 0d on 1 July; 672 pieces from Burnet Abercromby of the Grenville for £67 4s 0d on 17 August, 945 from Francis Reed of the Essex for £94 10s 0d, bought on 4 September and paid on 11 September, and 102 hundredweight 3 quarters of rice at 8s from Benjamin Jones of the Shrewsbury for £41 2s 0d. With no pepper in store, the Council had Abercromby land 3 hundredweight of the Company's homeward pepper on 14 August. William Jenkins was paid £9 15s 0d each quarter for baking 117 batches of bread at 20d. [Film No. 77, 79, 101, 113, 141, 167, 241, 243, 245, 249, 267, 270, 281, 291, 339, 341, 375]
The Company's table cost £34 6s 7d in February 1768/9, £28 15s 3d in March, £28 12s 2¼d in April, with 43 bottles of Lisbon wine, £29 12s 7d in May, £40 15s 3d in June, with 59 bottles and nearly 600 pounds of beef and mutton for the King's birthday and the last ships' officers, £34 6s 8¾d in July, £33 11s 7½d in August and £39 10s 9½d in September, with 58 bottles and beef doubled from 163½ to 347½ pounds while mutton fell from 301 to 266 pounds; in July mutton had been 268 pounds against 171¾ of beef. Diet expenses came to £71 6s 7d in the first quarter, including 94 gallons of arrack, 789 pounds of sugar candy, 253 pounds of superfine candy for the Governor's table and 60 pounds of coffee from three half-bales landed from the Bute on 27 February 1768/9; £49 13s 10d in the second, chiefly 52 gallons of arrack, 331 pounds of superfine candy and 1,425 pounds of flour, with pork outnumbering beef nearly seven to one; and £55 14s 6d in the third, with 84 gallons of arrack, 691 pounds of candy and 25 pounds of coffee. John Irvin supplied the table with £21 9s 4d of goods in the first quarter, and butter at £4 a firkin and 46 dozen bottles were bought in the third. [Film No. 30, 49–50, 79, 110, 147, 174, 202, 265, 285, 307, 339, 341, 375]
General expenses came to £89 19s 3d in the quarter to 31 March 1769, including 132 gallons of arrack for the doctor's shop and store workers and 333 pounds of candles; £207 2s 1d in the quarter to 30 June, with candles at £58 1s 4d, 208½ gallons of arrack, 34 lines and nearly 500 hooks for the Governor's and Lieutenant Governor's fishermen, ironmongery worth £31 19s 10d, 701 pounds of bar iron, 46 pounds of blister steel and coopers' tools, besides 12 box irons, ivory-handled cutlery, plated candlesticks and 12 fine blankets for the Castle and a fine hat, blue serge and shalloon for the beadle; and £114 2s 1d in the quarter to 30 September, with 73¼ gallons of arrack, 482 pounds of candles costing £54 4s 6d (317 for the Castle, 110 for the Council, 30 for the chaplain and 25 for the doctor's shop), tackle for the Lieutenant Governor's fishermen only, osnaburg to wrap the despatches, shalloon blinds for the Castle windows and nails for sentry boxes matching 22 days of carpenters' work. Repairs cost £1 17s 4d, £32 19s 3d, including £14 13s 6d of timber for Company houses and the sheds on the Lines, 117 panes of glass and 754 pounds of sheet lead for the Lieutenant Governor's house, and £24 15s 0d, including a ladle, mould, sand, chalk and ticking to recast roof lead, 76 pounds of grain tin with solder and sal ammoniac, a copper pump and 39 deals for the Lieutenant Governor's house. [Film No. 47–50, 194–202, 368–374]
The hospital drew equal weights of sugar, flour and rice each quarter: 320 pounds of each in the last quarter of 1768, 343 in the first quarter of 1769, 393 of sugar and flour and 413 of rice in the second, at £19 0s 9d, and 291 of each in the third, at £10 10s 6d. [Film No. 54, 212, 382]
The boats drew 477 pounds of cordage and arrack for the men launching and hauling up the longboats in the first quarter of 1769, while some 15 East Indiamen lay in the road; £94 15s 6d of stores in the second, including 3,764 pounds of cordage at £62 14s 8d, English canvas for sails sewn on the island, two iron chains and a brass tap for watering ships; and in the third only 431 pounds of cordage but over £17 of timber, copper plate, a chain and a grapnel, with 88½ days of carpenters' work. [Film No. 55, 213–214, 382–383]
The Company's ships bought stores worth £172 5s 0d in the quarter to September 1768, £30 19s 1d in the quarter to 31 March 1769, including 532 pounds of cordage, two half-hour glasses and 112 pounds of brimstone for fumigating holds, £228 15s 7d in the quarter to 30 June, including five puncheons of salt beef for £103 6s 3d, 1,689 pounds of cordage and a 56-foot topmast for £12 1s 3d, and £213 15s 2d in the quarter to 30 September, including seven puncheons of beef for £144 12s 9d. Private buyers took tar, pitch, 918 pounds of cordage and canvas at 30 per cent above cost in the second quarter. Captain Edward Dampier of the Sea Horse, 23 weeks from Canton, asked on 17 July for 3 chaldrons of coal and leave to call at Ascension for turtle; the Council gave 1 chaldron, rebuked him for sailing short of firewood and thought the Ascension call too late in the year, and it declined to advise his quarrelsome invalid passenger James Hodges to leave the ship. Captain Charles Haggis of the Thames reported on 12 October less than 10 days' firewood, blaming light wood loaded at Madras, and received 1 chaldron from the coal kept for burning lime. [Film No. 46–47, 191–193, 255–256, 310–311, 366–367]
Trade and Shipping
The Valentine sailed about 13 February 1768/9 and the Bute and Royal Captain on 13 March 1768/9. The Grosvenor and Duke of Gloucester arrived from China on 19 and 20 March 1768/9, the Lord Mansfield on 21 March 1768/9 and the Harcourt, by the Cape, on 24 March 1768/9; the Duke of Richmond from Bencoolen and the Clive from China on 29 March; the Asia from China by the Cape and the Duke of Albany from England on 1 April, the True Briton on 2 April and the Pacific on 10 April. The Lord Mansfield, Grosvenor and Duke of Gloucester sailed on 30 March, the Harcourt on 4 April, the Asia on 9 April, the Clive, Duke of Richmond and True Briton on 11 April and the Pacific on 18 April. The London arrived from China on 22 April, six Dutch ships passed and the Queen came from Bengal by the Cape on 23 April, and the Tilbury from China on 24 April. The Duke of Albany's two working days under charter party expired on 14 April, but she sailed for Bencoolen only on 26 April. The Calcutta came from Bombay on 28 April and the Queen sailed on 1 May. [Film No. 5, 15–17, 21, 27, 29, 31, 33, 62, 64, 77, 90, 96, 103]
The Speke arrived from England on 6 May 1769 and was sent on to Canton on 19 May when her 10 working days expired. The Tilbury sailed on 11 May. The Salisbury arrived from Bengal on 22 May and sailed on 4 June. The Horsendon arrived on 2 June and received a departure salute on 13 June, though the minutes date her sailing to 17 June. The York came from Bombay on 21 June and sailed on 2 July, the Sea Horse from China on 8 July and sailed on 21 July, and the Dutton from Madras on 14 July and sailed on 4 August. The Grenville from Bombay stayed from 13 to 19 August; the Essex from Bombay, saluted on 23 August though the minutes date her arrival to 25 August, sailed on 14 September; the Shrewsbury from Bengal by Mauritius arrived on 28 August and sailed on 18 September; the Council met on Saturday 16 September to issue bills while a ship remained. The Thames arrived from Madras on 7 October and sailed on 15 October. Homeward ships each paid a small sum into the treasury, usually £5 10s 0d; eight paid under £100 in April, the London £77 6s 6d in May, the Salisbury £5 14s 6d on 2 June, the Horsendon £111 18s 5d on 15 June and the Essex £14 17s 7d and Shrewsbury £16 9s 10d on 14 September. [Film No. 107, 113, 116, 139, 160, 162–164, 168, 170, 173, 175, 252, 262–264, 270, 272, 284, 293, 296, 303, 315, 413]
Foreign ships called through 1769. The Danish Fredensborg, Captain Svane, of 1,300 tons, 28 guns and 170 men, arrived from China on 24 April with tea, china and silk for Copenhagen and left on 2 May. The Dutch Twee Leeuwen, Captain William Rolbeer, of 300 tons, 24 guns and 100 men, arrived from Batavia with pepper for Rotterdam on 1 May and sailed on 12 May. A Danish ship of 600 tons from Bengal stayed from 15 to 21 May. The French Saint Étienne, of 1,100 tons, 16 guns and 300 men, arrived from Pondicherry on 29 May with redwood, saltpetre and piece goods for Lorient, and the unarmed French Le Sage from Mauritius, French since 1767, on 2 June; two French ships sailed on 8 June. The Dutch Rhynsburg, of 700 tons, 23 guns and 100 men, called from 22 to 30 September with pepper for Amsterdam. The Council recorded each foreign ship's guns and crew. [Film No. 90, 103, 106, 113, 116, 119, 139, 142, 173, 284, 293–294, 296–297]
Purling mustered every Company ship for deserters and found none: the Grosvenor, Duke of Gloucester, Lord Mansfield and Harcourt on 27 March 1769, the Clive, True Briton, Duke of Richmond and Asia on 8 April, the Pacific on 14 April, the London, Tilbury and Queen by 29 April, the Calcutta by 1 May, the Salisbury and Horsendon, the York on 1 July, the Sea Horse by 17 July, the homeward ships of July to September and the Thames on 13 October; between February and 14 April alone he checked over 1,500 men in 16 ships. The rolls show the Grosvenor with a poulterer and joiner, the Duke of Gloucester and London with seven mates each, the Duke of Gloucester's roll headed John Sawler but signed John Lauder, the Clive with two surgeon's mates, the Lord Mansfield under Alexander Macleod with three other Macleods, an Oswald, a Munro and a Macqueen, French, Scandinavian and Dutch names on the Pacific and Clive, the Channel Islander John DeMouilpied on the London, Scandinavians such as Rasmus Severson on the Calcutta, three carpenter's mates and lascars named Lascary, Mahomed and Sadoo on the Queen, a butcher, poulterer, tailor and barber on the Sea Horse, Portuguese or Indo-Portuguese seamen and men entered both as seamen and passengers on the Dutton, nine men under charter party on the Grenville and a captain's servant named Charles Haggis on the Thames. Passengers included the supercargoes Robert Thomas in the True Briton and John Searle, who had signed every Canton invoice, in the Pacific; seven from Bencoolen in the Duke of Richmond, among them Elizabeth Herbert and Ann Russell; Francis Sykes, Mr Sample and Captain Douglas in the Queen; women from Bengal with servants entered as Lucy and Lizarda in the Salisbury; the child Sarah Paterson in the York; and Mrs Sarah Mackey, Miss Margaret Smith and 13 invalid soldiers in the Thames. [Film No. 6, 8–10, 14, 21–25, 37–38, 97–100, 104, 139–140, 144–145, 165–166, 254, 258–260, 268–270, 308–309]
Economy
Warehouse sales were priced by buyer. In the quarter to 31 March 1769 Company servants, at 10 per cent above cost, spent £1,062 2s 7d, against £1,338 15s 10d and £1,866 11s 9d in the two quarters before, as flour fell from about 415 to 337 hundredweight and salt meat from about 5,700 pieces to 4,476; planters paid 25 per cent, and other buyers at 40 per cent spent £35 3s 0d. Servants spent £1,461 5s 5d in the quarter to 30 June, with salt meat at 4,346 pieces, tea at £45 2s 6d against about £18 and candles at 330 pounds against 93, and £1,949 7s 9d in the quarter to 30 September, including 4,026 pieces of salt meat for £422 12s 0d, 609 pounds of candles and 1,016 pounds of tea, against the planters' 152 pounds. In that quarter planters paid 25 per cent on cloth, clothing and shoes and 40 per cent on food, tea, oil, nails and hardware and spent £134 3s 10d, taking 338 pounds of sugar against the servants' 7,882 and 30 pounds of rice against nearly 6,000. Servants' arrack fell from 62¼ gallons in the first quarter, against about 48 before, to 30¾ in the second and 18 in the third once households had to buy from the arrack society. The storekeeper entered nails and fishing lines as single sums from the first quarter. [Film No. 39–46, 177–178, 187, 190, 348–350, 353–354, 360, 362, 364–365]
Servants' purchases included, in the first quarter of 1769, Singlo tea in place of Hyson, 7,088 pounds of sugar against 6,406, 59 gallons of wine, 28 soldiers' shirts for recruits, 11 locks, heavy nails and brads, 16 small china bowls for 6s 0d and eight pairs of girls' shoes; in the second, china worth £26 2s 1d with 10 tea kettles, shoes worth £77 3s 9d including 143 pairs of men's and 66 of women's calimanco shoes, 24 blankets, 72 wine glasses, 23 punch ladles, 76 soldiers' shirts, 11 rat traps and 10 mousetraps, nearly 200 yards of gold lace worth over £33, 18¾ yards of scarlet broadcloth and pompadour shalloon; and in the third, 149 soldiers' shirts, 133 pairs of stockings, 103 pairs of garters, 39 pieces of chelloes, nearly 2,300 fish hooks and 375 lines, 15 cockades, a globe lamp, 23¾ gross of corks, long ells, nearly 68 yards of broadcloth in seven colours, 48 yards of gold lace with gold basket buttons and garters, six sets of octagonal Chinese porcelain, 106 wine glasses, 11 decanters, sheep shears, wool cards, 18 locks, 22 blank keys, hornbooks, primers, spelling books, New Testaments and over 480 gallons of Lisbon, port and mountain wine, which bore no duty. Planters at 25 per cent bought 7½ yards of black broadcloth in the second quarter and dark brown and olive broadcloth, nails, paint, window glass and Riga timber in the third; buyers at 40 per cent spent over £20 on sugar and candy, £17 on tea and more on coal, turpentine, pitch and rosin in the second. [Film No. 39–43, 179–190, 349–352, 354–365]
The Court's general letter ordered a society to buy and sell all imported spirits, and the Council published the scheme on 15 May 1769: Purling held three-eighths of its stock and Matthew Bazett, Powell, Wrangham, Jonathan Doveton and Captain Henry Bazett one-eighth each, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor being excluded so as to inspect its books and approve its monthly average price. Households paid cost and duty plus 6d a gallon for waste in lots of 5 gallons to a leaguer, and punch houses bought at 6s 6d and sold at 12s a gallon in lots of 10 gallons to half a leaguer, all for cash. Others selling spirits faced a £20 fine, half to the informer; arrack bought for resale went to the society at cost; the society was to report households buying too often and sell only wholesome spirit. The notice set the duty at 3s a gallon, the collector's orders and society's rules at 3d; the 3d rate was collected. [Film No. 129–135]
Bartholomew Wright was sworn collector of customs on 15 May 1769. Spirits could land only at the crane, under a permit countersigned by the Governor or Lieutenant Governor, gauged there by the Company's cooper; commanders' lodgings paid duty at four bottles to the gallon, petty officers and seamen could land none, and Wright could seize spirits from anyone disputing the duty, with the main guard's support. Captain Reed of the Essex asked on 30 August to land 20 gallons for his lodgings and refused the 5s duty, saying no other settlement taxed commanders; the Council replied on 31 August that the duty was the island's law and that it, not Reed, judged the Court's intentions, and entered the correspondence in its minutes. The duty yielded £31 9s 3d on 2,517 gallons in the quarter to 30 June and £8 4s 10½d on 659½ gallons in the quarter to 30 September. [Film No. 132–133, 252, 277–279, 413]
A punch-house licence in the form granted to John Price on 29 May 1769 ran to 1 July 1770 at £8 a year. Houses opened at 9 in the morning, or 5 in the afternoon on Sundays, and only lodgers could stay after tattoo; spirits were sold only as punch, a pint of arrack to a 3-pint bowl at 18d a pint, never as neat drams, with no credit and no gambling by the garrison; taking soldiers' or seamen's clothes or provisions without their officers' leave cost double, half to the complainant and half to the poor; keepers could not deal with or shelter slaves, had to buy only from the society, could not transfer their licences and received half the fine for informing on secret sellers. Licences brought £10 10s 0d in the first quarter, £10 0s 0d in the second and £12 10s 0d in the third. [Film No. 82, 136–138, 252, 413]
Finance, Currencies and Accounting
Coin in the treasury stood at £9,924 10s 0d in August 1768 and £9,813 17s 2½d in September 1768. The March 1769 account opened at £9,056 17s 5d; receipts of £1,097 5s 7d from Powell for stores, £53 18s 4d from the plantation, licences and ships' fees made £10,284 2s 2d, and after £3,812 0s 0½d was advanced to the paymaster the balance on 31 March was £5,932 7s 1½d in coin and £539 15s 0d in cash notes. Bills drawn in February 1768/9 had raised under £900. April's receipts, examined on 15 May, included £2,406 3s 0d from nine bills of 29 April, and the month closed with £7,412 4s 9½d in coin; the copied receipts add to £8,951 19s 10½d against stated totals of £8,951 19s 5½d and £8,951 19s 9½d. May brought over £3,200 in bills and no payments, leaving £10,748 10s 2½d in coin on 31 May. June receipts included £1,627 2s 8d from Powell, the duty, £2 1s 6d for lime from Munden's battery and ships' fees, totalling £15,355 2s 5½d; after the paymaster's advance the balance on 30 June was £10,029 15s 10d in coin and £339 15s 0d in notes. July brought £2,004 7s 7d in bills and no payments, leaving £12,597 1s 2d; August added £21 2s 8d, chiefly James Gordon's estate, leaving £12,618 3s 10d. September brought £963 0s 0d in bills, £2,033 11s 7d from Powell, rents of £606 5s 0½d and £5 8s 9d for 37 bushels of lime, totalling £16,370 6s 0½d; after £4,409 1s 1d to the paymaster the balance on 30 September was £11,321 9s 11½d in coin and £639 15s 0d in notes. [Film No. 82–83, 113–115, 162–163, 252–253, 271, 295, 413]
On 14 April 1769 the Council sent £1,000 0s 0d in treasure to Fort Marlborough in the Duke of Albany, charged to the London account: lacking round dollars, it sent £500 0s 0d in dollars and £500 0s 0d in rupees reckoned at 2s 3d and promised future small money only as fanams and fractions of the dollar. [Film No. 36, 114]
Bills of exchange on the Court at 90 days' sight were granted on 29 April 1769 to Skottowe for £500 0s 0d to Robert Wood and £67 6s 0d, Purling £760 0s 0d to John Purling, Matthew Bazett £324 7s 0d to Captain Thomas Riddell and £100 0s 0d to Miss Mary Bazett, Henry Bazett £100 0s 0d, Richard Beale £42 0s 0d, Kirkpatrick £400 0s 0d to Allen Auld and Captain Stainforth £112 10s 0d to himself; Kirkpatrick paid in a further £1,018 8s 0d on 5 May, Captain Rolbeer of the Twee Leeuwen took £1,206 0s 0d on 9 May and Alexander Tod of the Speke £100 0s 0d on 22 May and £225 17s 0d on 29 May. On 14 June Mitchell took £400 0s 0d, having sent £800 0s 0d through Alexander Hume in February 1768/9, and Henry Bazett £200 0s 0d and Matthew Bazett £1,000 0s 0d payable to Alexander Warrand; the cash account instead records two sets of £1,000 0s 0d and £800 0s 0d to an Alexander Wanand. On 1 July bills went to Skottowe for £25 0s 0d, Robert Barclay £200 0s 0d, Captain Hayter £318 12s 4d and his second mate Michael Lascelles £102 8s 0d. Richard Bagley's £156 0s 0d on 17 July went to Kirkpatrick; on 24 July Skottowe sent £350 0s 0d to Robert Wood and Sergeant John Whitchurch £325 6s 3d for the orphans of John Bland; on 4 September Skottowe sent £120 0s 0d, Purling £400 0s 0d to John Purling, Corneille £88 0s 0d and Doveton £64 0s 0d, and bills also went to Robert Wood for £120 0s 0d, John Parker and Edward Wakelin £88 0s 0d, John Purling £400 0s 0d and George Richardson £65 0s 0d; on 11 September Henry Bazett sent £100 0s 0d to John Purling and Captain Gabriel Steward took £150 0s 0d; Hugh Jones remitted £40 0s 0d on 16 September, Morris Jones took £40 0s 0d the same day and Jonathan Doveton paid in £100 0s 0d for a bill to Captain Alexander Jameson on 13 October. [Film No. 102, 106, 112, 114, 126–128, 142, 159, 167–168, 256–257, 282, 292–293, 314, 413]
Kirkpatrick's paymaster's account for the quarter to 31 March 1769 received £3,812 0s 0½d on 31 March, matching the pay list of £2,920 8s 7d and contingent charges of £891 11s 5½d, nearly £180 above the last quarter of 1768. Wrangham was charged with £4,983 11s 7½d on 1 April, though the cash account records £4,985 11s 7½d; he had paid out £651 5s 11d by 17 May and £833 13s 2d by 3 June. Two copies of one of his pages differ, including Henderson's bounty. For the quarter to 30 September he was charged £4,409 1s 1d and paid £919 12s 6d besides wages; the servants' sales account carried £648 18s 4d forward but brought £648 13s 4d forward. [Film No. 76, 78, 80–81, 240–248, 251, 253, 314, 336, 338, 347–349]
Accounts were kept in sterling, with Bengal invoices in rupees, annas and pies (current rupees, a money of account), Bombay invoices in rupees, quarters and reas with grain in Surat maunds of about 37 pounds and the parah and morah of the Malabar coast, Madras invoices in pagodas of 36 fanams of 80 cash with cloth by the corge of 20 pieces, and Canton invoices in taels, mace, candareens and cash by the picul. Packing and landing added about 15 per cent at Bombay, and Hooghly sloop hire almost a third of the price of Bengal rice. [Film No. 91–96, 164, 170, 175, 263, 272–273, 303–304]
Corneille signed the inventory of stores at £12,823 16s 2d on 30 September 1769. It included salt beef and pork worth £3,924 9s 7d, flour of 1,428 hundredweight in 447½ casks worth £1,313 16s 4d, sugar and candy worth £756 1s 1d, rice and paddy worth £480 5s 9d, over 21 tons of cordage worth £738 1s 6d, nearly 4 tons of nails worth £224 6s 11d, nearly 94,000 fish hooks, 21 tea kettles, 264 buckling combs, 422 octagonal soup plates at under 6d each, window glass in 18 sizes, nine anchors, three of 33 or 34 hundredweight and one lying on the West Rocks, two 17-inch cables, spare topmasts to 56 feet, a bowsprit and a sheer mast, 699 gallons of arrack, candles worth £319 4s 9d, a worm, tub and still worth £10 12s 4d, 53,960 copper halfpence worth £112 8s 4d and 16 chaldrons of coal. [Film No. 388–412]
Judiciary, Crime and Punishment
The coroner, Mr Bovell, was paid £1 5s 0d an inquest: on Caesar, a slave, on 9 January 1768/9, Richard Gregory on 16 February 1768/9, Jason, a free black man, on 8 March 1768/9, Sergeant Collier on 10 March 1768/9, Robert Brown on 8 May 1769 and John Lewis in the quarter to 30 September. The clerk of arraigns and crier shared 12s 6d in the first quarter, and in the third the apparitor received 5s and the clerk of arraignments 7s 6d for the last quarter sessions. Phillip Mahoney drew £22 10s 0d as clerk of the peace in the first quarter and Richard Beale was judge advocate. John Price was marshal, gaoler and sexton, paid 2s 6d for each of seven committals and 5s for burying two soldiers in the third quarter. On 14 June the tailor Jeremiah Smith was paid £1 0s 0d for a suit for the beadle of the court. [Film No. 60, 77, 79, 243, 247, 318, 337, 347]
On 22 May 1769 the Council proved the will of Elizabeth Greentree, a widow who died on 16 May 1769. Her husband's will gave her a life interest with power to bequeath £400, which she left to her Goodwin nephews and their children, the children's shares held in trust until 21 or marriage; she left goat ranges in Peak Gut and Lemon Valley to Richard and John Goodwin, £10 each to the Governor and Mrs Mary Skottowe for mourning rings and a legacy to her niece Margaret Marriott for her "separate use". Purling and the two nephews were executors, and Henry Bazett, John Howard and Phillip Mahoney witnessed. [Film No. 116, 119–122]
Thomas Payne, dismissed on 12 December 1768, received 6d a day for 62 days to 12 February 1768/9 and £5 0s 0d for his passage in the Valentine under the order to send him home "by the first opportunity". [Film No. 77]
George Dyas deserted on 9 April 1769 and Sutton Isaacs of the First Company on 11 May, when the Tilbury sailed, though her muster of 29 April had found no one hidden; no deduction or complaint against her Captain Hunt appears. On 27 June Captain Hayter of the York surrendered Robert Nickells, who had got aboard, before Purling's muster; the Council held him to five years and gave him £3 0s 0d. Captain Abercromby surrendered Robert Grosvenor, a deserter from Bombay, by 17 August; he was held to five years in the Second Company from 16 August and had been given £3 0s 0d for necessaries on 1 August. [Film No. 144–145, 165, 167, 225, 235, 243, 247, 268, 270, 337]
On 19 May 1769, under the Secret Committee's orders, the Council searched the Speke for goods loaded at Gravesend beyond the officers' privilege; Wrangham's order named "red and white wine" and Captain Jackson's "red and white lead", and the warning to Jackson not to obstruct the search also forewarned him. On 22 May Wrangham reported 35 chests of wine belonging to Jackson and his chief mate Tod, which Jackson claimed under his victualling allowance and Tod said bore the Company's seal, and five cases of clocks belonging to Tod, who claimed an allowance of eight though the manifest listed three. Three other men asked what illicit trade meant before swearing they knew of none. Nothing was seized. [Film No. 117–118, 124–126]
The garrison drew 30 lines for whips and two Hamburg lines for drum cords in the first quarter of 1769 and 18 lines for whips in the second. Candles were issued for the gaol's repair in the first quarter, a gaol lock for the island prison and a baulk for the barracks prison in the second, and 56 pounds of iron, elm for the windows and a gaol padlock for the barracks prison in the third. [Film No. 49, 51, 196, 200, 203–204, 369, 374]
Fort Marlborough's letter of 7 January 1768/9 reached the island in the Duke of Richmond on 29 March 1769 with the Malay Mas Panjee and two Africans as prisoners. On 14 April the Council protested that this broke the Court's order against sending malefactors to St Helena, wrote that Malays were the people it least wished to deal with and called its previous Malay exile, Sequedah, troublesome, discontented and a "dead charge", but kept the prisoners because the Duke of Albany could not return them. Daughtlock Roballam, brought to the island as a prisoner in 1756 at the instigation of a Mr Carter after a quarrel and held 13 years with no recorded charge or trial, petitioned on 31 July 1769 for leave to go to England; the Council referred it to the Court, and Carter, then a passenger, suggested he might return to Bencoolen. The petition probably went in the Dutton on 4 August with Carter. [Film No. 36, 259–262, 264]
Social Order, Religion and Education
The chaplain, William Bearcroft or Beacroft, drew £55 0s 0d a quarter with table allowance and candles from the general stores, and 11 new panes repaired his windows in the first quarter of 1769; Thomas Yates drew £5 0s 0d as clerk of the church, Richard Beale £7 10s 0d as schoolmaster and the drum major £1 0s 0d for teaching young drummers. The Castle library received a lock with brass knobs and hinges, the second within a year. The warehouse sold primers and spelling books, and in the second quarter a folio Book of Common Prayer at £2 14s 6d, two large Bibles, seven prayer books and a spelling book; it issued a shovel, pickaxe, padlock, deals and an old soup dish for the church, for which timber had been held since September 1768, and on 30 September 1769 it held 575 feet of church timber with ironwork worth £161 10s 2d. [Film No. 43, 47–49, 59–60, 155, 183, 194–199, 220, 222, 389–390, 393]
Richard Beale senior, aged 73, petitioned on 4 September 1769 for a pension after 45 years as judge advocate and schoolmaster, during which he had taken church services six times when the island lacked a clergyman; illness and failing sight had stopped him teaching in 1768. The Council, unable to grant a pension, promised its strongest recommendation, continued his salaries, which he drew in full to 30 September, and required a deputy for courts martial. He died on 7 October 1769. [Film No. 280, 303, 317, 329, 357]
On 4 September 1769 the Council advised the chaplain and churchwardens to use the £450 poor fund to build a school and schoolmaster's house. The vestry of 25 members, among them the chaplain, the secretary, officers and the heads of the Bagley, Goodwin and Greentree families, met in the church in James's Valley on 8 September, thanked Beale, a native of the island, and resolved to seek a successor from England. Fees rose from 6s to 20s a quarter for reading and from 12s to 30s for reading, writing and accounts, the parents present binding themselves to pay, and up to eight poor children chosen by the vestry were to be taught free. On 11 September Beacroft urged that the schoolmaster be a clergyman, since the country church was shut seven months of the year and open on alternate Sundays in the other five and a vacancy in the chaplaincy after the last ship could last 18 months; the judge advocate's £50 a year joined to the post was the obstacle, and he suggested applying to the Bishop of London. [Film No. 283, 286–289]
Mary, daughter of Richard Goodwin, died on 8 August 1769, Richard, son of John Goodwin, on 19 September and Edward, son of Lieutenant Thomas Statham, on 20 September. James Gordon, a gardener, left effects sold for £20 17s 8d, presented on 14 August, including seeds at £1 0s 0d and 24 books. Pensions went to Nathan Sample, Mary Beale, Elizabeth Kennedy and John Lemon, £32 4s 2d in the third quarter; Mary Beale and Elizabeth Kennedy received £23 1s 11d each on 8 May 1769 for 24 June 1768 to 31 March 1769. The Company buried a foreigner left sick on the island on 1 July and an invalid on 21 July and kept a seaman put ashore at 6d a day until a ship could take him. [Film No. 243, 263, 265–266, 295–296, 318, 336–337, 339]
Slavery and Coerced Labour
The livestock accounts listed the Company's slaves with the herds: in the quarter to 31 March 1769 a girl, Betty, was born, a man, Flint, died and Soldier and Suzannah were received; in the quarter to 30 June Mercury, Davis and Frank died and an entry for Moll Sharpe and a girl, Hannah, is illegible; in the quarter to 30 September a girl, Sarah, was born and a woman, Millinda, died. Yams issued to the slaves were 41,355 in the first quarter, 83,755 in the second and 9,993 in the third, against 6,800 to stock, the third figure partly illegible. [Film No. 28, 172, 305]
Stores for the Company's slaves cost £499 1s 1d in the quarter to 31 March 1769, salt meat taking £359 5s 5d, including 4,815 pounds of Bengal salt meat, against about £280 in the quarter to September 1768; they also received 58 pairs of men's shoes, 12½ pounds of Bohea tea, 285 pounds of sugar, longcloth and chelloes for the women, soup plates and bowls for the aged and candles for searching the Blacks' Square, their compound, after dark. The cost was £663 7s 3d in the quarter to 30 June, including 12,015 pounds of rice, 1,068 pieces of beef and 914 of pork, 310½ gallons of arrack, tea and sugar, sailors' slops of 350 shirts, jackets, breeches and 175 Dutch caps with 22 old jackets reissued, chelloes, long cloth, kersey and ticklenburg for the women, shoes only for craftsmen, women and Castle slaves, scarlet serge, shalloon, lace and mohair buttons for the Castle servants' livery and deals for coffins. In the quarter to 30 September it was £464 18s 2d, including 961 pieces of English beef and 1,017 of pork, £308 9s 10d at about 3s 7d and 2s 8d a piece, 9,395 pounds of rice, 277¼ gallons of arrack, 168 blankets worth £47 12s 0d, 1,100 hooks and nearly 350 lines and four stock locks and a lamp for the slaves' square. [Film No. 51–52, 205–208, 378–380]
John Bazett drew £10 0s 0d a quarter as superintendent of the Company's slaves until Hugh Jones succeeded him on 9 May 1769; the pay list shows Bazett as superintendent of the carpenter slaves to 8 June and Jones from 9 June, and Jones drew £10 0s 0d in the third quarter. The European cooper, mason, carpenter and armourer each directed a gang of Company slaves, and the plasterers' slaves were fed from the fortification accounts. [Film No. 60, 112, 215, 218, 222, 318]
On 12 February 1768/9 the Council paid £1 13s 4d, one-third of the reward, for catching a runaway slave of William Wrangham. On 17 August 1769 the paymaster, Wrangham, paid £1 13s 4d of Company money to Jack, a slave of James Greentree, for catching a runaway of Wrangham's who had been missing over a fortnight. [Film No. 77, 339]
On 1 May 1769 Mitchell reported the works held back by sickness among the soldiers, and the Council published a notice asking inhabitants to state by the following Friday how many slaves they could spare at 1s a day each with food, the island's customary rate between owners and the rate a soldier earned labouring. On 30 June the Company paid owners for slaves at Sandy Bay and Munden's battery at 2s 6d a day for masons and 1s for labourers: John Alexander, Benjamin Seale and Benjamin Mason for about 41 days each of masons' work, Purling for 91 days in all, Powell for 90 days of labourers' work, Matthew Bazett, Captain Henry Bazett, Jacob Fringe, Orlando Bagley, John Pritchard and Richard Goodwin. In the third quarter Powell's labourers worked 390 days at Munden's Battery for £19 10s 0d, Purling's mason and labourers earned £9 11s 3d, Bazett's labourers worked 92 days and the widows Mrs Twaits and Mrs Fringe hired out labourers; the Company fed hired slaves with 1,009 pounds of rice and 126 pieces of pork on the general works and 56 pounds of rice and 4 pieces of pork at Munden's Point. [Film No. 103, 249, 341, 343, 385–386]
Elizabeth Greentree's will of 26 April 1769 left the slave boy Joshua to Thomas Greentree, £5 to Connor, freed at her death under her husband's will, freedom to Lucy and to Lucy's daughter Margaret with £50 held by Richard Goodwin, who was to pay her 5 per cent interest while she stayed on the island, the capital being hers only if she left and his if she died there. Her other slaves were not to be auctioned but each was to choose a new owner, who would pay a price fixed by two impartial valuers. [Film No. 121]
The Queen's passengers on 29 April 1769 brought one black maidservant and three black men, the Shrewsbury in September two servant boys named Ganges and Liverpool and the Thames in October four people entered as Clarinda, Joseph, Pompey and Loveland, all listed so that none could be landed or sold without the Council's knowledge. [Film No. 100, 293, 308–309]
The Malay account, Sequedah's, charged £17 16s 9d in the quarter to September 1768, including broadcloth, longcloth and china, and £5 7s 1d in the quarter to 31 March 1769, for food, tea, candles, soap and a pair of fine pumps. In the quarter to 30 June it charged £21 2s 3d, including candles, soap, flour, congou tea, blue and scarlet broadcloth, plated candlesticks, a tea kettle and china, and in the quarter to 30 September £8 7s 10d, for food, soap, candles and tea only. Pasqueda Porcelane and Mafungo drew cash allowances and house rent, and Porcelane cash for 13 pieces of salt meat, on 30 June and in the third quarter. [Film No. 53, 208–209, 247, 251, 343, 378]
Personalities
Mitchell's leave was granted by the Court on condition that he hand his plans and remarks to Thomas Bazett; Purling had dissuaded him from resigning when the Duke of Albany arrived, after which Mitchell apologised and blamed a "disordered mind". At his request the Governor's orders of 7 June 1769 gave Bazett the works and the Artillery Company. On 10 June Mitchell surrendered his commission and announced he would sail in the Horsendon; the Council returned it, holding that an officer on leave could not resign to it, but stopped his pay that day, after over £100 for 10 weeks as engineer and captain. He then offered the Governor his "personal acknowledgements in the most public manner" in the Company's garden, and Skottowe summoned him to the Castle. On 12 June he refused to attend when sent for, accused the Governor of a breach of faith and Purling of a breach of friendship, called the Board "a base set of men" and offered any member "satisfaction"; ordered back with his plans at 4 o'clock, he came at 6 o'clock without them, pleading his health, and withheld books and instruments invoiced in the Salisbury, claiming some as his own, whereupon the Council sent the invoice to London. On 14 June he wrote that he was too unwell to attend, denied intending to insult the Board "sitting in Council" and blamed "private resentment"; he demanded a written order before giving Bazett the plans, the Council ordered him to surrender all Company papers and Bazett laid the plans before the Board. The same day he spoke "very wildly", asked Skottowe to step outside, hoped they might part friends and, on being told he had injured the Governor by unjust suspicions declared himself out of the service and demanded "immediate satisfaction"; Skottowe returned to the chamber and shut the door, reported the exchange in full, and Corneille urged Mitchell's arrest, the record not saying whether it followed. [Film No. 148–158, 220, 236]
Asked on about 17 April 1769, under the 33rd paragraph of the general letter, to surrender any plans of the fortifications, Kirkpatrick replied that he held none of the fortifications or of anything else. [Film No. 85]
On 13 October 1769 Corneille wrote three letters to the Council, on the herd, the soldiers' diet and the magazine. [Film No. 311–313]
Film No | PageNo. | OCR Transcription | Modern Interpretation and analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAP 1364 St Helena Document Name and Date St Helena Records 1769 Photographer Shelley Date photographed 18 January 2022 Additional comments | ||
| Book cover | ||
| Blank page | ||
| Blank page | ||
1 | Island St. Helena At a Consultation held on Monday the 27th day of March 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling Capt. Thomas Kirkpatrick of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 20 March 1769 Monday the 20th died Joseph Banks Centinel Tuesday the 21 Arrived the Lord Mansfield's Boat at Banks's at a Quarter of an Hour past seven o'Clock in the Morning Do. Do. Do. The Honble. Company's Ship Lord Mansfield from China Friday the 24th Do. The Harcourt's Boat at Banks's at twelve o'Clock in the forenoon Do. Do. Do. The Honble. Company's Ship Harcourt from China last from the Cape The Lord Mansfield and Harcourt brought us the following Supply viz. | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 27 March 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Matthew Purling and Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick present. The minutes of the meeting of 20 March 1769 were read, approved and signed. Joseph Banks, a private, died on Monday 20 March 1769. At a quarter past seven in the morning of Tuesday 21 March a boat from the Lord Mansfield landed at Banks's, and the Company's ship Lord Mansfield arrived the same day from China. At twelve noon on Friday 24 March a boat from the Harcourt landed at Banks's. The Company's ship Harcourt arrived the same day from China, by way of the Cape. The Lord Mansfield and the Harcourt brought the following supplies. Interpretations Four China ships reached St Helena within six days: the Grosvenor, the Duke of Gloucester, the Lord Mansfield and the Harcourt. The Canton fleet sailed in company or in close succession at the turn of the monsoon. Its ships arrived off the island in a cluster, after a long gap in which none called. Each brought a share of the tea, sugar candy and china ordered for St Helena, so that the year's supply arrived within a few weeks. The Harcourt had called at the Cape on the way, perhaps to take on water or the sheep the Company was buying for the island's flock. Joseph Banks was a private in the Second Company and appeared on the last pay list. He was the second soldier to die since the start of the year, after Henry Brown on 19 January. | |
2 | The 27 March Invoice of Ship Lord Mansfield No. 15/29 15 Chests of Sugar Candy No. 15.. 27.. 293 16.. 32.. 294 17.. 30.. 295 18.. 30.. 299 19.. 31.. 295 20.. 30.. 295 21.. 29.. 291 22.. 26.. 292 23.. 28.. 295 24.. 21.. 297 25.. 27.. 293 26.. 29.. 293 27.. 29.. 294 28.. 27.. 291 29.. 28.. 292 430 4409 Tare 430 3979 or Pecl. 29.. 84 @ T. 7.. 500 Taels 223 8 - - Canton 13th Decr. 1768 Errors Excepted (signed) Henry Revell Hilly. Torriano Josh. De Lisme John Searle Fras. Wood Junr. Benj. Elton Thos. Thomas Willm. Vrons Jno. Walton Thos. Bevan W. Harrison | Invoice of the ship Lord Mansfield Sugar candy, 15 chests numbered 15 to 29 Chest 15, tare 27 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 16, tare 32 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 17, tare 30 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 18, tare 30 pounds, gross 299 pounds Chest 19, tare 31 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 20, tare 30 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 21, tare 29 pounds, gross 291 pounds Chest 22, tare 26 pounds, gross 292 pounds Chest 23, tare 28 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 24, tare 27 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 25, tare 27 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 26, tare 29 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 27, tare 29 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 28, tare 27 pounds, gross 291 pounds Chest 29, tare 28 pounds, gross 292 pounds Total tare 430 pounds, total gross 4,409 pounds Net weight 3,979 pounds, or 29.84 piculs, at 7.500 taels a picul, 223 taels 8 mace 0 candareens 0 cash The invoice was signed at Canton on 13 December 1768 by Thomas Thomas, William Prows, John Walton, Thomas Bevan, R. Harrison, Henry Revell, Hillary Torriano, Joseph de Lafons, John Searle, Francis Wood junior and Benjamin Torin, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The chests of sugar candy were numbered in a single series across the whole China consignment. The Grosvenor carried chests 1 to 14 and the Lord Mansfield chests 15 to 29. The Canton supercargoes packed the island's whole order as one lot and then divided it between ships. Continuous numbering let the storekeeper at St Helena check that every chest arrived, whichever vessel carried it. A missing number would show at once that a chest had been lost or left behind. With nearly 4,000 pounds from the Lord Mansfield and more than 3,700 from the Grosvenor, the island received over 7,500 pounds of sugar candy that season. The servants, the hospital and the Company's table had each drawn heavily on it in the previous year, and its use in punch kept demand high. | |
3 | 1769 Invoice of Ship Harcourt No. 30/44 15 Chests of Sugar Candy No. 30.. 29.. 296 31.. 26.. 294 32.. 27.. 295 33.. 29.. 295 34.. 28.. 295 35.. 27.. 295 36.. 29.. 295 37.. 28.. 296 38.. 29.. 296 39.. 29.. 295 40.. 29.. 294 41.. 29.. 297 42.. 27.. 295 43.. 33.. 297 44.. 28.. 295 427 4430 Tare 427 4003 or Pecl. 30.. 02 @ T. 7.. 500 p Pl. Taels 225 1 5 - Canton 13th Decr. 1768 Errors Excepted (signed) Henry Revell Hillary Torriano Josh. De Lisme Jno. Searle Francis Wood Junr. Benj. Elton Thos. Thomas Willm. Vrons Jno. Walton Thos. Bevan W. Harrison | Invoice of the ship Harcourt Sugar candy, 15 chests numbered 30 to 44 Chest 30, tare 29 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 31, tare 26 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 32, tare 27 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 33, tare 29 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 34, tare 28 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 35, tare 27 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 36, tare 29 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 37, tare 28 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 38, tare 29 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 39, tare 29 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 40, tare 29 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 41, tare 29 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 42, tare 27 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 43, tare 33 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 44, tare 28 pounds, gross 295 pounds Total tare 427 pounds, total gross 4,430 pounds Net weight 4,003 pounds, or 30.02 piculs, at 7.500 taels a picul, 225 taels 1 mace 5 candareens 0 cash The invoice was signed at Canton on 13 December 1768 by Thomas Thomas, William Prows, John Walton, Thomas Bevan, R. Harrison, Henry Revell, Hillary Torriano, Joseph de Lafons, John Searle, Francis Wood junior and Benjamin Torin, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The Harcourt carried chests 30 to 44, completing the series of 44 chests of sugar candy that the Canton supercargoes had packed for St Helena. The three ships together brought nearly 11,700 pounds of the candy, more than five tons. The island had used about 3,500 pounds in the last half of 1768. The new supply would therefore last several years. The Company ordered in bulk from Canton because the China ships called only once a year and in a single cluster, and a shortfall could not be made good until the next season's fleet arrived. | |
4 | The 27 March Mr. Matthew Purling reports that he has been on board the Ships Grosvenor, Duke of Gloucester, Lord Mansfield & Harcourt to Muster their Company's and enquire for Deserters but found none their Muster Rolls are as follow viz. Muster Roll of Ship Grosvenor Danl. Saunders Commr. Jas. Wood Chief Mate Wm. Frazer 2 Do. David Drummond 3 Do. Jno. Coxon 4 Do. Jas. Harris 5 Do. Wm. Haffy 6 Do. Alex. Mitchell Purser Alex. Kinkaid Surg. Alex. Pen Do. Mate Jno. Adams Gunner Paul Carroll Bout. Jno. Roberts Carpent. Richd. Turner Ships Stew. Jno. Ward Midshipn. Danl. Dopper Do. Jno. Arrowsmith Do. Edwd. Day Do. Chas. Spyers Do. Robt. Muir Do. Thos. Robertson 2d Master Wm. Dalton Do. Jas. Bruce Do. Jno. Dingley Do. Willm. Southam Carpt. Jas. Powell Caulkr. Alex. Leith Gunr. Mate Willm. Mandel Boatn. Do. Chas. Turner Boatn. Mate Jos. Freeman Sail Maker Thos. Hillman Carpt. Mate Jno. Jeffries Do. Willm. Mills Joyner Henry Miles Carpt. Mate Wm. Jarvis Caulk. Do. Luke Gloucester Ships Cook Jno. Thomas Armour. Edwd. Jasper Butcher Richd. Jones Capt. Steward Geo. Pemlar Do. Servt. Jno. Anderson Baker Henry Dixon Bout. Josh. King Seamen Thos. West Jno. Harrison Danl. Creighton Jas. Magney Jno. Hare Pet. Jacobson Andw. Johnson John Dalrymple Jas. Lucas Henry Dowdle Thos. Hill Willm. Darby Jno. Lowden Simon Johnson Seamn. Geo. Allison Geo. Hall Alex. Miller Danl. Brown Jas. Dingley Richd. Ravel Jno. Brooks Hugh Young Owen Perrygreen Henry Bogden Thos. Morgan Geo. Riley Jno. Bolton Dav. Jenkins Jas. Elder Geo. Garom Little Wright Thos. Bullett Chrst. Brathwaite Andw. Pohman Jno. Eggleston Jas. Coulson Jas. Speed Thos. Ashley Thos. Platt Robt. Miller Jas. Morrell | Purling reported that he had gone on board the Grosvenor, the Duke of Gloucester, the Lord Mansfield and the Harcourt to muster their crews and search for deserters, but found none. Their muster rolls were entered as follows. Muster roll of the ship Grosvenor David Saunders, commander John Wood, chief mate William Frazer, second mate David Drummond, third mate John Coxe, fourth mate James Harris, fifth mate William Hasty, sixth mate Alexander Mitchell, purser Alexander Kinkaid, surgeon Alexander Pen, surgeon's mate John Adams, gunner Paul Carroll, boatswain John Robson, carpenter Richard Turner, ship's steward John Wood, midshipman Daniel Dupuis, midshipman John Arrowsmith, midshipman Edward Day, midshipman Charles Spyers, midshipman Robert Main, midshipman Thomas Robinson, quartermaster William Baillon, quartermaster James Bruce, quartermaster John Dingley, quartermaster William Southam, cooper James Powell, caulker Alexander Leith, gunner's mate William Mandel, boatswain's mate Charles Turner, boatswain's mate Joseph Freeman, sailmaker Thomas Hillman, carpenter's mate John Jeffries, carpenter's mate William Mills, joiner Henry Moles, cooper's mate William Jarvis, caulker's mate Luke Gloster, ship's cook John Thomas, armourer Edward Jasper, butcher Richard Jones, captain's steward George Dunbar, captain's servant John Anderson, baker Henry Dow, poulterer Joseph King, seaman Charles West, seaman John Harrison, seaman David Creighton, seaman James Magney, seaman James Shaw, seaman Peter Jacobson, seaman Andrew Johnson, seaman John Dalrymple, seaman James Lewis, seaman Henry Twaddle, seaman Thomas Hill, seaman William Darby, seaman John Lowden, seaman Simon Johnson, seaman George Killner, seaman George Hall, seaman Alexander Miller, seaman David Brown, seaman James Dingley, seaman Richard Revell, seaman John Brooks, seaman Hugh Young, seaman Owen Perryguen, seaman Henry Bogden, seaman Thomas Morgan, seaman George Wiley, seaman John Taylor, seaman David Jenkins, seaman James Elder, seaman George Garrow, seaman Lille Wright, seaman Thomas Hollett, seaman Robert Braithwaite, seaman Andrew Skinner, seaman John Eggleston, seaman James Eastham, seaman James Speed, seaman Thomas Ashley, seaman Thomas Platt, seaman Robert Miller, seaman James Merrill, seaman Interpretations The Grosvenor carried a poulterer, a man whose only duty was to keep the live hens, ducks and geese on board. On the long voyage from China, poultry cooped on deck supplied fresh eggs and meat for the commander's table and the passengers. The joiner, distinct from the carpenter, did the finer woodwork of the cabins and fittings. Specialised posts of this kind showed the size of a large China ship's company. They also showed the comfort expected by the officers and the wealthy supercargoes who sailed home in her. | |
5 | 1769 Jno. Baugham Chief Mates Servt. Martin Simons 2d Do. Do. Owen Carrs Surg. Mate Jas. Beverly Gunr. Do. Richd. Fear Boat. Servt. Saml. Golfrey Carpt. Do. (signed) David Saunders Muster Roll of Ship Duke of Gloucester Jno. Lander Commr. Jno. Jogt Chief Mate Richd. Vines 2d Do. Jno. Bevan 3 Do. Geo. Seaver 4 Do. Thos. Schaack 5 Do. Pat. Sergeant 6 Do. Pat. Burt 7 Do. Robt. Dunkin Surgeon Willm. Strachan Purser Thos. Freeman Gunr. Robt. Moore Carpent. Jas. Brown Boat. Jay Campbell Surg. Mate Jas. Freship Ships Stew. Jno. Cove Capt. Do. Robt. Sharp Mids. & Coxn. Jno. Wills Mids. Willm. Farington Do. Thos. Cape Do. Michl. Thomas Do. Carlton Collingwood Do. John Foster Do. Josh. Garnett Do. Jams. Rider Caulker Jas. Watts Armour. Henry Sargent Sailmaker Alexr. Hoguan Cooper Geo. Withers Wm. Conway Carpt. Mates Andw. Hutcheson Boat. Mate Willm. Gibson Do. Do. Thos. Randall Gunr. Do. Saml. Bullett Caulk. Do. Danl. Strachan Coop. Do. Henry Strong Capt. Cook Willm. Rice Ships Do. Andw. Burnett Baker Michl. Nolan Poult. Jno. Chillingworth Butch. Thos. Ward Capt. Servt. Saml. Cornish 2d Master Wm. Rowland Do. Alex. Nicholson Do. Jams. Mason Do. Jas. Briggs Do. Jno. Thackeray Seamen Saml. Browning Josh. Pryor Jno. Baldwin Josh. Cormo Jams. Morgan Jno. Thompson Jno. Smith Jno. Norman James Evans Jno. Moorly Seamen Jno. Robertson Jno. White James Smith Willm. Charleton Andw. Anderson David Oswald Patk. Strickfield David Coppell Richd. Gregory Pet. Johnson Jabez Tomby Geo. Alexander Thos. White Geo. Guigan Henry Harrington Mal. Henderson Geo. Bell Jams. Pilgrim Fredk. Ross Thomas Tabby Edwd. Hunter Edwd. Richardson Robt. Bullard Thos. Smith Jno. Abbrees Jno. Wayland Josh. Buckhurst | The Grosvenor's muster roll closed with the last of her servants, and the roll of the Duke of Gloucester followed. John Vaughan, chief mate's servant Martin Jones, second mate's servant Owen Carne, surgeon's mate's servant James Beverly, gunner's servant Richard Fear, boatswain's servant Samuel Godfrey, carpenter's servant David Saunders signed the roll. Muster roll of the ship Duke of Gloucester John Sawler, commander John Teel, chief mate Richard Vines, second mate John Bevor, third mate George Sayer, fourth mate Thomas Schaak, fifth mate Patrick Seymour, sixth mate Peter Burt, seventh mate Robert Denham, surgeon William Strachan, purser Thomas Freeman, gunner Robert Moir, carpenter James Brown, boatswain Jay Campbell, surgeon's mate James Jenkins, ship's steward John Cove, captain's steward Robert Swift, midshipman and coxswain Samuel Wells, midshipman William Farrington, midshipman Thomas Cape, midshipman Michael Thomas, midshipman Carlton Collingwood, midshipman John Foster, midshipman Joseph Gannett, midshipman James Peters, caulker John Watts, armourer Henry Sargent, sailmaker Alexander Hoguan, cooper George Wilkins, carpenter's mate William Conway, carpenter's mate Andrew Hutchinson, boatswain's mate William Gibson, boatswain's mate Thomas Randall, gunner's mate Samuel Pratt, caulker's mate Daniel Strachan, cooper's mate Henry Strong, captain's cook William Lees, ship's cook Andrew Durrett, baker Michael Nolan, poulterer Michael Chillingworth, butcher Thomas Warner, captain's servant Samuel Cornish, quartermaster William Townsend, quartermaster Alexander Nicholson, quartermaster James Mason, quartermaster James Briggs, quartermaster John Rackley, seaman Samuel Browning, seaman [...] Pryce, seaman Isaac Baldwin, seaman Joseph Como, seaman James Morgan, seaman John Thompson, seaman John Smith, seaman John Haxon, seaman James Evans, seaman John Moody, seaman John Robertson, seaman John White, seaman James Smith, seaman William Charleton, seaman Andrew Anderson, seaman David Oswald, seaman Patrick Sutcliffe, seaman David Clough, seaman Richard Grogan, seaman Peter Johnson, seaman Isaac Trinity, seaman George Alexander, seaman Thomas White, seaman George Grigson, seaman Henry Harington, seaman Malcolm Henderson, seaman George Bell, seaman James Pilgrim, seaman Frederick Phipps, seaman Thomas Tabley, seaman Edward Thornton, seaman Edward Richardson, seaman Robert Bullard, seaman Thomas Tindall, seaman John Melrose, seaman John Hayward, seaman Joseph Bickham, seaman Interpretations The Duke of Gloucester carried seven mates, two more than most ships of the season. A large China ship needed officers to stand watches, supervise the hold and handle the trade at Canton, and extra mates gave the commander a reserve if any died. Young men also sailed as junior mates and midshipmen to learn the business and hope for a command of their own. A seventh mate's post was the lowest rung of that ladder, but it carried the right to a small share of private trade at Canton, which made even junior places on a China ship sought after. | |
6 | The 27 March David Waldrum Seamen Jno. Connor Jno. Dobbin Richd. Root Jno. Whitfoot Jos. Hinvey Willm. Banister Seamen Danl. Northead Willm. Long Willm. Grindrail Robt. Henderson Geo. Hurd Chief Mates Servt. Jas. Thomas 2 Do. Do. Willm. Elliot Surg. Do. Richd. Carpenter Boatn. Do. Jno. Garrett Gunr. Do. David Jones Carpt. Do. (signed) John Lauder Muster Roll of Ship Lord Mansfield Alexr. Macleod Commr. Jams. Angus Chief Mate Edwd. Wilson 2 Do. Alexr. Oswald 3 Do. Willm. James 4 Do. Bruce Boswell 5 Do. Geo. Monro 6 Do. Jno. Bevan Surg. Josh. Bell Gunner David Macpherson Carpent. Willm. Wallace Boat. Josh. Cooper Ships Stewd. Jno. Jones Capt. Do. Jno. Macleod Mids. & Coxn. Willm. Jenkins Do. Thos. Willis Do. Jno. Macleod Capt. Cook Thos. Bridges Caulker Jams. Hughes Cooper Thos. Hutchinson Armr. Jno. Mosher Sail Maker Jno. Proctor Ships Cook Jno. Simmons Carpt. 1 Mate Mitchell Stubbs Do. 2 Do. Willm. Macleod Caulk. Mate Willm. Elliot Coop. Do. Willm. Boswell Gunr. Do. Jno. Pool Boatn. Do. Geo. Quarrell Butch. David Brown 2d Mast. Josh. Mummery Do. Alexr. Scott Do. Willm. Bachelman Do. Richd. Woodhouse Seam. Robt. Cowland Geo. Gaul Alexr. Williams Willm. Mann John Wood Mitchell Poe Wm. Gardiner Haslop Smith Alexr. Riddley Willm. Nixon Josh. Chapman Jno. Dunn Jno. Hiller Chas. Ballentine Isaac Walker Seamn. Willm. Tristim Jno. Adamson Thos. Baggery Jas. Kirkwood Jas. Reid Jno. Hufford Wm. Wentworth Jno. Stewart Jno. Ford Jno. Smith Henry Tweedy Jams. Gilchrist Henry Pindar Geo. Duffett Benj. Griffiths Jams. Johnston Jas. Shuff Gill. Mann Willm. Roberts Jams. Ward Jno. Cristie Andw. Douglass Mathw. Withers | The Duke of Gloucester's muster roll closed with the last of her crew and servants, and the roll of the Lord Mansfield followed. David Waldrum, seaman John Conner, seaman John Dobbin, seaman Richard Root, seaman John Whitford, seaman Joseph Hervey, seaman William Banister, seaman Daniel Northend, seaman William Long, seaman William Grindrod, seaman Robert Henderson, seaman George Bird, chief mate's servant James Thomas, second mate's servant William Elliot, surgeon's servant Richard Carpenter, boatswain's servant John Garrett, gunner's servant David Jones, carpenter's servant John Lauder signed the roll. Muster roll of the ship Lord Mansfield Alexander Macleod, commander James Angus, chief mate Edward Wilson, second mate Alexander Oswald, third mate William James, fourth mate Bruce Boswell, fifth mate George Munro, sixth mate John Brown, surgeon Joseph Bell, gunner Daniel Macqueen, carpenter William Wallace, boatswain Joseph Cooper, ship's steward John Jones, captain's steward John Macleod, midshipman and coxswain William Jenkins, midshipman Thomas Willis, midshipman John Macleod, captain's cook Thomas Bridges, caulker James Hughes, cooper Thomas Hutchinson, armourer John Mosher, sailmaker John Procter, ship's cook John Simmons, carpenter's first mate Mitchell Stubbs, carpenter's second mate William Macleod, caulker's mate William Elliot, cooper's mate William Boswell, gunner's mate John Pool, boatswain's mate George Quarrell, butcher David Brown, quartermaster Joseph Mummery, quartermaster Alexander Foster, quartermaster William Bachelor, quartermaster Richard Woodhouse, seaman Robert Copeland, seaman George Gaul, seaman Alexander Williams, seaman William Mann, seaman John Wood, seaman Mitchell Cox, seaman William Gardner, seaman Ralph Smith, seaman Alexander Middley, seaman William Nixon, seaman Joseph Chapman, seaman John Dunn, seaman John Fuller, seaman Charles Ballentine, seaman Isaac Walker, seaman William Triplin, seaman John Adamson, seaman Thomas Baggery, seaman James Redwood, seaman James Reid, seaman John Rufford, seaman William Wentworth, seaman John Stewart, seaman John Ford, seaman James Smith, seaman Henry Tweedy, seaman James Gilchrist, seaman Henry Pindar, seaman George Buffett, seaman Benjamin Griffiths, seaman James Johnston, seaman James Sheriff, seaman Gilbert Mann, seaman William Roberts, seaman James Hart, seaman John Christie, seaman Andrew Douglas, seaman Matthew Watkins, seaman Interpretations The commander of the Duke of Gloucester signed his roll as John Lauder, the name entered at the head of his crew. The Lord Mansfield's officers had a strong Scottish cast. Her commander Alexander Macleod shipped three other Macleods, an Oswald, a Munro and a Macqueen. East India commanders commonly filled their ships with men from their own districts and kin. A commander who bought or inherited his command recruited officers and seamen through family and local connection, binding his crew to him by more than wages. | |
7 | 1769 Lawrence Dowey Seamen Josh. Chandler Edwd. Rogers Geo. Williams Jno. Williamson Alexr. Robertson Willm. Wright Willm. Boswell Jams. Gray Willm. Weston Seamen Jno. Millar Robt. Ireland Matt. Burrall Geo. Fuller Josh. Francisco Andw. Bowers Evan Marsween Abm. Jervis Seamen Thos. Harrington Philip Hook Jno. Macleod Jno. Holbeach Josh. Jefford 1 Mates Servt. Geo. Hoy Carpent. Do. Chas. Rogers Boatn. Do. Jams. Atkins Gunr. Do. (signed) Alexr. Macleod Muster Roll of Ship Harcourt Cutts J. Robinson Commr. Chas. Ward Chief Mate Thos. Taylor 2 Do. Thos. Price 3 Do. Geo. Owen 4 Do. Jno. Moffatt 5 Do. Dugal Sands Surgeon Alexr. Gibbons Purser Jams. Ovey Boat. Willm. Hayes Gunner Jno. Rimpson Carpent. Richd. Goodall Mids. & Cox. Chas. Stewart Midsh. Jno. Collingwood Do. Archd. Bennet Do. Isaac Fuller Bout. Do. Thos. Leith Caulk. Robt. Goard Ships Stew. Willm. Soden Capt. Do. Willm. Mezzard Sail Maker Richd. Prebeck Ships Cook Jams. Brown Capt. Cook Thos. Nimmo Cooper Jno. Somers Boatn. 1 Mate Wm. Feltes Do. 2 Do. Jno. Mules Gunr. Do. Thos. Quarles Carpent. 1 Do. Thos. Bampton Do. 2 Do. Willm. Graham Coop. Do. Josh. Harrison Poult. Josh. Saunders Caulk. Mate Willm. Goodman Armour. Josh. Horn Butch. Wm. Gray 2d Master Jams. Frazier Do. Danl. Jones Do. Jams. Dodd Do. Fran. Vesey Seamen Alexr. Duncan Willm. Grant Jno. Lawrence Patk. Brown Willm. Wheeler Seamen Pet. Williams Wm. Brown Geo. McClelland Willm. Reid Jno. Blyth Harman Moss Henry Hanson Josh. Humble Isaac Hall Robt. Gibson Thos. Wilkinson Willm. Taylor Hugh McSweeney Geo. Scott Saml. Stalker Andw. Fyfe Jno. Micklejohn Pet. Wilson Lawr. Mathews Josh. Simpson | The Lord Mansfield's muster roll closed with the last of her crew and servants, and the roll of the Harcourt followed. Lawrence Dewey, seaman Joseph Chandler, seaman Edward Rogers, seaman George Williams, seaman John Williamson, seaman Alexander Robertson, seaman William Wright, seaman William Boswell, seaman James Gray, seaman William Weston, seaman John Miller, seaman Robert Ireland, seaman Matthew Burrall, seaman George Fuller, seaman Joseph Francisco, seaman Andrew Bowers, seaman Evan Maxwell, seaman Abraham Jewer, seaman Thomas Harrington, seaman Philip Hook, seaman John Macleod, seaman John Holbeck, seaman Joseph Jefford, first mate's servant George Hay, carpenter's servant Charles Rhodes, boatswain's servant James Atkins, gunner's servant Alexander Macleod signed the roll. Muster roll of the ship Harcourt Colin [...], commander Charles Ward, chief mate Thomas Taylor, second mate Thomas Ure, third mate George Owen, fourth mate John Moffatt, fifth mate Dugal Sands, surgeon Alexander Gibbons, purser James Corey, boatswain William Haggie, gunner John Rumpson, carpenter Richard Goodall, midshipman and coxswain Charles Stuart, midshipman John Collingwood, midshipman Archibald Boyd, midshipman [...] Fuller, [...] Thomas Leach, caulker Robert Hood, ship's steward William Fodor, captain's steward William Hazard, sailmaker Ralph Pollock, ship's cook James Brown, captain's cook Thomas Nimmo, cooper John Somers, boatswain's first mate William Philips, boatswain's second mate Joseph Stiles, gunner's mate Thomas Quested, carpenter's first mate Thomas Bampton, carpenter's second mate William Graham, cooper's mate Joseph Harrison, poulterer Joseph Saunders, caulker's mate William Goodman, armourer Joseph Horn, butcher William Gray, quartermaster James Frazier, quartermaster David Jones, quartermaster James Dick, quartermaster Francis Vesey, seaman Alexander Duncan, seaman William Grant, seaman John Lawrence, seaman Richard Brown, seaman William Watson, seaman Peter Williams, seaman William Bevan, seaman George McClelland, seaman William Reid, seaman John Blyth, seaman Harman Moss, seaman Henry Hanson, seaman John Humble, seaman Isaac Neil, seaman Robert Gibson, seaman Thomas Wilkinson, seaman William Taylor, seaman Hugh McSweeney, seaman George Hall, seaman James Mather, seaman Andrew Fyfe, seaman John Micklejohn, seaman Peter Hilton, seaman Lawrence Mathews, seaman Joseph Simpson, seaman Interpretations Purling mustered four China ships in the space of a week, calling over well over 400 names. The search for deserters was laborious, but the risk was greatest when several large ships lay in the road at once. Hundreds of seamen went ashore for water and fresh food, and the soldiers' boats were busy alongside. In such a crowd a deserter could easily pass unnoticed. A full roll for every ship, checked man by man, was the only way to be sure that the number sailing matched the number that had arrived. | |
8 | The 27 March Edwd. Mace Seamen Wm. Wadsworth Thos. Renshaw Geo. Watson Jams. Farrar Jno. Harman Pet. Crone Thos. White Josh. Morris Thos. Cousins Ephraim Mathews Sampson Johnson Jno. Foster David Tolme Robt. Rumsey Geo. Ridley Edwd. Fraser Seamen Andw. Walker Thos. Fellows Abl. Pearson Kenneth McKenzie Jno. Morris Jno. Maynard Thos. Gugg Willm. Davidson Willm. Pratt Jno. Sharp Thos. Partin Andw. Casey John Rosin Jams. Mill Jno. Lord Seam. Jno. Bromley Josh. Hayes Willm. Story Robt. Simpson Wm. Nicholas Capt. Servt. Robt. Simpson Do. Phil. Fellows 2 Mates Do. Wm. Turnbull Surg. Do. Saml. Turner Boat. Do. Wm. Brampton Gunr. Do. Fran. Price Carpt. Do. Cuthbt. Fenwick Servt. Jno. Robinson Robt. Sands (signed) Cutts J. Rodham Pursuant to the Order in Consultation of the 20 instt. 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 viz. Messrs. Richard Goodwin James Greentree Jonathan Dowlon Sheriffs Jeremiah Smith Constable Samuel Alexander Matthew Bazett Sol. St. Maurice Orlando Bagley Junr. Church Wardens | The Harcourt's muster roll closed with the last of her crew and servants. Edward Mace, seaman William Wadsworth, seaman Thomas Renshaw, seaman George Watson, seaman James Farrar, seaman John Harman, seaman Peter Crane, seaman Thomas White, seaman Joseph Morris, seaman Thomas Cousins, seaman Ephraim Mathews, seaman Sampson Johnson, seaman John Foster, seaman David Jolme, seaman Robert Rumsey, seaman George Ridley, seaman Edward Fergus, seaman Andrew Walker, seaman Thomas Fellows, seaman Abel Pearson, seaman Kenneth McKenzie, seaman John Morris, seaman John Maynard, seaman Thomas Gregg, seaman William Davidson, seaman William Pratt, seaman John Sharp, seaman Thomas Perlin, seaman Andrew Casey, seaman John Dixon, seaman James Mill, seaman John Lord, seaman John Rumsby, seaman Joseph Hays, seaman William Ivory, seaman Robert Simpson, seaman William Nicholas, captain's servant Robert Sampson, captain's servant Thomas Fellows, second mate's servant William Turnbull, surgeon's servant Samuel Turner, boatswain's servant William Brampton, gunner's servant Francis Payne, carpenter's servant Cuthbert Bowick, seaman John Robinson, seaman Robert Sands, seaman Colin Rodham signed the roll. As the Council had ordered on 20 March 1769, the inhabitants met that day at the chapel in the valley. They chose the parish officers for the coming year and nominated three of the leading inhabitants, one of whom would be chosen as sheriff. They also chose a constable. The following men were returned. Nominated for sheriff: Richard Goodwin, James Greentree, Jonathan Doveton Constable: Jeremiah Smith Churchwardens: Samuel Alexander, Matthew Bazett, Solomon St Maurice, Orlando Bagley junior Interpretations The vestry chose its parish officers largely from among the Company's own people. Matthew Bazett, the secretary, became a churchwarden. So did Solomon St Maurice, a lieutenant of the First Company and master at arms, and Samuel Alexander, an overseer on the Company's pay list. Two of the three names put forward for sheriff were also Company men: Lieutenant James Greentree and Jonathan Doveton, a factor. The inhabitants' formal right to elect their own officers did little to separate parish government from the Company's. On so small an island, the leading inhabitants and the Company's officials were largely the same men. The churchwardens now had a practical duty beyond the church. Under the notice of 17 October 1768, it was they who would tell the Governor and Council when the commons were fit to be grazed again after the yearly closure from 1 February. Choosing Bazett and a serving officer for the post placed that decision in hands close to the Council itself. | |
9 | 1769 Elisha Isaacke Stephen Young Overseers of the East Division Isaac Knipe Simon Whaley Do. of the West Do. George Alexander John Scott Do. of the South Do. We appointed Mr. Richard Goodwin to serve the Office of Sheriff and Ordered Warrants to be drawn for Messrs. Samuel Alexander and Sol. St. Maurice Church Wardens and Elisha Isaacke, Isaac Knipe and George Alexander Overseers Robert Davis, John Weston and Richd. Vincent Centinels this day Petition for their Discharges from the Garrison having served the Honble. Company their Contracted times Granted The Engineer representing to Us that he was in want of a Cutter and Capt. Lauder offering one for £25.. which Cost him £29.. We agreed to purchase her for that Sum on Account of the Honble. Company. She having Oars, Masts, Sails &c. The Storekeeper this Day delivered the following Account of Stores short received from Ships Duke of Gloucester, Lord Mansfield and Harcourt viz. | The vestry also returned overseers for the island's three divisions. Overseers of the East Division: Elisha Jeakes, Stephen Young Overseers of the West Division: Isaac Knipe, Simon Whaley Overseers of the South Division: George Alexander, John Scott The Council appointed Richard Goodwin to serve as sheriff. It ordered warrants to be drawn up for Samuel Alexander and Solomon St Maurice as churchwardens, and for Elisha Jeakes, Isaac Knipe and George Alexander as overseers. Robert Davis, John Watson and Richard Vincent, privates, petitioned to be discharged from the garrison, having served the Company for the full term of their engagement. The Council granted their discharge. The engineer told the Council that he needed a cutter. Captain Sadler had offered one for £25 0s 0d, although it had cost him £29 0s 0d. The boat came with her oars, masts and sails. The Council agreed to buy her for that sum on the Company's account. The storekeeper delivered an account of stores received short from the Duke of Gloucester, the Lord Mansfield and the Harcourt. Interpretations The Council issued warrants only to some of the officers the vestry had chosen. Of the four churchwardens it named Alexander and St Maurice, and of the six overseers it named Jeakes, Knipe and George Alexander. The vestry's choice was a nomination, not an appointment. The Council confirmed whom it wished and issued each a warrant giving him legal authority to act. Bazett and Bagley, also chosen as churchwardens, and the remaining overseers were presumably held in reserve or served without warrant. The record gave no reason, but the Council evidently kept the final say over every parish office on the island. The cutter answered a need that the loss of the yawl in late January had made pressing. Mitchell's works at Munden's Point relied on carrying materials by water, and the Company had one fewer boat. A commander leaving for England had no further use for a small boat and would rather sell it at a loss than carry it home. Buying it ready-rigged for £25 saved the Company the timber, cordage and weeks of labour needed to build a replacement on the island. Davis, Watson and Vincent had each signed on for a fixed term, usually five years. When it ended they were free to leave the service, and the Council could not hold them. Discharged men often stayed on St Helena as labourers or tenants, or took passage home on the ships then in the road. | |
10 | The 27 March Account of Stores short received from the following Ships viz. Ship Duke of Gloucester viz. 1 Meat Dish 1 Bowl 1 Snake 1 Breakfast Cup found broke upon opening the Packages Ship Lord Mansfield viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. -.. -.. 24 Candy short Weight Occd. by Wastage Ship Harcourt viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. -.. -.. 24 Candy short Weight Do. Do. (signed) James Powell Storekeeper St. Helena 20 March 1769 Mr. Purling reports that he has viewed the piece of Land Mr. Natl. Sample Petitioned for on Monday last and finds that letting the same is neither inconvenient to the Honble. Company or Neighbourhood. We Agreed to grant him a Lease of it at the Usual Rent of 5/ p Acre We this day Executed the two following Leases viz. One to Mr. James Greentree for a piece of Land containing twenty six Acres at 2/6 p Acre lying in the West Division of the said Island | Account of stores received short from the ship Duke of Gloucester 1 meat dish, found broken when the packages were opened 1 bowl, found broken when the packages were opened 1 saucer, found broken when the packages were opened 1 breakfast cup, found broken when the packages were opened Account of stores received short from the ship Lord Mansfield Sugar candy, 0 hundredweight 0 quarters 24 pounds short, caused by wastage Account of stores received short from the ship Harcourt Sugar candy, 0 hundredweight 0 quarters 24 pounds short, caused by wastage James Powell signed the account as storekeeper at St Helena on 20 March 1769. Purling reported that he had inspected the land Nathan Sempill had asked for the previous Monday. He found that letting it would cause no inconvenience to the Company or the neighbours. The Council agreed to grant Sempill a lease of it at the usual rent of 5s an acre. The Council that day completed two leases. The first was to James Greentree, for 26 acres in the West Division at 2s 6d an acre. Interpretations Only four pieces of china arrived broken out of the hundreds packed in the Duke of Gloucester's six boxes. The Canton supercargoes had already allowed 2 per cent off the price for breakage, worth about 1 tael 7 mace. The actual loss was a meat dish, a bowl, a saucer and a breakfast cup, worth far less. The fixed allowance had favoured the Company. It also spared the storekeeper and the ship's commander any dispute over who should bear the damage. Greentree's lease covered the land at Thompson's Hill he had asked for on 24 October 1768. Purling had valued it at 2s 6d an acre on 21 November 1768 because part of it was barren and rocky. Four months passed between the inspection and the sealing of the lease, the same delay seen with the leases to Young, Gurling, Whaley and Harper completed a week earlier. | |
11 | 1769 And one to Mr. William Hayes for a piece of Land containing three Acres, at 5/ p Acre lying in the East Division of the said Island John Skottowe Purling At a Consultation held on Saturday the 1st day of April 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed dated the 27 March 1769 Wednesday the 29 Arrived the Duke of Richmond's Boat at Banks's three Quarters of an Hour past nine o'Clock in the Morning Do. Do. Do. The Honble. Company's Ship Duke of Richmond from Bencoolen Do. Do. Do. The Clive's Boat at Banks's a Quarter of an Hour past six o'Clock at Night Do. Do. Do. The Honble. Company's Ship Clive from China Thursday the 30 Sailed the Honble. Company's Ships Lord Mansfield, Grosvenor and Duke of Gloucester for England This day Died Matthew Palmer Centinel Do. Arrived the Asia's Boat at Banks's a Quarter of an Hour past eleven o'Clock in the Morning | The second lease was to William Hayes, for 3 acres in the East Division at 5s an acre. Governor John Skottowe and Purling signed the minutes. The Council met at the Castle on Saturday 1 April 1769. Governor Skottowe presided, with Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 27 March 1769 were read, approved and signed. At a quarter to ten in the morning of Wednesday 29 March a boat from the Duke of Richmond landed at Banks's, and the Company's ship Duke of Richmond arrived the same day from Bencoolen. At a quarter past six that evening a boat from the Clive landed at Banks's, and the Company's ship Clive arrived the same day from China. On Thursday 30 March the Company's ships Lord Mansfield, Grosvenor and Duke of Gloucester sailed for England. Matthew Palmer, a private, died on 1 April 1769. At a quarter past eleven that morning a boat from the Asia landed at Banks's. Interpretations The Council met on a Saturday with only two members present, Skottowe and Purling. Ships were arriving and sailing in quick succession, and business could not wait for the usual Monday or for Kirkpatrick, who was probably ill again or busy with the garrison. Two councillors were enough to approve the minutes and deal with routine matters. Decisions of weight were usually held over until all three could sit together. The Duke of Richmond came from Bencoolen, the Company's pepper settlement on the west coast of Sumatra. Her arrival added a third stream of traffic to the season, alongside the ships from India and those from Canton. Bencoolen ships carried pepper for London and sometimes brought rice or arrack for the island. | |
12 | The 1st April This day Arrived the Honble. Company's Ship Asia from China (last from the Cape) This morning arrived the Company's Ship Duke of Albany from England by which opportunity we received a Packet from the Honble. the Court of Directors which we opened and read their Orders to Us. And as Captain Kirkpatrick did not attend the Council upon the receipt of the Packet, we sent to acquaint him that there were some Paragraphs in the General Letter relative to him, and desired he would attend in Order to have them read to him, but he declining to attend on Account of his indisposition; we sent the Secretary with the General Letter to read those Paragraphs that concerned him and which dismissed him the Honble. Company's service. We likewise acquainted Messrs. Greentree, Bazett & Mahony with the Court of Directors Orders relative to each of them, also informed Mr. Beale and Kennedy that the Honble. Company had been pleased to settle £30.. p Year upon them from the 24th of June last John Skottowe Purling | The Company's ship Asia arrived the same day from China, by way of the Cape. That morning the Company's ship Duke of Albany arrived from England. She brought a packet from the Court of Directors, which the Council opened and read. Captain Kirkpatrick had not attended the Council when the packet arrived. The Council sent word that the general letter contained several paragraphs concerning him and asked him to attend to hear them read. He declined, saying he was unwell. The Council therefore sent the secretary to him with the general letter, to read him the paragraphs that concerned him. Those paragraphs dismissed him from the Company's service. The Council also told Greentree, Bazett and Mahoney of the Court's orders about each of them. It informed Beale and Kennedy that the Company had granted each of them £30 a year, backdated to 24 June 1768. Governor John Skottowe and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The Court of Directors dismissed Kirkpatrick outright. The Council itself had only censured him on 19 July 1768 for bringing false charges against Lieutenant Governor Corneille. Its account of the affair, with Desfountain's pencilled paper and Kirkpatrick's own letter ending "Burn this", had gone home in the ships of that season. The Directors evidently judged the offence far graver than the Council had. A councillor who brought false accusations against the Lieutenant Governor and tried to cover his tracks could not be kept in the Company's service, whatever the island's government had decided. The Court's verdict stood in sharp contrast to the Council's leniency towards Kirkpatrick and its severity towards Sergeant Payne in December 1768 for a similar offence. The Council did not wait for Kirkpatrick to recover before telling him. When he refused to attend, it sent the secretary to read him the paragraphs in person. A dismissal took effect from the moment it was formally made known. Sending Bazett with the letter itself ensured that Kirkpatrick could not later claim ignorance of the order or continue to act as councillor, captain or paymaster. His absence from the Board that day may itself have reflected a suspicion of what the packet contained. With Corneille gone and Kirkpatrick dismissed, the Council was reduced to two members, the Governor and Purling. The Court's letter also dealt with other individuals, whose orders the record did not set out in full. The allowance of £30 a year to Beale and Kennedy, backdated nine months, showed the Court rewarding some of its servants at the same time as it removed another. | |
13 | The 3 April At a Consultation held on Monday the 3d day of April 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 1st April 1769 Yesterday Arrived the True Briton's Boat at Banks's a Quarter past Eight o'Clock in the Morning Do. Do. The Honble. Company's Ship True Briton from China The Clive, Asia and True Briton brought Us the following Supply viz. Invoice of Ship Clive No. 15/28 14 Chests of Sugar No. 15.. 29.. 296 16.. 28.. 294 17.. 28.. 296 18.. 29.. 298 19.. 26.. 297 20.. 26.. 296 21.. 28.. 297 22.. 28.. 297 23.. 28.. 296 24.. 27.. 296 25.. 26.. 298 26.. 27.. 296 27.. 28.. 297 28.. 32.. 299 388 4153 388 3765 Pls. or Pecl. 28.. 23 @ T. 4.. 500 Taels 127 - 3 5 Canton 14th Decr. 1768 Errors Excepted (signed) Henry Revell Hillary Torriano Josh. De Lisme Jno. Searle Fras. Wood Junr. Benj. Elton Thos. Thomas Willm. Vrons Jno. Walton Thos. Bevan | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 3 April 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 1 April 1769 were read, approved and signed. At a quarter past eight in the morning of 2 April a boat from the True Briton landed at Banks's, and the Company's ship True Briton arrived the same day from China. The Clive, the Asia and the True Briton brought the following supplies. Invoice of the ship Clive Sugar, 14 chests numbered 15 to 28 Chest 15, tare 29 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 16, tare 22 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 17, tare 28 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 18, tare 29 pounds, gross 298 pounds Chest 19, tare 26 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 20, tare 26 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 21, tare 28 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 22, tare 28 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 23, tare 28 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 24, tare 27 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 25, tare 26 pounds, gross 298 pounds Chest 26, tare 27 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 27, tare 28 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 28, tare 32 pounds, gross 299 pounds Total tare 388 pounds, total gross 4,153 pounds Net weight 3,765 pounds, or 28.23 piculs, at 4.500 taels a picul, 127 taels 0 mace 3 candareens 5 cash The invoice was signed at Canton on 14 December 1768 by Thomas Thomas, William Prows, John Walton, Thomas Bevan, Henry Revell, Hillary Torriano, Joseph de Lafons, John Searle, Francis Wood junior and Benjamin Torin, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The Council now sat with only two members. Kirkpatrick had been dismissed two days earlier, and no successor had yet been named. The Governor and Purling alone received the ships, approved the accounts and carried on the island's business. A council of two was the smallest body that could still act. It also meant that if either man fell ill, the Governor would be left governing alone until the Court of Directors appointed new members. The Clive brought plain sugar, not candy, at 4.5 taels a picul. That was little more than half the price of ordinary sugar candy. Unrefined Chinese sugar was the cheapest sweetening the Company could buy. It went to the servants, the hospital and the Company's slaves, while the candy was kept for the Castle and the punch bowl. The chests continued a numbered series from 15, so the first 14 chests of sugar were evidently carried in another ship of the fleet. | |
14 | The 3 April Invoice of Ship Asia No. 1/14 14 Chests of Sugar No. 1.. 29.. 298 2.. 28.. 295 3.. 25.. 293 4.. 27.. 295 5.. 28.. 297 6.. 27.. 297 7.. 26.. 296 8.. 28.. 297 9.. 27.. 298 10.. 27.. 296 11.. 29.. 297 12.. 27.. 295 13.. 27.. 296 14.. 29.. 296 384 4146 384 3762 Pls. or Pecl. 28.. 21 @ T. 4.. 500 126 9 4 5 Canton 14th Decr. 1768 Errors Excepted (signed) Henry Revell Hillary Torriano Josh. De Lisme Jno. Searle Francis Wood Junr. Benj. Elton Thos. Thomas Willm. Vrons Jno. Walton Thos. Bevan | Invoice of the ship Asia Sugar, 14 chests numbered 1 to 14 Chest 1, tare 29 pounds, gross 298 pounds Chest 2, tare 28 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 3, tare 25 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 4, tare 27 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 5, tare 28 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 6, tare 27 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 7, tare 26 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 8, tare 28 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 9, tare 27 pounds, gross 298 pounds Chest 10, tare 27 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 11, tare 29 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 12, tare 27 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 13, tare 27 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 14, tare 29 pounds, gross 296 pounds Total tare 384 pounds, total gross 4,146 pounds Net weight 3,762 pounds, or 28.21 piculs, at 4.500 taels a picul, 126 taels 9 mace 4 candareens 5 cash The invoice was signed at Canton on 14 December 1768 by Henry Revell, Hillary Torriano, Joseph de Lafons, John Searle, Francis Wood junior, Benjamin Torin, Thomas Thomas, William Prows, John Walton and Thomas Bevan, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The Asia carried chests 1 to 14 of the sugar, the first half of the series continued in the Clive. As with the sugar candy, the Canton supercargoes packed the island's order as one numbered lot and divided it between two ships. Each brought about 3,760 pounds. More than 7,500 pounds of plain sugar arrived in all, matching the quantity of candy that came in the earlier ships. The servants had bought more than 6,000 pounds of sugar in each quarter of 1768, so the new stock would last only a few months. Sugar from Bengal, carried by the Valentine, the Kent and the Verelst, made up the rest of the year's supply. | |
15 | 1769 Invoice of Ship True Briton No. 43/56 14 Chests of Sugar No. 43.. 28.. 296 44.. 29.. 298 45.. 31.. 299 46.. 29.. 297 47.. 31.. 300 48.. 25.. 292 49.. 27.. 296 50.. 28.. 296 51.. 29.. 298 52.. 28.. 293 53.. 26.. 297 54.. 28.. 296 55.. 32.. 298 56.. 31.. 300 402 4155 402 3753 Pls. or Pecl. 28.. 14 @ T. 4.. 500 Taels m c c 126 6 3 - Canton 14th Decr. 1768 Errors Excepted (signed) Henry Revell Hillary Torriano Josh. De Lisme Jno. Searle Fran. Wood Junr. Benj. Elton Thos. Thomas Willm. Vrons Jno. Walton Thos. Bevan | Invoice of the ship True Briton Sugar, 14 chests numbered 43 to 56 Chest 43, tare 28 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 44, tare 29 pounds, gross 298 pounds Chest 45, tare 31 pounds, gross 299 pounds Chest 46, tare 29 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 47, tare 31 pounds, gross 300 pounds Chest 48, tare 25 pounds, gross 292 pounds Chest 49, tare 27 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 50, tare 28 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 51, tare 29 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 52, tare 28 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 53, tare 26 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 54, tare 28 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 55, tare 32 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 56, tare 31 pounds, gross 299 pounds Total tare 402 pounds, total gross 4,155 pounds Net weight 3,753 pounds, or 28.14 piculs, at 4.500 taels a picul, 126 taels 6 mace 3 candareens 0 cash The invoice was signed at Canton on 14 December 1768 by Henry Revell, Hillary Torriano, Joseph de Lafons, John Searle, Francis Wood junior, Benjamin Torin, Thomas Thomas, William Prows, John Walton and Thomas Bevan, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The True Briton carried chests 43 to 56, showing that the island's sugar order ran to at least 56 chests, four lots of 14. The Asia had chests 1 to 14 and the Clive 15 to 28. Chests 29 to 42 were evidently still to come in another ship of the China fleet. Numbering the whole order in one series let the storekeeper see at once which lot was outstanding. Once all four arrived, the island would have received more than 15,000 pounds of plain sugar from Canton in the season, enough to cover the servants' purchases for well over half a year. | |
16 | On the 31st of last Month we Enlisted Andrew Schoener to serve the Honorable Company as a Soldier for five Years he appearing to be a good Man we gave him £2.. 10.. to buy him Cloaths &c. William Luke Centinel applied to Us on Thursday last for his Discharge from the Garrison he having procured Philip Cook to serve the Remainder of his Contracted time, we Granted his Request, and entertained the said Cook accordingly Thomas Pearce and William Rowlands Serjeants, Martin Newton Matross, and Thomas Wiffington Centinel, this day Petitioned for their Discharges from the Garrison having served the Honble. Company their Contracted times Granted John Skottowe Purling | On 31 March the Council enlisted Andrew Schonier to serve the Company as a soldier for five years. He seemed a good man, and the Council gave him £2 10s 0d to buy clothes and other necessaries. William Luke, a private, had applied to the Council the previous Thursday for his discharge from the garrison. He had found Philip Cook to serve the rest of his term in his place. The Council granted his request and took Cook into the service accordingly. Sergeants Thomas Pearce and William Rowlands, Martin Newman, a matross, and Thomas Wellington, a private, petitioned that day for their discharge, having served the Company for their full terms. The Council granted their request. Governor John Skottowe and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Luke bought his way out of the army by finding a substitute. Philip Cook agreed to serve out the remaining years of Luke's engagement. Luke probably paid him privately for doing so. The Council accepted the exchange because the garrison lost nothing: one man left and another of similar quality took his place for the same term. The practice let a soldier who had found work, land or a passage home leave early, as long as he could find someone willing to take on his obligation. The discharges came at a convenient moment for the men. With so many ships in the road during the homeward season, a soldier whose term had ended could take passage to England at once. Two of the island's sergeants and two other men left together. Andrew Schonier, enlisted the same week, was probably a seaman or passenger from one of the ships who chose to stay. The Company replaced its losses from the traffic of the very ships that carried its discharged men away. | |
17 | The 8 April At a Consultation held on Saturday the 8th day of April 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 3 April 1769 Tuesday the 4 Sailed the Honorable Company's Ship Harcourt for England Wednesday the 5 Died John Hemming Serjeant Yesterday Do. James Bullett Centinel Mr. Matthew Purling Reports that he has been on board the Ships Clive, True Briton, Duke of Richmond and Asia to Muster their Company's and enquire for Deserters but found none their Muster Rolls are as follow viz. Muster Roll of Ship Clive John Allen Commr. Pitt Collet Chief Mate Richd. Sell 2 Do. Jno. Cranstoun 3 Do. Allen Cooper 4 Do. Christ. Wray Surgeon Edwd. Withers Purser Jams. Stafford Mids. Robt. Stone Do. Willm. Paterson Boat. Danl. Thomson Gunner Wm. Whittington Carpent. Jams. Dawson Capt. Stew. Jno. Hulbert Ships Do. Alex. Strange 2d Mast. Dennis Dunbar Do. Geo. Cox Caulker Jno. Lambe Cooper Henry Barnes Caulk. Mate Robt. Jackson Gunr. Do. Jams. Donaldson Boatn. Mate Jno. Corbett Carpent. 1 Do. Alex. Stewart Do. 2 Do. Richd. Webb Armour. Jno. Charles Capt. Cook Willm. Hill Ships Do. Robt. Brown Butcher Jno. Baker Poult. Jno. Ord Sail Maker Geo. Spears Capt. Servt. | The Council met at the Castle on Saturday 8 April 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 3 April 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Company's ship Harcourt sailed for England on Tuesday 4 April. John Fleming, a sergeant, died on Wednesday 5 April. James Bullett, a private, died on Friday 7 April. Purling reported that he had gone on board the Clive, the True Briton, the Duke of Richmond and the Asia to muster their crews and search for deserters, but found none. Their muster rolls were entered as follows. Muster roll of the ship Clive John Allen, commander Peter Collet, chief mate Richard Lill, second mate John Cranstoun, third mate Allen Cooper, fourth mate Christopher Wray, surgeon Edward Webber, purser James Fitzfield, surgeon's mate Robert Stone, surgeon's mate William Paterson, boatswain David Thomson, gunner William Whittington, carpenter James Dawson, captain's steward John Hulbert, ship's steward Alexander Strange, quartermaster Daniel Dunbar, quartermaster George Cox, caulker John Lundie, cooper Henry Garnes, caulker's mate Peter Jackson, gunner's mate James Donaldson, boatswain's mate John Cobbett, carpenter's first mate Alexander Stewart, carpenter's second mate Richard Webb, armourer John Chester, captain's cook William Hill, ship's cook Robert Brown, butcher John Baker, poulterer John Ord, sailmaker George Spencer, captain's servant Interpretations John Fleming and James Bullett both served in the Fourth Company and appeared on the last pay list. Fleming was one of its four sergeants. With Thomas Collier dead on 11 March and Pearce and Rowlands discharged on 3 April, the garrison had lost four sergeants in less than a month. Each vacancy would be filled from the corporals below. Within a few weeks a large part of the island's non-commissioned officers would be men newly promoted. | |
18 | The 8 April John Benjamin Capt. Servt. Jno. Bluggs 2 Mates Do. Jno. Lake Surgeons Do. Jno. Avery Gunrs. Do. Jno. Harling Boatn. Do. Willm. Shove Carpent. Do. Richd. Wake Seamen Willm. Castle Thos. Shelling Jams. Clark Josh. Hunter Willm. Selby David White Thos. Bull Geo. Strachan Thos. Brown Robt. McCollister Willm. Rogerson Thos. Stone Jno. Norwood Jos. Horsey Alexr. Ayres Willm. Cormack Willm. Melvin Seamen Robt. Young John Hastings Chas. Kelley Willm. Squires Thos. Allsop Jno. Barry Magnus Anderson Josh. Waters Willm. Summers Robt. Richards Jams. Armstrong Robt. Dawson Robt. Robson Jno. Goodman Richd. Bridge Laur. Bidman Pet. Nordell Thos. Hudson Thos. Gross Jno. Lascells Hugh Kennedy Willm. Thompson Philip Barger Seamen Thos. Patten Chas. Morgan Laur. Bryer Jno. Chubb Jams. Appleby Clemt. Porter Jams. Quilter Robt. Maxwell David Lloyd Jno. Wooldyer Jno. Fowler Willm. Bradberry Jams. Burnett Saml. Read Robt. Barnaby Isaac Peters Paul Green Anty. Rozevel Paul Ferrert Jno. Cruar Fred. Emrick Michl. Petters (signed) Jno. Allen Muster Roll of Ship True Briton Jno. Johnston Commander Geo. Paul Chief Mate Jams. Todd 2 Do. Geo. Allen 3 Do. Pet. Churchill 4 Do. Thos. Gray 5 Do. Archd. Ofiltree Surgeon Jas. Hardie Purser Saml. McCordie Gunr. Chas. Clink Boat. Jams. Wakefield Carpent. Jno. Davis Ships Stewd. Jno. Baker Capt. Do. Chas. Sparks Cooper Richd. Hardesty Caulker Thos. Rodway Mids. & Coxn. Jno. Marshall Do. Willm. Blair Do. Thos. Hunt Midsh. Jno. Forbes 2d Mast. Richd. Roberts Do. Richd. Autley Do. Jams. Henderson Do. Jno. Scott Gunr. Mate Wm. Simpson Boatn. Do. Robt. Sinclair Do. Do. Josh. Ipheuston Carpt. Do. | The Clive's muster roll continued with the rest of her crew, and the roll of the True Briton followed. John Benjamin, captain's servant John Bragge, second mate's servant John Lake, surgeon's servant John Avery, gunner's servant John Harling, boatswain's servant William Shaw, carpenter's servant Richard Wake, seaman William Castle, seaman Thomas Shelling, seaman James Clark, seaman Joseph Hunter, seaman William Selby, seaman David White, seaman Thomas Bull, seaman George Strachan, seaman Thomas Brown, seaman Robert McAllister, seaman William Rogerson, seaman Thomas Stones, seaman John Norwood, seaman Joseph Hensey, seaman Alexander Ayres, seaman William Cormack, seaman William Melvin, seaman Robert Young, seaman John Hastings, seaman Charles Kelley, seaman William Squires, seaman Thomas Allsop, seaman John Barry, seaman Magnus Anderson, seaman Joseph Water, seaman William Summers, seaman Robert Richards, seaman James Armstrong, seaman Robert Dawson, seaman Robert Batson, seaman John Goodman, seaman Richard Bridge, seaman Lawrence Redman, seaman Peter Nordall, seaman Thomas Hudson, seaman Thomas Gross, seaman Joseph Lascelles, seaman Hugh Kennedy, seaman William Thompson, seaman Philip Berger, seaman Thomas Patten, seaman Charles Morgan, seaman Lawrence Bazer, seaman John Chubb, seaman James Appleby, seaman Clement Carter, seaman James Fuller, seaman Robert Maxwell, seaman David Lloyd, seaman John Woodyer, seaman John Fowler, seaman William Brading, seaman James Burnett, seaman Samuel Read, seaman Robert Barnsby, seaman Jesse Peters, seaman Paul Green, seaman Anthony Raysell, seaman Paul Forrest, seaman John Ennor, seaman Price Enrick, seaman Michael Patten, seaman John Allen signed the roll. Muster roll of the ship True Briton John Johnston, commander George Paul, chief mate James Todd, second mate George Allen, third mate Peter Churchill, fourth mate Thomas Gray, fifth mate Archibald Elphinstone, surgeon James Hardie, purser Samuel McCurdie, gunner Charles Clink, boatswain James Wakefield, carpenter John Davis, ship's steward John Baker, captain's steward Charles Sparks, cooper Richard Hardesty, caulker Thomas Roderick, midshipman and coxswain John Marshall, midshipman William Plaw, midshipman Thomas Hunt, midshipman John Forbes, quartermaster Richard Roberts, quartermaster Richard Aubrey, quartermaster James Henderson, quartermaster Andrew Scott, gunner's mate William Tomlinson, boatswain's mate Keith Sinclair, boatswain's mate Joseph Applebee, carpenter's mate Interpretations The Clive carried two surgeon's mates as well as her surgeon, more medical help than most ships of the season. China ships spent months at Whampoa below Canton, where fevers and dysentery often swept through the crews. A large staff of surgeons gave the commander a better chance of bringing his men home. The Clive's seamen included a Magnus and several Scandinavian and Dutch surnames, signs again of crews filled out with sailors from foreign ports during the long voyage. | |
19 | 1769 Richd. Ashman Carpent. Mate Alex. Johnston Coop. Do. Richd. Elliott Caulk. Do. William Ward Sail Maker Willm. Phillips Armour. Joseph Lovell Capt. Cook Jos. Raley Ships Do. Josh. Coleman Boatn. Yeom. Edw. Nare Butcher Henry Hawley Poult. Thos. Rew Baker Jno. Ward Seamen Pet. Holland Robt. Prout Franc. Butler Saml. Hare Jno. Hill Jno. Lawson Willm. Bennett Josh. Reed Matw. Mills Willm. Moor Jno. Baker Henry Dixon John Jobson Geo. Carter Seamen Norman McLeod Jerh. Hawson Josh. Smith Robt. Caveley Willm. Donaldson Josh. Stuttle Jno. Harwood Willm. Cochran Jams. Logan Jno. Lowry Richd. Hinton Willm. Lee Willm. Dawson Pet. Rose Saml. Duncan Jno. Hall Saml. Grapes Michl. Lyon Danl. Ware Jno. Miller Jams. Rew Jno. Wilson Jno. Jones Thos. Lyons Danl. Grant Seamen Murdo. McLeod Jams. Williams Geo. Reid Jno. Gordon Henry Paul David Dundass Jno. Stewart Thos. Broughton Capt. Servt. Jno. Watson Do. Jno. McCullum Do. Greg. McCoy Chief Mates Do. Willm. Miller 2 Mates Do. Thos. Thomas Surg. Do. Thos. Wigg Gunr. Do. Jno. Butler Boatn. Do. Jno. James Carpent. Do. Saml. Smith Seamen Matw. Arcote Garrel Flemmy Wm. Onward Jno. House Willm. Hendrick Willm. Longhurst Mr. Robt. Thomas Esq. Supercargo (signed) Jno. Johnston Muster Roll of Ship Duke of Richmond Thomas Hindman Commr. Jno. Stephens Chief Mate Francis Scott 2 Do. Jams. Farrell 3 Do. Saml. Pittman 4 Do. Jno. Hart 5 Mate Jno. Hill Mids. Robt. Wiggin Surg. Jno. Macraben Purser Jams. Jewell Carpent. Josh. Byrne Boat. Willm. Galloway Gunnr. Jams. Stubbins Caulk. Henry Gilbert Ships Stew. Wm. Wiggan Capt. Do. | The True Briton's muster roll continued with the rest of her crew and servants, and the roll of the Duke of Richmond followed. Richard Ashman, carpenter's mate Alexander Johnston, cooper's mate Richard Elliott, caulker's mate William Ward, sailmaker William Phillips, armourer Joseph Savill, captain's cook Joseph Bailey, ship's cook Joseph Coleman, boatswain's yeoman Edward Mason, butcher Henry Hawley, poulterer Thomas Rew, baker John Ward, seaman Peter Holland, seaman Robert Proud, seaman Francis Butler, seaman Samuel Haw, seaman John Hill, seaman John Lawson, seaman William Bennett, seaman Joseph Reed, seaman Matthew Mills, seaman William Moir, seaman John Baker, seaman Henry Dixon, seaman John Jobson, seaman George Carter, seaman Norman McLeod, seaman Jeremiah Hanson, seaman Joseph Smith, seaman Robert Caveley, seaman William Dowden, seaman John Stittle, seaman John Harwood, seaman William Cochran, seaman James Logan, seaman John Lowry, seaman Richard Hamlin, seaman William Lee, seaman William Dawson, seaman Peter Neve, seaman Samuel Duncan, seaman John Hall, seaman Samuel Graves, seaman Michael Lyon, seaman David Wood, seaman John Miller, seaman James Rae, seaman John Wilson, seaman John Jones, seaman Thomas Lyons, seaman David Grant, seaman Murdoch McLeod, seaman James Williams, seaman George Reid, seaman John Gordon, seaman Henry Paul, seaman Daniel Dundas, seaman John Stewart, seaman Thomas Broughton, captain's servant John Watson, captain's servant John McCulloch, captain's servant Gregory McCappin, chief mate's servant William Miller, second mate's servant Thomas Thomas, surgeon's servant Thomas Wigg, gunner's servant John Butler, boatswain's servant John James, carpenter's servant Samuel Smith, seaman Matthew Ancelo, seaman Gerrit Teleman, seaman William Onward, seaman John Howe, seaman William Hendrick, seaman William Longhurst, seaman Mr Robert Thomas, supercargo John Johnston signed the roll. Muster roll of the ship Duke of Richmond Thomas Hindman, commander John Stephens, chief mate Francis Scott, second mate James Farrell, third mate Samuel Pittman, fourth mate John Black, fifth mate John Hill, midshipman Robert Wigram, surgeon John Macrae, purser James Jewell, carpenter Joseph Byrne, boatswain William Galloway, gunner James Stableton, caulker Henry Gold, ship's steward William Wogan, captain's steward Interpretations The True Briton carried a supercargo, Robert Thomas, entered at the foot of her roll. A supercargo was the Company's agent responsible for the trade of a China ship, buying her cargo at Canton and accounting for it in London. Thomas Thomas, whose name headed several of the Canton invoices, was among the council of supercargoes there. Robert Thomas may have been a relative or junior colleague sailing home with the season's ships. Supercargoes ranked above the ship's officers and travelled as passengers of standing, entertained at the Castle while their ship lay in the road. | |
20 | The 8 April Ephm. Hillary Cooper Clemt. Taylor Armour. Anty. Gonsales Sail Maker Willm. Nicholls Ships Cook Willm. Seale Captns. Do. Jams. Jones Midsh. Thos. Brown Do. Pet. Ryan Do. Jno. Littlefield Carpt. 1 Mate Richd. Pike Do. 2 Do. Edwd. Hughs Caulk. Do. Jno. Brumskin Coop. Do. Griffith Rees Gunr. Do. Michl. Eyles Butcher Jams. Thomas Poult. Jno. Read 2d Master Christ. Rose Do. Thos. Smith Do. Robt. Hook Do. Jno. Bainbridge Do. Jams. Hen Do. Ralph Marnell Boatn. Mate Jno. Langford Seamen Jno. Caldwell Jno. Gilly Benj. Mead Jams. Priestly Wm. McDowell Fran. Winship Geo. Caddy Seamen David Brown Jams. Rice Jams. Murphy Anty. Davis Michael Neale Willm. George Alex. Sinclair Ralph Robinson Ralph Banks Willm. Ham Thos. Wilson Pet. Johnston Jno. Taylor Jno. Tippett Thos. Dunn Benj. Gordon Jams. Boice Jno. Dye Faiend Florance Jno. Bray Jno. Oakes Jno. Moody Jno. Dermody Jno. Hinders Pet. Manson Jno. Robertson Chas. Johnston Geo. Truscott Josh. Brown Seamen Willm. Mellery Jno. Wright Jno. McCleary Pet. Johnston Fredk. Landsberg Jno. Jones Thos. Carter Henry Harrots Jno. Bayside Jno. McLaughlin Pet. Dunn Henry Andrews Henry Wordliff Willm. Hoare Jno. Stewart Thos. Rathbone Edw. Kelley Willm. Lewis Thos. Ross Nicho. Glasser Jno. North Thad. Johnston Capt. Servt. Geo. Barrow Chief Mates Do. Barnl. McCann 2d Do. Do. Barn. Joseph Surg. Do. Jerh. Ward Carptr. Do. Josh. Rathbone Boat. Do. Willm. Evans Gunr. Do. Passengers Thos. Blankson Henry Botham Anty. Desmarets Valen. Grantham Jos. Baker Eliz. Herbert Ann Stewart (signed) Thos. Hindman | The Duke of Richmond's muster roll continued with the rest of her crew and her passengers. Ephraim Hillary, cooper Clement Taylor, armourer Anthony Gonsalez, sailmaker William Nicholls, ship's cook William Seale, captain's cook James Jones, midshipman Thomas Brown, midshipman Peter Ryan, midshipman John Littlefield, carpenter's first mate Richard Pole, carpenter's second mate Edward Hughes, caulker's mate John Brambin, cooper's mate Griffith Rees, gunner's mate Michael Eyles, butcher James Thomas, poulterer John Read, quartermaster Christopher Pole, quartermaster Thomas Smith, quartermaster Robert Hook, quartermaster John Bainbridge, quartermaster James Kerr, quartermaster Ralph Mansell, boatswain's mate John Langford, seaman John Caldwell, seaman John Gilly, seaman Benjamin Head, seaman Johan Brierly, seaman William McDowell, seaman Francis Winship, seaman George Caddy, seaman David Brown, seaman James Rice, seaman James Murphy, seaman Anthony Davis, seaman Michael Neale, seaman William George, seaman Alexander Sindair, seaman Ralph Robinson, seaman Ralph Banks, seaman William Kerr, seaman Thomas Wilson, seaman Peter Johnston, seaman John Taylor, seaman John Tippett, seaman Thomas Dunn, seaman Benjamin Gordon, seaman James Boyce, seaman John Dye, seaman [...] Florence, seaman John Bray, seaman John Oakes, seaman John Mowbray, seaman John Kennedy, seaman John Winder, seaman Peter Munson, seaman John Robertson, seaman Charles Johnston, seaman Gilbert Truscott, seaman Joseph Brown, seaman William Mellery, seaman John Wright, seaman John McCleary, seaman Peter Johnston, seaman Frederick Landsberg, seaman John Jones, seaman Thomas Carter, seaman Henry Haircote, seaman John Bayside, seaman John McLaughlin, seaman Peter Dunn, seaman Henry Andrews, seaman Henry Woodcliff, seaman William Hoare, seaman John Stewart, seaman Thomas Rathbone, seaman Edward Kelley, seaman William Lewis, seaman Thomas Rodd, seaman Klaas Glasser, seaman John North, seaman Thaddeus Johnston, captain's servant George Bowers, chief mate's servant Daniel McCann, second mate's servant Simon Joseph, surgeon's servant Jeremiah Ward, carpenter's servant Joseph Rathbone, boatswain's servant William Evans, gunner's servant Passengers Thomas Blackburn Henry Botham [...] Devereux Valentine Grantham Joseph Baker Elizabeth Herbert Ann Russell Thomas Hindman signed the roll. Interpretations The Duke of Richmond came from Bencoolen, the Company's pepper settlement on Sumatra. Its garrison and civil servants were notoriously unhealthy, and many died there or were sent home invalided. Her passengers were probably Company servants or their families returning from that posting, among them two women travelling without a named husband. The Company kept Bencoolen chiefly to secure pepper and to stop the Dutch monopolising the trade, at heavy cost in lives. Ships sailing home from there often carried survivors of its climate as well as its pepper. | |
21 | 1769 Muster Roll of Ship Asia Robt. Preston Commr. Josh. Hall Chief Mate Jams. Rice 2 Do. Geo. Wellwood 3 Do. Geo. Keyes 4 Do. Chas. Elder 5 Do. Andw. Duncan Surg. Jno. Forbes Purser Jno. Gross Boat. Jno. Wilson Gunr. Matt. Atkins Carpent. Geo. Dunn Mids. & Coxn. Lewis Hargrave Mids. Thos. Mostcroft Do. Jno. Fox Do. Geo. Shed 2d Mast. Martin Cormy Do. Andw. Smith Do. Willm. Swainsby Do. Jams. Robinson Ships Stew. Matw. Yeadle Capt. Do. Jno. Hunter Ships Cook Jams. Wade Captns. Do. Geo. Green Sail maker Willm. Carey Cooper Pet. Calvert Caulk. Edw. Cartwright Armour. Rolf. Davison Surg. Mate Josh. Hardcock Boatn. 1st Do. Jno. Yonge Do. 2 Do. Richd. Fothergill Caulk. Do. Matw. Clark Seamen Jno. Goddard Do. Jno. Griffiths Capt. Servt. Willm. Davis Seamen Jno. Thompson Matt. Collins Nichl. Ryan Jno. Hamilton Jno. Porter Jno. Fanty Jno. Clark Jams. Mair Willm. Carr Jno. Street Thos. Brown Henry Cooper Adam Drak Jno. Scarlet Evan Jones David Lawson Willm. Pennevell Jams. Shaw Jams. Lawrence Benj. Langley Robt. Stewart Jams. Welch Jno. Pole Alex. Fowler Jno. Davis Pet. Johnston Willm. Steel Jno. Ross Jno. Hosking Pet. Fowler Robt. Fuller Robt. Walsh Edwd. Williams Capt. Servt. Jaffy Reynolds Seamen Jno. Simpson Edw. Wright Geoy. Rinke Jno. Wilson Willm. Hopper Laur. Guthery Willm. Greene Richd. Stone Richd. Bennet Jno. Harvey Jno. Jacobs Allan Dubring Robt. Smitton Thos. Wilkie Jno. Graveson Robt. Barron Jno. Taylor Michl. Dougherty Richd. Penter Alex. Alexander Willm. Comm Henry Cock Rowr. Church Saml. Wemyss Willm. Brewer Abm. Bailey Chief Mates Servt. Jno. Smith 2 Do. Do. Geo. Thomas Surg. Do. Isaac Allen Boatn. Do. Geo. Andrews Surg. Do. Michl. Hardisty Carpt. Do. (signed) Robt. Preston | Muster roll of the ship Asia Robert Preston, commander Joseph Hall, chief mate James Rees, second mate George Hellwood, third mate George Keyes, fourth mate Charles Elder, fifth mate Andrew Duncan, surgeon John Fobes, purser Joseph Gross, boatswain John Wilson, gunner Matthew Ashbrine, carpenter George Dunn, midshipman and coxswain Lewis Hargrave, midshipman Thomas Monteath, midshipman John Fox, midshipman George Shird, quartermaster Martin Corney, quartermaster Andrew Smith, quartermaster William Stainsby, quartermaster James Dickerson, ship's steward Matthew Yeardle, captain's steward John Hunter, ship's cook James Wade, captain's cook George Green, sailmaker William Carey, cooper Peter Calvert, caulker Edward Cartwright, armourer Philip Davison, surgeon's mate Joseph Hardcastle, boatswain's first mate John Young, boatswain's second mate Richard Fothergill, caulker's mate Matthew Clark, seaman John Goddard, seaman John Griffiths, captain's servant William Davis, seaman John Thompson, seaman Matthew Collins, seaman Nicholas Morgan, seaman John Hamilton, seaman John Porter, seaman John Fanty, seaman John Black, seaman James Muir, seaman William Carr, seaman John Street, seaman Thomas Brown, seaman Henry Cooper, seaman Adam Drake, seaman John Scarlet, seaman Evan Jones, seaman David Lawson, seaman William Turnbull, seaman James Shaw, seaman James Lawrence, seaman Benjamin Langley, seaman Robert Steward, seaman James Welch, seaman John Pole, seaman Alexander Fowler, seaman John Davis, seaman Peter Johnston, seaman William Steel, seaman John Bush, seaman John Hastings, seaman Peter Fowler, seaman Richard Fallon, seaman Robert Welsh, seaman Edward Williams, captain's servant Jeffrey Reynolds, seaman John Simpson, seaman Edward Wright, seaman Godfrey Hinde, seaman John Wilson, seaman William Hopper, seaman Lawrence Guthrie, seaman William Greene, seaman Richard Stone, seaman Richard Bennett, seaman John Harvey, seaman John Jacobs, seaman Allan Dobing, seaman Robert Smitton, seaman Thomas Wilkie, seaman John Greaves, seaman Robert Brown, seaman John Taylor, seaman Michael Dougherty, seaman Richard Pinder, seaman Alexander Alexander, seaman William Gemm, seaman Henry Pool, seaman Brian Church, seaman Samuel Wemyss, seaman William Bruce, seaman Abraham Bailey, chief mate's servant John Smith, second mate's servant George Thomas, surgeon's servant Isaac Allen, boatswain's servant George Hedon, gunner's servant Michael Hardisty, carpenter's servant Robert Preston signed the roll. Interpretations The Asia was the eleventh Company ship to be mustered since the season began in February. Purling had now called over the crews of every East Indiaman in the homeward fleet from India, Bencoolen and China. No deserter had been found on any of them. The search seems to have deterred soldiers from trying to stow away. The garrison was kept at strength through the busiest weeks of the year, when hundreds of seamen were ashore and ships came and went almost daily. | |
22 | The 8 April On the 3d instant Andrew [...] Centinel applied to Us to be discharged from the Garrison he having procured Arundel [...] to serve the remainder of his Contracted time, we complyed with his request and entertained the said [...] accordingly The 6th of this Month Jno. Webley Matross Petitioned for his Discharge from the Garrison which we Granted, Agreeable to the Honble. Company's Orders in their last General Letter John Skottowe Purling | On 3 April Andrew Grimes, a private, applied to be discharged from the garrison. He had found Arundel Evans to serve the rest of his term in his place. The Council granted his request and took Evans into the service accordingly. On 6 April John Webley, a matross, petitioned for his discharge from the garrison. The Council granted it, in line with the Company's orders in its last general letter. Governor John Skottowe and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Webley's discharge was granted under orders in the general letter brought by the Duke of Albany on 1 April 1769. He was not said to have finished his term or found a substitute. The Court of Directors had evidently named him, or laid down a rule that covered his case. Soldiers sometimes petitioned the Directors in London over the Council's head, or their families did so on their behalf. The Court's letter could then order a man's release directly. The Council had no choice but to comply. Grimes left by the same route William Luke had used a week earlier, finding a substitute to take over his engagement. The practice was evidently common during the homeward season. A soldier who wanted to go home could leave at once if a seaman or passenger from the ships in the road was willing to stay in his place. | |
23 | The 10 April At a Consultation held on Monday the 10th Day of April 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 8 April 1769 Yesterday Sailed the Honble. Company's Ship Asia for England On the 8th instant we Enlisted Abraham Jervis to serve the Honble. Company as a Soldier for five Years he appearing to be a good Man we gave him £2.. 10.. to buy him Cloaths &c. The Plantation Account for the Quarter and the Expence of Artillery Stores and Stewards Accounts for the Month of March last, were this day laid before Us, which have been examined approved of and are as follow viz. | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 10 April 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 8 April 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Company's ship Asia sailed for England on 9 April. On 8 April the Council enlisted Abraham Jervis to serve the Company as a soldier for five years. He seemed a good man, and the Council gave him £2 10s 0d to buy clothes and other necessaries. The plantation account for the quarter and the gunner's and steward's accounts for March were laid before the Council. It examined and approved them, and they were entered as follows. Interpretations Abraham Jervis was probably the seaman entered as Abraham Jewer on the Lord Mansfield's muster roll of 27 March 1769. That ship had sailed for England on 30 March. If he was the same man, he had stayed behind on the island and enlisted once his ship was gone. The muster was meant to stop soldiers leaving on the ships. It did not prevent sailors from remaining ashore. The Council welcomed such men, since every seaman who enlisted replaced a soldier lost through death or discharge without the cost of bringing a recruit out from England. The bounty of £2 10s 0d matched what the Council had given Andrew Schonier on 31 March. The Council had settled on a standard rate for recruits that season, lower than some of the £5 and £10 bounties paid the year before. With so many sailors in the road willing to stay, the Company no longer needed to pay much to attract them. | |
24 | The 10 April Account of the Honorable Company's Stock of Neat Cattle &ca. from the 1st of January to the 31st March 1769 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 the 1st Jany.: Neat Cattle Bulls 6, Neat Cattle Cows 118, Neat Cattle Calves 109, Neat Cattle Yearlings 39, Neat Cattle Heifers 24, Neat Cattle Steers 70, Neat Cattle Oxen 17, Neat Cattle Total 383, Sheep Ewes 334, Sheep Weathers 134, Sheep Lambs 131, Sheep Rams 12, Sheep Total 611, Goats Ewes 152, Goats Weathers 50, Goats Kids 84, Goats Rams 10, Goats Total 296, Hogs Sows 2, Hogs Shoats 3, Hogs Pigs 3, Hogs Boars 1, Hogs Total 9, Horses Horses 5, Horses Mares 6, Horses Total 11, Asses Asses 1, Asses Total 1, Poultry Fowls 112, Poultry Ducks 37, Poultry Turkeys 50, Poultry Geese 7 Encreased: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 24, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 24, Sheep Ewes 0, Sheep Weathers 0, Sheep Lambs 8, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 8, Goats Ewes 0, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 23, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 23, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses Asses 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 42, Poultry Ducks 7, Poultry Turkeys 27, Poultry Geese 0 Recd. the 29th Feby.: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 0, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 0, Sheep Ewes 10, Sheep Weathers 35, Sheep Lambs 0, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 45, Goats Ewes 0, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 0, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 0, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses Asses 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 0, Poultry Ducks 0, Poultry Turkeys 0, Poultry Geese 0 Do. the 11th March: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 0, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 0, Sheep Ewes 0, Sheep Weathers 68, Sheep Lambs 0, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 68, Goats Ewes 0, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 0, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 0, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses Asses 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 0, Poultry Ducks 0, Poultry Turkeys 0, Poultry Geese 0 Total: Neat Cattle Bulls 6, Neat Cattle Cows 118, Neat Cattle Calves 133, Neat Cattle Yearlings 39, Neat Cattle Heifers 24, Neat Cattle Steers 70, Neat Cattle Oxen 17, Neat Cattle Total 407, Sheep Ewes 344, Sheep Weathers 237, Sheep Lambs 139, Sheep Rams 12, Sheep Total 732, Goats Ewes 152, Goats Weathers 50, Goats Kids 107, Goats Rams 10, Goats Total 319, Hogs Sows 2, Hogs Shoats 3, Hogs Pigs 3, Hogs Boars 1, Hogs Total 9, Horses Horses 5, Horses Mares 6, Horses Total 11, Asses Asses 1, Asses Total 1, Poultry Fowls 154, Poultry Ducks 44, Poultry Turkeys 77, Poultry Geese 7 Kill. for the Table: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 0, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 0, Sheep Ewes 6, Sheep Weathers 29, Sheep Lambs 6, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 41, Goats Ewes 0, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 6, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 6, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 1, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 1, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses Asses 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 41, Poultry Ducks 12, Poultry Turkeys 18, Poultry Geese 0 Do. for the Ships: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 1, Neat Cattle Calves 0, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 12, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 13, Sheep Ewes 0, Sheep Weathers 0, Sheep Lambs 0, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 0, Goats Ewes 0, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 0, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 0, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses Asses 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 0, Poultry Ducks 0, Poultry Turkeys 0, Poultry Geese 0 Do. for Markt. & Hospl.: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 0, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 0, Sheep Ewes 4, Sheep Weathers 24, Sheep Lambs 0, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 28, Goats Ewes 2, Goats Weathers 1, Goats Kids 0, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 3, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses Asses 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 0, Poultry Ducks 0, Poultry Turkeys 0, Poultry Geese 0 Do. for ye Slaves: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 0, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 0, Sheep Ewes 0, Sheep Weathers 0, Sheep Lambs 0, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 0, Goats Ewes 0, Goats Weathers 6, Goats Kids 0, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 6, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses Asses 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 0, Poultry Ducks 0, Poultry Turkeys 0, Poultry Geese 0 Goats Shot: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 0, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 0, Sheep Ewes 0, Sheep Weathers 0, Sheep Lambs 0, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 0, Goats Ewes 2, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 0, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 2, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses Asses 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 0, 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 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 1, Sheep Ewes 2, Sheep Weathers 4, Sheep Lambs 8, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 14, Goats Ewes 5, Goats Weathers 4, Goats Kids 5, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 14, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 1, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 1, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses Asses 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 15, Poultry Ducks 0, Poultry Turkeys 4, Poultry Geese 0 Remaining 31st March: Neat Cattle Bulls 6, Neat Cattle Cows 116, Neat Cattle Calves 133, Neat Cattle Yearlings 39, Neat Cattle Heifers 24, Neat Cattle Steers 58, Neat Cattle Oxen 17, Neat Cattle Total 393, Sheep Ewes 332, Sheep Weathers 180, Sheep Lambs 125, Sheep Rams 12, Sheep Total 649, Goats Ewes 143, Goats Weathers 39, Goats Kids 96, Goats Rams 10, Goats Total 288, Hogs Sows 2, Hogs Shoats 2, Hogs Pigs 2, Hogs Boars 1, Hogs Total 7, Horses Horses 5, Horses Mares 6, Horses Total 11, Asses Asses 1, Asses Total 1, Poultry Fowls 98, Poultry Ducks 32, Poultry Turkeys 55, Poultry Geese 7 Chang. the Specie: Neat Cattle Bulls 6, Neat Cattle Cows 125, Neat Cattle Calves 62, Neat Cattle Yearlings 83, Neat Cattle Heifers 27, Neat Cattle Steers 73, Neat Cattle Oxen 21, Neat Cattle Total 393, Sheep Ewes 397, Sheep Weathers 217, Sheep Lambs 23, Sheep Rams 12, Sheep Total 649, Goats Ewes 172, Goats Weathers 61, Goats Kids 45, Goats Rams 10, Goats Total 288, Hogs Sows 2, Hogs Shoats 4, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 1, Hogs Total 7, Horses Horses 5, Horses Mares 6, Horses Total 11, Asses Asses 1, Asses Total 1, Poultry Fowls 98, Poultry Ducks 32, Poultry Turkeys 55, Poultry Geese 7 Slaves Born 1 Girl Named Betty Recd. 1 Man named Soldier 1 Woman Do. Suzannah Deceased Slaves 1 Man named Flint Yams Expended for the Slaves 41.355 Bad Do. Do. for the Stock 5.700 47.055 (signed) Jno. Worrall Overseer | Account of the Company's stock of cattle and other animals from 1 January to 31 March 1769 Remaining on 1 January 1769 Cattle: 6 bulls, 118 cows, 109 calves, 39 yearlings, 24 heifers, 70 steers, 17 oxen, total 383 Sheep: 334 ewes, 134 wethers, 131 lambs, 12 rams, total 611 Goats: 152 nannies, 50 wethers, 84 kids, 10 billies, total 296 Pigs: 2 sows, 3 shoats, 3 piglets, 1 boar, total 9 Horses: 5 horses, 6 mares, total 11 Asses: 1 jack, total 1 Poultry: 112 fowls, 37 ducks, 50 turkeys, 7 geese Increase during the quarter Cattle: 24 calves, total 24 Sheep: 8 lambs, total 8 Goats: 23 kids, total 23 Poultry: 42 fowls, 7 ducks, 27 turkeys, 0 geese Received on [...] February 1769 Sheep: 10 ewes, 35 wethers, total 45 Received on 11 March 1769 Sheep: 68 wethers, total 68 Total Cattle: 6 bulls, 118 cows, 133 calves, 39 yearlings, 24 heifers, 70 steers, 17 oxen, total 407 Sheep: 344 ewes, 237 wethers, 139 lambs, 12 rams, total 732 Goats: 152 nannies, 50 wethers, 107 kids, 10 billies, total 319 Pigs: 2 sows, 3 shoats, 3 piglets, 1 boar, total 9 Horses: 5 horses, 6 mares, total 11 Asses: 1 jack, total 1 Poultry: 154 fowls, 44 ducks, 77 turkeys, 7 geese Killed for the Company's table Sheep: 6 ewes, 29 wethers, 6 lambs, total 41 Goats: 6 kids, total 6 Pigs: 1 shoat, total 1 Poultry: 41 fowls, 12 ducks, 18 turkeys Killed for the ships Cattle: 1 cow, 12 steers, total 13 Killed for the market and the hospital Sheep: 4 ewes, 24 wethers, total 28 Goats: 2 nannies, 1 wether, total 3 Killed for the slaves Goats: 6 wethers, total 6 Goats shot Goats: 2 nannies, total 2 Died Cattle: 1 cow, total 1 Sheep: 2 ewes, 4 wethers, 8 lambs, total 14 Goats: 5 nannies, 4 wethers, 5 kids, total 14 Pigs: 1 piglet, total 1 Poultry: 15 fowls, 4 turkeys Remaining on 31 March 1769 Cattle: 6 bulls, 116 cows, 133 calves, 39 yearlings, 24 heifers, 58 steers, 17 oxen, total 393 Sheep: 332 ewes, 180 wethers, 125 lambs, 12 rams, total 649 Goats: 143 nannies, 39 wethers, 96 kids, 10 billies, total 288 Pigs: 2 sows, 2 shoats, 2 piglets, 1 boar, total 7 Horses: 5 horses, 6 mares, total 11 Asses: 1 jack, total 1 Poultry: 98 fowls, 32 ducks, 55 turkeys, 7 geese Regraded by age on 31 March 1769 Cattle: 6 bulls, 125 cows, 62 calves, 83 yearlings, 27 heifers, 73 steers, 21 oxen, total 393 Sheep: 397 ewes, 217 wethers, 23 lambs, 12 rams, total 649 Goats: 172 nannies, 61 wethers, 45 kids, 10 billies, total 288 Pigs: 2 sows, 4 shoats, 0 piglets, 1 boar, total 7 Horses: 5 horses, 6 mares, total 11 Asses: 1 jack, total 1 Poultry: 98 fowls, 32 ducks, 55 turkeys, 7 geese Slaves born: 1 girl, named Betty Slaves received: 1 man, named Soldier; 1 woman, named Suzannah Slaves died: 1 man, named Flint Yams used for the slaves, 41,355 Yams used for the stock, 5,700 Total yams used, 47,055 John Worrall, the overseer, signed the account. Interpretations The Cape sheep bought from the commanders arrived in this account. The 45 animals from the Valentine entered the flock in February. Only 68 appeared on 11 March, although Captain Mills and Captain Baddison had together been paid for 80 on 16 March 1769. The difference was probably sheep that died or were killed between landing and the overseer's count. Even so, the purchases turned the decline of the previous quarter around. The flock rose from 611 to 649, despite heavy killing for the Castle table and the market. The Company's herd supplied fresh beef to the ships in the road. Twelve steers and a cow were killed for the shipping during the quarter, when more than a dozen East Indiamen called. Selling fresh meat to the homeward fleet was one of the island's main purposes. The steers, raised as beef cattle, were the animals drawn on for it. The final row regraded every animal by age at the end of the quarter. Calves became yearlings, yearlings became heifers or steers, and lambs and kids joined the adult flocks. Each class was counted afresh, so the next quarter's account began from a true picture of the herd. Breeding, slaughter and sale could then be planned by age. The slaves again appeared at the foot of the livestock account, counted with the herds. A girl named Betty was born, a man named Flint died, and two new slaves, Soldier and Suzannah, were received. The record did not say where they came from. Such names were imposed by owners and marked the slaves as property. The overseer counted them alongside the cattle and recorded the yams issued to feed them. | |
25 | 1769 Artillery Stores Expended in March 1769 Guns fired, Shot Do., 18 Pr, 6 Pr, 4 Pr, 3 Pr, 1 Pr, Powder Expend. lb, Powder Expend. oz 3 An Alarm for a Ship that pass'd by: Guns fired 2, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 2, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 5 An Alarm: Guns fired 6, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 6 Arrived the Royal Captain: Guns fired 9, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 9 An Alarm: Guns fired 6, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Arrived the Kent: Guns fired 9, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 10 An Alarm at Turks Cap: Guns fired 2, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 2, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 6, Powder Expend. oz 0 Do. at Prosperous Bay: Guns fired 6, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Arrived the Verelst: Guns fired 9, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 13 Guns fired to Salute Major Grant going on Board: Guns fired 11, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 11, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 16, Powder Expend. oz 8 Departed the Ships Royal Captain & Bute: Guns fired 9, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 17 Do. The Verelst & Kent: Guns fired 18, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 18, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 27, Powder Expend. oz 0 18 An Alarm for seven Ships that passed by: Guns fired 15, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 6, 3 Pr 6, 1 Pr 3, Powder Expend. lb 33, Powder Expend. oz 0 19 An Alarm: Guns fired 6, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Arrived the Grosvenor: Guns fired 9, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 An Alarm: Guns fired 6, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Arrived the Duke of Gloucester: Guns fired 9, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 21 An Alarm: Guns fired 6, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Arrived the Lord Mansfield: Guns fired 9, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 24 An Alarm: Guns fired 6, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Arrived the Harcourt: Guns fired 9, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 29 A Double Alarm: Guns fired 8, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 2, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 24, Powder Expend. oz 0 Arrived the Duke of Richmond: Guns fired 9, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 An Alarm two Shot fired from Banks's: Guns fired 8, Shot Do. 2, 18 Pr 2, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 24, Powder Expend. oz 0 Arrived the Clive: Guns fired 9, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 30 Depart. the Grosvenor & Ld. Mansfield: Guns fired 18, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 18, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 27, Powder Expend. oz 0 Do. the Duke of Gloucester: Guns fired 9, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 Powder Expended in Sundry Services: Guns fired 0, Shot Do. 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 254, Powder Expend. oz 6 Total: Guns fired 223, Shot Do. 2, 18 Pr 6, 6 Pr 143, 4 Pr 24, 3 Pr 24, 1 Pr 21, Powder Expend. lb 656, Powder Expend. oz 6 Lead Ball to Shoot Goats 6 lb. 3 oz. Tallow for Boats 5 lb. Sponge Staves 4 | The gunner's account for March 1769 was entered as follows. Artillery stores used in March 1769 3 March, an alarm for a ship that passed the island: 2 guns fired, 2 eighteen-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 5 March, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 [...]-pounders, 2 [...]-pounders and 2 [...]-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 6 March, arrival of the Royal Captain: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 9 March, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 [...]-pounders, 2 [...]-pounders and 2 [...]-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 9 March, arrival of the Kent: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 10 March, an alarm at Turk's Cap: 2 nine-pounders fired, with 6 pounds of powder 10 March, an alarm at Prosperous Bay: 6 guns fired, 2 [...]-pounders, 2 [...]-pounders and 2 [...]-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 10 March, arrival of the Verelst: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 13 March, salute for Major Gowan going on board: 11 nine-pounders fired, with 16 pounds 8 ounces of powder 13 March, departure of the Royal Captain and the Bute: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 17 March, departure of the Verelst and the Kent: 18 nine-pounders fired, with 27 pounds of powder 18 March, an alarm for seven ships that passed the island: 15 guns fired, 6 [...]-pounders, 6 [...]-pounders and 3 [...]-pounders, with 33 pounds of powder 19 March, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 [...]-pounders, 2 [...]-pounders and 2 [...]-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 19 March, arrival of the Grosvenor: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 20 March, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 [...]-pounders, 2 [...]-pounders and 2 [...]-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 20 March, arrival of the Duke of Gloucester: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 21 March, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 [...]-pounders, 2 [...]-pounders and 2 [...]-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 21 March, arrival of the Lord Mansfield: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 24 March, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 [...]-pounders, 2 [...]-pounders and 2 [...]-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 24 March, arrival of the Harcourt: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 29 March, a double alarm: 8 guns fired, 2 eighteen-pounders, 2 [...]-pounders, 2 [...]-pounders and 2 [...]-pounders, with 24 pounds of powder 29 March, arrival of the Duke of Richmond: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 29 March, an alarm, with 2 shot fired from Banks's: 8 guns fired, 2 eighteen-pounders, 2 [...]-pounders, 2 [...]-pounders and 2 [...]-pounders, with 24 pounds of powder 29 March, arrival of the Clive: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 30 March, departure of the Grosvenor and the Lord Mansfield: 18 nine-pounders fired, with 27 pounds of powder 30 March, departure of the Duke of Gloucester: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder Powder used in various services, 254 pounds 6 ounces Total: 223 guns fired and 2 shot, comprising 6 eighteen-pounders, 143 nine-pounders, 24 [...]-pounders, 24 [...]-pounders and 21 [...]-pounders, with 656 pounds 6 ounces of powder Lead ball for shooting goats, 6 pounds 5 ounces Tallow for the boats, 5 pounds Sponge staves, 4 Interpretations The garrison fired 223 guns in March, three times as many as in January or February, and used more than 650 pounds of powder. Almost all of it went on ceremony and warning rather than practice. Every ship sighted set off an alarm, and every Company ship was saluted when she arrived and again when she left. Eleven East Indiamen and two foreign squadrons passed in a single month. The magazines could sustain powder use at that rate only because the store ships replaced it. On 29 March the battery at Banks's fired two shot, the only live rounds of the month. Every other gun was fired with powder alone. A ship that came in without answering the alarm signals was warned with a shot across her bows until she showed her colours or sent a boat ashore. The same day brought a double alarm and the arrival of both the Duke of Richmond and the Clive. The shots were probably fired to make an unidentified vessel declare herself before she could enter the road. | |
26 | The 10 April Sundry's Expended at the Honble. Company's Table in March 1769 7 Bottles Port Wine " 10 6 24 Do. Lisbon 1 16 - 12 Do. Mountain " 18 - 24 Do. Beer " 5 - 24 Gall. Arrack 6 " " 200 lb. Beef 4 3 4 306 lb. Mutton 6 7 6 4 Turkeys 1 - - 12 Fowls " 18 - 6 Ducks " 9 - 30 lb. Butter 1 10 - 100 lb. Candy 2 1 8 300 lb. Flour 2 16 3 £ 28 15 3 John Skottowe Purling | Sundries used at the Company's table in March 1769 7 bottles of port wine, £0 10s 6d 24 bottles of Lisbon wine, £1 16s 0d 12 bottles of Mountain wine, £0 18s 0d 24 bottles of beer, £0 5s 0d 24 gallons of arrack, £6 0s 0d 200 pounds of beef, £4 3s 4d 306 pounds of mutton, £6 7s 6d 4 turkeys, £1 0s 0d 12 fowls, £0 18s 0d 6 ducks, £0 9s 0d 30 pounds of butter, £1 10s 0d 100 pounds of sugar candy, £2 1s 8d 300 pounds of flour, £2 16s 3d Total, £28 15s 3d Governor John Skottowe and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The table cost £28 15s 3d in March. Eleven Company ships called that month, yet the bill came to less than February's £34 6s 7d. Most of the ships stayed only a few days. Their commanders and passengers were evidently not all entertained at the Castle at the Company's expense. The fresh meat came almost entirely from the Company's own flock and herd. The plantation account showed 41 sheep killed for the table in the quarter, which matched the steady 300 pounds or so of mutton served each month. | |
27 | The 14 April At a Consultation held on Friday the 14th day of April 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved & signed dated the 10 April 1769 Monday the 10 Arrived the Pacifick's Boat at Banks's at half an Hour past one o'Clock in the Afternoon Do. Do. Do. The Honble. Company's Ship Pacifick from China Tuesday the 11 Sailed the Honble. Company's Ships Clive, Duke of Richmond & True Briton for England The Pacifick brought us the following Supply viz. Invoice of Ship Pacifick No. 45/59 15 Chests of Sugar Candy No. 45.. 28.. 295 46.. 29.. 295 47.. 27.. 295 48.. 29.. 295 49.. 28.. 295 50.. 27.. 292 51.. 28.. 295 52.. 28.. 294 53.. 28.. 296 54.. 26.. 293 55.. 27.. 295 56.. 27.. 291 57.. 30.. 295 58.. 26.. 294 59.. 27.. 293 416 4412 416 3996 Pls. or Pecl. 29.. 97 @ T. 7.. 500 Taels m c c 224 7 7 5 Canton 14th Decr. 1768 Errors Excepted (signed) Henry Revell Hillary Torriano Josh. De Lisme Jno. Searle Fras. Wood Junr. Benj. Elton Thos. Thomas Willm. Vrons Jno. Walton Thos. Bevan | The Council met at the Castle on Friday 14 April 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 10 April 1769 were read, approved and signed. At half past one in the afternoon of Monday 10 April a boat from the Pacific landed at Banks's, and the Company's ship Pacific arrived from China the same day. On Tuesday 11 April the Company's ships Clive, Duke of Richmond and True Briton sailed for England. The Pacific brought the following supplies. Invoice of the ship Pacific Sugar candy, 15 chests numbered 45 to 59 Chest 45, tare 28 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 46, tare 29 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 47, tare 27 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 48, tare 29 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 49, tare 28 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 50, tare 27 pounds, gross 292 pounds Chest 51, tare 28 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 52, tare 28 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 53, tare 28 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 54, tare 26 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 55, tare 27 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 56, tare 27 pounds, gross 291 pounds Chest 57, tare 30 pounds, gross 295 pounds Chest 58, tare 26 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 59, tare 27 pounds, gross 292 pounds Total tare 416 pounds, total gross 4,412 pounds Net weight 3,996 pounds, or 29.97 piculs, at 7.500 taels a picul, 224 taels 7 mace 7 candareens 5 cash The invoice was signed at Canton on 14 December 1768 by Benjamin Torin, Thomas Thomas, William Prows, John Walton, Thomas Bevan, Henry Revell, Hillary Torriano, Joseph de Lafons, John Searle and Francis Wood junior, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The Pacific brought chests 45 to 59, the last lot in the season's numbered series of sugar candy. The Grosvenor, the Lord Mansfield and the Harcourt had already landed chests 1 to 44. With this cargo the island received nearly 16,000 pounds of sugar candy from Canton in a single season, about seven tons. That was roughly four times what the island had used in the second half of 1768. The supercargoes probably sent so much at once to last more than a year, since the next China ship might not reach St Helena until the following spring. | |
28 | The 14 April We this day received the following Letter from Captain Stewart viz. To the Worshipfull John Skottowe Esq. Governor &c. Council of St. Helena Sir & Sirs If you have any condemned Iron Guns belonging to the Honorable Company which you may propose sending to England, I shall be glad to receive them as ballast on board the Duke of Albany and will deliver them to the Compy. Freight free on the arrival of the said Ship in the River Thames I am Sir & Sirs Your most Obedt. Humble Servant (signed) Alexr. Stewart 14th April 1769 Upon the Receipt of the above Letter we sent for the Captain of Artillery and directed him to make a Return of all the Iron Guns that were unserviceable, Agreable thereto he delivered Us the following Return viz. Return of bad Guns dismounted from the Old Works 12 Pounders 1 9 Do. 4 6 Do. 13 4 Do. 4 3 Do. 3 2 Do. 16 Swivels 5 Total 46 (signed) Ar. Mitchell Capt. Arty. St. Helena 14th April 1769 | The Council received a letter from Captain Alexander Stewart that day. Stewart wrote to Governor John Skottowe and the Council on 14 April 1769. If the Council had any condemned iron guns belonging to the Company that it wished to send to England, he would gladly take them on board the Duke of Albany as ballast. He would deliver them to the Company free of freight when the ship reached the Thames. On receiving the letter, the Council sent for the captain of artillery. It told him to draw up a return of all the iron guns that were unfit for service. He delivered the following return. Return of unserviceable guns dismounted from the old works 12-pounders, 1 9-pounders, 4 6-pounders, 15 4-pounders, 4 3-pounders, 3 2-pounders, 16 Swivel guns, 3 Total, 46 Archibald Mitchell, captain of artillery, signed the return at St Helena on 14 April 1769. Interpretations Stewart's offer cost the Company nothing. A ship sailing home light needed weight low in her hold to keep her steady, and sailors normally loaded stones or gravel for that purpose. Old cannon served just as well. Once landed in England they could be sold for scrap iron or recast. The Council would otherwise have left them lying useless on the island, since there was no foundry there to melt them down. The 46 guns had been taken down from the old works, the defences Mitchell was replacing with his new batteries and lines. They included the 16 guns removed from the curtain in James's Valley in December 1768. The many small pieces, 2-pounders and swivel guns, were weapons of an earlier age of island defence, too light to trouble a modern ship. Mitchell's batteries were mounting heavier guns in their place, and the return showed how far the rebuilding had changed the island's armament. | |
29 | 1769 At the same time Capt. Mitchell represented to us that the one twelve Pounder four nine Pounders, and Ten six pounders, had best be kept to mount on some of the new Batterys untill we receive those Indented for from England for that purpose Agreed to keep the said fifteen Guns until another opportunity and to put on board the Ship Duke of Albany upon the Terms Captain Stewart has proposed to receive them the following viz. 4 Pounders 4 3 Do. 3 2 Do. 16 Swivels 8 Total 31 The ten working days allowed by Charter Party for unloading the Ship Duke of Albany being expired we gave Captl. Alexander Stewart Sailing Orders in Writing to make the best of his way to Fort Marlborough on the West Coast of the Island Sumatra according to the Orders he has received from the Honorable the Court of Directors. We likewise gave him the following Letters to the several Residency's in India viz. To the Honorable Harry Verelst Esq. President & Governor &ca. Council of Fort William Honorable Sir & Sirs We did ourselves the pleasure of writing to you last by the Tilbury since when we have received your several Letters by the Adml. Pocock, Valentine Kent & Verelst We desire you will send for the use of this Place Eight Maunds | Captain Mitchell also told the Council that the 12-pounder, the four 9-pounders and ten of the 6-pounders were better kept. They could be mounted on some of the new batteries until the guns ordered from England for that purpose arrived. The Council agreed to keep those 15 guns until another opportunity arose. It decided to put the rest on board the Duke of Albany on the terms Captain Stewart had offered. 4-pounders, 4 3-pounders, 3 2-pounders, 16 Swivel guns, 8 Total, 31 The two working days allowed by the charter party for unloading the Duke of Albany had expired. The Council therefore gave Captain Alexander Stewart written sailing orders. He was to make his way as fast as he could to Fort Marlborough on the west coast of Sumatra, following the orders he had received from the Court of Directors. The Council also gave him letters for the presidencies in India. The first letter was addressed to Harry Verelst, President and Governor, and the Council of Fort William. The Council noted that it had last written to them by the Tilbury. Since then it had received their letters by the Admiral Pocock, the Valentine, the Kent and the Verelst. It asked them to send, for the use of St Helena, eight maunds of Interpretations The Council chose not to ship all the condemned guns, although Stewart's offer would have taken them home free. Mitchell judged that the heavier pieces were still serviceable for a time. The new batteries had been built faster than guns could arrive from England. Rather than leave fresh gun positions empty, the Council kept the 12-pounder, the 9-pounders and the best 6-pounders as stopgaps. Only the small and obsolete pieces, which no modern battery would mount, went into the Duke of Albany's hold as ballast. The charter party was the contract under which the Company hired each ship from her owners. It fixed how many days she could be kept at each port for loading and unloading. Delay beyond the agreed days cost the Company demurrage, a payment for every extra day. The Council released the Duke of Albany as soon as her two days had run. Unlike the homeward ships, she was outward bound, carrying stores and orders for Bencoolen. St Helena was only a short call on her way east. | |
30 | The 14 April of the best Wax Candles by each Ship and the same Quantity of Arrack Rice and Paddy as last Year Observing in your Address to the Government of this Island you Stile the Governor Deputy Governor which Carry's an impropriety with it, as this Settlement is not Subordinate to any other and our Honble. Masters manner of directing is Governor and not Deputy Governor this mistake we apprehend arises from the Secretary's Office which we doubt not but you will in future rectify This Letter will be forwarded to your Presidency by way of Bencoolen, Enclosed we have sent you a List of Ships that have arrived here since our last We are Honorable Sir & Sirs Your most Obedt. humble Servants (signed) John Skottowe Mattw. Purling St. Helena 14 April 1769 To the Honorable Charles Bourchier Esq. President & Governor &ca. Council of Fort St. George Honorable Sir & Sirs Our last Address to you went by way of China under date of 25th May 1768, since which we have received your Letter by the Egmont We desire you will send for the use of this Place 20 Ps. Long Cloth of 8 Pagodas p piece 30 Ps. of 6 Pagodas p Piece 30 pieces of 3½ Pagodas p piece 30 Ps. 2½ Pags. p piece and 50 Prs. of Good Mens Cotton Stockings some to be of a large size and the usual quantity of Arr. Rice & Paddy This Letter goes by the Duke of Albany by way of Bencoolen Enclosed we have sent for your perusal a List of those Ships that have | The Council asked for eight maunds of the best wax candles to be sent in each ship, with the same quantities of arrack, rice and paddy as the year before. The Council also pointed out that the Bengal government had addressed the Governor of St Helena as "Deputy Governor". That was improper, since the island was not subordinate to any other settlement. The Court of Directors itself always addressed him as Governor. The Council supposed the mistake had arisen in the Bengal Secretary's Office and was sure it would be put right in future. The letter was to go to Bengal by way of Bencoolen. A list of the ships that had arrived at St Helena since the Council's last letter was enclosed. Governor John Skottowe and Matthew Purling signed the letter at St Helena on 14 April 1769. The second letter was addressed to Charles Bourchier, President and Governor, and the Council of Fort St George. The Council's last letter to Madras had gone by way of China, dated 25 May 1768. Since then it had received their letter by the Egmont. The Council asked Madras to send the following for the island's use. Longcloth, 20 pieces at 8 pagodas a piece Longcloth, 30 pieces at 6 pagodas a piece Longcloth, 30 pieces at 3½ pagodas a piece Longcloth, 30 pieces at 2½ pagodas a piece Men's cotton stockings of good quality, 50 pairs, some of them in a large size Arrack, rice and paddy, the usual quantity This letter also went in the Duke of Albany by way of Bencoolen, with a list of the ships that had arrived at the island. Interpretations The Council objected to the title "Deputy Governor" because it implied that St Helena answered to Bengal. The island was governed directly from London, and its Governor and Council reported to the Court of Directors alone. Fort William was the Company's most powerful settlement, and its secretaries may have assumed that every lesser station stood under a presidency. Accepting the lower title without protest could have become a precedent for Bengal to issue orders to the island. The Council's correction defended its independence, and it was careful to blame a clerk rather than the Bengal Council itself. The orders showed how St Helena drew its supplies from each presidency according to what it produced best. Bengal sent rice, paddy, arrack and wax candles. Madras sent longcloth in graded qualities and cotton stockings. Asking for some stockings in a large size suggests the Madras stockings ran small for European soldiers. The four grades of longcloth matched the lettered marks held in the warehouse, from fine cloth for officers' shirts down to coarse cloth for the slaves. Sending both letters by the Duke of Albany through Bencoolen was the quickest route available. No ship was sailing direct from St Helena to India. From Fort Marlborough the letters could be carried on to Calcutta and Madras by the country ships trading along the coasts. | |
31 | 1769 arrived here since we wrote last to you We are Honorable Sir & Sirs Your most Obedt. humble Servants (signed) John Skottowe Mattw. Purling St. Helena 14 April 1769 To the Honorable Thomas Hodges Esq. President & Govr. &ca. Council of Bombay Honorable Sir & Sirs We wrote last to you under date of 25th May 1768 by the Ship Tilbury since that time we have received your Letters by the Greenwich and Royal Captain We request you will send Us for the use of this Island 100 Ps. Surat Chellows and the same Quantity of Rice and Paddy as last Year Enclosed we have sent you a Copy of the Artillery Indent of last Year intended for the service of this settlement which if you have not complied with before the Receipt of this Letter we request you will forward by the earliest opportunity You will receive this Letter by way of Bencoolen and have sent you Enclosed a List of Ships that have been here since our Advices last Year We are Honorable Sir & Sirs Your most Obt. humble Servants (signed) Jno. Skottowe Mattw. Purling St. Helena 14 April 1769 | Governor John Skottowe and Matthew Purling signed the letter to Madras at St Helena on 14 April 1769. The third letter was addressed to Thomas Hodges, President and Governor, and the Council of Bombay. The Council had last written to Bombay on 25 May 1768 by the Tilbury. Since then it had received their letters by the Greenwich and the Royal Captain. The Council asked Bombay to send 100 pieces of Surat chelloes for the island's use, with the same quantities of rice and paddy as the year before. It also enclosed a copy of the artillery indent sent the previous year for the defence of the settlement. If Bombay had not yet supplied it when the letter arrived, the Council asked them to send it by the earliest opportunity. The letter was to reach Bombay by way of Bencoolen, with a list of the ships that had called at the island since the Council's letter of the year before. Governor Skottowe and Purling signed it at St Helena on 14 April 1769. Interpretations The Council asked Bombay, not England, for artillery stores. The previous year's indent had evidently gone unanswered, and the Council pressed for it again by enclosing a copy. Bombay had its own arsenal and gun foundry and was closer than London in sailing time. Mitchell's new batteries at Banks's, Lemon Valley and Munden's Point needed guns, carriages and stores. Until they came, the Council was keeping 15 old guns in service, as it had agreed only that day. Chelloes were checked or striped cotton cloth woven around Surat, the great textile centre near Bombay. They were the cheap cloth issued to the Company's slaves, and the warehouse sold them to the servants. Each presidency supplied what its own region made best. Bombay sent the cheap cottons of Gujarat, as Madras sent longcloth and Bengal sent rice and candles. | |
32 | The 14 April To the Honorable Richard Wyatt Esq. President & Governor &ca. Council of Fort Marlborough Sir & Sirs By the Duke of Richmond which Arrived here the 29th of last Month we received your Letter dated the 7 of Jany. 1769 together with Mess Panjee the Malay Man and the two Coffrees you thought proper to transport to this Island, which we must observe is contrary to the Orders which our Honble. Masters have signified to us they had given to all their Settlements not to transport any Malefactors and Disorderly Persons to this Place, we have however received the said Prisoners but not without remonstrating to the Company against it, as we conceive it to be a measure Attended with many bad consequences, and the Malays of all others are a people we should choose to have least to do with, finding from experience that Sequdah Pocolam is a very troublesome dissatisfied Person, and two of that disposition and Country, may render their residence here very inconvenient as well as a dead Charge to this Settlement We have Consigned you by this Ship one Chest of Treasure containing £1000.. as p Invoice & Bill of Lading enclosed, and are sorry we cannot send you the whole Specie in round Dollars as you request, but have sent you £500.. in Dollars and the other £500.. in Rupees at 2/3 upon which we apprehend there cannot be any loss as they are below the Value they pass for in any other Settlement, we shall in future not send you any other small Money than Fanams and the parts of the Dollar Coin Enclosed you will receive the Duke of Albany's Charter Party Victualling Bill and Manifest of Goods, together with our Letters to the several Presidency's in India, which we request you will please to forward by the first Conveyance We are Sir & Sirs Your most Obedt. humble Servants (signed) John Skottowe Mattw. Purling St. Helena 14 April 1769 | The fourth letter was addressed to Richard Wyatt, President and Governor, and the Council of Fort Marlborough. The Council had received their letter of 7 January 1769 by the Duke of Richmond, which arrived on 29 March. With it came Mas Panjee, a Malay, and two Africans whom Fort Marlborough had chosen to transport to St Helena. The Council pointed out that this broke the Court of Directors' orders to all its settlements not to send malefactors or disorderly people to the island. It had received the prisoners, but it would protest to the Company. It believed the practice would have many bad consequences. Of all peoples, the Malays were the ones it least wished to deal with. Experience had shown that Sequedah [...] was a very troublesome and discontented man. Two of the same temper and country might make their presence on the island very awkward, as well as a dead charge on the settlement. The Council had shipped to Fort Marlborough in the Duke of Albany one chest of treasure worth £1,000 0s 0d, as shown in the invoice and bill of lading enclosed. It regretted that it could not send the whole sum in round dollars as requested. It had sent £500 0s 0d in dollars and the other £500 0s 0d in rupees at 2s 3d each. The Council did not expect any loss on the rupees, since this rate was lower than the value they passed at in any other settlement. In future it would send no small money except fanams and the fractions of the dollar. The Council enclosed the Duke of Albany's charter party, victualling bill and manifest of goods. It also sent its letters to the presidencies in India and asked Fort Marlborough to forward them by the first opportunity. Governor John Skottowe and Matthew Purling signed the letter at St Helena on 14 April 1769. Interpretations The letter explained the account headed "Mallay" in the storekeeper's books. In the quarters ending September and December 1768 the Company had issued rice, sugar, arrack, tea, broadcloth, china and fine shoes to a single person under that name. He was evidently the Malay exile Sequedah, sent earlier from Bencoolen and kept on the island at the Company's expense. The Council's complaint that he was troublesome and discontented, and a "dead charge" on the settlement, matched those accounts exactly. He produced nothing, yet he had to be fed, clothed and supplied with the comforts of a man of rank. The Council accepted the new prisoners, although their transport broke the Court's orders. It could hardly send them back on an outward-bound ship, and the Duke of Albany was the only vessel available. Instead it protested in writing to Fort Marlborough and to the Court in London. Bencoolen found St Helena a convenient place to remove dangerous or unwanted men far from home. The island's Council saw only the cost and the risk of trouble. The treasure sent to Fort Marlborough showed St Helena acting as a channel for coin. The Council had spare specie after the winter's bills of exchange. Bencoolen needed money to buy pepper, and dollars were the coin of trade throughout the Malay world. The Council's offer of fanams and fractions of the dollar for small change reflected a shortage of low-value coins at both settlements. Fanams were small gold or silver coins of southern India, worth a fraction of a rupee. | |
33 | 1769 Mr. Matthew Purling Reports that he has been on board the Ship Pacifick to Muster her Company and enquire for Deserters but found none her Muster Roll are as follows viz. Muster Roll of Ship Pacifick Chas. Barkley Commr. Robt. Sheaf Chief Mate Thos. Jackson 2 Do. Thos. Fisher 3 Do. Timothy Dickenson 4 Do. Griffith Thomas Surgeon Jams. Dewar Purser Geo. Butler Carpent. Jams. Crowe Boat. Wm. Pring Caulker Jams. Heslop Sail Maker Jno. Dickenson Cooper Richd. Read Capt. Steward Jno. Lahd Ships Do. Antl. Clements Capt. Cook Donald McDonald Ships Do. Robt. Sewell Carpent. Mate Geo. Fletcher Do. 2 Do. Jno. Stevenson Surg. Do. Thos. Lovell Boatn. Do. Jas. Clark Do. 2 Do. Griffith Bond Caulk. Do. Jno. Jackson Cooper Do. Henry Simpson Midshipm. Henry Phipps Do. Matt. Childs Do. Jno. Loyd Do. Edwd. Ridge Do. Jno. Gee 2d Master Geo. Law 2d Master Wm. Guthrie Do. Jno. Joblin Armour. Willm. Mann Poult. Alex. Freeman Jno. Duggan Jas. Sullivan Robt. Marshall Swain Laurence Jno. May Jas. Hale Thos. Fletcher Jno. Trueman Wm. Johnston Robt. Tinkison Josh. Summers Jno. Brody Laur. Jackson Richd. Blackford Jaspar Brown Wm. Anderson Richd. Malley Geo. Norris Thos. Liddle Jno. Holt Cornl. Duncan Wm. Coffee Jno. Crane Josh. Brinkley Jno. Ramsay Seamen Jno. Rawlings Wm. Holman Henry Everett Jos. Lemble Wm. Walker Matt. Gray Jno. Barber Aaron Arrow Thos. Lovell Jno. Francis Jno. Smith Jams. Richardson Wm. Haybank Richd. Burn Richd. Harris Danl. McQuegan Jeth. Robins Pooley Pugley Wm. Neal Edw. Tenny Ralph Little Chas. Hoy Richd. Cooper Christ. Lofgreen Robt. Alford Capt. Servt. Wm. Burwick Do. Benj. Allan Do. Thos. Cartier Do. | Matthew Purling reported that he had gone on board the Pacific to muster her crew and search for deserters, and had found none. Her muster roll was entered as follows. Muster roll of the ship Pacific Charles Rackley, commander Robert Shirreff, chief mate Thomas Jackson, second mate Thomas Fisher, third mate Timothy Dickenson, fourth mate Griffith Thomas, surgeon James Dewar, purser George Rutter, carpenter James Evans, boatswain William Prince, caulker James Hislop, sailmaker John Dickenson, cooper Richard Reed, captain's steward John Lund, ship's steward Anthony Clements, captain's cook Samuel McDonald, ship's cook Robert Tovell, carpenter's mate George Fletcher, carpenter's second mate John Stevendare, surgeon's mate Thomas Lavell, boatswain's mate James Clark, boatswain's second mate Griffith Bond, caulker's mate John Jackson, cooper's mate Henry Simpson, midshipman Henry Tapp, midshipman Matthew Cubbs, midshipman James Loyd, midshipman Edward Ridge, midshipman John Guy, quartermaster George Law, quartermaster William Guthrie, quartermaster Richard Joblin, armourer William Moore, butcher Alexander Fee, seaman John Duggan, seaman James Sullivan, seaman Robert Marshall, seaman Swain Lawrence, seaman John May, seaman James Hale, seaman Thomas Fletcher, seaman John Pressman, seaman William Johnston, seaman Robert Tinkison, seaman Joseph Simmons, seaman John Brody, seaman Lawrence Jackson, seaman Richard Blackford, seaman Jasper Brown, seaman William Anderson, seaman Richard Malley, seaman George Norris, seaman Thomas Liddle, seaman John Holt, seaman Cornelius Duncan, seaman William Coffer, seaman John Evans, seaman Joseph Buckley, seaman John Ramsay, seaman John Rawlings, seaman William Hobman, seaman Henry Everett, seaman Joseph Lambert, seaman William Walker, seaman Walter Gray, seaman John Basford, seaman Aaron Arrows, seaman Thomas Lovett, seaman John Francis, seaman John Smith, seaman James Richardson, seaman William Maybank, seaman Richard Burn, seaman Richard Harris, seaman Daniel McGuigan, seaman Seth Bowen, seaman Peirce Tipley, seaman William Neal, seaman Edward Penny, seaman Ralph Little, seaman Caesar Hay, seaman Richard Cooper, seaman Christopher Lofgreen, seaman Robert Alford, captain's servant William Renwick, captain's servant Benjamin Allan, captain's servant Thomas Cortes, captain's servant Interpretations The Pacific was the last of the season's China ships to be mustered. In just over two months, Purling had checked the crews of 15 East Indiamen and the outward-bound Duke of Albany, well over 1,500 men. He found no deserter on any of them. Either the soldiers had been deterred by the certainty of the search, or the officers had kept a close watch on the boats during the busy weeks. In either case the garrison lost men during the season only through death and lawful discharge, never by escape on the homeward ships. | |
34 | The 14 April Jno. Pettigell Chief Mates Servt. Geo. Dyer 2 Do. Do. Richd. Jones Surg. Do. Jno. Kemp Carpent. Do. Jno. White Gunrs. Do. Jno. Brown Seamen Lewis Jno. Haddaggwart Saml. Ishavel Piere St. Denoh Seamn. Gabl. Frebalt Andris Brunberg Lawr. Robrutshuck Mark Jegat John Searl Esq. Supra Cargo Elisha Turner Servant (signed) Charles Barkley John Skottowe Purling At a Consultation held on Monday the 17th day of April 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed the 14 April 1769 The Storekeeper this day brought in his Collections and Captn. Kirkpatrick his Account of Disbursements for the Quarter commencing the 1st January and ending the 31st March 1769, which were examined and approved and are as follow viz. | The Pacific's muster roll closed with the last of her servants and seamen, and her passengers. John Pettigrew, chief mate's servant George Dyer, second mate's servant Richard Jones, surgeon's servant John Hume, carpenter's servant John White, gunner's servant John Brown, seaman L'Oeuf, seaman John Naudaguard, seaman Frank Isbavel, seaman Pierre St Pierre, seaman Gabriel Trebulet, seaman Andrew Brunberg, seaman Lawrence Lebrechtsdinck, seaman Mark Tegat, seaman Passengers John Searle, supercargo Elisha Turner, his servant Charles Rackley signed the roll. Governor John Skottowe and Purling signed the minutes. The Council met at the Castle on Monday 17 April 1769. Governor Skottowe presided, with Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 14 April 1769 were read, approved and signed. The storekeeper presented his collections and Captain Kirkpatrick his disbursements for the quarter from 1 January to 31 March 1769. The Council examined and approved them, and they were entered as follows. Interpretations John Searle, sailing home in the Pacific, was one of the Canton supercargoes. His signature appeared on every China invoice that season. The council that bought the Company's cargoes at Canton broke up as its members returned to England, each sailing in one of the ships he had helped to load. A supercargo's private trade could make his fortune in a few seasons, and the voyage home was the end of his service in China. Kirkpatrick had been dismissed on 1 April 1769, yet his account as paymaster was still presented for the quarter ending 31 March. He had served as paymaster for the whole of that quarter and remained answerable for the money issued to him. A dismissed officer could not leave the island until his accounts were closed and any balance repaid. The Company's books had to show that every shilling in his charge had been properly spent. | |
35 | 1769 Collection of Goods sold and delivered out of the Honorable Company's Ware Houses from the 1st of January to 31st March 1769 viz. Sold to the Company's Servants at 10 p Cent viz. Sugar & Candy viz. 7038 lb. Sugar 103 7 4 1053 lb. Candy 26 6 6 129 13 10 Tea viz. 147 lb. Bohea 6 2 6 75 lb. Congo 5 3 1 104 lb. Singlo 7 3 - 18 8 7 Sope 245 lb. 7 9 2 Salt 10 7/8 Bushel 1 17 9 Arrack 62¾ Gall. 15 13 9 Buckram 8 Yds. " 9 - Twine viz. 23 Sk. Twine " 12 11 3¼ Fine Do. " 3 10 10½ Cott. Wick 1 12 1 2 8 10 Rice and Paddy viz. 1624 lb. Rice 5 18 5 958 lb. Paddy 2 7 4 8 5 9 Starch 6 lb. " 4 - Candles 93 lb. 11 9 7 Canvas viz. 20½ Yds. Eng. Canvas 1 5 7½ 1 Do. Oznab. " " 10½ 6 Do. Ticklenb. " 6 1 1 12 7 Carrd. Over£ 197 12 10 | The account of goods sold and delivered from the Company's warehouses between 1 January and 31 March 1769 began with the sales to the Company's servants at cost plus 10 per cent. Sold to the Company's servants at 10 per cent above cost Sugar and sugar candy 7,088 pounds of sugar, £103 7s 4d 1,053 pounds of sugar candy, £26 6s 6d Total for sugar and sugar candy, £129 13s 10d Tea 14¾ pounds of Bohea tea, £6 2s 6d 7¼ pounds of Congo tea, £5 3s 1d 10¼ pounds of Singlo tea, £7 3s 0d Total for tea, £18 8s 7d 245 pounds of soap, £7 9s 2d 10⅞ bushels of salt, £1 17s 9d 62¼ gallons of arrack, £15 13s 9d 8¼ yards of buckram, £0 9s 0d Twine 23 pounds of twine, £0 12s 11d 3¼ pounds of fine twine, £0 3s 10d 10¼ pounds of cotton wick, £1 12s 1d Total for twine, £2 8s 10d Rice and paddy 1,624 pounds of rice, £5 18s 5d 950 pounds of paddy, £2 7s 4d Total for rice and paddy, £8 5s 9d 6 pounds of starch, £0 4s 0d 93 pounds of candles, £11 9s 7d Canvas 20½ yards of English canvas, £1 5s 7½d 1 yard of osnaburgs, £0 0s 10½d 6 yards of tecklenburgs, £0 6s 1d Total for canvas, £1 12s 7d Carried forward, £197 12s 10d Interpretations Singlo appeared here for the first time in the warehouse sales, in place of the Hyson listed in earlier quarters. It was a green tea from the Sunglo hills of Anhui province, grown in the same district as Hyson but cheaper and less carefully picked. At about 14s a pound it cost less than the finest green tea but more than Bohea or Congo. The Canton supercargoes evidently shipped Singlo when Hyson was dear or scarce, and the servants who wanted green tea took what came. Sales of sugar and arrack rose a little against the last quarter of 1768. Sugar went from 6,406 pounds to 7,088 and arrack from about 48 gallons to 62. The quarter was the busiest of the year in the road. With so many ships calling, the servants who kept lodgings or sold provisions to the ships' companies probably bought more to supply their trade. | |
36 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 197 12 10 Cordage 12 lb. 2 2 - Shot 19 lb. " 4 4 Coffee 3 lb. " 7 4 Challow 4 Prs. 1 16 8 Ticking 1 Yard " 3 6 Shalloon 15½ Yds. Col. 1 15 9 Oil viz. ¾ Oil of Turpentine " 4 4 ¼ Do. Drought " 1 9 4 Bott. Florence " 15 3 1 1 6 Leather viz. 19½ lb. Sole " 19 11 1 Calf Skin " 11 4 1 11 3 Bunting viz. 2 Yds. Blue " 1 3¾ 2½ Yds. Red " 1 11½ " 3 3 Pepper 3½ lb. " 2 - Pease ½ Bus. " 5 2 Flannel 3 Yds. " 5 6 Nails viz. 3½ lb. 3d. 47 .. 4 3 .. 6 26 .. 10 12 .. 20 7 .. 8 6 Flooring Brads 1 Glazg. Do. 3 2 10 Lines viz. 60 No. 2 18 .. 3 1 Log 4 Hambro 1 13 8 Carrd. Over£ 212 7 7 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £197 12s 10d. Brought forward, £197 12s 10d 112 pounds of cordage, £2 2s 0d 19 pounds of netting, £0 4s 4d 8 pounds of coffee, £0 7s 4d 4 pieces of chelloes, £1 16s 8d 1 yard of ticking, £0 3s 6d 13½ yards of coloured shalloon, £1 15s 9d Oil ¾ gallon of oil of turpentine, £0 4s 4d ¼ gallon of boiled oil, £0 1s 9d 4 flasks of Florence oil, £0 15s 3d Total for oil, £1 1s 6d Leather 19½ pounds of sole leather, £0 19s 11d 1 calf skin, £0 11s 4d Total for leather, £1 11s 3d Bunting 2 yards of blue bunting, £0 1s 3½d 2½ yards of red bunting, £0 1s 11½d Total for bunting, £0 3s 3d 3½ pounds of pepper, £0 2s 0d ½ bushel of pease, £0 5s 2d 3 yards of flannel, £0 5s 6d Nails 3½ pounds of threepenny nails 4¼ pounds of fourpenny nails 3 pounds of sixpenny nails 26 pounds of tenpenny nails 12 pounds of twentypenny nails 7 pounds of eightpenny nails 6 pounds of flooring brads 1 pound of glazing brads Total for nails, £3 2s 10d Lines 60 number 2 lines 13 number 3 lines 1 long line 4 Hamburg lines Total for lines, £1 13s 8d Carried forward, £212 7s 7d Interpretations The nails and fishing lines were entered as single sums for each group, not priced line by line as in earlier quarters. The storekeeper seems to have simplified his record during the busy shipping season. He kept the quantities of each size but gave one total for the lot. That made the account quicker to draw up, though it was harder to check against the store prices. The servants bought 26 pounds of tenpenny nails and 12 pounds of twentypenny nails in a single quarter. These were the heavier sizes, used for framing and roofing. Together with the flooring and glazing brads, they show house-building under way in Jamestown during the early months of 1769. John Preston's lease of a town plot on 23 January, granted so that he could build his own house, was one example. | |
37 | 1769 Brought Over£ 212 7 7 Hooks viz. 50 No. 1 225 .. 9 100 .. 11 75 .. 12 125 .. 14 125 .. 16 " 14 10 Long Cloth viz. 5 Ps. No. 6 7 7 9 2 Do. D 9 6 - 16 13 9 Thread viz. 5½ lb. Whd. Brown 2 1 3 4 lb. Col. " 14 - 1 oz. No. 30 " 1 10 1 oz. .. 38 " 1 5 2 18 6 Haberdashery viz. 6½ Yds. White Buckram " 7 3 37 Sk. Silk 1 1 7 11 Do. Mohair " 5 6 1 Doz. Silv. Ct. Butt. " 1 5¾ 2 Do. Do. Bt. Do. " 1 6 1½ Do. Gilt Ct. Do. " 2 3 4 Do. Do. Bt. Do. " 2 8 1 Ps. Tape " " 7¼ 2 2 10 Shirts viz. 28 Centl. Shirts 7 - - 2½ Yds. Brown Holland " 5 1 7 5 1 Carrd. Over£ 242 2 7 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £212 7s 7d. Brought forward, £212 7s 7d Fish hooks 50 number 1 hooks 225 number 9 hooks 100 number 11 hooks 75 number 12 hooks 125 number 14 hooks 125 number 16 hooks Total for hooks, £0 14s 10d Longcloth 5 pieces marked W6, £7 7s 9d 2 pieces marked G, £9 6s 0d Total for longcloth, £16 13s 9d Thread 3½ pounds of whited brown thread, £2 1s 3d 4 ounces of coloured thread, £0 14s 0d 1 ounce of nuns' thread, number 30, £0 1s 10d 1 ounce of nuns' thread, number 38, £0 1s 5d Total for thread, £2 18s 6d Haberdashery 6½ yards of white buckram, £0 7s 3d 37½ skeins of silk, £1 1s 7d 11 skeins of mohair, £0 5s 6d 1 dozen silver coat buttons, £0 1s 5¾d 2 dozen silver breast buttons, £0 1s 6d 1½ dozen gilt coat buttons, £0 2s 3d 4 dozen gilt breast buttons, £0 2s 8d 1 piece of tape, £0 0s 7¼d Total for haberdashery, £2 2s 10d Shirts 28 soldiers' shirts, £7 0s 0d 2½ yards of brown holland, £0 5s 1d Total for shirts, £7 5s 1d Carried forward, £242 2s 7d Interpretations The servants bought 28 soldiers' shirts in the first quarter of 1769, compared with 12 in the last quarter of 1768 and 132 in the third. The garrison's main clothing issue still fell in the third quarter of the year. This quarter's purchases were replacements, though more than usual. Several recruits were enlisted during the shipping season, among them Andrew Schonier and Abraham Jervis. Each needed shirts and other necessaries from the stores, bought with the £2 10s 0d the Council gave him on enlisting. | |
38 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 242 2 7 Paint viz. 9½ lb. Indico " 19 - 2 lb. Whitg. " " 1 4 Pound. Blacking " 2 3 11 Span. Red mixd. " 6 10½ 10 lb. Stone Col. " 4 4½ 3 lb. Log Wood " " 8 28 lb. Chalk " " 7 8 lb. Stone Oaker mixd. " 4 2 2 lb. Blue Paint " 4 11 2 2 11 Iron Ware viz. 5 Splint. Locks " 2 8½ 1 Iron rim'd Do. A 1 2 2¾ 2 Files " 1 1 1 Pr. Steel Yards " 11 3¼ 1 Iron rim'd Lock w. Br. Knobs " 6 9 6 Iron Do. Do. 1 11 6 1 Spade " 4 1½ 1 Pickax " 3 8 1 Firmer Chizel " " 3¼ 3 Small Frying Pans " 6 9 3 Cupd. Locks " 9 6 1 Rag Stone " " 4½ 5 Blank Keys " 3 5¼ 2½ lb. Tin'd Tacks " 6 9¼ 1 Sheet Emery Paper " " 1½ 1 Pr. H.L. Hinges " 1 10 1 File Haft " " 1¼ 1 Sett Jack Wheels " 7 4 1 Scythe Stone " " 2½ 1 Pr. Wool Cards " 2 1¼ 6 2 6 Carrd. Over£ 250 8 - | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £242 2s 7d. Brought forward, £242 2s 7d Paint 9½ pounds of indigo, £0 19s 0d 2 pounds of whiting, £0 0s 1d 4 pans of blacking, £0 2s 3d 11 pounds of Venetian red, mixed, £0 6s 10½d 10 pounds of stone colour, £0 4s 4½d 3 pounds of logwood, £0 0s 8d 28 pounds of chalk, £0 0s 7d 8 pounds of stone ochre, mixed, £0 4s 2d 2 pounds of blue paint, £0 4s 11d Total for paint, £2 2s 11d Ironware 5 plate locks, £0 2s 8½d 1 iron-rimmed lock, size A, £1 2s 2¾d 2 files, £0 1s 1d 1 pair of steelyards, £0 11s 3¼d 1 iron-rimmed lock with brass knobs, £0 6s 9d 6 iron-rimmed locks with brass knobs, £1 11s 6d 1 spade, £0 4s 1½d 1 pickaxe, £0 3s 8d 1 firmer chisel, £0 0s 9¼d 3 small frying pans, £0 6s 9d 3 cupboard locks, £0 9s 6d 1 ragstone, £0 0s 4½d 3 blank keys, £0 3s 5¼d 2 pounds of tinned tacks, £0 6s 9¼d 1 sheet of emery paper, £0 0s 1½d 1 pair of H-L hinges, £0 1s 10d 1 file handle, £0 0s 1¼d 1 set of jack wheels, £0 7s 4d 1 [...] iron, £0 0s 2½d 1 pair of wool cards, £0 2s 1¼d Total for ironware, £6 2s 6d Carried forward, £250 8s 0d Interpretations Eleven locks were sold to the servants in a single quarter. Among them was the large iron-rimmed lock of size A, priced at over £1, the heaviest grade in the warehouse. The demand fits the busy shipping season. Hundreds of seamen came ashore from the homeward fleet, and goods bought from the ships or the Company's stores had to be kept safe in houses and storerooms. Theft was a constant worry on an island where much of the population was transient, enslaved or poorly paid. The set of jack wheels was sold as a spare part for a household roasting jack. Like the Castle, the better-off servants roasted their meat on clockwork spits. They could repair them only from the parts the Company kept in store. | |
