C17th Arctic whaling

C17th Arctic whaling

Editorial history

15/10/12: CSG created page

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Purpose of this page

This week (W/C 15/10/12) Jill's, Colin's and William's teams are working on a case involving a failed whaling adventure to the Arctic Ocean in the summer of 1656 ("Batson against Goslin and others")

We plan to publish a blog article on the case, placing it in a broader context of the whaling fisheries off Spitsbergen (alt. Spitzbergen) in the 1650s. (The first thing to note is that C17th "Greeneland" is what we now call "Spitsbergen")

Jill, Colin and William would like to encourage their team members to use this page to share quotes, and to explore places, people and activities mentioned in the pages they are transcribing

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Mentioned in case

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Animals and technology

Boyler

Cape whale

- The two whales captured by the Owners Adventure in 1656 are described as "cape whales" (HCA 13/128, no foliation)

Furnace

- "this rendent beleeveth that the Dutch & ffrench having their ships usually fitted with furnaces & other materialls in their ships, & not being prmitted to have the freedome of harbors there, in Greeneland fish at sea but this rendent beleeveth that the use with the English is the contrary"

Jubartas

- "comming up with the sayd ffish found them to bee certaine ffish called Jubartas, which are a ffish the English use not to fasten upon by reason of their swifte motion and for that they are of smale profitt and more dangerous to deal with than whales are" (HCA 13/71 f.464r)

Launce

- After a whale had been exhausted from a pursuit by its hunters in multiple shallops, the hunters approached the whale on the surface and struck it with lances

Pinke

- "did alsoe committ the Ordering and Command and direction of the sayd shipp Greyhound for the same voyage to him this deponent shee being a Pinke appointed to attende the sayd shipp Owners Adventure, and bee assistant to her in her sayd ffishing voyage" (HCA 13/71 f.479r)

Right whale

- The species favoured off Spitsbergen by early C17th whalers of all European nations, given that it was calm, slow moving, and floated when dead.

Sea horse (?walrus)

- "(on Hope Island) the dutch having killed about a hundred sea horses" (HCA 13/71 f.466v)

- "about twenty butts of blubber of sea horses" (HCA 13/71 f.480v)

Shallop (small boat)

Question...
In the deposition I am working n the deponent states that he and his company 'did put out their boates and worke the sayd shipps in to the Ice about eight or ˹seven˺ leagues as did alsoe fower other English shipps which were then in Company with the Owners Adventure and Greyhound, and after the sayd shipps had all sixe of them wrought soe farr into the Ice, the Ice then proving to bee somewhat thick this deponent ordered his Companyes of his two vessells...to make fast too great Ice peeces of Ice and lash their vessells fast board and board to the shipps of Mr Golding and Mr Welch being two of the other fower English shipps aforesayd, who had alsoe cause their Companys to make fast their too shipps to the same peece of ice and the sayd shipps being soe fastened, they all laye there for some tyme then when the Ice would open as usually it doth' f.479v

I was wondering how the above idea of 'working into the ice' works? Does anyone know? Would the ships/boats just have tried to ram through the ice with their prows, or would the sailors have used special technology/techniques? Laura

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Crews

Appleby, writing of the Hull whalers in the early C17th, states that:

"unfortunately the men who served aboard these vessels, who formed part of the first generation of English whalemen, are almost invisible. Little evidence survives for the manning of, or recruitment to, Hull whaling ships; nor is much known about conditions of work, discipline and pay." (Appleby, 2008: 45)

Appleby also states that little is known about the Hull and York merchants who promoted and financed the whaling trade in the early C17th (Appleby, 2008: 46-47)

• CSG: We have an opportunity to use the case and depositions of Batson against Goslin and others to elucidate the social character and organisation of a London financed whaling adventure from the mid-1650s, at a time when English whaling off Spitsbergen was in disarray, facing exceptionally strong competition from the Dutch (and to a lesser extent the French)

Appleby suggests that Hull whaling masters may previously have served on similar voyages as mates and harpooners, and cites "John Pybus, aged 44, of Greenwich, who was employed as master aboard the Adventure of Hull in 1656" who "had served under other masters on five previous voyages to Spitsbergen, and as "Master & harponeere" on another eleven" (Appleby, 2008: 46), Appleby's primary source for this is our very own HCA 13/71, and "Mr. Pybus" is one of the four other whaling captains of "London shipps" mentioned by the deponents in Batson against Goslin and others.

Extrapolating from Dutch and French whaling vessel data, he suggests that an average Hull whaling vessel would have been crewed with between 30 and 55 men. Hull men received wages, together with "oar and fin" money (Appleby, 2008: 45-46)

• CSG: It will be interesting to compare the wages and structure of wages stated in related HCA 13/128 litigation brought by Richard Gosling, Henry ffreeman and others against Batson et al., with Appleby's data.

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People

XXXX Ashmore

Richard Batson

- London merchant; part owner, freighter and imployer of the Owners Adventure and part freighter and imployer of the Greyhound (HCA 13/71 f.500r).

- Appears in other archival records sometimes as "Battison" (Batson & Company; Battison and Company).

- Richard Batison and Company's interest in the Greenland fisheries may have been a substantial one, in terms both of capital commitment and activity. He was certainly active in sending out whaling ships prior to 1656. Moreover, he employed men with extensive experience of the trade. For example, Robert Kirton, hired as overseer of the land men, stated in his deposition that he had "gone sixteene or eighteene severall voyages to Greeneland." However, is unclear whether Humphrey Beane and Gowen Gold(e)gay, his partners in the 1656 adventure involving the Owners' Adventure and the Greyhound, were long term partners in this trade.

When the Yarmouth merchant and whaler, Thomas Horth (alt. Howarth), proposed in ?1654 that English merchants should supply 3000 tons and 500 men for the Greenland fisheries, he pencilled in 200 tons for "Battison and partners." A further 300 tons were suggested for Whitwell and partners, 500 tons for unnamed Yarmouth merchants, and 1600 tons for unnamed London merchants. When certificates of exemption from the impress of harpooners and steersmen were issued in early 1654 a specific protection was issued Richard Batson and Company for fourteen harpooners.

- There is some evidence to suggest that Richard Batson was attracted to capital intensive, process oriented industrial activities, with a Richard Batson, merchant, and a partner and fellow merchant, Edmond Lewin, acquiring a glass house in Goodman's Yard, the Minories, in 1651. As always, with prosopographical resconstruction, it is hard to be certain that all the identities are congruent.

- The Batson of HCA 13/71 may be Richard Batson, citizen and cutler (b. ?, d. ca. 1667), whose daughter married John Bendish, son of Sir Thomas Bendish, the English ambassador to Constantinople (a friend of Sir George Oxenden). J.R. Woodhead (1966) provides a sketchy outline of Richard Batson, the cutler.

Humfrey Beane

- London merchant; part owner, freighter and imployer of the Owners Adventure and part freighter and imployer of the Greyhound (HCA 13/71 f.500r)

- CSG: Probably Humphrey (alt. Humfry) Beane (b. ?1613, d. 1679/80), of Ebisham (alt. Epsom), Surrey. J. R. Woodhead characterises him as a cordwainer, available at the Turkey Walk on the Exchange. A dissenter, he was buried in Bunhill Fields. Woodhead, drawing on CHW Mander (1931:82n.), states that Humphrey Beane had "great interest in Greenland whale fisheries."

