THE PORT COLLECTORs SONGS AND DANCE 1716-1790 COLONIAL PORT
BATH
Port of Bath 1716-1790
Townspeople of Port Bath
Bath auditorium wifi was not functional today these intro videos
would have been playing while people were being seated. 4 min 1956
Moby Dick sea shanty clip Classic sea shanties with scenes aboard
the Pequod, from the 1956 Moby Dick movie
https://youtu.be/hdiFYCUP9oU, ,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB4PE0NSkok dulcimer, fiddle,
mandolin, and flute 4 musicians in colonial garb recorded at Fort
Frederick, soldier joy into liberty market Maryland market fair
filmed 2011https://youtu.be/nzcv5TJkJBA Fifteen men, bottle of
rumhttps://youtu.be/qGyPuey-1Jw what do you do with a drunken
sailor by the Rovershttps://youtu.be/mh0vMKh_gUA A Rovin The
traditional sea shanty "A-Roving," sung by the
Revelshttps://youtu.be/4fVQwzv5Qfc The traditional sea chantey,
"Leave Her Johnny," sung by English folk singer Johnny Collins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l78VNe_dhAM Russel Crowe in Master
and Commander LA MUSICA NOTTURNA DELLE STRADE DI MADRID. No. 6,
Op.30 the long 12 min version two violins, viola and two
violoncellos in C major is https://youtu.be/8dmWAve3Pvk (2005)
1
COMING UP AUGUST 1, 2016
The 300th Anniversary Port of Bath 1716-2016 The Town of Bath
will be having a day long celebration May 28, 2016 so what ARE we
celebrating exactly?
Tims song lineup for todays presentation. Shanty Drunken Sailor,
audience participates on chorus, followed by Scottish ballad
singing sad and beautiful with a little guitar , Wild Mt. Thyme
(banjo) 1810 based on a song in your face written for Tannenhills
deceased wife. Next song Robert Burnssong about a 1689 Jacobite
uprising and a battle in Scotland the Braes of Killiecrankio
(guitar) , Scottish Robert Tannehill adapted traditional songs like
Bobbie Burns, IRISH REEL Red haired boy aka little beggar man,
(banjo), maritime tune from Brittany France, next to LAST Red wine
regatta (guitar) a humorous sea song, sing along to the choris,
from a true story Last song for closing the hilarious Donald,
wheres your Troosers... about kilt wearing Scots, played with a
kitchen spoon and an Celtic War drum, the bodhran2
PORT BATH HISTORY
A QUICK REVIEW- 10 slides COLONIAL PORT OF BATHs HISTORY, WHO,
WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY
1790 port of New York , boats from Carolina that may have moored
off Water Street.. The southern tip of New York City known as the
Battery.3
WHO The Lords Proprietors and Gov. Charles Eden on behalf of
Town of Bath and all Colonists in Province of Carolina WHEN August
1, 1716
Pass around blowup of decree.4
5THE WHAT and WHERE
1716 jurisdiction extended from Albemarle Sound down to Cape
Fear, the original old Bath County created 1696, 1730 district cut
in half
1.
N. CAROLINA FIVE COLONIAL PORT REGIONS1733 - 1775
When Port Bath was created in 1716 there were only two counties
above Cape Fear Albemarle and Bath counties each with a few towns
in eastern NC: Edenton, Bath, New Bern and Beaufort. We know the
two county populations from a 1708 map owned by Lambeth Palace and
drawn by Edward Moseley that there were 350 tythable adult white
males 16 yo and over in Bath County compared to 1250 in Albemarle
County. This map showing the five colonial ports along the North
Carolina coast was drawn by Mark Moore. The caption says: While
North Carolinas maritime commerce grew steadily throughout the
colonial period, a number of merchants believed Britains mercantile
policy inhibited free trade. Port Brunswick and Port Roanoke were
considered the states busiest ports and Port Beaufort Port Bath and
Port Currituck were the smaller of the five. The original 1716 PORT
BATH DISTRICT WAS CUT IN HALF IN 1730 . At that time the Neuse
River basin and Port Baths secondary collection center in New Bern
were all re-assigned and became a part of the Port Beaufort
district. SEE DOTTED LINE between Port Bath and Port Beaufort
5
WHYEconomic Theory of the Day: The Reason Colonial Service Port
Districts were Created - MERCANTILISMGreat Britain, the mother
country followed economic principles of Mercantilism, the
predecessor to Laissez Faire/Free Market Supply and Demand.