39 | 1769 Brought Over£ 250 8 - China Ware viz. 16 Snakes " 6 - 1 Chamr. Pot " 2 3 3 Tea Pots " 2 9 2 Bowls " 1 10 " 12 10 Cutlery Ware viz. 7 Horn Combs " 1 3¾ 10 Buckg. Do. " 3 4 1 Chopg. Knife " 1 4¾ " 6 4 Tin Ware viz. 2 Sing. Sheets Tin " 1 3½ 1 Quart Funnel " " 3½ 1 Lamp " " 9¼ " 2 9 Turners Ware viz. 4 Plaist. Brushes " 4 9 1 Paint Do. " " 7 3 Shoe Do. " 2 6 " 7 10 Serge 5¼ Yds. Scarl. Sagathy " 18 10 Hosiers Ware 12 Pr. Ordy. Thd. Stockgs. 1 7 - Glass Ware viz. 3 Quart Decanters " 8 6½ 6 Water Glasses " 3 2½ 4 Tumblers " 3 5¾ " 15 3 Shoes viz. 8 Pr. Girls Calf " 17 8 1 Pr. Do. Calimco. " 3 4 2 Do. Mens fine Pumps " 11 - 1 12 - Carrd. Over£ 256 10 10 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £250 8s 0d. Brought forward, £250 8s 0d China 16 small bowls, £0 6s 0d 1 chamber pot, £0 2s 3d 3 teapots, £0 2s 9d 2 bowls, £0 1s 10d Total for china, £0 12s 10d Cutlery and small wares 7 horn combs, £0 1s 3¼d 10 buckle combs, £0 3s 4d 1 clasp knife, £0 1s 4¾d Total for cutlery and small wares, £0 6s 4d Tinware 2 single sheets of tin, £0 1s 3½d 1 quart funnel, £0 0s 5½d 1 lamp, £0 0s 9¼d Total for tinware, £0 2s 9d Turners' ware 4 plasterers' brushes, £0 4s 9d 1 paint brush, £0 0s 7d 3 shoe brushes, £0 2s 6d Total for turners' ware, £0 7s 10d 5¾ yards of scarlet sagathy, £0 18s 10d 12 pairs of men's thread stockings, £1 7s 0d Glassware 3 quart decanters, £0 8s 6¾d 6 water glasses, £0 3s 2½d 4 tumblers, £0 3s 5¾d Total for glassware, £0 15s 3d Shoes 8 pairs of girls' calf shoes, £0 17s 8d 1 pair of girls' calimanco shoes, £0 3s 4d 2 pairs of men's fine pumps, £0 11s 0d Total for shoes, £1 12s 0d Carried forward, £256 10s 10d Interpretations The small china bowls, called "sneakers" in the trade, held about a pint. They were used for tea, punch or broth, and came in the same China cargoes as the larger bowls and table sets. Sixteen of them sold for 6s 0d, under 5d each. Chinese porcelain had become cheap enough for the island's ordinary households. Pewter or earthenware would have served the same purpose in England at a similar cost. The eight pairs of girls' shoes in one quarter point to families with daughters among the Company's servants. Many soldiers and craftsmen married on the island and raised children there. The warehouse stocked footwear for women, girls and boys as well as men, much as it stocked primers and spelling books for the school. | |
40 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 256 10 10 Broad Cloth viz. ¼ Yd. Blue " 5 7 3¼ Do. Green 3 3 5 3 9 - Cork 3½ lb. Seal " 2 7 Kersey 2 Yds. Baize " 4 8 Wine 58 Gall. 16 19 3 Beer 1 Hhd. 3 - - Flour viz. 2023 lb. Flour 18 10 3 337.. 2.. 2 Do. Baked Cwt. qrs. lb. 315 5 - 334 4 3 Beef & Pork viz. 1838 Do. Beef 183 16 - 2638 Do. Pork 263 16 - 447 12 - £ 1062 2 7 Sold to the Planters at 25 p Cent viz. Flannel 3 Yds. " 6 3 Shirts 1½ Yds. Brown Holland " 3 5 Serge 3 Yds. Scarl. Sagathy " 11 1 Thread 1 lb. Col. " 3 11 Long Cloth 2 Ps. No. 6 3 7 1 Haberdashery viz. 1 Skain Silk " " 9 1 Do. Mohair " " 7 ¼ Gro. Horn Moulds " 1 4 " 2 8 Sold at 40 p Cent viz. Sugar & Candy viz. 453 lb. Sugar 9 8 4 42 lb. Candy 1 8 - 10 16 4 Carrd. Over£ 15 10 9 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £256 10s 10d and closed with their total. The account then turned to the sales to the planters and the sales at 40 per cent above cost. Brought forward, £256 10s 10d Broadcloth ¼ yard of blue broadcloth, £0 5s 7d 3½ yards of green broadcloth, £3 3s 5d Total for broadcloth, £3 9s 0d 3½ gross of corks, £0 2s 7d 2 yards of kersey and baize, £0 4s 8d 59 gallons of wine, £16 19s 3d 1 hogshead of beer, £3 0s 0d Flour 2,023 pounds of flour, £18 10s 3d 337 hundredweight 2 quarters 2 pounds of flour issued as baked bread, £315 14s 0d Total for flour, £334 4s 3d Beef and pork 1,838 pieces of beef, £183 16s 0d 2,638 pieces of pork, £263 16s 0d Total for beef and pork, £447 12s 0d Total sold to the Company's servants, £1,062 2s 7d Sold to the planters at 25 per cent above cost 3 yards of flannel, £0 6s 3d 1½ yards of brown holland for shirts, £0 3s 5d 3 yards of scarlet sagathy, £0 11s 1d Thread, £0 3s 11d 2 pieces of longcloth marked W6, £3 7s 1d Haberdashery 1 skein of silk, £0 0s 9d 1 skein of mohair, £0 0s 7d ¼ gross of horn button moulds, £0 1s 4d Total for haberdashery, £0 2s 8d Sold at 40 per cent above cost Sugar and sugar candy 453 pounds of sugar, £9 8s 4d 42 pounds of sugar candy, £1 8s 0d Total for sugar and sugar candy, £10 16s 4d Carried forward, £15 10s 9d Interpretations The servants spent £1,062 2s 7d in the first quarter of 1769. That was well below the £1,338 15s 10d of the previous quarter and the £1,866 11s 9d of the one before. Almost all the fall came in bread and salt meat. Bread dropped from about 415 hundredweight of flour to 337, and beef and pork from 5,700 pieces to about 4,500. Two causes probably combined. The garrison had shrunk through deaths, discharges and men not yet replaced. The homeward fleet also brought fresh food into the island's markets, so households needed fewer salt provisions from the warehouse. Wine appeared again among the sales, 59 gallons in a single quarter. None of the island's own produce could replace it. The Lisbon and Mountain wines came out in the Company's ships from Europe. The homeward season was when private traders and ships' officers also sold wine ashore, and the servants evidently bought freely while supplies were plentiful. | |
41 | 1769 Brought Over£ 15 10 9 Flour 310 lb. 4 3 11 Tea viz. 22 lb. Bohea 1 3 10 8 lb. Congo " 14 - 16 lb. Singlo 1 8 - 3 5 10 Sope 42 lb. 1 13 3 Salt 1¼ Bushl. " 5 8 Cordage 37¼ lb. " 18 10 Rice 36 lb. " 4 6 Starch 1 lb. " " 10 Twine 15 Sk. " 11 3 Pepper 1 lb. " " 9 Coffee 1 lb. " 1 2 Candles 3 lb. " 9 3 Turners Ware 2 Shoe Brushes " 2 2 Canvas viz. 4 Yds. Eng. Canvas " 6 8 6 Do. Oznab. " 6 9 5 Do. Ticklenb. " 6 3 " 19 8 Glass Ware 4 Sq. 10 by 12 " 6 7 Paint viz. 9 lb. Whitg. " 5 6 ½ lb. Indico " 1 3 2 lb. Stone Col. " 1 1½ 9 lb. Span. Red mixd. " " 9½ 12 lb. White Lead dry " 5 9 " 14 5 Nails viz. 9 lb. 3d. 22 .. 4 9 .. 6 11 .. 10 10 .. 20 1 .. 2 ½ Glazg. Brads 2 7 1 Carrd. Over£ 31 15 11 | The sales at 40 per cent above cost continued from a running total of £15 10s 9d. Brought forward, £15 10s 9d 310 pounds of flour, £4 3s 11d Tea 2¼ pounds of Bohea tea, £1 3s 10d ¾ pound of Congo tea, £0 14s 0d 1½ pounds of Singlo tea, £1 8s 0d Total for tea, £3 5s 10d 42 pounds of soap, £1 13s 3d 1¼ bushels of salt, £0 5s 8d 37¼ pounds of cordage, £0 18s 10d 36 pounds of rice, £0 4s 6d 1 pound of starch, £0 0s 10d 15 pounds of twine, £0 11s 3d 1 pound of pepper, £0 0s 9d 1 pound of coffee, £0 1s 2d 3 pounds of candles, £0 9s 3d 2 shoe brushes, £0 2s 2d Canvas 4 yards of English canvas, £0 6s 8d 6 yards of osnaburgs, £0 6s 9d 5 yards of tecklenburgs, £0 6s 3d Total for canvas, £0 19s 8d 4 panes of window glass, 10 by 12 inches, £0 6s 7d Paint 9 pounds of [...], £0 5s 6d ½ pound of indigo, £0 1s 3d 2 pounds of stone colour, £0 1s 1½d 1 pound of Venetian red, mixed, £0 0s 9½d 12 pounds of white lead, dry, £0 5s 9d Total for paint, £0 14s 5d Nails 4 pounds of threepenny nails 23 pounds of fourpenny nails 9 pounds of sixpenny nails 11 pounds of tenpenny nails 13 pounds of twentypenny nails 1 pound of twopenny nails 1¼ pounds of glazing brads Total for nails, £2 7s 1d Carried forward, £31 15s 11d Interpretations Buyers at the highest price band took a wide spread of household goods: flour, tea, soap, candles, canvas, paint, glass and over 60 pounds of nails. These were the stores of people setting up or repairing houses who stood outside the Company's service and the planters' leases. The 40 per cent mark-up made every pound of nails or flour noticeably dearer for them than for a soldier or clerk. They bought anyway. The warehouse was the only reliable source of such goods on the island, and the homeward ships sold mostly luxuries, not building materials. | |
42 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 31 15 11 Hooks and Lines viz. 34 No. 2 Lines 30 .. 3 1 Log Do. 1 9 5 75 No. 1 Hooks 50 .. 9 Do. 25 .. 11 Do. 25 .. 15 Do. 150 .. 16 Do. " 9 5 1 18 10 China Ware viz. 1 Tureen " 8 5 1 Snake " " 6 " 8 11 Iron Ware viz. 1 Cupd. Lock " 4 - 1 Spade " 5 3 1 Small frying Pan " 3 - 25 Doz. Br. Chair Nails " 4 3 1 Jack Chain " 2 5 " 19 4 £ 35 3 - Sold to the Honble. Company's Ships from 1st of January to the 31st of March 1769 viz. Paint viz. 36 Pound. Blacking 1 8 - 56 lb. Red Lead 1 2 2 112 Brimstone 1 15 - 18 White Lead dry " 5 - 3 lb. Verd. " 16 6 5 6 8 Braziers Ware 1 Pr. Steel Snuff. " 4 4 Carrd. Over£ 5 11 - | The sales at 40 per cent above cost continued from a running total of £31 15s 11d and closed with their total. The account then opened the sales to the Company's ships for the quarter. Brought forward, £31 15s 11d Hooks and lines 34 number 2 lines 30 number 3 lines 1 long line Total for lines, £1 9s 5d 75 number 1 hooks 50 number 9 hooks 25 number 11 hooks 25 number 15 hooks 150 number 16 hooks Total for hooks, £0 9s 5d Total for hooks and lines, £1 18s 10d China 1 tureen, £0 8s 5d 1 small bowl, £0 0s 6d Total for china, £0 8s 11d Ironware 1 cupboard lock, £0 4s 0d 1 spade, £0 5s 3d 1 small frying pan, £0 3s 0d 25 dozen brass chair nails, £0 4s 8d 1 jack chain, £0 2s 5d Total for ironware, £0 19s 4d Total sold at 40 per cent above cost, £35 3s 0d Sold to the Company's ships, 1 January to 31 March 1769 Paint 36 pans of blacking, £1 8s 0d 56 pounds of red lead, £1 2s 2d 112 pounds of brimstone, £1 15s 0d 18 pounds of white lead, dry, £0 5s 0d 3 pounds of verdigris, £0 16s 6d Total for paint, £5 6s 8d 1 pair of steel snuffers, £0 4s 4d Carried forward, £5 11s 0d Interpretations The 40 per cent band brought in only £35 3s 0d in the quarter, against £1,062 2s 7d from the servants. The highest price kept outside buyers to small purchases of things they could not get elsewhere. Fishing lines and hooks were again among the largest items. Those who paid the full premium relied on the sea for much of their food. The Company's ships bought a hundredweight of brimstone, or sulphur, from the island's stores. Ships burned sulphur below decks to fumigate the hold and the crew's quarters, killing vermin and, as was believed, clearing the foul air that carried fever. After months in Canton or Bengal, a homeward ship's lower decks badly needed cleansing before the long passage to England. The red lead, white lead and blacking went to paint and preserve the ships' ironwork and timbers. | |
43 | 1769 Brought Over£ 5 11 - Twine viz. 9¾ lb. Fine Twine " 13 8 1 Skain Do. " " 11 Salt 3 Bush. " 13 9 Hooks & Lines viz. 24 No. 2 Lines " 9 10 200 .. 14 Hooks " 2 8 " 12 6 Turners Ware 1 Plate Basket Lind. wt. Tin " 7 11 Glass Ware viz. 9 Sq. 11 by 12¾ " 15 9 2 Half Hour Glasses " 1 5 " 17 2 Lead 4 lb. Shot " 1 1 Flour 635 lb. 8 16 4 Cordage 52 lb. 13 1 - Nails viz. 9 lb. 3d. " " 11 4 .. 10 " 2 10 " 3 9 £ 30 19 1 Charges General Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1st of Jany. to the 31st of March 1769 viz. Arrack 132 Gall. for Sundy. Doct. Shop & Men emp. in the Stores 23 7 6 Coals 93 Bushls. for the Armour. Shop 5 16 3 Candles 333 lb. for ye Castle, Council Secrety. Office & Mr. Beancroft 36 1 6 Starch 20 lb. for Linen " 12 3 Candy 75 lb. for the Groom Gardr. & Doctr. Shop 1 12 5 Tea 2 lb. Bohea Do. Do. " 1 6 Sope 100 lb. for Linen 2 14 2 Carrd. Over£ 70 5 7 | The sales to the Company's ships continued from a running total of £5 11s 0d and closed with their total. The account then opened the issues charged to the Company's general expenses for the quarter. Brought forward, £5 11s 0d Twine 9¾ pounds of fine twine, £0 13s 8d 1 pound of sewing twine, £0 0s 11d 3 bushels of salt, £0 13s 9d Hooks and lines 24 number 2 lines, £0 9s 10d 200 number 14 hooks, £0 2s 8d Total for hooks and lines, £0 12s 6d 1 plate basket lined with tin, £0 7s 11d Glassware 9 panes of window glass, 11 by 12¼ inches, £0 15s 9d 2 half-hour glasses, £0 1s 5d Total for glassware, £0 17s 2d 4 pounds of lead shot, £0 1s 1d [...] of flour, £8 16s 4d 532 pounds of cordage, £13 1s 0d Nails 1 pound of threepenny nails, £0 0s 11d 4 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 2s 10d Total for nails, £0 3s 9d Total sold to the Company's ships, £30 19s 1d Charged to general expenses: stores issued from 1 January to 31 March 1769 132 gallons of arrack, issued to the doctor's shop and the men working in the stores, £23 7s 6d 93 bushels of coal for the armourer's shop, £5 16s 3d 333 pounds of candles for the Castle, the Council, the Secretary's Office and Mr Bearcroft, £36 1s 6d 20½ pounds of starch for linen, £0 12s 3d 75 pounds of sugar candy for the groom, the gardener and the doctor's shop, £1 12s 5d 2 [...] of Bohea tea for the same, £0 1s 6d 100 pounds of soap for washing linen, £2 14s 2d Carried forward, £70 5s 7d Interpretations The Company's ships drew far less from the island's stores than in the previous year. Between July and September 1768 the Greenwich, the Egmont and their fellows had taken stores worth £172 5s 0d, mostly cordage, canvas and salt meat. This quarter, although 15 ships called, they bought only £30 19s 1d. The homeward fleet had evidently come round the Cape in good order and needed little refitting. Most took only cordage, flour and the paint and sulphur already recorded. The 2 half-hour glasses sold to the ships replaced the sand glasses used to time the watches and to measure the ship's speed with the log line. A broken glass left the officers unable to keep proper time at sea. Like the window glass, these could be bought only from the Company's warehouse between England and India. | |
44 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 70 5 7 Challow 1 Pr. for Rubbers " 8 4 Iron Ware viz. 24 Files for ye Armour. Shop " 11 6 24 Do. Hafts " 2 - 7 Farriers Rasps " 6 5 1 Stock Lock Coopr. Do. " 2 10½ 4 Doz. Wood Screws Armour. Do. " 1 4¼ 4 Knots Cat Gut Drill Strings Do. " 2 1 12 Sheets Emery Paper Do. " 1 3 1 lb. Corn Emery " 1 9 1 Iron rim'd Lock w. Br. Knobs for the Library " 6 1¼ 1 Pr. H.L. Hinges for Do. " 1 11 1 lb. Tin'd Tacks Armr. Shop " 2 3 2 lb. Spelter " 3 11 ¾ lb. Borax " 3 3 2 7 1 Paint viz. 8 lb. Chalk Carpt. & Coopr. use " " 2 6 lb. Indico for Linen " 10 6 1 Pd. Blacking Castle " " 7 " 11 3 Nails viz. 3 Coopr. Rivets for ye Coopr. Shop " 1 4½ 1 lb. 3 Nails " " 9 2 .. 4 Do. " 1 2½ " 3 4 Hooks & Lines viz. 100 No. 1 Hooks for the Govr. Fisherm. " 5 1 100 .. 12 Do. " 1 6 18 .. 2 Lines " 5 2 2 Log Do. " 2 - " 13 9 Haberdashery 2 Sk. Silk for Do. " 1 1 Carrd. Over£ 74 10 5 | The issues charged to the Company's general expenses continued from a running total of £70 5s 7d. Brought forward, £70 5s 7d 1 piece of chelloes for rubbing cloths, £0 8s 4d Ironware 24 files for the armourer's shop, £0 11s 6d 24 file handles for the armourer's shop, £0 2s 0d 7 farriers' rasps for the armourer's shop, £0 6s 5d 1 stock lock for the cooper's shop, £0 2s 10½d 4 dozen wood screws for the armourer, £0 1s 4¼d 4 drill bows with catgut for the armourer, £0 2s 1d 12 sheets of emery paper for the armourer, £0 1s 3d 1 pound of corn emery for the armourer, £0 1s 9d 1 iron-rimmed lock with brass knobs for the library, £0 6s 1¼d 1 pair of H-L hinges for the library, £0 1s 11d 7 pounds of iron binding wire for the armourer's shop, £0 2s 3d 2 pounds of spelter, £0 3s 11d 1¼ pounds of borax, £0 3s 8d Total for ironware, £2 7s 1d Paint 8 pounds of chalk for the carpenters and coopers, £0 0s 2d 6 pounds of indigo for blueing linen, £0 10s 6d 1 pan of blacking for the Castle, £0 0s 7d Total for paint, £0 11s 3d Nails, for the cooper's shop 3 pounds of coopers' rivets, £0 1s 4½d 1 pound of threepenny nails, £0 0s 9d 2 pounds of fourpenny nails, £0 1s 2½d Total for nails, £0 3s 4d Hooks and lines, for the Governor's fisherman 100 number 1 hooks, £0 5s 1d 100 number 12 hooks, £0 1s 6d 18 number 2 lines, £0 5s 2d 2 long lines, £0 2s 0d Total for hooks and lines, £0 13s 9d 2 skeins of silk for the same, £0 1s 1d Carried forward, £74 10s 5d Interpretations The Governor's fisherman was supplied with hooks and lines at the Company's expense every quarter. He was a servant attached to the Governor's household, probably a slave, whose catch supplied the Castle table with fresh fish. The silk was used to whip the hooks to their lines, giving a fine, strong and nearly invisible binding. A second lock and pair of hinges were issued for the library in a single year. The library at the Castle evidently held items worth securing: books sent out by the Company and perhaps instruments and charts. Its doors were kept locked and repaired with good fittings, a sign of the value placed on a collection that could not easily be replaced on the island. | |
45 | 1769 Brought Over£ 74 10 5 Twine 2 Sk. Store use " 1 6 Turners Ware 2 Shoe Brushes Castle " 1 7 Iron 222 lb. Armour. Shop 2 6 3 Tin Ware 1 Lamp Bakr. use " " 9 Oil viz. 2½ Gall. Drought Armr. Shop " 15 9 1/8 Do. Oil of Turpent. Do. " " 8 " 16 5 Lead 13 lb. Shot Castle " 2 6 Canvas 6 Yds. Oznab. Picket " 4 9 Leather 1 Calf Skin for mendg. Sand " 10 4 Deals 1 Baulk for Crane Bars " 8 10 China Ware viz. 6 Snakes " 1 8 3 Tea Pots " 2 - 36 Tea Cups & Saucers " 10 6 24 Breakft. Do. Do. " 12 6 6 Setts Octn. Dishes & Plates 6 15 - 36 Soup Plates " 14 - 3 Tureens & Dishes " 19 3 18 Bowls 1 1 - 10 15 11 £ 89 19 3 Repairs Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1st of January to the 31st of March 1769 viz. Candles ½ lb. for Light to repr. the Goal " 1 1 Glass Ware viz. 11 Sq. 10 by 12 to repr. Mr. Beancrofts Windows & Castle " 12 7½ 8 Sq. 14 by 16 " 9 10¼ 1 2 6 Paint viz. 2 lb. Whiting to make Putty for Do. " " 6½ 3 lb. Chalk " " ½ " " 7 Carrd. Over£ 1 4 2 | The issues charged to the Company's general expenses continued from a running total of £74 10s 5d and closed with the account's total. The account then opened the stores issued for repairs during the quarter. Brought forward, £74 10s 5d 2 pounds of twine for use in the stores, £0 1s 6d 2 shoe brushes for the Castle, £0 1s 7d 222 pounds of iron for the armourer's shop, £2 6s 3d 1 lamp for the bake house, £0 0s 9d Oil 2½ gallons of oil for the armourer's shop, £0 15s 9d ⅛ gallon of oil of turpentine, £0 0s 8d Total for oil, £0 16s 5d 13 pounds of lead shot for the Castle, £0 2s 6d 6½ yards of osnaburgs for buckets, £0 4s 9d 1 calf skin, £0 10s 4d 1 baulk for cramp bars, £0 8s 10d China 6 small bowls, £0 1s 8d 3 teapots, £0 2s 0d 36 teacups and saucers, £0 10s 6d 24 breakfast cups and saucers, £0 12s 6d 6 sets of octagonal dishes and plates, £6 15s 0d 36 soup plates, £0 14s 0d 3 tureens and dishes, £0 19s 3d 18 bowls, £1 1s 0d Total for china, £10 15s 11d Total charged to general expenses, £89 19s 3d Charged to repairs: stores issued from 1 January to 31 March 1769 Candles for light while repairing the gaol, £0 1s 1d Glassware 11 panes of window glass, 10 by 12 inches, to repair Mr Bearcroft's windows, £0 12s 7½d 8 panes of window glass, 14 by 16 inches, for the Castle, £0 9s 10¾d Total for glassware, £1 2s 6d Paint Whiting to make putty, £0 0s 6½d Chalk, £0 0s 0½d Total for paint, £0 0s 7d Carried forward, £1 4s 2d Interpretations The Castle took a large new service of china during the quarter, worth over £10. It included six sets of octagonal dishes and plates, three tureens, and dozens of cups, saucers and bowls. The busy season brought commanders, supercargoes, army officers and their wives to the Governor's table. Breakage at so many dinners wore down the service quickly. The Company restocked the Castle from the fresh porcelain the China ships had just landed. The chaplain's house was repaired at the Company's expense, with 11 new panes of glass for Mr Bearcroft's windows. The Company housed its chaplain as it did its senior servants. Bearcroft also drew his candles from the general stores, alongside the Governor and Council. | |
46 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 1 4 2 Oil viz. 1/8 Gall. Drought for makg. Putty " 2 - 1/8 Do. Oil of Turpt. " " 8 " 2 8 Iron Ware 23 lb. Plate Iron B. House " 10 1 Nails ½ lb. 3d. " " 5 £ 1 17 4 Diet Expences Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1st of Jany. to the 31st March 1769 viz. Arrack 94 Gall. 16 12 11 Flour 1886 lb. 17 14 2 Beef & Pork viz. 26 Pr. Beef 4 13 8½ 53 Do. Pork 7 15 10½ 12 9 7 Pease ¾ Bushel " 7 2 Tea viz. 1 lb. Bohea " " 9 14 lb. Singlo " 17 6 " 18 3 Rice 532 lb. 1 15 3 Sugar and Candy viz. 50 lb. Sugar " 12 6 564 Candy 11 13 8 353 Do. Superfine 6 1 3 18 7 5 Salt 1½ Bush. " 4 10 Coffee 60 lb. 2 10 - Pepper 14 lb. " 7 - £ 71 6 7 | The repairs account continued from a running total of £1 4s 2d and closed with its total. The account then set out the stores issued for diet expenses during the quarter. Brought forward, £1 4s 2d Oil, for making putty ⅛ gallon of boiled oil, £0 2s 0d ⅛ gallon of oil of turpentine, £0 0s 8d Total for oil, £0 2s 8d 3¾ pounds of plate iron for the bake house, £0 10s 1d ½ pound of threepenny nails, £0 0s 5d Total charged to repairs, £1 17s 4d Charged to diet expenses: stores issued from 1 January to 31 March 1769 94 gallons of arrack, £16 12s 11d 1,886 pounds of flour, £17 14s 2d Beef and pork 26 pieces of beef, £4 13s 8½d 55 pieces of pork, £7 15s 10½d Total for beef and pork, £12 9s 7d ¾ bushel of pease, £0 7s 2d Tea 1 [...] of Bohea tea, £0 0s 9d 1¼ pounds of Singlo tea, £0 17s 6d Total for tea, £0 18s 3d 532 pounds of rice, £1 15s 3d Sugar and sugar candy 50 pounds of sugar, £0 12s 6d 536 pounds of sugar candy, £11 13s 8d 253 pounds of superfine sugar candy, £6 1s 3d Total for sugar and sugar candy, £18 7s 5d 1½ bushels of salt, £0 4s 10d 60 pounds of coffee, £2 10s 0d 14 pounds of pepper, £0 7s 0d Total charged to diet expenses, £71 6s 7d Interpretations The Company's table drew 94 gallons of arrack and nearly 800 pounds of sugar candy in the quarter. That was more than in the last quarter of 1768, itself a season of heavy entertaining. Punch was the common drink at every dinner given for the commanders, supercargoes and passengers of the homeward fleet. Fifteen ships called between February and April. The superfine candy from the Grosvenor went straight to the Governor's table, where its quality would be noticed by the guests. The 60 pounds of coffee came from the three half-bales the Council had ordered landed from the Bute on 27 February 1769, when the warehouse held none. Most of that supply went to the Company's table, with only small quantities left for sale. Coffee, like tea, had become a regular part of the hospitality the Castle offered its visitors. | |
47 | [Foot of the page cut off in the image.] 1769 Garrison Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1st of Jany. to the 31 March 1769 viz. Tea 73 lb. Bohea for the several Guards 2 18 6 Candles 23½ lb. for ye Officers on Duty 2 12 7 Beef and Pork viz. 93 Pr. Pork for an Invalid 12 15 3½ 2 Do. Beef " 7 2½ 13 2 6 Arrack 8¾ Gall. 1 11 - Lines viz. 30 No. 2 for Whips " 8 7 2 Hambro Line for Drum Cords " 3 2 " 11 9 Tin Ware 3 Lamps for the Sevl. Guards " 2 3 Oil 9 Gall. for Do. 2 16 8 Nails viz. 2 lb. 10d. for Cots " " 11 2 .. 4 " 1 3 " 2 2 Iron Ware 1 Small frying Pan Banks's Guard " 2 1 Deals 1 Baulk for makg. Cots " 8 10 £ 24 8 4 Blacks Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1st of Jany. to the 31st of March 1769 viz. Tea 122 lb. Bohea 4 11 6 Sugar 283 lb. 3 11 3 Long Cloth viz. 1/6 Ps. No. 7 for Lying in Women " 3 3 1 1/6 Ps. .. 6 1 11 4 1 14 7 | The record then set out the stores issued to the garrison and to the Company's slaves between 1 January and 31 March 1769. Charged to the garrison 7 pounds 3 ounces of Bohea tea for the various guards, £2 18s 6d 25¾ pounds of candles for the officers on duty, £2 12s 7d Beef and pork, for the invalids 93 pieces of pork, £12 15s 3½d 2 pieces of beef, £0 7s 2½d Total for beef and pork, £13 2s 6d 8¾ gallons of arrack, £1 11s 0d Lines 30 number 2 lines for whips, £0 8s 7d 2 Hamburg lines for drum cords, £0 3s 2d Total for lines, £0 11s 9d 3 lamps for the various guards, £0 2s 3d 9 gallons of oil for the same, £2 16s 8d Nails, for coffins 2 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 0s 11d 2 pounds of fourpenny nails, £0 1s 3d Total for nails, £0 2s 2d 1 small frying pan for the guard at Banks's, £0 2s 1d 1 baulk for making coffins, £0 8s 10d Total charged to the garrison, £24 8s 4d Charged to the Company's slaves 12½ pounds of Bohea tea, £4 11s 6d 285 pounds of sugar, £3 11s 3d Longcloth, for [...] women ⅙ piece marked W7, £0 3s 3d 1⅙ pieces marked W6, £1 11s 4d Total for longcloth, £1 14s 7d Interpretations The invalids drew 93 pieces of pork and 2 of beef from the garrison's account in the quarter. These were soldiers no longer fit for duty but kept on the Company's books, like John Lawrence on his 9d a day. They were fed from the stores at the Company's cost, without pay deductions. The heavy preference for pork over beef reflected what the warehouse held in quantity after the store ships came in. The garrison's account again recorded timber and nails for coffins. Several soldiers died in the quarter, among them Henry Brown, Solomon Jacobs, Richard Gregory, Thomas Collier, Joseph Banks and Daniel Maloney. The Company made a coffin for each of them from its own deals and baulks. The 30 lines for whips were for the drummers, whose cords also had to be replaced. Whipping was the common punishment in the garrison. The drummers were the men who carried it out. | |
48 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 122 " 1 Beef & Pork viz. 4818 lb. Beng. Meat 81 3 8 925 Pr. Beef 166 13 9 829 Do. Pork 111 8 - 359 5 5 Flour 12 lb. " 2 3 Pepper 4 lb. " 2 - Salt 3/8 Bush. " 1 3 Shoes 58 Pr. Mens Ordy. for the Hand Men 14 10 - Hosiers Ware 2 Pr. Mens Worst. Stockings for ye Govr. Servants " 7 2 Iron Ware 3 Packing Needles " " 6 Twine 1 Skain " " 6 Cutlery Ware 1 Horn Comb " " 3 China Ware viz. 2 Snakes Ary. Blacks " " 8 6 Round Soup Plates " 2 11 " 3 7 Challow 2 Pr. for the Women " 16 8 Thread viz. 4 oz. No. 6 " 8 4 1 lb. Col. " 3 2 " 11 6 Candles 2 lb. for examg. the B. Square " 4 4 Sailors Cloaths viz. 1 Mens Jacket 1 Pr. Do. Breeches " 8 8 2 Mens Shirts " 5 4 1 Dutch Cap " 1 7 " 15 7 £ 499 1 1 | The stores issued for the Company's slaves continued from a running total of £122 0s 1d and closed with the account's total. Brought forward, £122 0s 1d Beef and pork 4,815 pounds of Bengal salt meat, £81 3s 8d 925 pieces of beef, £166 13s 9d 829 pieces of pork, £111 8s 0d Total for beef and pork, £359 5s 5d 12 pounds of flour, £0 2s 3d 4 pounds of pepper, £0 2s 0d ⅜ bushel of salt, £0 1s 3d 58 pairs of men's ordinary shoes for the [...] men, £14 10s 0d 2 pairs of men's thread stockings for the Governor's servants, £0 7s 2d 3 packing needles, £0 0s 6d 1 skein of twine, £0 0s 6d 1 horn comb, £0 0s 3d China, for the aged slaves 2 small bowls, £0 0s 8d 6 round soup plates, £0 2s 11d Total for china, £0 3s 7d 2 pieces of chelloes for the women, £0 16s 8d Thread 4 ounces of number 6 thread, £0 8s 4d 1 [...] of coloured thread, £0 3s 2d Total for thread, £0 11s 6d 2 pounds of candles for searching the Blacks' Square, £0 4s 4d Sailors' clothing 1 man's jacket and 1 pair of breeches, £0 8s 8d 2 men's shirts, £0 5s 4d 1 Dutch cap, £0 1s 7d Total for sailors' clothing, £0 15s 7d Total charged to the Company's slaves, £499 1s 1d Interpretations Candles were issued for searching the Blacks' Square, the compound where the Company's slaves were lodged. The searches were made after dark, when the slaves had returned from work. Owners and officials feared that slaves would hide stolen goods, weapons or runaways in their quarters. The two stock locks issued for the square in the previous quarter and these night searches show the compound policed as well as housed. Its people lived under watch even in their own huts. The slaves' account again rose with the heavy work on the fortifications. Salt meat alone came to more than £359, against about £280 in the third quarter of 1768. The record also showed the Company providing in small ways for its aged slaves, with soup plates and bowls for those too old to work. Clothing went to the Governor's servants and the women. The account mixed the necessities of a labour force with the household needs of a community kept under the Company's control. | |
49 | 1769 Mallay Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1st of Jany. to the 31st March 1769 viz. Arrack 7¼ Gall. 1 5 8 Sugar 38 lb. " 9 4 Rice 168 lb. " 11 2 Sope 6 lb. " 3 3 Shoes 1 Pr. Mens fine Pumps " 5 - Candles 12 lb. 1 6 - Oil 1 Bott. Florence " 3 6 Pepper 2 lb. " 1 - Salt ¼ Bushel " " 10 Flour 18 lb. " 3 5 Beef 4 Pr. " 14 5 Tea viz. 3 lb. Bohea " 2 3 1 lb. Singlo " 1 3 " 3 6 £ 5 7 1 Plantation Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1st of Jany. to the 31st March 1769 viz. Rice & Paddy viz. 462 lb. Rice for Overseer & Poultry 1 10 7 4910 Paddy for Horses & Do. 10 15 1 12 5 8 Cordage 50 lb. for the Fort Gard. & Plnt. House " 16 8 Beef 13 Pr. for the Overseers & Steward 2 6 11 Paint viz. 2 lb. Stone Col. to paint Garden Chairs " " 9½ 8 lb. Stone Oaker mixd. " 2 9¾ 2 lb. Whiting " " 1¾ ½ lb. Copperas " " 3¼ " 4 2 Tar 3 Gall. for the Carts " 3 3 Carrd. Over£ 15 16 8 | The record then set out the stores issued to Mallay and to the Company's plantation between 1 January and 31 March 1769. Charged to Mallay 7¼ gallons of arrack, £1 5s 8d 38 pounds of sugar, £0 9s 4d 168 pounds of rice, £0 11s 2d 6 pounds of soap, £0 3s 3d 1 pair of men's fine pumps, £0 5s 0d 12 pounds of candles, £1 6s 0d 1 flask of Florence oil, £0 3s 6d 2 pounds of pepper, £0 1s 0d ¼ bushel of salt, £0 0s 10d 18 pounds of flour, £0 3s 5d 4 pieces of beef, £0 14s 5d Tea 3 [...] of Bohea tea, £0 2s 3d 1 [...] of Singlo tea, £0 1s 3d Total for tea, £0 3s 6d Total charged to Mallay, £5 7s 1d Charged to the plantation Rice and paddy 462 pounds of rice for the overseers and the poultry, £1 10s 7d 4,920 pounds of paddy for the horses and the poultry, £10 15s 1d Total for rice and paddy, £12 5s 8d 50 pounds of cordage for the fowl yard and the pig house, £0 16s 8d 13 pieces of beef for the overseers and the steward, £2 6s 11d Paint, for painting the garden chairs 3 pounds of stone colour, £0 0s 9½d 3 pounds of stone ochre, mixed, £0 2s 9¾d 3 pounds of whiting, £0 0s 1¾d ¼ pound of copperas, £0 0s 3¼d Total for paint, £0 4s 2d 3 gallons of tar for the carts, £0 3s 3d Carried forward, £15 16s 8d Interpretations The Mallay account now plainly belonged to Sequedah, the Malay exile the Council described on 14 April 1769 as troublesome and a dead charge on the settlement. His quarter's keep came to £5 7s 1d, much less than the £17 16s 9d of the third quarter of 1768. The earlier figure had included broadcloth, longcloth, china and other goods for his household. This quarter he received only food, candles, soap and a pair of shoes. Mas Panjee and the two Africans sent from Bencoolen would soon add to the charge. The plantation's paddy went mainly to the horses as well as the poultry. Unhusked rice was cheaper than imported oats or corn, and the island grew little grain of its own. The Company's horses at Plantation House and its cart horses were kept partly on Indian rice shipped round the Cape. | |
50 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 15 16 8 Iron Ware viz. 1 Wood Ax " 2 10 1 Ash Helve " " 7 1 Doz. Wood Screws " " 4 1 Broad Hoe " 2 2 1 Garden Do. " 1 2 12 Sash Shears " 2 3 1 Pad Lock " 1 6 " 10 10 Cutlery Ware viz. 2 Horse Combs for ye Groom " " 3 1 Case Fleams for Bleedg. Cattle " 2 9 " 3 - Iron 58 lb. for makg. Pick Axes " 12 1 Nails viz. 1 lb. Glazg. Brads for Long Wood Pasture Gates Fort Gard. & for the Carts " 1 8 6 lb. 10 Nails " 2 9 6 .. 4 Do. " 3 7½ 2 Doz. Do. " 1 ½ " 9 1 Oil viz. ½ Gall. Drought for paintg. Gard. Chairs " 3 1¾ ½ Do. Oil of Turpent. " 2 7¼ " 5 9 Deals ¾ Ps. Baulk for Carts " 6 8 £ 18 4 1 Hospital Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1st of Jany. to the 31st March 1769 viz. Sugar 343 lb. 4 5 9 Flour 343 lb. 3 4 4 Rice 343 lb. 1 3 3 Tea 22 lb. Bohea " 16 8 Carrd. Over£ 9 10 - | The plantation account continued from a running total of £15 16s 8d and closed with its total. The record then opened the stores issued to the hospital for the quarter. Brought forward, £15 16s 8d Ironware 1 wood axe, £0 2s 10d 1 ash handle, £0 0s 7d 1 dozen wood screws, £0 0s 4d 1 broad hoe, £0 2s 2d 1 garden hoe, £0 1s 2d 1½ pairs of sheep shears, £0 2s 3d 1 padlock, £0 1s 6d Total for ironware, £0 10s 10d Cutlery and small wares 2 horse combs for the groom, £0 0s 3d 1 cased fleam for bleeding cattle, £0 2s 9d Total for cutlery and small wares, £0 3s 0d 38 pounds of iron for making pickaxes, £0 12s 1d Nails, for the Long Wood pasture gates, the Plantation garden and the carts 1 pound of glazing brads, £0 1s 8d 6 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 2s 9d 6 pounds of fourpenny nails, £0 3s 7½d 2 dozen fourpenny nails, £0 1s 1½d Total for nails, £0 9s 2d Oil, for painting the garden chairs ½ gallon of boiled oil, £0 3s 1¾d ¼ gallon of oil of turpentine, £0 2s 7¼d Total for oil, £0 5s 9d ¾ of a baulk for the carts, £0 6s 8d Total charged to the plantation, £18 4s 1d Charged to the hospital: stores issued from 1 January to 31 March 1769 343 pounds of sugar, £4 5s 9d 343 pounds of flour, £3 4s 4d 343 pounds of rice, £1 3s 3d 2¼ pounds of Bohea tea, £0 16s 8d Carried forward, £9 10s 0d Interpretations The hospital again drew sugar, flour and rice in equal quantities, 343 pounds of each. The figure matched the 320 pounds of each issued in the last quarter of 1768. The surgeon drew a fixed ration of the light foods given to the sick, set by the number of beds and not by the number of patients. Fresh meat and other comforts for the sick were bought separately and paid for through the paymaster, as Dr Barclay's bills in December had shown. The nails for the Long Wood pasture gates showed the Company using the Long Wood as grazing as well as a reserve of timber. Its gates had to be kept in repair to stop cattle straying into the woodland. Purling had advised on 27 February 1769 that wooded land next to the Long Wood was unfit for private hands. The Company managed the area as its own pasture and wood together. | |
51 | 1769 Brought Over£ 9 10 - Salt 1½ Bus. " 4 11 Oil 9 3/8 Gall. Drought 2 18 8 Cordage 39 lb. " 13 - Arrack 1 Gall. " 3 6 Nails 1 lb. 10d. " " 6 Twine 1 lb. Cott. Wick " 2 10 Tin Ware 3 Lamps " 2 3 £ 13 15 8 Boats Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1st of January to the 31st of March 1769 viz. Cordage 477 lb. for Long Boats & fishing 7 19 - Nails viz. 42 lb. 10d. 24 .. 4 2 .. 2 3 .. 3 2 .. 8 10 .. 40 for the Boats in General " 19 3 " 14 6 " 1 8½ " 3 9 " " 11½ " 3 9 2 3 11 Oil 6½ Gall. Drought for Do. 2 " 11 Arrack 6¾ Gall. for Men emp. haulg. up & Lanchg. the L. J. Boats 1 2 2 Pitch & Tar viz. 1 Barl. Pitch Do. 1 8 3 1 Barl. 2 Gall. Tar 1 2 3½ 23 lb. Turpent. " 11 3½ 3 2 - Braziers Ware 1 Botg. Cock " 3 5 Twine 2 Skains " 1 - Leather 11½ lb. for Leatherg. Oars " 10 7 £ 17 3 - | The hospital account continued from a running total of £9 10s 0d and closed with its total. The record then set out the stores issued for the Company's boats during the quarter. Brought forward, £9 10s 0d 1½ bushels of salt, £0 4s 11d 9⅜ gallons of boiled oil, £2 18s 8d 39 pounds of cordage, £0 13s 0d 1 gallon of arrack, £0 3s 6d 1 pound of tenpenny nails, £0 0s 6d 1 pound of cotton wick, £0 2s 10d 3 lamps, £0 2s 3d Total charged to the hospital, £13 15s 8d Charged to the boats: stores issued from 1 January to 31 March 1769 477 pounds of cordage for the longboats and for fishing, £7 19s 0d Nails, for the boats in general 42 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 19s 3d 24 pounds of fourpenny nails, £0 14s 6d 2 pounds of twopenny nails, £0 1s 8½d 5 pounds of threepenny nails, £0 3s 9d 2 pounds of eightpenny nails, £0 0s 11½d 10 pounds of fortypenny nails, £0 3s 9d Total for nails, £2 3s 11d 6¾ gallons of boiled oil for the same, £2 0s 11d 6¾ gallons of arrack for the men hauling up and launching the longboats, £1 2s 2d Pitch and tar, for the same 1 barrel of pitch, £1 8s 3d 1 barrel and 2 gallons of tar, £1 2s 3½d 23 pounds of turpentine, £0 11s 3½d Total for pitch and tar, £3 2s 0d 1 bib tap, £0 3s 5d 2 skeins of twine, £0 1s 0d 11 pounds of leather for leathering oars, £0 10s 7d Total charged to the boats, £17 3s 0d Interpretations The hospital burned more than 9 gallons of oil in its lamps during the quarter. Lamps were kept alight through the night so the surgeon's mates and attendants could tend the sick. With several soldiers dying between January and March, the hospital was probably fuller than usual. Its oil, salt and cordage were issued on top of the fixed ration of sugar, flour and rice. The boats again needed heavy stores during the busy season. More than 470 pounds of cordage, 85 pounds of nails, a barrel of pitch and a barrel of tar went to keep the longboats working while 15 East Indiamen lay in the road. Leather was nailed round the oars where they rubbed in the rowlocks, to stop the wood wearing through. The boatmen launched and hauled up the boats day after day, and earned their arrack ration for each turn. | |
52 | The 17 April Lemon Valley Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1st of Jany. to the 31st of March 1769 viz. Iron 165 lb. 1 14 - Candles 8 lb. " 17 4 Cordage 22 lb. " 7 4 Iron Ware viz. 6 Ash Helves " 3 6 2 Pr. Cross Garnet Hinges " 14 4 3 Pr. H.L. Do. " 5 9 1 Pr. Dovetail Do. " " 3¾ 1 Pad Lock " 1 6½ 13 lb. Plate Iron " 6 7¾ 1 12 1 Nails viz. 19 lb. 4d. " 11 3¾ 20 .. 10 " 9 2 6 .. 40 " 2 3 4 .. 20 " 1 7¼ 8 Dog Nails " 4 - 1 8 6 Lines 12 No. 4 " 4 6 Paint 2 lb. Chalk " " 1 Oil ¼ Drought " 1 7 Tin Ware 1 Lamp " " 9 Deals viz. 3 Coffers " 9 6 1 Baulk " 8 10 " 18 4 £ 7 5 6 | The record then set out the stores issued for the fortifications in Lemon Valley between 1 January and 31 March 1769. Charged to Lemon Valley 163 pounds of iron, £1 14s 0d 8 pounds of candles, £0 17s 4d 22 pounds of cordage, £0 7s 4d Ironware 6 ash handles, £0 3s 6d 2 pairs of cross garnet hinges, £0 14s 4d 3 pairs of H-L hinges, £0 5s 9d 1 pair of dovetail hinges, £0 0s 3¾d 1 padlock, £0 1s 6½d 13 pounds of plate iron, £0 6s 7¾d Total for ironware, £1 12s 1d Nails 19 pounds of fourpenny nails, £0 11s 3¾d 20 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 9s 2d 6 pounds of fortypenny nails, £0 2s 3d 4 pounds of twentypenny nails, £0 1s 7¼d 8 dog nails, £0 4s 0d Total for nails, £1 8s 6d 12 number 4 lines, £0 4s 6d 2 pounds of chalk, £0 0s 1d ¼ gallon of boiled oil, £0 1s 7d 1 lamp, £0 0s 9d Deals 3 gutters, £0 9s 6d 1 baulk, £0 8s 10d Total for deals, £0 18s 4d Total charged to Lemon Valley, £7 4s 6d Interpretations The stores for Lemon Valley now looked like finishing work rather than earthmoving. Earlier quarters had brought shovels, pickaxes and wheelbarrows. This one brought hinges, a padlock, plate iron, gutters and dog nails, the fittings for doors, a magazine and the battery's buildings. This matched Mitchell's letter of 6 March 1769, which reported the defences of Lemon Valley finished except for the gun platforms. The cross garnet hinges and padlock probably hung the doors of the powder magazine and the guardhouse. The gutters carried rainwater off the roofs. | |
53 | 1769 Mundens Point Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1st of January to the 31st March 1769 viz. Cordage 410 lb. 6 16 8 Iron Ware viz. 3 Iron Shovels " 13 7½ 3 Steel Do. " 5 4½ " 19 - Iron & Steel viz. 389 lb. Iron 4 1 -½ 21 lb. German Steel " 12 8½ 4 13 9 Lines viz. 12 No. 4 Lines " 4 6 1 Log Do. " 1 - 12 No. 2 Do. " 3 5 " 8 11 Deals 4 Coffers " 12 8 Paint 9 lb. Chalk " " 9 Turners Ware viz. 1 Plaist. Brush " 1 1 1 Paint Do. " " 6 " 1 7 Nails viz. 2 lb. 4 Nails " 1 2½ 6 lb. Coopr. Rivets " 2 9½ " 4 - Tar ¼ " 1 1 Tar ¼ Drought " 1 7 Tin Ware 1 Lamp " " 9 £ 14 - 9 | The record then set out the stores issued for the fortification at Munden's Point between 1 January and 31 March 1769. Charged to Munden's Point 410 pounds of cordage, £6 16s 8d Ironware 3 iron shovels, £0 13s 7½d 3 iron-shod shovels, £0 5s 4½d Total for ironware, £0 19s 0d Iron and steel 389 pounds of iron, £4 1s 0½d 21 pounds of German steel, £0 12s 8½d Total for iron and steel, £4 13s 9d Lines 12 number 4 lines, £0 4s 6d 1 long line, £0 1s 0d 12 number 2 lines, £0 3s 5d Total for lines, £0 8s 11d 4 gutters, £0 12s 8d 9 pounds of chalk, £0 0s 9d Turners' ware 1 plasterer's brush, £0 1s 1d 1 paint brush, £0 0s 6d Total for turners' ware, £0 1s 7d Nails 2 pounds of fourpenny nails, £0 1s 2½d 6 pounds of coopers' rivets, £0 2s 9½d Total for nails, £0 4s 0d ¼ [...] of tar, £0 1s 1d ¼ [...] of tar, £0 1s 7d 1 lamp, £0 0s 9d Total charged to Munden's Point, £14 0s 9d Interpretations Munden's Point still drew heavily on cordage, iron and steel, as it had in each quarter since the work began. More than 400 pounds of rope went to the tackle used to hoist stone and guns up the cliff. Nearly 400 pounds of iron and 21 pounds of German steel went to the forge to make and re-edge the masons' picks and chisels. Lemon Valley had moved on to doors and fittings, but Munden's Point was still being quarried and built. Mitchell had told the Council on 2 January 1769 that its completion would mark the time of his departure from the island. The steady draw on tools and tackle showed that day had not yet come. | |
54 | The 17 April Fortifications Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1st of Jany. to the 31st March 1769 viz. Cordage 54 lb. for the Cutter & Quarry " 18 - Twine 3 Sk. for mendg. Lime Bags " 1 6 Candles 1 lb. for Waxing Thread " 2 2 Thread 2 lb. Col. " 6 3 Iron Ware viz. 1 Stone Hammer for Sandy Bay & Quarry " 1 4½ 2 Small frying Pans " 4 -½ 3 Stone Saws " 15 5 1 " 10 Nails viz. 14 lb. 4d. 11 .. 10 6 .. 40 for the Alarm House and mendg. Wheel Barrows " 9 5½ " 5 -½ " 2 3 " 16 9 Lines 6 No. 4 " 2 3 Oil ¼ Drought " 1 7 £ 3 9 4 Errors Excepted (signed) Jams. Powell Storekeepr. St. Helena 31 March 1769 | The record then set out the stores issued for the fortifications in general between 1 January and 31 March 1769, closing the storekeeper's account for the quarter. Charged to the fortifications in general 54 pounds of cordage for the cutter and the quarry, £0 18s 0d 3 pounds of twine for mending sandbags, £0 1s 6d 1 pound of candles for waxing thread, £0 2s 2d ½ pound of coloured thread, £0 6s 3d Ironware, for Sandy Bay and the quarry 1 stone hammer, £0 1s 4½d 2 small frying pans, £0 4s 0½d 3 stone saws, £0 15s 5d Total for ironware, £1 0s 10d Nails, for the alarm house and for mending wheelbarrows 14 pounds of fourpenny nails, £0 9s 5½d 11 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 5s 0½d 6 pounds of fortypenny nails, £0 2s 3d Total for nails, £0 16s 9d 6 number 4 lines, £0 2s 3d ¼ gallon of boiled oil, £0 1s 7d Total charged to the fortifications in general, £3 9s 4d James Powell signed the account as storekeeper at St Helena on 31 March 1769, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The cordage issued for the cutter was for the boat the Council bought from Captain Sadler for £25 0s 0d on 27 March 1769. The new cutter was rigged from the Company's stores within days of the purchase and put to work for the fortifications. It probably carried stone from the quarry and materials round the coast to the batteries. The Company's yawl had been lost in the surf in January. The cutter took her place in the works. The alarm house was the signal station from which warning guns were fired and flags hoisted when ships were sighted. It needed repair during the busiest quarter of the year, when alarms were fired almost daily for the passing fleets. Stone saws and a stone hammer for Sandy Bay showed masonry repairs under way at the older defences on the south coast, alongside the new works at Lemon Valley and Munden's Point. | |
55 | 1769 List of the Honorable Company's Officers and Servants upon the Island St. Helena with their several Salarys Diet Money &c. for the Quarter commencing from the 1st January and ending the 31 March 1769 viz. John Skottowe Esq. Governor Saly.£ 125 - - Do. Allowance for Servants as usual 31 14 9 156 14 9 Matthew Purling of Council Saly. 15 - - Do. Allowance 17 10 - Do. Diet Money 15 - - Do. Gratuity 15 - - 62 10 - Capt. 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 - William Beancroft Chapl. Saly. 40 - - Do. Diet Money 15 - - 55 - - Matthew Bazett Secy. Saly. 17 10 - Do. Diet Money 15 - - Do. House Rent 2 10 - 35 - - James Powell Storekeepr. Saly. 17 10 - Do. Diet Money 15 - - Do. House Rent 2 10 - 35 - - William Wrangham Fact. Saly. 7 10 - Do. Diet Money 10 - - Do. House Rent 2 10 - Do. Assistant to the Governor 10 - - 30 - - Jonathan Dowlon Fact. Saly. 7 10 - Do. Diet Money 10 - - Do. Assistant Storekeeper 5 - - 22 10 - Bartholomew Wright Fact. Saly. 7 10 - Do. Diet Money 10 - - Do. House Rent 2 10 - 20 - - John Goodwin Writ. Saly. 5 - - Do. Diet Money 10 - - 15 - - Carrd. Over£ 519 4 9 | The list of the Company's officers and employees on St Helena, with their salaries, table allowances and other pay for the quarter from 1 January to 31 March 1769, was entered as follows. Governor John Skottowe, salary, £125 0s 0d Governor John Skottowe, usual allowance for servants, £31 14s 9d Total for Governor Skottowe, £156 14s 9d Matthew Purling, councillor, salary, £15 0s 0d Matthew Purling, as accountant, £17 10s 0d Matthew Purling, table allowance, £15 0s 0d Matthew Purling, gratuity, £15 0s 0d Total for Matthew Purling, £62 10s 0d Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick, councillor, salary, £7 10s 0d Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick, house rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Captain Kirkpatrick, £10 0s 0d Archibald Mitchell, engineer, salary, £50 0s 0d Archibald Mitchell, table allowance, £25 0s 0d Archibald Mitchell, house rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Archibald Mitchell, £77 10s 0d William Bearcroft, chaplain, salary, £40 0s 0d William Bearcroft, table allowance, £15 0s 0d Total for William Bearcroft, £55 0s 0d Matthew Bazett, secretary, salary, £17 10s 0d Matthew Bazett, table allowance, £15 0s 0d Matthew Bazett, house rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Matthew Bazett, £35 0s 0d James Powell, storekeeper, salary, £17 10s 0d James Powell, table allowance, £15 0s 0d James Powell, house rent, £2 10s 0d Total for James Powell, £35 0s 0d William Wrangham, factor, salary, £7 10s 0d William Wrangham, table allowance, £10 0s 0d William Wrangham, house rent, £2 10s 0d William Wrangham, as assistant to the Governor, £10 0s 0d Total for William Wrangham, £30 0s 0d Jonathan Doveton, factor, salary, £7 10s 0d Jonathan Doveton, table allowance, £10 0s 0d Jonathan Doveton, as assistant storekeeper, £5 0s 0d Total for Jonathan Doveton, £22 10s 0d Bartholomew Wright, factor, salary, £7 10s 0d Bartholomew Wright, table allowance, £10 0s 0d Bartholomew Wright, house rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Bartholomew Wright, £20 0s 0d John Goodwin, writer, salary, £5 0s 0d John Goodwin, table allowance, £10 0s 0d Total for John Goodwin, £15 0s 0d Carried forward, £519 4s 9d Interpretations Kirkpatrick drew his full pay as councillor for the quarter, although the Court of Directors' letter dismissing him was read to him on 1 April 1769. The quarter ended on 31 March, the day before the packet arrived. Until the Court's orders reached the island and were formally made known, he remained a member of the Council and was entitled to his salary. His pay would stop from the date of dismissal, so this was the last quarter in which his name stood among the councillors. The civil list was otherwise exactly the same as in the last quarter of 1768, with every salary and allowance unchanged. The Court's packet of 1 April also brought orders concerning Greentree, Bazett and Mahoney, and allowances of £30 a year for Beale and Kennedy, backdated to 24 June 1768. Any change those orders made would show only in the next quarter's list. | |
56 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 519 4 9 George Bazett Writer Saly. 5 - - Do. Diet Money 10 - - 15 - - Robert Barclay Surg. Saly. 9 15 - Do. Diet Money 10 - - Do. House Rent 2 10 - 22 5 - John Pritchard Surg. Mate Saly. 6 5 - Do. Diet Money 10 - - Do. House Rent 2 10 - 18 15 - Richard Beale Judge Advocate Saly. 12 10 - Do. School Master 7 10 - 20 - - Phillip Mahony Clerk of the Peace 22 10 - Thomas Bazett Superintd. 13 15 - John Bazett Do. of the Compys. Blacks 10 - - Samuel Alexander Overseers 7 10 - John Worrall 15 - - William Holbrook Mast. Mason 30 - - John Preston Do. Mate 20 - - John Robinson Carpenter 25 - - James Hogg Do. Mate 12 10 - John Drawwater Cooper 8 15 - John Robins Armour. 15 - - Solomon St. Maurice Mast. at Arms 6 5 - Robert Leech Company's Stewd. 7 10 - Thomas Yates Clerk of the Church 5 - - John Joyce Clerk & Instr. Cleaner 1 5 - Robert Allen Groom 2 - - John Cogswell Patroon of the L. J. Boats 7 10 - John Price Marshal & Gaoler 7 10 - To the Drum Major for instg. the young Drumrs. 1 - - John Lemon an Invalid 90 days @ 9d. p day 3 7 6 221 5 6 First Company Thomas Kirkpatrick Capt. Saly. 45 12 6 Carrd. Over£ 802 2 9 | The list of officers and employees continued from a running total of £519 4s 9d, and the pay list then opened the First Company. Brought forward, £519 4s 9d George Bazett, writer, salary, £5 0s 0d George Bazett, table allowance, £10 0s 0d Total for George Bazett, £15 0s 0d Robert Barclay, surgeon, salary, £9 15s 0d Robert Barclay, diet money, £10 0s 0d Robert Barclay, house rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Robert Barclay, £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 Total for John Pritchard, £18 15s 0d Richard Beale, judge advocate, salary, £12 10s 0d Richard Beale, as schoolmaster, £7 10s 0d Total for Richard Beale, £20 0s 0d Phillip Mahoney, clerk of the peace, £22 10s 0d Thomas Bazett, superintendent, £13 15s 0d John Bazett, superintendent of the Company's slaves, £10 0s 0d Samuel Alexander, overseer, £7 10s 0d John Worrall, overseer, £15 0s 0d William Holbrook, master mason, £30 0s 0d John Preston, mason's mate, £20 0s 0d John Robinson, carpenter, £25 0s 0d James Hogg, carpenter's mate, £12 10s 0d John Drawwater, cooper, £8 15s 0d John Robins, armourer, £15 0s 0d Solomon St Maurice, master at arms, £6 5s 0d Robert Leech, the Company's steward, £7 10s 0d Thomas Yates, clerk of the church, £5 0s 0d John Joyce, clock and instrument cleaner, £1 5s 0d Robert Allen, groom, £2 0s 0d John Corfield, patroon of the Company's boats, £7 10s 0d John Price, marshal and gaoler, £7 10s 0d The drum major, for teaching the young drummers, £1 0s 0d John Lawrence, invalid, for 90 days at 9d a day, £3 7s 6d Total for the page, £221 5s 6d First Company Thomas Kirkpatrick, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d Carried forward, £802 2s 9d Interpretations James Hogg now drew the full carpenter's mate's salary of £12 10s 0d for the whole quarter. In the last quarter of 1768 the post had been divided between Peter Mariot, dismissed on 7 November, and Hogg from the following day. The post of overseer of the works no longer appeared on the list. Thomas Payne had held it at 1s 6d a day until his dismissal on 12 December 1768. George Bazett, his successor as clerk of the works at the same rate, was evidently paid through the contingent account and not as a separate line on the civil list. The quarter ran only 90 days, from 1 January to 31 March 1769, against 92 in the previous two quarters. Pay reckoned by the day reflected the shorter quarter, as John Lawrence's subsistence of £3 7s 6d showed. Fixed salaries such as the Governor's or the master mason's were paid at a full quarter's rate regardless. | |
57 | 1769 Brought Over£ 862 2 9 Solomon St. Maurice Lieut. Saly. 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 Solomon Jacobs William Roberts Adjut. Saly. 29 13 1½ Serjeants Henry Howell 7 10 - William Rowlands 7 10 - John Allman 7 10 - Thomas Townsend 7 10 - 30 - - Corporals George Rose 5 5 - George Seale 5 5 - Thomas Mears 5 5 - William Smitt 5 5 - 21 - - Drummers John Martin 5 5 - Richard Pleffert 5 5 - Joseph Peerham 5 5 - 15 15 - Centinels James Avery 3 15 - James Armstrong 3 15 - John Buchanan 3 15 - Moses Boffey 3 15 - John Bell 3 15 - John Barnes 3 15 - Timothy Bryan 3 15 - Centl. Carrd. Over£ 26 5 - Carrd. Over£ 1013 14 7½ | The First Company's list continued with its lieutenants, adjutant, sergeants, corporals, drummers and private soldiers. Brought forward, £862 2s 9d Solomon St Maurice, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d Solomon St Maurice, diet money, £6 16s 10½d Solomon St Maurice, house rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Solomon St Maurice, £27 11s 10½d Samuel Desfountain, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d Samuel Desfountain, diet money, £6 16s 10½d Samuel Desfountain, house rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Samuel Desfountain, £27 11s 10½d Solomon Jacobs and William Roberts, adjutant, salary, £29 13s 1½d Sergeants Henry Howell, sergeant, £7 10s 0d William Rowlands, sergeant, £7 10s 0d John Allman, sergeant, £7 10s 0d Thomas Townsend, sergeant, £7 10s 0d Total for the sergeants, £30 0s 0d Corporals George Roe, corporal, £5 5s 0d George Seale, corporal, £5 5s 0d Thomas Mears, corporal, £5 5s 0d William Small, corporal, £5 5s 0d Total for the corporals, £21 0s 0d Drummers John Martin, drummer, £5 5s 0d Richard Stafford, drummer, £5 5s 0d Joseph Peckham, drummer, £5 5s 0d Total for the drummers, £15 15s 0d Private soldiers James Avery, private, £3 15s 0d James Armstrong, private, £3 15s 0d John Brockhurst, private, £3 15s 0d Moses Biffen, private, £3 15s 0d John Brill, private, £3 15s 0d John Barnes, private, £3 15s 0d Timothy Bryan, private, £3 15s 0d Private soldiers carried forward, £26 5s 0d Carried forward, £1,013 14s 7½d Interpretations The adjutant's salary was entered as a single sum shared between Solomon Jacobs and William Roberts. Jacobs died on 7 February 1769, and Roberts, a sergeant of the Third Company, took over his duties. The full quarter's pay for the post was divided between the two men by the days each served, as with every other vacancy filled during a quarter. Every soldier's pay fell slightly this quarter because it had only 90 days. A private received £3 15s 0d in place of £3 16s 8d, and a sergeant £7 10s 0d in place of £7 13s 4d. Soldiers were paid by the day, so a short quarter meant a smaller sum. The Governor and the civil servants, paid fixed quarterly salaries, received the same whatever the length of the quarter. | |
58 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 1013 14 7½ Centl. brought Over£ 26 5 - Emanuel Bunner 3 15 - William Benson 3 15 - Richard Brown 3 15 - Thomas Berwick 3 15 - Benjamin Barclay 3 15 - William Bunn 3 15 - John Blavin 3 15 - Edward Caker 3 15 - William Clifford 3 15 - Patrick Conner 3 15 - Andrew Conner 3 15 - John Charlton 3 15 - William Coppin 3 15 - John Davis 3 15 - James Drake 3 15 - James Dunn 3 15 - George Dyce 3 15 - Adam Evans 3 15 - Henry Everton 3 15 - Cornelius Fish decd. 13 Feby. 1 16 8 William French 3 15 - William Foster 3 15 - John Granger 3 15 - William Greenwood 3 15 - William Henderson 3 15 - John Hourston 3 15 - Edward Haddock 3 15 - William Holmes 3 15 - William Hayes 3 15 - John Hammond 3 15 - John Hill 3 15 - Sutton Isaac 3 15 - William Jones 3 15 - Centl. Carrd. Over£ 148 1 8 Carrd. Over£ 1013 14 7½ | The First Company's private soldiers continued from a running total of £26 5s 0d. Brought forward, £1,013 14s 7½d Private soldiers brought forward, £26 5s 0d Emmanuel Bunner, private, £3 15s 0d William Benson, private, £3 15s 0d Richard Brown, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Brewick, private, £3 15s 0d Benjamin Barclay, private, £3 15s 0d William Bunn, private, £3 15s 0d John Bacon, private, £3 15s 0d Edward Cocker, private, £3 15s 0d William Clissold, private, £3 15s 0d Patrick Conner, private, £3 15s 0d Andrew Conner, private, £3 15s 0d John Charlton, private, £3 15s 0d William Coppen, private, £3 15s 0d John Davis, private, £3 15s 0d James Drakes, private, £3 15s 0d James Dunn, private, £3 15s 0d George Dyer, private, £3 15s 0d Adam Evans, private, £3 15s 0d Henry Cowdrey, private, £3 15s 0d Cornelius Fish, private, discharged 13 February, £1 16s 8d William French, private, £3 15s 0d William Fisher, private, £3 15s 0d John Grainger, private, £3 15s 0d William Greenwood, private, £3 15s 0d William Henderson, private, £3 15s 0d John Houston, private, £3 15s 0d Edward Haddock, private, £3 15s 0d William Holmes, private, £3 15s 0d William Hayes, private, £3 15s 0d John Hammond, private, £3 15s 0d John Hill, private, £3 15s 0d Sutton Isaacs, private, £3 15s 0d William Jones, private, £3 15s 0d Private soldiers carried forward, £128 1s 8d Carried forward, £1,013 14s 7½d Interpretations Cornelius Fish was discharged on 13 February 1769, the day the Valentine was preparing to sail for England. His pay ran for 44 days of the quarter. A discharge granted while a homeward ship lay in the road let a man take passage at once instead of waiting months for the next. Fish was probably among the first soldiers released that season, ahead of the group whose terms ended in March and April. | |
59 | 1769 Brought Over£ 1013 14 7½ Centl. brought Over£ 148 1 8 Duncan McLaren 3 15 - William Mumford 3 15 - John McAllister 3 15 - James Miller 3 15 - William Mudge 3 15 - Mathew Oalmen 3 15 - William Page 3 15 - Thomas Roberts 3 15 - William Robinson 3 15 - Silvanus Rolf 3 15 - Anthony Reynolds 3 15 - William Swaby 3 15 - John Springthorpe 3 15 - John Skeans 3 15 - John Stewart 3 15 - Edward Silverton 3 15 - James Swanson 3 15 - Joseph Tracy 3 15 - William Tapper 3 15 - John Fanton 3 15 - Thomas Rogers 3 15 - Joseph Valentine 3 15 - John Whittingdale 3 15 - Benjamin Wise 3 15 - Thomas Windall 3 11 8 John Weston Disch. 27 March 3 15 - George Wall 3 15 - John Dove 252 18 4[...] Second Company Henry Bazett Capt. Saly. 45 12 6 Michael Groot Lieut. Saly. 18 5 - Do. Diet Money 6 16 10½ Do. House Rent 2 10 - 27 11 10½ Carrd. Over£ 1339 17 [...]½ | The First Company's private soldiers continued from a running total of £148 1s 8d and closed with their total. The pay list then opened the Second Company. Brought forward, £1,013 14s 7½d Private soldiers brought forward, £148 1s 8d Duncan McLaren, private, £3 15s 0d William Mumford, private, £3 15s 0d John McAllister, private, £3 15s 0d James Miller, private, £3 15s 0d William Mudge, private, £3 15s 0d Mathew Palmer, private, £3 15s 0d William Page, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Roberts, private, £3 15s 0d William Robinson, private, £3 15s 0d Silvanus Rolfe, private, £3 15s 0d Anthony Reynolds, private, £3 15s 0d William Swaby, private, £3 15s 0d John Springthorpe, private, £3 15s 0d John Rains, private, £3 15s 0d John Stewart, private, £3 15s 0d Edward Stevenson, private, £3 15s 0d James Swanson, private, £3 15s 0d Joseph Storey, private, £3 15s 0d William Tipper, private, £3 15s 0d John Tanker, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Rogers, private, £3 15s 0d Joseph Valentine, private, £3 15s 0d John Whittingdale, private, £3 15s 0d Benjamin Wise, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Windall, private, £3 11s 8d John Weston, private, discharged 27 March, £3 15s 0d George Wall, private, £3 15s 0d John Dove, private, £0 0s 0d Total for the First Company's private soldiers, £252 18s 4d 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 Total for Michael Frost, £27 11s 10½d Carried forward, £1,339 17s 4½d Interpretations Mathew Palmer drew a full quarter's pay, although he died on 1 April 1769, the day after the quarter closed. He was alive for every day of the period covered. His wages for the quarter passed in full to his estate, like Charles Montague's, who had died on the last day of 1768. John Weston was discharged on 27 March 1769, with the China fleet lying in the road. His term had evidently run out, and he took the chance of a passage home. John Dove, entered at the foot of the list with no sum against him, was perhaps a recruit added to the company's books only as the quarter closed, with no days yet to be paid. | |
60 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 1339 17 4 John Ware Welch Lieut. Saly. 18 5 - Do. Diet Money 6 16 10½ Do. House Rent 2 10 - 27 11 10½ Serjeants John Bazett 7 10 - Stephen Payor 7 10 - Robert Hopkinson 7 10 - John Salsbury 7 10 - 30 - - Corporals Samuel Parker 5 5 - William Merrick 5 5 - Francis Seale 5 5 - Joseph Whaley 5 5 - 21 - - Drummers John Brown 5 5 - Patrick Edwington 5 5 - 10 10 - Centinels Robert Allum 3 15 - Joseph Banks Decd. 20 March 3 5 10 William Birch 3 15 - Jacob Brown 3 15 - William Brooks 3 15 - Robert Brown 3 15 - Nicholas Bushell 3 15 - Daniel Burge 3 15 - James Byrne Disch. 13 Do. 3 - - William Conquest 3 15 - John Crawley 3 15 - William Carfree 3 15 - William Carter 3 15 - Centl. Carrd. Over£ 47 10 10 Carrd. Over£ 1428 19 2½ | The Second Company's list continued with its second lieutenant, sergeants, corporals, drummers and private soldiers. Brought forward, £1,339 17s 4d John Mare Welch, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d John Mare Welch, diet money, £6 16s 10½d John Mare Welch, house rent, £2 10s 0d Total for John Mare Welch, £27 11s 10½d Sergeants John Bazett, sergeant, £7 10s 0d Stephen Rogers, sergeant, £7 10s 0d Robert Stephenson, sergeant, £7 10s 0d John Salisbury, sergeant, £7 10s 0d Total for the sergeants, £30 0s 0d Corporals Samuel Parker, corporal, £5 5s 0d William Merrick, corporal, £5 5s 0d Francis Seale, corporal, £5 5s 0d Joseph Whaley, corporal, £5 5s 0d Total for the corporals, £21 0s 0d Drummers John Brown, drummer, £5 5s 0d Patrick Etherington, drummer, £5 5s 0d Total for the drummers, £10 10s 0d Private soldiers Robert Allen, private, £3 15s 0d Joseph Banks, private, died 20 March, £3 5s 10d William Birch, private, £3 15s 0d Jacob Brown, private, £3 15s 0d William Brooks, private, £3 15s 0d Robert Bowey, private, £3 15s 0d Nicholas Bustell, private, £3 15s 0d Daniel Pye, private, £3 15s 0d James Byron, private, discharged 13 March, £3 0s 0d William Conquest, private, £3 15s 0d John Crowley, private, £3 15s 0d William Carder, private, £3 15s 0d William Carter, private, £3 15s 0d Private soldiers carried forward, £47 10s 10d Carried forward, £1,428 19s 2½d Interpretations James Byron was discharged on 13 March 1769, the day the Royal Captain and the Bute sailed for England. His release was timed so that he could leave with them. The pattern of discharges that season followed the movements of the homeward fleet: Cornelius Fish with the Valentine in February, Byron with the Bombay ships in March, and Weston and others as the China ships came and went. Men whose terms were nearly up waited for a ship and asked to be released when one was ready to sail. | |
61 | 1769 Brought Over£ 1428 19 2½ Centl. brought Over£ 47 10 10 John Cunningham 3 15 - Robert Dickens 3 15 - William Drummond 3 15 - John Dayley 3 15 - Peter Ellam 3 15 - John Forbes 3 15 - William Fullwood 3 15 - John Fish Disch. 13 Feby. 1 16 8 John Goldsole 3 15 - John Gray 3 15 - Robert Green 3 15 - James Gates 3 15 - Charles Goulding 3 15 - William Harris Senr. 3 15 - William Harris Junr. 3 15 - Abraham Harding 3 15 - Samuel Hiles 3 15 - John Holbrook 3 15 - James Hudson 3 15 - Thomas Haylis 3 15 - James Hogg Disch. 14 Feby. 1 17 6 John Ham 3 15 - William Hunt 3 15 - Samuel Instone 3 15 - William Johnson 3 15 - John Jacks 3 15 - John James 3 15 - Thomas James 3 15 - Francis Jackson 3 15 - Henry Ketcham 3 15 - John Kemp 3 15 - Henry Miller 3 15 - John Morris Centl. Carrd. Over£ 167 10 - Carrd. Over£ 1428 19 2½ | The Second Company's private soldiers continued from a running total of £47 10s 10d. Brought forward, £1,428 19s 2½d Private soldiers brought forward, £47 10s 10d John Cunningham, private, £3 15s 0d Robert Dickson, private, £3 15s 0d William Devereux, private, £3 15s 0d John Dayley, private, £3 15s 0d Peter Allam, private, £3 15s 0d John Forbes, private, £3 15s 0d William Fulford, private, £3 15s 0d John Fish, private, discharged 13 February, £1 16s 8d John Glossop, private, £3 15s 0d John Gray, private, £3 15s 0d Robert Green, private, £3 15s 0d James Gates, private, £3 15s 0d Charles Golding, private, £3 15s 0d William Harris senior, private, £3 15s 0d William Harris junior, private, £3 15s 0d Abraham Harding, private, £3 15s 0d Samuel Hiles, private, £3 15s 0d John Holbrook, private, £3 15s 0d James Hudson, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Hayter, private, £3 15s 0d James Hogg, private, discharged 14 February, £1 17s 6d John Hart, private, £3 15s 0d William Hunt, private, £3 15s 0d Samuel Jesson, private, £3 15s 0d William Johnson, private, £3 15s 0d John Jacks, private, £3 15s 0d John James, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas James, private, £3 15s 0d Francis Jackson, private, £3 15s 0d Henry Kirkham, private, £3 15s 0d John King, private, £3 15s 0d Henry Miller, private, £3 15s 0d John Morris, private, £3 15s 0d Private soldiers carried forward, £167 10s 0d Carried forward, £1,428 19s 2½d Interpretations James Hogg left the ranks on 14 February 1769 but kept his post as the Company's carpenter's mate. He had drawn both a soldier's pay and the carpenter's mate's salary since November 1768. His discharge from the Second Company ended the soldier's pay while the civil salary went on. Hogg had undertaken on 7 November 1768 to serve as carpenter's mate for five years. His release from the garrison was evidently made on condition that he stay in the Company's shop. John Fish, the sergeant broken to the ranks on 6 October 1768, was discharged on 13 February 1769, the same day as Cornelius Fish of the First Company. The two men may have been brothers or kinsmen who chose to sail home together in the Valentine. | |
62 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 1428 19 2½ Centl. brought Over£ 167 10 - John McCullen 3 15 - William Mackbeth 3 15 - Abraham Miller 3 15 - Thomas Morgan 3 15 - Reeves Osborn 3 15 - George Oliver 3 15 - Samuel Perry 3 15 - John Perry 3 15 - Thomas Palmer 3 15 - Joseph McCartney 3 15 - Thomas Mathews 3 15 - Thomas Richards 3 15 - William Richardson 3 15 - John Christr. Rufe 3 15 - Thomas Stowers 3 15 - Gregory Southernwood 3 15 - Fredk. Shaffer 3 15 - George Street 3 15 - John Sabourin 3 15 - John Tucker 3 15 - John Vaughan 3 15 - John Whyatt 3 15 - Samuel Hiksord 3 15 - 253 15 - Third Company Richard Beale Capt. Saly. 45 12 6 Thomas Bazett 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 Carrd. Over£ 1783 10 5½ | The Second Company's private soldiers continued from a running total of £167 10s 0d and closed with their total. The pay list then opened the Third Company. Brought forward, £1,428 19s 2½d Private soldiers brought forward, £167 10s 0d John McCallum, private, £3 15s 0d William Macbeth, private, £3 15s 0d Abraham Miller, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Morgan, private, £3 15s 0d Reeves Osborn, private, £3 15s 0d George Oliver, private, £3 15s 0d Samuel Perry, private, £3 15s 0d John Povey, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Palmer, private, £3 15s 0d Joseph McCartney, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Mitchell, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Richards, private, £3 15s 0d William Richardson, private, £3 15s 0d John Christopher Shefe, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Seaver, private, £3 15s 0d Gregory Southernwood, private, £3 15s 0d Frederick Sheffer, private, £3 15s 0d George Street, private, £3 15s 0d John Sabourin, private, £3 15s 0d John Tucker, private, £3 15s 0d John Vaughan, private, £3 15s 0d John Whyrell, private, £3 15s 0d Samuel Hilson, private, £3 15s 0d Total for the Second Company's private soldiers, £253 15s 0d 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 Total for Thomas Bazett, £27 11s 10½d Thomas Lambert, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d Thomas Lambert, diet money, £6 16s 10½d Thomas Lambert, house rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Thomas Lambert, £27 11s 10½d Carried forward, £1,783 19s 5½d Interpretations The officers' pay did not change with the length of the quarter. A lieutenant drew £18 5s 0d in salary for the 90 days from January to March, exactly what he had received for the 92-day quarters of 1768. Officers were paid a fixed sum each quarter, like the civil servants. The non-commissioned officers and men, by contrast, were paid by the day and lost two days' wages in the shorter quarter. The difference reflected the officers' standing as gentlemen holding a commission, with an income fixed by the year, and the ordinary soldiers' status as men hired by the day. | |
63 | 1769 Brought Over£ 1783 10 5½ Serjeants William Roberts prof. to act as Adjut. 7 Feby. 3 3 4 William Clifton 7 10 - Samuel Johnson 7 10 - Thomas Pearce 7 10 - 25 13 4 Corporals John Hilliard 5 5 - David Scott 5 5 - Richard Ashford 5 5 - Thomas Taylor 5 5 - 21 - - Drummers John [...] 5 5 - George Varney 5 5 - 10 10 - Centinels James Anderson 3 15 - Henry Brown decd. 18 Jany. " 15 - Jacob Bull 3 15 - Mark Bolls 3 15 - Fredk. Wm. Bird 3 15 - John Bloxham 3 15 - William Caleb Baldwin 3 15 - Abel Wagnel 3 15 - John Cook 3 15 - Philip Cook Entd. 30 March " 1 8 Robert Davis Disch. 27 Do. 3 11 8 Edward Dudley 3 15 - James Donavan 3 15 - William Edwards 3 15 - Charles Edgels 3 15 - William Foster 3 15 - John Foxon Centl. Carrd. Over£ 56 18 [...] Carrd. Over£ 1840 13 9½ | The Third Company's list continued with its sergeants, corporals, drummers and private soldiers. Brought forward, £1,783 10s 5½d Sergeants William Roberts, sergeant, appointed to act as adjutant on 7 February, £3 3s 4d William Clifford, sergeant, £7 10s 0d Samuel Johnson, sergeant, £7 10s 0d Thomas Pearce, sergeant, £7 10s 0d Total for the sergeants, £25 13s 4d Corporals John Hilliard, corporal, £5 5s 0d David Reid, corporal, £5 5s 0d Richard Ashford, corporal, £5 5s 0d Thomas Taylor, corporal, £5 5s 0d Total for the corporals, £21 0s 0d Drummers John Swale, drummer, £5 5s 0d George Varney, drummer, £5 5s 0d Total for the drummers, £10 10s 0d Private soldiers James Anderson, private, £3 15s 0d Henry Brown, private, died 18 January, £0 15s 0d Jacob Bell, private, £3 15s 0d Mark Wells, private, £3 15s 0d Frederick William Beard, private, £3 15s 0d John Blackhorn, private, £3 15s 0d William Caleb Baldwin, private, £3 15s 0d Abel Bagnall, private, £3 15s 0d John Goff, private, £3 15s 0d Philip Cook, private, enlisted 30 March, £0 1s 8d Robert Davis, private, discharged 27 March, £3 11s 8d Edward Dudley, private, £3 15s 0d James Dornahan, private, £3 15s 0d William Edwards, private, £3 15s 0d Charles Edgels, private, £3 15s 0d William Foster, private, £3 15s 0d John Ferson, private, £3 15s 0d Private soldiers carried forward, £56 18s 4d Carried forward, £1,840 13s 9½d Interpretations William Roberts drew a sergeant's pay only up to 7 February 1769, when he was appointed to act as adjutant on Solomon Jacobs's death. From that date his pay came from the adjutant's salary, which the list entered jointly in the names of Jacobs and Roberts. The Company again moved a capable non-commissioned officer into a staff post without delay. The sergeant's place he left was not filled during the quarter. Philip Cook enlisted on 30 March 1769 and was paid for the last two days of the quarter. He was the substitute William Luke had found to serve the rest of his term. Cook took Luke's engagement but was entered as a new man in the Third Company. Robert Davis, discharged on 27 March, was one of the three privates whose terms the Council confirmed as completed that day. | |
64 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 1840 13 9½ Centl. brought Over£ 56 18 4 William Ford 3 15 - Archibald Grayham 3 15 - Richard Gregory decd. 12 Feby. 1 15 10 William Greenup 3 15 - Felix Hyder 3 15 - William Hill 3 15 - William Hopkins 3 15 - Thomas Hilbrook 3 15 - Mannord Hayes 3 15 - Joseph Holloway 3 15 - Robert Hardie 3 15 - Peter Higgins 3 15 - William Hamilton 3 15 - Josiah Johnson 3 15 - Robert Johnston 3 15 - Richard Johnson 3 15 - William Johnson 3 15 - James Kemp 3 15 - John Long 3 15 - Edward Lambert 3 15 - Bryan Lynch 3 15 - Thomas Little 3 15 - William Luke entd. from ye Arty. Compy. 6 Jany. disch. 30 March 3 9 2 Richard Moyse 3 15 - Thomas Morris 3 15 - John Miller 3 15 - Abraham Major 3 15 - Thomas Mathews 3 15 - Joseph Martin 3 15 - Daniel Masterson 3 15 - James Moyse 3 15 - William Medcalf 3 15 - Charles Morris 3 15 - Centl. Carrd. Over£ 173 8 [...] Carrd. Over£ 1840 13 9½ | The Third Company's private soldiers continued from a running total of £56 18s 4d. Brought forward, £1,840 13s 9½d Private soldiers brought forward, £56 18s 4d William Ford, private, £3 15s 0d Archibald Grayham, private, £3 15s 0d Richard Gregory, private, died 12 February, £1 15s 10d William Greenup, private, £3 15s 0d Felix Hyler, private, £3 15s 0d William Hill, private, £3 15s 0d William Hopkins, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Hillock, private, £3 15s 0d Maynard Hayes, private, £3 15s 0d Joseph Holloway, private, £3 15s 0d Robert Hardie, private, £3 15s 0d Peter Higgins, private, £3 15s 0d William Hamilton, private, £3 15s 0d Josiah Johnson, private, £3 15s 0d Robert Johnston, private, £3 15s 0d Richard Johnson, private, £3 15s 0d William Johnson, private, £3 15s 0d James Kemp, private, £3 15s 0d John Long, private, £3 15s 0d Edward Lamburn, private, £3 15s 0d Bryan Lynch, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Little, private, £3 15s 0d William Luke, private, transferred from the Artillery Company on 7 January and discharged 30 March, £3 9s 2d Richard Moyle, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Minns, private, £3 15s 0d John Miller, private, £3 15s 0d Abraham Major, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Matthews, private, £3 15s 0d Joseph Morton, private, £3 15s 0d Daniel Masterson, private, £3 15s 0d James Moyse, private, £3 15s 0d William Medcalf, private, £3 15s 0d Charles Morris, private, £3 15s 0d Private soldiers carried forward, £178 8s 4d Carried forward, £1,840 13s 9½d Interpretations William Luke had been a matross in the Artillery Company. He transferred to the Third Company on 7 January 1769 and was paid there until 30 March, when Philip Cook enlisted in his place and he was discharged. Moving from the artillery to the infantry cut his pay from 12d to 10d a day. Luke may have chosen the transfer because his engagement in the infantry was shorter or easier to hand on to a substitute. He left the island as soon as Cook agreed to serve out his time. Richard Gregory, who drowned at Munden's Point on 12 February 1769, was paid to the day of his death. His 43 days came to £1 15s 10d, which went to his estate. | |
65 | 1769 Brought Over£ 1840 13 9½ Centl. brought Over£ 178 8 4 James Mannington 3 15 - John Merritt Entd. 29 March " 2 6 Thomas Perry 3 15 - Henry Pinchin 3 15 - William Perkins 3 15 - David Patten 3 15 - James Proctor 3 15 - William Robinson Decd. 5 Jany. " 4 2 Robert Sack 3 15 - Adam Scott 3 15 - William Smith 3 15 - John Sherland 3 15 - John Thompson 3 15 - George Fennes 3 15 - Richard Vincent Disch. 28 March 3 12 6 Thomas Ward 3 15 - George Washington transf. to ye Arty. Compy. 6 Jany. " 5 - Holton Walker 3 15 - Thomas Wiffington 3 15 - Samuel Word transf. to ye Arty. Compy. 28 Feby. 2 8 4 James York 3 15 - Arthur Skill 3 15 - 248 15 10 Fourth Company John Howard Capt. 45 12 6 James Greentree Lieut. Saly. 18 5 - Do. Diet Money 6 16 10½ Do. House Rent 2 10 - 27 11 10½ Serjeants John Fleming 7 10 - John Moore 7 10 - Joseph West 7 10 - John Dale 7 10 - 30 - - Carrd. Over£ 2192 14 - | The Third Company's private soldiers continued from a running total of £178 8s 4d and closed with their total. The pay list then opened the Fourth Company. Brought forward, £1,840 13s 9½d Private soldiers brought forward, £178 8s 4d James Mannington, private, £3 15s 0d John Merritt, private, enlisted 29 March, £0 2s 6d Thomas Penny, private, £3 15s 0d Henry Puffin, private, £3 15s 0d William Parkes, private, £3 15s 0d David Paton, private, £3 15s 0d James Proctor, private, £3 15s 0d William Robinson, private, died 5 January, £0 4s 2d Robert Stack, private, £3 15s 0d Adam Scott, private, £3 15s 0d William Smith, private, £3 15s 0d John Shirland, private, £3 15s 0d John Thompson, private, £3 15s 0d George Towns, private, £3 15s 0d Richard Vincent, private, discharged 28 March, £3 12s 6d Thomas Ward, private, £3 15s 0d George Warrington, private, transferred to the Artillery Company 6 January, £0 5s 0d Hatton Walker, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Wellington, private, £3 15s 0d Samuel Webb, private, transferred to the Artillery Company 28 February, £2 8s 4d James York, private, £3 15s 0d Arthur Shill, private, £3 15s 0d Total for the Third Company's private soldiers, £248 15s 10d Fourth Company John Howard, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d James Greentree, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d James Greentree, diet money, £6 16s 10½d James Greentree, house rent, £2 10s 0d Total for James Greentree, £27 11s 10½d Sergeants John Fleming, sergeant, £7 10s 0d John Moore, sergeant, £7 10s 0d Joseph West, sergeant, £7 10s 0d John Deale, sergeant, £7 10s 0d Total for the sergeants, £30 0s 0d Carried forward, £2,192 14s 0d Interpretations The artillery again drew men from the infantry as its places fell vacant. George Warrington moved across on 6 January 1769, the day before William Luke left the artillery for the Third Company. The two men in effect changed places. Samuel Webb followed on 28 February, the day Daniel Maloney, a matross, died. The artillery's higher pay of 12d a day made a transfer attractive to an infantryman. The Council kept the artillery at its full strength of trained gunners by filling each gap from the foot companies within a day. John Merritt enlisted on 29 March 1769, in the week the China fleet lay in the road. Like Andrew Schonier and Abraham Jervis, he was probably a seaman who chose to stay on the island. His three days' pay of 2s 6d began the day he signed his engagement. | |
66 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 2192 14 - Corporals Thomas Hilliard 5 5 - Thomas Williams 5 5 - John Terry 5 5 - Thomas Blake 5 5 - 21 - - Drummers George Hill 5 5 - John Sampson 5 5 - 10 10 - Centinels John Allen 3 15 - William Allen 3 15 - Daniel Armon 3 15 - George Bennett 3 15 - Joseph Blackwell 3 15 - John Beauchamp 3 15 - John Bewler 3 15 - William Blackman 3 15 - James Bullett 3 15 - William Blevin transf. to the Arty. Compy. 12 March 2 18 4 Thomas Bailey 3 15 - Richard Bickerstaff 3 15 - William Corkney 3 15 - Duncan Cameron 3 15 - James Cubbins 3 15 - Richard Close 3 15 - Josiah Cummings 3 15 - John Clennon 3 15 - John Custon 3 15 - Charles Field 3 15 - Francis Flinn 3 15 - Thomas Ferris 3 15 - Centl. Carrd. Over£ 81 13 4 Carrd. Over£ 2224 4 - | The Fourth Company's list continued with its corporals, drummers and private soldiers. Brought forward, £2,192 14s 0d Corporals Thomas Hilliard, corporal, £5 5s 0d Thomas Williams, corporal, £5 5s 0d John Terry, corporal, £5 5s 0d Thomas Blake, corporal, £5 5s 0d Total for the corporals, £21 0s 0d Drummers George Wells, drummer, £5 5s 0d John Sampson, drummer, £5 5s 0d Total for the drummers, £10 10s 0d Private soldiers John Allen, private, £3 15s 0d William Allen, private, £3 15s 0d Daniel Armin, private, £3 15s 0d George Bennett, private, £3 15s 0d Joseph Blackwell, private, £3 15s 0d John Beauchamp, private, £3 15s 0d John Bowler, private, £3 15s 0d William Blackman, private, £3 15s 0d James Bullett, private, £3 15s 0d William Blavin, private, transferred to the Artillery Company 12 March, £2 18s 4d Thomas Bayley, private, £3 15s 0d Richard Bickerstaff, private, £3 15s 0d William Cathery, private, £3 15s 0d Duncan Cameron, private, £3 15s 0d James Collister, private, £3 15s 0d Richard Close, private, £3 15s 0d Josiah Cummings, private, £3 15s 0d John Cleman, private, £3 15s 0d John Custon, private, £3 15s 0d Charles Field, private, £3 15s 0d Francis Flinn, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Fines, private, £3 15s 0d Private soldiers carried forward, £81 13s 4d Carried forward, £2,224 4s 0d Interpretations William Blavin transferred to the Artillery Company on 12 March 1769, the day after Sergeant Thomas Collier of the artillery died. Collier's death set off a chain of promotion through the artillery's ranks, from corporal up to sergeant and from matross up to gunner. That left a matross's place at the bottom to be filled. Blavin stepped into it from the Fourth Company the next day. James Bullett drew a full quarter's pay. He died on 7 April 1769, after the quarter had closed on 31 March. His pay for the following quarter would be reckoned only to the day of his death. | |
67 | 1769 Brought Over£ 2224 4 - Centl. brought Over£ 81 13 4 Henry Friendly 3 15 - George Green 3 15 - John Gillmore 3 15 - Edward German 3 15 - Henry Hevenburgh 3 15 - Roger Haydon 3 15 - John Harper 3 15 - Christr. Johnson 3 15 - Thomas Johnson 3 15 - John Joyce 3 15 - James Jordan 3 15 - Richard Kimpton 3 15 - Thomas Kyleck 3 15 - Thomas Lyne 3 15 - Charles Lewellen 3 15 - Murdk. McLeod 3 15 - John Mayer 3 15 - Thomas McClearman 3 15 - Robert Nay 3 15 - John Newton 3 15 - James Nesbitt 3 15 - John Oswald 3 15 - John Pluck 3 15 - Daniel Patrick 3 15 - Stephen Papps 3 15 - William Parker 3 15 - Thomas Pritchard 3 15 - John Pink 3 15 - Benjamin Poole 3 15 - James Richardson 3 15 - Thomas Rutherford 3 15 - John Shaw 3 15 - William Scotman Centl. Carrd. Over£ 205 8 4 Carrd. Over£ 2224 4 - | The Fourth Company's private soldiers continued from a running total of £81 13s 4d. Brought forward, £2,224 4s 0d Private soldiers brought forward, £81 13s 4d Henry Friendly, private, £3 15s 0d George Gibson, private, £3 15s 0d John Gilmore, private, £3 15s 0d Edward German, private, £3 15s 0d Henry Harbaugh, private, £3 15s 0d Peter Hayden, private, £3 15s 0d John Harper, private, £3 15s 0d Christian Johnson, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Johnson, private, £3 15s 0d John Joyce, private, £3 15s 0d James Jordan, private, £3 15s 0d Richard Kempton, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Kinlock, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Lyne, private, £3 15s 0d Charles Lewellen, private, £3 15s 0d Murdoch McLeod, private, £3 15s 0d John Mayor, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas McDiarmon, private, £3 15s 0d Robert May, private, £3 15s 0d John Nelson, private, £3 15s 0d James Newport, private, £3 15s 0d John Oswald, private, £3 15s 0d John Pluck, private, £3 15s 0d Daniel Patrick, private, £3 15s 0d Stephen Phipps, private, £3 15s 0d William Parker, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Pritchard, private, £3 15s 0d John Pink, private, £3 15s 0d Benjamin Poole, private, £3 15s 0d James Richardson, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Rutherford, private, £3 15s 0d John Shaw, private, £3 15s 0d William Seaman, private, £3 15s 0d Private soldiers carried forward, £205 8s 4d Carried forward, £2,224 4s 0d Interpretations Every man on this page served the full quarter without death, discharge or transfer. The Fourth Company's losses fell elsewhere on its roll: Stephen John drowned in October, and James Harris died in December. Blavin moved to the artillery in March, and Fleming and Bullett died in early April, just after the quarter closed. Most of the company carried on through the busy season undisturbed. Only a handful of names on its roll changed each quarter. | |
68 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 2224 4 - Centl. brought Over£ 205 8 4 John Slade 3 15 - William Sedman 3 15 - William Sharpe 3 15 - James Sep 3 15 - Jeremiah Worrell 3 15 - William Waite 3 15 - Thomas Watts 3 15 - James Willson 3 15 - James Walter 3 15 - Samuel Willson 3 15 - John Word 3 15 - Peter White 3 15 - John Words 3 15 - John Tetchell 3 15 - 257 18 4 Artillery Company Archibald Mitchell Capt. Saly. 45 12 6 John Shirtley Lieut. Saly. 18 5 - Do. Diet Money 6 16 10½ Do. House Rent 2 10 - 27 11 10½ Nathan Campell Robert Gibson Lieut. Saly. 13 15 11¼ 13 15 11¼ 27 11 10½ Serjeants John Whitehurst 9 - - Adam Watson 9 - - Thomas Collier Decd. 11 March 7 - - Nicholas Hodson 9 - - John Jack 20 days 2 - - Do. Corpl. 70 Do. 5 5 - 41 5 - Carrd. Over£ 2624 3 7 | The Fourth Company's private soldiers continued from a running total of £205 8s 4d and closed with their total. The pay list then opened the Artillery Company. Brought forward, £2,224 4s 0d Private soldiers brought forward, £205 8s 4d John Slade, private, £3 15s 0d William Stedman, private, £3 15s 0d William Sharpe, private, £3 15s 0d James Fox, private, £3 15s 0d Jeremiah Thorrell, private, £3 15s 0d William Varley, private, £3 15s 0d Thomas Watts, private, £3 15s 0d James Wilson, private, £3 15s 0d James Walker, private, £3 15s 0d Samuel Wilson, private, £3 15s 0d John Worth, private, £3 15s 0d Peter White, private, £3 15s 0d John Woods, private, £3 15s 0d John Tolledell, private, £3 15s 0d Total for the Fourth Company's private soldiers, £257 18s 4d Artillery Company Archibald Mitchell, captain, salary, £45 12s 6d John Shirley, lieutenant, salary, £18 5s 0d John Shirley, diet money, £6 16s 10½d John Shirley, house rent, £2 10s 0d Total for John Shirley, £27 11s 10½d Nathan Sempill, lieutenant, half salary, £13 15s 11¼d Robert Gibson, acting lieutenant, half salary, £13 15s 11¼d Total for the lieutenancy, £27 11s 10½d Sergeants John Whitchurch, sergeant, £9 0s 0d Adam Watson, sergeant, £9 0s 0d Thomas Collier, sergeant, died 11 March, £7 0s 0d Nicholas Hoskin, sergeant, £9 0s 0d John Jack, sergeant, for 20 days, £2 0s 0d John Jack, as corporal for 70 days, £5 5s 0d Total for the sergeants, £41 5s 0d Carried forward, £2,624 3s 7d Interpretations John Shirley now drew the full pay of a lieutenant, with diet money and house rent, for the whole quarter. He had acted in Thomas Leech's place since Leech's six months' suspension began in November 1768. Leech himself received nothing for the quarter. The suspension stopped his pay as well as his duties, and the full salary passed to the man doing his work. Sempill's lieutenancy was again divided equally between him on half pay and Robert Gibson acting in his place. The arrangement the Council made on 14 November 1768 continued while the Court of Directors considered Sempill's pension. Thomas Collier's death on 11 March opened a sergeant's place. John Jack was promoted from corporal the next day, and his pay was divided at that date in the usual way. | |
69 | 1769 Brought Over£ 2624 3 7 Corporals John Turner 6 15 - James Pickett 6 15 - David Dennis 6 15 - Thomas Tyler 20 days 1 10 - Do. Bombr. 5 5 - 27 - - Bombardiers Thomas Jones 6 15 - William Stapleford 6 15 - Sedgwick Netherol 20 days 1 10 - Do. Gunr. 70 Do. 4 13 4 John Dobson 5 Do. " 7 6 Do. Gunr. 85 Do. 5 13 4 25 14 2 Gunners John Smith 6 - - Charles Abraham 6 - - John Corfoot 6 - - Benjamin Holmes 6 - - John Osborne 6 - - Thomas Yates 6 - - William Halbert 20 days 1 6 8 Do. Matross 70 Do. 3 10 - Samuel Bingrow 5 Do. " 6 8 Do. Matross 85 Do. 4 5 - 45 8 4 Drummers George Gerrard 5 5 - Joseph Purdey 5 5 - 10 10 - Matrosses Benjamin Burton 4 10 - William Brown 4 10 - William Blevin entd. 12 March 1 - - Matrosses Carrd. Over£ 10 - - Carrd. Over£ 2732 16 1 | The Artillery Company's list continued with its corporals, bombardiers, gunners, drummers and matrosses. Brought forward, £2,624 3s 7d Corporals John Turner, corporal, £6 15s 0d James Garfett, corporal, £6 15s 0d David Dennis, corporal, £6 15s 0d Thomas Tyler, corporal, for 20 days, £1 10s 0d Thomas Tyler, as bombardier for 70 days, £5 5s 0d Total for the corporals, £27 0s 0d Bombardiers Thomas Jones, bombardier, £6 15s 0d William Hopkinson, bombardier, £6 15s 0d Sedgwick Wetherall, bombardier, for 20 days, £1 10s 0d Sedgwick Wetherall, as gunner for 70 days, £4 13s 4d John Dobson, bombardier, for 85 days, £6 7s 6d John Dobson, as gunner for 5 days, £0 6s 8d Total for the bombardiers, £25 14s 2d Gunners John Smith, gunner, £6 0s 0d Charles Abraham, gunner, £6 0s 0d John Garfett, gunner, £6 0s 0d Benjamin Holmes, gunner, £6 0s 0d John Osborne, gunner, £6 0s 0d Thomas Yates, gunner, £6 0s 0d William Halsall, gunner, for 20 days, £1 6s 8d William Halsall, as matross for 70 days, £3 10s 0d Samuel Bingrave, gunner, for 85 days, £5 13s 4d Samuel Bingrave, as matross for 5 days, £0 5s 0d Total for the gunners, £45 8s 4d Drummers George Chamitt, drummer, £5 5s 0d Joseph Purdey, drummer, £5 5s 0d Total for the drummers, £10 10s 0d Matrosses Benjamin Burton, matross, £4 10s 0d William Brown, matross, £4 10s 0d William Blavin, matross, joined 12 March, £1 0s 0d Matrosses carried forward, £10 0s 0d Carried forward, £2,738 16s 1d Interpretations Sergeant Thomas Collier's death on 11 March 1769 set off a chain of promotion through every rank of the artillery. John Jack moved up from corporal to sergeant. Thomas Tyler rose from bombardier to corporal, Sedgwick Wetherall from gunner to bombardier, and William Halsall from matross to gunner. Each man's pay was divided at 12 March. The vacancy at the bottom was filled the same day by William Blavin from the Fourth Company. A single death lifted four men one step each and brought a fifth into the artillery from the infantry. A second chain had run at the start of the quarter. John Dobson rose from gunner to bombardier on 6 January, and Samuel Bingrave from matross to gunner. George Warrington came over from the Third Company that day to take the matross's place. Dobson was the gunner whose evidence at the inquiry of 12 December 1768 had helped clear Mitchell of Payne's charges. Within a month he held a bombardier's rank in Mitchell's own company. | |
70 | The 17 April Brought Over£ 2732 16 1 Matrosses brought Over£ 10 - - John Cope 4 10 - John Criswell 4 10 - Robert Cunningham 4 10 - Philip Conaway 4 10 - Mathew Chelton 4 10 - William Durham 4 10 - Thomas Durham 4 10 - Mathew Dunhill 4 10 - Robert Fenwick 4 10 - John Fox 4 10 - Christr. Greenwald 4 10 - Thomas Gerrard 4 10 - Thomas Green 4 10 - John Glenney 4 10 - William Hodges 4 10 - William Harper 4 10 - Owen Howard 4 10 - William Jenkins 4 10 - John Lewis 4 10 - William Luke transf. 6th January " 6 - Daniel Maloney Decd. 27th Feby. 2 18 - George Marshall 4 10 - Jonathan Mullet 4 10 - John Moore 4 10 - Patrick Mahoney 4 10 - Thomas Nimble 4 10 - Esau Nowland 4 10 - Martin Newman 4 10 - William Phillips 4 10 - William Robinson 4 10 - Godfrey Smith 4 10 - William Stone 4 10 - Samuel Smith 5 days " 5 - Do. Bombr. 85 Do. 6 7 6 Matrosses Carrd. Over£ 154 16 9 Carrd. Over£ 2732 16 1 | The Artillery Company's matrosses continued from a running total of £10 0s 0d. Brought forward, £2,732 16s 1d Matrosses brought forward, £10 0s 0d John Cope, matross, £4 10s 0d John Creswell, matross, £4 10s 0d Robert Cunningham, matross, £4 10s 0d Phillip Conaway, matross, £4 10s 0d Mathew Charlton, matross, £4 10s 0d William Durham, matross, £4 10s 0d Thomas Durham, matross, £4 10s 0d Mathew Burchell, matross, £4 10s 0d Robert Frankish, matross, £4 10s 0d John Fox, matross, £4 10s 0d Christopher Gronewald, matross, £4 10s 0d Thomas Gorall, matross, £4 10s 0d Thomas Green, matross, £4 10s 0d John Glenny, matross, £4 10s 0d William Hodges, matross, £4 10s 0d William Harper, matross, £4 10s 0d Owen Howard, matross, £4 10s 0d William Jenkins, matross, £4 10s 0d John Lewis, matross, £4 10s 0d William Luke, matross, transferred 6 January, £0 6s 0d Daniel Maloney, matross, died 27 February, £2 18s 0d George Marshall, matross, £4 10s 0d Jonathan Mallett, matross, £4 10s 0d John Moore, matross, £4 10s 0d Patrick Mahoney, matross, £4 10s 0d Thomas Nimble, matross, £4 10s 0d Esau Nowland, matross, £4 10s 0d Martin Newman, matross, £4 10s 0d William Phillips, matross, £4 10s 0d William Robinson, matross, £4 10s 0d Godfrey Smith, matross, £4 10s 0d William Stone, matross, £4 10s 0d Samuel Smith, matross, for 5 days, £0 5s 0d Samuel Smith, as bombardier for 85 days, £6 7s 6d Matrosses carried forward, £154 16s 6d Carried forward, £2,732 16s 1d Interpretations Samuel Smith served as a bombardier until 26 March 1769 and was then reduced to matross for the last five days of the quarter. His demotion set off a chain of promotion. John Dobson rose from gunner to bombardier for those last five days, and Samuel Bingrave from matross to gunner. Their pay on the previous page was split at the same date: Dobson was paid as a gunner for 85 days and as a bombardier for 5, and Bingrave as a matross for 85 days and a gunner for 5. As in the foot companies during the autumn, a reduction for misconduct opened promotion for the men below. William Luke left the artillery on 6 January and joined the Third Company the next day, where he was paid until his discharge on 30 March. Daniel Maloney died on 27 February. Samuel Webb from the Third Company filled his place the next day, following the rule that each artillery vacancy was filled from the infantry at once. | |
71 | 1769 Brought Over£ 2732 16 1 Matrosses brought Over£ 154 16 6 Andrew Tedrick 4 10 - John Webley 4 10 - Richard Wellman 4 10 - Thomas Wyatt 4 10 - Richard Waterhouse 4 10 - John Willson 4 10 - George Washington Entd. 7 Jany. 4 4 - Samuel Words Do. 28 Feby. 1 12 - 187 12 6 £ 2920 8 7 | The Artillery Company's matrosses continued from a running total of £154 16s 6d, closing the quarter's pay list. Brought forward, £2,732 16s 1d Matrosses brought forward, £154 16s 6d Andrew Tedrick, matross, £4 10s 0d John Webley, matross, £4 10s 0d Richard Wellman, matross, £4 10s 0d Thomas Wyatt, matross, £4 10s 0d Richard Waterhouse, matross, £4 10s 0d John Wilson, matross, £4 10s 0d George Warrington, matross, joined 7 January, £4 4s 0d Samuel Webb, matross, joined 28 February, £1 12s 0d Total for the matrosses, £187 12s 6d Total for the quarter, £2,920 8s 7d Interpretations The pay list for the first quarter of 1769 came to £2,920 8s 7d, against £3,008 0s 5d for the last quarter of 1768. Two causes explain most of the saving of about £88. The quarter was two days shorter, which cut every soldier's pay. Several posts also stood empty or were paid at reduced rates: Sergeant Fleming, Matross Maloney and other men had died, discharged men had not all been replaced, and Lieutenant Leech drew nothing while suspended. The establishment ran slightly below strength through the busiest season of the year. John Webley drew a matross's full pay for the quarter. The Council granted his discharge on 6 April 1769 under the Court of Directors' orders, after the quarter had closed. His last pay would be counted only to that date in the following quarter's list. | |
72 | The 17 April Thomas Kirkpatrick Paymr. Dr. 1769 March 31st To Cash recd.£ 3812 - ½ Carrd. Over£ 3812 - ½ | Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick's account as paymaster for the quarter recorded the cash he received. Received 31 March 1769, cash received, £3,812 0s 0½d Carried forward, £3,812 0s 0½d Interpretations Kirkpatrick received £3,812 0s 0½d for the quarter, about £89 more than in the last quarter of 1768, although the pay list itself had fallen by about the same amount. The contingent payments therefore rose by nearly £180. The work at Lemon Valley was finishing and Munden's Point was still being built. The fortifications drew labour at a heavy rate, and many soldiers and slaves earned extra daily pay for working there. This was Kirkpatrick's last account as paymaster. The Court of Directors' letter dismissing him was read to him on 1 April 1769, the day after the quarter closed. He presented his disbursements on 17 April as a dismissed officer, still answerable for the money that had passed through his hands while he held the post. | |
73 | 1769 Per Contra Cr. 1769 Jany. 9th By Cash paid Mr. Powell Coroner for an Inquest held on the Body of [...] a Man Slave £ 1 5 - Feby. 12th By Cash paid by Order of the Council one third reward for apprehending a Run away Black of Mr. Willm. Wrangham's 1 13 4 By Cash paid Thos. Payne dismissed the service his subsistence at 6d. p day from 13 Decr. 1768 to 12 Feby. 1769 inclusive 62 Days 1 11 - By Cash paid Sundy. Garrison Men for 12 days Work in the Stores bringing up & weighg. the Chartr. Part of the Ship Valentine " 12 - 15th By Cash paid Capt. Purvis of the Ship Valentine as under p Bill viz. 45 Sheep with expence of Boat hire Corn Hay &c. Lyme @ 15/ ea. £ 33 15 - 3 Casks of Tar @ 35/ ea. 5 5 - 1 Do. Pitch 1 15 - Thomas Paynes Passage 5 - - 45 15 - 16th By Cash paid Mr. Powell Coroner for an Inquest held on the Body of Richd. Gregory Soldier 1 5 - March 6th By Cash paid Henry Hodges for making a Case for the Triangles of the Theodolite " 2 6 By Cash paid Saml. Wilkins by Order of the Governor for Carrying Wood for the use of the Castle 23 days @ 1/6 p day 1 14 6 8th By Cash paid Mr. Powell Coroner for an Inquest held on the Body of Jason a Free Black 1 5 - 10th By Cash paid Do. on the Body of Thos. Collier Serjeant 1 5 - 13th By Cash paid Capt. Tanner for 75 Bush. of Coals @ £2.. 16 p Chaldron 5 16 8 By Cash paid Do. for the Passage of James [...] 5 - - By Cash paid Sundy. Garrison Men emp. in the Stores about the Charter part of the Ships Bute & Royal Captain 39¼ days at 1/6 p day 2 19 9 17th By Cash paid Mr. Isaac Knipe for 150 Loads of Rushes @ 6d. p Load 3 15 - 25th By Cash paid Sundy. Garrison Men for 19 days Work in the Stores bringing up and weighg. the Charter part from the Ships Grosvenor Duke of Gloucester & Lord Mansfield " 19 - Carrd. Over£ 74 18 9 | Captain Kirkpatrick's payments as paymaster for the quarter were entered as follows. Paid 9 January 1769, to Mr Bovell, coroner, for an inquest on the body of Caesar, a slave, £1 5s 0d 12 February 1769, by order of the Council, one-third of the reward for catching a runaway slave belonging to Mr William Wrangham, £1 13s 4d To Thomas Payne, dismissed the service, for his subsistence at 6d a day from 13 December 1768 to 12 February 1769 inclusive, 62 days, £1 11s 0d To various garrison men for 12 days' work in the stores bringing up and weighing the charter goods from the Valentine, £0 12s 0d 13 February 1769, to Captain Purvis of the Valentine, as on his bill: 45 sheep, with the cost of boat hire, corn, hay and labour, at 15s each, £33 15s 0d 3 casks of tar at 35s each, £5 5s 0d 1 cask of pitch, £1 15s 0d Passage of Thomas Payne, £5 0s 0d Total for Captain Purvis's bill, £45 15s 0d 16 February 1769, to Mr Bovell, coroner, for an inquest on the body of Richard Gregory, soldier, £1 5s 0d 6 March 1769, to Henry Hodges for making a case for the theodolite's triangles, £0 2s 6d To Samuel Shilton, by the Governor's order, for carding wool for the Castle, 23 days at 1s 6d a day, £1 14s 6d 8 March 1769, to Mr Bovell, coroner, for an inquest on the body of Jason, a free black man, £1 5s 0d 10 March 1769, to the same, for an inquest on the body of Thomas Collier, sergeant, £1 5s 0d 13 March 1769, to Captain Tanner for 75 bushels of coal at £2 16s 0d a chaldron, £5 16s 8d To the same, for the passage of James [...], £5 0s 0d To various garrison men employed in the stores on the charter goods from the Bute and the Royal Captain, 39¾ days at 1s 6d a day, £2 19s 9d 17 March 1769, to Mr Isaac Knipe for 150 loads of [...] at 6d a load, £3 15s 0d 25 March 1769, to various garrison men for 19 days' work in the stores bringing up and weighing the charter goods from the Grosvenor, the Duke of Gloucester and the Lord Mansfield, £0 19s 0d Carried forward, £74 18s 9d Interpretations The Company paid for Sergeant Payne's subsistence for two months after it dismissed him, and then for his passage home in the Valentine. The Council's order of 12 December 1768 had sent him to England "by the first opportunity". Until a ship came, he could not work for the Company or leave the island. He was given 6d a day, little more than half a private's pay, to keep him from destitution. The £5 0s 0d for his passage ensured he actually left. A dismissed man who stayed on the island might stir up further trouble against Mitchell and Bazett. Three of the four inquests were held on men who were not soldiers on duty: Caesar, a slave; Jason, a free black man; and Josiah Smith in the previous quarter. Every sudden or violent death on the island came before the coroner, whatever the dead person's status. The Company paid the coroner's fee in every case. A slave's death was investigated in the same way as a soldier's. An unexplained death among the Company's slaves or the free black population could point to violence, poison or a danger the Council needed to know about. The charter goods were the stores each East Indiaman carried for St Helena under her charter party, the supplies landed from Bengal, Bombay and China. Soldiers were hired by the day to carry them up from the landing and weigh them in. Weighing let the storekeeper record the shortages already entered in the Council's minutes. The wool carded for the Castle came from the Company's own flock, sheared in the last quarter of 1768. | |
74 | The 17 April Thomas Kirkpatrick Dr. 1769 March 31st Brought Over£ 3812 - ½ Carrd. Over£ 3812 - ½ | The receipts side of Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick's paymaster account carried its total forward with no further entries. Received 31 March 1769, brought forward, £3,812 0s 0½d Carried forward, £3,812 0s 0½d Interpretations The receipts side again held a single sum, entered on the last day of the quarter. As in each earlier quarter, Kirkpatrick was issued the whole amount only when his payments were complete. The treasury advanced exactly what he had spent on the pay list and contingent charges, so the account closed with no balance in his hands. This mattered more than usual now that he had been dismissed. A paymaster leaving the service with Company money still unaccounted for would have had to repay it before he could sail. | |
75 | 1769 Per Contra Cr. 1769 Brought Over£ 74 18 9 March 27th By Cash paid Jos. Cummings, Jno. Gray, Jno. Lewis, Geo. Marshall John Miller, Richd. Close, David Patten, Richd. Bickerstaff Josh. Tracy & Jona. Mullett for relistg. to serve the Honble. Compy. five Years longer as Soldiers 100 - - By Cash paid Capt. Lauder of the Ship Duke of Gloucester for a Pinnace Cutter w. all appurtenances 25 - - 29 By Cash paid Saml. Willson, Abrm. Major, Jno. Long and Christr. Greenwald for relistg. to serve the Honble. Company five Years longer as Soldiers 40 - - By Cash paid Jno. Merrett for Enlistg. to serve as above 2 10 - 30 By Cash paid Andw. Schoener for Do. 2 10 - By Cash paid Capt. Lauder for 30 Gall. Sweet Oil at 4/6 p Gall. 6 15 - By Cash paid Capt. Saunders for 40 Do. at 4/ Do. 8 - - By Cash paid for 6 Bush. Coals " 6 - 31 By Cash paid Saml. Parker for 90 days Work as Gard. this Quarter 4 10 - By Cash paid Wm. Jenkins for 117 Batch of Bread baked this Quarter @ 20d. p Batch 9 15 - By Cash paid Wm. Holbrook for 76 days Work of his Apprent. this Quart. at the Fortifications at 1/ p day 3 16 - By Cash paid Nevg. Pinkhallam for 13 lb. Salt Meat left in the Stores this Quart. he being indulged w. the Money to buy Fresh 1 6 - By Cash paid Do. his Quartl. Allowance from the H. Company 1 12 6 By Cash paid Do. for House Rent 1 - - By Cash paid the Clerk of the Arraine & the Porter of the Court " 12 6 By Cash paid Gabl. Isaacke for 18 Loads Lodging Lime Bazett's Superint. of the Works at Lemon Valley 1 - - By Cash paid Jno. Irvine for the following Articles bought for the use of the H. Compy. Table as under p Bill viz. 5¾ Ham @ 3/4 £ 3 11 3 1 Bottle of Capers " 4 - 6 Turkeys " 9 - 12 Doz. of Eggs " 15 - 1 lb. [...] " 1 - 15 7 1 21 9 [...] Carrd. Over£ 305 1 [...] | Captain Kirkpatrick's payments as paymaster continued from a running total of £74 18s 9d. Brought forward, £74 18s 9d 27 March 1769, to Josiah Cummings, John Gray, John Lewis, George Marshall, John Slater, Richard Close, David Paton, Richard Bickerstaff, Joseph Storey and Jonathan Mallett, for re-enlisting to serve the Company as soldiers for five more years, £100 0s 0d 27 March 1769, to Captain Lauder of the Duke of Gloucester for a cutter with all her fittings, £25 0s 0d 29 March 1769, to Samuel Wilson, Abraham Major, John Long and Christopher Gronewald, for re-enlisting to serve the Company as soldiers for five more years, £40 0s 0d To John Merritt for enlisting on the same terms, £2 10s 0d 30 March 1769, to Andrew Schonier for enlisting on the same terms, £2 10s 0d To Captain Lauder for 30 gallons of sweet oil at 4s 6d a gallon, £6 15s 0d To Captain Saunders for 40 gallons of sweet oil at 4s a gallon, £8 0s 0d To the same, for 6 bushels of coal, £0 6s 0d 31 March 1769, to Samuel Parker for 90 days' work as gardener this quarter, £4 10s 0d To William Jenkins for baking 117 batches of bread this quarter at 20d a batch, £9 15s 0d To William Holbrook for 76 days' work by his apprentice at the fortifications this quarter at 1s a day, £3 16s 0d To Henry Kirkham for 13 pieces of salt meat left in the stores this quarter, money being allowed him instead to buy fresh, £1 6s 0d To Henry Kirkham for his quarterly allowance from the Company, £1 12s 6d To Henry Kirkham for house rent, £1 0s 0d To the clerk of arraigns and the crier of the court, £0 12s 6d To Gabriel Jeakes for 13 weeks' lodging for Lieutenant Bazett, superintendent of the works at Lemon Valley, £1 0s 0d To John Irvin for the following goods bought for the Company's table, as on his bill: 5¼ pounds of ham, £0 11s 3d 1 bottle of capers, £0 4s 0d 6 [...], £0 9s 0d 12 dozen eggs, £0 15s 0d [...], £1 0s 0d [...] pounds of beef, £15 7s 1d Total for John Irvin's bill, £21 9s 4d Carried forward, £305 1s 1d Interpretations Fourteen soldiers re-enlisted for five more years in the last week of March 1769, each paid a bounty of £10 0s 0d. The homeward fleet was then in the road, offering a passage to any man whose term had ended. The Council paid a generous bounty to keep trained men rather than let them go and rely on untried seamen. Ten pounds was four times the £2 10s 0d given to a raw recruit like John Merritt or Andrew Schonier. The difference showed the value the Company placed on soldiers who knew the island, its guns and its works. The cutter Mitchell asked for on 27 March 1769 was bought from Captain Lauder of the Duke of Gloucester. The minutes had named the seller as Captain Sadler, but the paymaster's voucher recorded the payment to Lauder. As the ship's commander, he was the man entitled to sell her boat. Lieutenant Thomas Bazett, superintendent of the works at Lemon Valley, was lodged near the site at the Company's expense. The valley lay some miles from Jamestown over rough ground. Lodging the superintendent on the spot let him oversee the labourers daily without a long walk each way. Mitchell had recommended Bazett as his successor as engineer, and running Lemon Valley was evidently part of his training. | |
76 | The 17 April Thomas Kirkpatrick Dr. 1769 Brought Over£ 3812 - ½ £ 3812 - ½ | Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick's paymaster account for the quarter closed with its receipts totalled. Received Brought forward, £3,812 0s 0½d Total received, £3,812 0s 0½d Interpretations The receipts closed at the same £3,812 0s 0½d entered on 31 March 1769. As in every quarter, the issue was fixed to match exactly what the paymaster had spent, so the account balanced without any surplus in his hands. That left nothing for Kirkpatrick to repay when his service ended, and nothing more to keep him on the island. He had been dismissed on 1 April 1769. Once this account was approved, the Company's financial claims on him were settled. | |
77 | 1769 Per Contra Cr. 1769 Brought Over£ 305 1 1 March 31st By Cash paid Jno. Price Sexton for the Burial of the undermentd. Garrison Men at 2/6 ea. Thos. Collier, Jno. Bullerly, Danl. Fenn, Corn. Fish, Josh. Banks, Henry Brown, Richd. Gregory & Wm. Robinson 1 - - By Cash paid Jos. Chamberlain Const. for destroyg. Rats & Mice this Quart. 1 18 6 By Cash paid 1491½ days Labour. Work at Mundens Point @ 1/ p day 74 11 3 By Do. for 310 Do. Masons Do. @ 1/6 Do. 23 5 - By Do. for 540 Do. Stonehewers Do. @ 1/6 Do. 40 10 - By Do. for 135 Do. Smiths Do. @ 1/6 Do. 10 2 6 By Do. for 8 Do. Limeburn. Do. @ 1/6 Do. " 12 - By Do. for 23¾ Do. Coxsw. of the Long Boats Do. @ 1/6 Do. 1 17 10½ By Do. for 35 Do. Carpent. Do. @ 1/6 Do. 2 12 6 By Do. for 120 Do. Overseers Do. @ 1/6 Do. 9 - - By Do. for 68 Do. Do. Do. @ 1/ Do. 3 8 - By Do. for 1491 Do. Labour. at Lemon Valley @ 1/ Do. 74 11 - By Do. for 342½ Do. Overseers Do. at Do. @ 1/ Do. 17 2 9 By Do. for 23 Do. Do. at Do. @ 1/6 Do. 1 14 6 By Do. for 62 Do. Masons Do. at Do. @ 1/6 Do. 4 13 - By Do. for 27½ Do. Smiths Do. at Do. @ 1/6 Do. 2 1 3 By Do. for 46 Do. Limeb. Do. at Do. @ 1/6 Do. 3 9 - By Do. for 4 Do. Coxw. of the Long Boats at Do. @ 1/6 Do. " 6 - By Do. for 35 Do. Carpt. at Do. @ 1/6 Do. 2 12 6 By Do. for 107 Do. Stonehew. at Do. @ 1/6 Do. 8 - 6 By Do. for 30 Do. Carpt. repg. the Barracks @ 1/6 Do. 2 14 - By Do. for 5½ Do. Paintg. & Glazg. at the Plant. House @ 1/6 " 8 3 891 11 5½ By the Amount of the Pay List 2920 8 7 £ 3812 - ½ Errors Excepted (signed) Thos. Kirkpatrick Paymr. St. Helena 31 March 1769 Counted and examined the Honble. Company's Cash for the Month of March last, which is as follows viz. | Captain Kirkpatrick's payments as paymaster continued from a running total of £305 1s 1d and closed with the quarter's pay list. Brought forward, £305 1s 1d 31 March 1769, to John Price, sexton, for burying the following garrison men at 2s 6d each: Thomas Collier, [...], Daniel Maloney, [...], Joseph Banks, Henry Brown, Richard Gregory and William Robinson, £1 0s 0d To Joseph Chamberlain, constable, for destroying rats and mice this quarter, £1 18s 6d For 1,491¼ days of labourers' work at Munden's Point at 1s a day, £74 11s 3d For 310 days of masons' work there at 1s 6d a day, £23 5s 0d For 540 days of stone blowers' work there at 1s 6d a day, £40 10s 0d For 135 days of smiths' work there at 1s 6d a day, £10 2s 6d For 8 days of lime-burners' work there at 1s 6d a day, £0 12s 0d For 25¼ days of coxswains' work on the longboats there at 1s 6d a day, £1 17s 10½d For 35 days of carpenters' work there at 1s 6d a day, £2 12s 6d For 120 days of overseers' work there at 1s 6d a day, £9 0s 0d For 68 days of overseers' work there at 1s a day, £3 8s 0d For 1,491 days of labourers' work at Lemon Valley at 1s a day, £74 11s 0d For 342¾ days of overseers' work there at 1s a day, £17 2s 9d For 23 days of overseers' work there at 1s 6d a day, £1 14s 6d For 62 days of masons' work there at 1s 6d a day, £4 13s 0d For 27½ days of smiths' work there at 1s 6d a day, £2 1s 3d For 46 days of lime-burners' work there at 1s 6d a day, £3 9s 0d For 4 days of coxswains' work on the longboat there at 1s 6d a day, £0 6s 0d For 35 days of carpenters' work there at 1s 6d a day, £2 12s 6d For 107 days of stone blowers' work there at 1s 6d a day, £8 0s 6d For 36 days of carpenters' work repairing the barracks at 1s 6d a day, £2 14s 0d For 5½ days of painting and glazing at Plantation House at 1s 6d a day, £0 8s 3d Total for the contingent payments, £891 11s 5½d For the amount of the pay list, £2,920 8s 7d Total paid, £3,812 0s 0½d Kirkpatrick signed the account as paymaster at St Helena on 31 March 1769, reserving the right to correct any errors. The Council then counted and examined the Company's cash for the month of March. Interpretations The labour at the two works was evenly balanced this quarter, with almost exactly 1,491 labourers' days charged at each. That differed sharply from the last quarter of 1768, when Lemon Valley took nearly 6,900 labourers' days and Munden's Point only 2,300. The heavy earthmoving at Lemon Valley was over. Its line, ditch and glacis were finished by early March. Munden's Point now took the main share of the skilled trades: 540 days of stone blowers' work, 310 of masons' and 135 of smiths'. The rock there was still being blasted and dressed for the battery. Joseph Chamberlain, the constable, was paid £1 18s 6d for destroying rats and mice. In the last quarter of 1768 the sum had been £6 18s 2d. The bounty published on 28 November 1768 had evidently thinned the vermin in its first weeks, and fewer animals were brought in once the worst of the infestation had been killed. The sexton buried eight soldiers in the quarter, at 2s 6d each. Several had died in January and February and had not appeared in the Council's minutes, among them William Robinson on 5 January. Every soldier who died on the island was buried at the Company's charge, and his name went on the sexton's bill. | |
78 | The 17 April Cash Dr. 1769 March 1st To Balance remaining£ 9056 17 5 13 To Ship Bute 16 7 8 To Ship Royal Captain 5 10 - 16 To Ship Verelst 5 10 - To Ship Kent 8 12 2 28 To Ship Grosvenor 5 10 - To Ship Duke of Gloucester 5 10 - To Ship Lord Mansfield 18 11 - 31 To James Powell recd. of him for Stores Sold this Quarter 1097 5 7 To Licences for Publick Houses 10 10 - To Plantation for Provision Sold 53 18 4 £ 10284 2 2 | The Company's cash account for March 1769 recorded the following receipts. Received 1 March 1769, balance remaining, £9,056 17s 5d 13 March 1769, from the ship Bute, £16 7s 8d From the ship Royal Captain, £5 10s 0d 16 March 1769, from the ship Verelst, £5 10s 0d From the ship Kent, £8 12s 2d 28 March 1769, from the ship Grosvenor, £5 10s 0d From the ship Duke of Gloucester, £5 10s 0d From the ship Lord Mansfield, £18 11s 0d 31 March 1769, from James Powell for stores sold this quarter, £1,097 5s 7d Licences for public houses, £10 10s 0d From the plantation for provisions sold, £53 18s 4d Total received, £10,284 2s 2d Interpretations Each homeward ship paid a small sum into the treasury before sailing. Most paid exactly £5 10s 0d, so the charge was evidently fixed. It was probably a standard fee for water, port services or the use of the Company's boats, levied on every Company ship that called. The Bute, the Kent and the Lord Mansfield paid more, likely for provisions or stores bought on top of the standard charge. These payments covered part of the island's cost of servicing the fleet. The real return, however, came through the Company's trade as a whole, not through the island's own accounts. The plantation sold provisions worth £53 18s 4d in the quarter, more than in any recent quarter. The beef and mutton killed for the ships appeared in the overseer's account for the same months. The busy season let the Company sell surplus meat and vegetables from Plantation House to the visiting fleet. In this way the farm partly paid for itself. | |
79 | 1769 Per Contra Cr. 1769 March 31st By Sundry Accounts Advanced the Paymaster to pay Salarys &c. in the Quarter ending this day£ 3812 - ½ By Balance remaining viz. In Specie£ 5932 7 1½ In Cash Notes 539 15 - 6472 2 1½ £ 10284 2 2 | The payments side of the cash account for March 1769 recorded the advance to the paymaster and the balance carried forward. Paid 31 March 1769, advanced to the paymaster to pay salaries and other charges in the quarter ending that day, £3,812 0s 0½d Balance remaining in coin, £5,932 7s 1½d Balance remaining in cash notes, £539 15s 0d Total balance, £6,472 2s 1½d Total, £10,284 2s 2d Interpretations The treasury's coin fell to £5,932 7s 1½d by the end of March 1769. It had stood at £9,813 17s 2½d in September 1768. In six months the island's reserve had shrunk by almost £4,000. Two quarters of wages, each well over £3,700 and swollen by the labour on the fortifications, had been met mainly from coin held in the chest. The warehouse takings, rents and small payments from ships covered only part of that cost. The bills of exchange drawn in February had brought in less than £900. At this rate the coin would last little more than a year and a half. The Council had already sent £1,000 0s 0d in dollars and rupees to Fort Marlborough by the Duke of Albany. Unless the Court of Directors shipped fresh specie, or more officers and commanders paid in coin for bills on London, the island would soon struggle to pay its garrison. The heavy spending on Mitchell's works was draining the treasury faster than the island could replace its coin. | |
80 | The 17 April Agreeable to the Orders we gave Captn. Mitchell to give his Sentiments upon the new Constructed Merlons as mentioned in the 42 Paragraph of the Honble. Company's last General Letter he this day delivered the following viz. In Answer to the 42 Paragraph of the General Letter from the Honble. Court of Directors, relative to the superior Degree of Security derived from the new Merlons, as constructed on the upper Battery at Banks's, to those built of Stone, and the Advantages to be derived from having all the Parapets at the several Works round the Island constructed in the same Manner The Engineer replies That having been formerly employed, whilst a Lieutenant in his Majesty's Artillery, as an Overseer of the Fortifications at Gibraltar, he had occasion to superintend the Formation of some of the Merlons of the South Bastion of that Fortress, which were Constructed exactly in the same manner as those at Purlings Battery: He had also an opportunity of seeing the Impression made by Shot, upon an old Moorish Castle there, built precisely of the same Materials, during a former siege of that place, by which the superior Degree of safety derived to the Defenders from this method was very evident For this reason he has followed it in the Construction of those principal new Works (such as Purling's and Mundens Point Batteries) which are most exposed to the Fire of Artillery, and where the Intervals between the Embrasures are but small, In other Works, where the near approach of Ships is next to impracticable, (such as Sandy Bay and Lemon Valley) and where the resistance is consequently principally intended against Boats, he has constructed the Merlons of Stone, in order to save the Additional Expence attending the other Method of Construction To Conclude, Capt. Mitchell does not hesitate to give his opinion, that in all Works exposed to a Cannonade from Shipping, Stone Merlons are greatly inferior to the other, particularly when the Stone is of a Flinty nature as in this Island. In which opinion he is sure of being seconded by Every Engineer of knowledge and experience | Under the Court of Directors' orders, the Council asked Captain Mitchell for his opinion on the newly built merlons mentioned in the 42nd paragraph of the Company's last general letter. He delivered the following answer that day. The Court had asked about the greater security said to come from the new merlons on the upper battery at Banks's, compared with merlons built of stone. It also asked what advantage there would be in building every parapet in the island's works the same way. Mitchell explained that he had once served at Gibraltar as an overseer of the fortifications while a lieutenant in the King's Artillery. There he had supervised the building of some of the merlons of the South Bastion, made in exactly the same way as those at Purling's Battery. At Gibraltar he had also seen the marks left by shot during an earlier siege on an old Moorish castle built of the same materials. The marks plainly showed how much safer this method made the defenders. He had therefore used it in the main new works, Purling's Battery and the battery at Munden's Point. These were the most exposed to fire from ships, and the spaces between their gun openings were narrow. At works such as Sandy Bay and Lemon Valley, ships could hardly come close, and the defences were meant mainly to stop boats. There he had built the merlons of stone to avoid the extra cost of the other method. Mitchell concluded that stone merlons were much worse than the new kind in any work exposed to cannon fire from ships. This was especially true where the stone was as hard and flinty as the island's. He was sure that every engineer of knowledge and experience would agree with him. Interpretations A merlon was the solid section of parapet between two embrasures, the openings through which the guns fired. It shielded the gunners as they loaded. The record did not name the material of the new merlons. Mitchell's comparison with an old Moorish castle at Gibraltar suggests a form of rammed earth mixed with lime, the building method common in Moorish Spain. Such walls absorbed a cannonball instead of shattering. Hard, flinty stone did the opposite. A shot striking it threw off sharp splinters that killed and wounded the gunners behind it. Splinters often caused more casualties than the shot itself. Mitchell had not used the better method everywhere. He kept it for the batteries that warships could reach, and used cheaper stone where the only likely attack came from boats, which carried no heavy guns. The Court's question may have come from concern over cost or from doubt about an unfamiliar way of building. Mitchell answered both points at once. He showed that he had spent the extra money only where a heavy cannonade was possible, and he backed his choice with experience at Gibraltar, Britain's most famous fortress. | |
81 | 1769 Pursuant to the Honble. Company's Orders in the 33 Paragraph of their last General Letter we this day demanded of Captn. Kirkpatrick whether he had any Plans of the Fortifications of this Island in his Possession if he had to deliver them up immediately, to us he replied that he had no Plans of the Fortifications or of any other kind We this day received the following Letter from the Engineer viz. To the Worshipfull John Skottowe Esq. Governor &c. and Council of the Island St. Helena Gentlemen In my last Quarterly Letter, I had the Honor to acquaint you, that the Work then constructing, for the Defence of Lemon Valley, was so far advanced, as to afford a near prospect of its being compleated, all but the Platforms for the Guns, the laying of which it would be necessary to delay, in order to give time to the new formed Rampart to settle, I informed, you at the same time, that having prepared a sufficient Quantity of Materials, to enable me to proceed without Intermission, in the Construction of Mundens Point Battery; I therefore intended that the principal Employment of the Workmen, after compleating Lemon Valley, should consist in forwarding this principal Work, in which there was reason to expect that a very considerable Progress would be made, before the Expiration of the Quarter Having also represented, that the Confined Situation of Munden's Point, would not allow of the whole number of Workmen, then at the Fortifications, to be employed in this Work solely, I received your Orders to employ the remaining Part of them in making Preparations for rebuilding the two Demi-Bastions in James's Valley | Under the 33rd paragraph of the Company's last general letter, the Council asked Captain Kirkpatrick that day whether he held any plans of the island's fortifications. If he did, he was to hand them over at once. He replied that he had no plans of the fortifications or of anything else. The Council received a letter from the engineer the same day, addressed to Governor John Skottowe and the Council. Mitchell recalled his last quarterly letter. In it he had reported that the defences of Lemon Valley were close to completion, apart from the gun platforms. Laying these had to wait until the newly built rampart had settled. He had also reported that enough materials were gathered to carry on the battery at Munden's Point without a break. He had therefore planned to put most of the workmen on that battery once Lemon Valley was finished, and he had expected very considerable progress before the end of the quarter. He had further pointed out that the site at Munden's Point was too cramped to hold all the men then on the fortifications. He had therefore received the Council's orders to put the rest to work preparing to rebuild the two demi-bastions in James's Valley. Interpretations The Court of Directors ordered the Council to ask Kirkpatrick for any plans of the fortifications, and his dismissal arrived in the same packet. Plans of a fortress were secret documents. They showed the exact layout of every battery, the arcs of fire and the weak points. A dismissed officer sailing home with such papers could sell them or let them fall into the hands of France or another rival. The Directors evidently feared that Kirkpatrick, as a former councillor and company commander, might have kept copies. His flat denial was recorded in the minutes, so that he could be held to it if plans later turned up in his possession. Mitchell opened his new quarterly report by setting out what he had promised in January 1769. He would then measure the quarter's progress against those promises. The Court had already questioned the cost of his merlons. A clear record of plans made and kept helped show that the works were being run to a schedule the Council had approved. | |
82 | The 17 April Agreable to the above Recapitulation, I have already had Occasion to acquaint you, that Lemon Valley has been compleated in the Manner proposed, of which a Plan has been transmitted to England With Regard to Munden's Point Battery, I am happy in being able to acquaint you, that the whole of the Revetement of that Work having been raised to the intended Level, its Platform is now entirely compleated, A considerable Progress has also been made in forming the Merlons, after the new Construction, and there remains only to compleat these, to lay the Platforms for the Guns and Mortars to excavate the principal Powder Magazine, and to Construct two lesser Ones in each Flank, to build a Guard House, and to compleat some other finishings, too trifling to enumerate, all of which shall be forwarded with the utmost expedition The Garrison in General having been very sickly, during the Last Quarter, and consequently the duty more severe, the Number of Soldiers employed on the Fortifications has been thereby considerably diminished, and the remaining part employed almost solely at Munden's Point, by which means but little Progress has been hitherto made towards rebuilding the Demi-Bastions in James's Valley, one of which Only has been nearly pulled down, and some Materials have been collected towards rebuilding the Revetements of both; In forwarding which, and in proceeding with what remains to be done at Munden's Point, together with the repair of some Damage sustained by a Violent Surf at Sandy Bay, the Employment of the Workmen will consist, during the ensuing Quarter Altho' the Consideration of my health, which has for some time past, been extremely fluctuating, would have induced me to embrace an early opportunity of returning to Europe, after the Arrival of the Storeships; Nevertheless as my Honble. Masters have signified their pleasure, by the Duke of Albany, that I should wait their farther Orders, I cheerfully give up every other Consideration, in order to shew my Readiness, on this and every other Occasion, to pay implicit obedience to their Orders, I have the Honor to be Gentlemen Your most Obedt. and most humble Servant (signed) Ar. Mitchell St. Helena 17 April 1769 | Mitchell's letter went on to report what had been done. As he had already told the Council, the defences of Lemon Valley were finished as planned, and a plan of them had been sent to England. At Munden's Point the whole rampart had been raised to its intended height, and the platform of the battery was now complete. Good progress had also been made on the merlons, built in the new manner. The work still to be done was to finish the merlons, lay the platforms for the guns and mortars, and dig out the main powder magazine. A small store for ready powder was to be built in each flank, along with a guardhouse. A few other finishing tasks remained, too minor to list. All of it would be pressed forward as fast as possible. The garrison had been very sickly during the last quarter. Guard duty had fallen more heavily on the men who remained fit, and far fewer soldiers had been available for the fortifications. Those still at work had been kept almost entirely at Munden's Point. Little progress had therefore been made on rebuilding the demi-bastions in James's Valley. Only one had been nearly pulled down, and some materials had been gathered for rebuilding the facings of both. That work, the rest of Munden's Point and the repair of damage done at Sandy Bay by a violent surf would occupy the workmen in the coming quarter. Mitchell's health had been very uncertain for some time. On that account he would have welcomed an early passage to Europe once the store ships arrived. The Court of Directors, however, had signified by the Duke of Albany that he should wait for their further orders. He had willingly set aside every other consideration, wishing to show his readiness to obey their orders without question, as on every other occasion. He signed the letter as engineer at St Helena on 17 April 1769. Interpretations The sickness that cut the workforce also showed in the burials recorded that quarter. The sexton buried eight soldiers between January and March 1769, and the surgeon's bills for fresh provisions for the sick had already risen in December 1768. Every man in hospital still had to be covered on the guard roster. The healthy soldiers spent more of their time on sentry and less at the works. Disease therefore slowed the island's defences as surely as a shortage of materials. The Court's order to wait kept Mitchell on the island against his own wishes. The Directors had evidently read his reports and Payne's charges together and wanted him to stay until they had decided on the next stage of the works and on his successor. Mitchell's plain statement of obedience, with his ill health on record, served his interests in London. If his health failed, the delay would be the Court's responsibility. If he stayed, he could claim credit for sacrificing his own wellbeing to the Company's service. The violent surf at Sandy Bay was probably the same kind of heavy swell that had torn the Company's yawl from its moorings in January 1769. Such rollers could strike any part of the coast. They damaged the batteries at the water's edge as easily as the boats. | |
83 | 1769 Being sensible what the Engineer sets forth in the above Letter with respect to the delays that have unavoidably happened on account of many of the Soldiers employed last Quarter in the Works were very sickly consequently so great a Progress could not be made therein as otherwise would, but as we have lately received Recruits and being desirous to give all the assistance in our power, Agreed to furnish the Engineer with as many Men as can be spared from the necessary Duty of the Garrison in order to expedite the Works as much as possible Mr. James Greentree this day presented the following Petition viz. To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esq. Govern. &c. Council of the Isd. St. Helena The humble Petition of James Greentree Execut. to the last Will and Testament of Thos. Greentree Decd. Sheweth That Thomas Greentree, and Samuel Overton two of the Nominees in a Lease upon lives for a piece of Land lying in Sandy Bay Valley containing three Acres are dead, requests that your Worship and Council will be pleased to give him leave to insert in their Seads, his two Sons James & Nathan Greentree; There is likewise a Lease expired for a piece of Ground lying in this Valley belonging to the said Thos. Greentree decd. which he begs you'll be pleased to grant the Executors a renewal of And your Petitioner will ever pray (signed) James Greentree St. Helena 17 April 1769 Granted upon his paying the usual fine of half a Years Rent for each Nominee amounting to £.. 15.. And likewise Granted the renewal of the other Lease | The Council accepted the engineer's account. Many of the soldiers employed on the works in the last quarter had fallen sick, and the delays had been unavoidable, so less progress was made than would otherwise have been possible. Recruits had lately been received, and the Council wished to give Mitchell every help it could. It agreed to supply him with as many men as could be spared from the garrison's essential duties, so that the works could go forward as fast as possible. James Greentree presented a petition that day to Governor John Skottowe and the Council. He petitioned as executor under the will of the late Thomas Greentree. Greentree explained that Thomas Greentree and Samuel Overton were two of the named lives in a lease of three acres in Sandy Bay Valley. He asked the Governor and Council to put his two sons, James and Walter Greentree, in their place. A lease of a piece of ground in James's Valley belonging to Thomas Greentree had also expired, and he asked for it to be renewed for the executors. He signed the petition at St Helena on 17 April 1769. The Council granted the request on payment of the usual fine of half a year's rent for each new name, 15s 0d in all. It also renewed the other lease. Interpretations The Sandy Bay land was held on a lease for lives, not for a fixed term of years. Such a lease ran for as long as any of the named persons stayed alive. Thomas Greentree's death, and perhaps Overton's, had shortened its life. By putting two young sons in their place, the family extended its hold on the land for another generation. The Company charged a fine of half a year's rent for each new name. That was a modest price for a tenancy that might now last 50 years or more. The arrangement gave the Company a steady return and gave the family security, without either side having to agree a new lease. The recruits mentioned in the Council's answer to Mitchell were the men enlisted and re-enlisted in late March 1769: Schonier, Merritt, Cook, Jervis and the 14 soldiers who signed on for five more years. With them in the ranks, the Council could free more men for the works without leaving the guards short. | |
84 | The 17 April The Storekeeper this day delivered the following Account of Stores short received from Ship Duke of Albany viz. Account of Stores short recd. from Ship Duke of Albany viz. 5 Pr. Soldiers Shoes 4 Wood Platters 1 Glass Hand Lanthorn 4 Powder Searchers found short Packed upon opening the Packages which were in good Order 2 Ashen Handspikes 21 Single Deals 2 Bundles Rod Iron Weight 112 short delivered 9 Scythe Stones 1 Rag Stone 2 Wine Glasses 1 Silk Sieve 1 Earthen Close Stool Pan 1 Quart Decanter 1 Pint Do. 2 Tumblers 4 Beer Glasses 51 Sq. Glass 8 by 10 6 Do. 11 by 15 5 Do. 11 by 17½ 5 Do. 12 by 22 9 Do. 10 by 12 24 Do. 6 by 8 found broke upon opening the Packages which were in good Order 12 lb. Sole Leather 15 lb. Sope short Weight Occd. by drying as the Packages were in good Order 226 Cordage short weight Occd. by drying as the Parcels agreed as to number and Dimensions as p Invoice 3 Hair Sieves Damagd. by Wet and good for nothing 9 ½ Musk. Flints short received Occd. by Wastage, the Casks being in good Order 5 lb. Iron Pots weight 116 broke 4 Round Iron Shott for a twenty four pounder 6 Do. Do. for eighteen Do. short delivered | The storekeeper delivered that day an account of the stores received short from the Duke of Albany. Found missing from the packages when opened, although the packages were in good order 5 pairs of soldiers' shoes 4 wooden platters 1 glass hand lantern 4 powder searchers Short delivered 2 ash handspikes 21 single deals 2 bundles of rod iron weighing 112 pounds Found broken when the packages were opened, although the packages were in good order 9 scythe stones 1 ragstone 2 wine glasses 1 silk sieve 1 earthenware close-stool pan 1 quart decanter 1 pint decanter 2 tumblers 4 beer glasses 5 panes of window glass, 8 by 10 inches 6 panes of window glass, 11 by 15 inches 5 panes of window glass, 11 by 17½ inches 5 panes of window glass, 12 by 22 inches 9 panes of window glass, 16 by 12 inches 24 panes of window glass, 6 by 8 inches Received short in weight through drying, the packages being in good order 12 pounds of sole leather 15 pounds of soap 226 pounds of cordage, the coils agreeing in number and size with the invoice Damaged by wet and useless 3 hair sieves Received short through leakage, the casks being in good order 9[...] gallons of malt spirit Short delivered 5 iron pots weighing 116 pounds 4 round iron shot for 24-pounders 6 round iron shot for 18-pounders Interpretations The storekeeper sorted every shortfall by its cause. Goods missing from sealed packages pointed to theft or careless packing in London. Breakage pointed to rough handling at sea. Drying and leakage were the natural losses of a long voyage. Items short delivered had never been put on board at all. Each cause placed responsibility differently. The Company's warehouse in London answered for goods missing or never shipped, and the ship's commander answered for damage in his hold. Natural wastage fell on no one. The careful note that the packages and casks arrived in good order removed any suspicion that they had been opened in the island's own stores. A powder searcher was an iron instrument with spring-mounted points, pushed down the bore of a cannon to find cracks, pits or honeycombing in the metal. A flawed gun could burst when fired and kill its crew. Searchers were used to test old pieces before they were remounted. The loss of four would have been felt at once, since Mitchell was keeping 15 old guns in service on the new batteries. | |
85 | Lisbon Wine viz. Gall. Gall. No. 1 1 Hhd. Gages 60 wants to fill 1½ No. 2 1 Do. Do. 61 Do. 1½ No. 3 1 Do. Do. 62 Do. 2 183 5 5 Recd. 178 Gall. Mountain Wine viz. Gall. Gall. No. 4 1 Hhd. Gages 62 wants to fill 2 2 Recd. 60 Gall. Port Wine viz. Gall. No. 5 1 Hhd. Gages 61 wants to fill 1½ No. 6 1 Do. Do. 62 Do. 1½ 123 3 3 Recd. 120 Gall. (signed) p Jo. Powell Storekeepr. St. Helena 17 April 1769 John Skottowe Purling | The account of stores received short from the Duke of Albany concluded with the wine. Lisbon wine Hogshead number 1, gauged at 60 gallons, short of full by 1½ gallons Hogshead number 2, gauged at 61 gallons, short of full by 1½ gallons Hogshead number 3, gauged at 62 gallons, short of full by 2 gallons Total gauged, 183 gallons Total short, 5 gallons Received, 178 gallons Mountain wine Hogshead number 4, gauged at 62 gallons, short of full by 2 gallons Received, 60 gallons Port wine Hogshead number 5, gauged at 61 gallons, short of full by 1½ gallons Hogshead number 6, gauged at 62 gallons, short of full by 1½ gallons Total gauged, 123 gallons Total short, 3 gallons Received, 120 gallons James Powell signed the account as storekeeper at St Helena on 17 April 1769. Governor John Skottowe and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Each hogshead was gauged on arrival to find how much wine it actually held. The gauger measured the cask and the empty space above the wine, called the ullage, to work out the shortfall. A cask that lost wine through its staves on the voyage left an air gap in which the wine could spoil, so the shortfall mattered for the quality of what remained as well as the quantity. Losses of 1½ to 2 gallons a hogshead, about 3 per cent, were normal for a voyage of several months in a warm hold. The six hogsheads brought 358 gallons of Lisbon, Mountain and port wine for the island. The Company sold wine to its servants and served it at the Castle table. The servants alone had bought 59 gallons in the first quarter of 1769. This consignment restocked the warehouse for the rest of the year. | |
86 | The 24 April At a Consultation held on Monday the 24th day of April 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 17 April 1769 Tuesday the 18 Sailed the Honble. Company's Ship Pacifick for England Do. Do. Died James Gates Centinel Wednesday the 19 Do. Jno. Bramham Do. Thursday the 20 Do. Robt. Dickens Do. Saturday the 22 Arrived the London's Boat at Banks's at Eleven o'Clock in the forenoon Do. Do. Do. The Honble. Company's Ship London from China Yesterday passed by six Dutch Ships Do. Arrived the Queens Boat at Banks's at half an Hour past six o'Clock in the Evening Do. Do. The Honble. Company's Ship Queen from Bengal (last from the Cape) This day Do. The Tilbury's Boat at Banks's at half an Hour past seven o'Clock in the Morning Do. Do. The Honble. Company's Ship Tilbury from China Do. Do. A Dane Ship from China called the Fredensborg Captain Suenie burthen 1300 Tons carrys 28 Guns & 170 Men loaded with Tea China Ware & Silk bound to Coppenhagen The London, Tilbury & Queen brought us the following Supply viz. | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 24 April 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 17 April 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Company's ship Pacific sailed for England on Tuesday 18 April. James Gates, a private, died the same day. John Beauchamp, a private, died on Wednesday 19 April, and Robert Dickson, a private, on Thursday 20 April. At eleven in the morning of Saturday 22 April a boat from the London landed at Banks's, and the Company's ship London arrived the same day from China. On 23 April six Dutch ships passed the island. At half past six that evening a boat from the Queen landed at Banks's. The Company's ship Queen arrived the same day from Bengal, by way of the Cape. At half past seven in the morning of 24 April a boat from the Tilbury landed at Banks's, and the Company's ship Tilbury arrived from China the same day. A Danish ship from China also arrived, the Fredensborg, commanded by Captain Svane. She was of 1,300 tons, carried 28 guns and 170 men, and was laden with tea, china and silk bound for Copenhagen. The London, the Tilbury and the Queen brought the following supplies. Interpretations Three privates died in three days, from 18 to 20 April 1769. Sergeant Fleming and Private Bullett had died in the first week of the month. The sickness Mitchell described in his letter of 17 April was still spreading through the garrison. Deaths at this rate, five in a fortnight, explained why the Council had agreed to keep re-enlisting men at a bounty of £10 0s 0d and to take on recruits from the ships. The Fredensborg belonged to the Danish Asiatic Company, which traded to Canton in competition with the British, Dutch and Swedes. At 1,300 tons she was larger than most English East Indiamen. Foreign ships were allowed to call at St Helena for water and refreshment in time of peace. The Council noted her size, guns and crew precisely. A well-armed foreign ship lying in the road beneath the batteries had to be watched, however friendly her nation. | |
87 | 1769 Invoice of Ship London No. 1 Dishes to Table Setts B & W 1st Size 10 Do. 2 Do. 10 Do. 3 Do. 10 Do. 4 Do. 10 Do. 5 Do. 10 Tureen Dishes Do. 5 Tureens Do. 5 Tops Do. 5 2 Plates Do. 200 Soup Plates Do. 85 3 Soup Plates Do. 35 Baking Dishes 18 Salled Do. 18 Chamber Pots 17 Tea Pots 6 4 Bowls 1st Size 3 Quarts 11 Do. 4 Do. 3 Pints 17 Guglets & Basons 15 5 Bird Snakes 150 Breakfast Cups & Saucers Pr. 100 Tea Cups & Saucers Do. 50 5 Boxes China Ware B & White Table Setts B & W 5.. 20.. 12, 10 Setts T. 3.. 9 T. 39 - - Tureens Do. 5 @ 8 4 - - Baking Dishes 3 in a Sett 6 Setts @ 5 3 - - Salled Do. 18 @ 8 1 4 4 Chamb. Pots 17 @ 2.. 6 4 4 2 Tea Pots 6 @ 1 " 6 - Bird Snakes 150 @ 4 6 - - Breakfast Cups & Saucers 100 Pr. @ 7.. 5 7 5 - Tea Cups & Saucers large 50 Do. @ 4.. 3 2 1 5 Guglets & Basons 15 Pr. @ 3 4 5 - Bowls 3 Quarts 1 Size 11 @ 2.. 5 2 7 5 Do. 3 Pints 17 @ 1.. 2 2 - 4 T. 77 4 - Deduct for breakage 2 p Ct. 1 5 4 8 75 8 5 2 Carrd. Over 75 8 5 2 | Invoice of the ship London Box 1 Blue and white dishes for table sets, first size, 10 Blue and white dishes for table sets, second size, 10 Blue and white dishes for table sets, third size, 10 Blue and white dishes for table sets, fourth size, 10 Blue and white dishes for table sets, fifth size, 10 Blue and white tureen dishes, 5 Blue and white tureens, 5 Blue and white tureen covers, 5 Box 2 Plates for table sets, 200 Soup plates for table sets, 85 Box 3 Soup plates for table sets, 35 Baking dishes, 13 Salad dishes, 18 Chamber pots, 17 Teapots, 6 Box 4 Bowls, first size, 3 quarts, 11 Bowls, fourth size, 3 pints, 17 Guglets and basins, 15 Box 5 Pint basins, 150 Breakfast cups and saucers, 100 pairs Teacups and saucers, 50 pairs Boxes 1 to 5: 5 boxes of blue and white china, priced as follows Table sets, each of 5 dishes, 20 plates and 12 soup plates, 10 sets at 3 taels 9 mace a set, 39 taels 0 mace 0 candareens 0 cash Tureens, 5 at 8 mace each, 4 taels 0 mace 0 candareens 0 cash Baking dishes, 3 to a set, 6 sets at 5 mace a set, 3 taels 0 mace 0 candareens 0 cash Salad dishes, 18 at 8 candareens each, 1 tael 4 mace 4 candareens 0 cash Chamber pots, 17 at 2 mace 6 candareens each, 4 taels 4 mace 2 candareens 0 cash Teapots, 6 at 1 mace each, 0 taels 6 mace 0 candareens 0 cash Pint basins, 150 at 4 candareens each, 6 taels 0 mace 0 candareens 0 cash Breakfast cups and saucers, 100 pairs at 7 candareens 5 cash a pair, 7 taels 5 mace 0 candareens 0 cash Large teacups and saucers, 50 pairs at 4 candareens 3 cash a pair, 2 taels 1 mace 5 candareens 0 cash Guglets and basins, 15 at 3 mace each, 4 taels 5 mace 0 candareens 0 cash Bowls, first size, 3 quarts, 11 at 2 mace 5 candareens each, 2 taels 7 mace 5 candareens 0 cash Bowls, fourth size, 3 pints, 17 at 1 mace 2 candareens each, 2 taels 0 mace 4 candareens 0 cash Total for the china, 77 taels 4 mace 0 candareens 0 cash Less 2 per cent for breakage, 1 tael 5 mace 4 candareens 8 cash Net total for the china, 75 taels 8 mace 5 candareens 2 cash Carried forward, 75 taels 8 mace 5 candareens 2 cash Interpretations The London brought a second consignment of china almost identical to the one landed from the Duke of Gloucester in March. It had the same ten table sets, the same baking dishes, cups and basins, and was priced at the same rates. The Canton supercargoes had evidently divided the island's yearly china order into two equal lots and shipped them in separate vessels. If one ship was lost, half the porcelain would still arrive. Together the two lots gave St Helena about 1,000 pieces of tableware for the year, replacing the steady breakage at the Castle and in the servants' households. | |
88 | The 24 April Brought Over 75 8 5 2 No. 5/8 4 Chests Hyson Skins No. 5.. 6.. 170 7.. 8.. 172 342 Tare @ 18 p Chest 72 270 lb. or Pecl. 2.. 02 @ T. 25 p Pecl. 50 3 - - No. 6/10 5 Chests of Congo No. 6.. 96 7.. 8.. 194 9.. 10.. 191 481 Tare @ 22 p Chest 110 371 lb. or Pecl. 2.. 78 @ T. 25 p Do. 69 5 - - No. 7/12 6 Chests of Bohea No. 7.. 43.. 200 8.. 30.. 197 9.. 37.. 189 10.. 44.. 187 11.. 38.. 192 12.. 42.. 196 245 1161 245 916 lb. or Pecl. 6.. 87 @ Ts. 12.. 8 p Do. 87 9 3 6 Taels 283 7 8 8 Canton 13th Decr. 1768 Errors Excepted (signed) Henry Revell Hilly. Torriano Josh. De Lisme John Searle Fran. Wood Junr. Benj. Elton Thos. Thomas Willm. Vrons Jno. Walton Thos. Bevan W. Harrison | The London's invoice continued with the chests of tea. Brought forward, 75 taels 8 mace 5 candareens 2 cash Hyson skin tea, 4 chests numbered 5 to 8 Chests 5 and 6, gross 170 pounds Chests 7 and 8, gross 172 pounds Total gross 342 pounds, less tare at 18 pounds a chest, 72 pounds Net weight 270 pounds, or 2.02 piculs, at 25 taels a picul, 50 taels 5 mace 0 candareens 0 cash Congo tea, 5 chests numbered 6 to 10 Chest 6, gross 96 pounds Chests 7 and 8, gross 194 pounds Chests 9 and 10, gross 191 pounds Total gross 481 pounds, less tare at 22 pounds a chest, 110 pounds Net weight 371 pounds, or 2.78 piculs, at 25 taels a picul, 69 taels 5 mace 0 candareens 0 cash Bohea tea, 6 chests numbered 7 to 12 Chest 7, tare 45 pounds, gross 200 pounds Chest 8, tare 30 pounds, gross 197 pounds Chest 9, tare 37 pounds, gross 189 pounds Chest 10, tare 44 pounds, gross 187 pounds Chest 11, tare 38 pounds, gross 192 pounds Chest 12, tare 42 pounds, gross 196 pounds Total tare 245 pounds, total gross 1,161 pounds Net weight 916 pounds, or 6.87 piculs, at 12.8 taels a picul, 87 taels 9 mace 3 candareens 6 cash Total, 283 taels 7 mace 8 candareens 8 cash The invoice was signed at Canton on 13 December 1768 by Henry Revell, Hillary Torriano, Joseph de Lafons, John Searle, Francis Wood junior, Benjamin Torin, Thomas Thomas, William Prows, John Walton, Thomas Bevan and R. Harrison, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The London carried the second half of the island's tea, numbered on from the chests in the Duke of Gloucester. Hyson, Congo and Bohea were again packed in a single series for each kind, so the storekeeper could check that every chest had arrived. With both ships landed, St Helena received more than 1,800 pounds of Bohea and over 700 pounds each of Congo and finer green tea for the year. Hyson skin was the lower grade of Hyson. It was made from the coarser, older leaves sifted out when the finest Hyson was sorted. It was sold at the same price as Congo here, well below the price of first-quality Hyson in London. It gave the island's households a cheaper green tea, which may explain why the warehouse could sell Singlo and Hyson skin in place of the dearer grade. | |
89 | 1769 Invoice of Ship Tilbury No. 29/42 14 Chests of Sugar No. 29.. 27.. 296 30.. 30.. 298 31.. 31.. 300 32.. 27.. 302 33.. 27.. 297 34.. 28.. 296 35.. 28.. 296 36.. 28.. 296 37.. 27.. 294 38.. 27.. 296 39.. 27.. 296 40.. 32.. 300 41.. 26.. 293 42.. 30.. 297 393 4157 Tare 393 3764 lb. or Pecl. 28.. 23 @ T. 4.. 500 Taels m c c 127 - 3 5 Canton 14th Decr. 1768 Errors Excepted (signed) Henry Revell Hilly. Torriano Josh. De Lisme Jno. Searle Fran. Wood Junr. Benj. Elton Thos. Thomas Willm. Vrons Jno. Walton Thos. Bevan | Invoice of the ship Tilbury Sugar, 14 chests numbered 29 to 42 Chest 29, tare 27 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 30, tare 20 pounds, gross 298 pounds Chest 31, tare 31 pounds, gross 300 pounds Chest 32, tare 27 pounds, gross 302 pounds Chest 33, tare 27 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 34, tare 28 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 35, tare 28 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 36, tare 28 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 37, tare 27 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 38, tare 27 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 39, tare 27 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 40, tare 32 pounds, gross 300 pounds Chest 41, tare 26 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 42, tare 30 pounds, gross 297 pounds Total tare 393 pounds, total gross 4,157 pounds Net weight 3,764 pounds, or 28.23 piculs, at 4.500 taels a picul, 127 taels 0 mace 3 candareens 5 cash The invoice was signed at Canton on 14 December 1768 by John Walton, Thomas Bevan, Henry Revell, Hillary Torriano, Joseph de Lafons, John Searle, Francis Wood junior, Benjamin Torin, Thomas Thomas and William Prows, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The Tilbury brought chests 29 to 42, the lot of sugar that had been missing from the series. The Asia had landed chests 1 to 14, the Clive 15 to 28 and the True Briton 43 to 56. With this cargo all four lots of the island's sugar order had arrived safely, 56 chests and more than 15,000 pounds in all. The single numbered series had let the storekeeper track the order across four ships arriving over three weeks, and confirm at the end that nothing had gone astray. | |
90 | [Foot of the page cut off in the image.] The 24 April Invoice of Ship Queen Rice fine 60 Bags Wgt. B. Md. 120 @ 2.. 4 p Md. 291 9 6 Sugar fine 10 Bags Wgt. F. Md. 20 @ 7.. 12 p Do. 155 - - Paddy 15 Bags 22.. 20 @ 1.. 4 Do. 28 2 - Wax Candles 4 Chests 8 @ 76 Do. 608 - - Batavia Arrack 2 Leagrs. 140 each 302 6 6 1385 2 - Charges Merchandize 160 Gunny Bags @ 13 p % 22 7 3 3 Sr. Twine " 7 - 60 Reed Matts 7.. 8 p % 4 13 9 4 Chests 18 4 - Dusts " 13 - Moolias 11 8 - 1 Peon 2 5 3 Weighmen " 9 - Packmen 1 1 - Boathire 4 5 3 Sleepers 54 - - 120 9 6 Curr. Rupees 1505 11 6 Errors Excepted (signed) | Invoice of the ship Queen Fine rice, 60 bags weighing 120 bazaar maunds at [...] a maund, 291 rupees 9 annas 6 pies Fine sugar, 10 bags weighing 20 factory maunds at 7 rupees 12 annas a maund, 155 rupees 0 annas 0 pies Paddy, 15 bags weighing 22 maunds 20 seers at 1 rupee 4 annas a maund, 28 rupees 2 annas 0 pies Wax candles, 4 chests weighing 8 maunds at 76 rupees a maund, 608 rupees 0 annas 0 pies Batavia arrack, 2 leaguers of 140 gallons each, 302 rupees 6 annas 6 pies Total for the goods, 1,385 rupees 2 annas 0 pies Charges on the goods 160 gunny bags at 13 rupees a hundred, 22 rupees 7 annas 3 pies Twine, 0 rupees 7 annas 0 pies 60 rice mats at 7 rupees 8 annas a hundred, 4 rupees 13 annas 9 pies 4 chests, 18 rupees 4 annas 0 pies Nails, 0 rupees 13 annas 0 pies Coolies, 11 rupees 8 annas 0 pies 1 peon, 2 rupees 5 annas 3 pies Weighmen, 0 rupees 9 annas 0 pies Packing, 1 rupee 1 anna 0 pies Boatmen, 4 rupees 5 annas 3 pies Sloop hire, 54 rupees 0 annas 0 pies Total for the charges, 120 rupees 9 annas 6 pies Total in current rupees, 1,505 rupees 11 annas 6 pies The invoice was signed in Bengal, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The Queen carried the fourth and last of the season's standard Bengal consignments for St Helena, after the Valentine, the Kent and the Verelst. Each brought the same 60 bags of rice, 10 of sugar, 15 of paddy, four chests of wax candles and two leaguers of arrack. The Bengal council had evidently fixed the island's yearly allowance and divided it into four equal parts, one for each homeward ship. The Council's letter of 14 April 1769 asked Bengal to keep sending "the same quantity as last year". The system clearly suited St Helena. The rice was weighed in bazaar maunds and the sugar in factory maunds. Two different maunds were in use at Calcutta. The bazaar maund, used in the town's markets, was heavier than the factory maund used in the Company's own warehouses. An invoice that named which maund applied to each good allowed the storekeeper at St Helena to check the weights correctly on arrival. | |
91 | 1769 Mr. Thomas Kirkpatrick this day presented the following Petition viz. To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esq. Governor &c. Council of St. Helena The humble Petition of Thos. Kirkpatrick Sheweth That your Petitioner hath fourteen Acres of Lease hold Land together with some Land adjoining to his House in this Valley, which he is desirous of selling at Publick Auction, Requests your Worship & Council will give him leave so to do And your Petitioner will ever pray (signed) Thoms. Kirkpatrick Granted Mr. Richard Goodwin was this day Sworn into the Office of Sheriff and Messrs. Samuel Alexander and Solomon St. Maurice in that of Church Wardens and Jeremiah Smith as Constable John Skottowe Purling | Thomas Kirkpatrick presented a petition to Governor John Skottowe and the Council that day. Kirkpatrick explained that he held 14 acres of leasehold land, together with some land next to his house in James's Valley. He wished to sell them at public auction and asked the Governor and Council for permission. Kirkpatrick signed the petition. The Council granted it. Richard Goodwin was sworn in that day as sheriff. Samuel Alexander and Solomon St Maurice were sworn in as churchwardens, and Jeremiah Smith as constable. Governor Skottowe and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Kirkpatrick now appeared in the minutes as plain Mr Thomas Kirkpatrick, without the rank of captain or the title of councillor. His petition to sell everything he held on the island by public auction showed a man preparing to leave for good. Dismissed from the Company's service by the Court of Directors three weeks earlier, he had no further place on St Helena. The Council granted his request at once. An auction would turn his land and house into money he could take home. It would also let new tenants take up the leases, with the Council's consent required for each sale. Only two of the four churchwardens the vestry had chosen in March were sworn in, Alexander and St Maurice. These were the two to whom the Council had issued warrants on 27 March 1769. Matthew Bazett and Orlando Bagley junior, also elected, were not sworn. The Council's warrant, not the vestry's vote, decided who actually took office. | |
92 | The 29 April At a Consultation held on Saturday the 29th day of April 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 24 April 1769 Wednesday the 26 passed by a Ship at a great distance Do. Do. Sailed the Honble. Company's Ship Duke of Albany for Bencoolen Yesterday Arrived the Calcutta's Boat at Banks's half an hour past eleven o'Clock in the forenoon Do. Do. The Honble. Company's Ship Calcutta from Bombay (last from the Cape) The Calcutta brought us the following Supply viz. Invoice of Ship Calcutta Rice Bealer fine 42 Bags of 283 - 20 @ 22 Rs. p 18 Surt. Maunds 346 2 - Batty 32 Bags ea. 3 Parahs is 3.. 31 @ 20 Rs. p Bund. 75 3 20 Surat piece Goods viz. 1 Bale viz. 1 Corge Chelloes 3 Corge viz. S. 1.. 3.. 15.. 19 Surat @ 70.. 1 p Corge 351 1 - Surat Charges viz. Customs on Rs. 347.. 1 @ 2 p Ct. 7 - 41 Packing 1 Bale 7 2 - Bhattens 2 50 15 - 91 366 1 91 Charges on Merchandize viz. Hamallage 52 2 - Lascarage 5 1 40 Boathire 2 2 - 60 1 40 Rupees 850 - 51 Errors Excepted (signed) Willm. Hornby Acct. | The Council met at the Castle on Saturday 29 April 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 24 April 1769 were read, approved and signed. On Wednesday 26 April a ship passed the island far out to sea, and the Company's ship Duke of Albany sailed for Bencoolen. At half past eleven in the morning of 28 April a boat from the Calcutta landed at Banks's. The Company's ship Calcutta arrived the same day from Bombay, by way of the Cape. The Calcutta brought the following supplies. Invoice of the ship Calcutta Fine rice, 42 bags weighing 233 maunds [...] at 22 rupees for 18 Surat maunds, 346 rupees 2 quarters 0 reas Batty, 32 bags weighing 3 candies [...] maunds 21 pounds at [...] rupees a candy, 75 rupees 3 quarters 20 reas Surat piece goods, 1 bale containing 1 corge of chelloes, numbered [...], at 70¼ rupees a corge, 231 rupees 1 quarter 0 reas Charges at Surat Customs on 231 rupees at 2½ per cent, [...] Packing 1 bale, [...] Boatmen, [...] Total for the charges at Surat, 15 rupees 0 quarters 91 reas Total for the goods, 366 rupees 1 quarter 91 reas Charges on the goods Porterage, 52 rupees 2 quarters 0 reas Lascars, 5 rupees 1 quarter 40 reas Boatmen, 2 rupees 2 quarters 0 reas Total for the charges, 60 rupees 1 quarter 40 reas Total, 850 rupees 0 quarters 51 reas William Hornby signed the invoice, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The Calcutta brought the island's chelloes from Surat, as well as rice and batty. A corge was a lot of 20 pieces, the standard unit in which Indian cloth was traded. The bale was shipped from Surat to Bombay and paid customs at Surat before it left. The Council had asked Bombay on 14 April 1769 for 100 pieces of Surat chelloes. That letter went by way of Bencoolen and could not yet have arrived. This corge was evidently the previous year's order, now delivered. The Duke of Albany sailed on 26 April for Bencoolen with the Council's letters to the presidencies and £1,000 0s 0d in treasure for Fort Marlborough. Her stay had been longer than the two working days allowed by her charter party. Unloading the island's stores and taking on the condemned guns as ballast had evidently kept her in the road almost a fortnight. | |
93 | 1769 Mr. Matthew Purling Reports that he has been on board the Ships London, Tilbury & Queen to Muster their Company's and enquire for Deserters but found none their Muster Rolls are as follow viz. Muster Roll of Ship London Thos. Motley Commr. Jno. Sutton Chief Mate Nichs. Jackson 2 Do. Danl. Webb 3 Do. Geo. Cadman 4 Do. Willm. Hewson 5 Do. Robt. Jones 6 Do. Jno. Hinckley Do. Jams. Davies Surg. Henry Hubert Purser Jno. Hodes Boat. Jno. Haggy Gunr. Benj. Hoare Carpt. William Swanbank Caulk. Edwd. Vaughan Mids. Thos. Swainles Do. Geo. Lilley Do. Jams. Hubert Do. Robt. Agnew 2d Mast. Willm. Duncan Do. Alexr. Irons Do. Geo. McKenzie Do. Robt. Black Ships Stew. Josh. Sharpe Capt. Do. Jno. Seven Cooper Geo. Carter Armour. Ralph Ward Sail Maker Chas. Menzie Surg. Mate Robt. Coles Carpt. Do. Robt. Ward Joyner Thos. Poulter Caulk. Edw. Seymour Coop. Mate Robt. Gray Capt. Cook Jno. Bulley Poult. Jno. Doncaster Butch. Thos. Jones Wife Capt. Servt. Henry Dixon Chief Mates Do. Edwd. Gleeson 2 Do. Do. Thos. Thomas Surg. Do. Henry Davies Boatn. Do. Edw. Peacock Gunr. Do. Jams. Penl Carpt. Do. Edw. O'Donald Seamen Nath. Clarke Jno. Jeffrey Hans Henderson Saml. Mardinas Jno. DeMountpried Wm. Baxter Jams. Lyon Jno. Gordon Jas. Cunningham Saml. Wilkinson Fredk. Eastburgh Jno. Sampson Jno. Drummond Thos. Sharp Boat. Mate Geo. Sommerville Seam. Jas. Wigglesworth Sean. Willm. Bell Thos. Cooper Jas. Shay Thos. Simpson Jno. Ross Willm. Fenwick Jno. Thompson Morg. Angave Phillip Petterson Alex. McDonald Jams. Petrohen Alex. Nicholson Jams. Henderson Jno. Green Geo. Ferries Chas. Jones Thos. Sorensen Thos. Cadge Jno. Spence Pat. Watts Benj. Lewis Jams. Bone Jno. Steward Jno. Wilkins Jno. Wasler Natl. Wilson Geo. Gray Jno. Hugh | Matthew Purling reported that he had gone on board the London, the Tilbury and the Queen to muster their crews and search for deserters, and had found none. Their muster rolls were entered as follows. Muster roll of the ship London Thomas Mitchell, commander John Sutton, chief mate Nicholas Jackson, second mate Daniel Webb, third mate George Cadman, fourth mate William Shannon, fifth mate Robert Jones, sixth mate John Hinckley, seventh mate James Davies, surgeon Henry Hubert, purser William Hodes, boatswain John Haggy, gunner Benjamin Hearn, carpenter William Swanbank, coxswain Edward Vaughan, midshipman Thomas Swindles, midshipman George Tilley, midshipman James Hubert, midshipman Robert Ayres, quartermaster William Duncan, quartermaster Alexander Grove, quartermaster George McKenzie, quartermaster Robert Plott, ship's steward Joseph Sharpe, captain's steward John Seven, cooper George Carter, armourer Ralph Head, sailmaker Charles Morris, surgeon's mate Robert Coles, captain's cook Robert Ward, joiner Thomas Poulter, caulker Edward Seymour, carpenter's mate Robert Gray, ship's cook John Pilley, poulterer John Brewster, butcher Thomas Jones, captain's servant Henry Dixon, chief mate's servant Edward Gleason, second mate's servant Thomas Thomas, surgeon's servant Henry Davies, boatswain's servant Edward Pescott, gunner's servant James Pind, carpenter's servant Edward O'Donald, seaman Nathaniel Clarke, seaman John Jeffrey, seaman Hans Henderson, seaman Lawrence Mardrus, seaman John DeMouilpied, seaman William Baxter, seaman James Lyon, seaman John Goddard, seaman John Cunningham, seaman Samuel Wilkinson, seaman Frederick Eversleigh, seaman John Sampson, seaman John Drummond, seaman Thomas Thorpe, boatswain's mate George Somerville, seaman John Wigglesworth, seaman William Bell, seaman Thomas Cooper, seaman John Shay, seaman Thomas Simpson, seaman John Ross, seaman William Fenwick, seaman John Thompson, seaman Morgan Angus, seaman Philip Patterson, seaman Alexander McDonald, seaman James Pickthorn, seaman Alexander Nicholson, seaman James Henderson, seaman John Green, seaman George Ferries, seaman Charles Jones, seaman Thomas Scriven, seaman Thomas Cadge, seaman John Spence, seaman Peter Watts, seaman Benjamin Lewis, seaman James Bone, seaman John Stewart, seaman John Wilkins, seaman John Waters, seaman Nathaniel Wilson, seaman George Gray, seaman John Pugh, seaman Interpretations The London carried seven mates, like the Duke of Gloucester, and a joiner and poulterer besides the usual officers. She was one of the large China ships, built and manned for the long Canton voyage. John DeMouilpied, among her seamen, bore a Channel Islands name. Guernsey and Jersey men served widely in the Company's ships. Their crews were drawn from every part of the British Isles and well beyond. | |
94 | The 29 April Thos. Thompson Seamen Geo. Augustus Allan Lemon Jno. Christian Sea. Pet. Van Groe Pet. Olive Hendk. Van Corssen (signed) Thos. Motley Muster Roll of Ship Tilbury Willm. Hunt Commr. Willm. Thomson 1st Mate Robt. Wilson 2 Do. Edwd. Bruce 3 Do. Edw. Cooch 4 Do. Geo. Pelsley Purser Jno. Hay Surg. Jno. Bell Boat. Jno. Cummings Gunr. Edw. Matthews Carpent. Jno. Nicholson Mids. & Cox. Josh. Archer Do. Geo. Stevens Do. Wm. Sanders Alex. Cowper 2d Mast. Jno. Smith Do. Benj. Grayham Do. Danl. Stoppard Do. Hans Hoods Do. Jno. Jolley Surg. Mate Jonth. Snyder Capt. Stew. Robt. Man Ships Do. Wm. Gould Capt. Cook Wm. Darrock Ships Do. Benj. Tuffett Boat. Yeoman Josh. Greenaldry 2 Do. Do. Andw. Bibbs Carpt. 1 Do. Jno. Gates Do. 2 Do. Jno. Pearn Coop. Geo. Reid Do. Mate Robt. Tyler 1st Mate Saml. Allen Caulk. Richd. Pettet Do. Mate Robt. Pinwell Armour. Pet. Burgess Capt. Servt. Robt. Haybirly Do. Do. Owen Phillips 1 Mates Do. Ant. Underwood 2 Do. Do. Jno. Hughes Surg. Do. Jno. Hewitt Carpt. Do. Thos. Francis Boat. Do. Wm. Jennett Gunr. Do. Jno. Newman Seamen Willm. Swetley Thos. Hale Saml. Lasher Wm. Wigmore Jno. Curtis Jno. Fye Jno. Pollock Wm. Williams Jno. Murray Wm. Hawley Mart. Chibbs Jno. Davis Jno. Forbes Jno. Mair Seamen Jno. Allerder Jos. West Thos. North Josh. Pitt Jas. Phillips Joseph Priestly Robt. Belcher Franl. Griffiths Thos. Lewis Jno. Patrick Mat. Brown Jas. Duncan Robt. Haile Geo. Ransom Jno. Randall Saml. Jones Jas. Eaton Alexr. Laws Jas. Dolphin Jas. Jamieson Wm. Brown Swank Coats Robt. Currey Jno. Waddle Jno. Craig Jno. Blair Peter Galloway | The London's muster roll closed with the last of her seamen, and the roll of the Tilbury followed. Thomas Thompson, seaman Francis Augustine, seaman Allan Simon, seaman John Christian, seaman Peter Van Geer, seaman Peter Oliver, seaman Hendrick Van [...], seaman Thomas Motley signed the roll. Muster roll of the ship Tilbury William Hunt, commander William Thomson, chief mate Robert Wilson, second mate Edward Bruce, third mate Edward [...], fourth mate George [...], purser John Hay, surgeon John Bill, boatswain John Gummings, gunner Edward Matthews, carpenter John Nicholas, midshipman and coxswain Joseph Archer, midshipman George Stevens, midshipman William Sanders, midshipman Alexander Cooper, quartermaster John Smith, quartermaster Benjamin Graham, quartermaster David Stoppard, quartermaster Hans Herds, quartermaster John Jolley, surgeon's mate Joseph Stogles, captain's steward Robert Main, ship's steward William Gould, captain's cook William Darrock, ship's cook Benjamin Tolfett, boatswain's yeoman John Grundledge, boatswain's mate Andrew Wickes, carpenter's first mate John Gates, carpenter's second mate John Pearce, cooper George Reed, cooper's mate Robert Tyler, sailmaker Simon Allen, caulker Richard Pettit, caulker's mate Robert Parsons, armourer Peter Brewer, captain's servant Robert Hayhurst, captain's servant Owen Phillips, chief mate's servant Andrew Anderson, second mate's servant John Hughes, surgeon's servant John [...], carpenter's servant Thomas Francis, boatswain's servant William Jennett, gunner's servant John Newman, seaman William Sturley, seaman Thomas Shute, seaman Samuel Lassor, seaman William Wigmore, seaman John Curtis, seaman John Fye, seaman John Pollock, seaman William Williams, seaman John Morrice, seaman William Strawley, seaman Martin Chibbs, seaman John Davis, seaman John Forbes, seaman John Mair, seaman John Allender, seaman Joseph West, seaman Thomas North, seaman Joseph Pitt, seaman John Phillips, seaman Joseph Priestly, seaman Robert Belcher, seaman Francis Griffiths, seaman Thomas Lewis, seaman John Patrick, seaman Matthew Brown, seaman James Duncan, seaman Robert Halle, seaman George Ransom, seaman John Rendan, seaman Samuel Jones, seaman John Eaton, seaman Alexander Laws, seaman John Dolphin, seaman John Jamieson, seaman William Brown, seaman Swend Coats, seaman Robert Curry, seaman John Waddle, seaman John Craig, seaman John Blair, seaman Peter Galloway, seaman Interpretations The Tilbury had carried the Council's letters to the presidencies the previous year. The Council's letters of 14 April 1769 recalled that it had last written to Bengal and Bombay "by the Tilbury". She was now returning from China on the same yearly circuit. The Company's ships made a regular round of England, India or China and home again. One ship might call at St Helena outward and homeward in successive years, carrying the island's correspondence each time. | |
95 | 1769 Geo. Bowmaker Seamen Jno. Dawson Geo. Knight Jams. Butler Geo. Jacks Seamen Jno. Lamb Jno. Nutt Corn. Willson Hans Johnston Seamen Dirck Baker Jno. Phillips Jno. Neal (signed) Wm. Hunt Muster Roll of Ship Queen Geo. Stainforth Commr. Robt. Jongles Chief Mate Clemens Hall 2 Do. Jos. Elliott 3 Do. Jno. Wm. Brysenden 4 Do. Wm. Dawson 5 Do. Henry Farmer 6 Do. Wm. Baston Purser Thos. Davis Surg. Willm. Panton Gunr. Alex. Rasler Boatn. Willm. Adams Carpent. Jno. Richardson Mids. Pet. Mund Do. Fowler Mitchell Do. Jno. Bell 2d Mast. Willm. Lyfes Do. Thos. Macknamara Do. Geo. Shepperd Do. Anty. Simon Do. Robt. Weber Caulk. Jno. Forsyth Ships Stew. Richd. Carpenter Capt. Do. Thos. Miller Cooper Finlay Ferguson Surg. Mate Robt. Barton Carpt. 1st Do. Jno. Mitchell Carpt. 2d Mate Thos. Love Do. 3 Do. Jno. Wilson Gunr. Do. Danl. Macksay Boatn. Do. Willm. Sedgwick Caulk. Do. Robt. Penny Capt. Cook Jno. Scott Ships Do. Saml. Starks Butch. Thoms. Leigh Capt. Servt. Robt. Risley Do. Wm. Panton Gunr. Do. Jno. Fuller Carpt. Do. Jno. Birch Boatn. Do. Jno. Marly Seamen Jno. Noy Jno. Allen Willm. Wilkinson Jas. Mitchell Willm. Todd Jas. Forrester Edw. Athens Jams. Johnston Thos. Burns Geo. Murray Danl. Thomas Robt. Delapoly Henry Gyles Seamen Jno. Jefferies Jno. Broderick Willm. Mayhew Jno. Greenwood Jno. Corra Saml. Lloyd Jno. Bant Jno. Larmond Wm. Selby Thos. Gates Robt. Brat Jno. Walls Wm. Knox Valent. Valentine Thos. Collings Jas. Bolam Wm. Parrott Archd. Black Phillip Hudnal Abel Morley Elias Welling Danl. Webster Jno. Shaw Richd. Long Jams. Cagu | The Tilbury's muster roll closed with the last of her seamen, and the roll of the Queen followed. George Bowmaker, seaman John Dawson, seaman George Knight, seaman James Butler, seaman George Jacks, seaman John Lamb, seaman John Nutt, seaman Cornelius Wilson, seaman Hans Johnston, seaman Derrick Baker, seaman John Phillips, seaman John Neal, seaman William Hunt signed the roll. Muster roll of the ship Queen George Stainforth, commander Peter Jingle, chief mate Clement Holt, second mate Joseph Elliott, third mate John William Ingersby, fourth mate William Dawson, fifth mate Henry Farrar, sixth mate William Burton, purser Thomas Davis, surgeon William Thornton, gunner Alexander Baxter, boatswain William Adams, carpenter John Richardson, midshipman Peter Mead, midshipman Fowler Mitchell, midshipman John Bell, quartermaster William Sykes, quartermaster Thomas Macnamara, quartermaster George Shepherd, quartermaster Anthony Simon, quartermaster Robert Weber, caulker John Forsyth, ship's steward Richard Carpenter, captain's steward Thomas Miller, cooper Finlay Ferguson, surgeon's mate Robert Barton, carpenter's first mate John Mitchell, carpenter's second mate Thomas Low, carpenter's third mate John Hilton, gunner's mate David Mackay, boatswain's mate William Sedgwick, caulker's mate Robert Penny, captain's cook John Scott, ship's cook Samuel Hawks, butcher Francis Leigh, captain's servant Robert Dipley, captain's servant William Burton, gunner's servant John Fuller, carpenter's servant Joseph Birch, boatswain's servant John Maxty, seaman John Avery, seaman John Allen, seaman William Wilkinson, seaman John Mitchell, seaman William Tindal, seaman John Forrester, seaman Edward Atkins, seaman James Johnston, seaman Thomas Burns, seaman George Murray, seaman David Thomas, seaman Robert Dolaply, seaman Henry Giles, seaman John Jefferies, seaman John Broderick, seaman William Mayhew, seaman John Greenwood, seaman John Dore, seaman Samuel Lloyd, seaman John Pratt, seaman John Larmond, seaman [...] McCulley, seaman Thomas Yates, seaman Robert Bost, seaman John Watts, seaman William Knox, seaman Valentine Valentine, seaman Thomas Collings, seaman John Bolton, seaman William Parrett, seaman Archibald Black, seaman Philip Hudnell, seaman Abel Morley, seaman Elias Walling, seaman David Webster, seaman John Shaw, seaman Richard Long, seaman James Cogan, seaman Interpretations The Queen carried three carpenter's mates, more than most ships of the season. A Bengal ship sailed the Bay of Bengal and the Hooghly, where shoals, storms and the long passage round the Cape strained a hull badly. Extra carpenters let the commander make repairs at sea without waiting for a port. The Queen had stopped at the Cape on her way home, which suggests she needed water or repairs before the last leg to St Helena. | |
96 | The 29 April Jno. Mclain Seamen Robt. Norman Willm. Law Jams. Ewart Jno. Gibbins Willm. Smith Jno. Cuge Jno. Banks Jno. Jordan Geoffr. Peck Seamen Danl. Crews Nich. Johnson Danl. Moore Lascary Jammaud Sador John Seamen Cyprus Yeoman Jno. Harris Jno. Lucky Phillip Hiersders Jams. Cunningham Jack Passengers Fras. Sykes Esq. Mr. Sample Capt. Douglass 4 Black maids 3 Do. Men (signed) Geo. Stainforth The Storekeeper this day delivered the following Account of Stores short recd. from Ships London & Queen viz. Account of Stores short recd. from the following Ships viz. London 2 Meat Dishes 1 Tureen & Dish 3 Meat Plates 1 Soup Do. 2 Snakes 2 Breakfast Cups & Saucers found broke upon opening the Packages which were in good Order Queen Cwt. qrs. lb. -.. 2.. 26 Paddy -.. 1.. 8 Sugar 3.. 0.. 20 Rice -.. -.. 3 Candles Short weight Occd. by wastage the Bags & Chests being in good Order | The Queen's muster roll closed with the last of her seamen and her passengers. John McLean, seaman Robert Norman, seaman William Law, seaman James Ewart, seaman John Gibbins, seaman William Smith, seaman John [...], seaman John Banks, seaman John Jordan, seaman Gustavus Busch, seaman David Crows, seaman Nicholas Johnson, seaman Daniel Munro, seaman Lascary, seaman Mahomed, seaman Sadoo, seaman John, seaman Ephraim Yeoman, seaman John Harris, seaman John [...], seaman Philip Hunders, seaman James Cunningham, seaman Jacob, seaman Passengers Francis Sykes Mr Sample Captain Douglas 1 black maidservant 3 black men George Stainforth signed the roll. The storekeeper delivered that day an account of the stores received short from the London and the Queen. Account of stores received short from the ship London Found broken when the packages were opened, although the packages were in good order 2 meat dishes 1 tureen and dish 3 meat plates 1 soup plate 2 small bowls 2 breakfast cups and saucers Account of stores received short from the ship Queen Received short in weight through wastage, the bags and chests being in good order Paddy, 0 hundredweight 2 quarters 26 pounds Sugar, 0 hundredweight 1 quarter 8 pounds Rice, 3 hundredweight 0 quarters 20 pounds Candles, 0 hundredweight 0 quarters 3 pounds Interpretations Several of the Queen's seamen were entered by a single name, among them Lascary, Mahomed, Sadoo, John and Jacob. These were lascars, Indian sailors shipped in Bengal to make up a crew thinned by death and desertion in the East. The Company relied on them heavily for the homeward voyage. Indian seamen engaged in Bengal were meant to be returned to India, and they could not be discharged or left behind at St Helena. Recording them on the roll made the commander answerable for carrying each one on. Four black servants travelled with the passengers, one woman and three men, probably slaves belonging to Francis Sykes and his companions. The Council watched closely over every black person landed from a ship. A slave brought ashore and left behind would add to the island's population without the Council's consent, and slaves could not be sold on the island without its leave. Listing the servants by number fixed how many had to sail with their owners. | |
