Trade with Welsh ports

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Trade with Welsh ports



This page is based on an article by Trevor Williams in the 1934 Annual Bulletin of La Société Jersiaise


A typical 16th century cargo vessel

The Channel Islands bought their coal from Wales in Elizabethan times and the arrival and departure of merchant vessels with their cargoes was recorded in the Welsh Customs' Port Books at the time.

Only a small percentage of these books survives, but they were found to contain a significant number of records relating to Channel Island vessels when they were published as the Port Books and Customs Accounts of Wales in 1927. An article with a listing of nearly 100 voyages to or from the islands to Neath, Swansea and other ports, written by Trevor Williams, lecturer at University College Swansea, was published in the Annual Bulletin of La Société Jersiaise of 1934.

The records show regular trading between ports in South Wales, including Neath and Swansea, and Jersey and Guernsey.

Complete Port Books are only available for 1587, 1588, 1595, 1600 and 1603. They show the following shipments of coal from Swansea to the islands:

Year Jersey Guernsey
1587 97 weys in 13 shipments
1588 96 weys in 11 shipments 20 weys in 3 shipments
1595 107 weys in 4 shipments 52 weys in 2 shipments
1600 191 weys in 11 shipments
1603 108 weys in 8 shipments 33 weys in 2 shipments

It is clear from these figures and the records of individual voyages shown below that the size of vessels was growing as the 16th century ended. These vessels were almost all owned and operated in the islands, although whether they were built there as well is open to question, because there are no records of ship building in the islands at that time.

Although the occasional vessel carried salt to Wales, these were mainly from Guernsey and most Jersey ships arrived in Welsh ports in ballast. Most of these voyages were to Swansea, whereas there were more Guernsey vessels operating between the island and Carmarthen, Neath and Llanelly. When successive voyages by the same vessel appear in the records it is possible to calculate the time taken for round trips - 4 to 5 weeks - and also to calculate that this probably involved visiting a number of intermediate ports, possibly picking up and discharging cargoes en route to Wales.

The records are full of unusual spellings, suggesting that Welsh Customs officials wrote down the island captains' names as they sounded to them. Staff of La Société Jersiaise provided the following suggested names for islanders who may not even have know how to spell their own surnames:

Ballyhashe - Bailhache; Balen - Balleine; Bishart - Bichard; Bisherey - Bouchéré; Bloundwill - Blondel; Boge - Bauche; Butler - Le Boutillier; Carre - Carré or Carey; Cartred - de Carteret; Florey - Fleury; Fylynk - Filleul; Gilla - Le Gallais; Gillam - Guillaume; Harman - Horman; Javeryng - Janvrin; Ley - Lecq; Mariner - Le Marinel; Merkett - Marett; Nicholl - Nicolle; Olyver - Olivier; Perowe - Perrot or Perreau; Sherevaes - Gervais; Servere - Sebire; Tamveringe - d'Auvergne; Vavor - Beauvoir.

A 16th century cargo vessel similar to this was found wrecked off Alderney


Date Ship Master Destination Merchant Cargo
25 May 1567 Marten of Guernsey Nicholas Ashlive Burrey to Guernsey Peter Carre of Guernsey 8w coal
25 Jun 1567 Matthewe of Guernsey Nicholas Ashlive Carmarthen to Guernsey Elier Petrine of Garnesaye 3cwt scurf (old brass)
5 Jul 1567 Martin of Guernsey Jacobus Allens Burrey to France Jacobus Allens 8 chaldrons coal
24 May 1588 Margaret of Carmarthen Griffith Palmer Garnesay to Carmarthen Griffith Howell 6t bay salt


Port of Neath

Date Ship Master Destination Merchant Cargo
10 May 1580 Bonaventure of Guernsey John Vavor Guernsey to Neath Andy of Guernsey 5cwt okam, 2 brls pitch
15 May 1580 Bonaventure of Guernsey John Vavor Guernsey 9w smithe coal
28 Jul 1580 Bonaventure of Guernsey John Vavor Guernsey John Vavor 9w smithe coal
22 Sep 1587 Mary of Garnesey Richard Wylock Richard Wylock 6w coal
17 May 1595 Elizabeth of Jersey Nicholaus Ballyhashe France Nicholaus Ballyhashe 5w coal