- CSG: The daughter and heiress of Humphrey Beane, cordwainer, Elizabeth, married by 1667 (Sir) John Parsons (b.1639, d.1717) of Well Close Square, Ratcliffe, Middlesex, and the Priory, Reigate. Humphrey Beane's residence is given by Cruickshank et al. (XXXX), as "of Sr. Mary Axe, London, and Epsom, Surr."

Mathew Boulding (alt. Bowlding)

- Harpooneere (HCA 13/71 f.485v)

XXXX Chantry (alt. Chantrie)

Mr. Child

- Captain of another English whaling ship

William Clarkson

- Deponent in HCA 13/71 Batson against Goslin and others

- Of Shadwell in the parish of Stepney and County of Middlesex

- Shipwright; Carpenter of the Owners Adventure, aged twenty nine

John Colville

- Deponent in HCA 13/71 Batson against Goslin and others

- Mariner, Gunner of the Owners Adventure, of Ratcliff in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex

- "hee was Gunner of the Owners Adventure the voyage in question, and hath not commenced any action against the Interrogate Batson Beane and Golderne or any of them for wayges for t{he} voyage ˹in question˺ nor intendeth to commence any unlesse hee bee enforced thereunto by their uniust dealeings in denying to pay him what is due to him" (HCA 13/71 f.472r)

Thomas Damerell

- Deponent in HCA 13/71 Batson against Goslin and others

- Master of Owners Adventure, and "commander, director and orderer of the Greyhound" (HCA 13/71 f.500v)

- Mariner, of Lymehouse, in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex; aged 37 in December 1656, so b. ca. 1619 (one year before Sir George Oxenden (b.1620, d. 1669))

- Damerell is a name which shows considerable orthogarphical variation, and subsequent further variation through probable mistranscription,for example: Damerell; Damarall; Damerill; Dammarill; Damorill; Damroll; Danrell;Dameryll; Dumerill

- A number of male and female Damerells (and name variants) appear in the records of the parish of Saint Dunstan's, Stepney, in the 1630 to 1670 period, including children born to a Thomas Damerell.

- Several of the male Stepney Damerells are identified as mariners of Limehouse. Probate was granted in October 1631 to Rachel Damerell, wife of James Damerell, of Limehouse, in the parish of Stepney, who was identified as mariner "deceased abroad." The marriage of a William Damerell, "marriner", of Lymehouse, Stepney, appears in the printed marriage records the parish of Saint Dunstan's in the month of August 1652.

- A "Thomas Damarell" is listed in a September 1650 petition to the Naval Commisioners as a mariner on the Adventure, under the command of Captain Wyard

- Casual inspection of varied records suggests that "Damerell" may be a Devon name

John Ely

- Deponent in HCA 13/71 Batson against Goslin and others

- Mariner, of Saint Mary Magdalen Bermondsey, county of Surrey, aged 28 in late 1656

Maurice ffoarde

Henry ffreeman

- Shipped on the Greyhound

- Lead name in wages suit against Batson et al on behalf of crew of the Greyhound (HCA 13/128)

XXXX Golding (alt. Goulding)

- Captain of another English whaling shipp (described as one of four London ships, whose masters were Pybus, Golding, XXXX, and Child)

Gowen ?Golderne (alt. Goldagne; Goldegay; Goldgay)

- London merchant; part owner, freighter and imployer of the Owners Adventure and part freighter and imployer of the Greyhound (HCA 13/71 f.500r)

- CSG: Possibly Gowen Goldegay. Gowen Goldegay (b. ?1614, d. ca. 1657), of Whitefriars, City of London. 'Mr. Gowen Goldegay,' was appointed to 'a Committee for the Militia, of and within the Borough of Southwarke, and Parts adjacent within the Lines of Communication, on the South Side of the River of Thames, in the County of Surrey' in September 1647.

Edward Gosling (alt. Goslin)

- Masters mate and harpooner

- "hee hath knowne the sayd Goslin for these sixe or seaven yeares and gone in severall shipps with him severall voyages wherein the sayd Goslin hath served as Masters mate and observed that in all these voyages he behaved himselfe civilly and was carefull of his task committed to him and was reputed an able and experienced seaman and a man of good life and conversation" (HCA 13/71 f.467r: Deposition of John Ely of Saint Mary Magdalen Bermondsey in the County of Surrey Mariner aged twenty eight yeares)

- "hee hath heard that the sayd Maundry and Gosling have used the Greeneland trade divers yeares and borne office in severall shipps to ther and behaved them selves well and honestly in their places" (HCA 13/71 f.471v: Deposition of John Colvile of Ratcliff in the parish of Stepney and County of Middlesex Mariner Gunner of the Owners Adventure aged thirty sixe yeares)

- "after the comming out of the Ice the sayd Gosling Maundrie Humphreys and others harponeeres had difference with the Master and refused to obey his Command about helpeing to kill the whale aforesayd" (HCA 13/71 f.497r)

William Humfrey

- Member of company of Owners Adventure and harpooner

Detail of Smerenburg land station of the Noordsche Compagnie on Amsterdamøya Island, off northwest coast of West-Spitsbergen, Cornelis de Man, 1639

Richard Kirton

- Deponent in HCA 13/71 Batson against Goslin and others

- Of Ratcliff, in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex

- "[Richard Kirton] Overseer of the Land men of the Owners Adventure and Greyhound the voyage in question and was by his office to Oversee the land men of both the Owners Adventure and the Greyhound that they did their office and duty in cutting up and boyleing and orderring of such whales as should bee taken the sayd voyage" (HCA 13/71 f.500v)

- ""hee [Richard Kirton] having gone sixteene or eighteene severall voyages to Greeneland knoweth that some of those voyages there hath bin little or noe Ice at all upon the Coast and therefore lesse danger than was the voyage in question" (HCA 13/71 f.501r)

London whalers

- CSG: It would be interesting to look at the names of the independent or interloping London whalers, who competed in the 1650s with the "officially" sanctioned English Muscovy company. Scott, 1910: 73, suggests that there were 50 or 55 members of the Greenland company in the early 1650s, and an unspecified number of individual interlopers. He suggests that the interlopers posed as individuals, yet were in fact organised in small companies or partnerships.

- CSG: It would be interesting to compare the campaign of the whaling interlopers in the 1640s and the 1650s against the claimed monopoly rights of the Muscovy company with a similarly timed campaign by interlopers seeking to penetrate the East India trade. Non-conformism and a parliamentarian orientation had a role, it would appear, in both campaigns, though to what extent remains to be determined. East Indian interloping was complex, and should not be reductively associated with just one religious or political strand. Moreover, attitudes were labile in these changeable times.

In the case of the whaling interlopers, Scott, 1910:73 has identifed "Edward Bushell & Co."as a recognised interloping company. Edward Bushell was also known for his involvement in the Portuguese, Brazilian and Barbados trade, in partnership with his brothers. He appears frequently in HCA records in the late 1640s and throughout the 1650s, often in the context of his involvement in the Portuguese Brazil company.

