Somerset Record Office

Bridgwater Port Shipping Registers 1786-1906 Including Minehead

Register of fishing boats Port of Bridgewater 1940-1993

Ship Repairs book of F J Carver & Sons of Bridgwater; details of work carried out on vessels in dry dock, 1910-40

Transcripts of Bridgwater registers 1786-1939

Transcript of Minehead 1787-1834

Volume of notes on Somerset Maritime History by Graham Farr

16^th century ship list; 18^th century statistics; vessels built in Somerset; Alphabetical list of vessels registered at Bridgwater and Minehead; chronological indexes to Bridgwater and Minehead Ship Registers books; Alphabetical lists of masters and owners of vessels.

Sully & Co Bridgewater, fleet list and notes by Graham Farr

Correspondence of William Jolliffe of Petersfield, Hampshire, certificate of discharge of William John Jolliffe from the naval ship Flora, 1787

Verses in honour of Captain Peter Joliffe who retook a ketch near Poole, Dorset from French Privateers, 1769

1823-38 Statements of account and related papers of concerns of co-partnership of William John Joliffe and Sir Edmund Banks, including reports and prospectus of the General Steam Navigation Company, 1825; information about the steam vessel Enterprize, n.d. [c. 1825]; accounts for the crew of the George the Fourth steamships, 1828.

Merchants account book. Large bound volume of accounts of London Merchant engaged in trade with Russia, kept by a succession of clerks. It is mainly a record of amounts due, bank accounts and bills of exchange. Commodities include indigo, potash, soldiers cloth, linen, cotton wool from Smyrna, lead, iron, hemp, hides and caviar. Much merchandise was shipped from Hull to Petersburg. Includes personal accounts of the estate of Samuel Holden of Winchester Street , London and Roehampton. 1740-65   

Accounts of the Dickinson family, merchants originally of Bristol and sometimes of Kingweston, Somerset, sixteenth to nineteenth centuries. Including trade with Africa, Amsterdam, St Petersburg, Carolina, Virginia and Calcutta; the sugar and slave trade to the West Indies, including accounts of Barton Isles plantation, Jamaica; Newcastle coal trade, 1745; shipping accounts for trade between Bristol and Newcastle, 1729-46

Correspondence and accounts of the Alloway. Prankard and Fuller families relating to trade from Minehead, Bridgwater and Bristol to Ireland, St Petersburg, America, Newfoundland, the West Indies and the Baltic, 1683-1746. Including some shipbuilding, sugar and rum trade. supplying ordnance to the King of Sardinia, 1750s, accounts of the Barton, Barton Isles. Appleton and Pepper plantations in Jamaica and traffic with slaves from the Gold Coast, eighteenth and nineteenth century, travel diaries through India and Mid-East, 1836-8.

Records of Eastment family of Drayton, including wages paid to officers and seamen on ships at Woolwich, 1661

papers concerning Admiral H Burley Grant, 1908-1909

typed transcript of diary of Henry Whitworth, sometime of Hull. 1836-7. including his voyage as a surgeon aboard a Hull whaler

letters, etc., of Henry N Shore (5th baron Teignmouth) 'about Lapwing Shipwreck', 1876-7; copy letter by Lieutenant Commander Lionel Shore describing the Battle of the Falklands, 1914.

diary of doctor practicing in New Zealand and journey via Hawaii, San Francisco and New York to England, 1872

diaries of Thomas Willy of Sea, Ilminster, ropemaker, 1856-9, 1863-89

journal of sea voyage from Portsmouth - Cape - Calcutta, 1848

journal of J C Evered, home ports. Baltic. Black Sea and Mediterranean, 1848-54

part of logbook of the Blessing in the East Indies, 1702 & journal of the voyage of the Bombay Merchant in India and to the East Indies, including Japan. 1698-1701, with some illustrations of islands, with misc. enclosures, c.I690-1740

Ship Logbooks kept by J.G.C. Evered of Bridgwater, of HMS Victory, Raleigh and Vernon 1846-8, Superb 1851-2, Queen 1855-6