Port of Swansea

Date Ship Master Destination Merchant Cargo
20 Jul 1580 Margaret of Jersey William Mariner Jersey William Mariner 7w smithe coal
6 Aug 1580 Minion of Jersey John Balhashe John Balhashe 7w smith coal
7 Aug 1580 Pellicane of Jersey John Blondell Jersey 6w smith coal
7 Aug 1580 Marie Golde of Torbay Andy Jersey 6w smith coal
18 Sep 1580 Marie of Graunville John Gentell Jersey John Gentell 7w smith coal
18 Sep 1580 John of Jersey John Perowe Jersey to Swansea John Perowe 8t sale, 8doz wool cards
20 Dec 1580 Dragon of Swansey John Nicholl Jersey Nicholas Herbert etc 1t lead, 1 pack Bridgwaters, 16w smithe coal
11 Jan 1587 Good Hope of Jersey Rychard Cartred Jersey Richard Cartred 10w coal
26 Apr 1587 Bonaventure of Jersey Edward Parte Jersey Edward Parte 8w coal
10 May 1587 Bona Spera of Jersey John Gilla Jersey John Gilla 13w coal
10 May 1587 Dyamont of Jersey Thomas Gilla Jersey Thomas Gilla 7w coal
23 May 1587 Lytella of Jersey Andrew Sallat Jersey Andrew Sallat 6w coal
10 Jun 1587 Lyon of Jersey Richard Cartred Jersey Richard Cartred 8w coal
10 Jun 1587 Bonaventure of Jersey Rycard Dowle Jersey Rycard Dowle 7w coal
12 Aug 1587 Lyon of Jersey John Merkett Jersey John Merkett 6w coal
20 Aug 1587 Elizabeth of Garnesey John Howson Jersey John Howson 6w coal
7 Sep 1587 Dyamond of Jersey Thomas Gillam Jersey Thomas Gillam 7w coal
23 Sep 1587 Lyon of Jersey John Merkett Jersey John Merkett 7w coal
8 Oct 1587 Gabriell of Jersey Richard Johns Jersey Richard Johns 5w coal
21 Oct 1587 Lytella of Jersey Andrew Phillan Jersey Andrew Phillan 6w coal
21 Oct 1587 Mary of Jersey Richard Cartred Jersey Richard Cartred 7w coal
1 Mar 1588 Susan of Jersey Michell Phon Jersey Michell Phon 10w coal
1 Mar 1588 Marie of Jersey Richard Cartred Jersey Richard Cartred 8w coal
8 Mar 1588 Gabriell of Guernsey Jasper Olyver Swansea Jasper Olyver 1000 okam
13 Mar 1588 Gabriell of Guernsey Jasper Olyver Jersey Jasper Olyver 6w coal
1 Apr 1588 Lyon of Jersey John Balen Jersey John Balen 8w coal
Apr 1588 Baulea of Guernsey Peter Boge Swansea Peter Boge 1000 okam
1 Jun 1588 Stare of Jersey George Butler Jersey George Butler 6w coal
24 Jun 1588 Bona Spira of Jersey John Gyllam Jersey John Gyllam 12w coal
5 Jul 1588 Bark of Guernsey Peter Bige Jersey Peter Bige 8w coal
10 Jul 1588 Elizabeth of Guernsey William Mariner Jersey William Mariner 6w coal
22 Jul 1588 George of Jersey Berland Onous Jersey Berland Onous 10w coal
28 Aug 1588 Lyon of Jersey John Markett Jersey John Markett 8w coal
11 Sep 1588 Mynion of Jersey Philip Javeryng Jersey Philip Javeryng 7w coal
11 Sep 1588 Starre of Jersey George Butler Jersey George Butler 6w coal
11 Sep 1588 Lytella of Jersey Andrew Phillip Jersey Andrew Phillip 6w coal
12 Sep 1588 Good Hope of Jersey John Gillam Jersey John Gillam 15w coal
18 Feb 1589 Gabriell of Guernsey Jasper Olyver Jersey Jasper Olyver 6w coal
18 Apr 1589 Bonaventure of Jarzey John Fylynk Jersey John Fylynk 8w coal
21 Apr 1589 Gabriell of Guernsey Jasper Olyver Jersey Jasper Olyver 7w coal