Edward Bushell, London merchant, was a partner of William Bird, London merchant. Both Bushell and Bird were dissenters, and both men had country residences in Hackney. However, Bushell's place of business being Little Saint Hellens, in the London parish of Saint Hellen's Bishopsgate, where he was recorded with eleven hearths in 1666.

Assuming that Humphrey Beane and Gowen Goldegay were long term partners of Richard Batson in whaling, then Batson and company, also had a dissenting and parliamentarian flavour. Humphrey Beane was a known dissenter, who was buried in Bunhill Fields, and Gowen Goldegay was involved in the Southwark militia.

Richard Maundrie (alt. Maundrey or Manndery)

- Masters mate and harpooner

- CSG: Just possibly, Richard Maundrey was a mariner of Leigh, Essex. A Leigh resident of this name was recorded in a 1671 land transaction as the second son of John Mandry, a Leigh mariner. Furthermore, a John Maundrey, mariner, of Leigh, Essex, was recorded in the Essex session rolls of Michaelmas 1624 as being given a recognizance "for beating Richard Haddock's childe de Lee." Speculatively, Richard Maundrey's putative father may have left a will proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in 1660, recording him as a mariner of Lee in the county of Essex.

- CSG: The Thames estuary town of Leigh (alt. Leigh-on-sea; Lee), together with the neighbouring Eastwood, was home in the early seventeenth century to a number of important mariner and merchant families. The town was located on north shore of the Thames estuary, just to the east of Benfleet and Canvey island, and about fifteen miles downstream of Tilbury and Gravesend. Samuel Purchas, author of the Pilgrimage, was also a Leigh resident. For a profile of the town see Leigh (alias Lee), Essex

- CSG: William Goodlad (b. c.1576, d. ?1639), was a resident of Leigh, where he was also buried. He had been active in the Greenland fisheries since at least 1620. Purchas (1625) printed a letter from Captain William Goodlard (sic), dated 8 July 1623, sent from Bell-sound (on Spitsbergen) to vice-admiral William Heley. The letter reported the capture of "three and thirtie" whales in the sound, a very superior result to that of the Owners Adventure and the Greyhound in 1656. On his tombstone, awaiting the second coming of his saviour, he was described as "Capr. WILLIAM GOODLAD, Chiefe Commander of the Greenland Fleet XX [20] yeares, and Maister of the Trinity House in anno 1638"

- CSG: It is plausible that other members of Leigh mariners families were involved in the Greenland fisheries, and it would merit research to see if any members of the Owners Adventure and the Greyhound can definitely be linked to Leigh. In addition to the possible Maundry family connection, there is a possible Gostlin (alt. Gostling) family link, though this family name was more common in the C17th than that of Maundry.

- John Colvile, of Ratcliff in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, mariner and gunner of the Owners Adventure: "hee hath heard that the sayd Maundry and Gosling have used the Greeneland trade divers yeares and borne office in severall shipps to ther and behaved them selves well and honestly in their places" (HCA 13/71 f.471v)

Richard Parker

- Harpooner and boatswaine of the Owners Adventure

- "during such tyme as the Owners Adventure and Greyhound were at Sea after their comming out of the Ice as aforesayd on Richard Parker a harponeere and boat swaine of the Owners Adventure did fasten an Iron to a wale and the arlate humfreys fastened alsoe an other Iron to her and Gosling and Maundrie and other harponeeres made fast their boates to the sayd Parker and humfrey to helpe to tyre the whale with toweing, and after they had soe bin towed by her about twelve howers the sayd humfrey cut loose his warpe and hee and the sayd Gosling and Maundry and their boates Crews and the other harponeeres and their Crewes (all but the sayd Parker and his Crew) came aboard the Owners Adventure and left the sayd Parker fast to the whale and gave over the chase And the sayd Damerell askeing them why they came away being the sayd Parker continued fast to her whereto they answered that shee towed soe swiftly that they were not able to gett neere her to fasten any more Irons in her nor to lannce her ˹by reason˺ shee towed soe feircely and the sea was soe rough, and sayd shee could not bee killed or to that effect whereupon the sayd whale afterwards comming neere to the shipp side and Parker continueing fast to her the sayd Damerell asked the sayd Parker why hee did not cutt away alsoe, of to that effect whereupon the sayd Parker cutt away and came on board alsoe and lett the whale goe" (HCA 13/71 f.500Av, f. 501r)

Mr. (?John) Pybus (alt. Pibus)

- Captain of another English whaling ship

- Appleby identifies "John Pybus, aged 44, of Greenwich, who was employed as master aboard the Adventure of Hull in 1656" (Appleby, 2008: 46). Appleby's source is HCA 13/71, ff.587r-588v. Pybus, by his own deposition, had served as master on five voyages to Spitsbergen and had been "master and harponeere" on an additional eleven voyages.

- A certificate for protection from impress was issued on April 14, 1657 for "John Pibus, master, and 17 on the Damasell"

- The forfeitures of a "John Pibus" were granted to the Duke of Ormond in 1661. The forfeitures were the consequence of his condemnation in the Admiralty Court for "having seized a ship and goods belonging to merchants of the United Provinces."

- A "Capt. John Pybus of Greenwich" was recorded in 1666 in a communication in May 1666 between the Masters and Wardens of Trinity House and the Naval Commissioners as being master of the Sovereign

- Pybus is a name associated in the C16th and C17th with Yorkshire

Edward Reynolds

- Of the parish of Saint Botolph Algate London

- Cooper; Cooper of the Owners Adventure for the voyage in question; aged fifty yeares

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Places

Detail showing Bell Point and Bell Sound, from Edge's map, ca. 1611

Bell point (alt. "Bell Poynt") (HCA 13/71 f.463v, f. 469v, f.474v)

- "neere Bell Point" (HCA 13/71 f.469v)

- "Bell Pointe in Greeneland" (HCA 13/71 f.479v)

Bell sound

- ""the shipp was gone too farr Northwards of the harbour of Bell sound" (HCA 13/71 f.465r)

- Wikipedia article: Bellsund

- See Appleby, 2008: 53-54, citing S.P. 16/65/61: Claim by English Muscovy Company that "Bell Sound was too small to support the whaling activities of different interests. Covering a region of about seven miles in breadth, and ten in length, between 30 and 40 well-manned shallops were "sufficient to fish that Harbour if not disturbed by others, and may kill as many whales as if there were doble the Nomber of boats""

Blackwall

- "all which when it was boyled at Blackwall after the retourne home of the sayd shipps from the sayd voyage, amounted to eighteene Tonnes of oyle or thereabouts" (HCA 13/71 f.480v)

- "the sayd shipps Owners Adventure and Greyhound returned home onely with as much bloober as made (when it was boyled at Blackwall) eighteene tonns and upwards of oyle and the finns of two whales" /HCA 13/71 f.500Av)

• CSG: Worth exploring what can be found about whale oil processing at Blackwall and Blackwall docks in 1650s

- The English East India Company leased (1653), then sold (1655) the Blackwall docks to the shipwright Henry Johnson, who had been apprenticed to Phineas Pett, the Royal shipwright at Deptford

- The Survey of London has provides some limited details of commercial and industrial activities in the mid to late C17th. Mention is made of a ropeyard on the west side of Blackwall Causeway, of several ship building and repair yards, a wharf and warehouses, but no whale processing activities are described.