Seventeen letters from Vice Admiral Sir James Saumarez to Admiral Richard Goodwin Keats, 1808

letters from Admiral Keats to Duke of Clarence and replies, 1789-1828

Notes by John Wyndham of Norrington on misbehaviour of soldiers and pressgangs, 1687

accounts of Mary of Lyme Regis, voyages to Guernsey, London. Newcastle, 1735

Account book of William Sanford, factor originally of Somerset, based in Hamburg, 1659-1740

letter book, correspondence, accounts of Austin Prankard of Bristol, c.1712-57

trade with Baltic, c.l729-46

import of corn, deals, hemp, flax from Baltic. c.I728-56

journals and ledgers of trade of William Alloway, jun., c.l683-1704

bill of complaint of Abel Fonnereau of London, merchant, case and answer on behalf of Graffin Pranckard. concerning insurance claimed upon the Baltick Merchant, taken by a Spanish privateer while on a voyage from Carolina to Cowes, and answers of John Galton and Caleb Dickinson, 1740-1 (9 docs)

letters regarding coal carried between Newcastle and London and Stockholm, 1745

books of trade voyages between Bristol and Newcastle, 1729-46

Dartmouth shipping accounts

 Dartmouth ship accounts, 1814-15

merchant's ledger containing details of trade with Hamburg, Cadiz, London. 1655-72

account book of George Hayman for goods (mainly cloth) between Minehead, Youghal, Ireland. 1685-7

cash book receipts for transport of coal, salt, stones, etc by ship, 1868-72 (l volume)

correspondence to Sir Charles Pymm, London, regarding plantation and trade with Bermuda, 1666-70

note concerning Negro trade in Africa, n.d. with note of two trading ships, 1700

papers regarding suppression and naval action, 1842-9

papers of Caleb Dickinson, includes sugar trade from Jamaica, 1737

letters, papers and logbooks of Commander George Kenyon including the suppression of the slave trade, 1824-49

List of men in Captain Skene's band on HMS Minden including men from Milan who had been prisoners in Portchester Castle, Denmark and the Netherlands who had volunteered from prison ships, and a black American. Their bandmaster was Edward Khine of Brunswick and the captain had paid 152 guineas for music and instruments to form a band. The endorsement indicates they were to be removed from the ship. Enclosed list of seamen to be transferred from HMS Minden to HMS Illustrious with their position, also noted which were married and had children 10 April 1812

Sir Samuel Hood's suggestions for improvements and economy in the supply and victualling of ships early 19thc.

Letter from General Brodrick at Corunna to Sir Samuel Hood requesting the recall of horse ships returning to England 1^st Jan 1809

Letter from Archibald Gloster in Trinidad to Samuel Hood in Barbados desiring him to request a ship to pick up his wife from St Vincent and bring her to Trinidad 12 June 1802

Ship money assessment showing men and cash required from each hundred drawn up for Sir William Portman and probably taken by Sir Thomas Wroth as a basis for this. 1637

Letter to Sir Thomas Wroth from the Privy Council Concerning non-payment of ship money, 15 Mar 1639/40

map of Charles town, South Carolina, showing 'the disposition of his Majesty's troops March, 1730' with names of Navy vessels in harbour

facsimile commission of Lieut. Colonel of monies, 1701-2

Rate for raising money for H.M. service for shipping, 1639

pocket books of Earl of Carnarvon with notes on Navy accounts, 1782-3

judgement of court martial for mutiny on HMS Raisonable, 1783

Papers of Admiral Keats as Governor of Greenwich Hospital, 1822-32

Ships' logs, Dasher, Dedaigneuse, Doris, Bucephalus, Hesper, Cornelia, Phaeton and Hussar, serving in Indian or East Indian waters, 1809-12

Additional regulations for His Majesty's service at sea, 1813

Mate's certificate, Edward Bellew Hancock, 1858

Letter to George Rossiter from son Daniel with receipts for money due on account of Daniel's enrolment in Navy, 1795-9

Copies of letters regarding naval manoeuvres against the French, 1747

Papers of Captain Richard Callcott including accounts regarding prize money 1779-95, commissions as Captain of the Albatross, 1781

Miscellaneous reports and returns on state of ships including notebook with suggestions for improvements and economics in matters of supply 1812-13

Detailed account of mutiny at Sheerness, 1797, from Mr Beadon to sister

Plan of section and rigging of first rate with descriptive key, ?temp. Trafalgar

Printed pamphlets offering bounties for discovering concealed seamen, 1750

Chart of position of fleet at Spithead, 26 June 1897

Petition to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty concerning charges made against petitioner while stationed in British Columbia, 1870

Examination of sailor who deserted from the hospital at Plymouth, 1747-8

will of Lt. James Ross of HMS Doris and Valiant, 1801

Navy Office, Controllers Counter ledger book, 1631

List of the Fleet that sailed from Plymouth to Cadiz, 1596

agreement on legality of pressing mariners, 1743

letter concerning release of servant pressed for service at Plymouth, 1643

Account of the Portreeve of Watchet for imports of coal and culm, 1755-6. Includes names of ships and ports of departure