97 | 1769 Two Leaguers Arrack viz. Gall. No. 1 Gages 140 wants to fill 8 Gall. 2 Do. 154 Do. 17 294 25 25 Recd. 269 Gall. (signed) p James Powell Storekeepr. St. Helena 29 April 1769 On the 2d instant John Osborne Gunner applied to us to be discharged from the Garrison he having procured George Hiers to serve the remainder of his Contracted time we complied with his request and entertained the said Hiers Accordingly Bought of Captn. Stainforth the following Salt Provision viz. The Honble. Compy. Dr. To 12 Pieces Beef 35 Each lb. 420 To 2 Punchs. Do. 80 Do. 160 To 9 Hhd. Pork 74 Do. 666 Pieces 1246 at 2/ £ 124 12 - Errors Excepted (signed) George Stainforth Isld. St. Helena Apl. 29.. 1769 | The Queen's shortfalls concluded with her arrack. Arrack, 2 leaguers Leaguer number 1, gauged at 140 gallons, short of full by 8 gallons Leaguer number 2, gauged at 154 gallons, short of full by 17 gallons Total gauged, 294 gallons Total short, 25 gallons Received, 269 gallons James Powell signed the account as storekeeper at St Helena on 29 April 1769. On 2 April John Osborne, a gunner, asked to be discharged from the garrison. He had found George Hains to serve the rest of his term in his place. The Council granted his request and took Hains into the service accordingly. The Council bought the following salt provisions from Captain Stainforth. 12 tierces of beef at 35 pieces each, 420 pieces 2 puncheons of beef at 80 pieces each, 160 pieces 9 hogsheads of pork at 74 pieces each, 666 pieces Total, 1,246 pieces at 2s a piece, £124 12s 0d George Stainforth signed the bill at St Helena on 29 April 1769, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The Council bought more than 1,200 pieces of salt meat from the Queen's commander, at the same 2s a piece the warehouse charged its servants. The Company therefore made no profit on reselling it. Salt provisions were the garrison's and the slaves' staple, and the warehouse had been drawn down hard through the sickly, busy first months of 1769. Buying the surplus from a homeward ship let the Council restock at once. The commander gained an outlet for stores his crew no longer needed, so close to the end of the voyage. The second leaguer of arrack had lost 17 gallons on the voyage, more than twice the loss from the first. A leaking stave or loose hoop in a single cask could account for it. Gauging each cask separately showed the storekeeper exactly where the loss lay. John Osborne, the gunner, left by the same means as William Luke, Andrew Grimes and others that season. He found a substitute willing to serve out his term. Osborne had risen from matross to gunner in November 1768. The artillery's higher pay had evidently not been enough to keep him once a passage home was available. | |
98 | The 29 April We this day Granted the following Sets of Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors viz. Two Sets to John Skottowe Esq. one for £300.. payable to Robert Wood Esq. (or Order) and one for £67.. 6.. payable to Mr. Art. Dobson (or Order) One Set to Mr. Matthew Purling for £760.. payable to John Purling Esq. (or Order) Two Sets to Mr. Matthew Bazett One for £324.. 7.. payable to Capt. Thos. Riddell (or Order) and one for £100.. payable to Miss Mary Bazett (or Order) One Set to Capt. Henry Bazett for £100.. payable to John Purling Esq. (or Order) One Set to Capt. Richd. Beale for £42.. payable to the Reverend Mr. Willm. Lee (or Order) One Set to Mr. Thos. Kirkpatrick for £400.. payable to Mr. Allen Auld (or Order) And One set to Captn. George Stainforth for £112.. 10 payable to George Stainforth Esq. (Or Order) all drawn at ninety days sight John Skottowe Purling | The Council granted the following sets of bills of exchange that day, drawn on the Court of Directors. 2 sets to Governor John Skottowe One for £500 0s 0d, payable to Robert Wood or his order One for £67 6s 0d, payable to Mr A[...] Dobson or his order 1 set to Matthew Purling for £760 0s 0d, payable to John Purling or his order 2 sets to Matthew Bazett One for £324 7s 0d, payable to Captain Thomas Riddell or his order One for £100 0s 0d, payable to Miss Mary Bazett or her order 1 set to Captain Henry Bazett for £100 0s 0d, payable to John Purling or his order 1 set to Captain Richard Beale for £42 0s 0d, payable to the Reverend William [...] or his order 1 set to Thomas Kirkpatrick for £400 0s 0d, payable to Mr Allen Auld or his order 1 set to Captain George Stainforth for £112 10s 0d, payable to George Stainforth or his order All drawn at 90 days after sight Governor Skottowe and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The island's senior officials sent home more than £2,400 in a single day, on bills drawn on the Court of Directors. Each man paid coin into the treasury on St Helena and received a bill his agent could cash at East India House. The Governor sent £567 6s 0d, Purling £760 0s 0d and the Bazetts £524 7s 0d between them. The savings of the island's leading families were being sent to London by the homeward fleet. The traffic worked both ways. The officials gained a safe way of moving money home, and the treasury gained coin it badly needed, having fallen below £6,000 by the end of March. Kirkpatrick's bill for £400 0s 0d was the last step in winding up his affairs on the island. He had been dismissed on 1 April 1769 and given leave on 24 April to sell his land and house at auction. The bill turned what he had raised into money payable in London. He was evidently preparing to sail with one of the remaining ships of the season. Captain Stainforth's bill was payable to himself. A commander who had sold goods or provisions on the island could take payment either in coin or in a bill on the Company. A bill saved him carrying specie on the dangerous last leg of the voyage and saved the treasury coin it could not spare. | |
99 | The 1st May At a Consultation held on Monday the 1st day of May 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 29 April 1769 This day Sailed the Honble. Company's Ship Queen for England Do. Arrived a Dutch Ship from Batavia called the Fover Leu Captn. Wm. Kolbeer, burthen 800 Tons Carrys 24 Guns & 100 Men laden with Pepper bound to Rotterdam Captn. Mitchell representing to us that the Fortifications were retarded by the number of Soldiers that are taken from the Works on Account of the Sickness which at present prevails among them, Having no other resource but by applying to the Inhabitants for the Assistance of their Slaves upon this Emergency. And in Order to encourage them to Contribute whatever is in their power, Agreed to pay them 1/ p day exclusive of their Victuals, the fixed price of the Island from one Inhabitant to another; Ordered the following Advertizement to be published viz. Island St. Helena 1st May 1769 Whereas several of the Soldiers that were employed at the Honble. Company's Works are Sick in the Hospital which have been a great hindrance to the forwarding of the said Works This is to give Notice to the Inhabitants of the said Island that they are hereby desired to give all the Assistance in their power by sending what Slaves they can spare at this juncture to the said Works and to make a Return to the Governor & Council of the number of Slaves they can furnish on or before Friday next Whatever Blacks they shall supply will receive 1/ p day exclusive of their Victuals during the time they are employed at the Fortifications Per Order of Council (signed) Mattw. Bazett Secy. | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 1 May 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 29 April 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Company's ship Queen sailed for England that day. A Dutch ship from Batavia also arrived, the Twee Leeuwen, commanded by Captain William Rolbeer. She was of 300 tons, carried 24 guns and 100 men, and was laden with pepper bound for Rotterdam. Captain Mitchell told the Council that the fortifications were being held back by the number of soldiers taken off the works through the sickness then spreading among them. The only remedy the Council could see was to ask the inhabitants for the help of their slaves in this emergency. To encourage them to give all the help they could, it agreed to pay 1s a day for each slave, on top of their food. This was the fixed rate on the island when one inhabitant hired slaves from another. The Council ordered a notice to be published, dated at St Helena on 1 May 1769. The notice stated that several of the soldiers employed on the Company's works were sick in hospital, which had greatly hindered the works. The inhabitants were asked to give all the help they could by sending whatever slaves they could spare at this time. They were to tell the Governor and Council by the following Friday how many slaves they could supply. Every black person supplied would receive 1s a day, on top of food, while employed on the fortifications. Matthew Bazett, the secretary, signed the notice by order of the Council. Interpretations The Council hired the inhabitants' slaves instead of recruiting more soldiers or slowing the works until the sick recovered. The garrison was too depleted by illness to supply the labour Mitchell needed, and the Court of Directors had told him to stay until further orders. Hiring slaves was the quickest way to keep Munden's Point and the demi-bastions moving. The rate of 1s a day matched what a soldier earned for labouring on the works, so the Company paid no more for a slave than for a soldier. The money went to the slave's owner, not to the slave who did the work. The notice also revealed the island's ordinary labour market. Inhabitants regularly hired out slaves to one another at a fixed rate of 1s a day with food provided. The Council adopted that customary price instead of bargaining. That made the request easy for owners to accept, since they would earn exactly what they would have from any neighbour. Slaves were a source of income to their owners, and the Company tapped that resource when its own labour failed. The Dutch ship Twee Leeuwen was the third foreign vessel recorded that season, after the Danish Fredensborg and the Dutch fleets that passed without calling. Pepper from Batavia was a Dutch monopoly product, shipped home round the Cape. Her call at St Helena showed that foreign ships, as well as the British, depended on the island for water and refreshment in peacetime. | |
100 | The 1st May 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 viz. Muster Roll of Ship Calcutta Geo. Thomson Commr. Wm. Hambly Chief Mate Wm. Whistle 2 Do. Jams. Hay 3 Do. Thos. Fisher 4 Do. Josh. Wilson 5 Do. Thos. Williamson Surgeon Wm. Parson Purser Robt. Sheriff Mids. Jno. Mackenzie Do. Jams. Wilson Do. Robt. Manly Do. Saml. Constable Do. Wm. Hobbs Coxsw. Surg. Mate Jams. Griffith Boatn. Andw. Ronan Gunr. Geo. Hollock Carpt. Geo. Beveridge Ships Stew. Ferrd. Tiffan 2d Master Mark Palmer Do. Christr. Herring Do. Jno. Dyke Caulk. Willm. Dixon Sail Maker Robt. Peterson Armour. Jno. Angus Cooper Gavin Whitaker Gunr. Mate Edw. Cockle Carpt. Do. James Rosedale Carpt. Do. Jams. Neil Boatn. Mate Albert Brown Ships Cook David Ramsay Capt. Do. Geo. Anderson Butcher Jams. Muller Poult. Andw. Northberry Caulk. Mate Jacob Wolfgang Sl. Mak. Do. Jos. Mother Baker Jona. Hill Seamen Jno. Simons Wm. Hoon Thos. Duncan Jno. Kendall Jno. Palmer Robt. Robertson Jno. Anderson Andw. Mullen Thos. Lawless Robt. Neil Andw. Alexander Willm. Moore Jno. Goodwyn Willm. Andrews Willm. Woodriff Willm. Emery Jno. Gosport Saml. Cox Jno. Williams Jno. Nopper Seamen Jno. Owen Jno. Church Carpt. Hans Fredk. Baker Geo. Sinclair Clerk Miller Pet. Lubus Ralph Ralliffson Rasmus Severson Willm. Dorey Jno. Arn Richd. Davenport Jno. Gowan Alex. Hay Jno. Garden Robt. Fleming Robt. Harrington Thos. Sykes Capt. Servt. Gerhardo Hodgson Do. Jams. Orton Chief Mates Do. Willm. Yorkshire Surg. Do. Geo. Miller Capt. Do. Christn. Robertson Seamen Robt. King Adam Langton Pet. Mary Pet. Lucas Thos. Kneesman | Matthew Purling reported that he had gone on board the Calcutta to muster her crew and search for deserters, and had found none. Her muster roll was entered as follows. Muster roll of the ship Calcutta George Thomas, commander William Hambly, chief mate William Whistler, second mate James Hay, third mate Thomas Fisher, fourth mate Joseph Wilson, fifth mate Thomas Williamson, surgeon William Pearson, purser Robert Sheriff, midshipman John McKenna, midshipman James Wilson, midshipman Peter Manly, midshipman Lawrence Constable, midshipman William Hobbs, carpenter's surgeon's mate James Ralph, boatswain Andrew Kerr, gunner George Holloh, carpenter George Beveridge, ship's steward Peter Siffan, quartermaster Mark Palmer, quartermaster Christopher Herring, quartermaster John Sykes, caulker William Deford, sailmaker Robert Peterson, armourer John Angus, cooper James White, gunner's mate Edward Cockle, carpenter's mate James Ruscdale, carpenter's mate James Steel, boatswain's mate Albert Deacon, ship's cook David Ramsay, captain's cook George Anderson, butcher James Miller, poulterer Andrew Northberg, caulker's mate Jacob Wolfgang, sailmaker's mate Joseph Mather, baker John Hill, seaman John Simons, seaman William Horn, seaman Thomas Duncan, seaman John Kendall, seaman John Palmer, seaman Robert Robertson, seaman John Anderson, seaman Andrew Mullen, seaman Thomas Lawless, seaman Robert Neil, seaman Andrew Alexander, seaman William Moore, seaman John Goodwyn, seaman William Andrews, seaman William Woodruff, seaman William Emery, seaman John Goodhart, seaman Samuel Cox, seaman John Williams, seaman John Hopper, seaman John Pain, seaman John Church, seaman Hans Frederick Baker, seaman George Tincker, seaman Erick Miller, seaman Peter Lubus, seaman Ralph Ralfson, seaman Rasmus Severson, seaman William Dorey, seaman John Ann, seaman Richard Davenport, seaman John Gowan, seaman Alexander Hay, seaman John Gardner, seaman Robert Fleming, seaman Robert Hamilton, seaman Thomas Sykes, captain's servant Gerhardt Hodgson, captain's servant James Oates, chief mate's servant William Garthside, surgeon's servant George Miller, captain's servant Christopher Robertson, seaman Robert King, seaman Adam Lington, seaman Peter Albury, seaman Peter Lucas, seaman Thomas Unseeman, seaman Interpretations The Calcutta's crew included several Danish and Scandinavian seamen, among them Rasmus Severson, Ralph Ralfson, Hans Frederick Baker and Erick Miller. A ship from Bombay had often lost men to disease or desertion in India. Commanders replaced them with whatever sailors could be found in Indian ports, where Danish and other foreign seamen were plentiful because their own nations' ships traded there. | |
101 | 1769 Jno. Colton Seamen Jams. Leef Henry Luter Patk. Cornel Wm. Chapman Henry Foster Seamen Edw. Bellsfield Jean Levals Willm. Wallace Robt. Nairn Jams. Pearce Seamen Jno. Johnston Benj. Tunbridge Andw. Pebney Jno. Hamps Chart. party Passengers John Morris Mark Joss Geo. Dolles Jno. Shuser Thos. Hook Wm. Watson Jno. McShelone Wm. Paul Jno. Sheppard Cor. Higgins (signed) Geo. Thomson The Storekeeper this day delivered the following Account of Stores short recd. from Ship Calcutta viz. Account of Stores short received from Ship Calcutta viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. 4.. 1.. 6 Rice short weight Occd. by wastage, the Bags being in good Order 48.. 1.. 12 Paddy recd. (signed) p Jams. Powell Storekeepr. St. Helena 1 May 1769 John Skottowe Purling | The Calcutta's muster roll closed with the last of her seamen and her passengers. John Colton, seaman James Lees, seaman Henry Suter, seaman Patrick Cornel, seaman William Chapman, seaman Henry Foster, seaman Edward Bellifield, seaman Jean Levarte, seaman William Wallace, seaman Robert Nairn, seaman James Pierce, seaman John Johnston, seaman Benjamin Tunbridge, seaman Andrew Pelney, seaman John Hampe, seaman Passengers carried under the charter party John Morris Mark Foss George Dollis John Thiser Thomas Hook William Watson John Michelane William Paul John Sheppard Owen Higgins George Thomson signed the roll. The storekeeper delivered that day an account of the stores received short from the Calcutta. Rice, 4 hundredweight 1 quarter 6 pounds short through wastage, the bags being in good order Paddy received, 48 hundredweight 1 quarter 12 pounds James Powell signed the account as storekeeper at St Helena on 1 May 1769. Governor John Skottowe and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The passengers on the Calcutta were entered as carried under the charter party. Under its contract with the ship's owners, the Company could put a fixed number of its own people on board at an agreed rate, without paying a separate fare to the commander. These men were probably soldiers or servants of the Bombay establishment returning home at the end of their service, like the six soldiers in the Royal Captain. Listing them by name let the Council check that every man who arrived left again with the ship. No discharged soldier from India was quietly left on the island, and no St Helena deserter was slipped aboard in a returning man's place. | |
102 | The 5 May At a Consultation held on Friday the 5th day of May 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 1st May 1769 Tuesday the 2d Sailed the Dane Ship Fredericksborg for Copenhagen Wednesday the 3d Do. The Honble. Company's Ship Calcutta for England On the 2d instant we Enlisted Thomas Love to serve the Honble. Company as a Soldier for five Years he appearing to be a good Man we gave him £2.. 10 to buy him Cloaths &ca. David Dennis Corporal this day Petitioned for his Discharge from the Garrison having served the Honble. Company his Contracted time Granted Captn. Kirkpatrick this day applied to Us to pay One thousand and eighteen Pounds eight shillings into the Honorable Company's Cash which Sum we have received and given him Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Honorable the Court of Directors payable to Mr. Allen Auld (or Order) ninety days after sight John Skottowe Purling | The Council met at the Castle on Friday 5 May 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 1 May 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Danish ship Fredensborg sailed for Copenhagen on Tuesday 2 May. The Company's ship Calcutta sailed for England on Wednesday 3 May. On 2 May the Council enlisted Thomas Love to serve the Company as a soldier for five years. He seemed a good man, and the Council gave him £2 10s 0d to buy clothes and other necessaries. David Dennis, a corporal, petitioned that day for his discharge from the garrison, having served the Company for his full term. The Council granted it. Captain Kirkpatrick asked that day to pay £1,018 8s 0d into the Company's treasury. The Council received the money and gave him bills of exchange drawn on the Court of Directors, payable to Mr Allen Auld or his order 90 days after sight. Governor Skottowe and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Kirkpatrick paid in more than £1,000 in a single sum, on top of the £400 0s 0d bill granted to him on 29 April 1769. Together the two bills sent home over £1,400 through his London agent, Allen Auld. This was a large fortune for an island officer whose captain's pay came to about £180 a year. It must have come from years of savings, the sale of his land and house at auction, and perhaps private trade with the passing ships. It explained why his dismissal mattered so much to him. He was leaving the island with a considerable estate to settle in England. For the treasury the payment was timely. The coin in the chest had fallen to under £6,000 by the end of March 1769. Kirkpatrick's £1,018 8s 0d, with the £2,400 drawn by the other officials a week earlier, restored a large part of what the winter quarters' wages and works had consumed. The departure of the island's wealthier servants, each converting his savings into bills, refilled the chest. The Company would pay for it in London 90 days later. | |
103 | The 8 May At a Consultation held on Monday the 8th Day of May 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Danl. Corneille Esq. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 5 May 1769 Yesterday Passed by a Ship at a great distance This day Sailed the Honble. Company's Ship London for England Do. Do. Died Robt. Brown Soldier On Saturday Night last arrived the Honble. Company's Ship Speke from England and Yesterday morning Daniel Corneille Esq. Lieut. Governor came on Shore, when we received a Packet from the Court of Directors which we opened and read their Orders & Instructions to Us Captn. Thomas Kirkpatrick this day presented the following Petition viz. To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esq. Governor &c. Council of St. Helena The humble Petition of Thomas Kirkpatrick Sheweth That your Petitioner had a Lease upon Lives for twelve Acres of Land called the Bolars which by some unlucky Accident is lost, He requests your Worship and Council will be pleased to Grant him a Renewal of the same on the aforesaid Terms And your Petitioner will ever pray (signed) Thos. Kirkpatrick 8th May 1769 | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 8 May 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 5 May 1769 were read, approved and signed. On 7 May a ship passed the island far out to sea. The Company's ship London sailed for England on 8 May. Robert Brown, a soldier, died the same day. The Company's ship Speke had arrived from England late on the night of Saturday 6 May. Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, came ashore the following morning. The Council received a packet from the Court of Directors, which it opened, and read the Court's orders and instructions. Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick presented a petition that day to Governor Skottowe and the Council. He explained that he had held a lease for lives of 12 acres called the Bolans. By some unlucky accident the lease had been lost. He asked the Governor and Council to grant him a renewal on the same terms. He signed the petition on 8 May 1769. Interpretations Daniel Corneille returned to St Helena as Lieutenant Governor, less than nine months after he had resigned and sailed for England in the Admiral Pocock on 14 August 1768. The Court of Directors had evidently read the Council's account of Kirkpatrick's false charges, accepted Corneille's vindication and sent him back to his post. In the same season it dismissed Kirkpatrick. The two decisions together amounted to the Court's verdict on the affair of July 1768. The accuser was removed from the service, and the man he had tried to ruin was restored to the Council and took his seat beside the Governor. Kirkpatrick's petition came on the very day Corneille resumed his seat. A lease for lives that had been lost could not easily be proved or sold. Kirkpatrick needed a fresh grant before he could include the 12 acres in the auction of his property approved on 24 April 1769. Corneille now sat among those who would decide whether to grant it. | |
104 | The 8 May Upon looking over the Register Book we find the Grant of the Original Lease but all the names of the Nominees therein dead, and not knowing that any new ones have been inserted, and the Honble. Company forbidding to grant in future any more Leases upon Lives, Agreed to Grant him the following one upon the usual Terms of twenty one Years We this Executed a Lease to Captn. Thos. Kirkpatrick for a piece of Land call'd the Bolars containing twelve Acres lying in James's Valley at 5/ p Acre The Expence of Artillery Stores and Stewards Accounts for the Month of April last, were this day brought in which were examined and approved and are as follow viz. Artillery Stores Expended in April 1769 Guns fired, 18 Pr, 6 Pr, 4 Pr, 3 Pr, 1 Pr, Powder Expend. lb, Powder Expend. oz 1st An alarm at Prosperous Bay: Guns fired 6, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Do. at Turks Cap: Guns fired 2, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 4, Powder Expend. oz 0 Do. at Purlings Battery: Guns fired 2, 18 Pr 2, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Arrived the Duke of Albany: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 An Alarm at Prosperous Bay: Guns fired 6, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Do. at Turks Cap: Guns fired 2, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 4, Powder Expend. oz 0 6 Arrived the Asia: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 0 2 An Alarm: Guns fired 6, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Arrived the True Briton: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 4 Departed the Harcourt: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 9 Do. the Asia: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 10 An Alarm: Guns fired 6, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Arrived the Pacifick: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 11 Departed the True Briton: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 Do. the Duke of Richmond: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 Do. the Clive: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 14 Do. the Pacifick: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 22 An Alarm: Guns fired 6, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Carrd. Over: Guns fired 126, 18 Pr 2, 6 Pr 90, 4 Pr 14, 3 Pr 10, 1 Pr 10, Powder Expend. lb 214, Powder Expend. oz 8 | A search of the register book showed the grant of the original lease, but every person named in it was dead. There was no record that any new names had been added. The Company had also forbidden any further leases for lives. The Council therefore agreed to grant Kirkpatrick a new lease on the usual terms of 21 years. It executed a lease to Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick that day for a piece of land called the Briars, of 12 acres, in James's Valley, at 5s an acre. The gunner's and steward's accounts for April were brought in that day. The Council examined and approved them, and they were entered as follows. Artillery stores used in April 1769 1 April, an alarm at Prosperous Bay: 6 guns fired, 2 six-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 1 April, an alarm at Turk's Cap: 2 six-pounders fired, with 4 pounds of powder 1 April, an alarm at Purling's Battery: 2 eighteen-pounders fired, with 12 pounds of powder 1 April, arrival of the Duke of Albany: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 1 April, an alarm at Prosperous Bay: 6 guns fired, 2 six-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 1 April, an alarm at Turk's Cap: 2 six-pounders fired, with 4 pounds of powder 1 April, arrival of the Asia: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 2 April, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 six-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 2 April, arrival of the True Briton: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 4 April, departure of the Harcourt: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 9 April, departure of the Asia: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 10 April, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 six-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 10 April, arrival of the Pacific: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 11 April, departure of the True Briton: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 11 April, departure of the Duke of Richmond: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 11 April, departure of the Clive: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 18 April, departure of the Pacific: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 22 April, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 six-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder Carried forward: 126 guns fired, comprising 2 eighteen-pounders, 90 nine-pounders, 14 six-pounders, 10 three-pounders and 10 one-pounders, with 215 pounds of powder Interpretations The Council refused to renew Kirkpatrick's lease in its old form. A lease for lives ran as long as any named person lived. Once all the named lives had died, the land fell back to the Company. The Court of Directors had also ordered that no further leases for lives be granted, probably because they tied up Company land for unpredictable lengths of time at fixed rents. The Council converted the holding into the standard 21-year lease. Kirkpatrick kept the land, and the Company regained control of its term and rent. The alarm at Purling's Battery was the first recorded firing from the new battery at Banks's, completed in August 1768. Its 18-pounders were the heaviest guns in the month's account. Two of them now gave the warning signal from the island's newest work. | |
105 | 1769 Guns fired, 18 Pr, 6 Pr, 4 Pr, 3 Pr, 1 Pr, Powder Expend. lb, Powder Expend. oz Brought Over: Guns fired 126, 18 Pr 2, 6 Pr 90, 4 Pr 14, 3 Pr 10, 1 Pr 10, Powder Expend. lb 214, Powder Expend. oz 8 22 Arrived the London Captn. Motley: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 23 A Double Alarm for 5 Ships that passed by: Guns fired 6, 18 Pr 6, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 36, Powder Expend. oz 0 A Double Alarm: Guns fired 11, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 4, 3 Pr 4, 1 Pr 3, Powder Expend. lb 17, Powder Expend. oz 0 Arrived the Queen: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 24 Do. the Tilbury: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 Do. A Dane Ship: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 26 An Alarm for a Ship that pass'd by: Guns fired 6, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Depart. the Duke of Albany: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 29 An Alarm: Guns fired 6, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Arrived the Calcutta: Guns fired 9, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 9, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 30 An Alarm at Prosperous Bay: Guns fired 6, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 2, 3 Pr 2, 1 Pr 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 Powder expended in sundry Services: Guns fired 0, 18 Pr 0, 6 Pr 0, 4 Pr 0, 3 Pr 0, 1 Pr 0, Powder Expend. lb 184, Powder Expend. oz 4 Total: Guns fired 215, 18 Pr 8, 6 Pr 144, 4 Pr 24, 3 Pr 20, 1 Pr 19, Powder Expend. lb 568, Powder Expend. oz 12 15 April 4 Pounders 4 3 Do. 3 2 Do. 16 1 Do. 4 ½ Do. 4 Guns condemned & sent on board the Duke of Albany by Order of the Governor & Council Handspikes Expend. at the Main Fort 5 lb. Kitt for the Long Boat Sails 1 lb. Tallow for the Long Boats 3 lb. Lead Ball to Shoot Goats 4 Cartridge Paper for the Works 1 Quire Match Wrought for Purlings Battery 1 Match expend. at the Main Fort 14 lb. Bitts broke at Do. 4 (signed) Ar. Mitchell | The gunner's account for April 1769 continued from the totals carried forward. Brought forward: 126 guns fired, with 214 pounds 8 ounces of powder 22 April, arrival of the London, Captain Motley: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 23 April, a double alarm for five ships that passed the island: 6 eighteen-pounders fired, with 36 pounds of powder 23 April, arrival of the Queen: 11 guns fired, 4 four-pounders, 4 three-pounders and 3 one-pounders, with 17 pounds of powder 24 April, arrival of the Tilbury: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 24 April, arrival of the Danish ship: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 26 April, an alarm for a ship that passed the island: 6 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 26 April, departure of the Duke of Albany: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 29 April, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 29 April, arrival of the Calcutta: 9 nine-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 30 April, an alarm at Prosperous Bay: 6 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder Powder used in various services, 184 pounds 4 ounces Total: 215 guns fired, comprising 8 eighteen-pounders, 144 nine-pounders, 24 four-pounders, 20 three-pounders and 19 one-pounders, with 568 pounds 12 ounces of powder On 15 April 1769 the following condemned guns were sent on board the Duke of Albany by order of the Governor and Council. 4-pounders, 4 3-pounders, 3 2-pounders, 16 1-pounders, 4 Half-pounders, 4 Handspikes used at the main fort, 5 [...] for the longboat sails, 1 pound Tallow for the longboats, 3 pounds Lead ball for shooting goats, 4 pounds Cartridge paper for the works, 1 quire [...] for Purling's Battery, 1 Slow match used at the main fort, 14 pounds Bits broken at the main fort, 4 Archibald Mitchell signed the account. Interpretations The Danish ship Fredensborg was saluted with nine guns, the same honour given to the Company's own East Indiamen. Courtesy between friendly nations in peacetime required that a foreign merchant ship of standing be greeted like one's own. The salute also showed the 28-gun Dane that the island's batteries were manned and ready. The double alarm for five passing ships on 23 April used the heavy 18-pounders. An unknown squadron sailing past called for the loudest signal the garrison could give, putting every post on guard. The condemned guns sent home as ballast were listed by size: 4-pounders, 3-pounders, 2-pounders, 1-pounders and half-pounders. The Council's earlier return had counted the smallest pieces as swivel guns, light weapons mounted on a pivot and fired by hand. All were relics of the island's earliest defences. They were far too light to harm a modern ship and now went home in the Duke of Albany's hold as scrap iron. | |
106 | The 8 May Sundry's Expended at the Honble. Company's Table in April 1769 3 Bottles Port Wine " 4 6 43 Do. Lisbon 3 4 6 10 Do. Mountain " 15 - 42 Do. Beer " 9 - 23 Gall. Arrack 3 9 - 163¼ lb. Beef 3 8 ¼ 120 lb. Mutton 2 10 - 4 Turkeys 1 " " 23 Fowls 1 14 6 10 Ducks " 15 - 35 lb. Butter 1 15 - 83 lb. Candy 2 1 6 313 lb. Flour 2 16 2 5 Lambs 2 10 - 4 Kids 1 " " 4 Pigs 1 " " £ 28 12 2¼ John Skottowe Dan. Corneille Purling | Sundries used at the Company's table in April 1769 3 bottles of port wine, £0 4s 6d 43 bottles of Lisbon wine, £3 4s 6d 10 bottles of Mountain wine, £0 15s 0d 42 bottles of beer, £0 9s 0d 23 gallons of arrack, £3 9s 0d 163¾ pounds of beef, £3 8s 0¼d 120 pounds of mutton, £2 10s 0d 4 turkeys, £1 0s 0d 23 fowls, £1 14s 6d 10 ducks, £0 15s 0d 35 pounds of butter, £1 15s 0d 83 pounds of sugar candy, £2 1s 6d 313 pounds of flour, £2 16s 2d 5 lambs, £2 10s 0d 4 kids, £1 0s 0d 4 pigs, £1 0s 0d Total, £28 12s 2¼d Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Corneille's signature appeared on the minutes for the first time since his resignation in July 1768. The Council again had three members: the Governor, the restored Lieutenant Governor and Purling. Kirkpatrick's dismissal and Corneille's return had brought the Board back to full strength, without the councillor whose charges had divided it. The Company's table served far more Lisbon wine in April than in any earlier month, 43 bottles against 12 to 24 before. Ten Company ships and a Danish one called at the island during the month, bringing commanders, supercargoes and passengers to the Castle. Fresh lambs, kids and pigs from the Company's own farm joined the usual beef and mutton, a sign of the Governor's effort to entertain visitors well at the height of the season. | |
107 | The 9 May At a Consultation held on Tuesday the 9th day of May 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Daniel Corneille Esq. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed dated the 8th May 1769 We this day Assembled all the Officers of the Garrison and read to them the two Articles under the 25 Paragraph of the Honble. Company's last General Letter, to which they severally Assented We likewise acquainted them with the Augmentation the Company had been pleased to make to their Pay Also informed Messrs. John Bazett and Robert Gurling that the Company had appointed them second Lieutenants in this Garrison Lieut. Thomas Bazett was likewise acquainted with his appointment of £100.. p Year as Superintendent of the Works Mr. William Roberts acting as Adjutant since the death of the late Mr. Jacob, and thinking him a good Man and well qualified, was this day appointed Town Adjutant Agreeable to the Company's Orders for the like appointment We likewise assembled the Civil Servants and acquainted them with the Additions the Honble. Company had been pleased to make to their several Salary's As the vacancy's in the Military Establishment of this Island are temporary filled up by the Governor and Council recommending the same to the Honble. Court of Directors for their approbation, and as the Fees of such Commission, given here by them have not hitherto been Ascertained, We agreed to settle the Fees of Commissions to the Secretary's Office according to the following | The Council met at the Castle on Tuesday 9 May 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 8 May 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Council assembled all the officers of the garrison that day and read them the two articles under the 25th paragraph of the Company's last general letter. Each officer agreed to them in turn. The Council also told them of the increase the Company had made to their pay. The Council informed John Bazett and Robert Gurling that the Company had appointed them second lieutenants in the garrison. Lieutenant Thomas Bazett was told of his appointment as superintendent of the works at £100 a year. William Roberts had acted as adjutant since the death of Solomon Jacobs. The Council judged him a good man and well qualified, and appointed him town adjutant that day, under the Company's orders for such an appointment. The Council also assembled the civil servants and told them of the additions the Company had made to their salaries. Vacancies in the island's military establishment were filled for the time being by the Governor and Council, who then recommended the appointment to the Court of Directors for approval. The fees payable to the Secretary's Office for such commissions had never been settled. The Council therefore agreed to fix them as follows. Interpretations The Court of Directors' packet brought by the Speke reshaped the island's establishment in one stroke. It raised the officers' pay and the civil servants' salaries, and it created the new rank of second lieutenant. It gave Thomas Bazett a fixed salary of £100 a year as superintendent of the works and made the adjutant a permanent town adjutant. Mitchell had recommended Thomas Bazett as his successor as engineer. The new salary marked him as the man who would carry on the works after Mitchell left. The officers were made to hear and accept two articles from the Court's letter before learning of their higher pay. Their assent was formally recorded, man by man. The record did not say what the articles contained. Coming in the same packet that dismissed Kirkpatrick, they probably concerned the officers' conduct and their obedience to the Governor and Council. Binding the officers to them while announcing a pay rise gave the Council both authority and goodwill at once. Robert Gurling's commission connected the new appointments to the waste-land grants of the past winter. He was probably the heir of Onesiphorus Gurling, to whom the lease of the orphans' land had been made out in March 1769. A son of an established planter family was now taken into the garrison as an officer, alongside a Bazett. | |
108 | The 9 May following Regulation viz. Captains at £ 5 - - First Lieut. 3 10 - Second Do. 3 - - Adjutant 3 - - We this day Enlisted John Jacobs to serve the Honble. Company as a Soldier for five Years he appearing to be a good Man we gave him £5.. to buy him Cloaths &c. We this day Granted the following Sets of Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors viz. One Set to Captn. Willm. Hunt for £500.. payable to Mr. Willm. Dawson (or Order) One Set to Mr. George Pelsley for £350.. payable to himself (or Order) One Set to Captn. William Koolbeer of the Dutch Ship Fover Leu for £1206.. payable to himself (or Order) And one Set to Captn. John Howard for £25.. payable to Mrs. Mary Hall (or Order) all drawn at ninety days sight We this day appointed Mr. Hugh Jones to be Superintendent of the Honble. Company's Slaves in the Room of Mr. John Bazett at the Salary of £40.. p Year the usual Allowance for the discharge of that Office | The fees for commissions were fixed as follows. Captain, £5 0s 0d First lieutenant, £3 10s 0d Second lieutenant, £3 0s 0d Adjutant, £3 0s 0d The Council enlisted John Jacobs that day to serve the Company as a soldier for five years. He seemed a good man, and the Council gave him £5 0s 0d to buy clothes and other necessaries. The Council also granted the following sets of bills of exchange that day, drawn on the Court of Directors. 1 set to Captain William Hunt for £300 0s 0d, payable to Mr William Downes or his order 1 set to Mr George Tilsley for £350 0s 0d, payable to himself or his order 1 set to Captain William Rolbeer of the Dutch ship Twee Leeuwen for £1,206 0s 0d, payable to himself or his order 1 set to Captain John Howard for £25 0s 0d, payable to Mrs Mary Hall or her order All drawn at 90 days after sight The Council appointed Hugh Jones that day as superintendent of the Company's slaves in place of John Bazett, at a salary of £40 a year, the usual allowance for that post. Interpretations The commission fees made the island's officers pay for their own appointments, as officers did in the King's army. Until now the Secretary's Office had issued commissions without any fixed charge. The scale rose with rank, from £3 for a second lieutenant or adjutant to £5 for a captain. The fees helped pay for the secretary's work in drawing up and recording each commission. They were also a reminder that a commission was a valuable grant from the Company. The Council drew a bill for £1,206 0s 0d in favour of the master of a Dutch ship. Captain Rolbeer had evidently paid that sum in coin into the treasury and taken a bill on the Company's directors in London. A foreign captain trusted the East India Company's credit enough to carry his money home as a bill on it. The treasury gained over £1,200 in coin at a time when it badly needed specie. Nationality did not matter in such dealings. A Dutch captain's dollars paid the island's garrison as well as any Englishman's. John Bazett gave up the superintendence of the Company's slaves on his appointment as second lieutenant. Hugh Jones succeeded him at a salary of £40 a year, somewhat less than Bazett had drawn. A man appointed to a minor post of this kind often had to prove himself before his pay was raised. | |
109 | 1769 Bought of Captn. William Hunt the following Salt Provision viz. The Honble. Company Dr. To 9 Casks Beef Contg. ea. 42 Ps. is 378 @ 2/ £ 37 16 - Recd. for Capt. Wm. Hunt (signed) G. Pelsley St. Helena 9 May 1769 John Skottowe Dan. Corneille Purling At a Consultation held on Monday the 15 day of May 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Daniel Corneille Esq. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 9 May 1769 Thursday the 11 Sailed the Honble. Company's Ship Tilbury for England Friday the 12 Do. The Dutch Ship Fover Leu for Rotterdam This Day Arrived a Dane Ship from Bengal called the Nyeemps Oeste Captain Bregge burthen 600 Tons carrys 20 Guns and 80 Men laden with Bengal Goods bound to Copenhagen Sutton Isacke Soldier being missed ever since the sailing of the Tilbury we suppose he deserted upon that Ship Counted and examined the Honble. Company's Cash for the Month of April last, which is as follows viz. | The Council bought the following salt provisions from Captain William Hunt. 9 casks of beef containing 42 pieces each, 378 pieces at 2s a piece, £37 16s 0d George Tilsley signed the bill on Captain Hunt's behalf at St Helena on 9 May 1769. Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Purling signed the minutes. The Council met at the Castle on Monday 15 May 1769. Governor Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 9 May 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Company's ship Tilbury sailed for England on Thursday 11 May. The Dutch ship Twee Leeuwen sailed for Rotterdam on Friday 12 May. A Danish ship from Bengal arrived on 15 May, the Nye [...], commanded by Captain [...]. She was of 600 tons, carried [...] guns and 80 men, and was laden with Bengal goods bound for Copenhagen. Sutton Isaacs, a soldier, had been missing since the Tilbury sailed. The Council supposed he had deserted in that ship. The Council then counted and examined the Company's cash for the month of April. Interpretations Sutton Isaacs was the first soldier known to have escaped the island that season. Purling had mustered the Tilbury's crew on 29 April 1769 and found no deserter on board. The muster was taken while the ship lay in the road. Isaacs must have slipped aboard afterwards, in the days before she sailed on 11 May. The search could only catch men already hidden when it was made. A soldier who waited until the last night before departure, perhaps helped by sailors in the crew, could still get away. Isaacs had served in the First Company and appeared on every pay list of the past year. The Company again bought salt beef from a departing commander at 2s a piece. Captain Hunt's agent, George Tilsley, also took a bill of exchange for £350 0s 0d on 9 May. Selling surplus stores to the island and taking payment in bills on London allowed commanders and their officers to send their profits home safely. | |
110 | The 15 May Cash Dr. 1769 April 1st To Balance remaining£ 6472 2 1½ 3d To Ship Harcourt 6 6 6 8 To Ship Duke of Richmond 6 8 6 To Ship Clive 12 15 2 To Ship Asia 7 5 9 To Ship True Briton 19 7 5 18th To Ship Pacifick 7 " 10 To Ship Duke of Albany 6 " 3 19 To Exchange for 9 Sets of Bills drawn upon the Honble. Court of Directors payable as follows viz. One Set to John Purling Esq. £ 760 - - One Do. to Do. 100 - - One Do. to Robt. Wood Esq. 300 - - One Do. to Capt. Thos. Riddell 324 7 - One Do. to Geo. Stainforth Esq. 112 10 - One Do. to Mr. Allen Auld 400 - - One Do. to the Revd. Mr. Willm. Lee 42 - - One Do. to Miss Mary Bazett 100 - - One Do. to Mr. Art. Dobson 67 6 - 2406 3 - 28th To Ship Queen 8 10 4 £ 8951 19 9½ | The Company's cash account for April 1769 recorded the following receipts. 1 April 1769, balance remaining, £6,472 2s 1½d 4 April 1769, from the ship Harcourt, £6 6s 6d 8 April 1769, from the ship Duke of Richmond, £6 8s 6d From the ship Clive, £12 15s 2d From the ship Asia, £7 5s 9d From the ship True Briton, £19 7s 5d 18 April 1769, from the ship Pacific, £7 0s 10d From the ship Duke of Albany, £6 0s 3d 29 April 1769, received in exchange for 9 sets of bills drawn on the Court of Directors, payable as follows: One set to John Purling, £760 0s 0d One set to John Purling, £100 0s 0d One set to Robert Wood, £500 0s 0d One set to Captain Thomas Riddell, £324 7s 0d One set to George Stainforth, £112 10s 0d One set to Mr Allen Auld, £400 0s 0d One set to the Reverend Mr William [...], £42 0s 0d One set to Miss Mary Bazett, £100 0s 0d One set to Mr Abel Dobson, £67 6s 0d Total for the bills, £2,406 3s 0d 28 April 1769, from the ship Queen, £8 10s 4d Total received, £8,951 19s 5½d Interpretations The bills drawn on 29 April 1769 brought £2,406 3s 0d into the treasury in a single day. That was more than everything the island had received from rents, warehouse sales and ships in the whole of the previous quarter. Every ship of the homeward fleet also paid a small fee before sailing, but those sums together came to well under £100. Bills of exchange, not trade, kept the island in coin. When officials, officers and commanders wanted to send money safely to London, the Company's treasury on St Helena gained the specie it needed to pay its garrison. | |
111 | 1769 Per Contra Cr. 1769 April 14th By Account Current London for 1 Chest Treasure consigned to Bencoolen p Ship Duke of Albany as p Consultation this day £ 1000 - - 30th By Balance remaining viz. In Specie£ 7412 4 9½ In Cash Notes 539 15 - 7951 19 9½ £ 8951 19 9½ John Skottowe Dan. Corneille Purling | The payments side of the cash account for April 1769 recorded the treasure sent to Bencoolen and the balance carried forward. Paid 14 April 1769, charged to the London account for 1 chest of treasure consigned to Bencoolen in the ship Duke of Albany, as recorded in the consultation of that day, £1,000 0s 0d 30 April 1769, balance remaining in coin, £7,412 4s 9½d 30 April 1769, balance remaining in cash notes, £539 15s 0d Total balance, £7,951 19s 9½d Total, £8,951 19s 9½d Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The £1,000 0s 0d sent to Fort Marlborough was charged to the London account, not to the island's own expenses. St Helena acted only as a channel. The treasure belonged to the Company in general and was passed on to Bencoolen, where dollars and rupees were needed to buy pepper. Charging it to London kept the island's accounts clear. The Court of Directors would see the shipment as a transfer between settlements, not as money spent on St Helena. Even after shipping £1,000 to Bencoolen, the treasury's coin rose from £5,932 in March to £7,412 by the end of April. The bills of exchange drawn on 29 April had more than made up the loss. Kirkpatrick's £1,018 8s 0d and Captain Rolbeer's £1,206 0s 0d, both paid in early May, would raise it further in the next month's account. The homeward season had partly refilled the chest that the winter's wages and works had drained. | |
112 | The 19 May At a Consultation held on Friday the 19 day of May 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Daniel Corneille Esq. Lieut. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed dated the 15 May 1769 Tuesday the 16 Died Mrs. Elizabeth Greentree Widow The ten working days allowed by Charter Party for unloading the Ship Speke being expired, we gave Capt. Jeffery Jackson sailing Orders in Writing to make the best of his way to Canton in China, according to the Orders he has received from the Honorable the Court of Directors, We likewise gave him the following Letter to the President and Council of Canton together with the Duplicates of those we sent by the Ship Duke of Albany, to the several Presidency's in India To the President and other Supra Cargoes of Council at Canton Gentlemen Your favour under date 13th December last together with a List of Ships that had been at Canton were duly received Enclosed we transmit you the Ship Speke's Charterparty Victualling Bill Manifest of Goods Captn. Jackson's instructions and a Packet from the Honble. Court of Directors likewise a List of Ships that have touched here since our Advices of last Year We request you will be pleased to send Us ten hundred of the same sort of Sugar Candy we received this Year that proving very good, and continue supplying Us Yearly with the same quantity until desired to the Contrary | The Council met at the Castle on Friday 19 May 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 15 May 1769 were read, approved and signed. Mrs Elizabeth Greentree, a widow, died on Tuesday 16 May. The ten working days allowed by the charter party for unloading the Speke had expired. The Council therefore gave Captain Jeffery Jackson written sailing orders. He was to make his way as fast as he could to Canton in China, following the orders he had received from the Court of Directors. The Council also gave him a letter for the President and Council at Canton, together with duplicates of the letters it had sent to the presidencies in India by the Duke of Albany. The letter was addressed to the President and the other supercargoes in council at Canton. The Council acknowledged their letter of 13 December 1768 and the list of ships that had been at Canton. With it the Council sent the Speke's charter party, victualling bill and manifest of goods, Captain Jackson's instructions and a packet from the Court of Directors. It also enclosed a list of the ships that had called at St Helena since its letter of the previous year. The Council asked Canton to send ten tons of the same kind of sugar candy received that year, which had proved very good. It asked them to go on supplying the same quantity every year until told otherwise. Interpretations The Speke was allowed ten working days at St Helena, five times the two days granted to the Duke of Albany. Her charter party evidently provided for a longer stay, perhaps because she carried more stores for the island or had to land the new Lieutenant Governor and the Court's dispatches. Once the days had run out, the Council sent her on at once. Every extra day would have cost the Company demurrage. The order for ten tons of sugar candy a year confirmed what the season's invoices had shown. The island had received nearly 16,000 pounds of candy in the China ships, roughly seven tons. The Council found it of good quality and asked for even more as a standing order. Candy went into the punch served at the Castle and was sold to the servants and inhabitants. A fixed yearly supply spared the Council from writing for it each season. It also let Canton plan the island's order alongside the Company's own cargoes for London. | |
113 | 1769 The several Letters directed to India we request you will forward by the first opportunity to their respective Presidency's We are Gentlemen Your most Obedt. humble Servants (signed) John Skottowe Danl. Corneille Mattw. Purling St. Helena 19th May 1769 In consequence of the Orders we received from the Secret Committee of the Honble. East India Company for searching the Ship Speke for illicit Trade we gave Mr. William Wrangham & to Capt. Jackson the following Orders viz. To Mr. William Wrangham Factor Island St. Helena 19th May 1769 By Order of the Governor and Council You are hereby Ordered to repair immediately on board the Ship Speke and to make the strictest Search you possibly can for all Clandestine Trade illicitly Shipped on board said Ship, such as Lead, Iron, Steel, and all wollen Cloth or other Goods more than the respective Privileges of the Capt. Officers and Petit Officers Agreable to the Copy of the Manifest of said Ship hereby delivered you; And in case you find any illicit Trade more than is specified in their respective Privileges You are to seize the same and lodge them in the Company's Stores and to make Report of your proceedings therein to Us on Monday next (signed) John Skottowe Danl. Corneille Mattw. Purling | The Council asked the Canton council to forward the letters addressed to India to the presidencies by the first opportunity. Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the letter at St Helena on 19 May 1769. The Secret Committee of the East India Company had ordered the Speke to be searched for illicit trade. In obedience to those orders, the Council issued the following instructions to William Wrangham and to Captain Jackson. The order to William Wrangham, factor, was dated at St Helena on 19 May 1769 and issued by order of the Governor and Council. Wrangham was to go on board the Speke at once and search her as strictly as he could for any goods smuggled on board illegally. These included lead, iron, steel, red and white wine, and any other goods beyond the privilege allowed to the captain, officers and petty officers under the copy of the ship's manifest given to him. If he found any illicit trade beyond what their privileges allowed, he was to seize it and lodge it in the Company's stores. He was to report what he had done to the Council the following Monday. Governor Skottowe, Corneille and Purling signed the order. Interpretations Every commander and officer of an East Indiaman was allowed a fixed amount of cargo space for private trade, known as his privilege. Officers commonly loaded far more than their allowance, smuggling goods out to sell at a profit in India or China. Lead, iron, steel and wine fetched high prices in the East and could be passed off as ship's stores. The Secret Committee, the small inner group of Directors that handled confidential business, had evidently received information that the Speke carried such goods. It ordered her searched at St Helena, the last Company station before Canton, where the excess could still be seized. The Council chose William Wrangham, the factor and assistant to the Governor, to make the search instead of a soldier or the storekeeper. A factor understood merchandise and manifests and could judge which goods fell within an officer's privilege. Anything seized was to go into the Company's own stores. Smuggled goods were forfeit to the Company, so a search that found them added to the island's stock as well as punishing the officers concerned. | |
114 | The 19 May To Captn. Jeffrey Jackson Commander of Ship Speke Island St. Helena 19th May 1769 By Order of the Governor and Council The Secret Committee of the Honble. East India Company having received information that a large Quantity of Lead, Iron Steel red and White Lead besides other Goods were illicitly Shipped on board your Ship before your departure from Gravesend We therefore in consequence of their Instructions have Ordered Mr. William Wrangham Factor to repair on board your Ship, and to make the strictest Search for all such Clandestine Trade more than your Privilege as well as that of your Officers and Petit Officers as specified in the Manifest And you are hereby required as well as your Officers not to molest or interrupt the said Mr. Willm. Wrangham in the execution of the Orders he has received from Us as you will answer the Contrary (signed) John Skottowe Daniel Corneille Mattw. Purling John Skottowe Dan. Corneille Purling | The second order was addressed to Captain Jeffery Jackson, commander of the Speke, and dated at St Helena on 19 May 1769, by order of the Governor and Council. The Secret Committee of the East India Company had been told that a large quantity of lead, iron, steel, and red and white lead, along with other goods, had been smuggled on board the Speke before she left Gravesend. Acting on its instructions, the Council had ordered William Wrangham, factor, to go on board and search as strictly as he could for all such secret trade. He was to look for anything beyond the privilege allowed to Jackson, his officers and petty officers, as set out in the manifest. Jackson and his officers were ordered not to hinder or obstruct Wrangham in carrying out the Council's orders, and they would answer for it if they did. Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the order. Governor Skottowe, Corneille and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The order to Jackson named the goods and the place of loading: lead, iron, steel, and red and white lead, put aboard at Gravesend. The Secret Committee had specific information, probably from an informer in the Thames or among the ship's own people. Red lead and white lead were the pigments used in paint, and both sold well in the East. Metals and paint were heavy, valuable cargo that could easily be hidden in the hold among the Company's own stores. By naming them, the Council told Jackson plainly that the Company already knew what to look for. The Council warned Jackson and his officers, in writing, not to obstruct the search. A commander was master of his own ship, and a factor coming aboard to rummage through the hold could easily be delayed, misled or kept out of certain compartments. The written order made any interference a direct defiance of the Governor and Council. The commander would have to answer for it to the Court of Directors. | |
115 | The 22 May At a Consultation held on Monday the 22 day of May 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esq. Governor Daniel Corneille Esq. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 19 May 1769 Yesterday Sailed the Dane Ship Nyeemps Oeste for Copenhagen The Executors to the last Will and Testament of Mrs. Elizabeth Greentree Widow deceased, this day presented the said Will desiring the same might be proved which was accordingly done upon the Oaths of the Witnesses thereto, the Will is as follows viz. In the Name of God Amen I, Elizabeth Greentree of the Island of St. Helena Widow, being weak of Body but of sound Memory and Understanding (Blessed be God) do this twenty sixth day of April, in the ninth Year of the Reign of George the third, and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty nine make and publish this my last Will and Testament in Manner and Form following (that is to say) First, I give and bequeath unto my Nephew Richd. Goodwin the Sum of One hundred Pounds. Item, I give and bequeath unto my Nephew John Goodwin the like Sum of One hundred Pounds. Item, I give and bequeath unto my Niece Margaret Kennet the Sum of fifty Pounds. Item, I give and bequeath unto Richard, Charles and Elizabeth Goodwin, the Children of my Nephew, the said Richd. Goodwin the Sum of fifty Pounds each; And my meaning is, and I hereby Order and direct that the above Legacies or Sums of Money hereby bequeathed to the said Richard, Charles and Elizabeth Goodwin be paid unto the said Richard Goodwin as in Trust for his the said Children, until they, each or every of them shall attain the full and perfect Age of twenty one Years, or to the time of his, her or their Marriage, he the said Richard Goodwin | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 22 May 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 19 May 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Danish ship sailed for Copenhagen on 21 May. The executors of Mrs Elizabeth Greentree, a widow who had died, presented her will that day and asked for it to be proved. The Council proved it on the oaths of the witnesses. The will read as follows. Elizabeth Greentree, a widow of St Helena, made her will on 26 April 1769. She was weak in body but of sound mind and understanding. She left £100 0s 0d to her nephew Richard Goodwin and the same sum to her nephew John Goodwin. She left £50 0s 0d to her niece Margaret [...]. She also left £50 0s 0d each to Richard, Charles and Elizabeth Goodwin, the children of her nephew Richard Goodwin. These legacies were to be paid to their father to hold in trust for the children until each reached the age of 21 or married. Richard Goodwin was to give Interpretations The Council itself proved the will. In England a will was proved in a church court, but St Helena had none. The Governor and Council exercised that authority in the Company's name. Proving the will on the witnesses' oaths confirmed that the document was genuine and gave the executors legal power to settle the estate. Only then could they collect debts, sell property and pay the legacies. Elizabeth Greentree's bequests went to the Goodwin family, her nephews and their children. Richard Goodwin had just been chosen sheriff by the Council on 27 March 1769. John Goodwin, a writer on the civil list, was probably the other nephew. The widow's fortune passed into another of the island's leading families. The legacies to the young Goodwins were held in trust by their father, a common safeguard for minors at a time when the Council was already demanding accounts from the executors of orphans' estates. | |
116 | 22 May giving sufficient Security for the Payment of the same to my Executors herein after mentioned: And to the Intent that all the above respective Legacies amounting in the whole to the Sum of four hundred Pounds may in no respect interfere with my own Estate, my Will and meaning is that the same be paid to the Legatees already mentioned respectively out of the Estate which, after my Decease, is to remain and revert to and with the Heirs of my Husband, the late Thomas Greentree Deceased, by Virtue of a Power to me given, and pursuant to the Meaning of the last Will and Testament of him my said [...] Husband deceased, to dispose by Will, out of such Estate of the Sum of four hundred pounds exclusively. Item, I give and bequeath unto Miss Mary Griffeth the Sum of thirty Pounds. Item, I give and bequeath unto Miss Mary Swaites, and unto Miss Anne Swaites the Sum of thirty Pounds each. Item, I give and bequeath unto my God-Daughter Elizabeth Swaites the Sum of forty Pounds. Item, I give and bequeath unto John Swaites the Sum of thirty Pounds. Item, I give and bequeath unto Mrs. Elizabeth Powell the Sum of twenty Pounds, and unto Mr. James Powell, Husband of the said Elizabeth the Sum of ten Pounds Item, I give and bequeath unto Richard, Charles and Elizabeth Goodwin Children of my Nephew the s. Richard Goodwin the Sum of thirty Pounds each; and my meaning is that the three last mentioned Legacies or Sums of Money be paid into the Hands of the said Richard Goodwin, he giving security for the same to my Executors hereinafter mentioned, Which Money or Sums of Money I direct to be paid to them or each of them respectively at the time of his, her or their attaining the full Age of twenty one Years or Marriage. Item, I give and bequeath unto John Skottowe Esqr. Governor of this Island and to his Wife Mrs. Mary Skottowe the Sum of ten Pounds each to buy Rings. Item, I give and bequeath unto Matthew Purling Esqr. whom I have requested to be one of the Executors of this my last Will and Testament | Richard Goodwin was to give sufficient security to the executors named later in the will for payment of those sums. The legacies came to £400 0s 0d in all. They were not to touch Elizabeth Greentree's own estate. After her death, that estate was to pass back to the heirs of her late husband, Thomas Greentree, under the power his will had given her to dispose of £400 0s 0d of it, and no more. The legacies were to be paid out of that £400 alone. She left £30 0s 0d to Miss Mary Griffith. She left £30 0s 0d each to Miss Mary Swales and Miss Anne Swales, and £40 0s 0d to her goddaughter Elizabeth Swales. She left £30 0s 0d to John Swales. She left £20 0s 0d to Mrs Elizabeth Powell and £10 0s 0d to her husband, James Powell. She left a further £30 0s 0d each to Richard, Charles and Elizabeth Goodwin, the children of her nephew Richard Goodwin. These three legacies were to be paid to their father, who was to give security for them to the executors. Each child was to receive the money on reaching the age of 21 or on marriage. She left £10 0s 0d each to Governor John Skottowe and his wife, Mrs Mary Skottowe, to buy mourning rings. She also left a bequest to Matthew Purling, whom she had asked to act as one of the executors of her will, Interpretations Elizabeth Greentree held her husband's estate only for her lifetime. Thomas Greentree's will had allowed her to leave £400 0s 0d as she wished, and the rest was to pass back to his heirs when she died. This was a common way for a man to provide for his widow while keeping the family property intact for his own children. Her will kept carefully within that limit. All the legacies came from the £400 0s 0d, leaving her husband's estate untouched. James Greentree, who petitioned as executor of Thomas Greentree's will on 17 April 1769, and his sons James and Walter, named on the Sandy Bay lease that day, were evidently the heirs who would inherit the rest. Leaving money for mourning rings was a customary way of remembering friends and people of standing. Each ring was usually engraved with the dead person's name and the date of death and worn in their memory. The bequests to the Governor and his wife, and to Purling as executor, placed the widow among the island's leading families. James Powell, the storekeeper, and his wife were also among her beneficiaries. | |
117 | 1769 the Sum of ten Pounds. Item, I further give unto my Nephew the said Richard Goodwin my Goat Range lying and situate in Peak Gut together with my Goats thereon, also one Silver Bowl, one large Silver Salver and six Silver Salts. Item, I give unto my Nephew the said John Goodwin my other Goat Range in Lemon Valley together with all my Goats thereunto belonging, also one Silver Coffee Pot. Item, I give unto Lieut. James Greentree one Silver Mug, and unto Thomas Greentree his Brother one Boy Slave, named Joshua. Item, I give unto Connor my Man Slave whom my late Husband the s. Thos. Greentree Deceased, hath by his last Will and Testament, given his Freedom to at my decease, five Pounds, And I give to my Woman Slave, Lucy, her Freedom immediately upon my Decease. Item, I give unto my Woman Slave, Margaret, Daughter of the said Lucy her Freedom, to Commence from the day of my decease, And I also bequeath unto her, the s. Margaret the Sum of fifty Pounds, which Legacy or Sum of fifty Pounds I direct to be lodged in the Hands of my Nephew the said Richard Goodwin as long as She the s. Margaret shall remain on this Island, he paying to her or to her Assigns thereout an Interest at the Rate of five Pounds p Cent. p Annum: But in Case that she the said Margaret shall at any time hereafter leave the Island, then and in such Case I direct that my Nephew the s. Richard Goodwin do pay unto her the full Sum of fifty Pounds as above mentioned; And in Case of her death upon this Island, then I order that the s. Legacy of fifty Pounds by me bequeathed to her the s. Margaret do remain and revert to and with my Nephew the s. Richard Goodwin, his Heirs or Assigns. And in consideration of the Honesty and Fidelity of all my Slaves in general, I hereby Order and direct that none of them, neither Man, Woman, Boy or Girl be put up at Auction or Sale or Sold in any Publick Manner, leaving to them and every one of them the Choice of their Masters or Mistresses, who are to buy them or any one of them at the Valuation of two Men indifferently chosen by my Executors herein after named. And lastly, as to all the Rest, Residue and Remainder of my Estate and Effects of what nature and Quality soever and wheresoever I give and bequeath the same unto my Nephews the said Richd. and John Goodwin | Purling was to receive £10 0s 0d. She left her nephew Richard Goodwin her goat range in Peak Gut, with all her goats there. She also left him a silver bowl, a large silver salver and six silver salt cellars. She left her nephew John Goodwin her other goat range, in Lemon Valley, with all her goats there and a silver coffee pot. She left Lieutenant James Greentree a silver mug. To his brother Thomas Greentree she left a slave boy named Joshua. Her husband's will had granted his slave Connor his freedom on her death. She left Connor £5 0s 0d. She granted her slave Lucy her freedom immediately on her own death. She also granted her slave Margaret, Lucy's daughter, her freedom from the day of her death, and left her £50 0s 0d. The money was to be held by Richard Goodwin for as long as Margaret stayed on the island, and he was to pay her interest on it at 5 per cent a year. If Margaret ever left the island, Goodwin was to pay her the full £50 0s 0d. If she died on the island, the legacy was to go to Goodwin and his heirs. In recognition of the honesty and loyalty of all her slaves, she ordered that none of them, man, woman, boy or girl, should be put up for auction or sold in any public way. Each was to choose his or her own master or mistress. The chosen owner was to buy the slave at a value fixed by two impartial men appointed by her executors. Finally, she left the rest of her estate and possessions of every kind, wherever they were, to her nephews Richard and John Goodwin, Interpretations The will showed how a slave owner on St Helena could grant freedom and still bind the freed person to the island. Lucy was freed outright. Her daughter Margaret was freed with a legacy of £50 0s 0d, but the capital stayed in Richard Goodwin's hands and paid her only interest while she remained. If she died on the island, the money went to Goodwin. A freed woman thus gained a small income, while the sum that might have bought her independence stayed with the white family unless she left St Helena. The clause forbidding a public sale of her other slaves was unusual. Slaves in an estate were normally auctioned to the highest bidder, which often split families and sent people to unknown owners. Letting each slave choose a new master or mistress, at a price fixed by impartial valuers, gave them some control over where they went and protected them from the auction block. The widow framed it as a reward for their honesty and loyalty. They nonetheless remained property to be sold, only in a gentler way. The goat ranges in Peak Gut and Lemon Valley were tracts of rough ground where goats grazed half wild. Goats were the island's most numerous livestock. Their meat and skins were a valuable part of a planter's estate, and the ranges passed by will like any other property. | |
118 | 22 May to be equally divided between them Share and Share alike. Be it Remembered and I hereby order and direct that, for the better Security and intire Indemnity of my Executors herein after mentioned, the Legacy of fifty Pounds by me bequeathed in this my last Will and Testament to my Niece the s. Margaret Marriot which is to be paid to her out of the Estate that, after my Decease, is to revert to the Heirs of my First Husband, the late Thomas Greentree decd. as by me above devised, is to be paid to her independant of and to be in no manner subject to the Controul of her Husband, and my meaning is, and I hereby further order and direct that, on payment of the s. Legacy or Sum of fifty Pounds to her the s. Margaret Marriot, her Receipt for the same to my Executors or their Assigns shall be to them a sufficient Release or discharge of the s. Legacy or Sum of fifty Pounds. I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Matthew Purling Esquire with my Nephews the s. Richard and John Goodwin Executors of this my last Will and Testament to see and take Care that the same be performed according to my true Intent and meaning. And I hereby revoke and Annull all former Wills by me heretofore made, declaring this to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I the s. Elizabeth Greentree have to this my last Will and Testament contained in six Sides of Paper set my hand and Seal the Day and Year abovewritten. Signed, sealed published and declared by the above named Elizabeth Greentree, to be her last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our Names, as Witnesses in the Presence of the Testatrix (Signed) Henry Bagg Jno. Howard Wm. Mahony (Signed) Eliz. Greentree The Storekeeper this day delivered the following Account of Stores short received from Ship Speke viz. | The residue was to be divided equally between Richard and John Goodwin, share and share alike. She further directed that her executors be protected in paying the legacy of £50 0s 0d to her niece, Margaret Marriott. That legacy was to come out of the estate that would pass after her death to her late husband's heirs, as she had arranged. It was to be paid to Margaret Marriott for her own separate use and was not to be subject to her husband's control. Her own receipt to the executors would be a full discharge for the payment. She appointed Matthew Purling and her nephews Richard and John Goodwin as executors, to see that her wishes were carried out. She revoked all earlier wills and declared this to be her last will. She signed and sealed it on the date given at the start. The will filled six sides of paper. Elizabeth Greentree signed the will. Henry Bazett, John Howard and Phillip Mahoney signed it as witnesses, in her presence and in each other's. The storekeeper delivered that day an account of the goods received short from the Speke. Interpretations The widow made sure that the legacy to her niece would belong to Margaret Marriott herself and not pass to her husband. Under English law at the time, a married woman's money and goods became her husband's on marriage. A legacy paid to a wife could simply be taken by him. A testator could prevent this only by stating that the money was for the wife's "separate use". Elizabeth Greentree evidently wished her niece to have something of her own, and the clause protected the gift from Marriott's husband and his creditors. The witnesses were men of standing on the island. Henry Bazett was captain of the Second Company, John Howard captain of the Fourth Company and Phillip Mahoney clerk of the peace. Their signatures made the will hard to challenge. When it came before the Council for proof, the witnesses could swear to its signing, and their rank gave their oaths weight. | |
119 | 1769 Account of Stores short received from Ship Speke viz. 30 Scrubing Brushes 12 Backing do. 25 Shoe do. 25 Mops 6 Hair Sieves Damaged and good for nothing, the Package being dry and in good Order, the Hair Brooms and Cloth Brushes which were in the same Package were good, which appears as if those damaged must be so when Packed 14 Labour. Baskets Damaged by wet and good for nothing 24 lb Cordage short weight etc. by drying, as the parcels agreed to Number and Dimensions as p Invoice 12 Blistered Steel, short weight 3 Iron Pots broke Weight 116 2 Crucibles 9 Wine Glasses 2 Beer do. 1 Tumbler 2 Earthen Milk Pans found broke upon opening the Packages, which were in good Order 3 Bushels Salt, short measure occasioned by Leakage, the Casks being in good Order 6 1/2 Blank Keys for Stock Locks, damaged and good for nothing, occasioned by Salammoniac being pack'd in the Cask with them 2 Dutch Caps 2 Pick Ax Helves found short, upon opening the Packages which were in good order 5 Ashen Handspikes 10 Labour. Baskets 9 Birch Brooms Wainst. Boards 3 Chald. Bushels 16 Coals 9 Single Deals 31 Round Iron Shot for 18 Pdrs. 2 Pr. Jacks 2 Casks of 1/2 Grape Shot short delivered Wine viz. No. 6 - 1 Hhd Red Port Wine Gage 63 Galls. wants to fill 1 1/4 Galls. Recd. 61 3/4 Galls. | Account of stores received short from the ship Speke Damaged and useless, although the package was dry and in good order; the hair brooms and cloth brushes in the same package were sound, so these goods were evidently damaged when packed 30 scrubbing brushes 12 blacking brushes 25 shoe brushes 25 mops 6 hair sieves Damaged by wet and useless 14 labourers' baskets Received short in weight through drying, the coils agreeing in number and size with the invoice 244 pounds of cordage Received short in weight 12 pounds of blistered steel Found broken when the packages were opened, although the packages were in good order 3 iron pots weighing 116 pounds 2 crucibles 9 wine glasses 2 beer glasses 1 tumbler 2 earthenware milk pans Received short in measure through leakage, the casks being in good order 3 bushels of salt Damaged and useless through being packed in the same cask as sal ammoniac 6 blank keys for stock locks Found missing from the packages when opened, although the packages were in good order 2 Dutch caps 2 pickaxe handles Short delivered 5 ash handspikes 10 labourers' baskets 9 birch brooms 4 wainscot boards 3 [...] 16 [...] of coal 9 single deals 31 round iron shot for 18-pounders 2 [...] jacks 2 casks of [...] grapeshot Wine Hogshead number 6 of red port, gauged at 63 gallons, short of full by 1¼ gallons Received, 61¾ gallons Interpretations The storekeeper's careful comparison exposed bad packing in the London warehouse. The hair brooms and cloth brushes in the same package arrived sound, while the scrubbing brushes, mops and sieves were spoiled. The damage must therefore have been done before the package was closed. The blank keys were ruined by sal ammoniac packed in the same cask. Sal ammoniac drew moisture from the air and corroded iron. Packing it with keys was a plain mistake. By recording the cause of each loss, Powell placed responsibility on the Company's packers in London instead of on the ship or the island's stores. Thirty-one round shot for the 18-pounders were missing from the delivery. These were the heaviest guns on the island, mounted at Purling's Battery and the other new works. Shot of that size could not be cast on St Helena. A shortfall had to be reported home and made good by a later ship. | |
120 | 22 May No. 4. 1 Hhd. Mountain Gages 63 Gallons wants to fill 1 1/4 Galls. No. 5. 1 do. do. 63 do. do. 1 1/4 do. 126 2 1/2 Recd. 123 1/2 Galls. No. 1. 1 Hhd. Lisbon Wine Gages 63 Galls. wants to fill 1 1/4 Galls. No. 3. 1 do. do. do. 63 1/2 do. do. 1 1/4 do. 126 1/2 2 1/2 Recd. 124 Galls. No. 2. 1 Hhd. Lisbon Wine leaked all out, and upon examining the Cask with the Company's Cooper found one of the Staves very bad and open grain'd where the Wine had leak'd through, and that it had been rubb'd over in that part with Tallow and Chalk, which the Cooper says is often done to staves that are bad in order to prevent its leaking. (Signed) St. Helena 22 May 1769 James Powell Storekeepr. Pursuant to the Orders given to Mr. William Wrangham on the 15 instant for going on board the Ship Speke to search for Clandestine Trade, he this day made the following Report viz. To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. Council Worshipful Sir and Sirs Agreeable to your Orders I repaired on board the Speke to search for Clandestine Trade, and found nothing more than what was specified in the Manifest you delivered me of the Captain and | The wine shortfalls from the Speke continued with the Mountain and Lisbon wine. Hogshead number 4 of Mountain wine, gauged at 63 gallons, short of full by 1¼ gallons Hogshead number 5 of Mountain wine, gauged at 63 gallons, short of full by 1¼ gallons Total gauged, 126 gallons Total short, 2½ gallons Received, 123½ gallons Hogshead number 1 of Lisbon wine, gauged at 63 gallons, short of full by 1¼ gallons Hogshead number 3 of Lisbon wine, gauged at 63½ gallons, short of full by 1¼ gallons Total gauged, 126½ gallons Total short, 2½ gallons Received, 124 gallons Hogshead number 2 of Lisbon wine had leaked away completely. The Company's cooper examined the cask and found one of its staves very bad and open-grained, where the wine had leaked through. That part had been smeared over with tallow and chalk. The cooper said this was often done to bad staves to stop them leaking. James Powell signed the account as storekeeper at St Helena on 22 May 1769. Under the orders given to him on 19 May to go on board the Speke and search for illicit trade, William Wrangham made the following report that day to Governor John Skottowe and the Council. Wrangham reported that he had gone on board the Speke as ordered to search for illicit trade. He had found nothing beyond what was set down in the manifest the Council had given him of the captain's and officers' Interpretations The cooper's examination showed that the empty hogshead had been doctored before it was filled. A cask with a faulty stave should have been rejected by the cooper in London. Instead, the weak spot had been covered with tallow and chalk, enough to hold the wine for a time but not for months at sea. By recording the cooper's opinion, Powell placed the loss on the suppliers in England and not on the ship's crew or the island's warehouse. Wrangham's search found nothing, despite the Secret Committee's specific information about lead, iron, steel and paint loaded at Gravesend. The goods may never have been shipped. They may have been landed or sold elsewhere before the ship reached St Helena, or hidden too well for a single factor to find. Jackson and his officers had also received the Council's written order not to obstruct the search, which warned them it was coming. A thorough search of a large East Indiaman's hold could take days. The report closed the matter for St Helena, but the Secret Committee would receive it and judge for itself. | |
121 | 1769 Officers Privileges except 35 Chests of Wine belonging to the Captain and Chief Mate, and five Cases of Clocks belonging to the Chief Mate. I am Worshipful Sir and Sirs Your most Obedient Servant (Signed) St. Helena 22 May 1769 Willm. Wrangham In consequence of Mr. Wrangham's Report we sent for Captn. Jackson and Mr. Tod and enquired of them how that quantity of Wine and the Cases of Clocks more than were mentioned in the Company's Manifest came on board. Captn. Jackson replies that his Wine was put on board from his allowance upon the Victualling Bill. Mr. Tod says that he was allowed eight Cases of Clocks by the Company and but three mentioned in the Manifest, and his thirty dozen Wine in his indulging Stores which is included in the thirty five Chests Mr. Wrangham mentions and have the Company's Seal upon them. We likewise sent for Messrs. Stewart, Cauldwell and Statham and acquainted them Agreeable to the Orders of the Secret Committee that they were to be sworn whether they knew of any Illicit Trade, Shipped on board the Speke at Gravesend or elsewhere to which they severally requested to be informed what was meant by illicit Trade (as they were entirely unacquainted with what the Oath implies) we then mentioned those Articles as specified in the Letter of the Secret Committee, on which they severally declared (being duly sworn by the Governor) that they knew of no such Articles being on board the said Ship Speke or any | Wrangham reported that he had found nothing beyond the privileges set out in the manifest, except 35 chests of wine belonging to the captain and chief mate, and five cases of clocks belonging to the chief mate. He signed the report at St Helena on 22 May 1769. On Wrangham's report, the Council sent for Captain Jackson and Mr Tod, the chief mate. It asked them how the wine and the cases of clocks, beyond what the Company's manifest listed, had come on board. Captain Jackson replied that his wine had been put on board under his allowance in the victualling bill. Mr Tod said that the Company had allowed him eight cases of clocks, although only three were listed in the manifest. His 30 dozen bottles of wine formed part of his private stores. They were included in the 35 chests Wrangham had mentioned and bore the Company's seal. The Council also sent for Mr Stewart, Mr Cauldwell and Mr Statham. It told them that, under the Secret Committee's orders, they were to be sworn as to whether they knew of any illicit trade loaded on board the Speke at Gravesend or elsewhere. Each asked what was meant by illicit trade, since they did not understand what the oath required. The Council then named the articles listed in the Secret Committee's letter. Each, after being sworn by the Governor, declared that he knew of no such articles on board the Speke or any other Interpretations Wrangham's search turned up excess wine and clocks, not the lead, iron, steel and paint the Secret Committee had named. The officers had explanations ready. Captain Jackson's wine came under his victualling allowance, the stores a commander was permitted for his own table. Tod's wine counted as private stores and carried the Company's seal, showing it had been passed and sealed by the Company's officers in England. His clocks fell within an allowance of eight cases, though the clerk had listed only three. Each answer turned an apparent breach into a clerical error or a lawful privilege. Clocks were a valuable private-trade item for the China voyage. Elaborate English clocks and mechanical toys were highly prized in Canton, where officials and merchants paid large sums for them. A chief mate allowed eight cases could expect a handsome profit, which explains why the Secret Committee watched such goods closely. Stewart, Cauldwell and Statham were probably passengers or junior officers who might have seen goods loaded at Gravesend. They asked what "illicit trade" meant before taking the oath. Their caution was sensible. A man who swore to knowing nothing could later be charged with perjury if smuggled goods were found. By naming the specific articles in the Secret Committee's letter, the Council narrowed the oath to a clear question each man could answer honestly. | |
122 | 22 May other Trade they had on board. Thomas Wyatt Matross and William Caleb Baldwin Private this day Petitioned for their discharges from the Garrison having served the Honble. Company their Contracted times. Granted Mr. Alexander Tod this day applied to Us to pay One hundred Pounds into the Honble. Company's Cash, which Sum we have received and given him Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors payable to himself (or Order) at ninety days sight. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | The three men declared that they knew of no such articles on board the Speke, or of any other trade carried in her. Thomas Wyatt, a matross, and William Caleb Baldwin, a private, petitioned that day for their discharge from the garrison, having served the Company for their full terms. The Council granted it. Alexander Tod asked that day to pay £100 0s 0d into the Company's treasury. The Council received the money and gave him bills of exchange drawn on the Court of Directors, payable to himself or his order 90 days after sight. Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Tod paid £100 0s 0d into the treasury on the same day the Council questioned him about his clocks and wine. The Speke was outward bound for China, so the money was not the proceeds of a voyage home. Tod had probably sold part of his private stores or trade goods on the island while his ship lay in the road. A bill on London let him send the profit to England at once and avoid carrying coin on to Canton. Whatever the Secret Committee suspected, the Council treated him as an ordinary officer conducting lawful private trade. The search of the Speke ended without any seizure. The Council had carried out every part of the Secret Committee's orders: a search by the factor, questions to the captain and chief mate, and sworn declarations from three further witnesses. All of it was entered in the minutes. Whether the Directors' information had been false or the goods well hidden, the Council's record showed that it had done its duty. | |
123 | 29 May At a Consultation held on Monday the 29th day of May 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed dated the 22 May 1769 Monday the 22 Arrived the Salisbury's Boat at Banks's half an Hour past two o'Clock in the Afternoon do. do. do. The Honble. Company's Ship Salisbury from Bengal Wednesday the 24th Sailed the Honble. Company's Ship Speke for China Friday the 26th Passed by a Dane Ship and another Ship at a great distance. The Salisbury brought Us the following Supplies viz. Invoice of Ship Salisbury Rice fine 60 Bags Mds. Srs. 120 at R. a 18 8 p St. Rupee 300 15 Paddy 15 Bags Mds. 22 8 at 1 2 p Maund 25 5 Sugar fine 10 Bags Mds. 20 at 7 12 p do. 155 Wax Candles 4 Chests Mds. 8 at 76 p do. 608 Batavia Arrack 2 Leagers at 140 p Lgr. 302 6 6 1391 10 6 Carrd. Over 1391 10 6 | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 29 May 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 22 May 1769 were read, approved and signed. At half past two in the afternoon of Monday 22 May a boat from the Salisbury landed at Banks's. The Company's ship Salisbury arrived from Bengal the same day. The Company's ship Speke sailed for China on Wednesday 24 May. On Friday 26 May a Danish ship and another ship passed the island far out to sea. The Salisbury brought the following supplies. Invoice of the ship Salisbury Fine rice, 60 bags weighing 120 factory maunds at [...], 300 rupees 15 annas 0 pies Paddy, 15 bags weighing 22 maunds 8 seers at 1 rupee 2 annas a maund, 25 rupees 5 annas 0 pies Fine sugar, 10 bags weighing 20 maunds at 7 rupees 12 annas a maund, 155 rupees 0 annas 0 pies Wax candles, 4 chests weighing 8 maunds at 76 rupees a maund, 608 rupees 0 annas 0 pies Batavia arrack, 2 leaguers at 140 [...] a leaguer, 302 rupees 6 annas 6 pies Total, 1,391 rupees 10 annas 6 pies Carried forward, 1,391 rupees 10 annas 6 pies Interpretations The Salisbury brought a fifth Bengal consignment, identical in every quantity to those landed from the Valentine, the Kent, the Verelst and the Queen. Each held 60 bags of rice, 10 of sugar, 15 of paddy, four chests of wax candles and two leaguers of arrack. The Bengal council evidently sent the same lot in every homeward ship that would call at St Helena, however many there were. Five consignments gave the island 300 bags of rice, 20 chests of wax candles and 10 leaguers of arrack in a single season. That was a generous supply, matching the Council's request that Bengal continue sending "the same quantity as last year". The Speke, searched and released, sailed for China on 24 May 1769 carrying the Council's letter to the Canton supercargoes. It asked for ten tons of sugar candy a year, a request that could be filled only in the following season. | |
124 | 29 May Brought Over 1391 10 6 Charges Merchandize 155 Gunney Bags at 13 p 20 21 12 5 Ghuttees 8 do. 6 9 10 Gunny 13 do. 1 8 5 Twine 7 10 Jute Rope 12 18 Mangoe planks 9 11 3 3 8 Nails 1 12 Pr. 3 Gurrah Cloth 3 3 9 40 Reed Matts 3 3 9 Mootea 8 6 6 Dat 1 14 3 Weighmen 9 Packages 1 1 Porterage 4 3 3 Sloopkire 99 14 6 Pross 2 2 6 161 1 6 Curr. Rupees 1552 12 Errors Excepted (Signed) L. Darell Junr. Sub. Accompt. Mr. Alexander Tod left £225 17 which he Requested we would receive into the Honble. Company's Cash, we accordingly this day Granted Bills for that Sum payable to Bryant Kelney Esqr. Captains Bazett and Mitchell this day presented the following Petition viz. | The Salisbury's invoice continued with the charges on the goods. Brought forward, 1,391 rupees 10 annas 6 pies Charges on the goods 135 gunny bags at 13 rupees a hundred, 21 rupees 12 annas 0 pies 5 [...] at 8 rupees a hundred, 0 rupees 6 annas 9 pies 10 gunny bags at 13 rupees a hundred, 1 rupee 8 annas 0 pies 5 [...] of twine, 0 rupees 7 annas 0 pies 10 jute ropes, 0 rupees 12 annas 0 pies 14 mango planks, 9 rupees 11 annas 3 pies 3 seers of nails, 1 rupee 12 annas 0 pies 3 pieces of gurrah cloth, 3 rupees 3 annas 9 pies 40 rice mats, 3 rupees 3 annas 9 pies Coolies, 8 rupees 6 annas 6 pies Peon, 1 rupee 14 annas 3 pies Weighmen, 0 rupees 9 annas 0 pies Packing, 1 rupee 1 anna 0 pies Boatmen, 4 rupees 5 annas 3 pies Sloop hire, 99 rupees 14 annas 6 pies [...], 2 rupees 2 annas 6 pies Total for the charges, 161 rupees 1 anna 6 pies Total in current rupees, 1,552 rupees 12 annas 0 pies L. Darell junior, sub-accountant, signed the invoice, reserving the right to correct any errors. Alexander Tod had left £225 17s 0d, which he asked the Council to receive into the Company's treasury. The Council accordingly granted bills for that sum that day, payable to [...] Stoney. Captains Bazett and Mitchell presented the following petition that day. Interpretations The Salisbury's wax candles and rice were packed in chests made from mango planks, with gurrah cloth for wrapping. Mango wood was cheap and plentiful in Bengal, soft and easily sawn, and used for packing cases throughout the Company's trade. Gurrah was a coarse, unbleached cotton cloth woven in Bengal and used for bales and wrappers. The packing materials alone came to about one-tenth of the charges, a cost the island bore on every consignment. Tod sent a second sum home through the treasury, £225 17s 0d, a week after his first bill of £100 0s 0d. He had evidently left the money behind when the Speke sailed, perhaps the proceeds of goods sold on his behalf after his departure. The Council took it in and issued bills to his named payee. The island's treasury acted as a banker for officers passing through. It received their money and issued bills on London, gaining coin each time. | |
125 | 1769 To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. Council of St. Helena The humble Petition of Henry Bazett and Archd. Mitchell Sheweth That there is a small nook of the Honble. Company's waste Ground adjoining to the Shop of the Billiard House, which said bit of Ground would be very convenient to your Petitioners to build a small Kitchen on, Request your Worship and Council will be pleased to grant them a Lease for the same. And your Petitioners will ever pray (Signed) 29 May 1769 Henry Bazett A. Mitchell Ordered the said Ground to be viewed William Dunn, Thomas Blake and Thomas James Private this day Petitioned for their discharges from the Garrison having served the Honble. Company their Contracted times. Granted The Honble. Court of Directors having been pleased to Order in the 9th Paragraph of their last General Letter that a Society should be Established for the purchase and vending all spirituous Liquors imported into this Island and in the twelve subsequent Paragraphs laying | Henry Bazett and Archibald Mitchell addressed their petition to Governor John Skottowe and the Council. They explained that a small corner of the Company's waste ground lay next to the shop of the billiard house. It would be very useful to them as a site for a small kitchen, and they asked the Governor and Council to grant them a lease of it. They signed the petition on 29 May 1769. The Council ordered the ground to be inspected. William Bunn, Thomas Blake and Thomas James, privates, petitioned that day for their discharge from the garrison, having served the Company for their full terms. The Council granted it. In the 9th paragraph of its last general letter, the Court of Directors had ordered that a society be set up to buy and sell all the spirits imported into the island. The 12 paragraphs that followed laid down Interpretations Mitchell and Bazett now sought to enlarge the billiard house, the building at the centre of Sergeant Payne's charges in December 1768. Payne had accused them of building it with Company materials and labour. The Council had cleared them and banished him. Six months later the two officers asked, openly and in the ordinary way, for a lease of Company ground to add a kitchen. The Council sent the request for inspection, exactly as it did for every planter's petition. No favour was shown. The officers, in turn, could show the Court of Directors that any further building would rest on a proper lease. The Court's order for a society to buy and sell all imported spirits was a major step in controlling drink on the island. Arrack, brandy and other spirits came ashore from every passing ship and were sold privately by commanders, officers and inhabitants. The Council had already cut the number of punch houses to five in July 1768. A single society, with sole right to buy spirits from the ships and resell them, would let the Company regulate the price and supply of liquor. It would also check drunkenness in the garrison. | |
126 | 29 May down a basis for Us to form Regulations thereupon, we in consequence of the said Orders, had the following Advertisement Published on the 15 instant Island St. Helena 15th May 1769 By Order of the Governor and Council This is to give Notice to all the Company's Servants both Civil and Military, As also to all the Planters, Free Inhabitants and others residing in the said Island, That by the special Authority of the Honble. the Court of Directors of the United East India Company, signifying their Orders to the Governor and Council with respect to the future method of Vending Arrack and other Spirituous Liquors upon this Island do thereby direct and strictly enjoin, that a Society be composed for that purpose consisting of the Board of Council the four Senior Civil Servants next to Council and the Eldest Military Captain, for the purchasing Arrack and other Spirituous Liquors for the Consumption of this Island, who are to form a Joint Stock and to purchase it on the best terms, with an exclusive right of Vending the same under the following Regulations which are punctually to be observed and strictly complied with not only by the Society but by all other Persons concerned as each and every of them shall answer the contrary at their Peril. That all Arrack imported into the Island be purchased by the said Society, do pay a duty of 3s. p Gallon to the Company. That all Arrack for the consumption of the Family's of the Company's Servants Military Officers, Planters, Free Inhabitants paying no more than Sixpence a Gallon profit to the Vendors above the prime Cost and duty, to answer for Leakage Wastage etc. That Arrack be issued to the licenced Punch Houses at the rate of six Shillings and sixpence p Gallon who are allowed to retail it at twelve Shillings p Gallon. That a penalty of twenty Pounds be levied upon every | The Court's 12 further paragraphs laid down the basis on which the Council was to frame rules for the society. Following those orders, the Council had published the following notice on 15 May 1769. The notice, dated at St Helena on 15 May 1769 and issued by order of the Governor and Council, was addressed to all the Company's servants, civil and military, and to all the planters, free inhabitants and others living on the island. By the special authority of the Court of Directors of the United East India Company, which had sent the Governor and Council its orders on the future sale of arrack and other spirits on the island, a society was to be formed for that purpose. It was to consist of the third member of Council, the four senior civil servants below the Council and the senior military captain. They were to buy arrack and other spirits for the island's use. They would form a joint stock, buy on the best terms they could, and have the sole right to sell spirits under the following rules. The society and every other person concerned were to obey these rules strictly, at their own risk if they did not. All arrack imported into the island and bought by the society was to pay a duty of 3s a gallon to the Company. All arrack for the use of the families of the Company's servants, the military officers, the planters and the free inhabitants was to be sold at no more than 6d a gallon above its cost and duty, to cover leakage, waste and similar losses. Arrack was to be supplied to the licensed punch houses at 6s 6d a gallon. The punch houses were allowed to sell it again at 12s a gallon. A penalty of £20 was to be imposed on every person Interpretations The society turned the sale of spirits on St Helena into a Company-controlled monopoly. Until now, any commander, officer or inhabitant could buy arrack from the passing ships and sell it as he wished. Under the new rules, only the society could buy it, every gallon paid the Company 3s in duty, and resale prices were fixed. Households could buy at cost plus a small margin for waste. The punch houses paid more and were allowed to double their price to the drinker. The duty brought the Company a steady revenue, while the fixed prices aimed to stop drunkenness without forbidding drink altogether. The society's members were all senior officials: the third member of Council, the four senior civil servants and the senior captain. Placing the monopoly in their hands gave the Company's own men an interest in enforcing it. They shared the profit of the joint stock and had every reason to stop rival sellers. It also kept a trade with large private profits within the circle that governed the island, a pattern seen before in the leases, the bills of exchange and the lime debts. | |
127 | 1769 Person, except the licenced Punch Houses that shall be convicted of selling the smallest Quantity, One half to the Informer and the other Moiety to be paid into the Company's Cash. That the Keeper of any of the licenced Punch Houses who shall buy any Arrack or other Spiritous Liquors except of the Society shall forfeit twenty Pounds, and be rendered incapable of ever keeping a Punch House. That the Society do keep Regular Books of Receipts and Issues and to whom sold Inhabitants or Punch House Keepers and that the same be laid before the Governor and Lieut. Governor whenever they demand it. That the Society are Ordered not to sell a smaller Quantity than five Gallons nor exceed a larger than one Leaguer at a time to each Company's Servant Planter, Free Inhabitants etc. as considering it only for the Consumption of their Family's, and likewise not to serve the Punch Houses with less than Ten Gallons nor to exceed half a Leager at a time, all Partys paying ready Money for the same on receipt to the said Society. That as the Society no doubt will be liable in the purchase of the said Arrack to pay sometimes more and sometimes less they are therefore Ordered at the Commencement of every Month to calculate on an Average upon their Stock in hand which Average price shall be inspected by the Governor and Lieut. Governor and if found just shall be a standing price for the Sale of Arrack for the said Month with the Advance thereon as beforementioned to all Company's Servants, Planters Inhabitants and others, Punch House Keepers only excepted which are to remain as before specified. And be it further known to all the Company's Servants Planters, free Inhabitants and others that the late supply of Arrack distributed amongst them before the receipt of the Honble. the Court of Directors Orders on that Head, The Governor and Council therefore Order that all such Arrack now remaining in the Possession of such individuals be kept only for the Consumption of their Family's; Or if more than will Answer that end, (from being bought to make a profit thereon) to be offered to the said Society at the price they bought it, who has directions to | The £20 penalty applied to every person, apart from the licensed punch houses, found guilty of selling even the smallest quantity of spirits. Half of it was to go to the informer and the other half into the Company's treasury. Any keeper of a licensed punch house who bought arrack or other spirits from anyone but the society was to forfeit £20. He would also be barred from ever keeping a punch house again. The society was to keep proper books of its purchases and sales, showing which inhabitants or punch-house keepers it had sold to. These were to be laid before the Governor and Lieutenant Governor whenever they asked to see them. The society was ordered not to sell less than five gallons or more than one leaguer at a time to any Company servant, planter or free inhabitant, since the arrack was meant only for their families' use. It was not to supply the punch houses with less than ten gallons or more than half a leaguer at a time. Every buyer was to pay in cash on delivery. The society would sometimes pay more and sometimes less for its arrack. At the start of every month it was therefore to work out an average price on the stock it held. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor would examine that average. If they found it fair, it would become the fixed selling price for the month, with the permitted margin added, for all the Company's servants, planters, inhabitants and others. The punch houses were excepted and would stay on the terms already set out. The notice further stated that some arrack had lately been distributed among the Company's servants, planters, free inhabitants and others before the Court of Directors' orders arrived. The Governor and Council therefore ordered that all such arrack still held by individuals be kept only for their families' use. Anyone who held more than that, or had bought it to sell at a profit, was to offer it to the society at the price paid. The society had instructions to Interpretations The rules gave the society full control of the arrack trade from ship to glass. Private dealers were driven out by the £20 penalty, enforced by informers who received half of each fine. The punch houses were tied to the society on pain of losing their licences. Minimum quantities of five gallons for households and ten for punch houses stopped the society from becoming a retail dram shop. The maximum limits stopped anyone from buying in bulk to resell. Cash payment protected the society from bad debts. The monthly average price, checked by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, kept the society's profit within the margin the Court allowed. Without it, members could have bought cheaply from one ship and sold at the price of a dearer cargo. Requiring their accounts to be open to inspection also guarded against members favouring themselves. They were senior officials trading in a monopoly they controlled. The clause on arrack already in private hands closed a loophole. Before the Court's orders arrived, inhabitants had evidently bought arrack from the homeward fleet to resell. The Council allowed them to keep only enough for their own households. Anything beyond that had to be sold to the society at cost, so no one profited from stock gathered just before the monopoly began. | |
128 | 29 May purchase all such Over Plus Arrack. That all Arrack imported into the Island be Gauged by the Company's Cooper under the inspection of the Collector of the Customs immediately upon Landing, and the Duty thereon collected by him. (Signed) Matthw. Bazett Secry. Agreeable to the Company's Orders Mr. Brickamicus Wright was appointed Collector of the Customs at the Salary of £30 p Year and on the 15 instant Swore him into the due execution of his Trust and gave him the following directions for his guidance in that Office viz. Island St. Helena Orders of the Governor and Council to Mr. Brickam. Wright Collector of the Customs That all Arrack imported into the Island must pay a duty of threepence p Gallon to the Honble. Company which is to be entirely under your inspection for which purpose you are to observe the following Orders and Swear to the strict execution of the same. 1st All Arrack allowed to be Landed can only be bought by the Society consisting of Messrs. Purling, Bazett, Powell, Wrangham, Dowson and Captn. Bazett who have an exclusive right of Vending the same to all Company's Servants Planters free Inhabitants and others as also to all Licenced Punch Houses. 2 That no Commanders of any of our Ships nor the Commanders of any Foreigner, any of their Officers of any Denomination, be allowed to Land any Arrack or other spirituous Liquors without a proper permit from the | The society was instructed to buy all such surplus arrack. All arrack imported into the island was to be gauged by the Company's cooper as soon as it was landed, under the inspection of the collector of customs. The collector would also collect the duty on it. Matthew Bazett, the secretary, signed the notice. Under the Company's orders, Bartholomew Wright was appointed collector of customs at a salary of £30 0s 0d a year. On 15 May the Council swore him to carry out his duties faithfully and gave him the following instructions for his guidance. The orders of the Governor and Council to Bartholomew Wright, collector of customs, stated that all arrack imported into the island was to pay a duty of 3d a gallon to the Company. The duty was to be entirely under his supervision. For that purpose he was to observe the following orders and see that they were strictly carried out. 1: All arrack allowed to be landed could be bought only by the society, made up of Mr Purling, Mr Bazett, Mr Powell, Mr Wrangham, Mr Doveton and Captain Bazett. The society had the sole right to sell it to all the Company's servants, planters, free inhabitants and others, and to all licensed punch houses. 2: No commander of any of the Company's ships, nor any commander of a foreign ship, nor any of their officers of any rank, was to be allowed to land arrack or other spirits without a proper permit from the collector Interpretations The society's members were named for the first time. Purling, the third member of Council, joined the four senior civil servants below him: Matthew Bazett the secretary, James Powell the storekeeper, William Wrangham and Jonathan Doveton, factors. The senior military captain was Henry Bazett. Two of the six were Bazetts. The monopoly of the island's drink trade lay with the same small group of families who held its offices, its best leases and much of its land. Bartholomew Wright, a factor on the civil list, became the island's first collector of customs, at £30 0s 0d a year on top of his existing pay. Gauging every cask on landing, under his eye, fixed the quantity on which duty was charged and the society's purchases were recorded. The collector stood between the ships and the society as the Company's check on both. Arrack could no longer come ashore unrecorded, and the duty could not be avoided by understating the contents of a cask. | |
129 | 1769 Collector of the Customs, which Permit to be Valid, must be Counter signed by the Governor or in his absence the Lieut. Governor. 3 That all such Arrack permitted to come ashore be landed at the Crane, and immediately Gauged by the Company's Cooper in presence of the Collector, which Arrack so Gauged must have a permit for being admitted through the Gates and as soon as lodged in the Warehouses of the Society the Duty of threepence p Gallon be received by the Collector Conformable to his Gauging and Accounted for Quarterly to the Governor and Council keeping regular Books of all Arrack so Gauged with the Duty accrued thereupon. 4 That no smaller quantity be allowed to be landed than five Gallons either in Cask or Bottles, and the Collector is further to understand that even the above as well as every other Quantity brought ashore for the Consumption of the Commanders or their Officers at their respective Lodging Houses, is not to be exempt from the above duty - and that all Arrack brought ashore in Bottles will be allowed only four Bottles to a Gallon for the Collecting of said duty. 5 That in case any difficulty arises from any one of what Denomination soever, in regard to refusing paying the above duty for such Arrack or other Spirituous Liquor, let the Quantity be ever so much or so little, you are immediately to Seize the same and lodge in a place appointed for that purpose, and should you require Assistance you are to apply to the Officer of the Main Guard. 6 No Petty Officers or Sailors be allowed to bring any Arrack or other Spirituous Liquors on Shore - Given under our Hands this 15 day of May 1769 (Signed) John Skottowe Dan. Corneille M. Purling The Governor and Lieut. Governor having maturely weighed and considered the Honble. Company's Orders respecting the Establishment of a Society for the purchasing Spirituous Liquors etc. thought it necessary the said Society should have some directions for their Guidance gave them the following viz. | The permit from the collector of customs was valid only if countersigned by the Governor or, in his absence, the Lieutenant Governor. 3: All arrack permitted to come ashore was to be landed at the crane and gauged at once by the Company's cooper in the collector's presence. Once gauged, it needed a permit to pass through the gates. As soon as it was lodged in the society's warehouses, the collector was to receive the duty of 3d a gallon according to his gauging. He was to account for it quarterly to the Governor and Council and keep proper books of all arrack gauged and the duty due on it. 4: No quantity smaller than five gallons, in casks or bottles, was to be landed. The collector was to understand that this, and every other quantity brought ashore for the commanders' or officers' own use at their lodging houses, was not exempt from duty. For collecting the duty, arrack brought ashore in bottles was to be reckoned at four bottles to the gallon. 5: If anyone, of whatever rank, made difficulties about paying the duty on arrack or other spirits, however large or small the quantity, the collector was to seize it at once and store it in a place set aside for the purpose. If he needed help, he was to apply to the officer of the main guard. 6: No petty officers or seamen were to be allowed to bring arrack or other spirits ashore. Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the orders on 15 May 1769. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor had carefully considered the Company's orders for setting up a society to buy spirits. They judged that the society needed instructions for its guidance and gave it the following. Interpretations The collector's orders closed every route by which spirits had reached the island untaxed. Every cask had to come ashore at the crane, the one landing point where the Company's men could watch it. Each was gauged on arrival and passed through the gates only with a permit. Commanders and officers lost their old habit of landing small quantities for their own use free of duty. Even a few bottles carried to a lodging house were now counted and charged. Reckoning four bottles to the gallon gave the collector a simple standard that could not be argued over at the landing. Banning petty officers and seamen from bringing any spirits ashore struck at the cheapest and most common source of drink for the garrison. Sailors had long sold arrack to soldiers and slaves from the boats and on the beach, out of sight of the Castle. With that trade forbidden and private sellers liable to a £20 fine, spirits could reach the island's people only through the society and the five licensed punch houses. Drink would be dearer and harder to get, which was much of the point. The officer of the main guard was named as the collector's support in any dispute. A commander or ship's officer who resisted a seizure would face the garrison, not a single civilian official. Placing military force behind the collector showed how seriously the Council meant to enforce the new monopoly. | |
130 | 29 May Island St. Helena Orders and Regulations of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to the Society for Vending of Arrack and other Spirituous Liquors to the Inhabitants of this Island As the Honble. the Court of Directors have thought proper to Order that a Society be Established upon this Island for the Vending of all Arrack and other Spirituous Liquors to all Inhabitants of whatsoever Denomination, and that said Society form a joint Stock to that intent, to be divided into shares in the following proportions, three eighths to the third in Council and the remaining five eighths to be equally divided among the four Senior Civil Servants next to Council and the Eldest Military Captain who are to purchase it on the best terms and as they have further excluded the Governor and Lieut. Governor from any Share or Profit in the Sale of Arrack or other Spirits to the intent that they do see their Orders and Regulations be strictly complied with, and levy such Penaltys in case of disobedience as is, or may be hereafter provided, as well as guard against every abuse of what nature soever, either from the Venders, or Consumers of all Denominations, We in consequence of their Orders to us, have provided the following Regulations for your guidance so far as may be Necessary to obviate all difficultys hereafter, and conformable to the Honble. the Court of Directors Orders and true meaning. 1st That all Arrack for the Consumption of the Family's of Company's Servants, Military Officers, Planters, free Inhabitants and licenced Punch Houses be bought from the said Society, Company's Servants Planters and free Inhabitants paying no more than sixpence a Gallon profit to the Venders above the prime Cost and Duty to answer for Leakage, Waste etc. 2 That Arrack be issued to the licenced Punch Houses at the rate of six shillings and sixpence a Gallon, who are to be allowed to retail it at the present rate of twelve shillings a Gallon. 3 That a penalty of twenty Pounds be levied upon every Person (except the licenced Punch Houses) who shall be convicted of selling, even the smallest Quantity, one half to the Informer, and the other moiety to be | The orders and regulations of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to the society for selling arrack and other spirits to the island's inhabitants were entered as follows. The Court of Directors had ordered a society to be set up on the island to sell all arrack and other spirits to every inhabitant, of whatever rank. The society was to form a joint stock for the purpose, divided into shares in fixed proportions. The third member of Council would hold three-eighths. The remaining five-eighths would be shared equally among the four senior civil servants below the Council and the senior military captain. They were to buy arrack on the best terms they could. The Court had also excluded the Governor and Lieutenant Governor from any share or profit in the sale of arrack or other spirits, so that the two could see the Court's orders strictly obeyed. They were to impose any penalties already laid down, or later laid down, for disobedience, and guard against abuses of every kind by sellers or buyers. In obedience to the Court's orders, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor had drawn up the following rules for the society's guidance, to prevent difficulties in future and in keeping with the Court's orders and intentions. 1: All arrack for the families of the Company's servants, the military officers, the planters, the free inhabitants and the licensed punch houses was to be bought from the society. Company servants, planters and free inhabitants were to pay no more than 6d a gallon above its cost and duty, to cover leakage, waste and similar losses. 2: Arrack was to be supplied to the licensed punch houses at 6s 6d a gallon. They were allowed to sell it again at the present rate of 12s a gallon. 3: A penalty of £20 was to be imposed on every person, apart from the licensed punch houses, found guilty of selling even the smallest quantity. Half was to go to the informer and the other half to be paid Interpretations The Court of Directors deliberately kept the Governor and Lieutenant Governor out of the society. They could hold no share and take no profit from the trade. A Governor who profited from the drink monopoly would have every reason to overlook its abuses or to set its prices high. By standing outside it, Skottowe and Corneille became the society's supervisors, not its partners. It was they who checked its monthly prices, inspected its books and enforced the penalties. The Court evidently meant the society to raise revenue and control drink without making the island's two highest officers dependent on its profits. Purling, as third member of Council, received three-eighths of the profit, three times the share of any other member. The four senior civil servants and the senior captain each held one-eighth. The division matched the members' rank in the Company's service. It also gave Purling, the only councillor in the society, the largest stake in a business that his two colleagues on the Council were charged with overseeing. | |
131 | 1769 paid into the Honble. Company's Cash. 4 That the Keepers of any of the licenced Punch Houses who shall buy any Arrack or Spirituous Liquors except of the Society, shall forfeit twenty Pounds, and be rendered incapable of keeping a Punch House. 5 That you do keep regular Books of Receipts and Issues and to whom sold whether Inhabitants or Punch House Keepers, and they same be laid before the Governor and Lieut. Governor the beginning of every Month at which time you are to put an Average price on your Arrack in case that your Stock in hand has been purchased by you at different prices remembering at same time that Waste Leakage etc. is not to be included in said Average price, as the sixpence p Gallon advanced is understood to answer all such accidents. 6 That you are not to sell to the Inhabitants of any Denomination less than five Gallons neither to the licenced Punch Houses a smaller Quantity than ten Gallons at a time nor to exceed one Leaguer to Company's Servants Planters free Inhabitants etc. and half a Leaguer to the licenced Punch Houses, and you are further required to sell for ready Money, as we particularly prohibit your giving Credit to all and every Person whatsoever and we further expect that in case any private Familys of Company's Servants Planters free Inhabitants or others repeats their demands on you for Arrack oftener than you can suppose may be consumed by them and their Family's, that you give us immediate Notice thereof, in order that we may enquire therein, to avoid all possibility of abuses of retailing by such practices so Contrary to the true sense and meaning of these Regulations. 7 That all Arrack, or other Spirituous Liquors bought by you for the Consumption of this Island out of the homeward bound Ships, you give immediate Notice to the Collector of the Quantity bought before it will be allowed to land, that a proper permit shall then be granted for its landing, the Collector then to Gauge it at the Crane before it is taken into your Warehouses, and Conformable to his Gauging you are to pay the Honble. Company threepence p Gallon for all such Spirituous Liquors. 8 That all Arrack or other Spirituous Liquors contracted for or bought by you for the Consumption of the Inhabitants Punch Houses etc. be in their kinds wholesome and good Spirit, to the intent that no bad consequence or Prejudice fall upon the Inhabitants Garrison etc. from a contrary practice, and this | Half of each £20 penalty was to be paid into the Company's treasury. 4: Any keeper of a licensed punch house who bought arrack or other spirits from anyone but the society was to forfeit £20 and be barred from keeping a punch house in future. 5: The society was to keep proper books of its purchases and sales, showing whom it had sold to, whether inhabitants or punch-house keepers. The books were to be laid before the Governor and Lieutenant Governor at the start of every month. At that time the society was to set an average price on its arrack, in case its stock had been bought at different prices. Waste, leakage and similar losses were not to be included in the average, since the 6d a gallon margin was meant to cover them. 6: The society was not to sell less than five gallons at a time to inhabitants of any rank, or less than ten gallons to the licensed punch houses. It was not to sell more than one leaguer at a time to Company servants, planters, free inhabitants and others, or more than half a leaguer to the punch houses. It was to sell only for cash, and was expressly forbidden to give credit to anyone at all. If any private household of a Company servant, planter, free inhabitant or other person asked for arrack more often than the family could reasonably use it, the society was to report it at once. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor could then look into the matter and prevent any abuse or reselling contrary to the true meaning of the rules. 7: Before landing any arrack or other spirits bought from the homeward ships for the island's use, the society was to tell the collector how much it had bought. A proper permit would then be granted for landing it. The collector was to gauge it at the crane before it went into the society's warehouses, and the society was to pay the Company 3d a gallon on his measurement. 8: All arrack and other spirits bought by the society for the inhabitants, punch houses and others were to be wholesome and of good strength. No harm was to come to the inhabitants, the garrison or anyone else through the contrary practice, and this Interpretations The ban on credit was the most practical of the rules. On an island short of coin, debts for drink would have piled up quickly, especially among soldiers paid quarterly. A society selling on credit would soon have found itself chasing small sums from half the garrison. A strict cash rule kept its books clear. It also meant that no one could drink beyond what he could pay for at the time of buying. The rule against households buying more often than their families needed was aimed at secret resale. An inhabitant who bought a leaguer every week could have been selling drams to soldiers and slaves behind his house, cutting into both the society's trade and the Council's control of drinking. The society was made to act as the Council's watchman, reporting any buyer whose purchases looked suspicious. The order that all spirits be wholesome and of good strength guarded against the commonest fraud in the arrack trade. Spirit was often watered, or mixed with harmful additives to restore its fiery taste. A monopoly with fixed prices had every temptation to sell weak or tainted drink at full price. Making quality part of the society's duty gave the Governor and Lieutenant Governor grounds to act if the inhabitants or the garrison complained. | |
132 | 29 May is the sense you are to understand, from the Liberty of purchasing your spirits on the best terms you can, as implied in the Preamble to the above Regulations. (Signed) John Skottowe Dan. Corneille Having had occasion to alter the Licences of the Punch House Keepers conformable to the Regulations now taken place, the following is a Copy of the same viz. Island St. Helena Pursuant to the Orders of the Honorable Company for Licencing Publick Houses We do hereby give leave and licence unto you John Price to keep a publick House, and to sell Arrack Brandy Wine Punch Beer, or any other sort of strong Liquors with Sugar and Tobacco in the House you now do from the day of the date hereof, until the 1 day of July 1770 paying to the Honorable Company eight pounds p Annum, at forty shillings each Quarter Provided you always keep good Order in your House not suffering any Person to fight or quarrel therein. You are strictly to observe the decent custom of shutting up your House until five o'clock in the Afternoon on the Lords day and until nine o'clock in the Morning on every other day, and in those times not to sell Liquors of any sort, and you are not to permit any one to continue in your House after the Tattoo is beat, except such as may Lodge with you. In every Bowl of Punch which shall contain three Pints, you shall allow one Pint of Arrack without adulterating it, with other necessary and wholesome Ingredients as shall be required and you are hereby positively forbid to sell Arrack or other spirituous Liquors in Drams, but to mix it with water, or make it into Punch as abovementioned neither are you on any account whatever to take less or more than eighteen Pence a Pint mixed as aforesaid for whatever Spirituous Liquors you may in future vend in your house, as you shall answer the contrary at your Peril. You shall not suffer any of the Garrison to Game in your | The society was to understand the freedom to buy spirits "on the best terms" mentioned at the head of the rules in that sense, as never permitting poor or harmful liquor. Governor John Skottowe and Daniel Corneille signed the rules. The Council had needed to change the punch-house keepers' licences to fit the new rules. A copy of the revised licence was entered as follows. Under the Company's orders for licensing public houses, the Council gave John Price leave and licence to keep a public house and to sell arrack, brandy, wine, punch, beer or any other strong drink, with sugar and tobacco, in the house he then occupied. The licence ran from the date it was issued until 1 July 1770. Price was to pay the Company £8 0s 0d a year, at 40s each quarter. He was always to keep good order in his house and allow no one to fight or quarrel there. He was strictly to keep the proper custom of closing his house until five in the afternoon on Sundays and until nine in the morning on every other day. During those hours he was to sell no liquor of any kind. He was not to let anyone stay in his house after the tattoo had been beaten, except people lodging with him. In every bowl of punch holding three pints, he was to use one pint of arrack, unadulterated, with whatever other proper and wholesome ingredients were needed. He was absolutely forbidden to sell arrack or other spirits as drams. He was to sell it only mixed with water or made into punch, as already described. He was not, on any account, to charge more or less than 18d a pint, mixed in that way, for whatever spirits he might sell in his house in future. He would answer for it at his own risk if he did otherwise. He was not to allow any member of the garrison to gamble in his Interpretations The licence made the punch houses the only places where spirits reached the drinker, and then only in a diluted form. A bowl of three pints held one pint of arrack, roughly one part spirit to two of water, lime and sugar. Selling neat drams was forbidden outright. The Council was not trying to stop the garrison drinking. It was trying to stop the quick, heavy drinking of neat spirit that led to drunkenness on duty, fights and illness. Fixing the price at 18d a pint also stopped a keeper from undercutting his rivals or charging more on busy nights. The closing hours kept the punch houses shut through the morning, when the garrison was at drill and on the works. On Sundays they stayed closed until five in the afternoon, after church and the day's duties. No one but lodgers could remain once the tattoo was beaten, the evening drum signal calling soldiers back to their quarters. Every rule tied the opening of the punch houses to the routine of the garrison. The licence fee of £8 0s 0d a year, paid quarterly, matched the takings recorded in the treasury, where licences for public houses brought in about £10 to £11 each quarter. The island had five licensed keepers. | |
133 | 1769 House, nor trust them or any other Person for any sort of strong Liquors, under Peril of losing your Debt, and forfeiting your Licence. You are on no Account whatsoever to buy take receive or exchange any Cloaths or Provisions from any Soldier or Seaman during the continuance of this Licence, without leave first had and obtained of their respective commanders, on pain of paying double the value of what you receive exchange or purchase one half to the party complaining and the other to the use of the Poor of this Island. You shall not trade traffick or merchandize with any Blacks or Servants, or entertain or harbour any either by day or Night on any pretence whatever nor connive at or conceal any other person or persons acting contrary hereunto in any or either of the said Articles without giving due notice of such evil or clandestine practices to us. You are to purchase all the Arrack and other Spirituous Liquors you retail and vend in your House from the joint Stock of the Society established by the Honorable Company, for purchasing and selling Arrack and other Spirituous Liquors, imported into this Island. The present Members whereof are Messieurs Matthew Purling, James Powell, Matthew Bazett, William Wrangham, Jonathan Dowson and Henry Bazett, for which you are to give those Gentlemen six shillings and sixpence p Gallon and to pay ready Money for the same on receipt thereof. And in case you do presume at any time or under any pretence whatsoever to Buy the smallest quantity of Arrack, or other Spirituous Liquors from any person or persons Inhabiting this Island, whether Company's Servants, Military Officers, Planters, or Free Inhabitants, the Penalty of twenty Pounds annexed to such Offence, shall be immediately levied on you and your Effects, and you shall be further rendered incapable of ever after keeping a Punch House. As every Person on this Island, except the Society, is strictly forbid selling the smallest quantity of Arrack, and other Spirituous Liquors, under the Penalty of paying twenty Pounds for every transgression, You are therefore hereby enjoined, and strictly commanded to keep a due, constant, and careful look out in order to detect all Persons concerned in the Clandestine Sale of Spirituous Liquors and all Persons you find purchasing the same, you are immediately to report to Us, that on their conviction, the Penalty of twenty Pounds aforesaid, may be levied on the delinquents, and for your encouragement, you are to receive one half | He was not to give credit to any soldier or anyone else for any kind of strong drink, on pain of losing the debt and forfeiting his licence. On no account was he to buy, take, receive or exchange clothes or provisions from any soldier or seaman during the term of the licence without first having leave from their commanding officers. If he did, he would pay double the value of what he received, exchanged or bought. Half would go to the person who complained and the other half to the island's poor. He was not to trade or deal with any slaves or servants, nor to entertain or shelter any of them by day or night on any pretext. He was not to allow or hide anyone else acting against these rules without reporting such wrong or secret dealings to the Council. He was to buy all the arrack and other spirits he retailed in his house from the joint stock of the society the Company had set up to buy and sell imported spirits. Its present members were Matthew Purling, James Powell, Matthew Bazett, William Wrangham, Jonathan Doveton and Henry Bazett. He was to pay them 6s 6d a gallon, in cash on delivery. If he ever dared, on any pretext, to buy the smallest quantity of arrack or other spirits from anyone living on the island, whether Company servant, military officer, planter or free inhabitant, the £20 penalty for that offence would be levied at once on him and his goods. He would also be barred from ever keeping a punch house again. Every person on the island except the society was strictly forbidden to sell the smallest quantity of arrack or other spirits, under a penalty of £20 for each offence. The licensee was therefore strictly ordered to keep a close, constant and careful watch to detect anyone involved in the secret sale of spirits. He was to report at once everyone he found selling them, so that the £20 penalty could be levied on conviction. As an encouragement, he was to receive half of it. Interpretations The licence made each punch-house keeper an informer on his own trade. He paid the society 6s 6d a gallon and sold at a fixed price. Any secret seller of arrack undercut him directly. Giving him half of every £20 fine turned his rival's offence into his own reward. The Council could not police every hut and back room on the island, but five licensed keepers with a stake in the monopoly would watch their neighbours closely. The ban on taking clothes or provisions from soldiers and seamen struck at a common evil of garrison life. Men short of money for drink pawned or sold their uniforms, shoes and rations to the tavern keeper. They were then left without proper clothing or food, and the Company had to replace their necessaries at its own cost. Requiring the commanding officer's leave closed that trade. The double penalty, with half going to the poor, made it costly to ignore. The licensee was also forbidden to deal with slaves or shelter them. A punch house that sold drink to slaves or harboured them at night offered a place for gathering, trading stolen goods and planning escape. Keeping slaves out of the taverns was part of the wider control the Council exercised over the island's slave population, alongside the night searches of the Blacks' Square. | |
134 | 29 May thereof, but on the contrary, if you neglect, or fail in observing these our positive Orders, we shall deem it a manifest breach, and contempt of them, and consequently an absolute forfeiture of your Licence. You are not to make over or assign this Licence to any other person on any pretence whatsoever nor are you to depute any person to carry on the business of your Punch House without our leave and consent on pain of losing your Licence. And lastly you shall well and truly observe and keep all the said and such further Orders, and Instructions as you shall from time to time, receive from Us, on penalty not only of forfeiting this Licence, but to be rendered incapable of ever holding another and be further dealt with according to Law, for your breach and contempt of the said Orders and Conditions. Given under our Hands and the Honorable Company's Seal this 29 Day of May 1769 (Signed) John Skottowe Dan. Corneille Matthw. Purling John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | If the licensee neglected or failed to carry out these orders, the Council would treat it as a plain breach of them and contempt. His licence would then be forfeit outright. He was not to transfer or assign the licence to anyone else on any pretext. Nor was he to appoint anyone to carry on the business of his punch house without the Council's leave and consent, on pain of losing his licence. Finally, he was faithfully to observe all these orders and any further orders and instructions he received from the Council from time to time. If he broke them, he would forfeit the licence, be barred from ever holding another and be dealt with further according to law. Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the licence under the Company's seal on 29 May 1769. They also signed the minutes. Interpretations The licence was personal to the keeper and could not be sold or passed on. A punch-house licence was a valuable privilege, one of only five on the island. Without this rule a keeper could have sold it to the highest bidder or handed the house to a manager the Council had never approved. Tying the licence to the named man kept the choice of every tavern keeper in the Council's hands. A keeper who broke the rules could be removed without his business simply passing to an associate. The clause binding the keeper to any further orders the Council might issue left the terms open-ended. The arrack monopoly was new, and its working could not be foreseen in every detail. By reserving the right to add instructions at any time, the Council could tighten the rules as problems appeared, without drawing up a fresh licence for each keeper. Breaking any later order carried the same penalty as breaking the original terms. | |
135 | 1 June At a Consultation held on Thursday the 1st day of June 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 29 May 1769 Monday the 29 May arrived a French Ship from Pondicherry called the St. Etienne Captain Demorniere burthen 1100 Tons carry's 16 Guns and 300 Men loaden with Redwood, Salt Petre and Bale Goods bound to L'Orient. Mr. Matthew Purling reports that he has been on board the Ship Salisbury to Muster her Company and enquire for deserters but found none her Muster Roll is as follows viz. Muster Roll of Ship Salisbury Jno. Wyche Commr. Wm. Applegath Chief Mate Fern. Pellas 2 do. Jno. Baird 3 do. Jas. Steel Surgeon Benj. Thomas Purser William Baker Boatn. Pet. Gaspert Gunner Jno. Mollingwood Carpent. Edwd. Boynton Cook Hugh Lyon Mids. Phil. Walker do. Jos. Applegath do. Mich. Mathews do. Edwd. Seymore do. Evan Griffiths Seaman Thos. Morris do. Jos. Molineaux 2 Mate Geo. Robinson do. Alexr. Forbes 2 Mate Edwd. Cole Caulkr. Jos. Morris Sailr. Jno. Ramshaw Capt. Stewd. Thos. Darbon Capt. Cook Fra. Lawler Cooks Mate Fran. Todd Boatn. do. Rich. Bond Armr. Davd. Asquith Gunr. do. Davd. Dyer Carpt. do. Jno. Goosly Caulk. do. Jas. Andrews Cooper do. Geo. Gardner Butcher Jas. Abercrombie Poult. Denis Grumble Seamen Willm. Hutchinson Jno. Craig Dan. Busby Willm. Ellison Saml. Robertson Seam. Saml. Allen Jas. Rodman Jno. Robertson Jas. Worden Jno. Hughes Jas. Pollock Jno. Cornell Jno. Evans Jno. Everett Jno. Humphreys Josh. Worsfield Timothy Fitzpatrick Pet. Casey Hen. Lyon Robt. Dunbar Geo. Balderston Richd. Goldsmith Christ. Hutton | The Council met at the Castle on Thursday 1 June 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 29 May 1769 were read, approved and signed. On Monday 29 May a French ship arrived from Pondicherry, the Saint Étienne, commanded by Captain Demervieux. She was of 1,100 tons, carried 16 guns and 300 men, and was laden with redwood, saltpetre and piece goods bound for Lorient. Purling reported that he had gone on board the Salisbury to muster her crew and search for deserters, and had found none. Her muster roll was entered as follows. Muster roll of the ship Salisbury John Wycke, commander William Applegarth, chief mate Fern Pellew, second mate John Baird, third mate John Steel, surgeon Benjamin Thomas, purser William Baker, boatswain Peter Gosport, gunner John Rollingwood, carpenter Edward [...], cook Hugh Lyon, midshipman Philip Walker, midshipman Joseph Applegarth, midshipman Michael Matthews, midshipman Edward Seymour, midshipman Evan Griffiths, seaman Thomas Harris, seaman John Molineaux, quartermaster George Coleman, quartermaster Alexander Forbes, quartermaster Edward Cole, caulker John Harris, sailmaker John Renshaw, captain's steward Thomas Barber, captain's cook Francis Lawler, cook's mate Francis Todd, boatswain's mate Richard Bond, armourer David Asquith, gunner's mate David Dyer, cooper's mate John Goodby, carpenter's mate John Andrews, carpenter's mate George Gardner, butcher John Abercrombie, poulterer Dennis Grimble, seaman William Hutchinson, seaman John Craig, seaman David Busby, seaman William Ellison, seaman James Robertson, seaman James Allen, seaman John Rodman, seaman John Robertson, seaman Joseph Worden, seaman John Hughes, seaman John Pollock, seaman John Cornell, seaman John Evans, seaman John Everett, seaman John Humphreys, seaman John [...], seaman Timothy Fitzpatrick, seaman Peter Cooper, seaman Henry Lyon, seaman Robert Dunbar, seaman George Balderston, seaman Richard Goldsmith, seaman Christopher Hutton, seaman Interpretations The French ship came from Pondicherry, France's chief settlement in India, and was bound for Lorient, the home port of the French East India Company. At 1,100 tons with 300 men she was among the largest ships to call that season. Her cargo of saltpetre was the main ingredient of gunpowder, shipped home from India in bulk by every European company. Redwood was a dyewood, used to make red dyes for cloth. France and Britain had been at war in India only six years earlier. The Council recorded her guns and crew as carefully as it did those of any warship that came under the island's batteries. The chief mate, William Applegarth, had a Joseph Applegarth among the midshipmen. Officers commonly took sons, brothers or nephews to sea as midshipmen to train them for command. The family connection ran through the officers' quarters of East Indiamen as it did through the island's own offices and garrison. | |
136 | 1 June Saml. Clarkson Seamen Edwd. Penn Willm. Carsell Jereh. Cross Petr. Turner Jas. Scott Thos. McWilliams Jno. Gilbert Arch. McMillon Jas. Irwin Willm. Murray Willm. Murray Petr. Watcombe Petr. Moore Jas. Goodman Geo. Dawson Seamen Willm. Brecher Robt. Fox Thos. Neal Robt. Gordon Willm. Belton Jas. Hume Richd. Harvey Jno. Brittins Willm. Minife Capt. Servt. Chas. Low Wathll do. Geo. Goody Chief Mate do. Frans. Gardiner 2 do. do. Willm. Hammond Surg. do. Henry Yates Boatn. Servt. Thos. Wynne Gunr. do. Thos. Graham Carpr. do. Jas. Downs Seamen Slade Baker Jno. Rose Thos. Ramshaw Rich. Bewerley Chas. Noden Jos. Leycester Andw. De Soza Pomphey Russell Barth. Baptisto Thos. Draper Passengers Capt. Welding Capt. Ayres Hugh Baillie Mrs. Letitia Ironside Mrs. Ann Baillie Miss Eliz. Reid Lucy Servant Lizarda do. Mary Rich do. (Signed) John Wyche The Storekeeper this day delivered the following Account of Stores short received from Ship Salisbury viz. | The Salisbury's muster roll closed with the last of her crew and servants, and her passengers. James Clarke, seaman Edward Penn, seaman William Cassell, seaman Jeremiah Cook, seaman Peter Turner, seaman John Scott, seaman Thomas McWilliams, seaman John Gilbert, seaman Archibald McMillan, seaman John Irvin, seaman William Murray, seaman William Murray, seaman Peter Holcombe, seaman Peter Moore, seaman John Goodman, seaman George Dawson, seaman William Brooks, seaman Robert Fox, seaman Thomas Neal, seaman Robert Gordon, seaman William Bettes, seaman John Hume, seaman Richard Harvey, seaman John Britton, seaman William Minisee, captain's servant Charles Low, [...] George Goody, chief mate's servant Francis Gardner, second mate's servant William Hammond, surgeon's servant Henry Yates, boatswain's servant Thomas Wynne, gunner's servant Thomas Grabate, carpenter's servant John Downs, seaman Slade Baker, seaman John Rafe, seaman Thomas Ramshaw, seaman Richard Beverley, seaman Charles Norton, seaman John Leycester, seaman Andrew De Soza, seaman Pomphry Russell, seaman Bartholomew Baptiste, seaman Thomas Draper, seaman Passengers Captain Welding Captain Ayres Hugh Baillie Mrs Letitia Ironside Mrs Ann Baillie Miss Elizabeth Reid Lucy, servant Lizarda, servant Margaret Rich, servant John Wycke signed the roll. The storekeeper delivered that day an account of the stores received short from the Salisbury. Interpretations The Salisbury's passengers included women and their servants returning from Bengal, among them Mrs Baillie, Mrs Ironside and Miss Reid. Lucy and Lizarda were entered by first name only, as was usual for servants of colour, slave or free, travelling with European families. Margaret Rich, given a surname, was probably an English maid. The Council listed every servant so that the same number left the island as had arrived. The Council's control over who stayed on St Helena extended to every person a ship carried, not only to soldiers and seamen. Andrew De Soza and Bartholomew Baptiste bore Portuguese names, common among the Indo-Portuguese sailors of Bengal and the western coast of India. Like the lascars in the Queen, they had been shipped in India to make up a crew thinned by sickness during the long stay in the East. | |
137 | 1769 Account of Stores short received from Ship Salisbury viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. 2 2 7 Rice 1 10 Paddy 1 24 Sugar Short weight occasioned by Wastage No. 1. 1 Leagr. Arrack Gages 151 Galls. wants to fill 7 Galls. 2. 1 do. do. 146 do. do. 8 297 15 Recd. 282 Galls. (Signed) St. Helena 1 June 1769 James Powell Storekeepr. Bought of Captain John Wyche Cwt. qrs. 44 2 Rice at 7/6 p Hundred amounting to £16 13 9. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | Account of stores received short from the ship Salisbury Received short in weight through wastage Rice, 2 hundredweight 2 quarters 7 pounds Paddy, 0 hundredweight 1 quarter 10 pounds Sugar, 1 hundredweight 0 quarters 24 pounds Arrack Leaguer number 1, gauged at 151 gallons, short of full by 7 gallons Leaguer number 2, gauged at 146 gallons, short of full by 8 gallons Total gauged, 297 gallons Total short, 15 gallons Received, 282 gallons James Powell signed the account as storekeeper at St Helena on 1 June 1769. The Council bought 44 hundredweight 2 quarters of rice from Captain John Wycke at 7s 6d a hundredweight, amounting to £16 13s 9d. Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The Council bought surplus rice from the Salisbury's commander at 7s 6d a hundredweight, well below the cost of the rice shipped from Bengal once freight and charges were added. A homeward ship nearing the end of her voyage had more provisions than her crew would need for the last weeks to England. Selling the surplus at St Helena gave the commander some cash. It gave the island cheap grain for the Company's slaves, whose rice ration had risen sharply with the work on the fortifications. The Salisbury's arrack was the first to arrive under the new rules of the society. From now on, arrack shipped privately by commanders and officers could be landed only by permit, gauged at the crane under the collector's eye, and sold only to the society. The Company's own arrack, however, went straight into its warehouse, as before. | |
138 | 6 June At a Consultation held on Tuesday the 6th day of June 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 1 June 1769 Thursday the 1st Arrived the Horsendon's Boat at Banks's at ten o'Clock at Night Friday the 2d do. The Honble. Company's Ship Horsendon from China do. do. do. A French Ship from Mauritius called the Le Sage Captn. Beaulieu burthen 250 Tons no Guns and 40 Men loaden with Bengal Goods bound to L'Orient Sunday the 4th Sailed the Honble. Company's Ship Salisbury for England The Horsendon brought us the following Supplies viz. Invoice of Ship Horsendon No. 57/70 14 Chests of Sugar No. 57 26 294 58 27 297 59 27 294 60 30 297 61 29 293 62 29 296 63 29 296 64 31 297 65 29 293 66 29 296 67 28 297 68 32 297 69 34 301 70 27 295 407 4143 407 3736 lb or Pecul 28.02 at Ts. 4.500 Taels m c c 126 0 9 Canton 14 Decr. 1768 Errors Excepted (Signed) Willm. Brown Jos. Walton Thos. Bevan Frans. Wood Junr. Benjn. Pein Thos. Thomas Henry Revell Willm. Ferrand Steph. De Visme Geo. Searle | The Council met at the Castle on Tuesday 6 June 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 1 June 1769 were read, approved and signed. At ten at night on Thursday 1 June a boat from the Horsendon landed at Banks's, and the Company's ship Horsendon arrived from China on Friday 2 June. The same day a French ship arrived from Mauritius, the Le Sage, commanded by Captain Beaulieu. She was of 250 tons, carried no guns and 40 men, and was laden with Bengal goods bound for Lorient. The Company's ship Salisbury sailed for England on Sunday 4 June. The Horsendon brought the following supplies. Invoice of the ship Horsendon Sugar, 14 chests numbered 57 to 70 Chest 57, tare 26 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 58, tare 27 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 59, tare 27 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 60, tare 30 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 61, tare 29 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 62, tare 29 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 63, tare 29 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 64, tare 31 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 65, tare 29 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 66, tare 29 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 67, tare 28 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 68, tare 32 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 69, tare 34 pounds, gross 301 pounds Chest 70, tare 27 pounds, gross 295 pounds Total tare 407 pounds, total gross 4,143 pounds Net weight 3,736 pounds, or 28.02 piculs, at 4.500 taels a picul, 126 taels 0 mace 9 candareens 0 cash The invoice was signed at Canton on 14 December 1768 by Henry Revell, Hillary Torriano, Joseph de Lafons, John Searle, William Prows, John Walton, Thomas Bevan, Francis Wood junior, Benjamin Torin and Thomas Thomas, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The Horsendon brought chests 57 to 70, a fifth lot of sugar beyond the four already landed from the Asia, the Clive, the Tilbury and the True Briton. The island's Canton sugar order therefore ran to 70 chests in all, more than 19,000 pounds. The Horsendon was one of the last China ships of the season. Giving her the final lot meant the island would still receive sugar in early June, after the main fleet had come and gone. The Le Sage came from Mauritius, which the French called the Île de France. It was France's naval base and staging post in the Indian Ocean, as St Helena was Britain's in the Atlantic. She carried no guns. Her small crew and Bengal cargo marked her as a private trader shipping Indian goods home to Lorient, not a warship. | |
139 | 1769 Mr. James Greentree this day presented the following Petition viz. To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. Council of St. Helena The humble Petition of James Greentree Sheweth That your Petitioner begeth leave to dispose, at Publick Auction a parcel of Lease Land, lately bequeathed by Thomas Greentree Deceased. And your Petitioner will ever pray (Signed) 6th June 1769 James Greentree Granted John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | James Greentree presented a petition that day to Governor John Skottowe and the Council. He asked permission to sell at public auction a piece of leasehold land recently left by the late Thomas Greentree. He signed the petition on 6 June 1769. The Council granted it. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Greentree was acting as executor of Thomas Greentree's will, the role in which he had petitioned on 17 April 1769. He then put his two sons' names on the Sandy Bay lease and renewed the lease of the plot in James's Valley. Elizabeth Greentree's death on 16 May 1769 had ended her life interest in her husband's estate, so the property now passed to his heirs and could be divided. A sale by auction turned the land into money that could be shared among them. Like any transfer of a Company lease, it needed the Council's consent. The Council would also have to approve whoever bought the land as the new tenant. | |
140 | 12 June At a Consultation held on Monday the 12th day of June 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 6 June 1769 Saturday the 10 died Thomas Walls Inhabitant. Mr. Matthew Purling Reports that he has been on board the Ship Horsendon to Muster her Company and enquire for deserters but found none her Muster Roll is as follows viz. Muster Roll of Ship Horsendon Alexr. Jameson Commr. Jas. Baldwin Chief Mate Jas. Gaul. Bradford 2 do. Robt. Blackwell 3 do. Jas. Brown 4 do. Willm. Edmondsony 5 do. Thos. Jno. Pollock 6 do. Jas. Anderson Purser Jas. Pryggens Surg. Mate Richd. Pemberton Gunner Jos. Metcalf Boatn. Josh. Brown Carpentr. Jas. Morton Ships Steward Michl. Dennes Capt. do. Jas. Macpherson Mid. and Cox. Jno. Henderson Mid. Davd. Oliver do. Chas. Turner do. Willm. Pinkerton do. David Marshall do. Barney Sweeny 2 Master Willm. Fryer do. Jno. Fraser 3 Mast. Nichl. Robas do. Jno. Reid Gunr. Mate Jos. Allen Boatn. do. Matthw. Cuthbert Carp. 1 do. Jonath. Fox do. 2 do. Henry Swiney Sail Maker Jos. Raynell Armr. Joseph Laird Caulk. Geo. Climpse do. Mate Ar. Tapped Cooper Robt. Parsons do. Mate Hugh Mackey Capt. Cook Jn. Thursby Ships do. Davd. Holland Seamen Willm. Lawrence Jno. Dean Jas. Grey Jas. Saunderson Richd. Hilliard Willm. Clint Chas. Coppinger Andw. Holmes Seam. Willm. Hockins Willm. MacCulliam Jno. Thornary Willm. Large Dan. Watson Alexr. Nicholson Alexr. Croswell Arch. Currie Robt. Mayes Geo. Smithson Willm. Henderson Michl. Henderson Jno. Smith Jas. Gowen Jos. Hendrick Thos. Easter Robt. Moore Jno. Macbreath Thos. Smith Jas. Macall Jas. Evans | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 12 June 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 6 June 1769 were read, approved and signed. Thomas Watts, an inhabitant, died on Saturday 10 June. Purling reported that he had gone on board the Horsendon to muster her crew and search for deserters, and had found none. Her muster roll was entered as follows. Muster roll of the ship Horsendon Alexander Jamieson, commander John Baldwin, chief mate John Gaul Bradford, second mate Robert Blackwell, third mate John Brown, fourth mate William Edmonstone, fifth mate Thomas Allen Bostock, sixth mate John Anderson, purser James Biggens, surgeon's mate Richard Bowden, gunner James Metcalf, boatswain Joseph Brown, carpenter John Morton, ship's steward Michael Downs, captain's steward John Macpherson, midshipman and coxswain John Henderson, midshipman David Blair, midshipman Charles Turner, midshipman William Baker, midshipman David Marshall, midshipman Barney Sweeny, quartermaster William Byers, quartermaster John Frazer, quartermaster Nicholas Robas, quartermaster John Reid, gunner's mate John Allen, boatswain's mate Matthew Cuthbert, carpenter's first mate Abraham Fox, carpenter's second mate Henry Sweeny, sailmaker John Bayard, armourer Joseph Laird, caulker Leo Climpson, caulker's mate William Sheppard, cooper Robert Parsons, cooper's mate Hugh Mackay, captain's cook William Thornbury, ship's cook David Hillard, seaman William Lawrence, seaman John Dean, seaman John Grey, seaman John Saunderson, seaman Richard Hilliard, seaman William Clint, seaman Charles Coppinger, seaman Andrew Holmes, seaman William Hawkins, seaman William MacCallum, seaman John Thomson, seaman William Large, seaman David Watson, seaman Alexander Nicholson, seaman Alexander Creswell, seaman Archibald Currie, seaman Robert Mayes, seaman George Smithson, seaman William Henderson, seaman Michael Henderson, seaman John Smith, seaman John Gowen, seaman John Hendrick, seaman Thomas Easter, seaman Robert Moore, seaman John Macbeath, seaman Thomas Smith, seaman John Macrell, seaman John Burns, seaman Interpretations The Horsendon was the last China ship of the season to be mustered. Since February Purling had called over the crews of more than 20 East Indiamen, well over 2,000 names. The one soldier known to have escaped, Sutton Isaacs, got away in the Tilbury after her muster had been taken. The searches could not stop a man slipping aboard on the last night. They did make it impossible to hide on a ship before the roll was called. Thomas Watts, described as an inhabitant, was probably the former matross discharged from the artillery in September 1768. He had then worked as a tailor for the Company, making the coats of the porter and crier of the court. Once discharged, he lived on as a free inhabitant, as many soldiers did. | |
141 | 1769 Robt. Smith Seamen Jno. Bablesto Edwd. Patterson Jas. Brookes Jas. Conkea Saml. Dempsey Jno. Sampson Petr. Fletcher Thos. Milliverey Fras. Corrie Jas. Powell Wm. Welsh Davd. Henderson Seamen Willm. Monday Andw. Thomson Henry Swanston Henry Nickels Geo. Mellon Chas. Charlson Jas. Hewitt Geo. Matthews Jno. Brown Matw. Wood Jno. Frame Seamen Willm. Thomson Jas. Forrester Ralph Jovers Pendos Neale Capt. Servt. Jno. Haggard do. do. Thos. Coale Chief Mates do. Willm. Coe 2 do. do. Richd. Burn Gunr. do. Wm. Walker Carpr. do. Willm. Brett Surg. do. Jos. Horsendon Boatn. do. Passengers Mr. Jno. Walton Supra Cargo Mr. Jno. Arnot (Signed) Alexr. Jameson The Expence of Artillery Stores and Stewards Accounts for the Month of May last, were this day laid before Us, which were examined and approved and are as follow viz. Artillery Stores Expended in May 1769 Guns fired, Shot do., 32 lb, 24 lb, 18 lb, 12 lb, 9 lb, 6 lb, 4 lb, 3 lb, 1 lb, Powder Expend. lb, Powder Expend. oz 1st Arrived a Dutch Ship: Guns fired 15, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 15, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 22, Powder Expend. oz 8 do. 2 Depart. a Dane do.: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 3 An Alarm at Purlings Battery for a Ship that passed by: Guns fired 2, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 2, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 do. Depart. the Calcutta: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 do. Powr. to repair the Cartridges at the Main Guard: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 3, Powder Expend. oz 12 5th An Alarm: Guns fired 6, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 2, 3 lb 2, 1 lb 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 do. Arrived the Speke: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 Carrd. Over: Guns fired 50, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 2, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 42, 4 lb 2, 3 lb 2, 1 lb 2, Powder Expend. lb 90, Powder Expend. oz 12 | The Horsendon's muster roll closed with the last of her crew and servants, and her passengers. Robert Smith, seaman John Bablesto, seaman Edward Patterson, seaman James Brookes, seaman James Conkea, seaman Samuel Dempsey, seaman John Sampson, seaman Peter Fletcher, seaman Thomas Milliverey, seaman Francis Corrie, seaman James Powell, seaman William Welsh, seaman David Henderson, seaman William Monday, seaman Andrew Thomson, seaman Henry Swanston, seaman Henry Nickels, seaman George Mellon, seaman Charles Charlson, seaman James Hewitt, seaman George Matthews, seaman John Brown, seaman Malcolm Wood, seaman John Frame, seaman William Thomson, seaman James Forrester, seaman Ralph Jovers, seaman Pendox Neale, captain's servant John Haggard, captain's servant Thomas Coale, chief mate's servant William Core, second mate's servant Richard Burn, gunner's servant William Walker, carpenter's servant William Brett, surgeon's servant Joseph Horsendon, boatswain's servant Passengers Mr John Walton, supercargo Mr John Arnot Alexander Jamieson signed the roll. The gunner's and steward's accounts for May were laid before the Council that day. It examined and approved them, and they were entered as follows. Artillery stores used in May 1769 1 May, arrival of a Dutch ship: 15 six-pounders fired, with 22 pounds 8 ounces of powder 2 May, departure of a Danish ship: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 3 May, an alarm at Purling's Battery for a ship that passed the island: 2 eighteen-pounders fired, with 12 pounds of powder 3 May, departure of the Calcutta: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 3 May, powder used to repair the cartridges at the main guard, 3 pounds 12 ounces 6 May, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 6 May, arrival of the Speke: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder Carried forward: 50 guns fired, comprising 2 eighteen-pounders, 42 six-pounders, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 90 pounds 12 ounces of powder 32-pounders, 24-pounders, 12-pounders and 9-pounders fired, 0 Shot fired, 0 Interpretations John Walton, sailing home in the Horsendon, was another of the Canton supercargoes whose signatures appeared on the season's China invoices. With Searle gone in the Pacific and Thomas sent home in the True Briton, the members of the Canton council were returning one by one in the last ships of the fleet. The Dutch ship Twee Leeuwen was greeted with 15 guns, more than the nine given to the Company's own ships. A salute between nations was returned gun for gun. A foreign vessel that saluted the island's flag first received an equal number in reply. The Danish ship's departure brought the usual nine. The account also showed the routine upkeep of the magazines, with powder used to make up fresh cartridges at the main guard. | |
142 | 12 June Guns fired, Shot do., 32 lb, 24 lb, 18 lb, 12 lb, 9 lb, 6 lb, 4 lb, 3 lb, 1 lb, Powder Expend. lb, Powder Expend. oz Brought Over: Guns fired 50, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 2, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 42, 4 lb 2, 3 lb 2, 1 lb 2, Powder Expend. lb 90, Powder Expend. oz 12 6th An Alarm for a Ship that passed by: Guns fired 6, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 2, 3 lb 2, 1 lb 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 7 Fired to salute the Lieut. Govr. coming ashore: Guns fired 17, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 17, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 25, Powder Expend. oz 8 8 Depart. Ship London: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 11 do. Ship Tilbury: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 12 do. A Dutch Ship: Guns fired 15, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 15, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 22, Powder Expend. oz 8 13 An Alarm: Guns fired 6, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 2, 3 lb 2, 1 lb 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 do. Arrived a Dane Ship: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 do. Powder to clear the Guns at Lemon Valley: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 3, Powder Expend. oz 0 21 Depart. a Dane Ship: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 23 Powder expend. by drawing the Guns at Ruperts: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 10, Powder Expend. oz 0 do. An Alarm: Guns fired 6, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 2, 3 lb 2, 1 lb 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 do. Arrived the Salisbury: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 25 Depart. Ship Speke: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 26 An Alarm: Guns fired 6, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 2, 3 lb 2, 1 lb 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 do. Passed by a Dane Ship Salut. etc.: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 13, Powder Expend. oz 8 do. An Alarm at Purlings Battery for a Ship that passed by: Guns fired 2, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 2, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 do. do. at Prosperous Bay for the said Ship: Guns fired 6, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 2, 3 lb 2, 1 lb 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 do. An Alarm: Guns fired 6, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 2, 3 lb 2, 1 lb 2, Powder Expend. lb 12, Powder Expend. oz 0 do. Arrived a French Ship: Guns fired 11, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 11, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 16, Powder Expend. oz 8 do. Powder for priming all the above Salutes: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 30, Powder Expend. oz 0 do. do. to the Mercury Long Locks at Differt. times: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 5, Powder Expend. oz 0 do. do. to shoot Goats for Hospital at different times: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 3 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expend. lb 7, Powder Expend. oz 7 Total: Guns fired 194, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 4, 12 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 148, 4 lb 14, 3 lb 14, 1 lb 14, Powder Expend. lb 389, Powder Expend. oz 3 | The gunner's account for May 1769 continued from the totals carried forward. Brought forward: 50 guns fired, comprising 2 eighteen-pounders, 42 six-pounders, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 90 pounds 12 ounces of powder 6 May, an alarm for a ship that passed the island: 6 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 7 May, salute for the Lieutenant Governor coming ashore: 17 six-pounders fired, with 25 pounds 8 ounces of powder 8 May, departure of the London: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 11 May, departure of the Tilbury: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 12 May, departure of a Dutch ship: 15 six-pounders fired, with 22 pounds 8 ounces of powder 15 May, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 15 May, arrival of a Danish ship: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 15 May, powder to clear the guns at Lemon Valley, 3 pounds 21 May, departure of a Danish ship: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 22 May, powder used in drawing the guns at [...], 10 pounds 22 May, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 22 May, arrival of the Salisbury: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 24 May, departure of the Speke: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 26 May, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 26 May, a passing Danish ship saluted: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 26 May, an alarm at Purling's Battery for a ship that passed the island: 2 eighteen-pounders fired, with 12 pounds of powder 26 May, an alarm at Prosperous Bay for the same ship: 6 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 29 May, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 2 four-pounders, 2 three-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 12 pounds of powder 29 May, arrival of a French ship: 11 six-pounders fired, with 16 pounds 8 ounces of powder Powder for priming all the alarm guns, 30 pounds Powder for the men [...] at various times, 5 pounds Powder for shooting goats and for signals at various times, 7 pounds 7 ounces Total: 194 guns fired, comprising 4 eighteen-pounders, 148 six-pounders, 14 four-pounders, 14 three-pounders and 14 one-pounders, with 389 pounds 3 ounces of powder 32-pounders, 24-pounders, 12-pounders and 9-pounders fired, 0 Shot fired, 0 Interpretations Daniel Corneille was saluted with 17 guns when he came ashore on 7 May 1769. That was the same number fired when he left the island in August 1768. The salute marked his formal return to office as Lieutenant Governor, and it was the largest of the month. It was greater than the 15 guns given to the Dutch ship and the 11 to the French one. The garrison honoured the restored officer publicly, a week before the Court's dismissal of his accuser, Kirkpatrick, was followed by Kirkpatrick's own departure. The French ship arriving on 29 May was the Saint Étienne from Pondicherry. She received 11 guns, fewer than the Dutch ship. The number likely answered the salute she herself fired, since nations returned salutes gun for gun. The Council kept courtesies with France correct but no warmer than necessary, only six years after the end of the war in which the two nations had fought in India. | |
143 | 1769 Tallow for different uses 45 lb Lead Ball to shoot Goats 4 10 Ball for scarching of Guns 1 Handspikes Expended at different Places 11 Tompions do. do. for 12 lb 2 do. for 18 lb 1 Bitts broke for 6 lb 2 Paper for different uses 2 Quire White Rope for do. 5 Inch 20 Fathm. 15 Recd. two Barrels of Gun Powder from the Ship Speke (Signed) A. Middleton Sundry's Expended at the Honble. Company's Table in May 1769 £ s d 4 Bottles Port Wine 6 44 do. Lisbon 3 6 6 do. Mountain 9 36 do. Beer 6 9 21 1/2 Galls. Arrack 3 4 6 113 1/2 lb Beef 2 8 11 1/2 183 lb Mutton 3 16 3 5 Turkeys 1 5 19 Fowls 1 8 6 4 Ducks 6 33 1/4 lb Butter 1 14 3 10 lb Candy 2 6 1/2 482 lb Flour 4 4 9 Lambs 4 10 £ 29 12 7 | The gunner's account for May 1769 concluded with the other stores used. Tallow for various uses, 45 pounds Lead ball for shooting goats, 4 pounds 10 ounces Wool for searching the guns, 1 pound Handspikes used at various places, 11 Tompions used at various places for 12-pounders, 2 Tompions used at various places for 18-pounders, 1 Bits broken for 6-pounders, 2 Paper for various uses, 2 quires White rope, 3 inches, for various uses, 20 fathoms On 15 May two barrels of gunpowder were received from the Speke. Archibald Mitchell signed the account. Sundries used at the Company's table in May 1769 4 bottles of port wine, £0 6s 0d 44 bottles of Lisbon wine, £3 6s 0d 6 bottles of Mountain wine, £0 9s 0d 36 bottles of beer, £0 6s 9d 21½ gallons of arrack, £3 4s 6d 113½ pounds of beef, £2 8s 11½d 183 pounds of mutton, £3 16s 3d 5 turkeys, £1 5s 0d 19 fowls, £1 8s 6d 4 ducks, £0 6s 0d 34¼ pounds of butter, £1 14s 3d 100 pounds of sugar candy, £2 6s 1½d 482 pounds of flour, £4 0s 4d 9 lambs, £4 10s 0d Total, £29 12s 7d Interpretations Wool was used for searching the guns. A tuft of wool on a rod was drawn through the bore to find the rough edges of pits or cracks, which caught the fibres. This was a cheap substitute for the iron powder searchers lost from the Duke of Albany's consignment. Old guns kept in service on the new batteries had to be checked often. A flaw undetected could make a gun burst when fired. The Company's table served nine lambs in May, more than in any earlier month. The plantation account had shown lambing at Plantation House in the southern spring, and the flock had been rebuilt with Cape sheep. May fell in the late autumn on St Helena. The spring lambs were now of a good size for the table, fattened on grass grazed since the commons reopened. The Castle used them to entertain Corneille on his return and the officers of the last ships of the season. | |