- Plan of Old Blackwall and Coldharbour, 1740

Darke Cove (HCA 13/71 f.477v)

Greene harbour

- "Bell Sound or Greene harbour" (HCA 13/71 f.479v)

- Wikipedia article: Grønfjorden

Detail showing Spitzbergen and surrounding seas, from Augustus Petermann (1853)

Greeneland

- "at Greeneland the Ice doth usually open and shutt, and men that goe thither when great yeares of Ice are most watch their opportunitie to get into harbour" (HCA 13/71 f.477r)

- Wikipedia article: Spitsbergen

Hope islands (HCA 13/71 f.466v)

- "the backside of Greeneland" (HCA 13/71 f.466v)

Point Negro (HCA 13/71 f.475r)

- "Point Negro being a Point to the Eastward beyond darke Cove" (HCA 13/71 f.475r)

Port of Bell point

the West Ice

- "hee hath heard the sayd Damerell say that the Owners Adventure and Greyhound were designed first for the West Ice which is called commonly Greane land, and there to goe to the Coast of Greeneland to fish in any place according to his the sayd Damerells direction" (HCA 13/71 f.477r)

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Ships

The Owners Adventure

The Greyhound

Four other "London shipps"

- "(Thomas Damarell) hee knoweth the arlate Pybus ?Nelsy Child and Golding and saith they are all acconpted able sea men, and men that have used the Greeneland trade of fishing for many yeares, and accompted to bee well experienced therein" (HCA 13/71 f.470v)

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Themes

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Arctic navigation and conditions

- "the sayd Pybus his shipp by her goeing into the Ice at the same tyme and place (though notsoe farr as the Owners Adventure did) was soe much damnified and hurt thereby and by breaking through the Ice againe to sea, that when shee was gott cleere to Sea she was ready to sinke by reason of a hole the Ice had staved in her bowe, at which shee tooke five or sixe feete water in hold, and her company were ready to forsake her had shee not ther had the helpe of the Companyes of the sayd Golding NelXh and Child their shipps, and of the Company of the Owners Adventure to helpe to pumpe her and stopp her leake" (HCA 13/71 f.470v)

- "this deponent did observe thet the Ice did beate ˹and drive˺ soe against the Rudder of the Owneres Adventure as shee was while shee laye fast to the Ice before shee begann to worke out againe, that hee much feares it would have staved her Rudder" (HCA 13/71 f.470v)

- "the sayd Damerell did goe aboard them and finding noe fitt opportunity to gaine any harbour was forced to keepe sea whereby some of the Owners Adventure for want of refreshment on shore fell sick of the scurvie, and some of the Greyhounds Company dyed thereof" (HCA 13/71 f.471r)

- "hee hath heard some seamen who have used the sayd voyage, and alsoe the sayd Damerell himselfe sayd that some yeares they have had noe Ice in their passage to Greeneland" (HCA 13/71 f.472r)

- "by reason of the thicknesse of the Ice without giving cost to their Companys the Owners Adventure and Greyhound and the sayd Golding and Welches shipps by order of their masters made fast to the Ice and alsoe made fast one to an other lying board and board and the sayd Pybus and Child alsoe made fast their shipps to the Ice about a myle or two farther from shoare than the other fower shipps did and soe the sayd shipps all continued fast about fower and twenty howers and then the sayd Damerell commanded the Companyes of the Owners Adventure and Greyhound to loose their shipps from the Ice and also from the sayd Welch..." (HCA 13/71 500Ar)

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Economics

Revenue

- "the sd ship came & arrived at a place called Hope Iland as he hath heard & there the M:r & Comp:ie of her did get the blubber of some seahorse w:ch the fflemings had left ther as not thinking the same worth taking which sd blubber this rendent beleeveth was brought home in the sd ship to this rendent & Comp:ie the whole of whale blubber & horse blubber did amount unto 16. or 17. tonnes of course oyle and not above as he beleeveth & also about halfe a tonne of whale bone & not above as he beleeves all w:ch together w:th the charges of boyling custome & excise & other petty charges after the comming home therof deduced did extend to about 165:li or 170:li & noe more as he beleeveth" ('Answer to fifth pretended position', HCA 13/128 (1656-1658), no foliation, recto, P1110041)

- "hee hath heard the sayd Pybus Welch Golding and Child after since they came home from the voyage in question saye, that after they lost the Company of the Owners Adventure and Greyhound they did light of an oportunity to gett into harbour and there made a good voyage and brought home good store of oyle and finns and soe much hee hath alsoe heard from divers of their Companyes" (HCA 13/71 f.501r)

See Appleby, 2008: 55-56 for economic arguments by English Muscovy Company in 1654 for enforcement of monopoly whaling rights with a proposed joint stock.

Independent whalers responded to the demand for joint stock by publishing The Heads of the Answer of several Adventurers to Greenland, To the claim of the Muscovia Company of the two Harbors of Bel-Sound and Hornsound (Appleby, 2008: 56, citing S.P. 18/65/67).

Appleby suggests that much of the published argument was based on material compiled by Edward Whittwell "who was representing the interests of independent traders in London" (citing C.S.P.D. 1653-54, 379-80, 392-3; C.S.P.D 1654, 16)

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Monopoly vs. free trade debate

Both the interlopers and the English Muscovy company resorted to petitioning parliament on occasion in the 1640s and 1650s to assert their economic positions.

[Jan. 31.] (1654) 60. The case of the freemen adventurers for the fishing in Greenland, presented to Parliament

Jan. 31. (1654) 61. Arguments by Fras. Ashe, Governor of the Muscovy Company, to prove that several interests cannot conveniently fish for whales in one harbour, but that it would be beneficial if they fished in several harbours.

[Jan. 31.] (1654) 62. Reasons why several adventurers and stocks cannot fish whales together in one harbour, and why the great harbour of Bell Sound should be fished by a joint stock, being too large for particular adventurers.

• "There are more losing than gaining voyages made, but once in 3 or 4 years the whales come in shoals, and then 300 or 400 tuns of oil are made more than can be brought home, and are left in the company's storehouses till next year"

• "4. It will send all to the harbours already settled, and none will visit the 30 or 40 more harbours discovered, but where the company do not fish"

(Jan.31 (1654)) 65. Five propositions by Edw. Whitwell, for himself and others, for regulating and increasing the fishing in Greenland by free admission of all. [1 page.]

Jan. 31. (1654) 69. Reasons by Rich. Eccleston on behalf of the adventurers of Hull, why the Greenland trade should be free.

[Jan. 31.] (1654)) 70. Arguments addressed to the Council for Trade by Thomas and Lancelot Anderson, Edw. Whitwell, and 3 others, for the free adventurers

Jan. ? (1654) 74. Petition of Fras. Ashe, Governor, and the Muscovy Company to the Protector.