Certificate of registration of ownership of the ship 'Ophelia and Ann' of Bridgwater1850

Agreement with the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal Navigation for shares in a ship called the 'Chard'. 28 July 1845

Assignment of the ship 'Chard' by the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal Navigation 31 July 1845

articles regarding ships sailing Wales - Minehead, l5th-18th centuries (from National Library of Wales Journal, Vol. IX, 2,3 & 4)

1644 & 1645, water bailiff's accounts, includes names of ships, 1716-20

Chinese shipping notes, 1873

Corsair, Puriton, sale poster of smack, 1832

record of disbursements for goods shipped aboard and discharged from the Friends for voyage from Combwich to Newport and its return, 1832

photograph of Bernard Barton of Minehead, n.d.

Daily Record Books for Bridgwater Docks, 1905-24

shares in The Batchelor's Delight of Kirkcaldy, 1747

extract from House of Commons Journal regarding Hunter, Katherine, 1679

Sale of shares in Mary of Barnstaple, Bristol, 1804-6

Sketch map of river and landing berths, Bridgwater, c.1730 71, Agreements between owners and crew, Bristol, 1771-62

paper regarding use of Bridgwater ships, 1768

Register, Bridgwater District pilots, 1868-1948

Records, tides, navigation, 1901-45

Record of ships using the gridiron for repairs etc. Gives details of the name of the ship and the master or agent 1896-1913

Papers relating to the bankruptcy of David Williams of Bridgwater, shipwright 1783-86

Ship repair book of F J Carver and Sons, Bridgwater, 1910-40

Detailed account and inventory of David Williams of Bridgwater, shipbuilder and bankrupt, 1786

Accounts of repairs to ships at Watchet, 1721-55

ship carrying cargo of fish from Newfoundland to Spanish and Italian ports, 1715

bundle of papers including fish market tolls, n.d.

licence to fish at Watchet, 1829

lease of fishing stalls at Bambeck, Weston Super Mare, 1740

conveyance of 6 buts for fishing in Stogursey, 1623

boundary lines of Bridgwater Bay fishery, 1776

abstracts of seven deeds regarding Weston Super Mare fishery, seventeenth century onwards

three accounts concerning the relief of 'decayed' seamen, Dartmouth, c.1755-71

inventories of men described as mariner (17) or sailor (1),1664-1730

coroners inquisitions, including drownings, eighteenth century

detailed plan of elevation and section of pier at Watchet Harbour, c.1855

map of Minehead, 1701, showing planned improvements to the pier

map of Minehead, 1687, with details of vessels

illustrations of Italian ports, gouache, early nineteenth century

survey of manors in Stogursey, 1614, including depiction of ships on the Severn

two photographs of Bridgwater docks, including ships, including Grace, c.1895

Drawings made on a voyage by James Somerville onboard HMS Surprize to the coast of Guinea, includes islands, forts and various types of Ships, 1749

see catalogue, Bridgwater water bailiffs' accounts, 1427 -1720

Bridgwater Harbour dues account book, 1908-29

files of customs officers' oaths of duty, 46 docs, 1736-70

complaint by the lessees of quay duties, portage and cranage of refusal of Joseph Tibbs and John Mills to pay duties, 1716-17

case relating to collection of quay duties, 1774

Bridgwater rate book, with some names of ships, 1836

papers regarding pier and tidal harbour at Burnham, 1855, 1960

Dunball Harbour, part of berthing and consignment register, 1882-3

Dunball Harbour, note on tonnage of vessels discharging, 1882-3

Minehead Harbour map, 1701

note of weir duties to support repair of Minehead quay, 1594-5

order for construction of promenade pier, 1895, Minehead

Minehead quay accounts, 1648

list of ships and barks belonging to Minehead, temp. Eliz; letter regarding new quay, 1609; docket of quay duties, early seventeenth century

mortgages, 1706, 1770

appointments of collectors and trustees, 1704-78; agreement to build new quay, 1704

correspondence regarding harbour, 1821-2

Acts of Parliament regarding harbour, 1700-1823 /5 coast bonds and papers, 1756-73

schedules of tolls, 1673, 1741, indenture, 1779; dockets, vouchers and misc. papers, n.d.; surveys, particulars and map, 1701; masons' and labourer's accounts, c.1780-1805; misc. accounts, 1666-1793

rough plan of Porlock harbour improvements,I768

List of Watchet shipowners 1865-97

Records of the Watchet Hobblers Association Hobblers were unlicensed pilots who used small rowing or sailing boats to steer and pull vessels into harbours. This collection comprises minute books, financial records, correspondence and other miscellaneous papers of the association. The records were kept by the secretaries of the association which included W L Allen and W Webber [Willie (Danny) Webber] of Watchet