144 | 12 June The small piece of Ground that Captains Bazett and Mitchell Petitioned for in Consultation of the 29 of last Month having been Viewed by the Lieut. Governor finds that eighteen feet in front may be spared without any detriment to the Neighbourhood, We Ordered a Lease to be made out in favour of Captn. Bazett and would not Grant Captn. Mitchells being included in the said Lease as he is leaving the Island, the Rent to be 3d. p foot amounting to 4/6 p Annum. Thomas Durham Matross this day Petitioned for his discharge from the Garrison having served the Honble. Company his contracted time. Granted We this day Inlisted Alexr. Henderson belonging to the Ship Horsendon to serve the Honble. Company as a Soldier for five Years he having obtained Captn. Jamesons permission for his discharge from said Ship and appearing to be a good Man we gave him £3 Bounty Money to buy him Cloaths etc. On the Arrival of the Speke agreable to the Honble. Court of Directors Instructions relative to the Engineer we informed him of their permission to return to England as soon as he had laid before Us all his Plans of the Works already constructed, as well those intended to be Constructed or repair together with such observations on them as he thought might be necessary to facilitate the further execution under Lieut. Thos. Bazett, that on the Arrival of the Horsendon the 2 instant Captn. Mitchell a few Days after requested that Lieut. Bazett might have the intire Superintendance of the Works, as well as an Officer appointed to the Command of the Artillery Company in Order that he might have more time to himself as the above Avocations if resting with him must necessarily take him off the more | The Lieutenant Governor had inspected the small piece of ground that Captains Bazett and Mitchell petitioned for at the meeting of 29 May. He found that 18 feet of frontage could be spared without harm to the neighbourhood. The Council ordered a lease to be made out in Captain Bazett's name alone. It would not grant Captain Mitchell a place in the lease, since he was leaving the island. The rent was to be 3d a foot, amounting to 4s 6d a year. Thomas Durham, a matross, petitioned that day for his discharge from the garrison, having served the Company for his full term. The Council granted it. The Council enlisted Alexander Henderson of the Horsendon that day to serve the Company as a soldier for five years. He had obtained Captain Jamieson's permission to be discharged from the ship. He seemed a good man, and the Council gave him £5 0s 0d bounty to buy clothes and other necessaries. When the Speke arrived, the Council had informed the engineer, in line with the Court of Directors' instructions, that he had leave to return to England. He was first to lay before the Council all his plans of the works already built and those intended to be built or repaired. He was also to add whatever remarks he thought necessary to help Lieutenant Thomas Bazett carry the work forward. On the arrival of the Horsendon on 2 June, and a few days afterwards, Captain Mitchell asked that Lieutenant Bazett be given the entire supervision of the works. He also asked that an officer be appointed to the command of the Artillery Company. Mitchell wished to have more time to himself, since the duties he had described, if left with him, must take him away from the more essential Interpretations The Council left Mitchell out of the lease for the billiard-house kitchen because he was about to leave the island. A lease in two names would have tied an absent man to rent and repairs on St Helena and complicated any later transfer. Granting it to Henry Bazett alone kept the holding with the partner who would remain. The kitchen would still serve the billiard house, but the lease would now pass cleanly through the Bazett family. The Court's packet in the Speke had released Mitchell at last, on one condition. Before leaving, he was to hand over every plan and his notes, so that Thomas Bazett could carry on the works without him. The Court had kept him waiting since January for exactly this transfer of knowledge. Mitchell now asked to be freed at once from running the works and commanding the artillery, so that he could finish the plans and remarks properly. Handing the works to Bazett at once also meant his successor would be in charge before he sailed, with Mitchell still on hand to advise. Alexander Henderson was the first seaman from the homeward fleet to be enlisted with his captain's written permission recorded. Taking a man from a ship without the commander's consent would have been enticing a sailor to desert, which could cause trouble with the ship's owners. Jamieson's leave made the enlistment lawful. Henderson's bounty of £5 0s 0d was double the £2 10s 0d paid to earlier recruits, a sign the Council was still short of men after the season's deaths and discharges. | |
145 | 1769 essential part of his Business in drawing Plans etc. for the short time he had to stay, in consequence of the above request the Governor gave out the following Order June ye 7th 1769 Morning Orders The Engineer having permission from the Honble. Court of Directors to return to Europe this Season, and intending to quit this Island in few days The Governor and Council have therefore appointed Lieut. Thomas Bazett to take immediate charge and temporary Command of the Artillery Company, And as he the said Lieut. Bazett is appointed by the Honble. Court of Directors to superintend the Publick Works in this Island, he do immediately enter upon the execution of that Office, as the Governor and Council have given the Engineer the remainder of his Stay to execute his Plans etc. not yet Compleated. On Saturday the 10th the Engineer waited on the Governor and gave up his Commission and further informed him that he would take his Passage on board the Horsendon, on which the Governor summoned the Lieut. Governor and Mr. Purling and acquainted them of the above proceeding and desired their opinions thereon, it was then Unanimously agreed that his Commission should be again returned to him, as we had no business with it and considered it as an unprecedented conjuncture his given it up, as he was not dismissed the service but had leave to go home by the Consent of the Honble. Court of Directors and further appointed Monday at four o'Clock to meet and receive his Plans and Observations as he had in the morning acquainted the Governor that they were all ready as he considered himself out of the service and thought it best immediately to deliver them up, in consequence of the above determination the Governor wrote Captn. Mitchell a Note desiring that if it was not convenient to dine with him he would come to the Castle before dinner with intention of informing him of the sentiments of the Board (as he had mentioned to the Governor in the morning that he had taken Salts and beg'd being excused waiting on him to dinner) that he made no answer to the | Mitchell asked for this so that he could give his time to the essential part of his work, drawing plans and the like, in the short time he had left on the island. In answer to his request, the Governor issued the following order. The morning orders of 7 June 1769 stated that the engineer had the Court of Directors' permission to return to Europe that season and meant to leave the island within a few days. The Governor and Council had therefore appointed Lieutenant Thomas Bazett to take immediate charge and temporary command of the Artillery Company. The Court of Directors had appointed Bazett to supervise the public works on the island, and he was to take up that office at once. The Governor and Council had left the engineer free for the rest of his stay to finish his plans and other work not yet completed. On Saturday 10 June the engineer called on the Governor and gave up his commission. He also told the Governor that he would take his passage in the Horsendon. The Governor then called the Lieutenant Governor and Purling together, told them what had happened and asked their opinion. They agreed unanimously that the commission should be returned to Mitchell. The Council had no business with it and considered that he had resigned it without any reason, since he had not been dismissed from the service but had been given leave by the Court of Directors to go home. They further appointed four o'clock on Monday to meet and receive his plans and remarks. That morning, however, Mitchell had told the Governor that they were all ready, since he considered himself out of the service and thought it best to hand them over at once. Following the Council's decision, the Governor wrote Mitchell a note. He asked that, if it was not inconvenient to dine with him, Mitchell come to the Castle before dinner, meaning to tell him of the Board's view. Mitchell had told the Governor that morning that he had taken salts, and he excused himself from dining with him. He made no answer to the Interpretations Mitchell's surrender of his commission caught the Council by surprise. He had been granted leave to go home, not dismissed, so he remained an officer of the Company's service. Giving up his commission suggested he regarded his service as ended, perhaps to free himself from any further duty or orders on the island or the voyage. The Council refused to accept it. It handed the commission back, holding that a man on leave could not resign it to the Council on his own account. The decision kept Mitchell bound to the Company as an officer until the Court itself released him. It also protected the Council if the Directors later questioned how he had left. Mitchell excused himself from the Governor's dinner on the grounds that he had taken salts, a purgative medicine. His ill health had been on record since April. The excuse let him avoid a meeting at which the Governor meant to deliver the Board's decision in person. His silence in reply to the note hinted at strain between the departing engineer and the Council, despite its warm praise of his work only months earlier. | |
146 | 12 June above Note, untill the hours of four and five in the Evening the Governor received the following Note. To John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Mr. Mitchell received a Note to day from the Governor, which he hopes was meant to the hipped Captn. and not to Mr. Mitchell; If the latter, he will undoubtedly take an opportunity of paying him his personal acknowledgements in the most publick manner. Hopes the Governor will have no objection to Mr. Mitchell's walking in the Company's Garden this Evening, when, if Mr. Skottowe pleases to meet him, at six o'Clock, it will save the trouble of writing him an immediate Answer. After the Receipt of the above Note the Governor sent for Captn. Mitchell between six and seven in the evening and on his coming represented to him the impropriety of his Conduct, offered him his commission which he refused, and made known to him our Intention of receiving his Plans and observations on Monday at four o'Clock as no other business would then intervene to prevent our attention to that object, nothing further passed untill our assembling in Consultation on Monday morning, soon after we were met, Captn. Mitchell desired to be admitted as he had business with the Board on entering he desired some body might be appointed to take charge of the Books as he considered himself as having nothing to do with the service, we then reply'd that the Governors Order under date of the 7, fully imply'd Lieut. Thos. Bazett taking charge of such Books as belonged to him as Engineer, and Captn. of Artillery, but did not immediately specify the positive hour for Lieut. Bazett's taking charge of those things as it was left to him to judge of the time that suited his conveniency best, we further added that we expected his attendance at four o'Clock with his Plans etc. on which he replyed that as to his Plans if we thought proper to appoint any body to wait upon him he would deliver them up, adding that he did not think himself obliged to attend the Board when ever they thought proper to send for him, we then informed him that such language we thought highly improper, on which he attacked the Governor on a breach of faith in regard to his Captain Mitchell's Account then rose from his Chair and in a fury accused Mr. Purling with Breach of | Mitchell made no answer to the note until between four and five in the evening, when the Governor received a note from him. Mitchell wrote to Governor John Skottowe that he had received a note from the Governor that day. He hoped it had been meant for the supposed captain and not for Mr Mitchell. If it was meant for the latter, he would certainly take an opportunity of paying the Governor his personal acknowledgements in the most public manner. He hoped the Governor would not object to his walking in the Company's garden that evening. If Mr Skottowe would meet him there at six o'clock, it would save the trouble of writing an immediate answer. After receiving the note, the Governor sent for Captain Mitchell between six and seven that evening. When Mitchell came, the Governor pointed out how improper his conduct was. He offered him his commission back, which Mitchell refused. He told him that the Council meant to receive his plans and remarks at four o'clock on Monday, when no other business would distract its attention. Nothing more passed until the Council met on Monday morning. Soon after the Council met, Captain Mitchell asked to be admitted, saying he had business with the Board. On entering, he asked that someone be appointed to take charge of the books, since he considered he had nothing more to do with the service. The Council replied that the Governor's order of 7 June plainly meant that Lieutenant Thomas Bazett would take charge of the books belonging to Mitchell as engineer and captain of artillery. It had not fixed the hour for the handover, but had left Mitchell to choose the time that suited him best. The Council added that it expected him to attend at four o'clock with his plans and other papers. Mitchell replied that if the Council saw fit to send someone to him, he would hand over his plans. He added that he did not think himself obliged to attend the Board whenever it chose to send for him. The Council told him it thought such language highly improper. Mitchell then accused the Governor of a breach of faith concerning his [...]. He rose from his chair and, in a fury, accused Mr Purling of a breach of friendship. Interpretations Mitchell's note to the Governor was close to a challenge to a duel. Its talk of "personal acknowledgements in the most public manner" and its request to meet the Governor alone in the Company's garden at a fixed hour followed the polite language in which gentlemen of the period called each other out. By casting himself as "Mr Mitchell" rather than "the supposed captain", he suggested that, having given up his commission, he could meet the Governor as a private gentleman, free of military discipline. The Governor did not go to the garden. He summoned Mitchell to him instead, keeping the quarrel within official bounds, where the Governor held authority. The quarrel turned on whether Mitchell was still under the Council's orders. Mitchell held that by surrendering his commission he had left the service and owed the Board nothing more. The Council held that a man on leave from the Court of Directors remained an officer until he sailed. It insisted that he attend with his plans like any other servant. His refusal to come when sent for, and his outburst against the Governor and Purling, turned a dispute over procedure into open defiance in the Council chamber itself. The accusation against Purling was the more striking. The battery at Banks's had been named Purling's Battery, and the two men had worked closely on the fortifications. Mitchell's charge of a breach of friendship suggests he had expected Purling to take his side against the Governor. The record did not say why he felt betrayed. | |
147 | 1769 friendship and under the Cloak of that using him very ill, and then addressing himself to the Board said that we had all used him very bad that he was glad now to know his friends from his Foes and that we were a base set of Men, with many other expressions and that he would have nothing further to say to Us but on a proper occasion when his mind was less disturbed would represent Us as we deserved, and further added that he was ready to give every one of Us any satisfaction that we thought proper as he had now resigned the service. Such a Conduct astonished Us, and we found him uninfluenced from any Arguments or reasoning we could offer, therefore Ordered him peremptorily to retire and give his attendance at four o'Clock with his Plans etc. that we accordingly met at said Hour and waited for him untill half past five and he not coming ordered the Secretary to write him the following Note. To Captn. Archibald Mitchell Sir I am ordered by the Governor and Council to acquaint you that they are now assembled and ready to receive all Plans that you have relative to the Fortifications of this Island as well as any other Papers of Observations you have respecting said Works either already Constructed or to be Constructed, agreeable to their directions for attending them at this Hour for that purpose. I am Sir Your most obedient humble Servant (Signed) St. Helena 12 June 1769 Matthw. Bazett Secy. That we again sent Mr. Wright to him at six o'Clock on which he came without his Plans etc. we then ask'd him why he had not brought them, to which he reply'd that they were not quite ready, that as he was determined to go in the Horsendon and as his health was the most valuable thing to him in this | Mitchell accused Purling of using him very badly under the cover of that friendship. He then turned to the Board as a whole. He said that all its members had used him very badly, that he was glad now to know his friends from his enemies, and that they were a base set of men, along with many other expressions. He said he would have nothing more to say to them. On a proper occasion, when his mind was calmer, he would represent them as they deserved. He added that, since he had now resigned the service, he was ready to give any one of them whatever satisfaction they thought fit. The Council was astonished at such conduct. It found that no argument or reasoning had any effect on him. It therefore ordered him firmly to withdraw and to attend at four o'clock with his plans and papers. The Council met at that hour and waited for him until half past five. When he did not come, it ordered the secretary to write him the following note. Matthew Bazett wrote to Captain Archibald Mitchell, by order of the Governor and Council, at St Helena on 12 June 1769. He told Mitchell that the Governor and Council were now assembled and ready to receive all his plans of the island's fortifications, together with any other papers of remarks he had on the works already built or still to be built. This was in line with their instructions that he attend them at that hour for the purpose. The Council sent Mr Wright to him again at six o'clock. Mitchell then came without his plans and papers. When asked why he had not brought them, he replied that they were not quite ready. He was determined to sail in the Horsendon, and his health was the most valuable thing to him in this Interpretations Mitchell's offer to give any member of the Council "satisfaction" was an open challenge to a duel. It confirmed the meaning of his earlier note to the Governor. He claimed that resigning the service freed him to settle the quarrel as a private gentleman, beyond the reach of military discipline. The Council did not take up the challenge. It ordered him out of the room and set a time for him to return with his plans. Duelling between the island's senior officers would have been a public scandal. By refusing to treat him as a private man, the Council kept the dispute within its own authority. The demand for the plans was the heart of the matter. The Court of Directors had made Mitchell's leave depend on his handing over all his plans and remarks for Thomas Bazett's use. Without them, the island's new engineer would have to work from guesswork on batteries only half built. Mitchell had told the Governor on 10 June that the plans were ready. Two days later he said they were not. His shifting answers, and his insistence on his health and his passage, suggest he meant to leave with the plans unfinished or to keep them as a lever in his quarrel with the Council. | |
148 | 12 June world yet in compliance to the Court of Directors Order, he would endeavour to get them ready before his departure, but that in a future time he meant to make some observations on said Order, we again found him beginning to be very inconsistant on which we ordered him to lay his Plans etc. before Us on Wednesday morning when we purposed meeting on that Account and desired that he might withdraw, but before his withdrawing he observed to us that he had received in the Morning from Lieut. Thos. Bazett a List of such Books and Instruments which we had sent him, as taken from the Journal of Invoice of Ship Salisbury which he said he could not deliver up as he had reason to believe that it was a List made out here as he was well persuaded some of the Books were his property, to which we replyed he might be well Assured as they were entered upon the Company's Books here as Invoiced to Us that he would be obliged to deliver them up a Copy of said List we Ordered to be transcribed and transmitted to the Company as a convincing proof that it was a genuine List as Invoiced to Us. Mr. Purling delivered the following Minute Mr. Purling is at a loss to guess what Captn. Mitchell alludes to in his charge against him of deceiving him under the Cloak of friendship when being pressed at the Board for an explanation, his answer was that he had dissuaded him from following his own inclinations in resigning the Company's service soon after the Arrival of the Duke of Albany, he must confess he took some pains to prevail on him to desist from that resolution, considering such a rash Step must greatly injure him in the service, as he was then acting very contrary to the orders we had just received and which had then made known to him purporting his remaining here until further Orders expected by the Speke he therefore submits to the Judgment of all impartial Men whether his conduct on that Occasion deserved the severe Epithet he has given it, and as a proof that he himself thought otherwise, he came to him soon afterwards and seemed very sensible of his Error and made confession for his strange behaviour acknowledging it proceeded entirely from a disorder'd mind and that he had not the least reason for making use of those expressions. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | Mitchell said his health mattered more to him than anything else in the world. Even so, he would try to have the plans ready before he left, in obedience to the Court of Directors' order. He added that at some later time he intended to make some remarks on that order. The Council again found him beginning to be very inconsistent. It ordered him to lay his plans and papers before it on Wednesday morning, when it meant to meet for that purpose, and asked him to withdraw. Before he withdrew, Mitchell told the Council that he had received that morning from Lieutenant Thomas Bazett a list of the books and instruments the Council had sent him, taken from the invoice of the Salisbury. He said he could not hand them over. He had reason to think the list had been made out on the island, since he was certain some of the books were his own property. The Council replied that he could be sure of the matter. The books were entered in the Company's records on the island as invoiced to the Council, and he would be obliged to hand them over. The Council ordered a copy of the list to be made and sent to the Company, as clear proof that it was a genuine list invoiced to the Council. Matthew Purling delivered the following minute. Purling was at a loss to guess what Captain Mitchell meant in charging him with deceiving him under the cover of friendship. When pressed at the Board for an explanation, Mitchell had answered that Purling had persuaded him not to follow his own wish to resign the Company's service, soon after the Duke of Albany arrived. Purling admitted that he had taken some trouble to persuade Mitchell to give up that plan. He was sure so rash a step would greatly harm Mitchell in the service. Mitchell was then acting against the orders just received, and Purling had seen reason to persuade him to stay until the further orders expected by the Speke arrived. Purling therefore left it to the judgement of every impartial man whether his conduct on that occasion deserved the harsh name Mitchell had given it. As proof that Mitchell himself had thought otherwise, Purling recorded that Mitchell came to him soon afterwards, seemed very sensible of his error and made a confession of his strange behaviour. Mitchell acknowledged that it had come entirely from a disordered mind and that he had not the least reason for making any of those remarks. Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Purling's minute explained the charge of betrayed friendship. When the Duke of Albany brought the Court's order in April 1769 that Mitchell should wait for further instructions, Mitchell had wanted to resign at once. Purling talked him out of it, warning that defying the Court would harm his career. Mitchell had obeyed and stayed. Now, with his leave granted and his temper lost, he blamed Purling for keeping him on the island against his will. Purling entered his own account in the minutes so that the Court of Directors would read both sides. He also recorded Mitchell's earlier private apology, which he could use to show the outburst was not to be taken seriously. The dispute over the books and instruments was a practical one. Mitchell claimed some were his private property, while the Council held that everything entered in the Salisbury's invoice belonged to the Company. Surveying instruments and engineering books were expensive and hard to replace on St Helena. If Mitchell took them home, Thomas Bazett would be left without the tools to continue the works. Sending a copy of the invoice to London let the Company itself confirm that the items had been shipped at its expense. Mitchell's remark about his "disordered mind", repeated in Purling's minute, linked his behaviour to the ill health he had reported since April. Purling seems to have recorded it for two reasons. It excused Mitchell to some extent, and it showed the Directors that his accusations came from a man not fully in control of himself. | |
149 | 14 June At a Consultation held on Wednesday the 14 day of June 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 12 June 1769 We this day Assembled in Consultation in Order to receive from Captn. Mitchell his Plans and Observations etc. the Governor Communicated the following Letter to the Board which he received this day at nine o'Clock. To John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. of the Island St. Helena Sir Being a good deal indisposed I cannot have the Honr. of waiting personally on the Board agreable to my intentions and your desire, and therefore must request of you, Sir, to accept yourself and to communicate to the Board my assurances that I had no intentions by any warm and unguarded expressions I might have let fall, last Monday, in the imprudent warmth of private resentment, to offer the smallest insult or disrespect to the Board assembled in Consultation, of the truth of which I flatter myself the uniform Tenor of my Conduct, during the time I was under their Orders, will be a sufficient testimony. Having prepared Plans and observations of the Fortifications not yet finished, I request you will give Orders to my Successor Lieut. Bazett, to receive them, and what other Plans you may choose to have, as soon as convenient, as I intend to take my Passage to Europe on board the Horsendon now in the Road, which sails in a few days. As it will require the little remainder of my stay to settle my private Affairs, the Board will please to excuse me from any future attendance. I have the Honor to be Sir Your most obedient Servant (Signed) St. Helena 14 June 1769 A. Mitchell | The Council met at the Castle on Wednesday 14 June 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 12 June 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Council met that day to receive Captain Mitchell's plans and remarks. The Governor laid before the Board a letter he had received from Mitchell at nine o'clock that morning. Mitchell wrote to Governor Skottowe that he was too unwell to wait on the Board in person, as he had meant to and as the Governor wished. He asked the Governor to accept, and to pass on to the Board, his assurance that he had never intended to insult or show disrespect to the Board sitting in Council. He had let fall some hasty and careless words the previous Monday in the heat of private resentment. He trusted that his steady conduct throughout the time he served under the Council's orders would be enough proof of that. He had prepared plans and remarks on the fortifications not yet finished. He asked the Governor to order his successor, Lieutenant Bazett, to receive them, with any other plans the Council wished to have, as soon as convenient. He meant to take his passage to Europe in the Horsendon, then lying in the road, which would sail in a few days. He would need the little time left before he sailed to settle his private affairs. He therefore asked the Board to excuse him from attending again. He signed the letter at St Helena on 14 June 1769. Interpretations Mitchell's letter was an apology framed with care. He withdrew any intention of insulting the Board "sitting in Council", the body that held the Company's authority. He blamed his words on "private resentment", meaning his personal grievances against the Governor and Purling. The distinction mattered. An insult to the Council in session was an offence against the Company itself and could be reported to the Directors as defiance of their government. A private quarrel, however heated, was a lesser matter. By separating the two, Mitchell sought to limit the damage to his record before he reached London. He also gave the Council what it had demanded, plans and remarks handed over to Thomas Bazett. He did so without appearing before the Board again. Ill health, which he had pleaded since April, gave him a reason to stay away. Sending the plans through his successor let the Council's orders be met without a further meeting that might revive the quarrel. Both sides gained something. The Council got its plans, and Mitchell could leave without another scene in the Council chamber. | |
150 | 14 June On considering the purport of the above Letter, and being fully convinced of his determined Resolution of not waiting again on the Board, We sent Lieut. Thos. Bazett superintendant of the Works to receive all such Plans and other Papers relative to the Fortifications of this Island without taking any further Notice of his Letter, and on his waiting on Captn. Mitchell to that intent Lieut. Bazett immediately returned informing Us that Captn. Mitchell refused given him up such Plans and Papers without first receiving a written Order from the Board, On which we sent him the following Order by Lieut. Bazett. To Captn. Archibald Mitchell By Order of the Governor and Council Sir You are hereby required to deliver up to Lieut. Thos. Bazett all Plans Papers and observations you have in your possession relative to the Fortifications of this Island or that may in any respect concern the Honble. East India Company, the said Lieut. Bazett having Orders from the Governor and Council to receive the same and give you a Receipt for what you deliver to him. I am Sir Your most obedient Servant (Signed) St. Helena 14th June 1769 Matthw. Bazett Secy. In consequence of the above Order Lieut. Bazett brought Us his Plans into the Board and acquainted Us that Captn. Mitchell was without, on which we sent for him in, he then informed Us that he had his Observations on said Work as well already Constructed as to be Constructed in his Pocket and would | The Council considered the letter and was satisfied that Mitchell was determined not to attend the Board again. It sent Lieutenant Thomas Bazett, superintendent of the works, to collect all his plans and other papers on the island's fortifications, without taking any further notice of the letter. Bazett went to Captain Mitchell for that purpose. He came back at once and reported that Mitchell refused to hand over the plans and papers without first receiving a written order from the Board. The Council therefore sent him the following order by Lieutenant Bazett. Matthew Bazett, the secretary, wrote to Captain Archibald Mitchell by order of the Governor and Council at St Helena on 14 June 1769. The order firmly required Mitchell to hand over to Lieutenant Thomas Bazett all the plans, papers and remarks he held on the island's fortifications, or on any other matter concerning the East India Company. Lieutenant Bazett had the Governor and Council's orders to receive them and to give Mitchell a receipt for whatever he handed over. Following this order, Lieutenant Bazett brought Mitchell's plans before the Board. He told the Council that Captain Mitchell was waiting outside. The Council sent for him. Mitchell then told the Council that he had his remarks on the works, both those already built and those still to be built, in his pocket, and would Interpretations Mitchell's demand for a written order was a sound precaution. Plans of the fortifications were secret papers belonging to the Company. An officer who handed them to another on a spoken message alone could later be blamed if any went missing or reached the wrong hands. A written order from the Board, with a receipt from Thomas Bazett, placed the responsibility clearly on the Council and its appointed officer. It protected Mitchell when the Court of Directors came to review the handover. Whatever his temper earlier in the week, in this he acted correctly. The order extended to any papers concerning the Company, not only the fortification plans. The Council evidently feared Mitchell might sail with documents the Company would want kept on the island, among them correspondence, accounts of the works or notes on the garrison. With his quarrel with the Board still fresh, the Council was taking no chances. | |
151 | 1769 read them if agreable, which was immediately Assented to, that done he talk'd very extravagantly adding that he did not know what use we might make of his Plans that he had delivered them up in obedience to our desire, but apprehended that as many of them were for his own use and satisfaction, he thought they ought to be tore in his presence with many other extravagant expressions, on which we assured him that we should keep them agreable to the Honble. Court of Directors Orders and gave him the following Receipt viz. St. Helena 14 June 1769 Received of Captn. Archd. Mitchell the following Plans which he delivered up to the Governor and Council viz. A Plan of James's Valley Fortification Two do. of Sandy Bay do. One do. of Lemon Valley do. do. do. of Munden's Point do. do. do. of Banks's upper Battery do. do. of Plantation House do. do. of the Lieutenant Governor's House do. An Elevation of a Church intended to be built in James's Valley (Signed) John Skottowe Danl. Corneille Matthw. Purling We then desired that he might withdraw which he complyed with requesting that the Governor would go out of the Council Chamber having something particular to say to him, the Governor then returning in about ten Minutes, acquainted the Board with the following circumstance as pass'd during that short period between him and Captn. Mitchell, that Captn. Mitchell told him he hoped any thing he had said or done would be forgot and that they might part friends, to which the Governor replied that he Captn. Mitchell had done him much injury by his unjust suspicions, and the unjust return he had met with from Captn. | Mitchell offered to read his remarks if the Council wished, and it agreed at once. Afterwards he spoke very wildly. He said he did not know what use the Council might make of the plans he had handed over at its request. He feared, however, that many of them had been drawn only for his own use and satisfaction, and thought they ought to be torn up in his presence. He used many other extravagant expressions. The Council assured him that it would keep the plans as the Court of Directors had ordered and gave him the following receipt. The receipt, dated at St Helena on 14 June 1769, recorded that the Governor and Council had received the following plans from Captain Archibald Mitchell. 1 plan of the fortifications of James's Valley 2 plans of the fortifications of Sandy Bay 1 plan of the fortifications of Lemon Valley 1 plan of the fortifications of Munden's Point 1 plan of the upper battery at Banks's 1 plan of Plantation House 1 plan of the Lieutenant Governor's house 1 elevation of a church intended to be built in James's Valley Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the receipt. The Council then asked Mitchell to withdraw. He did so, asking that the Governor step out of the Council chamber, since he had something particular to say to him. The Governor returned after about ten minutes and told the Board what had passed between him and Captain Mitchell in that short time. Mitchell had told him he hoped anything he had said or done would be forgotten and that they might part friends. The Governor replied that Captain Mitchell had done him great injury by his unjust suspicions, and by the unjust return he had received from Captain Interpretations The receipt listed every plan Mitchell handed over: the fortifications of James's Valley, Sandy Bay, Lemon Valley and Munden's Point, the upper battery at Banks's, Plantation House and the Lieutenant Governor's house. These were the record of five years of building on the island. They gave Thomas Bazett a complete picture of the defences he now had to finish and maintain. The elevation of a church for James's Valley showed that Mitchell's work went beyond military engineering. The church timber held in store since September 1768 was meant for that building, and his design would guide it. Mitchell's wish to have some plans torn up suggests he regarded them as private drafts, not finished Company property. Engineers commonly drew rough working plans for their own use before the fair copies. The Council refused. Under the Court's orders, every plan made while in the Company's pay belonged to the Company. Destroying any of them in front of the Board would have been an admission that Company papers could be disposed of at an officer's whim. Mitchell's request to speak privately with the Governor, and his hope that they might part as friends, showed his temper cooling at the last. Two days earlier he had all but challenged the Governor to a duel. Now he sought reconciliation before sailing. The Governor reported the conversation to the Board at once and in full. A private talk with an officer who had insulted the Council might later be misread. Putting it on the record protected the Governor's position. | |
152 | 14 June Mitchell gave him much concern and was now well convinced he had hitherto misplaced a friendship in Captn. Mitchell as well as shewn him many more civilitys than he has appeared to be deserving of, on which he began to grow very unreasonable told the Governor he was now out of the service and a Gentleman and therefore required immediate satisfaction on which the Governor went again into the Consultation Room and shut the Door after him. The Governor returning into the Room informed the Board of what had passed between him and Captn. Mitchell the Lieut. Governor thereupon offered it as his opinion that Captn. Mitchell ought to be confined. Captain Mitchell delivered the following Observations etc. Observations relative to that part of the Defence of the Island not yet Compleated. As the Platforms at Lemon Valley were agreed to be delayed untill such time as the Storeships brought with them a larger quantity of Purbeck - Stone for that purpose, I imagine the Board will think proper to accomplish that, as soon as the Alteration now executing at Sandy - Bay shall be completed. In regard to the Battery at Mundens Point, I have taken such pains to delineate every part of it, with so much Minuteness that I flatter myself those finishings which remain to be accomplished will be completed by Lieut. Bazett with the greatest Precision and in a very little time. The next Work that may be thought proper to commence is the rebuilding the two Demi - Bastions in James's Valley, for which a small part of the Materials is already prepared. I intended to have added to it a Plan of the Cellar, opposite the Flank of the Demi - Bastion, however as it will probably be constructed nearly on the same Plan as the Old one, only conducted farther back, with the Addition of a Traverse in Front, to prevent its being infiladed, there can be no difficulty in laying down its Dimensions. When | Mitchell had caused the Governor much concern. The Governor was now convinced that he had misplaced his friendship in Captain Mitchell until then, and had shown him far more courtesy than he appeared to deserve. Mitchell then grew very unreasonable. He told the Governor that he was now out of the service and a gentleman, and therefore demanded immediate satisfaction. The Governor went back into the Council chamber and shut the door behind him. On his return the Governor told the Board what had passed between him and Captain Mitchell. The Lieutenant Governor then gave his opinion that Captain Mitchell ought to be placed under arrest. Captain Mitchell delivered the following remarks. His remarks concerned the parts of the island's defences not yet finished. The platforms at Lemon Valley had been delayed by agreement until the store ships brought a larger quantity of Purbeck stone for them. Mitchell expected the Board would think it proper to lay them as soon as the alteration then being made at Sandy Bay was completed. He had taken such pains to draw every part of the battery at Munden's Point in such detail that he was confident Lieutenant Bazett would complete the remaining finishing work with great precision and in very little time. The next work the Board might think fit to begin was the rebuilding of the two demi-bastions in James's Valley, for which a small part of the materials was already prepared. He had meant to add a plan of the [...] opposite the flank of the demi-bastion. It would probably be built much as the old one had been, only set further back, with the addition of a traverse in front to stop it being raked by enfilading fire. There could therefore be no difficulty in setting out its dimensions. When these Interpretations Mitchell's demand for "immediate satisfaction" was a direct challenge to the Governor to fight a duel. He claimed that, being out of the service, he could meet the Governor as one gentleman to another. The Governor answered by walking back into the Council chamber and shutting the door. He refused the challenge without a word and put the Council's authority between himself and the angry engineer. Corneille's opinion that Mitchell should be placed under arrest showed how seriously the Board viewed it. A challenge to the Governor of the island by one of its officers threatened public order and the dignity of the Company's government. Mitchell's remarks, by contrast, were calm and professional. Purbeck stone was a hard limestone from Dorset, prized for paving and gun platforms because it stood up to the weight and recoil of heavy cannon. It had to come from England in the store ships. A traverse was a mound or wall built across a work to shield the guns from fire raking along its length, known as enfilading fire. The notes gave Thomas Bazett exactly the guidance the Court had asked for. Even in the middle of his quarrel, Mitchell did the work the Company required. | |
153 | 1769 those Works, with the Addition of a new Parapet and Platforms to the Curtain of this Line are compleated, there will only remain a few inconsiderable Gullies to Wall up, which, as I have already pointed out and surveyed, in Company with Lieut. Bazett, I shall therefore have occasion to say little besides mentioning their names. Between this Valley and Horse - Pasture there are two accessible Gullies called Breakneck and Friars Valleys. The former has already an Old Wall across it which however is improperly placed and requires being rebuilt, and the latter being very easy of Access, will require a Wall of some Extent, with Regard to these Walls across the Valleys I shall only observe in general that they must be built in the most substantial manner, well secured by frequent Counterforts, and I apprehend had better be filled in behind, in Order that the Torrents of Water which descend thro' all of them, may flow over their Tops, which is the only way I can devise to give a proper passage to the Water, without weakening the Defence. Between Horse Pasture and South West Point are three Gullies, which, tho' all of the most difficult Ascent, are yet accessible: - Their Names are Tom Toms, Old Womans and Swanley Valleys. - The first may be secured with a Wall of small extent, being already secure all but in one part, Old Woman's Valley is neither very difficult in respect to Landing, nor in the Access to the Country, and will want to be Walled up on each side, the Center of the Valley being already secured by a steep Rock, over which the Water flows. - The third is Swanley's Valley, where the Landing is very difficult in the Day and would be impracticable in the night: The entrance into the Gully is very narrow and may easily be rendered inaccessible, with the assistance of a little scarping, particularly on the East side, where they are lowest. Between these Gullies and Sandy Bay there are no practicable Avenues into the Country, and from the latter as far as Prosperous Bay, altho' there are some Valleys where, in very smooth Weather, a few people might with Difficulty get ashore, yet it is so very seldom that even this happens, and there are so many other Obstacles to surmount, that it appears to me sufficiently strong, without the Assistance of Art, and that nothing less than absolute supineness and negligence in keeping a proper Look out, in Case of War, could endanger the safety of the Island from this Quarter. I now remains only to make a few remarks on that part of the Coast of the Island, situated between the Bluff of Prosperous - Bay and the Sugar Loaf, in which district there are two accessible Landing Places, namely Prosperous Bay and Turks - Cap. The former of these has an extensive Beach, and when the Sea is smooth, would admit | Once those works, with a new parapet and platforms for the curtain of that line, were finished, only a few minor gullies would remain to be walled up. Mitchell had already pointed these out and surveyed them with Lieutenant Bazett, so he had little to add beyond naming them. Between James's Valley and the Horse Pasture lay two gullies that could be climbed, called Breakneck Valley and Friar's Valley. The first already had an old wall across it, but it was badly placed and needed rebuilding. The second was very easy to climb and would need a wall of some length. As for walls across valleys in general, they had to be built as solidly as possible and well secured by buttresses at regular intervals. Mitchell thought they had better be filled in behind, so that the torrents of water that ran down all these valleys could flow over the top. He knew of no other way to give the water a proper outlet without weakening the defence. Between the Horse Pasture and South West Point lay three gullies. They were very hard to climb but could still be climbed. They were called Tom Tom's Valley, Old Woman's Valley and Swanley Valley. The first could be secured with a short wall, since it was already safe everywhere except at one point. Old Woman's Valley was not very hard either to land in or to climb up into the country. It would need walling on each side, the centre of the valley already being protected by a steep rock over which the water flowed. The third was Swanley Valley, where landing was very difficult by day and would be impossible at night. The entrance to the gully was very narrow and could easily be made impassable with a little scarping, especially on the east side, where it was lowest. Between those gullies and Sandy Bay there were no practicable routes into the country. From Sandy Bay as far as Prosperous Bay there were some valleys where a few people might land with difficulty in very calm weather. This happened so seldom, however, and there were so many other obstacles to overcome, that Mitchell judged that stretch strong enough without the help of art. Only gross surprise and neglect in keeping a proper lookout in wartime could endanger the island's safety from that quarter. It remained only to comment on the part of the coast between the bluff of Prosperous Bay and the Sugar Loaf. In that stretch there were two places where a landing was possible, Prosperous Bay and Turk's Cap. The former had a long beach and, when the sea was calm, would allow Interpretations Mitchell's remarks amounted to a survey of every weak point on the island's coast, valley by valley. St Helena's cliffs made most of its shore unclimbable. Its gullies, cut by streams down to the sea, offered the only routes by which an enemy landing party could reach the interior. Walling each one and scarping the rock, cutting it back into a sheer face, would close these back doors to the island. A small garrison could then guard a few known landing places instead of the whole coastline. His advice that the walls be filled in behind so the water could flow over them showed a practical knowledge of the island. Winter rains turned the gullies into torrents. A free-standing wall would trap the water, build up pressure and be swept away. A wall backed with earth and rubble would let floods pass over its top while still blocking men. Mitchell judged the long stretch from Sandy Bay to Prosperous Bay safe enough without works, so long as a proper lookout was kept. His view rested on how rarely the sea was calm enough to land there. That reasoning saved the Company from building where nature already defended the island. It explained why the lookouts and alarm guns at Prosperous Bay and Turk's Cap mattered so much in the gunner's accounts. | |
154 | 14 June of an Enemy's landing without much difficulty, The Extent of the Bay would require a Work of great labour and expence to fortify it, so as to resist Ships, and even to repell Boats would require a Line so extensive and a number of defendants so considerable, as I do not apprehend could well be spared, at so remote a Post, from so inconsiderable a Garrison as that of this Island will always be, comparatively with the Number of more important and less defensible Posts which must be occupied. In fact the security and defence of this Bay as well as of Turks - Cap, consists, not in resisting a Disembarkation, but in occupying, with a small number of Men, the several Avenues into the Country; and I will venture to affirm, with Regard to both these places, that fifty Men at either of them, would suffice to repell an Enemy of any force, or at least to keep them at Bay, untill reinforced from some other Post. There are at present a few small Guns and swivels mounted upon the Ascent leading from Prosperous Bay Beach; and for the defence of Turks Cap, there is a small Battery of serpent pounders Guns, on one side of the Landing Place, of very little consequence indeed, unless to deter an Enemy by its appearance from attempting to land without the protection of Ships, and even for that I apprehend it would prove inadequate against a resolute Enemy: - I confess my opinion is very much against multiplying Posts in these remote parts of the Island: A few Videttes placed on the adjoining promontories to guard against a surprise and to give the Alarm, together with a flying Party situated between these two Posts, would, in my own opinion, be infinitely more effectual in resisting an Enemy and in repelling them, than by any weak efforts that would be made to prevent their landing, which could never be done effectually against even Boats, or at all when opposed to the Cannonade of a few Ships, nor in this case could they be easily reinforced on Account of their very great Remoteness. I would also propose to place the four six Pounder Field pieces now at the Fort, on the most commanding Situations of these In lets, which might be removed from One Part to another, as Occasion required - I have now finished my Remarks on the Defence of the Island, which, with the accompanying Plans, I hope will be found sufficiently explicit in Regard to the Works not yet finished. (Signed) A. Mitchell Captn. Mitchell this day presented the following Petition viz. | Prosperous Bay's long beach would let an enemy land without much difficulty. The bay was so wide that fortifying it against ships would take a great deal of labour and expense. Even holding off boats would need a very long line and a large number of defenders. Mitchell did not think so many men could be spared for so remote a post from a garrison as small as St Helena's would always be. It had more important and less defensible works to man. In fact, the safety of Prosperous Bay, like that of Turk's Cap, lay not in stopping a landing but in holding the several routes into the country with a small number of men. Mitchell ventured to say that 50 men at either place would be enough to drive off an enemy of any strength, or at least to hold him until help came from another post. A few small guns and swivels were mounted on the path leading up from the beach at Prosperous Bay. For the defence of Turk's Cap there was a small battery of four-pounders on one side of the landing place. It was of very little use, except perhaps to frighten an enemy by its look from trying to land without ships to cover him. Even for that, Mitchell thought, it would prove too weak against a determined enemy. He admitted that he was strongly against multiplying posts in those remote parts of the island. A few pickets placed on the nearby headlands to guard against surprise and raise the alarm, together with a flying party stationed between the two posts, would in his view be far more effective. They would serve better at resisting an enemy and driving him back than any works built to stop him landing. Such works could never hold effectively even against boats, let alone against the cannon of a few ships. Being so remote, they could not easily be reinforced. He also proposed placing the four six-pounder field guns then at the fort on the most commanding positions in that area. They could be moved from one place to another as needed. Mitchell had now finished his remarks on the island's defence. With the plans that went with them, he hoped they would explain clearly enough the works not yet finished. He signed them. Captain Mitchell presented the following petition that day. Interpretations Mitchell's closing advice favoured mobile defence over more fixed works. An enemy could land at Prosperous Bay and Turk's Cap more easily than anywhere else, but the routes up from the beaches were steep and narrow. Lookouts on the headlands to give warning, a flying party able to march to either bay and light field guns that could be dragged to the best positions would meet a landing where it had to climb. Small batteries at the water's edge, by contrast, could be silenced by a warship's broadside and lay too far from Jamestown to be reinforced in time. Mitchell's plan used the island's cliffs as its main defence and kept the small garrison concentrated. The advice also bore on cost. The Court of Directors had questioned the expense of his merlons only months earlier. By arguing against new works at the remote bays, Mitchell showed that he did not favour building for its own sake. His final recommendation needed only men and four guns the island already had. | |
155 | 1769 To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor of the Island St. Helena etc. and Council The humble Petition of Archd. Mitchell Sheweth That your Petitioner being desirous to dispose of his Joint Interest in two Leases for Ground Rent in the Valley, hopes your Worship and Council will please to Accept of Captn. Henry Bazett as a Tenant for the same, and he will ever pray etc. (Signed) 14 June 1769 A. Mitchell Granted We this day Granted the following Sets of Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors viz. One Set to Captn. Archd. Mitchell for £400 payable to himself (Or Order) One Set to Captn. Henry Bazett for £200 payable to Mr. Alexr. Warrand (or Order) And one Set to Mr. Matthew Bazett for £1000 payable to Mr. Alexr. Warrand (or Order) all drawn at ninety days sight. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | Archibald Mitchell addressed his petition to Governor John Skottowe and the Council. He wished to give up his joint interest in two leases of ground rent in James's Valley. He asked the Governor and Council to accept Captain Henry Bazett as tenant in his place. He signed the petition on 14 June 1769. The Council granted it. The Council also granted the following sets of bills of exchange that day, drawn on the Court of Directors. 1 set to Captain Archibald Mitchell for £400 0s 0d, payable to himself or his order 1 set to Captain Henry Bazett for £200 0s 0d, payable to Mr Alexander Warrand or his order 1 set to Mr Matthew Bazett for £1,000 0s 0d, payable to Mr Alexander Warrand or his order All drawn at 90 days after sight Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Mitchell's last business with the Council was to wind up his affairs on the island. His share in the two leases, probably the ground under the billiard house and its yard, passed to Henry Bazett, his partner in the building. The Council granted it at once, despite the quarrel earlier that day. A lease could not simply be abandoned. Naming a new tenant kept the rent paid and the property in responsible hands once Mitchell had gone. His bill of £400 0s 0d, payable to himself, carried home the last of his savings, after the £800 0s 0d he had sent through Alexander Hume in February 1769. The Bazett brothers sent a further £1,200 0s 0d through Alexander Warrand on the same day. Matthew Bazett's £1,000 0s 0d was the largest single bill drawn by any island official that season. The sums suggest the Bazett family had prospered from its offices, its leases and perhaps its private trade with the ships. Their money, like Mitchell's, went home in the Horsendon's season, while the coin stayed in the island's treasury. | |
156 | 19 June At a Consultation held on Monday the 19th day of June 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 14 June 1769 Saturday the 17 Sailed the Honble. Company's Ship Horsendon for England Upon Captn. Kirkpatricks dismission Mr. William Wrangham was appointed Paymaster as the best qualified among the Factors for transacting that business, but as none of the other Civil Servants had ever been employed in the Accountants Office we could not remove Mr. Wrangham from thence as Mr. Purling would be thereby deprived of an Assistant fit to carry on under him the Books of Accounts in a regular manner Mr. Purling's other Avocations besides that of Accountant taking up so much of his time that it is impossible he can attend to the constant entrys made on the General Books, and therefore are under the necessity notwithstanding we have appointed Mr. Wrangham Paymaster to continue him still Assistant to the Accountant, and as these two employs will require a close attendance we think that a compensation adequate to the extraordinary duty should be made Mr. Wrangham and have accordingly allowed him in Addition to his other Emoluments fifty Pounds p Year for that service until the Company's pleasure shall be known. But considering the Paymasters business of as great consequence as that of any other Office from the large Sums of Money which pass through his Hands, We cannot but be of opinion that it would be more regular and eligible to put that department upon footing with the Storekeeper and Secretary and to make the Person who has the conducting of it, the same allowance given to the heads of the other Offices, and in that case Mr. Wranghams pay as Factor should cease but obliged nevertheless to assist in the Accountants Office until some other of the Factors or Writers can be trained up to the knowledge of Accounts in the regular method of Book keeping and we are further of opinion that the Paymasters business should always be under the direction of one of the Civil Servants, as they are doubtless more conversant in Accounts than the Military, the numberless blunders and mistakes which so often Occurred from want of Capacity in the late Paymaster, are recent instances to confirm that opinion. | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 19 June 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 14 June 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Company's ship Horsendon sailed for England on Saturday 17 June. On Captain Kirkpatrick's dismissal, William Wrangham had been appointed paymaster as the best qualified of the factors for that business. None of the other civil servants, however, had ever worked in the accountant's office. The Council could not take Wrangham away from it without leaving Purling without a capable assistant to keep the books of account properly. Purling's other duties besides those of accountant took up so much of his time that he could not attend to the constant entries made in the general books. The Council was therefore obliged to let Wrangham, although appointed paymaster, continue as assistant to the accountant. The two posts would demand close attention. The Council thought he should receive pay suited to the extra duty and allowed him £50 0s 0d a year for that service, on top of his other allowances, until the Company's wishes were known. The paymaster's business, however, was as important as that of any other office, given the large sums of money passing through his hands. The Council therefore considered it more proper to put that department on the same footing as the storekeeper's and the secretary's. The person in charge of it would receive the same allowance as the heads of those offices. In that case Wrangham's pay as factor would end, but he would still have to help in the accountant's office until another of the factors or writers could be trained in accounts and regular bookkeeping. The Council was further of the opinion that the paymaster's business should always be in the hands of one of the civil servants, who were naturally more familiar with accounts than military men. The many blunders and mistakes that had so often arisen from the late paymaster's lack of ability were recent examples that confirmed this opinion. Interpretations The Council used Kirkpatrick's dismissal to move the paymaster's office from military to civil hands. Kirkpatrick had been a captain and company commander. He had handled the island's wages and contingent payments, close to £4,000 a quarter, as a side duty to his military command. The Council now judged that a civil servant trained in accounts should hold the post. It pointed to the "many blunders and mistakes" of the late paymaster as proof. The criticism added a charge of incompetence to the Court's dismissal of Kirkpatrick. It also made the case to London that the office needed a trained man paid at the level of the storekeeper and secretary. The arrangement showed how thinly the island's civil establishment was staffed. Only Wrangham, of all the factors and writers, had experience of the accountant's office. He could not be spared from it, so he held two posts at once. Training another young servant in double-entry bookkeeping would take time. Until then, the Company's books depended on the work of two men, Purling and Wrangham. | |
157 | 1769 And having taken into Consideration the state and situation of the several Civil departments as they now stand, We for the following reasons Judge it Indispensably necessary for the better conducting the Honble. Company's business to entertain two more Writers in their service. The present mode of carrying on the Paymasters business in a sense connected with the Accountants as before described must consequently draw off part of the Assistance from the latter Office; to supply which it is absolutely necessary to employ an Additional Writer to Assist in that department not only on the present Urgent occasion, but constantly to have one of the Factors or Writers trained up and qualified to Conduct the business in case of sickness or Accidents happening to the Accountant or his Assistant, for under that circumstance we should be totally at a loss for a Person capacitated to carry on the General Accounts in the regular method of Book keeping. The attendance which Mr. Wright must now give in his Vocation of Collector of the Customs will consequently divert him from his business in the Secretary's Office in time of shipping when his assistance is most wanted, and as there is only one Assistant beside Mr. Wright in that Office, we think it impossible to execute the business thereof without more help, and therefore are under the necessity of appointing another Writer to that Department. The indispensability of having two Writers added to the List of Covenanted Servants We flatter ourselves will clearly appear from the above reasons, and have therefore accordingly made choice of and appointed Mr. James Desfountain and Mr. William Webber Doveton Writers in the Company's service to commence from this day, and have directed one to Assist in the Accountants and the other in the Secretary's Office hoping the Honble. the Court of Directors will be pleased to confirm the appointment of these two young Men, as they both write good hands are very deserving and well qualified for the said employment. Counted and examined the Honble. Company's Cash for the Month of May last, which is as follows viz. | The Council had considered the state of the civil departments as they then stood. For the following reasons it judged it essential, for the better running of the Company's business, to take two more writers into its service. Running the paymaster's business partly through the accountant's office, as described above, would draw away some of that office's help. An additional writer was therefore needed to assist there, both for the present pressing need and so that one of the factors or writers would always be trained and able to run the business if the accountant or his assistant fell sick or met with an accident. Without such a person, the Council would be quite at a loss for anyone able to keep the general accounts by regular bookkeeping. Mr Wright's duties as collector of customs would take him away from his work in the Secretary's Office at shipping times, when his help was most needed. The office had only one assistant besides Wright. The Council thought it impossible to carry on its business without more help and therefore had to appoint another writer to that department. The Council judged that these reasons clearly showed the need to add two writers to the list of covenanted servants. It therefore chose and appointed James Desfountain and William Webber Doveton as writers in the Company's service from that day. It directed one to assist in the accountant's office and the other in the Secretary's Office. It hoped the Court of Directors would confirm the appointment of the two young men, since both wrote good hands and were very deserving and well qualified for the work. The Council then counted and examined the Company's cash for the month of May. Interpretations The two new writers came from established island families. James Desfountain belonged to the family of Lieutenant Samuel Desfountain and of John Desfountain, executor of the Gurling estate. William Webber Doveton was of the family of Jonathan Doveton, factor and member of the arrack society. Covenanted writers were the lowest rank of the Company's civil service, the first step on a ladder that led to factor, senior merchant and eventually a seat on the Council. Appointing local sons to these posts gave the island's leading families a direct path into the Company's government. It also gave the Council young men who already knew the island and its people. The Council made the appointments itself and only asked the Court to confirm them. Covenanted posts were normally filled from London, where the Directors controlled patronage carefully. The Council justified its action by need. The arrack society, the new customs post and Kirkpatrick's dismissal had all added to the work of an office already stretched thin. A good hand mattered greatly. Every letter, minute, account and lease had to be written out and copied for London by the writers. | |
158 | 19 June Cash Dr. 1769 May 1st To balance remaining £ 7951 19 9 1/2 do. 2 To Ship Calcutta 3 10 11 3 To Ship London 77 6 6 To Exchange for a set of Bills drawn upon the Honble. Court of Directors payable to Mr. Allen Auld £1018 8 1018 8 9th To Exchange for four Sets of Bills drawn upon the Honble. Court of Directors payable as follow viz. One Set to Mr. Willm. Downes £300 One do. to Mrs. Mary Hall 25 One do. to Mr. George Silsley 350 One do. to Captn. Willem Hoelbier 1206 1881 do. To Ship Tilbury 19 10 9 22 To Ship Speke 10 12 3 To Exchange for a set of Bills drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors payable to Mr. Alexr. Tod 100 29th To do. for one Set do. drawn as above payable to Bryan Scotney Esqr. 225 17 £ 11288 5 2 1/2 | The Company's cash account for May 1769 recorded the following receipts. 1 May 1769, balance remaining, £7,951 19s 9½d 2 May 1769, from the ship Calcutta, £3 10s 11d 5 May 1769, from the ship London, £77 6s 6d 5 May 1769, received in exchange for 1 set of bills drawn on the Court of Directors, payable to Mr Allen Auld, £1,018 8s 0d 9 May 1769, received in exchange for 4 sets of bills drawn on the Court of Directors, payable as follows: One set to Mr William Downes, £300 0s 0d One set to Mrs Mary Hall, £25 0s 0d One set to Mr George Tilsley, £350 0s 0d One set to Captain William Rolbeer, £1,206 0s 0d Total for the bills, £1,881 0s 0d 9 May 1769, from the ship Tilbury, £19 10s 9d 22 May 1769, from the ship Speke, £10 12s 3d 22 May 1769, received in exchange for 1 set of bills drawn on the Court of Directors, payable to Mr Alexander Tod, £100 0s 0d 29 May 1769, received in exchange for 1 set of bills drawn on the Court of Directors, payable to Bryan Stoney, £225 17s 0d Total received, £11,288 5s 2½d Interpretations The month's bills of exchange brought more than £3,200 into the treasury, nearly all of it from men leaving the island or passing through. Kirkpatrick's £1,018 8s 0d, the Dutch captain's £1,206 0s 0d and the Speke's chief mate's two bills made up most of it. The island's reserve of coin rose sharply as the homeward season ended. That restored much of what the winter's heavy spending on the fortifications had drained. The payment from the London was much larger than the usual small fee paid by each ship. At £77 6s 6d, it probably covered fresh provisions, water or stores supplied to her while she lay in the road. Every ship paid for what she took. The size of each payment reflected how much she had drawn from the island before sailing. | |
159 | 1769 Per Contra Cr. 1769 May 31st By balance remaining viz. In Specie 10748 10 2 1/2 In Cash Notes 539 15 11288 5 2 1/2 £ 11288 5 2 1/2 John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | The payments side of the cash account for May 1769 recorded only the balance carried forward. Paid 31 May 1769, balance remaining in coin, £10,748 10s 2½d 31 May 1769, balance remaining in cash notes, £539 15s 0d Total, £11,288 5s 2½d Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Nothing was paid out of the treasury in May, and the coin in the chest rose to £10,748 10s 2½d. That was its highest level in the whole record so far, above even the £9,924 10s 0d of August 1768. In March 1769 it had fallen to under £6,000. Two months of bills of exchange from departing officers, commanders and a Dutch captain had more than restored it. The treasury now held enough coin to meet the June quarter's wages and works without strain. The island's finances depended on that seasonal rhythm. Coin drained out through the winter in wages and was refilled each spring by the money sent home with the homeward fleet. | |
160 | 26 June At a Consultation held on Monday the 26th day of June 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Absent being sick Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed dated the 19th June 1769 Wednesday the 21st Died John Seale Private do. do. Arrived the Yorks Boat at Banks's a Quarter of an Hour before six o'Clock in the Morning do. do. do. The Honble. Company's Ship York from Bombay and brought us the following supplies viz. Invoice of Ship York Rice beaten fine 42 Bags containing 283 20 at 22 Rupees p Ct. Mds. 346 2 Batty 32 Bags or 3 Paralis is 3. 21 at 20 Rs. p. Md. 76 3 20 Surat Piece Goods 1 Bale viz. 1 Chelloes blue cont. 5 Corge 1. 1. 5. 3. 1. 9 = 70. 1 p Co. 351 01 Surat Charges viz. Customs 2 p Cent 7 01 Packing 7 2 Boat hire 2 90 15 91 366 1 91 Charges on Merchandize viz. Gunny Bags and Prices for the Rice and Batty 55 80 Hamallage 2 2 80 Boat hire 2 2 60 1 60 Rups. 850 71 Errors Excepted (Signed) Willm. Hornby Accts. John Skottowe Purling | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 26 June 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Matthew Purling present. Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, was absent through illness. The minutes of the meeting of 19 June 1769 were read, approved and signed. John Seale, a private, died on Wednesday 21 June. At a quarter to six in the morning of the same day a boat from the York landed at Banks's. The Company's ship York arrived from Bombay the same day and brought the following supplies. Invoice of the ship York Fine rice, 42 bags containing 283 maunds 20 [...], at 22 rupees for 18 Surat maunds, 346 rupees 2 quarters 0 reas Batty, 32 bags weighing 3 candies [...] maunds 21 pounds at 20 rupees a candy, 76 rupees 3 quarters 20 reas Surat piece goods, 1 bale containing 1 corge of blue chelloes, numbered [...], at 70¼ rupees a corge, 351 rupees 0 quarters 01 reas Charges at Surat Customs at 2 per cent, 7 rupees 0 quarters 01 reas Packing, 7 rupees 2 quarters 0 reas Boat hire, 0 rupees 2 quarters 90 reas Total for the charges at Surat, 15 rupees 0 quarters 91 reas Total for the goods, 366 rupees 1 quarter 91 reas Charges on the goods Gunny bags and twine for the rice and batty, 55 rupees 0 quarters 80 reas Porterage, 2 rupees 2 quarters 80 reas Boat hire, 2 rupees 2 quarters 0 reas Total for the charges, 60 rupees 1 quarter 60 reas Total, 850 rupees 0 quarters 71 reas William Hornby signed the invoice, reserving the right to correct any errors. Governor Skottowe and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The York's cargo matched the Calcutta's exactly: 42 bags of rice, 32 of batty and a single corge of Surat chelloes, at the same prices. Bombay, like Bengal, had settled on a standard assortment for St Helena and shipped it in each homeward vessel. The York arrived in late June, well after the main fleet. She brought the year's last delivery of Indian grain before the long gap in shipping over the southern winter. Corneille was absent through illness only seven weeks after his return. With Kirkpatrick gone and no new councillor yet appointed, the Council again sat with only two members. | |
161 | 1 July At a Consultation held on Saturday the 1st day of July 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 26 June 1769 Mr. Matthew Purling Reports that he has been on board the Ship York to muster her Company and enquire for deserters but found none, Captn. Hayter having delivered up to the Governor two days before Robt. Nickles a deserter, her Muster Roll is as follows viz. Muster Roll of Ship York Geo. Hayter Commander Edwd. Saunders 1 Mate Michl. Lascelles 2 do. Humphy. Frances 3 do. Robert Siddall 4 do. Geo. Williams 5 do. Geo. Hopper Surg. Jno. Laird do. Mate Steph. Crosbey Carpentr. Jno. Hill Boatn. Jno. Shepeard Gunner Christ. Lacey Ships Stewd. Jno. Potter Capt. do. Henry Simmons Mids. and Cox. Jno. Bowood Thos. Foster Davd. Nicholas Robt. Cain Steph. Lowe Willm. Pringle Jos. Collier Geo. Mitchell Midsh. Michl. Lacey Sail maker Luke Wilson Caulkr. Jno. Knight Carpr. 1 Mate Willm. Blake do. 2 do. Michl. Neal Cooper Willm. Henry Gunr. 1 Mate Jas. Perry do. 2 do. Jno. Evans Boatswains do. Jno. McCann Owen Buckley Jno. Jones Jas. Morrison Quartr. Mastr. Michl. Fitzgerald Boatn. Mate Jno. Burgess Captn. Cook Geo. Smith Ships do. Jno. Danser Poult. Steph. Payne Butcher Jno. Lee Armourer Jos. Simon Seaman Jno. Parks Josh. Hedley Danl. Moon Danl. Smith Seamen Geo. Ramsey Jno. Johnston Andw. Lyall Jno. Austin Jno. Crofty Willm. Scott Thos. Speed Willm. Moulds Saml. Clark Jno. Curtis Peter Rowando Jno. Conhell Henry Scoffield Jno. Webster Jno. White Henry Davis Jno. Buckmore Willm. Dates Jacob Lilycroft Willm. Ince Danl. McNeal | The Council met at the Castle on Saturday 1 July 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 26 June 1769 were read, approved and signed. Purling reported that he had gone on board the York to muster her crew and search for deserters, and had found none. Two days earlier Captain Hayter had handed over to the Governor a deserter, Robert Nickels. The York's muster roll was entered as follows. Muster roll of the ship York George Hayter, commander Edward Saunders, chief mate Michael Lascelles, second mate Humphrey Frances, third mate Robert Siddall, fourth mate George Williams, fifth mate George Hopper, surgeon John Laird, surgeon's mate Stephen Crosby, carpenter John Hill, boatswain John Shepherd, gunner Christopher Lantz, ship's steward John Pottle, captain's steward Henry Simmons, midshipman and coxswain James Osmond, midshipman Thomas Foster, midshipman Andrew Nicholas, midshipman Robert Carr, midshipman Stephen Lowe, midshipman William Pringle, midshipman Joseph Collier, midshipman George Mitchell, midshipman Michael Lacey, sailmaker Luke Ditton, caulker John Knight, carpenter's first mate William Blake, carpenter's second mate Michael Neal, cooper William Hawes, gunner's first mate James Perry, gunner's second mate John Evans Coulthard, gunner's mate John McCann, quartermaster Owen Buckley, quartermaster John Jones, quartermaster John Morrison, quartermaster Michael Fitzgerald, boatswain's mate John Burgess, captain's cook George Smith, ship's cook John Dawson, poulterer Stephen Payne, butcher John Lee, armourer Joseph Simon, seaman John Parks, seaman Joseph Hedley, seaman Daniel Moon, seaman Daniel Smith, seaman George Ramsay, seaman John Johnston, seaman Andrew Lyall, seaman John Austin, seaman John Coady, seaman William Scott, seaman Thomas Speed, seaman William Monte, seaman Samuel Clark, seaman John Curtis, seaman Vincent Rowando, seaman John Corbett, seaman Henry Scoffield, seaman John Webster, seaman John White, seaman Henry Davis, seaman John Buckmore, seaman William Oates, seaman Jacob Lilygreet, seaman William Jones, seaman Daniel McNeal, seaman Interpretations Captain Hayter handed a deserter, Robert Nickels, to the Governor before the muster took place. Nickels had evidently slipped aboard the York, and the commander gave him up instead of letting him be found during the search. A commander caught carrying a deserter from the Company's garrison could face trouble with the Council and the Court. Surrendering the man voluntarily protected Hayter and kept relations with the island smooth. The case showed that the search reached its aim in part through the commanders. Knowing a muster would follow, they had every reason to turn in stowaways themselves. | |
162 | 1 July Joseph Wilson Seamen Richd. Morgan Richd. Crisp Willm. Loves Josh. Cunningham Thos. Croby Jurgen Fragier Morris Thomas Willm. Watkinson Saml. Bates Patk. Lincham Jas. Clubb Seamen Willm. Ford Benjn. Stephenson Gabl. Vanderlt. Matw. Burnett Jos. Joseph Derrick Roelad Matw. Foster Thos. Christian Alexr. Crookshanks Will Patterson Jno. Morris Captn. Servt. Jno. Pettit Junr. do. Wilm. Tull do. Jno. Manning Carpr. do. Geo. Marsden Gunr. do. Wm. Middleton Boatn. do. Henry Woodus Chief Mates do. Saml. Warren 3 do. do. Jno. Durham Surg. do. Thos. Dablin 2 Mates do. Passengers Geo. Brisbey Neal Granagan Jas. Norris Sarah Paterson a Child (Signed) Geo. Hayter The Storekeeper this day delivered the following Account of Stores short received from Ship York viz. Account of Stores short received from Ship York viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. 2 1 Rice short weight Occad. by Wasting the Bags being in good Order 51 1 17 Batty do. (Signed) St. Helena 27 June 1769 Jas. Powell Storekeepr. Having taken into consideration the necessity of making a distinction in the Pay of the Serjeant Major and as all regiments in his | The York's muster roll closed with the last of her crew and servants, and her passengers. Joseph Wilson, seaman Richard Morgan, seaman Richard Crisp, seaman William Loves, seaman Joseph Cunningham, seaman Thomas Crosby, seaman Jurgen Fragier, seaman Morris Thomas, seaman William Watkinson, seaman Samuel Bates, seaman Patrick Lineham, seaman James Clubb, seaman William Ford, seaman Benjamin Stephenson, seaman Gabriel Vandervelt, seaman Martin Burnett, seaman Joseph Joseph, seaman Derrick Rodad, seaman Martin Foster, seaman Thomas Christian, seaman Alexander Cruickshanks, seaman Skill Patterson, seaman John Morris, captain's servant John Pettit junior, captain's servant Walter Tull, captain's servant John Manning, carpenter's servant George Marsden, gunner's servant William Middleton, boatswain's servant Henry Woodward, chief mate's servant Samuel Warren, third mate's servant John Durham, surgeon's servant Thomas Dobbin, second mate's servant Passengers George Brierley Neal Granagan James Norris Sarah Paterson, a child George Hayter signed the roll. The storekeeper delivered that day an account of the stores received short from the York. Rice, 2 hundredweight 1 quarter 0 pounds short through wastage, the bags being in good order Paddy received, 51 hundredweight 1 quarter 17 pounds James Powell signed the account as storekeeper at St Helena on 27 June 1769. The Council had considered the need to make a distinction in the pay of the sergeant major. In all His Majesty's regiments Interpretations The York carried a young child, Sarah Paterson, among her passengers, travelling apparently without a named parent. Children were sometimes sent home from India to be raised and schooled in England, entrusted to the care of a ship's officer or a fellow passenger. Many were the children of Company servants or soldiers who had died in the East. The Council recorded her by name, like every other passenger. Her arrival and departure were checked against the roll, as were those of the men. The Council began to consider the sergeant major's pay, comparing it with the practice in His Majesty's regiments. The island's garrison followed the King's army in rank and discipline. Where its pay fell out of line, the Council used the regular army as its standard. The sergeant major was the senior non-commissioned officer, responsible for drill and discipline across the whole garrison. On St Helena he had evidently been paid no more than an ordinary sergeant. | |
163 | 1769 Majesty's service provide for that out of the Fund of their respective regiments and considering the extraordinary trouble and constant duty he is obliged to more than other Serjeants we think it for the good of the service to allow him one shilling p day which we hope will meet with the approbation of the Honble. Court of Directors. On the 24th of last Month we Enlisted John Mayer who belonged to the Ship York to serve the Honble. Company as a Soldier for five Years he appearing to be a good Man we gave him three pounds bounty Money to buy him Cloaths etc. On the 27th of June we received Robert Nickels deserter who Captn. Hayter delivered up to Us, we shall oblige him to serve his contracted time of five Years and gave him likewise three pounds to put him in repair. Bought on Account of the Honble. Company of Captn. George Hayter the following Salt Provisions etc. 56 Pieces Meat at 2/ p piece £ 56 43 Rice at 8/ p Cwt. 17 4 £ 73 4 We this day Granted the following sets of Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors viz. One Set to John Skottowe Esqr. for £25 payable to Messrs. Gyles and Woodhouse (or Order) One Set to Mr. Robert Barclay for £200 payable to Messrs. Ballentine and Arnot (or Order) | In His Majesty's regiments such a distinction was paid for out of each regiment's own fund. Given the extra trouble and constant duty the sergeant major had to perform beyond other sergeants, the Council thought it right, for the good of the service, to allow him 1s a day. It hoped the Court of Directors would approve. On 24 June the Council enlisted John Mayer, of the York, to serve the Company as a soldier for five years. He seemed a good man, and the Council gave him £3 0s 0d bounty to buy clothes and other necessaries. On 27 June the Council received Robert Nickels, a deserter, whom Captain Hayter had handed over. The Council would make him serve out his full engagement of five years. It also gave him £3 0s 0d to fit him out again. The Council bought the following salt provisions and other goods from Captain George Hayter on the Company's account. 560 pieces of meat at 2s a piece, £56 0s 0d 43 hundredweight of rice at 8s a hundredweight, £17 4s 0d Total, £73 4s 0d The Council also granted the following sets of bills of exchange that day, drawn on the Court of Directors. 1 set to Governor John Skottowe for £25 0s 0d, payable to Messrs Gale and Woodhouse or their order 1 set to Mr Robert Barclay for £200 0s 0d, payable to Messrs Ballantine and Arnot or their order Interpretations The Council did not punish Robert Nickels for deserting. It gave him £3 0s 0d to replace his kit and held him to the five years he had signed for. Desertion could be punished by flogging or worse under the Articles of War. Here the Council treated it mainly as a breach of contract. Nickels had evidently sold or left behind his clothing when he tried to escape, and he could not serve without it. A flogged soldier would have spent weeks in hospital, while a refitted one could go straight back on duty. With the garrison weakened by sickness, the Council chose to keep a fit man in the ranks over making an example of him. The extra 1s a day for the sergeant major followed the model of the King's army, where colonels paid such allowances from their regimental funds. The island's garrison had no regimental fund, so the Company had to pay it directly. The Council granted it at once and asked the Court to approve afterwards, as it did with the new writers. An experienced sergeant major was essential to drilling a garrison that took in new recruits from passing ships every season. | |
164 | 1 July One Set to Captn. George Hayter for £318 12 4 payable to Richd. Hotham Esqr. (Or Order) And one Set to Mr. Michael Lascelles for £192 8 payable to Samuel Way Esqr. (Or Order) all drawn at ninety days sight. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling At a Consultation held on Monday the 3d day of July 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Govr. Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Counl. The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 1st July 1769 Yesterday sailed the Honorable Company's Ship York for England We this day received the following Letter from Lieut. Bazett Superintendant of the Works viz. To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. and Council of the Island St. Helena Gentlemen I have the Honor to acquaint you that the Workmen | 1 set to Captain George Hayter for £318 12s 4d, payable to Richard Hotham or his order 1 set to Mr Michael Lascelles for £102 8s 0d, payable to Samuel Hay or his order All drawn at 90 days after sight Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Purling signed the minutes. The Council met at the Castle on Monday 3 July 1769. Governor Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 1 July 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Company's ship York sailed for England on 2 July. The Council received the following letter that day from Lieutenant Bazett, superintendent of the works. It was addressed to Governor Skottowe and the Council. Bazett informed them that the workmen Interpretations The York's commander and second mate sent home more than £400 through bills on the Company, the last such bills of the season. Captain Hayter had sold the island salt meat and rice for £73 4s 0d. His bill of £318 12s 4d evidently covered that and other private dealings while his ship lay in the road. With the York gone, no further Company ship was expected until the outward-bound vessels of the following season. Thomas Bazett's first letter as superintendent of the works opened the island's long quiet season under his direction. | |
165 | 1769 were employ'd the last Quarter principally in collecting materials for building a Guard House, and Powder Magazines at Mundens Point, repairing damages done by the Surf at Mitchells Line taking the Roof off of the Plantation House; repairing several of the Honble. Company's Houses in James's Valley, and preparing Embrazure and Cordon Stone at the Quarry. And I do propose with your permission the ensuing Quarter to employ the Workmen in proceeding with all expedition the Work at Mundens Point, finish the Platform at Lemon Valley, and prepare for rebuilding the East Bastion at James's Valley. I have the Honor to be Gentlemen Your most obedient and most humble Servant (Signed) St. Helena 3 July 1769 Thos. Bazett We Ordered Lieut. Bazett to proceede the Works of Mundens Point with all imaginable expedition and to compleat as he proposes the Platforms at Lemon Valley and collect what Materials he could to rebuild the East Bastion at James's Valley. We this day enlisted Thomas Christian Joseph Vanderhouven and Jacob Peters to serve the Honble. Company as Soldiers for five Years they appearing to be good Men we gave each of them four Pounds bounty Money to buy them Cloaths etc. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | Bazett reported that during the last quarter the workmen had been employed mainly in collecting materials to build a guardhouse and powder magazines at Munden's Point. They had also repaired damage done by the surf at Mitchell's Line and taken the roof off Plantation House. Several of the Company's houses in James's Valley had been repaired, and embrasure and cordon stones had been prepared at the quarry. With the Council's permission, he proposed to employ the workmen in the coming quarter on pressing forward the work at Munden's Point as fast as possible. He would also finish the platforms at Lemon Valley and prepare for rebuilding the east bastion in James's Valley. He signed the letter at St Helena on 3 July 1769. The Council ordered Lieutenant Bazett to press on with the works at Munden's Point with all possible speed and to complete the platforms at Lemon Valley, as he proposed. He was also to gather what materials he could for rebuilding the east bastion in James's Valley. The Council enlisted Thomas Christian, Joseph Vanderhouse and Jacob Peters that day to serve the Company as soldiers for five years. They seemed good men, and the Council gave each of them £4 0s 0d bounty to buy clothes and other necessaries. Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Thomas Bazett's first quarterly report took up Mitchell's programme where it had stopped. The guardhouse and magazines at Munden's Point, the Lemon Valley platforms and the demi-bastions in James's Valley were the very tasks set out in Mitchell's remarks of 14 June. The handover the Court had insisted on worked as intended. The new superintendent followed the plans and notes Mitchell had been made to leave behind. Embrasures were the openings in a parapet through which guns fired. A cordon was the rounded course of stone running along the top of a rampart wall below the parapet. Both were cut and dressed at the quarry before the walls could be finished. Taking the roof off Plantation House showed that the Governor's country residence was also being rebuilt. Mitchell's plan of the house was among the drawings he handed over. The work drew on the same masons and carpenters as the fortifications. Thomas Christian, among the three recruits, appeared on the York's muster roll as a seaman, and Jacob Peters probably came from the same or another ship. Their bounty of £4 0s 0d was higher than the £2 10s 0d of early 1769. With the shipping season over and no more passing seamen to draw on until the next year, the Council evidently paid more to fill the ranks while it could. | |
166 | 10 July At a Consultation held on Monday the 10th day of July 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 3 July 1769 Saturday the 8 Arrived the Sea Horses Boat at Banks's at half past One o'Clock in the Afternoon do. do. do. The Honble. Company's Ship Sea Horse from China and brought Us the following Supplies viz. Invoice of Ship Sea Horse No. 71/84 14 Chests of Sugar No. 71 29 297 72 28 294 73 28 293 74 28 294 75 30 298 76 27 293 77 28 293 78 27 298 79 27 294 80 27 296 81 27 294 82 28 293 83 26 294 84 27 293 387 4124 Tare 387 3737 lb or Pecul 28.02 at Ts. 4.500 Taels m c c 126 0 9 Canton 14 Decr. 1768 Errors Excepted (Signed) Thos. Thomas Willm. Ross Jno. Walton Thos. Bevan Henry Revell Willm. Ferrand Steph. De Visme Jno. Searle Frans. Wood Junr. Benjn. Pein | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 10 July 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 3 July 1769 were read, approved and signed. At half past one in the afternoon of Saturday 8 July a boat from the Sea Horse landed at Banks's. The Company's ship Sea Horse arrived from China the same day and brought the following supplies. Invoice of the ship Sea Horse Sugar, 14 chests numbered 71 to 84 Chest 71, tare 29 pounds, gross 297 pounds Chest 72, tare 28 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 73, tare 28 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 74, tare 28 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 75, tare 30 pounds, gross 298 pounds Chest 76, tare 27 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 77, tare 28 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 78, tare 27 pounds, gross 298 pounds Chest 79, tare 27 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 80, tare 27 pounds, gross 296 pounds Chest 81, tare 27 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 82, tare 28 pounds, gross 293 pounds Chest 83, tare 26 pounds, gross 294 pounds Chest 84, tare 27 pounds, gross 293 pounds Total tare 387 pounds, total gross 4,124 pounds Net weight 3,737 pounds, or 28.02 piculs, at 4.500 taels a picul, 126 taels 0 mace 9 candareens 0 cash The invoice was signed at Canton on 14 December 1768 by Thomas Thomas, William Prows, John Walton, Thomas Bevan, Henry Revell, Hillary Torriano, Joseph de Lafons, John Searle, Francis Wood junior and Benjamin Torin, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The Sea Horse brought chests 71 to 84, a sixth lot of 14 in the island's sugar order. With it the Canton consignment ran to 84 chests, more than 22,000 pounds of plain sugar for the year. The order had been split among six ships so that it reached St Helena in instalments from April to July. The island never held too much at once in the damp warehouse, and the loss of a single ship would have cost only a sixth of the supply. The Sea Horse arrived in July, the depth of the southern winter, long after the main China fleet. She was evidently a late sailer from Canton, perhaps delayed by repairs or by the weather off the Cape. | |
167 | 1769 We this Day executed a Lease to Captn. Henry Bazett for a piece of Ground containing Eighteen feet in Front at four Shillings and sixpence p Annum. And likewise renewed a Lease to the Executors of Thos. Greentree Deceased for a piece of Ground containing in length on the East nine feet and on the West eleven feet in breadth on the North thirty four feet and on the South thirty eight feet at 5/ p Acre, both lying in James's Valley. We this day received of the Executors of Thomas Greentree deceased the Sum of £7 9 for the Renewal of two Lives in a Lease for thirty three Acres and a half at 4/ p Acre, the other for two Lives in three Acres at 5/ p Acre. Richard Wellman Matross Thomas Roberts and Nicholas Bushell Private this day Petitioned for their discharges from the Garrison having served the Honble. Company their Contracted times. Granted The Plantation Account for the Quarter and the Expence of Artillery Stores and Stewards Accounts for the Month of June last, were this day laid before Us, which have been examined approved of and are as follow viz. | The Council executed a lease that day to Captain Henry Bazett for a piece of ground with an 18-foot frontage, at 4s 6d a year. It also renewed a lease to the executors of the late Thomas Greentree for a piece of ground measuring 9 feet on the east side and 11 feet on the west, and 34 feet on the north side and 38 feet on the south, at 5s a year. Both plots lay in James's Valley. The Council received £7 9s 0d that day from the executors of Thomas Greentree for the renewal of lives in two leases. Two lives were renewed in a lease of 33½ acres at 4s an acre, and two in a lease of three acres at 5s an acre. Richard Wellman, a matross, and Thomas Roberts and Nicholas Bustell, privates, petitioned that day for their discharge from the garrison, having served the Company for their full terms. The Council granted it. The plantation account for the quarter and the gunner's and steward's accounts for June were laid before the Council that day. It examined and approved them, and they were entered as follows. Interpretations Henry Bazett's lease was for the kitchen ground beside the billiard house, sought jointly with Mitchell on 29 May 1769. The Council had left Mitchell's name off it because he was leaving the island. The rent of 4s 6d a year matched the 3d a foot fixed after Corneille's inspection. The billiard house, the cause of Payne's accusations in December, now stood on properly leased Company ground in the name of the officer who remained. The Greentree executors paid £7 9s 0d to put new lives into two leases for lives. These leases had been granted before the Court of Directors forbade any new ones. The Council could still renew the lives in an existing lease, for the usual fine of half a year's rent for each name. It could not create a fresh lease for lives, as it had refused to do for Kirkpatrick in May. The 33½-acre holding at 4s an acre was a substantial farm, the core of the Greentree estate, now secured for another generation. | |
168 | 10 July Account of the Honble. Company's Stock of Neat Cattle etc. from the 1st of April to the 30th of June 1769 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 He Ass, Asses Total, Poultry Fowls, Poultry Ducks, Poultry Turkeys, Poultry Geese Remaining the 1st April: Neat Cattle Bulls 6, Neat Cattle Cows 121, Neat Cattle Calves 62, Neat Cattle Yearlings 83, Neat Cattle Heifers 27, Neat Cattle Steers 73, Neat Cattle Oxen 21, Neat Cattle Total 393, Sheep Ewes 397, Sheep Weathers 217, Sheep Lambs 23, Sheep Rams 12, Sheep Total 649, Goats Ewes 172, Goats Weathers 61, Goats Kids 45, Goats Rams 10, Goats Total 288, Hogs Sows 2, Hogs Shoats 4, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 1, Hogs Total 7, Horses Horses 5, Horses Mares 6, Horses Total 11, Asses He Ass 1, Asses Total 1, Poultry Fowls 98, Poultry Ducks 32, Poultry Turkeys 55, Poultry Geese 7 Encreased: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 26, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 26, Sheep Ewes 0, Sheep Weathers 0, Sheep Lambs 175, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 175, Goats Ewes 0, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 33, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 33, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses He Ass 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 51, Poultry Ducks 4, Poultry Turkeys 6, Poultry Geese 0 Total: Neat Cattle Bulls 6, Neat Cattle Cows 121, Neat Cattle Calves 88, Neat Cattle Yearlings 83, Neat Cattle Heifers 27, Neat Cattle Steers 73, Neat Cattle Oxen 21, Neat Cattle Total 419, Sheep Ewes 397, Sheep Weathers 217, Sheep Lambs 198, Sheep Rams 12, Sheep Total 824, Goats Ewes 172, Goats Weathers 61, Goats Kids 78, Goats Rams 10, Goats Total 321, Hogs Sows 2, Hogs Shoats 4, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 1, Hogs Total 7, Horses Horses 5, Horses Mares 6, Horses Total 11, Asses He Ass 1, Asses Total 1, Poultry Fowls 149, Poultry Ducks 36, Poultry Turkeys 61, Poultry Geese 7 Killed: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 0, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 1, Neat Cattle Steers 11, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 12, Sheep Ewes 3, Sheep Weathers 85, Sheep Lambs 17, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 105, Goats Ewes 1, Goats Weathers 3, Goats Kids 11, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 20, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses He Ass 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 42, Poultry Ducks 24, Poultry Turkeys 16, Poultry Geese 0 Sent on board the Dk. of Richmond: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 0, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 0, Sheep Ewes 0, Sheep Weathers 6, Sheep Lambs 0, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 6, Goats Ewes 0, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 0, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 0, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses He Ass 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 0, Poultry Ducks 0, Poultry Turkeys 0, Poultry Geese 0 Goats Shot: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 0, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 0, Sheep Ewes 0, Sheep Weathers 0, Sheep Lambs 0, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 0, Goats Ewes 6, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 3, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 9, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses He Ass 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 0, Poultry Ducks 0, Poultry Turkeys 0, Poultry Geese 0 Dead: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 1, Neat Cattle Yearlings 1, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 2, Sheep Ewes 10, Sheep Weathers 2, Sheep Lambs 11, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 23, Goats Ewes 0, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 0, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 0, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses He Ass 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 24, Poultry Ducks 0, Poultry Turkeys 3, Poultry Geese 0 Remaining the 30th June: Neat Cattle Bulls 6, Neat Cattle Cows 121, Neat Cattle Calves 87, Neat Cattle Yearlings 82, Neat Cattle Heifers 26, Neat Cattle Steers 62, Neat Cattle Oxen 21, Neat Cattle Total 405, Sheep Ewes 384, Sheep Weathers 124, Sheep Lambs 170, Sheep Rams 12, Sheep Total 690, Goats Ewes 165, Goats Weathers 53, Goats Kids 64, Goats Rams 10, Goats Total 292, Hogs Sows 2, Hogs Shoats 4, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 1, Hogs Total 7, Horses Horses 5, Horses Mares 6, Horses Total 11, Asses He Ass 1, Asses Total 1, Poultry Fowls 83, Poultry Ducks 12, Poultry Turkeys 37, Poultry Geese 7 1 Man slave Named Mercury 1 do. do. do. Davis 1 do. do. Frank 1 Woman named Moll Sharper 1 Girl do. Hannah Yams expend. for the Slaves 83,755 Bad do. do. for the Stock 8,610 Total 92,365 Errors Excepted (Signed) Danl. Corneille Margin Notes: Artillery | Account of the Company's stock of cattle and other animals from 1 April to 30 June 1769 Remaining on 1 April 1769 Cattle: 6 bulls, 121 cows, 62 calves, 83 yearlings, 27 heifers, 73 steers, 21 oxen, total 393 Sheep: 397 ewes, 217 wethers, 23 lambs, 12 rams, total 649 Goats: 172 nannies, 61 wethers, 45 kids, 10 billies, total 288 Pigs: 2 sows, 4 shoats, 0 piglets, 1 boar, total 7 Horses: 5 horses, 6 mares, total 11 Asses: 1 jack, total 1 Poultry: 98 fowls, 32 ducks, 55 turkeys, 7 geese Increase during the quarter Cattle: 26 calves, total 26 Sheep: 175 lambs, total 175 Goats: 33 kids, total 33 Poultry: 51 fowls, 4 ducks, 6 turkeys, 0 geese Total Cattle: 6 bulls, 121 cows, 88 calves, 83 yearlings, 27 heifers, 73 steers, 21 oxen, total 419 Sheep: 397 ewes, 217 wethers, 198 lambs, 12 rams, total 824 Goats: 172 nannies, 61 wethers, 78 kids, 10 billies, total 321 Pigs: 2 sows, 4 shoats, 0 piglets, 1 boar, total 7 Horses: 5 horses, 6 mares, total 11 Asses: 1 jack, total 1 Poultry: 149 fowls, 36 ducks, 61 turkeys, 7 geese Killed Cattle: 1 heifer, 11 steers, total 12 Sheep: 3 ewes, 85 wethers, 17 lambs, total 105 Goats: 1 nanny, 8 wethers, 11 kids, total 20 Poultry: 42 fowls, 24 ducks, 16 turkeys Sent on board the Duke of Richmond Sheep: 6 wethers, total 6 Goats shot Goats: 6 nannies, 3 kids, total 9 Died Cattle: 1 calf, 1 yearling, total 2 Sheep: 10 ewes, 2 wethers, 11 lambs, total 23 Poultry: 24 fowls, 3 turkeys Remaining on 30 June 1769 Cattle: 6 bulls, 121 cows, 87 calves, 82 yearlings, 26 heifers, 62 steers, 21 oxen, total 405 Sheep: 384 ewes, 124 wethers, 170 lambs, 12 rams, total 690 Goats: 165 nannies, 53 wethers, 64 kids, 10 billies, total 292 Pigs: 2 sows, 4 shoats, 0 piglets, 1 boar, total 7 Horses: 5 horses, 6 mares, total 11 Asses: 1 jack, total 1 Poultry: 83 fowls, 12 ducks, 37 turkeys, 7 geese Slaves died: 1 man named Mercury, 1 man named Davis, 1 man named Frank Slaves [...]: 1 woman named Moll Sharpe, 1 girl named Hannah Yams used for the slaves, 83,755 Yams used for the stock, 8,610 Total yams used, 92,365 Daniel Corneille signed the account, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations The flock grew strongly during the quarter. A lambing of 175 took it from 649 to 690 sheep, even after 105 were killed and 23 died. The Cape sheep bought from the Valentine, the Kent and the Verelst in February and March had evidently been put to the rams at once. The lambs born from April to June showed that the purchase was already paying for itself. Wethers bore the heaviest slaughter, 85 in the quarter. They were the castrated males kept for mutton, and they fed the Castle table and the hundreds of men in the homeward fleet. Three male slaves died in the quarter: Mercury, Davis and Frank. Their deaths came during the same months of heavy sickness that had struck the garrison and slowed the works. The yams issued to the slaves nearly doubled, from about 41,000 to more than 83,000. The Company's slaves had been labouring on the fortifications in place of sick soldiers, and the inhabitants' hired slaves had joined them from May. Their extra rations of yams were drawn from the Company's plantation. The account was signed by Daniel Corneille, not by John Worrall, the overseer who had signed earlier quarters. On his return Corneille had evidently taken charge of the Company's plantation and stock, as Lieutenant Governors often did. The Governor's country estate and its farm were now under his direct supervision. | |
169 | 1769 Artillery Stores expend. in June 1769 Guns fired, Shot do., 32 lb, 24 lb, 18 lb, 9 lb, 6 lb, 4 lb, 1 lb, Powder expend. lb, Powder expend. oz 1st An Alarm: Guns fired 6, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 4, 1 lb 2, Powder expend. lb 13, Powder expend. oz 0 2 do.: Guns fired 6, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 4, 1 lb 2, Powder expend. lb 13, Powder expend. oz 0 do. Arrived the Horsendon: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 13, Powder expend. oz 8 do. do. a French Ship: Guns fired 1, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 1, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 6, Powder expend. oz 0 do. Shot fired at do. from Purlings Battery: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 1, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 1, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 0, Powder expend. oz 0 do. Powder for the Governors use: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 1, Powder expend. oz 0 4th Guns fired to celeb. his Majes. Birth Day: Guns fired 21, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 1, 24 lb 2, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 2, 6 lb 16, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 56, Powder expend. oz 11 do. Departed the Salisbury: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 13, Powder expend. oz 8 6 Powder for the Stone Blowers at Mitchells Line: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 100, Powder expend. oz 0 8 Depart. two French Ships: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 13, Powder expend. oz 8 13th do. the Horsendon: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 13, Powder expend. oz 8 21 An Alarm at Prosperous Bay: Guns fired 6, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 4, 1 lb 2, Powder expend. lb 13, Powder expend. oz 0 do. do. Purlings Battery: Guns fired 2, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 2, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 12, Powder expend. oz 0 do. Arrived the York: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 13, Powder expend. oz 8 do. Powder for priming for the above Salutes: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 16, Powder expend. oz 0 22nd do. for the funeral of Jno. Seal Soldr.: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 2, Powder expend. oz 4 25 do. for the Works at Mundens Point: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 104, Powder expend. oz 0 do. do. to the Men in the [...] at diff. times: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 9, Powder expend. oz 0 do. to Shoot Goats at: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 10, Powder expend. oz 0 do. to repr. the Cartridg. at the Main Guard: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 2, Powder expend. oz 6 do. for Signals at diff. times: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 0, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 1, Powder expend. oz 6 Shot lost in Landg. at Purlings Battery: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 32 lb 0, 24 lb 0, 18 lb 1, 9 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder expend. lb 0, Powder expend. oz 0 Total: Guns fired 87, Shot do. 1, 32 lb 1, 24 lb 2, 18 lb 5, 9 lb 2, 6 lb 61, 4 lb 12, 1 lb 6, Powder expend. lb 427, Powder expend. oz 3 Sponge Staves expend. at different times 2 Ladle heads do. at do. 4 2 Sheep Skin do. at do. 5 Tenter Nails to Coat Spunges at do. 70 Speaking Trumpets Expen. at Purlings Battery 1 [...] Lights do. at do. 2 Handspikes do. at do. 6 lb 13 Tompions do. at do. 32 2 do. do. on the Curtain 6 3 Paper for differt. uses 18 1/2 Quire Lead Ball to Shoot Goats at different times 10 lb oz Tallow for different uses 20 Match expended at the Main Guard 6 6 Received one Barrel of Gun Powder from the Salisbury 29 do. 1 do. of do. from the York (Signed) Thos. Bazett | Artillery stores used in June 1769 1 June, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 4 four-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 13 pounds of powder 2 June, an alarm: 6 guns fired, 4 four-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 13 pounds of powder 2 June, arrival of the Horsendon: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 2 June, an alarm for a French ship: 1 eighteen-pounder fired, with 6 pounds of powder 2 June, 1 shot fired at the same ship from an eighteen-pounder at Purling's Battery Powder for the Governor's use, 1 pound 4 June, salute for His Majesty's birthday: 21 guns fired, 1 thirty-two-pounder, 2 twenty-four-pounders, 2 nine-pounders and 16 six-pounders, with 56 pounds 11 ounces of powder 4 June, departure of the Salisbury: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 6 June, powder for the stone blowers at Mitchell's Line, 100 pounds 8 June, departure of two French ships: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 13 June, departure of the Horsendon: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder 21 June, an alarm at Prosperous Bay: 6 guns fired, 4 four-pounders and 2 one-pounders, with 13 pounds of powder 21 June, an alarm at Purling's Battery: 2 eighteen-pounders fired, with 12 pounds of powder 21 June, arrival of the York: 9 six-pounders fired, with 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder Powder for priming for the above salutes, 16 pounds 22 June, powder for the funeral of John Seale, soldier, 2 pounds 4 ounces 25 June, powder for the works at Munden's Point, 104 pounds Powder for the men in the [...] boats at various times, 9 pounds Powder for shooting goats, 10 pounds Powder to repair the cartridges at the main guard, 2 pounds 6 ounces Powder for signals at various times, 1 pound 6 ounces 1 eighteen-pound shot lost in landing at Purling's Battery Total: 87 guns fired and 1 shot, comprising 1 thirty-two-pounder, 2 twenty-four-pounders, 5 eighteen-pounders, 2 nine-pounders, 61 six-pounders, 12 four-pounders and 6 one-pounders, with 427 pounds 3 ounces of powder Sponge staves used at various times, 2 Sponge heads for four-pounders, 2 Sheepskins for sponges, 5 Tinned nails for covering sponges, 70 [...] used at Purling's Battery, 1 [...], 2 Handspikes for six-pounders, 13 Tompions for thirty-two-pounders, 2 Tompions for six-pounders on the curtain, 3 Paper for various uses, 18½ quires Lead ball for shooting goats at various times, 10 pounds Tallow for various uses, 20 pounds Match used at the main fort, 6 pounds On 6 June one barrel of gunpowder was received from the Salisbury, and on 29 June one barrel from the York. Thomas Bazett signed the account. Interpretations The King's birthday on 4 June was the first occasion on which the island's heaviest guns were fired. The salute included a 32-pounder and two 24-pounders, larger than anything in earlier accounts. These were the big guns newly mounted at Purling's Battery and the other new works. Firing them on a royal anniversary tested the new pieces and their platforms. It also showed any ship in the road the weight of metal now guarding the island. The month's largest uses of powder had nothing to do with salutes. More than 200 pounds went to blasting rock, 100 pounds for the stone blowers at Mitchell's Line and 104 for the works at Munden's Point. The fortifications consumed gunpowder as building material, splitting the hard island rock for stone and levelling sites for batteries. Every barrel landed from the ships served the works as much as the guns. A shot was fired at a French ship on 2 June from Purling's Battery. She was probably the Le Sage from Mauritius, which arrived that day. A ship that did not answer the alarm signals or show her colours promptly was warned with a shot across her bows. It was the second live round recorded at Purling's Battery, which commanded the approach to the road. This was the first gunner's account signed by Thomas Bazett, who had taken command of the Artillery Company from Mitchell on 7 June 1769. | |
170 | 10 July Sundry's Expended at the Honble. Company's Table in June 1769 £ 3 Bottles Port Wine 4 6 59 do. Lisbon 4 8 6 10 do. Mountain 15 54 do. Beer 10 1 1/2 27 Galls. Arrack 4 9 6 287 1/4 lb Beef 5 19 10 183 lb Mutton 5 17 11 7 Turkeys 1 15 17 Fowls 1 5 6 11 Ducks 16 6 39 lb Butter 1 19 163 lb Candy 4 14 11 502 lb Flour 4 13 11 1/2 4 Lambs 2 5 Kids 1 5 £ 40 15 3 John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | Sundries used at the Company's table in June 1769 3 bottles of port wine, £0 4s 6d 59 bottles of Lisbon wine, £4 8s 6d 10 bottles of Mountain wine, £0 15s 0d 54 bottles of beer, £0 10s 1½d 27 gallons of arrack, £4 9s 6d 287¼ pounds of beef, £5 19s 10d 283 pounds of mutton, £5 17s 11d 7 turkeys, £1 15s 0d 17 fowls, £1 5s 6d 11 ducks, £0 16s 6d 39 pounds of butter, £1 19s 0d 163 pounds of sugar candy, £4 14s 11d 502 pounds of flour, £4 13s 11½d 4 lambs, £2 0s 0d 5 kids, £1 5s 0d Total, £40 15s 3d Governor John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The Company's table cost £40 15s 3d in June, the highest monthly figure in the record. Lisbon wine reached 59 bottles and beef and mutton together nearly 600 pounds. The month brought the King's birthday on 4 June, celebrated with a 21-gun salute and evidently a dinner at the Castle. It also brought the departure of the last China and Bengal ships and the stormy days of Mitchell's quarrel with the Board. With Corneille now back at the table, and the officers and passengers of four ships to entertain, the Castle's hospitality ran at its fullest stretch before the quiet of the southern winter. | |
171 | 17 July At a Consultation held on Monday the 17th day of July 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved and signed dated the 10th July 1769 Friday the 14th Arrived the Duttons Boat at Banks's at Eleven o'clock in the forenoon do. do. do. The Honble. Company's Ship Dutton from Madrass and brought us the following Supplies viz. Invoice of Ship Dutton 1 Bale Long Cloth Superfine unwashed marked Bale No. 1 8 Pieces 2 10 3 10 28 Ps. at 132 p Cor. 184 28 64 Washing Unwashed at 2 7 10 3 2 72 Packing 2 Boat hire 13 16 Freight 2 18 7 34 8 192 26 72 2 Long Cloth Fine Two Bales Ps. 240 at 59 27 27 p Cor. 149 14 28 Washing at 1 30 p Cor. 4 21 Packing at 2 p Ps. 4 Boat hire 8 64 17 48 Freight at 2 27 5 18 14 20 48 163 34 76 Carried Over Pags. 356 25 68 | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 17 July 1769. Governor John Skottowe presided, with Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling present. The minutes of the meeting of 10 July 1769 were read, approved and signed. At eleven in the morning of Friday 14 July a boat from the Dutton landed at Banks's. The Company's ship Dutton arrived from Madras the same day and brought the following supplies. Invoice of the ship Dutton Bale 1, superfine longcloth, [...] Bale 1, 8 pieces; bale 2, 10 pieces; bale 3, 10 pieces; 28 pieces at 132 pagodas a corge, 184 pagodas 28 fanams 64 cash Washing at 2 pagodas 7 fanams 10 cash, 5 pagodas 2 fanams 72 cash Packing, 2 pagodas 0 fanams 0 cash Boat hire, 0 pagodas 13 fanams 16 cash Freight, 2 pagodas 14 fanams 0 cash Total for the charges, 7 pagodas 34 fanams 8 cash Total for the superfine longcloth, 192 pagodas 26 fanams 72 cash Bale 2, fine longcloth 2 bales of 40 pieces at 59 pagodas 27 fanams 27 cash a corge, 119 pagodas 14 fanams 28 cash Washing at 1 pagoda 30 fanams a corge, 4 pagodas 21 fanams 0 cash Packing at 2 pagodas a bale, 4 pagodas 0 fanams 0 cash Boat hire, [...] 17 fanams 48 cash Freight at 2 pagodas 27 fanams, 5 pagodas 18 fanams 0 cash Total for the charges, 14 pagodas 20 fanams 48 cash Total for the fine longcloth, 163 pagodas 34 fanams 76 cash Carried forward, 356 pagodas 25 fanams 68 cash Interpretations The Dutton brought the island's longcloth from Madras, the fourth presidency in St Helena's network of suppliers. The cloth came in two grades. Superfine longcloth at 132 pagodas a corge was fine enough for the Castle's linen and officers' shirts. Fine longcloth at about 60 pagodas a corge was used for ordinary shirts and household linen. Longcloth was woven in the villages round Madras and was washed and bleached before shipping. The washing charge on each bale paid for that finishing. The invoice was reckoned in the money of the Madras presidency. The pagoda was a gold coin of southern India. It was divided into 36 fanams, and each fanam into 80 cash. A corge was a lot of 20 pieces, the standard unit of the Indian cloth trade. The Council had asked Madras in April for longcloth in four grades. That letter could not yet have arrived. This consignment was therefore the previous year's order, now delivered at the very end of the shipping season. | |
172 | 17 July Brought Over Pags. 356 25 68 1 Long Cloth Midling One Bale Ps. 1 10 at 49 33 35 p Cor. 74 32 13 Washing at 1 30 p Cor. 2 27 Packing 2 7 16 Boat hire 3 64 Freight 2 27 7 34 82 30 13 Rice 24 Bags G.W. Cwt. qrs. lb. 33 2 26 Tare at 4 lb p Bag 3 12 Nt. Cwt. 33 1 14 or 160 Ms. at 80 p Garce 32 2 56 28 Paddy 28 Double Bags G.W. 30 2 15 Tare 4 Catt. 29 2 15 or 200 at 11 Pagodas 18 8 2 Leagrs. Batavia Arrack 2 Leagers qt. 310 Galls. at 42 p Leagr. 84 573 30 57 Charges Merchandize Gunny Bags for Rice and Paddy 104 at 3 p Cent 3 4 25 Twine 2 Cooly hire for Paddy 14 Tin Plates and Nails for Arr. 6 Cooly hire for do. 6 Weighing Cooly for Rice and Paddy 3 40 Boat hire 6 Boats at 9 fs. p Bt. 1 18 Cooly hire 5 do. at 1 20 do. 6 20 Tarpaulins hire 4 do. at 4 do. 16 6 4 5 Pagodas 579 34 62 Errors Excepted (Signed) for John Call Accountt. | The Dutton's invoice continued with the rest of the cloth, the grain and the arrack. Brought forward, 356 pagodas 25 fanams 68 cash 1 bale of middling longcloth, 10 pieces at 19 pagodas 33 fanams 35 cash a corge, 74 pagodas 32 fanams 13 cash Washing at 1 pagoda 30 fanams a corge, 2 pagodas 2 fanams 7 cash Packing, 2 pagodas 7 fanams 16 cash Boat hire, 0 pagodas 3 fanams 64 cash Freight, 2 pagodas 27 fanams 0 cash Total for the charges, 7 pagodas 34 fanams 0 cash Total for the middling longcloth, 82 pagodas 30 fanams 13 cash Rice, 24 bags, gross weight 33 hundredweight 2 quarters 26 pounds, less tare of 3 quarters 12 pounds, net 33 hundredweight 14 pounds, or 160 [...], at 80 pagodas a garce, 32 pagodas 2 fanams 56 cash Paddy, 28 double bags, gross weight 30 hundredweight 2 quarters 15 pounds, less tare of 1 hundredweight, net 29 hundredweight 2 quarters 15 pounds, or 200 [...], at 11 pagodas, 18 pagodas 8 fanams 0 cash Batavia arrack, 2 leaguers of 310 gallons at 42 pagodas a leaguer, 84 pagodas 0 fanams 0 cash Total for the goods, 573 pagodas 30 fanams 57 cash Charges on the goods 104 gunny bags for rice and paddy at 3 pagodas a hundred, 3 pagodas 4 fanams 25 cash Twine, 0 pagodas 2 fanams 0 cash Coolie hire for the paddy, 0 pagodas 14 fanams 0 cash Tin plate and nails for the arrack, 0 pagodas 6 fanams 0 cash Coolie hire for the same, 0 pagodas 6 fanams 0 cash Weighing and coolies for the rice and paddy, 0 pagodas 3 fanams 40 cash Hire of 6 boats at 9 fanams a boat, 1 pagoda 18 fanams 0 cash Coolie hire for 5 boats at 1 fanam 20 cash a boat, 0 pagodas 6 fanams 20 cash Hire of 4 tarpaulins at 4 fanams each, 0 pagodas 16 fanams 0 cash Total for the charges, 6 pagodas 4 fanams 5 cash Total, 579 pagodas 34 fanams 62 cash The invoice was signed for John Call, accountant, reserving the right to correct any errors. Interpretations Madras sold rice by the garce, the standard grain measure of the Coromandel coast. It was a large unit of roughly 9,000 pounds, priced here at 80 pagodas. The invoice converted the island's purchase into hundredweights so the storekeeper at St Helena could check it by English weight. The arrack was Batavian, bought at Madras from the Dutch trade, and packed with tin plate and nails. Tin sheets nailed over the bungs and weak points of each leaguer guarded against leakage and pilfering on the voyage. The Dutton was the only Madras ship of the season to call at the island. Her single consignment of longcloth in three grades, with modest quantities of rice, paddy and arrack, completed the year's supplies from India. Bengal had sent rice, candles and arrack in five ships. Bombay had sent rice, batty and Surat chelloes in two, and China had sent sugar, candy, tea and porcelain in more than a dozen. Each presidency contributed what its own region produced best. | |
173 | 1769 The Storekeeper this day brought in his Collections and the Paymaster his Accounts for the Quarter commencing the 1st of April and ending the 30th June 1769 which were examined and approved and are as follow viz. Collection of Goods Sold and Delivered out of the Honorable Companys Ware Houses from 1st of April to the 30th of June 1769 Sold to the Company's Servants at 10 p Cent viz. Beef and Pork viz. 1900 Ps. Beef 190 2446 Ps. Pork 244 12 434 12 Sugar and Candy viz. 7125 Sugar 103 18 1 1254 Candy 31 1 134 do. fine 4 3 5 139 8 6 Flour viz. 3338 Flour 31 5 10 Cwt. qrs. lb. 347 1 16 do. Baked 324 4 8 355 10 6 Tea viz. 350 Bohea 17 10 240 Congo 10 123 Single 9 4 6 45 2 6 Soap 302 15 7 2 Buckram 16 1/2 Yards 18 6 Salt 16 3/4 Bushels 3 12 7 Carried Over £ 994 11 9 | The storekeeper brought in his collections and the paymaster his accounts for the quarter from 1 April to 30 June 1769 that day. The Council examined and approved them, and they were entered as follows. Goods sold and delivered from the Company's warehouses, 1 April to 30 June 1769 Sold to the Company's servants at 10 per cent above cost Beef and pork 1,900 pieces of beef, £190 0s 0d 2,446 pieces of pork, £244 12s 0d Total for beef and pork, £434 12s 0d Sugar and sugar candy 7,125 pounds of sugar, £103 18s 1d 1,254 pounds of sugar candy, £31 1s 0d 154 pounds of fine sugar candy, £4 3s 5d Total for sugar and sugar candy, £139 2s 6d Flour 3,338 pounds of flour, £31 5s 10d 347 hundredweight 1 quarter 16 pounds of flour issued as baked bread, £324 4s 8d Total for flour, £355 10s 6d Tea 35 pounds of Bohea tea, £17 18s 0d 24 pounds of Congo tea, £18 0s 0d 12½ pounds of Singlo tea, £9 4s 6d Total for tea, £45 2s 6d 5[...] pounds of soap, £15 7s 2d 16½ yards of buckram, £0 18s 6d 16¾ bushels of salt, £3 12s 7d Carried forward, £994 11s 9d Interpretations Sales of salt meat to the servants fell back from the heavy levels of late 1768. Fewer than 4,400 pieces of beef and pork were sold in the quarter, against more than 5,700 in the last three months of 1768. The homeward season had brought fresh mutton, beef and poultry to the island's markets. The Company's own flock and herd had supplied the ships and the Castle. Households that could buy fresh meat bought less salt meat from the warehouse. Tea sales nearly doubled, from about £18 in the first quarter of 1769 to more than £45. The China ships had landed a fresh season's supply of Bohea, Congo and Singlo. The servants bought freely while the new stock was fresh and plentiful, as they did with sugar and candy after the season's large consignments. | |
174 | 17 July Brought Over £ 994 11 9 Twine viz. 31 lb Twine 19 4 1/2 3 1/2 Cotton Wick 10 11 1/2 1 10 4 Candles 330 lb 39 17 6 Rice and Paddy viz. 1145 Rice 4 3 9 1670 Paddy 4 5 4 8 9 1 Arrack 30 3/4 Gallons 7 13 9 Coffee 27 lb 1 4 9 Cordage 424 lb 7 19 Starch 59 1/2 1 17 2 Hatts viz. 6 Mens Hatts 7 14 17 Boys do. 5 12 7 13 6 7 Challow 19 Pieces 8 14 2 Lead viz. 10 lb Sheet 2 1 20 lb Shot Lead 4 7 6 8 Bunting 9 1/2 Yards blue 3 3 Canvas viz. 3 3/4 Yds. Eng. 4 8 3 1/2 Yds. Ticklenburgs 3 6 35 1/2 Yds. Osenbrugs 1 11 1 1 19 3 Oil viz. 20 1/2 Gallons Train 3 13 14 1/2 do. Linseed 3 4 6 Bottles Florence 1 3 1 8 1 Ticking 12 Yards 2 1 Carried Over £ 1097 16 6 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £994 11s 9d. Brought forward, £994 11s 9d Twine 31 pounds of small twine, £0 19s 4½d 3½ pounds of cotton wick, £0 10s 11½d Total for twine, £1 10s 4d 330 pounds of candles, £39 17s 6d Rice and paddy 1,145 pounds of rice, £4 3s 9d 1,670 pounds of paddy, £4 5s 4d Total for rice and paddy, £8 9s 1d 30¾ gallons of arrack, £7 15s 9d 27 pounds of coffee, £1 4s 9d 424 pounds of cordage, £7 19s 0d 59½ pounds of starch, £1 17s 2d Hats 6 men's hats, £7 14s 0d 17 boys' hats, £5 12s 7d Total for hats, £13 6s 7d 19 pieces of chelloes, £8 14s 2d Lead 10 pounds of shot, £0 2s 1d 20 pounds of sheet lead, £0 4s 7d Total for lead, £0 6s 8d 9½ yards of blue bunting, £0 5s 5d Canvas 3¾ yards of English canvas, £0 4s 8d 3½ yards of tecklenburgs, £0 3s 6d 35½ yards of osnaburgs, £1 11s 1d Total for canvas, £1 19s 3d Oil 20½ gallons of train oil, £3 13s 0d 14½ gallons of linseed oil, £3 4s 0d 6 flasks of Florence oil, £1 3s 1d Total for oil, £8 0s 1d 12 yards of ticking, £2 1s 0d Carried forward, £1,097 16s 6d Interpretations Candle sales rose sharply. The servants bought 330 pounds in the quarter, worth nearly £40, against 93 pounds in the first quarter of the year. April to June brought shortening days on St Helena as the southern winter set in. Households needed far more light in the evenings. The Bengal ships had also landed a fresh supply of wax candles, and the warehouse had stock to sell. Arrack sales to the servants fell to under 31 gallons, half of the first quarter's figure. The new rules on spirits had come into force in May 1769. From then on, private households could buy arrack only from the society, in lots of at least five gallons. The warehouse's own small sales of arrack evidently gave way to the society's monopoly as the new system took hold. | |
175 | 1769 Brought Over £ 1097 16 6 Leather viz. 106 1/2 lb Sole Leather 5 14 10 3 Calf Skins 1 6 6 7 1 4 Flannel 23 Yards 2 2 2 Pepper 13 lb 7 4 Blankets viz. 12 Blankets Fine 6 19 12 do. Ordinary 3 15 10 14 Shalloon viz. 17 1/4 Yds. Colored 1 13 3 19 Yds. Scarlet 2 12 3 1 Yd. Pompadore 11 4 18 6 Deals viz. 18 Double Deals 3 2 3 12 Single do. 1 6 6 4 8 9 Iron Pots 11 weight 332 lb 3 9 2 Oars 3 15 2 Corks 9 1/2 Gro. 1 1 4 Long Ells viz. 2 Ps. Blue 3 9 1/2 7 do. Scarlet 1 6 1/2 1 4 4 Paint viz. 5 Barrels Blacking 2 9 1/2 25 lb Ven. Red Mixed 13 6 1/2 4 1/2 lb Indico 3 £ 4 19 4 1/2 Paint Carried over Carried Over 1153 18 7 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,097 16s 6d. Brought forward, £1,097 16s 6d Leather 106½ pounds of sole leather, £5 14s 10d 3 calf skins, £1 6s 6d Total for leather, £7 1s 4d 23 yards of flannel, £2 2s 2d 13 pounds of pepper, £0 7s 4d Blankets 12 fine blankets, £6 19s 0d 12 ordinary blankets, £3 15s 0d Total for blankets, £10 14s 0d Shalloon 17¼ yards of coloured shalloon, £1 13s 3d 19 yards of scarlet shalloon, £2 12s 3d 1 yard of pompadour shalloon, £0 11s 0d Total for shalloon, £4 16s 6d Deals 18 double deals, £3 2s 3d 12 single deals, £1 6s 6d Total for deals, £4 8s 9d 11 iron pots weighing 332 pounds, £3 9s 2d 5 oars, £0 15s 2d 9½ gross of corks, £1 1s 4d Long ells 2 yards of blue long ells, £0 3s 9½d 7 yards of scarlet long ells, £1 0s 6½d Total for long ells, £1 4s 4d Paint 3 pans of blacking, £0 2s 9¼d 25 pounds of Venetian red, mixed, £0 13s 6½d 4½ pounds of indigo, [...] Paint carried forward, £1 19s 4½d Carried forward, £1,133 18s 7d Interpretations The servants bought 24 blankets in the quarter, a purchase seldom seen in earlier accounts. April to June was the coming of the southern winter, when the uplands of St Helena grew cold and wet at night. Fine blankets went to officers' and officials' households, and ordinary ones to soldiers and labourers. Flannel, also bought in quantity, served for warm underclothing in the same season. Pompadour was a fashionable shade of crimson or purplish pink, named after the Marquise de Pompadour, the French king's favourite. A length of pompadour shalloon in the warehouse showed that the latest colours of European fashion reached even this remote island. They were used for linings and trimmings in the dress of officers' wives and daughters. | |
176 | 17 July Brought over £ 1153 18 7 Paint brought over £ 4 19 4 1/2 4 lb Stone Oaker mixed 2 1 133 lb Whiting 12 11 10 Blue Smalts 18 9 6 lb White Lead dry 2 1 1/2 31 1/2 Stone Colour 14 4 2 Yellow Oaker mixed 7 1 lb Chalk 1/2 4 lb Blue paint 9 9 4 lb Logwood 12 8 Red Lead 2 2 4 Yellow Oaker dry 1 1 2 Verdegrease 8 8 1 Ven. Red dry 2 1/4 8 15 Glass Ware viz. 1 Sqr. Glass 11 by 19 1 6 1/2 9 quart Decanters 1 3 3 5 Pint do. 9 2 72 Wine Glasses 1 13 8 Beer do. 7 4 14 Tumblers 11 1 12 Square Glass 8 by 10 7 73 Sqr. do. 6 by 8 1 2 9 3/4 2 Sqr. do. 10 3/4 by 17 3/4 2 11 1/2 1 Sqr. do. 10 by 16 1 4 5 19 6 Nails viz. 29 6 Nails 10 1 1/2 32 10 do. 16 8 3 2 do. 4 9 1/2 17 4 do. 11 4 4 20 do. 1 9 3 8 do. 1 9 3/4 Nails Carried over £ 2 14 3 1/4 Carried over 1168 11 1 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,133 18s 7d. Brought forward, £1,133 18s 7d Paint brought forward, £1 19s 4½d 4 pounds of stone ochre, mixed, £0 2s 1d 133 pounds of whiting, £0 12s 11d 10 pounds of blue smalt, £0 18s 9d 6 pounds of white lead, dry, £0 2s 1½d 31½ pounds of stone colour, £0 14s 4d 2 pounds of yellow ochre, mixed, £0 0s 7d 1 pound of chalk, £0 0s 0¼d 4 pounds of blue paint, £0 9s 9d 4 pounds of logwood, £0 0s 11d 8 pounds of red lead, £0 2s 2d 4 pounds of yellow ochre, dry, £0 1s 1d 2 pounds of verdigris, £0 8s 8d 1 pound of Venetian red, dry, £0 0s 3¼d Total for paint, £5 13s 0d Glassware 1 pane of window glass, 11 by 19 inches, £0 1s 6½d 9 quart decanters, £1 3s 3d 5 pint decanters, £0 9s 7d 72 wine glasses, £1 13s 0d 8 beer glasses, £0 7s 4d 14 tumblers, £0 11s 1d 12 panes of window glass, 8 by 10 inches, £0 7s 0d 73 panes of window glass, 6 by 8 inches, £1 2s 9¾d 2 panes of window glass, 10¾ by 17¾ inches, £0 2s 11½d 1 pane of window glass, 10 by 16 inches, £0 1s 4d Total for glassware, £5 19s 6d Nails 29 pounds of sixpenny nails, £0 18s 1½d 32 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 16s 8d 3 pounds of twopenny nails, £0 4s 9½d 17 pounds of fourpenny nails, £0 11s 4d 4 pounds of twentypenny nails, £0 1s 9d 3 pounds of eightpenny nails, £0 1s 9¾d Nails carried forward, £2 14s 3¾d Carried forward, £1,148 11s 1d Interpretations The servants bought 72 wine glasses and 14 decanters in the quarter, far more than in earlier months. The homeward season had brought officers, commanders and passengers to the island. Many of the servants' households took in lodgers or entertained visitors, as the Castle did on a grander scale. Glassware broke often in such use. A fresh stock landed from the outward-bound ships let households replace it before the long quiet months of winter. The 73 small panes of window glass, 6 by 8 inches, were the size used in the cheaper sash windows of soldiers' and labourers' houses. Their sale alongside quantities of paint and nails points to repairs and new building in James's Valley. Preston, the mason's mate, and other servants had taken town plots to build on during the year. | |
177 | 1769 Brought over £ 1148 11 1 Nails brought over 2 14 3 1/2 1 lb 40 Nails 5 5 lb 3 do. 1 2 4 Dog do. 2 3 2 1/2 Hay. Brads 4 7 1/2 3 5 11 Hooks and Lines viz. 200 No. 1 Hooks 11 4 225 9 do. 6 2 3/4 50 12 do. 10 200 14 do. 2 1 425 16 do. 2 5 3/4 6 Large do. 1 7 1/2 102 No. 2 Lines 1 12 7 32 3 do. 19 1 1/2 4 4 do. 1 8 8 Log do. 8 10 5 Hamline do. 8 9 4 15 6 Shirts viz. 76 Centinels Shirts 19 11 3/4 Yds. Brown Holland 1 4 20 4 Thread viz. 9 1/2 white Brown 3 11 3 8 Colored 1 8 4 19 3 Tin ware viz. 12 Lamps 11 6 Pint Saucepans 2 4 Quart do. 2 1 5 Gallon do. with Covers 9 6 3/4 Tin ware Carried over £ 1 4 7 3/4 Carried Over 1181 15 9 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,148 11s 1d. Brought forward, £1,148 11s 1d Nails brought forward, £2 14s 3½d 1 pound of fortypenny nails, £0 0s 5d 5 pounds of threepenny nails, £0 4s 2d 4 pounds of dog nails, £0 2s 3d 2½ pounds of glazing brads, £0 4s 7½d Total for nails, £3 5s 11d Hooks and lines 200 number 1 hooks, £0 11s 4d 225 number 9 hooks, £0 6s 2¾d 50 number 12 hooks, £0 0s 10d 200 number 14 hooks, £0 2s 1d 425 number 16 hooks, £0 2s 5¾d 6 large hooks, £0 1s 7½d 102 number 2 lines, £1 12s 7d 32 number 3 lines, £0 19s 1½d 4 number 4 lines, £0 1s 8d 8 long lines, £0 8s 10d 5 Hamburg lines, £0 8s 9d Total for hooks and lines, £4 15s 6d Shirts 76 soldiers' shirts, £19 0s 0d 11¾ yards of brown holland, £1 4s 0d Total for shirts, £20 4s 0d Thread 9½ pounds of whited brown thread, £3 11s 3d 8 ounces of coloured thread, £1 8s 0d Total for thread, £4 19s 3d Tinware 12 lamps, £0 11s 0d 6 pint saucepans, £0 2s 0d 4 quart saucepans, £0 3s 1d 3 gallon saucepans with covers, £0 9s 6¾d Tinware carried forward, £1 4s 7¾d Carried forward, £1,181 15s 9d Interpretations The servants bought 76 soldiers' shirts in the quarter, far more than the 28 of the previous three months. The garrison had taken in many new men during the shipping season, among them Schonier, Merritt, Cook, Jervis, Mayer, Henderson, Love, Jacobs and others enlisted from the ships. Each recruit needed shirts, bought from the stores with his bounty. Fourteen soldiers had also re-enlisted for a further five years, and their shirts were probably worn out after their first term. The 102 sets of number 2 fishing lines were the largest purchase of lines in any quarter. Fishing was an important source of food as the southern winter set in and the homeward ships no longer brought fresh provisions to the island's markets. | |
178 | 17 July Brought over £ 1181 15 9 Tin ware brought Over £ 1 4 7 3/4 3 Horn Lanthorns 9 10 1/2 1 Double Sheet Tin 8 1/2 4 Puding Pans 3 8 1 Large Glass Lanthn. 3 7 1 do. do. Old 14 4 1/2 3 Dripping Pans 10 1 1/4 1 Gallon Funnel 2 2 1/2 1 Quart do. 7 3 11 9 Iron Ware viz. 7 Splinter Locks 3 11 1/4 3 Stock do. 13 3 1/2 lb Tinnd Tacks 8 9 3 Plait Locks 8 5 1/4 2 Iron rimd do. 10 6 6 Scythe stones 1 4 1/2 3 Pr. HL hinges 6 4 1/2 4 Small Frying pans 9 11 Spring Rat Traps 18 4 10 Mouse do. 6 8 1 Gimblet 2 1/2 7 Handhatchets 13 3 1/4 1 Shod Shovel 1 11 3/4 3 Chest Locks 10 3 3 Iron rimd do. with Brass Kn. 1 3 5 Chafing Dishes 1 9 2 4 Iron Shovels 1 1 Garden Hoe 1 3 1/4 4 Blank Keys 2 9 3 Large frying Pans 13 8 1/4 1 Pr. Hand Bellows 4 Iron Ware Carried over £ 10 5 9 1/2 Carried over 1185 7 6 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,181 15s 9d. Brought forward, £1,181 15s 9d Tinware brought forward, £1 4s 7½d 3 horn lanterns, £0 9s 10½d 1 double sheet of tin, £0 0s 8½d 4 pudding pans, £0 3s 8d 1 large glass lantern, £0 3s 7d 1 old large glass lantern, £0 14s 4½d 3 dripping pans, £0 10s 1¼d 1 gallon funnel, £0 2s 2½d 1 quart funnel, £0 0s 7d Total for tinware, £3 11s 9d Ironware 7 splinter locks, £0 3s 11¼d 3 stock locks, £0 13s 0d 3½ pounds of tinned tacks, £0 8s 9d 3 plate locks, £0 8s 5¼d 2 iron-rimmed locks, £0 10s 6d 6 scythe stones, £0 1s 4½d 3 pairs of H-L hinges, £0 6s 4½d 4 small frying pans, £0 9s 0d 11 spring rat traps, £0 18s 1d 10 mousetraps, £0 6s 8d 1 gimlet, £0 0s 2½d 7 hand hatchets, £0 13s 3¼d 1 shod shovel, £0 1s 11¾d 3 chest locks, £0 10s 3d 3 iron-rimmed locks with brass knobs, £1 0s 3d 5 chafing dishes, £1 9s 2d 4 iron shovels, £1 0s 0d 1 garden hoe, £0 1s 3¾d 4 blank keys, £0 2s 9d 3 large frying pans, £0 13s 8¼d 1 pair of hand bellows, £0 4s 0d Ironware carried forward, £10 5s 9½d Carried forward, £1,185 7s 6d Interpretations The servants bought 11 spring rat traps and 10 mousetraps in a single quarter, along with the bounty paid to the constable for every rat and mouse destroyed. The vermin plague the Council had tried to check with its bounty in November 1768 was still a constant problem. Rats and mice spoiled stored food and gnawed through bags and casks in every household. Dripping pans caught the fat and juices from meat roasting on a spit before the fire. Chafing dishes, small pans of hot coals, kept food warm at table. Together with the horn and glass lanterns for the darker evenings, these purchases point to households preparing for the winter. More cooking and more indoor living were the pattern of the cooler months. | |
179 | 1769 Brought over £ 1185 7 6 Iron Ware brought over £ 10 5 9 1/2 2 Sheets Emery Paper 3 2 Wood Axes 6 3 1 Pr. Ban. Hinges 1 10 1 Small Jack 2 13 6 1 Pick Ax Helve 7 3/4 1 Spade 4 1 1/2 1 Rag Stone 4 1/2 1 Claw Hammer 1 6 1/4 1 doz. wood Screws 4 1/2 2 Brass Closet Locks 9 6 1 Hay Knife 4 6 1 Pr. Garden Shears 3 10 1/2 1 Curry Comb and Brush 2 2 Files 10 1 Bast. Rubber File 4 11 1/2 15 1 9 Pewter viz. 1 Bason 3 1/2 4 Chamber Pots 12 10 1 Cullender 9 1/2 1 4 11 Cutlery ware viz. 7 Buckling Combs 2 4 13 Horn do. 3 3 1/4 13 Fine Ivory do. 2 7 1/2 2 doz. Stag Horn hand Kn. and Forks 1 2 2 12 Pr. Leather Garters 7 6 3 Shoe Knives 1 1 1/4 3 17 2 Books viz. 1 Folio Comml. Prayer Book 2 14 6 7 Common do. 1 18 6 2 Large Bibles 3 6 1 Spelling Book 11 7 14 5 Carried Over £ 1213 5 9 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,185 7s 6d. Brought forward, £1,185 7s 6d Ironware brought forward, £10 5s 9½d 2 sheets of emery paper, £0 0s 3d 2 wood axes, £0 6s 3d 1 pair of barn hinges, £0 1s 10d 1 small roasting jack, £2 15s 6d 1 pickaxe handle, £0 0s 7¾d 1 spade, £0 4s 1½d 1 ragstone, £0 0s 4½d 1 claw hammer, £0 1s 6¼d 1 dozen wood screws, £0 0s 4½d 2 brass closet locks, £0 9s 6d 1 hay knife, £0 4s 6d 1 pair of garden shears, £0 3s 10½d 1 curry comb and brush, £0 2s 0d 2 files, £0 0s 10d 1 bastard rubber file, £0 4s 11½d Total for ironware, £15 1s 9d Pewter 1 basin, £0 3s 0½d 4 chamber pots, £0 12s 10d 1 colander, £0 9s 0½d Total for pewter, £1 4s 11d Cutlery and small wares 7 buckle combs, £0 2s 4d 13 horn combs, £0 3s 3¼d 13 fine ivory combs, £2 0s 7½d 2 dozen stag-horn-handled knives and forks, £1 2s 2d 12 pairs of leather garters, £0 7s 6d 3 shoe knives, £0 1s 1¼d Total for cutlery and small wares, £3 17s 2d Books 1 folio Book of Common Prayer, £2 14s 6d 7 common Books of Common Prayer, £1 18s 6d 2 large Bibles, £3 0s 6d 1 spelling book, £0 0s 11d Total for books, £7 14s 5d Carried forward, £1,213 5s 9d Interpretations A folio Book of Common Prayer cost £2 14s 6d, more than a private soldier earned in a month. A folio was the largest book format. Such a prayer book was made for reading aloud at a lectern, not for private use. Together with the two large Bibles, it was probably bought for the church in Jamestown or for a household that held family prayers. Timber for a new church in James's Valley had been held in store since 1768, and Mitchell had left an elevation of it among his plans. These purchases suggest preparations for worship as well as building. The small roasting jack was a clockwork device driven by a weight, turning a spit before the kitchen fire. At more than £2 15s 0d it was the dearest single item of ironware on the page. Only a well-off household would buy one. It was one of the six jacks held in store in September 1768. | |
180 | 17 July Brought Over £ 1213 5 9 Shoes viz. 15 Pr. Boys Shoes 2 12 6 143 Pr. Mens Ordinary do. 36 11 36 Pr. do. Fine do. 10 13 19 Pr. do. do. Pumps 5 4 6 5 Pr. Mens Channel do. 1 13 1 66 Pr. Womens Calimanco Shoes 14 6 13 Pr. do. Spanish Leather do. 3 3 9 2 Pr. do. Calf do. do. 5 9 9 Pr. Girls Calimanco do. 1 16 13 Pr. do. Calf Leather do. 1 13 9 77 3 9 Turners Ware viz. 33 Hair Brooms 4 2 6 12 Scrubing Brushes 1 10 11 Shoe do. 8 5 23 Punch Ladles 14 10 1/4 8 Baskets 1 3 Plaster Brushes 3 7 1/2 11 Paint do. 6 3 3 Bucket do. 1 8 7 Labour. Baskets 8 9 6 Mops 8 6 2 Birch Brooms 11 2 Wood Bowls 2 4 1/2 2 Platters 2 3 1/2 2 Skimming Dishes 10 1 Cloth Brush 2 2 1/4 9 13 6 Hosiers Ware viz. 1 Pr. Womens Stockings 3 1 24 Pr. Mens Ordinary thread do. 3 16 6 13 Pr. do. English Cotton do. 4 14 3 Hosiers Ware Carrd. over £ 8 13 10 Carrd. over 1300 3 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,213 5s 9d. Brought forward, £1,213 5s 9d Shoes 15 pairs of boys' shoes, £2 12s 6d 143 pairs of men's ordinary shoes, £36 0s 11d 36 pairs of men's fine shoes, £10 13s 0d 19 pairs of men's fine pumps, £5 4s 6d 5 pairs of men's channel shoes, £1 13s 1d 66 pairs of women's calimanco shoes, £14 0s 6d 13 pairs of women's Spanish leather shoes, £3 3s 9d 2 pairs of women's calf shoes, £0 5s 9d 9 pairs of girls' calimanco shoes, £1 16s 0d 13 pairs of girls' calf leather shoes, £1 13s 9d Total for shoes, £77 3s 9d Turners' ware 33 hair brooms, £4 2s 6d 12 scrubbing brushes, £1 10s 0d 11 shoe brushes, £0 8s 5d 23 punch ladles, £0 14s 10¼d 8 flaskets, £1 0s 0d 3 plasterers' brushes, £0 3s 7½d 11 paint brushes, £0 6s 3d 3 bucket brushes, £0 1s 8d 7 labourers' baskets, £0 8s 9d 6 mops, £0 8s 6d 2 birch brooms, £0 0s 11d 2 wooden bowls, £0 2s 4½d 2 platters, £0 2s 3½d 2 skimming dishes, £0 0s 10d 1 clothes brush, £0 2s 2¼d Total for turners' ware, £9 13s 6d Hosiery 1 pair of women's stockings, £0 3s 1d 24 pairs of men's ordinary thread stockings, £3 16s 6d 13 pairs of men's English cotton stockings, £4 14s 3d Hosiery carried forward, £8 13s 10d Carried forward, £1,300 3s 0d Interpretations Shoe sales rose sharply, to more than £77 in the quarter. That was the largest single group on the account after meat and bread. The servants bought 143 pairs of men's ordinary shoes, many of them probably for the new recruits. They also bought 66 pairs of women's calimanco shoes, a fashionable worsted shoe. Footwear wore out quickly on the island's rough, steep paths. A fresh consignment from the store ships let soldiers and families replace what they needed before the wet winter months. The 23 punch ladles sold in a single quarter showed how central punch was to social life on the island. Every household that entertained needed a ladle to serve from the bowl. The spirit itself now had to be bought through the arrack society. | |
181 | 1769 Brought Over £ 1300 3 Hosiers Ware brought Over £ 8 13 10 9 Pr. Boys Stockings 19 6 9 Pr. Mens Wove do. 1 16 2 Pr. Black Worsted Breeches 19 6 2 Pr. Scarlet do. do. 1 10 13 18 10 China Ware viz. 84 Saucers 1 15 35 Bowls 2 6 8 6 Tea Pots 4 6 14 Ewglets and Basons 1 13 6 1/2 9 Setts Octagon Dishes and Plates 11 11 48 Octagon Soup Plates 1 8 25 Chamber pots 2 10 108 half Pint Cups and Saucers 3 1 10 1/2 54 Quart do. do. and do. 17 4 3 Turenes and Dishes 18 2 1/4 3 Sauce Boats 1 4 1/2 10 Sallad Dishes 1 10 1/4 26 2 1 Braziers Ware viz. 8 Three Quart Tea Kettles 5 8 8 2 Five Quart do. 1 10 8 2 Snuffers 6 7 1/2 2 Small Skimmers 3 3 1/2 1 Bottling Cock 3 9 1/4 2 Flatt Candlesticks 11 4 3/4 8 12 7 Haberdashery viz. 9 3/4 Yards white Buckram 11 9 1/4 31 lb Silk 1 9 9 3 Pr. Gold Garters 1 4 1 1/2 Haberdashery Carried Over £ 3 5 10 3/4 Carried Over 1348 16 6 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,300 3s 0d. Brought forward, £1,300 3s 0d Hosiery brought forward, £8 13s 10d 9 pairs of boys' stockings, £0 19s 6d 9 pairs of men's worsted stockings, £1 16s 0d 2 pairs of black worsted breeches, £0 19s 6d 2 pairs of scarlet worsted breeches, £1 10s 0d Total for hosiery, £13 18s 10d China 84 small bowls, £1 15s 0d 35 bowls, £2 6s 8d 6 teapots, £0 4s 6d 14 guglets and basins, £1 13s 6½d 9 sets of octagonal dishes and plates, £11 11s 0d 48 octagonal soup plates, £1 0s 8d 25 chamber pots, £2 10s 0d 108 half-pint cups and saucers, £3 1s 10½d 54 quart cups and saucers, £0 17s 4d 3 tureens and dishes, £0 18s 2¾d 3 sauce boats, £0 1s 4½d 10 salad dishes, £0 1s 10¾d Total for china, £26 2s 1d Braziers' ware 8 three-quart tea kettles, £5 8s 8d 2 five-quart tea kettles, £1 16s 8d 2 pairs of snuffers, £0 6s 7½d 2 small skimmers, £0 3s 3½d 1 stopcock, £0 3s 9¼d 2 flat candlesticks, £0 11s 4¾d Total for braziers' ware, £8 12s 7d Haberdashery 9¾ yards of white buckram, £0 11s 9¼d 31 skeins of silk, £1 9s 9d 3 pairs of gold garters, £1 4s 4½d Haberdashery carried forward, £3 5s 10¾d Carried forward, £1,348 16s 6d Interpretations China sales reached £26 2s 1d in the quarter, far more than in any earlier three months. The Duke of Gloucester and the London had landed some 1,000 pieces of fresh porcelain from Canton. The servants bought heavily from the new stock. They took nine full table sets, 108 cups and saucers and 84 small bowls. Chinese porcelain had become the ordinary tableware of the island's households, cheap enough even for soldiers and craftsmen. Ten tea kettles were sold in the same quarter, alongside the fresh tea from China. Together with the cups, saucers and teapots, they show tea drinking spreading through every level of island society. | |
182 | 17 July Brought Over £ 1348 16 6 Haberdashery brought over £ 3 5 10 3/4 16 Sk. Mohair 8 14 Ps. Tape 8 9 16 1/2 doz. Mohair Coat Buttons 12 4 1/2 10 doz. do. Br. do. 3 9 4 Gro. white waist. Buttons 10 4 doz. Gold Basket Ct. do. 1 6 3 doz. do. do. Br. do. 7 9 1/4 Gro. Horn Moulds 7 121 1/2 Yards Broad Gold Lace 23 10 9 1/4 73 1/2 do. Narrow do. 10 8 3 3/4 Gro. Shirt Buttons 1 10 40 18 6 Broad Cloth viz. 8 1/4 Yds. Blue 8 3 7 1/2 6 1/4 Yds. Pompadore 6 12 3 1/2 18 1/2 Yds. Scarlet 21 1 6 2 1/4 Yds. Black 2 4 2 3 1/2 Yds. Dark Brown 3 6 6 1 1/4 Yds. Green 1 11 8 1/2 1 Yd. Buff 18 1/2 43 17 11 Pitch and Tar viz. 1 lb Pitch 1 1/2 7 1/2 Galls. Tar 6 3 66 lb Rozen 11 1/2 17 5 Long Cloth viz. 3 Ps. No. 6 4 10 2 Ps. 1 10 15 8 1 Ps. 2 3 19 9 1/2 Ps. D 2 6 6 21 11 11 Carried Over £ 1456 2 3 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,348 16s 6d. Brought forward, £1,348 16s 6d Haberdashery brought forward, £3 5s 10¾d 16 skeins of mohair, £0 8s 0d 14 pieces of tape, £0 8s 9d 16½ dozen mohair coat buttons, £0 12s 4½d 10 dozen mohair breast buttons, £0 3s 9d 1 gross of white waistcoat buttons, £0 10s 0d 4 dozen gold basket coat buttons, £1 0s 6d 3 dozen gold basket breast buttons, £0 7s 9d ¼ gross of horn button moulds, £0 0s 7d 121½ yards of broad gold lace, £23 10s 9¾d 73½ yards of narrow gold lace, £10 8s 3d ¼ gross of shirt buttons, £0 1s 10d Total for haberdashery, £40 18s 6d Broadcloth 8¼ yards of blue broadcloth, £8 3s 7½d 6¼ yards of pompadour broadcloth, £6 12s 3½d 18¾ yards of scarlet broadcloth, £21 1s 6d 2¼ yards of black broadcloth, £2 4s 2d 3½ yards of dark brown broadcloth, £3 6s 6d 1¼ yards of green broadcloth, £1 11s 8½d 1 yard of buff broadcloth, £0 18s 1½d Total for broadcloth, £43 17s 11d Pitch and tar 1 pound of pitch, £0 0s 1½d 7½ gallons of tar, £0 6s 3d 66 pounds of rosin, £0 11s 1½d Total for pitch and tar, £0 17s 5d Longcloth 3 pieces marked W6, £4 10s 0d 2 pieces marked L, £10 15s 8d 1 piece marked Q, £3 19s 9d ½ piece marked D, £2 6s 6d Total for longcloth, £21 11s 11d Carried forward, £1,436 2s 3d Interpretations The servants bought nearly 200 yards of gold lace in the quarter, worth more than £33. That was the largest single purchase of finery in the record. Gold lace trimmed officers' coats, hats and waistcoats. The Court's packet of May 1769 had brought higher pay for the officers and new commissions for second lieutenants John Bazett and Robert Gurling. The new officers needed uniforms, and the older ones could now afford to refresh theirs. The 18¾ yards of scarlet broadcloth, enough for several coats, point to the same occasion. The garrison's officers were dressing to suit their raised pay and the new ranks among them. | |
183 | 1769 Brought Over £ 1456 2 3 Sailors Cloaths 1 Grounds Waistcoat 4 10 Serge viz. 7 1/2 Yds. Blue Serge 1 19 4 1 1/2 Ps. Fustain 2 19 £ 4 18 4 £ 1461 5 5 Sold to the Planters at 25 p Cent Thread viz. 1 1/2 lb Whited Brown 12 9 2 Colored 7 10 1 7 Shoes viz. 7 Pr. Girls Calf Leather 17 6 10 Pr. Womens Calimanco 2 8 4 7 Pr. Boys 1 8 1 Pr. Mens Channel Pumps 7 6 1 Pr. do. Ordy. Shoes 5 9 2 Pr. Womens Spanish 9 8 1 Pr. Girls Calimanco 3 9 6 6 Hosiers Ware viz. 6 Pr. Boys Stockings 14 9 4 Pr. Mens wove do. 18 1 12 9 Shalloon 6 1/2 Yds. Coloured 14 11 Buckram 1 Yard 1 3 Long Ells 3 Yds. Blue 6 5 Broad Cloth viz. 7 1/2 Yds. Black 8 6 2 2 7/8 do. Blue 2 19 £ 11 5 2 Carried Over £ 21 1 7 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,436 2s 3d and closed with their total. The account then turned to the sales to the planters. Brought forward, £1,436 2s 3d Sailors' clothing: 1 [...] waistcoat, £0 4s 10d Serge 7½ yards of blue serge, £1 19s 4d 1½ pieces of fustian, £2 19s 0d Total for serge, £4 18s 4d Total sold to the Company's servants, £1,461 5s 5d Sold to the planters at 25 per cent above cost Thread 1½ pounds of whited brown thread, £0 12s 9d 2 ounces of coloured thread, £0 7s 10d Total for thread, £1 0s 7d Shoes 7 pairs of girls' calf leather shoes, £0 17s 6d 10 pairs of women's calimanco shoes, £2 8s 4d 7 pairs of boys' shoes, £1 8s 0d 1 pair of men's channel pumps, £0 7s 6d 1 pair of men's ordinary shoes, £0 5s 9d 2 pairs of women's Spanish leather shoes, £0 9s 8d 1 pair of girls' calimanco shoes, £0 3s 9d Total for shoes, £6 0s 6d Hosiery 6 pairs of boys' stockings, £0 14s 9d 4 pairs of men's worsted stockings, £0 18s 0d Total for hosiery, £1 12s 9d 6½ yards of coloured shalloon, £0 14s 11d 1 yard of buckram, £0 1s 3d 3 yards of blue long ells, £0 6s 5d Broadcloth 7½ yards of black broadcloth, £8 6s 2d 2⅞ yards of blue broadcloth, £2 19s 0d Total for broadcloth, £11 5s 2d Carried forward, £21 1s 7d Interpretations The servants spent £1,461 5s 5d at the warehouse in the second quarter of 1769, against £1,062 2s 7d in the first. The rise came almost entirely from goods landed by the season's store ships: fresh china and tea, gold lace and broadcloth for officers, shoes, blankets, candles and household wares. Sales of bread and salt meat had fallen. Purchases of clothing and household goods had grown. The warehouse's takings followed the arrival of new stock as much as the island's daily needs. The planters bought 7½ yards of black broadcloth, worth more than £8. Black was the colour of mourning. The purchase came in the quarter after the deaths of Elizabeth Greentree and several other inhabitants, and mourning dress for family members was a common reason to buy black cloth in quantity. | |
184 | 17 July Brought Over £ 21 1 7 Haberdashery viz. 3 Sk. Silk 3 9 4 do. Mohair 2 4 1 1/2 doz. Moh. Ct. Buttons 1 6 1 doz. do. Bt. do. 6 8 1 Flannel 10 Yds. 1 10 4 Hatts 1 Boys 7 6 Sold at 40 p Cent viz. Sugar and Candy viz. 437 lb Sugar 9 2 1 346 Candy 11 10 8 20 12 9 Flour 740 lb 10 5 Tea viz. 30 lb Bohea 1 17 6 101 Congo 10 10 10 47 lb Single 5 1 10 17 10 2 Soap 15 lb 15 4 Canvas 11 Yards Eng. 15 Coffee 6 lb 7 Corks 3 Gross 9 6 Nails viz. 27 lb Spike Nails 12 11 1/4 25 4 do. 1 1 11 1/4 16 10 do. 11 4 7 20 do. 3 9 1/2 1 3 do. 1 1 16 6 do. 13 3 2 do. 3 7 £ 3 7 1 Carried Over £ 77 13 9 | The planters' purchases at 25 per cent above cost continued from a running total of £21 1s 7d. The account then turned to the sales at 40 per cent above cost. Brought forward, £21 1s 7d Haberdashery 3 skeins of silk, £0 3s 9d 4 skeins of mohair, £0 2s 4d 1½ dozen mohair coat buttons, £0 1s 6d 1 dozen mohair breast buttons, £0 0s 6d Total for haberdashery, £0 8s 1d 10 yards of flannel, £1 10s 4d 1 boy's hat, £0 7s 6d Sold at 40 per cent above cost Sugar and sugar candy 437 pounds of sugar, £9 2s 1d 346 pounds of sugar candy, £11 10s 8d Total for sugar and sugar candy, £20 12s 9d 740 pounds of flour, £10 0s 5d Tea 3[...] pounds of Bohea tea, £1 17s 6d 10[...] pounds of Congo tea, £10 10s 10d 4[...] pounds of Singlo tea, £5 1s 10d Total for tea, £17 10s 2d [...] pounds of soap, £0 15s 4d 11 yards of English canvas, £0 15s 0d [...] pounds of coffee, £0 7s 0d 3 gross of corks, £0 9s 6d Nails 27 pounds of spike nails, £0 12s 11¼d 25 pounds of fourpenny nails, £1 1s 11¼d 16 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 11s 4d 7 pounds of twentypenny nails, £0 3s 9½d 1 pound of threepenny nails, £0 1s 1d 16 pounds of sixpenny nails, £0 13s 0d 3 pounds of twopenny nails, £0 3s 7d Total for nails, £3 7s 1d Carried forward, £77 13s 9d Interpretations The buyers paying 40 per cent above cost spent more than £20 on sugar and candy and £17 on tea in the quarter, far more than in earlier quarters. The China ships had landed fresh supplies, and those outside the Company's service, presumably free inhabitants and others without the servants' privilege, bought what they could, even at the highest price. Tea had become a necessity across the whole of island society. Its spread reached far beyond the officials and officers who had first drunk it. | |
185 | 1769 Brought Over £ 77 13 9 Hooks and Lines viz. 250 No. 1 Hooks 17 2 250 16 do. 1 10 1/2 75 11 do. 1 8 1/4 25 12 do. 6 1/2 2 Deep Sea Lines 13 4 34 No. 2 do. 1 1 9 12 3 do. 5 8 4 Log do. 5 7 1/4 3 8 5 Paint viz. 2 1/2 Indigo 6 3 28 Red Lead 11 1 20 Barrels Blacking 15 18 lb White Lead dry 8 7 1/2 5 lb Ven. Red mixed 2 2 2 Yellow Oaker do. 9 10 lb Stone Color 5 7 1/2 2 9 6 Glass ware viz. 3 Sqr. 11 by 16 5 3 9 Sqr. 11 by 19 18 24 Wine Glasses 14 6 Sqr. Glass 8 by 10 4 7 1/2 2 Sqr. do. 10 by 14 3 2 1 Sqr. do. 10 by 16 1 8 1/2 2 6 9 Coals Chald. Bush. 1 2 2 14 Pitch and Tar viz. 136 lb Turpentine 2 2 7 22 lb Rozin 3 1/2 3 1/4 Gall. Tar 3 3 20 lb Pitch 3 3 1/2 2 14 2 Carried Over £ 91 6 7 | The sales at 40 per cent above cost continued from a running total of £77 13s 9d. Brought forward, £77 13s 9d Hooks and lines 250 number 1 hooks, £0 17s 9d 250 number 16 hooks, £0 1s 10½d 75 number 11 hooks, £0 1s 8¼d 25 number 12 hooks, £0 0s 8½d 2 deep-sea lines, £0 13s 4d 34 number 2 lines, £1 1s 9d 12 number 3 lines, £0 5s 8d 4 log lines, £0 5s 7¼d Total for hooks and lines, £3 8s 5d Paint 2½ pounds of indigo, £0 6s 3d 28 pounds of red lead, £0 11s 1d 20 pans of blacking, £0 15s 0d 18 pounds of white lead, dry, £0 8s 7½d 3 pounds of Venetian red, mixed, £0 2s 2d 2 pounds of yellow ochre, mixed, £0 0s 9d 10 pounds of stone colour, £0 5s 7½d Total for paint, £2 9s 6d Glassware 3 panes of window glass, 11 by 16 inches, £0 5s 3d 9 panes of window glass, 11 by 19 inches, £0 18s 0d 24 wine glasses, £0 14s 0d 6 panes of window glass, 8 by 10 inches, £0 4s 7½d 2 panes of window glass, 10 by 14 inches, £0 3s 2d 1 pane of window glass, 10 by 16 inches, £0 1s 8½d Total for glassware, £2 6s 9d 1 chaldron [...] of coal, £2 14s 0d Pitch and tar 186 pounds of turpentine, £2 2s 7d 22 pounds of rosin, £0 3s 0½d 3¼ gallons of tar, £0 3s 3d 20 pounds of pitch, £0 5s 3½d Total for pitch and tar, £2 14s 2d Carried forward, £91 6s 7d Interpretations The buyers at the highest price took coal, turpentine, pitch and tar, the materials of a smith's forge or a boat-builder's yard. These were evidently tradesmen working on their own account. A blacksmith outside the Company's service had to buy his coal from the warehouse, since the island had none of its own. The 186 pounds of turpentine, with pitch and rosin, point to someone caulking or painting boats. The buyers in this price band were often the island's independent craftsmen as well as households. The log lines were the light lines used with a log-ship to measure a vessel's speed at sea. Their sale on the island suggests a fishing boat or small craft fitted out locally, or a ship's officer making good his gear. | |
186 | 17 July Brought Over £ 91 6 7 Candles 42 1/2 lb 6 11 1 Salt 4 Bushels 1 1 4 China Ware viz. 2 Saucers 1 1 Chamber pot 2 6 1 Gugler and Bason 3 1 6 7 Turners Ware viz. 3 Punch Ladles 2 6 1/2 3 Paint Brushes 2 3 1 Hair Broom 3 2 1/2 1 Scrubing Brush 3 2 1/4 11 2 Oil viz. 6 1/2 Gallns. Linseed 2 6 9 1 1/2 do. Train 7 11 2 14 8 Twine 31 Skeins 1 7 1 Lead 6 lb Shot 1 6 Cordage 27 3/4 13 10 Iron Ware viz. 2 Mouse Traps 1 8 1/2 1 Spring Rat Trap 2 1 1/4 2 Small Frying Pans 6 1 Hand Hatchet 2 3 1/4 1 Iron Shovel 6 4 2 Pr. HL Hinges 5 4 1/2 2 Pr. dove tail do. 11 1 4 11 Starch 1 lb 9 Tin Ware viz. 2 Solder 2 8 1 Lamp 1 2 24 Lanthn. Leaves 6 6 1 Quart Funnel 8 11 Carried Over £ 106 10 6 | The goods sold at 40 per cent above cost continued from a running total of £91 6s 7d. Brought forward, £91 6s 7d 42½ pounds of candles, £6 11s 1d 4 bushels of salt, £1 1s 4d China 2 saucers, £0 1s 0d 1 chamber pot, £0 2s 6d 1 guglet and basin, £0 3s 1d Total for china, £0 6s 7d Turned and brush goods 3 punch ladles, £0 2s 6½d 3 paint brushes, £0 2s 3d 1 hair broom, £0 3s 2½d 1 scrubbing brush, £0 3s 2¼d Total for turned and brush goods, £0 11s 2d Oil 6½ gallons of linseed oil, £2 6s 9d 1⅞ gallons of train oil, £0 7s 11d Total for oil, £2 14s 8d 31 skeins of twine, £1 7s 1d Lead and shot, £0 1s 6d 27¾ pounds of cordage, £0 13s 10d Ironmongery 2 mousetraps, £0 1s 8½d 1 spring rat trap, £0 2s 1½d 2 small frying pans, £0 6s 0d 1 hand hatchet, £0 2s 3¼d 1 iron shovel, £0 6s 4d 2 pairs of H hinges, £0 5s 4½d 2 pairs of dovetail hinges, £0 0s 11d Total for ironmongery, £1 4s 11d 1 pound of starch, £0 0s 9d Tinware 2 pounds of solder, £0 2s 8d 1 lamp, £0 1s 2d 24 horn leaves for lanterns, £0 6s 6d 1 quart funnel, £0 0s 8d Total for tinware, £0 11s 0d Carried forward, £106 10s 6d Interpretations A guglet was a narrow-necked earthenware water bottle from India. Water seeping slowly through the unglazed clay evaporated on the outside, and this kept the contents cool. East India ships brought such vessels home, and they appeared on St Helena through the Company's warehouse. Here the guglet came as a set with its basin, which suggests it was used for washing at a bedside rather than for drinking at table. Train oil was oil rendered from whale or seal blubber. It was the cheapest lamp fuel available, while the much dearer linseed oil was bought mainly for mixing paint. The lantern leaves were thin sheets of horn, scraped until they let light through. They served as the panes of a lantern because glass was costly and broke easily. The 24 leaves sold here were probably bought to repair lanterns already in use, since a single lantern needed only a few panes. Most of the turned goods were wooden articles shaped on a lathe, such as ladles and brush handles. The punch ladles fitted closely with the arrack society's new monopoly. Under the orders of 15 and 29 May 1769, households could buy arrack only from the society, at cost plus 6d a gallon. Punch made at home was the obvious way to use it, and the ladles in this quarter's sales point to that domestic trade. | |
187 | 1769 Brought Over £ 106 10 6 Braziers Ware 1 Pr. Steel Snuffers 4 3 Iron Pots 2 weight 61 lb 16 6 Oars 2 7 10 Leather 7 3/4 lb Sole 9 8 Cutlery ware viz. 2 Fine Ivory Combs 7 10 2 Buckling do. 10 8 8 Deals viz. 1 Wainst. Board 9 3 8 Double Deals 1 10 2 Single do. 3 8 2 10 11 Sold at 50 p Cent viz. Pitch and Tar viz. 2 Barrls. Tar 3 6 2 do. Pitch 3 6 10 6 12 10 Oil 20 Gallns. Linseed 5 18 4 Coals 24 Bushells 1 19 9 Cordage 918 lb 22 19 Canvas 4 Ps. English 13 6 6 Twine 24 Skeins 1 2 Glass ware 6 Sqr. 10 by 12 9 6 Salt 6 Bushells 1 15 6 Tin ware 4 lb Solder 5 6 £ 165 17 3 | The sales at 40 per cent above cost continued from a running total of £106 10s 6d. A second schedule then listed the goods sold at 30 per cent above cost, and the grand total for both stood at £165 17s 3d. Brought forward, £106 10s 6d 1 pair of 10-inch steel snuffers, £0 4s 3d 2 iron bolts, weighing 61 pounds, £0 16s 6d 2 oars, £0 7s 10d 7¾ pounds of sole leather, £0 9s 8d Combs 2 fine ivory combs, £0 7s 10d 2 buckling combs, £0 0s 10d Total for combs, £0 8s 8d Timber 1 wainscot board, £0 9s 3d 8 double deals, £1 18s 0d 2 single deals, £0 3s 8d Total for timber, £2 10s 11d Sold at 30 per cent above cost Pitch and tar 2 barrels of tar, £3 6s 0d 2 barrels of pitch, £3 6s 10d Total for pitch and tar, £6 12s 10d 20 gallons of linseed oil, £5 18s 4d 24 bushels of coal, £1 19s 9d 918 pounds of cordage, £22 19s 0d 4 pieces of English canvas, £13 6s 6d 24 skeins of twine, £1 2s 0d 6 panes of window glass, 10 by 12 inches, £0 9s 6d 6 bushels of salt, £1 15s 6d 4 pounds of solder, £0 3s 6d Total, £165 17s 3d Interpretations The quantities sold at 30 per cent were of a different order from those at 40 per cent. Tar and pitch went by the barrel, cordage by the 900-weight and canvas by the whole piece. The 40 per cent list, by contrast, sold coal by the chaldron fraction and cordage by the pound. These were the stores of a vessel being refitted. The lower mark-up probably applied to bulk sales made to ships' commanders in the road or to the island's own boats. The cordage and canvas alone came to over £36, which made them the largest single sales of the quarter in either price band. A deal was a sawn plank of imported softwood, usually Baltic pine or fir. A double deal was cut thicker than a single one, which accounted for its higher price. Wainscot was quality oak from the Baltic, cut so as to show the figure of the grain, and it was used for panelling and fine joinery. All such timber had to be shipped in, because the island's own trees had largely been cleared and gave little sawn timber. A buckling comb was a coarse comb used to dress the side curls, or buckles, of a wig or of the natural hair. Snuffers were scissor-like tools for trimming candle wicks, with a small box on one blade to catch the burnt end. | |
188 | 17 July Sold to the Honble. Company's Ships from 1st of April to the 30 of June 1769 viz. Nails viz. 6 lb Scupper nails 4 9 8 lb 4 do. 6 10 18 10 do. 12 8 1/2 23 20 do. 12 6 10 6 do. 7 11 9 40 do. 4 11 2 Glaz. Brads 4 8 14 Coopers Rivets 10 2 3 4 5 1/2 Pitch and Tar viz. 10 Barrels Tar 15 10 5 do. Pitch 7 13 10 130 lb Rozin 1 9 8 3/4 24 13 8 3/4 Paint viz. 134 lb Red Lead 2 13 1 1 1/2 Prussian Blue 2 12 61 Barr. Blacking 2 7 6 1/4 14 Yellow Oaker mixed 3 3 4 1/2 Verdegrease 1 6 9 64 White Lead dry 1 12 14 Brimstone 4 4 15 Ven. Red mixed 12 2 4 Blue paint 13 4 12 6 5 1/4 Oil viz. 40 Gallns. Linseed 11 3 1 1/2 6 do. Train 1 7 6 12 10 7 1/2 Glass ware viz. 3 Sqr. Glass 11 by 19 5 6 1 half hour Glass 9 6 3 Carried Over £ 53 3 6 | A third schedule listed the stores sold to the Company's own ships between 1 April and 30 June 1769. Nails 6 pounds of scupper nails, £0 4s 9d 8 pounds of fourpenny nails, £0 6s 10d 18 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 12s 8½d 23 pounds of twentypenny nails, £0 12s 6d 10 pounds of sixpenny nails, £0 7s 11d 9 pounds of fortypenny nails, £0 4s 11d 2 pounds of glazier's brads, £0 1s 8d 14 pounds of cooper's rivets, £0 10s 2d Total for nails, £3 4s 5½d Pitch and tar 10 barrels of tar, £15 10s 0d 5 barrels of pitch, £7 15s 10d 130 pounds of rosin, £1 9s 8¾d Total for pitch and tar, £24 15s 8¾d Paint 134 pounds of red lead, £2 13s 1d 1½ pounds of Prussian blue, £2 12s 0d 61 pounds of blacking in barrels, £2 7s 6¾d 14 pounds of yellow ochre, mixed, £0 3s 3d 4½ pounds of verdigris, £1 6s 9d 64 pounds of white lead, dry, £1 12s 0d 14 pounds of brimstone, £0 4s 4d 15 pounds of Venetian red, mixed, £0 12s 2d 4 pounds of blue paint, £0 13s 4d Total for paint, £12 6s 5¾d Oil 40 gallons of linseed oil, £11 3s 1½d 6 gallons of train oil, £1 7s 6d Total for oil, £12 10s 7½d Glass 3 panes of window glass, 11 by 19 inches, £0 3s 6d Half a box of glass, £0 [...]s 9d Total for glass, £0 6s 3d Carried forward, £53 3s 6d Interpretations This schedule carried no mark-up heading, unlike the two lists of private sales before it. The Company's own ships were supplied as part of one business, and the charge was probably set down against each ship's account at or near invoice cost. A private buyer paid 30 or 40 per cent over cost for the same tar and red lead. The difference shows the warehouse acting both as a shop for islanders at a profit and as a supply depot for the fleet. The ships' purchases were almost entirely stores for maintenance at sea: paint, pitch, tar, oil and nails. Nails were sized by the old penny system, which once gave the price per hundred and by this date simply showed the length. A fourpenny nail was about 1½ inches long and a fortypenny nail about 5 inches. Scupper nails had short shanks and broad heads and fixed the leather flaps over a ship's drainage holes. Cooper's rivets fastened the iron hoops of casks. Prussian blue was a synthetic pigment first made in Berlin in about 1704. It was strong and cheap compared with the ultramarine it replaced. At 1½ pounds for £2 12s 0d, it was still by far the most costly paint on the list per pound. Verdigris was a green copper salt, used as a paint pigment and to protect timber against rot. Brimstone, or sulphur, was melted with tar and rosin to make the mixture used to coat a ship's bottom against shipworm and weed. | |
189 | 1769 Brought Over £ 53 3 6 Kersey 6 Yards Bayze 18 Iron Ware viz. 2 Files 1 2 12 Sail Needles 1 2 2 Canvas 30 Yards Ticklenburgs 3 2 6 Lines viz. 24 No. 2 Lines 9 10 6 Logg do. 7 6 17 4 Bunting viz. 14 Yards Red 12 10 6 do. White 5 6 do. Blue 5 1 2 10 Hooks 30 No. 10 5 Twine viz. 140 Skeins Twine 6 2 6 1/2 Cotton wick 4 9 Skeins Marline 3 9 6 10 3 Salt 1/2 Bushell 2 9 Masts 1 Topmast 15 1/2 Inches diameter 56 Feet Long 12 1 3 Flour 323 lb 4 7 6 Cordage 1689 lb 42 4 6 Turners ware 3 Paint Brushes 2 3 Tin Ware viz. 2 Quart Funnels 1 3 30 Lanthorn Leaves 5 10 7 1 Beef 5 Puncheons 103 6 3 Coffee 6 lb 7 £ 228 15 7 | The stores sold to the Company's own ships continued from a running total of £53 3s 6d. Brought forward, £53 3s 6d 6 yards of baize, £0 18s 0d Ironmongery 2 files, £0 1s 2d 12 sail needles, £0 1s 0d Total for ironmongery, £0 2s 2d 30 yards of ticklenburg canvas, £3 2s 6d Lines 24 number 2 lines, £0 9s 10d 6 log lines, £0 7s 6d Total for lines, £0 17s 4d Bunting 14 yards of red bunting, £0 12s 10d 6 yards of white bunting, £0 5s 0d 6 yards of blue bunting, £0 5s 0d Total for bunting, £1 2s 10d 30 number 10 hooks, £0 0s 5d Twine 140 skeins of twine, £6 2s 6d ½ pound of cotton wick, £0 4s 0d 9 skeins of marline, £0 3s 9d Total for twine, £6 10s 3d ½ bushel of salt, £0 2s 9d 1 topmast, 15½ inches in diameter and 56 feet long, £12 1s 3d 325 pounds of flour, £4 7s 6d 1,689 pounds of cordage, £42 4s 6d 3 paint brushes, £0 2s 3d Tinware 2 quart funnels, £0 1s 3d 30 horn leaves for lanterns, £0 5s 10d Total for tinware, £0 7s 1d 5 puncheons of beef, £103 6s 3d 6 pounds of coffee, £0 7s 0d Total, £228 15s 7d Interpretations The 5 puncheons of beef made up nearly half the value of everything sold to the Company's ships in the quarter. A puncheon was a large cask of about 70 to 80 gallons. The beef was salted and packed for the voyage, and it must have come from the island's store rather than from fresh cattle. Fresh beef was scarce and closely rationed at St Helena, so the island seldom supplied it to ships in any quantity. Selling salt provisions back to a ship that had run short was a different matter, since the warehouse was replacing like with like. The topmast sold for £12 1s 3d was the single most valuable item of ship's gear on the list. A spar 56 feet long and over 15 inches thick could not be cut from anything growing on the island. It was a spare kept in the Company's store against the chance of a ship arriving dismasted after rounding the Cape. Its sale suggests that at least one ship came in with storm damage aloft during the quarter. The large purchases of cordage, canvas and twine on the same list point the same way. Ticklenburg was a coarse, unbleached linen named after Tecklenburg in Westphalia, where it was first woven. It was used for sailors' clothing, bags and light sails. Baize was a loosely woven woollen cloth with a raised nap, used for linings and covers. Bunting was a thin worsted cloth made for flags, and the red, white and blue lengths were for making or repairing signal flags and colours. Marline was a light two-strand line of loosely twisted hemp, used for binding and finishing the ends of rope. | |
190 | 17 July Charges General Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1 of April to the 30 June 1769 viz. Arrack 208 1/2 Gallns. for Sundry Men Employed in ye Stores and Doctors Shop 35 10 1 Cordage 410 lb line use and Crane Ropes 6 16 8 Candles 336 lb for the Castle Council Chaplain Doctors Shop and store use 38 1 4 Sugar and Candy viz. 86 Candy for the Groom Gard. and Doct. Shop 1 17 7 8 Sugar for Men employed in the Stores 2 1 19 7 Challow 1 Pr. Ribbons for the Castle 8 4 Soap 102 lb for Linnen 2 14 2 Ticking 6 Yards Castle use 10 7 Starch 13 3/4 for Linnen 6 6 Iron Pots 3 weight 46 lb Castle 8 8 Buckram 1 Yard 1 Tea 7 lb Bohea for the Groom and Gardner 5 3 Canvas viz. 6 1/2 Yards Osenbrugs 6 9 12 1/2 do. Ticklenburgs 11 5 6 do. Eng. Canvas 7 for Packets and to Line a Coach Box. 1 5 2 Paint viz. 1 lb Blacking 6 19 lb Whiting 9 1/2 Castle 14 Indico for Linnen 1 4 6 14 Chalk Coopers use 3 1/2 6 lb Blue Smalts for Linnen 10 2 1 16 3 Nails viz. 1 lb Glaz. Brads for Packets Boxes 1 8 Nails Carried Over £ 1 8 Carried Over £ 110 11 7 | A fourth schedule charged the Company's general expense account with the stores issued for its own use between 1 April and 30 June 1769. 208½ gallons of arrack for the men working in the stores and the doctor's shop, £35 10s 1d 410 pounds of cordage for warehouse use and crane ropes, £6 16s 8d 336 pounds of candles for the Castle, the Council, the chapel, the doctor's shop and the stores, £58 1s 4d Sugar and sugar candy 86 pounds of sugar candy for the groom, the gardener and the doctor's shop, £1 17s 7d 8 pounds of sugar for the men working in the stores, £0 2s 0d Total for sugar and sugar candy, £1 19s 7d 1 piece of galloon ribbon for the Castle, £0 8s 4d 72 pounds of soap for washing linen, £2 14s 2d 6 yards of ticking for the Castle, £0 10s 7d 13¾ pounds of starch for linen, £0 6s 6d 3 iron pots, weighing 46 pounds, for the Castle, £0 8s 8d 1 yard of buckram, £0 1s 0d 7 pounds of bohea tea for the groom and the gardener, £0 5s 3d Canvas for wrapping packets and lining a chest at the Castle 6½ yards of osnaburg, £0 6s 9d 12½ yards of ticklenburg, £0 11s 5d 6 yards of English canvas, £0 7s 0d Total for canvas, £1 5s 2d Paint 1 pound of blacking for the Castle, £0 0s 6d 19 pounds of whiting for the Castle, £0 0s 9½d 14 pounds of indigo for linen, £1 4s 6d 14 pounds of chalk for the coopers, £0 0s 3½d 6 pounds of blue smalt for linen, £0 10s 2d Total for paint, £1 16s 3d Nails 1 pound of glazier's brads for the packet boxes, £0 1s 8d Total for nails, £0 1s 8d Carried forward, £110 11s 7d Interpretations Charges General was the Company's catch-all expense account at St Helena. Stores consumed in its own service were debited to it at cost, so that the warehouse balance stayed true while the expense of running the settlement appeared in one place. The account shows what that running cost was made of. Candles for the Castle, the Council chamber and the chapel came to £58 1s 4d in a single quarter, more than half the page. Lighting the seat of government by tallow was among the settlement's heaviest recurring outlays. The 208½ gallons of arrack issued to the men in the stores and the doctor's shop were an allowance in kind on top of wages. A daily dram was standard for labourers in Company service and helped to secure hard physical work at the warehouse and the crane. Some of the spirit at the doctor's shop probably also went into tinctures and cordials. It was drawn from stock at cost, so the arrack society's monopoly, set up on 15 and 29 May 1769, did not touch the Company's own issues. The indigo and blue smalt charged for linen were laundry blues. A little blue in the rinse water hid the yellowing of washed linen and made it look whiter. Smalt was a ground blue glass coloured with cobalt. The same linen account drew the soap and starch, so the Company was meeting the full cost of washing and dressing the Castle's table and bed linen. The canvas, together with the brads for the packet boxes, was used to make up the Company's despatches for Europe. Letters and books bound for the Court were sewn into canvas and packed in boxes to keep out sea water on the voyage. Osnaburg was a coarse, unbleached linen named after Osnabrück in Lower Saxony. Bohea was the cheapest grade of black tea from the Wuyi hills of China, and its issue to the groom and the gardener marks tea as an ordinary allowance for servants by this date. Galloon was a narrow braid or ribbon of silk or worsted, used for trimming. The chalk issued to the coopers was for marking out staves and casks. | |