Feb. 7 (1654) 18. Answers by Thos. Horth to the objections of the Muscovy company prefixed against his having 1/6 of the fishing

• "3. That there can be more difficulty in the accounts than before, and he can prove that he is not insolvent, nor has purchased lands in his children's names, as several of the company have lately done, thus deceiving their just creditors; yet he has lost 30,000l., 12,900 l. being within 18 months..."

Feb, 7. (1654) 19. Proposals made to the Protector by Edw. Whitwell and the Adventurers for Greenland in several stocks, concerning the late improvement by fishing in all the harbours.

Feb. 24. (1654) 65. Notes of proceedings in the Committee on the Greenland trade. — 31 Jan., 7 Feb. and 24 Feb. 1654.

• "Urges therefore that no new adventurer of only 2 or 3 years' standing should now be admitted. London, Hull, and Yarmouth have at great cost and loss defended Bell Sound, Home Sound, Green Harbour, Cross

Road, Mettle Bay, and Sir Thos. Smith's Bay, but the late intruders, Warner, Whitwell, &c, have for 2 years only sent into the company's harbours 2 or 3 small vessels, which not only refused to join them to keep out the French and Dutch, but brought in Dutch strangers to manage their stock and adventure, the consequences of which will be most dangerous to English navigation."

(Feb. 24. (1654)) 66. I. Miles Corbet, by order of the Navy Committee, to Mr. Balines [M.P. for Yarmouth]. The Merchant Adventurers of London have petitioned that the Greenland trade will soon be lost by intrusion of the French, Dutch, and Biskeners, unless prevented by Parliament, who referred the petition to the Navy Committee

Feb. 24. (1654) 67. Reasons by Thos. Horth for furnishing the Greenland adventurers with a competent number of seamen, as they have to fight to defend the harbours, as well as to guard their ships, and must have 50 or 55 men on each ship, of whom 25 or 30 should be able seamen and the rest landsmen.

Feb. 24. (1654) 68. Estimate of ships required to guard and fish in the English harbours in Greenland

Feb. 24. (1654) 69. List of the 55 present members of the Muscovy Company, adventurers for Greenland

Feb. 24. (1654) 70. List of 18 adventurers of Hull who join in the fishing.

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Trade and political rivalry

The Spitsbergen whale fisheries were fought over, commercially and physically, by the English, the Dutch, the French and the Spanish, amongst others (Appleby, 2008: 29-30, 33)

By the early to mid C17th Appleby suggests that informal separate spheres of interest had been established, with the Dutch concentrating on the northern shores of the archipelago, and the English on "the bays and harbours of the south-west" (Appleby, 2008: 33)

There was considerable rivalry between the English Muscovy company, which supposedly monopolised the Spitsbergen whale trade, and the English whalers of the port of Hull (Appleby (2008: 34)). Appleby suggests that Hull men were involved in the whale trade from an early date, rather than being latecomers, and had their own special islands and bays separate from the English Muscovy company (Appleby, 2008: 35, 37)

Hull interest in whaling dropped to nothing in the 1640s, though Hull claims to the trade were revived in the early 1650s, with a petition by independent traders to parliament in 1654, with attempt to gain access to Horn Sound and Bell Sound at Spitsbergen, which were considered comparatively ice free in the summer months (Appleby, 2008: 50-55)

Attempt by English Muscovy company to perusade a newly appointed committe of the Council of Trade in early 1654 to restrict access to Bell Sound solely to the Muscovy Company, enforcing its claimed monopoly rights (Appleby, 2008: 53-55)

The underlying competition for access to the southern sounds and bays at Spitsbergen, an inherent characteristic of the trade since its earliest days, appears to have been intensified by the declining number of whales due to , particularly the onset of colder weather during the 1640s and beyond. Not only did this leave bays and harbours enveloped with ice for longer, cutting the hunting season, but also it may have contributed to increasing mortality among whales...According to the Company, even the "best Harbors make more loosing voyages than gayning, but once in 3,4, or 5 yeares the Whales Coming in plentifully by scoales."

The Anglo-Dutch war of 1652-54 caused severe disruption to English whalers in Spitsbergen, both independent and sent by the English Muscovy Company. "The evidence strongly suggests that the English struggled to send out more than a handful of vessels annually to Spitsbergen. By contrast, 70 Dutch ships were reportedly convoyed to Spitsbergen by three men-of-war during 1654.The following year between 24 and 50 French vessels apparently made 'great voyages' to the northern whaling grounds. In 1656 there seem to have been seven English ships at Spitsbergen, only one of which was from Hull...Although the Company's rights to the whaling trade were confirmed in January 1658, it was a hollow victory. By then the domestic market in England had been effectively captured by overseas competitors (Appleby, 2008: 57-58).

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Voyage and legal timeline, 1656 & 1657

April 1656

• "(of the Greyhound) the sd ship sett sayle from Gravesend upon or about the fourteenth of Aprill 1656. & not before as they beleeve" (HCA 13/128, no foliation, P1110030 verso)

June 1656

15th

• "hee heard the sayd Damerell on the fifteenth day of June 1656 command the Companye of the Owners Adventure to worke into the Ice with the other ffower shipps predeposed" (HCA 13/71 f.472r)

17th

- "heard him on the seaventeenth day commend the sayd Company to worke further into the Ice than the other fower shipps dud, both which commands hee saith the sayd Gosling and Maunfrie also heard and well understood" (HCA 13/71 f.472r)

- "upon the 17th day of June aforesayd the sayd Gosling seeing and hearing the sayd Damerell command the sayd shipps Company to worke into the Ice than the other fower shipps did, the sayd Gosling ADD TEXT" (HCA 13/71 ff.472r-472v)

September 1656

• "y:e ship the Greyhound came back againe into the River of Thames & was here discharged upon or about the fowrteenth day of September 1656" (HCA 13/128, no foliation, P1110030 verso)

December 1656

Depositions in High Court of Admiralty (HCA 13/71)

23rd

Deposition of Thomas Damerell

January 1657

Further depositions in High Court of Admiralty (HCA 13/71)

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Wages

HCA 13/128 contains further HCA suits relating to Batson con Gosling. They include a suit for wages, brought by Edward Gosling, the masters mate of the Owners Adventure, against Richard Batson.

They also include a suit for wages brought by crew of the Greyhound, the pinke which went with the Owners Adventure on the ill fated voyage to Spitsbergen in the summer of 1656.