7 May 1589 George of Jersey John Balam John Balam 15w coal
28 Jun 1589 Starre of Jersey Michael Shurlley Jersey Michael Shurlley 6w coal
28 Jun 1589 Minion of Jersey Peter Bishery Jersey Peter Bishery 8w coal
28 Jun 1589 Bonaventure of Jersey John Phillip Jersey John Phillip 6w coal
19 Jul 1589 George of Jersey John Balam Jersey John Balam 12w coal
15 Aug 1589 Gabriell of Guernsey Jasper Olyver Jersey Jasper Olyver 6w coal
2 Sep 1589 Minion of Jersey Peter Bisherrie Jersey Peter Bisherrie 9w coal
10 Sep 1589 Star of Jersey Andrew Phillato Jersey Andrew Phillato 8w coal
13 Sep 1589 Gabriell of Guernsey Jasper Olyver Jersey Jasper Olyver 7w coal
8 Nov 1594 Mynion of Jersey Peter Sherevaes Jersey Peter Sherevaes 28w coal
19 Feb 1595 Jonat of Jersey Peter Le Brock Jersey Peter Le Brock 23w coal
2 May 1595 Dragon of Jersey Matheus Harry Matheus Harry 26w coal
21 May 1595 Marya Rose of Guernsey John Troncart John Troncart 8 1/2p crescloth, 6c occam, 2c brass
28 May 1595 Prymrose of Jersey Peter Sherevaes Jersey Robert Swale 25w coal
17 Jun 1595 Michell of Guernsey Laurence Florey Guernsey Laurence Florey 24w coal
11 Jul 1595 Lyon of Jersey Nicholaus Bishart Jersey Nicholaus Bishart 33w coal
7 Sep 1595 Maria of Guernsey Laurence Bassett Guernsey Laurence Bassett 28w coal
31 Jan 1600 Salamon of Jersey Salomon Bloundwill 23w coal
20 Feb 1600 Prymrose of Jersey Jersey Peter Jamveringe 16w coal
Feb 1600 Maior of Jersey Jersey Thomas Parke 30w coal
31 Mar 1600 Marye of Jersey Jersey Andrew Ffeliander 12w coal
17 Apr 1600 Lyon of Guernsey Darvel Hey 20w coal
30 Apr 1600 Frances of Jersey Nichlas Le Basse 15w coal
15 May 1600 Marye of Jersey Andrew Ffeliander 12w coal
2 Jun 1600 Maior of Jersey Edward Parte 30w coal
17 Jun 1600 Michell of Jersey Thomas Tamveringe 11w coal
17 Jun 1600 Grace of God of Jarsey Nyclas Bissard 12w coal
18 Jun 1600 Marye of Jersey Andrew Ffeliander 12w coal
18 Jun 1600 Frances of Jersey Niclas Le Lane 18w coal
23 Apr 1601 Flowerdeluce of Jersey Peterus Servere Peterus Servere 9w coal
9 Jun 1601 Flowerdeluce of Jersey Petrus Besherest Petrus Besherest 10t sale
12 Jun 1601 Flowerdeluce of Jersey Petrus Besherusce Petrus Besherusce 4w coal
19 Jul 1601 Gabriell of Guernsey Christophorus Earle Christophorus Earle 5w coal
17 Aug 1601 Grace of God of Jarsey Nicholas Bishard Nicholas Bishard 5w coal
14 Feb 1603 Post of Guernsey John Purlus John Purlus 9w coal
3 Mar 1603 Edward of Guernsey Elien de Gall Elien de Gall 17w coal
7 Mar 1603 Frances of Jersey Nycholaus Basse Nycholaus Basse 7w coal
16 Mar 1603 Ffawcon of Jersey John Oliver John Oliver 12w coal
11 May 1603 Bonaventure of Guernsey John Beare John Beare 24w coal
19 May 1603 Mychell of Jersey Jacobus Gillam Jacobus Gillam 22w coal
30 Jun 1603 Amitie of Jersey Petrus Zeale Petrus Zeale 21w coal
10 Sep 1603 Susan of Jersey Jacobus Harman Jacobus Harman 5w coal
19 Sep 1603 Susan of Jersey John Ley John Ley 13w coal
22 Sep 1603 Michell of Jersey Thomas Gillam Thomas Gillam 11w coal
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