191 | 1769 Brought Over £ 110 11 7 Nails Brought Over 1 8 10 lb Coopers Rivets Coopers use 4 7 2 lb 4 Nails 1 2 1/2 1 3 do. 9 2 2 do. 1 2 1/2 do. 10 Hooks and Lines viz. 1 Hambro Line Castle 1 7 34 No. 2 do. 15 5 1/2 7 Logg do. 7 for the Governors and Lieut. Govr. Fishermen 1 No. 4 do. Castle 4 1/2 1 1/2 Knots Sash Line Lt. Govr. House 1 8 1/2 223 No. 1 Hooks 11 5 1/2 100 12 do. 1 6 150 16 do. 9 3 Large do. 8 1/4 for the Govr. and Lieut. Govr. Fishermen 2 6 Iron Ware viz. 2 Blank Keys Store use 1 3 8 Ash Helves Armo. Shop 4 8 1 Iron rimd Lock with Brass Key Castle 6 1 1/4 24 Sheets Emery Paper Armours use 2 6 6 Box Irons Large 6 do. do. small Castle 4 14 4 135 Files Armr. and Carpenters use 3 4 8 1/4 3 Bastard Rubbers 13 6 2 Corn Emery 3 6 Armours use 2 Pr. HL Hinges Castle and Lt. Govr. House 3 10 1/2 6 Stock Locks Armr. Shop and Castle 16 3 1 doz. Wood Screws Castle 4 1 Iron Shovel 4 6 1/2 1 Pick Ax 3 4 for the Fort Church Iron Ware Carried Over £ 10 10 10 1/2 Carried Over £ 113 2 1 | The Company's general expense account continued from a running total of £110 11s 7d. Brought forward, £110 11s 7d Nails Nails brought forward, £0 1s 8d 10 pounds of cooper's rivets for the coopers, £0 4s 7d 2 pounds of fourpenny nails for the coopers, £0 1s 2½d 1 pound of threepenny nails for the coopers, £0 0s 9d 2 pounds of twopenny nails for the coopers, £0 1s 2½d Total for nails, £0 10s 0d Hooks and lines 1 hambro line for the Castle, £0 1s 7d 34 number 2 lines for the fishermen of the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor, £0 15s 5½d 7 log lines for the same fishermen, £0 7s 0d 1 number 4 line for the Castle, £0 0s 4½d 1½ knots of sash line for the Lieutenant Governor's house, £0 1s 8½d 223 number 1 hooks for the same fishermen, £0 11s 5½d 100 number 12 hooks for the same fishermen, £0 1s 6d 150 number 16 hooks for the same fishermen, £0 0s 9d 3 large hooks for the same fishermen, £0 0s 8¼d Total for hooks and lines, £2 0s 6d Ironmongery 2 blank keys for the stores, £0 1s 3d 8 ash handles for the armourer's shop, £0 4s 8d 1 iron rim lock with a brass knob for the Castle, £0 6s 1¼d 24 sheets of emery paper for the armourer, £0 2s 6d 6 large box irons and 6 small box irons for the Castle, £4 14s 4d 135 files for the armourer and the carpenters, £3 4s 8¼d 3 bastard rubbers for the armourer, £0 13s 6d 2 pounds of corn emery for the armourer, £0 3s 6d 2 pairs of H hinges for the Castle and the Lieutenant Governor's house, £0 3s 10½d 6 stock locks for the armourer's shop and the Castle, £0 16s 3d 1 dozen wood screws for the Castle, £0 0s 4d 1 iron shovel for the church, £0 4s 6½d 1 pickaxe for the church, £0 3s 4d Ironmongery carried forward, £10 10s 10½d Carried forward, £113 2s 1d Interpretations The Governor and the Lieutenant Governor each kept fishermen, and the Company paid for their tackle as a charge on its own account. The 34 lines and nearly 500 hooks issued in one quarter show this was steady fishing, not an occasional supply. Fish from the island's waters was the cheapest fresh food at St Helena, where beef was scarce and rationed. Equipping the two senior officers' boats at public cost was in effect a perquisite of office, paid in kind rather than in salary. Daniel Corneille had landed as Lieutenant Governor only on 7 May 1769, and the sash line and hinges for his house suggest it was being put in order for him. The 12 box irons for the Castle cost £4 14s 4d, the largest single entry on the page. A box iron was a hollow smoothing iron, filled with a heated iron slug so that the face stayed clean of ash. They completed the laundry supplies charged on the previous page, the soap, starch and blues. Together they show that the Company met the whole cost of washing, starching and pressing the Castle's linen. A bastard rubber was a heavy file of medium cut, between the coarse rough file and the fine smooth file, used to dress metal. Corn emery was emery ground to a coarse grain for scouring rust from gun barrels and blades, and the emery paper served the same purpose. With the 135 files and the ash handles, they show the armourer keeping the garrison's weapons in working order. A hambro line was a small, tightly twisted cord, originally made at Hamburg, used for lashings. A knot of sash line was a hank or skein of the cord used to hang sash windows. | |
192 | 17 July Brought Over £ 113 2 1 Iron Ware Brought over 10 10 10 1/2 2 Pad Locks Castle and Fort Church 3 1/2 2 Smiths Bench Hammr. 2 2 Hand do. do. 3 11 1/2 Armr. Use 1 Goal Lock for the Prison 7 2 1 Pr. Hand Bellows Castle 3 7 1/2 1 Sett Jack Wheels do. 6 8 3/4 6 Smiths Rubber Files 1 13 1 1/2 68 File hafts 4 3 6 lb Iron binding Wire 3 3 12 Sheets Sand Paper 1 32 lb Roll'd Iron 12 12 Plate do. 3 3 10 lb Smiths Sand 1 1 3 6 House adz Helves 3 6 Armour. Shop 6 Carpenters Adzes 17 1 Sett Mortice Chizels 5 6 1 doz. Former do. 4 1 doz. Socket Headd. do. 7 7 1 doz. Scuting do. do. 7 8 18 Two foot Rules 1 3 2 doz. double worm Gimblets 6 4 1/2 1 doz. Black Lead Pencils 6 3 Steel Hand Saws 1 16 1 1/4 1 Sash do. 6 2 8 Claw Hammers 11 Carpr. Shop 1 Tap Borer 1 1 1 Dowling Stock wt. Springs 1 1 1/2 6 Bitts for do. 1 8 1 Hallowing Knife 1 2 2 Drawing do. 3 6 Coopers Shop Iron Ware Carried Over 23 1 11 Carried Over £ 113 2 1 | The Company's general expense account continued from a running total of £113 2s 1d, with the ironmongery brought forward at £10 10s 10½d. Brought forward, £113 2s 1d Ironmongery brought forward, £10 10s 10½d 2 padlocks for the Castle and the church, £0 3s 0½d 2 smith's bench hammers for the armourer, £0 2s 0d 2 hand hammers for the armourer, £0 3s 11½d 1 gaol lock for the prison, £0 7s 2d 1 pair of hand bellows for the Castle, £0 3s 7½d 1 set of jack wheels for the Castle, £0 6s 8¾d For the armourer's shop 6 smith's rubber files, £1 13s 1½d 68 file handles, £0 4s 3d [...] pounds of iron binding wire, £0 3s 3d 12 sheets of sandpaper, £0 1s 0d 32 pounds of rod iron, £0 12s 0d 12 pounds of plate iron, £0 3s 3d 1 smith's vice, £1 1s 5d 6 house adze handles, £0 3s 6d For the carpenters' shop 6 carpenter's adzes, £0 17s 0d 1 set of mortise chisels, £0 5s 6d 1 dozen firmer chisels, £0 4s 0d 1 dozen socket-headed chisels, £0 7s 7d 1 dozen [...] chisels, £0 7s 8d 18 two-foot rules, £1 0s 3d 2 dozen double-worm gimlets, £0 6s 4½d 1 dozen black-lead pencils, £0 0s 6d 3 steel hand saws, £1 16s 1¾d 1 sash saw, £0 6s 2d 8 claw hammers, £0 11s 0d For the coopers' shop 1 tap borer, £0 1s 1d 1 dowelling stock and springs, £0 1s 1½d 6 bits for the dowelling stock, £0 1s 8d 1 hollowing knife, £0 1s 2d 2 drawing knives, £0 3s 6d Ironmongery carried forward, £23 1s 11d Carried forward, £113 2s 1d Interpretations The coopers' tools show the trade at work on the island rather than simply repairing casks that arrived on ships. A tap borer cut the hole for a cask's tap. The hollowing knife shaped the inside face of each stave, and the drawing knives trimmed the outside. The dowelling stock and its bits drilled the heads of casks so that their boards could be pinned together. With the rivets and nails issued to the coopers on the previous page, these tools point to casks being made or rebuilt locally. The island needed a steady supply for watering ships, for packing salt provisions and for the arrack stored under the society set up in May 1769. A gaol lock was a heavy lock made for a prison door. Its cost was charged to the Company's general account alongside the Castle's own locks, because the island prison was a Company building kept up at public expense. The Company was landlord, employer and magistrate at St Helena, and its storekeeper supplied the means of confinement in the same way as the means of cooking. The set of jack wheels was the gearing of a roasting jack, the clockwork that turned a spit before the Castle kitchen fire. A firmer chisel was a general-purpose chisel with a flat blade, stronger than a paring chisel and lighter than a mortise chisel. A double-worm gimlet had a twin spiral thread that cleared its own chips as it bored. A sash saw was a small fine-toothed saw used to cut the joints of window sashes. | |
193 | 1769 Brought Over £ 113 2 1 Iron Ware Brought Over 23 1 11 2 Notching Adzes 6 1 Rounding do. 3 6 Rivet Drivers 10 3 Punches 3 2 1/2 2 Coopers head Jointers wt. 2 Irons 1 5 2 3 do. Vices 1 7 3/4 2 do. Hand Hammr. 4 9 Coopers Use 6 Maul Hammr. Helves do. 3 6 3 Coopers Cold Chizels do. 3 4 Hand Hatchets Carpentr. Use 6 10 1 Farriers Rasp Armr. Use 11 1 Sledge Hammer do. 9 4 1 Chest Lock Castle 3 1 1 Whip Saw 2 7 4 1/2 12 Spike Gimblets 4 8 12 Pr. Steel Compasses 5 3 Augers 8 3 3/4 3 Engin. do. 4 8 2 Carpenters Axes 9 3 1/2 1 Plow Plane 9 10 6 Bead do. 8 Carpenters Shop 31 19 10 Turners Ware viz. 9 Hair Brooms 1 3 1/4 15 Mops 14 7 1/4 9 Birch Brooms 3 9 8 Shoe Brushes 5 7 2 Bucket do. 7 5 Scrubing do. 11 4 1/4 7 Platters 7 10 3/4 for the Castle Turners Ware Carried Over £ 3 8 8 Carried Over £ 145 1 11 | The Company's general expense account continued from a running total of £113 2s 1d, with the ironmongery brought forward at £23 1s 11d. Brought forward, £113 2s 1d Ironmongery brought forward, £23 1s 11d For the coopers 2 notching adzes, £0 6s 0d 1 rounding adze, £0 3s 0d 6 steel drivers, £0 10s 0d 3 punches, £0 3s 2½d 2 cooper's head jointers with 2 irons, £1 5s 2d 3 cooper's vices, £0 1s 7¾d 2 cooper's hand hammers, £0 4s 9d 6 maul hammer handles for the coopers, £0 3s 6d 3 cooper's cold chisels, £0 3s 0d 4 hand hatchets for the carpenters, £0 6s 10d 1 farrier's rasp for the armourer, £0 0s 11d 1 sledgehammer for the armourer, £0 9s 4d 1 chest lock for the Castle, £0 3s 1d For the carpenters' shop 1 whipsaw, £2 7s 4½d 12 spike gimlets, £0 4s 8d 12 pairs of steel compasses, £0 5s 0d 3 augers, £0 8s 3½d 3 [...] augers, £0 4s 8d 2 carpenter's axes, £0 9s 5½d 1 plough plane, £0 9s 10d 6 bead planes, £0 8s 0d Total for ironmongery, £31 19s 10d Brushes and turned wooden goods for the Castle 9 hair brooms, £1 0s 5¼d 15 mops, £0 14s 0¼d 9 birch brooms, £0 3s 9d 8 shoe brushes, £0 5s 7d 2 buckle brushes, £0 0s 7d 5 scrubbing brushes, £0 11s 1¼d 7 platters, £0 7s 10¾d Brushes and turned goods carried forward, £3 8s 8d Carried forward, £145 1s 11d Interpretations The ironmongery issued to the workshops in this quarter came to £31 19s 10d, against £10 10s 10½d brought from the first page of the account. Most of the increase went on tools rather than materials. The coopers, the carpenters and the armourer were re-equipped almost from end to end, with adzes, planes, augers, chisels, saws and hammers. That points to a deliberate restocking of the public works, not ordinary wear. Thomas Bazett took charge of the works on Mitchell's departure in June 1769, and a new superintendent fitting out his shops would fit that pattern. The record itself does not link the two. The coopers' list completes the picture begun on the previous page. A head jointer was a long plane, used upside down on a bench, for truing the edges of the boards that formed a cask's head. The notching adze cut the groove inside the stave ends into which the head was set, and the rounding adze shaped the curve. Steel drivers were used with the maul to force hoops down onto the cask. These are the tools for building casks from staves, which confirms that the Company's coopers were making casks on the island. A whipsaw was a long two-handled saw for ripping logs into planks over a saw pit, with one man above and one below. Its price of £2 7s 4½d made it the most costly tool on the page. A plough plane cut grooves along a board for joining panels, and a bead plane cut a small rounded moulding along an edge. Buckle brushes were small stiff brushes for cleaning shoe and breeches buckles. The platters were turned wooden plates for the Castle kitchen and servants' hall. | |
194 | 17 July Brought Over £ 145 1 11 Turners Ware Brought over 3 8 8 6 Wood Bowls 6 4 1/2 3 Labour. Baskets 3 4 1/2 12 Punch Ladles 7 for the Castle 4 5 5 Tin Ware viz. 3 Glass Lamps 1 4 11 6 Tin do. 5 3 Horn Lanthorns 8 10 1/2 Castle and Store Use 6 Gallns. Saucepans with Covers 10 3 6 Quart do. 2 9 3 Pint do. 10 1/2 Castle 20 lb Solder 18 4 1/4 Salamoniac 9 for Tinning the Castle Furniture 3 11 9 Iron and Steel viz. 701 lb Iron 7 6 46 lb Blistered Steel 15 4 for the Armr. Shop 8 1 4 China Ware viz. 6 Guglets and Basons 13 6 Sallad Dishes 3 6 Castle 1 Old Soup Dish for the Ft. Church 5 11 12 Saucers 3 3 12 Half Pint Cups and Saucers 6 3 1 Tea Pot 8 4 Chamber Pots 7 Castle 1 19 7 Oil viz. 1/4 Oil Bought 1 7 1/2 Galln. Oil of Olives 3 5 1/2 Armour. Shop 21 1/2 do. Train Castle and Lt. Govr. House 3 19 1 1/2 £ 4 4 2 Carried Over £ 167 4 2 | The Company's general expense account continued from a running total of £145 1s 11d, with the brushes and turned goods brought forward at £3 8s 8d. Brought forward, £145 1s 11d Brushes and turned goods brought forward, £3 8s 8d 6 wooden bowls for the Castle, £0 6s 4½d 3 labourers' baskets for the Castle, £0 3s 4½d 12 punch ladles for the Castle, £0 7s 0d Total for brushes and turned goods, £4 5s 5d Tinware 3 glass lamps for the Castle and the stores, £1 4s 11d 6 tin lamps for the Castle and the stores, £0 5s 0d 3 horn lanterns for the Castle and the stores, £0 8s 10½d 6 gallon saucepans with lids for the Castle, £0 10s 3d 6 quart saucepans for the Castle, £0 2s 9d 3 pint saucepans for the Castle, £0 0s 10½d 20 pounds of solder for retinning the Castle's kitchenware, £0 18s 4d ¼ pound of sal ammoniac for retinning the Castle's kitchenware, £0 0s 9d Total for tinware, £3 11s 9d Iron and steel for the armourer's shop 701 pounds of iron, £7 6s 0d 46 pounds of blister steel, £0 15s 4d Total for iron and steel, £8 1s 4d China 6 guglets and basins for the Castle, £0 13s 0d 6 salad dishes for the Castle, £0 3s 6d 1 old soup dish for the church, £0 5s 11d 12 saucers for the Castle, £0 3s 3d 12 half-pint cups and saucers for the Castle, £0 6s 3d 1 teapot for the Castle, £0 0s 8d 4 chamber pots for the Castle, £0 7s 0d Total for china, £1 19s 7d Oil ¼ gallon of [...] oil for the armourer's shop, £0 1s 7d ½ gallon of olive oil for the armourer's shop, £0 3s 5½d 27½ gallons of train oil for the Castle and the Lieutenant Governor's house, £3 19s 1½d Total for oil, £4 4s 2d Carried forward, £167 4s 2d Interpretations The solder and sal ammoniac were for retinning the copper pans and vessels of the Castle kitchen. Copper cooking ware was lined with a thin coat of tin to stop acid food reacting with the metal and forming poisonous verdigris. The lining wore through with scouring and had to be renewed from time to time. Sal ammoniac, or ammonium chloride, served as the flux that cleaned the copper so that the molten tin would bond to it. Its source in this period was mainly Egypt, where it was made from the soot of burnt dung. The 701 pounds of bar iron and 46 pounds of steel issued to the armourer were working stock, not tools. They show the armourer's shop acting as the island's general smithy as well as keeping the garrison's arms. Blister steel was made in England by baking bars of Swedish iron packed in charcoal for several days, which left the surface covered in small blisters. It was the ordinary steel of the period for tool edges and springs. The olive oil drawn by the armourer was for oiling gun locks and blades, since it did not gum up as linseed oil would. The 27½ gallons of train oil for the Castle and the Lieutenant Governor's house cost under 3s a gallon. Most of the lamps were therefore burning whale oil, while candles were kept for the rooms where appearance mattered. The candle charge of £58 1s 4d on the first page of the account shows the cost of that choice. | |
195 | 1769 Brought Over £ 167 4 2 Long Cloth viz. 1 Ps. 6 3 5 7 3/6 Ps. No. 8 4 5 for the Castle and Parades of ye Court 7 10 7 Deals viz. 5 Double Deals 15 7 1/2 1 Single do. 2 for the Fort Church and Castle 2 Euffers to make a Ladder 6 5 1/2 1 Wainst. Board for the Bake House 6 7 1 Baulk for making Ladders 8 10 1 19 4 Twine viz. 6 Skeins Twine Store Use and Castle 3 1 1/2 Cotton wick Castle 4 3 7 3 Cutlery Ware viz. 2 doz. Ivory handle knivs. and forks 2 19 8 12 Buckling Combs 3 Castle 3 2 8 Haberdashery viz. 3 Skeins Silk 2 6 4 do. Mohair 1 8 Castle and for the Parades of the Court 3 doz. Mohair Ct. Buttons 2 2 1/2 do. do. Bt. do. 10 do. 7 Thread viz. 1 lb Whited Brown 6 9 1/2 1 Coulored 3 1 1/2 Castle 9 11 Braziers Ware viz. 6 Pr. Snuffers 1 2 Flatt Candlesticks 10 4 Castle 1 10 4 Carried Over £ 182 11 3 | The Company's general expense account continued from a running total of £167 4s 2d. Brought forward, £167 4s 2d Long cloth for the Castle and the [...] of the court 1 piece of grade C long cloth, £3 5s 7d [...] pieces of number 8 long cloth, £4 5s 0d Total for long cloth, £7 10s 7d Timber 5 double deals for the church and the Castle, £0 15s 7½d 1 single deal for the church and the Castle, £0 2s 0d 2 spars to make a ladder, £0 6s 5½d 1 wainscot board for the bakehouse, £0 6s 7d 1 baulk of timber for making ladders, £0 8s 10d Total for timber, £1 19s 4d Twine 6 skeins of twine for the stores and the Castle, £0 3s 0d 1 pound of cotton wick for the Castle, £0 4s 3d Total for twine, £0 7s 3d Cutlery and combs for the Castle 2 dozen ivory-handled knives and forks, £2 19s 8d 12 buckling combs, £0 3s 0d Total for cutlery and combs, £3 2s 8d Sewing goods for the Castle and the [...] of the court 3 skeins of silk, £0 2s 6d 4 skeins of mohair, £0 1s 8d 3 dozen mohair coat buttons, £0 2s 0d 2½ dozen mohair breast buttons, £0 0s 10d Total for sewing goods, £0 7s 0d Thread for the Castle 1 pound of whited brown thread, £0 6s 9½d 1 pound of coloured thread, £0 3s 1½d Total for thread, £0 9s 11d Brass and plated ware for the Castle 6 pairs of snuffers, £1 0s 0d 2 plated candlesticks, £0 10s 4d Total for brass and plated ware, £1 10s 4d Carried forward, £182 11s 3d Interpretations Long cloth was a plain, closely woven cotton calico from the Coromandel coast of India, sold in long pieces of about 36 to 40 yards. The Company graded it by letter and number according to fineness. Here it was issued together with mohair, silk thread and coat and breast buttons for the same purpose at the Castle and the court. The combination points to the making up of clothing, probably liveries for the Castle servants and attendants of the court, rather than furnishing. The word that names that purpose cannot be read, so the point rests on the goods themselves. The 2 dozen ivory-handled knives and forks and the plated candlesticks belonged to the Governor's public table. Entertaining ships' captains, passengers and senior officers was part of the Governor's duty at a port of call, and the Company bore the cost through this account. Plated ware was copper coated with a fused layer of silver, a Sheffield process of the 1740s. It gave the look of silver plate at a fraction of the price, and its appearance at St Helena in 1769 shows the new material reaching even the remotest Company stations within a generation. Whited brown thread was linen thread partly bleached, between the raw brown and the full white grades, and was the everyday thread for strong sewing. A baulk was a squared length of timber. With the 2 spars, it was cut down to make ladders, which the Company's buildings and stores needed in some number. | |
196 | 17 July Brought Over £ 182 11 3 Rozin 1/2 lb for Tinning Castle Furniture 2 Blankets 12 Fine Castle 6 6 Lead viz. 6 lb Shott do. 1 1 734 lb Sheet Lead Lt. Govern. House 7 17 1 7 18 2 Hatts 1 Man Fine for the Parad. of ye Court 17 6 Serge 7 1/2 Yards Blue do. 1 15 7 Shalloon 4 1/2 Yds. Colored do. 8 3 Corks 6 Gross Castle 13 6 Bunting 1 Yd. White Carpentr. Shop 7 Kersey 2 Yds. Baize Castle 3 7 Coals 120 Bushels Armourers Shop £ 6 7 6 £ 207 2 1 Repairs Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1 of April to the 30 of June 1769 viz. Arrack 1/2 Gallon for Kill Colors 1 9 Pitch 20 for the Companys Houses 2 1 Glass Ware viz. 4 Sqr. 10 by 16 4 11 33 do. 8 by 10 1 7 7 23 do. 10 by 12 1 6 4 37 do. 6 by 8 10 for Repairing Windows at the Castle and for the Companys Houses 3 8 10 Paint viz. 327 Whiting Companys Houses 9 9 Paint Carried Over £ 9 9 Carried Over 3 12 8 | The Company's general expense account closed at a total of £207 2s 1d. A new account then charged the cost of repairs with the stores issued for them between 1 April and 30 June 1769. Brought forward, £182 11s 3d ½ pound of rosin for retinning the Castle's kitchenware, £0 0s 2d 12 fine blankets for the Castle, £6 6s 0d Lead 6 pounds of shot for the Castle, £0 1s 1d 754 pounds of sheet lead for the Lieutenant Governor's house, £7 17s 1d Total for lead, £7 18s 2d 1 fine man's hat for the beadle of the court, £0 17s 6d 7½ yards of blue serge for the beadle of the court, £1 15s 7d 4½ yards of coloured shalloon for the beadle of the court, £0 8s 3d 6 gross of corks for the Castle, £0 13s 6d 1 yard of white bunting for the carpenters' shop, £0 0s 7d 2 yards of baize for the Castle, £0 3s 7d 120 bushels of coal for the armourer's shop, £6 7s 6d Total, £207 2s 1d Repairs ½ gallon of arrack for [...], £0 1s 9d 20 pounds of pitch for the Company's houses, £0 2s 1d Glass for mending windows at the Castle and the Company's houses 4 panes, 10 by 16 inches, £0 4s 11d 53 panes, 8 by 10 inches, £1 7s 7d 23 panes, 10 by 12 inches, £1 6s 4d 37 panes, 6 by 8 inches, £0 10s 0d Total for glass, £3 8s 10d Paint [...] of whiting for the Company's houses, £0 9s 9d Paint carried forward, £0 9s 9d Carried forward, £3 12s 8d Interpretations The beadle of the court was fitted out at the Company's expense with a fine hat, blue serge for a coat and coloured shalloon for its lining. The mohair buttons, silk and long cloth on the previous page were probably part of the same outfit. A beadle served the island's court by summoning parties and witnesses, keeping order at sittings and carrying out its lesser sentences. Dressing him in a uniform from the Company's stores made the court's authority visible in the street. It also marked him as a Company servant, since the court sat under the Governor and Council. Shalloon was a light, twilled worsted cloth from Châlons in France, used chiefly for coat linings. The 754 pounds of sheet lead sent to the Lieutenant Governor's house cost £7 17s 1d, the largest single item of building material in the quarter. Sheet lead was used for roof flats, gutters and the flashing around chimneys. In that quantity it points to the roof being stripped and relaid, not patched. The work fell in the weeks after Daniel Corneille landed on 7 May 1769, together with the hinges and sash line charged to his house on the earlier pages. The house was evidently being made sound for its new occupant. The 117 panes of window glass charged to repairs suggest a steady toll of breakage across the Castle and the Company's houses. Most were small panes of 8 by 10 or 6 by 8 inches, the standard sizes for the sash windows of the period. The 6 gross of corks for the Castle, 864 in all, were for bottling wine and spirits drawn from the cask for the Governor's table. | |
197 | 1769 Brought Over £ 3 12 8 Paint Brought Over 9 9 10 Barrels Blacking 5 20 Stone Oaker mixed 7 11 13 Ven. Red do. 6 2 3/4 4 lb Verdegreace 15 8 1/4 Prus. Blue 5 11 1/2 Copperas 3 1/2 30 Stone Color 11 10 1/2 8 Blue Paint 17 8 2 lb Red Lead 5 to paint two of the Compans. Houses 4 11 Deals viz. 18 1/2 Baulks 8 5 5 24 Single Deals 2 8 23 Double do. 3 18 1 1 Elm Board 4 for Companys Houses and Sheds on the Line 14 13 6 Nails viz. 2 lb 4 Nails 1 2 1/2 26 10 do. 11 11 10 20 do. 7 1 1/2 38 40 do. 1 1 9 10 Dog do. 3 22 6 do. 12 4 1/2 42 8 do. 1 1 1/4 1/2 Glazing Brads 10 do. 4 4 Iron Ware viz. 1 Lathing Hammer 1 8 2 Brick Lay. Trowels 2 3 3 Iron rimd Locks 8 1 1/2 3 Blank Keys 1 10 1/2 Iron Ware Carried Over £ 13 11 Carried Over £ 26 7 5 | The repairs account continued from a running total of £3 12s 8d, with the paint brought forward at £0 9s 9d. Brought forward, £3 12s 8d Paint for two of the Company's houses Paint brought forward, £0 9s 9d 10 pounds of blacking in barrels, £0 5s 0d 20 pounds of yellow ochre, mixed, £0 7s 11d 13 pounds of Venetian red, mixed, £0 6s 2¾d 4 pounds of verdigris, £0 15s 8d ¼ pound of Prussian blue, £0 5s 11d ½ pound of copperas, £0 0s 3½d 50 pounds of stone colour, £0 11s 10½d 8 pounds of blue paint, £0 17s 8d 2 pounds of red lead, £0 0s 3d Total for paint, £4 0s 11d Timber for the Company's houses and the sheds on the Lines 18½ baulks of timber, £8 3s 5d 24 single deals, £2 8s 0d 25 double deals, £3 18s 1d 1 elm board, £0 4s 0d Total for timber, £14 13s 6d Nails for the Company's houses and the sheds on the Lines 2 pounds of fourpenny nails, £0 1s 2½d 26 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 11s 11d 10 pounds of twentypenny nails, £0 7s 1½d 38 pounds of fortypenny nails, £1 1s 9d 10 pounds of dog nails, £0 3s 0d 22 pounds of sixpenny nails, £0 12s 4½d 42 pounds of eightpenny nails, £1 0s 1¾d ½ pound of glazing brads, £0 0s 10d Total for nails, £4 0s 4d Ironmongery 1 lathing hammer, £0 1s 8d 2 bricklayer's trowels, £0 2s 3d 3 iron rim locks, £0 8s 1½d 3 blank keys, £0 1s 10½d Ironmongery carried forward, £0 13s 11d Carried forward, £26 7s 5d Interpretations The Lines were the fortified wall and battery across the mouth of James's Valley, which guarded the town and its landing place from the sea. The sheds built or repaired there were probably cover for guns, carriages and stores. Timber and nails worth nearly £19 went to these sheds and the Company's houses in one quarter, far more than any other repair. The heavy issue of baulks and fortypenny nails points to framing work, not patching. It came in the weeks after Thomas Bazett took over the works and the artillery from Mitchell in June 1769. Mitchell had left written remarks on the island's defences when he handed over his plans. The paint issued for two Company houses ran to bright colours as well as the plain stone colour of the walls. The verdigris, Prussian blue and blue paint together came to nearly £2. Green and blue were the costly colours of the period, used on doors, shutters and railings. Copperas was green iron sulphate, mixed into paint as a drier and also used to make a cheap colour wash. Dog nails were heavy nails with a head projecting to one side, used to fasten ironwork to timber and to secure planking that bore weight. A lathing hammer had a small axe blade on one side for cutting and trimming the thin wooden laths that held plaster. Elm was favoured for work in wet places, since it resisted rot when kept constantly damp, and the single board may have been bought for a gutter or a sill. | |
198 | 17 July Brought Over £ 26 7 5 Iron Ware Brought Over 13 11 1 Claw Hammer 1 1 1/2 1 Pr. HL Hinges 1 11 1/2 1 Pr. Cross Garnet do. 7 2 1/2 for Repairs. the Companys Houses 1 4 5 Turners Ware viz. 4 Plaster Brushes 4 4 7 Paint do. 3 6 for do. 7 10 Oil viz. 15 1/2 Galls. Linseed 2 19 10 1/2 1/2 do. Oil of Turpentine 2 7 1/2 for do. 3 2 6 Lead 176 lb Sheet do. 1 16 8 Lines 1 No. 4 do. 5 £ 32 19 3 Diet Expences Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1 of April to the 30th of June 1769 viz. Arrack 32 Gallons 9 4 2 Flour 1425 lb 13 7 2 Salt 2 Bushels 6 5 Rice 341 lb 1 15 10 Pease 1/4 Bush. split 2 4 Sugar and Candy viz. 531 Candy supf. 12 14 5 130 lb Sugar 1 12 6 14 6 11 Oils 12 Bottles Florence 2 2 Tea 14 lb Single 1 17 6 Beef and Pork viz. 7 Ps. Beef 1 5 2 1/2 47 Ps. Pork 6 6 3 1/2 £ 7 11 6 £ 49 13 10 | The repairs account closed at £32 19s 3d. A new account then charged the cost of the Company's table with the provisions issued for it between 1 April and 30 June 1769. Brought forward, £26 7s 5d Ironmongery for repairs to the Company's houses Ironmongery brought forward, £0 13s 11d 1 claw hammer, £0 1s 1½d 1 pair of H hinges, £0 1s 11½d 1 pair of cross garnet hinges, £0 7s 2½d Total for ironmongery, £1 4s 5d Brushes for repairs to the Company's houses 4 plasterer's brushes, £0 4s 4d 7 paint brushes, £0 3s 6d Total for brushes, £0 7s 10d Oil for repairs to the Company's houses 15⅞ gallons of linseed oil, £2 19s 10½d ½ gallon of oil of turpentine, £0 2s 7½d Total for oil, £3 2s 6d 176 pounds of sheet lead for repairs to the Company's houses, £1 16s 8d 1 number 4 line for repairs to the Company's houses, £0 0s 5d Total for repairs, £32 19s 3d Diet expenses 52 gallons of arrack, £9 4s 2d 1,425 pounds of flour, £13 7s 2d 2 bushels of salt, £0 6s 5d 341 pounds of rice, £1 15s 10d ¼ bushel of split peas, £0 2s 4d Sugar and sugar candy 331 pounds of superfine sugar candy, £12 14s 5d 130 pounds of sugar, £1 12s 6d Total for sugar and sugar candy, £14 6s 11d 12 bottles of Florence oil, £2 2s 0d 14 pounds of singlo tea, £0 17s 6d Beef and pork 7 pieces of beef, £1 5s 2½d 47 pieces of pork, £6 6s 3½d Total for beef and pork, £7 11s 6d Total for diet expenses, £49 13s 10d Interpretations Diet Expenses was the account that carried the cost of the Company's public table at the Castle. The Governor kept this table for the Council, the senior servants and visitors of rank, and the Company met its stores in place of a cash allowance. Sugar candy dominated the list at £12 14s 5d for 331 pounds, nearly as much as all the flour. Candy was sugar crystallised slowly on threads into large clear lumps. It kept well in a damp climate and was used to sweeten tea, punch and preserves, so in this form the island received its sweetening from the East. The 52 gallons of arrack drawn for the table were the Company's own issue at cost, outside the society's sales. Florence oil was olive oil from Tuscany, shipped in thin flasks bound in straw with a film of oil on top in place of a cork. It was the best salad oil to be had in England and was a mark of a well-provided table. Singlo was a green tea from China of middling quality, cheaper than hyson. At about 1s 3d a pound, this was tea at Company prices, far below what it fetched in London once duty was paid. The salt beef and pork came by the piece, the standard cut of naval and Company provisions. Each piece weighed a fixed amount when packed, commonly 4 pounds for beef and 2 pounds for pork. Pork outnumbered beef by nearly seven to one at the Governor's table. That reflected how scarce and closely guarded the island's own cattle were, even for the Castle. A cross garnet hinge was a T-shaped hinge, with a long strap screwed to a door and a short upright fixed to the frame, used on plain doors such as those of sheds and outhouses. Oil of turpentine was the distilled spirit of pine resin, used to thin paint and help it dry. | |
199 | 1769 Garrison Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1 of April to the 30 of June 1769, viz. Arrack 9 1/4 Gallons for Muster drams 1 12 9 Candles 20 1/2 for Officers on Duty 2 4 5 Flour 190 lb Given to Recruits 1 15 7 Blankets 204 Ordy. for the several Companys 37 16 Beef and Pork viz. 109 Ps. Beef 19 12 10 66 Ps. Pork 8 17 4 Deficient upon serving the Garrison 6 to a piece 28 10 2 Oil viz. Gallons 47 1/4 Bought 15 5 26 1/2 Train 4 3 7 for the Several Guards and Barracks 1/8 Linseed for marking Blankets 2 5 19 8 5 Deals viz. 34 Single Deals for Coffins and making a Guard Bed at the Barrk. 3 8 1 Baulk for the Barrk. Prison 8 10 3 16 10 Nails viz. 12 4 7 3 25 3 18 9 2 6 1 1 1/2 4 20 1 7 1/2 for Coffins Cotts Guard Bed and Barrack Prison 1 8 9 Canvas 4 Ps. English for Cotts 6 19 8 Lines 18 No. 2 for Whips 5 2 Twine 4 Skeins for Cotts 2 Tin Ware 35 Lamps Several Guards 1 9 2 Iron Ware viz. 1 Stock Lock for the Barrks. 2 8 1/2 23 Small Frying Pans Several Guards 2 6 5 1/2 Iron Ware Carried Over £ 2 9 2 Carried Over £ 127 8 11 | A new account charged the garrison with the stores issued to it between 1 April and 30 June 1769. 9¼ gallons of arrack for drams at muster, £1 12s 9d 20½ pounds of candles for officers on duty, £2 4s 5d 190 pounds of flour issued to recruits, £1 15s 7d 204 ordinary blankets for the several companies, £37 16s 0d Beef and pork, to make good the shortfall in serving the garrison at 6 to a piece 109 pieces of beef, £19 12s 10d 66 pieces of pork, £8 17s 4d Total for beef and pork, £28 10s 2d Oil 47¼ gallons of purchased oil for the guards and the barracks, £15 0s 5d 26½ gallons of train oil for the guards and the barracks, £4 3s 7d ⅞ gallon of linseed oil for marking blankets, £0 2s 5d Total for oil, £19 6s 5d Timber 34 single deals for coffins and a guard bed at the barracks, £3 8s 0d 1 baulk of timber for the barracks prison, £0 8s 10d Total for timber, £3 16s 10d Nails for coffins, cots, the guard bed and the barracks prison 12 pounds of fourpenny nails, £0 7s 3d 25 pounds of threepenny nails, £0 18s 9d 2 pounds of sixpenny nails, £0 1s 1½d 4 pounds of twentypenny nails, £0 1s 7½d Total for nails, £1 8s 9d 4 pieces of English canvas for cots, £6 19s 8d 18 number 2 lines for whips, £0 5s 2d 4 skeins of twine for cots, £0 2s 0d 33 tin lamps for the guards, £1 9s 2d Ironmongery 1 stock lock for the barracks, £0 2s 6½d 23 small frying pans for the guards, £2 6s 5½d Ironmongery carried forward, £2 9s 0d Carried forward, £127 8s 11d Interpretations The 204 blankets issued to the companies cost £37 16s 0d, the largest single charge on the garrison in the quarter. Linseed oil was drawn at the same time for marking them. Paint marks stamped on Company blankets made them hard to sell or pawn and easy to recover if found in a tavern or a planter's house. Soldiers on a small island had few ways to raise drink money, and selling their bedding was one of the commonest. The marking was a simple check on that trade. The beef and pork were charged against the garrison to cover the shortfall in its rations. Soldiers were served salt meat by the piece, at a reckoned weight of 6 pounds to the piece. Casks that had been long in store often yielded pieces that weighed less once opened, and the extra pieces issued to make up the ration were set down here. A shortfall of 175 pieces in three months shows how far the Company's salted provisions shrank in the cask. The 34 deals for coffins point to deaths in the garrison during the quarter. Soldiers were buried at the Company's charge, and the coffins were made from its own timber by its own carpenters. Cots were canvas beds slung from a frame, of the kind used on board ship, and were probably for the sick in the garrison hospital. The muster dram was a measure of arrack served to each man when the companies paraded for inspection, a small reward that helped to secure full attendance. | |
200 | 17 July Brought Over £ 127 8 11 Iron Ware Brought Over 2 9 2 3 Large Frying Pans 1 8 1/4 14 Wood Axes 1 19 8 15 Ash Helves 8 9 18 Hand Hatchets 1 10 9 1/4 for the Several Guards 7 9 1 Paint viz. 3 lb Ven. Red mixed 2 4 1/4 1/4 Verdegrease 11 1/4 1 lb White Lead dry 3 1/2 10 Whiting 8 1/4 14 lb Yellow Oaker dry 3 2 1/2 for marking Blankets and Clean. etc. 7 7 Soldiers Cloths viz. 291 Centinels Coats and Breeches 422 5 16 Corporals do. and do. 24 12 16 Serjts. do. and do. 83 12 14 Drumrs. do. and do. 47 14 4 12 Matrosses do. and do. 89 1 6 4 Bombar. do. and do. 11 17 4 Artillery Serjts. do. and do. 20 4 8 4 Artillery Corporals do. and do. 8 14 8 8 Gunners do. and do. 18 9 4 1 Marshals do. and do. 2 11 8 6 Watch Coats 4 19 734 1 2 Hatts viz. 279 Centinels 39 16 4 20 Serjts. 11 10 10 1 Marshalls 11 8 do. 51 18 10 Hosiers Ware 400 Pr. Ordin. Thd. Stockings 64 3 4 Carried Over £ 985 8 11 | The garrison account continued from a running total of £127 8s 11d, with the ironmongery brought forward at £2 9s 2d. Brought forward, £127 8s 11d Ironmongery for the guards Ironmongery brought forward, £2 9s 2d 3 large frying pans, £1 0s 6¾d 14 wood axes, £1 19s 8d 15 ash handles, £0 8s 9d 18 hand hatchets, £1 10s 9¾d Total for ironmongery, £7 9s 1d Paint for marking blankets and cleaning accoutrements 3 pounds of Venetian red, mixed, £0 2s 4¼d ¼ pound of verdigris, £0 0s 11¼d 1 pound of white lead, dry, £0 0s 5½d 10 pounds of whiting, £0 0s 8¼d 14 pounds of yellow ochre, dry, £0 3s 2½d Total for paint, £0 7s 7d Soldiers' clothing 291 sets of coats and breeches for privates, £422 5s 0d 16 sets of coats and breeches for corporals, £24 12s 0d 16 sets of coats and breeches for sergeants, £83 12s 0d 14 sets of coats and breeches for drummers, £47 14s 4d 12 sets of coats and breeches for matrosses, £89 1s 6d 4 sets of coats and breeches for bombardiers, £11 17s 0d 4 sets of coats and breeches for artillery sergeants, £20 4s 8d 4 sets of coats and breeches for artillery corporals, £8 14s 8d 8 sets of coats and breeches for gunners, £18 9s 4d 1 set of coat and breeches for the marshal, £2 11s 8d 6 watch coats, £4 19s 0d Total for soldiers' clothing, £734 1s 2d Hats 279 hats for privates, £39 16s 4d 20 hats for sergeants, £11 10s 10d 1 hat for the marshal, £0 11s 8d Total for hats, £51 18s 10d 400 pairs of [...] stockings, £64 3s 4d Carried forward, £985 8s 11d Interpretations This was the garrison's yearly issue of clothing, and it outweighed everything else charged in the quarter. The coats, breeches, hats and stockings came to over £850, against about £207 for the whole of the Company's general expenses. The Company clothed its soldiers directly from its own stores rather than paying a clothing allowance to the officers. In the King's regiments, the colonel received the money and contracted for the clothing himself, which gave him a profit on every coat. Issuing from the warehouse at cost cut out that profit and kept the uniform under the Council's direct control. The list also gives a muster of the garrison by rank. There were 291 private sentinels, 16 corporals, 16 sergeants and 14 drummers in the infantry companies. The artillery had 12 matrosses, eight gunners, four bombardiers, four corporals and four sergeants. A matross was the lowest rank in the artillery, a labourer who helped the gunners to load, aim and move the guns. A bombardier handled mortars and the explosive shells they fired. The artillery's coats cost much more per man than the infantry's, which reflects the better cloth and trimming given to that corps. Thomas Bazett had taken command of it in June 1769. The marshal was the provost officer of the garrison, who held prisoners and carried out the sentences of courts martial. His coat and hat were charged to the garrison like any soldier's. Watch coats were heavy, loose greatcoats kept at the guard posts and passed from man to man for sentries standing on the exposed batteries at night. At St Helena the southern-hemisphere winter fell in these months, and the 6 watch coats were issued as it set in. The paint for cleaning accoutrements was whiting and pigment used to colour belts and pouches when they were scrubbed. | |
201 | 1769 Brought Over £ 985 8 11 Shirts viz. 385 Centinl. Shirts 87 16 7 20 Serjts. do. 6 11 8 94 8 3 Shoes 423 Pr. Mens Ordinary 99 1 Haberdashery viz. 393 Hair Socks 13 16 9 13 Gro. Narrow Worsted Lace for Waiscoats 7 11 1 21 7 10 Glass Ware viz. 1 Hour Glass for Banks's Guard 8 3 Sqr. Glass 8 by 10 for the Officers Guard Room 1 7 2 3 Turners Ware viz. 63 Wood Bowls 3 6 11 39 Platters 3 5 4 for the Several Guards 6 12 3 Thread viz. 13 lb Colored 2 6 10 4 lb Whited Brown 1 7 2 for altering Cloathing 3 14 Iron Pots 26 weight 467 lb Sevl. Guards 7 3 10 £ 1217 17 5 Blacks Dr. for the following stores Issued from the 1st of April to the 30th of June 1769 Rice 12015 lb 39 13 9 Beef and Pork viz. 1068 Ps. Beef 196 1 4 914 Ps. Pork 122 16 4 318 17 8 Carried Over £ 358 13 5 | The garrison account closed at £1,217 17s 5d. A new account then charged the cost of the provisions issued to the Company's slaves between 1 April and 30 June 1769. Brought forward, £985 8s 11d Shirts 385 shirts for privates, £87 16s 7d 20 shirts for sergeants, £6 11s 8d Total for shirts, £94 8s 3d 423 pairs of men's ordinary shoes, £99 0s 1d Sewing goods 393 horsehair stocks, £13 16s 9d 13 gross of narrow worsted lace for waistcoats, £7 11s 1d Total for sewing goods, £21 7s 10d Glass 1 hourglass for Banks's guard, £0 0s 8d 3 panes of window glass, 8 by 10 inches, for the officers' guardroom, £0 1s 7d Total for glass, £0 2s 3d Turned wooden goods for the guards 63 wooden bowls, £3 6s 11d 39 platters, £3 5s 4d Total for turned wooden goods, £6 12s 3d Thread for altering clothing 13 pounds of coloured thread, £2 6s 10d 4 pounds of whited brown thread, £1 7s 2d Total for thread, £3 14s 0d 26 iron pots, weighing 467 pounds, for the guards, £7 3s 10d Total for the garrison, £1,217 17s 5d Provisions for the Company's slaves 12,015 pounds of rice, £39 15s 9d Beef and pork 1,068 pieces of beef, £196 1s 4d 914 pieces of pork, £122 16s 4d Total for beef and pork, £318 17s 8d Carried forward, £358 13s 5d Interpretations The Company's slaves were fed from its stores, and the account charged for them set out what that cost. Over three months they received 12,015 pounds of rice and nearly 2,000 pieces of salt beef and pork. The meat cost eight times as much as the rice. Salt provisions were the most expensive food the warehouse held, and the island's planters fed their own slaves largely on yams, potatoes and rice for that reason. The Company issued salt meat because its slaves did the heaviest work on the island, on the fortifications, at the landing place and in the Company's plantations. A labour force fed below its strength would have cost more in sickness and lost work than the meat did. The garrison account closed at £1,217 17s 5d for the quarter, most of it for the yearly clothing issue. Each soldier received a shirt, a pair of shoes and a stock, the close-fitting neckband worn under the chin. Horsehair stocks were stiff and kept their shape, and the regulation made them uncomfortable but cheap to replace. The 13 gross of narrow worsted lace, nearly 1,900 yards, was the braid for trimming the waistcoats. The thread for altering clothing shows that the coats arrived in standard sizes and were fitted to each man on the island. Banks's guard manned the battery at Banks's, on the north-east coast, one of the works Mitchell had surveyed before he sailed on 17 June 1769. Its hourglass was used to time the reliefs of sentries through the night at a post far from the bell of James Town. | |
202 | 17 July Brought Over £ 358 13 5 Arrack 210 1/2 Gallons 37 7 6 Sugar 273 lb 3 8 9 Tea 114 lb Bohea 4 3 6 Salt 1/4 Bushel 10 Pepper 2 lb 1 Challow 63 Ps. 26 5 Kersey 1 Ps. 1 19 3 To Cloath the Women Long Cloth 17 1/2 Ps. No. 6 for do. 22 18 5 Shoes viz. 39 Pr. Mens Ordin. Shoes 13 10 5 3 Pr. do. Fine do. 1 7 6 14 Pr. Womens Calf Leat. do. 1 16 2 2 Pr. Boys do. 6 4 6 Pr. Mens Fine Pumps 1 10 for the handy Crafts men Blacks in the Castle and Women 18 10 5 Deals 6 Single for Coffins 12 Nails viz. 1 lb 4 7 1/4 4 6 2 3 3/4 for Coffins 2 11 Thread viz. 6 1/2 Whited Brown 2 4 2 3 Colored 15 7 for the Women 2 19 9 Hosiers Ware viz. 4 Pr. Womens Worsted Stockings 11 24 Pr. Mens Ordy. Thread do. 3 10 6 4 1 6 Turners Ware viz. 23 Wood Bowls 1 4 5 21 Platters 1 3 2 £ 2 7 7 Carried Over £ 503 15 7 | The provisions and stores for the Company's slaves continued from a running total of £358 13s 5d. Brought forward, £358 13s 5d 310½ gallons of arrack, £57 7s 6d 275 pounds of sugar, £3 8s 9d 114 pounds of bohea tea, £4 5s 6d ¼ bushel of salt, £0 0s 10d 2 pounds of pepper, £0 1s 0d Cloth for clothing the women 63 pieces of chelloes, £26 5s 0d 1 piece of kersey, £1 19s 3d 17½ pieces of number 6 long cloth, £22 18s 5d Shoes for the craftsmen, the Castle slaves and the women 39 pairs of men's ordinary shoes, £13 10s 5d 3 pairs of men's fine shoes, £1 7s 6d 14 pairs of women's calfskin shoes, £1 16s 2d 2 pairs of boys' shoes, £0 6s 4d 6 pairs of men's fine pumps, £1 10s 0d Total for shoes, £18 10s 5d 6 single deals for coffins, £0 12s 0d Nails for coffins 1 pound of fourpenny nails, £0 0s 7¼d 4 pounds of sixpenny nails, £0 2s 3¾d Total for nails, £0 2s 11d Thread for the women 6½ pounds of whited brown thread, £2 4s 2d 3 pounds of coloured thread, £0 15s 7d Total for thread, £2 19s 9d Stockings 4 pairs of women's worsted stockings, £0 11s 0d 24 pairs of men's ordinary thread stockings, £3 10s 6d Total for stockings, £4 1s 6d Turned wooden goods 23 wooden bowls, £1 4s 3d 21 platters, £1 3s 2d Total for turned wooden goods, £2 7s 7d Carried forward, £503 15s 7d Interpretations The shoes and stockings were not issued to the Company's slaves as a body. They went to the craftsmen, the slaves serving in the Castle and the women. Most slaves on the island went barefoot, and the 39 pairs of ordinary shoes would not have shod the whole labour force. The fine shoes and pumps went to the men who waited at the Governor's table and attended in the Castle, where their dress reflected on the household. The skilled slaves, the smiths, carpenters and masons, were also shod. A craftsman was worth far more to the Company than a field labourer and was treated accordingly. Chelloes were cotton cloths from western India, usually woven in blue and white checks or stripes. The Company bought them in great quantities for the African trade and for clothing slaves in its own settlements. The 63 pieces, with long cloth, kersey and thread, were issued to the women to make up their own clothes. That was the usual practice, since it saved the cost of tailoring and left the work to the slaves themselves. The 310½ gallons of arrack issued to the slaves in a quarter came to more than six times the garrison's muster drams. A daily dram was part of the ration for slaves doing heavy work, as it was for the Company's labourers in the stores. Tea and sugar appeared in the slaves' issue too, a mark of how cheap both were at St Helena when bought at the Company's cost price. The deals and nails for coffins show that the Company buried its slaves at its own charge, as it did its soldiers. | |
203 | 1769 Brought Over £ 503 15 7 Oil viz. 1/8 Gallons Train 2 10 3/4 Bought 4 8 7 6 Tin Ware viz. 1 Lamp 10 1 Horn Lanthorn 2 11 3 9 Iron Ware viz. 3 Ash Helves 1 9 1 Blank Key 7 1/2 2 Stock Locks 3 3 3 Rag Stones 1 10 Small Frying Pans 1 2 1/4 1 9 Lines viz. 12 No. 2 Lines 3 5 1 Hambro do. 1 7 5 Serge viz. 2 Ps. Brown Fustain 3 11 6 16 Yds. Scarlet Serge 4 12 for the Castle Servts. 8 3 6 Shalloon viz. 38 Yds. Scarlet 4 13 25 1/4 do. Colored 2 6 3 for do. 7 1 3 Canvas 100 Yds. Osenbrigs for the Women 3 19 2 Haberdashery viz. 12 Skeins Mohair 5 1/2 Gro. Broad Worsted Lace 7 8 3 doz. Mohair Ct. Buttons 2 1 Gro. Shirt do. 2 2 1/2 9 Ps. Tape 4 10 1/2 for the Castle Servts. and Women 1 1 9 Carried Over £ 526 6 6 | The account for the Company's slaves continued from a running total of £503 15s 7d. Brought forward, £503 15s 7d Oil ⅞ gallon of train oil, £0 2s 10d ¾ gallon of purchased oil, £0 4s 8d Total for oil, £0 7s 6d Tinware 1 lamp, £0 0s 10d 1 horn lantern, £0 2s 11d Total for tinware, £0 3s 9d Ironmongery 3 ash handles, £0 1s 9d 1 blank key, £0 0s 7½d 2 stock locks, £0 3s 5d 3 ragstones, £0 1s 0d 10 small frying pans, £1 0s 2¼d Total for ironmongery, £1 7s 0d Lines 12 number 2 lines, £0 3s 5d 1 hambro line, £0 1s 7d Total for lines, £0 5s 0d Cloth for the Castle servants 2 pieces of brown fustian, £3 11s 6d 16 yards of scarlet serge, £4 12s 0d Total for fustian and serge, £8 3s 6d 38 yards of scarlet shalloon, £4 15s 0d 25¼ yards of coloured shalloon, £2 6s 3d Total for shalloon, £7 1s 3d 100 yards of ticklenburg canvas for the women, £3 19s 2d Sewing goods for the Castle servants and the women 12 skeins of mohair, £0 5s 0d ½ gross of broad worsted lace, £0 7s 8d 3 dozen mohair coat buttons, £0 2s 0d 1 gross of mohair breast buttons, £0 2s 2½d 9 pieces of tape, £0 4s 10½d Total for sewing goods, £1 1s 9d Carried forward, £526 6s 6d Interpretations The scarlet serge and scarlet shalloon, with broad worsted lace and mohair buttons, were for the livery of the slaves who served in the Castle. The cloth was charged to the slaves' account, not to the Governor's table or the Company's general expenses. That placed the cost of dressing the Governor's household servants among the ordinary upkeep of the Company's labour force. Scarlet was the Company's own colour as well as the soldiers', and a servant in a scarlet coat at the Castle door showed the Company's authority as plainly as a sentry did. The brown fustian, a hard-wearing twill of linen and cotton, was probably for working breeches and waistcoats. The 100 yards of ticklenburg for the women were for petticoats and working smocks. A ragstone was a coarse sandstone used for whetting edge tools. The three issued here, with the ash handles, suggest the slaves were keeping hoes, bills and axes sharp for work in the Company's plantations. | |
204 | 17 July Brought Over £ 526 6 6 Iron Pots 33 weight 711 lb 6 13 4 Blankets 1 Ordinary 3 8 Cutlery Ware 3 Shoe Knives 1 1 Sailors Cloaths viz. 350 Mens and Boys Shirts 32 19 22 Pr. do. and do. Breeches 2 16 10 133 Mens Jackets 46 10 9 138 Pr. do. Breeches 28 10 7 new 175 Dutch Caps new 13 2 6 22 Mens and Boys Jackets Old 6 1 130 0 8 £ 683 7 3 Mallays Dr. for the following stores Issued from the 1 of April to the 30 of June 1769 Arrack 11 1/2 Gallons 2 9 Rice 324 lb 1 1 5 Sugar 60 lb 15 Candles 12 lb 1 6 Soap 12 lb 6 6 Beef 14 Ps. 2 10 5 Flour 12 lb 2 3 Salt 1/4 Bushel 10 Pepper 2 lb 1 Tea viz. 6 lb Bohea 4 6 1 Congo 1 3 5 9 Broad Cloth viz. 2 1/2 Yards Blue 2 5 2 do. Scarlet 2 £ 4 5 Carried Over 12 14 11 | The account for the Company's slaves closed at £663 7s 3d. A separate account then charged the stores issued to the Company's Malays between 1 April and 30 June 1769. Brought forward, £526 6s 6d 33 iron pots, weighing [...] pounds, £6 13s 4d 1 ordinary blanket, £0 3s 8d 3 shoe knives, £0 1s 1d Sailors' clothing 350 shirts for men and boys, £32 19s 0d 22 pairs of breeches for men and boys, £2 16s 10d 133 new jackets for men, £46 10s 9d 138 pairs of new breeches for men, £28 10s 7d 175 new Dutch caps, £13 2s 6d 22 old jackets for men and boys, £6 1s 0d Total for sailors' clothing, £130 0s 8d Total for the Company's slaves, £663 7s 3d Stores for the Company's Malays 11½ gallons of arrack, £2 0s 9d 324 pounds of rice, £1 1s 5d 60 pounds of sugar, £0 15s 0d 12 pounds of candles, £1 6s 0d 12 pounds of soap, £0 6s 6d 14 pieces of beef, £2 10s 5d 12 pounds of flour, £0 2s 3d ¼ bushel of salt, £0 0s 10d 2 pounds of pepper, £0 1s 0d Tea 6 pounds of bohea tea, £0 4s 6d 1 pound of congou tea, £0 1s 3d Total for tea, £0 5s 9d Broadcloth 2½ yards of blue broadcloth, £2 5s 0d 2 yards of scarlet broadcloth, £2 0s 0d Total for broadcloth, £4 5s 0d Carried forward, £12 14s 11d Interpretations The Malays had an account of their own, kept apart from the Company's slaves. The goods issued to them show a different standing. They received candles, soap, flour, congou tea and broadcloth in blue and scarlet, none of which went to the slave body as a whole. Broadcloth was a fine, heavy woollen cloth, fulled until it had a dense, felt-like surface, and it cost about 18s to £1 a yard, far beyond the chelloes and ticklenburg given to the slaves. The Malays were probably a small group of men brought from the Company's settlement at Bencoolen in Sumatra. Their skills or their terms of service set them above the island's slaves, and the Company's stores recorded that difference item by item. The bulk of the slaves' clothing was sailors' slops: plain ready-made shirts, short jackets, breeches and knitted woollen Dutch caps. The Company bought slop clothing in bulk for its ships' crews, and it was the cheapest ready-made dress to be had. Using it for slaves spared the Company the cost of cloth and tailoring. The issue of 22 old jackets alongside the new shows worn garments being passed down rather than thrown away. Congou was a black tea from China, a grade above bohea, picked from later leaves and more carefully fired. Shoe knives were short, sharp blades used to cut leather, and they suggest a slave shoemaker at work mending the shoes issued on the previous page. | |
205 | 1769 Brought Over £ 12 14 11 Long Cloth viz. 1/2 Ps. D. 2 2 3 1/2 Ps. No. 6 13 5 2 15 8 Hosiers Ware 2 Pr. Mens Eng. Cotton Stock. 13 2 Shoes 2 Pr. Mens fine 11 Thread viz. 1 Whited Brown 6 9 1/4 1 lb Colord 3 1 1/2 9 11 Braziers Ware viz. 1 Tea Kettle of 3 Quarts 16 8 2 Flatt Candlesticks 10 4 1 7 China Ware viz. 6 Octagon Meat Plates 3 6 6 Saucers 1 7 2 Bowls 2 4 1 Tea Pot 8 8 1 Iron Pots 1 Weight 17 3 2 Oil 1 Bottle Florence 3 6 Blankets 1 Fine 10 6 Paint 1 lb Indigo 1 9 Tin ware 1 qt. Saucepan 6 Haberdashery viz. 4 Skeins Silk 2 4 do. Mohair 1 8 3 doz. do. Ct. Buttons 2 3 do. do. Bt. do. 1 6 8 Deals 1 Double 3 1 Canvas 3 Yds. Eng. 3 6 Nails 1 lb 4 10 Shalloon 3 Yds. Colord 9 2 £ 21 2 3 | The account for the Company's Malays continued from a running total of £12 14s 11d and closed at £21 2s 3d. Brought forward, £12 14s 11d Long cloth ½ piece of grade D long cloth, £2 2s 3d ½ piece of number 6 long cloth, £0 13s 5d Total for long cloth, £2 15s 8d 2 pairs of men's English cotton stockings, £0 13s 2d 2 pairs of men's fine shoes, £0 11s 0d Thread 1 pound of whited brown thread, £0 6s 9½d 1 pound of coloured thread, £0 3s 1½d Total for thread, £0 9s 11d Brass and plated ware 1 tea kettle holding 3 quarts, £0 16s 8d 2 plated candlesticks, £0 10s 4d Total for brass and plated ware, £1 7s 0d China 6 octagonal meat plates, £0 3s 6d 6 saucers, £0 1s 7d 2 bowls, £0 2s 4d 1 teapot, £0 0s 8d Total for china, £0 8s 1d 1 iron pot, weighing 17 pounds, £0 3s 2d 1 bottle of Florence oil, £0 3s 6d 1 fine blanket, £0 10s 6d 1 pound of indigo, £0 1s 9d 1 quart saucepan, £0 0s 6d Sewing goods 4 skeins of silk, £0 2s 0d 4 skeins of mohair, £0 1s 8d 3 dozen mohair coat buttons, £0 2s 0d 3 dozen mohair breast buttons, £0 1s 0d Total for sewing goods, £0 6s 8d 1 double deal, £0 3s 1d 3 yards of English canvas, £0 3s 6d 1 pound of twopenny nails, £0 0s 10d 3 yards of coloured shalloon, £0 9s 2d Total for the Malays, £21 2s 3d Interpretations Much of this page furnished a single respectable household rather than a group of labourers. There were plated candlesticks, a three-quart tea kettle, octagonal china plates, a teapot, a fine blanket, a bottle of Florence oil and two pairs of fine shoes and English cotton stockings. The candlesticks matched those issued to the Castle in the same quarter. These goods sat alongside the arrack, rice and salt beef that fed the group as a whole. The likeliest reading is that one man among the Malays, perhaps their headman or a skilled artisan, was kept in the style of a minor Company servant, with a tea table and lights of his own. The broadcloth in blue and scarlet on the previous page would have dressed the same man. The whole account came to £21 2s 3d for the quarter, against £663 7s 3d for the Company's slaves. The small total confirms that the Malays were a handful of people. Their separate heading in the Company's books shows that their status was fixed and recognised, not left to the storekeeper's discretion. | |
206 | 17 July Plantation Dr. for the following Stores Issued from the 1 of April to the 30th of June 1769 Rice and Paddy viz. 4306 lb Paddy for Poultry and Hogs 9 9 3 432 lb Rice for the Sewaree Overs. and Poultry 1 8 7 10 17 10 Cordage 87 lb for ye Garden and Carts 1 9 Beef 13 Ps. for the Overs. and Steward 2 6 10 Lines 8 No. 4 for the Gardens 3 Iron Ware viz. 19 Pick Axes 3 3 4 12 Ash Helves 7 16 Spades 3 for the Plantation House and Gardens 1 Garden Rake 2 3 1/4 7 do. Hoes 7 10 1/2 1 Helve for do. 7 1 Tenon Saw 7 4 3 Shod Shovels 5 4 1/2 4 Hand Hatchets 6 10 for the Gardens 2 Brick Lay. Trowels for the Gardnr. 2 3 3 Scythes 1 8 3 1/4 6 do. Stones 1 1 1/2 1 Claw Hammer 1 4 1/2 1 Pad Lock 1 6 1/2 1 Blank Key 7 1/2 for the Gardens 1 Pruning Saw 2 1 Pr. Sheep Shears 1 6 1 Pr. Garden do. 3 5 for do. 10 2 11 Turners Ware viz. 7 wood Bowls 7 5 1/4 7 Platters 7 8 3/4 for Long Wood 2 Butchers Trays do. 2 9 Turners Ware Carried Over £ 17 11 Carried Over £ 24 19 7 | A new account charged the Company's plantation with the stores issued to it between 1 April and 30 June 1769. Rice and paddy 4,306 pounds of paddy for the poultry and horses, £9 9s 3d 432 pounds of rice for the steward, the overseers and the poultry, £1 8s 7d Total for rice and paddy, £10 17s 10d 67 pounds of cordage for the garden and the carts, £1 1s 9d 13 pieces of beef for the overseers and the steward, £2 6s 10d 8 number 4 lines for the gardens, £0 3s 0d Ironmongery for Plantation House and the gardens 19 pickaxes, £3 3s 4d 12 ash handles, £0 7s 0d 16 spades, £3 0s 0d 1 garden rake, £0 2s 3¼d 7 garden hoes, £0 7s 10½d 1 handle for a hoe, £0 0s 7d 1 tenon saw, £0 7s 4d 3 iron-shod shovels, £0 5s 1½d 4 hand hatchets, £0 6s 10d 2 bricklayer's trowels for the [...], £0 2s 3d 3 scythes, £1 8s 5¼d 6 scythe stones, £0 1s 1½d 1 claw hammer, £0 1s 1½d 1 padlock, £0 1s 6½d 1 blank key, £0 0s 7½d 1 pruning saw, £0 2s 0d 1 pair of hedge shears, £0 1s 6d 1 pair of garden shears, £0 3s 5d Total for ironmongery, £10 2s 11d Turned wooden goods for Longwood 7 wooden bowls, £0 7s 5¼d 7 platters, £0 7s 8¾d 2 butcher's trays, £0 2s 9d Turned wooden goods carried forward, £0 17s 11d Carried forward, £24 12s 4d Interpretations Paddy was rice still in its husk, as it was shipped from India before milling. At about ½d a pound it cost far less than milled rice, and the plantation used 4,306 pounds of it to feed horses and poultry. Rice was the staple grain imported to St Helena from the East. Its use as animal feed shows how little grain the island grew, even on the Company's own land. The milled rice went to the steward, the overseers and the fowls, and 13 pieces of beef fed the overseers, who were Company servants rather than slaves. The plantation account covered the farm and gardens around Plantation House, the Governor's country residence, and the Company's lands at Longwood. The tools issued reflect hard ground. The 19 pickaxes outnumbered the 16 spades, since the island's soil was stony and often had to be broken before it could be dug. The 3 scythes and 6 whetstones show grass being mown for hay, which carried the horses and cattle through the drier months. A shod shovel was a wooden shovel with an iron-edged blade, cheaper than one made wholly of iron. | |
207 | 1769 Brought Over £ 24 19 7 Turners Ware Brought Over £ 17 11 1 Flasket for Sandy Bay Plantation 2 3 10 Labour. Baskets for Plantation House 11 3 9 Birch Brooms do. 3 9 4 Pr. Ox Bows 14 2 2 Yokes for Oxen 1 7 for the Carts 3 16 4 Canvas 9 Yards Ticklenburgs 8 3 Long Cloth 1 Yd. No. 6 9 for ye Dairy Tin Ware viz. 2 Lamps 1 8 4 Watering Pots 13 9 1 Horn Lanthorn 2 11 for Plantation House 18 4 Tar 3 Gallons for the Carts 3 9 Cutlery Ware viz. 2 Budding Knives for Plantation House 2 1 2 Horn Combs for the Groom 5 2 6 Deals 1 Baulk for the Carts 8 10 Cart Wheels 2 Pr. 2 1/2 Ft. high for do. 8 9 1 Oil 1/4 Bought for the Stables 1 7 £ 39 9 | The plantation account continued from a running total of £24 19s 7d and closed at £39 9s 0d. Brought forward, £24 19s 7d Turned and woven goods Turned goods brought forward, £0 17s 11d 1 flasket for the Sandy Bay plantation, £0 2s 3d 10 labourers' baskets for Plantation House, £0 11s 3d 9 birch brooms for Plantation House, £0 3s 9d 4 pairs of ox bows for the carts, £0 14s 2d 2 ox yokes for the carts, £1 7s 0d Total for turned and woven goods, £3 16s 4d 9 yards of ticklenburg canvas for the dairy, £0 8s 3d 1 yard of number 6 long cloth for the dairy, £0 0s 9d Tinware for Plantation House 2 lamps, £0 1s 8d 4 watering cans, £0 13s 9d 1 horn lantern, £0 2s 11d Total for tinware, £0 18s 4d 3 gallons of tar for the carts, £0 3s 9d Cutlery and combs 2 budding knives for Plantation House, £0 2s 1d 2 horn combs for the groom, £0 0s 5d Total for cutlery and combs, £0 2s 6d 1 baulk of timber for the carts, £0 8s 10d 2 pairs of cart wheels, 2½ feet high, for the carts, £8 9s 1d ¼ gallon of purchased oil for the stables, £0 1s 7d Total for the plantation, £39 9s 0d Interpretations The two pairs of cart wheels cost £8 9s 1d, more than a fifth of the plantation's charges for the quarter. They stood only 2½ feet high, far smaller than the wheels of an English farm wagon, which commonly measured 4 or 5 feet. Small wheels kept a laden cart low and stable on the island's steep, narrow roads, where a tall cart would overturn on the bends. The carts were drawn by oxen, not horses, as the yokes and ox bows show. An ox bow was the curved wooden collar that passed under the animal's neck and fixed into the yoke above. Oxen were slower than horses but surer on steep ground and cheaper to feed. The plantation's own paddy went to the horses, which were kept for riding. Budding knives were small, thin-bladed knives for grafting. A bud cut from a good fruit tree was slipped under the bark of a common stock. Their issue to Plantation House shows the Company's gardener improving the orchards there. A flasket was a long, shallow basket with two handles, used for carrying linen or produce. The canvas and long cloth for the dairy were for straining milk and covering cheese and butter. | |
208 | 17 July Hospital Dr. for the following stores Issued from the 1 of April to the 30th of June 1769 Sugar 393 lb 4 18 3 Flour 393 lb 3 13 8 Rice 413 lb 1 6 4 Salt 1 1/2 Bushels 3 3 Tea 29 lb Bohea 1 1 9 Oil viz. 12 Gallns. Bought 3 13 6 1 do. Train 3 3 1/8 do. Linseed 6 3 19 3 Turners Ware viz. 12 Wood Bowls 12 9 12 Platters 13 9 1 Hair Broom 2 3 1/4 1 Mop 1 3 1/4 2 Birch Brooms 10 1 Scrubing Brush 2 3 1/4 1 13 2 Iron Ware viz. 2 Small Frying Pans 4 1/4 1 Large do. 4 2 1 Wood Ax 2 10 1 Ash Helve 7 1 Hand Hatchet 1 8 1/4 13 4 Pewter 2 Close stool Pans 11 1 Glass ware 20 Sqr. 8 by 10 10 5 China ware 16 Saucers 4 4 Cotton wick 1 lb 2 10 Paint 4 lb Whiting 2 Nails 1/4 Glaz. Brads 5 Tin ware 1 Quart Saucepan 6 £ 19 9 | A new account charged the hospital with the stores issued to it between 1 April and 30 June 1769. 393 pounds of sugar, £4 18s 3d 393 pounds of flour, £3 13s 8d 413 pounds of rice, £1 6s 4d 1 bushel of salt, £0 3s 5d 29 pounds of bohea tea, £1 1s 9d Oil 12 gallons of purchased oil, £3 13s 6d 1 gallon of train oil, £0 5s 3d ⅛ gallon of linseed oil, £0 0s 6d Total for oil, £3 19s 3d Turned wooden goods and brushes 12 wooden bowls, £0 12s 9d 12 platters, £0 13s 9d 1 hair broom, £0 2s 3¼d 1 mop, £0 1s 3¼d 2 birch brooms, £0 0s 10d 1 scrubbing brush, £0 2s 3¼d Total for turned wooden goods and brushes, £1 13s 2d Ironmongery 2 small frying pans, £0 4s 0½d 1 large frying pan, £0 4s 2d 1 wood axe, £0 2s 10d 1 ash handle, £0 0s 7d 1 hand hatchet, £0 1s 8¾d Total for ironmongery, £0 13s 4d 2 pewter commode pans, £0 11s 1d 20 panes of window glass, 8 by 10 inches, £0 10s 5d 16 china saucers, £0 4s 4d 1 pound of cotton wick, £0 2s 10d ¼ pound of whiting, £0 0s 2d ½ pound of glazier's brads, £0 0s 5d 1 quart saucepan, £0 0s 6d Total for the hospital, £19 0s 9d Interpretations Sugar was the costliest single item in the hospital's stores, at 393 pounds and £4 18s 3d for the quarter. Flour came to the same weight. Together with the rice and tea, they made up the sick diet, the soft and sweetened food given to patients who could not manage salt meat. Gruels, rice puddings, sago and sweetened tea were the standard nourishment of an eighteenth-century military hospital. Sugar was also thought to have medicinal value of its own, and it went into many of the syrups and electuaries made up at the doctor's shop. The hospital drew no beef or arrack in this account. Patients' meat and spirits were probably still charged to the garrison, while the hospital met only the extra cost of nursing them. The 2 pewter commode pans fitted into close stools, the boxed seats placed beside the beds of patients too ill to walk. Pewter was chosen because it could be scoured clean and did not crack like earthenware. The 12 gallons of purchased oil and the gallon of train oil kept the wards lit through the night. | |
209 | 1769 Boats Dr. for the following stores Issued from the 1 of April to the 30 of June 1769 Cordage 3764 lb for the Boats in General 62 14 8 Candles 1/2 for the Use of the Long Bt. 1 1 Pitch and Tar viz. 1 Barrl. Pitch 1 2 3 3 Barrls. Tar 3 6 16 Rozin 2 4 Long Boats 4 10 7 Arrack 9 1/2 Galls. for Men Emp. Launs. and haul. up Long Boats 1 15 8 Deals viz. 2 Euffers 6 3 1/2 2 1/2 Elm Boards 9 11 1/2 3 Single Deals 10 2 Double do. 6 3 Long Boats 1 12 6 Oil viz. 7 1/2 Gallons Bought 2 4 10 1 1/2 do. Train 5 4 do. 2 10 2 Nails viz. 10 lb 20 Nails 3 9 2 2 do. 1 9 1/2 26 6 do. 14 7 1/2 16 10 do. 7 4 2 3 do. 1 6 for the Boats in Genl. 1 9 Twine 12 Skeins Long Boats 6 Grapnails 3 do. 3 19 10 Iron Pots 1 weight 13 lb do. 2 10 Oars 13 For Fishing Boats £ 4 15 9 Carried Over £ 80 16 1 | A new account charged the Company's boats with the stores issued to them between 1 April and 30 June 1769. 3,764 pounds of cordage for the boats in general, £62 14s 8d ½ pound of candles for the longboat, £0 1s 1d Pitch and tar for the longboats 1 barrel of pitch, £1 2s 3d 3 barrels of tar, £3 6s 0d 16 pounds of rosin, £0 2s 4d Total for pitch and tar, £4 10s 7d 9½ gallons of arrack for the men launching and hauling up the longboats, £1 13s 8d Timber for the longboats 2 spars, £0 6s 3½d 2½ elm boards, £0 9s 11½d 3 single deals, £0 10s 0d 2 double deals, £0 6s 3d Total for timber, £1 12s 6d Oil for the longboats 7⅞ gallons of purchased oil, £2 4s 10d 1⅞ gallons of train oil, £0 5s 4d Total for oil, £2 10s 2d Nails for the boats in general 10 pounds of twentypenny nails, £0 3s 9d 2 pounds of twopenny nails, £0 1s 9½d 26 pounds of sixpenny nails, £0 14s 7½d 16 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 7s 4d 2 pounds of threepenny nails, £0 1s 6d Total for nails, £1 9s 0d 12 skeins of twine for the longboats, £0 6s 0d 3 grapnels for the longboats, £3 19s 10d 1 iron pot, weighing 15 pounds, for the longboats, £0 2s 10d 13 oars for the fishing boats, £4 15s 9d Carried forward, £80 16s 1d Interpretations The boats drew 3,764 pounds of cordage in a single quarter, costing £62 14s 8d. That was more than any other single issue in the Company's own accounts apart from the soldiers' clothing and the slaves' salt meat. St Helena had no harbour. Every cask of water, every bale of stores and every passenger passed between the ships in the road and the landing place at James Town by boat. The longboats worked in a heavy swell, moored to buoys and hauled in and out by warps, and rope wore through quickly against the rocks and the landing steps. The cordage bill measured the cost of running a port without a quay. The arrack issued to the men who launched and hauled up the longboats points to the same conditions. The boats were not left afloat but dragged up out of the surf after each day's work, which took many hands. A dram at the end of the job was the customary reward for that heavy and wet labour. Grapnels were small iron anchors with four or five curved arms, used to hold a boat off the rocks while it was loaded. At over £1 6s each, they were among the dearest pieces of iron in the stores. | |
210 | 17 July Brought Over £ 80 16 1 Blocks viz. 1 double Block with Brass Sheaves 1 Single do. do. do. 7 7 1/2 5 Double do. of 8 Inches 3 Single do. of 8 do. 14 2 1/2 Long Boats 1 1 10 Iron Ware viz. 25 Bolt Rope Needles 2 7 1/4 1 Hand Hatchet 1 8 1/2 2 Iron Chains 4 12 6 1 Small Fry. Pan 2 1/4 do. 4 18 10 Turners Ware viz. 6 Birch Brooms 2 6 2 Wood Bowls 2 1 1/2 2 Platters 2 2 1/2 Long Boats 6 10 Leather 5 lb Sole for the fishing Boats 2 11 Braziers Ware 1 large Brass Cock for the Long Boats 3 3 Canvas 3 Ps. English for making Sails for the Long Boats 6 14 9 Tin Ware 2 Lamps L. Boat 1 8 Paint 20 Ven. Red dry for do. £ 9 2 £ 94 15 6 | The boats account continued from a running total of £80 16s 1d and closed at £94 15s 6d. Brought forward, £80 16s 1d Blocks for the longboats 1 double block and 1 single block, both with brass sheaves, £0 7s 7½d 5 double blocks of 8 inches and 3 single blocks of 8 inches, £0 14s 2½d Total for blocks, £1 1s 10d Ironmongery for the longboats 25 boltrope needles, £0 2s 7¼d 1 hand hatchet, £0 1s 8½d 2 iron chains, £4 12s 6d 1 small frying pan, £0 2s 0¼d Total for ironmongery, £4 18s 10d Turned wooden goods and brooms for the longboats 6 birch brooms, £0 2s 6d 2 wooden bowls, £0 2s 1½d 2 platters, £0 2s 2½d Total for turned wooden goods and brooms, £0 6s 10d 3 pounds of sole leather for the fishing boats, £0 2s 11d 1 large brass tap for the longboats, £0 3s 5d 3 pieces of English canvas for making sails for the longboats, £6 14s 9d 2 lamps for the longboat, £0 1s 8d 20 pounds of Venetian red, dry, for the longboats, £0 9s 2d Total for the boats, £94 15s 6d Interpretations The canvas and the boltrope needles show that the longboats' sails were cut and sewn on the island rather than bought ready-made. A boltrope was the rope stitched around the edge of a sail to take the strain, and the heavy three-sided needles were made to drive through both canvas and rope. Three full pieces of English canvas, at £6 14s 9d, would make a complete new suit of sails for one or two longboats. The two iron chains, at £4 12s 6d, were probably moorings. Chain did not chafe through on the rocky bottom of the road as hemp cables did, which made it worth its high price for boats left riding at their buoys. Blocks with brass sheaves ran more smoothly and wore less than those with sheaves of lignum vitae, the usual hard wood, and they were kept for the heaviest lifts. The large brass tap fitted the water casks or the tank carried in a longboat. Watering ships in the road was among the boats' chief tasks, and a tap let the water be drawn off at the ship's side without lifting each cask aboard. The sole leather for the fishing boats was for leathering oars, wrapping the shaft where it worked against the rowlock to stop wear and noise. | |
211 | 1769 Mundens Point Fortification Dr. for the following stores Issued from the 1 of April to the 30 of June 1769 Lead 57 lb Sheet 11 10 Cordage 1633 lb 27 11 Arrack 8 Gallons 1 8 4 Rice 9 lb 8 Pork 1 Ps. 2 8 for the Plasters Slaves Deals viz. 13 double Deals 2 7 1/2 10 single do. 1 12 2 Euffers 6 3 1/2 3 18 11 Oil viz. 1/2 Gallns. Bought 3 1 3/4 1 do. Train 3 2 3/4 5 do. Linseed 19 9 1/2 1 do. Oil of Turpentine 5 5 1 11 5 Turners Ware viz. 2 Birch Brooms 10 10 Labour. Baskets 11 3 1 Plaistr. Brush 1 1 3 Wood Bowls 3 2 1/4 3 Platters 3 3 3/4 19 8 Iron Ware viz. 1 Spade 3 9 1 Pad Lock 1 6 1/4 1 Small Frying Pan 2 1/4 2 Plaisr. Trowels 4 10 1/2 22 Ash Helves 12 10 Iron Ware Carried Over £ 1 5 Carried Over 36 4 6 1/2 | A new account charged the fortification at Munden's Point with the stores issued for it between 1 April and 30 June 1769. 57 pounds of sheet lead, £0 11s 10d 1,633 pounds of cordage, £27 11s 0d Provisions for the plasterers' slaves 8 gallons of arrack, £1 8s 4d 9 pounds of rice, £0 0s 8d 1 piece of pork, £0 2s 8d Timber 13 double deals, £2 0s 7¼d 16 single deals, £1 12s 0d 2 spars, £0 6s 3½d Total for timber, £3 18s 11d Oil ½ gallon of purchased oil, £0 3s 1¾d 1 gallon of train oil, £0 3s 2¾d 5 gallons of linseed oil, £0 19s 7½d 1 gallon of oil of turpentine, £0 5s 5d Total for oil, £1 11s 5d Turned and woven goods 2 birch brooms, £0 0s 10d 10 labourers' baskets, £0 11s 3d 1 plasterer's brush, £0 1s 1d 3 wooden bowls, £0 3s 2¼d 3 platters, £0 3s 3¾d Total for turned and woven goods, £0 19s 8d Ironmongery 1 spade, £0 3s 9d 1 padlock, £0 1s 6¼d 1 small frying pan, £0 2s 0¼d 2 plasterer's trowels, £0 4s 10½d 22 ash handles, £0 12s 10d Ironmongery carried forward, £1 5s 0d Carried forward, £36 4s 6½d Interpretations Munden's Point guarded the eastern arm of James's Bay, where its batteries covered the anchorage and the approach to the town. Mitchell had drawn a plan of the works there among those he handed over in June 1769. This account shows the point under active construction in the same quarter. Cordage made up most of the cost, at 1,633 pounds and £27 11s 0d. The batteries stood on a steep, rocky headland, and stone, lime, timber and guns had to be hauled up the cliff face by tackle from boats below. The rope was consumed as working gear, not built into the fort. The plasterers' slaves had their own small issue of arrack, rice and pork, charged to the fortification rather than to the general account for the Company's slaves. Charging their food to the works where they laboured let the Company see the full cost of each project. The plasterer's trowels and brush, with the linseed oil and turpentine, show the walls and gun platforms being rendered and finished against the weather. | |
212 | 17 July Brought Over £ 36 4 6 Iron Ware Brought Over 1 5 4 Plaistr. Sieves 18 5 1 Wood Ax 2 10 3 Pick Axes 10 2 Maul Hammers 19 2 1/2 9 Pick Ax Helves 3 3 1 Large Frying Pan 4 1 1/4 1 Hand Hatchet 1 8 1/2 1 Claw Hammer 1 4 1/2 1 Two Ft. Rule 1 1/2 2 Socket Heading Chizels 1 3 4 Firmer do. 1 3 12 Double Worm Gimblets 2 1 1/2 2 Spike do. 7 1/4 4 14 6 Lines viz. 13 No. 4 Lines 5 7 1/2 6 No. 2 do. 1 8 1/2 7 4 Iron 218 lb 2 5 5 Tin Ware 3 Watering Pots 17 2 Nails 4 lb 10 1 6 Paint viz. 40 Red Lead 9 2 20 lb Ven. Red mixed 4 7 6 lb Blue Black 3 6 1 2 3 Tar 2 Gallns. 6 Blocks 2 double of 8 Inches 3 7 Iron Pots 2 weight 42 lb £ 7 10 £ 46 10 1 | The account for the fortification at Munden's Point continued from a running total of £36 4s 6d and closed at £46 10s 1d. Brought forward, £36 4s 6d Ironmongery Ironmongery brought forward, £1 5s 0d 4 plasterer's sieves, £0 18s 5d 1 wood axe, £0 2s 10d 3 pickaxes, £0 10s 0d 2 maul hammers, £0 19s 2½d 9 pickaxe handles, £0 5s 3d 1 large frying pan, £0 4s 1¼d 1 hand hatchet, £0 1s 8½d 1 claw hammer, £0 1s 4½d 1 two-foot rule, £0 1s 1½d 2 socket-headed chisels, £0 1s 3d 4 firmer chisels, £0 1s 3d 12 double-worm gimlets, £0 2s 1½d 2 spike gimlets, £0 0s 7¾d Total for ironmongery, £4 14s 6d Lines 13 number 4 lines, £0 5s 7½d 6 number 2 lines, £0 1s 8½d Total for lines, £0 7s 4d 218 pounds of bar iron, £2 5s 5d 3 watering cans, £0 17s 2d 4 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 1s 6d Paint 40 pounds of red lead, £0 9s 2d 20 pounds of Venetian red, mixed, £0 9s 7d 6 pounds of blue black, £0 3s 6d Total for paint, £1 2s 3d 2 gallons of tar, £0 6s 0d 2 double blocks of 8 inches, £0 3s 7d 2 iron pots, weighing 42 pounds, £0 7s 10d Total for Munden's Point, £46 10s 1d Interpretations The plasterer's sieves and the watering cans belonged to the same task as the trowels and brush on the previous page. Lime for mortar and render had to be sifted free of lumps and unburnt stone before it was mixed, or it would blow and crack the face of the wall once laid. Watering cans kept the fresh render damp while it set, since lime plaster dried too fast in sun and wind and lost its strength. The south-east trade wind blew steadily across Munden's Point for most of the year, which made slow curing hard to achieve on that exposed headland. The red lead and Venetian red were for the gun carriages and ironwork of the batteries. Red lead in particular protected iron against rust in the salt air. Blue black was a fine black pigment made from charred vine twigs or similar plant matter, which gave a cool, bluish tone. It was probably used to paint the guns themselves, which were normally kept black. | |
213 | 1769 Fortifications Dr. for the following stores Issued from the 1st of April to the 30 of June 1769 Cordage 2044 lb 34 1 Iron Ware viz. 3 Iron Ridles 1 15 4 27 Ash Helves 15 9 21 Iron Shovels 1 15 10 2 Wood Axes 5 8 2 Small Fry. Pans 4 1/2 1 Claw Hammer 1 4 1/2 3 Brick Layers Trowels 3 4 1/2 1 Pad Lock 1 6 1/4 2 Stone Saws 10 3 1/2 2 Stone Masons Mallets 3 11 1 Masons Hamer 3 3 1/4 2 Maul do. 19 2 1/2 2 Pr. Stone Saws Heads 10 11 4 Pick Ax Helves 2 4 2 Maul Hammers do. 1 2 2 lb Tinnd Tacks 4 6 4 Iron Crows 2 6 1 Pr. Sheep Shears 1 6 1/2 Repairs for the Works in James's Valley Sandy Bay and Addl. Use for the said Works 13 7 Turners Ware viz. 24 Labour. Baskets for James's Vall. and Sandy Bay 1 7 10 Paint Brushes for painting ye Lines 3 1 Wood Bowl 1 1/4 2 Platters 2 2 1/4 for Sandy Bay Quarry 1 15 3 Iron Pots 6 weight 267 2 10 1 Cart Wheels 12 Wheelbarr. Sandy Bay 9 3 Tin ware 1 Watering Pot £ 3 5 Carried Over £ 60 15 4 1/2 | A new account charged the general fortifications with the stores issued for them between 1 April and 30 June 1769. 2,044 pounds of cordage, £34 1s 0d Ironmongery for repairs and new work at James's Valley and Sandy Bay 3 iron riddles, £1 15s 4d 27 ash handles, £0 15s 9d 21 iron shovels, £4 15s 10d 2 wood axes, £0 5s 8d 2 small frying pans, £0 4s 0½d 1 claw hammer, £0 1s 4½d 3 bricklayer's trowels, £0 3s 4½d 1 padlock, £0 1s 6¼d 2 stone saws, £0 10s 3½d 2 stonemason's mallets, £0 3s 11d 1 mason's hammer, £0 3s 3¾d 2 maul hammers, £0 19s 2½d 2 pairs of stone saw heads, £0 10s 11d 4 pickaxe handles, £0 2s 4d 2 maul hammer handles, £0 1s 2d 2 stock locks, £0 4s 6d 4 iron crowbars, £2 0s 6d 1 pair of [...] shears, £0 1s 6½d Total for ironmongery, £13 0s 7d Turned and woven goods 24 labourers' baskets for James's Valley and Sandy Bay, £1 7s 0d 10 paint brushes for painting gun carriages, £0 3s 0d 1 wooden bowl for the Sandy Bay quarry, £0 1s 0¼d 2 platters for the Sandy Bay quarry, £0 2s 2¼d Total for turned and woven goods, £1 13s 3d 6 iron pots, weighing 267 pounds, £2 10s 1d 12 wheelbarrow wheels for Sandy Bay, £0 9s 5d 1 watering can, £0 3s 5d Carried forward, £60 15s 4d Interpretations Sandy Bay lay on the south coast of the island, at the foot of a deep valley where a landing was possible on a calm day. It was one of the few places an enemy could put men ashore, and Mitchell had drawn two separate plans of its works before he sailed in June 1769. This account shows the Company opening a quarry there to supply the batteries on the spot. Stone saws, masons' mallets, crowbars and 12 wheelbarrow wheels were issued for Sandy Bay. Building with stone cut on site spared the labour of hauling every block over the island's central ridge from James Town. Riddles were large coarse sieves for screening sand and gravel for mortar. Iron crows were heavy crowbars, used to prise blocks out of the quarry face and lever them into place on the walls. The cordage for the fortifications came to 2,044 pounds and £34 1s 0d. With the 1,633 pounds at Munden's Point, over 3,600 pounds of rope went into the defence works in a single quarter. That matches the 3,764 pounds used by all the boats over the same months. | |
214 | 17 July Brought Over £ 60 15 4 Deals viz. 2 Single Deals 4 12 Double do. 1 17 6 10 Euffers 1 11 5 4 Baulks for Rais. Sheers at Banks's 1 13 4 5 8 3 Twine 10 Sk. for Artill. Use and mending Lime Bags 5 Arrack 40 Gallns. for men emp. at Fortif. 7 1 8 Pork 33 Ps. for the Plant. Slaves at do. 7 2 5 Rice 477 lb for do. 1 11 5 Paint viz. 32 White Lead dry 16 3 25 Blue Black 14 7 1 Copperas 11 1/4 20 Whiting 10 25 Black Lead 1 8 1 1/4 28 Red do. 6 5 2 Umber 4 12 Chalk 3 96 Stone Color 2 6 for painting Gun Carriages at Banks and on the Line 5 13 9 Nails viz. 3 lb 4 1 10 1/4 3 10 1 4 1/4 6 40 2 3 for Sandy Bay and Banks's 5 6 Lines viz. 16 No. 4 Lines 6 6 2 do. 1 8 1 Deep Sea do. 4 10 for Sandy Bay and Artillery Use £ 12 6 Carried Over £ 88 15 10 | The fortifications account continued from a running total of £60 15s 4d. Brought forward, £60 15s 4d Timber 2 single deals, £0 4s 0d 12 double deals, £1 17s 6d 10 spars, £1 11s 5d 4 baulks of timber for raising sheer legs at Banks's, £1 15s 4d Total for timber, £5 8s 3d 10 pounds of twine for the artillery and for mending lime bags, £0 5s 0d 40 gallons of arrack for the men working on the fortifications, £7 1s 8d 53 pieces of pork for the plasterers' slaves at the fortifications, £7 2s 5d 477 pounds of rice for the plasterers' slaves at the fortifications, £1 11s 5d Paint for the gun carriages at Banks's and on the Lines 32 pounds of white lead, dry, £0 16s 3d 25 pounds of blue black, £0 14s 7d 1 pound of copperas, £0 0s 1¾d 20 pounds of whiting, £0 0s 10d 25 pounds of black lead, £1 8s 1¼d 28 pounds of red lead, £0 6s 5d 2 pounds of umber, £0 0s 4d 12 pounds of chalk, £0 0s 3d 96 pounds of stone colour, £2 6s 0d Total for paint, £5 13s 9d Nails for Sandy Bay and Banks's 3 pounds of fourpenny nails, £0 1s 10¾d 3 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 1s 4¼d 6 pounds of fortypenny nails, £0 2s 3d Total for nails, £0 5s 6d Lines for Sandy Bay and the artillery 16 number 4 lines, £0 6s 0d 6 number 2 lines, £0 1s 8d 1 deep-sea line, £0 4s 10d Total for lines, £0 12s 6d Carried forward, £88 15s 10d Interpretations Sheer legs were two or three heavy spars lashed together at the top to form a tall frame, with a tackle hung from the head for lifting great weights. The 4 baulks issued to raise sheers at Banks's show guns being hoisted at that battery, either onto new platforms or out of old carriages for remounting. The large paint issue for the gun carriages at Banks's and on the Lines fits the same work. Banks's was among the works Mitchell had surveyed, and his written remarks on the island's defences, handed over in June 1769, probably shaped what was done first. Black lead was graphite, ground fine and rubbed onto the iron of guns and shot to give a dark, polished finish that slowed rust. Its cost of £1 8s 1¼d for 25 pounds made it the dearest pigment on the list after the stone colour. Umber was a brown earth from Cyprus and Italy, used to tone down other colours. The stone colour, at 96 pounds, was for the carriages themselves, painted a pale drab so as to match the masonry around them. Lime bags were sacks for carrying slaked lime from the kilns to the walls, and the twine kept them in repair. | |
215 | 1769 Brought Over £ 88 15 10 Oil viz. 27 1/2 Gallns. Linseed 5 8 10 3/4 do. Oil of Turpentine 3 10 1/2 to Paint Gun Carr. 1 Bottle Florence Artillery Use 3 6 1/4 Gall. Train 9 1/4 1/2 do. Bought 3 1 1/4 for Sandy Bay 6 3 Cutlery ware 3 Pallet Knives for the Painters 2 6 Iron 363 lb for the Main Pt. and Sandy Bay 3 16 Blocks viz. 2 Iron bound Catts 12 10 2 Double Blocks of 8 Inches 3 7 1/2 2 Single do. of 8 do. 2 1/2 for Hoist. up Guns at Banks's 18 6 Lead 150 lb Sheet for Banks's 1 11 3 Bunting viz. 4 Ps. Red 6 1 1 4 Ps. Blue 3 1 1 4 Ps. White 4 7 9 to make a Flag for the main Fort 13 9 11 Canvas 9 Yds. Osenbrigs for do. 7 1 Thread 3 lb Colord do. 9 4 Candles 1/2 lb for waxing Thread to mend Sand Bags £ 1 1 £ 117 11 9 St. Helena 30 June 1769 E. Excepted James Powell Storekeeper | The fortifications account continued from a running total of £88 15s 10d and closed at £117 11s 9d. James Powell, the storekeeper, signed the whole collection of issues at St Helena on 30 June 1769, with the usual reservation that any errors could still be corrected. Brought forward, £88 15s 10d Oil 27½ gallons of linseed oil for painting gun carriages, £5 8s 10d ¾ gallon of oil of turpentine for painting gun carriages, £0 3s 10½d 1 bottle of Florence oil for the artillery, £0 3s 6d ¼ gallon of train oil for Sandy Bay, £0 0s 9¾d ½ gallon of purchased oil for Sandy Bay, £0 3s 1¼d Total for oil, £6 0s 3d 3 palette knives for the painters, £0 2s 6d 365 pounds of iron for the main fort and Sandy Bay, £3 16s 0d Blocks for hoisting guns at Banks's 2 iron-bound cat blocks, £0 12s 10d 2 double blocks of 8 inches, £0 3s 7½d 2 single blocks of 8 inches, £0 2s 0½d Total for blocks, £0 18s 6d 150 pounds of sheet lead for Banks's, £1 11s 3d Bunting to make a flag for the main fort 4 pieces of red bunting, £6 1s 1d 4 pieces of blue bunting, £5 1s 1d 4 pieces of white bunting, £4 7s 9d Total for bunting, £15 9s 11d 9 yards of osnaburg for the flag, £0 7s 1d 3 pounds of coloured thread for the flag, £0 9s 4d ½ pound of candles for waxing thread to mend sandbags, £0 1s 1d Total for the fortifications, £117 11s 9d Interpretations The new flag for the main fort was the most costly single item in the fortifications account. Its bunting cost £15 9s 11d, more than all the paint for the gun carriages. Twelve whole pieces of bunting in red, blue and white made a very large flag, probably the Union or the Company's striped ensign. It flew from the Castle above James Town and was the first sign of the island's allegiance that a ship saw on approaching the road. At a station visited by Dutch, French and Portuguese ships as well as English, a flag that could be read clearly at sea served as a statement of possession. The osnaburg was for the hoist, the strong band along the edge where the flag was bent to its halyard. A cat block was a large, heavy block fitted with a hook, used on board ship to hoist the anchor up to the cathead. Its iron binding let it bear the weight of a gun being swung up onto the battery at Banks's. The candles were for waxing thread, which made it stronger and kept it from rotting. With this thread the sandbags of the batteries were mended. Powell signed the accounts with "errors excepted", a standard reservation in merchants' and Company accounts. It allowed any mistake in the figures to be put right later without the signer being held to the error. He was also a member of the arrack society set up in May 1769. As storekeeper, he would have seen every gallon the Company issued from its own stock outside the society's monopoly. | |
216 | 17 July List of the Honorable Company's Officers and Servants upon the Island St. Helena with their Several Salarys Diet Money etc. for the Quarter ending the 30 June 1769 viz. John Skottowe Esqr. Govr. Salary 125 do. Augmentation from the 6 May 15 6 10 do. Allowance for Guards 31 14 9 172 1 7 Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lt. Govr. from 6 May Salary 17 13 5 do. Diet Money from do. 15 1 4 32 14 9 Mr. Matthew Purling of Council Salary 15 do. Augmentation from 6 May 10 14 10 do. Accountant 17 10 do. Diet Money 15 do. Gratuity 15 73 4 10 Archibald Mitchell Engineer to 10 June the day he resigned Salary 38 18 1 do. Diet Money to do. 19 9 do. House Rent to do. 1 18 11 60 6 William Bearcroft Chaplain Salary 40 do. Diet Money 15 55 Matthew Bazett Secy. Salary 17 10 do. Augmentation from 6 May 6 2 9 do. Diet Money 15 do. House Rent 2 10 41 2 9 James Powell Storekeepr. Salary 17 10 do. Augmentation from 6 May 6 2 9 do. Diet Money 15 do. House Rent 2 10 41 2 9 £ 475 12 2 Carried Over | The Company listed its officers and servants on St Helena with their salaries, table allowances and other payments for the quarter ending 30 June 1769. John Skottowe, Governor Salary, £125 0s 0d Increase from 6 May, £15 6s 10d Allowance for servants, £31 14s 9d Total for John Skottowe, £172 1s 7d Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor from 6 May Salary, £17 13s 5d Table allowance from 6 May, £15 1s 4d Total for Daniel Corneille, £32 14s 9d Matthew Purling, member of Council Salary, £15 0s 0d Increase from 6 May, £10 14s 10d Pay as accountant, £17 10s 0d Table allowance, £15 0s 0d Gratuity, £15 0s 0d Total for Matthew Purling, £73 4s 10d Archibald Mitchell, engineer, to 10 June, the day of his resignation Salary, £38 18s 1d Table allowance, £19 9s 0d House rent, £1 18s 11d Total for Archibald Mitchell, £60 6s 0d William Beacroft, chaplain Salary, £40 0s 0d Table allowance, £15 0s 0d Total for William Beacroft, £55 0s 0d Matthew Bazett senior Salary, £17 10s 0d Increase from 6 May, £6 2s 9d Table allowance, £15 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Matthew Bazett senior, £41 2s 9d James Powell, storekeeper Salary, £17 10s 0d Increase from 6 May, £6 2s 9d Table allowance, £15 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for James Powell, £41 2s 9d Carried forward, £475 12s 2d Interpretations Several salary increases ran from 6 May 1769, the date the Speke arrived with Daniel Corneille and the Court's despatches. The Court evidently raised the pay of its senior servants in the same packet that sent out the new Lieutenant Governor. The Council dated each increase from the day the orders reached the island, not from the start of the quarter or the date the Court wrote. That choice cost the servants about five weeks' extra pay. It followed the Company's usual rule that a change in pay took effect only when the order was received at the station. Mitchell's pay ended on 10 June 1769, the day he surrendered his commission in the middle of his quarrel with the Governor and Council. He remained on the island until 17 June, when he sailed in the Horsendon. The account stopped his salary, table allowance and house rent at the moment of resignation and gave him nothing for the last week. A man who had challenged the Governor and Council to satisfaction could expect no generosity from them. Diet money was a cash allowance paid in place of a seat at the Governor's public table, at £15 a quarter for each senior servant. Purling drew pay under five separate heads, as councillor, accountant and gratuity among them, which brought his quarter to £73 4s 10d. Holding several offices at once was the normal way for a Company servant at a small station to build an income worth the posting. The Governor's allowance for servants, £31 14s 9d, paid for the staff of the Castle household, alongside the slaves in livery whose clothing was charged to the slaves' account. | |
217 | 1769 Brought Over £ 495 12 8 William Wrangham Factor Salary 7 10 do. Augmentation from 6 May 4 12 do. Diet Money 10 do. House Rent 2 10 do. Assistant to the Governor 10 do. for carrying on the Business of the Paymastr. from 1st April 12 10 47 2 Jonathan Doveton Factor Salary 7 10 do. Augmentation from 6th May 3 1 5 do. Diet Money 10 do. Assistant to the Storekeeper 5 25 11 5 Brickamicus Wright Factor 7 10 do. Augmentation from 6th May 3 1 5 do. Diet Money 10 do. House Rent 2 10 do. Collector of the Customs on Spirituous imported from 6 May at £30 p Annm. 7 13 5 30 14 10 John Goodwin Writer Salary 5 do. Augmentation from 6 May 1 10 8 do. Diet Money 10 16 10 8 George Bazett Writer Salary 5 do. Augmentation from 6 May 1 10 8 do. Diet Money 10 do. House Rent 2 10 do. Clerk of the Works 6 16 10 1/2 25 17 6 1/2 James Desfountain Writer from 19th June Saly. 19 9 do. Diet Money from do. 1 6 3 2 6 Wm. Webbr. Doveton Writer from 19th June Saly. 19 9 do. Diet Money from do. 1 6 3 2 6 Robert Barclay Surgeon Salary 9 15 do. Diet Money 10 do. House Rent 2 10 £ 22 5 Carried Over £ 669 6 1 1/2 | The list of the Company's officers and servants continued from a running total of £475 12s 8d. Brought forward, £475 12s 8d William Wrangham, factor Salary, £7 10s 0d Increase from 6 May, £4 12s 0d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Pay as assistant to the Governor, £10 0s 0d Pay for conducting the paymaster's business from 1 April, £12 10s 0d Total for William Wrangham, £47 2s 0d Jonathan Doveton, factor Salary, £7 10s 0d Increase from 6 May, £3 1s 5d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d Pay as assistant to the storekeeper, £5 0s 0d Total for Jonathan Doveton, £25 11s 5d Bartholomew Wright, factor Salary, £7 10s 0d Increase from 6 May, £3 1s 5d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Pay as collector of customs on imported spirits from 6 May, at £30 a year, £7 13s 5d Total for Bartholomew Wright, £30 14s 10d John Goodwin, writer Salary, £5 0s 0d Increase from 6 May, £1 10s 8d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d Total for John Goodwin, £16 10s 8d George Bazett, writer Salary, £5 0s 0d Increase from 6 May, £1 10s 8d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Pay as clerk of the works, £6 16s 10¾d Total for George Bazett, £25 17s 6¾d James Desfountain, writer from 19 June Salary, £0 19s 9d Table allowance from 19 June, £1 6s 3d Total for James Desfountain, £2 6s 0d William Webber Doveton, writer from 19 June Salary, £0 19s 9d Table allowance from 19 June, £1 6s 3d Total for William Webber Doveton, £2 6s 0d Robert Barclay, surgeon Salary, £9 15s 0d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Robert Barclay, £22 5s 0d Carried forward, £648 6s 1¾d Interpretations Wrangham's pay for the paymaster's business ran from 1 April 1769, while every salary increase on the list ran only from 6 May. The Council could have dated his new duty from the day it formally gave him the office. Instead it reached back to the start of the quarter, the date Kirkpatrick's dismissal took effect. Wrangham had evidently carried on the paymaster's work from that day while the Council waited for the Court's orders. Paying him from 1 April recognised the work actually done and left no gap in the office. His total of £47 2s 0d, under six heads, made him the best-paid servant below the Council. Bartholomew Wright's pay as collector of customs on spirits also ran from 6 May 1769, the day the Speke arrived, at £30 a year. The duty of 3d a gallon and the arrack society were not settled until 15 and 29 May. The Court's orders for the duty had evidently come out in the Speke, and the Council dated the collector's office from their arrival, not from the later orders that put them into effect. James Desfountain and William Webber Doveton were paid from 19 June 1769, the day they were appointed writers, for 12 days of the quarter. A writer was the lowest grade of Company servant, a clerk serving his apprenticeship, with a salary of £20 a year. The table allowance made up most of a writer's income and was the real means of support for a young man starting in the service. | |
218 | 17 July Brought Over £ 668 6 1 1/2 John Richard Surgeons Mate Salary 6 5 do. Diet Money 10 do. House Rent 2 10 18 15 Richard Beale Judge Advocate Salary 12 10 do. Schoolmaster 7 10 20 Phillip Mahoney Clerk of the Peace Salary 27 10 Thomas Bazett superintendt. of the Works to the 9th June at 5/ p day 10 13 do. from 10th June at £100 p Annm. 5 9 7 16 2 7 John Bazett Superintt. of the Compys. Works to the 8 June 4 3 6 Hugh Jones do. from 9th 5 16 6 10 Samuel Alexander Overseer Salary 7 10 John Howall do. 15 Willm. Holbrook Master Mason 30 John Preston do. Mate 20 John Robinson Carpenter 25 James Fogg do. Mate 12 10 John Lancaster Cooper 15 John Robins Armourer 15 Solomon Morris Master at Arms 6 5 Robert Lark Steward 7 10 Thomas Yates Clerk of the Church 5 John Joyce Clock and Instrument cleaner 1 5 Robert Allum Groom 2 John Crosnall Patron of the L Boats 7 10 John Price Marshal and Goaler 7 10 To the drum major for instructg. young Drum. 1 John Lemon Pensioner 3 8 3 £ 942 1 11 1/2 Carried Over | The list of the Company's officers and servants continued from a running total of £668 6s 1½d and reached £942 1s 10½d. Brought forward, £668 6s 1½d John Pritchard, surgeon's mate Salary, £6 5s 0d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for John Pritchard, £18 15s 0d Richard Beale Salary as judge advocate, £12 10s 0d Pay as schoolmaster, £7 10s 0d Total for Richard Beale, £20 0s 0d Phillip Mahoney, clerk of the peace, salary, £27 10s 0d Thomas Bazett, superintendent of the works Pay to 9 June at 5s a day, £10 13s 0d Pay from 10 June at £100 a year, £5 9s 7d Total for Thomas Bazett, £16 2s 7d Superintendents of the carpenter slaves John Bazett, to 8 June, £4 3s 6d Hugh Jones, from 9 June, £5 16s 6d Total for the superintendents of the carpenter slaves, £10 0s 0d Samuel Alexander, overseer, salary, £7 10s 0d John Howell, overseer, salary, £15 0s 0d William Halnock, master mason, £30 0s 0d John Preston, mason's mate, £20 0s 0d John Robinson, carpenter, £25 0s 0d James Fogg, carpenter's mate, £12 10s 0d John [...], cooper, £15 0s 0d John Robins, armourer, £15 0s 0d Solomon Morris, master at arms, £6 5s 0d Robert Leck, steward, £7 10s 0d Thomas Yates, clerk of the church, £5 0s 0d John Joyce, keeper and cleaner of clocks and instruments, £1 5s 0d Robert Allum, groom, £2 0s 0d John Cresnell, master of the longboats, £7 10s 0d John Price, marshal and gaoler, £7 10s 0d The drum major, for teaching the young drummers, £1 0s 0d John Lemon, pensioner, £3 8s 3d Carried forward, £942 1s 10½d Interpretations Thomas Bazett was paid by the day at 5s until 9 June 1769 and at £100 a year from 10 June. The second rate began on the day Mitchell surrendered his commission. The Council had employed Bazett as a day-rated overseer of the works while Mitchell held the post of engineer. It could have continued him on day wages as a temporary stand-in. Instead it fixed a salary from the very day of the vacancy, putting him on the footing of a covenanted officer. At £100 a year his pay was still well below Mitchell's, who had drawn £38 18s 1d in the 10 weeks to his resignation. Bazett took over the duties at a lower cost to the Company. The master of the longboats was entered under the title of patroon, a word taken from the Dutch and Portuguese for the master of a small vessel. It was in common use at the Company's eastern stations. His charge was the landing service whose cordage, grapnels and sails appeared in the boats account. The cooper, mason, carpenter and armourer were skilled European tradesmen. Each directed a gang of the Company's slaves, whose tools and food were charged in the accounts already set out. John Bazett and then Hugh Jones were paid specifically to supervise the slave carpenters. Richard Beale held two posts as judge advocate and schoolmaster. The judge advocate managed the prosecution at courts martial and advised the court on military law. A single educated man filling both posts was typical of a small station where few such men were to be found. John Price, the marshal and gaoler, held the keys of the prison, whose new lock had been charged to the Company's general account earlier in the quarter. | |
219 | 1769 Brought Over £ 942 1 11 1/2 First Company viz. Daniel Corneille Captain from 6 May 36 8 Solomon St. Maurice 1 Lieut. Salary 18 5 do. Augmentation from 6th May 5 12 do. Diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 33 3 10 1/2 Charles Ross Stewart 2 Lieut. from 6th May 14 do. Diet Money from do. 4 4 do. House Rent from do. 1 10 9 do. Adjutant from do. 11 4 30 18 9 William Caldwell 2 Lieut. from do. 14 do. Diet Money from do. 4 4 do. House Rent from do. 1 10 9 19 14 9 William Roberts Town Adjutant 29 13 1 1/2 Sergeants Henry Howell 7 11 8 John Allman 7 11 8 Thomas Townsend 7 11 8 George Roe from 4th April 7 5 30 Corporals George Seale 5 6 2 Thomas Moore 5 6 2 John Fringthorp from 6th May 3 4 2 Abraham Davis from 19th June 14 John Granger 32 days reduced 1 17 4 William Smelt 78 day Reduced 4 11 George Roe to the 4 April Advanced 4 8 21 3 6 Drummers John Martin 5 6 2 Richard Pitfeet 5 6 2 Joseph Beckum 5 6 2 £ 15 18 6 Carried Over £ 1159 2 5 1/2 | The list of officers and servants continued from a running total of £942 1s 10½d with the pay of the First Company. Brought forward, £942 1s 10½d First Company Daniel Corneille, captain from 6 May, £36 8s 0d Solomon St Maurice, first lieutenant Salary, £18 5s 0d Increase from 6 May, £3 12s 0d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Solomon St Maurice, £33 3s 10½d Charles Ross Stewart, second lieutenant from 6 May Salary, £14 0s 0d Table allowance from 6 May, £4 4s 0d House rent from 6 May, £1 10s 9d Pay as adjutant from 6 May, £11 4s 0d Total for Charles Ross Stewart, £30 18s 9d William Caldwell, second lieutenant from 6 May Salary, £14 0s 0d Table allowance from 6 May, £4 4s 0d House rent from 6 May, £1 10s 9d Total for William Caldwell, £19 14s 9d William Roberts, town adjutant, £29 15s 1½d Sergeants Henry Howell, £7 11s 8d John Allman, £7 11s 8d Thomas Townsend, £7 11s 8d George Roe, from 4 April, £7 5s 0d Total for sergeants, £30 0s 0d Corporals George Seale, £5 6s 2d Thomas Moore, £5 6s 2d John [...]thorpe, from 6 May, £3 4s 2d Abraham Travis, from 19 June, £0 14s 0d John Granger, 32 days before being reduced to the ranks, £1 17s 4d William Smith, 78 days before being reduced to the ranks, £4 11s 0d George Roe, to 4 April before promotion, £0 4s 8d Total for corporals, £21 3s 6d Drummers John Martin, £5 6s 2d Richard Pitfoot, £5 6s 2d Joseph Becham, £5 6s 2d Total for drummers, £15 18s 6d Carried forward, £1,159 2s 5½d Interpretations The corporals' list shows rank being given and taken away within a single quarter, with the pay worked out to the day. John Granger lost his stripes after 32 days and William Smith after 78. Each drew a corporal's pay only for the days he held the rank and a private's pay thereafter. Reduction to the ranks was the usual punishment for a non-commissioned officer found drunk on duty or neglecting his guard. It was imposed by the commanding officer without a court martial. Docking pay from the exact day made the punishment bite in the soldier's pocket as well as his standing. George Roe moved the other way, rising from corporal to sergeant on 4 April 1769. Daniel Corneille drew a captain's pay for the First Company from 6 May 1769, in addition to whatever he received as Lieutenant Governor. Senior civil officers at St Helena commonly held a company as well, which joined military command to the island's government. Charles Ross Stewart and William Caldwell, both second lieutenants from the same date, had probably come out with him in the Speke. Stewart also took the post of adjutant, who ran the company's drill, duties and returns. | |
220 | 17 July Brought Over £ 1159 2 5 1/2 Private Richard Mason Cadett from 15th May 3 10 4 James Avery 3 15 10 James Armstrong 3 15 10 Andrew Alexander Enter. 1st April 3 15 10 John Brichmans 3 15 10 Moses Biffin 3 15 10 John Britt 3 15 10 John Barnes 3 15 10 Timothy Bryen 3 15 10 Emanuel Bunner 3 15 10 William Benson 3 15 10 Benjamin Barclay 3 15 10 Richard Brown 3 15 10 Thomas Berwick 3 15 10 John Blavin 3 15 10 William Bunn died the 29th May 1 7 6 Edward Corker 3 15 10 William Clissold 3 15 10 Patrick Conner 3 15 10 Andrew Conner disch. the 4th of April 3 4 John Chevillon 3 15 10 William Coppen 3 15 10 Abram Clarke Enter. the 1 April 3 15 10 Henry Clarke do. do. 3 15 10 Arundel Carnes do. do. 3 15 4 John Davis 3 15 10 John Dove 3 15 10 James Drake 3 15 10 James Dunnon 3 15 10 William Rowlands disch. 4 April 6 8 Thomas Roberts 3 15 10 William Robinson 3 15 10 Silvanus Ross 3 15 10 Adam Evans 3 15 10 Anthony Clarke Entd. the 1 April 3 15 10 Private Carried Over 123 4 2 Carrd. Over 1159 2 5 1/2 | The pay list of the First Company continued from a running total of £1,159 2s 5½d with the privates. Brought forward, £1,159 2s 5½d Privates Richard Mason, cadet, from 15 May, £3 10s 4d James Avery, £3 15s 10d James Armstrong, £3 15s 10d Andrew Alexander, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d John Brechmans, £3 15s 10d Moses Biffin, £3 15s 10d John Britt, £3 15s 10d John Barnes, £3 15s 10d Timothy Bryen, £3 15s 10d Emanuel Banner, £3 15s 10d William Benson, £3 15s 10d Benjamin Barclay, £3 15s 10d Richard Brown, £3 15s 10d Thomas Berwick, £3 15s 10d John Blain, £3 15s 10d William Bunn, died 29 May, £1 7s 6d Edward Corker, £3 15s 10d William Clissold, £3 15s 10d Patrick Conner, £3 15s 10d Andrew Conner, discharged 4 April, £0 3s 4d John Chelton, £3 15s 10d William Coppen, £3 15s 10d Abram Clarke, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d Henry Clarke, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d Arundel Carnes, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 4d John Davis, £3 15s 10d John Dow, £3 15s 10d James Drake, £3 15s 10d James Dunner, £3 15s 10d William Rowlands, discharged 4 April, £0 6s 8d Thomas Roberts, £3 15s 10d William Robinson, £3 15s 10d Silvanus Relf, £3 15s 10d Adam Evans, £3 15s 10d Anthony Clarke, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d Privates carried forward, £123 4s 2d Carried forward, £1,159 2s 5½d Interpretations The standard entry of £3 15s 10d was a private's pay for the 91 days of the quarter at 10d a day. Every broken period was worked out at the same daily rate. Andrew Conner, discharged on 4 April 1769, received 3s 4d for exactly four days. Paying to the day gave the Company a precise check against muster frauds. In the King's army, captains commonly kept dead or absent men on the books and drew their pay, a practice known as false mustering. The St Helena roll recorded each death, discharge and enlistment by date, and the storekeeper's clothing issue was matched against the same names. Richard Mason served in the ranks as a cadet from 15 May 1769. A cadet was a young man of some family serving as a private while he waited for a commission, and he drew a private's pay. Several men were entered as enlisting on 1 April, the first day of the quarter. They were probably sailors or passengers taken off ships in the road, the usual way the garrison filled its ranks between drafts of recruits from England. The flour issued to recruits in the garrison account went to men such as these. | |
221 | 1769 Brought Over £ 1159 2 5 1/2 Private brought over £ 123 4 2 Henry Earlston 3 15 10 William French 3 15 10 William Fisher 3 15 10 William Greenwood 3 15 10 John Grainger from 6th May Reduc. 2 10 2 William Henderson 3 15 10 John Houston 3 15 10 Edward Haddock 3 15 10 William Holmes 3 15 10 Philip Hayes 3 15 10 John Hammond 3 15 10 John Hill 3 15 10 Thomas Hutching Ent. 1st April 3 15 10 Alexander Henderson do. 12th June 13 10 Francis Harding do. 1st April 3 15 10 William Jenks 3 15 10 Sutton Isacke deserted the 11th May 1 14 2 George Dyas do. 9th April 7 6 Thomas Love Ent. the 2 May 2 10 Duncan McClaron 3 15 10 William Mumford 3 15 10 John McAllister 3 15 10 James Miller 3 15 10 William Mudge 3 15 10 Matthew Palmer died 1 April 10 William Page 3 15 10 Thomas Rogers 3 15 10 Anthony Reynolds 3 15 10 William Sinaby 3 15 10 John Evans 3 15 10 John Stewart 3 15 10 Edward Stevenson 3 15 10 James Swanson 3 15 10 Joseph Stacy 3 15 10 Private Carried Over 237 6 Carried Over £ 1159 2 5 1/2 | The privates of the First Company continued from a running total of £123 4s 2d. Brought forward, £1,159 2s 5½d Privates brought forward, £123 4s 2d Henry Eckstein, £3 15s 10d William French, £3 15s 10d William Fisher, £3 15s 10d William Greenwood, £3 15s 10d John Grainger, from 6 May after being reduced to the ranks, £2 10s 2d William Henderson, £3 15s 10d John Houston, £3 15s 10d Edward Haddock, £3 15s 10d William Holmes, £3 15s 10d Philip Hayes, £3 15s 10d John Hammond, £3 15s 10d John Hitt, £3 15s 10d Thomas Hutchings, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d Alexander Henderson, enlisted 12 June, £0 15s 10d Francis Harding, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d William Jenks, £3 15s 10d Sutton Isaacs, deserted 11 May, £1 14s 2d George Dyas, deserted 9 April, £0 7s 6d Thomas Love, enlisted 2 May, £2 10s 0d Duncan McClaren, £3 15s 10d William Mumford, £3 15s 10d John McAllister, £3 15s 10d James Miller, £3 15s 10d William Mudge, £3 15s 10d Matthew Palmer, died 1 April, £0 0s 10d William Page, £3 15s 10d Thomas Rogers, £3 15s 10d Anthony Reynolds, £3 15s 10d William Lindsey, £3 15s 10d John Evans, £3 15s 10d John Stewart, £3 15s 10d Edward Stevenson, £3 15s 10d James Swanson, £3 15s 10d Joseph Stacy, £3 15s 10d Privates carried forward, £237 6s 0d Carried forward, £1,159 2s 5½d Interpretations Sutton Isaacs deserted on 11 May 1769 and George Dyas on 9 April. Both were paid exactly to the day they went. Isaacs had escaped in the Tilbury, which shows how desertion usually worked at St Helena. There was nowhere on the island to hide for long, so a soldier who wanted to leave had to get aboard a homeward ship in the road. Some commanders and crews were willing to conceal a man in return for his labour on the voyage. The Company could recover deserters only by searching ships before they sailed or by asking commanders to give them up, as Captain Hayter of the York did with Robert Nickels. Matthew Palmer died on 1 April 1769, the first day of the quarter, and his estate was credited with a single day's pay of 10d. William Bunn, on the previous page, died on 29 May. The deals and nails issued for coffins in the garrison account were for men such as these. John Grainger appeared here as a private from 6 May, having lost his corporal's rank after 32 days. | |
222 | 17 July Brought Over £ 1159 2 5 1/2 Private brought Over £ 237 6 James Shell Enter. the 1st April 3 15 10 William Smelt Reduced 17th June 10 10 William Tipper 3 15 10 John Tanton 3 15 10 Joseph Vallentine 3 15 10 John Whittingdale 3 15 10 Benjamin Wise 3 15 10 Thomas Windall 3 15 10 George Hall 3 15 10 Bartholomew Welch Ent. 1st April 3 15 10 John Springthorp 1 10 Abraham Lewis 3 10 276 10 2 Second Company Henry Bazett Captain Salary 45 12 6 do. Augmentation from 6th May 8 8 54 6 Michael Frost 1st Lieut. Salary 18 5 do. Augmentation from 6th May 5 12 do. Diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 33 3 10 1/2 Thomas Lambert 2 Lieut. Salary 18 5 do. Augmentation from 6th May 2 16 do. Diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 30 7 10 1/2 John Bazett 2 Lieut. Salary from 6th May 14 do. Diet Money from do. 4 4 do. House Rent from do. 1 10 9 19 14 9 Sergeants John Bazett 5th May promoted 2 10 4 Stephen Piper to 14th June £6 5 do. from 15th do. Private 13 4 6 18 4 Sergeants Carried Over £ 9 16 8 Carried Over £ 1572 19 7 1/2 | The First Company's privates closed at £276 10s 2d, and the pay list of the Second Company followed. Brought forward, £1,159 2s 5½d Privates brought forward, £237 6s 0d James Skell, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d William Smith, from 17 June after being reduced to the ranks, £0 10s 10d William Tipper, £3 15s 10d John Tanton, £3 15s 10d Joseph Valentine, £3 15s 10d John Whittingdale, £3 15s 10d Benjamin Wise, £3 15s 10d Thomas Windall, £3 15s 10d George Hall, £3 15s 10d Bartholomew Welsh, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d John Springthorpe, £1 10s 0d Abraham Travis, £3 0s 10d Total for the First Company, £276 10s 2d Second Company Henry Bazett, captain Salary, £45 12s 6d Increase from 6 May, £8 8s 0d Total for Henry Bazett, £54 0s 6d Michael Frost, first lieutenant Salary, £18 5s 0d Increase from 6 May, £5 12s 0d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Michael Frost, £33 3s 10½d Thomas Lambert, second lieutenant Salary, £18 5s 0d Increase from 6 May, £2 16s 0d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Thomas Lambert, £30 7s 10½d John Bazett, second lieutenant from 6 May Salary, £14 0s 0d Table allowance from 6 May, £4 4s 0d House rent from 6 May, £1 10s 9d Total for John Bazett, £19 14s 9d Sergeants John Bazett, to 5 May before his promotion, £2 18s 4d Stephen Piper, as sergeant to 14 June, £6 5s 0d, and as private from 15 June, £0 13s 4d, £6 18s 4d Sergeants carried forward, £9 16s 8d Carried forward, £1,572 19s 7½d Interpretations John Bazett served as a sergeant until 5 May 1769 and was commissioned second lieutenant the next day. The commission dated from 6 May, the day the Speke arrived, as did those of Stewart and Caldwell in the First Company. The new posts were evidently created by the Court's orders in that ship. The Council filled one of them by promoting from the ranks rather than waiting for an officer from England. The choice fell on a member of the island's leading official family. Henry Bazett commanded the Second Company, Matthew Bazett sat in the arrack society, Thomas Bazett ran the works and George Bazett was clerk of the works. A sergeant's stripes and a superintendent's post at the carpenters' yard had prepared John Bazett for a commission, but the family name made it likely. Stephen Piper went the other way, reduced from sergeant to private on 15 June 1769. William Smith, reduced as a corporal after 78 days, now drew a private's pay from 17 June. In each case the change of rank was recorded to the day, so the pay list doubled as a register of the garrison's discipline. | |
223 | 1769 Brought Over £ 1572 19 7 1/2 Sergeants brought over £ 9 16 8 Robert Hopkinson 7 11 8 John Salisbury 7 11 8 25 Corporals Samuel Packer to 5th May£ 2 10 do. from 6th do. Serg. 4 13 4 William Merrick to 14th June 4 7 6 do. from 15 do. Sergt. 1 6 8 6 14 2 Francis Seale 5 14 2 Joseph Whaley 5 6 2 23 8 Drummers John Brown 5 6 2 Patrick Edington 5 6 2 10 12 4 Private Robert Allum 3 15 10 William Birch 3 15 10 William Brooks 3 15 10 Robert Brown to 9th May dec. 1 11 8 Nicholas Bushel 3 15 10 Daniel Bye 3 15 10 Henry Batchelor Ent. 1 April 3 15 10 Jacob Brown 3 15 10 William Congrove 3 15 10 John Crawley 3 15 10 William Carfoe 3 15 10 William Carter 3 15 10 Robert Dickens 20th April dec. 16 8 William Drinnan 3 15 10 John Dailey 3 15 10 Peter Ellum 3 15 10 John Fortes 3 15 10 William Fullwood Private Carried Over £ 63 1 8 Carried Over £ 1631 12 7 1/2 | The Second Company's pay list continued from a running total of £1,572 19s 7½d. Brought forward, £1,572 19s 7½d Sergeants brought forward, £9 16s 8d Robert Hopkinson, £7 11s 8d John Salisbury, £7 11s 8d Total for sergeants, £25 0s 0d Corporals Samuel Packer, as corporal to 5 May, £2 0s 10d, and as sergeant from 6 May, £4 13s 4d, £6 14s 2d William Merrick, as corporal to 14 June, £4 7s 6d, and as sergeant from 15 June, £1 6s 8d, £5 14s 2d Francis Seale, £5 6s 2d Joseph Whaley, £5 6s 2d Total for corporals, £23 0s 8d Drummers John Brown, £5 6s 2d Patrick Edington, £5 6s 2d Total for drummers, £10 12s 4d Privates Robert Allum, £3 15s 10d William Birch, £3 15s 10d William Brooks, £3 15s 10d Robert Brown, to 7 May, when he died, £1 11s 8d Nicholas Bushel, £3 15s 10d Daniel Bye, £3 15s 10d Henry Batchelor, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d Jacob Brown, £3 15s 10d William Congreve, £3 15s 10d John Crawley, £3 15s 10d William Carfoe, £3 15s 10d William Carter, £3 15s 10d Robert Dickens, died 20 April, £0 16s 8d William Drinnan, £3 15s 10d John Dailey, £3 15s 10d Peter Ellum, £3 15s 10d John Forbes, £3 15s 10d William Fullerd, £3 15s 10d Privates carried forward, £63 1s 8d Carried forward, £1,631 12s 7½d Interpretations The corporals' entries show each vacancy among the sergeants being filled on the day it opened. Samuel Packer became a sergeant on 6 May 1769, the day John Bazett left that rank for his commission. William Merrick became a sergeant on 15 June, the day Stephen Piper was reduced to private. The Council did not leave the sergeants' places empty, which would have saved their higher pay. Instead it promoted from the corporals at once, keeping the Second Company's chain of command complete. Each promotion was also a reward held out to the corporals and privates below, as each demotion was a warning. Two privates of the Second Company died in the quarter, Robert Dickens on 20 April and Robert Brown on 7 May. With William Bunn and Matthew Palmer in the First Company, that made at least four deaths among the soldiers in three months. Each man's pay was closed on the day of his death and the balance carried to his estate. | |
224 | 17 July Brought Over £ 1631 12 7 1/2 Private brought Over £ 63 1 8 John Goolsole 3 15 10 James Gates to the 17 April dec. 14 2 John Grey 3 15 10 Robert Green 3 15 10 Charles Gulding 3 15 10 Philip Gleason Ent. 1 April 3 15 10 William Harris Senr. 3 15 10 William Harris Junr. 3 15 10 Abraham Harding 3 15 10 Samuel Hikes 3 15 10 John Holbrooke 3 15 10 James Hudson 3 15 10 Thomas Hayles 3 15 10 John Ham 3 15 10 William Hart 3 15 10 Augustine Hitchcock Ent. the 1st April 3 15 10 Charles Holloway do. do. 3 15 10 Thomas Hart Ent. do. 3 15 10 Samuel Inftone do. 3 15 10 William Johnston 3 15 10 John Jacks 3 15 10 Thomas James to 29th May Disch. 2 9 2 John Jones 3 15 10 Francis Jackson 3 15 10 William Jones Ent. 1st April 3 15 10 John Jacobs do. 10 May 2 3 4 Samuel Kitson 3 15 10 Henry Kirkham 3 15 10 John King 3 15 10 William Kingford Ent. 1st April 3 15 10 Thomas Little from 28th April Ent. from Hon. 2 13 4 Henry Millar 3 15 10 Abraham Miller to 17th April transd. to 3 Comy. 1 2 6 John Maurice 3 15 10 Private Carried Over 132 3 4 Carried Over £ 1631 12 7 1/2 | The privates of the Second Company continued from a running total of £63 1s 8d. Brought forward, £1,631 12s 7½d Privates brought forward, £63 1s 8d John Goodsole, £3 15s 10d James Gates, to 17 April, when he died, £0 14s 2d John Grey, £3 15s 10d Robert Green, £3 15s 10d Charles Golding, £3 15s 10d Philip Gleason, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d William Harris senior, £3 15s 10d William Harris junior, £3 15s 10d Abraham Harding, £3 15s 10d Samuel Hiles, £3 15s 10d John Holbrooke, £3 15s 10d James Hudson, £3 15s 10d Thomas Hayles, £3 15s 10d John Ham, £3 15s 10d William Hart, £3 15s 10d Augustine Hitchcock, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d Charles Holloway, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d Thomas Hart, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d Samuel [...], enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d William Johnston, £3 15s 10d John Jacks, £3 15s 10d Thomas James, to 29 May, when he died, £2 9s 2d John James, £3 15s 10d Francis Jackson, £3 15s 10d William Jones, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d John Jacobs, enlisted 10 May, £2 3s 4d Samuel Kitson, £3 15s 10d Henry Kirkham, £3 15s 10d John King, £3 15s 10d William Kingsford, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d Thomas Little, from 28 April, entered from [...], £2 13s 4d Henry Miller, £3 15s 10d Abraham Miller, to 17 April, then transferred to the Third Company, £1 2s 6d John Maurice, £3 15s 10d Privates carried forward, £182 3s 4d Carried forward, £1,631 12s 7½d Interpretations Nine men in the two companies so far were entered as enlisting on 1 April 1769, against only two who joined later in the quarter. The cluster on the first day of the quarter suggests a single draft of recruits taken on together, probably landed from the ships that passed through in March. Their pay was dated from the quarter day for convenience, not from the day each man came ashore. The flour issued to recruits in the garrison account was their first ration on the island. Abraham Miller's transfer to the Third Company on 17 April shows the Council moving men between companies to even out their strength once the draft had been shared out. Two more privates of the Second Company died in the quarter, James Gates on 17 April and Thomas James on 29 May. That brought the deaths recorded among the soldiers since 1 April 1769 to six. | |
225 | 1769 Brought Over £ 1631 12 7 1/2 Private brought Over £ 132 3 4 John McCullen 3 15 10 William McBeth 3 15 10 Joseph McAtteny to 14th June £ 3 2 6 do. from 15th do. Corporal 18 8 4 1 2 Thomas Matthews 3 15 10 Thomas Morgan 3 15 10 Patrick Newland Ent. 1 April 3 15 10 Reeves Osborne 3 15 10 George Oliver 3 15 10 Samuel Perry 3 15 10 John Pavey 3 15 10 Thomas Palmer to 5th May £ 1 9 2 do. from 6th do. as Corporal 3 5 4 4 14 6 James Peacock Ent. the 1 April 3 15 10 Thomas Richards 3 15 10 William Richardson 3 15 10 John Christian Rose 3 15 10 Thomas Powers 3 15 10 Gregory Southwood 3 15 10 Frederick Shaffer 3 15 10 George Short 3 15 10 John Sabourin 3 15 10 John Tucker 3 15 10 John Vaughan 3 15 10 Francis Vinoble Ent. 1st April 3 15 10 John Wyett 3 15 10 John Cunningham 3 15 10 273 3 2 Third Company Richard Beale Capt. Salary 45 12 6 do. Augmentation from 6th May 8 8 54 6 Thomas Bazett 1 Lieut. Salary 18 5 do. Augmentation from 6th May 5 12 do. Diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 £ 33 3 10 1/2 Carried Over 1997 2 | The Second Company's privates closed at £273 3s 2d, and the pay list of the Third Company followed. Brought forward, £1,631 12s 7½d Privates brought forward, £182 3s 4d John McCullen, £3 15s 10d William McBeth, £3 15s 10d Joseph McAtteny, as private to 14 June, £3 2s 6d, and as corporal from 15 June, £0 18s 8d, £4 1s 2d Thomas Matthews, £3 15s 10d Thomas Morgan, £3 15s 10d Patrick Newland, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d Reeves Osborne, £3 15s 10d George Oliver, £3 15s 10d Samuel Perry, £3 15s 10d John Pavey, £3 15s 10d Thomas Palmer, as private to 5 May, £1 9s 2d, and as corporal from 6 May, £3 5s 4d, £4 14s 6d James Peacock, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d Thomas Richards, £3 15s 10d William Richardson, £3 15s 10d John Christian Rose, £3 15s 10d Thomas Towers, £3 15s 10d Gregory Southwood, £3 15s 10d Frederick Shaffer, £3 15s 10d George Street, £3 15s 10d John Sabourin, £3 15s 10d John Tucker, £3 15s 10d John Vaughan, £3 15s 10d Francis Venable, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d John Wyatt, £3 15s 10d John Cunningham, £3 15s 10d Total for the Second Company, £273 3s 2d Third Company Richard Beale, captain Salary, £45 12s 6d Increase from 6 May, £8 8s 0d Total for Richard Beale, £54 0s 6d Thomas Bazett, first lieutenant Salary, £18 5s 0d Increase from 6 May, £5 12s 0d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Thomas Bazett, £33 3s 10½d Carried forward, £1,992 0s 2d Interpretations The Second Company's promotions ran in a chain from top to bottom on the same days. On 6 May 1769, John Bazett left the sergeants for a commission, Samuel Packer rose from corporal to sergeant and Thomas Palmer rose from private to corporal. On 15 June, Stephen Piper was reduced to private, William Merrick rose from corporal to sergeant and Joseph McAtteny rose from private to corporal. A single change at the top thus moved three men. The company never carried a vacancy, and its numbers in each rank stayed fixed. Richard Beale commanded the Third Company while also serving as judge advocate and schoolmaster. Thomas Bazett, its first lieutenant, was superintendent of the works and commander of the artillery. Both men held a company post on top of their civil offices. The few educated Europeans on the island were spread across every branch of the Company's government, and their military commissions gave them a second salary and the authority to command the soldiers who laboured on the works. | |
226 | 17 July Brought Over £ 1997 2 John Wm. White 2 Lieut. Salary 18 5 do. Augmentation from 6th May 2 16 do. Diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 30 7 10 1/2 Thomas Statham 2 Lieut. Sal. from 6th May 14 do. Diet Money from do. 4 4 do. House Rent from do. 1 10 9 19 14 9 Sergeants William Clifton 7 11 8 James Goudy 7 11 8 Samuel Johnson to 22 May reduced £ 4 3 2 do. from 23 do. Private 1 16 0 5 19 2 Thomas Pearce disch. the 3 April 5 21 7 6 Corporals John Millard to 3 April resigned £ 3 0 do. from 4th do. Private 3 13 4 3 16 10 David Scott to 4 do. Advanced 3 6 do. from 5th do. Serg. 7 6 8 7 10 2 Thomas Taylor to 3 May advanced 3 8 do. from 24th do. Sergeant 3 5 6 5 8 Richard Ashford 5 6 2 22 18 10 Drummers John Davis 5 6 2 George Vamey 5 6 2 10 12 4 Private James Anderson 3 15 10 Jacob Butt 3 15 10 Mark Batts 3 15 10 John Bleckarn 3 15 10 Frederick William Beard 3 15 10 Private Carried Over £ 18 19 2 Carried Over £ 2103 1 5 1/2 | The Third Company's pay list continued from a running total of £1,997 0s 2d. Brought forward, £1,997 0s 2d John Ham White, second lieutenant Salary, £18 5s 0d Increase from 6 May, £2 16s 0d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for John Ham White, £30 7s 10½d Thomas Statham, second lieutenant from 6 May Salary, £14 0s 0d Table allowance from 6 May, £4 4s 0d House rent from 6 May, £1 10s 9d Total for Thomas Statham, £19 14s 9d Sergeants William Clifton, £7 11s 8d James Goudy, £7 11s 8d Samuel Johnson, as sergeant to 22 May when reduced, £4 6s 8d, and as private from 23 May, £1 12s 6d, £5 19s 2d Thomas Pearce, discharged 3 April, £0 5s 0d Total for sergeants, £21 7s 6d Corporals John Millard, as corporal to 3 April when he resigned the rank, £0 3s 6d, and as private from 4 April, £3 13s 4d, £3 16s 10d David Scott, as corporal to 3 April before promotion, £0 3s 6d, and as sergeant from 4 April, £7 6s 8d, £7 10s 2d Thomas Taylor, as corporal to 22 May before promotion, £3 0s 8d, and as sergeant from 23 May, £3 5s 0d, £6 5s 8d Richard Ashford, £5 6s 2d Total for corporals, £22 18s 10d Drummers John Lewis, £5 6s 2d George Varney, £5 6s 2d Total for drummers, £10 12s 4d Privates James Anderson, £3 15s 10d Jacob Butt, £3 15s 10d Mark Batts, £3 15s 10d John Blackburn, £3 15s 10d Frederick William Beard, £3 15s 10d Privates carried forward, £18 19s 2d Carried forward, £2,102 1s 5½d Interpretations The Third Company filled its sergeants' vacancies on the day they opened, as the Second Company did. Thomas Pearce was discharged on 3 April 1769, and David Scott became a sergeant the next day. Samuel Johnson was reduced to private on 22 May, and Thomas Taylor took his place on 23 May. The rates of pay show in the arithmetic: a sergeant earned 20d a day, a corporal 14d and a private 10d. Each step up the ranks was worth 4d to 6d a day, a sizeable rise for a man on 10d. John Millard resigned his corporal's rank on 3 April 1769 and served as a private for the rest of the quarter. Giving up a stripe voluntarily, and the extra 4d a day that went with it, was uncommon. The record does not give his reason. A corporal answered for the conduct of his men on guard and could be punished for their faults, and some soldiers preferred to be free of that duty. Millard's resignation and Pearce's discharge fell on the same day, which opened two places at once in the company's lower ranks. | |
227 | 1769 Brought Over £ 2102 1 5 1/2 Private brought Over £ 18 19 2 William Caleb Baldwin disch. 22 May 2 3 4 Abel Bagnel 3 15 10 John Cork 3 15 10 Philip Cork 3 15 10 Thomas Connel 3 15 10 Robert Court 3 15 10 Edward Dudley 3 15 10 James Donnavan 3 15 10 William Edwards 3 15 10 William Egells 3 15 10 William Foster 3 15 10 John Feston 3 15 10 William Ford 3 15 10 Archibald Graham 3 15 10 William Gonnup 3 15 10 William Griffin 3 15 10 Felix Hyden 3 15 10 Thomas Hilcock 3 15 10 William Hopkins 3 15 10 Mainard Hayes 3 15 10 Joseph Holloway 3 15 10 Peter Higgins 3 15 10 William Hammilton 3 15 10 Edward Hayes 3 15 10 Thomas Hodges to 23 May £ 2 3 4 do. from 24 do. 2 5 6 4 8 10 Robert Hardie 42 days reduced 1 15 do. 49 do. Corporal 2 17 2 4 12 2 William Hill to 4 April 2 6 do. from 5 do. Corporal 3 2 8 5 5 2 Josiah Johnson 3 15 10 Robert Johnson 3 15 10 Richard Johnson 3 15 10 William Johnson 3 15 10 Private Carried Over £ 137 16 2 Carried Over £ 2102 1 5 1/2 | The privates of the Third Company continued from a running total of £18 19s 2d. Brought forward, £2,102 1s 5½d Privates brought forward, £18 19s 2d William Eagle Baldwin, discharged 22 May, £2 3s 4d Abel Bagnel, £3 15s 10d John Cook, £3 15s 10d Philip Cook, £3 15s 10d Thomas Connel, £3 15s 10d Robert Court, £3 15s 10d Edward Dudley, £3 15s 10d James Donnavan, £3 15s 10d William Edwards, £3 15s 10d William Egells, £3 15s 10d William Foster, £3 15s 10d John Foxon, £3 15s 10d William Ford, £3 15s 10d Archibald Grayham, £3 15s 10d William G[...], £3 15s 10d William Griffin, £3 15s 10d Felix Hyder, £3 15s 10d Thomas Kilcock, £3 15s 10d William Hopkins, £3 15s 10d Maynard Hayes, £3 15s 10d Joseph Holloway, £3 15s 10d Peter Higgins, £3 15s 10d William Hammilton, £3 15s 10d Edward Hazell, £3 15s 10d Thomas Hedges, as private to 23 May, £2 3s 4d, and as corporal from 24 May, £2 5s 6d, £4 8s 10d Robert Hardie, 42 days as private after being reduced, £1 15s 0d, and 49 days as corporal, £2 17s 2d, £4 12s 2d William Hill, as private to 4 April, £0 2s 6d, and as corporal from 5 April, £5 2s 8d, £5 5s 2d Josiah Johnson, £3 15s 10d Robert Johnson, £3 15s 10d Richard Johnson, £3 15s 10d William Johnson, £3 15s 10d Privates carried forward, £137 16s 2d Carried forward, £2,102 1s 5½d Interpretations The privates' list completes the Third Company's chain of promotions. When David Scott rose to sergeant in early April 1769, William Hill rose from private to corporal to take his place. When Thomas Taylor became a sergeant on 23 May, Thomas Hedges took his corporal's stripes the following day. Robert Hardie had moved the opposite way, serving 49 days as a corporal before being reduced for the remaining 42. The rolls therefore recorded every rise and fall in a soldier's standing through the arithmetic of his pay. Daily rates made this possible. Every change of rank, death, discharge or enlistment could be costed to the day without reference to the regiment's agents in London. St Helena was a garrison under direct Company management, and the paymaster's books doubled as the muster roll and the record of discipline. In the King's army those functions were split between the colonel, the agent and the commissary of musters, which left room for fraud between them. | |
228 | 17 July Brought Over £ 2102 1 5 1/2 Private brought Over £ 137 16 2 James Kemp 3 15 10 John Long 3 15 10 Edward Lambert 3 15 10 Bryan Lynch 3 15 10 Thomas Little to 28th April transd. to 2 Comp. 1 2 6 George Littleton 3 15 10 Richard Moore 3 15 10 Thomas Morris 3 15 10 John Miller 3 15 10 Abraham Miller from 17th April Ent. from 2 Co. 2 13 4 Abraham Major 3 15 10 Thomas Matthews 3 15 10 Daniel Masterson 3 15 10 James Mayce 3 15 10 Joseph Martin 3 15 10 William Metcalf 3 15 10 Charles Morriss 3 15 10 John Merritt 3 15 10 James Mannington 3 15 10 John Nash 3 15 10 Thomas Perry 3 15 10 Henry Pincheon 3 15 10 William Perkins 3 15 10 David Patton 3 15 10 James Proctor 3 15 10 Richard Penny 3 15 10 Robert Rack 3 15 10 Adam Roth 3 15 10 John Rowland 3 15 10 Arthur Scott 3 15 10 William Smith 3 15 10 Richard Stoughton 3 15 10 George Smith 3 15 10 George Short 3 15 10 John Thompson 3 15 10 Private Carried Over £ 266 14 6 Carried Over £ 2102 1 5 1/2 | The privates of the Third Company continued from a running total of £137 16s 2d. Brought forward, £2,102 1s 5½d Privates brought forward, £137 16s 2d James Kemp, £3 15s 10d John Long, £3 15s 10d Edward Lambert, £3 15s 10d Bryan Lynch, £3 15s 10d Thomas Little, to 28 April, then transferred to the Second Company, £1 2s 6d George Littleton, £3 15s 10d Richard Mouce, £3 15s 10d Thomas Morris, £3 15s 10d John Miller, £3 15s 10d Abraham Miller, from 28 April, transferred from the Second Company, £2 13s 4d Abraham Major, £3 15s 10d Thomas Matthews, £3 15s 10d Daniel Masterson, £3 15s 10d James Mayor, £3 15s 10d Joseph Martin, £3 15s 10d William Metcalf, £3 15s 10d Charles Morris, £3 15s 10d John Merritt, £3 15s 10d James Mannington, £3 15s 10d John Nash, £3 15s 10d Thomas Perry, £3 15s 10d Henry Pincheon, £3 15s 10d William Perkins, £3 15s 10d David Patton, £3 15s 10d James Proctor, £3 15s 10d Richard Penny, £3 15s 10d Robert Reach, £3 15s 10d Adam Roth, £3 15s 10d John Shotland, £3 15s 10d Arthur Scott, £3 15s 10d William Smith, £3 15s 10d Richard Roughton, £3 15s 10d George Smith, £3 15s 10d George Short, £3 15s 10d John Thompson, £3 15s 10d Privates carried forward, £266 14s 6d Carried forward, £2,102 1s 5½d Interpretations Thomas Little and Abraham Miller changed places on 28 April 1769. Little left the Third Company for the Second, and Miller left the Second for the Third, each paid by his old company to the day of the move. The exchange left both companies at the same strength. Since the numbers did not change, the move must have answered some other need. The likeliest reason was personal: a quarrel with comrades or an officer, or a wish to serve beside a relative or messmate. The Council evidently preferred a straight swap, which kept the companies in balance, to moving one man and leaving a gap. | |
229 | 1769 Brought Over £ 2102 1 5 1/2 Private brought Over £ 266 14 6 George Towns to 23 May advanced 2 3 4 do. from 24 do. Corporal 2 3 6 Thomas Woffington to 3 April discharged 2 6 Thomas Ward 3 15 10 Hutton Waller 3 15 10 James York 3 15 10 282 15 4 Fourth Company John Howard Captain Salary 45 12 6 do. Augmentation from 6 May 8 8 54 6 Samuel Desfountain 1st Lieut. Salary 18 5 do. Augmentation from 6 May 5 12 do. Diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 33 3 10 1/2 James Greentree 2 Lieut. Salary 18 5 do. Augmentation from 6th May 2 16 do. Diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 30 7 10 1/2 Robert Gulding 2 Lieut. from 6th May 14 do. Diet Money from do. 4 4 do. House Rent from do. 1 10 9 19 14 9 Sergeants John Henning to 3 April deceased 8 4 John Moir 7 11 8 Joseph West to the 12 June reduced £ 6 1 8 do. from 13 do. Private 15 6 16 8 John Deal 7 11 8 22 8 4 Corporals John Terry to 3 April advanced £ 3 10 do. from 6 do. Serjt. 7 5 4 7 9 2 Corporals Carried Over 7 9 2 Carried Over £ 2544 10 1 1/2 | The Third Company's privates closed at £282 13s 4d, and the pay list of the Fourth Company followed. Brought forward, £2,102 1s 5½d Privates brought forward, £266 14s 6d George Towns, as private to 23 May before promotion, £2 3s 4d, and as corporal from 24 May, £2 5s 6d Thomas Woffington, to 3 April, when discharged, £0 2s 6d Thomas Ward, £3 15s 10d Hutton Walter, £3 15s 10d James York, £3 15s 10d Total for the Third Company, £282 13s 4d Fourth Company John Howard, captain Salary, £45 12s 6d Increase from 6 May, £8 8s 0d Total for John Howard, £54 0s 6d Samuel Desfountain, first lieutenant Salary, £18 5s 0d Increase from 6 May, £5 12s 0d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Samuel Desfountain, £33 3s 10½d James Greentree, second lieutenant Salary, £18 5s 0d Increase from 6 May, £2 16s 0d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for James Greentree, £30 7s 10½d Robert Gosling, second lieutenant from 6 May Salary, £14 0s 0d Table allowance from 6 May, £4 4s 0d House rent from 6 May, £1 10s 9d Total for Robert Gosling, £19 14s 9d Sergeants John Fleming, to 5 April, when he died, £0 8s 4d John Moir, £7 11s 8d Joseph West, as sergeant to 12 June when reduced, £6 1s 8d, and as private from 13 June, £0 15s 0d, £6 16s 8d John Deal, £7 11s 8d Total for sergeants, £22 8s 4d Corporals John Terry, as corporal to 5 April before promotion, £0 5s 10d, and as sergeant from 6 April, £7 3s 4d, £7 9s 2d Corporals carried forward, £7 9s 2d Carried forward, £2,544 10s 1½d Interpretations The officers of the Fourth Company show how closely the garrison's commissions were tied to the island's settled families. Samuel Desfountain held the first lieutenancy, and James Desfountain was appointed a writer on 19 June 1769. James Greentree shared his name with Elizabeth Greentree, whose will, proved after her death on 16 May 1769, had freed her slaves and named Purling among her executors. With the Bazetts in the Second and Third Companies, a handful of island families held a large share of the military commissions as well as the civil posts. A Company officer at St Helena was usually a local man whose standing came from land and kinship on the island, not a soldier sent out from England. John Fleming, a sergeant, died on 5 April 1769, and John Terry took his rank the next day. Joseph West was reduced from sergeant to private on 12 June, and George Towns of the Third Company was made a corporal on 24 May. The Fourth Company's roll kept the same daily record of promotions, demotions and deaths as the others. | |
230 | 17 July Brought Over £ 2544 10 1 1/2 Corporals brought over £ 7 9 2 Thomas Hilliard to 12th June advanced £ 4 3 2 do. from 13 do. Sergeant 1 10 Thomas Williams 5 13 2 Thomas Blake 29th May died 3 8 10 21 19 4 Drummers George Wills 5 6 2 John Campton 5 6 2 10 12 4 Private Daniel Armin 3 15 10 John Allen 3 15 10 William Allen 3 15 10 George Benett 3 15 10 Joseph Blackwell 3 15 10 William Blackman 3 15 10 Thomas Bailey 3 15 10 John Bowler 3 15 10 Richard Bickerstaff 3 15 10 James Brittain to 6 April died 5 John Beecham to 19 do. do. 15 10 William Coffey 3 15 10 Duncan Cameron 3 15 10 James Culshaw 3 15 10 Richard Close 3 15 10 Josiah Cummings 3 15 10 John Coleman 3 15 10 William Cuth to 27th April trans. to ye 1st Com. 1 2 6 John Coleman to 12th June do. do. 3 10 John Cureton 3 15 10 Charles Field 3 15 10 Frances Flower to 29th May advanced £ 2 19 2 do. from 30th do. Corporal 1 7 4 4 6 6 Thomas Ferris to 12th June advanced 3 10 do. from 13th do. Corporal 1 1 4 1 10 Private Carried Over £ 70 1 8 Carried Over £ 2577 1 9 1/2 | The Fourth Company's pay list continued from a running total of £2,544 10s 1½d. Brought forward, £2,544 10s 1½d Corporals brought forward, £7 9s 2d Thomas Pillard, as corporal to 12 June before promotion, £4 3s 2d, and as sergeant from 13 June, £1 10s 0d, £5 13s 2d Thomas Williams, £5 6s 2d Thomas Blake, died 29 May, £3 8s 10d Total for corporals, £21 19s 4d Drummers George Wills, £5 6s 2d John Campton, £5 6s 2d Total for drummers, £10 12s 4d Privates Daniel Armin, £3 15s 10d John Allen, £3 15s 10d William Allen, £3 15s 10d George Bennett, £3 15s 10d Joseph Blackwell, £3 15s 10d William Blackman, £3 15s 10d Thomas Bailey, £3 15s 10d John Bowler, £3 15s 10d Richard Bickerstaff, £3 15s 10d James Brillett, to 6 April, when he died, £0 5s 0d John Beecham, to 19 April, when he died, £0 15s 10d William Coffey, £3 15s 10d Duncan Cameron, £3 15s 10d James Culshew, £3 15s 10d Richard Close, £3 15s 10d Josiah Cummings, £3 15s 10d John Coleman, £3 15s 10d William Cutts, to 27 April, then transferred to the [...] Company, £1 2s 6d John Coleman, to 12 June, then transferred to the [...] Company, £3 0s 10d John Euston, £3 15s 10d Charles Field, £3 15s 10d Francis Flower, as private to 29 May before promotion, £2 9s 2d, and as corporal from 30 May, £1 17s 4d, £4 6s 6d Thomas Ferris, as private to 12 June before promotion, £3 0s 10d, and as corporal from 13 June, £1 1s 0d, £4 1s 10d Privates carried forward, £78 1s 8d Carried forward, £2,577 1s 9½d Interpretations The Fourth Company lost four men to death in the quarter, three of them in April 1769. Sergeant John Fleming died on 5 April, James Brillett on 6 April and John Beecham on 19 April. Corporal Thomas Blake followed on 29 May. Across the four companies, the deaths cluster in April and May, the onset of the southern-hemisphere winter at St Helena. Several of the men enlisted on 1 April were probably landed from ships after long voyages. Men coming ashore weak from scurvy or fever often died in the first weeks, and their fate shows in the dates on this roll. The promotions again filled each gap on the day it opened. Joseph West's reduction on 12 June made Thomas Pillard a sergeant on 13 June, and Thomas Ferris took Pillard's corporal's place the same day. Blake's death on 29 May raised Francis Flower to corporal on 30 May. | |
231 | 1769 Brought Over £ 2577 1 9 1/2 Private brought Over £ 78 1 8 Henry Friendly 3 15 10 George Green 3 15 10 John Gillmore 3 15 10 Edward Gorman 3 15 10 Benjamin Garrard Ent. 1st April 3 15 10 Henry Hamilton 3 15 10 Henry Hemingway 3 15 10 Roger Hayden 3 15 10 John Harper 3 15 10 Christian Johnson 3 15 10 John Joyce 3 15 10 James Jordon 3 15 10 Richard Kempton 3 15 10 Thomas Kylock to 26th May advanced £ 2 6 8 do. from 27th do. Corporal 2 10 4 7 6 Thomas Lyne 3 15 10 Charles Lewelleny 3 15 10 Murd. McCleod 3 15 10 Thomas McDearman 3 15 10 John Meyer 3 15 10 Robert May 3 15 10 William Morgan Ent. 1 April 3 15 10 Jonathan Malet do. from Artil. Comp. 18th April 2 13 4 John Mayes Ent. 24th June 3 10 John Newton 3 15 10 James Newport 3 15 10 Robert Nickals Ent. the 27th June 3 4 John Oswald 3 15 10 John Pluck 3 15 10 Will. Pink Ent. 1st April transd. to ye Artil. Com. 6th May 1 10 Daniel Patrick 3 15 10 Stephen Pappe 3 15 10 William Parker 3 15 10 Thomas Packard 3 15 10 Benjamin Poole 3 15 10 Private Carried Over £ 197 0 10 Carried Over £ 2577 1 9 1/2 | The privates of the Fourth Company continued from a running total of £78 1s 8d. Brought forward, £2,577 1s 9½d Privates brought forward, £78 1s 8d Henry Friendly, £3 15s 10d George Green, £3 15s 10d John Gillmore, £3 15s 10d Edward Gorman, £3 15s 10d Benjamin Garrard, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d Henry Hamilton, £3 15s 10d Henry Honeyburg, £3 15s 10d Roger Hayden, £3 15s 10d John Harper, £3 15s 10d Christian Johnson, £3 15s 10d John Joyce, £3 15s 10d James Jordan, £3 15s 10d Richard Kempton, £3 15s 10d Thomas Kyloch, as private to 26 May before promotion, £2 6s 8d, and as corporal from 27 May, £2 0s 10d, £4 7s 6d Thomas Lyne, £3 15s 10d Charles Lewellen, £3 15s 10d Murdo McLeod, £3 15s 10d Thomas McDearman, £3 15s 10d John Moyer, £3 15s 10d Robert May, £3 15s 10d William Morgan, enlisted 1 April, £3 15s 10d Jonathan Mabet, transferred from the artillery company 28 April, £2 13s 4d John Moyes, enlisted 24 June, £0 5s 10d John Newton, £3 15s 10d James Newport, £3 15s 10d Robert Nichols, enlisted 27 June, £0 3s 4d John Oswald, £3 15s 10d John Pluck, £3 15s 10d William Pink, enlisted 1 April, then transferred to the artillery company 6 May, £1 10s 0d Daniel Patrick, £3 15s 10d Stephen Pappe, £3 15s 10d William Parker, £3 15s 10d Thomas Pickard, £3 15s 10d Benjamin Pearle, £3 15s 10d Privates carried forward, £197 0s 10d Carried forward, £2,577 1s 9½d Interpretations Robert Nichols was entered on the roll on 27 June 1769 as a new man. A Robert Nickels had been given up as a deserter by Captain Hayter of the York. If he was the same man, the Council did not try him and hang him, as the articles of war allowed for desertion. Nor did it flog him and stop his arrears. It put him back on the roll at full pay from the day he returned. Trained soldiers were hard to replace on an island thousands of miles from England. A recovered deserter was worth more to the Council in the ranks than as an example. Jonathan Mabet came into the Fourth Company from the artillery on 28 April 1769, the day after William Cutts left the company. Cutts had evidently gone to the artillery in exchange. William Pink, a recruit of 1 April, followed him there on 6 May. The artillery was drawing men from the infantry companies to bring its gun crews up to strength. Thomas Bazett, the artillery's new commander from June, would have inherited a corps built up in this way. | |
232 | 17 July Brought Over £ 2577 1 9 1/2 Private brought Over £ 197 10 James Richardson 3 15 10 Thomas Rutherford 3 15 10 John Ram 3 15 10 William Seedman 3 15 10 John Slade 3 15 10 William Steadman 3 15 10 William Sharp 3 15 10 James Sax 3 15 10 John Seale ent. 1st April and died 21 June 3 8 4 John Tottendall 3 15 10 Jeremiah Terrill 3 15 10 William West 3 15 10 Thomas Wells 3 15 10 James Wilson 3 15 10 Samuel Wilson 3 15 10 Peter White 3 15 10 John Wood 3 15 10 George Wood 2 6 8 John Ward 40 days £ 1 13 4 do. Corporal 51 do. 2 19 6 4 12 10 James Walter transd. to ye Art. Comp. 29 May 2 3 4 Thomas Johnson 3 15 10 John Pink 3 15 10 277 17 Artillery Company Archibald Mitchell Capt. Saly. to 10 June the day of 30 10 do. Augmentation from 6th May to 10 June 3 8 40 18 Thomas Leech 1 Lieut. from 6th May 16 4 do. Diet Money from do. 4 1 do. House Rent do. 1 9 7 21 14 7 Robert Gibson 2 Lieut. Sal. upon half 9 2 6 do. Augmentation from 6 May 2 16 do. Diet Money 3 8 5 1/4 do. House Rent 1 5 16 11 11 1/4 Carried Over £ 2934 3 4 | The Fourth Company's privates closed at £277 17s 0d, and the pay list of the artillery company followed. Brought forward, £2,577 1s 9½d Privates brought forward, £197 0s 10d James Richardson, £3 15s 10d Thomas Rutherford, £3 15s 10d John Shaw, £3 15s 10d William Seltman, £3 15s 10d John Slade, £3 15s 10d William Steadman, £3 15s 10d William Sharpe, £3 15s 10d James Sax, £3 15s 10d John Seale, enlisted 1 April and died 21 June, £3 8s 4d John Tottendall, £3 15s 10d Jeremiah Hewitt, £3 15s 10d William West, £3 15s 10d Thomas Wells, £3 15s 10d James Wilson, £3 15s 10d Samuel Wilson, £3 15s 10d Peter White, £3 15s 10d John Wood, £3 15s 10d George Wood, £2 6s 0d John Wood, 40 days as private, £1 13s 4d, and 51 days as corporal, £2 19s 6d, £4 12s 10d James Walter, to 22 May, then transferred to the artillery company, £2 3s 4d Thomas Johnson, £3 15s 10d John Pink, £3 15s 10d Total for the Fourth Company, £277 17s 0d Artillery company Archibald Mitchell, captain Salary to 10 June, the day of his resignation, £37 10s 0d Increase from 6 May to 10 June, £3 8s 0d Total for Archibald Mitchell, £40 18s 0d Thomas Leech, first lieutenant from 6 May Salary, £16 4s 0d Table allowance from 6 May, £4 1s 0d House rent from 6 May, £1 9s 7d Total for Thomas Leech, £21 14s 7d Robert Gibson, second lieutenant, on half allowances Salary, £9 2s 6d Increase from 6 May, £2 16s 0d Table allowance, £3 8s 5½d House rent, £1 5s 0d Total for Robert Gibson, £16 11s 11½d Carried forward, £2,934 3s 4d Interpretations Archibald Mitchell drew pay as captain of the artillery company on top of his salary, table allowance and house rent as engineer. Both stopped on 10 June 1769, the day he resigned. Together they came to over £100 for the 10 weeks, which made him the most expensive servant on the island after the Governor. The Council had joined the two posts because the engineer who designed the batteries was the natural man to command the guns on them. When Mitchell went, it kept the joint arrangement but put Thomas Bazett into both posts at £100 a year for the works. The saving to the Company was considerable. Robert Gibson received exactly half the normal salary, table allowance and house rent of a second lieutenant. His increase from 6 May was paid in full. The half rate was evidently a fixed condition of his post, not a stoppage for absence, since the increase was untouched. He may have been a supernumerary officer serving on reduced terms until a full vacancy opened. Thomas Leech joined as first lieutenant on 6 May, the day the Speke arrived, and was probably among the officers she brought out. James Walter, transferred from the Fourth Company on 22 May, was a further man drawn into the artillery from the infantry. | |
233 | 1769 Brought Over £ 2934 3 4 John Shirley 2 Lieut. Salary 18 5 do. Augmentation from 6 May 2 16 do. Diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 30 7 10 1/2 Sergeants John Whitchurch 9 2 Adam Watson 9 2 Nicholas Stoughton 9 2 John Jack 9 2 36 8 Corporals John Turner 6 16 6 James Parfit 6 16 6 Thomas Syle 6 16 6 David Dennis to 3 May discharged 2 12 6 23 2 Bombardiers Thomas Jones to 6 May advanced £ 2 12 6 do. Corporal from 7th do. 4 4 6 16 6 William Stapleford 6 16 6 Frederick Bratheand 6 16 6 John Dobson 6 16 6 27 6 Gunners John Smith 6 1 4 Charles Abraham to 6th May advanced £ 2 6 8 do. from 7th do. Bombardier 4 4 6 10 8 John Carfoot 6 1 4 Benjamin Holmes 6 1 4 Thomas Yates 6 1 4 William Haddell 6 1 4 Samuel Ringrose 6 1 4 John Osborne to 27th April disch. 1 16 44 14 8 Carried Over £ 3096 1 10 1/2 | The artillery company's pay list continued from a running total of £2,934 3s 4d. Brought forward, £2,934 3s 4d John Kirtley, second lieutenant Salary, £18 5s 0d Increase from 6 May, £2 16s 0d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for John Kirtley, £30 7s 10½d Sergeants John Whitchurch, £9 2s 0d Adam Watson, £9 2s 0d Nicholas Houghton, £9 2s 0d John Tack, £9 2s 0d Total for sergeants, £36 8s 0d Corporals John Turner, £6 16s 6d James Parfit, £6 16s 6d Thomas Syle, £6 16s 6d David Dennis, to 5 May, when discharged, £2 12s 6d Total for corporals, £23 2s 0d Bombardiers Thomas Jones, as bombardier to 6 May before promotion, £2 12s 6d, and as corporal from 7 May, £4 4s 0d, £6 16s 6d William Stapleford, £6 16s 6d Frederick Heathcote, £6 16s 6d John Dobson, £6 16s 6d Total for bombardiers, £27 6s 0d Gunners John Smith, £6 1s 4d Charles Abraham, as gunner to 6 May before promotion, £2 6s 8d, and as bombardier from 7 May, £4 4s 0d, £6 10s 8d John Carfoot, £6 1s 4d Benjamin Holmes, £6 1s 4d Thomas Yates, £6 1s 4d William Hadfield, £6 1s 4d Samuel Ringrose, £6 1s 4d John Osborne, to 27 April, when discharged, £1 16s 0d Total for gunners, £44 14s 8d Carried forward, £3,096 1s 10½d Interpretations The artillery was paid well above the infantry at every rank. An artillery sergeant drew 2s a day against 20d for a sergeant of foot. Corporals and bombardiers drew 18d against an infantry corporal's 14d, and a gunner drew 16d against a private's 10d. The premium of 60 per cent at the lowest rank reflected the skill needed to lay and fire a gun and to handle powder safely. It also explains why the artillery could draw men from the infantry companies, as it did with William Cutts, William Pink and James Walter earlier in the quarter. A private who transferred and became a gunner raised his pay by more than half. The artillery's promotions followed the same rule as the infantry's. David Dennis was discharged in early May 1769, and Thomas Jones moved up from bombardier to corporal to fill his place. Charles Abraham then rose from gunner to bombardier in place of Jones, both from the same day. | |
234 | 17 July Brought Over £ 3096 1 10 1/2 Drummers George Chariott 5 6 2 Joseph Purdie 5 6 2 10 12 4 Matrosses William Brown 4 11 Benjamin Burton 4 11 William Blavin 4 11 John Cope 4 11 John Cripwell 4 11 Robert Cunningham 4 11 Philip Connaway 4 11 John Webley to 13th April Disch. 3 John Wilson 4 11 Samuel Wood 4 11 Matthew Dunhill to 28th April abt. £ 1 7 do. from 29th do. Gunner 4 3 4 5 12 4 Matthew Charlton 4 11 William Crabb from 28th Ent. from 4 Comp. 3 4 John Coleman from 13th June from do. 10 Thomas Disbrow to 12th do. disch. 3 13 William Durham 4 14 Robert Franklin 4 11 John Fox 4 11 Christian Greenwade 4 11 Thomas Gerrill 4 11 Thomas Green 4 11 John Glenny 4 11 James Gilmore Ent. 4 April 4 8 William Hedges 4 11 William Harper 4 11 Owen Hazard 4 11 William Jenkins 4 11 George King from 28 April Ent. 3 4 John Lewis 4 11 Jonathan Mallet to 17th April transd. to 4 Comp. 1 7 Matrosses Carried Over 122 11 4 Carried Over £ 3106 14 2 1/2 | The artillery company's pay list continued from a running total of £3,096 1s 10½d with the drummers and matrosses. Brought forward, £3,096 1s 10½d Drummers George Chariott, £5 6s 2d Joseph Purdie, £5 6s 2d Total for drummers, £10 12s 4d Matrosses William Brown, £4 11s 0d Benjamin Burton, £4 11s 0d William Blain, £4 11s 0d John Cope, £4 11s 0d John Cripwell, £4 11s 0d Robert Cunningham, £4 11s 0d Philip Connaway, £4 11s 0d John Webbley, to 3 April, when discharged, £0 3s 0d John Wilson, £4 11s 0d Samuel Wood, £4 11s 0d Matthew Dunhill, as matross to 27 April, £1 7s 0d, and as gunner from 28 April, £4 5s 4d, £5 12s 4d Matthew Charlton, £4 11s 0d William Cutts, from 28 April, transferred from the Fourth Company, £3 4s 0d John Coleman, from 13 June, transferred from the Fourth Company, £0 18s 0d Thomas Dishaw, to 12 June, when discharged, £3 13s 0d William Durham, £4 11s 0d Robert Frankish, £4 11s 0d John Fox, £4 11s 0d Christian Greenvale, £4 11s 0d Thomas Gerrill, £4 11s 0d Thomas Green, £4 11s 0d John Glenny, £4 11s 0d James Gilmore, enlisted 4 April, £4 8s 0d William Hedges, £4 11s 0d William Harper, £4 11s 0d Owen Hazard, £4 11s 0d William Jenkins, £4 11s 0d George King, enlisted 28 April, £3 4s 0d John Moir, £4 11s 0d Jonathan Mallet, to 27 April, then transferred to the Fourth Company, £1 7s 0d Matrosses carried forward, £122 11s 4d Carried forward, £3,106 14s 2½d Interpretations A matross drew 12d a day, a step above the infantry private's 10d and below the gunner's 16d. The artillery filled its gunners' places from its own matrosses and its matrosses' places from the infantry. John Osborne, a gunner, was discharged on 27 April 1769. Matthew Dunhill rose from matross to gunner the next day, and William Cutts came over from the Fourth Company on the same day as a matross. Thomas Dishaw's discharge on 12 June was met by John Coleman's transfer from the Fourth Company on 13 June. Each vacancy among the guns was filled within a day from the companies of foot. The exchange of Cutts and Jonathan Mallet on 27 and 28 April shows the movement did not run one way only. Mallet returned to the infantry as Cutts left it. A man who proved unsuited to the guns could be sent back, which let the artillery choose its men by trial instead of by enlistment alone. | |
235 | 1769 Brought Over £ 3106 14 2 1/2 Matrosses brought Over £ 122 11 4 George Marshall 4 11 John Moore 4 11 Patrick Mahony 4 11 Thomas Nimble 4 11 Esau Nowland 4 11 Martin Newman to 3 April disch. 3 William Phillips 4 11 William Pink from 4th May Ent. from 4 Compy. 2 16 William Robinson 4 11 William Stone 4 11 Andrew Schooner 4 8 Samuel Smith 4 11 Andrew Sedrick 4 11 Thomas Wyatt to 22 May disch. 2 12 Richard Wellman 4 11 Richard Waterhouse 4 11 George Washington 4 11 James Walter from 23 May Ent. from 4 Compy. 1 19 George Smith to 6th do. Advanced £ 1 15 do. from 7th do. Gunner 1 14 8 3 9 8 199 2 £ 3305 16 2 1/2 Pensioners viz. Nathan Sample 13 15 11 Mary Beale 7 10 Elizabeth Kennedy £ 7 10 £ 3334 12 1 1/2 | The artillery matrosses closed at £199 2s 0d. The list ended with three pensioners and a grand total of £3,334 12s 1½d for the quarter. Brought forward, £3,106 14s 2½d Matrosses brought forward, £122 11s 4d George Marshall, £4 11s 0d John Moore, £4 11s 0d Patrick Mahony, £4 11s 0d Thomas Nimble, £4 11s 0d Esau Nowland, £4 11s 0d Martin Newman, to 3 April, when discharged, £0 3s 0d William Phillips, £4 11s 0d William Pink, from 6 May, transferred from the Fourth Company, £2 16s 0d William Robinson, £4 11s 0d William Stone, £4 11s 0d Andrew Schooner, £4 8s 0d Samuel Smith, £4 11s 0d Andrew Sedrick, £4 11s 0d Thomas Whyatt, to 22 May, when discharged, £2 12s 0d Richard Wellman, £4 11s 0d Richard Waterhouse, £4 11s 0d George Washington, £4 11s 0d James Walter, from 23 May, transferred from the Fourth Company, £1 19s 0d George Smith, as matross to 6 May before promotion, £1 15s 0d, and as gunner from 7 May, £3 14s 8d, £5 9s 8d Total for matrosses, £199 2s 0d Running total, £3,305 16s 2½d Pensioners Nathan Sample, £13 15s 11d Mary Beale, £7 10s 0d Elizabeth Kennedy, £7 10s 0d Total for the quarter, £3,334 12s 1½d Interpretations The Company's wage bill for the quarter came to £3,334 12s 1½d. Nearly three-quarters of it went to the garrison. That was the true cost of holding St Helena: about 400 soldiers paid by the day, with the salaries of the Governor and the civil servants a smaller share. Clothing and salt provisions for the troops added several hundred pounds more each quarter through the storekeeper's accounts. The island earned almost nothing in return beyond its value as a watering place for the Company's ships. Mary Beale and Elizabeth Kennedy each received £7 10s 0d, a pension of £30 a year. That was more than a private soldier's pay of about £15 a year and close to a sergeant's. The women were probably widows of Company servants or officers, kept from want at the Company's charge on an island where a widow had few ways to earn a living. Mary Beale shared a surname with Richard Beale, the judge advocate and captain of the Third Company. Nathan Sample's larger pension of £13 15s 11d suggests a man retired from a higher post. With John Lemon, entered among the civil servants, these were the only pensioners the Company supported on the island. The final promotions in the artillery completed the chain begun with David Dennis's discharge in early May 1769. Thomas Jones rose to corporal, Charles Abraham to bombardier and George Smith to gunner, all from the same day. William Pink and James Walter came in from the Fourth Company as matrosses, so that the gun crews stood at full strength by the end of the quarter. | |
236 | 17 July Dr. William Wrangham 1769 April 1st To Cash £ 4983 11 7 1/2 Carried Over £ 4983 11 7 1/2 | The paymaster's account opened with William Wrangham charged as debtor for the cash placed in his hands. 1 April 1769, to cash, £4,983 11s 7½d Carried forward, £4,983 11s 7½d Interpretations Wrangham was charged with £4,983 11s 7½d in cash on 1 April 1769, the day he took over the paymaster's business. In the Company's double-entry books, a servant entrusted with money was entered as debtor for the whole sum. He then cleared the debt by showing what he had paid out, entered on the credit side opposite. The cash he received was half as much again as the quarter's wage bill of £3,334 12s 1½d. The surplus left him with a working balance for the payments that fell due outside the pay list. The clerk ruled a long diagonal line through the empty space below the single entry. This was the standard safeguard in a ledger. It closed the page so that nothing could be written in later to inflate the sum with which the paymaster was charged. | |
237 | 1769 Paymaster Cr. £ s d 1769 April 8 By Cash paid Sundry Garrison Men for working in ye Stores in receiving Goods from several Ships 232 1/2 days at 1/ p day 11 12 9 By do. paid William Ferris for Inlisting to serve the Honorable Company five Years as a Soldier from this day 2 10 10th By do. paid Daniel Armain for relisting to serve five Years from this day 10 13 By do. paid William Cockray for do. as do. 10 19th By do. paid Sundry Garrison Men for Working in the Stores 166 days in receiving Goods from several Ships 8 6 22 By do. paid Robert Bruce Surgeon of the Duke of Albany for his care of 38 Recruits in their passage to this Island 5/ each 9 10 23th By do. paid Captn. Stewart Commander of the Duke of Albany for the following for the Companys Table viz. 3 Firkins Butter £ 10 10 1 Firkin Herrings 1 10 1 Cask White Bread 1 11 6 3 Hams wt. 63 at 1/6 p lb 4 14 6 1 Cask Raisins 3 150 Currants 4 10 3 Cheshire Cheeses 2 Best Gloucester do. at 1/ p lb 4 12 2 Casks Pickles 9 16 10 Loaves dou. refined Sugar 7 6 47 10 By do. paid do. for 9 Bars Iron wt. 124 lb at 6 3 2 30th By do. paid Captn. Rainforth of Ship Prince for 12 Tierces and 2 Puncheons Beef and 9 Hhds. Pork 124 12 May 2 By do. paid Sundry Garrison Men for Working in the Stores 89 days in receiving Goods from several Ships 4 9 By do. paid Philip Mahony Clerk of the Peace for the Quarter ending 30 April his Salary being advanced £20 p Annum by Order of the Court of Directors 5 By do. paid Thomas Love for Enlisting to serve the Honble. Company 5 Years as a Soldier 2 10 By do. paid for the following for the use of the Companys Table viz. 103 1/4 lb Beef 3 8 4 Pigs 1 4 8 Carried over £ 243 9 9 Margin Notes: Ex. | The paymaster's account set out the payments Wrangham made from 8 April 1769 onward, credited against the cash placed in his hands. 8 April 1769, sundry soldiers of the garrison for 232½ days' work at the stores unloading goods from several ships, at 1s a day, £11 12s 9d 8 April 1769, William Ferris, bounty for enlisting as a soldier in the Company's service for five years from that day, £2 10s 0d 10 April 1769, Daniel Armain, bounty for re-enlisting for five years from that day, £10 0s 0d 13 April 1769, William Cocksay, bounty for re-enlisting for five years from that day, £10 0s 0d 19 April 1769, sundry soldiers of the garrison for 166 days' work at the stores unloading goods from several ships, £8 6s 0d On 22 April 1769, Robert Bruce, surgeon of the Duke of Albany, received £9 10s 0d for his care of 38 recruits on their passage to the island, at 5s a head. On 23 April 1769, Captain Stewart, commander of the Duke of Albany, was paid for provisions bought for the Company's table. 3 firkins of butter, £10 10s 0d 1 firkin of herrings, £1 10s 0d 1 cask of white ship's biscuit, £1 11s 6d 3 hams, weighing 63 pounds, at 1s 6d a pound, £4 14s 6d 1 cask of raisins, £3 0s 0d 100 pounds of currants, £4 10s 0d 2 Cheshire cheeses and 2 double Gloucester cheeses, £4 12s 0d 2 casks of pickles, £2 16s 0d 10 loaves of double-refined sugar, £7 6s 0d Total for provisions for the Company's table, £40 10s 0d 9 bars of iron from Captain Stewart, weighing 124 pounds, at 6d a pound, £3 2s 0d On 26 April 1769, Captain [...]forth of the [...] received £124 12s 0d for 12 tierces and 2 puncheons of beef and 9 hogsheads of pork. 2 May 1769, sundry soldiers of the garrison for 89 days' work at the stores unloading goods from several ships, £4 9s 0d 2 May 1769, Philip Mahony, clerk of the peace, salary for the quarter ending 30 April, raised to £20 a year by order of the Court of Directors, £5 0s 0d 2 May 1769, Thomas Love, bounty for enlisting as a soldier in the Company's service for five years, £2 10s 0d 2 May 1769, provisions for the Company's table: 163¼ pounds of beef, £3 8s 0d, and 4 pigs, £1 0s 0d, £4 8s 0d Carried forward, £245 9s 9d Interpretations A new recruit received a bounty of £2 10s 0d for enlisting for five years, while a man re-enlisting at the end of his term received £10 0s 0d. Daniel Armain, who appeared as Daniel Armin in the Fourth Company's roll, was one of those who signed again. The Company paid four times as much to keep a trained soldier as to take on a raw one. A recruit had to be shipped from England at the Company's cost, and many died in their first weeks on the island, as the April deaths in the companies showed. A seasoned man already acclimatised to the island was worth a large bounty. The surgeon of the Duke of Albany was paid 5s a head for the 38 recruits he brought out. This was head money paid on arrival, which gave a ship's surgeon a direct interest in landing his recruits alive. Men crowded below decks on a voyage of three or four months were vulnerable to scurvy and fever. The Duke of Albany's draft accounts for the cluster of enlistments dated 1 April in the companies' pay lists. Soldiers who worked at the stores unloading cargo were paid 1s a day on top of their military pay. That more than doubled a private's daily income of 10d. Unloading was heavy and wet work from boats in the road, and the extra pay made it sought after. It also gave the Company a ready labour force without hiring outside hands. The Governor's table was stocked partly by buying direct from ships' commanders. Butter, cheeses, hams, pickles and double-refined sugar from England were sold at Captain Stewart's own price. Commanders were allowed to carry a quantity of goods on their own account, and a sale at St Helena turned part of that allowance into ready money before the ship reached India. Double-refined sugar was the whitest and hardest grade, sold in conical loaves, and was the sugar of a gentleman's table rather than the kitchen. | |
238 | 17 July Dr. William Wrangham Brought Over £ 4983 11 7 1/2 Carried Over £ 4983 11 7 1/2 | The debit side of William Wrangham's account carried the cash charged to him unchanged onto a further page. Brought forward, £4,983 11s 7½d Carried forward, £4,983 11s 7½d Interpretations The debit page held no new entries and was ruled through with a diagonal line, yet the clerk still brought the sum forward and carried it on. In a ledger kept on facing pages, each debit page sat opposite a page of credits. The paymaster's payments ran over several pages, so the single cash entry had to be repeated at the head and foot of each blank debit page. This kept the two sides of the account level at every opening of the book. An auditor could then compare the cash received with the payments made at any point without turning back. | |
239 | 1769 Paymaster Cr. brought over £ 243 9 9 1769 6 May By Cash paid Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor by Order of the Court of Directors his Arrears of Pay due to him from 25 July 1768 the day he resigned the Companys Service to the 6 May 1769 the Day he returned to the Island Inclusive at £300 p Annum 277 2 6 8th By do. paid Captain Hunt of Ship Tilbury for 378 Ps. Beef at 2/ each 37 16 By do. paid Mary Beale her Annuity due to her from the 24 June 1768 to 31 March 1769 at £30 p Annum 23 1 11 By do. paid Eliz. Kennedy do. from do. to do. 23 1 11 By do. paid George Bazett for being Clerk of the Works from 1 January to 31 March 1769 6 15 By do. paid do. his House Rent from 25th July 1768 to 31st March 1769 6 16 By do. paid John Osbourne a discharged Soldier 9 Days Subsistence at 6d. p Day 4 6 By do. paid the Coroner for an Inquest held on the Body of Robert Brown 1 5 10th By do. paid Captn. Hunt for a Barrl. Tar not delivered and made off when he was here outwardbound 1 11 By do. paid John Jacobs for Enlisting to Serve the Honble. Company 5 Years as a Soldier to commence this Day 5 11th By do. paid for the following for the use of the Companys Table viz. 6 Hams wt. 157 lb at 16 p lb£ 10 12 4 4 Double Gloucester Cheeses 67 lb 3 7 2 Cheshire do. 37 lb 1 17 15 16 4 17th By do. paid John Sedgwick for the following for the Use of the Companys Table viz. 2 Firkins Butter£ 7 10 6 Gallons Rum 1 16 9 6 Carried Over £ 651 5 11 | The paymaster's payments continued from a running total of £245 9s 9d. Brought forward, £245 9s 9d 6 May 1769, Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, arrears of pay ordered by the Court of Directors, from 13 July 1768, the day he left the Company's service, to 6 May 1769, the day he returned to the island, both days included, at £[...] a year, £277 2s 6d On 8 May 1769, Captain Hunt of the Tilbury received £37 16s 0d for 378 pieces of beef at 2s each. 8 May 1769, Mary Beale, her annuity from 24 June 1768 to 31 March 1769 at £30 a year, £23 1s 11d 8 May 1769, Elizabeth Kennedy, her annuity for the same period at the same rate, £23 1s 11d 8 May 1769, George Bazett, for serving as clerk of the works from 1 January to 31 March 1769, £6 15s 0d 8 May 1769, George Bazett, his house rent from 25 July 1768 to 31 March 1769, £6 16s 0d 8 May 1769, John Osborne, a discharged soldier, 9 days' subsistence at 6d a day, £0 4s 6d 8 May 1769, the coroner, for an inquest held on the body of Robert Brown, £1 5s 0d 10 May 1769, Captain Hunt, for a barrel of tar received and used when he called on his outward voyage, £1 11s 0d 10 May 1769, John Jacobs, bounty for enlisting as a soldier in the Company's service for five years from that day, £5 0s 0d 11 May 1769, provisions for the Company's table 6 hams, weighing 157 pounds, at 1s 4d a pound, £10 12s 4d 4 double Gloucester cheeses, weighing 67 pounds, £3 7s 0d 2 Cheshire cheeses, weighing 37 pounds, £1 17s 0d Total for provisions, £15 16s 4d 17 May 1769, John Sedgwick, for provisions for the Company's table 2 firkins of butter, £7 10s 0d 6 gallons of rum, £1 16s 0d Total paid to John Sedgwick, £9 6s 0d Carried forward, £651 5s 11d Interpretations The Court of Directors ordered that Daniel Corneille be paid for the whole time he was away from St Helena. His pay ran from July 1768, when he left the Company's service on the island, to 6 May 1769, when he landed from the Speke. Ordinarily a servant who left his station drew nothing until he returned to duty. The Court chose instead to treat his time in England as service, and the Council paid £277 2s 6d in a single sum on his arrival. Such an order marked Corneille as a man in favour at India House. It also signalled to the Council that the new Lieutenant Governor came out with the Court's confidence behind him. Captain Hunt of the Tilbury was paid for beef and tar on 8 and 10 May 1769. On 11 May, Sutton Isaacs deserted from the First Company and escaped in the same ship. Hunt was settling his accounts with the Council in the days before he sailed and at the same time carrying off one of its soldiers. Nothing in the paymaster's books shows any deduction or complaint against him. The coroner held an inquest on Robert Brown, the private of the Second Company who died on 7 May 1769. An inquest was required in English law for any sudden or unexplained death. Its cost of £1 5s 0d was charged to the Company, which bore the expense of justice on the island as it did every other charge of government. The two widows' annuities were paid more than nine months in arrears, in a single sum to 31 March 1769. Pensioners at St Helena evidently waited for their money until the paymaster's cash allowed. | |
240 | 17 July Dr. William Wrangham Brought Over £ 4983 11 7 1/2 Carried Over £ 4983 11 7 1/2 | The debit side of William Wrangham's account again carried the cash charged to him, unchanged, onto a further page. Brought forward, £4,983 11s 7½d Carried forward, £4,983 11s 7½d Interpretations By 17 May 1769, the payments set against this sum on the facing credit pages came to only £651 5s 11d. Barely an eighth of the cash had gone out in the first seven weeks of the quarter. The garrison and the Company's servants were paid in arrears, by the quarter, so the great bulk of the paymaster's outgoings fell at its close. The pay list for the quarter to 30 June 1769 alone came to £3,334 12s 1½d. Wrangham held the remaining cash in the meantime as a working fund for bounties, provisions bought from ships and other charges arising day to day. | |
241 | 1769 Paymaster Cr. Brought Over £ 651 5 11 1769 17th May By Cash paid for the following for the Use of the Castle viz. 2 Large Waiters at 7/6 each£ 15 2 Small do. 8 1 Bread Basket 3 6 1 6 6 22 By do. paid the following discharged Soldiers for Relisting to serve the Honble. Company 3 Years longer viz. William Tipper£ 10 John Brichmans 10 William Stapleford 10 Robert Johnson 10 William Drenan 10 John Dale 10 James Drake 10 Robert Green 10 Daniel Patrick 10 Joseph Beckum 10 George Wall 10 James Parfit 10 120 23 By do. paid Captn. Jackson of the Speke for the following for the Use of the Companys Table viz. 6 doz. Bottles Preserves£ 9 2 Hams wt. 32 lb at 1/6 p lb 2 4 6 Gallons French Brandy 2 8 32 Loaf Sugar 2 15 12 By do. paid do. for 24 Packs Cards for the Use of the Castle 1 24th By do. paid do. for 2 Single Blocks 1 4 June 1st By do. paid Captain Wyche of the Salisbury for Cwt. qrs. lb. 44 2 Rice at 7/6 p Cwt. 16 13 9 3 By do. paid Mr. James Greentree for 100 lb Onions to Plant 2 10 By do. paid Sundry Garrison Men for Working in the Stores 481 Days at 1/ p Day 24 1 Carried Over £ 833 13 2 | The paymaster's payments continued from a running total of £651 5s 11d. Brought forward, £651 5s 11d 17 May 1769, articles for the Castle 2 large trays, at 7s 6d each, £0 15s 0d 2 small trays, £0 8s 0d 1 bread basket, £0 3s 6d Total for articles for the Castle, £1 6s 6d 22 May 1769, bounties to time-expired soldiers for re-enlisting in the Company's service for five more years William Tipper, £10 0s 0d John Brechmans, £10 0s 0d William Stapleford, £10 0s 0d Robert Johnson, £10 0s 0d William Drenan, £10 0s 0d John Dale, £10 0s 0d James Drake, £10 0s 0d Robert Green, £10 0s 0d Daniel Patrick, £10 0s 0d Joseph Becham, £10 0s 0d George Wall, £10 0s 0d James Parfit, £10 0s 0d Total for re-enlistment bounties, £120 0s 0d On 23 May 1769, Captain Jackson of the Speke was paid for provisions for the Company's table. 6 dozen bottles of preserves, £9 0s 0d 2 hams, weighing 38 pounds, at [...] a pound, £2 4s 0d 6 gallons of French brandy, £2 8s 0d 52 pounds of loaf sugar, £2 0s 0d Total for provisions, £15 12s 0d 23 May 1769, Captain Jackson, for 24 packs of playing cards for the Castle, £1 0s 0d 24 May 1769, Captain Jackson, for 2 single blocks, £1 4s 0d On 1 June 1769, Captain Wyse of the Salisbury received £16 13s 9d for 44 hundredweight 2 quarters of rice at 7s 6d a hundredweight. 3 June 1769, James Greentree, for 100 onions for planting, £2 10s 0d 3 June 1769, sundry soldiers of the garrison for 481 days' work at the stores, at 1s a day, £24 1s 0d Carried forward, £833 13s 2d Interpretations On 22 May 1769, the Council paid £120 in bounties to 12 soldiers whose five-year engagements had run out. All 12 signed on again at £10 a head. Their terms ended together, which suggests they had come out in a single draft in 1764. The Council could have let them go and filled the ranks with the 38 recruits landed from the Duke of Albany in April at £2 10s 0d each. Instead it paid four times the recruit's bounty to keep every one of them. Among them were a corporal of the artillery, James Parfit, a bombardier, William Stapleford, and a drummer, Joseph Becham. Losing a dozen trained men at once, several of them non-commissioned or skilled, would have weakened the garrison far more than the bounties cost. The recruits, meanwhile, were already dying in their first weeks ashore. The rice from the Salisbury cost 7s 6d a hundredweight, under 1d a pound. That was the cheapest bulk food the Company could buy, and it fed the slaves and the plantation's horses and poultry. Ships on the outward voyage carried no rice, so this was probably a homeward Indiaman selling surplus stores from Bengal or the Coromandel coast. James Greentree, a lieutenant of the Fourth Company, sold the Company 100 onions for planting. Officers at St Helena commonly held land and farmed it, and the Company bought seed stock and produce from them for its own gardens. The 24 packs of playing cards bought from Captain Jackson were for the Castle, where cards were the evening entertainment of the Governor's table when ships were in the road. | |
242 | 17 July Dr. William Wrangham Brought Over £ 4983 11 7 1/2 Carried Over £ 4983 11 7 1/2 | The debit side of William Wrangham's account carried the cash charged to him, unchanged, onto a further page. Brought forward, £4,983 11s 7½d Carried forward, £4,983 11s 7½d Interpretations By 3 June 1769, the payments set against this sum came to £833 13s 2d, and very little of it was wages. The largest items were Daniel Corneille's arrears of £277 2s 6d, £140 in bounties to recruits and re-enlisted soldiers, and over £200 for beef, pork, rice and table provisions bought from ships' commanders. The paymaster's cash therefore served as the Council's general fund for any payment in coin, not merely as a wage chest. On an island without a bank or a merchant house, the Company's treasure was the only ready money, and every purchase from a passing ship had to come out of it. | |
243 | 1769 Paymaster Cr. Brought Over £ 833 13 2 1769 June 3 By Cash paid 113 1/2 lb Beef for the Company's Table 2 9 10 12th By do. paid Thomas Lyne for Enlisting to serve the Honorable Company 3 Years longer as a Soldier to commence this Day 10 By do. paid Alexander Henderson for Enlisting to serve 5 Years as a Soldier 3 14th By do. paid Jeremiah Smith Taylor for making a Suit of Cloaths for the Parades of the Court 1 By do. paid the following discharged Soldiers their Subsistence at 6d. p Day viz. William Bauldwin 38 days£ 19 Thomas Wyatt 38 do. 19 William Bunn 3 do. 1 6 Thomas Blake 19 do. 9 6 Thomas James 31 do. 15 6 Thomas Durham 19 do. 9 6 3 14 24th By do. paid John Theodorus Meiser for Enlisting to serve the Honble. Company 3 Years as a Soldier to commence this Day 3 26 By do. paid James Moyce for Enlisting to serve the Honorable Company 3 Years as do. 10 27th By do. paid Robert Nichols for Enlisting to serve 3 Years as do. from this Date 3 30 By do. paid James Parker for Working in the Garden viz. 43 Days at 1/ p Day£ 2 3 3 Weeks at 5/10 p Week 17 6 3 6 By do. paid Coquela Porcelain instead of 13 Ps. Salt Meat out of the stores 1 6 By do. paid do. his Allowance 1 12 6 By do. paid do. for House Rent 1 By do. paid Maufunga his Allowance 1 13 By do. paid do. for House Rent 1 By do. paid Augustine Hitchcock for Working in the Garden 15 Days at 1/ p Day 15 Carried Over £ 882 8 | The paymaster's payments continued from a running total of £833 13s 2d. Brought forward, £833 13s 2d 3 June 1769, 137½ pounds of beef for the Company's table, £2 9s 10d 12 June 1769, Thomas Lyne, bounty for re-enlisting as a soldier for five more years from that day, £10 0s 0d 12 June 1769, Alexander Henderson, bounty for enlisting as a soldier for five years, £5 0s 0d 14 June 1769, Jeremiah Smith, tailor, for making a suit of clothes for the beadle of the court, £1 0s 0d 14 June 1769, subsistence for discharged soldiers at 6d a day William Baldwin, 38 days, £0 19s 0d Thomas Wyatt, 38 days, £0 19s 0d William Bunn, 3 days, £0 1s 6d Thomas Blake, 19 days, £0 9s 6d Thomas James, 31 days, £0 15s 6d Thomas Durham, 19 days, £0 9s 6d Total for subsistence, £3 14s 0d 24 June 1769, John Theodorus Moyse, bounty for enlisting as a soldier for five years from that day, £3 0s 0d 26 June 1769, James Moyce, bounty for re-enlisting as a soldier for five years, £10 0s 0d 27 June 1769, Robert Nickells, bounty for enlisting as a soldier for five years from that day, £3 0s 0d 30 June 1769, James Parker, for work in the garden 43 days at 1s a day, £2 3s 0d 3 weeks at 5s 10d a week, £0 17s 6d Total paid to James Parker, £3 0s 6d 30 June 1769, Pasquala Pascoline, cash in place of 13 pieces of salt meat from the stores, £1 6s 0d 30 June 1769, Pasquala Pascoline, his allowance, £1 12s 6d 30 June 1769, Pasquala Pascoline, his house rent, £1 0s 0d 30 June 1769, Mafungo, his allowance, £1 15s 0d 30 June 1769, Mafungo, his house rent, £1 0s 0d 30 June 1769, Augustine Hitchcock, for 15 days' work in the garden at 1s a day, £0 15s 0d Carried forward, £882 6s 0d Interpretations Pasquala Pascoline and Mafungo received a cash allowance and house rent from the Company. Pascoline also took money in place of the salt meat he was entitled to draw from the stores. Slaves were fed and housed in kind and received no money of their own. Payment in cash, with a rent allowance for a house of their choosing, marks both men as free dependants of the Company. Their names suggest origins in the Indian Ocean world, and they were probably among the Malays whose separate account appeared in the storekeeper's books. Pascoline's choice of money over salt meat shows a man able to buy his own food in the island's market. The discharged soldiers drew 6d a day subsistence after their pay stopped. A soldier discharged at St Helena could not leave until a ship would take him, and the Company was bound to keep him from want in the meantime. The rate was barely half a private's pay. It gave the men every reason to find a passage quickly or to re-enlist, as many did for a £10 bounty. New recruits received bounties of £3 to £5 in June, against £2 10s 0d earlier in the quarter. Robert Nickells, the deserter given up by Captain Hayter of the York, was paid £3 on enlisting on 27 June 1769. The Council evidently judged that he had deserted from a ship, not from the garrison, and took him on as a new man with a bounty. | |
244 | 17 July Dr. William Wrangham Brought Over £ 4983 11 7 1/2 Carried Over £ 4983 11 7 1/2 | The debit side of William Wrangham's account carried the cash charged to him, unchanged, onto a further page. Brought forward, £4,983 11s 7½d Carried forward, £4,983 11s 7½d | |