Watchet Harbour accounts, including plans, wage accounts, repair accounts and litigation papers, c.1650-late nineteenth century

Watchet Harbour accounts, including Acts, eighteenth century, maintenance accounts, early eighteenth century, 1772-1808

order concerning Watchet harbour, 1665

postcard of Watchet harbour, Co 1905

photographs of Watchet harbour, co1863-early twentieth century

Watchet Harbour quay duties account books, 1708-1808, 1827-58

Watchet harbour trust correspondence, reports & draft minutes, co1858-77

Watchet harbour accounts, 1876

Watchet Harbour accounts of imports and exports 1847-9, arrivals and sailings, 1847-8, lists of registered ship owners, 1861­72

report on harbour and repairs to East Pier, 1981

photograph, Watchet harbour, 1863

copies of harbour act, 1857-60, 1902

photographs, c.1863 - early 20th century; day book, 1940-5

plans for the development of Watchet harbour, 1856

reference book to Watchet Harbour plan, 1856 Weston-Super-Mare

letter regarding estimate for dock, 1728

proposal for bill to establish quay tolls at Dodbrooke, Devon, 1756

pamphlets relating to navigation of King's Lynn, Norfolk, 1696-8

reference to one hogshead of iron for maintenance of Lyme Regis cobb, 1561

letter with reference to landing stone at Seaton quay, late sixteenth century

share certificates in Parrett Navigation, 1837

copy petitions for & against Perrett Navigation Bill, 1835-40

Passenger list of Cultivator, Liverpool to New York, 1858

hearing upon information relating to excise at Goare, 1729

judgement on information of officer by HM Duties of Excise, 1731

note concerning information to collector of Excise against John Chorley of Preston Bowyer, eighteenth century

examples of wool going out of the county in French vessels, 1692

letters and papers relating to William May, supervisor of excise, in regards to smuggling of soap, candles and starch from Ireland into Minehead, 1759

panoramic view of Weston Super Mare, lithograph, by R. Carrick, published by J. Whereat, n.d. [early nineteenth century, showing bathing machines

letter regarding storm damage to Porlock quay, 1770

agreement for erection of sea walls, 1714

Admission to tenement held of Bargheys Manor, Berrow, services include 'sea wall workers', 1605

sea wall workers, Kenn & Kingston Seymour, 1708, 1817 - also D/P/Kenn 4/1/2, D/P/k.sey 2/1/1 and DD/X/BUE 1,2 for 1672-1770

reports and plans on Portishead sea wall, 1872, 1875

copies and agreement for work on sea wall at Portishead with plan, 1908

Huntspill sea wall jury lists, 1854, 1871

Repair of sea wall at Heaterclose, Huntspill, 1684

account and vouchers regarding upkeep of Huntspill sea wall, 1745-67

account of payments by tenants for repair of sea wall, South Brent, 1721

list of those liable for repair of sea wall, Clevedon, 1700-10

correspondence regarding damage by sea at Brean farm, 1884-5

lease of land in Clevedon with work on sea wall specified, 1432

survey of sea wall work, Kingston Seymour and reassessment, 1690, 1770

Huntspill sea wall, draft brief for defendant and depositions regarding liability for maintenance, early nineteenth century

reference to making and repair of sea wall, Clevedon, 1700

report of sea walls and river banks committee, 1885, 1888

case for non-repair of sea wall and bridge at Uphill, c.1785

views of sea wall works in Sand Bay, Somerset, 1876-1908

schedules of sea wall work, Clevedon, 1894

sea work at Wordspinny level, c.1925

erection of coastguard station at Minehead, c.1868-80

elevation drawing of lighthouse at Burnham, 1800

references to Flat Holme lighthouse, 1744-86

letters concerning, 1776-7

inspection returns for Minehead lighthouse, 1929-50

proprietorship of Flat Holm lighthouse, c.1743

declaration of loss of the Hindostan, 1854

correspondence, notices to lord of manor etc concerning wrecks off Watchet and Minehead, 1868-1912

letter regarding wreck of ship carrying oil off Perranuthnoe, c.1589-1604

'Charge of the watche at Clyve hill', 2 Philip and Mary, [beacons]

Taunton, account for goods carried by boat, 1832-74

letter regarding Flemish treasure ship at Dartmouth, 1609