The suit brought by the crew of the Greyhound (described as "on the behalfe of Henry ffreeman and others") contains a schedule of wages which the defendants accept as that agreed at the hiring of the crew:

"they answere & beleeve all the parties allegate were hyred to serve in the vessell the Greyhound allegate by order of these rendents as they beleeve for the wages expressed in the schedule annexed to these rendents answeres and noe more as they beleeve for a fishing voiage to be made in the sd vessell for Greeneland"

The Schedule

The schedule menconed in the Answeres

Henry ffreeman for twelve pounds whereof
recd three pounds in money before he went
out & fower shills & ten pence more unpon Cloathes
soe in case he had pformed the voiage in Greenland
as he might to have done there remaine

8:li - 15 - 2

John Burgen for fifteene pounds whereof recd
three pounds before he went out & stwo shill and
two oence upon cloathes so in case he had pformed
his voiage to Greeneland as he ought tp have done
there remaines

11:li - 19 (OR, 17)- 10

John Gold for five pounds wherof recd twenty
shills, and one pound. two shills & six pence in cloaths
so in case he had gone to Greenland and
there pformed what he ought to have done there had
remained

2:li - 19 (OR, 17)- 6

Nicholas Taylor at Thirty five shillings p
moneth whereof recd before hee went out
Thirty five shill and in cloathes Three shill
fower pennce, and he was in the ship from the
14:th of Aprill 1656; which is five moneths soe
there remaines in case he had pformed his
voiage as he ought to have done

6:li - 16 - 8

Thomas ffrost shipped at thirty nyne shills per
moneth whereof recd one moneths pay before
his foeing out & fifteene shills foure pence for cloathes
& was in the ship the time aforesd, soe thre remaines
in case he had pformed the voiage as he ought to
have done

7:li - 0 - 8

John Clarke shipped at thirty Eight shill p moneth
whereof recd one pound Eighteene shill before his goeing out & one pound two shill . eight pence for
cloathe, & was in the ship the time aforesd soe
there remaines in case he had pformed his
voiage as he ought to have done

6:li - 09 - 4

Dennis Yarmouth shipped at thirty foure shill
p moneth recd one pound fowerteene shills
before his departure, & fifteene shill foure
pence for cloathes & was in the shipp the
tyme aforesd, soe there remaines in case
hee had pformed his voiage as he ought

6:li - 0 - 8

RICHARD BATSON [His signature]
H BEANE ?Esqr [His signature]
GUW GOULEGAY (sic) [His signature]"

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Depositions

1. John Ely of Saint Mary Magdalen Bermondsey in the County of Surrey Mariner aged twenty eight yeares

- Deposition made on 18/12/1656

"the sayd Damarell sawe some fish spoute among the Ice neere where the sayd shipp lay and cryed out to the Company a whale a whale and commanded the sayd Maundrey and Gosling and the rest of the harponeeres to manne their shallops and make after the sayd ffish which they did, and comming up with the sayd ffish found them to bee certaine ffish called Jubartas, which are a ffish the English use not to fasten upon by reason of their swifte motion and for that they are of smale profitt and more dangerous to deal with than whales are; which the Company having discovered did not strike at the sayd fish..."

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2. John Colvile of Ratcliff in the parish of Stepney and County of Middlesex Mariner Gunner of the Owners Adventure aged thirty sixe yeares

- Deposition made on 29/12/1656

- "did expect that the sayd Damarall the Master would have given order to have wrought the sayd shipp further into the Ice or at least made her fast to the Ice"

- "the sayd Damerell did goe aboard them and finding noe fitt opportunity to gaine any harbour was forced to keepe sea whereby some of the Owners Adventure for want of refreshment on shore fell sick of the scurvie, and some of the Greyhounds Company dyed thereof"

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3. William Clarkson of Shadwell in the parish of Stepney and County of Middlesex Shipwright Carpenter of the Owners Adventure aged twenty nine yeares

- Deposition made on 03/01/1656 (57)

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X. Thomas Damerell of Lymehouse in the parish of Stepney and County of Middlesex Mariner Master of the shipp the Owners Adventure and Commander alsoe of the Greyhound aged 37 yeares

- Deposition made on 23/12/1656

- "hee knoweth of noe difference which happened betwixt the sayd Damerell and Gosling or Maundry save the difference and ill language by him this deponent before mentioned, which difference did (in this deponents Judgment) arise by the sayd Damerells wilfullnesse and rashnesse in desyring and Commanding his shipps company to worke the sayd shipp further into the Ice than other shipps would and did adventure, and by his provoaking the sayd Gosling with ill language as aforesayd"

- "the arlate Maundrie and Gosling and this deponent and others of the Company of the Owners Adventure did pursue the whale in this article mentioned, eight or tenn howers togeather, the sayd Gosling and one Richard Parker the Boatswaine of the Owners Adventure and ˹william humphrey˺ having as harponeeres stricken the sayd whale and fastned their warps, and the sayd whale notwithstanding ranne soe fast into a growne Sea and towed the boates who pursued her soe fast, that they were in danger to bee cast away by and to sheere under water by the swiftenesse of the whales motion, which was soe speedy that the shipp owners Adventure had much a doe with the helpe of a XXXX gale of winde to followe the shallopps or boates soe fast as the whale towed or runne with them, And hee saith that after the sayd shipps Company had soe longe persued the sayd whale and the sayd Goslings harpeing Iron breakeing out of the whale and the sayd Gosling having come about along thXXXX and not being able to fasten ˹his harpeing Iron˺ againe did take holde of other shallops and helpe them to hinder the whales motion, but all proveing ineffectual to the takeing of her by reason of the growne Sea ˹and the swiftnesse of the whale in question˺ the sayd Damerell seeing noe hopes of takeing the sayd whale, did call to the sayd Richard Packer and bidd him cut his warpe (which still continued fast to the whale) and come on board, And this deponent being one who rowed in the sayd Maundeys shallop or boate and helped to pursue the sayd whale, thereby well knoweth that the sayd Gosling Maundry and the rest of the sayd shipps Company who pursued the sayd whale did as much as possibly could bee done to kill the sayd whale, and did not in any thing disb disobey the Command of the sayd Damerell touching the pursuiXt and chase of ˹her˺ soe farr as this deponent could and did observe"

- "the arlate Mr Beane did in the presence of the arlate Mr Batson and in the sayd Batsons Counteing house tender unto this deponent a paper which the sayd Batsons man brought ready written with the names of severall of the Owners Adventures Company subscribed thereto, which writeing did imparte ˹thus or the like in effect videlicet˺ that the refusall of the sayd shipps Company to obey the Commands of the sayd Damerall was the cause of the Overthrowe of the voyage in question, and the sayd Beane and Batson desyred this deponent to sett his hand to the sayd noat, and told him if hee would subscribe the same they would doe more for him this deponent than they had done for any other of the subscribers, but this deponen having perused and read some part of the sayd paper and knowing the contents thereof to bee false, refused to subscribe thereto"

"hee heard the sayd Maurice fford saye that (who is one of those whose names are subscribed to the sayd noate saye, that if the (speakeing of the sayd Batson) and meaning also the sayd Beane (as this deponent beleeveth)had not promised to pay him his wages, hee woukd have seene them hanged before hee would have come into Court (meaning this Court) to testifie on their behalfe"

- "did alsoe committ the Ordering and Command and direction of the sayd shipp Greyhound for the same voyage to him this deponent shee being a Pinke appointed to attende the sayd shipp Owners Adventure, and bee assistant to her in her sayd ffishing voyage"

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Deposition of Edmond Reynolds of the parish of Saint Botolph Algate London Cooper and Cooper of the Owners Adventure for the voyage in question aged fifty yeares

- Deposition made on 01/01/1656 (57)

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6. Richard Kirton of Ratcliff in the parish of Stepney and County of Middlesex Overseer of the Landsmen in the XXXX XXXX XXXXX aged forty yeares

- Deposition made in 29/01/1656 (i.e. modern 1667)

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People linkage data

Parish of St. Dunstan, Stepney, marriage register, 1640-1692_

Damerell (and variants)

"1652. Aug. 14 William Damerell of Lymehouse, Marriner & Elizabeth Berwick. M."