Mercantilism was also known as bullionism6
All customs service officials ultimately reported to a branch of
the British Treasury and all reports of vessels and cargo clearing
customs were submitted quarterly..
7Where did all the Port Bath Records go? The LONDON CUSTOMS
HOUSE
Colored Engraving of London by Probst 1740 Courtesy Tryon
Palace, New Bern NC
Colored Engraving of London. By Georg Balthazar Probst. 1740.
The London Custom House is the long building to the right of the
bridge, number 65 painted on its blue roof. Courtesy Tryon Palace.
New Bern North Carolina. Note Ed. Customs duties were taxes on
imported and exported goods. The Custom House in each colonial
collections district was the office to which shipping agents and
sea captains/masters would bring vessel and cargo documents to
customs officials. British-American port customs officials and
naval officers were charged with enforcing Navigation and Trade law
passed by English Acts of Parliament. Periodically colony officials
submitted reports of vessels and cargo in/out, customs duties and
taxes collected, to both London officials and provincial leaders.
Shipping record reports sent from Port Bath and other colonial port
officials were sent in duplicate (on different ships for safe
keeping) with lists and periodic summaries of vessels, hailing
port, burden in tons, crew, cargo carried, and number of guns on
board. In the case of Port Bath extant records, only late 18th c.
Shipping records and a few others survive in the North Carolina
state archives. 7
8TIMELINEThe Proprietary Port1703 First local customs official
James Leigh sworn into office by Christopher Gale and Robert
Quary.1705 Pamtico settlement renamed Bath Town , first town in
North Carolina.1716 Port of Bath customs district decreed by Lords
Proprietors.
Royal Crown Colony Port 1730 Port of Bath district customs
operations cut in half, Neuse River waterways re-assigned to Port
Beaufort cr. 1722.1753-1772 Robert Palmer customs collector approx
20 years. 1769 The Port of Bath customs house and courthouse moved
upriver and then back to Bath again at the insistence of Robert
Palmer aide de camp to Governor Tryon.
The Continental Port 1780s Port of Bath moved to Washington
again, operated some years post Revolution. .Port Baths last
official was Capt Nathan Keais, 1790 Port of Bath was renamed
federal Continental Port of Washington.
the old county seat of expired Bath County lies approx 50 miles
west of Ocracoke Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean. My old paper Pamlico
River sailing charts shows 7-8 foot creek depths approaching Bath.
Finally the port officials moved up river and a customs house was
built on Respess Street Washington. The last Port Bath shipping
reports submitted by Continental Captain Nathan Keias were dated
March 1790 fourteen years after the American Revolution.8
Claude Sauthiers Map ordered drawn by Gov. Tryon.
Note the town fence and the road to Edenton. No obvious wharves
other than the long one opposite the Palmer House. Note the pen and
storage buildings to the let of the wharf. C and D marked on the
map Court house and jail (Gaol) 9
THE HOW -BATH COLONIAL VESSELS
3-masted Ship, 2- masted Brig, 1-masted SloopAlso river ferries
and Small craft: periaugers, shallops, rafts, canoes
WHAT Port Bath Cargo
Imports: Rum, Luxury goods and English Manufactures, West Indian
Sugar, Molasses, Turks/Caicos saltExports: Shingles, lumber, naval
stores, tar was not at the top of the list, actually 10th position,
harvest surpluses of pork, corn, peas, beef, salted fish, hides,
furs
Flour, 8s. 9d. to 9s. per C.White Bread, 15s. per C.Middling,
ditto 13s.Brown, ditto 10s. to 11s.Tobacco, 9s. to 10s.Moscovado
Sugar, 25 to 35s.Turpentine, 9s.to 10s.Rice, 14s. to 15s.Ginger,
18s. to 20s.
Rum, 2s.4d to 2s.6d.p.Gal.Melasses, 1s.3d. to 1s.4d.Salt, fine,
14d. to 18d.per Bush.Ditto, Course, 1s.Wheat, 3s.2d. to 3s.6d.Rye,
2s.3d. to 2s.6d.Indian Corn, 20d. to 21d.Barley, 1s.8d. to 2s.Pale
Malt, 2s.9d.Ditto, High-colour'd, 2s.6d.
