Trade with Welsh ports
This page is based on an article by Trevor Williams in the 1934 Annual Bulletin of La Société Jersiaise
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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.
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 |