Saint Christophers in 1H C17th
Page for Heloise Senchal (and others) to use for notes related to Saint Christophers in the 1H C17th
See also Dutch connections with 1H Saint Christophers
Links with Amsterdam
John Armatriding, a thirty-seven year old merchant, resident in Wapping, had been a planter at Saint Christophers. He came from Saint Christophers in a ship named the Samuell to the Fly in the United Provinces, accompanying Edward Willson, who was the factor of Mr Limbrey. At the Fly the ship's lading of tobacco was transferred into other vessels for Amsterdam. Willson spent time in Amsterdam in October and November 1638 visiting the Exchange and seeking chapemen to purchase Limbrey's tobacco.
- "The arlate Edward Willson (as he hath heard) in the shippe the Samuell arrived from England at Saint Christophers about the beginning of May last was twelve moneths at which tyme hee knoweth the said shipp there arrived and shee continued there untill the 11th of August followeing, and the said Willson then came from thense in the said shippe, and shee arrived at the fflye uppon the coast of Holland, and there her goodes were put out into other vessellls and carried to Amsterdam, and the said Willson amongest others went alsoe to Amsterdam and there in October last was twelve monethes [1638] this examinate saw him, and the said Willson stayed at Amsterdam two monethes to this examinates knowledge, and in that tyme the said Willson went divers tymes to the Exchange at Amsterdam and this examinate went with him thither, and the said Willson often tolde this examinate at Amsterdam that hee had tobaccoes of the arlate Limbreyes to sell there and said that hee went to the [?foresaid] Exchange there to seeke for chapmen to buy those tobaccoes and seemed to bee very carefull to sell the same. And the company of the said shippe did say that the said Willson was the said Limbryes factor all the said voyage and said that hee had but tenn rolles of tobacco in the said shippe of his owne. And this hee affirmeth uppon his oath to bee true, who was a planter and lived at Saint Christophers when the said shipp arrived there and afterwardes went to Amsterdam, and there saw the said Willson and conversed with him as aforesaid"[1]
Links with London
In the early 1630s, the custom per pound due on tobacco landed in London was six pence. But, the price of Saint Christophers tobacco, being just six pence, half the custom due per pound was abated to an a merchant named Thomas King. This we learn from John Dansey, gentleman, of All Hallows Barking, London, who was one of the waiters of the London Custom House, and who had custody of a lading of Saint Christophers tobacco brought to London.
- "In annis domini 1631, 1632, and 1633 libellate the custome due to his Majestye and the ffarmers of his customes was six pence per pound for every pound of tobaccoe brought from Saint Christophers to the porte of London and soe much the arlate Thomas Kinge and other merchants that had tobaccoes broughte to the port of London ought top have payd for the same, but at the tyme of the arrivall of the tobaccoe in question Saint Christopher tobaccoe did beare a very lowe prize and was not worth above six pence per pound (to his nowe best remembrance) and in that respecte the arlate Thomas Kinge was abated about halfe of the customes due for the sayd tobaccoe, and payd for the custome therof the somme of three pence for every pound or therabouts. The premisses he knoweth to be true for that he beinge one of the wayters belonginge to his Majestyes custome house had the custodye of the tobaccoes in question after they were landed"[2]
Links with Middleburg
Thomas Browne, thirty-four year old mariner, of Horseydowne, Surrey. Examined in 1639. Boarded a shipp named the Jonathan of Bristol at Saint Christophers, expecting to sail to Middleburg. However, the ship's master and mariners subsequently refused to sail to Middleburg, sailing instead to the ship's home port of Bristol.
- "Whileste the saied shippe was and remained at Saint Christophers aforeaid there was laden aboard the said shippe for the accounte and adventure of Mr George Snellinge of London merchante to the quantity of twoe hundred forty and fower rolls of Saint Christophers tobaccoe marked with G.M. to bee carried and transported in the said shippe from Saint Christophers aforesaid to Middleburrowe in Zealand, which hee knoweth to bee true for that hee knewe of the ladeinge of the said tobaccoe aforesaid at Saint Christophers and sawe the master of the said shippe subscribed a bill of ladeinge for the same beinge imployed by the said Snellinge for that purpose"[3]
- "When hee this examinate did perceive the master of the said shippe and his company interrate was directly to carry the said shippe and the tobaccoe in her to Bristoll and not to goe to Middleburrowe wheather they were bounde and should have gone, hee tooke his booke [and] called to the master and some others of his company and told them that they were not hired to goe to Bristoll but for Middleburrowe and that if they refused and would not goe to Middleburrowe wheather they were hired desired those that did refuse to goe to sett theire handes to the booke that hee might knowe whoe they were when hee came home and they all refused to sett theire handes to the booke, and absolutely refused and deined to goe to Middleburrowe aforesaid but said that they one and all would carry the said shippe unto Bristoll, and accordingly they did carry her into Bristoll aforesaid"[4]
- "When hee this examinate did perceive the master of the said shippe and his company interrate was directly to carry the said shippe and the tobaccoe in her to Bristoll and not to goe to Middleburrowe wheather they were bounde and should have gone, hee tooke his booke [and] called to the master and some others of his company and told them that they were not hired to goe to Bristoll but for Middleburrowe and that if they refused and would not goe to Middleburrowe wheather they were hired desired those that did refuse to goe to sett theire handes to the booke that hee might knowe whoe they were when hee came home and they all refused to sett theire handes to the booke, and absolutely refused and deined to goe to Middleburrowe aforesaid but said that they one and all would carry the said shippe unto Bristoll, and accordingly they did carry her into Bristoll aforesaid"[4]