245 | 1769 Paymaster Cr. Brought Over £ 882 8 1769 June 30th By Cash paid Captain Hayter for the following viz. 134 Pieces Beef 126 Ps. Pork at 2/ each£ 56 Cwt. 43 Rice at 8/ p Cwt. 17 4 73 4 By do. paid William Jenkins for Baking 117 Batch of Bread for the Garrison at 1/8 p Batch 9 15 By do. paid the Constable his Account of Rats and Mice destroyed this Quarter 2 3 6 By do. paid the following for Slaves Work at Sandy Bay viz. John Alexander 41 Days Masons Work at 2/6 5 2 6 Benj. Seale 40 1/2 do. do. 5 1 3 Benjn. Mason 41 do. do. 5 2 6 Mr. Purling 10 do. Labourers do. at 1/ 10 Joseph Lange 47 do. do. 2 7 Orlando Bagley 1 do. do. 1 John Prichard 10 do. do. 10 Richard Goodwin 81 1/4 do. do. 4 1 3 Capt. Bazett 48 do. do. 2 8 By do. paid the following for Slaves Work at Mundens Battery viz. Mr. Purling 2 Days Masons Work 5 Capt. Bazett 33 do. do. 4 7 6 Mr. Purling 79 do. Labourers do. 3 19 Mr. Powell 90 do. do. 4 10 Mr. Matthew Bazett 23 do. do. 1 3 Capt. Bazett 89 do. do. 4 9 By do. for 26 Expresses upon Alarms this Quarter 6 10 By do. paid John Price Sexton for making Graves for 8 decd. Soldiers this Quarter at 2/6 1 By do. paid for the following Work at Mundens Battery viz. 50 Days Carpenters Work at 1/6 3 15 6000 do. Soldiers Labr. do. 1 300 323 do. Overseers do. 1/6 16 9 Carried Over £ 1337 9 6 | The paymaster's payments continued from a running total of £882 8s 0d. Brought forward, £882 8s 0d 30 June 1769, Captain Haylor, for provisions 434 pieces of beef and 126 pieces of pork, at 2s a piece, £56 0s 0d 43 hundredweight of rice, at 8s a hundredweight, £17 4s 0d Total paid to Captain Haylor, £73 4s 0d 30 June 1769, William Jenkins, for baking 117 batches of bread for the garrison at 1s 8d a batch, £9 15s 0d 30 June 1769, the constable, his account for rats and mice destroyed in the quarter, £2 3s 6d 30 June 1769, hire of slaves for work at Sandy Bay John Alexander, 41 days of masons' work at 2s 6d, £5 2s 6d Benjamin Seale, 40½ days of masons' work at 2s 6d, £5 1s 3d Benjamin Mason, 41 days of masons' work at 2s 6d, £5 2s 6d Matthew Purling, 10 days of labourers' work at 1s, £0 10s 0d Jacob Fringe, 47 days of labourers' work at 1s, £2 7s 0d Orlando Bagley, 1 day of labourers' work at 1s, £0 1s 0d John Pritchard, 10 days of labourers' work at 1s, £0 10s 0d Richard Goodwin, 81¼ days of labourers' work at 1s, £4 1s 3d Captain Bazett, 48 days of labourers' work at 1s, £2 8s 0d 30 June 1769, hire of slaves for work at Munden's battery Matthew Purling, 2 days of masons' work, £0 5s 0d Captain Bazett, 35 days of masons' work, £4 7s 6d Matthew Purling, 79 days of labourers' work, £3 19s 0d James Powell, 90 days of labourers' work, £4 10s 0d Matthew Bazett, 23 days of labourers' work, £1 3s 0d Captain Bazett, 89 days of labourers' work, £4 9s 0d 30 June 1769, 26 express messengers sent on alarms during the quarter, £6 10s 0d 30 June 1769, John Price, sexton, for digging graves for 8 soldiers who died in the quarter, at 2s 6d each, £1 0s 0d 30 June 1769, work at Munden's battery 30 days of carpenters' work at 2s 6d, £3 15s 0d 600 days of soldiers' labour at 1s, £30 0s 0d 323 days of [...] at 1s 6d, £16 9s 0d Carried forward, £1,137 9s 6d Interpretations The Company hired slaves from private owners to work on its fortifications at Sandy Bay and Munden's Point. A slave mason earned his owner 2s 6d a day and a labourer 1s. Among the owners paid were Matthew Purling, a member of Council, James Powell, the storekeeper, and Matthew Bazett and Captain Henry Bazett. The Council itself decided which works went ahead and whose slaves were hired for them. Purling alone drew over £4 14s in the quarter for 91 days of his slaves' labour. The Company had its own slaves, yet the Council chose to hire from its members as well. That arrangement turned the island's defence works into a steady source of income for the officials who directed them. Hiring was the easier course when the works needed more hands quickly, but it also gave the officers a direct interest in keeping the works going. The 26 express messengers were riders or runners sent across the island whenever a ship was sighted, carrying word to the Castle and calling out the guards. An alarm was raised for every sail until its identity was known, since St Helena lay open to French or Dutch attack in wartime and to surprise at any time. Twenty-six alarms in a quarter gives a measure of the shipping that passed the island in the season, at 5s a message. The constable was paid by the head for rats and mice destroyed. Rats came ashore from every ship and devoured stored grain and the island's crops, and a bounty was the usual remedy. John Price, the marshal and gaoler, also served as sexton, and he dug the graves of eight soldiers who died in the quarter. | |
246 | 17 July Dr. William Wrangham Brought Over £ 4983 11 7 1/2 Carried Over £ 4983 11 7 1/2 | The debit side of William Wrangham's account carried the cash charged to him, unchanged, onto a further page. Brought forward, £4,983 11s 7½d Carried forward, £4,983 11s 7½d | |
247 | 1769 Paymaster Cr. Brought Over £ 833 13 2 1769 June 3 By Cash paid 113 1/2 lb Beef for the Company's Table 2 9 10 12th By do. paid Thomas Lyne for Enlisting to serve the Honorable Company 3 Years longer as a Soldier to commence this Day 10 By do. paid Alexander Henderson for Enlisting to serve 5 Years as a Soldier 3 14th By do. paid Jeremiah Smith Taylor for making a Suit of Cloaths for the Parades of the Court 1 By do. paid the following discharged Soldiers their Subsistence at 6d. p Day viz. William Bauldwin 38 days£ 19 Thomas Wyatt 38 do. 19 William Bunn 3 do. 1 6 Thomas Blake 19 do. 9 6 Thomas James 31 do. 15 6 Thomas Durham 19 do. 9 6 3 14 24th By do. paid John Theodorus Meiser for Enlisting to serve the Honble. Company 3 Years as a Soldier to commence this Day 3 26 By do. paid James Moyce for Enlisting to serve the Honorable Company 3 Years as do. 10 27th By do. paid Robert Nichols for Enlisting to serve 3 Years as do. from this Date 3 30 By do. paid James Parker for Working in the Garden viz. 43 Days at 1/ p Day£ 2 3 3 Weeks at 5/10 p Week 17 6 3 6 By do. paid Coqueda Porcelane instead of 13 Ps. Salt Meat out of the stores 1 6 By do. paid do. his Allowance 1 12 6 By do. paid do. for House Rent 1 By do. paid Maufunga his Allowance 1 13 By do. paid do. for House Rent 1 By do. paid Augustine Hitchcock for Working in the Garden 15 Days at 1/ p Day 15 Carried Over £ 882 8 | The paymaster's payments continued from a running total of £833 13s 2d. Brought forward, £833 13s 2d 3 June 1769, 137½ pounds of beef for the Company's table, £2 9s 10d 12 June 1769, Thomas Lyne, bounty for re-enlisting as a soldier for five more years from that day, £10 0s 0d 12 June 1769, Alexander Henderson, bounty for enlisting as a soldier for five years, £3 0s 0d 14 June 1769, Jeremiah Smith, tailor, for making a suit of clothes for the beadle of the court, £1 0s 0d 14 June 1769, subsistence for discharged soldiers at 6d a day William Baldwin, 38 days, £0 19s 0d Thomas Wyatt, 38 days, £0 19s 0d William Bunn, 3 days, £0 1s 6d Thomas Blake, 19 days, £0 9s 6d Thomas James, 31 days, £0 15s 6d Thomas Durham, 19 days, £0 9s 6d Total for subsistence, £3 14s 0d 24 June 1769, John Theodorus Moyse, bounty for enlisting as a soldier for five years from that day, £3 0s 0d 26 June 1769, James Moyce, bounty for re-enlisting as a soldier for five years, £10 0s 0d 27 June 1769, Robert Nickells, bounty for enlisting as a soldier for five years from that day, £3 0s 0d 30 June 1769, James Packer, for work in the garden 43 days at 1s a day, £2 3s 0d 3 weeks at 5s 10d a week, £0 17s 6d Total paid to James Packer, £3 0s 6d 30 June 1769, Pasqueda Porcelane, cash in place of 13 pieces of salt meat from the stores, £1 6s 0d 30 June 1769, Pasqueda Porcelane, his allowance, £1 12s 6d 30 June 1769, Pasqueda Porcelane, his house rent, £1 0s 0d 30 June 1769, Mafungo, his allowance, £1 15s 0d 30 June 1769, Mafungo, his house rent, £1 0s 0d 30 June 1769, Augustine Hitchcock, for 15 days' work in the garden at 1s a day, £0 15s 0d Carried forward, £882 8s 0d Interpretations Pasqueda Porcelane and Mafungo were paid a cash allowance and house rent by the Company. Porcelane also took money in place of the salt meat he was entitled to draw from the stores. Slaves were fed and lodged in kind and handled no money of the Company's. Cash payments and a rent allowance for a house of their own mark both men as free dependants. Their names point to the Indian Ocean world, and they were probably among the Malays whose separate account appeared in the storekeeper's books. Porcelane's choice of money over salt meat shows a man able to buy his own food in the island's market. Discharged soldiers drew 6d a day subsistence once their pay had stopped. A soldier discharged at St Helena could not leave until a ship would carry him, and the Company had to keep him from want meanwhile. The rate was little more than half a private's pay. It gave each man good reason to find a passage quickly or to re-enlist, as Thomas Lyne and James Moyce did in June 1769 for £10 apiece. New recruits in June received £3 on enlisting, against £10 for a man who signed on again. Robert Nickells, the deserter given up by Captain Hayter of the York, was among them and took his £3 bounty on 27 June. The Council evidently treated him as a deserter from a ship, not from the garrison, and enlisted him as a new man. | |
248 | 17 July Cash Dr. 1769 June 1st To Balance remaining £ 11288 6 2 1/2 2 To Ship Salisbury 5 14 6 14th To Exchange for three sets of Bills drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors payable as follow viz. One set to Captain Archibald Mitchell £ 400 One set to Mr. Alexander Warrand 1000 One set to do. 800 2200 15th To Ship Horsendon 111 18 5 30th To James Powell received of him for Stores Sold in the Quarter ending this Day 1627 2 8 To Plantation for Provision sold 78 9 11 To Licences for Publick Houses 10 To Mundens Battery for Lime sold 2 1 6 To Customs received for 2517 Gallons Arrack Landed at 3/ p Gallon 31 9 3 £ 15355 2 5 1/2 | The Company's cash account at St Helena recorded the sums received into the treasury from 1 to 30 June 1769. 1 June 1769, balance remaining, £11,288 6s 2½d On 2 June 1769, the Salisbury paid in £5 14s 6d. 14 June 1769, cash received in exchange for three sets of bills drawn on the Court of Directors 1 set to Captain Archibald Mitchell, £400 0s 0d 1 set to Alexander Wanand, £1,000 0s 0d 1 set to Alexander Wanand, £800 0s 0d Total for bills of exchange, £2,200 0s 0d On 15 June 1769, the Horsendon paid in £111 18s 5d. 30 June 1769, from James Powell, for stores sold in the quarter ending that day, £1,627 2s 8d 30 June 1769, from the plantation, for provisions sold, £78 9s 11d 30 June 1769, licences for public houses, £10 0s 0d 30 June 1769, from Munden's battery, for lime sold, £2 1s 6d 30 June 1769, customs duty on 2,517 gallons of arrack landed, at 3d a gallon, £31 9s 3d Total, £15,355 2s 5½d Interpretations The bills of exchange were the means by which money left St Helena for England. A servant or settler paid coin into the Company's treasury on the island and received a bill drawn on the Court of Directors, payable in London. Archibald Mitchell bought a bill for £400 on 14 June 1769, three days before he sailed in the Horsendon. He turned his savings into a safe remittance instead of carrying coin on the voyage. Alexander Wanand bought two sets worth £1,800 together, a very large sum for the island. The Company gained hard money at St Helena, where it needed coin to pay the garrison, and settled the debt later in London from its own funds there. Each set was made out in two or three copies sent by different ships, so that one at least would arrive. The customs on arrack confirm the rate of duty fixed in May 1769 at 3d a gallon. Bartholomew Wright collected £31 9s 3d on 2,517 gallons landed in the quarter. The published notice had named 3s, which would have brought in £377 11s 0d. The sum actually received shows that the lower rate was the one enforced. James Powell's sales from the warehouse brought in £1,627 2s 8d, far more than any other receipt apart from the bills. The 40 and 30 per cent mark-ups on stores sold to islanders were thus the Company's chief source of income at St Helena. Even so, the quarter's receipts from the island fell well short of the £3,334 12s 1½d paid out in wages alone. The licences for public houses brought in only £10, at the rate of £8 a year set for each punch house in May. | |
249 | 1769 Per Contra Cr. 1769 June 30th By Sundry Accounts advanced the Paymaster to pay Salarys etc. in the Quarter ending this day 4983 11 7 1/2 By Balance remaining viz. In Specie £ 9029 15 10 In Cash Notes 339 15 10369 10 10 £ 15355 2 5 1/2 Mr. James Greentree this Day presented the following Petition viz. To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. Council of St. Helena The Humble petition of James Greentree one of the Executors to the last Will and Testament of Thomas Greentree deceased Sheweth That Elizabeth Greentree a Nominee in two Leases for Lives belonging to the Heirs of Thomas Greentree one for thirty three Acres and a half and the other for three Acres is dead, your Petitioner therefore requests your Worship and Council will be pleased to give him leave to insert in the said Leases the name of his Son Thomas Greentree in the Room of Elizabeth Greentree deceased. And your Petitioner will ever pray (Signed) James Greentree 17th July 1769 | The credit side of the cash account showed the sums paid out of the treasury in the quarter and the balance left at its close. 30 June 1769, sums advanced to the paymaster for salaries and other charges in the quarter ending that day, £4,985 11s 7½d Balance remaining in coin, £10,029 15s 10d Balance remaining in cash notes, £339 15s 0d Total balance remaining, £10,369 10s 10d Total, £15,355 2s 5½d James Greentree presented a petition to Governor Skottowe and the Council on 17 July 1769. He wrote as one of the executors of the will of Thomas Greentree, now dead. Elizabeth Greentree had been named as the nominee in two leases of land belonging to Thomas Greentree's heirs. One lease covered 33½ acres and the other three acres. Since Elizabeth Greentree had died, James Greentree asked the Governor and Council for leave to enter the name of his son, Thomas Greentree, in both leases in her place. Interpretations The Company's land at St Helena was let on leases, and each lease named a nominee in whose name the holding stood. When the nominee died, the lease could not simply pass to an heir by will. A new name could be entered only with the leave of the Governor and Council. The Company thus kept a hand on every change in the occupation of land, even within a family. Elizabeth Greentree's death on 16 May 1769 left two Greentree holdings without a nominee. James Greentree might have put his own name forward. He chose his son instead, which carried the family's tenure into the next generation and probably lengthened the life on which the leases depended. The balance in coin stood at £10,029 15s 10d on 30 June 1769, against £10,748 10s 2½d on 31 May. The fall of about £719 in a month reflected the paymaster's outgoings, which ran ahead of the treasury's receipts from stores, customs and bills of exchange. The cash notes, at £339 15s 0d, were paper notes issued by the Company on the island and accepted locally in place of coin. They made up only a small fraction of the balance. Coin remained the money of the garrison and of every purchase from passing ships, and it had to be shipped out from England or India to keep the treasury supplied. | |
250 | 17 July Granted upon his paying half a Years Rent according to the Tenor of the Leases amounting to three pounds fourteen Shillings and six pence which we received this Day. Mr. Matthew Purling reports that he has been on board the Ship Sea Horse to Muster her Company and enquire for deserters but found none, her Muster Roll is as follow viz. Muster Roll of Ship Sea Horse Edward Dampier Commd. David Arthur Chief Mate John Thomson Second do. John Barfoot 3 do. Edward Fryer 4 do. Joseph Bryant Purser Geo. Davidson Surgeon Thos. Blundell Carpenter William Cooke Boatswain Isaac Young Caulker John Brown Sailmaker William Dodson Cooper John White Capt. Steward Robt. Mitchell Ships do. Henry Master Capt. Cook William Bond Ships do. James Allen Carp. 1 Mate William Townsend 2 do. John Jones Surgeons do. John Harrison Gunners do. Hugh McMullen Boat. do. Abraham Allchurch Caulk. do. Roger Manley Carp. do. Robt. Cox Armourer John Noble Midshipman John Barclay do. Edward Conaly do. James Martyn Quart. Mas. James Cooke do. William Robinson do. Edward Sellers do. Matthew Walker Butcher Thos. Duff Poulterer Samuel Hudson Taylor Saml. McCulloch Barber John Lindsay Seaman William Peterson Henry McDonald Charles Kenney James Wilson Lawrence Thompson John Nott Joseph White William Guttery John Shields James Roach John Brown Robt. Simmonson David Graham Seaman David Peters William Gillingshaft Richard Nicholson George Brown Simon James William Pritchard William Oak Samuel Allen Thomas Jordon John Stark Thomas Hartley Frederick Johnstone James Kenney Abraham Lime John Berry John Hill William Matthews Charles Smith Robert Williams John Rhodes Samuel Furney James Tracy Peter Nelson | The Council granted James Greentree's request on condition that he paid half a year's rent, as the terms of the leases required. He paid the sum of £3 14s 6d the same day. Matthew Purling reported that he had gone aboard the Sea Horse to muster her crew and search for deserters. He found none. The ship's muster roll read as follows. Edward Dampier, commander David Arthur, chief mate John Thomson, second mate John Barfoot, third mate Edward Fryer, fourth mate Joseph Bryant, purser George Davidson, surgeon Thomas Blundell, carpenter William Cooke, boatswain Isaac Young, caulker John Brown, sailmaker William Dodson, cooper John White, captain's steward Robert Mitchell, ship's steward Henry Master, captain's cook William Bond, ship's cook James Allen, carpenter's first mate William Townsend, carpenter's second mate John Jones, surgeon's mate John Harrison, gunner's mate Hugh McMullen, boatswain's mate Abraham Allchurch, caulker's mate Ebenezer Manley, cooper's mate Robert Cox, armourer John Neale, midshipman John Barclay, midshipman Archibald Conolly, midshipman James Martyn, quartermaster James Cooke, quartermaster William Robinson, quartermaster Edward Sellers, quartermaster Matthew Walker, butcher Thomas Duff, poulterer Samuel Hudson, tailor Samuel McCulloch, barber John Lindsay, seaman William Peterson, seaman Henry McDonald, seaman Charles Rooney, seaman James Wilson, seaman Lawrence Thompson, seaman John Neil, seaman Joseph White, seaman William Guttery, seaman John Shields, seaman James Roach, seaman John Brown, seaman Robert Simmonson, seaman David Graham, seaman David Peters, seaman William Gillingham, seaman Richard Nicholson, seaman George Brown, seaman Simon James, seaman William Pritchard, seaman William Oak, seaman Samuel Allen, seaman Thomas Jordan, seaman John Stack, seaman Thomas Huntley, seaman Frederick Johnstone, seaman James Honey, seaman Abraham Sims, seaman John Berry, seaman John Hill, seaman William Matthews, seaman Charles Smith, seaman Robert Williams, seaman John Rhodes, seaman Samuel Finney, seaman James Isley, seaman Peter Nelson, seaman Interpretations The Council charged half a year's rent for entering a new nominee in the Greentree leases. A payment of this kind was a fine for licence to change the holder, and it gave the Company both revenue and a check on every transfer of its land. The sum of £3 14s 6d implied a yearly rent of £7 9s 0d for the 36½ acres, a little over 4s an acre. That was below the 5s an acre at which Kirkpatrick had taken the Briars earlier in the year. The Greentree leases were evidently older grants made on easier terms. Purling's muster of the Sea Horse was the Council's main defence against desertion. Every name on the ship's roll was checked against the men found aboard, and any extra man was presumed to be a soldier or a slave hiding for the voyage. The search came two months after Sutton Isaacs had escaped in the Tilbury. Sending a member of Council in person, instead of a junior servant, showed how seriously the Council took the loss of trained men. The roll itself shows the crew of a large Indiaman. Besides officers, petty officers and seamen, it included a butcher and a poulterer to care for the livestock carried for fresh meat, and a tailor and a barber to serve the officers and passengers. | |
251 | 1769 Matthew Curtis Seaman Alexander Burton Thomas Davis Joseph Patton Tredway Butler James Cragg William Dinson Francis Lipscomb Seaman Joseph Davis John Pype Nicholas Leachmore Capt. Servt. Peter Henry Morris Chief Mat. Henry Hankey 2 do. do. William Randall Surgeons Thos. Reeves Gunr. Servant James Davis Boatn. do. Isaac Shaw Carpr. do. William Oliver Seaman William Aldermany William Gibbs Peter Forsyth Mr. James Hodges Passenger (Signed) Edward Dampier We this Day received the following Letter from Captain Dampier viz. To the Worshipfull John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. Counl. of the Island St. Helena St. Helena 17th July 1769 Worshipfull Sir and Sirs Having been now from my last Port of Canton three and twenty Weeks which have distressed the Ship Sea Horse in that Article of Fire wood so as not having sufficient left for a Passage from hence to Europe, I have made as near a Calculation as posible and find that I cannot do with less Quantity than three Chaldron of Coals which I hope you will favour me with that Supply. I am also to acquaint you that the Ship Sea Horse will be ready to put to Sea and leave this Place on Wednesday the 19 Instant and as my Stay here have been rather Short after so long a Passage should be glad of your Approbation to touch at the Island of Ascension should a favourable Opportunity happen when I pass by that Island. And I also beg leave to acquaint this board that I have one Mr. James Hodges Passenger going to England for his Health and as there has been some disputes between him and me I humbly request the favour of this Board to recommend to him his remaining here for another Returning Ship. I am with all due Respect Worshipfull Sir and Sirs your most Obedient Humble Servant Edward Dampier | The muster roll of the Sea Horse continued and closed with the commander's signature. Matthew Curtis, seaman Alexander Burton, seaman Thomas Davis, seaman Joseph Patten, seaman Tredway Butler, seaman James Cragg, seaman William Denison, seaman Francis Lipscomb, seaman Joseph Davis, seaman John Pyke, seaman Nicholas Leachmore, captain's servant Peter Henry Morris, chief mate's servant Henry Hankey, second mate's servant William Randall, surgeon's servant Thomas Reeves, gunner's servant James Davis, boatswain's servant Isaac Shaw, carpenter's servant William Oliver, seaman William Alderman, seaman William Gibbs, seaman Peter Forsyth, seaman James Hodges, passenger Signed by Edward Dampier The Council received a letter from Captain Edward Dampier, written at St Helena on 17 July 1769 to Governor Skottowe and the Council. Dampier explained that the Sea Horse had now spent 23 weeks at sea since leaving Canton. The long passage had exhausted her firewood, leaving too little for the voyage on to Europe. By his closest reckoning, he needed at least three chaldrons of coal, and he asked the Council to supply them. The ship would be ready to sail on Wednesday 19 July 1769. His stay had been brief after such a long voyage, so he asked the Council's approval to call at Ascension if a good chance arose as he passed. He also reported that a passenger, James Hodges, was on his way to England for his health. Some quarrels had arisen between the two men, and Dampier asked the Council to advise Hodges to remain on the island until another homeward ship arrived. Interpretations Dampier had no power to set James Hodges ashore on his own authority. A fare-paying passenger was entitled to be carried to his destination, and a commander who left him behind could face a claim in London. By asking the Council to advise Hodges to stay, Dampier moved the decision onto the island's government and shielded himself from a later complaint. The cost fell on Hodges, an invalid on his way home for his health, who would have to wait at St Helena for another passage. The commander of an Indiaman needed the Council's leave to call at Ascension. Any departure from the set route could void the ship's insurance and breach her charter party. Ascension was uninhabited at this date, but green turtles came ashore there in large numbers to breed. Ships called to catch them on the beaches and carry them aboard alive as fresh meat. After 23 weeks from Canton, Dampier's crew needed fresh food that St Helena could not spare in quantity. The coal was fuel for the ship's galley. St Helena had lost most of its woodland and could not supply firewood to passing ships, so coal shipped from England in the Company's stores was the only fuel available. The servants listed at the foot of the roll were boys bound to individual officers, from the captain down to the gunner. Each boy learned the sea under his master, who drew the boy's wages as part of his own income. | |
252 | 17 July We directed the Secretary to write him the following answer viz. To Captn. Edward Dampier Commander of Ship Sea Horse Sir I am directed by the Governor and Council to acquaint you with respect to your demand for Fewel that they are sorry to observe that you have not provided your self with sufficient quantity of Wood agreeable to your instructions as Passages are uncertain you ought to have supplied yourself accordingly, having examined the Coals remaining in the Store find it impossible to spare you more than one Chaldron which the Storekeeper has Orders to deliver. You have permission to touch at Ascension to get Turtle though the Governor and Council apprehend it is too late in the Year for that purpose. As to your disputes with Mr. Hodges the Governor and Council think it a matter between yourselves, and rest it with you as commander of the Ship Sea Horse to settle it with Mr. Hodges as may be agreeable to both of you. I am Sir Your most humble Servant (Signed) St. Helena 17th July 1769 Matthew Bazett Secretary Mr. Richard Bagley this Day applied to Us to pay one Hundred and fifty six Pounds into the Honble. Companys Cash which sum we have received and given him Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors payable to Captn. Thomas Kirkpatrick or Order, at ninety days sight. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | The Council told the secretary to send Captain Dampier a reply, which Matthew Bazett wrote on 17 July 1769. The letter stated that Governor Skottowe and the Council regretted that Dampier had not laid in enough firewood, as his instructions required. Passages were uncertain, and he should have provided for that. The Council had checked the coal left in store and found that it could spare no more than one chaldron. The storekeeper had orders to deliver it. Dampier had leave to call at Ascension for turtle, though the Governor and Council believed it was too late in the year for that purpose. As for his quarrels with James Hodges, the Council regarded them as a private matter between the two men. It left Dampier, as commander of the Sea Horse, to settle with Hodges on terms that suited both. Richard Bagley asked the Council that day to pay £156 into the Company's treasury. The Council accepted the money and gave him bills of exchange drawn on the Court of Directors. The bills were payable to Captain Thomas Kirkpatrick or his order at 90 days' sight. John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the entry. Interpretations Dampier had asked the Council to advise James Hodges to leave the Sea Horse and wait for another ship. The Council refused to take the matter up and handed it back to the commander. Agreeing would have pleased a captain whose goodwill the island depended on. It would also have made the Council answerable to an invalid passenger stranded against his will, and perhaps to his friends in London. By calling the quarrel a private one, the Council kept itself clear and left Dampier with the risk he had tried to pass on. The Council gave Dampier one chaldron of coal instead of the three he asked for, and rebuked him for sailing from Canton short of fuel. Coal had to be shipped out from England and was needed by the armourer's forge and the Castle. The Council would not drain the island's stock to cover a commander's poor provisioning. Its doubt about Ascension rested on the season. Green turtles came ashore there to nest mainly between December and May. By late July, few would be found on the beaches. Richard Bagley's £156 was turned into bills payable to Thomas Kirkpatrick, who had been dismissed from the Company's service and was settling his affairs on the island. Kirkpatrick had already sold his land and sent home bills for £400 and £1,018 8s 0d through Allen Auld. Bagley's payment was probably money he owed Kirkpatrick, perhaps part of the price of land, remitted to England in Kirkpatrick's name. A bill at 90 days' sight was payable three months after it was presented in London. That gave the Court time to arrange the funds. | |
253 | 24 July At a Consultation held on Monday the 24th day July 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 17th July 1769 We this day Granted the following sets of Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Honorable the Court of Directors viz. One set to John Skottowe Esqr. for three hundred and fifty pounds, payable to Robert Wood Esqr. (or Order) One set to Mr. James Greentree for two hundred and sixty pounds, payable to Digby Dent Esqr. (or Order) One set to Capt. Henry Bazett for two hundred and nineteen pounds, one Shilling, payable to Mr. Richard Bodman (or Order) And one set to John Whitchurch on account of the Orphans of John Bland deceased for three hundred and twenty five pounds six shillings, and three Pence, payable to Mr. Roger Green (or Order) all drawn at ninety days sight. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 24 July 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 17 July 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Council issued four sets of bills of exchange drawn on the Court of Directors, all payable at 90 days' sight. 1 set to John Skottowe, payable to Robert Wood or his order, £350 0s 0d 1 set to James Greentree, payable to Digby Dent or his order, £260 0s 0d 1 set to Captain Henry Bazett, payable to Richard Bodman or his order, £219 1s 0d 1 set to John Whitchurch, for the orphans of the late John Bland, payable to Roger Green or his order, £325 6s 3d John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The Governor sat in Council and approved a bill of £350 drawn in his own favour. Bills on the Court were the only safe way to send money to England, and the Council alone decided who might buy them. Its members could therefore remit their own savings whenever they chose. No outside check stood between the Governor's private fortune and the Company's treasury he controlled. The four sets issued that day came to £1,154 7s 3d, a large sum drawn from the island in a single sitting. It followed £2,200 in bills sold in June and the £156 taken from Richard Bagley on 17 July 1769. John Whitchurch, a sergeant of the artillery, bought £325 6s 3d in bills on behalf of the orphans of John Bland. He was evidently acting as their guardian or as executor of Bland's estate. The money was sent to Roger Green in England, probably to be held in trust for the children or to pay for their keep and schooling there. The Company's bills served as the island's only means of moving an estate home, and the Council's approval gave the orphans' money the security of the Company's credit in London. | |
254 | 31 July At a Consultation held on Monday the 31st day July 1769 at ye Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved, signed, dated the 24th July 1769 Friday the 28th Died John Lewis Matross by a fall from the Rocks Mr. Matthew Purling reports that he has been on board the Ship Dutton to Muster her Company and enquire for deserters but found none her Muster Roll is as follows viz. Muster Roll of Ship Dutton David Rice Commander Henry Rice Chief Mate David Ephraim 2 do. Matthew Lane 3 do. Archibald Thomas 4th do. Willm. Hatfield 5 do. Martin Mears 6th do. John Watson Purser Christ. Wery Surgeon Michael Lally Carpr. Richard Loch Gunner Robt. Thompson Boatn. Jn. Johnson Sailmaker Frederick Drake Cooper Thom. Mury Capt. Steward Peter Drum Caulker Jam. Lees Ships Cook Jn. Peel Carp. Mate Thos. Harvey Carpr. Mate Thos. Mouse Gunr. do. Thos. Westbrooke Cook do. John Clarke Capt. Coward Thos. Robert Mid. and Coxswain Henry Davies Midshipman Daniel Edwards do. William Biggins do. Willm. Dunn Quat. Mast. Henry Shathart do. Willm. Bryant do. James Rule do. Willm. Hardwicke Capt. Servt. Edward Cummings do. Simon Miller Chief Mates do. John Campbell 2 do. do. Willm. Lyon 2 do. do. Stockton Surgeons do. Willm. Nelson Carpr. Servt. Thos. Seaborn Gunnr. do. Jos. Foster Boatn. do. Luke Corby Seaman Richd. Jos. Bostes Henry Churchill Ellis Bartlett Paul Griffiths James McGregory David Shaw William Hutton John Dorritt Nicholas Atkinson Arch. Lewis Alexander Gillis Peter Butler John Burridge Richd. Horner | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 31 July 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 24 July 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Council recorded that John Lewis, a matross, had died on Friday 28 July 1769 after falling from the rocks. Matthew Purling reported that he had gone aboard the Dutton to muster her crew and search for deserters. He found none. The ship's muster roll read as follows. David Rice, commander Henry Rice, chief mate David Elphinstone, second mate Matthew Lowe, third mate Archibald [...], fourth mate William Hatfield, fifth mate Martin Mears, sixth mate John Watson, purser Christopher Wray, surgeon Michael Selby, carpenter Richard Tosh, gunner Robert Thompson, boatswain John Johnson, sailmaker Frederick Drake, cooper Thomas Mercy, captain's steward Peter Brown, caulker James Lane, ship's cook John Peel, carpenter's mate Thomas Harvey, carpenter's mate Thomas Moore, gunner's mate Thomas Westbrooke, cook's mate John Clarke, captain's servant Thomas Robert, midshipman and coxswain Henry Davis, midshipman Daniel Edwards, midshipman William Biggins, midshipman William Dean, quartermaster Henry Shathart, quartermaster William Bryant, quartermaster James Rule, quartermaster William Hardwicke, captain's servant Edward Cummings, captain's servant Simon Miller, chief mate's servant John Campbell, chief mate's servant William Lyon, second mate's servant Stockton, surgeon's servant William Nelson, carpenter's servant Thomas Seaborn, gunner's servant Joseph Foster, boatswain's servant Luke Corby, seaman Richard Joseph Bristow, seaman Henry Churchill, seaman Ellis Bartlett, seaman Paul Griffiths, seaman James McHenry, seaman David Shaw, seaman William Hutton, seaman John Darrell, seaman Nicholas Atkinson, seaman Archibald Lewis, seaman Alexander Gillis, seaman Peter Butler, seaman John Burridge, seaman Richard Horner, seaman Interpretations John Lewis, a matross of the artillery, died from a fall on the rocks on 28 July 1769. The island's batteries stood on steep cliffs and headlands, at Munden's Point, Banks's and the Lines across James's Valley. The men who manned them climbed narrow paths in all weathers, and the works then in hand at Munden's Point had men hauling stone and guns up the cliff face. A fatal fall was an ordinary hazard of service at St Helena. The Council entered the death in its minutes because a soldier's pay and estate had to be closed from that day. The Dutton carried seven mates against the four or five usual on an Indiaman. Junior mates' berths were sought after by young men of good family entering the Company's maritime service. Each carried a right to some private trade, and a commander could reward patrons and friends by finding places for their sons. The large number of officers' servants on both this roll and the Sea Horse's served the same purpose. A boy placed under an officer learned the sea while his master drew his wages. | |
255 | 1769 Jonathan Gladdle Seaman William Redmond William Strong Alexr. Moore Walter Blair John Stow John Grigg Geo. Burford Thomas Jones Richd. Shuthart Lewis Antonia Baptista Francesco Francisco Frelidiseto John Stephenson William Dansher John Findley Seaman Joseph Shaw Benjn. Timson Saml. Simpso Joseph Griffin Thomas Jones Thos. McDonald Don. McKenzie Edward Hill Geo. Young John Elphinston William Fray William Stephens William Godfrey Saml. Thornton Seaman Antoniac Matthew Reef James Twigg Simon Bull Cobet Keat Thos. Roberts Nichs. Bushell Richd. Wellman Stephen Papps Abraham King Tredway Butler William Waddles John Jack Passengers Roger Carter Esqr. Mr. Campel and Family Mr. Calland and do. Captain Drinon Captain Adair Captain Morris Mr. Sadlier Mr. Evans Mr. Sherson Lieut. Chislyn Thos. Turner Thos. Barry Henry Locker Mons. Magstre Thos. Waller James Twigg Matt. Reef Simon Bull John Brown Cobet Keat Don. McGuire Samuel Thornton (Signed) David Rice | The muster roll of the Dutton continued with her remaining seamen and her passengers, and closed with the commander's signature. Jonathan Gladdle, seaman William Redmond, seaman William Strong, seaman Alexander Moore, seaman Walter Blair, seaman John Stow, seaman John Grigg, seaman George Burford, seaman Thomas Jones, seaman Richard Shathart, seaman Lewis Antonia, seaman Baptista Francisco, seaman Francisco Fedideto, seaman John Stephenson, seaman William Dansher, seaman John Findley, seaman Joseph Shaw, seaman Benjamin Simson, seaman Samuel Simpson, seaman Joseph Griffin, seaman Thomas Jones, seaman Thomas McDonald, seaman Donald McKenzie, seaman Edward Hill, seaman George Young, seaman John Elphinstone, seaman William Fray, seaman William Stephens, seaman William Godfrey, seaman Samuel Thornton, seaman Antonio, seaman Matthew Reef, seaman James Twigg, seaman Simon Bull, seaman Ebet Reat, seaman Thomas Roberts, seaman Nicholas Bushell, seaman Richard Wellman, seaman Stephen Papps, seaman Abraham King, seaman Tredway Butler, seaman William Waddles, seaman John Tack, seaman Passengers Roger Carter Mr Campbell and family Mr Calland and family Captain Drennan Captain Adair Captain Morris Mr Sadlier Mr Evans Mr Sherson Lieutenant Christyn Thomas Turner Thomas Barry Henry Locker Monsieur Maystre Thomas Waller James Twigg Matthew Reef Simon Bull John Brown Ebet Reat Donald McGuire Samuel Thornton Signed by David Rice Interpretations Six men appeared twice, entered both as seamen and as passengers: James Twigg, Matthew Reef, Simon Bull, Ebet Reat, Samuel Thornton and probably John Brown. They were almost certainly men working their passage home. A man without money for a fare could sign on to help work the ship and pay his way in labour. Entering him on both lists told the Council exactly who he was and why he was aboard. Several other names on the seamen's list match soldiers on the garrison's pay lists for the quarter, among them Nicholas Bushell, Thomas Roberts, Stephen Papps, Richard Wellman and John Tack. If they were the same men, they could only have been discharged soldiers going home, since Purling found no deserters. The common names may equally be chance. Lewis Antonia, Baptista Francisco, Francisco Fedideto and the man entered only as Antonio were probably Portuguese or Indo-Portuguese seamen. Indiamen lost men steadily to disease and desertion in the East, and commanders made up their crews at Indian ports from the large pool of Portuguese-speaking sailors there. Such men could legally serve on the homeward voyage, though many were later left without work in London. The passengers included three captains and a lieutenant, probably officers of the Company's armies in India going home on leave or retirement. Mr Campbell and Mr Calland travelled with their families, which marks them as civil servants or merchants of some standing. A homeward Indiaman of this size commonly carried a score of passengers of every rank, from returning officials to men who could pay only in work. | |
256 | 31 July The Storekeeper this day delivered the following Account of Stores short received from the Ship Dutton viz. Account of Stores short received from Ship Dutton viz. Cwt. qrs. 1 1 Paddy short weight No. 1 1 Leagr. Arrack gages Galls. 140 wants to fill 6 Galls. 2 1 do. do. do. 145 do. do. 8 285 14 Gallns. 271 Received (Signed) St. Helena 31 July 1769 James Powell Storekeeper On Wednesday the 26th Instant John Jack Matross petitioned for his discharge from the Garrison, having served the Honorable Company his contracted time. Granted Daughtock Pokallam this day presented the following Petition viz. To the Worshipfull John Skottowe Govr. and Council Esqrs. The humble Petition of Daughtock Pokallam Sheweth That Petitioner being brought on the Island St. Helena in the Year 1756 by the instigation of Mr. Carter as a prisoner on account of some quarrel between him and the said Mr. Carter. That your Petitioner never acted with injustice to the subject of the King of England or Servants to the East India Company, must think himself greatly injured by such treatment. I humbly hope your Worship will be pleased to take my circumstances in your | The storekeeper presented an account of stores found short on delivery from the Dutton. 1 hundredweight 1 quarter of paddy, short in weight Leaguer number 1 of arrack, gauged at 140 gallons, 6 gallons short of full Leaguer number 2 of arrack, gauged at 145 gallons, 8 gallons short of full Total gauged, 285 gallons Total short, 14 gallons Total arrack received, 271 gallons Signed by James Powell, storekeeper, at St Helena on 31 July 1769 John Tack, a matross, petitioned on Wednesday 26 July 1769 for his discharge from the garrison, since he had served out the term of his engagement with the Company. The Council granted it. Daughtlock Roballam presented a petition to Governor Skottowe and the Council on 31 July 1769. He stated that he had been brought to St Helena as a prisoner in 1756 at the instigation of a Mr Carter, following a quarrel between the two men. He had never done any wrong to the King's subjects or to the servants of the East India Company. He therefore considered himself gravely injured by the treatment he had received. He hoped that the Governor and Council would consider his circumstances. Interpretations Daughtlock Roballam had been held at St Helena for 13 years on the word of a private man, with no charge or trial recorded. The island served the Company as a place of exile for awkward persons sent from India, where a powerful servant could have a rival or a troublesome local man shipped off out of the way. Roballam presented his petition on the day the Dutton's roll was entered, and among her passengers was Roger Carter. If he was the same Mr Carter, Roballam had seized his moment. The man responsible for his exile was then on the island, and the Council could put the matter to him directly before the ship sailed. John Tack's name appeared among the Dutton's seamen on the same day. His discharge on 26 July 1769 and his place on the roll confirm that at least some of the garrison's time-expired soldiers went home by signing on as seamen in a passing ship. A discharged soldier had no other way to pay his passage, and a commander short of hands was glad to take him. It also explains why the Council's muster found no deserters among names that matched the garrison's lists. A leaguer was a very large cask, holding about 150 gallons, used to ship arrack from Batavia and India. The shortfall of 14 gallons in two casks came from leakage, evaporation and perhaps tapping by the crew on the voyage. Powell's signed account recorded the loss at the moment of landing. It protected him against a charge of short stock and allowed the Company to claim the deficiency against the ship. | |
257 | 1769 Serious consideration and permit me to proceed to England there to lay my case before the Court of Directors, relative to this my unhappy situation where he doubts not but making his Affair to appear in its proper light, he therefore humbly begs a grant may be given to what he so Earnestly requires. And your Petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray 31st July 1769 We told him it was not in our power to let him go to England but that his petition should be sent to the Court of Directors and should wait their answer. Mr. Carter having informed Us he is of Opinion he might now be allowed to return to Bencoolen as his consequence in that Country he thinks can be of no detriment to the Company. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | Daughtlock Roballam asked the Governor and Council to give his case serious thought and to allow him to go to England. There he wished to put the facts of his unhappy situation before the Court of Directors. He was confident that he could show his affair in its true light. He therefore begged the Council to grant his request. The petition was dated 31 July 1769. The Council told Roballam that it had no power to let him go to England. It promised to send his petition to the Court of Directors, and he was to wait for their answer. Mr Carter told the Council that in his opinion Roballam might now be allowed to return to Bencoolen. Carter believed that Roballam's standing in that country could no longer do the Company any harm. John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Roballam asked to go to England, and Carter proposed instead that he be sent back to Bencoolen, the Company's settlement on the west coast of Sumatra. The Council adopted neither course and referred the case to the Court. Carter's remark explains why Roballam had been exiled. He had been a man of influence in Sumatra, whose "consequence in that country" had once threatened the Company's interests there. Carter evidently knew Bencoolen well and had probably held office there when Roballam was removed in 1756. Thirteen years later, he judged that Roballam's following had faded and that he could safely go home. Letting the man go to London was another matter. A wronged exile laying his case before the Directors could embarrass the servants who had sent him away without trial. The Council's referral kept Roballam on the island while leaving the decision to those with the authority to make it. Roballam was probably a Malay or Sumatran of rank. He may well have been the man whose household goods appeared in the Malays' account in the storekeeper's books for the quarter just ended. That account included plated candlesticks, a tea kettle, fine shoes and broadcloth, the furnishings of a person kept in some style. A political prisoner of standing would have been maintained at the Company's charge in a manner suited to his rank, separate from the island's slaves and labourers. | |
258 | 7th August At a Consultation held on Monday the 7th day of August 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 31st July 1769 Friday the 4th Sailed the Honorable Company's Ship Dutton for England. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 7 August 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 31 July 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Council recorded that the Company's ship Dutton had sailed for England on Friday 4 August 1769. John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The Dutton was the first ship to leave for England after the Council promised on 31 July 1769 to send Daughtlock Roballam's petition to the Court of Directors. The petition probably went home in her. Roger Carter sailed in the same ship as a passenger. The man whose quarrel had led to Roballam's exile thus reached London with the complaint against him and could give the Directors his own account before they read Roballam's. Roballam himself, refused leave to go, stayed on the island to wait for an answer that could not come back for a year or more. | |
259 | 14 August At a Consultation held on Monday the 14th day of August 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 7th August 1769 Tuesday the 8th Died Mary Daughter of Mr. Richd. Goodwin Planter Yesterday arrived the Grenvilles Boat at Banks's at seven o'clock in the evening do. do. the Honble. Company's Ship Grenville from Bombay last from the Cape and brought us the following supplies viz. Invoice of Ship Grenville Rice beaten 45 Bags qt. 300 Surat Maunds at 22 Rs. p 10 Surat Mds. 366 2 60 Batty 32 Bags at 3 Parahs is Mds. 3 21 at 20 Rs. p Morah 76 3 20 Charges on Merchandize viz. Gunny Bags etc. 55 3 Lascarage 3 2 40 Boat hire 4 40 Hamalage 1 30 64 2 50 Rupees 508 10 Errors Excepted (Signed) Wm. Hornby Accompt. | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 14 August 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 7 August 1769 were read, approved and signed. Mary, the daughter of Richard Goodwin, a planter, died on Tuesday 8 August 1769. On the evening of 13 August 1769, at seven o'clock, a boat from the Grenville came in at Banks's. The Company's ship Grenville arrived the same day from Bombay, having called last at the Cape. She brought supplies for the island, listed on her invoice. 45 bags of beaten rice, weighing 300 Surat maunds, at 22 rupees per 10 Surat maunds, 366 rupees 2 quarters 60 reas 32 bags of batty, at 3 parahs a bag, making [...] morahs, at 20 rupees a morah, 76 rupees 3 quarters 20 reas Charges on the goods Gunny bags and other packing, 55 rupees 3 quarters 0 reas Lascarage, 3 rupees 2 quarters 40 reas Boat hire, 4 rupees 0 quarters 40 reas Hamalage, 1 rupee 0 quarters 50 reas Total charges, 64 rupees 2 quarters 30 reas Total, 508 rupees 0 quarters 10 reas Errors excepted Signed by William Hornby, accountant Interpretations The invoice shows St Helena's grain supply being drawn from the Company's settlement at Bombay and charged in the money and measures of western India. A Surat maund was the standard weight of the Gujarat trade, about 37 pounds, so the 45 bags held roughly 11,000 pounds of rice. Beaten rice was rice pounded in a mortar to strip the husk. Batty was the Malabar word for paddy, rice still in the husk, measured by the parah and the morah, local grain measures of the coast. The Bombay accounts ran in rupees, quarters and reas, with 4 quarters to the rupee and 100 reas to the quarter. The cost of packing and landing added about 15 per cent to the price of the grain. Gunny was coarse sacking woven from jute, made mainly in Bengal and used throughout the Indian trade for bagging rice, sugar and saltpetre. Lascarage was the wage paid to lascars, the Indian seamen and dock hands who carried the bags out to the ship in boats. Hamalage was the fee for hamals, the porters who carried goods on their backs through the warehouses and along the quay at Bombay. The Grenville's boat reached Banks's on the north-east coast before the ship came into the road. A commander sent a boat ahead to announce his ship's name and business, so that the batteries would not take her for an enemy. Banks's lay on the windward approach and was the first post a ship coming from the Cape would pass. | |
260 | 14 August The Expence of the Artillery Stores and Stewards Accounts for the Month of July last, were this Day laid before Us, which have been examined and approved and are as follow viz. Artillery Stores Expended in the Month of July 1769 Guns fired, 6 lb, 4 lb, 1 lb, Powder Expended lb, Powder Expended oz 2 Departed the York: Guns fired 9, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 8 8 An Alarm: Guns fired 6, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 4, 1 lb 2, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 0 do. Arrived the Sea Horse: Guns fired 9, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 8 10th Powder for Works at Mundens Point: Guns fired 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 104, Powder Expended oz 0 14th An Alarm: Guns fired 6, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 4, 1 lb 2, Powder Expended lb 0, Powder Expended oz 0 Arrived the Dutton: Guns fired 9, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 8 Guns fired Salute Governor Carter: Guns fired 17, 6 lb 17, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 25, Powder Expended oz 8 16th Powder to Scale the Guns at Mitchells Line: Guns fired 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 7, Powder Expended oz 8 do. to blow Stone at the Quarry: Guns fired 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 6, Powder Expended oz 0 21 Departed the Sea Horse: Guns fired 9, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 8 Powder for the above Salutes: Guns fired 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 12, Powder Expended oz 0 28th do. for the funeral of John Lewis Matross: Guns fired 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 2, Powder Expended oz 4 do. to shoot Goats at different times: Guns fired 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 3, Powder Expended oz 1 do. to repair the Cartridges at the Main Guard: Guns fired 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 4, Powder Expended oz 10 do. to the Men in the Boats: Guns fired 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 9, Powder Expended oz 0 do. for Signals at different times: Guns fired 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 3, Powder Expended oz 10 Total: Guns fired 65, 6 lb 53, 4 lb 8, 1 lb 4, Powder Expended lb 289, Powder Expended oz 9 Tallow for different Uses 10 lb oz Lead Ball to shoot Goats at diff. times 3 4 Muscovy Lights Expended 2 Paper for diff. Uses 4 Quire Howitzer Carriage Expended 1 White Rope do. 3 1/2 Inch 20 fathom Hand Spikes do. 4 Sponge Staves do. 1 Sponge heads do. do. 1 Rammer heads do. do. 1 Thomas Bazett Commd. Artillery | The accounts of artillery stores and of the steward for July 1769 were laid before the Council that day, examined and approved. Thomas Bazett, commanding the artillery, signed the return of artillery stores used in the month. Artillery stores used in July 1769 On 2 July 1769, the York sailed, and 9 guns were fired, all 6-pounders, using 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder. 8 July 1769, an alarm, 6 guns fired: 0 6-pounders, 4 4-pounders, 2 1-pounders, powder 13 pounds 0 ounces On 8 July 1769, the Sea Horse arrived, and 9 guns were fired, all 6-pounders, using 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder. 10 July 1769, powder for the works at Munden's Point, 0 guns fired, powder 104 pounds 0 ounces 14 July 1769, an alarm, 6 guns fired: 0 6-pounders, 4 4-pounders, 2 1-pounders, powder 0 pounds 0 ounces On 14 July 1769, the Dutton arrived, and 9 guns were fired, all 6-pounders, using 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder. 14 July 1769, salute to Governor Carter, 17 guns fired, all 6-pounders, powder 25 pounds 8 ounces 16 July 1769, powder for scaling the guns at Mitchell's Line, 0 guns fired, powder 7 pounds 8 ounces 16 July 1769, powder for blasting stone at the ferry, 0 guns fired, powder 6 pounds 0 ounces On 21 July 1769, the Sea Horse sailed, and 9 guns were fired, all 6-pounders, using 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder. 21 July 1769, powder for the salutes above, 0 guns fired, powder 12 pounds 0 ounces 28 July 1769, powder for the funeral of John Lewis, matross, 0 guns fired, powder 2 pounds 4 ounces 28 July 1769, powder for shooting goats at various times, 0 guns fired, powder 3 pounds 5 ounces 28 July 1769, powder for remaking cartridges at the main guard, 0 guns fired, powder 4 pounds 10 ounces 28 July 1769, powder issued to the men in the boats, 0 guns fired, powder 9 pounds 0 ounces 28 July 1769, powder for signals at various times, 0 guns fired, powder 3 pounds 10 ounces Total, 65 guns fired: 53 6-pounders, 8 4-pounders, 4 1-pounders, powder 239 pounds 9 ounces Tallow for various uses, 10 pounds 0 ounces Bar lead for shooting goats at various times, 3 pounds 4 ounces Muscovy lights used, 2 Paper for various uses, 4 quires Howitzer carriage worn out, 1 White rope of 3½ inches worn out, 20 fathoms Handspikes worn out, 4 Sponge staves worn out, 1 Sponge heads worn out, 1 Rammer heads worn out, 1 Signed by Thomas Bazett, commanding the artillery Interpretations Roger Carter was saluted with 17 guns, the same number fired for Daniel Corneille when he landed as Lieutenant Governor on 7 May 1769. The return names him as Governor Carter. A passenger of that rank was evidently a former governor of another Company settlement, and his remarks about Bencoolen to the Council on 31 July 1769 point to that station. The salute honoured his past office, though he held no authority on the island. It also explains the weight the Council gave his opinion on Daughtlock Roballam. Roballam had been exiled at the request of a man who had governed the place he came from. Powder and bar lead were issued for shooting goats. Goats had been loose on St Helena since the sixteenth century and had stripped much of its native woodland, which is why the island could spare no firewood to ships. The Company hunted them both to protect its plantations and for their meat. Powder for blasting stone at the ferry and for the works at Munden's Point shows the artillery's store also served the island's building works. Scaling a gun meant firing a small charge without shot to blow out rust and scale from the inside of the barrel. Muscovy lights were thin sheets of mica, used as panes in the lanterns of a powder magazine because they would not shatter and could not carry a spark the way glass might. Tallow greased the gun carriages and the shot. The two alarms used guns of 4 and 1 pound, smaller pieces kept for signalling, so that a warning could be told apart by its sound from the 6-pounders fired for ships. | |
261 | 1769 Sundrys Expended at the Honble. Companys Table in July 1769 £ 3 Bottles Port Wine 4 6 37 do. Lisbon 2 18 6 11 do. Mountain 16 6 39 do. Beer 7 3 1/4 30 Gallons Arrack 4 10 171 3/4 lb Beef 3 11 3 3/4 268 lb Mutton 5 11 8 4 Turkeys 1 7 Fowls 10 6 2 Ducks 3 44 lb Butter 2 4 171 lb Sugar Candy 4 16 2 1/4 444 lb Flour 4 3 3 4 Kids 1 5 Lambs 2 10 £ 34 6 8 3/4 Account Sales of the Contents of the Chest belonging to James Gordon Gardener viz. £ 6 Pr. Worsted Stockings 9 6 7 Pr. do. do. 5 6 1 Brown Coat and Waiscoat 2 14 1 Grey do. and do. 1 18 1 Surtout Coat 13 6 1 Woollen Waiscoat 8 6 1 Pr. Stocking Stuff 9 6 1 do. do. 9 6 1 Mans Hatt 17 2 Checked Shirts 8 Carried Over £ 8 13 | The account of provisions used at the Company's table in July 1769 was laid before the Council with the other monthly accounts. 3 bottles of port wine, £0 4s 6d 37 bottles of Lisbon wine, £2 18s 6d 11 bottles of mountain wine, £0 16s 6d 39 bottles of beer, £0 7s 3¼d 30 gallons of arrack, £4 10s 0d 171¾ pounds of beef, £3 11s 3¾d 268 pounds of mutton, £5 11s 8d 4 turkeys, £1 0s 0d 7 fowls, £0 10s 6d 2 ducks, £0 3s 0d 44 pounds of butter, £2 4s 0d [...] pounds of sugar candy, £4 16s 2¼d 444 pounds of flour, £4 3s 3d 4 kids, £1 0s 0d 5 lambs, £2 10s 0d Total, £34 6s 8¾d The Council also received an account of the sale of the contents of a chest belonging to James Gordon, a gardener. 6 pairs of worsted stockings, £0 9s 6d 7 pairs of worsted stockings, £0 5s 6d 1 brown coat and waistcoat, £2 14s 0d 1 grey coat and waistcoat, £1 18s 0d 1 greatcoat, £0 13s 6d 1 woollen waistcoat, £0 8s 6d 1 pair of stockinet breeches, £0 9s 6d 1 pair of stockinet breeches, £0 9s 6d 1 man's hat, £0 17s 0d 2 checked shirts, £0 8s 0d Carried forward, £8 13s 0d Interpretations The Governor's table ate more mutton than beef in July 1769, 268 pounds against 171¾. Sheep did well on the island's upland pasture and could be killed without touching the closely guarded herds of cattle. The kids, lambs, turkeys and ducks also came from island farms. Imported goods made up the rest: wine, arrack, butter, flour and sugar candy. The month cost the Company £34 6s 8¾d. At that rate the table ran to over £400 a year, which was more than the Governor's own salary. Lisbon wine was a white wine from the country around Lisbon, cheaper than madeira and much drunk at English tables. Mountain was a sweet wine from the hills behind Malaga in Spain. Port came from the Douro valley in northern Portugal. All three reached St Helena in the Company's ships or by private trade. James Gordon's clothes were sold at public sale, as the effects of a man who had died or left the island were usually disposed of. Second-hand clothing fetched high prices at St Helena because every garment had to be shipped from England. A coat and waistcoat brought £2 14s 0d, close to what the same suit might have cost new in London. The proceeds went to Gordon's estate or to settle his debts, with any balance sent home to his family by bill of exchange. | |
262 | 14 August Brought Over £ 8 13 2 Checked Shirts 8 2 do. do. 8 1 Pr. Checked Sheets and Pillow Case 8 1 Pr. do. do. and do. 7 6 2 Pr. Canvas Drawers 8 2 Black Neckcloths 6 6 2 Canvas Towels and 2 Bags 8 2 Pr. Thread Stockings 2 6 2 Pr. do. do. 9 6 8 White Shirts 8 6 1 do. Waiscoat 1 17 2 Pr. Shoes 5 1 Pr. do. 5 1 Pr. do. 4 1 1 Pr. do. 4 1 1 Pr. do. 4 3 10 Neckcloths 4 2 Cakes Soap 11 2 Caps 3 7 1 Tea pott 1 Cup and Saucer 1 3 A Parcel of Garden Seeds 2 6 4 Pr. Sleeve Buttons 1 2 Pruning Knives 2 4 1 Pen Knife 3 10 1 Chest 6 14 Handkerchiefs 1 6 24 Books 1 2 1 Small Box 19 6 3 Pr. Gloves 2 1 1 Quire Paper 4 4 Combs 1 6 £ 1 1 £ 20 17 8 | The sale of James Gordon's effects continued from a running total of £8 13s 0d. Brought forward, £8 13s 0d 2 checked shirts, £0 8s 0d 2 checked shirts, £0 8s 0d 1 pair of checked sheets and a pillowcase, £0 7s 6d 1 pair of checked sheets and a pillowcase, £0 8s 0d 2 pairs of canvas drawers, £0 6s 6d 2 black neckcloths, £0 8s 0d 2 canvas towels and 2 bags, £0 2s 6d 2 pairs of thread stockings, £0 9s 6d 2 pairs of thread stockings, £0 8s 6d 8 white shirts, £1 17s 0d 1 white waistcoat, £0 5s 0d 2 pairs of shoes, £0 5s 0d 1 pair of shoes, £0 4s 1d 1 pair of shoes, £0 4s 1d 1 pair of shoes, £0 4s 3d 1 pair of shoes, £0 4s 0d 10 neckcloths, £0 11s 0d 2 cakes of soap, £0 3s 7d 2 caps, £0 1s 3d 1 teapot and 1 cup and saucer, £0 2s 6d 1 parcel of garden seeds, £1 0s 0d 4 pairs of sleeve buttons, £0 2s 4d 2 pruning knives, £0 3s 10d 1 penknife, £0 0s 6d 1 chest, £1 0s 6d 14 handkerchiefs, £1 2s 0d 24 books, £0 19s 6d 1 small box, £0 2s 1d 3 pairs of gloves, £0 4s 0d 1 quire of paper, £0 1s 6d 4 combs, £0 1s 1d Total, £20 17s 8d Interpretations James Gordon's parcel of garden seeds fetched £1 0s 0d, more than any single garment except his best coat and his shirts. Seeds of English vegetables and flowers could not be bought on the island and had to come out by ship, often failing on the long voyage. A gardener's own stock of tried seed was therefore worth a good deal to the planters who bid for it. The pruning knives point the same way. Gordon was probably the Company's gardener at Plantation House, where budding knives had been issued for the orchards earlier in the year. The 24 books show that Gordon could read, and that he had brought or bought a small library on an island where books were scarce. The whole sale raised £20 17s 8d. That was roughly a year's wages for a skilled tradesman in the Company's service, and it represented everything Gordon owned. | |
263 | 1769 There being no Pepper in the Honble. Company's Stores, We sent Captain Abercromby the following Order viz. To Captain Burnet Abercromby Commander of Ship Grenville. Sir You are hereby Ordered to send onshore three hundred Weight of the Honorable Company's Pepper for the Use of this Island. We are Sir Your humble Servants St. Helena 14th August 1769 John Skottowe Daniel Corneille Matthew Purling John Jacks and Thomas Richards Private this day Petitioned for their discharges from the Garrison having served the Honble. Company their contracted times. Granted John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | The Company's stores held no pepper. On 14 August 1769, Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling therefore sent a written order to Captain Burnet Abercromby, commander of the Grenville. It directed him to land 3 hundredweight of the Company's pepper from his ship for the use of the island. John Jacks and Thomas Richards, both privates, petitioned the same day for their discharge from the garrison, having served out the terms of their engagement with the Company. The Council granted both requests. John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The Grenville was carrying pepper home from Bombay as part of the Company's own cargo for sale in London. The Council did not ask Abercromby to sell pepper from his private trade, which would have cost the island a commander's price. It issued him a formal order to land 3 hundredweight of the Company's goods at cost. A cargo in transit belonged to the Company, and its Governor and Council could draw on it for the needs of a Company station. Pepper came from the Malabar coast, the chief source of the Company's supply in western India. The island used it in the rations of the Malays and the slaves, and in curing salt meat. John Jacks and Thomas Richards took their discharge at the end of their terms. In May 1769, 12 time-expired soldiers had signed on again for £10 each. Not every man wanted the bounty. A soldier who had saved some pay, or who had been promised a passage, could choose to go home, though the Council's grant of discharge still left him to find a ship. | |
264 | 17th August At a Consultation held on Thursday the 17th day of August 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 14 of August 1769 Tuesday the 15th Died William Holmes Private Mr. Matthew Purling reports that he has been on board the Ship Grenville to muster her Company and enquire for deserters but found none, Capt. Abercromby having delivered up to Us before Robert Grosvenor a deserter from Bombay, her Muster Roll is as follows viz. Muster Roll of Ship Grenville Burnet Abercromby Comm. Lincoln Tolleston Chf. Mate Thos. Pointing 2 do. John Dyple 3 do. James Glass 4th do. Jos. Lee Tanner 5 do. Robt. Jon. Bird Surgeon Will. Belmonte Capt. Clerk Jasper Persons Midsh. Robt. Griffiths Cox. and do. Wm. Fitzwilliams do. John Durand do. John Happy Qr. Master Thos. Thomson do. John Crawford Gunner James Hunter Carpr. Jos. Hawley Boatswain Hugh Belmont Cooper John Haggis Caulker David Simpson Sail maker Ingeltreal Anderson Gun. do. John Jones Carp. 2 Mate Jos. Cunningham Boatn. do. Alex. Andrews Coopr. do. Michl. Hosier Sail maker John Kelborn Cauk. Mate John Grant Butcher Robt. Wilks Capt. Cook James Perry Ships do. Wm. Greenhalgh Seaman Robt. Lloyd Wm. Turner John Pinty Seaman Willm. Spatch James Lillie Benj. Holbrooke Willm. Brand Chs. Ross Willm. Bate David Johnson John Jones Michl. Moreton Robt. Huddleston James Davidson James Rankin Samuel Hoyle Peter Driskall Willm. Tucker | The Council met at the Castle on Thursday 17 August 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 14 August 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Council recorded that William Holmes, a private, had died on Tuesday 15 August 1769. Matthew Purling reported that he had gone aboard the Grenville to muster her crew and search for deserters. He found none. Captain Abercromby had already handed over Robert Grosvenor, a deserter from Bombay. The ship's muster roll read as follows. Burnet Abercromby, commander [...] Tysen, chief mate Thomas Ponting, second mate John Diggle, third mate James Glass, fourth mate Joseph Lee Tanner, fifth mate Robert John Bird, surgeon William Edmonds, captain's clerk Jasper Parsons, midshipman Robert Griffiths, coxswain and midshipman William Fitzwilliams, midshipman John Durand, midshipman John Hayes, quartermaster Thomas Thomson, quartermaster John Crawford, gunner James Hunter, carpenter Joseph Ratcliffe, boatswain Moses Belmont, cooper John Haggis, caulker David Simpson, [...]'s mate Ingebrecht Anderson, gunner's mate John Jones, carpenter's second mate Joseph Cunningham, boatswain's mate Alexander Andrews, cooper's mate Michael Floyd, sailmaker John Holborn, caulker's mate John Grant, butcher Robert Wilks, captain's cook James Perry, ship's cook William Greenhalgh, seaman Robert Lloyd, seaman William Turner, seaman John Punty, seaman William Spratch, seaman James Leslie, seaman Benjamin Holbrooke, seaman William Strand, seaman Charles Rees, seaman William Bute, seaman David Johnson, seaman John Jones, seaman Michael Morton, seaman Robert Huddleston, seaman James Davidson, seaman James Rankin, seaman Samuel Hoyle, seaman Edward Driscoll, seaman William Tucker, seaman Interpretations Captain Abercromby gave up Robert Grosvenor, who had deserted from Bombay and got aboard the Grenville for the passage home. A commander was answerable to the Company for every man he carried. Concealing a deserter from one of its settlements put his own standing at risk, while surrendering him earned the Council's goodwill at the one port where his ship could take on water and stores. The Council gained a man for its own garrison. Robert Nickells, given up by Captain Hayter of the York, had been enlisted on 27 June 1769 with a bounty, and Grosvenor was probably dealt with in the same way. The garrison was always short of men, and a deserter from Bombay was, to the Council, simply a trained recruit who had arrived without the cost of a passage from England. | |
265 | 1769 Matt Wilson Seaman Caesar Clynol Alex. Pendrick Alex. Haldane David Davidson Peter Reid Thomas Wells William Friend Thomas Bovey George Martin Michl. Blakeney Benjm. Hudson James Williams David Evans Thomas Burn Seaman Natl. Sykes James Swift William Thompson Thomas Collins James Reid James Spencer Geo. Dundass David Jeffrys Jos. Andrews Anthy. Joseph John Dempster Rippon Capt. Servant Ingram Pack 2 Mates do. Thos. Pasey Boats. Servant Ja. McGrest Gunr. do. Jn. Brooks Capt. Cook mate Jos. Hasley Carp. Servant John James Seaman James Dymore Patk. McGuire Sabiant Auguit Daniel Chambers William Pringe Daniel Beale Henry Freeman Paul Hadley Armourer William Schofield Seaman Charter Party Passengers John MacGregor William Tomlinson Angus McCarter Thomas Harris John Phillips Patk. Limbeck John Reid Alex. Kennedy John Waller (Signed) Burnet Abercromby The Storekeeper this day delivered the following account of Stores short received from Ship Grenville viz. Account of Stores short received from Ship Grenville viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. 3 20 Rice short weight occasioned by Wastage 51 2 Paddy received (Signed) St. Helena 17th August 1769 James Powell Storekeeper | The muster roll of the Grenville continued with her remaining crew and her passengers, and closed with the commander's signature. Matthew Wilson, seaman Caesar Ofnel, seaman Alexander Pendrick, seaman Alexander Haldane, seaman David Davidson, seaman Peter Reid, seaman Thomas Wells, seaman William Friend, seaman Thomas Bovey, seaman George Martin, seaman Michael Blakeney, seaman Benjamin Hudson, seaman James Williams, seaman David Evans, seaman Thomas Burn, seaman Nathaniel Sykes, seaman James Swift, seaman William Thompson, seaman Thomas Collins, seaman James Reid, seaman James Spencer, seaman George Dundas, seaman David Jeffs, seaman Joseph Andrews, seaman Anthony Joseph, seaman John Dempster, seaman Rippon, captain's servant Ingram Pack, second mate's servant Thomas Lacey, boatswain's servant James McGreest, gunner's servant John Brooks, captain's cook's mate Joseph Hasley, carpenter's servant John James, seaman James Dymore, seaman Patrick McGuire, seaman Sebastian August, seaman Daniel Chambers, seaman William Snipe, seaman Daniel Beale, seaman Henry Freeman, seaman Paul Hadley, armourer William Schofield, seaman Passengers carried under the charter party John MacGregor William Tomlinson Angus McCarter Thomas Harris John Phillips Patrick Limbeck John Reid Alexander Kennedy John Waller Signed by Burnet Abercromby The storekeeper presented an account of stores found short on delivery from the Grenville. 0 hundredweight 3 quarters 20 pounds of rice, short in weight through wastage 51 hundredweight 2 quarters 0 pounds of paddy received Signed by James Powell, storekeeper, at St Helena on 17 August 1769 Interpretations The nine men listed as charter-party passengers travelled under the terms of the contract by which the Company hired the Grenville from her owners. The charter party obliged the owners to carry a set number of the Company's people at a fixed rate or free of charge, chiefly soldiers, invalids and discharged men going home. These passengers were therefore entered separately from those who had paid the commander for a cabin. They were probably time-expired or invalided soldiers from the Bombay garrison. The Company could send them home without paying a fare, because their passage had been bargained for when the ship was taken up. James Powell recorded a loss of nearly a hundredweight of rice from wastage on the voyage from Bombay. Bags of grain lost weight through drying, damage from damp and rats, and spillage as they were handled into boats. Powell's account fixed the shortfall at the moment of landing. That cleared him of responsibility for the missing quantity and gave the Company a record against the ship. | |
266 | 17th August Captain Abercromby delivered up to us Robert Grosvenor a Deserter from Bombay, we shall oblige him to serve his contracted time of Five Years in this Garrison. Bought on account of the Honble. Company of Captain Abercromby six hundred and Seventy two Pieces Salt provision at two Shillings p piece Amounting to Sixty seven pounds, four Shillings. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling At a Consultation held on Monday the 21st day of August 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 17th of August 1769 Saturday the 19th Sailed the Honble. Company's Ship Grenville for England This day died John Wm. Welch Lieutenant Counted and examined the Honorable Company's Cash for the Month of July last, which is as follows viz. | Captain Abercromby handed over Robert Grosvenor, a deserter from Bombay. The Council decided to make him serve out his engaged term of five years in the St Helena garrison. The Council bought 672 pieces of salt provisions from Captain Abercromby for the Company, at 2s a piece. The purchase came to £67 4s 0d. John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the minutes. The Council met at the Castle on Monday 21 August 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 17 August 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Council recorded that the Company's ship Grenville had sailed for England on Saturday 19 August 1769. John Ham White, a lieutenant, died that day. The Council counted and examined the Company's cash for July 1769, with the results set out below. Interpretations Robert Grosvenor had engaged to serve in the Bombay garrison, and the obvious course was to send him back there for trial and punishment. The Council passed that over and kept him at St Helena, holding him to the five years of his original engagement. Every ship in the road was homeward bound, and a passage back to Bombay would have meant waiting months for an outward Indiaman. The garrison, meanwhile, was losing men steadily to death and discharge, among them William Holmes on 15 August 1769. Transferring a Bombay soldier's service to the island turned a deserter into a recruit at no cost. Unlike Robert Nickells, Grosvenor received no bounty, since he was serving a term already owed to the Company. The salt provisions from the Grenville cost 2s a piece, the same rate paid to Captain Hunt of the Tilbury in May and to Captain Haylor at the end of June 1769. The price was evidently fixed, either by the Company's orders or by long custom between the Council and commanders. A fixed rate spared the Council from bargaining with each ship and stopped commanders from raising prices when the island's stores ran low. | |
267 | Cash Dr. 1769 July 1 To Balance remaining £ 10369 10 10 To Exchange for four sets of Bills drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors payable as follows viz. One set to Messrs. Gyles and Woodhouse£ 25 One do. to Messrs. Ballentine and Arnot 220 One do. to Richd. Hotham Esqr. 316 12 4 One do. to Saml. Way Esqr. 132 8 694 4 14th To Ship York 7 11 6 17 To Rents received of James Greentree for the renewal of three Lives in two Leases being half a Years Rent for each Life or new Nominee 11 3 6 do. To Exchange for a set of Bills drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors payable to Mr. Thos. Kirkpatrick 156 19th To Ship Sea Horse 32 15 24th To Exchange for four sets Bills drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors payable as follows viz. One set to Robt. Wood Esqr.£ 350 One do. to Digby Dent Esqr. 260 One do. to Mr. Richd. Bodman 219 1 One do. to Mr. Roger Green 325 6 3 1154 7 3 31 To Ship Dutton 171 12 9 £ 12597 1 2 Per Contra Cr. 1769 July 31st By Balance remaining viz. In Specie £ 12057 6 2 In Cash Notes 539 15 12597 1 2 £ 12597 1 2 John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling Margin Notes: 21st August | The Council's examination of the Company's cash for July 1769 showed the following receipts and balance. 1 July 1769, balance remaining, £10,369 10s 10d 1 July 1769, cash received in exchange for four sets of bills drawn on the Court of Directors 1 set to Guisle and Woodhouse, £25 0s 0d 1 set to Ballentine and Arnot, £220 0s 0d 1 set to Richard Holtham, £316 12s 4d 1 set to Samuel Way, £132 8s 0d Total for bills of exchange, £694 0s 4d The York paid in £7 11s 6d. 17 July 1769, rent from James Greentree for renewing three lives in two leases, at half a year's rent for each life or new nominee, £11 3s 6d 17 July 1769, cash received in exchange for 1 set of bills drawn on the Court of Directors, payable to Thomas Kirkpatrick, £156 0s 0d On 19 July 1769, the Sea Horse paid in £32 15s 0d. 24 July 1769, cash received in exchange for four sets of bills drawn on the Court of Directors 1 set to Robert Wood, £350 0s 0d 1 set to Digby Dent, £260 0s 0d 1 set to Richard Bodman, £219 1s 0d 1 set to Roger Green, £325 6s 3d Total for bills of exchange, £1,154 7s 3d On 31 July 1769, the Dutton paid in £171 12s 9d. Total received, £12,597 1s 2d 31 July 1769, balance remaining in coin, £12,057 6s 2d 31 July 1769, balance remaining in cash notes, £539 15s 0d Total balance remaining, £12,597 1s 2d Signed by John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling Interpretations The treasury paid nothing out in July 1769, and its balance rose from £10,369 10s 10d to £12,597 1s 2d. Nearly all of the increase came from the sale of bills on the Court, which brought in £2,004 7s 7d during the month. Every bill sold added coin to the island's treasury and placed a debt on the Company in London. The Company therefore raised hard money at St Helena by selling its own credit to the island's officials and settlers. The coin they paid in was what the treasury needed to pay the garrison each quarter, without shipping as much silver from England. James Greentree paid £11 3s 6d for three lives in his two leases, at half a year's rent for each new name entered. The Council's minute of 17 July 1769 had recorded only £3 14s 6d, the fine for a single life. The cash book shows the full sum. The Greentree holdings were evidently let on leases for three lives, the common form of tenure on church and manorial estates in the West of England. Under such a lease the land was held until the last of three named persons died. Renewing all three lives at once secured the holdings for another generation. A one-off payment at that point was the price of that security. The cash notes in the balance rose from £339 15s 0d at the end of June to £539 15s 0d at the end of July 1769. The Company was putting more of its own paper into circulation on the island, probably taking it in exchange for coin from those who preferred notes for everyday dealings. | |
268 | 28th August At a Consultation held on Monday the 28th day of August 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 21st of August 1769 Friday the 25th Arrived the Essex's Boat at Banks's at half an hour past 7 o'Clock in the Morning do. do. the Honble. Companys Ship Essex from Bombay This day do. the Shrewsbury's Boat at Banks's at 8 o'Clock in the Morning do. do. the Honble. Company's Ship Shrewsbury from Bengall (last from Mauritius) The Ships Essex and Shrewsbury brought us the following supply viz. Invoice of Ship Essex Rice beaten 45 Bags contg. 300 St. Maunds at 22 Rs. p 10 Surat Maunds 366 2 60 Batty 32 Bags at 3 Parahs is Mor. Pa. 3 21 at 20 Rs. p Mo. 76 3 20 Charges on Merchandize Gunny Bags etc. 55 3 Lascars Shipping off 3 20 40 Hamallage 1 50 Boat hire 4 40 64 2 50 Rupees 508 10 Errors Excepted p Willm. Hornby Acct. | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 28 August 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 21 August 1769 were read, approved and signed. A boat from the Essex came in at Banks's at half past seven on the morning of Friday 25 August 1769. The Company's ship Essex arrived from Bombay the same day. At eight o'clock on the morning of 28 August 1769, a boat from the Shrewsbury reached Banks's. The Company's ship Shrewsbury arrived that day from Bengal, having called last at Mauritius. The two ships brought supplies for the island, and the invoice of the Essex read as follows. 45 bags of beaten rice, containing 300 Surat maunds, at 22 rupees per 10 Surat maunds, 366 rupees 2 quarters 60 reas 32 bags of batty, at 3 parahs a bag, making 3 morahs 21 parahs, at 20 rupees a morah, 76 rupees 3 quarters 20 reas Charges on the goods Gunny bags and other packing, 55 rupees 3 quarters 0 reas Lascars for shipping off, 3 rupees 2 quarters 40 reas Hamalage, 1 rupee 0 quarters 50 reas Boat hire, 4 rupees 0 quarters 40 reas Total charges, 64 rupees 2 quarters 30 reas Total, 508 rupees 0 quarters 10 reas Errors excepted Signed by William Hornby, accountant Interpretations The Essex invoice matched the Grenville's of 14 August 1769 in every particular: 45 bags of rice, 32 bags of batty and the same charges to the last rea. The Bombay Council was evidently working to a standing order to send a fixed consignment of grain to St Helena in each homeward ship. Dividing the supply among several ships spread the risk of loss. It also gave the island a steady trickle of rice through the season, rather than one large cargo that might rot in store. Charging every consignment at the same price kept the accounts simple at both ends. The Shrewsbury had called at Mauritius on her way from Bengal. The island belonged to the French Crown, which had taken it over from the French East India Company in 1767. An English Indiaman could put in there for water and provisions while the two nations were at peace. The call was worth recording, since a ship from Mauritius could bring news of French naval strength in the Indian Ocean, which bore directly on St Helena's safety. | |
269 | 1769 Invoice of Ship Shrewsbury Rice Fine 60 Bags wt. Bmd. 120 at 15 p ar. 324 Paddy 15 Bags wt. Fmd. Sr. 22 20 ar. 1 4 p md. 28 2 Sugar 10 Bags wt. 20 7 8 p ar. 150 Wax Candles 4 Chests wt. 8 73 p ar. 584 Batavia Arrack 2 Leagers 180 p ea. 388 12 9 1474 14 9 Charges Merchandize 155 Gunny Bags at 12 8 p ar. 20 14 9 10 Chowtops 8 do. 13 3 3 Twine 4 3 10 Interops and Packages 1 12 6 4 Chests etc. do. 14 3 6 100 Reed Matts 6 7 9 Mooteas 11 13 Weighmen 9 6 Diets 1 6 9 Sloop hire 99 14 6 Boat do. 6 7 9 164 13 6 Current Rupees 1639 7 3 Errors Excepted (Signed) L. Darell Junr. Sub Accompt. | The invoice of the Shrewsbury listed the supplies she brought from Bengal. Fine rice, 60 bags weighing 120 maunds, at [...] a maund, 324 rupees 0 annas 0 pice Paddy, 15 bags weighing 22 maunds 20 seers, at 1 rupee 4 annas a maund, 28 rupees 2 annas 0 pice Sugar, 10 bags weighing 20 maunds, at 7 rupees 8 annas a maund, 150 rupees 0 annas 0 pice Wax candles, 4 chests weighing 8 maunds, at 73 rupees a maund, 584 rupees 0 annas 0 pice Batavia arrack, 2 leaguers, at [...] a leaguer, 388 rupees 12 annas 9 pice Total for goods, 1,474 rupees 14 annas 9 pice Charges on the goods 155 gunny bags, at 13 rupees 8 annas a hundred, 20 rupees 14 annas 9 pice 10 [...], at 8 [...] each, 0 rupees 13 annas 3 pice Twine, 0 rupees 4 annas 3 pice 10 [...] and packaging, 1 rupee 12 annas 6 pice 4 chests and fittings, 14 rupees 3 annas 6 pice 100 mats, 6 rupees 7 annas 9 pice Porters, 11 rupees 13 annas 0 pice Weighmen, 0 rupees 9 annas 6 pice Duties, 1 rupee 6 annas 9 pice Sloop hire, 99 rupees 14 annas 6 pice Boat hire, 6 rupees 7 annas 9 pice Total charges, 164 rupees 13 annas 6 pice Total in current rupees, 1,639 rupees 12 annas 3 pice Errors excepted Signed by L. Darell junior, sub-accountant Interpretations The Shrewsbury's invoice was made out in the money of Bengal, current rupees, annas and pice, with 16 annas to the rupee and 12 pice to the anna. The current rupee was a money of account used for book-keeping at Calcutta, distinct from the silver sicca rupee actually struck. Bombay's invoice for the Essex, by contrast, ran in rupees, quarters and reas. Each presidency kept its books in its own reckoning, and the St Helena accountant had to convert both into sterling. Sloop hire was by far the largest charge, at nearly 100 rupees. Large Indiamen could not come up the Hooghly to Calcutta and lay at anchor far downstream, at Kedgeree or Diamond Harbour. Every bag and chest had to be carried down the river by hired sloop and then put aboard by boat. The cost of that river passage alone came to almost a third of the price of the rice. Bengal sent goods that Bombay did not: sugar, beeswax candles and Batavia arrack. Batavia arrack was distilled in Java from molasses and rice and was reckoned the best arrack in the East. It reached Calcutta through the trade with the Dutch. The wax candles, at 584 rupees, were the most valuable item. Beeswax gave a brighter and cleaner light than tallow and did not soften in warm weather. The Company probably meant these candles for the Castle and the chapel, where the candle bill had already run to £58 in a single quarter. Mootias were the porters of the Calcutta waterside, paid by the load to carry goods between warehouse and boat. | |
270 | 28th August Ordered the following Advertizement to be published viz. Island St. Helena 28th August 1769 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 the 20th September next ensuing, an exact signed account of their Familys Lands and Cattle, and to attend at the Castle on Saturday 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 Honble. Company's Stores will be shut from the 9th of September to the 9th of October next, And that all persons upon the said Island that have any demands upon the late Lieut. Welch are desired to send in their respective Accounts to Captn. Richd. Beale on or before Friday next the 1st Day of Septr. and all Persons Indebted to the Estate of the said Lieut. Welch are required to pay the same to Captn. Beale on or before the day abovementioned. Per Order of Council (Signed) Mattw. Bazett Secy. The Members of the Society this day presented the following petition viz. To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. Council of St. Helena The Humble petition of the Members of the Society for purchasing and selling Spirituous Liquors Sheweth | The Council ordered a public notice to be issued in the following terms. The notice was dated at St Helena on 28 August 1769. It required every inhabitant of the island to deliver to the secretary's office, by 20 September 1769, an exact and signed account of his family, land and cattle. Each was also to attend at the Castle on Saturday 30 September 1769 to pay the rents and other dues owed to the Company for the past year. The notice further announced that the Company's stores would be closed from 9 September to 9 October 1769. Anyone with claims against the estate of the late Lieutenant Welch was to send an account of them to Captain Richard Beale by Friday 1 September 1769. Anyone who owed money to the estate was to pay Captain Beale by the same day. Matthew Bazett signed the notice as secretary, by order of the Council. The members of the society for buying and selling spirits presented a petition to Governor Skottowe and the Council that day. Interpretations Every householder had to return a signed account of family, land and cattle each year before paying rent. This gave the Council a yearly census of the island's people and stock. Rents were reckoned on land held, and the Company kept a close watch on cattle, since beef was scarce and the slaughter of beasts was regulated. A signed return made each settler answerable for the truth of what he declared and gave the Council a record to check against. Requiring rent to be paid in person at the Castle on a single day also brought the whole settler population before the Governor once a year. The stores closed for a month from 9 September 1769, probably for the yearly stocktaking. The storekeeper counted every item against his books, and nothing could be sold or issued while the count was under way. Lieutenant Welch had served in the Third Company, which Richard Beale commanded. His captain was the natural person to settle his estate. The notice gave creditors and debtors only four days. A short deadline let Beale close the accounts quickly, sell the dead man's effects, and send any balance home in one of the ships then in the road. | |
271 | 1769 Sheweth That there is a small piece of Ground adjoining to an old Tenement which your Petitioners have purchased with an intention to make it into a Cellar or Warehouse, which piece of Ground will be a great addition thereto. Your Petitioners therefore request that they may be admitted Tenants to the Honorable Company for the said piece of Ground. And your Petitioners shall ever pray etc. Ordered the said Ground to be viewed We this day appointed Mr. Richard Mason Cadett to be a Second Lieutenant in the room of second Lieut. Welch Deceased until the Honble. Company's pleasure be known. We this day executed the [...] following Leases viz. One to Mr. Matthew Bazett for two pieces of Land containing seventeen Acres and a Quarter at 1/6 p Acre One to Mr. John Desfountain Senr. for two pieces of Land containing thirteen Acres and three quarters at 1/6 p Acre One to Mr. John Robinson for a piece of Land containing seventeen Acres and a quarter at 1/6 p Acre One to Mr. Isaac Doveton for a piece of Land containing One Acre at 5/ p Acre One to Mr. Nathan Sample for a piece of Land containing two Acres and an half at 5/ p Acre | The society's members stated that a small piece of ground lay beside an old building they had bought, which they meant to turn into a cellar or warehouse. The ground would add greatly to the property. They therefore asked to be admitted as the Company's tenants of that piece of ground. The Council ordered the ground to be inspected. The Council appointed Richard Mason, a cadet, as second lieutenant in place of the late Lieutenant Welch, until the Company's wishes were known. The Council also executed the following leases. 1 lease to Matthew Bazett, for two pieces of land of 17¼ acres, at 1s 6d an acre 1 lease to John Desfountain senior, for two pieces of land of 13¾ acres, at 1s 6d an acre 1 lease to John Robinson, for a piece of land of 17¼ acres, at 1s 6d an acre 1 lease to Isaac Doveton, for a piece of land of one acre, at 5s an acre 1 lease to Nathan Sample, for a piece of land of 2½ acres, at 5s an acre Interpretations The arrack society asked to become the Company's tenant of a plot beside a building it had bought for a cellar or warehouse. Matthew Purling, who sat in Council, held three-eighths of the society, and Matthew Bazett, the secretary, was another member. A Council that included the society's largest partner could easily have granted the request at once. Instead it ordered the ground to be inspected first. That kept a formal check between the society's interest and the Company's land, and it put the decision on the record of an inspection rather than on Purling's word. Richard Mason had joined the First Company as a cadet on 15 May 1769, serving in the ranks at a private's pay while he waited for a commission. Welch's death gave him one within four months. The Council could appoint only provisionally, until the Company's wishes were known, since commissions were the Court's to grant. In practice the Court seldom overturned a man already serving, and a cadet on the spot had the best claim to any vacancy. Most of the new leases ran at 1s 6d an acre, but those to Isaac Doveton and Nathan Sample were at 5s, the same rate as Kirkpatrick's lease of the Briars. The difference reflected the quality and position of the land. The cheaper grants were probably upland pasture or rough ground on the island's outer slopes. The dearer ones were small plots of better land, likely near James Town or in the sheltered valleys, where the soil could be cultivated and the location was worth paying for. | |
272 | 28th August One to Messrs. George Hayes and William Hayes for a piece of Land containing two Acres and an half at 5/ p Acre And One to Samuel Simpsons Orpn. for a piece of Land containing sixteen Acres and an half at 1/6 p Acre, all lying in the East Division of the said Island. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | The list of leases executed by the Council concluded with two more grants. 1 lease to George Hayes and William Hayes, for a piece of land of 2½ acres, at 5s an acre 1 lease to the orphans of Samuel Simpson, for a piece of land of 16½ acres, at 1s 6d an acre All the land in these leases lay in the East Division of the island. John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Every lease executed that day lay in the East Division, one of the districts into which the island was divided for rent and census. Granting seven leases in a single district at one sitting suggests the Council had surveyed and parcelled out a block of the Company's land there. That would explain why the same two rates applied throughout, with larger tracts at 1s 6d an acre and small plots at 5s. The notice of the same date, calling every householder to return an account of land and cattle by 20 September 1769, belonged to the same effort to bring the island's holdings onto the Company's books. The lease to the orphans of Samuel Simpson put the land in the children's own names. The Council could have let it lapse at their father's death or regranted it to another tenant. Granting it to the orphans kept the holding for the family until they came of age. Their guardians would manage it in the meantime, as John Whitchurch managed the estate of the orphans of John Bland. The land gave the children an income and spared the Company the cost of supporting them. | |
273 | 4th September At a Consultation held on Monday the 4th day of September 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 28th of August 1769 Saturday the 2 died Charles Gulding Private On the 30th of last Month Captn. Reed wrote us two Letters to which we Ordered the Secretary to return Answers, which Letters and answers are as follow viz. To John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. and Council of St. Helena Gentlemen Having Occasion for some Arrack at my Lodgings for the Use of my Self and Servants during my stay at St. Helena must begg the Favour you'll grant me a Permit to move twenty Gallons from the Ship to my Lodgings for my own Use and you'll Oblige Gentlemen Your most humble Servant (Signed) St. Helena 30th August 1769 Francis Reed To Captn. Francis Reed Commander of Ship Essex Sir In Answer to your Letter of this days Date to the Governor and Council, I am Ordered by them to acquaint you that your request of moving twenty Gallons of Arrack from your Ship to your Lodging for your own Use will be complyed with upon your paying the Honble. Companys duty of three pence p Gallon agreeable to the | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 4 September 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 28 August 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Council recorded that Charles Golding, a private, had died on Saturday 2 September 1769. Captain Reed had written two letters to the Council on 30 August 1769, and the secretary was ordered to answer them. The letters and replies were entered as follows. In the first letter, dated at St Helena on 30 August 1769 and addressed to Governor Skottowe and the Council, Francis Reed explained that he needed some arrack at his lodgings for himself and his servants during his stay on the island. He asked for a permit to move 20 gallons from his ship to his lodgings for his own use. The secretary replied to Captain Francis Reed, commander of the Essex, on the same day. The Governor and Council had instructed him to say that Reed could move the 20 gallons of arrack from his ship to his lodgings for his own use. He would first have to pay the Company's duty of 3d a gallon, as the regulations required. Interpretations Even the commander of a Company ship needed a permit to bring 20 gallons of arrack ashore for his own table, and he had to pay duty on it. The regulations of May 1769 gave the arrack society the sole right to sell spirits on the island and charged 3d a gallon on all arrack landed. The Council could have waived the duty for a commander, whose goodwill it relied on for stores and passages. It chose instead to apply the rule to him as to any settler. The permit allowed Reed to land his own arrack rather than buy from the society. The duty, however, made sure that every gallon coming ashore was recorded and taxed. That protected both the Company's revenue and the society's monopoly against private sales from passing ships. | |
274 | 4th September Regulations made and provided on that Account. I am Sir Your humble Servant (Signed) St. Helena 30th August 1769 M. Bazett Secretary To John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. and Council of St. Helena Gentlemen I have received the Favour of yours and am sorry to acquaint you that I can by no means comply with your demand of paying duty for what is for my own drinking, especially as it is an Unprecedented thing, and not demanded in any of the Company's other Settlements. And must begg leave here to add that I think my Honorable Masters intentions in laying a duty on Arrack was never intended to extend to the small quantity of twenty Gallons for the use of the Master of the Ship in their own Employ and more Especially as I have always understood it was a custom to find their own Arrack. I must therefore once more desire leave to bring it on shore without duty and am Gentlemen Your most Obedient humble Servant (Signed) St. Helena 30th August 1769 Francis Reed | The secretary's reply closed by referring Reed to the regulations made for that purpose. Matthew Bazett signed it as secretary at St Helena on 30 August 1769. Francis Reed answered on the same day in a second letter to Governor Skottowe and the Council. He acknowledged their reply but said he could not in any way agree to pay duty on arrack meant for his own drinking. Such a charge had no precedent and was not made at any of the Company's other settlements. He added that, in his view, the Court of Directors had never meant their duty on arrack to fall on so small a quantity as 20 gallons for the use of a commander in the Company's own service. He had always understood that commanders were expected to provide their own arrack. He therefore asked again for leave to bring it ashore without paying duty. Francis Reed signed the letter at St Helena on 30 August 1769. Interpretations Reed's refusal turned on the newness of the duty. The tax on arrack had been laid only in May 1769, and no commander before him had been asked to pay it on his private stock. He could therefore claim custom against the Council. He argued that commanders always found their own drink ashore and that the Court could not have meant to tax a man in its own employ. He also pointed to the Company's other settlements, where no such duty was charged. A commander was a powerful figure at St Helena, and the island depended on his goodwill for stores, passages and the surrender of deserters. Reed was testing whether the Council would bend its new regulation for a man of his standing. The dispute also touched the arrack society. If commanders could land their own spirits free of duty, every ship in the road could become a source of untaxed arrack for the island. A ship's officer could easily lodge with a settler and leave his stock behind when he sailed. The 3d duty on 20 gallons came to only 5s. The principle at stake was worth far more to the Council than the sum. | |
275 | 1769 To Captn. Francis Reed Commander of Ship Essex Sir In answer to yours I am Ordered by the Governor and Council to acquaint you that they are much surprized at your Refusing to pay the Honble. Company's duty after their letter to you of Yesterday, and you may be assured that on those terms you will not be permitted to land the Arrack you demand altho for your own use, and tho it may be an Unprecedented Custom in other Settlements it is the Constitution here and as such they will take particular Care that it will be complyed with as well by you as every other Person. They have further to observe that as to your Private Opinion in not thinking it our Honble. Masters intentions to Extend their duty to so small a quantity as twenty Gallons for the Commanders of their Ships the Governor and Council consider themselves as properest Judges of their Masters intentions from their Orders, and are under no necessity of Consulting you Sir on that account. This you are to consider as their final answer on that head which will be entered in Consultation together with your Letter. I am Sir Your most humble Servant (Signed) St. Helena 30 August 1769 M. Bazett Secy. Mr. Richard Beale Senr. this day presented the following Petition viz. To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. Council of St. Helena | The secretary replied to Captain Francis Reed, commander of the Essex, on 31 August 1769. He wrote that the Governor and Council were much surprised that Reed refused to pay the Company's duty after their letter of the previous day. Reed could be sure that on his terms he would not be allowed to land the arrack, even for his own use. The practice might be unknown at other settlements, but it was the law at St Helena. The Council would take particular care that Reed obeyed it like everyone else. Reed had given his personal opinion that the Court never meant the duty to fall on as little as 20 gallons for its own commanders. The Governor and Council answered that they were the proper judges of their employers' intentions, which they read from the Court's orders. They had no need to consult him on the point. Reed was to treat this as their final answer, and it would be entered in the minutes together with his letters. Matthew Bazett signed the reply as secretary. Richard Beale senior presented a petition to Governor Skottowe and the Council that day. Interpretations The Council refused to make an exception for Reed, though the duty on his 20 gallons came to only 5s. Waiving it would have cost almost nothing and kept a commander content. The Council chose instead to stop him landing the arrack altogether unless he paid. Its reasons are plain in the reply. The regulation was the law of the island and bound every person alike, and the Council alone could interpret the Court's orders on the spot. Letting one commander off would have invited every other to claim the same, and the society's monopoly and the Company's duty would both have leaked away through the ships in the road. Entering Reed's letters and the Council's answer in full in the minutes was a deliberate step. The minutes went home to the Court of Directors. If Reed complained in London that he had been treated with disrespect, the Court would already have the whole correspondence before it, with the Council's reasons set out in the Council's own words. The record protected the Governor and Council against a commander who might have friends at India House. | |
276 | 4th September The humble Petition of Richard Beale Senr. Sheweth That your Petitioner has had the Honor of serving the Company forty five Years in different Employments he has likewise officiated in the Church six several times when no Clergyman has been on the Island. Your Petitioner always enjoyed a Good state of Health and capable of doing his duty until last Year, when he was seized with a disorder (which he apprehends to be the Effects of Age being now seventy three Years Old) which has impaired his constitution to that degree, that he now finds himself so feeble and Enervated that he is hardly able to Walk, but what adds to his Affliction is almost the deprivation of his Eye sight, which renders it impossible for him any longer to Act as Judge Advocate, or instruct the Youth on the Island. Your Petitioner therefore humbly requests your Worship and Council will be favourably pleased to take his long services into consideration, and either allow him a Pension or recommend his Melancholly situation to the Honble. Company, which you in your mature Judgments may think proper. And your Petitioner will ever pray (Signed) 4th September 1769 Richard Beale We acquainted Mr. Beale that we would recommend his Petition in the strongest terms to the Honble. Company for a Pension and agreed to continue his Salary until we receive their determination. And at the same time told him he must get a person to Copy the Regimental Court martial and Officiate as Judge Advocate upon all general Courts martial. | Richard Beale senior stated in his petition that he had served the Company for 45 years in various posts. He had also taken services in the church on six occasions when the island had no clergyman. He had always been in good health and able to do his duty until the previous year. He was then struck by an illness which he believed was the effect of age, since he was now 73. It had weakened him so much that he was frail and wasted and could barely walk. His distress was made worse by the near loss of his sight. He could no longer act as judge advocate or teach the island's children. He asked the Governor and Council to take his long service into account. He hoped they would either grant him a pension or put his sad situation before the Company, as they judged best. Richard Beale signed the petition on 4 September 1769. The Council told Beale that it would recommend his petition to the Company in the strongest terms for a pension. It agreed to continue his salary until the Company's decision arrived. At the same time, it told him that he must find someone to copy the regimental courts martial and to act as judge advocate at all general courts martial. Interpretations The Council had no power to grant a pension, which was the Court's decision alone. It could have retired Beale and appointed a new judge advocate and schoolmaster on the salary at once. Instead it kept him on full pay until the Court replied, while requiring him to find a deputy for the legal work. Beale's own salary would have to support whoever did the work. That spared the Company a second salary and spared an old servant of 45 years from losing his income before London had answered. The arrangement left the schooling unprovided for. The Council named only the court-martial duties, which could not lapse without halting military justice. A general court martial tried serious offences, including desertion and mutiny, and the judge advocate managed the prosecution, advised on the law and kept the record. Copying the proceedings of regimental courts martial, which dealt with lesser offences within a company, made sure that a full record of punishments existed. Beale's near blindness made that clerical work impossible. Richard Beale senior, at 73, was evidently the father of Captain Richard Beale of the Third Company. The pay list of June 1769 had entered the father as judge advocate and schoolmaster. His 45 years of service reached back to about 1724. | |
277 | 1769 The Storekeeper this day delivered the following Account of Stores short received from Ships Essex and Shrewsbury viz. Account of Stores short received from the following Ships viz. Essex viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. 3 1 23 Rice short weight occasioned by wastage the baggs being in good order 49 1 18 Paddy received Shrewsbury viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. 3 3 7 Rice 1 2 14 Paddy 1 3 11 Sugar 2 Candles short weight occasioned by Wastage the baggs and Chests being in good order Two Leagers Arrack viz. No. 1 Gages Galls. 144 wants to fill Galls. 9 No. 2 do. 142 do. 7 286 16 Received 270 Gallons (Signed) St. Helena 4th September 1769 p James Powell Storekeeper Bought on Account of the Honble. Company of Captn. Francis Reed Nine Hundred and forty five pieces of Salt provision at two shillings p piece Amounting to Ninety four Pounds ten shillings. The Lieutenant Governor reports he has viewed the small piece of Ground Petitioned for by the Society on Monday last and finds the letting it to be of no detriment to the Honble. Company or Neighbourhood thinks four shillings p Annum a sufficient Rent for it as it is a very narrow Slip and only serves to enlarge the Old Tenement. | The storekeeper presented an account of stores found short on delivery from the Essex and the Shrewsbury. From the Essex: 3 hundredweight 1 quarter 23 pounds of rice, short in weight through wastage, the bags being in good condition 49 hundredweight 1 quarter 18 pounds of paddy received From the Shrewsbury: 3 hundredweight 0 quarters 7 pounds of rice, short in weight through wastage 1 hundredweight 2 quarters 14 pounds of paddy, short in weight through wastage 1 hundredweight 3 quarters 11 pounds of sugar, short in weight through wastage 0 hundredweight 0 quarters 2 pounds of candles, short in weight through wastage The bags and chests were all in good condition Leaguer number 1 of arrack, gauged at 144 gallons, 9 gallons short of full Leaguer number 2 of arrack, gauged at 142 gallons, 7 gallons short of full Total gauged, 286 gallons Total short, 16 gallons Total arrack received, 270 gallons Signed by James Powell, storekeeper, at St Helena on 4 September 1769 The Council bought 945 pieces of salt provisions from Captain Francis Reed for the Company, at 2s a piece. The purchase came to £94 10s 0d. The Lieutenant Governor reported that he had inspected, on the previous Monday, the small piece of ground the arrack society had asked to rent. He found that letting it would do no harm to the Company or the neighbours. Since it was a very narrow strip that served only to enlarge the old building, he thought a rent of 4s a year was enough. Interpretations Powell noted each time that the bags and chests had arrived in good condition. That remark settled who bore the loss. If a bag had been torn or a chest broken open, the shortfall would point to theft or careless handling aboard, and the Company could charge it to the ship. With the packing intact, the missing weight could only have come from the grain and sugar drying out over the voyage. The loss was therefore the Company's own, and no claim lay against the commander. The Council bought 945 pieces of salt meat from Francis Reed at the usual 2s a piece on the same day it entered its final refusal to let him land his arrack free of duty. The quarrel over 5s of duty did not touch the business between them. The Council needed Reed's provisions and paid the fixed rate. It kept the dispute strictly to the point of principle. The society's ground was inspected by Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, not by Matthew Purling, who held three-eighths of the society. The inspection was carried out by the one member of Council with no stake in the outcome. His proposed rent of 4s a year was nominal, fitting a strip too narrow for any other use. | |
278 | 4th September We this day Executed the four following Leases viz. One to Mr. Orlando Bagley Junr. for a piece of Land containing nine Acres and three quarters at 2/ p Acre lying in the East Division One to Mr. William Seale Senr. for a piece of Land containing Eleven Acres and an half at 2/ p Acre lying in the East Division One to Mr. Benjamin Seale for a piece of Land containing six Acres and three quarters at 1/ p Acre lying in the South Division And One to Miss Sarah Lange for a piece of Land containing three Acres at 1/ p Acre lying in the South Division We this day Granted the following sets of Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors viz. One set to John Skottowe Esqr. for One hundred and twenty Pounds payable to Robert Wood Esqr. (or Order) One set to Daniel Corneille Esqr. for Eighty eight Pounds payable to Messrs. John Parker and Edward Wakelin (or Order) One set to Matthew Purling Esqr. for Four Hundred Pounds payable to John Purling Esqr. (or Order) And one set to Mr. Jonathan Doveton for Sixty four Pounds payable to Mr. George Richardson (or Order) all drawn at ninety days sight. Appointed the Lieutenant Governor to inspect and take the remains of the Honble. Company's Stores for the present Year as Usual. | The Council executed four leases that day. 1 lease to Orlando Bagley junior, for a piece of land of 9¾ acres, at 2s an acre, in the East Division 1 lease to William Seale senior, for a piece of land of 11½ acres, at 2s an acre, in the East Division 1 lease to Benjamin Seale, for a piece of land of 6¾ acres, at 1s an acre, in the South Division 1 lease to Sarah Fringe, for a piece of land of three acres, at 1s an acre, in the South Division The Council also issued four sets of bills of exchange drawn on the Court of Directors, all payable at 90 days' sight. 1 set to John Skottowe, payable to Robert Wood or his order, £120 0s 0d 1 set to Daniel Corneille, payable to John Parker and Edward Wakelin or their order, £88 0s 0d 1 set to Matthew Purling, payable to John Purling or his order, £400 0s 0d 1 set to Jonathan Doveton, payable to George Richardson or his order, £64 0s 0d The Council appointed the Lieutenant Governor to inspect the Company's stores and take the annual account of the stock remaining, as was usual. Interpretations All three members of Council bought bills on the Court at the same sitting in which they approved them. The Governor remitted £120 to Robert Wood, having sent him £350 on 24 July 1769. Purling sent £400 to John Purling, probably a relative who managed his affairs in England. Daniel Corneille, only four months back on the island, sent £88. In six weeks the Governor alone had sent home £470. Remittances on this scale show how much a senior servant at St Helena could save from salary, allowances, slave hire, land and his share in ventures like the arrack society. The Council's control over the sale of bills meant its members never had to wait for a chance to send that money home. The Council again gave Daniel Corneille the task of checking the stores. James Powell, the storekeeper, kept the stock, and Purling, as accountant, kept the books, so neither could fairly count what he himself was answerable for. Corneille, newly arrived and without a post in either department, was the natural person to take the yearly account of what remained. The count coincided with the closing of the stores from 9 September to 9 October 1769, announced on 28 August. The leases in the East Division ran at 2s an acre, while those in the South Division ran at 1s. The southern side of the island lay open to the trade wind and was generally drier and more barren than the east. The Council evidently set rents by district according to the value of the land. | |
279 | 1769 In consequence of Mr. Beales desire of resigning his Employ of Schoolmaster we recommended it to the Chaplain and Church Wardens to call a Vestry in order to consider on ways and means for the accommodation and better support of a successor to Mr. Beale and as it will be necessary to have a House together with a School built for that purpose and there being now four hundred and fifty pounds in Stock belonging to the Poor we observed to them it was our Opinion it could not be better appropriated than on so useful an Occasion, as instructing the Youth is of the utmost importance to the welfare of the Inhabitants, and at the same time desired the Chaplain to lay before Us his sentiments with regard to procuring a Person properly Qualified for that Employ. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | Since Richard Beale wished to give up his post as schoolmaster, the Council advised the chaplain and churchwardens to call a vestry meeting. The vestry was to consider how to house and better support a successor. A house and a school would need to be built for the purpose. The poor fund held £450 at that time, and the Council told the chaplain and churchwardens that in its opinion the money could not be put to better use. Educating the young was of the greatest importance to the welfare of the inhabitants. The Council also asked the chaplain to give his views on finding a properly qualified person for the post. John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The Council proposed that the new school and schoolmaster's house be paid for out of the £450 held for the poor, not from the Company's own funds. The schoolmaster had been a Company servant on the pay list, and the obvious course was to ask the Court for money to build. That would have meant a year's delay and an uncertain answer from Directors who expected the island to cost as little as possible. The poor fund was already on the island and lying idle. The Council could not spend it directly, since it belonged to the parish. It therefore steered the decision to the vestry, the meeting of parishioners that controlled church and poor money under English custom. The vestry, the churchwardens and the poor fund were the institutions of an English parish carried to a Company island. Funds for the poor came from collections at church, fines and bequests, and were managed by the churchwardens for widows, orphans and the sick. By framing the school as a matter of the inhabitants' welfare, the Council made the case that teaching children belonged within the parish's charitable purpose. | |
280 | 11th September At a Consultation held on Monday the 11th day of September 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 4th Septr. 1769 The Expence of Artillery Stores and Stewards Accounts for Month of August last, were this day laid before Us, which have been examined, approved of, and are as follow viz. Artillery Stores Expended in August 1769 Guns fired, 18 lb, 6 lb, 4 lb, 1 lb, Powder Expended lb, Powder Expended oz 1st Guns fired to Salute Mr. Carter going on board: Guns fired 17, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 17, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 25, Powder Expended oz 8 do. Departed the Ship Dutton: Guns fired 9, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 8 8th Powder to scale the Guns at Purlings Battery: Guns fired 6, 18 lb 6, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 18, Powder Expended oz 0 do. for the Governors Use: Guns fired 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 2, Powder Expended oz 0 do. for the Works at Mundens Point: Guns fired 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 112, Powder Expended oz 0 13th An Alarm: Guns fired 6, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 4, 1 lb 2, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 0 14th Arrived the Grenville: Guns fired 9, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 8 15th Powder for the funeral of William Holmes Sold.: Guns fired 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 2, Powder Expended oz 4 19th Departed the Ship Grenville: Guns fired 9, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 8 22 Powder for the funeral of Lieut. Welch: Guns fired 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 4, Powder Expended oz 15 23 An Alarm: Guns fired 6, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 4, 1 lb 2, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 0 do. Arrived the Ship Essex: Guns fired 9, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 8 28th An Alarm: Guns fired 6, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 4, 1 lb 2, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 0 do. Arrived the Ship Shrewsbury: Guns fired 9, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 8 do. Powder for priming for all the above salutes: Guns fired 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 12 do. to Shoot Goats at different times: Guns fired 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 4, Powder Expended oz 12 do. to repair the Cart. at the Main Guard do.: Guns fired 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 2, Powder Expended oz 0 do. to Men in the Long Boats at do.: Guns fired 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 8, Powder Expended oz 0 do. for Signals at do.: Guns fired 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 1, Powder Expended oz 2 Total: Guns fired 86, 18 lb 6, 6 lb 62, 4 lb 12, 1 lb 6, Powder Expended lb 293, Powder Expended oz 13 | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 11 September 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 4 September 1769 were read, approved and signed. The accounts of artillery stores and of the steward for August 1769 were laid before the Council, examined and approved. The artillery return read as follows. Artillery stores used in August 1769 4 August 1769, salute to Mr Carter on going aboard, 17 guns fired: 0 18-pounders, 17 6-pounders, 0 4-pounders, 0 1-pounders, powder 25 pounds 8 ounces On 4 August 1769, the Dutton sailed, and 9 guns were fired, all 6-pounders, using 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder. 8 August 1769, scaling the guns at Purling's Battery, 6 guns fired: 6 18-pounders, 0 6-pounders, 0 4-pounders, 0 1-pounders, powder 11 pounds 0 ounces 8 August 1769, powder for the Governor's use, 0 guns fired, powder 2 pounds 0 ounces 8 August 1769, powder for the works at Munden's Point, 0 guns fired, powder 112 pounds 0 ounces 13 August 1769, an alarm, 6 guns fired: 0 18-pounders, 0 6-pounders, 4 4-pounders, 2 1-pounders, powder 13 pounds 0 ounces On 14 August 1769, the Grenville arrived, and 9 guns were fired, all 6-pounders, using 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder. 15 August 1769, powder for the funeral of William Holmes, soldier, 0 guns fired, powder 2 pounds 4 ounces On 19 August 1769, the Grenville sailed, and 9 guns were fired, all 6-pounders, using 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder. 22 August 1769, powder for the funeral of Lieutenant Welch, 0 guns fired, powder 4 pounds 15 ounces 23 August 1769, an alarm, 6 guns fired: 0 18-pounders, 0 6-pounders, 4 4-pounders, 2 1-pounders, powder 13 pounds 0 ounces On 23 August 1769, the Essex arrived, and 9 guns were fired, all 6-pounders, using 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder. 28 August 1769, an alarm, 6 guns fired: 0 18-pounders, 0 6-pounders, 4 4-pounders, 2 1-pounders, powder 13 pounds 0 ounces On 28 August 1769, the Shrewsbury arrived, and 9 guns were fired, all 6-pounders, using 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder. Powder for priming all the salutes above, 0 guns fired, powder 13 pounds 12 ounces Powder for shooting goats at various times, 0 guns fired, powder 4 pounds 12 ounces Powder for remaking cartridges at the main guard, 0 guns fired, powder 2 pounds 0 ounces Powder issued to the men in the longboats, 0 guns fired, powder 8 pounds 0 ounces Powder for signals, 0 guns fired, powder 1 pound 2 ounces Total, 86 guns fired: 6 18-pounders, 62 6-pounders, 12 4-pounders, 6 1-pounders, powder 293 pounds 13 ounces Interpretations The funeral of Lieutenant Welch used 4 pounds 15 ounces of powder, more than twice the 2 pounds 4 ounces fired over William Holmes, a private. Military funerals ended with volleys of musketry over the grave, and the number of men and volleys rose with the rank of the dead. An officer was buried with a larger firing party than a private soldier. The powder account recorded that difference to the ounce. Roger Carter was saluted with 17 guns on leaving as well as on landing. The full honours of a governor were paid both ways, though he held no office on St Helena. The Dutton sailed on the same day. Carter's departure coincided with the dispatch of Daughtlock Roballam's petition, which the Council had promised to send to the Court. Purling's Battery was named after Matthew Purling, the member of Council. Naming a work after a serving official recorded his part in building or paying for it. The six 18-pounders scaled there were the heaviest guns in the month's return. An 18-pounder fired a ball three times the weight of the 6-pounders used for salutes, and such guns were kept for the main defence of the anchorage. Powder for the works at Munden's Point came to 112 pounds in August, after 104 pounds in July, as blasting continued on the headland. | |
281 | 1769 Tallow for different Uses lb oz 22 Lead Ball to shoot Goats at diff. times 4 12 Paper for diff. Uses at do. 9 1/4 Quire Tompions Expended lb 32 1 do. do. 9 1 Handspikes do. 5 Sponge Staves 1 Sponge Heads 32 1 Carriage do. 24 1 Cartridge Needles do. 5 (Signed) Thomas Bazett Lieut. Commd. Artillery Sundrys Expended at the Honble. Companys Table in Augt. 1769 £ 1 bottle Port Wine 1 6 42 do. Lisbon 3 3 14 do. Mountain 1 1 36 do. Beer 6 9 30 1/2 Gall. Arrack 4 11 6 165 1/2 Beef 3 8 11 1/2 301 Mutton 6 7 11 2 Turkeys 10 15 Fowls 1 2 6 46 lb Butter 2 6 60 Sugar Candy at 6 3/4 1 13 9 67 lb do. do. at 6 1 13 6 428 Flour 4 3 4 Lambs 2 5 Kids 1 5 £ 33 11 7 1/2 | The artillery return for August 1769 continued with the other stores used and closed with the signature of the officer commanding. Tallow for various uses, 22 pounds 0 ounces Bar lead for shooting goats at various times, 4 pounds 12 ounces Paper for various uses, [...] quires Tompions worn out, 1 for a 32-pounder Tompions worn out, 1 for a 9-pounder Handspikes worn out, 5 Sponge staves worn out, 1 Sponge heads worn out, 1 for a 32-pounder Gun carriages worn out, 1 for a 24-pounder Cartridge needles worn out, 5 Signed by Thomas Bazett, lieutenant commanding the artillery The account of provisions used at the Company's table in August 1769 was laid before the Council with the other monthly accounts. 1 bottle of port wine, £0 1s 6d 42 bottles of Lisbon wine, £3 3s 0d 14 bottles of mountain wine, £1 1s 0d 36 bottles of beer, £0 6s 9d 30½ gallons of arrack, £4 11s 6d 163½ pounds of beef, £3 8s 11½d 301 pounds of mutton, £6 7s 11d 2 turkeys, £0 10s 0d 13 fowls, £1 2s 6d 46 pounds of butter, £2 6s 0d 60 pounds of sugar candy at 6¾d a pound, £1 13s 9d 67 pounds of sugar candy at 6d a pound, £1 13s 6d 428 pounds of flour, £4 0s 3d 4 lambs, £2 0s 0d 5 kids, £1 5s 0d Total, £33 11s 7½d Interpretations The table's costs in August 1769 came to £33 11s 7½d, almost the same as July's £34 6s 8¾d. The mix shifted with the shipping in the road. Four Indiamen called during August, against two in July, and the Governor entertained their commanders and passengers. Lisbon wine rose from 37 to 42 bottles and mountain from 11 to 14, while mutton rose from 268 to 301 pounds. Beef fell slightly, as the island's cattle were kept back for the garrison and the ships. The sugar candy was charged at two prices. The cheaper lot, at 6d a pound, probably came from the fresh stock landed from the Shrewsbury out of Bengal, while the dearer one was older stock bought at a higher cost. The artillery return shows that the island's batteries carried 32-pounders and 24-pounders as well as the 18-pounders scaled at Purling's Battery. A 32-pounder was among the heaviest guns mounted in any coastal fort of the period. A tompion was a wooden plug fitted into the muzzle of a gun to keep out rain and sea spray. A carriage for a 24-pounder had worn out, since wooden carriages rotted quickly in the salt air of exposed batteries and had to be replaced. Cartridge needles were long pricks used to pierce the powder cartridge through the touch-hole before firing. | |
282 | 11th September Pursuant to our recommendation of last Monday to the Chaplain and Church Wardens they met on the 8th instant in Vestry and laid before Us the following Resolutions agreed on at the time abovementioned. St. Helena At a Vestry regularly summoned and held in the Church in James's Valley on Friday the 8th of September 1769 all the Members present expressed a very grateful Sense of the obligations they and every Inhabit. of the Island were under to Mr. Richard Beale whose resignation of the place of Schoolmaster, which he has so long and so worthily filled, was the occasion of the meeting. They then proceeded to consider of means to lessen as much as might be, the loss they had sustained, and found it necessary to give every encouragement in their Power towards their procuring a proper Keeper from England. the Emoluments arising from the Office having been hitherto confessedly inadequate to the care and diligence required and with regard to Mr. Beale they were sensible that his greatest reward must ever be owned to be the consciousness of having done good to his native Country, and in consequence having merited and they hope in every instance received every possible mark of regard and respect from each Individual in it. In prosecution of the above intentions they then came to the three following Resolutions First It was agreed by all present whose names are underwritten that the sum of four hundred and fifty pounds now in hand as appears by the Parish Books, be set aside towards building a House and procuring other accommodations for the Use of a Schoolmaster. It was farther agreed, by all present that the price for Schooling | The chaplain and churchwardens acted on the Council's advice of the previous Monday. They held a vestry meeting on 8 September 1769 and laid its resolutions before the Council, as follows. The vestry had been properly summoned and met in the church in James's Valley on Friday 8 September 1769. All the members present expressed their deep gratitude to Richard Beale, to whom they and every inhabitant of the island owed a great deal. His resignation as schoolmaster, a post he had filled so long and so well, was the reason for the meeting. The members then considered how to soften the loss as far as they could. They found it necessary to do everything in their power to attract a suitable successor from England. All agreed that the income of the post had never been enough for the care and effort it demanded. As for Beale himself, they believed his greatest reward must lie in knowing that he had done good to the island of his birth. They hoped he had earned, and had always received, every mark of regard and respect from each of its people. To carry out these aims, the vestry agreed three resolutions. First, all the members present, whose names were signed below, agreed that the £450 then in hand, as shown in the parish books, should be set aside to build a house and provide other accommodation for a schoolmaster. They also agreed on the fees to be charged for schooling. Interpretations The vestry resolved to find a schoolmaster from England rather than appoint someone already on the island. Richard Beale was himself a native of St Helena, and for 45 years the island had been served by one of its own. The vestry's own words give the reason for looking abroad: the post had always paid too little for the work it required. No settler with the learning to teach would give up farming or a Company post for so poor a living. A man from England would come only if offered a house and a better income, and the £450 from the poor fund was meant to supply the first. The vestry gave Beale thanks and praise but no money. It said his true reward must be the knowledge of having done good. A pension was the Company's to grant, and the Council had already promised to recommend one. The parish did not take that cost on itself. Its funds were committed to the new school, and Beale's provision was left to the Court of Directors. | |
283 | 1769 for each Child be at the rate of twenty shillings a Quarter for reading, and ten Shillings more for writing and learning to cast accounts (instead of six shillings, and twelve shillings p Quarter the usual price) and all present agree to pay these Sums for any Children they may send to the said School. It was further agreed by all present, that as the sum of four hundred and fifty pounds to be applied as abovementioned was collected at different times for charitable Uses, from the aforesaid consideration a certain number of poor children, not to exceed eight, be taught the above Articles gratis by the said Schoolmaster, these Children to be nominated by Vestry upon a Petition from their Parents. Present at the Vestry William Bearcroft Minister Samuel Alexander Solomon St. Maurice Church Wardens Matthew Bazett William Wrangham Richard Goodwin James Greentree Richard Bagley Benjamin Mason Orlando Bagley Senr. Richard Beale Junr. John Alexander John Goodwin John Bagley Senr. John Bagley Junr. Orlando Bagley Junr. Gabriel Harper Robert Hallard Jonathan Doveton Henry Bazett John Shirley Robert Gulding John Pritchard John Rice St. Helena 11 September 1769 To the Worshipful the Governor and Council Gentlemen In consequence of what was agreed on in Vestry on | The vestry's second resolution fixed the fees for schooling. Each child would pay 20s a quarter to learn reading, and a further 10s to learn writing and arithmetic for keeping accounts. The usual charges had been 6s and 12s a quarter. All present agreed to pay these fees for any children they sent to the school. The third resolution recognised that the £450 had been collected at different times for charitable purposes. In return for its use, the schoolmaster would teach the same subjects free of charge to a number of poor children, not more than eight. The vestry would choose these children on petition from their parents. The following members attended the vestry. William Beacroft, minister Samuel Alexander, churchwarden Solomon St Maurice, churchwarden Matthew Bazett William Wrangham Richard Goodwin James Greentree Richard Bagley Benjamin Mason Orlando Bagley senior Richard Beale junior John Alexander John Goodwin John Bagley senior John Bagley junior Orlando Bagley junior Gabriel Harper Robert Pollard Jonathan Doveton Henry Bazett John Shelly Robert Gosling John Pritchard John Price A letter dated at St Helena on 11 September 1769 followed, addressed to Governor Skottowe and the Council and written as a result of what the vestry had agreed on Friday 8 September 1769. Interpretations The vestry more than tripled the fee for reading, from 6s to 20s a quarter, and raised the full course of reading, writing and accounts from 12s to 30s. The parents present bound themselves to pay the higher rates. They could have asked the Company to put a new schoolmaster on a better salary. Instead the island's families took the cost on themselves, which made the post attractive without waiting on the Court of Directors. At 30s a quarter, the full course cost £6 a year a child. That was at the upper end of what a private schoolmaster in an English market town might charge, and far above the pennies a week taken at a village school. Teaching was as scarce on St Helena as every other skill brought from England, and the price reflected it. The free places for up to eight poor children were the price of using the poor fund. The £450 had been given for charity, and the vestry could not in conscience spend it on a school that served only paying families. Reserving places for the children of the poor kept the money within its charitable purpose. The vestry would choose the children itself, on petition from their parents, which gave the leading families control over who received the benefit. The members of the vestry were the island's governing class in another form. They included the chaplain, an officer serving as churchwarden, the paymaster, the secretary, a captain and several lieutenants, the surgeon's mate, the marshal and the heads of the Bagley, Goodwin and Greentree families. The same men who ran the Company's affairs ran the parish's, and the vestry gave settlers and officials a forum of their own alongside the Council. | |
284 | 11th September Friday last, with regard to the provision for a Schoolmaster, on the part of the Parish, and your kind intentions of applying to the Honble. Court of Directors at home for their Aid and assistance without which the whole scheme must fall to the ground. The Chaplain begs leave humbly to offer to consideration a few hints on the advantages which he thinks might be reaped by employing a Clergyman sufficiently approved and recommended for sound learning and good morals, in that Office. He would not only it is apprehended be more fit from the mode of his Education, to perform the common duties of that place well, than others who might apply for it but would it is likely attend more to the religious Improvements of those under his care. He would besides be very agreeable to those Inhabitants who live intirely in the Country by affording them a constant Opportunity of attending divine Sacraments and Service on the Lords Day in the Country Church which is now shut up for full seven Months in the Year and in the remaining five has only service every other Sunday. He would moreover by being on the spot in case of the death or long Indisposition of the Chaplain prevent an intire stop being put to religious duties, which might otherwise continue for the space of Eighteen Months for should the accident happen immediately after the sailing of the last ship for England (most commonly in September) the place could not be filled up from thence till the Arrival of the Store Ship in the beginning of the third Year, the bad consequences which have heretofore arisen and might again arise from thence may be easily imagined since if it is hard to keep the Lower Ranks in a tolerable observance of their duty on the Lords day when they have the means of performing it constantly before them, it is much harder to bring them back to it, when a long Discontinuance has almost encouraged them and forget the Necessity. Might not also the Prospect of succeeding in any such case to the Chaplainship when Age might render the constant Labours of the other Station irksome, be an additional Encouragement to an adventurer from England, and a constant Spur to his diligence and Industry in hopes of recommendation from home. To all this it is humbly apprehended there is but one material Objection, namely, that a Clergyman is not a proper person to act as Judge advocate and that without his acting as such Fifty pounds p Annum an Employ hitherto annexed to the Schoolmaster must be deducted from his appointment this is a difficulty nevertheless which it is humbly conceived may be surmounted since if the above hints are approved of, the Proposer is too well acquainted with the | The chaplain's letter referred to the vestry's agreement of Friday 8 September 1769 on providing for a schoolmaster at the parish's charge, and to the Council's kind intention of asking the Court of Directors for help, without which the whole plan would fail. William Beacroft, the chaplain, asked leave to set out a few thoughts on the benefits of appointing a clergyman of approved learning and good character to the post. Such a man, he argued, would be better fitted by his education than other candidates to carry out the ordinary duties of the school. He would also probably pay closer attention to the religious growth of the children in his care. He would please the settlers who lived out in the country by holding regular services and sacraments on Sundays in the country church. That church was then closed for a full seven months of the year and held services only on alternate Sundays during the other five. A second clergyman on the island would also keep religious life going if the chaplain died or fell ill for a long time. Without one, all services might stop for as long as 18 months. If the chaplain died just after the last ship of the season sailed for England, usually in September, no replacement could arrive until the store ship came out at the start of the year after next. The chaplain observed that the harm this had caused before, and might cause again, was easy to imagine. It was hard enough to keep the poorer people reasonably faithful in keeping Sunday when services were always available to them. It was harder still to bring them back after a long break had almost taught them to forget the need. The prospect of succeeding to the chaplaincy, once age made the schoolmaster's constant work too heavy, might also draw a man from England and spur him to diligence in hope of a good report home. The chaplain saw only one serious objection. A clergyman was not a suitable person to serve as judge advocate. If he did not, the £50 a year that had always gone with the schoolmaster's post would have to come out of his pay. The chaplain believed, however, that this difficulty could be overcome if his suggestions met with approval. Interpretations The chaplain's account of an 18-month gap shows how the island's link with England depended on the season. Homeward ships called mainly between May and September, and the store ship from England arrived early in the year. A vacancy that opened in the autumn could not be reported until the next homeward season, and the Court's appointee could not arrive until the store ship of the following year. St Helena lived on an annual cycle of shipping, and any office that fell empty at the wrong moment stayed empty for a year and a half. A clergyman could not properly act as judge advocate because the Church forbade its ministers to take part in judgments that might lead to death. A general court martial could sentence a man to be shot or hanged for desertion or mutiny. The judge advocate's £50 a year had been joined to the schoolmaster's post so that one man could earn a living from both. A clergyman-schoolmaster would lose that income, which is why the chaplain treated it as the main obstacle to his plan. Beacroft's proposal also served his own interest. A second clergyman would share his duties, take the country services he could not cover, and stand ready to succeed him. The chaplain framed the plan as a benefit to the island's poor and to settlers living far from James Town, but in effect he was asking for a curate. | |
285 | 1769 generous Sentiments of the Honorable Board in Cases the like kind where the real good of those under their immediate Government is in agitation ever to despair. And the Chaplain further begs leave to observe that should the Honorable Court come to a determination of sending a Schoolmaster and be under any difficulty in finding a Person properly Qualified he humbly apprehends that an application to the Bishop of London would be the most likely means to procure one as numbers of Clergymen are examined and approved of by him Yearly and afterwards sent out as Missionarys and Schoolmasters to different parts of America by the Society for the propagation of the Gospel. Mr. Matthew Purling reports that he has been on board the Ships Essex and Shrewsbury to Muster their Companys and enquire for deserters but found none their Muster Rolls are as follow viz. Muster Roll of Ship Essex Francis Reed Commander Jn. Manson Chief Mate Jn. Gravier 2 do. Henl. Grubar 3 do. Ja. Brayne 4th do. Geo. Gifart 5 do. Ralt. Milbanke Purser Ja. Moffatt Surgeon Robt. Bryant Gunner Ja. Colter Carpenter Jn. Seddon Boatswain Robt. Wilson Ships Steward Jn. Mason Gunnr. Mate Chr. Jn. Cross Midshipman Thomas Lowland do. William Taylor do. Jn. Hornby Capt. Steward Robt. Scarf Carpr. Mate Robt. McCrithe do. Ja. Cummings Poulterer Peter Meek Capt. Cook John King Ships do. Richd. Heathfield Sailmaker Henry Williamson Cooper Saml. Arthur Coopr. Mate Robt. Hempsted Armourer Rich. Brown Butcher Arch. Ballentine Baker Wm. Kelly Qr. Master John Hart do. William Jones do. Ja. Broderick do. John Davis do. Abm. Hancock Boatsn. Mate William Mussell Seaman John Robinson | The chaplain closed his argument by saying he knew the Court's generosity too well to despair, in cases like this one, where the real good of the people under its direct government was in question. He added one further point. If the Court decided to send out a schoolmaster but found it hard to find a qualified man, the chaplain believed an application to the Bishop of London would be the most likely way to obtain one. Every year the Bishop examined and approved a number of clergymen, who were then sent to various parts of America as missionaries and schoolmasters by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Matthew Purling reported that he had gone aboard the Essex and the Shrewsbury to muster their crews and search for deserters. He found none. The muster roll of the Essex read as follows. Francis Reed, commander James Hanson, chief mate John Garvie, second mate Henry Grubar, third mate James Brayne, fourth mate George Gyfart, fifth mate Ralph Milbank, purser James Moffatt, surgeon Robert Bryant, gunner James Collet, carpenter James Sadden, boatswain Robert Wilson, ship's steward John Mason, gunner's mate Charles John Crofts, midshipman Thomas Loveland, midshipman William Taylor, midshipman Robert Hornby, captain's steward Robert Scarf, carpenter's mate Robert McBride, carpenter's mate James Cummings, poulterer Peter Meeks, captain's cook John King, ship's cook Richard Hatfield, sailmaker Henry Williamson, cooper Samuel Arthur, cooper's mate Robert Hempsted, armourer Richard Brown, butcher Archibald Ballantine, baker William Kelly, quartermaster John Hart, quartermaster William Jones, quartermaster James Broderick, quartermaster John Davis, quartermaster Abraham Hancock, boatswain's mate William Moffatt, seaman John Robinson, seaman Interpretations The chaplain pointed to the Bishop of London because the Bishop held church authority over English congregations overseas. Clergy going to the colonies had to be examined and licensed by him before they could serve. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, founded in 1701, drew on that supply to send missionaries and schoolmasters to the American colonies, paying them a stipend from its own funds. Beacroft was proposing that the Company tap the Church's existing system for staffing colonial parishes instead of searching for a teacher by its own means. A man approved by the Bishop would come with his learning and character already tested, which met the vestry's demand for sound learning and good morals. | |
286 | 11th September George Steward Seaman James Smith Abraham Harris John Henry Thomas Taylor William Smith Joseph Gibson Henry Cullum Christ. Egleby John Rice John Smith William Smith Isaac Kidd Edward Williams Henry McClagen Edward Shaw John Brown James Sterling Robert Cameson Richard Archer Jacob White Jamie Allen Seaman Michael Cartney John Webster Robert Adams James Cormack James Steed John Behan William Shaw James Bunting Thomas Williams Jeremiah Conely William Cotton Richard Hutton James Wilson Henry Cook Alexander Watson Thomas Atkinson Richard Botley Christ. Green Nicholas Mount Will. Frazier Seaman Christ. Dowling Edward Marshal Luke William Hunt William Hopwell Joseph Ratery John Hollen William Robinson Robert Richardson Henry Campwell Joseph Knight Thomas Hornby Capt. Servt. Willm. Thompson 1 Mates do. Hugh Woody 2 do. do. Phebe Whitehead Gunnr. do. Robt. Dixon Carpr. do. Step. Neale Boatn. do. Joseph King William Kelly William Suffolk (Signed) Francis Reed Muster Roll of Ship Shrewsbury Benjamin Jones Command. Charles Kelly Chief Mate W. G. Dickenson 2 do. James Parr 3 do. George Hutchinson 4th do. William Woodworth 5 do. James Gard Surgeon Richard Lichipe Purser Jos. Bolton Midship and Cox. John Stevens Midshipman Richard Court do. Edward Cross do. John Ellis Carpenter Mark Coulder Gunner John Thomas Boatswain Thos. Lipthrop Capt. Steward Robt. Law do. Cook Jn. Bodenham Ships Std. William Warwick Cooper James Feat Sailmaker Walter Hore Joiner Ja. Mills quart. Master Robt. Raynard do. Thomas Sumpsuch do. Matthew Fowler do. William Bowden do. William Mitchell do. | The muster roll of the Essex continued and closed with the commander's signature. George Steward, seaman James Smith, seaman Abraham Harris, seaman John Henry, seaman Thomas Taylor, seaman William Smith, seaman Joseph Gibson, seaman Henry Cullum, seaman Christopher Eglesby, seaman John Rice, seaman John Smith, seaman William Smith, seaman Isaac Kidd, seaman Edward Williams, seaman Henry McClagan, seaman Edward Shorn, seaman John Brown, seaman James Sterling, seaman Robert Jameson, seaman Richard Archer, seaman Jacob White, seaman James Allen, seaman Michael Carney, seaman John Webster, seaman Robert Adams, seaman James Cormack, seaman James Shiel, seaman John Behan, seaman William Shaw, seaman James Bunting, seaman Thomas Williams, seaman Jeremiah Conely, seaman William Cotter, seaman Richard Hutton, seaman James Wilson, seaman Henry Cook, seaman Alexander Watson, seaman Thomas Atkinson, seaman Richard Petley, seaman Christopher Green, seaman Nicholas Mount, seaman William Frazier, seaman Christopher Dowling, seaman Edward Marshal, seaman Luke William Hunt, seaman William Hopwell, seaman Joseph Pratery, seaman John Hollen, seaman William Robinson, seaman Robert Richardson, seaman Henry Campbell, seaman Joseph Knight, seaman Thomas Hornby, captain's servant William Thompson, chief mate's servant Hugh Woody, second mate's servant Peter Whitehead, gunner's servant Robert Dixon, carpenter's servant Stephen Neale, boatswain's servant Joseph King, seaman William Kelly, seaman William Suffolk, seaman Signed by Francis Reed The muster roll of the Shrewsbury followed. Benjamin Jones, commander Charles Kelty, chief mate W. G. Dickenson, second mate James Parr, third mate George Hutchinson, fourth mate William Woodworth, fifth mate James Gard, surgeon Richard Lichfield, purser Joseph Bolton, midshipman and coxswain John Steer, midshipman Richard Court, midshipman Edward Cross, midshipman John Ellis, carpenter Mark Coulder, gunner John Thomas, boatswain Thomas Liptrap, captain's steward Robert Law, captain's cook John Bodenham, ship's steward William Warwick, cooper James Teat, sailmaker Walter Kerr, joiner James Mills, quartermaster Robert Raynard, quartermaster Thomas Fairbrook, quartermaster Matthew Fowden, quartermaster William Bowden, quartermaster William Mitchell, quartermaster | |
287 | 1769 William Lockhart Gunnr. mate Alex. Morris Carpt. do. Robert Watson do. Henry Ash Caulker Chr. Nicholls Armourer Edward Fulham Ships Cook Jn. Devine Boatswains mate John Sefel do. Saml. Moore Caulkers mate Francis Britton do. Fredrick Tenley Coopr. mate William Maxwell Seaman Samuel Payne John Dean Joseph Allen Isaac Moon William Layton Daniel Maxwell Robert Porridge James Brady Butcher Edward Donnaly Seaman Joseph Willis Robert Rankin John Darton John Dunn Seaman Joseph Fellows Joseph Allen John Nance Daniel Wilton John Jennens Henry Ballardone Pat. Mathews William Ford John May Pat. Elliott John Heard John Salter Frederick Brown William Scarborough Robert Lummis Patk. Mungavon George Buckley George Day Paul Deavy William Copeland Edward Payn James Cole Henry Emson Seaman Price Griffiths Frances Stanclif John Cox John Nicholas Hendrick Pillis John Boot John Weatland Thomas Jenkins Richard Allen James Foster George Wright Robert Reynolds Thomas Gibbs William Martin Jannet Tucker Jn. Fox Chief mates Servant Edward Harris 2 do. do. Francis Dean Surgeons do. Geo. King Servt. to the Mess Bromley Ganges Carpr. Servt. Thomas Liverpool Gunnr. do. John Rose Boatsn. do. Saml. Collett Captains do. Passengers Mr. Tingle Mr. Barwell Mr. Nicholas Harris Cadet (Signed) Benjamin Jones Bought on account of the Honble. Company of Captn. Jones 102 3 Rice at 8 p hundred amounting to forty one pounds two shillings. | The muster roll of the Shrewsbury continued and closed with her passengers and the commander's signature. William Lockhart, gunner's mate Alexander Morris, carpenter's mate Robert Watson, carpenter's mate Henry Ash, caulker Charles Nicholls, armourer Edward Fulham, ship's cook John Devine, boatswain's mate John Sefil, boatswain's mate Samuel Mercer, caulker's mate Francis Britton, caulker's mate Frederick Tonley, cooper's mate William Maxwell, seaman Samuel Payne, seaman John Dean, seaman Joseph Allen, seaman Isaac Moon, seaman William Layton, seaman Daniel Maxwell, seaman Robert Porridge, seaman James Brady, butcher Edward Donnelly, seaman Joseph Willis, seaman Robert Rankin, seaman John Darton, seaman John Dunn, seaman Joseph Fellows, seaman Joseph Allen, seaman John Nance, seaman Daniel Wilton, seaman John Simmons, seaman Henry Ballenden, seaman Patrick Mathews, seaman William Ford, seaman John May, seaman Patrick Elliott, seaman John Heard, seaman John Salter, seaman Frederick Brown, seaman William Scarborough, seaman Robert Simmer, seaman Patrick Mungavin, seaman George Buckley, seaman George Day, seaman Paul Dowry, seaman William Copeland, seaman Edward Payne, seaman James Cole, seaman Henry Emmerson, seaman Rees Griffiths, seaman Francis Stancliffe, seaman John Cox, seaman John Nicholas, seaman Hendrick Pillis, seaman John Boot, seaman John Wealland, seaman Thomas Jenkins, seaman Richard Allen, seaman James Foster, seaman George Wight, seaman Robert Reynolds, seaman Thomas Gibbs, seaman William Martin, seaman Garret Tucker, seaman John Fox, chief mate's servant Edward Harris, second mate's servant Francis Dean, surgeon's servant George King, servant to the mess Bromley Ganges, carpenter's servant Thomas Liverpool, gunner's servant John Rose, boatswain's servant Samuel Collett, captain's servant Passengers Mr Tingle Mr Barwell Nicholas Harker, cadet Signed by Benjamin Jones The Council bought 102 hundredweight 3 quarters of rice from Captain Jones for the Company, at 8s a hundredweight. The purchase came to £41 2s 0d. Interpretations Two of the servants on the Shrewsbury bore the surnames Ganges and Liverpool. Names taken from rivers and ports were often given by masters to boys of African or Asian birth who had come into their service abroad, sometimes by purchase. A boy named Ganges had very probably been taken on in Bengal, where the ship had loaded. Entered on the roll as servants to the carpenter and the gunner, these boys stood outside the island's slave laws while aboard. Purling's muster recorded them by name so that none could be landed or sold at St Helena without the Council's knowledge. The rice from Captain Jones cost 8s a hundredweight, the same rate paid to Captain Haylor at the end of June 1769. As with the salt meat at 2s a piece, the Council evidently held commanders to a standard price for staple provisions. This was the third purchase of rice in a fortnight, after the Company's consignments by the Essex and the Grenville. It shows how heavily the island depended on grain from the East to feed its slaves and stock. | |
288 | 11th September We this day Granted the following Sets of Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Honorable the Court of Directors viz. One Set to Captn. Henry Bazett for one hundred pounds payable to John Purling Esqr. (or Order) And one Set to Mr. William Wrangham for one hundred and fifty pounds payable to Captn. Gabriel Steward (or Order) both drawn at ninety days sight. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | The Council issued two sets of bills of exchange drawn on the Court of Directors that day, both payable at 90 days' sight. 1 set to Captain Henry Bazett, payable to John Purling or his order, £100 0s 0d 1 set to William Wrangham, payable to Captain Gabriel Steward or his order, £150 0s 0d John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations Captain Henry Bazett's bill was made payable to John Purling, the same man in England who had received Matthew Purling's bill for £400 on 4 September 1769. John Purling was evidently acting in London for more than one family on the island. He probably received remittances, paid bills and managed investments for St Helena officials who had no agent of their own. The Bazetts and the Purlings were already joined in the arrack society. A shared agent at home bound the two families' interests together in England as well as on the island. William Wrangham's bill of £150 was payable to Captain Gabriel Steward. The commander of the Duke of Albany, who sold provisions to the Company's table in April 1769, was entered then as Captain Stewart. If he was the same man, Wrangham was settling a private debt to a ship's commander, perhaps for goods bought from his private trade. Bills on the Court served as the island's means of paying debts contracted with passing ships as well as of sending savings home. | |
289 | 16 September At a Consultation held Saturday the 16th day Septr. 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 11 Septr. 1769 Thursday the 14th Sailed the Honble. Company's Ship Essex for England Mr. Hugh Jones this day applied to Us to pay forty pounds into the Honble. 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. Morris Jones (or Order) at ninety days sight. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | The Council met at the Castle on Saturday 16 September 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 11 September 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Council recorded that the Company's ship Essex had sailed for England on Thursday 14 September 1769. Hugh Jones asked that day to pay £40 into the Company's treasury. The Council accepted the money and gave him bills of exchange drawn on the Court of Directors, payable to Morris Jones or his order at 90 days' sight. John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The Council met on a Saturday rather than its usual Monday. With the Essex gone, the Shrewsbury was probably the last homeward ship of the season still in the road. Bills of exchange had to travel in a ship to be of any use, and each set was sent in several copies by different vessels. The chaplain had noted that the last ship for England usually sailed in September. A meeting held ahead of time let the Council issue bills while a ship remained to carry them, rather than leaving remitters to wait for the next season. Hugh Jones had taken charge of the Company's slave carpenters on 9 June 1769, on pay of a few pounds a quarter. His bill for £40 shows that remitting money home was not confined to the Council and the senior servants. A man in a modest post could save enough to send a sum to England, probably to a relative, since Morris Jones shared his surname. The Company's bills were the only safe channel open to him, as to the Governor. | |
290 | 18th September At a Consultation held on Monday the 18th day of Septr. 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 16th Septr. 1769 Monday the 18th Sailed the Honble. Company's Ship Shrewsbury for England Counted and examined the Honble. Company's Cash for the Month of August last, which is as follows viz. | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 18 September 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 16 September 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Council recorded that the Company's ship Shrewsbury had sailed for England that day. The Council counted and examined the Company's cash for August 1769, with the results set out below. Interpretations The Shrewsbury sailed on 18 September 1769, two days after the Council's Saturday meeting at which Hugh Jones bought his bill. She was evidently the ship the Council had been anxious to catch. Her departure fitted the chaplain's observation that the last ship for England usually left in September. From then until the next season of homeward shipping, the island had no regular link with London. Any letter, petition or remittance not already aboard had to wait months for the next ship. | |
291 | Cash Dr. 1769 Aug. 1st To Balance remaining £ 12597 1 2 14th To James Gordon received the Produce of his Effects sold at Publick Auction 20 17 8 17th To Ship Grenville 5 £ 12618 3 10 Per Contra Cr. 1769 Aug. 31st To Balance remaining viz. In Specie £ 12078 8 10 In Cash Notes £ 539 15 £ 12618 3 10 John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling Margin Notes: 1769 | The Council's examination of the Company's cash for August 1769 showed the following. 1 August 1769, balance remaining, £12,597 1s 2d 14 August 1769, from the estate of James Gordon, proceeds of his effects sold at public auction, £20 17s 8d On 17 August 1769, the Grenville paid in £0 5s 0d. Total, £12,618 3s 10d 31 August 1769, balance remaining in coin, £12,078 8s 10d 31 August 1769, balance remaining in cash notes, £539 15s 0d Total balance remaining, £12,618 3s 10d Signed by John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling Interpretations The £20 17s 8d raised by the sale of James Gordon's effects was paid into the Company's treasury. It was not handed to an executor or kept by the officer who ran the auction. On an island with no bank and few men of independent means, the Company's cash chest was the safest place to hold a dead man's estate until his heirs claimed it. The money could then be sent home to the family by a bill on the Court, with the Company's credit behind it. The treasury acted as the island's bank for estates as well as for the savings of its servants. The treasury paid nothing out in August 1769, as in July, and the balance rose by only £21 2s 8d. No bills of exchange were sold during the month. The large remittances by members of Council resumed in September, when the last ships of the season were preparing to sail. | |
292 | 25th September At a Consultation held on Monday the 25th day of September 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 18th of September 1769 Tuesday the 19 died Richard Son of Mr. John Goodwin Writer Wednesday the 20th do. Edward Son of Lieut. Thomas Statham Friday the 22 Arrived a Dutch Ship from Batavia called the Rhynsburg Capt. Stuurman, burthen 700 Tons carrys 23 Guns and 100 Men loaden with Pepper bound to Amsterdam. We this day received the following Letter from Mrs. Alcock viz. To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. Council Worshipful Sir and Sirs Having Petitioned the last Year for a piece of Land lying behind my house in Sandy Bay to which your Worship and Council did not give a determined Answer as you informed me you would refer it to the Honble. Court of Directors I therefore should be glad to know your Resolution thereupon as the said Land will be of great service to me. I am Worshipful Sir and Sirs Your most Obedient Servant (Signed) St. Helena 25th Sept. 1769 Margt. Alcock | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 25 September 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 18 September 1769 were read, approved and signed. Richard, the son of John Goodwin, a writer, died on Tuesday 19 September 1769. Edward, the son of Lieutenant Thomas Statham, died on Wednesday 20 September 1769. On Friday 22 September 1769, a Dutch ship, the Rhynsburg, arrived from Batavia under Captain Stavensen. She was of 700 tons, carried 23 guns and 100 men, and was laden with pepper for Amsterdam. The Council received a letter that day from Margaret Alcock, addressed to Governor Skottowe and the Council and dated at St Helena on 25 September 1769. The year before, she had applied for a piece of land behind her house at Sandy Bay. The Governor and Council had given her no firm answer, telling her they would refer the matter to the Court of Directors. She now asked to know their decision, since the land would be of great use to her. Interpretations The Council recorded the Rhynsburg's tonnage, guns and crew as well as her cargo and destination. A ship of the Dutch East India Company was a friendly visitor in peacetime and could call for water and fresh food. She was also a foreign armed vessel of 700 tons in the road below the island's batteries. Noting her strength in men and guns gave the Council, and the Court reading its minutes, a record of what foreign shipping passed the island and how it was armed. The Dutch had held St Helena briefly in 1673, and the garrison never forgot that the island could change hands. Margaret Alcock's request concerned land at Sandy Bay, where the Company was building and repairing batteries and had opened a quarry in the quarter ending June 1769. The Council could have granted a small plot behind an existing house on its own authority, as it did with many leases elsewhere. It chose to refer this one to the Court, probably because the land lay within a defended landing place where the Company might need the ground for its works. A year later, no answer had come from London. Three children of the island's official families died within six weeks: Mary Goodwin on 8 August, Richard Goodwin on 19 September and Edward Statham on 20 September 1769. Two of the deaths fell in the same week, which suggests an infectious illness spreading among the children of James Town. | |
293 | 30th September The above piece of Land being Petitioned for last Year and we declining letting the same from the report then made, Agreed that the Lieut. Governor and Mr. Purling go and View the said Land specifying the bearing of the said Common with respect to the Neighbouring property contiguous thereto and report the same. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling At a Consultation held on Saturday the 30th day Sept. 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 18 Sept. 1769 This day sailed the Dutch Ship Rhynsburg for Holland Pursuant to an Order in Consultation of the 28th 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 £636 3 1/2 the Rent Roll is as follows viz. | The land in question had been applied for the previous year, and the Council had then declined to let it on the strength of the report made at the time. It now agreed that the Lieutenant Governor and Matthew Purling should go and inspect the land. They were to establish where the common lay in relation to the neighbouring property that bordered it, and report back. John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the minutes. The Council met at the Castle on Saturday 30 September 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 25 September 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Council recorded that the Dutch ship Rhynsburg had sailed for Holland that day. In line with the order made in Council on 28 August 1769, the planters attended that day to pay the rents and other dues owed to the Company for the past year. These came to £656 3s 0d, and the rent roll read as follows. Interpretations The ground Margaret Alcock wanted was part of a common, open land on which neighbouring settlers could graze their stock. Letting a piece of common to one person took it away from the others who used it. The Council had refused the year before after an unfavourable report, and the easy course was to refuse again. Instead it sent two members to fix exactly how the common lay against the bordering holdings. The Council was reopening the question with better facts, perhaps to see whether a small piece behind her house could be let without harm to the neighbours' grazing. The planters' rents for the year came to £656 3s 0d. Against that, the Company's wage bill for a single quarter had been £3,334 12s 1½d. Land rents covered barely a twentieth of the cost of running the island. They were collected all the same on a fixed day at the Castle, with each settler's returns checked against the census of families, land and cattle, because the rent day asserted the Company's ownership of every acre as much as it raised revenue. | |
294 | 30th September Ground Rent, Free Land, Lease Land, £, s, d Samuel Alexander: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 34, Lease Land 37 1/2, £ 11, s 1, d 6 John Alexander 13 1/2 Ac. at 1/ p Ac. 40 Ac. at 2/6 p Ac.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 71 1/2, Lease Land 113 3/4, £ 23, s 18, d 6 George Alexander: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 28, Lease Land 58, £ 15, s 18, d 0 Margt. Alcock 1 1/4 Ac. at 20/ p Acre 3 1/2 Ac. at 4/6 p Ac.: Ground Rent 34/6, Free Land 30, Lease Land 32 1/2, £ 11, s 3, d 9 Joseph Beales Orpt.: Ground Rent 10/6, Free Land 10, Lease Land 13 1/2, £ 4, s 8, d 0 Richard Beale Senr. 3 Ac. at 4/ p Acre: Ground Rent 3/, Free Land 41 1/4, Lease Land 38 1/2, £ 11, s 13, d 8 1/2 John Bagley Senr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 36, £ 9, s 0, d 0 John Bagley Junr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 19 3/4, Lease Land 46 3/4, £ 12, s 13, d 6 Richard Bagley 12 Ac. at 4/ p Ac. 3 1/2 Ac. at 4/6 p Ac. 24 Ac. at 2/ p Ac. 12 3/4 Ac. at 3/ p Ac.: Ground Rent 43/2, Free Land 126 1/2, Lease Land 182 1/2, £ 50, s 16, d 11 Orlando Bagley Senr. 4 Ac. at 1/6 p Ac. 21 Ac. at 2/6 p Ac. 16 3/4 Ac. at 3/ p Ac.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 69 1/2, Lease Land 113, £ 27, s 11, d 3 Mattw. Bazett 15 Ac. at 1/ p Ac. 17 1/4 Ac. at 1/6 p Ac. for 1 Month: Ground Rent 10/, Free Land 152, Lease Land 85 1/4, £ 22, s 4, d 2 Henry Bazett 8 Ac. at 4/ p Ac. 4 1/2 Ac. at 2/6 p Ac. 3 Ac. at 1/6 p Ac. Ground Rent at 4/6 p Ann. for 2 20 one day: Ground Rent 36/, Free Land 65, Lease Land 49 1/2, £ 15, s 11, d 9 Orlando Bagley Junr. 19 Ac. at 1/6 p Ac. 9 3/4 Ac. at 2/ p Ac. for 1 Month: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 72 3/4, £ 12, s 10, d 1/2 Willm. Branhams Orpn.: Ground Rent 10/, Free Land 14 1/2, Lease Land 7 1/2, £ 3, s 2, d 0 Thomas Burnham: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 14 1/2, Lease Land 7 1/2, £ 2, s 12, d 0 Willm. Beale 16 1/2 Ac. at 1/6 p Ac. for 1 Month: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 38 3/4, Lease Land 35 1/4, £ 6, s 7, d 1/2 Robt. Ballard: Ground Rent 13/, Free Land 15 1/2, Lease Land 0, £ 1, s 8, d 6 Geo. Bird: Ground Rent 15/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 15, d 0 James Colgrave: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 3, Lease Land 37 1/2, £ 14, s 10, d 6 Ruth Colgrave: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 10 1/4, Lease Land 33 3/4, £ 8, s 19, d 0 Jos. Chamberlain: Ground Rent 15/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 15, d 0 Jn. Dovetons Orpn.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 86 1/2, Lease Land 8, £ 6, s 6, d 6 Jonathan Doveton: Ground Rent 17/4, Free Land 128 1/2, Lease Land 4, £ 8, s 6, d 1 Isaac Doveton 1 Ac. at 5/ p Ac. for 1 Month: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 77 3/4, Lease Land 10 1/2, £ 6, s 5, d 8 Jn. Desfountain Senr. 3 Ac. at 4/ p Ac. 7 3/4 Ac. at 2/6 p Ac. 13 3/4 Ac. at 1/6 for 1 Month: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 98 1/2, Lease Land 72 1/2, £ 10, s 11, d 7 Carried Over: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 1135 3/4, Lease Land 1118 1/2, £ 306, s 10, d 1/2 | The rent roll set out each planter's ground rent, the acreage of free land and leased land he held, and the total he paid. Samuel Alexander, ground rent 0, free land 34 acres, leased land 37½ acres, total £11 1s 6d John Alexander, for 13½ acres at 1s an acre and 40 acres at 2s 6d an acre, ground rent 0, free land 71¼ acres, leased land 113¾ acres, total £23 18s 6d George Alexander, ground rent 0, free land 28 acres, leased land 58 acres, total £15 18s 0d Margaret Alcock, for 1¼ acres at 2s an acre and 3½ acres at 4s an acre, ground rent £1 14s 6d, free land 30 acres, leased land 32½ acres, total £11 3s 9d The orphans of Onesiphorus Beale, ground rent £0 10s 6d, free land 10 acres, leased land 13½ acres, total £4 8s 0d Richard Beale senior, for 3 acres at 4s an acre, ground rent £0 5s 0d, free land 41¼ acres, leased land 38½ acres, total £11 13s 8½d John Bagley senior, ground rent 0, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 0s 0d John Bagley junior, ground rent 0, free land 0 acres, leased land 36 acres, total £9 0s 0d Richard Bagley, for 12 acres at 4s an acre, 3 acres at 6d an acre, 26 acres at 2s an acre and 12½ acres at 3s an acre, ground rent £2 3s 2d, free land 126½ acres, leased land 182½ acres, total £50 16s 11d Orlando Bagley senior, for 4 acres at 1s 6d an acre, 21 acres at 2s 6d an acre and 16¾ acres at 3s an acre, ground rent 0, free land 69½ acres, leased land 113 acres, total £27 11s 3d Matthew Bazett, for 15 acres at 1s an acre and 17¼ acres at 1s 6d an acre for 1 month, ground rent £0 10s 0d, free land 152 acres, leased land 85¼ acres, total £22 4s 2d Henry Bazett, for 8 acres at 4s an acre, 4½ acres at 2s 6d an acre, 3 acres at 1s 6d an acre and ground rent at 4s 6d a year for 2 years 20 days, ground rent £1 16s 0d, free land 65 acres, leased land 49½ acres, total £15 11s 9d Orlando Bagley junior, for 19 acres at 1s 6d an acre and 9¾ acres at 2s an acre for 1 month, ground rent 0, free land 0 acres, leased land 72½ acres, total £12 10s 1½d The orphans of William Burnham, ground rent £0 10s 0d, free land 14½ acres, leased land 7½ acres, total £3 2s 0d Thomas Burnham, ground rent 0, free land 14½ acres, leased land 7½ acres, total £2 12s 0d William Seale, for 11½ acres at 1s 6d an acre for 1 month, ground rent 0, free land 38¾ acres, leased land 35¼ acres, total £6 7s 0½d Robert Ballard, ground rent £0 13s 0d, free land 15½ acres, leased land 0 acres, total £1 8s 6d George Bird, ground rent £0 15s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 15s 0d James Colgrave, ground rent 0, free land 3 acres, leased land 37½ acres, total £14 10s 6d Ruth Colgrave, ground rent 0, free land 10¼ acres, leased land 33¾ acres, total £8 19s 0d Joseph Chamberlain, ground rent £0 15s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 15s 0d The orphans of John Doveton, ground rent 0, free land 86½ acres, leased land 8 acres, total £6 6s 6d Jonathan Doveton, ground rent £0 17s 4d, free land 128½ acres, leased land 4 acres, total £8 6s 1d Isaac Doveton, for 1 acre at 5s an acre for 1 month, ground rent 0, free land 77¾ acres, leased land 10½ acres, total £6 5s 8d John Desfountain senior, for 3 acres at 4s an acre, 7¾ acres at 2s 6d an acre and 13¾ acres at 1s 6d an acre for 1 month, ground rent 0, free land 98½ acres, leased land 72½ acres, total £10 11s 7d Carried forward, free land 1,135¾ acres, leased land 1,111½ acres, total £306 10s 0½d Interpretations The roll divided each holding into free land and leased land. Free land was held under the old grants made to the first settlers, on fixed and light terms that the Company could not raise. Leased land was held under later leases at rents per acre set by the Council. The two kinds were nearly equal in extent across the roll. The Company's power to raise revenue from land therefore reached only half the settled acreage. Ground rent was a separate charge for house plots, mostly in James Town, which is why men with no farmland, such as George Bird and Joseph Chamberlain, still paid it. Several holders were charged for one month only on certain acreages. These were the leases the Council executed on 28 August and 4 September 1769, to Matthew Bazett, John Desfountain senior, Isaac Doveton, Orlando Bagley junior and William Seale. Rent ran from the date of each lease, not from the start of the rent year, so new tenants paid only for the weeks they had held the land. The roll shows the Council applying the same rule of exact dating to rents as the paymaster applied to soldiers' wages. Three entries were held by orphans: the children of Onesiphorus Beale, William Burnham and John Doveton. Their guardians paid the rent in their names. The Company kept the land with the family through the minority rather than taking it back and regranting it, as it had done for the orphans of Samuel Simpson in August 1769. Richard Bagley was the largest landholder on this page, with over 300 acres and a rent of £50 16s 11d. The Bagley family as a whole held more land than any other on the roll. | |