Trinity House of Deptford

"381. [Before 4 Feb. 1630] James Moyer, William Knight, Bence Johnson, Daniel Gatts and James Dammarell [to Trinity House. See 382.]

Trinity House are asked to establish a consul in this port of Leghorn. The post being void and leaving no one to speak for them, 'our' nation is much slighted by the ministers of the duke [of Tuscany], and 'much exacted upon' to the prejudice of shipping coming to the port. Morgan Read is willing to accept the place, being honest and able, of good repute with the duke, with sufficient means, and much respected by shipmasters and merchants. He has promised to write to Trinity House about the post [380]."

"228. [f.78v. ? Before 15 March 1625] Shipmasters and owners to Trinity House [See 229–30.]

In 1617, the writers agreed to an imposition of £1,000 a year for 2 years to suppress Turkish pirates and to ensure more safety in trade and southern navigation. Trinity House promised that it would be levied for only 2 years. It has now continued for 4 years and double the agreed sum has been paid (namely £4,000), but they are still liable. Trinity House are requested to petition the duke of Buckingham to end the imposition. Bernard Motam, Thomas Browne, William Reickes, John Tomson, William Goodlard, John Hide, George Lissant, William Ball, Thomas Breadcake, James Ireland, Robert Tockly, Thomas Tomson, Humphrey Sallowes, William Craiford, John Wetherly, Edward Robertes, Thomas Davis, James Damarell, Tristram Wise, John Badiley, John Miller, John Goodwyn, William Peirson, Thomas Nicholles, John Mote, John Lingwood, Robert Bence, Robert Swyer, John Wharey, Thomas Martin, Thomas Gibbes, Roger Twiddy, Anthony Tichen, William Knight, John Ewers, Daniel Cadman, Henry Tawton, Anthony Wood, James Moyer, John Dennis, George Bodham, John Jenken, Edmond Grove, Richard Cooper, William Bushell, John Gibbs, Richard Hooper, Edward Acworth, John Hemmens, Richard Rassell, Squier Bence, William Grove, Jeremy Cornellis, Thomas Nelmes, John Gibbens, George Browne, John Bence, John Mason, Matthew Barret, Richard Broomfeild, Peter Milborn, Roger Sherman, George Clarckson, John Swanton, Robert Bowers, Edward Gardener, William Eeles, Matthew Wood, Richard Chamlet, William Mellowe, Thomas Addison, Thomas Sherwyn, John Andrewes, Thomas Foarde, William West, William Hill, John Ellman, William Low, Christopher Dunn, Henry West, John Stafford, William Smith, John Lowe, Robert Williams, John Arnold, William Goose, Richard Cole, John Johnson, William Smith, Henry West, Thomas Battell, Henry Page, John Bundocke, John Graunt, Martin Errington, John Sayer, John Doves, John Norwood, James Peterson, John Arnold, John Low, William Greene, Thomas Chall, Robert Rypinge, Nicholas Bradshow, Jonas Pereman, Thomas Montinge."

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C17th and later maps

Edges’ map of "Greenland" (Spitzbergen), ca. 1611

Petermann, Augustus, 'Map of the Sea of Spitzbergen', to illustrate 'Sir John Franklin, the Sea of Spitzbergen, and Whale-Fisheries in the Arctic Regions', Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, vol. 23, 1853, betw. p. 130 & 131

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Sources

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Primary sources

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BL

Cotton MS Appendix LIX: Title: James Hall, Account of the Danish expedition to Greenland, 2 May–10 August 1605, including ‘A tophigraphicall discription of the land as I did discover the same’ (7r–v) and ‘The forme and maner of the langage ussid amonges their savage people’ (English–Inuit glossary) (10r–v)

Lansdowne MS 142/68: Title: 68. Notes concerning the question between the Dutch and English touching the fishery upon the coast of Greenland. fo. 402.

Lansdowne MS 142/69: Title: 69. "The Humble Peticion and Remonstrance of the Fellowshippe of English Merchants for discovery of newe Trade's, concerning their priviledges, the supportinge of the Trade to Russia, and the Whale fishinge at Greeneland and in the Northern Seas... Date: Unspecified

Sloane MS. 3986, ff. 78v, 79-79v (and others)

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IGI

Selection of Damerell records, Stepney, 1630-1670

Variants: Damerell, Damerill; Dammarill; Damorill; Damroll; Danrell; Dameryll; Dameryll; Dumerill;

Joanna Damerell; bap. 20 May 1650; Saint Dunstan, Stepney; father: Andrew Damerell; mother: Elizabeth; death: 18 May 1651

James Damerell; bap. 02 Aug 1651; Saint Dunstan, Stepney; father: Thomas Damerell; mother: Judith

Elizabeth Damerell; bap. 29 Oct 1656; Saint Dunstan, Stepney; father: William Damerell; mother: Elizabeth; death: 29 Sep 1657

Mary Damerell ; bap. 06 Oct 1667; Saint Dunstan, Stepney; father: Henry Damerell; mother: Susan

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TNA

C (Chancery)

C 6/125Pt1/24 Short title: Chapman v Goldegay. Plaintiffs: Robert Chapman. Defendants: Gower Goldegay and Giles Ray. Subject: money matters, Middlesex. Document type: bill, answer. 1652.

C 6/134/15 Short title: Batson v Colvile. Plaintiffs: Richard Batson and Gowen Goldagne. Defendants: Robert Colvile, John Colvile and William Clarkson. Subject: money matters. Document type: answer only. 1657

- CSG: There is a very good chance that the above Chancery case involves two of the three partners of Richard Batson and Company and two of the deponents in "Batson against Goslin and others"

- CSG: Gowen Goldagne (and variants of that name) is mentioned in HCA 13/71 f.479r; there is also a mention of "Mr. Covell" (one of the owners of the Owners Adventure) (HCA 13/71 f.466v)

Two of the deponents in "Batson against Goslin and others" are William Clarkson (Of Shadwell in the parish of Stepney and County of Middlesex, Shipwright; Carpenter of the Owners Adventure, aged twenty nine), and John Colville (Mariner, Gunner of the Owners Adventure, of Ratcliff in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex)

C 6/136/169 Short title: Watkins v Merchants of London. Plaintiffs: Mary Watkins widow. Defendants: Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies [East India Company] and Richard Batson. Subject: money matters, London, Middlesex. Document type: bill, answer. 1657

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E (Exchequer)

E 178/5525: NORFOLK: Yarmouth Certificate as to the accounts of the profits of a voyage to Greenland (Hoarth v. Attorney-General and Lady Slingsby). 9 Chas. I.