295 | 1769 Ground Rent, Free Land, Lease Land, £, s, d Brought over: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 1135 3/4, Lease Land 1118 1/2, £ 306, s 10, d 1/2 John Desfountain Junr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 10, Lease Land 41 3/4, £ 10, s 18, d 9 Elizth. Desfountain: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 10, Lease Land 29 1/4, £ 7, s 16, d 3 Samuel Desfountain: Ground Rent 5/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 5, d 0 Henry Easthope: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 14, Lease Land 28, £ 7, s 14, d 0 James Easthope: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 11, Lease Land 8, £ 2, s 11, d 0 Sarah Lange 3 Ac. at 1/ p Ac. for 1 Month: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 7, £ 1, s 0, d 3 Michl. Frost: Ground Rent 15/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 15, d 0 Richd. Goodwin: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 49, Lease Land 27, £ 9, s 4, d 0 John Goodwin: Ground Rent 10/6, Free Land 67 1/2, Lease Land 28, £ 10, s 18, d 0 James Greentree 33 3/4 Ac. at 4/ p Ac. 36 Ac. at 2/6 p Ac. for 6 Months: Ground Rent 23/3, Free Land 106 1/2, Lease Land 137, £ 34, s 5, d 9 Robt. Gulding 9 Ac. at 1/6 p Ac. 15 1/2 Ac. at 1/ p Ac. for 6 and 10 days: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 23, Lease Land 24 1/2, £ 2, s 12, d 7 1/2 Geo. Hayes 2 Ac. at 5/ p Ac. for 1 month: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 30, Lease Land 6 1/2, £ 2, s 11, d 1/2 Mary Harper: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 10, Lease Land 26, £ 7, s 0, d 0 Thos. Harper: Ground Rent 10/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 10, d 0 Wm. Hayes 3 Ac. at 5/ p Ac. for 6 Months: Ground Rent 10/, Free Land 1 3/4, Lease Land 14 1/4, £ 3, s 15, d 6 Henry Harper: Ground Rent 12/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 12, d 0 Gab. Harper 6 Ac. at 1/ p Ac. 4 3/4 Ac. at 3/ p Ac. 1/4 at 2/ p Ac. for 6 Months and 10 days: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 40, Lease Land 11 1/2, £ 2, s 10, d 4 1/2 Elisha Jacks: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 25, Lease Land 5, £ 2, s 10, d 0 Martha Jacks: Ground Rent 16/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 16, d 0 Gabriel Jacks: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 8, £ 2, s 0, d 0 Isaac Knipe: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 30, Lease Land 23 3/4, £ 7, s 7, d 6 Eliz. Kennedy: Ground Rent 17/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 17, d 0 Thos. Leech: Ground Rent 12/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 12, d 0 Eliz. Lamb: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 10, £ 2, s 10, d 0 Benj. Mason 31 Ac. at 1/6 p Ac.: Ground Rent 13/8, Free Land 42, Lease Land 84 1/4, £ 18, s 10, d 5 Rodk. Merchant: Ground Rent 2/6, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 2, d 6 Matthew Purling 12 1/4 Ac. at 1/ p Ac.: Ground Rent 28/2, Free Land 205, Lease Land 100 1/2, £ 36, s 6, d 8 James Powell: Ground Rent 3/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 3, d 0 John Price: Ground Rent 35/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 1, s 15, d 0 James Pritchard: Ground Rent 7/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 7, d 0 John Pritchard: Ground Rent 10/, Free Land 1, Lease Land 12, £ 3, s 11, d 0 Carried Over: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 1811 1/2, Lease Land 1751 1/2, £ 488, s 17, d 8 | The rent roll continued from a running total of 1,135¾ acres of free land, 1,111½ acres of leased land and £306 10s 0½d. Brought forward, free land 1,135¾ acres, leased land 1,111½ acres, total £306 10s 0½d John Desfountain junior, ground rent 0, free land 10 acres, leased land 41¾ acres, total £10 18s 9d Elizabeth Desfountain, ground rent 0, free land 10 acres, leased land 29¼ acres, total £7 16s 3d Samuel Desfountain, ground rent £0 5s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 5s 0d Henry Easthope, ground rent 0, free land 14 acres, leased land 28 acres, total £7 14s 0d James Easthope, ground rent 0, free land 11 acres, leased land 8 acres, total £2 11s 0d Sarah Fringe, for 3 acres at 1s an acre for 1 month, ground rent 0, free land 0 acres, leased land 7 acres, total £1 0s 3d Michael Frost, ground rent £0 15s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 15s 0d Richard Goodwin, ground rent 0, free land 49 acres, leased land 27 acres, total £9 4s 0d John Goodwin, ground rent £0 10s 6d, free land 67½ acres, leased land 28 acres, total £10 18s 0d James Greentree, for 33¾ acres at 4s an acre and 26 acres at 2s 6d an acre for 6 months, ground rent £1 5s 3d, free land 106½ acres, leased land 137 acres, total £34 5s 9d Robert Gosling, for 9 acres at 1s 6d an acre and 13½ acres at 1s an acre for 6 months and 10 days, ground rent 0, free land 23 acres, leased land 24½ acres, total £2 12s 7½d George Hayes, for 2 acres at 5s an acre for 1 month, ground rent 0, free land 30 acres, leased land 6½ acres, total £2 11s 0½d Mary Harper, ground rent 0, free land 10 acres, leased land 26 acres, total £7 0s 0d Thomas Harper, ground rent £0 10s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 10s 0d William Hayes, for 3 acres at 5s an acre for 6 months, ground rent £0 10s 0d, free land 1¾ acres, leased land 14¼ acres, total £3 15s 6d Henry Harper, ground rent £0 12s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 12s 0d Gabriel Harper, for 6 acres at 1s an acre, 4¾ acres at 2s an acre and 7¼ acres at 2s an acre for 6 months and 10 days, ground rent 0, free land 40 acres, leased land 11½ acres, total £2 10s 4½d Elisha Jacks, ground rent 0, free land 25 acres, leased land 5 acres, total £2 10s 0d Martha Jacks, ground rent £0 16s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 16s 0d Gabriel Jacks, ground rent 0, free land 0 acres, leased land 8 acres, total £2 0s 0d Isaac Knipe, ground rent 0, free land 30 acres, leased land 23¾ acres, total £7 7s 6d Elizabeth Kennedy, ground rent £0 17s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 17s 0d Thomas Leech, ground rent £0 12s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 12s 0d Elizabeth Lamb, ground rent 0, free land 0 acres, leased land 10 acres, total £2 10s 0d Benjamin Mason, for 31 acres at 1s 6d an acre, ground rent £0 13s 8d, free land 42 acres, leased land 84¼ acres, total £18 10s 5d Richard Merchant, ground rent £0 2s 6d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 2s 6d Matthew Purling, for 12¼ acres at 1s an acre, ground rent £1 8s 2d, free land 205 acres, leased land 108½ acres, total £36 6s 8d James Powell, ground rent £0 3s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 3s 0d John Price, ground rent £1 15s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £1 15s 0d James Pritchard, ground rent £0 7s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 7s 0d John Pritchard, ground rent £0 10s 0d, free land 1 acre, leased land 12 acres, total £3 11s 0d Carried forward, free land 1,811½ acres, leased land 1,751½ acres, total £438 17s 8d Interpretations Matthew Purling held 313½ acres, 205 of them free land, and paid £36 6s 8d, the second-largest rent on the roll so far after Richard Bagley. He also paid £1 8s 2d in ground rent for house plots in James Town. The member of Council who audited the accounts, held three-eighths of the arrack society, hired his slaves to the Company's works and sent £400 home in a single bill was also one of the island's largest landholders. The roll shows how office, trade and land came together in the same few hands. Women held land in their own names throughout the roll. They included Elizabeth Desfountain, Sarah Fringe, Mary Harper, Martha Jacks, Elizabeth Kennedy, Elizabeth Lamb, and on the previous page Margaret Alcock and Ruth Colgrave. Most were probably widows who had taken over their husbands' holdings. The Company treated them as tenants in their own right and charged them rent like any man. Elizabeth Kennedy, who drew a Company pension of £30 a year, paid 17s in ground rent for a house plot. John Price, the marshal, gaoler and sexton, paid £1 15s 0d in ground rent, a large sum for a man with no farmland. His punch-house licence had served as the model for those issued under the arrack regulations of May 1769. His town plots were probably the site of his punch house, and his several public posts sat alongside a licensed trade in drink. | |
296 | 30th September Ground Rent, Free Land, Lease Land, £, s, d Brought over: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 1811 1/2, Lease Land 1751 1/2, £ 488, s 17, d 8 John Preston Ground Rent at 15/ p Annum for 8 Months: Ground Rent 10/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 10, d 0 John Robinson 20 Ac. at 1/6 p Ac. 17 1/4 Ac. at 1/6 p Ac. for 1 Month: Ground Rent 8/, Free Land 41 1/4, Lease Land 38 3/4, £ 7, s 19, d 2 Solomon St. Maurice Ground Rent for 10 Mo. 10 days 5: Ground Rent 49/6, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 2, s 9, d 6 William Seale 5 1/2 Ac. at 1/6 p Ac. 7 1/2 Ac. at 2/ p Ac. for 1 Month: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 7, Lease Land 47 1/2, £ 8, s 9, d 8 Benj. Seale 4 Ac. at 1/ p Ac. 6 3/4 Ac. at 1/ p Ac. for 1 Mo.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 21, £ 2, s 15, d 9 1/2 Mary Seale: Ground Rent 15/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 15, d 0 William Seale Junr.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 7 1/2, £ 1, s 17, d 6 Martha Scott: Ground Rent 12/5, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 12, d 5 Nathan Sample 2 1/2 Ac. at 5/ p Ac. for 1 Mo.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 25, Lease Land 11, £ 3, s 8, d 6 1/2 John Scott 19 1/2 Ac. at 2/ p Ac.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 19 1/2, £ 1, s 19, d 0 John Shirley: Ground Rent 13/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 13, d 0 Jeremiah Smith: Ground Rent 13/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 13, d 0 James Tibbetts Orpn.: Ground Rent 12/, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 12, d 0 John Swaits Orpn.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 9, Lease Land 34 1/2, £ 9, s 1, d 6 John Worrall: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 34, Lease Land 33, £ 9, s 16, d 0 John Worralls Orpn.: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 0, Lease Land 42 1/2, £ 10, s 12, d 6 William Wrangham 3 Ac. at 1/6 p Ac.: Ground Rent 26/6, Free Land 166, Lease Land 66, £ 30, s 12, d 0 Jane Wilson: Ground Rent 2/6, Free Land 0, Lease Land 0, £ 0, s 2, d 6 Simon Whaley 6 1/4 Ac. at 6/ p Ac. 2 1/2 Ac. at 2/ p Ac. for 6 Months and 10 days: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 16, Lease Land 46 3/4, £ 10, s 12, d 9 William Young 4 Ac. at 5/ p Ac. for 6 Mo. 10 days: Ground Rent 5/, Free Land 79 1/2, Lease Land 29, £ 10, s 12, d 1/2 Stephen Young: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 19, Lease Land 8 1/2, £ 3, s 1, d 6 Total: Ground Rent 0, Free Land 2203 3/4, Lease Land 2200, £ 606, s 5, d 1/2 John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | The rent roll continued from a running total of 1,811½ acres of free land, 1,751½ acres of leased land and £438 17s 8d, and closed with the signatures of the Council. Brought forward, free land 1,811½ acres, leased land 1,751½ acres, total £438 17s 8d John Preston, for ground rent at 15s a year for 8 months, ground rent £0 10s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 10s 0d John Robinson, for 20 acres at 1s 6d an acre and 17¼ acres at 1s 6d an acre for 1 month, ground rent 0, free land 41¼ acres, leased land 38¾ acres, total £7 19s 2d Solomon St Maurice, for ground rent for 10 months 10 days, ground rent £2 9s 6d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £2 9s 6d William Seale, for 5½ acres at 1s 6d an acre and 7½ acres at 2s an acre for 1 month, ground rent 0, free land 7 acres, leased land 47½ acres, total £8 9s 8d Benjamin Seale, for 4 acres at 1s an acre and 6¾ acres at 1s an acre for 1 month, ground rent 0, free land 0 acres, leased land 21 acres, total £2 15s 9½d Mary Seale, ground rent £0 15s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 15s 0d William Seale junior, ground rent 0, free land 0 acres, leased land 7½ acres, total £1 17s 6d Martha Scott, ground rent £0 12s 5d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 12s 5d Nathan Sample, for 2½ acres at 5s an acre for 1 month, ground rent 0, free land 25 acres, leased land 11 acres, total £3 8s 6½d John Scott, for 19½ acres at 2s an acre, ground rent 0, free land 0 acres, leased land 19½ acres, total £1 19s 0d John Shelly, ground rent £0 13s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 13s 0d Jeremiah Smith, ground rent £0 15s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 15s 0d The orphans of James Tibbetts, ground rent £0 12s 0d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 12s 0d The orphans of John Twaits, ground rent 0, free land 9 acres, leased land 34½ acres, total £9 1s 6d John Worrall, ground rent 0, free land 34 acres, leased land 33 acres, total £9 16s 0d The orphans of John Worrall, ground rent 0, free land 0 acres, leased land 42½ acres, total £10 12s 6d William Wrangham, for 3 acres at 1s 6d an acre, ground rent £1 6s 6d, free land 166 acres, leased land 66 acres, total £30 12s 0d Jane Wilson, ground rent £0 2s 6d, free land 0 acres, leased land 0 acres, total £0 2s 6d Simon Whaley, for 6¼ acres at 1s 6d an acre and 2½ acres at 2s an acre for 6 months and 10 days, ground rent 0, free land 16 acres, leased land 46¾ acres, total £10 12s 9d William Young, for 4 acres at 5s an acre for 6 months and 10 days, ground rent £0 5s 0d, free land 79½ acres, leased land 29 acres, total £10 12s 0½d Stephen Young, ground rent 0, free land 19 acres, leased land 6½ acres, total £3 1s 6d Total, free land 2,203¾ acres, leased land 2,200 acres, total £606 5s 0½d Signed by John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling Interpretations The completed roll shows about 4,400 acres held by settlers and officials, split almost exactly between free land and leased land. Several ground rents were charged for part of the year only, such as John Preston's for 8 months and Solomon St Maurice's for 10 months and 10 days. These were house plots granted during the year, and rent was reckoned from the day of the grant, as on the farm leases. The Council's method of dating every charge exactly ran through the land accounts as it did through the pay lists. William Wrangham, the paymaster and assistant to the Governor, held 232 acres and paid £30 12s 0d, with £1 6s 6d more in ground rent. Like Purling and the Bazetts, he combined a salaried office with a substantial estate. Most of his holding was free land, which suggests he had acquired an older grant by purchase or marriage, since the Council no longer made new grants on those terms. The officials who sat in judgment on leases and rents were themselves among the largest tenants on the roll, and they signed the account of their own payments. | |
297 | 2 October At a Consultation held on Monday the 2d day October 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and Signed dated the 30th Septr. 1769 Lieut. Thomas Bazett this day presented the following Letter viz. To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. Council of the Island St. Helena Gentlemen I have the honor to acquaint you that the Workmen were employed the last Quarter in forwarding the Works at Mundens Point, compleated the damage done at Mitchells Line, pulling down the East Bastion in James's Valley and removing the rubbish for a foundation getting Stones to Lemon Valley for the Platforms preparing Cut Stone at the Quarry for James's Valley and repairing the Lieut. Governors House. And I do propose with your permission the ensuing Quarter to employ the Workmen principally in carrying on the Work to be done at Mundens Point rebuilding the Bastion, to compleat Lemon Valley and continue getting Stone at the Quarry. I have the honor to be Gentlemen Your most Obt. and most humble Servant (Signed) St. Helena 2 October 1769 Thos. Bazett | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 2 October 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 30 September 1769 were read, approved and signed. Lieutenant Thomas Bazett presented a letter to the Governor and Council, dated at St Helena on 2 October 1769. He reported on the work done in the past quarter. The workmen had pushed forward the works at Munden's Point and finished repairing the damage at Mitchell's Line. They had pulled down the east bastion in James's Valley and cleared the rubble to lay a new foundation. They had carried stone to Lemon Valley for the gun platforms, prepared cut stone at the quarry for James's Valley, and repaired the Lieutenant Governor's house. With the Council's permission, Bazett proposed to use the workmen in the coming quarter mainly on the works at Munden's Point, the rebuilding of the bastion, the completion of Lemon Valley and further quarrying of stone. Interpretations Bazett's letter was a quarterly report and a plan for the next quarter, put to the Council for approval. The superintendent of works could not choose his own tasks. The Council fixed the order of work each quarter, so that labour, stone and stores were spent where the Governor and Council judged the island's defence needed them most. The arrangement also gave the Council a record against which to check the slave hire, soldiers' labour and materials charged in the paymaster's and storekeeper's accounts. The works Bazett listed were largely those Archibald Mitchell had drawn before his resignation in June 1769. His plans had covered Munden's Point, Lemon Valley and the defences of James's Valley. The work went on under his successor on the same lines, and the line across the valley still bore Mitchell's name. A quarrel with the Governor and Council had ended his service, but it did not undo his designs. The Company had paid for the plans and kept them, taking a receipt from him on handover, and Bazett was now building to them. | |
298 | 2 October We directed him to finish laying the Platforms of Lemon Valley, and to prosecute the Works of Mundens Point, and the East Bastion in James's Valley with all possible expedition. The Work Lieut. Bazett mentions in his Letter employed in repairs to the Lieut. Governors House was in consequence of an Order made in Council the 2 March 1767. We this day Inlisted George Watts, Benjamin Seale and Thomas Hayes three Boys, natives of the Island to serve the Honble. Company as Soldiers for five Years the two former for Drummers and Hayes for a Fifer, and gave each of them forty shillings bounty money to buy them necessarys etc. and ordered three of the present Drummers to serve in the Ranks as Private. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | The Council directed Bazett to finish laying the gun platforms at Lemon Valley and to press on with the works at Munden's Point and the east bastion in James's Valley as fast as possible. The Council noted that the repairs to the Lieutenant Governor's house mentioned in Bazett's letter had been carried out under an order made in Council on 2 March 1767. That day the Council enlisted three boys born on the island, George Watts, Benjamin Seale and Thomas Hayes, to serve the Company as soldiers for five years. Watts and Seale were to serve as drummers and Hayes as a fifer. Each received a bounty of 40s to buy clothing and other necessities. The Council ordered three of the existing drummers to serve in the ranks as privates. John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations The Council took care to record that the repairs to the Lieutenant Governor's house rested on an order of 2 March 1767, made more than two years before Daniel Corneille returned to the island. Since May 1769, the house had received sheet lead, hinges, sash line and now workmen's labour from the Company's stores and works. A minute citing the earlier order showed the Court that the work had been approved long before and was not a new expense undertaken to favour a member of Council. Corneille sat at the table when the note was entered, and the record protected him as much as the Company. The three island boys replaced three grown drummers, who went into the ranks as privates. The garrison thereby gained three fighting men without waiting for recruits from England, at a bounty of only 40s each, less than the £3 paid to adult recruits in June. Drumming and fifing needed training more than strength, and a boy could learn them on the island. The Seale and Hayes families appeared on the rent roll as landholders. Enlistment gave their sons pay, clothing and a place in the Company's service on the island where they had been born. | |
299 | 9th October At a Consultation held on Monday the 9th day of October 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read, approved, and signed dated the 2 Octr. 1769 Thursday the 5th Daniel Armin Private was killed by a fall of a Ledge of Rocks at Mundens Point occasioned by excavating the Rock for the Magazine, another Soldier was likewise very much hurt by the same Accident. Saturday the 7 died Mr. Richard Beale Judge Advocate do. do. Arrived the Thames Boat at Banks's half an Hour past seven o'Clock in the morning do. do. The Honble. Company's Ship Thames from Madrass (last from the Cape) and brought Us the following supplies viz. Invoice of Ship Thames Rice 60 Bags Wt. B. Mds. 120 at 18 p Ars. 289 13 9 Paddy 15 Bags Wt. F. Mds. Srs. 22 20 at 1 3 p Md. 26 11 6 Sugar 10 Bags Wt. 20 at 7 12 p Md. 155 Wax Candles 4 Chests Wt. 8 at 73 p Md. 584 Batavia Arrack 2 Leagers at 180 p Leagr. 384 12 9 1440 8 Carried Over 1440 8 | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 9 October 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 2 October 1769 were read, approved and signed. On Thursday 5 October 1769, Daniel Armin, a private, was killed when a ledge of rock fell on him at Munden's Point. The fall was caused by digging out the rock for the magazine, and another soldier was badly injured in the same accident. Richard Beale, the judge advocate, died on Saturday 7 October 1769. At half past seven that morning a boat from the Thames came in at Banks's. The Company's ship Thames arrived the same day from Madras, having called last at the Cape. She brought supplies for the island, listed on her invoice. Rice, 60 bags weighing 120 bazaar maunds, at [...], 289 rupees 13 annas 9 pice Paddy, 15 bags weighing 22 factory maunds 20 seers, at 1 rupee 3 annas a maund, 26 rupees 11 annas 6 pice Sugar, 10 bags weighing 20 maunds, at 7 rupees 12 annas a maund, 155 rupees 0 annas 0 pice Wax candles, 4 chests weighing 8 maunds, at 73 rupees a maund, 584 rupees 0 annas 0 pice Batavia arrack, 2 leaguers, at [...] a leaguer, 384 rupees 12 annas 9 pice Total, 1,440 rupees 8 annas 0 pice Carried forward, 1,440 rupees 8 annas 0 pice Interpretations Daniel Armin had re-enlisted on 10 April 1769 for a bounty of £10, six months before he was killed. The magazine at Munden's Point was being cut into the solid rock of the headland, so that the powder would lie safe from enemy shot and from fire. The work was done with picks, crowbars and blasting powder, as the artillery returns of July and August 1769 recorded. Loosening the rock face from below brought down the ledge above. Armin was the second soldier to die at the island's rock works in three months, after John Lewis fell from the rocks on 28 July 1769. Soldiers were set to this labour at 1s a day on top of their pay, and its dangers fell on them. Richard Beale died a month after his petition of 4 September 1769, in which he had described himself as frail, nearly blind and barely able to walk. The Council had promised to recommend him to the Court for a pension and to continue his salary until it answered. The question of his pension ended with his death, before his petition could have reached London. If Mary Beale, already a Company pensioner, was his widow or kin, any provision for his family would now rest on the same promise. The Thames invoice carried exactly the same goods as the Shrewsbury's from Bengal: 60 bags of rice, 15 of paddy, 10 of sugar, 4 chests of wax candles and 2 leaguers of Batavia arrack. The Company's settlements in the East were sending a standard consignment for St Helena in each homeward ship, varied only by the prices of the port where it was loaded. | |
300 | 9th October Brought Over 1440 8 Charges Merchandize 155 Gunny bags and twine 21 7 3 10 Chullies and Jute Rope 1 13 3 Chests and Packages 14 12 6 30 Reed Matts 3 8 3 Mooteas 11 15 Boathire 4 3 3 Weighmen, Packermen and Diet 3 15 9 Sloop hire 99 14 Peon 2 2 6 163 13 9 Current Rupees 1604 5 9 Errors Excepted (Signed) L. Darell Junr. Sub. Acct. The Plantation Account for the Quarter and the Expence of Artillery Stores and Stewards Accounts for the Month of September last, were this day laid before Us, which have been examined approved of and are as follow viz. | The charges on the Thames consignment followed, and the invoice closed with the sub-accountant's signature. Brought forward, 1,440 rupees 6 annas 0 pice Charges on the goods 155 gunny bags and twine, 21 rupees 7 annas 3 pice 10 chatties and jute rope, 1 rupee 13 annas 3 pice Chests and packaging, 14 rupees 12 annas 6 pice 30 reed mats, 3 rupees 8 annas 3 pice Porters, 11 rupees 15 annas 0 pice Boat hire, 4 rupees 3 annas 3 pice Weighmen, packers and duty, 3 rupees 15 annas 9 pice Sloop hire, 99 rupees 14 annas 0 pice Peon, 2 rupees 2 annas 6 pice Total charges, 163 rupees 15 annas 9 pice Total in current rupees, 1,604 rupees 5 annas 9 pice Errors excepted Signed by L. Darell junior, sub-accountant The plantation account for the quarter, together with the accounts of artillery stores and of the steward for September 1769, was laid before the Council, examined and approved, as follows. Interpretations The Thames came from Madras, yet her invoice was signed by L. Darell junior, the same sub-accountant who had signed the Shrewsbury's invoice from Bengal. Its charges included the same heavy item of sloop hire, nearly 100 rupees, for carrying the goods down the Hooghly to a ship lying far below Calcutta. The consignment had therefore been made up in Bengal, and the Thames had loaded it there before calling at Madras on her way out. A ship's last port in India did not always show where her cargo for St Helena had been prepared. Chatties were round earthenware pots, much used in India for carrying and storing water, oil and grain. Reed mats were laid under and around the bags in the hold to keep them off wet timbers and protect them from chafing. A peon was a messenger or watchman hired to guard the goods on their way to the waterside, and his small fee completed the cost of moving a cargo through the Calcutta warehouses and down the river. | |
301 | 1769 Account of the Honble. Company's Stock of Neat Cattle etc. from the 1st July to the 30th September 1769 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 He Ass, Asses Total, Poultry Fowls, Poultry Ducks, Poultry Turkeys, Poultry Geese Remaining the 1st July: Neat Cattle Bulls 6, Neat Cattle Cows 121, Neat Cattle Calves 87, Neat Cattle Yearlings 82, Neat Cattle Heifers 26, Neat Cattle Steers 62, Neat Cattle Oxen 21, Neat Cattle Total 405, Sheep Ewes 384, Sheep Weathers 124, Sheep Lambs 170, Sheep Rams 12, Sheep Total 690, Goats Ewes 165, Goats Weathers 53, Goats Kids 64, Goats Rams 10, Goats Total 292, Hogs Sows 2, Hogs Shoats 4, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 1, Hogs Total 7, Horses Horses 5, Horses Mares 6, Horses Total 11, Asses He Ass 1, Asses Total 1, Poultry Fowls 83, Poultry Ducks 12, Poultry Turkeys 37, Poultry Geese 7 Encreased: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 40, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 40, Sheep Ewes 0, Sheep Weathers 0, Sheep Lambs 64, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 64, Goats Ewes 0, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 65, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 65, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 28, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 28, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses He Ass 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 43, Poultry Ducks 26, Poultry Turkeys 14, Poultry Geese 2 Total: Neat Cattle Bulls 6, Neat Cattle Cows 121, Neat Cattle Calves 127, Neat Cattle Yearlings 82, Neat Cattle Heifers 26, Neat Cattle Steers 62, Neat Cattle Oxen 21, Neat Cattle Total 445, Sheep Ewes 384, Sheep Weathers 124, Sheep Lambs 234, Sheep Rams 12, Sheep Total 754, Goats Ewes 165, Goats Weathers 53, Goats Kids 129, Goats Rams 10, Goats Total 357, Hogs Sows 2, Hogs Shoats 4, Hogs Pigs 28, Hogs Boars 1, Hogs Total 35, Horses Horses 5, Horses Mares 6, Horses Total 11, Asses He Ass 1, Asses Total 1, Poultry Fowls 126, Poultry Ducks 38, Poultry Turkeys 51, Poultry Geese 9 Killed: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 1, Neat Cattle Calves 0, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 3, Neat Cattle Oxen 1, Neat Cattle Total 5, Sheep Ewes 12, Sheep Weathers 48, Sheep Lambs 15, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 75, Goats Ewes 5, Goats Weathers 21, Goats Kids 13, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 39, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 5, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 5, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses He Ass 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 26, Poultry Ducks 0, Poultry Turkeys 16, Poultry Geese 0 Dead: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 1, Neat Cattle Yearlings 2, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 3, Sheep Ewes 6, Sheep Weathers 6, Sheep Lambs 26, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 38, Goats Ewes 2, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 3, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 5, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 1, Hogs Pigs 2, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 3, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses He Ass 1, Asses Total 1, Poultry Fowls 20, Poultry Ducks 0, Poultry Turkeys 7, Poultry Geese 1 Giving to Mr. Carter: Neat Cattle Bulls 0, Neat Cattle Cows 0, Neat Cattle Calves 0, Neat Cattle Yearlings 0, Neat Cattle Heifers 0, Neat Cattle Steers 0, Neat Cattle Oxen 0, Neat Cattle Total 0, Sheep Ewes 0, Sheep Weathers 6, Sheep Lambs 0, Sheep Rams 0, Sheep Total 6, Goats Ewes 0, Goats Weathers 0, Goats Kids 0, Goats Rams 0, Goats Total 0, Hogs Sows 0, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 0, Hogs Boars 0, Hogs Total 0, Horses Horses 0, Horses Mares 0, Horses Total 0, Asses He Ass 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 0, Poultry Ducks 0, Poultry Turkeys 0, Poultry Geese 0 Remaining the 30th Septr.: Neat Cattle Bulls 6, Neat Cattle Cows 120, Neat Cattle Calves 126, Neat Cattle Yearlings 80, Neat Cattle Heifers 26, Neat Cattle Steers 59, Neat Cattle Oxen 20, Neat Cattle Total 437, Sheep Ewes 366, Sheep Weathers 64, Sheep Lambs 193, Sheep Rams 12, Sheep Total 635, Goats Ewes 158, Goats Weathers 32, Goats Kids 113, Goats Rams 10, Goats Total 313, Hogs Sows 2, Hogs Shoats 3, Hogs Pigs 21, Hogs Boars 1, Hogs Total 27, Horses Horses 5, Horses Mares 6, Horses Total 11, Asses He Ass 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 80, Poultry Ducks 38, Poultry Turkeys 38, Poultry Geese 8 Changed the Specie: Neat Cattle Bulls 6, Neat Cattle Cows 131, Neat Cattle Calves 101, Neat Cattle Yearlings 63, Neat Cattle Heifers 33, Neat Cattle Steers 79, Neat Cattle Oxen 24, Neat Cattle Total 437, Sheep Ewes 405, Sheep Weathers 173, Sheep Lambs 43, Sheep Rams 14, Sheep Total 635, Goats Ewes 192, Goats Weathers 72, Goats Kids 39, Goats Rams 10, Goats Total 313, Hogs Sows 5, Hogs Shoats 0, Hogs Pigs 21, Hogs Boars 1, Hogs Total 27, Horses Horses 5, Horses Mares 6, Horses Total 11, Asses He Ass 0, Asses Total 0, Poultry Fowls 80, Poultry Ducks 38, Poultry Turkeys 38, Poultry Geese 8 Slaves Born 1 Girl named Sarah Slaves deceased 1 Women named Millinda Yams Expended for the Slaves 99993 do. do. for the Stock 6800 106793 Errors Excepted (Signed) Dan Corneille Margin Notes: Artillery | The Company's account of its livestock for the quarter from 1 July to 30 September 1769 read as follows. Remaining on 1 July 1769 Cattle: 6 bulls, 121 cows, 87 calves, 82 yearlings, 26 heifers, 62 steers, 21 oxen, total 405 Sheep: 384 ewes, 124 wethers, 170 lambs, 12 rams, total 690 Goats: 165 nannies, 53 wethers, 64 kids, 10 billies, total 292 Pigs: 2 sows, 4 shoats, 0 piglets, 1 boar, total 7 Horses: 5 horses, 6 mares, total 11 Asses: 1 jackass, total 1 Poultry: 83 fowls, 12 ducks, 37 turkeys, 7 geese Increase Cattle: 40 calves, total 40 Sheep: 64 lambs, total 64 Goats: 65 kids, total 65 Pigs: 28 piglets, total 28 Poultry: 43 fowls, 26 ducks, 14 turkeys, 2 geese Total Cattle: 6 bulls, 121 cows, 127 calves, 82 yearlings, 26 heifers, 62 steers, 21 oxen, total 445 Sheep: 384 ewes, 124 wethers, 234 lambs, 12 rams, total 754 Goats: 165 nannies, 53 wethers, 129 kids, 10 billies, total 357 Pigs: 2 sows, 4 shoats, 28 piglets, 1 boar, total 35 Horses: 5 horses, 6 mares, total 11 Asses: 1 jackass, total 1 Poultry: 126 fowls, 38 ducks, 51 turkeys, 9 geese Killed Cattle: 1 cow, 3 steers, 1 ox, total 5 Sheep: 12 ewes, 48 wethers, 15 lambs, total 75 Goats: 5 nannies, 21 wethers, 13 kids, total 39 Pigs: 5 piglets, total 5 Poultry: 26 fowls, 16 turkeys Died Cattle: 1 calf, 2 yearlings, total 3 Sheep: 6 ewes, 6 wethers, 26 lambs, total 38 Goats: 2 nannies, 3 kids, total 5 Pigs: 1 shoat, 2 piglets, total 3 Asses: 1 jackass, total 1 Poultry: 20 fowls, 7 turkeys, 1 goose Given to Mr Carter Sheep: 6 wethers, total 6 Remaining on 30 September 1769 Cattle: 6 bulls, 120 cows, 126 calves, 80 yearlings, 26 heifers, 59 steers, 20 oxen, total 437 Sheep: 366 ewes, 64 wethers, 193 lambs, 12 rams, total 635 Goats: 158 nannies, 32 wethers, 113 kids, 10 billies, total 313 Pigs: 2 sows, 3 shoats, 21 piglets, 1 boar, total 27 Horses: 5 horses, 6 mares, total 11 Asses: 0 jackasses, total 0 Poultry: 80 fowls, 38 ducks, 38 turkeys, 8 geese Regraded by age and kind Cattle: 6 bulls, 131 cows, 101 calves, 63 yearlings, 33 heifers, 79 steers, 24 oxen, total 437 Sheep: 405 ewes, 173 wethers, 43 lambs, 14 rams, total 635 Goats: 192 nannies, 72 wethers, 39 kids, 10 billies, total 313 Pigs: 5 sows, 0 shoats, 21 piglets, 1 boar, total 27 Horses: 5 horses, 6 mares, total 11 Asses: 0 jackasses, total 0 Poultry: 80 fowls, 38 ducks, 38 turkeys, 8 geese Slaves born: 1 girl, named Sarah Slaves died: 1 woman, named Millinda Yams used for the slaves, 9,993 [...] Yams used for the stock, 6,800 [...] Total yams used, 16,793 [...] Errors excepted Signed by Daniel Corneille Interpretations The birth of a slave girl named Sarah and the death of a woman named Millinda were entered at the foot of the livestock account, beside the calves, lambs and yams. The Company's slaves on the plantation were counted as part of its stock, and their births and deaths were recorded as increase and loss in the same way as its cattle. Their food came out of the same yam fields as the animals' fodder. More yams went to the slaves than to the stock, 9,993 against 6,800, and yams were the slaves' staple at the plantation, as rice was for those fed from the stores in James Town. The Company killed 75 sheep and 39 goats in the quarter, but only five cattle. Beef was kept for the garrison and the ships, while the herd was built up through the calving season. Forty calves were born, and the herd ended the quarter larger than it began. Sheep and goats were slaughtered freely for the Governor's table, which used more mutton than beef in July and August 1769. Six wethers were given to Roger Carter when he sailed in the Dutton. Live sheep were the usual gift to a departing person of rank, carried aboard to supply fresh meat on the voyage. The gift matched the 17-gun salutes fired on his arrival and departure. The final rows regraded the stock at the quarter's end, moving animals up as they aged, such as lambs to ewes and wethers and calves to yearlings and steers, so that the next quarter's account began from the true make-up of the herds. Daniel Corneille signed the account as the member of Council in charge of the plantation. | |
302 | 9th October Artillery Stores Expended in September 1769 Guns fired, Shot do., 18 lb, 6 lb, 4 lb, 1 lb, Powder Expended lb, Powder Expended oz 14th Departed the Ship Essex: Guns fired 11, Shot do. 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 11, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 16, Powder Expended oz 6 18th do. the Shrewsbury: Guns fired 9, Shot do. 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 9, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 8 22 An Alarm for a Dutch Ship: Guns fired 6, Shot do. 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 4, 1 lb 2, Powder Expended lb 13, Powder Expended oz 0 Fired at the said Ship at Purlings Battery: Guns fired 3, Shot do. 3, 18 lb 3, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 18, Powder Expended oz 0 23 Arrived the said Ship: Guns fired 11, Shot do. 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 11, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 16, Powder Expended oz 6 30 Departed a Dutch Ship: Guns fired 15, Shot do. 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 15, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 22, Powder Expended oz 8 Powder for Sundry services: Guns fired 0, Shot do. 0, 18 lb 0, 6 lb 0, 4 lb 0, 1 lb 0, Powder Expended lb 63, Powder Expended oz 1 Total: Guns fired 55, Shot do. 3, 18 lb 3, 6 lb 46, 4 lb 4, 1 lb 2, Powder Expended lb 162, Powder Expended oz 13 2 Paper for the Works at Mundens Point 3/4 Quire 8 Tallow for the Lieut. Governors House 2 lb 12 Copper brads to mount Ladles 40 13 Copper Rivets to the Cooper 150 16th do. to the master of Arms for the brass rimd Drums 120 Birch Brooms for Mitchells Line 1 Handspikes Exp. at the main Fort 1 Lead Balls to shoot Goats at different times lb oz 1 7 18th Tallow for the Long Boat sails 7 22 Match burnt at the Main Fort 12 lb Birch Brooms to Purlings Battery 1 Worms for Swivels expended at the Alarm House 1 23 Paper to make signal Cartridges 4 Quire 25 Tallow for Long Boats 3 30th do. for the Carts in the Long Wood 6 lb Powder Horns exp. at Mitchells Line 1 Tallow for the Cullis at the Main Fort 1 lb do. for the Long Boats 8 lb (Signed) Thos. Bazett Commd. Arty. | The artillery return for September 1769 set out the guns fired and stores used in the month. On 14 September 1769, the Essex sailed, and 11 guns were fired, all 6-pounders, using 16 pounds 6 ounces of powder. On 18 September 1769, the Shrewsbury sailed, and 9 guns were fired, all 6-pounders, using 13 pounds 8 ounces of powder. 22 September 1769, an alarm for a Dutch ship, 6 guns fired: 0 shot, 0 18-pounders, 0 6-pounders, 4 4-pounders, 2 1-pounders, powder 13 pounds 0 ounces 22 September 1769, fired at the same ship from Purling's Battery, 3 guns fired: 3 shot, 3 18-pounders, 0 6-pounders, 0 4-pounders, 0 1-pounders, powder 18 pounds 0 ounces 23 September 1769, arrival of the same ship, 11 guns fired: 0 shot, 0 18-pounders, 11 6-pounders, 0 4-pounders, 0 1-pounders, powder 16 pounds 6 ounces 30 September 1769, departure of a Dutch ship, 15 guns fired: 0 shot, 0 18-pounders, 15 6-pounders, 0 4-pounders, 0 1-pounders, powder 22 pounds 8 ounces Powder for various services, 0 guns fired, powder 63 pounds 4 ounces Total, 55 guns fired: 3 shot, 3 18-pounders, 46 6-pounders, 4 4-pounders, 2 1-pounders, powder 163 pounds 13 ounces 2 September 1769, paper for the works at Munden's Point, ¾ quire 8 September 1769, tallow for the Lieutenant Governor's house, 2 pounds 12 September 1769, copper brads for fitting ladles, 40 13 September 1769, copper rivets for the cooper, 150 16 September 1769, copper rivets for the master at arms for the brass-rimmed drums, 100 16 September 1769, birch brooms for Mitchell's Line, 1 16 September 1769, handspikes worn out at the main fort, 4 Lead balls for shooting goats at various times, 1 pound 7 ounces 18 September 1769, tallow for the longboat's sails, 7 pounds 22 September 1769, slow match burnt at the main fort, 12 pounds Birch brooms for Purling's Battery, 1 Worms for swivel guns worn out at the alarm house, 1 23 September 1769, paper for making signal cartridges, 4 quires 25 September 1769, tallow for the longboats, 3 pounds 30 September 1769, tallow for the carts at Longwood, 6 pounds 30 September 1769, powder horns worn out at Mitchell's Line, 1 30 September 1769, tallow for the portcullis at the main fort, 1 pound 30 September 1769, tallow for the longboats, 8 pounds Signed by Thomas Bazett, commanding the artillery Interpretations On 22 September 1769, the alarm was raised for a Dutch ship, and Purling's Battery then fired three 18-pound shot at her. The next day the same ship was saluted with 11 guns on her arrival. The shot were not an attack but a standing order of the port. A strange ship approaching the road had to show her colours and come to anchor where the batteries directed. If she failed to do so, the guns fired live shot across her course to bring her to. Only once she had identified herself and anchored was she greeted as a friend. The Rhynsburg arrived from Batavia that day, and she was evidently the ship that had to be brought to with shot. The Dutch ship was saluted with 11 guns on arrival and 15 on departure, more than the 9 guns fired for the Company's own Indiamen. Salutes between ships and forts were exchanged gun for gun. A foreign ship that fired a larger salute to the fort received the same number in return, so the higher figures probably reflected the Dutch commander's own salute rather than any special honour from the Council. A portcullis was a heavy grated gate that slid up and down in grooves in the gateway of the main fort, and tallow kept it running freely. Slow match was cord soaked in saltpetre that burned slowly and was kept alight at the guns so that they could be fired at once. Worms were corkscrew-shaped tools on a staff, used to draw out the remains of a cartridge from a gun's bore after firing. The alarm house was the post from which the signal guns warned of approaching ships, where the swivel guns were kept loaded and ready. | |
303 | 1769 Sundrys Expended at the Honble. Company's Table in Sept. 1769 £ 6 Bottles Port Wine 9 58 do. Lisbon 4 7 17 do. Mountain 1 5 6 40 do. Beer 7 6 31 1/4 Gall. Arrack 4 13 9 347 1/2 lb Beef 7 4 9 1/2 266 Mutton 5 10 3 Turkeys 15 7 Fowls 10 6 2 Ducks 3 41 3/4 lb Butter 2 1 9 108 lb Sugar Candy at 6/ 2 14 30 lb do. do. at 6 3/4 16 10 1/2 138 lb Flour 4 2 1 1/2 5 Lambs 2 10 4 Kids 1 4 Pigs 1 £ 39 10 9 1/2 John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | The account of provisions used at the Company's table in September 1769 was laid before the Council with the other monthly accounts. 6 bottles of port wine, £0 9s 0d 58 bottles of Lisbon wine, £4 7s 0d 17 bottles of mountain wine, £1 5s 6d 40 bottles of beer, £0 7s 6d 31¼ gallons of arrack, £4 13s 9d 347½ pounds of beef, £7 4s 9½d 266 pounds of mutton, £5 10s 0d 3 turkeys, £0 15s 0d 7 fowls, £0 10s 6d 2 ducks, £0 3s 0d 41¾ pounds of butter, £2 1s 9d 108 pounds of sugar candy at 6d a pound, £2 14s 0d 30 pounds of sugar candy at 6¾d a pound, £0 16s 10½d 438 pounds of flour, £4 2s 1½d 5 lambs, £2 10s 0d 4 kids, £1 0s 0d 4 pigs, £1 0s 0d Total, £39 10s 9½d Signed by John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling Interpretations The table cost £39 10s 9½d in September 1769, against £34 6s 8¾d in July and £33 11s 7½d in August. Most of the rise came from beef, which more than doubled from 163½ pounds in August to 347½ pounds. Mutton fell from 301 to 266 pounds. September marked the start of spring at St Helena, and the lambing season was under way. The flocks were spared while the ewes lambed, and the few cattle killed in the quarter supplied the table instead. The livestock account recorded five cattle slaughtered between July and September, and the beef from them evidently reached the Governor's table in this month. Lisbon wine rose to 58 bottles from 42 in August, and port to six bottles from one. The Essex and the Shrewsbury sailed in mid-September, and the Dutch Rhynsburg lay in the road for a week. Each commander was entertained at the Castle before he sailed. Francis Reed of the Essex, despite his quarrel with the Council over 5s of duty on his arrack, would have dined at the same table. The wine accounts rose and fell with the shipping in the road throughout the year. | |
304 | 13th October At a Consultation held on Friday the 13th day of October 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Govr. Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated 9th Octr. 1769 Mr. Matthew Purling reports that he has been on board the Ship Thames to Muster her Company and enquire for Deserters but found none, her Muster Roll is as follows viz. Muster Roll of Ship Thames Chs. Haggis Commandr. Philip Dempster 1 Mate Jos. York Pentock 2 do. John Coggan 3 do. William Chambers 4th do. Clement Francis Surgeon William Walker Gunner Robt. Woolaston Carpenter Jn. Scott Boatswain Geo. McCulloch Ships Std. Chs. Lefort Midshipman Ch. Gregorie do. Jn. Will. Wood do. Michl. Ivory do. Thos. Linton Qr. Master Robt. Wood do. do. Rich. Sheridan do. do. Jn. Harper Sailmaker Geo. Nicholson Caulker Wm. Durham Cooper Josh. Lane Armourer Wm. Robinson Butcher Jn. Mills Poulterer Robt. Gray Surg. Mate Jn. Merritt Gunnr. do. Jn. Hales Boatn. do. Ch. Garr Carpr. 1 do. Jn. Ashby do. 2 do. Willm. Fish Joiner And. Cardell Coopr. Mate Jn. Stevens Caulkr. do. Robt. Stone Capt. Cook James Mayo Ships do. Willm. Jones Seaman Philip Ogilvie Seaman Willm. Clifton Willm. Seven Alexr. Moffatt Jn. Wetland Alex. Grey Jam. Black Jn. Brown Jn. Matheson Thos. Bradley Willm. Sutter Jn. Asprin Robt. Gulley David Bell Jn. Johnson Jn. Nelson John Brown | The Council met at the Castle on Friday 13 October 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 9 October 1769 were read, approved and signed. Matthew Purling reported that he had gone aboard the Thames to muster her crew and search for deserters. He found none. The ship's muster roll read as follows. Charles Haggis, commander Philip Dempster, chief mate Joseph York Pentock, second mate John Coggan, third mate William Chambers, fourth mate Clement Francis, surgeon William Walker, gunner Robert Woolaston, carpenter John Scott, boatswain George McCulloch, ship's steward Charles Lysert, midshipman Charles Gregorie, midshipman John William Wood, midshipman Michael Tovey, midshipman Thomas Linton, quartermaster Robert Wood, quartermaster Richard Sheridan, quartermaster John Harper, sailmaker George Nicholson, caulker William Durham, cooper Joseph Lane, armourer William Robinson, butcher John Mills, poulterer Robert Gray, surgeon's mate John Merriott, gunner's mate John Hales, boatswain's mate Charles Gaw, carpenter's first mate John Ashby, carpenter's second mate William Fish, joiner Andrew Cardwell, cooper's mate John Stevens, caulker's mate Robert Stone, captain's cook James Mayo, ship's cook William Jones, seaman Philip Ogilvie, seaman William Clifton, seaman William Severn, seaman Clement Moffatt, seaman John Wealland, seaman Alexander Grey, seaman James Black, seaman John Brown, seaman John Matheson, seaman Thomas Bradley, seaman William Salter, seaman John Upton, seaman Robert Tulley, seaman David Bell, seaman John Johnson, seaman John Nelson, seaman John Brown, seaman | |
305 | 1769 Richd. Reed Seaman Willm. Davis Willm. Colar David Gowan George Jay Stephen Turner Edward Jones James Bannester Jos. Caldwell John Salve Geo. Watson Samuel Upston Thos. Ogilvie William Jones John Edwards Patk. Johnson Willm. Wilford Willm. Walden Thos. Fairliss James Smith Seaman Thos. Warren Edward Ray Matthew Griffin Willm. Braithwait Robt. Watson James Grandy James Glass Edmond Kelly John Yates Edward Hutchison Rich. Britten Jos. Mose Robt. Leach George Bassien Thos. Willow Saml. Shrewsbury John Hughes Thos. Hills Seaman Benj. Jackson James Cummings Alex. McLanning Alex. Baily John Groves Francis Wallis Francis Jackson Thos. Matthews Tobias Carter John Hutchings Charles Haggis Capt. Servt. John Hardy do. do. John Macartney 1 Mates do. Wm. Bland 2 do. do. Thos. Bowles Surgeons do. Wm. Turner Gunners do. Benj. Turner Boatn. do. Thos. Woolaston Carpr. do. Passengers Mrs. Sarah Mackey Alex. Mackey Clarinda Joseph Pompey Miss Margt. Smith Cristiana Nathaniel Barlow Wm. St. Jo. Foster Robt. Barry Invalides William Chatham Saml. Henry Geo. Hackey Willm. Price Willm. Bailey Richd. Burnham Christopher Cook Lawrance King Robt. Lathwick John Robinson James Trullivan James Webb Mr. Chas. Pettit | The muster roll of the Thames continued with her remaining crew, her passengers and a list of invalids. Richard Reed, seaman William Davis, seaman William Coltar, seaman David Gowan, seaman George Jay, seaman Stephen Turner, seaman Edward Jones, seaman James Bannister, seaman Joseph Caldwell, seaman John Salve, seaman George Watson, seaman Samuel Pleston, seaman Thomas Ogilvie, seaman William Jones, seaman John Edwards, seaman Patrick Johnson, seaman William Wilford, seaman William Walden, seaman Thomas Fairlie, seaman James Smith, seaman Thomas Warren, seaman Edward Ray, seaman Matthew Griffin, seaman William Braithwaite, seaman Robert Watson, seaman James Grandy, seaman James Glass, seaman Edmond Kelly, seaman John Yates, seaman Edward Hutchison, seaman Richard Britten, seaman Joseph Moss, seaman Robert Leach, seaman George Bastien, seaman Thomas Willow, seaman Samuel Shrewsbury, seaman John Hughes, seaman Thomas Hills, seaman Benjamin Jackson, seaman James Cummings, seaman Alexander McInnes, seaman Alexander Baily, seaman John Greves, seaman Francis Wallis, seaman Francis Tashaso, seaman Thomas Matthews, seaman Tobias Carter, seaman John Hutchings, seaman Charles Haggis, captain's servant John Hardy, captain's servant John Macartney, chief mate's servant William Bland, second mate's servant Thomas Bowes, surgeon's servant William Turner, gunner's servant Benjamin Turner, boatswain's servant Thomas Woolaston, carpenter's servant Passengers Mrs Sarah Mackey Alexander Mackey Clarinda Joseph Pompey Miss Margaret Smith Loveland Nathaniel Barlow William St John Foster Robert Barry Invalids William Chatham Samuel Henry George Huckey William Price William Bailey Richard Burnham Christopher Cook Lawrence King Robert Lathwick John Robinson James Sullivan James Webb Charles Pettit Interpretations Four of the passengers, Clarinda, Joseph, Pompey and Loveland, were entered by a single name only. They were almost certainly servants of Mrs Sarah Mackey and Miss Margaret Smith, and very probably slaves or bonded servants brought from India. Names such as Pompey and Clarinda were classical or fanciful names commonly given to slaves by their owners. Purling's muster recorded every such person so that the Council knew who was aboard. A slave carried in a passing ship could not be landed and sold at St Helena without the Council's leave, and an islander's slave could not be smuggled away on the same footing. The 13 men listed as invalids were soldiers of the Company's armies in India, sent home because sickness or wounds had made them unfit for service. They travelled at the Company's charge under the ship's charter party, entered separately from the fare-paying passengers. Their number shows the steady toll of Indian service on the Company's European troops, who died or were broken by fever far faster than in any European garrison. Charles Haggis, entered as a captain's servant, shared his name with the commander. A captain's son or nephew commonly began his career at sea as his servant, learning the work of the ship under his father's eye while drawing a servant's wages. Officers' servants were the usual entry point for young men who hoped to rise in the Company's maritime service. | |
306 | 13th October The Storekeeper this day delivered the following Account of Stores Short received from Ship Thames viz. Account of Stores short received from Ship Thames viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. 6 3 18 Rice 2 1 14 Sugar 1 18 Candles 1 2 22 Paddy short Weight Occasioned by Wastage the Packages being in good Order 1 Leager Arrack Gages Galls. 141 wants to fill Galls. 9 3/4 1 do. do. do. 143 do. 12 284 21 3/4 21 3/4 Recd. 262 1/4 Gallons (Signed) St. Helena 13 Octr. 1769 p Js. Powell Storekeeper On the 12th instant we received the following Letter from Captn. Haggis viz. To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. President and Governor etc. Council at St. Helena Honble. Sir and Sirs I am extreamly concerned that I am Obliged to trouble the Board for Fuel, I layd in great Quantities agreeable to the Instructions I received from the Honble. Company at Madras, but it proving of so light a Quantity, that we consumed more than expected | The storekeeper presented an account of stores found short on delivery from the Thames. 0 hundredweight 3 quarters 18 pounds of rice, short in weight through wastage 2 hundredweight 1 quarter 14 pounds of sugar, short in weight through wastage 0 hundredweight 1 quarter 10 pounds of candles, short in weight through wastage 1 hundredweight 2 quarters 22 pounds of paddy, short in weight through wastage The packages were all in good condition Leaguer number 1 of arrack, gauged at 141 gallons, 9¼ gallons short of full Leaguer number 2 of arrack, gauged at 143 gallons, 12 gallons short of full Total gauged, 284 gallons Total short, 21¼ gallons Total arrack received, 262¾ gallons Signed by James Powell, storekeeper, at St Helena on 13 October 1769 The Council had received a letter from Captain Haggis on 12 October 1769, addressed to Governor Skottowe and the Council. Haggis wrote that he was very sorry to have to trouble the Council for fuel. He had laid in a large quantity at Madras, as the Company's instructions there required. The wood had turned out so light that the ship had burned through it faster than expected. Interpretations The Thames consignment came in far shorter than the Shrewsbury's, though the two cargoes were identical and both had been made up in Bengal. The candles were 38 pounds short against two pounds on the Shrewsbury, the sugar more than 2 hundredweight against under 2, and the arrack 21¼ gallons against 16. Grain and sugar lost weight as they dried, but beeswax candles did not. A loss of 38 pounds from four sound chests is hard to put down to wastage alone. Powell nonetheless entered it under that heading, which cleared the ship of any claim. Haggis opened his request for fuel by pointing to the Company's instructions at Madras and to the poor quality of the wood supplied there. Captain Dampier of the Sea Horse had asked for three chaldrons of coal in July 1769, and the Council had given him one and rebuked him for not laying in enough. Haggis framed his own letter to meet that objection before it could be made. He placed the fault on the light wood and the Madras instructions, not on any neglect of his own. | |
307 | 1769 that upon opening the Hatches to get out the Stores for the Island, I find that I have not ten days wood on board. I therefore beg and implore you Gentlemen to grant me some Coals, or Fuel that may be thought proper. Hope Gentlemen you would take it into Consideration it being for the good of the Company, Owners and Individuals on board the Ship. I am Gentlemen Your most Obedient humble Servant (Signed) St. Helena 12 Octr. 1769 Charles Haggis Upon Examining the Coals now remaining we find it impossible to spare Captn. Haggis more than one Chaldron which we were under a necessity to take from those set apart for burning of Lime. The Lieut. Governor this day presented the following Letter to the Board viz. To John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. and Council Gentlemen The measures fallen upon three Years ago of lowering Charter Party, together with the particular attention I have paid to the Honble. Company's Stock since I have had the management of it affords me at present the satisfaction of informing you of an increase of one hundred and sixty two Head of Cattle since the Year 1765 at which time I took charge of it, which make the Total amount of their Stock to the 30th Sept. 1769 Four hundred and thirty seven a number much superior to what it has been for these many Years past. I therefore am of opinion that we may increase Charter Party Allowance next Year to Five hundred and sixty Pounds lb. and my reasons for not exceeding that arises from my wish of having the Garrison supplyed with fresh meat once a Month from the Honble. | Haggis went on to explain that when the hatches were opened to unload the stores for the island, he found less than ten days' firewood left aboard. He asked the Council to let him have some coal or whatever fuel it thought fit. He hoped the Council would consider the request, since it served the good of the Company, the ship's owners and everyone aboard. Charles Haggis signed the letter at St Helena on 12 October 1769. The Council examined the coal left in store and found that it could spare Haggis no more than one chaldron. Even that had to be taken from the coal set aside for burning lime. The Lieutenant Governor presented a letter to Governor Skottowe and the Council that day. He wrote that two things gave him the satisfaction of reporting an increase of 162 head of cattle since 1766, when he had taken charge of the Company's stock. One was the decision made three years earlier to cut the allowance supplied to ships under their charter parties. The other was the close attention he had paid to the herd while it was in his care. The stock stood at 437 head on 30 September 1769, far more than for many years past. He therefore thought the charter-party allowance might be raised next year to 560 pounds [...]. His reason for going no further was his wish to see the garrison supplied with fresh meat once a month by the Company. Interpretations The charter parties under which the Company hired its ships entitled each ship calling at St Helena to a set allowance of fresh beef from the island. Three years earlier the Council had cut that allowance to rebuild the Company's herd. Corneille now reported 437 head, an increase of 162 since 1766. He proposed raising the ships' allowance, but only modestly. The garrison came first, since a monthly issue of fresh meat would protect the soldiers against scurvy and make salt beef go further. Corneille's letter set the island's two claims on its cattle against each other and showed which the Lieutenant Governor meant to favour. The Council gave Haggis one chaldron of coal, exactly as it had given Dampier in July 1769, and took it from the stock reserved for the lime kilns. Lime was needed for mortar and render at Munden's Point and the other works. The Council could have refused outright to protect the works. It chose instead to keep a ship's company from running out of fuel at sea, but set a strict limit on how much it would give. Every chaldron diverted to a passing ship meant less lime for the island's defences until the next store ship arrived. | |
308 | 13th October Company's Stock at Charter Party price (I mean by the Garrison) only the Noncommissiond Officers and Soldiers, as they could not afford to pay five pence p Pound the stated price of the Planters Cattle. This measure if approved of by the Honble. the Court of Directors I apprehend will be of particular advantage to the Health of their Military, as from their present mode of living we well know that they never have a Meal of Fresh Meat throughout the Year an indulgence that I cannot but think would be of great benefit to them, and the want of which many of them have at times complained of as a Hardship. I therefore humbly Offer this to your consideration, requesting that it may be entered in Consultation together with your opinions, as in all probability it will be time enough to receive Our Honble. Masters Answer thereto by next Years Store Ship. I have the Honor to be Gentlemen Your most Obedt. Humble Servant St. Helena 13th Octr. 1769 Daniel Corneille To John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. and Council Gentlemen The Unlucky accident that happened at Mundens Point the 5th instant from the falling of the whole Front of the Rock Excavated for the intended Magazine as laid down in Captn. Mitchells Plan has induced me to a particular Examination of the remaining part of that Cavity to know whether with safety that Magazine can be compleated as Projected And on Examination offer it as my opinion that it cannot as I am very apprehensive that so great a break of the Rock as that has been, must have shattered the whole interior part of that Ledge, as the number of cracks now perceivable in that part which must have formed the Roof of said Magazine fully | Corneille explained that the garrison would buy this meat from the Company's herd at the charter-party price. By the garrison he meant only the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers. They could not afford the 5d a pound that the planters charged for their cattle. If the Court of Directors approved, he believed the measure would greatly benefit the health of the soldiers. As they lived at present, they never had a single meal of fresh meat in the whole year. He thought such a treat would do them a great deal of good, and many of them had at times complained of going without it as a hardship. He therefore put the proposal to the Council and asked for it to be entered in the minutes with the Council's views. There would probably be time to receive the Court's answer by the next year's store ship. Daniel Corneille signed the letter at St Helena on 13 October 1769. A second letter to Governor Skottowe and the Council dealt with the accident at Munden's Point on 5 October 1769. The whole face of the rock dug out for the planned magazine, laid down in Captain Mitchell's design, had fallen. That had prompted the writer to examine closely the rest of the excavation, to see whether the magazine could safely be finished as planned. Having done so, he gave his opinion that it could not. He feared that so large a break in the rock must have shattered the whole inner part of the ledge. The many cracks now visible in the part that would have formed the magazine's roof gave good grounds for that fear. Interpretations Corneille's proposal laid bare how the island's soldiers lived. Planters sold their cattle at 5d a pound, and a private on 10d a day could not afford it. The garrison therefore lived the whole year on salt provisions, with no fresh meat at all. In England a soldier could buy fresh meat in any market town, and scurvy among troops at home was rare. At St Helena it was a constant risk. Selling the Company's beef to the men at the low charter-party price would in effect subsidise their diet from the Company's herd. Corneille could not grant this himself. It needed the Court's approval, which meant waiting a full year for an answer. The magazine at Munden's Point had been cut into the rock to Mitchell's design, and the obvious course was to clear the fallen rock and finish it as planned. The writer of the second letter advised against completing it, on the evidence of the cracks in what would have been the roof. A powder magazine had to be absolutely sound, since a collapse could crush the men inside or bring down rock onto the powder itself. Daniel Armin's death on 5 October 1769 had shown what the ledge could do. Mitchell's plans had been followed faithfully since his departure in June, but here the rock itself overruled the design. | |
309 | 1769 Justifys therefore am of Opinion that Lieut. Bazett ought to receive orders to blow away the East point of said Rock as most impending, and lighten the top which may easily be done by clearing away a great part of Rubbish now lying thereupon to prevent the like accident hereafter. And I am further of Opinion that a Magazine ought to be built entirely of Masonry, Insulated from the Rock, as there is convenient space on the Battery for the same as I must acknowledge that the making of all that Point appears to me in very improper and unsafe to Excavate, owing to the nature of the Rock laying in Stratas of Solid stone and a sort of Petrifyd* Earth, consequently can have much less Cohesion than if the whole was one Solid Rock, and very unsafe to Excavate therein. I have the Honor to be Gentlemen Your most obedient Humble Servant (Signed) St. Helena 13 October 1769 Dan Corneille * [...] We also received a Letter from Lieut. Thomas Bazett To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. Council of the Island St. Helena Gentlemen Upon my examining the Magazine at Mundens Point that is excavated, find the Roof very much Shattered which is occasioned by part of it falling down, and it is my Opinion Gentlemen that it is not safe to go on with it any further, and I do think it will not answer the intended purpose. I have the Honor to be Gentlemen Your most Obt. and most humble Servt. (Signed) St. Helena Octr. 13 1769 Thos. Bazett | Corneille concluded that Lieutenant Bazett should be ordered to blast away the eastern point of the rock, which hung most dangerously, and to lighten the top. That could easily be done by clearing away most of the rubble now lying on it, and it would prevent a similar accident. He further advised that a magazine should be built entirely of masonry, standing clear of the rock, since there was room for it on the battery. He had to admit that the whole point seemed to him quite unfit and unsafe for excavation. The rock lay in layers of solid stone separated by a kind of rotten earth. It therefore held together far less firmly than if it had been one solid mass, and it was very unsafe to dig into. Daniel Corneille signed the letter at St Helena on 13 October 1769. A note added against the words "rotten earth" was largely [...]. The Council also received a letter from Lieutenant Thomas Bazett, addressed to Governor Skottowe and the Council and dated at St Helena on 13 October 1769. Bazett reported that he had examined the magazine being dug at Munden's Point. He found the roof badly shattered by the fall of part of it. In his opinion it was not safe to carry the work any further, and the magazine would not serve its purpose. Interpretations The Council had two separate reports on the magazine, one from the Lieutenant Governor and one from the officer in charge of the works. Both reached the same conclusion, that the excavation should be abandoned. Mitchell's design had called for a magazine cut into the rock, which would have been proof against shot and fire. Corneille proposed instead a free-standing magazine of masonry on the battery. That cost more in stone and labour but did not depend on rock that had already killed a man. Two independent opinions gave the Council firm ground for departing from a plan the Company had paid for. Corneille's description of the rock as layers of solid stone between bands of rotten earth fits the volcanic make-up of St Helena. The island was built from successive flows of hard basalt lava, separated by beds of ash and cinder that weathered into soft, crumbling clay. When the soft beds below were dug out, the hard layer above lost its support and fell away in a single slab. That was what killed Daniel Armin on 5 October 1769, and it would have happened again wherever the miners cut beneath an overhanging layer. | |
310 | 13th October Upon taking the two Letters respecting the Magazine into consideration, and an unhappy Accident lately happening in the falling of part of the Rock which luckily was not attended with worse consequence than the death of one Man, were so many were at Work, and being convinced that Prosecuting that Work may be attended with great danger from the reasons assigned by the Lieut. Governor, and it further appearing to us that Excavating that Rock for another Magazine very improper from the Nature of that Point as already explained, we are resolved to discontinue the prosecution of it, and Erect one all of Masonry on the Battery and have given Lieut. Bazett Orders accordingly, and to blow as much of the Rock as is Shattered to prevent any further accidents. It appearing to Us from the present state of the Company's Stock of Black Cattle, that we shall be able to give the Ships one Third of their Charterparty the next Year. And are well convinced that giving fresh meat once a Month to the Garrison from the Company's Stock will be a very Salutary measure, and mean to fall upon that method next Year if not disapproved of by the Honble. Company. We this day Inlisted James Trullivan to serve the Honble. Company as a Soldier for five Years, he had been a Soldier at Madrass and appearing to be a good Man we gave him five pounds Bounty Money to buy him necessarys etc. Mr. Jonathan Doveton this day applied to us to pay one hundred pounds into the Honble. Company's Cash which sum we have received and given him Bills of Exchange drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors payable to Captn. Alexander Jameson (or Order) drawn at ninety days sight. John Skottowe Dan Corneille Purling | The Council considered the two letters about the magazine and the recent accident, in which a fall of rock had fortunately killed only one man though many were at work there. It was satisfied, for the reasons the Lieutenant Governor had given, that carrying on the work could be very dangerous. It also judged that digging into that rock for any other magazine would be most unwise, given the nature of the point already described. The Council therefore resolved to abandon the excavation and to build a magazine entirely of masonry on the battery. It gave Lieutenant Bazett orders to that effect, and told him to blast away as much of the shattered rock as was needed to prevent further accidents. The present state of the Company's herd of cattle showed that the Council could give the ships one third of their charter-party allowance in the coming year. The Council was also convinced that a monthly issue of fresh meat to the garrison from the Company's herd would be very good for the men's health. It intended to adopt that practice the following year unless the Company disapproved. The Council enlisted James Sullivan that day to serve the Company as a soldier for five years. He had served as a soldier at Madras and seemed a good man, so the Council gave him a bounty of £5 to buy clothing and other necessities. Jonathan Doveton asked that day to pay £100 into the Company's treasury. The Council accepted the money and gave him bills of exchange drawn on the Court of Directors, payable to Captain Alexander Jameson or his order at 90 days' sight. John Skottowe, Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling signed the minutes. Interpretations James Sullivan had arrived in the Thames as one of 13 invalids being sent home from Madras. The voyage had evidently restored him, and the Council chose to enlist him rather than let him continue to England. It paid him £5, more than the £3 given to new recruits in June 1769, because he was already a trained soldier. A man discharged as unfit from one Company army thus became a recruit for another. The garrison had lost Daniel Armin and John Lewis to the rock works in the past three months, and a seasoned soldier landing from a passing ship was worth securing at once. The Council decided to begin the monthly issue of fresh meat to the garrison in the coming year unless the Court objected. Corneille had asked only that his proposal be entered in the minutes and sent home for approval. The usual course was to wait for the Court's consent before changing any allowance. Here the Council chose to act first and let the Court stop it if it wished. An answer from London could not arrive for a year, and in the meantime the soldiers would have eaten salt meat for another twelve months. Putting the measure into effect pending the Court's reply let the garrison benefit without delay, while still leaving the final word with the Company. | |
311 | 16th October At a Consultation held on Monday the 16th day Octr. 1769 at the Castle Present John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor Mr. Matthew Purling of Council The last Consultation was read approved and signed dated the 13th Octr. 1769 Yesterday sailed the Honble. Company's Ship Thames for England The Paymaster brought in his Accounts and the Storekeeper his Collections for the Quarter commencing the 1st of July and ending the 30th September last which were examined and approved and are as follow viz. List of the Honble. Company's Officers and Servants upon the Island St. Helena with their several Salarys Diet Money etc. for the Quarter ending the 30th September 1769 John Skottowe Esqr. Governor Salary £ 150 do. Allowance for Servants 31 14 9 181 14 9 Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor Salary 62 10 do. Diet Money 25 87 10 Carried Over £ 269 4 9 | The Council met at the Castle on Monday 16 October 1769. Governor Skottowe, Daniel Corneille, the Lieutenant Governor, and Matthew Purling attended. The minutes of the meeting of 13 October 1769 were read, approved and signed. The Council recorded that the Company's ship Thames had sailed for England on 15 October 1769. The paymaster presented his accounts, and the storekeeper his collections, for the quarter from 1 July to 30 September 1769. The Council examined and approved them. The list of the Company's officers and servants on the island, with their salaries, table allowances and other payments for the quarter, began as follows. John Skottowe, Governor Salary, £150 0s 0d Allowance for servants, £31 14s 9d Total for John Skottowe, £181 14s 9d Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor Salary, £62 10s 0d Table allowance, £25 0s 0d Total for Daniel Corneille, £87 10s 0d Carried forward, £269 4s 9d Interpretations The Governor's salary stood at £150 for the quarter, a rate of £600 a year. In the quarter to June 1769 he had drawn £125 in salary and a separate increase of £15 6s 10d from 6 May. The increase ordered by the Court in the Speke was now part of the salary itself, and it raised the Governor's pay by a fifth, from £500 to £600 a year. His allowance for servants stayed exactly the same at £31 14s 9d. Daniel Corneille drew a full quarter's pay for the first time since his return. His salary of £62 10s 0d and table allowance of £25 represented £250 and £100 a year. Together they made £350 a year, over half the Governor's salary, on top of his captain's pay in the First Company. The new Lieutenant Governor's establishment was a substantial charge, and it reflected the standing the Court had given him by paying his arrears for the whole of his absence in England. | |
312 | 16th October Brought Over £ 269 4 9 Matthew Purling of Council Saly. £ 32 10 do. Accountant 17 10 do. diet Money 15 do. Gratuity 15 80 William Bearcroft Chaplain Saly. 40 do. diet Money 15 55 Matthew Bazett Secy. Saly. 27 10 do. diet Money 15 do. House Rent 2 10 45 James Powell Storekeeper Saly. 27 10 do. diet Money 15 do. House Rent 2 10 45 William Wrangham eldest Factor Saly. 15 do. diet Money 10 do. House Rent 2 10 do. Assist. to the Governor 10 do. for carrying on the Paymasts. Business 12 10 50 Jonathan Doveton Factor Saly. 12 10 do. diet Money 10 do. House Rent 2 10 do. Assist. to the Storekeeper 5 30 Britannicus Wright Factor Saly. 12 10 do. diet Money 10 do. House Rent 2 10 do. Collector of the Customs on Spirits 12 10 37 10 John Goodwin Writer Saly. 7 10 do. diet Money 10 do. House Rent 2 10 20 Carried Over £ 631 14 9 | The list of officers and servants continued from a running total of £269 4s 9d. Brought forward, £269 4s 9d Matthew Purling, member of Council Salary, £32 10s 0d Pay as accountant, £17 10s 0d Table allowance, £15 0s 0d Gratuity, £15 0s 0d Total for Matthew Purling, £80 0s 0d William Beacroft, chaplain Salary, £40 0s 0d Table allowance, £15 0s 0d Total for William Beacroft, £55 0s 0d Matthew Bazett, secretary Salary, £27 10s 0d Table allowance, £15 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Matthew Bazett, £45 0s 0d James Powell, storekeeper Salary, £27 10s 0d Table allowance, £15 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for James Powell, £45 0s 0d William Wrangham, senior factor Salary, £15 0s 0d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Pay as assistant to the Governor, £10 0s 0d Pay for conducting the paymaster's business, £12 10s 0d Total for William Wrangham, £50 0s 0d Jonathan Doveton, factor Salary, £12 10s 0d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Pay as assistant to the storekeeper, £5 0s 0d Total for Jonathan Doveton, £30 0s 0d Bartholomew Wright, factor Salary, £12 10s 0d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Pay as collector of customs on spirits, £12 10s 0d Total for Bartholomew Wright, £37 10s 0d John Goodwin, writer Salary, £7 10s 0d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for John Goodwin, £20 0s 0d Carried forward, £631 14s 9d Interpretations The increases ordered by the Court in May 1769 were now built into each servant's salary for the full quarter. Matthew Purling's salary as a member of Council rose from £15 a quarter to £32 10s 0d, more than doubling. Matthew Bazett and James Powell rose from £17 10s 0d to £27 10s 0d. The factors' salaries rose from £7 10s 0d to £12 10s 0d or £15. The Court had raised the pay of every grade of its civil servants on the island at once. Higher salaries made Company posts at St Helena worth holding without depending so heavily on allowances, private trade and slave hire. Bartholomew Wright received £12 10s 0d as collector of customs on spirits, a rate of £50 a year. His appointment from 6 May 1769 had been at £30 a year, and for that part-quarter he had drawn £7 13s 5d. The arrack duty and the society's monopoly were now working in full, and the collector's work had grown with them. The higher figure suggests the Council had raised his pay to match. John Goodwin, a writer, received house rent of £2 10s 0d, which he had not drawn in the quarter to June. His son Richard had died on 19 September 1769. A writer with a household of his own now drew the same rent allowance as the factors above him. | |
313 | 1769 Brought Over £ 631 14 9 George Bazett Writer Saly. 7 10 do. diet Money 10 do. House Rent 2 10 do. Clerk of the Works 6 16 10 1/2 26 16 10 1/2 James Desfountain Writer Saly. 7 10 do. diet Money 10 do. House Rent 2 10 20 William Doveton Writer Saly. 7 10 do. diet Money 10 17 10 Robt. Barclay Surgeon Saly. 9 15 do. diet Money 10 do. House Rent 2 10 22 5 John Pritchard do. Mate Saly. 6 5 do. diet Money 10 do. House Rent 2 10 18 15 Richard Beale Judge Advocate Salary 12 10 do. Schoolmaster 7 10 20 Philip Mahony Clerk of the Peace Saly. 27 10 do. House Rent 2 10 30 Thos. Bazett Superintt. of the Works 25 Hugh Jones do. of the Blacks 10 Samuel Alexander John Worrall Overseers 7 10 15 William Holbrook Master Mason 30 John Preston do. Mate 20 John Robinson Carpenter 25 James Hogg do. Mate 12 10 John Lancaster Cooper 15 John Robins Armourer 15 Solomon St. Maurice Master at Arms 6 5 Carried Over £ 968 6 7 1/2 | The list of officers and servants continued from a running total of £631 14s 9d. Brought forward, £631 14s 9d George Bazett, writer Salary, £7 10s 0d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Pay as clerk of the works, £6 16s 10½d Total for George Bazett, £26 16s 10½d James Desfountain, writer Salary, £7 10s 0d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for James Desfountain, £20 0s 0d William Doveton, writer Salary, £7 10s 0d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d Total for William Doveton, £17 10s 0d Robert Barclay, surgeon Salary, £9 15s 0d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Robert Barclay, £22 5s 0d John Pritchard, surgeon's mate Salary, £6 5s 0d Table allowance, £10 0s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for John Pritchard, £18 15s 0d Richard Beale Salary as judge advocate, £12 10s 0d Pay as schoolmaster, £7 10s 0d Total for Richard Beale, £20 0s 0d Philip Mahony, clerk of the peace Salary, £27 10s 0d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Philip Mahony, £30 0s 0d Thomas Bazett, superintendent of the works, £25 0s 0d Hugh Jones, superintendent of the slaves, £10 0s 0d Samuel Alexander, overseer, £7 10s 0d John Worrall, overseer, £15 0s 0d William Holbrook, master mason, £30 0s 0d John Preston, mason's mate, £20 0s 0d John Robinson, carpenter, £25 0s 0d James Fogg, carpenter's mate, £12 10s 0d John Drawater, cooper, £15 0s 0d John Robins, armourer, £15 0s 0d Solomon St Maurice, master at arms, £6 5s 0d Carried forward, £968 6s 7½d Interpretations The skilled tradesmen were paid exactly what they had received in the quarter to June 1769. The master mason drew £30, the carpenter £25, and the cooper and the armourer £15 each. The Court's increase of May 1769 raised every covenanted civil servant, from the Governor down to the factors, but did not reach the artisans. The tradesmen were hired men on fixed wages, outside the graded service of writers, factors and senior merchants. They had no claim on the Court's general rise in salaries, though their skills were scarcer on the island than any clerk's. Richard Beale was paid his full salary as judge advocate and schoolmaster to 30 September 1769, a week before his death on 7 October. The Council had promised on 4 September to continue his salary until the Court decided on a pension, and the quarter's account kept that promise. Thomas Bazett drew £25 for a full quarter as superintendent of the works, at £100 a year. Mitchell, as engineer and captain of artillery, had drawn over £100 in the ten weeks before his resignation. The Council's choice in June to give the post to Bazett on a fixed salary was now saving the Company more than £300 a year. | |
314 | 16th October Brought Over £ 968 6 7 1/2 Robert Leech Steward Saly. 7 10 Thomas Yates Clerk of the Church 5 John Joyce Clock and Instrument Cleaner 1 5 Robert Allum Groom 2 John Croswell Patron of the Long Boats 7 10 John Price Marshall and Goaler 7 10 The Drum Major for instg. young Drumrs. 1 First Company viz. Daniel Corneille Captain 59 6 3 Solomon St. Maurice 1 Lieut. Saly. 27 7 6 do. diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 34 4 4 1/2 Charles Ross Steward 2 do. Saly. 22 16 3 do. diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. Adjutant 18 5 47 18 1 1/2 William Caldwell 2 do. Saly. 22 16 3 do. diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 32 3 1 1/2 William Roberts Town Adjutant 32 3 1 1/2 Sergeants viz. Henry Howell 7 13 4 John Allman 7 13 4 Thomas Townsend to 26th July red. £ 2 3 4 do. Private from 27th do. 2 15 4 18 4 George Roe to 24 July red. 2 do. Private from 25th July 2 16 8 4 16 8 25 1 8 Carried Over £ 1230 18 3 1/2 | The list of officers and servants continued from a running total of £968 6s 7½d and began the pay of the First Company. Brought forward, £968 6s 7½d Robert Leech, steward, £7 10s 0d Thomas Yates, clerk of the church, £5 0s 0d John Joyce, keeper and cleaner of clocks and instruments, £1 5s 0d Robert Allum, groom, £2 0s 0d John Creswell, master of the longboats, £7 10s 0d John Price, marshal and gaoler, £7 10s 0d The drum major, for teaching the young drummers, £1 0s 0d First Company Daniel Corneille, captain, £59 6s 3d Solomon St Maurice, first lieutenant Salary, £27 7s 6d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d Total for Solomon St Maurice, £34 4s 4½d Charles Ross Stewart, second lieutenant Salary, £22 16s 3d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d Pay as adjutant, £18 5s 0d Total for Charles Ross Stewart, £47 18s 1½d William Caldwell, second lieutenant Salary, £22 16s 3d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for William Caldwell, £32 3s 1½d William Roberts, town adjutant, £32 3s 1½d Sergeants Henry Howell, £7 13s 4d John Allman, £7 13s 4d Thomas Townsend, as sergeant to 26 July when reduced, £2 3s 4d, and as private from 27 July, £2 15s 0d, £4 18s 4d George Roe, as sergeant to 24 July when reduced, £2 0s 0d, and as private from 25 July, £2 16s 8d, £4 16s 8d Total for sergeants, £25 1s 8d Carried forward, £1,230 18s 3½d Interpretations Two of the First Company's four sergeants were reduced to the ranks within three days of each other, George Roe on 24 July and Thomas Townsend on 26 July 1769. Roe had been promoted only on 4 April. Two demotions so close together suggest a single incident or a shared offence, probably drunkenness or neglect on guard. The Sea Horse and the Dutton were both in the road in late July, and the days when ships lay at anchor were when spirits were most plentiful in James Town and the guards were busiest. The pay list recorded only the dates and the loss of pay, not the cause. The officers' salaries showed the Court's increase built into the full quarter. Solomon St Maurice's salary as first lieutenant rose from £18 5s 0d to £27 7s 6d. The second lieutenants drew £22 16s 3d, against £14 for the part-quarter they had served to June. The quarter had 92 days, one more than the last, and every wage and allowance reckoned by the day rose slightly as a result. A sergeant's full quarter came to £7 13s 4d instead of £7 11s 8d. | |
315 | 1769 Brought Over £ 1230 18 3 1/2 Corporals viz. George Seale advanced 24th July £ 1 8 do. Sergeant from 25 do. 5 13 4 7 1 4 Thomas Mees to 26th July advanced 1 10 4 do. Sergeant from 27th July 5 10 7 0 4 John Springthorpe 5 7 4 Abraham Lewis 5 7 4 24 16 4 Drummers viz. John Martin 5 7 4 Richard Pitfeet 5 7 4 Joseph Beckam 5 7 4 16 2 Private Richard Mason Cadet to 27th Aug. promoted 4 16 8 James Avery 3 16 8 James Armstrong 3 16 8 Andrew Alexander to 26th July advanced £ 1 1 8 do. Corporal from 27 do. 3 17 4 18 8 Moses Biffin 3 16 8 John Britt 3 16 8 John Barnes 3 16 8 Timothy Bryen 3 16 8 Emanuel Bunner 3 16 8 William Benson 3 16 8 Benjamin Barclay 3 16 8 Richard Brown 3 16 8 John Brichmans 3 16 8 John Blavin to 6 Aug. transf. 1 10 10 Private Carried Over £ 53 9 6 Carried Over £ 1271 16 7 1/2 | The First Company's pay list continued from a running total of £1,230 18s 3½d with the corporals, drummers and privates. Brought forward, £1,230 18s 3½d Corporals George Seale, as corporal to 24 July before promotion, £1 8s 0d, and as sergeant from 25 July, £5 13s 4d, £7 1s 4d Thomas Moore, as corporal to 26 July before promotion, £1 10s 4d, and as sergeant from 27 July, £5 10s 0d, £7 0s 4d John Springthorpe, £5 7s 4d Abraham Travis, £5 7s 4d Total for corporals, £24 16s 4d Drummers John Martin, £5 7s 4d Richard Pitfoot, £5 7s 4d Joseph Becham, £5 7s 4d Total for drummers, £16 2s 0d Privates Richard Mason, cadet, to 27 August, when promoted, £4 16s 8d James Avery, £3 16s 8d James Armstrong, £3 16s 8d Andrew Alexander, as private to 26 July before promotion, £1 1s 8d, and as corporal from 27 July, £3 17s 0d, £4 18s 8d Moses Biffin, £3 16s 8d John Britt, £3 16s 8d John Barnes, £3 16s 8d Timothy Bryen, £3 16s 8d Emanuel Banner, £3 16s 8d William Benson, £3 16s 8d Benjamin Barclay, £3 16s 8d Richard Brown, £3 16s 8d John Brechmans, £3 16s 8d John Blain, to 6 August, then transferred, £1 10s 10d Privates carried forward, £53 9s 6d Carried forward, £1,271 16s 7½d Interpretations The reductions of George Roe on 24 July and Thomas Townsend on 26 July 1769 were each filled the next day. George Seale rose from corporal to sergeant on 25 July, and Thomas Moore did the same on 27 July. Andrew Alexander, a private who had enlisted on 1 April, took a corporal's place on 27 July. Two demotions at the top moved four men in all. The First Company kept its full number of sergeants and corporals throughout. The swift promotions also showed the ranks that good conduct was rewarded as promptly as misconduct was punished. Richard Mason was paid as a cadet at 20d a day, a sergeant's rate and twice a private's, until 27 August 1769. He was commissioned second lieutenant on 28 August in place of the late Lieutenant Welch. A cadet stood in the ranks, but his pay marked him as an officer in waiting. It allowed a young man of good family to keep up a gentleman's appearance while he served for his commission. | |
316 | 16th October Brought Over £ 1271 16 7 1/2 Private Brought Over £ 53 9 6 Thomas Berwick 3 16 8 Patrick Conner 3 16 8 Edward Corker 3 16 8 John Charlton 3 16 8 William Coppen 3 16 8 Abraham Clarke 3 16 8 Henry Clarke to 24th July adv. £ 1 do. from 25 do. Corpor. 3 19 4 4 19 4 Anthony Clarke 3 16 8 Arundel Carnes 3 16 8 William Clissold 3 16 8 John Davis 3 16 8 John Dove 3 16 8 James Drake 3 16 8 James Dunn to 25th July transf. 1 10 Adam Evans 3 16 8 Henry Earlston 3 16 8 William French 3 16 8 William Fisher 3 16 8 William Greenwood 3 16 8 John Grainger 3 16 8 William Henderson 3 16 8 John Houston 3 16 8 Edward Haddock 3 16 8 William Holmes to the 15th Augt. died 1 18 4 Philip Hayes 3 16 8 John Hammond 3 16 8 John Hill 3 16 8 Francis Harding 3 16 8 Private Carr. Over £ 157 4 8 Carried Over £ 1271 16 7 1/2 | The First Company's privates continued from a running total of £53 9s 6d. Brought forward, £1,271 16s 7½d Privates brought forward, £53 9s 6d Thomas Berwick, £3 16s 8d Patrick Conner, £3 16s 8d Edward Corker, £3 16s 8d John Chelton, £3 16s 8d William Coppen, £3 16s 8d Abraham Clarke, £3 16s 8d Henry Clarke, as private to 24 July before promotion, £1 0s 0d, and as corporal from 25 July, £3 19s 4d, £4 19s 4d Anthony Clarke, £3 16s 8d Arundel Carnes, £3 16s 8d William Clissold, £3 16s 8d John Davis, £3 16s 8d John Dow, £3 16s 8d James Drake, £3 16s 8d James Dunner, to 25 July, then transferred, £1 0s 10d Adam Evans, £3 16s 8d Henry Eckstein, £3 16s 8d William French, £3 16s 8d William Fisher, £3 16s 8d William Greenwood, £3 16s 8d John Grainger, £3 16s 8d William Henderson, £3 16s 8d John Houston, £3 16s 8d Edward Haddock, £3 16s 8d William Holmes, to 15 August, when he died, £1 18s 4d Philip Hayes, £3 16s 8d John Hammond, £3 16s 8d John Hitt, £3 16s 8d Francis Harding, £3 16s 8d Privates carried forward, £157 4s 8d Carried forward, £1,271 16s 7½d Interpretations Henry Clarke's promotion to corporal on 25 July 1769 completed the chain that began with George Roe's reduction the day before. Roe went down to private, George Seale moved up from corporal to sergeant, and Clarke rose from private to fill Seale's place, all within two days. Two days later the same thing happened again with Thomas Townsend, Thomas Moore and Andrew Alexander. In a single week of July, four privates and corporals of the First Company gained higher rank because two sergeants had lost theirs. | |
317 | 1769 Brought Over £ 1271 16 7 1/2 Private Brought Over 157 4 8 Thomas Howching 3 16 8 Alexander Henderson to 10th July transf. 8 4 William Jones 3 16 8 Thomas Love 3 16 8 Duncan McLaren 3 16 8 William Mumford 3 16 8 John McAllister 3 16 8 James Miller 3 16 8 William Mudge 3 16 8 Patrick Nowland ent. from 2 Comp. 7th August 2 5 10 William Page 3 16 8 Thomas Roberts to 10th July disch. 8 4 William Robinson 3 16 8 Silvanus Ross 3 16 8 Thos. Rogers 3 16 8 Anthony Reynolds 3 16 8 William Swaby 3 16 8 John Shuns 3 16 8 John Stewart 3 16 8 Edward Stevenson 3 16 8 William Smelt 3 16 8 Joseph Stacy 3 16 8 William Swanson 3 16 8 James Snell 3 16 8 William Tipper 3 16 8 John Tanton 3 16 8 Joseph Vallentine 3 16 8 John Whittingdale 3 16 8 Private Carr. Over £ 256 3 10 Carried Over £ 1271 16 7 1/2 | The First Company's privates continued from a running total of £157 4s 8d. Brought forward, £1,271 16s 7½d Privates brought forward, £157 4s 8d Thomas Hutchings, £3 16s 8d Alexander Henderson, to 10 July, then transferred, £0 8s 4d William Jones, £3 16s 8d Thomas Love, £3 16s 8d Duncan McLaren, £3 16s 8d William Mumford, £3 16s 8d John McAllister, £3 16s 8d James Miller, £3 16s 8d William Mudge, £3 16s 8d Patrick Newland, transferred from the Second Company on 7 August, £2 5s 10d William Page, £3 16s 8d Thomas Roberts, to 10 July, when discharged, £0 8s 4d William Robinson, £3 16s 8d Silvanus Relf, £3 16s 8d Thomas Rogers, £3 16s 8d Anthony Reynolds, £3 16s 8d William Swaby, £3 16s 8d John Shuns, £3 16s 8d John Stewart, £3 16s 8d Edward Stevenson, £3 16s 8d William Smelt, £3 16s 8d Joseph Stacy, £3 16s 8d William Swanson, £3 16s 8d James Snell, £3 16s 8d William Tipper, £3 16s 8d John Tanton, £3 16s 8d Joseph Valentine, £3 16s 8d John Whittingdale, £3 16s 8d Privates carried forward, £256 3s 10d Carried forward, £1,271 16s 7½d Interpretations Thomas Roberts was discharged from the First Company on 10 July 1769. A Thomas Roberts appeared among the seamen of the Dutton, which arrived four days later and sailed for England on 4 August. The dates fit closely enough to make it likely they were the same man. Roberts would then have been one of the time-expired soldiers who worked their passage home before the mast. John Tack, the matross discharged on 26 July, had done the same in the same ship. For a discharged soldier with no money for a fare, signing on as a seaman was the usual road home. | |
318 | 16th October Brought Over £ 1271 16 7 1/2 Private Brought Over 256 3 10 Benjamin Wise 3 16 8 Thomas Windall 3 16 8 George Wall 3 16 8 Bartholomew Welch 3 16 8 271 10 6 Second Company viz. Henry Bazett Capt. Saly. 59 6 3 Michael Frost 1 Lieut. Saly. 27 7 6 do. diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 36 14 4 1/2 Thomas Lambert 2 Lieut. Saly. 22 16 3 do. diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 32 3 1 1/2 John Bazett 2 Lieut. Saly. 22 16 3 do. diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 32 3 1 1/2 Sergeants viz. Robert Hopkinson 7 13 4 John Salisbury 7 13 4 Samuel Packer to 28th July red. £ 2 6 8 do. Private from 29 do. 2 13 4 5 William Merrick 7 13 4 28 Corporals viz. Francis Seale to 28th July adv. £ 1 12 8 do. from 29th do. as Sergt. 5 6 8 6 19 4 Corporals Carried Over £ 6 19 4 Carr. Over 1781 14 | The First Company's privates closed at £271 10s 6d, and the pay list of the Second Company followed. Brought forward, £1,271 16s 7½d Privates brought forward, £256 3s 10d Benjamin Wise, £3 16s 8d Thomas Windall, £3 16s 8d George Wall, £3 16s 8d Bartholomew Welsh, £3 16s 8d Total for the First Company, £271 10s 6d Second Company Henry Bazett, captain, salary, £59 6s 3d Michael Frost, first lieutenant Salary, £27 7s 6d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Michael Frost, £36 14s 4½d Thomas Lambert, second lieutenant Salary, £22 16s 3d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Thomas Lambert, £32 3s 1½d John Bazett, second lieutenant Salary, £22 16s 3d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for John Bazett, £32 3s 1½d Sergeants Robert Hopkinson, £7 13s 4d John Salisbury, £7 13s 4d Samuel Packer, as sergeant to 28 July when reduced, £2 6s 8d, and as private from 29 July, £2 13s 4d, £5 0s 0d William Merrick, £7 13s 4d Total for sergeants, £28 0s 0d Corporals Francis Seale, as corporal to 28 July before promotion, £1 12s 8d, and as sergeant from 29 July, £5 6s 8d, £6 19s 4d Corporals carried forward, £6 19s 4d Carried forward, £1,731 14s 0d Interpretations Samuel Packer of the Second Company was reduced from sergeant to private on 28 July 1769. He had been promoted only on 6 May, when John Bazett received his commission. His fall came two days after Thomas Townsend's and four days after George Roe's in the First Company. Three sergeants in two companies lost their rank within five days at the end of July. That points to a single cause rather than three unrelated lapses. The Sea Horse had sailed on 21 July, and the Dutton lay in the road from 14 July to 4 August. When ships were in, spirits flowed more freely in James Town, and the guards were doubled. A bout of drunkenness or a failure on watch in that week would explain the sudden run of reductions. Francis Seale took Packer's place on 29 July, the day after he fell. | |
319 | 1769 Brought Over £ 1731 14 Corporals Brought Over £ 6 19 4 Joseph Whaley 5 7 4 Thomas Palmer to 11th Septr. reduced £ 4 5 2 do. from 12 do. Private 15 10 5 1 Joseph McAtney 5 7 4 22 15 Drummers viz. John Brown 5 7 4 Patrick Edington 5 7 4 10 14 8 Private viz. Robert Allum 3 16 8 Nicholas Bushell to 10th July discharged 8 4 William Birch 3 16 8 William Brooks 3 16 8 Jacob Brown 3 16 8 Daniel Bye 3 16 8 Henry Batchelor 3 16 8 John Blavin from 1 Augt. transf. from 1 Compy. 2 6 8 William Congreve 3 16 8 John Crawley 3 16 8 William Carter 3 16 8 John Cunningham 3 16 8 William Carfoe 3 16 8 William Drinnan 3 16 8 John Dailey 3 16 8 Peter Ellum 3 16 8 John Forbes 3 16 8 William Fullwood 3 16 8 John Goodsole 3 16 8 Private Carried Over £ 67 18 4 Carried Over £ 1765 3 8 | The Second Company's pay list continued from a running total of £1,731 14s 0d. Brought forward, £1,731 14s 0d Corporals brought forward, £6 19s 4d Joseph Whaley, £5 7s 4d Thomas Palmer, as corporal to 11 September when reduced, £4 5s 2d, and as private from 12 September, £0 15s 10d, £5 1s 0d Joseph McAtteny, £5 7s 4d Total for corporals, £22 15s 0d Drummers John Brown, £5 7s 4d Patrick Edington, £5 7s 4d Total for drummers, £10 14s 8d Privates Robert Allum, £3 16s 8d Nicholas Bushell, to 10 July, when discharged, £0 8s 4d William Birch, £3 16s 8d William Brooks, £3 16s 8d Jacob Brown, £3 16s 8d Daniel Bye, £3 16s 8d Henry Batchelor, £3 16s 8d John Blain, from 6 August, transferred from the First Company, £2 6s 8d William Congreve, £3 16s 8d John Crawley, £3 16s 8d William Carter, £3 16s 8d John Cunningham, £3 16s 8d William Carfoe, £3 16s 8d William Drinnan, £3 16s 8d John Dailey, £3 16s 8d Peter Ellum, £3 16s 8d John Forbes, £3 16s 8d William Fullerd, £3 16s 8d John Goodsole, £3 16s 8d Privates carried forward, £67 18s 4d Carried forward, £1,765 3s 8d Interpretations Nicholas Bushell was discharged from the Second Company on 10 July 1769, the same day as Thomas Roberts of the First Company. Both names appeared among the seamen of the Dutton, which reached St Helena four days later. Time-expired soldiers were evidently discharged in a group as soon as a homeward ship was expected. The pay list stopped their wages on the day of discharge, and the 6d a day subsistence for discharged men covered the few days until they could go aboard. Taken together, the pay lists and the Dutton's roll show the discharge process working as a single operation from the garrison to the ship. | |
320 | [Beginnings of three lines near the foot of the page partly covered by a strip of paper.] 16th October Brought Over £ 1765 3 8 Private Brought Over £ 67 18 4 John Gray 3 16 8 Robt. Green 3 16 8 Philip Gleason 3 16 8 Robert Grosvenor from 16th Augt. Ent. 1 18 4 William Harris to 28th July adv. £ 1 3 4 do. from 29th do. as Corpl. 3 14 8 4 18 Abraham Harding 3 16 8 William Harris 3 16 8 Samuel Hikes 3 16 8 John Holbrook 3 16 8 James Hudson 3 16 8 Thomas Hayles 3 16 8 John Ham 3 16 8 William Hunt 3 16 8 Augustine Hitchcock 3 16 8 Charles Holloway 3 16 8 Thomas Hart 3 16 8 Robert Hardie 3 16 8 Samuel Inston 3 16 8 William Jones to 12th Septr. adv. £ 3 10 do. from 13th do. Corpl. 1 2 2 4 3 William Johnson 3 16 8 John James 3 16 8 [...]ncis Jackson 3 16 8 J[...]n Jacks to 14th Augt. disc. 1 17 6 J[...]n Jacobs 3 16 8 Samuel Kitson 3 16 8 Henry Kirkham 3 16 8 Private Carried Over £ 165 1 10 Carried Over £ 1765 3 8 | The Second Company's privates continued from a running total of £67 18s 4d. Brought forward, £1,765 3s 8d Privates brought forward, £67 18s 4d John Grey, £3 16s 8d Robert Green, £3 16s 8d Philip Gleason, £3 16s 8d Robert Grosvenor, enlisted from 16 August, £1 18s 4d William Harris, as private to 28 July before promotion, £1 3s 4d, and as corporal from 29 July, £3 14s 8d, £4 18s 0d Abraham Harding, £3 16s 8d William Harris, £3 16s 8d Samuel Hiles, £3 16s 8d John Holbrook, £3 16s 8d James Hudson, £3 16s 8d Thomas Hayles, £3 16s 8d John Ham, £3 16s 8d William Hunt, £3 16s 8d Augustine Hitchcock, £3 16s 8d Charles Holloway, £3 16s 8d Thomas Hart, £3 16s 8d Robert Hardie, £3 16s 8d Samuel Jordan, £3 16s 8d William Jones, as private to 12 September before promotion, £3 0s 10d, and as corporal from 13 September, £1 2s 2d, £4 3s 0d William Johnson, £3 16s 8d John James, £3 16s 8d Francis Jackson, £3 16s 8d John Jacks, to 14 August, when discharged, £1 17s 6d John Jacobs, £3 16s 8d Samuel Kitson, £3 16s 8d Henry Kirkham, £3 16s 8d Privates carried forward, £165 1s 10d Carried forward, £1,765 3s 8d Interpretations Robert Grosvenor, the deserter from Bombay handed over by Captain Abercromby of the Grenville, was entered in the Second Company from 16 August 1769 at a private's pay. The Council had decided on 17 August to hold him to the five years of his Bombay engagement. His pay ran from the day he came ashore, not from the day of the Council's decision, and he received no bounty. A man who had deserted one Company army thus slipped into another within a day, at the same 10d a day as any volunteer. John Jacks, whose discharge the Council granted on 14 August, was paid exactly to that date. The Second Company lost a time-expired soldier and gained a deserter in the same week. | |
321 | 1769 Brought Over £ 1765 3 8 Private Brought Over £ 165 1 10 John King 3 16 8 William Kingscott 3 16 8 Thomas Little 3 16 8 Henry Miller 3 16 8 John Morris 3 16 8 John McCullen 3 16 8 William Macbeth 3 16 8 Thomas Matthews 3 16 8 Thomas Morgan 3 16 8 Patrick Nowland to 6th Aug. transf. to 1 Compy. 1 10 Reeves Osborne 3 16 8 George Oliver 3 16 8 Samuel Perry 3 16 8 John Pavey 3 16 8 Stephen Piper 3 16 8 Jacob Peters from 3 July ent. 3 15 Samuel Peacock to 26 July transf. to Artl. 1 5 4 William Richardson 3 16 8 John Chris. Rose 3 16 8 Thomas Powers 3 16 8 Gregory Southwood 3 16 8 Frederick Shaffer 3 16 8 George Short 3 16 8 John Sabourin 3 16 8 John Tucker 3 16 8 John Vaughan 3 16 8 Francis Venable 3 16 8 John Wyett 3 16 8 Thomas Richards to 14 Aug. discharged 1 17 6 269 4 4 Carried Over £ 2034 8 | The Second Company's privates continued from a running total of £165 1s 10d and closed at £269 4s 4d. Brought forward, £1,765 3s 8d Privates brought forward, £165 1s 10d John King, £3 16s 8d William Kingsford, £3 16s 8d Thomas Little, £3 16s 8d Henry Miller, £3 16s 8d John Morris, £3 16s 8d John McCullen, £3 16s 8d William McBeth, £3 16s 8d Thomas Matthews, £3 16s 8d Thomas Morgan, £3 16s 8d Patrick Newland, to 6 August, then transferred to the First Company, £1 10s 0d Reeves Osborne, £3 16s 8d George Oliver, £3 16s 8d Samuel Perry, £3 16s 8d John Pavey, £3 16s 8d Stephen Piper, £3 16s 8d Jacob Peters, enlisted from 3 July, £3 15s 0d Samuel Peacock, to 28 July, then transferred to the artillery, £1 3s 4d William Richardson, £3 16s 8d John Christian Rose, £3 16s 8d Thomas Towers, £3 16s 8d Gregory Southwood, £3 16s 8d Frederick Shaffer, £3 16s 8d George Short, £3 16s 8d John Sabourin, £3 16s 8d John Tucker, £3 16s 8d John Vaughan, £3 16s 8d Francis Venable, £3 16s 8d John Wyatt, £3 16s 8d Thomas Richards, to 14 August, when discharged, £1 17s 6d Total for privates, £269 4s 4d Carried forward, £2,034 8s 0d Interpretations Patrick Newland left the Second Company for the First on 6 August 1769, and John Blain moved the other way on the same day. As with Thomas Little and Abraham Miller in April, the companies exchanged one man for another, so that neither lost strength. Two such swaps in a single year suggest a settled practice. A soldier could change companies, whether at his own request or his officers', only if another man moved in his place. Samuel Peacock went to the artillery on 28 July 1769, joining William Cutts, William Pink and James Walter, who had transferred earlier in the year. The artillery's higher rates of pay drew steady volunteers from the infantry. The Council let the companies of foot lose men to the guns one at a time, while the arrival of time-expired men's replacements, such as Jacob Peters on 3 July, made good the numbers. | |
322 | 16th October Brought Over £ 2034 8 Third Company viz. Richard Beale Capt. Saly. 59 6 3 Thomas Bazett 1 Lieut. Saly. 27 7 6 do. diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 36 14 4 1/2 John Wm. Welch 2 Lieut. Saly. to 21 Augt. died Sal. 13 do. diet Money to do. 3 18 do. House Rent to do. 1 8 6 18 6 6 Thomas Statham 2 Lieut. Saly. 22 16 3 do. diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 32 3 1 1/2 Richard Mason 2 Lieut. from 28 Augt. 8 10 do. diet Money from do. 2 11 do. House Rent from do. 18 7 11 19 7 Sergeants viz. James Goudy Serg. Major at 2/8 12 5 4 William Clifton 7 13 4 David Scott 7 13 4 Thomas Taylor 7 13 4 35 5 4 Corporals viz. Richard Ashford 5 7 4 William Hill 5 7 4 George Towns 5 7 4 Thomas Hughes 5 7 4 21 9 4 Carried Over £ 2249 12 6 | The pay list of the Third Company followed, continuing from a running total of £2,034 8s 0d. Brought forward, £2,034 8s 0d Third Company Richard Beale, captain, salary, £59 6s 3d Thomas Bazett, first lieutenant Salary, £27 7s 6d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Thomas Bazett, £36 14s 4½d John Ham Welch, second lieutenant, to 21 August, when he died Salary, £13 0s 0d Table allowance, £3 18s 0d House rent, £1 8s 6d Total for John Ham Welch, £18 6s 6d Thomas Statham, second lieutenant Salary, £22 16s 3d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Thomas Statham, £32 3s 1½d Richard Mason, second lieutenant from 28 August Salary, £8 10s 0d Table allowance, £2 11s 0d House rent, £0 18s 7d Total for Richard Mason, £11 19s 7d Sergeants James Goudy, sergeant major, at 2s 8d a day, £12 5s 4d William Clifton, £7 13s 4d David Scott, £7 13s 4d Thomas Taylor, £7 13s 4d Total for sergeants, £35 5s 4d Corporals Richard Ashford, £5 7s 4d William Hill, £5 7s 4d George Towns, £5 7s 4d Thomas Hughes, £5 7s 4d Total for corporals, £21 9s 4d Carried forward, £2,249 12s 6d Interpretations James Goudy appeared as sergeant major at 2s 8d a day, against the 20d of an ordinary sergeant. In the quarter to June 1769 he had been a sergeant like the others. The sergeant major was the senior non-commissioned officer, responsible for drill, for keeping the duty rosters and for passing the adjutant's orders to the companies. The new rank put one experienced man over all the garrison's sergeants. His pay was more than three times a private's, and it marked him clearly as the bridge between the officers and the men. John Ham Welch was paid to 21 August 1769, the day he died, and Richard Mason was paid as a lieutenant from 28 August, the day the Council appointed him. The Council did not backdate Mason's commission to the day of the vacancy. He had already been paid as a cadet at 20d a day up to 27 August, so his pay ran without a gap from one rank to the next. The week between Welch's death and Mason's appointment cost the Company nothing, since neither drew a lieutenant's pay for it. | |
323 | 1769 Brought Over £ 2249 12 6 Drummers viz. John Swaits 5 7 4 George Varney 5 7 4 10 14 8 Private James Anderson 3 16 8 Jacob Butt 3 16 8 Mark Batts 3 16 8 John Blenhem 3 16 8 Frederick Willm. Beard 3 16 8 Abel Bagnell 3 16 8 John Cork 3 16 8 Philip Cork 3 16 8 Thomas Connell 3 16 8 Robert Court 3 16 8 Edward Dudley 3 16 8 James Donnavan 3 16 8 William Edwards 3 16 8 Charles Egells 3 16 8 John Feston to 19 July disch. 15 10 William Ford to 19 July do. 15 10 William Foster 3 16 8 Charles Goulding to 1 Sept. died 2 12 6 Archibald Grayham 3 16 8 William Gunnup 3 16 8 William Griffin 3 16 8 Felix Hyder 3 16 8 William Hopkins 3 16 8 Thomas Hilcock 3 16 8 Private Carr. Over £ 84 14 2 Carr. Over £ 2260 7 2 | The Third Company's pay list continued from a running total of £2,249 12s 6d with the drummers and privates. Brought forward, £2,249 12s 6d Drummers John Twaits, £5 7s 4d George Varney, £5 7s 4d Total for drummers, £10 14s 8d Privates James Anderson, £3 16s 8d Jacob Butt, £3 16s 8d Mark Batts, £3 16s 8d John Blackburn, £3 16s 8d Frederick William Beard, £3 16s 8d Abel Bagnel, £3 16s 8d John Cook, £3 16s 8d Philip Cook, £3 16s 8d Thomas Connel, £3 16s 8d Robert Court, £3 16s 8d Edward Dudley, £3 16s 8d James Donnavan, £3 16s 8d William Edwards, £3 16s 8d Charles Egells, £3 16s 8d John Foxon, to 19 July, when discharged, £0 15s 10d William Ford, to 19 July, when discharged, £0 15s 10d William Foster, £3 16s 8d Charles Golding, to 1 September, when he died, £2 12s 6d Archibald Grayham, £3 16s 8d William Gunnup, £3 16s 8d William Griffin, £3 16s 8d Felix Hyder, £3 16s 8d William Hopkins, £3 16s 8d Thomas Kilcock, £3 16s 8d Privates carried forward, £84 14s 2d Carried forward, £2,260 7s 2d | |
324 | 16th October Brought Over £ 2260 7 2 Private Brought Over £ 84 14 2 Mainard Hayes 3 16 8 Joseph Holloway 3 16 8 Peter Higgens 3 16 8 William Hamilton 3 16 8 Edward Hazell 3 16 8 John Hilliard 3 16 8 Josiah Johnson 3 16 8 Robert Johnson 3 16 8 Richard Johnson 3 16 8 William Johnson 3 16 8 Samuel Johnson 3 16 8 James Kemp 3 16 8 John Long 3 16 8 Edward Lambum 3 16 8 Bryan Lynch 3 16 8 George Littleton 3 16 8 Richard Moyce 3 16 8 Thomas Morriss 3 16 8 John Miller 3 16 8 Abraham Major 3 16 8 Thomas Matthews 3 16 8 Daniel Masterson 3 16 8 James Moyce 3 16 8 Joseph Martin 3 16 8 William Medcalf 3 16 8 Charles Morris 3 16 8 James Mannington 3 16 8 John Merrill 3 16 8 Abraham Miller 3 16 8 Private Carr. Over £ 195 17 6 Carried Over £ 2260 7 2 | The Third Company's privates continued from a running total of £84 14s 2d. Brought forward, £2,260 7s 2d Privates brought forward, £84 14s 2d Maynard Hayes, £3 16s 8d Joseph Holloway, £3 16s 8d Peter Higgins, £3 16s 8d William Hammilton, £3 16s 8d Edward Hazell, £3 16s 8d John Millard, £3 16s 8d Josiah Johnson, £3 16s 8d Robert Johnson, £3 16s 8d Richard Johnson, £3 16s 8d William Johnson, £3 16s 8d Samuel Johnson, £3 16s 8d James Kemp, £3 16s 8d John Long, £3 16s 8d Edward Lambert, £3 16s 8d Bryan Lynch, £3 16s 8d George Littleton, £3 16s 8d Richard Moyce, £3 16s 8d Thomas Morris, £3 16s 8d John Miller, £3 16s 8d Abraham Major, £3 16s 8d Thomas Matthews, £3 16s 8d Daniel Masterson, £3 16s 8d James Moyce, £3 16s 8d Joseph Martin, £3 16s 8d William Metcalf, £3 16s 8d Charles Morris, £3 16s 8d James Mannington, £3 16s 8d John Merritt, £3 16s 8d Abraham Miller, £3 16s 8d Privates carried forward, £195 17s 6d Carried forward, £2,260 7s 2d | |
325 | 1769 Brought Over £ 2260 7 2 Private Brought Over £ 195 17 6 Thomas Nash 3 16 8 Thomas Perry 3 16 8 Henry Pinchon 3 16 8 William Perkins 3 16 8 David Patton 3 16 8 James Proctor 3 16 8 Richard Penny 3 16 8 Robert Stack 3 16 8 Adam Scott 3 16 8 Arthur Scott 3 16 8 William Smith 3 16 8 George Smith 3 16 8 John Shorland 3 16 8 Richard Slaughter 3 16 8 George Short 3 16 8 John Thompson 3 16 8 Thomas Ward 3 16 8 Hutton Waller 3 16 8 James York 3 16 8 268 14 2 Fourth Company John Howard Capt. Saly. 59 6 3 Samuel Desfountain 1 Lieut. Saly. 27 7 6 do. diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 36 14 4 1/2 James Greentree 2 Lieut. Saly. 22 16 3 do. diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 32 3 1 1/2 Carried Over £ 2657 3 1 Margin Notes: 300 | The Third Company's privates closed at £268 14s 2d, and the pay list of the Fourth Company followed. Brought forward, £2,260 7s 2d Privates brought forward, £195 17s 6d Thomas Nash, £3 16s 8d Thomas Perry, £3 16s 8d Henry Pincheon, £3 16s 8d William Perkins, £3 16s 8d David Patton, £3 16s 8d James Proctor, £3 16s 8d Richard Penny, £3 16s 8d Robert Stack, £3 16s 8d Adam Scott, £3 16s 8d Arthur Shell, £3 16s 8d William Smith, £3 16s 8d George Smith, £3 16s 8d John Shotland, £3 16s 8d Richard Slaughter, £3 16s 8d George Short, £3 16s 8d John Thompson, £3 16s 8d Thomas Ward, £3 16s 8d Hutton Walter, £3 16s 8d James York, £3 16s 8d Total for the Third Company's privates, £268 14s 2d Fourth Company John Howard, captain, salary, £59 6s 3d Samuel Desfountain, first lieutenant Salary, £27 7s 6d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Samuel Desfountain, £36 14s 4½d James Greentree, second lieutenant Salary, £22 16s 3d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for James Greentree, £32 3s 1½d Carried forward, £2,657 3s 1d Interpretations The captains of the Third and Fourth Companies each drew £59 6s 3d for the quarter, against £45 12s 6d plus a separate increase of £8 8s 0d in the quarter to June 1769. As with the civil servants, the Court's increase of May 1769 was now part of the salary, and a captain's pay stood at about £235 a year. Richard Beale was paid the full captain's salary for the Third Company to 30 September 1769, a week before his death. If he was the elder Beale, aged 73 and nearly blind, the captaincy had become a sinecure attached to long service, with the actual command falling on Thomas Bazett as first lieutenant. | |
326 | 16th October Brought Over £ 2657 3 1 Robert Gulding 2 Lieut. Saly. 22 16 3 do. diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 32 3 1 1/2 Sergeants viz. John Moir 7 13 4 John Deal 7 13 4 John Terry 7 13 4 Thomas Hilliard 7 13 4 30 13 4 Corporals viz. Thomas Williams 5 7 4 Thomas Kylock 5 7 4 Francis Flynn 5 7 4 Thomas Ferris 5 7 4 21 9 4 Drummers viz. George Wills 5 7 4 John Campton 5 7 4 10 14 8 Private viz. John Allen 3 16 8 William Allen 3 16 8 Daniel Armin 3 16 8 George Bennett 3 16 8 John Bowls 3 16 8 William Blackman 3 16 8 Joseph Blackwell 3 16 8 Thomas Baily 3 16 8 Private Carr. Over £ 30 13 4 Carried Over £ 2752 3 6 1/2 | The Fourth Company's pay list continued from a running total of £2,657 3s 1d. Brought forward, £2,657 3s 1d Robert Gosling, second lieutenant Salary, £22 16s 3d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Robert Gosling, £32 3s 1½d Sergeants John Moir, £7 13s 4d John Deal, £7 13s 4d John Terry, £7 13s 4d Thomas Pillard, £7 13s 4d Total for sergeants, £30 13s 4d Corporals Thomas Williams, £5 7s 4d Thomas Kyloch, £5 7s 4d Francis Flower, £5 7s 4d Thomas Ferris, £5 7s 4d Total for corporals, £21 9s 4d Drummers George Wills, £5 7s 4d John Campton, £5 7s 4d Total for drummers, £10 14s 8d Privates John Allen, £3 16s 8d William Allen, £3 16s 8d Daniel Armin, £3 16s 8d George Bennett, £3 16s 8d John Bowler, £3 16s 8d William Blackman, £3 16s 8d Joseph Blackwell, £3 16s 8d Thomas Bailey, £3 16s 8d Privates carried forward, £30 13s 4d Carried forward, £2,752 5s 6½d Interpretations Daniel Armin drew a full quarter's pay to 30 September 1769. He was killed by the fall of rock at Munden's Point on 5 October, five days after the quarter closed. His death would therefore first show in the pay list for the quarter ending December 1769. His pay for those five days would go to his estate, along with what was left of the £10 bounty he had taken when he re-enlisted on 10 April 1769. The Fourth Company kept the same sergeants and corporals for the whole quarter. The other three companies each had reductions and promotions in late July. This company had none, and every man in its ranks drew the standard rate for all 92 days. | |
327 | 1769 Brought Over £ 2752 5 6 1/2 Private Brought Over £ 30 13 4 Richard Bickerstaff 3 16 8 William Cockray 3 16 8 Duncan Cameron 3 16 8 James Culshaw 3 16 8 Richard Close 3 16 8 Joseph Cummins 3 16 8 John Clemens 3 16 8 Thomas Christian Ent. 3 July 3 15 John Causton 3 16 8 Charles Field 3 16 8 Henry Friendly 3 16 8 George Green 3 16 8 John Gillmore 3 16 8 Benjamin Garrard 3 16 8 Edward Gorman 3 16 8 Henry Hemmingway 3 16 8 Roger Hayden 3 16 8 John Harper 3 16 8 Henry Hamilton 3 16 8 Christian Johnson 3 16 8 Thomas Johnson 3 16 8 John Joyce 3 16 8 James Jordan 3 16 8 Richard Kempton 3 16 8 Thomas Lyne 3 16 8 Charles Lewellen 3 16 8 Murdoch McLeod 3 16 8 Thomas McDearmett 3 16 8 John Meyer 3 16 8 Private Carried Over £ 141 15 Carried Over £ 2752 5 6 1/2 | The Fourth Company's privates continued from a running total of £30 13s 4d. Brought forward, £2,752 5s 6½d Privates brought forward, £30 13s 4d Richard Bickerstaff, £3 16s 8d William Coffey, £3 16s 8d Duncan Cameron, £3 16s 8d James Culshew, £3 16s 8d Richard Close, £3 16s 8d Joseph Cummins, £3 16s 8d John Clement, £3 16s 8d Thomas Christian, enlisted 3 July, £3 15s 0d John Euston, £3 16s 8d Charles Field, £3 16s 8d Henry Friendly, £3 16s 8d George Green, £3 16s 8d John Gillmore, £3 16s 8d Benjamin Garrard, £3 16s 8d Edward Gorman, £3 16s 8d Henry Honeyburg, £3 16s 8d Roger Hayden, £3 16s 8d John Harper, £3 16s 8d Henry Hamilton, £3 16s 8d Christian Johnson, £3 16s 8d Thomas Johnson, £3 16s 8d John Joyce, £3 16s 8d James Jordan, £3 16s 8d Richard Kempton, £3 16s 8d Thomas Lyne, £3 16s 8d Charles Lewellen, £3 16s 8d Murdo McLeod, £3 16s 8d Thomas McDearman, £3 16s 8d John Moyer, £3 16s 8d Privates carried forward, £141 15s 0d Carried forward, £2,752 5s 6½d Interpretations Thomas Christian enlisted in the Fourth Company on 3 July 1769, the same day Jacob Peters joined the Second Company. The York had sailed the day before. Two recruits signing on together the morning after a ship left the road suggests they had come ashore from her and stayed behind. Some may have been seamen who chose the garrison over the voyage, others passengers who had run out of money. Both men drew their pay from the day of enlistment, two days short of the full quarter. Thomas Lyne had re-enlisted on 12 June 1769 for a bounty of £10. He now appeared as an ordinary private on full pay, and the bounty had cost the Company nothing in lost service. John Joyce, entered here as a private, shared his name with the keeper and cleaner of clocks and instruments on the civil list. If the two were the same man, a soldier with a craftsman's skill earned a small extra wage for using it in the Company's service. | |
328 | [Foot of the page cut off at the lower edge of the image.] 16th October Brought Over £ 2752 5 6 1/2 Private Brought Over £ 141 15 Robert May 3 16 8 William Morgan 3 16 8 Jonathan Mallett 3 16 8 John Moyce 3 16 8 John Newton 3 16 8 James Newport 3 16 8 Robert Nichols 3 16 8 John Oswald 3 16 8 Stephen Pappots 17th July disch. 14 2 Daniel Patrick 3 16 8 John Pluck 3 16 8 William Parker 3 16 8 Thomas Pritchard 3 16 8 John Pink 3 16 8 Benjamin Poole 3 16 8 James Richardson 3 16 8 Thomas Rutherford 3 16 8 John Shaw 3 16 8 William Scotman 3 16 8 John Slade 3 16 8 William Steadman 3 16 8 William Sharp 3 16 8 James Sax 3 16 8 John Tottidall 3 16 8 Stephen Vanderhorst Ent. 3 July 3 15 Jeremiah Thorrell 3 16 8 William West 3 16 8 James Wilson 3 16 8 Samuel Wilson 3 16 8 | The Fourth Company's privates continued from a running total of £141 15s 0d. Brought forward, £2,752 5s 6½d Privates brought forward, £141 15s 0d Robert May, £3 16s 8d William Morgan, £3 16s 8d Jonathan Mallett, £3 16s 8d John Moyce, £3 16s 8d John Newton, £3 16s 8d James Newport, £3 16s 8d Robert Nichols, £3 16s 8d John Oswald, £3 16s 8d Stephen Pappe, to 17 July, when discharged, £0 14s 2d Daniel Patrick, £3 16s 8d John Pluck, £3 16s 8d William Parker, £3 16s 8d Thomas Pritchard, £3 16s 8d John Pink, £3 16s 8d Benjamin Pearle, £3 16s 8d James Richardson, £3 16s 8d Thomas Rutherford, £3 16s 8d John Shaw, £3 16s 8d William Seltman, £3 16s 8d John Slade, £3 16s 8d William Steadman, £3 16s 8d William Sharpe, £3 16s 8d James Sax, £3 16s 8d John Tottendall, £3 16s 8d Stephen Vanderhorst, enlisted 3 July, £3 15s 0d Jeremiah Sherrell, £3 16s 8d William West, £3 16s 8d James Wilson, £3 16s 8d Samuel Wilson, £3 16s 8d Interpretations Stephen Pappe was discharged on 17 July 1769, three days after the Dutton arrived. A Stephen Papps appeared among her seamen when she sailed for England on 4 August. He thus joined Thomas Roberts, Nicholas Bushell and John Tack, all soldiers discharged in July whose names turned up on the Dutton's roll. The Council seems to have timed these discharges to the ship's arrival. Each man's pay stopped on the day he left the ranks, and the ship carried him home in return for his work aboard. Stephen Vanderhorst enlisted on 3 July 1769, the same day as Thomas Christian in this company and Jacob Peters in the Second. Three recruits signed on the day after the York sailed. That points to a group of men who had left the ship together and chose the garrison over the passage home. Robert Nichols, the deserter given up by Captain Hayter of the York and enlisted on 27 June, now drew a full quarter's pay alongside them. | |
329 | [Foot of the page partly cut off at the lower edge of the image.] 1769 Brought Over £ 2752 5 6 1/2 Private Brought Over £ 249 14 2 Peter White 3 16 8 Joseph West 3 16 8 John Woods 3 16 8 John Wood 3 16 8 George Wood 3 16 8 Thomas Watts 3 16 8 272 14 2 Artillery Company viz. Thomas Leech 1 Lieut. Saly. 27 7 6 do. diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 36 14 4 1/2 John Shirley 2 Lieut. Saly. 22 16 3 do. diet Money 6 16 10 1/2 do. House Rent 2 10 32 3 1 1/2 Robert Gibson 2 Lieut. upon half pay 13 13 9 do. diet Money 3 8 5 1/4 do. House Rent 1 5 18 7 2 1/4 Sergeants viz. John Whitchurch 9 4 Adam Watson 9 4 Nicholas Stoughton 9 4 John Jack to 24 July order. disc. 2 8 do. as Matross 1 day 1 30 1 Corporals viz. John Turner to 24 July advanced £ 1 16 do. from 25 do. Sergt. 6 16 8 12 Corp. Carried Over £ 8 12 | The Fourth Company's privates closed at £272 14s 2d, and the pay list of the artillery company followed. Brought forward, £2,752 5s 6½d Privates brought forward, £249 14s 2d Peter White, £3 16s 8d Joseph West, £3 16s 8d John Woods, £3 16s 8d John Wood, £3 16s 8d George Wood, £3 16s 8d Thomas Watts, £3 16s 8d Total for the Fourth Company's privates, £272 14s 2d Artillery company Thomas Leech, first lieutenant Salary, £27 7s 6d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for Thomas Leech, £36 14s 4½d John Kirtley, second lieutenant Salary, £22 16s 3d Table allowance, £6 16s 10½d House rent, £2 10s 0d Total for John Kirtley, £32 3s 1½d Robert Gibson, second lieutenant, on half pay Salary, £13 13s 9d Table allowance, £3 8s 5¼d House rent, £1 5s 0d Total for Robert Gibson, £18 7s 2¼d Sergeants John Whitchurch, £9 4s 0d Adam Watson, £9 4s 0d Nicholas Houghton, £9 4s 0d John Tack, as sergeant to 24 July when reduced, £2 8s 0d, and as matross for 1 day before discharge, £0 1s 0d Total for sergeants, £30 1s 0d Corporals John Turner, as corporal to 24 July before promotion, £1 16s 0d, and as sergeant from 25 July, £6 16s 0d, £8 12s 0d Corporals carried forward, £8 12s 0d Interpretations John Tack had been a sergeant of the artillery until 24 July 1769. He was then reduced to matross, served a single day in that rank and was discharged. His petition for discharge, granted on 26 July, had said only that he had served his time. The pay list shows he left the Company's service broken in rank as well as time-expired. The Council could have discharged him as a sergeant, since his term was up in any case. Reducing him first meant that he went home without a sergeant's standing, and his final day was paid at the matross's 1s, not a sergeant's 2s. Whatever his offence, the reduction was a mark against him that the Dutton's commander and anyone in England could read in his discharge. John Turner took his place as sergeant on 25 July, the day after the reduction. The artillery's command had changed since June. Archibald Mitchell had been captain until his resignation on 10 June, and no captain now appeared on the list. Thomas Leech headed the company as first lieutenant, while Thomas Bazett, as superintendent of the works, commanded the artillery as a whole. Robert Gibson again drew exactly half a second lieutenant's salary, allowance and rent, confirming that his half pay was a standing term of his post. | |
330 | 16th October Brought Over £ 3142 5 5 Corporals Brought Over £ 8 12 James Parfitt 6 18 Thomas Syle 6 18 Thomas Jones 6 18 29 6 Bombardiers viz. William Stapleford 6 18 Sedgwick Netherall 6 18 John Dobson 6 18 Charles Abraham 6 18 27 12 Gunners viz. John Smith 6 2 8 John Carfoot 6 2 8 Benjamin Holmes 6 2 8 Thomas Yates 6 2 8 William Haddell 6 2 8 Samuel Ringrose 6 2 8 Matthew Dunhill to 17 July red. £ 1 2 8 do. Matross from 18 do. 3 15 4 17 Godfrey Smith to 21 Augt. red. 3 9 4 do. Matross from 22 do. 2 5 9 4 Drummers viz. George Chariott 5 7 4 Joseph Pardy 5 7 4 10 14 8 Carried Over £ 3257 1 1 | The artillery company's pay list continued from a running total of £3,142 5s 5d. Brought forward, £3,142 5s 5d Corporals brought forward, £8 12s 0d James Parfit, £6 18s 0d Thomas Syle, £6 18s 0d Thomas Jones, £6 18s 0d Total for corporals, £29 6s 0d Bombardiers William Stapleford, £6 18s 0d Sedgwick Hetherall, £6 18s 0d John Dobson, £6 18s 0d Charles Abraham, £6 18s 0d Total for bombardiers, £27 12s 0d Gunners John Smith, £6 2s 8d John Carfoot, £6 2s 8d Benjamin Holmes, £6 2s 8d Thomas Yates, £6 2s 8d William Hadfield, £6 2s 8d Samuel Ringrose, £6 2s 8d Matthew Dunhill, as gunner to 17 July when reduced, £1 2s 8d, and as matross from 18 July, £3 15s 0d, £4 17s 0d George Smith, as gunner to 21 August when reduced, £3 9s 4d, and as matross from 22 August, £2 0s 0d, £5 9s 4d Drummers George Chariott, £5 7s 4d Joseph Purdie, £5 7s 4d Total for drummers, £10 14s 8d Carried forward, £3,257 1s 1d Interpretations Both men raised to gunner in the spring lost the rank within months. Matthew Dunhill had been promoted from matross on 28 April 1769 and was reduced again on 17 July. George Smith had risen on 7 May and fell back on 21 August. Each lost 4d a day, the difference between a gunner's 16d and a matross's 12d. The Council had filled the artillery's vacancies quickly in April and May, as it did in every company. The speed of those promotions came at a cost, and two of the men chosen did not keep the trust placed in them. In the infantry, demotions fell on long-serving sergeants. In the artillery they fell on men only lately raised, which suggests the gun crews had been filled from too thin a pool of experienced matrosses. | |
331 | 1769 Brought Over £ 3257 1 1 Matrosses viz. Benjamin Burton 4 12 William Brown 4 12 William Blavin 4 12 John Cope 4 12 John Cripwell 4 12 Robert Cunningham 4 12 Philip Connoway 4 12 Matthew Charlton 4 12 William Crabb 4 12 John Coleman 4 12 William Durham 4 12 James Dunn from 26th July ent. 3 7 Roderick Franklish 4 13 John Fox 4 12 Christian Greenwald 4 12 Thomas Gerrell 4 12 Thomas Green 4 12 John Glenny 4 12 James Gilmore 4 12 William Hedges 4 12 William Harper 4 12 Owen Howard 4 [...] Alexander Henderson Ent. 11th July William Jenkins George King to 17th July adv. £ 17 do. from 18th do. Gunner 5 5 17 John Lewis to 28th July died 1 8 George Marshall 4 12 Matrosses Carr. Over £ 120 10 Carr. Over £ 3257 1 1 | The artillery company's pay list continued from a running total of £3,257 1s 1d with the matrosses. Brought forward, £3,257 1s 1d Matrosses Benjamin Burton, £4 12s 0d William Brown, £4 12s 0d William Blain, £4 12s 0d John Cope, £4 12s 0d John Cripwell, £4 12s 0d Robert Cunningham, £4 12s 0d Philip Connaway, £4 12s 0d Matthew Charlton, £4 12s 0d William Crabb, £4 12s 0d John Coleman, £4 12s 0d William Durham, £4 12s 0d James Dunn, entered from 26 July, £3 7s 0d Roderick Frankish, £4 12s 0d John Fox, £4 12s 0d Christian Greenvale, £4 12s 0d Thomas Gerrill, £4 12s 0d Thomas Green, £4 12s 0d John Glenny, £4 12s 0d James Gilmore, £4 12s 0d William Hedges, £4 12s 0d William Harper, £4 12s 0d Owen Hazard, £4 12s 0d Alexander Henderson, entered from 11 July, £4 2s 0d William Jenkins, £4 12s 0d George King, as matross to 17 July before promotion, £0 17s 0d, and as gunner from 18 July, £5 0s 0d, £5 17s 0d John Lewis, to 28 July, when he died, £1 8s 0d George Marshall, £4 12s 0d Matrosses carried forward, £120 10s 0d Carried forward, £3,257 1s 1d Interpretations Two infantrymen moved into the artillery in July 1769. Alexander Henderson left the First Company on 10 July and was entered as a matross from 11 July. James Dunn, entered in the First Company's roll as James Dunner, left on 25 July and joined the guns the next day. Each was paid by his old company to the day he left and by the artillery from the day after, so his pay ran without a gap. Both men had enlisted only recently, Henderson on 12 June. The artillery's extra 2d a day drew new recruits as readily as seasoned soldiers. George King had enlisted as a matross on 28 April 1769 and was raised to gunner on 18 July, the day after Matthew Dunhill's reduction. A man with less than three months' service took the place of one who had lost it. John Lewis, killed by a fall from the rocks on 28 July 1769, was paid to the day of his death, 28 days at 1s. | |
332 | 16th October Brought Over £ 3257 1 1 Matrosses Brought Over £ 120 10 John Moore 4 12 Patrick Mahony 4 12 Thomas Nimble 4 12 Esau Nowland 4 12 William Phillips 4 12 William Pink 4 12 James Peacock from 29th July Ent. 3 4 William Robinson 4 12 William Stone 4 12 Samuel Smith to 24th July adv. £ 1 4 do. from 25th July Gunr. 5 2 6 6 Andrew Schooner 4 12 Andrew Sedrick 4 12 Richard Wellman to 10th July disc. 10 Richard Waterhouse 4 12 John Wilson 4 12 George Washington 4 12 Samuel Wood 4 12 James Waller to 21 Augt. promot. £ 2 12 do. from 22 do. Gunnr. 2 13 4 5 5 4 Pensioners viz. Nathan Sampell 13 15 11 Mary Beale 7 10 Elizabeth Kennedy 7 10 John Lemon 3 8 3 32 4 2 £ 3469 8 7 | The artillery matrosses continued from a running total of £120 10s 0d. The list closed with the pensioners and a grand total for the quarter of £3,469 8s 7d. Brought forward, £3,257 1s 1d Matrosses brought forward, £120 10s 0d John Moore, £4 12s 0d Patrick Mahony, £4 12s 0d Thomas Nimble, £4 12s 0d Esau Nowland, £4 12s 0d William Phillips, £4 12s 0d William Pink, £4 12s 0d Samuel Peacock, entered from 29 July, £3 4s 0d William Robinson, £4 12s 0d William Stone, £4 12s 0d Samuel Smith, as matross to 24 July before promotion, £1 4s 0d, and as gunner from 25 July, £5 2s 0d, £6 6s 0d Andrew Schooner, £4 12s 0d Andrew Sedrick, £4 12s 0d Richard Wellman, to 10 July, when discharged, £0 10s 0d Richard Waterhouse, £4 12s 0d John Wilson, £4 12s 0d George Washington, £4 12s 0d Samuel Wood, £4 12s 0d James Walter, as matross to 21 August before promotion, £2 12s 0d, and as gunner from 22 August, £2 13s 4d, £5 5s 4d Pensioners Nathan Sample, £13 15s 11d Mary Beale, £7 10s 0d Elizabeth Kennedy, £7 10s 0d John Lemon, £3 8s 3d Total for pensioners, £32 4s 2d Total for the quarter, £3,469 8s 7d Interpretations The wage bill for the quarter to 30 September 1769 came to £3,469 8s 7d, against £3,334 12s 1½d for the quarter to June. The rise of about £135 had two causes. The Court's increase of May 1769 now applied to every officer and civil servant for a full quarter, where before it had run only from 6 May. The quarter also had 92 days instead of 91, adding a day's pay for every man paid by the day. The garrison's numbers changed little. Deaths, discharges and transfers were balanced by new enlistments and recovered deserters. Richard Wellman, a matross, was discharged on 10 July 1769, the day Thomas Roberts and Nicholas Bushell left the infantry. A Richard Wellman appeared among the Dutton's seamen. With Stephen Pappe and John Tack, at least five discharged soldiers from four different companies worked their passage home in her. The Council evidently released its time-expired men in a single group as soon as she was sighted. James Walter became a gunner on 22 August 1769, the day after George Smith was reduced. Walter had come over from the Fourth Company only in May. As with George King's promotion in July, a recently arrived matross took the place of a man who had lost it. | |
333 | Dr. William Wrangham Paymaster Cr. 1769 Sept. 30th To Cash received from the Chest £ 4409 1 1 Carried Over £ 4409 1 1 1769 July 1st By Cash paid four Men for carrying a Foreigner to the Grave who was left sick and died here 5 2 By Cash paid the following Men for enlistg. to serve the Honble. Company as Soldiers for 5 Years to commence from this day viz. Stephen Vanderhorst£ 4 Thomas Christian 4 Jacob Peterson 4 12 3 By Cash paid the Constable for Rats and Mice destroyed 11 20th By Cash paid Nicholas Bushell Richd. Wellman and Thomas Roberts disc. Soldiers seven days subsistance at 1/6 each 10 6 By Cash paid the Parator of the Court of Justice 5 Carried Over £ 13 11 6 Margin Notes: 1769 | The paymaster's account for the quarter charged William Wrangham with the cash he had received and credited him with the payments he made. 30 September 1769, cash received from the treasury chest, £4,409 1s 1d Carried forward, £4,409 1s 1d 1 July 1769, four men for carrying to the grave a foreigner left sick on the island who died there, £0 5s 0d 2 July 1769, bounties to men enlisting as soldiers in the Company's service for five years from that day Stephen Vanderhorst, £4 0s 0d Thomas Christian, £4 0s 0d Jacob Paterson, £4 0s 0d Total for bounties, £12 0s 0d 3 July 1769, the constable, for rats and mice destroyed, £0 11s 0d 20 July 1769, Nicholas Bushell, Richard Wellman and Thomas Roberts, discharged soldiers, for seven days' subsistence at 6d a day each, £0 10s 6d 20 July 1769, the apparitor of the court of justice, £0 5s 0d Carried forward, £13 11s 6d Interpretations The three recruits received their bounties on 2 July 1769, the day the York sailed, and went on the pay list from 3 July. Their bounty of £4 each was more than the £2 10s 0d paid in April and the £3 paid in June. The Council evidently raised the bounty to secure men from a departing ship before she cleared the road. A man who had to decide between staying ashore and going on with the voyage was offered more to stay. Bushell, Wellman and Roberts were discharged on 10 July 1769 and drew seven days' subsistence at 6d a day. That covered the week until they could board the Dutton, which arrived on 14 July. Their pay stopped on discharge, the subsistence kept them until they sailed, and the ship carried them home in return for their work as seamen. All three names appeared on her roll. The four men paid to carry a foreigner to the grave buried a stranger left ashore sick by a passing ship. The Company bore the cost of burying anyone who died on the island without friends or means, whatever his nation. The apparitor was the officer who served summonses for the island's court of justice and called parties and witnesses to attend it. | |
334 | 16th October Dr. William Wrangham 1769 30 Septr. Brought Over £ 4409 1 1 Carried Over £ 4409 1 1 | The debit side of William Wrangham's account carried the cash charged to him, unchanged, onto a further page. Brought forward, £4,409 1s 1d Carried forward, £4,409 1s 1d Interpretations Wrangham was charged with £4,409 1s 1d for the quarter to 30 September 1769, against £4,983 11s 7½d for the quarter to June. The wage bill had risen by about £135, so the fall of more than £570 in the cash issued to him came from his other payments. The June quarter had carried Daniel Corneille's arrears of £277 2s 6d and £120 in re-enlistment bounties to twelve time-expired men on a single day. Neither was repeated. The Council had also bought the salt provisions from the Grenville, Essex and Shrewsbury directly in its minutes, rather than through the paymaster. | |
335 | 1769 Paymaster Cr. Brought Over £ 13 11 6 1769 20th July By Cash paid Captn. Dampier of Ship Sea Horse for the Passage of John Feston and Willm. Ford Invalids to England £ 5 each 10 21st By do. paid Robt. Cunningham for making a Union Flag for the Main Fort 1 10 By do. paid 6 Soldiers 6d. each for carrying a deceased Invalid who was left here sick to the Grave 3 By do. pd. the Clerk of Arraignments at the last Quart. Sessions 7 6 29th By do. pd. the Coroner for an Inquest held on the Body of John Lewis decd. 1 5 Augt. 1st By do. pd. Robt. Grosvenor a deserter from Bombay (who was detained to serve 5 Years as a Soldier) to buy him necess. 3 14th By do. pd. for 173 1/2 lb Beef for the Honble. Company's Table 3 12 3 By do. pd. Adam Evans for repairing the Govr. Saddles 1 14 15th By do. pd. Several Soldiers for bringing Goods from the Crane to the Stores received from Ships Horsendon Salisbury, Dutton and York 2 18 9 16th By do. pd. for 36 doz. Bottles at 1/6 p doz. for the Use of the Castle 2 14 17th By do. pd. Captn. Abercromby of Ship Grenville for 672 Ps. Beef at 2/ p piece 67 4 By do. pd. Jack a Slave belongg. to Mr. James Greentree for apprehendg. a Run away Black belongg. to Mr. Wm. Wrangham, who had absconded above a fortnight 1 13 4 25th By do. pd. for 1 Firkin Butter for the Honble. Compys. Table 4 By do. pd. for 10 doz. Bottles at 1/6 p doz. for the use of the Castle 15 Sept. 3 By do. pd. Stephen Piper for Relisting to serve the Honble. Company 3 Years longer as a Soldr. to comm. this day 10 10th By do. pd. for 102 3 Rice bought of Captn. Jones 41 2 Carried Over £ 163 10 4 | The paymaster's payments continued from a running total of £13 11s 6d. On 20 July 1769, Captain Dampier of the Sea Horse received £10 0s 0d for the passage of John Foxon and William Ford, invalids, to England, at £5 each. Brought forward, £13 11s 6d 21 July 1769, Robert Cunningham, for making a Union flag for the main fort, £1 10s 0d 21 July 1769, six soldiers at 6d each for carrying to the grave an invalid left sick on the island who died there, £0 3s 0d 21 July 1769, the clerk of arraignments at the last quarter sessions, £0 7s 6d 29 July 1769, the coroner, for an inquest held on the body of John Lewis, deceased, £1 5s 0d 1 August 1769, Robert Grosvenor, a deserter from Bombay detained to serve five years as a soldier, to buy necessities, £3 0s 0d 14 August 1769, 173½ pounds of beef for the Company's table, £3 12s 3d 14 August 1769, Adam Evans, for repairing the Governor's saddles, £1 14s 0d On 15 August 1769, several soldiers received £2 18s 9d for carrying goods from the crane to the stores, landed from the Horsendon, the Salisbury, the Dutton and the York. 16 August 1769, 36 dozen bottles at 1s 6d a dozen for the Castle, £2 14s 0d On 17 August 1769, Captain Abercromby of the Grenville received £67 4s 0d for 672 pieces of beef at 2s a piece. 17 August 1769, Jack, a slave belonging to James Greentree, for catching a runaway slave belonging to William Wrangham who had been missing for more than a fortnight, £1 13s 4d 23 August 1769, 1 firkin of butter for the Company's table, £4 0s 0d 23 August 1769, 10 dozen bottles at 1s 6d a dozen for the Castle, £0 15s 0d 3 September 1769, Stephen Price, bounty for re-enlisting as a soldier for five more years from that day, £10 0s 0d 10 September 1769, 102 hundredweight 3 quarters of rice bought from Captain Jones, £41 2s 0d Carried forward, £163 10s 4d Interpretations Jack, a slave of James Greentree, was paid £1 13s 4d from the Company's cash for catching a runaway belonging to William Wrangham. The runaway was Wrangham's private property, and the obvious course was for the owner to reward the captor himself. Instead the reward was charged to the Company, and the man who entered it in the accounts was Wrangham, the paymaster. A standing reward for taking up runaways was common in slave colonies. It gave every slave and settler a reason to watch for absconders and made escape on a small island almost hopeless. Paying it from public funds treated the recovery of any owner's slave as a matter of public order. Here the public paid for the return of the paymaster's own property. John Foxon and William Ford had been discharged from the Third Company on 19 July 1769. They were entered as invalids, and the Company paid Captain Dampier £5 each for their passage in the Sea Horse. Fit men such as Roberts, Bushell and Wellman worked their way home as seamen in the Dutton at no cost. Men too sick to work a ship had to be carried as passengers, and the Company met the fare. The Union flag made by Robert Cunningham was a smaller flag for everyday use, separate from the great flag of red, white and blue bunting made for the main fort earlier in the year. The clerk of arraignments read the charges to prisoners at the quarter sessions, the island's court for criminal cases. The Company paid each officer of its courts by the sitting, as it paid the coroner by the inquest. | |
336 | 16th October Dr. William Wrangham 1769 Septr. 30th Brought Over £ 4409 1 1 Carried Over £ 4409 1 1 | The debit side of William Wrangham's account carried the cash charged to him, unchanged, onto a further page. Brought forward, £4,409 1s 1d Carried forward, £4,409 1s 1d | |
337 | 1769 Paymaster Cr. Brought Over £ 163 10 4 1769 Septr. 11th By Cash paid Captn. Reed of Ship Essex for 945 Ps. Salt Provisions at 2/ p piece 94 10 23 By do. pd. John Price for 2 Carboys to hold Vinegar belonging to the Naval stores 1 8 25 By do. pd. Thomas Taylor for Relisting to serve the Honble. Company 3 Years longer as a Soldier to commence this day 10 30th By do. pd. Willm. Jenkins for Baking 117 Batches Bread for the Garrison 9 15 By do. pd. Willm. Holbrook Master Mason for 78 days Work of his Apprentice at 1/ p day 3 18 By do. pd. for 1 Firkin Butter for the Governors Table 4 By do. pd. for 2 Waiters for the Use of the Castle 7 6 By do. pd. for 5 Expresses upon Alarms 1 5 By do. pd. the Constable for Rats and Mice destroyed this Quarter 1 17 10 By do. pd. for the following for the Honble. Companys Table viz. 351 lb Beef£ 7 6 3 15 Fowls 1 2 6 17 doz. Eggs 1 5 6 16 lb Pork 8 10 2 3 By do. pd. for the following Planters Masons Work at Sandy Bay viz. Mr. Purlings Mason 12 days 1 10 Mr. Jno. Alexanders do. 12 do. 1 10 Mr. Seales do. 12 do. 1 10 Mr. Masons do. 12 do. 1 10 By do. pd. for the following Planters Labour Work at do. viz. Mrs. Swaits 46 days 2 6 Miss Langes 47 do. 2 7 Carried Over £ 313 6 11 | The paymaster's payments continued from a running total of £163 10s 4d. On 11 September 1769, Captain Reed of the Essex received £94 10s 0d for 945 pieces of salt provisions at 2s a piece. Brought forward, £163 10s 4d 23 September 1769, John Price, for 2 carboys to hold vinegar belonging to the naval stores, £1 8s 0d 25 September 1769, Thomas Taylor, bounty for re-enlisting as a soldier for five more years from that day, £10 0s 0d 30 September 1769, William Jenkins, for baking 117 batches of bread for the garrison, £9 15s 0d 30 September 1769, William Holbrook, master mason, for 78 days' work by his apprentice at 1s a day, £3 18s 0d 30 September 1769, 1 firkin of butter for the Governor's table, £4 0s 0d 30 September 1769, 2 serving trays for the Castle, £0 7s 6d 30 September 1769, 5 express messengers sent on alarms, £1 5s 0d 30 September 1769, the constable, for rats and mice destroyed in the quarter, £1 17s 10d 30 September 1769, provisions for the Company's table 351 pounds of beef, £7 6s 3d 15 fowls, £1 2s 6d 17 dozen eggs, £1 5s 6d 16 pecks of [...], £0 8s 0d Total for provisions, £10 2s 3d 30 September 1769, hire of planters' slaves for masons' work at Sandy Bay Matthew Purling's mason, 12 days, £1 10s 0d John Alexander's mason, 12 days, £1 10s 0d Mr Seale's mason, 12 days, £1 10s 0d Mr Mason's mason, 12 days, £1 10s 0d 30 September 1769, hire of planters' slaves for labouring work at Sandy Bay Mrs Twaits's labourer, 46 days, £2 6s 0d Mrs Fringe's labourer, 47 days, £2 7s 0d Carried forward, £313 6s 11d Interpretations Only five express messengers were sent on alarms this quarter, against 26 in the quarter to June 1769. Every sail sighted from the island raised an alarm and a rider to the Castle. The homeward season ran from about April to September, and the busiest months fell in the earlier quarter. After the Shrewsbury sailed on 18 September, the road was almost empty. The cost of the alarm system thus rose and fell with the shipping season, as the Governor's wine bill did. Two of the planters who hired slaves to the works at Sandy Bay were women, Mrs Twaits and Mrs Fringe. Both appeared on the rent roll, the orphans of John Twaits as tenants and Sarah Fringe as holder of a lease granted on 4 September 1769. Hiring out a labourer to the Company at 1s a day gave a widow a steady cash income from a slave she might not have had work for on her own small holding. Matthew Purling again appeared among the owners whose masons were hired, on the same terms as the settlers. | |
338 | 16th October Dr. William Wrangham 1769 Septr. 30th Brought Over £ 4409 1 1 Carried Over £ 4409 1 1 | The debit side of William Wrangham's account carried the cash charged to him, unchanged, onto a further page. Brought forward, £4,409 1s 1d Carried forward, £4,409 1s 1d | |
339 | 1769 Paymaster Cr. Brought Over £ 313 6 11 1769 Sept. 30th Mrs. Scotts 44 1/4 days 2 4 3 Mr. Goodwins 98 do. 4 18 By Cash paid for the following Planters Masons and Labourers Work at Mundens Battery viz. Mr. Purling Mason 18 days 2 5 do. Labourers 146 1/4 do. 7 6 3 Mr. Powells do. 390 do. 19 10 Capt. Bazetts do. 92 do. 4 12 Miss Langes do. 12 do. 12 Mr. Goodwins do. 60 do. 3 Miss Swaits's do. 29 do. 1 9 By do. pd. Daniel Corneille Esqr. Lieut. Governor by Order of the Court of Directors his Allowance for Mutton at £ 5 p Quarter from 6 May last 4 17 1 By do. pd. Coqueda Porcelain instead of 13 Ps. Salt 1 6 By do. pd. do. his Allowance 1 12 6 By do. pd. do. his House Rent 1 By do. pd. Maufunga his Allowance 1 12 6 By do. pd. do. his House Rent 1 By do. pd. for Binders for Thatching the Companys Houses 12 Loads at 2/6 each 1 10 By do. pd. Sundry Soldiers 230 days Work in recg. Stores from Ships Sea Horse, Grenville, Shrewsbury and Essex and taking an Inventory of the Stores 11 10 By do. pd. a Seaman that was left here 13 days Subsistance at 6d. p day 6 6 By do. pd. for the following Work in rebuilding the East Bastion in James's Valley viz. Carried Over £ 383 18 | The paymaster's payments continued from a running total of £313 6s 11d. Brought forward, £313 6s 11d 30 September 1769, Mr Scott's labourer at Sandy Bay, 44¼ days, £2 4s 3d 30 September 1769, Mr Goodwin's labourer at Sandy Bay, 98 days, £4 18s 0d 30 September 1769, hire of planters' slaves for masons' and labourers' work at Munden's Battery Matthew Purling's mason, 18 days, £2 5s 0d Matthew Purling's labourers, 146¼ days, £7 6s 3d James Powell's labourers, 390 days, £19 10s 0d Captain Bazett's labourers, 92 days, £4 12s 0d Mrs Fringe's labourer, 12 days, £0 12s 0d Mr Goodwin's labourers, 60 days, £3 0s 0d Mrs Twaits's labourer, 29 days, £1 9s 0d 30 September 1769, Daniel Corneille, Lieutenant Governor, by order of the Court of Directors, his allowance for mutton at £3 a quarter from 6 May, £4 17s 1d 30 September 1769, Pasqueda Porcelane, cash in place of 13 pieces of salt meat, £1 6s 0d 30 September 1769, Pasqueda Porcelane, his allowance, £1 12s 6d 30 September 1769, Pasqueda Porcelane, his house rent, £1 0s 0d 30 September 1769, Mafungo, his allowance, £1 12s 6d 30 September 1769, Mafungo, his house rent, £1 0s 0d 30 September 1769, 12 loads of thatching bundles for the Company's houses at 2s 6d a load, £1 10s 0d On 30 September 1769, several soldiers received £11 10s 0d for 230 days' work in the stores, handling goods landed from the Sea Horse, the Grenville, the Shrewsbury and the Essex, and taking an inventory of the stores. 30 September 1769, a seaman left on the island, 13 days' subsistence at 6d a day, £0 6s 6d 30 September 1769, work on rebuilding the east bastion in James's Valley, as follows Carried forward, £383 18s 0d Interpretations James Powell's slaves worked 390 days at Munden's Battery during the quarter and earned him £19 10s 0d. That was more than two-thirds of his salary of £27 10s 0d as storekeeper. Powell kept the stores from which the works drew their tools and materials, and he sat on the arrack society that held the island's spirit monopoly. His slaves were also the largest single body of hired labour on the battery. Matthew Purling's mason and labourers earned him a further £9 11s 3d. The two officials whose departments supplied the works were also its main suppliers of labour, and the Council they sat on or served fixed the hire rates. Daniel Corneille received a cash allowance for mutton by order of the Court, backdated to 6 May 1769, the day he arrived. Corneille also had charge of the Company's flocks, and he signed the livestock account in which six wethers were given to Roger Carter. The Court evidently preferred to give him a fixed sum in place of meat drawn from the herd he managed. A cash allowance was easier to audit than a running claim on animals counted by the same man. Thatching bundles were sheaves of grass or rushes, bound for laying on roofs. Many of the Company's lesser buildings were still thatched in 1769, despite the sheet lead used on the Lieutenant Governor's house. The seaman left on the island drew the same 6d a day as a discharged soldier while he waited for a ship. Like the sick foreigner buried in July, he had been put ashore by a passing ship, and the Company kept him until another could take him. | |
340 | 16th October Dr. William Wrangham 1769 Septr. 30th Brought Over £ 4409 1 1 Carried Over £ 4409 1 1 | The debit side of William Wrangham's account carried the cash charged to him, unchanged, onto a further page. Brought forward, £4,409 1s 1d Carried forward, £4,409 1s 1d | |
341 | 1769 Paymaster Cr. Brought Over £ 383 18 1769 Septr. 30th 301 day Stone Cutters at 1/6 p day 22 11 6 34 1/2 do. Smiths at 1/6 2 11 9 36 do. Lime Burners at 1/6 2 14 28 1/2 do. Coxwains of the Boats 1/6 2 2 9 90 do. Overseers 1/ 4 10 1592 do. Labourers 1/ 79 12 By do. pd. for the following Work at Mundens Battery viz. 24 days Masons Work 1/6 1 16 87 1/2 do. Smiths do. 1/6 6 11 3 78 do. Carpenters do. 1/6 5 17 75 do. Lime Burners 1/6 5 12 6 54 do. Sawyers do. 1/6 4 1 56 do. Coxwains do. 1/6 4 4 93 do. Overseers do. 1/6 6 19 6 200 do. do. do. 1/ 10 549 1/4 do. Stone Blowers 1/6 41 3 10 5467 do. Labourers 1/ 273 7 6 By do. pd. for the following Work at Lemon Valley Platform viz. 57 days Masons Work at 1/6 4 5 6 56 do. Overseers do. 1/6 4 4 11 do. Carpenters do. 1/6 16 6 143 do. Labourers do. 1/ 7 3 By do. pd. for 94 1/4 days Smiths Work in making Rails for the Mount in James's Valley 7 1 5 Carried Over £ 881 3 | The paymaster's payments for the works continued from a running total of £383 18s 0d. Brought forward, £383 18s 0d Rebuilding the east bastion in James's Valley 301 days of stonecutters' work at 1s 6d a day, £22 11s 6d 34½ days of smiths' work at 1s 6d a day, £2 11s 9d 36 days of lime burners' work at 1s 6d a day, £2 14s 0d 28½ days of boat coxswains' work at 1s 6d a day, £2 2s 9d 90 days of overseers' work at 1s a day, £4 10s 0d 1,592 days of labourers' work at 1s a day, £79 12s 0d Work at Munden's Battery 24 days of masons' work at 1s 6d a day, £1 16s 0d 87½ days of smiths' work at 1s 6d a day, £6 11s 3d 78 days of carpenters' work at 1s 6d a day, £5 17s 0d 75 days of lime burners' work at 1s 6d a day, £5 12s 6d 54 days of sawyers' work at 1s 6d a day, £4 1s 0d 56 days of coxswains' work at 1s 6d a day, £4 4s 0d 93 days of overseers' work at 1s 6d a day, £6 19s 6d 200 days of overseers' work at 1s a day, £10 0s 0d 549¼ days of stone blowers' work at 1s 6d a day, £41 3s 10d 5,467 days of labourers' work at 1s a day, £273 7s 6d Work on the platforms at Lemon Valley 57 days of masons' work at 1s 6d a day, £4 5s 6d 56 days of overseers' work at 1s 6d a day, £4 4s 0d 11 days of carpenters' work at 1s 6d a day, £0 16s 6d 143 days of labourers' work at 1s a day, £7 3s 0d 94¼ days of smiths' work making rails for the Mount in James's Valley, £7 1s 5d Carried forward, £881 3s 0d Interpretations These were the extra wages of soldiers working on the fortifications, paid on top of their daily military pay. A labourer earned 1s and a skilled man 1s 6d. At Munden's Battery alone, soldiers worked 5,467 days as labourers in the quarter, which is about 60 men every day of the 92. Together with the stone blowers, smiths and other tradesmen, the battery cost over £350 in soldiers' extra wages, on top of the planters' hired slaves. Garrison duty at St Helena was largely construction work, and a private who took his turn on the works could double his income. The stone blowers worked 549¼ days at Munden's Point, more than any other skilled trade in the account. They drilled and charged the rock with powder for the magazine excavation, using the 104 and 112 pounds issued in July and August. It was blasting of this kind, cutting beneath layered rock, that brought down the ledge on Daniel Armin on 5 October 1769. The Council halted the excavation eight days later. The stone blowers' extra 6d a day bought work as dangerous as any in the garrison. The east bastion in James's Valley drew 301 days of stonecutters' work, the cut stone Bazett had reported preparing at the quarry. The coxswains of the boats were paid for carrying stone and lime by sea to the works, since many of the island's batteries were easier to reach from the water than by the steep paths inland. | |
342 | 16th October Dr. William Wrangham | The debit side of William Wrangham's account, dated 16 October 1769, held no entries on this page and carried no sum forward. Interpretations The clerk had brought the paymaster's cash forward at the head and foot of every earlier debit page, so that each opening of the ledger balanced. This page was ruled but left empty, with no figure brought forward. The credit side opposite was probably where the account closed, with the remaining payments and the balance struck against the £4,409 1s 1d. Once the account was closed, there was no longer any running total to carry across. | |
343 | 1769 Paymaster Cr. Brought Over £ 881 3 1769 Septr. 30th By Cash paid for the following repairs to the Lieut. Governrs. House viz. 16 days Carpenters Work at 1/6 1 4 38 do. Plumbers do. 1/6 2 17 90 do. Labourers do. 1/ 4 10 By do. pd. for 22 days Carpenters Work in repairg. Sentry Boxes 1 13 By do. pd. 4 do. repairing the Stores 6 By do. pd. 88 1/2 do. do. the Boats 1/6 6 12 9 By do. pd. 5 do. do. 4 do. 1/3 1 5 By do. pd. 63 do. painting Gun Carriages 1/6 4 14 6 By do. pd. for the following Work in pulling down the Plantation House viz. 20 days Overseers Work 1/ 1 24 do. Carpenters do. 1/6 1 16 38 1/4 do. Labourers do. 1/ 1 18 9 By do. pd. 112 days Labourers Work in bringing down Canvas from the Long Wood 5 12 By do. pd. John Price Goaler for burying 2 Soldiers 5 By do. pd. do. for 7 Commitments at 2/6 each 17 6 By do. pd. Augustine Hitchcock 13 Weeks Work in the Company's Garden at 6/ p Week 3 18 919 12 6 By the amount of the Pay List 3489 8 7 £ 4409 1 1 Island St. Helena 30th Septr. 1769 Errors Excepted (Signed) p Willm. Wrangham Paymaster | The paymaster's payments continued from a running total of £881 3s 0d and closed with the total for the quarter. Brought forward, £881 3s 0d 30 September 1769, repairs to the Lieutenant Governor's house 16 days of carpenters' work at 1s 6d a day, £1 4s 0d 38 days of plumbers' work at 1s 6d a day, £2 17s 0d 90 days of labourers' work at 1s a day, £4 10s 0d 22 days of carpenters' work repairing sentry boxes, £1 13s 0d 4 days of carpenters' work repairing the stores, £0 6s 0d 88½ days of carpenters' work on the boats at 1s 6d a day, £6 12s 9d 5 days of further work on the boats at 5s a day, £1 5s 0d 63 days of carpenters' work painting gun carriages at 1s 6d a day, £4 14s 6d Pulling down Plantation House 20 days of overseers' work at 1s a day, £1 0s 0d 24 days of carpenters' work at 1s 6d a day, £1 16s 0d 38¾ days of labourers' work at 1s a day, £1 18s 9d 112 days of labourers' work bringing down cannon from Longwood, £5 12s 0d John Price, gaoler, for burying 2 soldiers, £0 5s 0d John Price, gaoler, for 7 committals to prison at 2s 6d each, £0 17s 6d Augustine Hitchcock, for 13 weeks' work in the Company's garden at 6s a week, £3 18s 0d Total for payments other than wages, £919 12s 6d The amount of the pay list, £3,489 8s 7d Total, £4,409 1s 1d Signed by William Wrangham, paymaster, at St Helena on 30 September 1769, errors excepted Interpretations The Company's men began pulling down Plantation House during the quarter, though the minutes recorded no decision to do so. Plantation House was the Governor's country residence, and Mitchell had drawn a plan of it among those he handed over in June 1769. The building was probably being taken down in order to be rebuilt to that design. The Council could have repaired the old house, as it was doing with the Lieutenant Governor's in James Town. Clearing it instead points to a plan for a new and better residence. The demolition appeared only as a line of wages in the paymaster's account, and the Court would learn of it from the figures before any letter explained it. John Price was paid 2s 6d for each prisoner committed to the gaol, seven in the quarter. A gaoler paid by the committal had an interest in a full prison, and in England the fee system was blamed for keeping people in gaol until they paid their release fees. At St Helena, the Company met the fee itself, so the burden did not fall on the prisoner. Price also buried soldiers at the Company's charge. As marshal, gaoler and sexton, he was paid separately for each part of the work of punishment and burial. The 112 days of labour spent bringing cannon down from Longwood moved guns from the island's interior plateau to the coastal batteries then being rebuilt. Longwood lay far from any landing place and needed little artillery. The guns were wanted at Munden's Point, Lemon Valley and the bastions in James's Valley, where an enemy could actually come ashore. | |
344 | 16th October Collection of Goods sold and delivered out of the Honble. Company's Ware houses from 1st July to the 30th Septemr. 1769 viz. Sold to the Companys Servants at 10 p Cent Sugar and Candy viz. 7882 lb Sugar 114 18 11 2806 lb Candy 70 2 6 66 Fine do. 1 14 4 186 15 9 Flour viz. 3629 lb Flour 34 5 Cwt. qrs. lb. 263 1 26 do. Baked 245 18 4 279 18 9 Tea viz. 566 lb Bohea 28 6 233 Single 17 9 6 217 Congo 16 5 6 62 1 Kersey 6 Yards 8 9 Arrack 18 Gallons 4 10 Soap 389 1/2 lb 12 3 5 Salt 24 7/8 Bushells 3 19 7 Oil viz. 44 1/4 Gallons Train 7 10 8 15 do. Linseed 3 5 7 17 Bottles Florence 3 5 10 1/2 Gallon Turpentine 8 9 14 17 10 Candles 609 lb 73 11 9 Canvas viz. 90 Yards Eng. Canvas 4 18 4 89 do. Osenbrugs 3 17 10 1/2 33 do. Ticklenburgs 1 12 3 1/2 10 8 6 Carried Over £ 648 13 4 | The storekeeper's collection listed the goods sold and delivered from the Company's warehouses between 1 July and 30 September 1769. The first schedule covered sales to the Company's servants at 10 per cent above cost. Sugar and sugar candy 7,882 pounds of sugar, £114 18s 11d 2,806 pounds of sugar candy, £70 2s 6d 66 pounds of fine sugar candy, £1 14s 4d Total for sugar and sugar candy, £186 15s 9d Flour 3,629 pounds of flour, £34 0s 5d 263 hundredweight 1 quarter 26 pounds of flour, baked, £245 18s 4d Total for flour, £279 18s 9d Tea 566 pounds of bohea tea, £28 6s 0d 233 pounds of singlo tea, £17 9s 6d 217 pounds of congou tea, £16 5s 6d Total for tea, £62 1s 0d 6 yards of kersey, £0 8s 9d 18 gallons of arrack, £4 10s 0d 389½ pounds of soap, £12 3s 5d 24⅞ bushels of salt, £3 19s 7d Oil 44¼ gallons of train oil, £7 10s 8d 15 gallons of linseed oil, £3 5s 7d 17 bottles of Florence oil, £3 5s 10d 1½ gallons of oil of turpentine, £0 8s 9d Total for oil, £14 17s 10d 609 pounds of candles, £73 11s 9d Canvas 80 yards of English canvas, £4 18s 4d 89 yards of osnaburg, £3 17s 10½d 33 yards of ticklenburg, £1 12s 3¾d Total for canvas, £10 8s 6d Carried forward, £648 18s 4d Interpretations The Company's servants bought from the warehouse at only 10 per cent over cost, while other islanders paid 30 or 40 per cent for the same goods. On sugar, flour, tea and candles worth several hundred pounds a quarter, the difference was a substantial part of a servant's real income. A writer on £20 a year could buy his household's sugar, tea and bread far more cheaply than a planter with ten times his land. The discount bound the island's officials to the Company's service as firmly as their salaries did. It also explains why every family of standing on St Helena tried to place a son among the writers and factors. The largest single entry was 263 hundredweight of flour sold baked, worth £245 18s 4d. This was bread from the Company's bakehouse, sold to its servants by the weight of flour that went into it. William Jenkins was paid by the batch to bake for the garrison, and the same ovens evidently supplied the officials' households. On an island where few settlers kept ovens of their own, the Company's bakehouse served the town as a public bakery. | |
345 | 1769 Brought Over £ 648 13 4 Challow 39 pieces 17 17 6 Starch 30 lb 1 10 3 Shalloon viz. 2 Yards Pompadour 5 6 113 3/4 do. Colord 11 19 3 8 3/4 do. Scarlet 1 4 13 8 9 Flannel 48 3/4 Yards 5 6 Leather viz. 193 1/4 Sole 10 9 4 7 Calf Skins 3 1 10 13 11 2 Lead viz. 22 lb Sheet Lead 5 24 lb Shott 5 10 Rice and Paddy viz. 5974 lb Rice 23 11 2 3935 Paddy 7 18 10 31 10 Ticking 28 3/4 Yards 4 15 8 Hatts viz. 4 Mens Hatts 3 17 8 Boys do. 2 13 6 10 Grindstones 2 6 2 Blankets viz. 9 Blankets Ordinary 2 16 3 10 do. Fine 5 15 10 8 12 1 Carried Over £ 752 7 5 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £648 13s 4d. Brought forward, £648 13s 4d 39 pieces of chelloes, £17 17s 6d 30 pounds of starch, £1 10s 3d Shalloon 2 yards of pompadour shalloon, £0 5s 6d 113¼ yards of coloured shalloon, £11 19s 3d 8¼ yards of scarlet shalloon, £1 4s 0d Total for shalloon, £13 8s 9d 28¾ yards of flannel, £5 0s 6d Leather 193¾ pounds of sole leather, £10 9s 4d 7 calfskins, £3 1s 10d Total for leather, £13 11s 2d Lead 22 pounds of sheet lead, £0 5s 0d 24 pounds of shot, £0 5s 0d Total for lead, £0 10s 0d Rice and paddy 5,974 pounds of rice, £23 11s 2d 3,935 pounds of paddy, £7 18s 10d Total for rice and paddy, £31 10s 0d 28¾ yards of ticking, £4 15s 8d Hats 4 men's hats, £3 17s 0d 8 boys' hats, £2 13s 0d Total for hats, £6 10s 0d 2 grindstones, £0 6s 2d Blankets 9 ordinary blankets, £2 16s 3d 10 fine blankets, £5 15s 10d Total for blankets, £8 12s 1d Carried forward, £752 7s 5d Interpretations The Company's servants bought 39 pieces of chelloes, the Indian checked cotton issued to clothe the Company's slaves. Chelloes were not a cloth an official wore. Servants bought them at 10 per cent over cost to clothe their own household slaves. The servants' discount thus extended to the upkeep of their private slaves, who were dressed from the Company's stores more cheaply than a planter could dress his. Pompadour was a deep crimson-purple, named after Madame de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV of France, who died in 1764. The colour had become fashionable in England in the 1750s. Its appearance in a remote Company warehouse shows how quickly the names and colours of London fashion travelled to St Helena in the Company's stores. | |
346 | 16th October Brought Over £ 752 7 5 Twine viz. 45 Skeins Twine 1 6 3 2 lb Cotton Wick 6 3 7 3/4 Flax Twine 9 3 2 1 9 Buckram 11 1/4 Yards 12 3 Corks viz. 23 1/4 Gross Corks 2 18 10 3 Shut do. 2 5 3 1 3 Long Ells viz. 6 1/2 Yards Scarlet 19 1 10 3/4 do. Blue 1 0 4 1 19 5 Thread viz. 13 1/2 Whited Brown 5 1 3 15 Colord 2 12 6 3 Card Nuns No. 28 7 2 1/2 7 Card do. No. 36 16 1/2 8 Card do. No. 30 14 8 9 11 8 Pitch and Tar viz. 17 1/4 lb Pitch 2 1 1/2 12 1/2 Gallons Tar 10 3 3/4 40 1/4 lb Rosin 8 3/4 1 0 6 Iron 427 lb 4 17 10 Earthen Ware 8 Milk Pans 10 8 Carried Over £ 776 2 9 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £752 7s 5d. Brought forward, £752 7s 5d Twine 45 skeins of twine, £1 6s 3d 2 pounds of cotton wick, £0 6s 3d 7½ pounds of flax twine, £0 9s 3d Total for twine, £2 1s 9d 11¼ yards of buckram, £0 12s 3d Corks 23¾ gross of corks, £2 18s 10d 3 sheets of cork, £0 2s 5d Total for corks, £3 1s 3d Long ells 6½ yards of scarlet long ells, £0 19s 1d 10¾ yards of blue long ells, £1 0s 4d Total for long ells, £1 19s 5d Thread 13½ pounds of whited brown thread, £5 1s 3d 15 pounds of coloured thread, £2 12s 6d 3 cards of number 38 nuns' thread, £0 7s 2½d 7 cards of number 36 nuns' thread, £0 16s 0½d 8 cards of number 30 nuns' thread, £0 14s 8d Total for thread, £9 11s 8d Pitch and tar 17¼ pounds of pitch, £0 2s 1½d 12⅞ gallons of tar, £0 10s 3¾d 40¼ pounds of rosin, £0 8s 0¾d Total for pitch and tar, £1 0s 6d 427 pounds of iron, £4 17s 10d 8 earthenware milk pans, £0 10s 8d Carried forward, £776 2s 9d Interpretations Long ells were a light worsted serge woven in Devon and Somerset, chiefly for the East India Company's trade with China. The Company was obliged to export English woollens to the East each year, and long ells were the cloth it shipped to Canton in the greatest quantity, often at a loss. Some were held at St Helena and sold to the Company's servants for clothing. Island households thus wore a cloth made for the Chinese market, bought at Company prices. Nuns' thread was a fine white linen thread from Flanders, so called because it had first been spun in convents. The numbers 30 to 38 gave its fineness. It was sold wound on cards and used for lace, ruffles and fine needlework. Its sale beside coarse whited brown thread shows the warehouse supplying both the plain sewing of a household and the finer work of its women. The 23¾ gross of corks, more than 3,400, were bought by the Company's servants to bottle their own wine and arrack. Bottling from the cask at home was the usual way of keeping drink in a household, and the arrack regulations of May 1769 let servants buy spirits at cost plus 6d for that purpose. | |
347 | 1769 Brought Over £ 776 2 9 Hooks and Lines viz. 475 No. 1 Hooks 1 6 7 1/4 450 9 do. 13 10 1/2 25 11 do. 5 1/2 125 12 do. 2 1 400 14 do. 4 2 650 16 do. 3 9 1/2 150 15 do. 1 1 3/4 10 Large do. 4 10 1/2 192 No. 2 Lines 3 1 4 175 3 do. 3 4 8 4 do. 3 3 1/2 19 Log do. 1 0 11 3/4 8 Hambro do. 14 11 0 7 Nails viz. 23 3/4 2d. Nails 1 4 2 1/2 29 1/2 3 do. 1 4 7 100 4 do. 3 6 8 73 6 do. 2 6 10 1/2 38 8 do. 1 1 4 1/2 66 10 do. 1 14 4 1/2 17 20 do. 7 5 1/4 74 1/2 40 do. 1 11 1/2 4 Flooring Brads 2 1 3 3/4 Glazg. do. 6 10 1/2 4 Clench Nails 2 13 7 6 Cutlery ware viz. 7 Fine Ivory Combs 1 1 7 23 Buckling do. 7 8 24 Horn do. 5 6 Cutlery ware Carried Over £ 1 14 9 Carried Over £ 800 10 10 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £776 2s 9d. Brought forward, £776 2s 9d Hooks and lines 475 number 1 hooks, £1 6s 7¼d 450 number 9 hooks, £0 13s 10½d 25 number 11 hooks, £0 0s 5½d 125 number 12 hooks, £0 2s 1d 400 number 14 hooks, £0 4s 2d 650 number 16 hooks, £0 3s 9½d 150 number 15 hooks, £0 1s 1¾d 10 large hooks, £0 4s 10½d 192 number 2 lines, £3 1s 4d 175 number 3 lines, £3 4s 0d 8 number 4 lines, £0 3s 3½d 19 log lines, £1 0s 11¾d 8 hambro lines, £0 14s 0d Total for hooks and lines, £11 0s 7d Nails 23¼ pounds of twopenny nails, £1 4s 2½d 29½ pounds of threepenny nails, £1 4s 7d 100 pounds of fourpenny nails, £3 6s 8d 73 pounds of sixpenny nails, £2 6s 10½d 38 pounds of eightpenny nails, £1 1s 4½d 66 pounds of tenpenny nails, £1 14s 4½d 17 pounds of twentypenny nails, £0 7s 5¼d 74½ pounds of fortypenny nails, £1 11s 0½d 4 pounds of flooring brads, £0 2s 1d 3¾ pounds of glazier's brads, £0 6s 10½d 4 pounds of clench nails, £0 2s 0d Total for nails, £13 7s 6d Cutlery and combs Cutlery, £1 1s 7d 7 fine ivory combs, £0 7s 8d 23 buckling combs, £0 5s 6d 24 horn combs, [...] Cutlery and combs carried forward, £1 14s 9d Carried forward, £800 10s 10d Interpretations The Company's servants bought nearly 2,300 fish hooks and 375 lines in the quarter. Officials on the island kept slaves to fish for their households, as the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor kept fishermen whose tackle the Company supplied. A servant who could buy hooks and lines at 10 per cent over cost fed his household on fish far more cheaply than on the planters' beef at 5d a pound. The range of hook sizes, from the large number 1 to the small number 16, shows fishing for everything from deep-water fish off the rocks to small fry inshore. Clench nails were made of soft iron so that their points could be turned over and hammered flat on the far side of the timber. They were used in boat building and in doors and gates where a nail must not work loose. Flooring brads had small heads that could be punched below the surface of a floorboard. | |
348 | 16th October Brought Over £ 800 10 10 Cutlery ware brought Over £ 1 14 9 103 Pr. Leather Garters 3 5 7 1/2 30 Stag Horn Handle Knives and Forks 1 7 3 1/2 5 Butchers Knives 2 6 10 Shoe do. 3 11 1/2 3 Pruning do. 3 5 3/4 2 Cases Fleams 6 1 12 Ivory Handle Ivory Kn. and Fks. 1 12 9 1 Choping Knife 1 3 3/4 8 17 11 Bunting viz. 7 Yards Blue 4 4 1/2 5 do. White 3 1 1/2 6 1/2 do. Red 5 1 12 7 Braziers Ware viz. 2 Pr. Steel Snuffers 6 7 1/2 1 Pr. Candlesticks 12 8 1 Three quart Tea Kettle 18 4 1 Pr. Candlesticks 9 11 1 Flatt do. 5 8 1/2 1/4 lb Brass wire 9 2 14 Iron Pots 9 Wt. 235 lb 2 13 1 Turners Ware viz. 3 Cloth Brushes 6 7 1/2 3 Hair Brooms 7 6 13 Shoe Brushes 10 10 3 Buckle do. 1 2 Scrubing do. 5 Turners Ware Carried Over £ 1 10 11 1/2 Carried Over £ 815 8 5 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £800 10s 10d. Brought forward, £800 10s 10d Cutlery and combs brought forward, £1 14s 9d 103 pairs of leather garters, £3 5s 7½d 30 stag-horn-handled knives and forks, £1 7s 3½d 5 butcher's knives, £0 2s 6d 10 shoe knives, £0 3s 11½d 3 pruning knives, £0 3s 5¾d 2 cased fleams, £0 6s 1d 12 ivory-handled knives and forks, £1 12s 9d 1 chopping knife, £0 1s 3¾d Total for cutlery and combs, £8 17s 11d Bunting 7 yards of blue bunting, £0 4s 4½d 3 yards of white bunting, £0 3s 1½d 6½ yards of red bunting, £0 5s 1d Total for bunting, £0 12s 7d Brass and plated ware 2 pairs of steel snuffers, £0 6s 7½d 1 pair of candlesticks, £0 12s 8d 1 tea kettle holding 3 quarts, £0 18s 4d 1 pair of candlesticks, £0 9s 11d 1 flat candlestick, £0 5s 8½d ¼ pound of brass wire, £0 0s 9d Total for brass and plated ware, £2 14s 0d 9 iron pots, weighing 235 pounds, £2 13s 1d Turned goods and brushes 3 clothes brushes, £0 6s 7½d 3 hair brooms, £0 7s 6d 13 shoe brushes, £0 10s 10d 3 buckle brushes, £0 1s 0d 2 scrubbing brushes, £0 5s 0d Turned goods and brushes carried forward, £1 10s 11½d Carried forward, £815 8s 5d Interpretations The servants bought 103 pairs of leather garters in one quarter, far more than their own households could have worn. Garters held up stockings below the knee, and soldiers and slaves in livery wore them as part of a uniform. The quantity suggests servants were buying them in bulk at the 10 per cent rate, probably to sell on to the garrison or to fit out household slaves. A servant's right to buy at near cost could thus become a small trade of its own. A fleam was a small lancet, usually folding into a case, used to bleed horses and cattle. Bleeding was the standard remedy for most ailments in livestock, as it was in people, and a household that kept animals did the work itself. The flat candlestick was a low chamber candlestick with a wide saucer base and a handle, carried from room to room at night. | |
349 | 1769 Brought Over £ 815 8 5 Turners Ware brought Over £ 1 10 11 1/2 3 Flaskets 7 6 3 Hair Sieves 3 2 1/4 8 Punch Ladles 3 2 10 Plaistr. Brushes 12 1 18 Paint do. 10 6 3 Labourers Baskets 3 9 3 Wood Bowls 3 6 3/4 3 Platters 3 8 1/4 2 Birch Brooms 10 3/4 4 1 3 Deals viz. 2 Wainst. Boards 14 6 3 Elm do. 4 5 18 11 Beef and Pork viz. 1399 Ps. Pork 159 18 2627 Ps. Beef 262 14 422 12 Paint viz. 52 1/2 Indigo 4 18 5 13 Blue Smalts 1 4 4 1/2 386 Whiting 3 2 32 1/2 White Lead dry 11 6 108 1/2 Stone Color 2 7 5 3/4 20 Barrls. Blacking 11 3 38 1/2 Ven. Red Mixed 1 0 10 3/4 3 Log Wood 6 1/4 1/2 Blue Paint 1 2 1/4 4 Yellow Oaker mixed 1 2 7 Red Lead 1 10 1/2 Paint Carried Over £ 11 3 11 1/4 Carried Over £ 1243 0 7 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £815 8s 5d. Brought forward, £815 8s 5d Turned goods and brushes brought forward, £1 10s 11½d 3 flaskets, £0 7s 6d 3 hair sieves, £0 3s 2¼d 8 punch ladles, £0 3s 2d 10 plasterer's brushes, £0 12s 1d 18 paint brushes, £0 10s 6d 3 labourers' baskets, £0 3s 9d 3 wooden bowls, £0 3s 6¾d 3 platters, £0 3s 8¼d 2 birch brooms, £0 0s 10¾d Total for turned goods and brushes, £4 1s 3d Timber 2 wainscot boards, £0 14s 6d 3 elm boards, £0 4s 5d Total for timber, £0 18s 11d Beef and pork 1,399 pieces of pork, £159 18s 0d 2,627 pieces of beef, £262 14s 0d Total for beef and pork, £422 12s 0d Paint 52½ pounds of indigo, £4 18s 5d 13 pounds of blue smalt, £1 4s 4½d 386 pounds of whiting, £0 3s 2d 32½ pounds of white lead, dry, £0 11s 6d 108½ pounds of stone colour, £2 7s 5½d 20 pounds of blacking in barrels, £0 11s 3d 38½ pounds of Venetian red, mixed, £1 0s 10¾d 3 pounds of logwood, £0 0s 6¼d ½ pound of blue paint, £0 1s 2¼d 4 pounds of yellow ochre, mixed, £0 1s 2d 7 pounds of red lead, £0 1s 10½d Paint carried forward, £11 3s 11¾d Carried forward, £1,243 0s 7d Interpretations The Company's servants bought 2,627 pieces of salt beef and 1,399 of salt pork in the quarter, for £422 12s 0d. That was more than half of everything they bought from the warehouse. The beef came at 2s a piece, the same price the Company paid commanders for it, plus the servants' 10 per cent. Corneille had written on 13 October 1769 that the private soldiers never tasted fresh meat in the year and could not afford the planters' beef at 5d a pound. The servants, by contrast, fed their families and household slaves cheaply on the Company's salt provisions. This was the stock the Company bought from every passing ship at the fixed rate, and the officials who set that rate were among its largest buyers. Logwood was the heartwood of a tree from the Bay of Campeche in Central America. Chipped and boiled, it gave a strong purple or black dye, and it was used to colour cloth and to stain wood. The large quantity of indigo bought by the servants was for the same household purpose as the Company's own issue, bluing linen in the wash. | |
350 | 16th October Brought Over £ 1243 0 7 Paint brought Over £ 11 3 11 1/4 1/4 Copperas 3/4 1 1/2 Verdegrease 6 6 1 Olive Color 2 1 Yellow Oaker dry 3/4 17 lb Stone Oaker mixd. 8 10 3/4 3 Chalk 1 1/2 1/2 Blue Black 2 3 1/2 Ven. Red dry 8 12 2 10 Tin Ware viz. 13 Lamps 11 11 3 Small Glass Lanthorns 12 9 4 Gall. Sauce pans Wt. Covers 7 7 7 Quart do. 3 7 3/4 2 Pint do. 8 2 quart Funnels 1 3 3 Lanthorn Leaves 7 1/2 3 pudding Pans 4 7 1/2 Salammoniac 1 8 2 Single sheets Tin 8 1 Double do. 1 3 1/2 2 Horn Lanthorns 6 7 1 Globe Lamp 10 7 1 Watering Pot 3 9 1/4 3 7 8 Oars 8 1 4 4 Haberdashery viz. 98 Skeins Silk 2 17 2 56 do. Mohair 1 8 15 Cockades 5 11 1/4 32 1/2 Yds. White Buckram 1 19 6 1/2 Haberdashery Carrd. Over £ 6 10 8 Carried Over £ 1259 15 5 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,243 0s 7d. Brought forward, £1,243 0s 7d Paint brought forward, £11 3s 11¾d ¼ pound of copperas, £0 0s 0¾d 1½ pounds of verdigris, £0 6s 6d 1 pound of olive colour, £0 2s 0d 1 pound of yellow ochre, dry, £0 0s 0¾d 17 pounds of stone ochre, mixed, £0 8s 10¾d 3 pounds of chalk, £0 0s 1½d ¼ pound of blue black, £0 0s 2d 3½ pounds of Venetian red, dry, £0 0s 8d Total for paint, £12 2s 10d Tinware 13 lamps, £0 11s 11d 3 small glass lanterns, £0 12s 9d 4 gallon saucepans with lids, £0 7s 7d 7 quart saucepans, £0 3s 7¾d 2 pint saucepans, £0 0s 8d 2 quart funnels, £0 1s 3d 3 horn leaves for lanterns, £0 0s 7½d 3 pudding pans, £0 4s 7d ½ pound of sal ammoniac, £0 1s 8d 2 single sheets of tin, £0 0s 10d 1 double sheet of tin, £0 1s 3½d 2 horn lanterns, £0 6s 7d 1 globe lamp, £0 10s 7d 1 watering pot, £0 3s 9¾d Total for tinware, £3 7s 8d 8 oars, £1 4s 4d Sewing goods 98 skeins of silk, £2 17s 2d 56 skeins of mohair, £1 8s 0d 15 cockades, £0 5s 11¼d 32½ yards of white buckram, £1 19s 6¾d Sewing goods carried forward, £6 10s 8d Carried forward, £1,259 15s 5d Interpretations A cockade was a rosette of ribbon worn on the side of a hat. In Britain the black cockade marked loyalty to the Hanoverian crown and was worn by army officers and by the servants of gentlemen in livery. The 15 cockades bought by the Company's servants were probably for their own hats as officers in the island's militia, or for the hats of household slaves dressed in livery. A cockade marked its wearer as belonging to a recognised household or service. The servants bought sal ammoniac and sheets of tin as well as finished tinware. With these they could have their own copper pans retinned at home, as the Castle's were, and patch tin vessels without waiting for the Company's tinman. A globe lamp was a hanging lamp with a glass globe around the flame, giving a steady light in a room or passage. At 10s 7d it was among the dearer household goods on the list, bought for a house of some standing. | |