E 134/8&9Chas1/Hil5: Thomas Horth, of Yarmouth (Norfolk), merchant. v. William Noy (Attorney-General), Dame Margaret Slingsby, widow.: Grant by Letters Patent by Chas. 1. to Nath. Edwards of the privilege of fishing and the "setting out ships for the getting of fish and making of oils in Greenland for the furnishing of Scotland with that commodity," assigned by Edwards to the plaintiff. Touching the detention of plaintiff's ships at Great Yarmouth by the water bailiff, &c., &c.: Norfolk. 8 & 9 Chas 1

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HCA (High Court of Admiralty)

HCA 13/128

- Case: XXXX: Answer: Richard Batson, Humphrey Beane, & Gowen Goldegay: Date: January 13th 1656 (modern 1657)

- Case: Edward Gosling, wages: Answer: Richard Batson: Date: XXXX

- Allegation: XXXX: Answer: Richard Batson, Humfry Beane & Gowden Goldgue (als. Goldeye): Date: Feb ?8th 1656

- Case: XXXX: Personal answeres: Edward Goslin & XXX XXXXXX: Date: XXXX

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PROB (Prerogative Court of Canterbury)

PROB 4/10611: Inventory; Serjent, Thomas, of Barking, London, ob. in Greenland, batcheler: 1675 1 Oct.

PROB 11/160/460: Will of James Damerell, Mariner of Stepney, Middlesex; 24 October 1631

PROB 11/269/534: Will of Gowen Goldegay of Whitefriars, City of London; 14 November 1657

PROB 11/297/85: Will of Elias Ely, Mariner of Saint Thomas Hospital, Surrey; 21 March 1660

PROB 11/298: Will of John Mandry, Mariner of Leigh, Essex 17 April 1660; Nabbs 52-105

PROB 11/362: Will of Humphry Beane of Ebbisham, Surrey; 14 January 1680; Bath 1-59

PROB 11/373/446: Will of William Clarkson, Shipwright of Romford, Essex; 18 August 1683

PROB 11/424: Will of Richard Batson, Cutler; June 16th 1667; Carr 59-116 CHECK REFERENCE

PROB 11/461/57: Will of John Ely, Mariner of Stepney, Middlese; 01 July 1701

PROB 11/524/234: Will of John Pybus, Mariner of East Greenwich, Kent; 02 November 1711

PROB 18/5/78: Probate lawsuit Damerell v Baker and Larbe, concerning the deceased Rachael Hall, widow of Stepney, Middlesex. Allegation and interrogatory; 1673

PROB 18/6/3: Probate lawsuit Damerell v Baker and Larbe, concerning the deceased Rachael Hall, widow of Stepney, Middlesex. Allegation and interrogatory; 1673

PROB 36/2: Name of deceased: Hull, Rachel Stepney, Middx Case title and other data: Damerell con Baker; 1674

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SP (State Papers)

S.P. 18/65/60: The Case of many Freemen of England that have adventured and desire to adventure, to fish in Greenland (petition to parliament, January 1654)

- See Appeby, 2008: 51

S.P. 18/65/61-67:Collection of papers relating to whaling cited by Appleby, 2008

SP 46/96/fo 5: Order of the Council for Trade that for this year Bell Sound and Horn Sound shall be reserved for the Company of Merchant Adventurers to Greenland and the rest of the harbours left free for all other Englishmen. Copy. 1650/1 Mar. 3

SP 46/96/fo 8-12: The proceedings at the Council for Trade, between the Muscovia Company, Monopolizers of the trade of Greenland, and others, Adventurers thither, for a Free Trade: Printed: [1651]

SP 46/96/fo 15-16: Petition of the Muscovia Company Adventurers to Greenland stating that their right to the sole fishing in Bell Sound and Horn Sound, Greenland, had been infringed and asking the Council to resolve the matter. Copy. [1651/2 Jan.]

SP 46/96/fo 17-18 : Reasons why the Muscovia Company should have priority in, if not the whole of, the fishing in Greenland: Copy. 1651/2 Jan.

SP 46/96/fo 19-20 : The names of the Adventurers in the present joint stock for Greenland. Copy. [1651/2 Jan.]

SP 46/96/fo 23-24: Description of the present state of the Greenland fishing and the methods employed, and conclusions drawn therefrom [by the Muscovia Company]. Copy. [1651/2 Jan.]

SP 46/96/fo 141: Petition to the Committee for Foreign Affairs by Thomas Horth asking that no decision should be taken on the suggestions of the Greenland Company until his answers thereto have been considered. (Enclosure at f.145): [1651/2 Feb.]

SP 46/96/fo 143-144: Answers of Thomas Horth to the claims of the Greenland Company. 1649 Dec. 31

SP 46/96/fo 145: Answer, given to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, by Thomas Horth in reply to the Muscovia or Greenland Company: (Enclosure to f.141). [1651/2 Feb.]

SP 119/272: Placaet ende Verbodt. Forbidding the export of fishing and whaling equipment The Hague, Hillebrant van Wouw, 1665 (in Dutch language)

SP 119/326: Placcaet. Forbidding navigation and whaling in and around Greenland in 1673 The Hague, Jacobus Scheltus, 1673 (in Dutch language)

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Printed

Pelham, Edward, God's Power and Providence (?London, 1631)

- Account of first English wintering in Spitsbergen in 1630-31

de La Peyrère, Isaac, Histoire du Groenland (XXXX, XXXX)

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Secondary sources

Acebes, Jo Marie V., 'Historic whaling in the Philippines: origins of 'indigenous subsistence whaling', mapping whaling grounds and comparison with current known distribution', HMAP Asia Project Paper, no. 161, October 2009

Appleby, John C.,'A voyage to Greenland for the catching of whales: English whaling enterprise in the seventeenth century', International Journal of Maritime History, 9 (1997), pp. 29-49

Appleby, John C., 'Conflict, cooperation and competition: The rise and fall of the Hull whaling trade during the seventeenth century', The Northern Mariner/le marin du nord, XVIII No. 2, (April 2008), 23-59

Bourne, Arthur G., 'Exploitation of the Small Whales in the North Atlantic', Oryx / Volume8 / Issue03 / December 1965, pp 185-193; DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0030605300004531 (About DOI), Published online: 24 April 2009

Brown, Brenna A McLeod, Timothy R Frasier, Robert Grenier, Stephen L Cumbaa, Jeya Nadarajah, Bradley N White, 'Genetic analysis of 16th-century whale bones prompts a revision of the impact of Basque whaling on right and bowhead whales in the western North Atlantic', Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2004, 82(10): 1647-1654

Colyer-Fergusson, Thomas, The marriage registers of St. Dunstan's, Stepney, in the county of Middlesex (Private printing, 1899)

Conway, Martin, Early Dutch and English Voyages to Spitsbergen in the Seventeenth Century (London, 1904)

Conway, Martin, No man's land: a history of Spitzbergen from its discovery in 1596 to the beginning of the scientific exploration of the country (Cambridge, 1906)

Hacquebord, Louwrens, 'Three 17th century whaling stations in southeastern Svalbard: an archaeological missing link', Polar Record, 24 (1988), pp. ?-?

van Holk, A.G.F. (ed.), Early European exploitation of the Northern Atlantic 800-1700 (Groningen, 1981)

Jackson, Gordon, The British whaling trade (London, 1978)

Jenkins, James Travis, A history of the whale fisheries: from the Basque fisheries of the tenth century to the hunting of the finner whale at the present date (London, 1921)

Ch. 1: A history of the whale fisheries (pp.11-38)
Ch. 2: The economics of whaling (pp.39-58)

Vaughan, Richard, The Arctic: a history (Stroud, 1994)

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