351 | 1769 Brought Over £ 1259 15 5 Haberdashery brought Over £ 6 10 8 5 1/4 Gro. White Waistcoat Buttons 13 1 1 3/4 Gro. Shirt do. 4 4 1/2 5 Gro. Horn Moulds 12 2 1/4 16 Ps. Tape 10 7 1/2 doz. Gold Basket Coat Buttons 1 18 5 1/4 7 1/2 doz. do. do. Bt. do. 19 4 1/2 3 Whale bone 19 9 3/4 7 1/2 doz. Mohair Coat Buttons 5 7 1/2 21 1/2 doz. do. Bt. do. 8 3/4 4 Pr. Gold Garters 1 12 6 31 Yards Broad Gold Lace 6 0 1 1/2 17 do. Narrow do. do. 2 8 2 1 Pr. Union Cord 2 6 2 1/2 doz. Silver Wire Coat Buttons 12 7 1/4 2 1/2 doz. do. do. Bt. do. 6 6 1/4 11 1/2 doz. Gilt Coat do. 17 7 doz. do. Bt. do. 4 8 25 5 9 Shoes viz. 102 Pr. Mens Ordinary Shoes 43 17 2 5 Pr. do. Fine do. 1 10 5 13 Pr. do. do. Pumps 3 11 6 7 Pr. Boys Shoes 1 4 6 53 Pr. Womens Calimanco 11 5 3 6 Pr. do. Calf 17 3 11 Pr. Girls Calimanco 1 16 8 66 3 2 Pewter viz. 1 Bason 3 1/2 3 Chamberpots 9 7 1/2 1 Half Gall. Pot 6 3 1 Funnel 2 7 Carried Over £ 1352 5 10 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,259 15s 5d. Brought forward, £1,259 15s 5d Sewing goods brought forward, £6 10s 8d 5¼ gross of white waistcoat buttons, £0 13s 1d 1¾ gross of shirt buttons, £0 4s 4½d 5 gross of horn button moulds, £0 12s 2¼d 16 pieces of tape, £0 10s 0d 7½ dozen gold basket coat buttons, £1 18s 5¼d 7½ dozen gold basket breast buttons, £0 19s 4½d 3 whalebones, £0 19s 9¾d 7½ dozen mohair coat buttons, £0 5s 7½d 21½ dozen mohair breast buttons, £0 8s 0¾d 4 pairs of gold garters, £1 12s 6d 31 yards of broad gold lace, £6 0s 1½d 17 yards of narrow gold lace, £2 8s 2d 1 piece of Union cord, £0 2s 6d 2½ dozen silver wire coat buttons, £0 12s 7¼d 2½ dozen silver wire breast buttons, £0 6s 6¼d 11½ dozen gilt coat buttons, £0 17s 0d 7 dozen gilt breast buttons, £0 4s 8d Total for sewing goods, £25 5s 9d Shoes 102 pairs of men's ordinary shoes, £45 17s 2d 5 pairs of men's fine shoes, £1 10s 5d 13 pairs of men's pumps, £3 11s 6d 7 pairs of boys' shoes, £1 4s 6d 33 pairs of women's calamanco shoes, £11 5s 3d 6 pairs of women's calfskin shoes, £0 17s 3d 11 pairs of girls' calamanco shoes, £1 16s 8d Total for shoes, £66 3s 2d Pewter 1 basin, £0 3s 0½d 3 chamber pots, £0 9s 7½d 1 half-gallon pot, £0 6s 3d 1 funnel, £0 2s 7d Carried forward, £1,332 5s 10d Interpretations The Company's servants bought 48 yards of gold lace, gold basket buttons, silver wire buttons and gold garters in a single quarter, worth well over £14. These were the trimmings of officers' uniforms and of a gentleman's best coat and waistcoat. Several of the servants held commissions in the garrison as well as civil posts, and the officers' dress coats were laced in gold. Buying the trimmings at 10 per cent over cost let an officer on a lieutenant's pay keep up the appearance his rank demanded. Basket buttons were domed buttons with a woven or stamped pattern resembling basketwork. Calamanco was a glossy worsted cloth woven with a satin finish, often striped or flowered. It was the usual material for the uppers of women's and girls' shoes, lighter and more decorative than leather. Button moulds were small discs of horn or bone that were covered with cloth or thread to make buttons at home. The 3 whalebones were strips of baleen from the mouth of a whale, used to stiffen stays and bodices. | |
352 | 16th October Brought Over £ 1352 5 10 China Ware viz. 37 Bowls 2 9 4 59 Saucers 1 4 7 18 half Pt. Cups and Saucers 10 3 3/4 6 Setts Octagon Dishes and Plates 7 10 60 do. Soup do. 1 5 10 3 Chamber pots 6 1 Sallad Dish 7 3/4 1 Baking do. 1 3 9 Guglets and Bassons 1 1 2 Teapots 1 6 8 Octagon Meat Dishes 1 5 do. do. Plates 3 1 1/2 2 Milk Ewers 2 2 1/2 1 Tureen and Dish 6 1 1 Sauce Boat 6 10 Quarter pint Cups and Saucers 3 2 1/2 16 5 7 Shirts viz. 149 Soldiers Shirts 37 5 36 7/8 Yds. Brown Holland 3 13 3 2 Ps. Irish Linnen 3 5 6 70 3/4 Yds. Huckaback 4 8 6 67 7/8 Yds. Russia do. 3 7 5 51 19 8 Hosiers Ware viz. 133 Pr. Ordin. Thread Stockings 21 6 8 1 Pr. Mens Wove do. 4 1 Pr. Womens do. 6 2 1 Pr. Girls do. 2 2 3 Black Worsted Breeches Pr. 1 9 3 Hosiers Ware Carried Over £ 23 8 3 Carried Over £ 1420 11 1 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,332 5s 10d. Brought forward, £1,332 5s 10d China 37 bowls, £2 9s 4d 59 saucers, £1 4s 7d 18 half-pint cups and saucers, £0 10s 3¾d 6 sets of octagonal dishes and plates, £7 10s 0d 60 octagonal soup plates, £1 5s 10d 3 chamber pots, £0 6s 0d 1 salad dish, £0 0s 7¾d 1 baking dish, £0 1s 3d 9 guglets and basins, £1 1s 0d 2 teapots, £0 1s 6d 8 octagonal meat dishes, £1 0s 0d 3 octagonal meat plates, £0 3s 1½d 2 milk jugs, £0 2s 2½d 1 tureen and dish, £0 6s 1d 1 sauce boat, £0 0s 6d 10 quarter-pint cups and saucers, £0 3s 2½d Total for china, £16 5s 7d Shirts and linen 149 soldiers' shirts, £37 5s 0d 36⅝ yards of brown holland, £3 13s 3d 2 pieces of Irish linen, £3 5s 6d 70¾ yards of huckaback, £4 8s 6d 67⅜ yards of Russia linen, £3 7s 5d Total for shirts and linen, £51 19s 8d Hosiery 133 pairs of ordinary thread stockings, £21 6s 8d 1 pair of men's hose, £0 4s 0d 1 pair of women's hose, £0 6s 2d 1 pair of girls' hose, £0 2s 2d 3 pairs of black worsted breeches, £1 9s 3d Hosiery carried forward, £23 8s 3d Carried forward, £1,420 11s 1d Interpretations The Company's servants bought 149 soldiers' shirts and 133 pairs of ordinary stockings in the quarter, far more than their households needed. Several of them commanded companies, and soldiers whose own shirts wore out between the yearly issues had to buy replacements. An officer could buy shirts and stockings at 10 per cent over cost and supply his men, charging their purchases against their pay. The servants' discount thus put them between the Company's stores and the garrison as middlemen. The record shows only the purchase, not the price at which the goods passed on to the soldiers. The octagonal dishes, soup plates and meat plates were Chinese export porcelain, made at Jingdezhen and shipped from Canton in the Company's homeward ships. Octagonal shapes were fashionable in the 1760s. Six full sets, together with a tureen and a sauce boat, furnished a dining table in the English manner with Chinese ware bought at near cost. Huckaback was a stout linen with a rough, raised weave, used for towels. Brown holland was unbleached linen from the Netherlands, used for linings and covers. Russia linen was a coarse, strong cloth woven from Baltic flax, cheaper than Irish linen. | |
353 | 1769 Brought Over £ 1420 11 1 Hosiers Ware brought Over 23 8 3 2 Pr. Mens India Cotton Stockings 11 7 15 Pr. do. do. do. Fine 6 18 9 1 Pr. do. English do. 7 3 31 5 10 Long Cloth viz. DO 8 Ps. 37 4 A 10 Ps. 38 4 7 C 3 Ps. 18 10 L 7 1/2 Ps. 40 8 9 2 2 Ps. 7 19 6 No. 6 13 1/2 Ps. 22 17 10 7 7 Ps. 7 10 2 8 9 Ps. 27 6 9 9 8 Ps. 11 11 4 10 13 Ps. 18 7 6 229 11 3 Books viz. 6 Common Prayer Books 1 10 8 1/2 2 Speling Books 1 10 2 Primmers 7 2 Horn Books 3 2 Testaments 2 7 1/2 1 16 Iron Ware viz. 2 Sheets Sand Paper 2 1/2 1 Chafing Dish 3 10 7 Stock Locks 1 1 4 Chest do. 13 8 10 Pr. HL Hinges 1 1 8 Iron Ware Carried Over £ 3 2 4 1/2 Carried Over £ 1683 4 2 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,420 11s 1d. Brought forward, £1,420 11s 1d Hosiery brought forward, £23 8s 3d 2 pairs of men's India cotton stockings, £0 11s 7d 13 pairs of men's fine India cotton stockings, £6 18s 9d 1 pair of men's English cotton stockings, £0 7s 3d Total for hosiery, £31 5s 10d Long cloth 8 pieces of grade D, £37 4s 0d 10 pieces of grade A, £38 4s 7d 5 pieces of grade C, £18 0s 10d 7½ pieces of grade [...], £40 8s 9d 2 pieces of number 2, £7 19s 6d 13½ pieces of number 6, £22 17s 10d 7 pieces of number 7, £7 10s 2d 9 pieces of number 8, £27 6s 9d 8 pieces of number 9, £11 11s 4d 13 pieces of number 10, £18 7s 6d Total for long cloth, £229 11s 3d Books 6 Books of Common Prayer, £1 10s 8½d 2 spelling books, £0 1s 10d 2 primers, £0 0s 7d 2 hornbooks, £0 0s 3d 2 New Testaments, £0 2s 7½d Total for books, £1 16s 0d Ironmongery 2 sheets of sandpaper, £0 0s 2½d 1 chafing dish, £0 3s 10d 7 stock locks, £1 1s 0d 4 chest locks, £0 13s 8d 10 pairs of H hinges, £1 1s 8d Ironmongery carried forward, £3 2s 2½d Carried forward, £1,683 4s 2d Interpretations The servants bought hornbooks, primers, spelling books and New Testaments in the quarter. These were the standard steps in teaching a child to read in the eighteenth century. A hornbook was a small wooden board with a handle, bearing the alphabet and the Lord's Prayer on a sheet of paper protected by a thin layer of transparent horn. A child moved on to a primer of short lessons and prayers, then to a spelling book, and at last to reading the Testament. Their sale fell in the same quarter in which the vestry, on 8 September 1769, resolved to build a school and seek a schoolmaster from England. Richard Beale had been too ill to teach since the previous year, so families were evidently teaching their children at home with books bought from the Company's stores. Long cloth was the largest line of goods sold to the servants after salt meat, at £229 11s 3d for nearly 84 pieces. A piece ran to about 36 yards, so the servants took around 3,000 yards of Indian calico in a quarter. It was made up into shirts, shifts, sheets and table linen, and some of it went to clothe household slaves. A chafing dish was a small brazier of charcoal set on the table to keep food warm or to cook a dish in front of the diners. | |
354 | 16th October Brought Over £ 1683 4 2 Iron Ware brought Over 3 2 4 1/2 7 Pr. Dove Tail Hinges 2 4 10 Hand Hatchets 18 11 1/2 6 Small Frying pans 13 6 6 Iron rimd Locks wt. Brass Knob 2 0 6 2 Axeltrees and Winches 8 10 22 Blank Keys 14 10 4 Files 2 2 1 Pr. Hand Bellows 4 1 Iron Shovel 5 10 Ash Helves 6 8 2 Spades 8 3 6 Iron rimd Locks 1 11 6 2 Plaistr. Trowels 3 7 5 Spring Rats Traps 8 4 3 Pr. Wool Cards 7 1 1/2 4 Pr. Sheep Shears 6 8 20 Scythe stones 4 7 4 Splinter Locks 2 3 1 Wood Ax 3 1 1/2 2 Tinned Tacks 5 2 Claw Hammers 3 1/2 1 Pad Lock 1 8 1/4 1 Large Fryg. Pan 4 6 3/4 3 Pick Axes 12 3/4 1 Sickle 1 3/4 1 Brass Closet Lock 4 9 2 Cupboard do. 6 4 1 Curry Comb and Brush 2 4 Mouse Traps 2 8 1 Pr. Garden Shears 3 10 1 Garden Rake 2 7 1 Lathing Hammer 1 10 Iron Ware Carried Over £ 15 6 Carried Over £ 1683 4 2 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,683 4s 2d. Brought forward, £1,683 4s 2d Ironmongery brought forward, £3 2s 4½d 7 pairs of dovetail hinges, £0 2s 4d 10 hand hatchets, £0 18s 11½d 6 small frying pans, £0 13s 6d 6 iron rim locks with brass knobs, £2 0s 6d 2 axletrees and winches, £0 8s 10d 22 blank keys, £0 14s 10d 4 files, £0 2s 2d 1 pair of hand bellows, £0 4s 0d 1 iron shovel, £0 5s 0d 10 ash handles, £0 6s 8d 2 spades, £0 8s 3d 6 iron rim locks, £1 11s 6d 2 plasterer's trowels, £0 3s 7d 3 spring rat traps, £0 8s 4d 3 pairs of wool cards, £0 7s 1½d 4 pairs of sheep shears, £0 6s 8d 20 scythe stones, £0 4s 7d 4 spring locks, £0 2s 3d 1 wood axe, £0 3s 1½d 2 pounds of tinned tacks, £0 5s 0d 2 claw hammers, £0 3s 0½d 1 padlock, £0 1s 8¾d 1 large frying pan, £0 4s 6¾d 3 pickaxes, £0 12s 0¾d 1 sickle, £0 1s 0¾d 1 brass closet lock, £0 4s 9d 2 cupboard locks, £0 6s 4d 1 curry comb and brush, £0 2s 0d 4 mousetraps, £0 2s 8d 1 pair of garden shears, £0 3s 10d 1 garden rake, £0 2s 7d 1 lathing hammer, £0 1s 10d Ironmongery carried forward, £18 6s 0d Carried forward, £1,683 4s 2d Interpretations The servants bought sheep shears and wool cards in the same quarter. Wool cards were pairs of boards set with fine wire teeth, used to comb raw wool into loose rolls ready for spinning. The officials who kept flocks on their own land were shearing their sheep and preparing the wool at home. St Helena's sheep did well on the upland pasture, as the Company's flock of 635 showed. A household that sheared, carded and spun its own wool spared itself some of the cost of cloth shipped from England. The large number of locks, 18 in all, with 22 blank keys, shows the servants securing their houses, cupboards and chests. On an island with many slaves and a garrison of soldiers, both often short of money and drink, locks guarded stores of wine, arrack, tea and sugar bought from the warehouse. An axletree was the fixed bar on which a cart's wheels turned, and a winch was a crank for raising water from a well or hauling a load. | |
355 | 1769 Brought Over £ 1683 4 2 Iron Ware brought Over £ 15 6 3 Pr. Barnl. Hinges 3 6 400 Brass Chair Nails 4 2 1 Maul 10 6 3/4 1 Wire Rat Trap 6 7 1/4 1/4 Iron binding Wire 3 16 13 1 Glass Ware viz. 106 Wine Glasses 2 9 6 7 quart Decanters 18 1 4 pint do. 7 4 9 Beer Glasses 8 3 8 Tumblers 6 4 6 Water Glasses 3 3 1/2 2 Candle Shades 14 8 1 Half hour Glass 9 49 Squares 6 by 8 15 3 3/4 93 do. 8 by 10 2 14 3 3 do. 10 by 16 4 1 1/2 1 do. 11 by 16 1/2 1 5 1/4 5 do. 10 by 12 1 1 1/2 3 do. 11 by 17 1/4 3 7 9 8 1 Broad Cloth viz. 9 1/2 Yards Pompadour 10 1 1 13 1/8 do. Green 10 19 9 19 7/8 do. Blue 19 11 8 1/2 4 1/4 do. Lead Color 4 0 9 5 1/8 do. Buff 4 17 5 8 1/2 do. Dark Brown 8 1 6 6 3/8 do. Scarlet 7 7 11 1/2 65 0 2 Carried Over £ 1774 5 6 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,683 4s 2d. Brought forward, £1,683 4s 2d Ironmongery brought forward, £15 6s 0d 3 pairs of barrel hinges, £0 3s 6d 400 brass chair nails, £0 4s 2d 1 maul, £0 10s 6¾d 1 wire rat trap, £0 6s 7¼d ½ pound of iron binding wire, £0 3s 0d Total for ironmongery, £16 13s 1d Glass 106 wine glasses, £2 9s 6d 7 quart decanters, £0 18s 1d 4 pint decanters, £0 7s 4d 9 beer glasses, £0 8s 3d 8 tumblers, £0 6s 4d 6 water glasses, £0 3s 3½d 2 candle shades, £0 14s 8d 1 half-hour glass, £0 0s 9d 49 panes of window glass, 6 by 8 inches, £0 15s 3¾d 93 panes of window glass, 8 by 10 inches, £2 14s 3d 3 panes of window glass, 10 by 16 inches, £0 4s 1½d 1 pane of window glass, 11 by 16½ inches, £0 1s 5¾d 5 panes of window glass, 10 by 12 inches, £0 1s 1½d 3 panes of window glass, 11 by 17¼ inches, £0 3s 7d Total for glass, £9 8s 1d Broadcloth 9½ yards of pompadour broadcloth, £10 1s 1d 13½ yards of green broadcloth, £10 19s 9d 19¾ yards of blue broadcloth, £19 11s 8½d 4¼ yards of lead-coloured broadcloth, £4 0s 9d 5½ yards of buff broadcloth, £4 17s 5d 8½ yards of dark brown broadcloth, £8 1s 6d 6½ yards of scarlet broadcloth, £7 7s 11½d Total for broadcloth, £65 0s 2d Carried forward, £1,774 5s 6d Interpretations The servants bought nearly 68 yards of broadcloth in seven colours for £65, at about £1 a yard. Broadcloth was the cloth of a gentleman's coat, and a full suit took around three yards. The quantity would have clothed some 20 men in new coats. Blue, scarlet and buff were the colours of military coats and their facings, and the officers among the servants were evidently having uniforms made on the island. Green, dark brown and pompadour were the colours of civilian dress. At Company prices, an official on St Helena could dress as well as a London merchant for far less than broadcloth cost in London's shops. The 106 wine glasses and 11 decanters furnished the servants' tables for entertaining, a regular part of life on an island where every passing ship brought officers and passengers ashore. Candle shades were tall glass chimneys set over candlesticks to shield the flame from draughts. Houses on St Helena caught the steady south-east trade wind, and an open window would otherwise blow the candles out. | |
356 | 16th October Brought Over £ 1774 5 6 Serge viz. 3 Ps. Fustain 5 18 19 1/2 Yards Blue Serge 6 1 11 16 1/2 do. Scarlet Sagathy 2 18 3/4 2 1/4 do. Brown Duffle 17 2 1/2 15 do. Green Sagathy 2 2 3/4 17 18 Coffee 26 lb 1 3 10 Pease 3/4 Bushell 7 10 Wine viz. 167 Gallons Lisbon 59 19 11 176 1/2 do. Port 57 5 4 119 3/4 do. Mountain 38 7 4 155 12 7 £ 1949 7 9 Sold to the Planters at 25 p Cent viz. Challow 6 Ps. 3 2 6 Hosiers Ware viz. 12 Pr. Mens Wove stockings 2 14 2 Pr. Womens do. 6 10 3 0 10 Flannel 25 1/2 Yards 2 19 5 Shirts Brown Holland 4 1/2 Yards 18 4 Long Ells viz. 16 1/2 Yards Blue 1 19 8 1/2 3 1/2 do. Scarlet 18 3 1/2 2 18 Serge viz. 1 Yard Scarlet Duffle 10 6 1/4 3 1/2 do. Brown do. 1 10 3 3/4 2 0 10 Carried Over £ 14 11 11 | The sales to the Company's servants continued from a running total of £1,774 5s 6d and closed at £1,949 7s 9d. A second schedule then listed the goods sold to the planters at 25 per cent above cost. Brought forward, £1,774 5s 6d Serge and woollens 3 pieces of fustian, £5 18s 0d 19½ yards of blue serge, £6 1s 11d 16½ yards of scarlet sagathy, £2 18s 3¼d 2¼ yards of brown duffel, £0 17s 2½d 15 yards of green sagathy, £2 2s 5¾d Total for serge and woollens, £17 18s 0d 26 pounds of coffee, £1 3s 10d ¾ bushel of peas, £0 7s 10d Wine 187 gallons of Lisbon wine, £59 19s 11d 176½ gallons of port wine, £57 5s 4d 119¾ gallons of mountain wine, £38 7s 4d Total for wine, £155 12s 7d Total sold to the Company's servants, £1,949 7s 9d Sold to the planters at 25 per cent above cost 6 pieces of chelloes, £3 2s 6d Hosiery 12 pairs of men's worsted stockings, £2 14s 0d 2 pairs of women's worsted stockings, £0 6s 10d Total for hosiery, £3 0s 10d 25½ yards of flannel, £2 19s 5d 4½ yards of brown holland for shirts, £0 18s 4d Long ells 16½ yards of blue long ells, £1 19s 8½d 3½ yards of scarlet long ells, £0 18s 3½d Total for long ells, £2 18s 0d Serge and woollens 1 yard of scarlet duffel, £0 10s 6¼d 3½ yards of brown duffel, £1 10s 3¾d Total for serge and woollens, £2 0s 10d Carried forward, £14 11s 11d Interpretations The Company's servants bought £1,949 7s 9d of goods from the warehouse in a single quarter, at only 10 per cent over cost. The planters' list that follows ran at 25 per cent. The goods were the same, but the officials paid less than half the mark-up charged to the settlers who farmed the island. The servants' purchases far exceeded the Company's whole wage bill for its civil staff. Much of what they bought, from salt meat and long cloth to soldiers' shirts and broadcloth, must have passed on to slaves, soldiers and planters. The discount was a privilege of office that turned every official with ready money into a potential trader. The servants bought over 480 gallons of wine in the quarter, nearly all of it Lisbon, port and mountain. Wine bore no duty and lay outside the arrack society's monopoly, which covered only spirits. Officials could stock their cellars at near cost, while a planter who wanted wine had to buy it at the higher rate or from a passing ship. Sagathy was a light woollen stuff, a mix of serge and twill, used for coats and waistcoats in warm weather. Duffel was a heavy, napped woollen cloth first made at Duffel near Antwerp, used for greatcoats and blankets. | |
357 | 1769 Brought Over £ 14 11 11 Shalloon viz. 1 Yard Scarlet 3 1 1/2 30 1/2 do. Colord 3 9 10 1/2 15 do. Pompadour 2 6 9 1/2 5 19 10 Haberdashery viz. 26 Skains Mohair 15 2 25 do. Silk 18 4 14 1/2 doz. Mohair Ct. Buttons 14 6 12 1/2 doz. do. Bt. do. 6 3 2 Ps. Tape 1 7 7 1/2 Yards White Buckram 10 7 3 6 10 Buckram 7 1/2 Yards 9 4 Broad Cloth viz. 2 Yards Scarlet 2 10 10 do. Dark Brown 10 15 10 8 7/8 do. Blue 9 14 22 19 10 Hatts viz. 1 Mans Hatt 1 1 11 3 Boys do. 1 2 6 2 4 5 Long Cloth viz. 1 Ps. No. 6 1 13 6 1/2 1 Ps. 7 1 4 4 1/2 2 17 11 Shoes viz. 1 Pr. Boys Shoes 4 6 Pr. Mens fine do. 2 1 3 2 Pr. do. Ordinary 11 6 1 Pr. Girls Calf 2 6 9 Pr. Mens fine Pumps 2 16 3 1 Pr. Girls Calimanco 3 4 2 Pr. Channel Pumps 13 6 14 3 Carried Over £ 59 4 4 | The sales to the planters at 25 per cent above cost continued from a running total of £14 11s 11d. Brought forward, £14 11s 11d Shalloon 1 yard of scarlet shalloon, £0 3s 1½d 30½ yards of coloured shalloon, £3 9s 10½d 15 yards of pompadour shalloon, £2 6s 9¾d Total for shalloon, £5 19s 10d Sewing goods 26 skeins of mohair, £0 15s 2d 25 skeins of silk, £0 18s 4d 14½ dozen mohair coat buttons, £0 14s 6d 12½ dozen mohair breast buttons, £0 6s 3d 2 pieces of tape, £0 1s 7d 7½ yards of white buckram, £0 10s 7d Total for sewing goods, £3 6s 10d 7½ yards of buckram, £0 9s 4d Broadcloth 2 yards of scarlet broadcloth, £2 10s 0d 10 yards of dark brown broadcloth, £10 15s 10d 8½ yards of olive broadcloth, £9 14s 0d Total for broadcloth, £22 19s 10d Hats 1 man's hat, £1 1s 11d 3 boys' hats, £1 2s 6d Total for hats, £2 4s 5d Long cloth 1 piece of number 6 long cloth, £1 13s 6½d 1 piece of number 7 long cloth, £1 4s 4½d Total for long cloth, £2 17s 11d Shoes 1 pair of boys' shoes, £0 4s 0d 6 pairs of men's fine shoes, £2 1s 3d 2 pairs of men's ordinary shoes, £0 11s 6d 1 pair of girls' calfskin shoes, £0 2s 6d 9 pairs of men's fine pumps, £2 16s 3d 1 pair of girls' calamanco shoes, £0 3s 4d 2 pairs of channel pumps, £0 15s 0d Total for shoes, £6 14s 3d Carried forward, £59 4s 4d Interpretations The planters' purchases were small beside the servants'. They bought 2 pieces of long cloth against the servants' 84, and 20 yards of broadcloth against 68. Paying 25 per cent over cost, a settler bought only what his own family needed. The colours they chose were dark brown and olive, the sober dress of a farmer, with only two yards of scarlet. The officials' blue, scarlet and buff were the colours of military and official coats, and the difference in the cloth bought marked the difference in station between the two groups. Channel pumps were light shoes made by cutting a groove, or channel, in the sole so that the stitching lay below the surface and did not wear through. They were better made and dearer than ordinary pumps. | |
358 | 16th October Brought Over £ 59 4 4 Sold to the Planters at 40 p Cent Sugar 338 lb 7 0 10 Flour 374 lb 5 1 3 Tea viz. 35 lb Bohea 2 1 4 41 Single 4 8 10 76 Congo 8 4 8 14 14 10 Soap 16 lb 12 8 Oil viz. 8 1/2 Gallons Train 1 18 11 1/2 3 1/2 do. Linseed 1 0 7 1/2 2 19 7 Salt 5 Bushells 1 0 5 Starch 6 lb 4 8 Canvas viz. 24 Yards Eng. 1 18 4 16 do. Osenbrigs 18 2 16 4 Turners Ware viz. 1 Punch Ladle 10 2 Paint Brushes 1 6 2 4 Hooks and Lines viz. 200 No. 1 Hooks 14 4 25 9 do. 1 130 16 do. 1 1 1/2 10 2 Lines 7 4 1/2 10 3 do. 8 6 3 Log do. 4 3 2 Hambro do. 4 6 2 1 1 Carried Over £ 95 18 4 | The sales to the planters continued from a running total of £59 4s 4d with a further list of goods sold at 40 per cent above cost. Brought forward, £59 4s 4d Sold to the planters at 40 per cent above cost 338 pounds of sugar, £7 0s 10d 374 pounds of flour, £5 1s 3d Tea 35 pounds of bohea tea, £2 1s 4d 41 pounds of singlo tea, £4 8s 10d 76 pounds of congou tea, £8 4s 8d Total for tea, £14 14s 10d 16 pounds of soap, £0 12s 8d Oil 8½ gallons of train oil, £1 18s 11½d 3½ gallons of linseed oil, £1 0s 7½d Total for oil, £2 19s 7d 5 bushels of salt, £1 0s 5d 6 pounds of starch, £0 4s 8d Canvas 24 yards of English canvas, £1 18s 4d 16 yards of osnaburg, £0 18s 0d Total for canvas, £2 16s 4d Turned goods and brushes 1 punch ladle, £0 0s 10d 2 paint brushes, £0 1s 6d Total for turned goods and brushes, £0 2s 4d Hooks and lines 200 number 1 hooks, £0 14s 4d 25 number 9 hooks, £0 1s 0d 130 number 16 hooks, £0 1s 1½d 18 number 2 lines, £0 7s 4½d 10 number 3 lines, £0 8s 6d 3 log lines, £0 4s 3d 2 hambro lines, £0 4s 6d Total for hooks and lines, £2 1s 1d Carried forward, £95 18s 4d Interpretations The planters paid two rates. Cloth, clothing and shoes went at 25 per cent above cost, while food, tea, oil and hardware went at 40 per cent. The Company charged less on the goods a family could not do without and could not make on the island, and more on the stores it supplied to its own garrison and works. The servants paid 10 per cent on all of it. A planter buying tea paid four times the mark-up of an official buying the same chest. The difference in quantity was striking. The servants bought 7,882 pounds of sugar in the quarter, the planters 338. The servants bought over 1,000 pounds of tea, the planters 152. Settlers far outnumbered officials, yet they bought only a small share of the warehouse's goods. At 40 per cent over cost, most planters must have done without, or bought instead from ships' officers in the road and from the servants themselves, who could buy cheap and sell on. | |
359 | 1769 Brought Over £ 95 18 4 Earthen Ware 1 Milk pan 1 11 Nails viz. 16 1/2 lb 20 Nails 8 11 1/2 6 40 do. 3 3 23 10 do. 16 3 1/2 4 8 do. 2 11 14 4 do. 11 11 1/2 4 3 do. 4 4 7 6 do. 5 8 1/4 1 2 do. 1 2 1/2 8 lb Flooring Brads 4 8 5 Scupper Nails 2 8 1/2 8 Clinch do. 5 7 1/2 3 7 7 Books 1 Speling Book 1 2 Paint viz. 7 lb Ven. Red mixd. 3 1 1/4 13 Whiting 8 12 White Lead dry 3 9 3 Verdegrease 16 6 3 Stone Color 1 8 1/4 1 Barrl. Blacking 9 1/4 2 lb Yellow Oaker mixd. 9 1/4 1 18 7 Glass Ware viz. 1 Square 8 by 10 9 16 do. 10 by 12 18 18 9 Iron Ware viz. 1 Splinter Lock 9 3 Chest do. 13 Iron Ware Carried Over £ 13 9 Carried Over £ 102 6 4 | The sales to the planters continued from a running total of £95 10s 4d. Brought forward, £95 10s 4d 1 earthenware milk pan, £0 1s 11d Nails 16½ pounds of twentypenny nails, £0 8s 11½d 6 pounds of fortypenny nails, £0 3s 3d 23 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 16s 3½d 4 pounds of eightpenny nails, £0 2s 11d 14 pounds of fourpenny nails, £0 11s 11½d 4 pounds of threepenny nails, £0 4s 4d 7 pounds of sixpenny nails, £0 5s 8¼d 1 pound of twopenny nails, £0 1s 2½d 8 pounds of flooring brads, £0 4s 8d 3 pounds of scupper nails, £0 2s 8½d 8 pounds of clench nails, £0 3s 7½d Total for nails, £3 7s 7d 1 spelling book, £0 1s 2d Paint 7 pounds of Venetian red, mixed, £0 3s 1¼d 13 pounds of whiting, £0 0s 8d 12 pounds of white lead, dry, £0 3s 9d 3 pounds of verdigris, £0 16s 6d 3 pounds of stone colour, £0 1s 8¼d 1 pound of blacking in barrels, £0 0s 9¼d 2 pounds of yellow ochre, mixed, £0 0s 9¼d Total for paint, £1 18s 7d Glass 1 pane of window glass, 8 by 10 inches, £0 0s 9d 16 panes of window glass, 10 by 12 inches, £0 18s 0d Total for glass, £0 18s 9d Ironmongery 1 spring lock, £0 0s 9d 3 chest locks, £0 13s 0d Ironmongery carried forward, £0 13s 9d Carried forward, £102 6s 4d Interpretations The planters' nails, paint and window glass were the materials for building and repairing their houses, bought at 40 per cent above cost. Every nail and pane on the island came from the Company's warehouse or from a passing ship, and the settlers had no cheaper source. The Company's own repairs drew the same goods at cost, and its servants paid only 10 per cent. A planter putting up a house on his land paid far more for each pound of nails than the official next door. The mark-up made the Company's stores a source of revenue from the settlers, while its own people built more cheaply. | |
360 | 16th October Brought Over £ 102 6 4 Iron Ware brought Over £ 13 9 1 Spade 5 3 2 Blank Keys 1 9 1 Spring Rat Trap 2 1 1/2 1 Wood Ax 4 1 Hand Hatchet 2 3 1/2 1 Ash Helve 10 3 Mouse Traps 2 6 3/4 1 Broad Hoe 3 1 1 Pr. Barnl. Hinges 2 4 1 Small Fryg. Pan 3 6 Leather drill strings 4 3 2 5 5 Cutlery Ware viz. 2 Horn Combs 7 2 Shoe Knives 1 1 7 Pewter viz. 1 Pewter Chamberpot 4 1 2 Basons 6 1 10 2 Pitch and Tar viz. 24 lb Rosin 5 6 3/4 Gall. Tar 3 3 8 9 Corks 6 Gross 19 Twine 2 Skeins 1 6 Coffee 2 lb 2 4 Rice 30 lb 3 9 Carried Over £ 106 18 10 | The sales to the planters continued from a running total of £102 6s 4d. Brought forward, £102 6s 4d Ironmongery brought forward, £0 13s 9d 1 spade, £0 5s 3d 2 blank keys, £0 1s 9d 1 spring rat trap, £0 2s 1½d 1 wood axe, £0 4s 0d 1 hand hatchet, £0 2s 3½d 1 ash handle, £0 0s 10d 3 mousetraps, £0 2s 6¾d 1 broad hoe, £0 3s 1d 1 pair of barrel hinges, £0 2s 4d 1 small frying pan, £0 3s 0d 6 leather drill strings, £0 4s 3d Total for ironmongery, £2 5s 5d Cutlery and combs 2 horn combs, £0 0s 7d 2 shoe knives, £0 1s 0d Total for cutlery and combs, £0 1s 7d Pewter 1 pewter chamber pot, £0 4s 1d 2 basins, £0 6s 1d Total for pewter, £0 10s 2d Pitch and tar 24 pounds of rosin, £0 5s 6d ¾ gallon of tar, £0 3s 3d Total for pitch and tar, £0 8s 9d 6 gross of corks, £0 19s 0d 2 skeins of twine, £0 1s 6d 2 pounds of coffee, £0 2s 4d 30 pounds of rice, £0 3s 9d Carried forward, £106 18s 10d Interpretations The planters bought only 30 pounds of rice in the quarter, against nearly 6,000 pounds bought by the Company's servants. Rice was the staple ration of the island's slaves. A planter who fed his slaves on Company rice at 40 per cent over cost would soon be ruined, so the settlers grew yams and potatoes on their own land instead. The Company's servants, buying at 10 per cent, could feed their household slaves on imported grain. The difference in the price of rice shaped how each group fed the people who worked for it. Leather drill strings were the thongs of a bow drill, wound round the shaft and drawn back and forth with a bow to spin the bit. They wore out quickly and were bought by the half dozen. | |
361 | 1769 Brought Over £ 106 18 10 Leather 7 3/4 lb Sole 10 10 Thread viz. 1/2 lb Whited Brown Thread 4 3 1 Colord do. 3 11 8 2 Blankets fine 11 8 3 2 China Ware viz. 12 Saucers 6 3 Bowls 8 4 1 Sett Octagon Dishes and Plates 1 11 8 2 6 Tin Ware 1 Lamp 1 2 Deals viz. 3 Single Deals 8 6 2 1/2 Ps. Riga Timber 2 9 2 17 6 Broad Cloth viz. 7 Yards Dark Brown 8 9 3 1/2 2 1/2 do. Blue 3 3 1/2 11 12 11 Shalloon 10 Yards Coloured 1 5 10 £ 134 3 10 | The sales to the planters continued from a running total of £106 18s 10d and closed at £134 3s 10d. Brought forward, £106 18s 10d 7¾ pounds of sole leather, £0 10s 10d Thread ½ pound of whited brown thread, £0 4s 3d 1 pound of coloured thread, £0 3s 11d Total for thread, £0 8s 2d 11 fine blankets, £8 3s 2d China 12 saucers, £0 6s 0d 3 bowls, £0 8s 4d 1 set of octagonal dishes and plates, £1 11s 8d Total for china, £2 6s 0d 1 tin lamp, £0 1s 2d Timber 3 single deals, £0 8s 6d 2½ pieces of Riga timber, £2 9s 0d Total for timber, £2 17s 6d Broadcloth 7 yards of dark brown broadcloth, £8 9s 5½d 2½ yards of blue broadcloth, £3 3s 5½d Total for broadcloth, £11 12s 11d 10 yards of coloured shalloon, £1 5s 10d Total sold to the planters, £134 3s 10d Interpretations The planters bought £134 3s 10d of goods from the warehouse in the quarter, against £1,949 7s 9d bought by the Company's servants. The settlers who held most of the island's land took less than a fourteenth of what the officials took. The Company's discount to its own people, 10 per cent against 25 or 40, was the main reason. A settler had little cash and paid dearly for every item, while an official could stock his house, his table and his slaves at near cost. The warehouse thus served the official class far more than the farming population it was meant in part to supply. Riga timber was fir or pine from the forests of Livonia, shipped from the Baltic port of Riga and prized for its straight grain and long lengths. It reached St Helena in the Company's ships by way of London. Its price, nearly £1 a piece, reflected the long voyage from northern Europe to the South Atlantic. | |
362 | 16th October Sold to the Honble. Company's Ships from 1st July to the 30th Septemr. 1769 viz. Twine 100 Skains 4 7 6 Canvas viz. 7 Ps. 3 Yds. Eng. Canvas 22 5 8 40 lb Osnabrigs 2 6 8 24 12 4 Iron Ware viz. 86 Sail Needles 9 1 Cooper's Driver 2 4 2 Iron rimd Locks w. Brass Knobs 17 4 1 8 8 Pitch and Tar viz. 3 Barrls. Pitch 4 13 6 7 do. Tar 10 17 15 10 6 Glass Ware viz. 2 Squares 8 by 10 1 6 2 Half hour Glasses 2 3 6 Oil viz. 20 Gall. Linseed 5 10 1/2 do. Train 2 3 5 12 3 Nails viz. 10 lb 4 8 7 8 2 9 8 16 10 11 4 Nails Carried Over £ 1 9 7 Carried Over £ 51 14 9 | A further schedule listed the stores sold to the Company's ships between 1 July and 30 September 1769. 100 skeins of twine, £4 7s 6d Canvas 7 pieces of English canvas, £22 5s 8d 40 yards of osnaburg, £2 6s 8d Total for canvas, £24 12s 4d Ironmongery 86 sail needles, £0 9s 0d 1 cooper's driver, £0 2s 4d 2 iron rim locks with brass knobs, £0 17s 4d Total for ironmongery, £1 8s 8d Pitch and tar 3 barrels of pitch, £4 13s 6d 7 barrels of tar, £10 17s 0d Total for pitch and tar, £15 10s 6d Glass 2 panes of window glass, 8 by 10 inches, £0 1s 6d 2 half-hour glasses, £0 2s 0d Total for glass, £0 3s 6d Oil 20 gallons of linseed oil, £5 10s 0d ½ gallon of train oil, £0 2s 3d Total for oil, £5 12s 3d Nails 10 pounds of fourpenny nails, £0 8s 7d 8 pounds of twopenny nails, £0 9s 8d 16 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 11s 4d Nails carried forward, £1 9s 7d Carried forward, £51 14s 9d Interpretations The ships calling between July and September 1769 were homeward Indiamen at the end of long passages from Canton, Bombay, Bengal and Madras. Their stores went on canvas, pitch, tar and twine to make good sails and seams worn on the voyage. In the quarter to June, the Company's ships had bought £228 15s 7d of stores, led by five puncheons of salt beef and a spare topmast. This quarter's purchases were far smaller and almost wholly for upkeep. The homeward ships of the later season carried enough provisions from the East and wanted only materials for the run to England. Half-hour glasses were sandglasses used aboard ship to time the watches. A boy turned the glass each half hour and struck the bell, eight bells marking the end of a four-hour watch. Ships carried spares, because a cracked or broken glass left the crew without a measure of time between noon sights. | |
363 | 1769 Brought Over £ 51 14 9 Nails brought Over £ 1 9 7 12 lb 40 6 6 2 1/2 Scupper 1 11 3/4 23 Clinch 16 4 40 lb Coopers Rivets 1 8 4 1/4 10 lb Spike Nails 4 10 4 7 7 Paint viz. 60 lb Yellow Oaker mixd. 1 4 7 3/4 15 lb White Lead dry 7 6 1/4 44 Barrl. Blacking 1 13 11 lb Verdigrease 3 1 5 1 lb Copperas 1 5 6 8 Coals 1 Chaldron 2 15 3 Cordage 127 lb 3 3 6 Lines 2 Hambro 4 6 Oars 2 7 10 Beef 7 Puncheons 144 12 9 Turners Ware 4 Paint Brushes 3 £ 213 15 2 | The stores sold to the Company's ships continued from a running total of £51 14s 9d and closed at £213 15s 2d. Brought forward, £51 14s 9d Nails brought forward, £1 9s 7d 12 pounds of fortypenny nails, £0 6s 6d 2½ pounds of scupper nails, £0 1s 11¾d 23 pounds of clench nails, £0 16s 4d 40 pounds of cooper's rivets, £1 8s 4¼d 10 pounds of spike nails, £0 4s 10d Total for nails, £4 7s 7d Paint 60 pounds of yellow ochre, mixed, £1 4s 7¾d 15 pounds of white lead, dry, £0 7s 6¼d 44 pounds of blacking in barrels, £1 13s 0d 11 pounds of verdigris, £3 1s 5d 1 pound of copperas, £0 1s 5d Total for paint, £6 8s 0d 1 chaldron of coal, £2 15s 3d 127 pounds of cordage, £3 3s 6d 2 hambro lines, £0 4s 6d 2 oars, £0 7s 10d 7 puncheons of beef, £144 12s 9d 4 paint brushes, £0 3s 0d Total sold to the Company's ships, £213 15s 2d Interpretations The seven puncheons of salt beef made up more than two-thirds of everything sold to the Company's ships in the quarter, at about £20 13s a puncheon. In the same months the Council bought 672 pieces of beef from Captain Abercromby of the Grenville and 945 from Captain Reed of the Essex, all at 2s a piece. The Company was buying salt meat from some ships and selling it to others. A homeward ship with beef to spare sold its surplus to the island at the fixed rate, and a ship that had run short bought it back by the puncheon. St Helena's warehouse acted as a clearing house for provisions between the Company's own vessels. Each transaction was charged and credited separately, so that every ship's account showed exactly what it had taken and given up. The single chaldron of coal was the most the Council would spare any commander, as Captain Dampier of the Sea Horse had found in July 1769. It was charged to the ship like any other store. Spike nails were long, heavy nails with square shanks, used to fasten deck planks and heavy timbers. | |
364 | 16th October Charges General Dr. for the following stores Issued from 1 July to the 30th September 1769 viz. Arrack 75 1/4 Gall. for sundrys Doctors Shop and Men Employed in Stores 11 1 1 Soap 150 for Linnen 4 4 4 Paint viz. 1 Barrl. Blacking 6 Indico 1 White Lead dry 10 Whiting for the Castle 6 1/2 10 1 1/2 3 3/4 3 3/4 14 Chalk Coopers Use 1/2 1 Blue Smalts for Linnen 1 8 1/4 13 Candy 24 lb for the Groom Gard. and Doc. Shop 1 13 Iron Ware viz. 3 Mouse Traps for the Lt. Gov. House and Stores 1 9 1/4 62 Files Armour. and Carp. Use 1 19 2 1/2 Borax 7 3 1/4 6 Smiths Rubbers 1/4 Flour Emery 2 Hand Bench Hammrs. 2 Blank Keys 1 Small frying Pan for the Armr. Use 1 13 1 1/2 5 1/4 3 11 1/2 1 3 2 1/2 2 Pr. Smiths Dividers Masons Use 10 8 2 Pr. Sliding Compasses w. screws do. 7 8 1 Inside spoke shave 1 Out side do. 1 Cooper Ax 1 do. Howell 1 Tapering Borer Coopers Use 2 2 4 2 1 8 3 Iron Ware Carried Over £ 6 5 9 Carried Over £ 17 13 5 | The Company's general expense account was charged with the stores issued for its own use between 1 July and 30 September 1769. 73¼ gallons of arrack for the doctor's shop and the men working in the stores, £11 1s 1d 150 pounds of soap for washing linen, £4 4s 4d Paint 1 pound of blacking in barrels for the Castle, £0 0s 6¾d 6 pounds of indigo for the Castle, £0 10s 1½d 1 pound of white lead, dry, for the Castle, £0 0s 3¾d 10 pounds of whiting for the Castle, £0 0s 3¾d 14 pounds of chalk for the coopers, £0 0s 0¼d 1 pound of blue smalt for linen, £0 1s 6¾d Total for paint, £0 13s 0d 84 pounds of sugar candy for the groom, the gardener and the doctor's shop, £1 13s 0d Ironmongery 3 mousetraps for the Lieutenant Governor's house and the stores, £0 1s 9¾d 62 files for the armourer and the carpenters, £1 19s 2d For the armourer ½ pound of borax, £0 7s 3¾d 6 smith's rubber files, £1 13s 1½d ½ pound of flour emery, £0 0s 5¼d 2 hand bench hammers, £0 3s 11½d 2 blank keys, £0 1s 3d 1 small frying pan, £0 2s 0½d 2 pairs of smith's dividers for the masons, £0 10s 8d 2 pairs of sliding compasses, £0 7s 8d For the coopers 1 inside spokeshave, £0 2s 0d 1 outside spokeshave, £0 2s 0d 1 cooper's axe, £0 4s 0d 1 cooper's howel, £0 2s 1d 1 reaming borer, £0 8s 3d Ironmongery carried forward, £6 5s 9d Carried forward, £17 13s 5d Interpretations The arrack issued to the doctor's shop and the men in the stores fell to 73¼ gallons in this quarter, from 208½ gallons in the quarter to June 1769. The arrack society had held the monopoly of spirits on the island since May. Before then, the Company's own issues may have been generous because no other source was regulated. After the society was set up, the Council cut its own dram allowance by two-thirds, perhaps to avoid issuing cheap spirit that might find its way past the society's monopoly. The busy shipping season of April to June, when the stores were working hardest, also accounts for part of the earlier figure. Borax was a white mineral salt from Tibet, refined in Holland and shipped by the Company from India. Smiths used it as a flux when brazing and hard-soldering, since it kept the metal clean so that the joint would take. Flour emery was emery ground to a fine powder for polishing. A howel was a cooper's plane with a curved sole, used to smooth the inside of a cask near the end where the head was fitted. A reaming borer was a tapered tool for enlarging the bung hole of a cask. | |
365 | 1769 Brought Over £ 17 13 5 Iron Ware brought Over £ 6 5 9 1 Goal Pad Lock for the Prison 7 2 2 Farr. Rasps 6 Hammer Helves 12 Sheets Emery paper 12 Sand do. Armourers Use 1 10 1 9 1 3 1 3 12 Firmer Chizels 1 Frame Saw with a Frame 1 Carpr. Jointer plane 34 Plane Irons 1 two foot Rule Carpr. Use 3 9 1 14 2 7 3 1/2 12 9 3/4 1 1 1/2 14 Truss Hoops Coopers Use 12 9 1 Spade Armourer do. 3 9 1 Hand Hatchet Stew. do. 1 8 1/2 3 Coopers Vices 1 Crow Iron Coopr. do. 1 8 1/4 10 2 Corn Emery 1 3/4 Iron binding Wire Armr. do. 3 6 1 6 1/2 2 Wire Rat Traps Lieut. Govr. House 12 1 Pad Lock 2 Spring Rat traps Store Use 1 6 1/4 2 11 1/2 2 Ash Helves Armr. do. 1 2 15 Plate Iron 17 Rolled do. Armr. do. 6 6 3/4 5 7 1/2 12 13 11 Coals 92 Bush. for the Armr. Shop 4 17 9 Candles viz. 317 Castle 110 Council 30 Chaplain 25 Doctors Shop 54 4 6 Tea 8 Bohea for the Groom and Gardener 4 3 Carried Over £ 89 13 10 | The Company's general expense account continued from a running total of £17 13s 5d. Brought forward, £17 13s 5d Ironmongery brought forward, £6 5s 9d 1 gaol padlock for the prison, £0 7s 2d For the armourer 2 farrier's rasps, £0 1s 10d 6 hammer handles, £0 1s 9d 12 sheets of emery paper, £0 1s 3d 12 sheets of sandpaper, £0 1s 0d For the carpenters 12 firmer chisels, £0 3s 9d 1 frame saw with its frame, £1 14s 2d 1 carpenter's jointer plane, £0 7s 3½d 34 plane irons, £0 12s 9¾d 1 two-foot rule, £0 1s 1½d 14 truss hoops for the coopers, £0 12s 9d 1 spade for the armourer, £0 3s 9d 1 hand hatchet for the stores, £0 1s 8½d For the coopers 3 cooper's vices, £0 1s 8¼d 1 crowbar, £0 0s 10d For the armourer 2 pounds of corn emery, £0 3s 6d 1¾ pounds of iron binding wire, £0 1s 6¾d 2 wire rat traps for the Lieutenant Governor's house, £0 12s 0d For the stores 1 padlock, £0 1s 6¼d 2 spring rat traps, £0 2s 11½d For the armourer 2 ash handles, £0 1s 2d 15 pounds of plate iron, £0 6s 6¾d 19 pounds of rod iron, £0 5s 7½d Total for ironmongery, £12 13s 11d 92 bushels of coal for the armourer's shop, £4 17s 9d Candles 317 pounds for the Castle 110 pounds for the Council 30 pounds for the chaplain 25 pounds for the doctor's shop Total for candles, £54 4s 6d 8 pounds of bohea tea for the groom and the gardener, £0 4s 3d Carried forward, £89 13s 10d Interpretations The Castle, the Council, the chaplain and the doctor's shop burned 482 pounds of candles in the quarter, against 336 pounds in the quarter to June 1769. July to September was the depth of the southern-hemisphere winter at St Helena, with the longest nights of the year. The extra hours of darkness meant more candles in every Company building. The cost fell, however, from £58 1s 4d to £54 4s 6d, so the candles issued this quarter were cheaper by the pound. The Company had evidently switched from dearer stock to plainer tallow candles for most uses. The wax candles landed from the Shrewsbury and the Thames were kept back in store. A truss hoop was a heavy iron hoop that the cooper hammered down over the staves of a cask to pull them together while it was being raised. The 14 issued here were working tools, not hoops for the finished casks. A frame saw had a thin blade held taut in a wooden frame and was used for cutting curves and fine work. | |
366 | 16th October Brought Over £ 89 13 10 Canvas viz. 3 1/2 Yards Osnabrugs for the Packets 2 9 1/2 4 do. Engh. Canvas for the Castle 4 8 1/2 7 6 Long Cloth viz. 10 Ps. D 1/2 Ps. No. 6 2 Ps. 10 1 Ps. 9 for the Castle 1 16 3 13 5 2 4 6 1 6 3 6 0 5 Iron 231 lb for the Armourers Use 2 8 1 Turners Ware viz. 2 Flaskets 1 Labr. Basket 1 Butchers Tray Castle 4 6 1/2 1 1 1/2 1 5 1 Wood Bowl 1 Platter 1 Birch Broom Armr. Use 1 3/4 1 1 1/4 3 9 8 Hooks and Lines viz. 12 No. 2 Lines 2 Hambro do. 25 No. 1 Hooks 25 16 do. for the Lieut. Govr. Fisherman 3 5 1/4 3 2 1 3 1/4 3 1/2 8 2 Carried Over £ 99 7 8 | The Company's general expense account continued from a running total of £89 13s 10d. Brought forward, £89 13s 10d Canvas 3½ yards of osnaburg for the packets, £0 2s 9½d 4 yards of English canvas for the Castle, £0 4s 8½d Total for canvas, £0 7s 6d Long cloth for the Castle 1½ pieces of grade D, £1 16s 3d ½ piece of number 6, £0 13s 5d 2 pieces of number 10, £2 4s 6d 1 piece of number 9, £1 6s 3d Total for long cloth, £6 0s 5d 231 pounds of iron for the armourer, £2 8s 1d Turned goods and baskets 2 flaskets for the Castle, £0 4s 6½d 1 labourer's basket for the Castle, £0 1s 1½d 1 butcher's tray for the Castle, £0 1s 5d 1 wooden bowl for the armourer, £0 1s 0¾d 1 platter for the armourer, £0 1s 1¼d 1 birch broom for the armourer, £0 0s 3d Total for turned goods and baskets, £0 9s 6d Hooks and lines for the Lieutenant Governor's fishermen 12 number 2 lines, £0 3s 5¾d 2 hambro lines, £0 3s 2d 25 number 1 hooks, £0 1s 3½d 25 number 16 hooks, £0 0s 3½d Total for hooks and lines, £0 8s 2d Carried forward, £99 7s 8d Interpretations The fishing tackle charged to the Company this quarter went to the Lieutenant Governor's fishermen alone: 12 lines and 50 hooks. In the quarter to June 1769, the fishermen of both the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor had drawn 34 lines and nearly 500 hooks. The winter months of July to September brought heavier seas around the island, and the boats went out less often. No tackle was issued to the Governor's fishermen at all, which suggests his boat was laid up for the season or still had stock from the autumn. The fishing allowance, like the candles, followed the island's seasons. The osnaburg for the packets was used to wrap the Council's despatches for the Court. The last homeward ships of the season sailed in August and September, and every letter, account and minute for London had to go with them, sewn into canvas against the sea. | |
367 | 1769 Brought Over £ 99 7 8 Oil viz. 1/4 Linseed 20 1/2 Train 1/4 Oil of Olives For the Castle Lt. Govr. House and Armr. Use 1 3 6 7 1/2 1 9 1/2 3 9 5 Nails viz. 8 lb Coopers Rivets 3 4 Nails Coopers Use 4 1 11 10 8 do. 4 10 do. for makg. Sentry Boxes 5 1 10 1 Glazing Brads for Packets 1 8 14 5 Twine 3 Skeins for the Lt. Govr. Fisherman 1 7 Cordage 133 for Crane Ropes 2 4 4 Corks 2 Gross Castle 4 6 Tin Ware viz. 4 Pudding pans 1 Tin Lamp Castle 3 4 10 1 Watering Pot Store Use 3 6 7 8 China Ware 12 Quar. pint Cups and Saucers Castle 3 6 Challow 1 Ps. Castle 8 3 Shalloon 3 1/4 Yards Colord for Window Blinds for the Castle 10 1 Glass Ware 1 Candle Shade for the Castle 6 8 Carried Over £ 107 18 1 | The Company's general expense account continued from a running total of £99 7s 8d. Brought forward, £99 7s 8d Oil for the Castle, the Lieutenant Governor's house and the armourer ¼ gallon of linseed oil, £0 1s 0d 20½ gallons of train oil, £3 6s 7½d ¼ gallon of olive oil, £0 1s 9½d Total for oil, £3 9s 5d Nails 8 pounds of cooper's rivets for the coopers, £0 4s 0d 3 pounds of fourpenny nails for the coopers, £0 1s 11d 10 pounds of eightpenny nails for making sentry boxes, £0 5s 0d 4 pounds of tenpenny nails for making sentry boxes, £0 1s 10d 1 pound of glazier's brads for the packets, £0 1s 8d Total for nails, £0 14s 5d 3 skeins of twine for the Lieutenant Governor's fishermen, £0 1s 7d 133 pounds of cordage for crane ropes, £2 4s 4d 2 gross of corks for the Castle, £0 4s 6d Tinware 4 pudding pans for the Castle, £0 3s 4d 1 tin lamp for the Castle, £0 0s 10d 1 watering pot for the stores, £0 3s 6d Total for tinware, £0 7s 8d 12 quarter-pint cups and saucers for the Castle, £0 3s 6d 1 piece of chelloes for the Castle, £0 8s 3d 5¼ yards of coloured shalloon for window blinds at the Castle, £0 10s 1d 1 candle shade for the Castle, £0 6s 8d Carried forward, £107 18s 1d Interpretations The nails for making sentry boxes match the 22 days of carpenters' work on sentry boxes charged in the paymaster's account for the same quarter. The storekeeper's issue of materials and the paymaster's wages for labour were recorded in separate books, yet each confirmed the other. An auditor in London could set the two side by side and see that the timber, nails and men's days all pointed to the same job. Charging the materials to general expenses, not to fortifications, shows the sentry boxes were treated as ordinary upkeep of the garrison's posts. The coloured shalloon was made into blinds for the Castle windows, hung against the strong light and the steady trade wind that blew through the town. The candle shade bought at the same time served the same purpose indoors, shielding the flames from draughts. Together they show the Castle being fitted for the winter months, when the wind was strongest and the evenings longest. | |
368 | 16th October Brought Over £ 107 18 1 Sailors Cloaths 1 Grooms Waiscoat 4 5 Starch 4 lb for Linnen 2 1 Lead 2 lb shott for the Castle 5 Pewter 1 Crane store Use 17 2 Deals viz. 1/2 Ps. Ash plank for makg. Ladders 1 7 1 Baulk for Crane Bars 8 10 2 Double Deals 17 Single do. for makg. Sentry Boxes 6 3 1 13 3 15 1 Braziers Ware 1 Copper Pump store Use 1 4 10 £ 114 7 1 Repairs Dr. for the following stores Issued from the 1st July to the 30th Sept. 1769 viz. Iron Ware viz. 2 doz. Wood Screws for the Castle 8 2 Stock Locks 1 Iron rimd do. for the Comps. Houses 5 5 4 9 2 Lathing Hammers do. 3 4 1 File 1 Melting Ladle for cast. Sheet Lead 3 11 10 1 6 5 Coals 31 Bushells do. 1 12 11 Arrack 7 3/4 Gall. for Men emp. Labour 1 2 9 Cordage 40 1/2 for ye Lt. Govr. House 13 4 Carried Over £ 4 15 5 | The Company's general expense account continued from a running total of £107 18s 1d and closed at £114 2s 1d. A new account then charged the cost of repairs with the stores issued for them between 1 July and 30 September 1769. Brought forward, £107 18s 1d 1 groom's waistcoat from the sailors' clothing, £0 4s 5d 4 pounds of starch for linen, £0 2s 1d 2 pounds of lead shot for the Castle, £0 0s 5d 1 pewter can for the stores, £0 7s 2d Timber ½ piece of ash plank for making ladders, £1 7s 0d 1 baulk of timber for crane bars, £0 8s 10d 2 double deals for making sentry boxes, £0 6s 3d 17 single deals for making sentry boxes, £1 13s 0d Total for timber, £3 15s 1d 1 copper pump for the stores, £1 4s 10d Total for general expenses, £114 2s 1d Repairs Ironmongery 2 dozen wood screws for the Castle, £0 0s 8d 2 stock locks for the Company's houses, £0 5s 5d 1 iron rim lock for the Company's houses, £0 4s 9d 2 lathing hammers, £0 3s 4d 1 file for casting sheet lead, £0 0s 3d 1 melting ladle for casting sheet lead, £0 11s 10d Total for ironmongery, £1 6s 5d 31 bushels of coal, £1 12s 11d 7¾ gallons of arrack for the men at work, £1 2s 9d 40½ pounds of cordage for the Lieutenant Governor's house, £0 13s 4d Carried forward, £4 15s 5d Interpretations The repairs account included a melting ladle and a file for casting sheet lead. The Company had sent 754 pounds of sheet lead to the Lieutenant Governor's house in the quarter to June 1769, and a further 176 pounds to its other houses. The ladle shows that lead was being melted down and recast on the island. Old roof lead stripped from the buildings was poured into flat sheets on a bed of sand and laid again. That saved shipping new sheet lead from England, though the Company still had to buy coal to melt it. The general expense account closed at £114 2s 1d, against £207 2s 1d in the quarter to June 1769. The earlier quarter had carried several large one-off charges that were not repeated. They included the beadle's uniform, 12 fine blankets for the Castle, 754 pounds of sheet lead and 120 bushels of coal for the armourer. The ordinary running cost of the Castle, the Council and the workshops was about the same in both quarters. | |
369 | 1769 Brought Over £ 4 15 5 Paint viz. 1 Barrl. Blacking 5 Whiting 3 Ven. Red mixed for the Castle 6 1/4 3 1/2 1 5 6 Chalk for casting Lead 2 2 2 Nails viz. 30 lb 10d. 12 40 8 20 2 3 16 6 10 8 1 2 For repair. the Lt. Govr. House makg. a mould for casting Sheet Lead and repair. a Shed on the Line 15 9 5 6 3 8 1 6 10 4 9 1/2 10 1/2 2 2 1 Glass Ware viz. 1 Square 11 by 19 3 do. 13 by 12 1 do. 8 by 10 for the Castle 1 5 3 5 1/2 6 1/4 5 5 Lead 12 lb Sheet for the Comps. Houses 2 6 Turners Ware viz. 1 Paint Brush for the Castle 6 1 Plaistr. do. for casting Lead 1 1 1 7 Pitch and Tar 30 lb Rosin Castle 5 7 Ticking 1 Yard for casting Lead 3 2 Carried Over £ 7 17 11 | The repairs account continued from a running total of £4 15s 5d. Brought forward, £4 15s 5d Paint 1 pound of blacking in barrels for the Castle, £0 0s 6¾d 5 pounds of whiting for the Castle, £0 0s 3½d 3 pounds of Venetian red, mixed, for the Castle, £0 1s 5d 6 pounds of chalk for casting lead, £0 0s 2d Total for paint, £0 2s 2d Nails for repairing the Lieutenant Governor's house, making a mould for casting sheet lead and repairing a shed on the Lines 30 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 15s 9d 12 pounds of fortypenny nails, £0 3s 6d 8 pounds of twentypenny nails, £0 3s 8d 2 pounds of threepenny nails, £0 1s 6d 16 pounds of sixpenny nails, £0 10s 0d 10 pounds of eightpenny nails, £0 4s 9½d 1 pound of twopenny nails, £0 0s 10½d Total for nails, £2 2s 1d Glass for the Castle 1 pane of window glass, 12 by 19 inches, £0 1s 5d 3 panes of window glass, 10 by 12 inches, £0 3s 5¾d 1 pane of window glass, 8 by 10 inches, £0 0s 6¼d Total for glass, £0 5s 5d 12 pounds of sheet lead for the Company's houses, £0 2s 6d Brushes 1 paint brush for the Castle, £0 0s 6d 1 plasterer's brush for casting lead, £0 1s 1d Total for brushes, £0 1s 7d 30 pounds of rosin for the Castle, £0 5s 7d 1 yard of ticking for casting lead, £0 3s 2d Carried forward, £7 17s 11d Interpretations The repairs account set out the whole kit for casting sheet lead on the island. A wooden frame was nailed together to make the mould, which was filled with a bed of fine sand. The sand was dusted with chalk and smoothed with the plasterer's brush so that the molten lead would run out evenly and not stick. The ticking was probably stretched over the sand or used as a strike cloth to level the surface before pouring. With the melting ladle and coal charged on the previous page, the Company's workmen could recast worn roof lead into new sheets. The only alternative was to wait months for fresh lead from England. The same nails served the Lieutenant Governor's house, the lead mould and a shed on the Lines, the fortified wall across James's Valley. All three were repairs carried out by the same carpenters in the same quarter. Charging them together showed the Court one gang of workmen moving between tasks, not three separate jobs. | |
370 | 16th October Brought Over £ 7 17 11 Oil viz. 1/2 Gallon Linseed for the Castle 2 1 do. Train do. 2 3 5 3 Iron 56 lb to repair the Barrk. prison 11 8 Lines 3 No. 2 for casting Lead 11 Candles 6 lb do. 13 6 Iron Pots 1 Wt. 63 lb do. 12 2 Tin Ware viz. 1 Watering Pot 76 Grained Tin 30 Solder 3/4 Salammoniac do. 3 6 3 10 1 1 7 6 9 9 5 10 10 Deals viz. 13 double Deals 26 Single for rep. the Lt. Govr. House 2 0 1/2 2 10 4 1/2 2 Ps. Oak plank for rep. the Garrn. Stores and one of the Companys Houses 3 14 8 1/2 Elm plank for repairing the Barrk. prison Windows 17 1 1 Elm Board 4 9 2 9 £ 24 15 | The repairs account continued from a running total of £7 17s 11d and closed at £24 15s 0d. Brought forward, £7 17s 11d Oil ½ gallon of linseed oil for the Castle, £0 2s 0d 1 gallon of train oil for the Castle, £0 2s 3d Total for oil, £0 5s 3d 56 pounds of iron to repair the barracks prison, £0 11s 8d 3 number 2 lines for casting lead, £0 0s 11d 6 pounds of candles, £0 13s 6d 1 iron pot, weighing 65 pounds, £0 12s 2d Tinware 1 watering pot, £0 3s 6d 76 pounds of grain tin, £3 10s 1d 30 pounds of solder, £1 7s 6d ¾ pound of sal ammoniac, £0 9s 9d Total for tinware, £5 10s 10d Timber 13 double deals for repairing the Lieutenant Governor's house, £2 0s 1½d 26 single deals for repairing the Lieutenant Governor's house, £2 10s 4½d 2 pieces of oak plank for repairing the garrison stores and one of the Company's houses, £3 14s 8d ½ piece of elm plank for repairing the barracks prison windows, £0 17s 1d 1 elm board, £0 4s 0d Total for timber, £9 2s 9d Total for repairs, £24 15s 0d Interpretations The barracks prison was repaired with 56 pounds of iron and half a piece of elm plank for its windows. The iron was probably made into new bars. Elm was chosen because it stood up to damp and was hard to split, which made it the right wood for a frame that a prisoner might try to break out of. The gaol lock and padlock bought in earlier quarters, John Price's fees for seven committals, and now new bars all point to a prison in regular use. The garrison's offences of drunkenness and neglect, which cost sergeants their stripes in July, must have filled it often. Grain tin was tin of the purest quality, smelted from the ore in Cornwall and cast in small bars or granules. With the solder and sal ammoniac charged alongside it, 76 pounds of grain tin points to a large job of retinning copper vessels or lining cisterns and pumps. The copper pump bought for the stores in the same quarter was probably part of that work. The repairs account came to £24 15s 0d, against £32 19s 3d in the quarter to June 1769. The Lieutenant Governor's house again took the largest share of timber, 39 deals in all. Its repair had begun under an order of 2 March 1767 and was still going on more than two years later. | |
371 | 1769 Diet Expences Dr. for the following stores Issued from the 1st July to the 30th Septr. 1769 viz. Flour 1310 lb 12 5 7 Rice 772 lb 2 15 Arrack 84 Gallons 12 6 9 Beef and Pork viz. 12 Ps. Beef 2 3 3 42 Ps. Pork 5 12 10 7 16 1 Sugar and Candy viz. 80 lb Sugar 1 632 lb Candy 59 do. fine 15 11 8 16 11 8 Oil 12 Bottles Florence 2 2 Pease 1 Bushell 9 6 Pepper 6 lb 3 Salt 1/2 Bushell 1 7 Tea 2 lb Single 2 6 Coffee 25 lb 10 £ 55 14 6 | The account of the Company's table was charged with the provisions issued to it between 1 July and 30 September 1769. 1,310 pounds of flour, £12 5s 7d 772 pounds of rice, £2 15s 0d 84 gallons of arrack, £12 6s 9d Beef and pork 12 pieces of beef, £2 3s 3d 42 pieces of pork, £5 12s 10d Total for beef and pork, £7 16s 1d Sugar and sugar candy 80 pounds of sugar, £1 0s 0d 632 pounds of sugar candy and 59 pounds of fine sugar candy, £15 11s 8d Total for sugar and sugar candy, £16 11s 8d 12 bottles of Florence oil, £2 2s 0d 1 bushel of peas, £0 9s 6d 6 pounds of pepper, £0 3s 0d ½ bushel of salt, £0 1s 7d 2 pounds of singlo tea, £0 2s 6d 25 pounds of coffee, £1 0s 10d Total for the Company's table, £55 14s 6d Interpretations The table's stores rose from £49 13s 10d in the quarter to June 1769 to £55 14s 6d. The increase came almost entirely from arrack and sugar candy. Arrack rose from 52 to 84 gallons, and sugar candy from 331 pounds to over 690. Both were the ingredients of punch, which was mixed in a bowl from arrack, sugar, lemon or lime juice and water. Six Indiamen called between July and September, and each brought a commander and passengers to dine at the Castle. Punch was the drink of such entertaining, and the Company bore its cost. The monthly accounts for the Governor's table showed the wine rising in the same months. Coffee appeared in the table's stores for the first time, 25 pounds in the quarter. It was still less common than tea in English households of the period, but the Company carried it from Mocha in Yemen and the price at St Helena was low. Pepper, at 6d a pound, was drawn from the 3 hundredweight landed from the Grenville in August 1769 on the Council's order, when the stores held none. | |
372 | 16th October Garrison Dr. for the following stores Issued from the 1st July to the 30th Septr. 1769 viz. Nails viz. 15 6 20 3 for makg. Coffins and Cotts 9 3/4 16 3/4 1 5 6 Soldiers Cloaths 7 Soldiers Coats and Breeches 10 3 2 Blankets 6 Ordinary for Barr. 1 14 Tea 47 Bohea for the several Guards 1 13 3 Candles 26 lb for Officers on duty 2 18 6 Oil viz. 30 3/4 Gallons Train 30 1/2 do. Oil bought 1/8 do. Linseed for the sevl. Guards 2 11 2 9 11 9 1 6 12 4 7 Lines 12 No. 2 for making Whips 3 6 Twine 2 Skeins for makg. Cotts 1 Pork 237 Ps. for an Invalid and short Wt. in the Ps. delivered the Garrison 34 10 8 Glass Ware viz. 2 Hour Glasses for the Guards 1 4 4 Squares 8 by 10 for Sandy Bay Guard 2 1 3 5 Iron Ware viz. 1 Small Frying Pan 1 Hand Hatchet 1 Wood Ax for Banks's Guard 2 1/4 1 8 1/2 2 10 1/4 6 7 Carried Over £ 63 4 2 | The garrison account was charged with the stores issued to it between 1 July and 30 September 1769. Nails for making coffins and cots 15 pounds of sixpenny nails, £0 9s 0¾d 20 pounds of threepenny nails, £0 16s 0¾d Total for nails, £1 5s 0d 7 soldiers' coats and breeches, £10 3s 2d 6 ordinary blankets for the barracks, £1 14s 0d 47 pounds of bohea tea for the several guards, £1 13s 3d 26 pounds of candles for officers on duty, £2 18s 6d Oil for the several guards 30¾ gallons of train oil, £2 11s 2d 30½ gallons of purchased oil, £9 11s 9d ½ gallon of linseed oil, £0 1s 6d Total for oil, £12 4s 7d 12 number 2 lines for making whips, £0 3s 6d 2 skeins of twine for making cots, £0 1s 0d 237 pieces of pork for an invalid and to make good the short weight of the pork delivered to the garrison, £34 10s 8d Glass 2 hourglasses for the guards, £0 1s 4d 4 panes of window glass, 8 by 10 inches, for the Sandy Bay guard, £0 2s 1d Total for glass, £0 3s 5d For Banks's guard 1 small frying pan, £0 2s 0¼d 1 hand hatchet, £0 1s 6½d 1 wood axe, £0 2s 10¼d Total for ironmongery, £0 6s 7d Carried forward, £63 4s 2d Interpretations The Company issued 47 pounds of bohea tea to the guards in the quarter. Tea had not appeared in the garrison's stores in the quarter to June 1769. Its issue fell in the southern-hemisphere winter, when the batteries on the exposed headlands were cold and wet at night. A hot drink for the men on watch was cheaper than the arrack allowance and kept them sober on duty. The Council had cut its own arrack issues sharply after the society's monopoly began in May, and tea filled part of the gap for the guards. The 237 pieces of pork made good the short weight of salt meat delivered to the garrison, as the 175 pieces of beef and pork had done in the quarter to June. Soldiers were served by the piece at a reckoned weight, and casks long in store yielded pieces that fell short of it. The Company met each shortfall in full, so that the soldiers did not bear the loss of meat that had shrunk in the cask. A whip, in the lines for making whips, was a light hoisting tackle of a single rope run through a block, used at the batteries to haul up shot and stores. | |
373 | 1769 Brought Over £ 63 4 2 Iron 71 lb for making Pins for Cotts 14 9 Paint viz. 1 lb Stone Colour mixd. 1/4 lb Verdigrease for markg. Blankets 5 3/4 9 1/4 1 3 Hatts 108 Soldiers 100 of them Omitted last Qr. 15 5 11 Shirts 9 do. for Recruits 2 1 Hosiers Ware 5 Pr. Ordinary thread stockings do. 14 8 Shoes 5 Pr. Ordinary do. 1 2 11 Tin Ware viz. 2 Horn Lanthorns 7 Tin Lamps for the out Guards 5 11 4 2 10 1 Turners Ware 1 Hair Broom Banks's Guard 2 3 Canvas 40 Yds. English for Cotts 2 6 8 Deals viz. 10 Single Deals 3 Baulks for Coffins and Cotts 19 5 1 6 6 3/4 Ps. Riga Timber for Coffins 1 19 4 4 5 3 £ 92 8 11 | The garrison account continued from a running total of £65 4s 2d and closed at £92 8s 11d. Brought forward, £65 4s 2d 71 pounds of iron for making pins for cots, £0 14s 9d Paint for marking blankets 1 pound of stone colour, mixed, £0 0s 5¾d ¼ pound of verdigris, £0 0s 9¼d Total for paint, £0 1s 3d 108 soldiers' hats, of which 100 were left out of the last quarter's account, £15 5s 11d 9 soldiers' shirts for recruits, £2 1s 0d 5 pairs of ordinary thread stockings for recruits, £0 14s 8d 5 pairs of ordinary shoes for recruits, £1 2s 11d Tinware for the outlying guards 2 horn lanterns, £0 5s 11d 7 tin lamps, £0 4s 2d Total for tinware, £0 10s 1d 1 hair broom for Banks's guard, £0 2s 3d 40 yards of English canvas for cots, £2 6s 8d Timber for coffins and cots 10 single deals, £0 19s 5d 3 baulks of timber, £1 6s 6d ¾ piece of Riga timber for coffins, £1 19s 4d Total for timber, £4 5s 3d Total for the garrison, £92 8s 11d Interpretations The account charged 108 soldiers' hats, 100 of which belonged to the previous quarter and had been left out of it. The June garrison account had listed 291 sets of coats and breeches for privates but only 279 privates' hats. The storekeeper corrected the omission openly in the next quarter's account rather than rewriting the old one. Accounts already approved and signed by the Council could not be reopened. Any error found later had to be put right by a fresh entry that named what it was correcting, so that the Court could see both the mistake and its remedy. The shirts, stockings and shoes for recruits went to the men who joined during the quarter. They included Jacob Paterson, Thomas Christian and Stephen Vanderhorst, enlisted from the York in July, and Robert Grosvenor, the deserter from Bombay. A recruit received his first kit from the stores when he enlisted and the rest at the next general issue. The timber for coffins came to almost £2 for a single piece of Riga timber. Among the dead of the quarter were Charles Golding, William Holmes and John Lewis, each of whom was buried at the Company's charge. | |
374 | 16th October Mallays Dr. for the following stores Issued from the 1st July to the 30th Septr. 1769 viz. Rice 376 lb 1 7 Sugar 64 lb 16 Arrack 10 Gallons 1 9 4 Beef 12 pieces 2 3 3 Soap 12 lb 6 6 Tea viz. 6 lb Bohea 4 3 1 Single 1 3 5 6 Candles 12 lb 1 7 Flour 24 lb 4 6 Oil 2 Bottles Florence 7 Pepper 2 lb 1 Salt 1/4 Bushell 9 £ 8 7 10 Blacks Dr. for the following stores Issued from 1st July to the 30th Septr. 1769 viz. Tea 110 lb Bohea 3 17 11 Sugar 271 lb 3 7 9 Arrack 277 1/4 Gallons 40 14 5 Rice 9395 lb 35 11 Blankets 168 Ordinary 47 12 Shoes viz. 46 Pr. Mens Ordinary 11 10 10 15 Pr. Womens Calf 1 18 9 2 Pr. Boys 6 4 13 15 11 Carried Over £ 144 19 | The account of the Company's Malays was charged with the stores issued to them between 1 July and 30 September 1769. A further account then charged the Company's slaves with their stores for the same quarter. Stores for the Malays 376 pounds of rice, £1 7s 0d 64 pounds of sugar, £0 16s 0d 10 gallons of arrack, £1 9s 4d 12 pieces of beef, £2 3s 3d 12 pounds of soap, £0 6s 6d Tea 6 pounds of bohea tea, £0 4s 3d 1 pound of singlo tea, £0 1s 3d Total for tea, £0 5s 6d 12 pounds of candles, £1 7s 0d 24 pounds of flour, £0 4s 6d 2 bottles of Florence oil, £0 7s 0d 2 pounds of pepper, £0 1s 0d ¼ bushel of salt, £0 0s 9d Total for the Malays, £8 7s 10d Stores for the Company's slaves 110 pounds of bohea tea, £3 17s 11d 271 pounds of sugar, £3 7s 9d 277¼ gallons of arrack, £40 14s 5d 9,395 pounds of rice, £35 11s 0d 168 ordinary blankets, £47 12s 0d Shoes 46 pairs of men's ordinary shoes, £11 10s 10d 15 pairs of women's calfskin shoes, £1 18s 9d 2 pairs of boys' shoes, £0 6s 4d Total for shoes, £13 15s 11d Carried forward, £144 19s 0d Interpretations The Malays' stores came to £8 7s 10d for the quarter, against £21 2s 3d in the quarter to June 1769. The difference lay almost entirely in household goods. The earlier quarter had included plated candlesticks, a tea kettle, broadcloth, fine shoes and English stockings. None of these appeared now, and the Malays drew only food, soap, candles and tea. The furnishings had evidently been a single fitting-out, probably for the household of one man of rank. Daughtlock Roballam, exiled from Sumatra in 1756, petitioned the Council on 31 July 1769 to be allowed home. If the goods were his, they had been issued before his petition, not after it. The Company's slaves received 168 blankets in the quarter, worth £47 12s 0d, the largest single item in their account. July to September was the southern-hemisphere winter, when nights in the island's uplands were cold and damp. The issue was timed to the season. Rice fell from 12,015 pounds in the quarter to June to 9,395, while arrack stayed close to the earlier figure. The yams grown at the plantation, 9,993 recorded as used for slaves in the same quarter, probably made up for the smaller rice issue. | |
375 | 1769 Brought Over £ 144 19 Pepper 4 lb 2 Soap 8 lb for the Lieut. Govrs. Servants 4 4 Salt 1/4 Bushell for the Any. Blacks 9 Oil viz. 2 1/2 Gallons Train 1/2 do. bought for the sick 8 1 3 2 11 3 Cutlery Ware 1 Butchers knife for ye Butch. 6 Canvas viz. 6 Yards Eng. Canvas 7 5 do. Osnabrigs 4 11 Tin Ware 1 Lamp for the Blacks Square 10 Iron Ware viz. 4 Stock Locks Blacks Square 10 10 2 Small Frying Pans 4 1 1 Ash Helve 7 15 6 Hooks and Lines viz. 275 No. 1 Hooks 275 9 do. 275 16 do. 275 14 do. 120 2 Lines 120 3 do. 108 4 do. for the Blacks in Genl. 13 11 1/2 7 7 1/2 1 6 2 6 1/4 1 14 4 1/2 2 2 0 6 7 0 8 Shalloon 2 1/2 Yards Col. for ye Gov. Serv. 4 7 Iron Pots 2 Wt. 54 lb 10 1 Nails 1 lb 3 9 Carried Over £ 155 1 1 | The account of the Company's slaves continued from a running total of £144 19s 0d. Brought forward, £144 19s 0d 4 pounds of pepper, £0 2s 0d 8 pounds of soap for the Lieutenant Governor's servants, £0 4s 4d ¼ bushel of salt for the [...] slaves, £0 0s 9d Oil for the sick 2½ gallons of train oil, £0 8s 1d ½ gallon of purchased oil, £0 3s 2d Total for oil, £0 11s 3d 1 butcher's knife, £0 0s 6d Canvas 6 yards of English canvas, £0 7s 0d 5 yards of osnaburg, £0 4s 0d Total for canvas, £0 11s 0d 1 lamp for the slaves' square, £0 0s 10d Ironmongery 4 stock locks for the slaves' square, £0 10s 10d 2 small frying pans, £0 4s 1d 1 ash handle, £0 0s 7d Total for ironmongery, £0 15s 6d Hooks and lines for the Company's slaves 275 number 1 hooks, £0 13s 11½d 275 number 9 hooks, £0 7s 7½d 275 number 16 hooks, £0 1s 6d 275 number 14 hooks, £0 2s 6¾d 120 number 2 lines, £1 14s 4½d 120 number 3 lines, £2 0s 0d 108 number 4 lines, £2 0s 6d Total for hooks and lines, £7 0s 6d 2½ yards of coloured shalloon for the Governor's servant, £0 4s 7d 2 iron pots, weighing 54 pounds, £0 10s 1d 1 pound of threepenny nails, £0 0s 9d Carried forward, £155 1s 1d Interpretations The Company's slaves were issued 1,100 hooks and nearly 350 lines in the quarter. In the quarter to June 1769, no fishing tackle at all had been charged to their account. Their rice fell in the same months from 12,015 pounds to 9,395. The Company was evidently setting its slaves to catch part of their own food, as the officials' household slaves already did. Fish was free to take from the sea around the island, while rice had to be shipped from India. Supplying hooks and lines cost the Company £7, and the fish they brought in replaced rice worth far more. The slaves' square was the enclosed compound in James Town where the Company's slaves were lodged. It was fitted with four new stock locks and a lamp in the quarter. A compound locked at night and lit from within let the Company count its slaves in and out and made it harder for any of them to slip away. The runaway taken up by Jack in August 1769 had been missing for more than a fortnight, and the Company paid the reward. Locks on the square were a cheaper safeguard than rewards. | |
376 | 16th October Brought Over £ 155 1 1 Turners Ware viz. 2 Platters 2 2 1/2 2 Wood Bowls 2 1 1/2 4 4 Thread 6 lb Colord for the Women 19 9 Beef and Pork viz. 961 Ps. Eng. Beef 173 3 7 1017 Ps. do. Pork 135 6 3 308 9 10 Deals 1 Double to make a Cott for Moris 3 2 £ 464 18 2 Plantation Dr. for the following stores Issued from the 1st July to the 30th Septr. 1769 viz. Rice and Paddy viz. 604 lb Rice for the Overseers and Poultry 2 9 4265 Paddy for the Horses and do. 9 8 1 11 17 1 Cordage 206 lb for tying the Arbor and for Long Wood 3 8 4 Beef 11 Ps. for the Overseers 1 19 7 Turners Ware 3 Birch Brooms for the stables 1 3 Carried Over £ 17 6 3 | The account of the Company's slaves continued from a running total of £155 1s 1d and closed at £464 18s 2d. A new account then charged the plantation with the stores issued to it between 1 July and 30 September 1769. Brought forward, £155 1s 1d Turned wooden goods 2 platters, £0 2s 2½d 2 wooden bowls, £0 2s 1½d Total for turned wooden goods, £0 4s 4d 6 pounds of coloured thread for the women, £0 19s 9d Beef and pork 961 pieces of English beef, £173 3s 7d 1,017 pieces of English pork, £135 6s 3d Total for beef and pork, £308 9s 10d 1 double deal to make a cot, £0 3s 2d Total for the Company's slaves, £464 18s 2d Plantation Rice and paddy 604 pounds of rice for the overseers and the poultry, £2 9s 0d 4,285 pounds of paddy for the horses and poultry, £9 8s 1d Total for rice and paddy, £11 17s 1d 206 pounds of cordage for tying up the arbour and for Longwood, £3 8s 4d 11 pieces of beef for the overseers, £1 19s 7d 3 birch brooms for the stables, £0 1s 3d Carried forward, £17 16s 3d Interpretations The salt meat issued to the Company's slaves was English beef and pork, charged at about 3s 7d and 2s 8d a piece. The beef the Council bought from passing ships cost 2s a piece. English-packed meat came out in the store ship by contract and carried the cost of the long voyage from London. The Company used its dearer English stock for its own slaves and its cheaper ship-bought beef for the garrison, the table and resale. The beef and pork came to £308 9s 10d, two-thirds of the slaves' account for the quarter. The total for the slaves fell to £464 18s 2d, from £663 7s 3d in the quarter to June, chiefly because no sailors' clothing was issued this quarter. The cordage for tying up the arbour points to the gardens at Plantation House, where vines or fruit trees were trained over a frame. The plantation account drew rope for this, and for the Company's land at Longwood, while Plantation House itself was being pulled down in the same months. | |
377 | 1769 Brought Over £ 17 16 3 Iron Ware viz. 2 Edging Irons 36 Scythe stones 6 Rag do. 4 Spring Rat Traps 1 Prung. Saw 1 lb Tinnd Tacks for the Gard. and Plant. 7 9 1/2 7 1 1/2 2 5 11 2 2 3 1 7 1 Pitch and Tar 2 Gall. Tar for the Cart 1 6 Cutlery Ware viz. 2 Shoe Knives for Cutting Rushes 10 1/2 4 Pruning do. for the Garden 4 5 1/2 5 4 Iron 44 lb for makg. Pickaxes 9 2 Nails 3 lb 6d. for repairing the Cart 1 9 Paint 2 lb Brimstone for the Horses 5 Canvas 3 Yards Osnabrigs for do. 2 5 Twine 1 Skein for the Stable 6 Oil 1/4 Train do. 10 Cart Wheels viz. 1 Pr. Cart Wheels 1 Axletree for the Carts 4 1 9 6 7 4 8 4 Deals viz. 1 Single Deal 1 Double do. 1 Elm Board 1/2 Baulk 1 Ps. Oak Plank 1 1/2 Ps. Ash do. for making Gate Posts and for the Carts 1 11 3/4 3 1 1/2 3 11 1/4 4 5 1 7 4 1 7 4 8 1 £ 28 11 8 | The plantation account continued from a running total of £17 16s 3d. Brought forward, £17 16s 3d Ironmongery for the garden and plantation 2 edging irons, £0 7s 9½d 36 scythe stones, £0 7s 1½d 6 ragstones, £0 2s 0d 4 spring rat traps, £0 5s 11d 1 pruning saw, £0 2s 0d 1 pound of tinned tacks, £0 2s 3d Total for ironmongery, £1 7s 1d 2 gallons of tar for the carts, £0 1s 6d Cutlery 2 shoe knives for budding, £0 0s 10½d 4 pruning knives for the garden, £0 4s 5½d Total for cutlery, £0 5s 4d 44 pounds of iron for making pickaxes, £0 9s 2d 3 pounds of sixpenny nails for repairing the cart, £0 1s 9d 2 pounds of brimstone for the horses, £0 0s 5d 3 yards of osnaburg, £0 2s 5d 1 skein of twine for the stable, £0 0s 6d ¼ gallon of train oil, £0 0s 10d Cart wheels for the carts 1 pair of cart wheels, £4 1s 9d 1 axletree, £0 6s 7d Total for cart wheels, £4 8s 4d Timber for making gateposts and for the carts 1 single deal, £0 1s 11¾d 1 double deal, £0 3s 1½d 1 elm board, £0 3s 11¾d ½ baulk of timber, £0 4s 5d 1 piece of oak plank, £1 7s 4d 1½ pieces of ash, £1 7s 0d Total for timber, £3 8s 1d Carried forward, £28 11s 8d Interpretations The plantation needed another pair of cart wheels in this quarter, at £4 1s 9d, after two pairs at £8 9s 1d in the quarter to June 1769. It also took a new axletree, nails to repair the cart, tar for the wheels, and oak and ash plank. Ash was the standard wood for cart shafts and wheel spokes because it bent without breaking. The steep, stony roads between Plantation House, Longwood and James Town wore out wheels and axles quickly. Keeping the ox carts running cost the Company more than any other item of farm equipment. Brimstone was given to horses as a remedy for skin complaints, worms and a dull coat, mixed in their feed or rubbed on as an ointment with grease. Edging irons were half-moon spades used to cut a clean edge on turf along paths and beds. Both point to the formal gardens at Plantation House being kept up, even while the house itself was being pulled down. | |
378 | 16th October Hospital Dr. for the following stores Issued from the 1st July to the 30th Septr. 1769 viz. Sugar 291 lb 3 12 9 Flour 291 lb 2 14 6 Rice 291 lb 1 1 Tea 33 lb Bohea 1 3 4 Salt 1 1/2 Bushells 4 5 Turners Ware 1 Mop 1 3 Iron Ware 1 Pr. HL Hinges 1 11 Oil viz. 1 1/2 Gall. Oil bought 9 5 6 3/4 do. Train 1 1 11 1 11 4 £ 10 10 6 Boats Dr. for the following stores Issued from the 1st July to the 30th Septr. 1769 viz. Paint viz. 30 lb Ven. Red dry 1 Barrl. Blacking for ye Long Boats 9 4 6 9 10 Nails viz. 30 lb 10 26 6 4 2 2 3 31 lb Clench for ye Boats in General 19 5 16 7 1/2 3 5 1 6 16 5 1/2 2 17 5 Turners Ware viz. 2 paint Brushes 1 1 Shoe do. 9 1 9 Carried Over £ 3 9 | The hospital account was charged with the stores issued to it between 1 July and 30 September 1769. A new account then charged the Company's boats with their stores for the same quarter. Hospital 291 pounds of sugar, £3 12s 9d 291 pounds of flour, £2 14s 6d 291 pounds of rice, £1 1s 0d 33 pounds of bohea tea, £1 3s 4d 1½ bushels of salt, £0 4s 5d 1 mop, £0 1s 3d 1 pair of H hinges, £0 1s 11d Oil 1½ gallons of purchased oil, £0 9s 5d 6½ gallons of train oil, £1 1s 11d Total for oil, £1 11s 4d Total for the hospital, £10 10s 6d Boats Paint for the longboat 30 pounds of Venetian red, dry, £0 9s 4d 1 pound of blacking in barrels, £0 0s 6d Total for paint, £0 9s 10d Nails for the boats in general 30 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 19s 5d 26 pounds of sixpenny nails, £0 16s 7½d 4 pounds of twopenny nails, £0 3s 5d 2 pounds of threepenny nails, £0 1s 6d 31½ pounds of clench nails, £0 16s 5½d Total for nails, £2 17s 5d Brushes 2 paint brushes, £0 1s 0d 1 shoe brush, £0 0s 9d Total for brushes, £0 1s 9d Carried forward, £3 9s 0d Interpretations The hospital drew exactly 291 pounds each of sugar, flour and rice in the quarter. In the quarter to June 1769 it had drawn 393 pounds of sugar, 393 of flour and 413 of rice. The equal weights show a fixed sick diet, issued in set proportions for each patient day, rather than a list of what the surgeon happened to need. The smaller quantities this quarter suggest fewer men in the hospital. The deaths recorded in the companies were spread through the year, but the winter quarter, with fewer ships landing weak and scurvy-ridden recruits, put less strain on the wards. The boats drew 31½ pounds of clench nails, the soft iron nails used in boat building whose points were turned over and hammered flat inside the planking. They held the overlapping planks of a clinker-built boat together. With the carpenters' 88½ days of work on the boats recorded in the paymaster's account, the clench nails show the longboats being replanked during the quiet months after the shipping season. | |
379 | 1769 Brought Over £ 3 9 Pitch and Tar viz. 2 Barrls. 2 Galls. Tar 12 lb Rosin 2 Barrls. Pitch for the Boats in General 2 5 6 1 9 2 4 8 4 11 11 Cordage 431 lb Long Boats 7 3 8 Arrack 17 1/2 Gall. for men emp. in launchg. and haul. up Long Bts. 1 17 10 Iron 42 lb Long Boats 8 9 Tin Ware 6 Double Sheets Tin do. Long Bts. 3 11 Twine 2 Skeins 1 Oars 1 for the Yawl 3 4 Blocks 2 double Fly Long Bts. 1 2 3 Iron Ware viz. 1 lb Tinnd Tacks 2 3 2 Scrapers 3 9 1 Iron Chain 2 6 3 2 12 3 Braziers Ware 6 1/2 Copper plate L. Bts. 8 7 Anchors 1 Grapnail do. 18 Oil viz. 3/4 Gallon Train 10 7 2 1/2 do. Bought 17 3 1 7 10 Deals viz. 14 Double Deals 2 3 9 3 Single do. 9 9 6 Elm Boards 1 3 6 2 Baulks 17 8 1 Wainscot Board 6 7 1 Ps. Riga Timber for the Long Boats 2 12 6 2 Ps. Oak plank do. 3 14 8 2 Ps. Ash do. 2 9 8 2 Ps. Elm do. 3 8 4 17 6 5 £ 41 14 2 | The boats account continued from a running total of £3 9s 0d. Brought forward, £3 9s 0d Pitch and tar for the boats in general 2 barrels and 2 gallons of tar, £2 5s 6d 12 pounds of rosin, £0 1s 9d 2 barrels of pitch, £2 4s 8d Total for pitch and tar, £4 11s 11d 431 pounds of cordage for the longboats, £7 3s 8d 17½ gallons of arrack for the men launching and hauling up the longboats, £1 17s 10d 42 pounds of iron for the longboats, £0 8s 9d 6 double sheets of tin for the longboats, £0 3s 11d 2 skeins of twine, £0 1s 0d 1 oar for the yawl, £0 8s 4d 2 double fly blocks for the longboats, £1 2s 3d Ironmongery 1 pound of tinned tacks, £0 2s 3d 2 scrapers, £0 3s 9d 1 iron chain, £2 6s 3d Total for ironmongery, £2 12s 3d 6½ pounds of copper plate for the longboats, £0 8s 7d 1 grapnel, £0 18s 0d Oil 3¼ gallons of train oil, £0 10s 7d 2½ gallons of purchased oil, £0 17s 3d Total for oil, £1 7s 10d Timber 14 double deals, £2 3s 9d 5 single deals, £0 9s 9d 6 elm boards, £1 3s 6d 2 baulks of timber, £0 17s 0d 1 wainscot board, £0 6s 7d 1 piece of Riga timber for the longboats, £2 12s 6d 2 pieces of oak plank, £3 14s 0d 2 pieces of ash, £2 9s 0d 2 pieces of elm, £3 0s 4d Total for timber, £17 6s 5d Carried forward, £41 14s 2d Interpretations The boats drew 431 pounds of cordage this quarter, against 3,764 pounds in the quarter to June 1769. Timber, by contrast, rose to over £17, where it had been under £2. The busy months of landing stores and watering ships had passed, and the longboats were laid up for refitting. Oak, elm and ash plank, Riga timber for spars and copper plate for sheathing all point to the boats being rebuilt or heavily repaired in the slack season. The carpenters' 88½ days on the boats, paid in the same quarter, matched the materials. The Company timed its boat repairs to the shipping calendar so that every boat would be ready when the next season's ships arrived. A fly block was a block that moved with the load in a tackle, as opposed to one fixed in place, and the double fly blocks gave the longboat crews more purchase for hauling. Copper plate was nailed over the planking at the waterline and around the keel, where the hull rubbed against the rocks at the landing place. The yawl was a small, light boat used for carrying messages and officers between the shore and ships in the road. | |
380 | 16th October Fortifications Dr. for the following stores Issued from the 1st July to the 30th Sept. 1769 viz. Arrack 23 1/2 Gall. for men emp. bring. Canv. from Long Wood and Plant. House 3 8 8 Candles 4 lb for the Magaz. and mend. Sand bags 9 Cordage 48 lb for bring. Canv. from L. Wood 16 Iron Ware viz. 6 Stone Saws 1 Two Ft. Rule 1 Joiners Rubstone for the Quarry 1 0 10 1/2 1 1 1/2 2 9 3 Pad Locks for the Lime House 4 6 3/4 1 Maul Hammer 1 Ash Helve 1 Plain Iron 1 Stone Masons Mallet Quarry 9 7 1/4 7 4 7 1/4 1 11 3/4 2 6 1 Paint viz. 60 Stone color 6 Red Lead 6 Blue Black for paint. Gun Carriages 1 8 9 1 4 1/2 3 6 1/2 1 13 8 Oil viz. 1/4 Oil bought 1/4 Train Oil 8 Linseed 1 Bottle Florence for do. 1 7 4 1 11 8 3 6 2 0 9 Nails 1 lb 6d. for the Quarry 7 Thread 3 lb Colord Artillery Use 9 5 Carried Over £ 11 4 2 | The fortifications account was charged with the stores issued for them between 1 July and 30 September 1769. 23½ gallons of arrack for the men bringing cannon from Longwood and Plantation House, £3 8s 8d 4 pounds of candles for the magazine and for mending sandbags, £0 9s 0d 48 pounds of cordage for bringing cannon from Longwood, £0 16s 0d Ironmongery 6 stone saws for the quarry, £1 0s 10½d 1 two-foot rule for the quarry, £0 1s 1½d 1 joiner's whetstone for the quarry, £0 2s 9d 3 padlocks for the lime house, £0 4s 6¾d 1 maul hammer for the quarry, £0 9s 7¼d 1 ash handle for the quarry, £0 0s 7d 1 plane iron for the quarry, £0 4s 7¼d 1 stonemason's mallet for the quarry, £0 1s 11¾d Total for ironmongery, £2 6s 1d Paint for the gun carriages 60 pounds of stone colour, £1 8s 9d 6 pounds of red lead, £0 1s 4½d 6 pounds of blue black, £0 3s 6½d Total for paint, £1 13s 8d Oil ½ gallon of purchased oil, £0 1s 7d ¼ gallon of train oil, £0 0s 4d 8 pints of linseed oil, £1 11s 8d 1 bottle of Florence oil, £0 3s 6d Total for oil, £2 0s 9d 1 pound of sixpenny nails for the quarry, £0 0s 7d 3 pounds of coloured thread for the artillery, £0 9s 5d Carried forward, £11 4s 2d Interpretations The cannon brought down from Longwood came from Plantation House as well, and the men who hauled them were given 23½ gallons of arrack. The paymaster's account for the same quarter recorded 112 days of labour on the task. The Governor's country house was being pulled down in these months, and its guns, which had served for salutes and alarms in the interior, were moved to the coastal batteries. Longwood and Plantation House stood far from any landing place. Guns there could fire signals but could not stop an enemy coming ashore. Moving them to Munden's Point, Lemon Valley and the Lines put them where the island's defence required them. The padlocks for the lime house secured the store where quicklime was kept for mortar. Quicklime reacts violently with water and was dangerous to handle, and it was also valuable as the binder for all the masonry on the works. A lime house was kept locked so that none was taken for private building, a real risk with so many planters hiring their slaves to the works. | |
381 | 1769 Brought Over £ 11 4 2 Twine viz. 13 Skeins 2 1/2 lb Flax Artl. Use and mendg. Sand Bags 6 6 2 9 9 3 Lines viz. 12 No. 4 Lines 2 Hambro do. Artl. Use and Sandy Bay 4 8 3 2 7 8 Turners Ware 2 Birch Brooms for Sweep. the Mount 10 Iron 122 lb for Rails for the Mount and Sandy Bay 1 5 5 Canvas 6 Yards Osnabrigs Artl. Use 4 9 Deals viz. 1 Elm Board 3 Ps. Oak Plank 6 Ps. Ash do. 2 1/2 Ps. Elm do. for Ruperts Banks's for makg. W. Barrs., H. Barrs. and Pick Ax Helves 3 11 3/4 4 13 7 1/2 11 16 6 3 8 4 3/4 20 2 6 Rice 1009 lb Pork 126 Ps. Planters Slaves 3 12 16 18 7 Coals 6 Chald. 35 Bush. 27 for Burning Lime 67 18 6 £ 122 3 8 | The fortifications account continued from a running total of £11 4s 2d and closed at £122 3s 8d. Brought forward, £11 4s 2d Twine for the artillery and for mending sandbags 13 skeins of twine, £0 6s 6d 2½ pounds of flax twine, £0 2s 9d Total for twine, £0 9s 3d Lines for the artillery and Sandy Bay 12 number 4 lines, £0 4s 6d 2 hambro lines, £0 3s 2d Total for lines, £0 7s 8d 2 birch brooms for sweeping the Mount, £0 0s 10d 122 pounds of iron for rails for the Mount and Sandy Bay, £1 5s 5d 6 yards of osnaburg for the artillery, £0 4s 9d Timber for repairing barrows and for making wheelbarrows, handbarrows and pickaxe handles 1 elm board, £0 3s 11¾d 3 pieces of oak plank, £4 13s 7½d 6 pieces of ash, £11 16s 6d 2½ pieces of elm, £3 8s 4¾d Total for timber, £20 2s 6d 1,009 pounds of rice for the planters' slaves, £3 12s 0d 126 pieces of pork for the planters' slaves, £16 18s 7d 6 chaldrons and 33 bushels of coal for burning lime, £67 18s 6d Total for the fortifications, £122 3s 8d Interpretations Coal for burning lime came to £67 18s 6d, more than half of the whole fortifications account for the quarter. Lime for mortar was made by heating limestone or shell in a kiln until it broke down into quicklime. St Helena had lost most of its trees, and there was not enough wood to fire the kilns. Every bushel of lime laid in the walls of Munden's Point, Lemon Valley and the east bastion depended on coal shipped out from England. That was why the Council refused Captain Dampier more than one chaldron in July 1769 and had to take Captain Haggis's chaldron from the coal set aside for the lime kilns in October. The Company fed the planters' slaves hired to the works with 1,009 pounds of rice and 126 pieces of pork. The planter was paid 1s or 2s 6d a day for each slave, and the Company also provided the slave's food while at work. The owner thus earned the full hire while the cost of feeding his labourer fell on the Company. For officials such as Matthew Purling and James Powell, whose slaves worked hundreds of days on the batteries, the arrangement was more profitable still. The timber was made into wheelbarrows, handbarrows and pickaxe handles. Ash, at nearly £12, was the largest part, since it was the only wood tough enough for handles and barrow shafts that would take a labourer's full weight without breaking. | |
382 | 16th October Mundens Point Fortifications Dr. for the following stores Issued from 1st July to the 30th Sept. 1769 viz. Iron Ware viz. 43 Pick Ax Helves 1 5 1 13 Pick Axes 2 5 2 3/4 6 Hammers 19 10 1/4 4 10 2 Oil 1/2 Gall. Train 1 7 Candles 2 1/2 lb 5 8 Rice 56 lb Pork 4 Ps. for the Planters Slaves 4 10 9 Tar 1 Barrel 1 2 Lines 12 No. 4 4 6 Cordage 4 lb 1 4 Nails viz. 23 lb 10 13 3 1/2 15 40 6 7 1/2 33 20 15 3/4 6 lb Spike 1 10 1/4 1 17 Turners Ware viz. 10 Labourers Baskets 11 3 2 Birch Brooms 10 2 Plaistr. Brushes 2 2 14 3 Deals viz. 10 Double Deals 1 11 3 1/2 90 Single do. 8 14 4 1/2 7 Ps. Riga Timber 17 9 9 4 Ps. Oak Plank 6 17 1 34 12 6 £ 44 3 9 | The account for the fortification at Munden's Point was charged with the stores issued for it between 1 July and 30 September 1769. Ironmongery 43 pickaxe handles, £1 5s 1d 13 pickaxes, £2 5s 2¾d 6 hammers, £0 19s 10¼d Total for ironmongery, £4 10s 2d ½ gallon of train oil, £0 1s 7d 2½ pounds of candles, £0 5s 8d 56 pounds of rice for the planters' slaves, £0 4s 0d 4 pieces of pork for the planters' slaves, £0 10s 9d 1 barrel of tar, £1 2s 0d 12 number 4 lines, £0 4s 6d 4 pounds of cordage, £0 1s 4d Nails 23 pounds of tenpenny nails, £0 13s 3½d 15 pounds of fortypenny nails, £0 6s 7½d 33 pounds of twentypenny nails, £0 15s 3¼d 6 pounds of spike nails, £0 1s 10¼d Total for nails, £1 17s 0d Turned goods and baskets 10 labourers' baskets, £0 11s 3d 2 birch brooms, £0 0s 10d 2 plasterer's brushes, £0 2s 2d Total for turned goods and baskets, £0 14s 3d Timber 10 double deals, £1 11s 3½d 90 single deals, £8 14s 4½d 7 pieces of Riga timber, £17 9s 9d 4 pieces of oak plank, £6 17s 1d Total for timber, £34 12s 6d Total for Munden's Point, £44 3s 9d Interpretations Munden's Point drew 13 new pickaxes and 43 pickaxe handles in the quarter, enough to rehandle every pick on the site several times over. Handles broke constantly against the hard basalt of the headland, where the magazine was being cut into the rock. The 549¼ days of stone blowers' work and over 5,400 days of soldiers' labour paid in the same quarter show the scale of the digging. It ended on 5 October 1769, when the ledge fell and killed Daniel Armin. On 13 October the Council abandoned the excavation and ordered a magazine of masonry in its place. Cordage at Munden's Point fell to 4 pounds, from 1,633 pounds in the quarter to June 1769, when stone and guns were being hauled up the cliff. Timber rose to £34 12s 6d, with 100 deals, seven pieces of Riga timber and four of oak. The heavy lifting was finished, and the battery was being fitted with platforms, sheds and stores. The 90 single deals and the Riga timber, the strongest softwood the Company carried, were probably laid as gun platforms that had to bear the weight and recoil of the heavy guns. | |
383 | 1769 Lemon Valley Fortification Dr. for the following stores Issued from 1st July to the 30th Sept. 1769 viz. Iron Ware viz. 2 Wood Axes 5 8 6 Pick Ax Helves 3 6 1 Two Ft. Rule 1 1/2 3 Iron Shovels 13 7 1/2 1 3 11 Oil 1/2 Gallons Train 2 4 Tin Ware viz. 1 Lamp 10 2 Watering Pots 7 7 10 Oars 1 2 9 Lines 6 No. 4 2 3 Paint 3 lb Chalk 1 Turners Ware viz. 4 Labr. Baskets 4 6 2 Plaistr. do. 2 2 6 Masons Beech Mallets 11 9 18 5 Deals viz. 4 Single Deals 7 9 1/2 1/2 Wainst. Board 3 3 1/2 3 Ps. Riga Timber 6 11 3 6 Ps. Oak Plank 11 4 18 6 4 £ 21 3 11 St. Helena 30th Septem. 1769 E. Excepted (Signed) p James Powell Storekeeper | The account for the fortification at Lemon Valley was charged with the stores issued for it between 1 July and 30 September 1769. James Powell, the storekeeper, signed the whole collection at St Helena on 30 September 1769, errors excepted. Ironmongery 2 wood axes, £0 5s 8d 6 pickaxe handles, £0 3s 6d 1 two-foot rule, £0 1s 1½d 3 iron shovels, £0 13s 7½d Total for ironmongery, £1 3s 11d ¾ gallon of train oil, £0 2s 4d Tinware 1 lamp, £0 0s 10d 2 watering pots, £0 7s 0d Total for tinware, £0 7s 10d 1 oar, £0 2s 9d 6 number 4 lines, £0 2s 3d 3 pounds of chalk, £0 0s 1d Turned goods and baskets 4 labourers' baskets, £0 4s 6d 2 plasterer's brushes, £0 2s 2d 6 masons' beech mallets, £0 11s 9d Total for turned goods and baskets, £0 18s 5d Timber 4 single deals, £0 7s 9½d ½ wainscot board, £0 3s 3½d 3 pieces of Riga timber, £6 11s 3d 6 pieces of oak plank, £11 4s 0d Total for timber, £18 6s 4d Total for Lemon Valley, £21 3s 11d Signed by James Powell, storekeeper, at St Helena on 30 September 1769, errors excepted Interpretations Most of the stores for Lemon Valley were oak plank and Riga timber, worth nearly £18 between them. Thomas Bazett reported on 2 October 1769 that stone had been carried to Lemon Valley for the gun platforms, and the Council ordered him to finish laying them as fast as possible. A gun platform was a floor of heavy timber laid on a stone bed, on which the carriage stood and recoiled when the gun fired. Oak was used because it took the shock of recoil without splitting. Lemon Valley lay on the island's north-west coast, west of James Town, at one of the few places where boats could land. Its battery covered that landing against an enemy coming ashore. The masons' beech mallets were wooden mallets used to drive chisels when dressing stone. Beech was chosen because it was hard and close-grained and did not split under constant blows. The watering pots kept fresh mortar and render damp while they set, as they did at Munden's Point. | |
384 | 16th October Inventory of Stores remaining in the Honorable Company's Ware Houses 30th September 1769 viz. Anchors viz. 5 Anchors without Weights £ 66 19 7 1 do. do. on the West Rocks 13 7 11 1 do. Wt. Cwt. qrs. lb. 33 0 6 56 6 7 1 do. Wt. 34 2 10 59 7 3 1 do. Wt. 33 3 57 13 1 2 Grapnails 1 9 11 10 Iron Hoops for Anchor Stocks 2 13 5 Anchor Stocks 16 Ft. long 31 16 10 30 Tree Nails 7 3 290 6 10 Bunting viz. Ps. Yds. 12 17 1/2 Red 19 2 1 8 41 Blue 11 3 2 7 32 White 3 9 6 33 16 10 Blankets 54 fine 28 7 Broad Cloth viz. Ps. Yds. 2 23 1/4 Scarlet 39 19 10 7 1/4 Blue 6 10 6 29 Light Brown 24 3 4 1 19 1/2 Black 43 0 7 2 1/2 Green 1 15 18 1/2 Buff 15 4 6 22 Dark Brown 19 25 1/2 Lead Colour 21 19 11 16 1/2 Pompadore 15 16 11 237 10 7 Carried Over £ 595 1 3 | An inventory recorded the stores remaining in the Company's warehouses on 30 September 1769. Anchors 5 anchors without weights recorded, £66 19s 7d 1 anchor without weight recorded, lying on the West Rocks, £13 7s 11d 1 anchor weighing 33 hundredweight 0 quarters 6 pounds, £56 6s 7d 1 anchor weighing 34 hundredweight 2 quarters 10 pounds, £59 7s 3d 1 anchor weighing 33 hundredweight 3 quarters 0 pounds, £57 13s 1d 2 grapnels, £1 9s 11d 10 iron hoops for anchor stocks, £2 18s 0d 5 anchor stocks 16 feet long, £31 16s 10d 30 treenails, £0 7s 3d Total for anchors, £290 6s 10d Bunting 12 pieces and 17½ yards of red bunting, £19 2s 1d 8 pieces and 41 yards of blue bunting, £11 5s 2d 7 pieces and 32 yards of white bunting, £8 9s 6d Total for bunting, £38 16s 10d 54 fine blankets, £28 7s 0d Broadcloth 2 pieces and 23¼ yards of scarlet broadcloth, £39 19s 10d 7½ yards of blue broadcloth, £6 10s 6d 29 yards of light brown broadcloth, £24 3s 4d 1 piece and 19½ yards of black broadcloth, £43 0s 7d 2½ yards of green broadcloth, £1 15s 0d 18½ yards of buff broadcloth, £15 4s 6d 22 yards of dark brown broadcloth, £19 0s 0d 25½ yards of lead-coloured broadcloth, £21 19s 11d 16½ yards of pompadour broadcloth, £15 16s 11d Total for broadcloth, £237 10s 7d Carried forward, £595 1s 3d Interpretations The Company kept nine anchors in store at St Helena, three of them weighing about 33 or 34 hundredweight each, over a ton and a half apiece. These were bower anchors of the size carried by a large Indiaman. The bottom of the road off James Town was rocky, and ships often lost an anchor when a cable chafed through or the fluke caught fast. A ship that lost her anchors at St Helena could not safely ride out a blow, and there was no other port within hundreds of miles. The spare anchors and wooden stocks let the Company make good the loss at once. One anchor was recorded as lying on the West Rocks, probably laid down as a permanent mooring for the Company's boats. An anchor stock was the long crossbar fixed at the top of the shank, which turned the anchor so that a fluke would dig into the seabed. On large anchors it was made of two pieces of oak bound with iron hoops, which is why the stocks and hoops were held separately. Treenails were long wooden pegs used in shipbuilding to fasten planks to frames without iron, which would rust in sea water. | |
385 | 1769 Brought Over £ 595 1 3 Buckram 1 1/4 yards 1 9 Braziers Ware viz. 7 Brass Skimmers at 2/5 1/4 each 17 4 1/2 2 do. at 14/4 1 8 8 1 Warming Pan 11 3 9 Flat do. wt. Covers 12 4 3 1 do. do. without do. 14 10 4 Large Brass Cocks 13 2 2 Pr. Candle Sticks at 17/6 1 15 1 Pr. do. 11/6 11 6 11 Pr. do. 4 17 6 Flat do. 1 11 1 5 Pr. Steel Snuffers 16 3 7 lb Brass Wire 1 1 4 Rolers for the Crane 4 10 7 1/4 Brass for Soldering 3 3 107 Copper Plate 7 13 2 3/4 3 Copper Bars 3 Ft. long 2 17 9 1 Brass do. 3 Ft. long 9 12 Tea Kettles of 5 Quarts 10 1 3 9 do. of 3 do. 5 11 1 Copper Pump 1 4 10 97 lb Rolld Dutch Brass for Escutcheons 8 0 9 67 18 11 Books viz. 7 Bibles at 3/8 1/2 1 5 10 8 Primmers 2 9 Spelling Books 7 6 10 Horn do. 1 Books Carried Over £ 1 16 4 Carried Over £ 663 1 11 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £595 1s 3d. Brought forward, £595 1s 3d 1¼ yards of buckram, £0 1s 9d Brass and copper ware 7 brass skimmers at 2s 5¼d each, £0 17s 4½d 2 brass skimmers at 14s 1d each, £1 8s 2d 1 warming pan, £0 11s 3d 9 [...] with covers, £12 4s 3d 1 [...] without a cover, £0 14s 10d 4 large brass taps, £0 13s 2d 2 pairs of candlesticks at 17s 6d a pair, £1 15s 0d 1 pair of candlesticks at 11s 6d, £0 11s 6d 11 pairs of candlesticks, £4 17s 0d 6 flat candlesticks, £1 11s 1d 5 pairs of steel snuffers, £0 16s 3d 7 pounds of brass wire, £1 1s 0d 4 rollers for the crane, £4 10s 7d ¾ pound of brass for soldering, £0 3s 3d 107 pounds of copper plate, £7 13s 2½d 3 copper bars 3 feet long, £2 17s 9d 1 brass bar 3 feet long, £0 9s 0d 12 tea kettles holding 5 quarts, £10 1s 3d 9 tea kettles holding 3 quarts, £5 11s 0d 1 copper pump, £1 4s 10d 97 pounds of rolled Dutch brass for escutcheons, £3 0s 9d Total for brass and copper ware, £67 15s 11d Books 7 Bibles at 3s 8½d each, £1 5s 10d 8 primers, £0 2s 0d 9 spelling books, £0 7s 6d 10 hornbooks, £0 1s 0d Books carried forward, £1 16s 4d Carried forward, £663 1s 11d Interpretations The warehouse held 21 tea kettles and 14 pairs of candlesticks, along with snuffers, a warming pan and brass cooking ware. These were goods for sale to the Company's servants and planters, not stores for the Company's own use. In the quarter just ended, a servant had bought one three-quart tea kettle and a few pairs of candlesticks. At that rate the stock on hand would last for years. The Company shipped household goods to St Helena in quantities far beyond the island's demand, because each store ship had to carry a year's supply and the warehouse could not risk running short. The books in stock were the same four steps of a child's schooling sold to the servants in the quarter: hornbooks, primers, spelling books and Bibles. With the vestry's plans for a school agreed on 8 September 1769, the stock would serve the new schoolmaster once he arrived. Rolled Dutch brass was thin sheet brass from the Netherlands, used to make escutcheons, the decorative plates fitted around keyholes on doors and chests. | |
386 | 16th October Brought over £ 663 1 11 Books brought Over £ 1 16 4 1 Folio Common Prayer Book 2 9 6 2 Large Bibles 3 0 5 24 Small Common Prayer Books 5 19 40 9 10 Beef and Pork viz. Puncheons Ps. 139 5 Beef 2002 1 3 Hhds. 121 16 Pork 1922 8 4 3924 9 7 Blocks viz. 2 Iron bound Cats 12 10 4 do. Dead Eyes 2 13 1 1 double Long Tackle 4 9 17 double Blocks with Brass Sheaves 4 7 2 1/2 11 do. of 8 Inches 19 11 1/2 11 Single do. of 8 do. 11 2 1/2 9 9 Copper Money 53960 half pence 112 8 4 Coals 16 Chaldron 30 8 Canvas viz. Ps. Yds. 59 5 1/4 English 126 14 2 6 26 Osnabrigs 25 14 9 5 Ticklenburgs 23 8 1 175 17 Carried Over £ 4956 3 8 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £663 1s 11d. Brought forward, £663 1s 11d Books brought forward, £1 16s 4d 1 folio Book of Common Prayer, £2 9s 6d 2 large Bibles, £30 5s 0d 24 small Books of Common Prayer, £5 19s 0d Total for books, £40 9s 10d Beef and pork 139 casks and 5 pieces of beef, £2,002 1s 3d 121 casks and 16 pieces of pork, £1,922 8s 4d Total for beef and pork, £3,924 9s 7d Blocks 2 iron-bound cat blocks, £0 12s 10d 4 iron-bound deadeyes, £2 13s 1d 1 double long tackle block, £0 4s 9d 17 double blocks with brass sheaves, £4 7s 2½d 11 double blocks of 8 inches, £0 19s 11¼d 11 single blocks of 8 inches, £0 11s 2½d Total for blocks, £9 9s 0d 53,960 copper halfpence, £112 8s 4d 16 chaldrons of coal, £30 8s 0d Canvas 59 pieces and 5¼ yards of English canvas, £126 14s 2d 6 pieces and 26 yards of osnaburg, £25 14s 9d 5 pieces of ticklenburg, £23 8s 1d Total for canvas, £175 17s 0d Carried forward, £4,956 3s 2d Interpretations Salt beef and pork made up £3,924 9s 7d of the stock, four-fifths of everything counted so far. Salt meat was the island's reserve against siege or a failed season of shipping. It fed the garrison, the Company's slaves and the Governor's table, and it was sold to servants and ships. Every piece the Council bought from a passing commander at 2s went into this store. The Company kept enough on hand to feed the island for many months, because St Helena could not be resupplied if an enemy squadron cut it off. The warehouse held 53,960 copper halfpence, worth £112 8s 4d. They were English coins shipped out by the Company to give the island small change. The garrison was paid in silver and gold, but soldiers, slaves and settlers needed copper for everyday dealings in the punch houses and markets. The Company's cash notes served for larger sums, and the halfpence kept the small trade of James Town moving. Only 16 chaldrons of coal remained in store at the end of September 1769. The fortifications had burned nearly seven chaldrons in a single quarter for lime alone. That explains why the Council would give Captain Dampier and Captain Haggis only one chaldron each. The two large Bibles, at over £15 each, were folio volumes for the church lectern, bound for public reading at services. | |
387 | 1769 Brought over £ 4956 3 8 Cordage viz. 2 Cables of 17 Inch Wt. Cwt. qrs. lb. 143 1 1 143 1 1 1 do. 9 do. 19 3 10 19 3 10 1 Cable 6 2 10 1 Coil of 5 Inch 8 0 8 17 do. 4 do. 83 2 17 5 do. 3 3/4 do. 19 2 4 12 do. 3 1/2 do. 45 3 17 5 do. 3 do. 13 1 4 25 do. 2 1/2 do. 49 2 16 18 do. 2 do. 24 0 11 7 do. 12 thread Ratling 4 2 4 13 do. 9 do. do. 6 1 8 White Rope 5 429 2 20 738 1 6 Cart Wheels viz. 27 Wheel Barrows 20 16 3 5 Pr. Cart Wheels 17 10 5 5 Axletrees 1 13 1 5 Spare Sides for Wheel Barrows 3 4 40 3 1 Cutlery Ware viz. 3 Horse Combs 9 264 Buckling do. 3 17 90 Horn do. 18 9 16 fine Ivory do. 2 4 30 Shoe Knives 10 7 1/2 92 Butchers do. 2 0 3 Cutlery Ware Carried Over £ 9 11 4 1/2 Carried Over £ 5734 13 3 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £4,956 3s 8d. Brought forward, £4,956 3s 8d Cordage 2 cables of 17 inches, weighing 143 hundredweight 1 quarter 1 pound 1 cable of 9 inches, weighing 19 hundredweight 3 quarters 10 pounds 1 cablet, weighing 6 hundredweight 2 quarters 10 pounds 1 coil of 5-inch rope, weighing 8 hundredweight 0 quarters 8 pounds 17 coils of 4-inch rope, weighing 33 hundredweight 2 quarters 17 pounds 5 coils of 3¾-inch rope, weighing 19 hundredweight 2 quarters 4 pounds 12 coils of 3½-inch rope, weighing 45 hundredweight 3 quarters 17 pounds 5 coils of 3-inch rope, weighing 13 hundredweight 1 quarter 4 pounds 25 coils of 2½-inch rope, weighing 49 hundredweight 2 quarters 16 pounds 18 coils of 2-inch rope, weighing 24 hundredweight 0 quarters 11 pounds 7 coils of 12-thread ratline, weighing 4 hundredweight 2 quarters 4 pounds 13 coils of 9-thread ratline, weighing 6 hundredweight 1 quarter 8 pounds White rope, weighing 5 hundredweight 0 quarters 0 pounds Total for cordage, 429 hundredweight 2 quarters 20 pounds, £738 1s 6d Carts and barrows 27 wheelbarrows, £20 16s 3d 5 pairs of cart wheels, £17 10s 5d 5 axletrees, £1 13s 1d 5 spare sides for wheelbarrows, £0 3s 4d Total for carts and barrows, £40 3s 1d Cutlery and combs 3 horse combs, £0 0s 9d 264 buckling combs, £3 17s 0d 90 horn combs, £0 18s 9d 16 fine ivory combs, £2 4s 0d 30 shoe knives, £0 10s 7½d 92 butcher's knives, £2 0s 3d Cutlery and combs carried forward, £9 11s 4½d Carried forward, £5,734 13s 3d Interpretations The two cables of 17 inches weighed over seven tons between them. Rope was measured by its circumference, and a 17-inch cable was the anchor cable of a large Indiaman, as thick as a man's thigh. They were kept with the spare anchors of 33 and 34 hundredweight already listed. A ship that lost both anchor and cable on the rocky bottom of the road could be fully re-equipped from the Company's store before she sailed. Cordage of every size made up a stock of over 21 tons, worth £738 1s 6d. In the quarter to June 1769, the boats alone had used 3,764 pounds, and the works over 3,600 pounds more. The stock held enough for about two years at that rate. Ratline was light tarred line, made of 9 or 12 yarns, tied across a ship's shrouds to form the rungs of the rope ladders by which seamen climbed aloft. A cablet was a small cable under 10 inches round, used for mooring boats and for warping ships into position. The 264 buckling combs in store, against the handful sold in a quarter, show again how the warehouse was stocked with years' worth of small goods at a time. | |
388 | 16th October Brought Over £ 5734 13 3 Cutlery Ware brought Over £ 9 11 4 1/2 6 doz. Ivory Handle Knives and forks 8 19 1 doz. desert do. and do. 1 4 3 3 Cases Fleams 8 3 12 Choping Knives 15 6 5 Pallet do. 4 2 9 Stone do. 13 1 1/2 8 Pudding do. 8 4 14 Pruning do. 15 5 1/2 8 doz. Stag Horn Knives and Forks 4 0 8 80 doz. Pr. Shoe Buckles 25 0 2 7 doz. 4 Pr. Knee do. 1 5 8 204 Pr. Leather Garters 6 4 1 Cooks Knife 2 3 1/2 59 12 3 Camblet viz. 3 1/2 Yards Scarlet 13 2 1/2 do. Brown 7 8 1 0 8 Corks viz. Gro. doz. 4 4 Corks 13 3 1/4 Shut Cork 2 9 15 9 Deals viz. 29 Wainscoat Boards 9 10 11 29 1/2 Elm do. 5 17 5 23 1/2 Ps. Riga Timber 51 8 1 72 Baulks 31 16 Deals Carried Over £ 98 12 5 Carried Over £ 5796 1 11 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £5,734 13s 3d. Brought forward, £5,734 13s 3d Cutlery and combs brought forward, £9 11s 4½d 6 dozen ivory-handled knives and forks, £8 19s 0d 1 dozen dessert knives and forks, £1 4s 3d 3 cased fleams, £0 8s 3d 12 chopping knives, £0 15s 6d 5 palette knives, £0 4s 2d 9 stone knives, £0 13s 1½d 8 pudding knives, £0 8s 4d 14 pruning knives, £0 15s 5½d 8 dozen stag-horn knives and forks, £4 0s 8d 80 dozen pairs of shoe buckles, £25 0s 2d 7 dozen and 4 pairs of knee buckles, £1 5s 8d 204 pairs of leather garters, £6 4s 0d 1 cook's knife, £0 2s 3½d Total for cutlery and combs, £59 12s 3d Camlet 3½ yards of scarlet camlet, £0 13s 0d 2½ yards of brown camlet, £0 7s 8d Total for camlet, £1 0s 8d Corks 4 gross and 4 dozen corks, £0 13s 0d 3½ sheets of cork, £0 2s 9d Total for corks, £0 15s 9d Timber 29 wainscot boards, £9 10s 11d 29½ elm boards, £5 17s 5d 23½ pieces of Riga timber, £51 8s 1d 72 baulks of timber, £31 16s 0d Timber carried forward, £98 12s 5d Carried forward, £5,796 1s 11d Interpretations The warehouse held 80 dozen pairs of shoe buckles, 960 pairs in all, together with 204 pairs of leather garters and 88 pairs of knee buckles. Every soldier's shoe was fastened with a buckle, and his breeches were closed at the knee with another. These were the small fittings of the garrison's uniform, which wore out or were lost far more often than the coats themselves. The servants had bought 103 pairs of garters in the quarter just ended, probably to pass on to the soldiers of their companies. Stocking nearly a thousand pairs of buckles let the Company refit the whole garrison two or three times over. Camlet was a fine, light cloth woven from wool mixed with goat's hair or silk, with a slight sheen. It was used for cloaks, coats and waistcoats in warm weather. The 23½ pieces of Riga timber, worth over £51, were the reserve for the gun platforms and heavy framing then going forward at Munden's Point and Lemon Valley. | |
389 | 1769 Brought over £ 5796 1 11 Deals brought over £ 98 12 5 5 Euffers 15 9 18 Ps. Oak Plank 33 12 575 Ps. Church Timber with Iron Work 161 10 2 599 double Deals 93 11 10 435 Single do. 41 17 5 14 Ps. Elm Plank 23 13 10 7 Ps. Ash do. 18 18 472 12 3 Earthen Ware viz. 27 Milk Pans 1 16 1 15 Close Stool do. 1 6 4 3 2 5 Flour Cwt. qrs. lb. 1428 1 16 in 447 1/2 Casks 1313 16 4 Flannel 4 Yards 7 8 Glass ware viz. 23 Wine glasses 9 7 32 Beer do. 1 7 18 Tumblers 12 9 2 Pr. Setts 15 1/2 1 Urinal 1 3 Quart Decanters 7 2 Pint do. 3 6 3 Candle Shades 1 3 four Hour Glasses 10 1 Three do. do. 3 4 24 Minute do. 16 Glass Ware Carried Over £ 6 5 2 1/2 Carried Over £ 7586 0 7 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £5,796 1s 11d. Brought forward, £5,796 1s 11d Timber brought forward, £98 12s 5d 5 [...], £0 15s 9d 18 pieces of oak plank, £33 12s 0d 575 feet of church timber with ironwork, £161 10s 2d 399 double deals, £93 11s 10d 435 single deals, £41 17s 5d 14 pieces of elm plank, £23 13s 10d 7 pieces of ash, £13 13s 0d Total for timber, £472 12s 3d Earthenware 27 milk pans, £1 16s 1d 15 close stool pans, £1 6s 4d Total for earthenware, £3 2s 5d 1,428 hundredweight 1 quarter 16 pounds of flour in 447½ casks, £1,313 16s 4d 4 yards of flannel, £0 7s 3d Glass 23 wine glasses, £0 9s 7d 32 beer glasses, £1 7s 0d 18 tumblers, £0 12s 9d 2 pairs of salts, £0 15s 0½d 1 urinal, £0 1s 0d 3 quart decanters, £0 7s 0d 2 pint decanters, £0 3s 6d 3 candle shades, £1 0s 0d 3 four-hour glasses, £0 10s 0d 1 three-hour glass, £0 3s 4d 24 minute glasses, £0 16s 0d Glass carried forward, £6 5s 2½d Carried forward, £7,586 0s 7d Interpretations The warehouse held 575 feet of timber, with its ironwork, set aside for the church, valued at £161 10s 2d. This was more than any other kind of timber in store. It had been shipped out ready for a particular building, with the fittings made to match, and it was not issued for ordinary repairs. The church in James's Valley was where the vestry met on 8 September 1769. The timber was evidently waiting for work on the church that the Company had approved but not yet begun. Like the school, it depended on the island's slow annual cycle of orders, shipments and labour. Flour stood at over 71 tons in 447½ casks, worth £1,313 16s 4d. After salt meat, it was the island's largest reserve of food. The Company's servants had drawn more than 13 tons of it as bread in the quarter just ended, and the garrison's bakehouse used it daily. The sandglasses in store were for ships and the batteries. A four-hour glass timed a full watch at sea. A minute glass, or log glass, timed the run of the log line as it paid out over the stern, and from the knots counted a ship's speed was worked out. These were the same log lines bought by the Company's servants and the ships throughout the year. Salts were small dishes for serving salt at table, sold in pairs. | |
390 | 16th October Brought Over £ 7586 0 7 Glass Ware brought Over £ 6 5 2 1/2 9 Hour Glasses 6 228 Sqrs. 6 by 8 3 19 7 369 Sqrs. 8 by 10 10 12 2 1/4 57 do. 10 by 12 3 1 9 7 do. 12 by 22 10 6 16 do. 11 by 17 1/2 1 1 4 12 do. 12 by 15 14 14 do. 11 by 16 17 6 3/4 5 do. 10 by 16 6 2 6 do. 10 by 14 6 6 38 do. 16 by 15 2 6 8 1/2 28 do. 11 1/4 by 19 1 19 8 21 do. 11 by 17 1 8 43 do. 11 by 17 1/4 2 17 4 16 do. 10 3/4 by 17 3/4 1 1 4 5 do. 10 3/4 by 18 3/4 6 3 4 do. 11 1/4 by 13 5 4 17 do. 11 by 18 1/2 1 2 8 39 8 6 Grindstones 6 16 6 Hats viz. 19 Mens fine Hats 16 12 6 2 Boys do. 12 41 Soldiers do. 5 17 23 1 6 Carried Over £ 7649 7 1 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £7,586 0s 7d. Brought forward, £7,586 0s 7d Glass brought forward, £6 5s 2½d 9 hourglasses, £0 6s 0d 228 panes of window glass, 6 by 8 inches, £3 19s 7d 369 panes of window glass, 8 by 10 inches, £10 12s 2¼d 57 panes of window glass, 10 by 12 inches, £3 1s 9d 7 panes of window glass, 12 by 22 inches, £0 10s 6d 16 panes of window glass, 11 by 17½ inches, £1 1s 4d 12 panes of window glass, 12 by 15 inches, £0 14s 0d 14 panes of window glass, 11 by 16 inches, £0 17s 6¾d 5 panes of window glass, 10 by 16 inches, £0 6s 2d 6 panes of window glass, 10 by 14 inches, £0 6s 6d 38 panes of window glass, 16 by 15 inches, £2 6s 3½d 28 panes of window glass, 11¼ by 19 inches, £1 19s 3d 21 panes of window glass, 11 by 17 inches, £1 3s 0d 43 panes of window glass, 11 by 17¼ inches, £2 17s 4d 16 panes of window glass, 10¾ by 17¾ inches, £1 1s 4d 5 panes of window glass, 10¾ by 18¾ inches, £0 6s 3d 4 panes of window glass, 11¼ by 18 inches, £0 5s 4d 17 panes of window glass, 11 by 18½ inches, £1 2s 2d Total for glass, £39 8s 6d 6 grindstones, £0 16s 6d Hats 19 men's fine hats, £16 12s 6d 2 boys' hats, £0 12s 0d 41 soldiers' hats, £5 17s 0d Total for hats, £23 1s 6d Carried forward, £7,649 7s 1d Interpretations The warehouse held window glass in 18 different sizes, nearly 1,000 panes in all. Most were the small panes of 6 by 8 and 8 by 10 inches used in the Company's houses, the Castle and the guardrooms. These were replaced steadily, as the repairs accounts showed quarter after quarter. The larger sizes, up to 12 by 22 inches, matched particular windows in particular buildings. Glass had to be cut to fit before it left England, since the island had no glazier able to cut large sheets. Every window on St Helena therefore needed its own stock of spare panes held in reserve against breakage by wind, weather and accident. Only 41 soldiers' hats remained in store after the yearly clothing issue and the 108 hats charged to the garrison this quarter. The 19 men's fine hats, at nearly 18s each, were for sale to the Company's servants. The best hat in the store cost more than five times a soldier's. | |
391 | 1769 Brought over £ 7649 7 1 Haberdashery viz. lb oz 8 5 Silk 14 17 10 8 15 Mohair 14 1 6 17 Gross Mohair Coat Button 7 5 2 Gro. doz. 10 3 do. Breast do. 2 7 4 Gro. doz. 3 4 Silver Wire Coat Buttons 14 13 4 6 do. Breast do. 14 3 4 do. Plate Ct. do. 5 4 3 1/2 gilt Coat do. 4 8 3 2/3 do. Breast do. 2 2 1/2 1 2/3 gilt Metal Coat Buttons 10 1 1/2 Silver Plate Coat do. 1 10 gross Horn Moulds 1 2 1 Gro. doz. 3 White Waistcoat Buttons 2 9 1/2 3 9 Shirt do. 8 5 1/2 5 Ps. Union Cord 11 3 12 Ps. Galloon 3 2 7 1/2 4 Ps. Braid 11 18 3/4 Yds. Tabby 7 14 8 2 Ps. Broad Worsted Lace 1 10 7 45 Narrow do. 27 14 1 1/2 23 Yds. White Buckram 1 5 10 1/2 66 Ps. Tape 1 17 1 1/2 13 Hair Stocks 9 2 1/2 59 Whale Bone 17 14 385 Cockades 6 8 10 74 Yds. Broad Gold Lace 12 13 6 40 do. Narrow do. 5 0 4 9 Pr. Gold Garters 3 6 4 1/2 1 doz. Gold Basket Coat Buttons 2 4 146 17 2 Carried Over £ 7796 4 3 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £7,649 7s 1d. Brought forward, £7,649 7s 1d Sewing goods 8 pounds 5 ounces of silk, £14 17s 10d 8 pounds 15 ounces of mohair, £14 1s 6d 17 gross of mohair coat buttons, £7 5s 2d 15 gross 3 dozen of mohair breast buttons, £2 7s 4d 3 gross 4 dozen of silver wire coat buttons, £14 13s 4d 6 dozen silver wire breast buttons, £0 14s 3d 4 dozen plated coat buttons, £0 5s 4d 3½ dozen gilt coat buttons, £0 4s 8d 3⅔ dozen gilt breast buttons, £0 2s 2½d 1⅓ dozen gilt metal coat buttons, £0 0s 10d 1½ dozen silver plated coat buttons, £0 1s 0d 10 gross of horn button moulds, £1 2s 1d 3 dozen white waistcoat buttons, £0 2s 9½d 3 gross 9 dozen of shirt buttons, £0 8s 5½d 56 pieces of Union cord, £0 11s 3d 12 pieces of galloon, £3 2s 7¼d 4 pieces of braid, £0 11s 0d 18¼ yards of tabby, £7 14s 8d 2 dozen pieces of broad worsted lace, £1 10s 7d 45 [...] of narrow worsted lace, £27 14s 7½d 23 yards of white buckram, £1 5s 10½d 66 pieces of tape, £1 17s 1½d 13 horsehair stocks, £0 9s 2½d 59 pounds of whalebone, £17 14s 0d 385 cockades, £6 8s 10d 74 yards of broad gold lace, £12 13s 6d 40 yards of narrow gold lace, £5 0s 4d 9 pairs of gold garters, £3 6s 4½d 1½ dozen gold basket coat buttons, £0 2s 4d Total for sewing goods, £146 17s 2d Carried forward, £7,796 4s 3d Interpretations The warehouse held 385 cockades, against the 15 sold to the Company's servants in the quarter. A cockade was worn on the hat of every soldier as well as on officers' and servants' hats, and the garrison of about 400 men needed a fresh one with each issue of hats. The stock was therefore the reserve for the soldiers' uniforms, not a trade good. The same was true of the 13 horsehair stocks left after the yearly issue of 393, and of the narrow worsted lace for trimming the soldiers' waistcoats, which was valued at over £27. Tabby was a heavy silk taffeta with a watered or wavy finish, used for waistcoats, gowns and linings. The 59 pounds of whalebone, worth £17 14s 0d, were baleen strips for stiffening women's stays and bodices. Their value, nearly as much as the gold lace, shows that the women of the island's official families were dressing in the full fashion of the period, with whalebone imported for the purpose through the Company's stores. | |
392 | 16th October Brought Over £ 7796 4 3 Hosiers ware viz. 1091 Pr. Ordinary thread Stockgs. 159 4 9 24 Pr. Mens Wove do. 4 6 25 Pr. Womens do. 3 8 9 23 Pr. Girls do. 2 5 1/2 16 Pr. Boys do. 1 11 4 5 Pr. Scarlet Breeches 3 8 1 1/2 1 Pr. Buff do. 2 Pr. do. do. damaged 1 17 9 7 Pr. Black do. 3 1 10 12 Pr. do. Silk do. 13 13 4 190 1 11 Hooks and Lines viz. 3770 No. 1 13055 6 2200 7 7300 9 9269 10 2560 11 8050 12 780 Large 15 7600 8 14960 14 8550 16 7900 Small 15 8000 13 Hooks 9 11 10 3/4 52 7 2 1/2 6 11 10 7 10 1/2 7 13 8 1/2 2 0 3/4 6 0 9 8 12 9 22 3 4 6 11 11 1/2 2 3 2 2 12 11 3 11 2 163 1/2 doz. 2 Lines 24 4 9 1/2 Hooks and Lines Carr. Over £ 169 18 6 1/2 Carried Over £ 7989 6 2 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £7,796 4s 3d. Brought forward, £7,796 4s 3d Hosiery 1,091 pairs of ordinary thread stockings, £159 4s 9d 24 pairs of men's worsted stockings, £4 6s 0d 25 pairs of women's worsted stockings, £3 3s 9d 23 pairs of girls' worsted stockings, £2 5s 0½d 16 pairs of boys' worsted stockings, £1 11s 4d 5 pairs of scarlet breeches, £3 8s 1½d 1 pair of buff breeches and 2 pairs of buff breeches, damaged, £1 17s 9d 7 pairs of black breeches, £3 1s 10d 12 pairs of black silk breeches, £13 13s 4d Total for hosiery, £190 1s 11d Hooks and lines 3,770 number 1 hooks, £9 11s 10¾d 13,055 number 6 hooks, £52 7s 2½d 2,200 number 7 hooks, £6 11s 0d 7,300 number 9 hooks, £10 7s 10¼d 9,269 number 10 hooks, £7 13s 3¾d 2,560 number 11 hooks, £2 0s 0¾d 8,050 number 12 hooks, £6 0s 9d 780 large number 15 hooks, £8 12s 9d 7,600 number 8 hooks, £22 3s 1d 14,960 number 14 hooks, £6 11s 11¾d 8,550 number 16 hooks, £2 3s 2d 7,900 small number 15 hooks, £2 12s 11d 8,000 number 13 hooks, £3 11s 2d 163½ dozen number 2 lines, £24 4s 9½d Hooks and lines carried forward, £169 18s 6¾d Carried forward, £7,989 6s 2d Interpretations The warehouse held nearly 94,000 fish hooks in 13 sizes. In the quarter just ended, the Company's servants, the planters and the Company's own slaves together took about 4,500. The store therefore held some 20 years' supply at that rate. The Company bought hooks in bulk in England, where they were cheap and light to ship, and they did not perish in store. Fishing supplied a large part of the island's food, for slaves, servants and the Governor's table alike. A failure of supply would have struck directly at the island's diet. Holding hooks for decades ahead cost little and removed that risk entirely. The 1,091 pairs of ordinary thread stockings, worth £159 4s 9d, were the reserve for the garrison's yearly issue of 400 pairs and for sale to the servants and planters. The scarlet, buff and black breeches, including 12 pairs in black silk, were finer goods for officers and officials. Two pairs of buff breeches were entered as damaged, valued below cost so that their loss would show honestly in the inventory. | |
393 | 1769 Brought Over £ 7989 6 2 Hooks and Lines brought Over £ 169 18 6 1/2 157 doz. No. 3 13 1/2 doz. 4 39 Hambro 33 deep Sea 4 1/4 Log Lines 31 13 3 2 7 1/2 2 13 6 7 13 9 1/4 2 4 218 1 6 Iron Pots viz. 37 Iron Pots Wt. Cwt. qrs. lb. 10 1 15 10 18 2 Iron Kettles 3 12 1 14 10 1 Iron and Steel viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. 57 1 26 Iron 60 1 10 3 Steel 5 12 65 13 10 Iron Ware viz. 1 Iron rimd. Lock A 1 0 2 1/2 1 do. B 1 1 1 1 do. D 1 2 1 12 Iron rimd Locks with brass Knobs 3 13 9 12 Cupboard do. 1 14 21 Splinter do. 10 6 11 Pad do. 16 2 1/2 3 Goal Pad do. 1 1 6 1 Barrk. Door do. 5 8 do. do. wt. Brass Knobs 3 9 Closet do. 1 7 7 17 Stock do. 2 6 1/2 38 Pr. Shutter Hinges 4 0 7 Iron Ware Carried Over £ 21 19 4 1/2 Carried Over £ 8287 11 7 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £7,989 6s 2d. Brought forward, £7,989 6s 2d Hooks and lines brought forward, £169 18s 6¾d 157 dozen number 3 lines, £31 13s 0d 13½ dozen number 4 lines, £3 3s 7½d 39 hambro lines, £2 13s 6d 33 deep-sea lines, £7 13s 9¾d 4¼ dozen log lines, £2 4s 0d Total for hooks and lines, £217 1s 6d Iron pots 37 iron pots, weighing 10 hundredweight 1 quarter 15 pounds, £10 18s 0d 2 iron kettles, £3 12s 1d Total for iron pots, £14 10s 1d Iron and steel 57 hundredweight [...] 26 pounds of iron, £60 1s 10d 3 hundredweight of steel, £5 12s 0d Total for iron and steel, £65 13s 10d Ironmongery 1 iron rim lock, size A, £1 0s 2½d 1 iron rim lock, size B, £1 1s 1d 1 iron rim lock, size D, £1 2s 1d 12 iron rim locks with brass knobs, £3 13s 9d 12 cupboard locks, £1 14s 0d 21 spring locks, £0 10s 6d 11 padlocks, £0 16s 2½d 3 gaol padlocks, £1 1s 6d 1 barrack door lock, £0 5s 0d 8 barrack door locks with brass knobs, £3 0s 0d 9 closet locks, £1 7s 7d 17 stock locks, £2 6s 0½d 38 pairs of shutter hinges, £4 0s 7d Ironmongery carried forward, £21 19s 4d Carried forward, £8,237 11s 7d Interpretations The warehouse kept locks of more than a dozen kinds, from large rim locks graded A, B and D by size to gaol padlocks, barrack door locks and closet locks. Each type matched a particular use in the Company's buildings and in the officials' houses. The gaol padlocks were heavier than ordinary ones and made to resist forcing. Three were held in reserve after the barracks prison had been fitted with new iron bars and an elm window frame during the quarter. The 38 pairs of shutter hinges were for the heavy wooden shutters closed over windows against the trade wind and storms. Iron in bar stood at over 2½ tons, worth £60 1s 10d. The armourer drew several hundredweight each quarter for repairs, rails, pickaxes and cot pins, and the works at Munden's Point and the Mount used more. Steel, at only 3 hundredweight, was kept for tool edges, springs and the parts of firearms that needed a hard temper. | |
394 | 16th October Brought Over £ 8287 11 7 Iron Ware brought over £ 21 19 4 1/2 8 Pr. HL Hinges 15 6 35 Broad Hoes 3 15 10 1 Grubg. do. 2 11 18 Pr. Sheep Shears 1 7 4 Adzes 12 26 Gouges 2 7 4 5 Edging Irons 19 5 1/4 77 Pick axes 13 7 10 3/4 15 Augers 2 1 6 1/4 24 Paper Box 7 6 42 Brass Rings 8 3 25 Back Hinges 2 1 8 5 Pr. Steel Yards Large 9 10 11 6 Pr. do. Small 1 14 9 Drill Bows 1 0 5 32 Masons Stone Rammers 4 11 12 Coopers Punches 13 6 5 Pr. do. Cold Chizels 5 2 Howells 3 10 1 Slitg. Saw 6 11 4 Garden Hoes 3 2 10 1/2 3 lb Iron Binding Wire 2 7 1/2 1 Pr. Large Iron Dividers 2 6 14 Pr. Garden Shears 2 10 9 2 Two ft. Rules 2 3 1 Carpenters Jointer Plane 7 3 1/2 8 Coopers Spoke Shaves 16 Iron Ware Carr. Over £ 68 16 2 3/4 Carr. Over £ 8287 11 7 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £8,237 11s 7d. Brought forward, £8,237 11s 7d Ironmongery brought forward, £21 19s 4½d 8 pairs of H hinges, £0 15s 6d 35 broad hoes, £3 15s 10d 1 grubbing hoe, £0 2s 11d 18 pairs of sheep shears, £1 7s 0d 4 adzes, £0 12s 0d 26 gouges, £2 7s 4d 5 edging irons, £0 19s 5¾d 77 pickaxes, £13 7s 10¾d 15 augers, £2 1s 6¾d 24 paper books, £0 7s 6d 42 brass rings, £0 3s 3d 25 butt hinges, £2 1s 8d 5 pairs of large steelyards, £2 10s 11d 6 pairs of small steelyards, £1 14s 0d 9 drill bows, £1 0s 5d 32 masons' stone rammers, £4 11s 0d 12 cooper's punches, £0 13s 6d 5 pairs of cold chisels, £0 5s 0d 2 howels, £0 3s 10d 1 [...] saw, £0 6s 11d 4 garden hoes, £3 2s 10½d 3 pounds of iron binding wire, £0 2s 7½d 1 pair of large iron dividers, £0 2s 6d 14 pairs of garden shears, £2 10s 9d 2 two-foot rules, £0 2s 3d 1 carpenter's jointer plane, £0 7s 3½d 8 cooper's spokeshaves, £0 16s 0d Ironmongery carried forward, £68 16s 2¾d Carried forward, £8,237 11s 7d Interpretations The warehouse held 77 pickaxes in reserve, worth £13 7s 10¾d, the largest single item of ironmongery. The works at Munden's Point alone had drawn 13 new pickaxes and 43 handles in the quarter, as the soldiers and hired slaves cut into the basalt for the magazine. That excavation was abandoned on 13 October 1769, but the masonry magazine, the east bastion and the Lemon Valley platforms all needed stone quarried and dressed. The 32 masons' stone rammers were for packing earth and rubble behind the new walls and compacting the beds for gun platforms. A steelyard was a balance with a long arm and a sliding weight, used to weigh heavy goods by hanging them from the short end. The Company needed them in the warehouse to weigh salt meat, rice, flour, cordage and iron on receipt and issue, since every account was kept by weight. A grubbing hoe was a heavy mattock for clearing roots and breaking new ground on the plantation. | |
395 | 1769 Brought Over £ 8287 11 7 Iron Ware brought Over £ 68 16 2 3/4 23 Bitts for a Dowling Stock 6 8 1/2 2 Hand Round Shaves 3 11 3 Pr. Cross Garnet Hinges 1 1 6 18 Dutch Hoes 2 11 7 1/2 153 Spades 28 13 9 26 Shod Shovels 2 5 101 Iron do. 22 13 8 1/2 16 Stone Saws 3 3 4 1 Melting Ladle 11 10 1 Cwt. 16 lb Rod Iron 1 4 3 Pr. Hand Screws 12 5 1 1/2 14 Claw Hammers 1 1 5 223 Ash Helves 6 10 1 24 Masons Hammer do. 7 49 Small Fryg. Pans 5 2 1 2 Large do. 8 3 1/2 20 lb Flour Emery 1 15 1/2 lb Corn do. 10 1/2 14 1/2 Spelter 1 8 1 5 Borax 3 10 4 1/2 6 1/2 Case Hardening 12 8 1/2 2 lb Pumice Stone 9 1 lb Putty 1 8 1/2 Wash Emery 1 1 2 Coffee Mills 15 4 1/2 63 Plane Irons 1 4 4 1/2 10 Setts Jack Wheels 3 7 3 1 Coopers Jointer 12 7 Iron Ware Carried Over £ 171 0 9 Carried Over £ 8287 11 7 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £8,237 11s 7d. Brought forward, £8,237 11s 7d Ironmongery brought forward, £68 16s 2¾d 23 bits for a dowelling stock, £0 6s 8½d 2 hand round shaves, £0 3s 11d 3 pairs of cross garnet hinges, £1 1s 6d 18 Dutch hoes, £2 11s 7½d 153 spades, £28 13s 9d 26 shod shovels, £2 5s 0d 101 iron shovels, £22 13s 8½d 16 stone saws, £3 3s 4d 1 melting ladle, £0 11s 10d 1 quarter 16 pounds of rod iron, £1 4s 0d 3 pairs of hand screws, £12 5s 1½d 14 claw hammers, £1 1s 5d 223 ash handles, £6 10s 1d 24 masons' hammer handles, £0 7s 0d 49 small frying pans, £5 2s 1d 2 large frying pans, £0 8s 3½d 20 pounds of flour emery, £1 15s 0d ½ pound of corn emery, £0 0s 10½d 14½ pounds of spelter, £1 3s 1d 5 pounds of borax, £3 10s 4½d 6½ pounds of case-hardening compound, £0 12s 3½d 2 pounds of pumice stone, £0 0s 9d 1 pound of putty, £0 1s 8d ½ pound of washed emery, £0 1s 1d 2 coffee mills, £0 15s 4½d 63 plane irons, £1 4s 4½d 10 sets of jack wheels, £3 7s 3d 1 cooper's jointer, £0 12s 7d Ironmongery carried forward, £171 0s 9d Carried forward, £8,237 11s 7d Interpretations The three pairs of hand screws were valued at £12 5s 1½d, the dearest tools on the page. A hand screw of this price was a large jack worked by a screw, used to lift heavy weights such as guns, anchors and the ends of beams. The works at Banks's and Munden's Point were remounting heavy guns, and the sheer legs raised at Banks's in the spring served the same purpose. A screw jack could raise a gun carriage or a fallen block of stone where no tackle could be rigged. Spelter was zinc, cast in ingots. Mixed with copper it made brass for soldering and repairs, which the armourer could not buy ready-made in the quantities he needed. Case-hardening compound was a mixture of charcoal, bone and salts in which iron was heated so that its surface took up carbon and became a thin skin of steel. The armourer used it on the working parts of gun locks, which had to resist wear while the iron beneath stayed tough. A Dutch hoe was a push hoe with a flat blade, used to cut weeds just below the surface. | |
396 | 16th October Brought Over £ 8287 11 7 Iron Ware brought Over £ 171 0 9 9 Jack Chains 15 6 1/2 4 Jack Weights and Shifters 1 16 26 Figured Squares 1 12 6 133 Blank Keys 4 3 1 1/2 4 Wash Pans 1 Sauce Pan hammered Iron 3 10 10 11 2 1/2 Cwt. qrs. 1 1 1/4 Plate Iron 3 7 4 1/2 7 Scrapers 13 1 1/2 1 Pr. Screw Stocks 11 7 14 Sickles 13 5 27 Garden Rakes 3 1 11 1/2 33 Rag stones 11 8 1/4 115 Scythe do. 1 1 6 3/4 21 Joiners Rubstones 2 17 1 105 Drill Boxes 7 10 1/2 2 Joiners Hatchets 4 42 Plaisterers Trowells 3 9 10 80 Bricklayers do. 5 7 7 122 Packing Needles 17 9 1/2 20 Pr. HL Hinges with rising Joints 3 3 4 11 Pr. Shutter do. 1 4 9 18 Scythes 4 17 4 22 Pr. Dovetail Hinges 6 5 1 Whip Saw 2 7 4 1/2 1 Cross Cut Saw 1 5 9 3 Gun Smiths do. 2 1 3 4 Hand do. 1 9 8 Iron Ware Carr. Over £ 223 10 9 Carried Over £ 8287 11 7 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £8,237 11s 7d. Brought forward, £8,237 11s 7d Ironmongery brought forward, £171 0s 9d 9 jack chains, £0 15s 6½d 4 jack weights and shifters, £1 16s 0d 26 figured squares, £1 12s 6d 133 blank keys, £4 3s 1½d 4 hammered iron wash pans, £3 10s 10d 1 hammered iron saucepan, £0 11s 2½d 1 hundredweight 1 quarter 14 pounds of plate iron, £3 7s 4½d 7 scrapers, £0 13s 1½d 1 pair of screw stocks, £0 11s 7d 14 sickles, £0 13s 5d 27 garden rakes, £3 1s 11½d 33 ragstones, £0 11s 8½d 115 scythe stones, £1 1s 6¾d 21 joiners' rubstones, £2 17s 1d 105 drill boxes, £0 7s 10½d 2 joiners' hatchets, £0 4s 0d 42 plasterer's trowels, £3 9s 10d 80 bricklayer's trowels, £5 7s 7d 122 packing needles, £0 17s 9½d 20 pairs of H hinges with rising joints, £3 3s 4d 11 pairs of shutter hinges, £1 4s 9d 18 scythes, £4 17s 4d 22 pairs of dovetail hinges, £0 6s 5d 1 whipsaw, £2 7s 4½d 1 crosscut saw, £1 5s 9d 3 gunsmith's saws, £2 1s 3d 4 hand saws, £1 9s 8d Ironmongery carried forward, £223 10s 9d Carried forward, £8,237 11s 7d Interpretations The warehouse held 80 bricklayer's trowels and 42 plasterer's trowels, more than 120 in all. The Council's decision of 13 October 1769 to build a magazine entirely of masonry at Munden's Point, along with the rebuilding of the east bastion and the platforms at Lemon Valley, would call on masons and labourers in large numbers. Soldiers and hired slaves did most of the work, and each needed a trowel. The stock let the Council put a large gang onto the walls at once without waiting for tools from England. Jack chains and jack weights were the working parts of a roasting jack, the clockwork that turned a spit before the fire. The weight, wound up by a winch, drove the gearing as it slowly fell, and the shifters adjusted its speed. With the 10 sets of jack wheels on the previous page, the store could furnish or repair the roasting jacks of every kitchen of standing on the island. Screw stocks were tools for cutting threads on iron rod to make bolts and screws. H hinges with rising joints lifted a door slightly as it opened, so that it cleared a carpet or uneven floor. | |
397 | 1769 Brought Over £ 8287 11 7 Iron Ware brought Over £ 223 10 9 3 Tenon Saws 1 2 4 Pruning do. 8 5 Smiths Slitting Saw Files 8 6 1/2 14 Gimblets 5 3 18 Spike do. 7 1 1/2 4 Stone Wedges 2 8 9 Jack Spits 2 11 7 507 Files 10 13 3 1/2 45 Rubber do. 11 19 6 7 Farriers Rasps 6 5 13 Setting Hammers 4 7 9 65 Masons Inch and Point Tools 4 3 1 73 do. Boastr. and Broad 8 10 5 45 3/4 doz. Wood Screws 15 3 1 Large Jack 7 10 2 1 Midling do. 4 18 3 Small do. 7 11 4 1/2 46 Sheets Sand Paper 3 10 Qr. Sheets 3 2 Emery do. 7 8 1/2 2 Plow Planes 19 8 9 Axletrees and Winches for Grindstones 1 18 1 1/2 19 Iron Crows 9 11 11 12 Socket headg. Chizels 7 7 22 Scribg. do. 2 0 2 3 Lathing Hammers 5 6 1/4 Heap Chairs Nails 5 7 1/2 11 Bolt Rope Needles 1 1 3/4 99 Sail do. 4 5 Iron Ware Carried Over £ 306 6 4 1/2 Carried Over £ 8287 11 7 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £8,237 11s 7d. Brought forward, £8,237 11s 7d Ironmongery brought forward, £223 10s 9d 3 tenon saws, £1 2s 0d 4 pruning saws, £0 8s 0d 5 smith's slitting saw files, £0 8s 6½d 14 gimlets, £0 5s 3d 13 spike gimlets, £0 7s 1½d 4 stone wedges, £0 2s 8d 9 jack spits, £2 11s 7d 307 files, £10 13s 3½d 45 rubber files, £11 19s 6d 7 farrier's rasps, £0 6s 5d 13 setting hammers, £4 7s 9d 65 masons' inch and point tools, £4 3s 1d 73 masons' boasters and broad tools, £8 10s 5d 45¾ dozen wood screws, £0 15s 3d 1 large screw jack, £7 10s 2d 1 middling screw jack, £4 14s 0d 3 small screw jacks, £7 11s 4½d 46 sheets of sandpaper, £0 3s 10d 3 quires 2 sheets of emery paper, £0 7s 8½d 2 plough planes, £0 19s 8d 9 axletrees and winches for grindstones, £1 18s 1½d 19 iron crowbars, £9 11s 11d 12 socket-headed chisels, £0 7s 7d 22 [...] chisels, £2 0s 2d 3 lathing hammers, £0 5s 0d 6¼ thousand brass chair nails, £0 5s 7½d 11 boltrope needles, £0 1s 1¾d 99 sail needles, £0 4s 5d Ironmongery carried forward, £306 6s 4½d Carried forward, £8,237 11s 7d Interpretations The masons' tools in store, 65 inch and point tools and 73 boasters and broad tools, were the chisels used to dress stone for the island's walls. A point was a pointed chisel for roughing out a block, and an inch tool cut a chisel edge an inch wide. A boaster was a broad chisel used to smooth the face of a stone after the rough work, and a broad tool gave the final finish. Over 130 such chisels, valued at more than £12, matched the quarrying at Sandy Bay and the cut stone being prepared for the east bastion in James's Valley. Dressed stone, laid without the need for much render, was what the Council now required for the new magazine. The 19 iron crowbars and five screw jacks of three sizes were the heavy lifting gear of the works. A crow could prise a block from the quarry face or lever it into place on a wall, and a jack could raise a gun or a fallen stone. The large jack alone was valued at £7 10s 2d. With the 77 pickaxes and 153 spades on earlier pages, the store held enough gear to man a major building effort at short notice. | |
398 | 16th October Brought Over £ 8287 11 7 Iron Ware brought Over £ 306 6 4 1/2 10 Pr. Steel Compasses 4 2 8 1/2 Tind Tacks 19 1 1/2 67 Helves for Garden Hoes 1 10 Cwt. qrs. lb. 1 1 20 Rolled Iron 3 61 Drill Strings 1 11 9 1/2 2 Hand Vices 7 1 Smiths Standing do. 1 15 11 1 Bench do. 6 9 9 Spring Rat Traps 13 3 1/4 9 Wire do. 2 14 3 Mouse do. 1 9 3/4 26 Saw Sets 14 1 1/2 26 Knots Cat Gut 6 8 3 Crow Stocks 5 6 18 do. Irons 13 10 4 Drawing Knives 7 1 Brass Blow Pipe 11 2 Pr. Wool Cards 4 3 1/2 37 Wood Axes 5 4 10 12 Masons Stone Axes 4 8 2 Smiths Bench Hammers 2 4 Hand do. do. 7 11 6 Uphand do. 1 9 7 1 Sledge Hammer 9 4 2 Cast Backs for Forges 1 7 2 Brass Pins for Escutcheons 3 10 2 Pr. Shifting Compasses with a Sweep 7 8 1 Iron Rubbish Riddle 7 3/4 7 Plaisterers Sieves 1 12 9 1/2 Iron Ware Carr. Over £ 338 17 8 Carried Over £ 8287 11 7 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £8,237 11s 7d. Brought forward, £8,237 11s 7d Ironmongery brought forward, £306 6s 4½d 10 pairs of steel compasses, £0 4s 2d 8½ pounds of tinned tacks, £0 19s 1½d 61 handles for garden hoes, £1 10s 0d 1 hundredweight 1 quarter 20 pounds of rolled iron, £3 0s 0d 61 drill strings, £1 11s 9½d 2 hand vices, £0 7s 0d 1 smith's standing vice, £1 15s 11d 1 bench vice, £0 6s 9d 9 spring rat traps, £0 13s 3¾d 9 wire rat traps, £2 14s 0d 3 mousetraps, £0 1s 9¾d 26 saw sets, £0 4s 11½d 26 knots of catgut, £0 6s 8d 3 crow stocks, £0 5s 6d 18 crow irons, £0 13s 10d 4 drawing knives, £0 7s 0d 1 brass elbow pipe, £0 0s 11d 2 pairs of wool cards, £0 4s 3½d 37 wood axes, £5 4s 10d 12 masons' stone axes, £4 3s 0d 2 smith's bench hammers, £0 2s 0d 4 smith's hand hammers, £0 7s 11d 6 uphand hammers, £1 9s 7d 1 sledgehammer, £0 9s 4d 2 cast backs for forges, £1 7s 0d 2 brass pins for escutcheons, £0 3s 10d 2 pairs of sloping compasses with a sweep, £0 7s 8d 1 iron rubbish riddle, £0 7s 0¾d 7 plasterer's sieves, £1 12s 9¾d Ironmongery carried forward, £338 17s 8d Carried forward, £8,237 11s 7d Interpretations The store held two cast backs for forges, valued at £1 7s 0d. A forge back was the heavy cast-iron plate set behind the fire of a smith's hearth to protect the brickwork from the intense heat of the blast. It burned through in time and had to be replaced. Two spares in store meant the armourer's forge, on which the garrison's weapons and the works' tools depended, could not be put out of action for want of one. An uphand hammer was a heavy hammer swung with both hands by the smith's striker, while the smith held the work and directed the blows with a lighter hand hammer. Crow stocks and crow irons were the parts of a crowbar-like lever or of a crowfoot tackle for lifting. Catgut, made from the dried and twisted intestines of sheep, was sold in knots and used for the strings of drill bows and for lashings where a strong, thin cord was needed. Saw sets were small tools for bending the teeth of a saw alternately left and right, so that the blade cut a groove wider than itself and did not bind. | |
399 | 1769 Brought Over £ 8287 11 7 Iron Ware brought Over £ 338 17 8 3/4 4 Sets Truss Hoops 1 5 7 29 Mason Hammers 4 16 1/2 24 Mauls 11 10 6 1 Coopers Ax 4 1 Roundg. do. 3 5 Nail Drivers 8 4 2 Coopers Hand Hammers 4 9 24 Brass Boxes for Wheel Barrows 8 10 12 Hand Hatchets 1 0 6 9 lb Brass Pins for Escutcheons 8 10 2 lb Yellow Solder 3 8 2 oz. Silver do. 12 1 9 Pr. Hand Bellows 1 12 7 1/2 1 Turkey Oil Stone 8 10 4 Crucibles 1 3 3 Blue Casting Pots 2 4 1 Hollowing Knife 2 3 Buoy Shaves 11 3 Dowling Stocks with Springs 3 4 1/2 1 Taper Bung Borer 6 7 5 Coopers Vices 2 9 3/4 39 Masons Beach Mallets 3 16 4 1/2 2 Beak Irons 1 3 5 8 Spare Coopers Jointer Irons 13 10 1 Plow with Furniture 3 13 2 11 Scribg. Gouges 7 4 372 18 8 Kersey viz. 27 Yds. Kersey 1 12 7 1/2 64 1/2 do. Baize 5 14 3 1/2 7 6 10 Carried Over £ 8667 17 1 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £8,237 11s 7d. Brought forward, £8,237 11s 7d Ironmongery brought forward, £338 17s 8d 4 sets of truss hoops, £1 5s 7d 29 mason's hammers, £4 16s 0½d 24 mauls, £11 10s 6d 1 cooper's axe, £0 4s 0d 1 cooper's rounding adze, £0 3s 0d 5 steel drivers, £0 8s 4d 2 cooper's hand hammers, £0 4s 9d 24 brass boxes for wheelbarrows, £0 8s 10d 12 hand hatchets, £1 0s 6d 9 pounds of brass pins for escutcheons, £0 8s 10d 2 pounds of yellow solder, £0 3s 8d 2 ounces of silver solder, £0 12s 1d 9 pairs of hand bellows, £1 12s 7½d 1 Turkey oilstone, £0 8s 10d 4 crucibles, £0 1s 3d 3 blue casting pots, £0 2s 4d 1 hollowing knife, £0 2s 0d 3 buzz shaves, £0 0s 11d 3 dowelling stocks with springs, £0 3s 4½d 1 large bung borer, £0 6s 7d 5 cooper's vices, £0 2s 9¾d 39 masons' beech mallets, £3 16s 4½d 2 beak irons, £1 3s 5d 8 spare cooper's jointer irons, £0 13s 10d 1 plough plane with its fittings, £3 13s 2d 11 scribing gouges, £0 7s 4d Total for ironmongery, £372 18s 8d Woollens 27 yards of kersey, £1 12s 7½d 64½ yards of baize, £5 14s 3½d Total for woollens, £7 6s 10d Carried forward, £8,617 17s 1d Interpretations The store held crucibles, blue casting pots, yellow solder and silver solder alongside the armourer's other tools. A crucible was a small clay or graphite pot that could stand a white heat, used to melt brass, copper or silver for casting small fittings. Silver solder, at over 6s an ounce, made the strongest joints in brass and steel and was used to repair gun locks and fine instruments. With these, the armourer could cast and repair the brass furniture of muskets, the buttons and buckles of the garrison and the fittings of the Castle without sending to England. A Turkey oilstone was a fine-grained whetstone from Asia Minor, the best stone of the period for putting a keen edge on chisels, plane irons and razors. A beak iron was a small anvil with a long tapering horn, used for bending and shaping light ironwork. Buzz shaves were small cooper's tools for smoothing the inside of a cask. Twenty-four brass boxes for wheelbarrows were the bearings in which the axles turned, and their number matches the 27 wheelbarrows in store and the barrows being built for the works. | |
400 | 16th October Brought Over £ 8667 17 1 Leather viz. 18 Calf Skins 7 15 8 Cwt. qrs. lb. 6 1 4 Sole Leather 34 9 4 42 5 Lead viz. 10 Yards 2 Inch Pipe 4 15 6 Cwt. qrs. lb. 3 21 Shot 19 8 5 15 2 Long Ells viz. 3 Yards Red 13 4 Ps. Yds. 2 13 1/4 Blue 5 12 7 6 5 11 Masts viz. 1 Sea Top Mast 7 1 Bow Sprit 8 10 6 1 Fore Top Mast 15 Inches Diamr. 49 Ft. long 7 10 2 do. do. 15 do. 56 do. 18 11 2 do. do. 11 do. 32 do. 6 1 1 Sheer Mast 18 65 12 6 Nails viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. 2 3 6 2d. 13 3 2 1/2 7 3 17 3 33 3 9 15 2 2 4 52 10 1/2 8 2 11 6 27 1 8 8 2 24 20 19 6 4 3 1 2 40 7 17 3 10 0 21 10 26 2 11 1/2 3 23 Scupper 2 17 11 1/2 2 1 1 Coopers Rivets 6 15 11 1/2 3 20 Glazg. Brads 8 13 4 1 15 Barrk. Nails 10 3 5 2 10 Floorg. Brads 15 9 2 1/2 2 8 Spike 1 2 2 20 Dog Nails 9 10 2 1/2 234 6 11 Carried Over £ 9012 2 7 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £8,667 17s 1d. Brought forward, £8,667 17s 1d Leather 18 calfskins, £7 15s 8d 6 hundredweight 1 quarter 4 pounds of sole leather, £34 9s 4d Total for leather, £42 5s 0d Lead 10 yards of 2-inch lead pipe, £4 15s 6d 0 hundredweight 3 quarters 21 pounds of shot, £0 19s 8d Total for lead, £5 15s 2d Long ells 5 yards of red long ells, £0 13s 4d 2 pieces 13¾ yards of blue long ells, £5 12s 7d Total for long ells, £6 5s 11d Masts 1 [...] topmast, £7 0s 0d 1 bowsprit, £8 10s 6d 1 fore topmast, 15 inches in diameter and 49 feet long, £7 10s 0d 2 fore topmasts, 15 inches in diameter and 56 feet long, £18 11s 0d 2 fore topmasts, 11 inches in diameter and 32 feet long, £6 1s 0d 1 sheer mast, £13 0s 0d Total for masts, £65 12s 6d Nails 2 hundredweight 3 quarters 6 pounds of twopenny nails, £13 3s 2½d 7 hundredweight 3 quarters 17 pounds of threepenny nails, £33 3s 9d 15 hundredweight 2 quarters 2 pounds of fourpenny nails, £52 10s 0½d 8 hundredweight 2 quarters 11 pounds of sixpenny nails, £27 1s 8d 8 hundredweight 2 quarters 24 pounds of twentypenny nails, £19 6s 4d 3 hundredweight 1 quarter 2 pounds of fortypenny nails, £7 17s 3d 10 hundredweight 0 quarters 21 pounds of tenpenny nails, £26 2s 11½d 0 hundredweight 3 quarters 23 pounds of scupper nails, £2 17s 11½d 2 hundredweight 1 quarter 1 pound of cooper's rivets, £6 15s 11½d 0 hundredweight 3 quarters 20 pounds of glazier's brads, £8 13s 4d 0 hundredweight 1 quarter 15 pounds of [...] nails, £0 10s 3d 5 hundredweight 2 quarters 10 pounds of flooring brads, £15 9s 2½d 0 hundredweight 2 quarters 8 pounds of spike nails, £1 0s 0d 2 hundredweight 2 quarters 20 pounds of dog nails, £9 10s 2¼d Total for nails, £224 6s 11d Carried forward, £9,012 2s 7d Interpretations The Company kept spare masts in store at St Helena, including a bowsprit, several topmasts up to 56 feet long and a sheer mast. These were for ships arriving dismasted or with sprung spars after rounding the Cape of Good Hope, where storms often carried away the upper masts. In the quarter to June 1769, a topmast 56 feet long had been sold to one of the Company's ships for £12 1s 3d. The island had no timber of that size, and a ship could not safely make the long passage to England without her topmasts. Holding spars in store let a damaged Indiaman refit in days instead of limping home under jury rig. A sheer mast was a single tall spar raised to serve as a crane for hoisting out and stepping a ship's masts. Nails in store weighed close to 4 tons, worth over £224, the largest stock of any building material after timber. Each size had its use: twopenny and threepenny nails for lath and light work, fourpenny to tenpenny for floors and joinery, twentypenny and fortypenny for heavy framing. The repairs, works and sales accounts drew on this stock every quarter, and the quantity held would last for years. | |
401 | 1769 Brought over £ 9012 2 7 Oars 48 6 12 Oil viz. Galls. 495 Train 79 13 5 312 Linseed 61 15 14 Oil of Turpentine 3 14 11 1/2 Oil of Olives 4 1 11 176 Bottles Florence 23 4 3 172 13 8 Paint viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. 1 3 15 Whiting 4 4 1/2 1 14 Umber 1 1 20 Stone Oaker dry 8 10 1 2 12 Indico 15 3 9 12 16 White Lead dry 21 5 2 2 11 Stone Colour 7 5 6 1 2 24 Olive do. 16 12 11 26 Verdigrease 4 17 11 1 0 16 Pearl Colour 2 10 10 1 24 Chocolate do. 1 10 4 3 12 Ven. Red mixed 2 6 17 Yellow Oaker dry 4 6 3 27 Copperas 5 8 4 1/2 3 0 3 Brimstone 3 11 8 1 3 17 Red Lead 2 8 9 1/4 1 10 Log Wood 7 11 1 3 22 Chalk 4 6 1/2 3 20 Blue Paint 11 9 8 1 27 Black Lead 3 1 10 1/2 10 Blue Black 5 10 2 6 Stone Oaker mixed 1 8 5 1 3 6 Blue Smalts 16 12 5 1/2 Paint Carried Over £ 118 10 6 Carried Over £ 9191 8 3 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £9,012 2s 7d. Brought forward, £9,012 2s 7d 48 oars, £6 12s 0d Oil 495 gallons of train oil, £79 13s 5d 312 gallons of linseed oil, £61 15s 0d 14 gallons of oil of turpentine, £3 14s 0d 11½ gallons of olive oil, £4 1s 11d 176 bottles of Florence oil, £23 4s 3d Total for oil, £172 13s 8d Paint 1 hundredweight 3 quarters 15 pounds of whiting, £0 4s 4½d 1 hundredweight 0 quarters 14 pounds of umber, £1 1s 0d 0 hundredweight 0 quarters 20 pounds of stone ochre, dry, £0 8s 10d 1 hundredweight 2 quarters 12 pounds of indigo, £15 3s 9d 12 hundredweight 0 quarters 16 pounds of white lead, dry, £21 5s 0d 2 hundredweight 2 quarters 13 pounds of stone colour, £7 5s 6d 1 hundredweight 2 quarters 24 pounds of olive colour, £16 12s 11d 0 hundredweight 0 quarters 26 pounds of verdigris, £4 17s 11d 1 hundredweight 0 quarters 16 pounds of pearl colour, £2 10s 10d 0 hundredweight 1 quarter 24 pounds of chocolate colour, £1 10s 4d 0 hundredweight 3 quarters 12 pounds of Venetian red, mixed, £2 6s 0d 0 hundredweight 0 quarters 13 pounds of yellow ochre, dry, £0 4s 6d 0 hundredweight 3 quarters 27 pounds of copperas, £5 8s 4½d 3 hundredweight 0 quarters 3 pounds of brimstone, £3 11s 8d 1 hundredweight 3 quarters 17 pounds of red lead, £2 8s 9¾d 0 hundredweight 1 quarter 10 pounds of logwood, £0 7s 11d 1 hundredweight 3 quarters 22 pounds of chalk, £0 4s 6½d 0 hundredweight 3 quarters 20 pounds of blue paint, £11 9s 8d 0 hundredweight 1 quarter 27 pounds of black lead, £3 1s 10½d 0 hundredweight 0 quarters 10 pounds of blue black, £0 5s 10d 0 hundredweight 2 quarters 6 pounds of stone ochre, mixed, £1 8s 5d 1 hundredweight 3 quarters 6 pounds of blue smalt, £16 12s 5½d Paint carried forward, £118 10s 6d Carried forward, £9,191 2s 3d Interpretations The paint store held colours for every purpose on the island. White lead, at 12 hundredweight, was the base for nearly all oil paints and the largest item by weight. Stone colour and red lead went on gun carriages and ironwork, olive colour, pearl and chocolate on doors, panelling and shutters. Indigo and blue smalt, together worth over £31, were the laundry blues for the Castle's linen as well as paint pigments. Blue paint, at £11 9s 8d for less than a hundredweight, was among the dearest colours in store, as blue pigments were throughout the eighteenth century. The oil store held 495 gallons of train oil and 312 of linseed. Train oil burned in the lamps of every guard post, barrack and Company house, and the garrison alone drew more than 30 gallons a quarter. Linseed oil was mixed with the pigments to make paint. Pearl colour was a pale grey with a faint blue tint, and chocolate colour a deep brown, both fashionable for interiors in the mid-eighteenth century. | |
402 | 16th October Brought Over £ 9191 8 3 Paint brought Over £ 118 10 6 Cwt. qrs. lb. 1 Vermillion 7 14 6 1 10 Ven. Red mixed 7 1 1/2 3 1/4 Prussian Blue 4 8 9 5 distilled Verdegrease 2 15 7 5 Flake White 8 1 Allum 3 178 Barrls. Blacking 4 12 8 1/2 138 17 5 Pumps 1 12 13 5 Pewter viz. 8 Quart Funnels 18 8 7 do. Pots 1 1 7 Half Gallon do. 1 19 9 1/2 2 Gallon do. 18 3 6 Cranes 3 4 1 Worm Tub and Still 10 12 4 2 Cullenders 16 4 1/2 16 Basons 3 2 2 20 Water Plates 5 0 10 6 Pint Pots 11 8 4 Chamber do. 11 8 4 Close stool Pans 1 2 2 31 18 11 Pease 3 1/4 Bushels 1 10 9 Pitch and Tar viz. 26 1/2 Barrls. Pitch 29 11 10 18 do. Tar 17 12 Cwt. qrs. lb. 8 2 19 Turpentine 10 2 3 9 1 18 Rozin 7 13 8 64 19 9 Soap Cwt. qrs. lb. 10 1 10 32 11 3 Carried Over £ 9473 19 9 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £9,191 8s 3d. Brought forward, £9,191 8s 3d Paint brought forward, £118 10s 6d 1 hundredweight of vermilion, £7 14s 6d 1 quarter 10 pounds of Venetian red, mixed, £0 1s 1½d 3¼ pounds of Prussian blue, £4 8s 9d 5 pounds of distilled verdigris, £2 15s 7d 5 pounds of flake white, £0 3s 0d 1 pound of alum, £0 0s 3d 178 pounds of blacking in barrels, £4 12s 8½d Total for paint, £138 17s 5d 1 pump, £12 13s 5d Pewter 8 quart tankards, £0 18s 8d 7 quart pots, £1 1s 0d 7 half-gallon pots, £1 19s 9½d 2 gallon pots, £0 18s 3d 6 cranes, £3 4s 0d 1 worm, tub and still, £10 12s 4d 2 colanders, £0 16s 4½d 16 basins, £3 2s 2d 20 water plates, £5 0s 10d 6 pint pots, £0 11s 8d 4 chamber pots, £0 11s 8d 4 close stool pans, £1 2s 2d Total for pewter, £31 18s 11d 31¼ bushels of peas, £1 11s 9d Pitch and tar 26½ barrels of pitch, £29 11s 10d 18 barrels of tar, £17 12s 0d 8 hundredweight 2 quarters 19 pounds of turpentine, £10 2s 3d 9 hundredweight 1 quarter 18 pounds of rosin, £7 13s 8d Total for pitch and tar, £64 19s 9d 10 hundredweight 1 quarter 10 pounds of soap, £32 11s 3d Carried forward, £9,473 19s 9d Interpretations The pewter store included a worm, tub and still, valued at £10 12s 4d. A still with its coiled worm, cooled in a tub of water, was the apparatus for distilling spirits. In the Company's hands it probably served the doctor's shop, which made spirit of wine, waters and tinctures for the sick. It could equally have made spirits from local produce. Since May 1769, the arrack society had held the sole right to sell spirits on the island, and three of its members sat on or served the Council. A still in the Company's warehouse, rather than in private hands, kept that capacity under official control. Vermilion was a brilliant red pigment made from mercury and sulphur, the most costly red of the period, used for fine decoration and the lettering of signs and colours. Flake white was the purest grade of white lead, ground for fine work. Water plates were double-walled pewter plates with a hollow filled with hot water, which kept food warm at table. Pewter cranes were taps or siphons used for drawing liquor from casks. | |
403 | 1769 Brought over £ 9473 19 9 Starch Cwt. qrs. lb. 1 3 2 5 7 3 Salt 93 1/4 Bushels 13 12 Shalloon viz. Ps. Yds. 1 19 1/2 Scarlet 6 3 9 6 1/4 Pompadore 15 7 1/2 4 15 Colored 12 7 6 1/2 19 6 11 Serge viz. 2/3 Ps. Fustain 1 3 10 16 1/4 yards Scarlet Serge 5 7 5 1/4 24 do. Blue do. 6 7 6 1/4 do. Scarlet Sagathy 18 6 6 do. Green do. 15 4 3/4 14 12 2 Scales and Weights viz. 2 Beams 14 6 1 Pr. Scale Boards 3 19 8 18 5 8 Saddles 6 with Furniture 29 9 10 Shirts viz. 1346 Soldiers Shirts 302 17 173 Boleros 5 15 4 2 Sergeants Shirts 13 6 27 Ps. Irish Linen 39 17 4 Ps. Yds. 2 34 Brown Holland 9 14 4 4 1/2 Yds. Huckaback 4 6 359 2 Sailors Cloaths viz. 64 Men and Boys Jackets 22 4 103 do. and do. Breeches 13 15 Sailors Cloaths Carried Over £ 35 19 Carried Over £ 9933 15 7 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £9,473 19s 9d. Brought forward, £9,473 19s 9d 1 hundredweight 3 quarters 2 pounds of starch, £5 7s 3d 93¼ bushels of salt, £13 12s 0d Shalloon 1 piece 19½ yards of scarlet shalloon, £6 3s 9d 6¼ yards of pompadour shalloon, £0 15s 7½d 4 pieces 15 yards of coloured shalloon, £12 7s 6½d Total for shalloon, £19 6s 11d Serge and woollens ⅔ piece of fustian, £1 3s 10d 16½ yards of scarlet serge, £5 7s 5½d 24 yards of blue serge, £6 7s 0d 6¼ yards of scarlet sagathy, £0 18s 6d 6 yards of green sagathy, £0 15s 4½d Total for serge and woollens, £14 12s 2d Scales and weights 2 beams, £14 6s 0d 1 pair of scale boards, £3 19s 8d Total for scales and weights, £18 5s 8d 6 saddles with their furniture, £29 9s 10d Shirts and linen 1,346 soldiers' shirts, £302 17s 0d 173 boys' shirts, £5 15s 4d 2 sergeants' shirts, £0 13s 6d 27 pieces of Irish linen, £39 17s 4d 2 pieces 34 yards of brown holland, £9 14s 4d 4½ yards of huckaback, £0 4s 6d Total for shirts and linen, £359 2s 0d Sailors' clothing 64 men's and boys' jackets, £22 4s 0d 103 pairs of men's and boys' breeches, £13 15s 0d Sailors' clothing carried forward, £35 19s 0d Carried forward, £9,933 15s 7d Interpretations The warehouse held 1,346 soldiers' shirts, worth £302 17s 0d, after the issue of 385 privates' shirts in the quarter to June 1769. The stock covered about three more yearly issues to the garrison. Officers also bought shirts at the servants' rate to supply their men between issues, as the 149 shirts taken in the quarter just ended showed. The Company bought shirts made up in England by the thousand. A single large order was cheaper than repeated small ones, and the shirts did not spoil in store as cloth or provisions might. The two beams and scale boards, worth over £18, were the great balance on which the warehouse weighed its goods. Every cask of meat, bag of rice and coil of rope was weighed in and out, and the weights recorded in the accounts were only as reliable as this balance. The six saddles with their furniture, meaning bridles, girths and stirrups, were held for the Company's horses at Plantation House and for the use of officials riding to the outlying posts. | |
404 | 16th October Brought over £ 9933 15 7 Sailors Cloaths brought over £ 35 19 42 Men and Boys Jackets 2 do. and do. Breeches damaged 12 6 3 6 67 Dutch Caps 5 3 5 2 Grooms Waistcoats 8 10 206 Men and Boys Shirts 24 13 9 83 17 3 Soldiers Cloaths viz. 127 Soldiers Coats and Breeches 184 12 7 2 Drummers Coats 1 Pr. do. Breeches 1 Pr. do. damaged 6 16 2 6 Watch Coats 4 19 196 7 9 Shoes viz. 1261 Pr. Mens Ordinary 288 19 7 8 Pr. do. Fine Shoes 2 4 25 Pr. Mens Pumps 5 6 Pr. Single Channel do. 1 16 30 Pr. Womens Calimanco Shoes 5 15 1 Pr. Womens Spanish Leather do. 3 10 34 Pr. do. do. Calf do. 4 1 10 17 Pr. Girls Calimanco do. 2 11 2 Pr. do. Calf do. 1 10 Pr. Boys Shoes 1 11 8 2 Pr. Stretchers 3 2 313 14 1 Twine viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. 2 2 14 Twine 15 0 2 5 1/2 Cotton Wick 15 7 15 15 9 Carried Over £ 10548 10 5 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £9,933 15s 7d. Brought forward, £9,933 15s 7d Sailors' clothing brought forward, £35 19s 0d 42 men's and boys' jackets, damaged, £12 6s 3d 2 pairs of men's and boys' breeches, damaged, £0 6s 0d 67 Dutch caps, £5 3s 5d 2 grooms' waistcoats, £0 8s 10d 206 men's and boys' shirts, £34 13s 9d Total for sailors' clothing, £88 17s 3d Soldiers' clothing 127 soldiers' coats and breeches, £184 12s 7d 2 drummers' coats, 1 pair of drummers' breeches and 1 pair of drummers' breeches, damaged, £6 16s 2d 6 watch coats, £4 19s 0d Total for soldiers' clothing, £196 7s 9d Shoes 1,261 pairs of men's ordinary shoes, £288 19s 7d 8 pairs of men's fine shoes, £2 4s 0d 25 pairs of men's pumps, £5 0s 0d 6 pairs of single channel pumps, £1 16s 0d 30 pairs of women's calamanco shoes, £5 15s 0d 1 pair of women's Spanish leather shoes, £0 3s 10d 34 pairs of women's calfskin shoes, £4 1s 10d 17 pairs of girls' calamanco shoes, £2 11s 0d 25 pairs of girls' calfskin shoes, £1 0s 0d 10 pairs of boys' shoes, £1 11s 8d 2 pairs of slippers, £0 3s 2d Total for shoes, £313 14s 1d Twine 2 hundredweight 2 quarters 14 pounds of twine, £15 0s 2d 5½ pounds of cotton wick, £0 15s 7d Total for twine, £15 15s 9d Carried forward, £10,548 10s 5d Interpretations The warehouse held 1,261 pairs of men's ordinary shoes, worth £288 19s 7d. The garrison had drawn 423 pairs in the quarter to June 1769, and the Company's servants bought over 100 pairs in the quarter just ended. Soldiers marching between the batteries and labouring on the works over the island's stony ground wore out their shoes fast. The stock covered about three years of issues to the garrison, matching the reserve of shirts and stockings. Only 127 sets of soldiers' coats and breeches remained after the yearly issue to more than 350 men in the quarter to June. A coat was meant to last a year, and the stock would not cover a full issue. The new clothing for 1770 would have to come out in the next season's store ship. The Council could not order a coat to be made on the island in any number, since broadcloth of the right colour came only from England. Spanish leather was fine, soft goatskin or sheepskin tanned in the Spanish manner, used for the uppers of good shoes. A single pair in store, against dozens in plain calfskin and calamanco, marks it as a luxury. | |
405 | 1769 Brought over £ 10548 10 5 Thread viz. 110 lb Colored 17 3 9 64 Whited Brown 21 14 8 6 Ps. Nuns No. 38 6 6 7 1 1 do. 36 1 15 5 47 0 5 Ticking 61 1/4 yards 9 10 2 Tin ware viz. 32 lb Solder 1 9 4 14 Canteens 19 3 6 Gallon Funnels 12 3 Quart do. 1 4 1/2 2 Pudding Pans 1 8 11 Watering Pots 2 2 2 58 Lanthorn Leaves 10 10 1/2 2 Glass Lanthorns Large 1 6 6 11 do. Smaller 2 15 6 3 do. Small 11 6 7 Gallon Sauce Pans with Covers 19 6 11 Quart do. 5 1/2 2 Pint do. 7 32 double Sheets Tin 1 0 8 38 Single do. 11 1 31 Lamps 1 5 10 7 lb Salammoniac 1 1 9 Horn Lanthorns 1 6 7 1/2 17 0 6 Turners ware viz. 10 Scrubg. Brushes 1 2 8 1/2 3 Tubmans Yokes 4 6 23 Ox Bows 1 7 2 Turners Ware Carr. Over £ 2 14 4 1/2 Carr. Over £ 10622 1 6 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £10,548 10s 5d. Brought forward, £10,548 10s 5d Thread 110 pounds of coloured thread, £17 3s 9d 64 pounds of whited brown thread, £21 14s 8d 6 pounds 2 ounces of number 38 nuns' thread, £6 6s 7d 1 pound 1 ounce of number 36 nuns' thread, £1 15s 5d Total for thread, £47 0s 5d 61¼ yards of ticking, £9 10s 2d Tinware 32 pounds of solder, £1 9s 4d 14 canteens, £0 19s 3d 6 gallon funnels, £0 12s 0d 3 quart funnels, £0 1s 4½d 2 pudding pans, £0 1s 8d 11 watering pots, £2 2s 2d 53 horn leaves for lanterns, £0 10s 10½d 2 large glass lanterns, £1 6s 6d 11 smaller glass lanterns, £2 15s 6d 3 small glass lanterns, £0 11s 6d 7 gallon saucepans with covers, £0 19s 6d 11 quart saucepans, £0 5s 0½d 2 pint saucepans, £0 0s 7d 32 double sheets of tin, £1 0s 8d 33 single sheets of tin, £0 11s 1d 31 lamps, £1 5s 10d 7 pounds of sal ammoniac, £1 1s 0d 9 horn lanterns, £1 6s 7½d Total for tinware, £17 0s 6d Turned goods 10 scrubbing brushes, £1 2s 3½d 3 tubmen's yokes, £0 4s 6d 23 ox bows, £1 7s 2d Turned goods carried forward, £2 14s 0½d Carried forward, £10,612 1s 6d Interpretations The 14 canteens were tin water flasks for soldiers on duty at the outlying guards. Posts such as Banks's, Sandy Bay and the Lemon Valley battery lay far from James Town and from any spring, and the men on watch had to carry their water with them. The glass and horn lanterns, 25 in all, served the guards, the magazine and the stores at night. The glass lanterns, ranging from large to small, gave a brighter light. Horn lanterns were cheaper and did not break when knocked over, which made them the choice near powder. A tubman's yoke was a wooden shoulder yoke shaped to the neck, from which a pair of tubs or buckets hung on chains or ropes. Water for the town, the Castle and the ships' casks was carried this way from the springs in James's Valley. The 23 ox bows held in store, against the four pairs issued to the plantation in the quarter to June, show that the Company expected its ox carts to remain the main transport on the island's roads. | |
406 | 16th October Brought Over £ 10622 1 6 Turners Ware brought Over £ 2 14 4 1/2 14 Shimming Brushes 4 4 61 Shoe Brushes 1 19 10 Pump Boxes 1 14 7 70 Labourers Baskets 3 18 9 3 Cloth Brushes 6 111 Paint do. 2 7 10 125 Plaisterers do. 5 11 3 12 Lath Wheel Brushes 1 5 4 1 Buckle do. 3 1/2 77 Wood Bowls 4 1 7 76 Platters 4 3 11 14 Mops 17 9 33 Punch Ladles 19 3 10 Hair Brooms 1 2 3 1/2 42 Birch do. 17 6 26 Flaskets 2 19 1/2 6 Yokes for Oxen 4 1 9 Butchers Trays 12 4 39 17 3 10661 18 9 India Goods viz. Challow 161 1/2 pieces 66 11 Arrack 699 Galls. 102 13 3 Coffee Cwt. qrs. lb. 2 3 17 13 10 10 Pepper 3 3 1 10 10 6 Tea viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. 7 3 21 Bohea 30 11 2 1 1 12 Congo 9 10 1 Single 7 47 1 2 Candles Cwt. qrs. lb. 25 1 11 319 17 9 Carried Over £ 11222 3 3 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £10,622 1s 6d. Brought forward, £10,622 1s 6d Turned goods brought forward, £2 14s 4½d 14 [...] brushes, £0 4s 4d 61 shoe brushes, £1 19s 0d 10 pump boxes, £1 14s 7d 70 labourers' baskets, £3 13s 9d 3 clothes brushes, £0 6s 0d 111 paint brushes, £2 7s 10d 125 plasterer's brushes, £5 11s 3d 12 [...] wheel brushes, £1 5s 4d 1 buckle brush, £0 0s 3½d 77 wooden bowls, £4 1s 7d 76 platters, £4 3s 11d 14 mops, £0 17s 9d 33 punch ladles, £0 19s 3d 10 hair brooms, £1 2s 3½d 42 birch brooms, £0 17s 6d 26 flaskets, £2 19s 0½d 6 ox yokes, £4 1s 0d 9 butcher's trays, £0 12s 4d Total for turned goods, £39 17s 3d Running total, £10,661 18s 9d Goods from India 161½ pieces of chelloes, £66 11s 0d 699 gallons of arrack, £102 13s 3d 2 hundredweight 3 quarters 17 pounds of coffee, £13 10s 10d 3 hundredweight 3 quarters 1 pound of pepper, £10 10s 6d Tea 7 hundredweight 3 quarters 21 pounds of bohea tea, £30 11s 2d 1 hundredweight 1 quarter 12 pounds of congou tea, £9 10s 0d 1 hundredweight 0 quarters 0 pounds of singlo tea, £7 0s 0d Total for tea, £47 1s 2d 25 hundredweight 1 quarter 11 pounds of candles, £319 4s 9d Carried forward, £11,222 3s 3d Interpretations The Company's own stock of arrack stood at 699 gallons, valued at about 2s 11d a gallon at cost. Since May 1769, the arrack society had held the sole right to sell spirits to the public. The Company's arrack was not for sale. It was held for issues to the garrison at muster, to the slaves, to the men working in the stores, at the boats and on the works, and to the Governor's table. These issues ran to several hundred gallons a quarter, and the stock covered barely two quarters. Each Indiaman from Bengal and Madras brought two more leaguers to keep it topped up. Candles were the most valuable single item in this part of the store, over 1¼ tons worth £319 4s 9d. The Castle, the Council, the chaplain, the doctor's shop and the officers on guard together burned nearly 500 pounds a quarter in winter. The stock held about a year's supply. Most of it was tallow, with the wax candles from the Bengal consignments kept for the Castle and the chapel, where a cleaner light was wanted. | |
407 | 1769 Brought Over £ 11222 3 3 China ware viz. 26 Soup Dishes 7 13 10 70 Round Soup Plates 1 12 11 56 Enameld do. 1 15 11 Tureens 9 Dishes 3 5 Octagon Meat Plates 11 422 do. Soup do. 10 4 8 1 Bason 11 Guglets 1 1 3 4 Tea Pots 2 8 19 Bowls 1 2 2 103 Saucers 1 7 11 1/2 33 Baking dishes 1 7 1 1/2 19 Sallad do. 10 1 Milk Ewer 1 36 half Pt. Cups and Saucers 17 9 31 7 4 Long Cloth viz. 25 1/2 Ps. L 124 19 30 D 84 10 1/2 H 1 4 9 1/2 X 14 1/2 2 1 16 3 1/2 No. 5 1 0 7 1/2 6 13 5 13 8 49 13 41 9 53 16 3 14 10 15 11 6 333 18 9 Carried Over £ 11587 9 4 | The inventory of stores remaining continued from a running total of £11,222 3s 3d. Brought forward, £11,222 3s 3d China 26 soup dishes, £7 13s 10d 70 round soup plates, £1 12s 11d 56 enamelled soup plates, £1 15s 0d 11 tureens and 9 dishes, £3 0s 0d 5 octagonal meat plates, £0 11s 0d 422 octagonal soup plates, £10 4s 8d 1 basin and 11 guglets, £1 1s 3d 4 teapots, £0 2s 8d 19 bowls, £1 2s 2d 103 saucers, £1 7s 11½d 33 baking dishes, £1 7s 1½d 19 salad dishes, £0 10s 0d 1 milk jug, £0 1s 0d 36 half-pint cups and saucers, £0 17s 9d Total for china, £31 7s 4d Long cloth 25½ pieces of grade L, £124 19s 0d 20 pieces of grade D, £34 10s 0d ½ piece of grade H, £1 4s 9d ½ piece of grade X, £0 14s 0d ½ piece of number 2, £1 16s 3d ½ piece of number 5, £1 0s 7d ½ piece of number 6, £0 13s 5d 13 pieces of number 8, £49 13s 0d 41 pieces of number 9, £53 16s 3d 14 pieces of number 10, £15 11s 6d Total for long cloth, £333 18s 9d Carried forward, £11,587 9s 4d Interpretations The warehouse held 422 octagonal soup plates, valued at under 6d each. Chinese export porcelain came home in the Company's ships as ballast and kentledge, packed in the bottom of the hold beneath the tea chests, where it stayed dry and steadied the ship. Its freight cost almost nothing, and the Company sold it cheaply. That is why plates were so plentiful and so cheap at St Helena, while a pair of brass candlesticks shipped from England cost more than 30 plates. The officials who bought six full dinner services in the quarter just ended were furnishing their tables with porcelain at a price no household in England could match. Long cloth in store came to £333 18s 9d, in ten grades lettered and numbered by fineness. Grade L was the finest and dearest, at nearly £5 a piece, and number 10 the coarsest, at about £1 2s. The fine grades went into shirts and household linen for officials. The coarse grades clothed slaves and servants. Every grade was Indian cotton from the Coromandel coast or Bengal, and none of it could be bought at St Helena except through the Company. | |
408 | 16th October Brought Over £ 11587 9 4 Sugar and Candy viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. 152 1 8 Candy 355 8 4 286 19 Sugar 400 12 9 756 1 1 Rice and Paddy viz. Cwt. qrs. lb. 1034 1 22 Rice 413 16 324 5 Paddy 66 9 9 480 5 9 £ 12823 16 2 St. Helena 30th September 1769 (Signed) Dan Corneille Counted and Examined the Honorable Company's Cash for the Month of September last, which is as follows viz. | The inventory of stores remaining closed with the sugar, rice and paddy. Daniel Corneille signed it at St Helena on 30 September 1769, and the Council then counted and examined the Company's cash for September 1769. Brought forward, £11,587 9s 4d Sugar and sugar candy 152 hundredweight 1 quarter 8 pounds of sugar candy, £355 8s 4d 286 hundredweight 0 quarters 19 pounds of sugar, £400 12s 9d Total for sugar and sugar candy, £756 1s 1d Rice and paddy 1,034 hundredweight 1 quarter 22 pounds of rice, £413 16s 0d 324 hundredweight 0 quarters 5 pounds of paddy, £66 9s 9d Total for rice and paddy, £480 5s 9d Total value of stores remaining, £12,823 16s 2d Signed by Daniel Corneille at St Helena on 30 September 1769 Interpretations The Company's stores at St Helena were valued at £12,823 16s 2d on 30 September 1769. That was more than the coin in the treasury, which stood at about £12,000 at the end of August. Nearly half the value lay in food: salt meat at £3,924, flour at £1,314, rice and paddy at £480, and sugar at £756. The island's real wealth was held as provisions against famine or blockade, not as money. The rice alone, over 50 tons, could feed the Company's slaves for more than a year at the rate of the past two quarters. Daniel Corneille signed the inventory, as the Council had appointed him to do on 4 September 1769. James Powell kept the stores and Matthew Purling kept the accounts, and neither could fairly count the stock he answered for. The count was taken while the warehouse was closed from 9 September to 9 October, and its result was the figure the Court would compare against every issue and sale in the year to come. | |
409 | Cash Dr. 1769 Sept. 1st To Balance remaining £ 12618 3 10 4th To Exchange for 4 Sets of Bills drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors payable as follow viz. One set to Robert Wood Esqr.£ 120 One set to Messrs. John Parker and Edwd. Wakelin 88 One do. to John Purling Esqr. 400 One do. to Mr. George Richardson 65 673 11th To do. for 2 sets do. drawn as above payable as follow viz. One set to John Purling Esqr.£ 100 One set to Captn. Gabriel Steward 150 250 14th To Ship Essex 14 17 7 To Ship Shrewsbury 16 9 10 16th To Exchange for a Set of Bills drawn upon the Honble. the Court of Directors payable to Morris Jones 40 30th To James Powell recd. of him for Stores Sold this Quarter 2033 11 7 To Licences for Publick Houses 12 10 To Plantation for Provision Sold 41 14 5 1/2 To Mundens Battery for 87 Bushels of Lime Sold 5 8 9 To Customs received on 659 1/2 Galls. Arrack at 3d. p Gall. 8 4 10 1/2 To Rents 606 5 1/2 £ 16370 6 1/2 Per Contra Cr. 1769 Sept. 30th By Sundry Accounts Advanced the Pay- master to pay Salarys etc. in the Quarter ending this day 4409 1 1 By Balance remaining viz. In Specie £ 11321 9 11 1/2 In Cash Notes 639 15 11961 4 11 1/2 16370 6 1/2 Margin Notes: 1769 | The Council's examination of the Company's cash for September 1769 showed the following receipts, payments and balance. 1 September 1769, balance remaining, £12,618 3s 10d 4 September 1769, cash received in exchange for four sets of bills drawn on the Court of Directors 1 set to Robert Wood, £120 0s 0d 1 set to John Parker and Edward Wakelin, £88 0s 0d 1 set to John Purling, £400 0s 0d 1 set to George Richardson, £65 0s 0d Total for bills of exchange, £673 0s 0d 11 September 1769, cash received in exchange for two sets of bills drawn on the Court of Directors 1 set to John Purling, £100 0s 0d 1 set to Captain Gabriel Steward, £150 0s 0d Total for bills of exchange, £250 0s 0d On 14 September 1769, the Essex paid in £14 17s 7d, and the Shrewsbury paid in £16 9s 10d. 16 September 1769, cash received in exchange for 1 set of bills drawn on the Court of Directors, payable to Morris Jones, £40 0s 0d 30 September 1769, from James Powell, for stores sold in the quarter, £2,033 11s 7d 30 September 1769, licences for public houses, £12 10s 0d 30 September 1769, from the plantation, for provisions sold, £41 14s 5½d 30 September 1769, from Munden's Battery, for 37 bushels of lime sold, £5 8s 9d 30 September 1769, customs duty on 659½ gallons of arrack at 3d a gallon, £8 4s 10½d 30 September 1769, rents, £606 5s 0½d Total, £16,370 6s 0½d 30 September 1769, advanced to the paymaster for salaries and other charges in the quarter ending that day, £4,409 1s 1d 30 September 1769, balance remaining in coin, £11,321 9s 11½d 30 September 1769, balance remaining in cash notes, £639 15s 0d Total balance remaining, £11,961 4s 11½d Total, £16,370 6s 0½d Interpretations The treasury took in £3,752 2s 2½d in September 1769 against an outlay of £4,409 1s 1d to the paymaster for the quarter. Almost all the income came from two sources. Powell's sales from the warehouse brought in £2,033 11s 7d, and the yearly rents collected on 30 September brought in £606 5s 0½d. Bills of exchange added £963. The coin balance fell from £12,618 3s 10d to £11,321 9s 11½d. The island's own revenue could not pay its garrison and servants, and each quarter drew down the treasury further until silver arrived from England or India. The customs on arrack came to £8 4s 10½d on 659½ gallons, against £31 9s 3d on 2,517 gallons in the quarter to June 1769. Fewer ships had called, and the arrack society's monopoly, set up in May, meant that spirits were now landed for the society alone instead of by every passenger and seaman with a cask to sell. The duty yielded less in the society's first full quarter than it had before the monopoly began. The cash notes in circulation rose to £639 15s 0d, from £539 15s 0d at the end of August. The Company was issuing more of its paper on the island, probably to officials and planters who preferred notes to coin for their dealings in James Town. | |
410 | 16th October We this day received the following Petitions To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. Council of St. Helena The humble Petition of Samuel Alexander, Orlando Bagley Senr. Jonathan Doveton and Benjamin Mason Executors to the Orpn. of Thomas Harper Sheweth That your Petitioners are informed that Mrs. Alcock has again asked for that piece of the Honble. Company's Waste Land in Sandy Bay that she and Mr. Scott Petitioned for last Year. Your Petitioners humbly conceive that leaving the same will be a very great Injury to the said Orpn. as well as to the Neighbours in General as it is the only piece of common in the South Division of the Island and has been improved by the Work appropriated for planting Grass etc. upon the commons for which reason they always understood that the Commons or Wastelands were not to be let, but in case your Worship and Council think proper to Lease the said piece of Land they in behalf of the aforesaid Orphans Request you will be pleased to Grant them part of it as they imagine they have an Equal Right with Mrs. Alcock by adjoining to the said Land. And your Petitioners will ever pray etc. 16 Octr. 1769 To the Worshipful John Skottowe Esqr. Governor etc. Council of St. Helena The humble Petition of Samuel Alexander, Richd. Beale George Alexander, John Bagley Senr. John Bagley Junr. and John Scott | The Council received two petitions on 16 October 1769. The first came from Samuel Alexander, Orlando Bagley senior, Jonathan Doveton and Benjamin Mason, executors acting for the orphans of Thomas Harper. They had learned that Mrs Alcock had again applied for the piece of the Company's waste land at Sandy Bay that she and Mr Scott had sought the previous year. The executors believed that letting it would do great harm to the orphans and to the neighbours in general. It was the only piece of common in the South Division of the island. It had also been improved by work done for planting grass and other crops on the commons. For that reason they had always understood that the commons were not to be let or cultivated. If the Governor and Council nevertheless decided to let the land, the executors asked on the orphans' behalf for a share of it. They considered that the orphans had an equal right with Mrs Alcock, since their land also bordered it. The second petition, also dated 16 October 1769, came from Samuel Alexander, Richard Beale, George Alexander, John Bagley senior, John Bagley junior and John Scott. Interpretations Margaret Alcock's request for land behind her house at Sandy Bay, which the Council had sent Daniel Corneille and Matthew Purling to inspect on 25 September 1769, now met organised opposition. The petitioners made two separate claims. First, the ground was the only common left in the South Division, where neighbours grazed their stock. Second, the Company itself had improved the commons by sowing grass, which they took as a sign that the land was meant to stay open. If those arguments failed, they asked for a share of the land on equal terms. The executors were protecting the orphans' grazing, but they were also making sure that if the common was broken up, the orphans would not be shut out of it. Two of the executors, Samuel Alexander and Benjamin Mason, were among the island's established planters, and Jonathan Doveton was a factor in the Company's service. A second petition followed on the same day from another group of neighbours, among them the Bagleys and John Scott, the man who had joined Mrs Alcock in her first application. The Council faced a contest between neighbours over the last open ground in the district, with each side claiming either the land itself or the right to keep it common. | |
411 | Blank page | ||
412 | Blank page | ||
413 | Book cover | ||
414 | The record sheet for the Endangered Archives Programme project EAP 1364, St Helena, described the volume as follows. Document name and date: St Helena Records 1769 Dimensions: 47 centimetres high, 32 centimetres wide, 7 centimetres deep Written pages: 417 Blank pages: 0 Spine and cover: good condition, with slight insect boring on the covers Inside pages: good condition, with slightly frayed edges on some pages and foxing throughout Additional comments: the pages are not numbered Time taken to photograph: 4 hours |