Pork, 25s. per Barrel.Beef, 30s.Pitch, 13s. to 14s.Tar,
10s.Gun-Powder,
Bohea-Tea, 25 to 30s.p.PoundWhalebone, 3s.6d. to
3s.9d.Pipe-Staves, 3 l. per Thous.Hogshead, ditto, 45s.Barrel,
ditto, 22s.6d.Pine Boards, 3 l.Mad. Wine, 19 to 22l.p.Pipe
Price Philadelphia.- The American Weekly Mercury, Feb 20-27,
1722
WHO - The People of Port Bath
Officials. English and Provincial: Governor,
Council/AssemblyPort Officials: Customs Collector, Deputy, Riding
Surveyors, Stevedores, Ocracoke PilotsPlanter Merchants: Local and
from Other ColoniesFarmers and New Settlers and their families
Immigrants as well as relocating colonists from Virginia and
Albemarle County. Tradesmen: Coopers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths,
Wagonwrights, Furniture makers (Joiners), Silversmiths, Tin smiths,
ApprenticesSlaves and ServantsWomen and Children
13
MERCHANTSThomas Sparrow to George Birkinhead, Merchant of Bath
Co:
For 150 pound sterling bill of sale for 3 slaves ( negro man
Philander, negro woman Sarah, negro boy young Philander) and
household stuff. ALSO2 large new feather bed bolsters &
pillows, 2 pr large fine curtains & valans, 3 large new calico
quits, large rug, 4 pr new blankets, 5 pair good linen sheets &
pillow coats, bedstead & 2 large chests & large looking
glass, 1 copper & 1 brass kettle & 3 iron pots & Hooks,
3 pair pot racks & 1 pair fire tongs, 3 pair large iron dogs
& andirons & 1 silver tumbler, 1 bell-metal & 1 brass
skillet, 1 bell-metal mortar, 4 tablecloths & doz napkins, 5
silver spoons, 13 pewter dishes 8 basins 22 plates, 2 tin funnets 8
tin pans saucepan, pewter plate stand, tankard pint pot, surveyors
set of instruments and small Lib of 50 books, box mixture of sundry
implements, 5 guns, carbine, pair pistols & Holsters, mans
saddle & bridle & collar & pair of boots & 2 axes,
8 hoes, 1 pair iron wedges, & xcut saw, carpenters tenant
saw& hand saw& surgeons sawm maul ringed hatchet &
shallop with her appurtenances, 4 cows & calves bought of Capt.
Wm Barrow, 2 sows & 3 pigs bought of Archibald Holmes, sow
& pigs bought of Joel Martin Sr., cow and calf bought of Geo
Birkinhead, suit of mans, 2 suits of womens apprel, one small boat
about 9 foot keel. John Gray Blount was a Port Bath Commissioner,
one of five. The Blount Brothers merchant ships sailed regularly
out of Washington, Bath and Ocracoke.
1789 Shipment to Philadelphia:4 lb 13 oz Hyson Tea , Boiled Oil
,Brass Candlesticks , Chafen Dish,Large American Spades ,Sickles
Stripe Chintz 14 yds Irish Linen 25 DODay Book blankLetter Book
Loaves Sugar 60 7 oz RopeTwineBallast for the Schooner Lead
LineYellow Ochre in Oil 56 lb Spanish brown do White Lead Russia
Sheeting Nail Rods
1785 Blount Brothers list of goods to sell in western NC, what
was to become Tennessee:100,000 Bilboa Handkerchiefs and 1000
pocket looking glasses. white and chex shirts with white ruffles,
dutch Blankets a large quantity, Pretties, Gun Flints, Coarse
Callicoes, ribbands different colours, combs, arm plates, wrist
plates, ear rings, of silver, Coarse scarlet broad cloth, stripe
and linsey woolen, needles and thread, Men and womens saddles and
bridles.
Deceased merchant John Clarke inventory 28 Jan 1718: he bought
320 ac 1706 beside James Hogg on north side of Pamtico river. Paper
money province bills39.10.0Bridle and Saddle1.0.07 azes3 of 8d
nails1 parcel of barr iron 2.17.0Small skillet, fire shovel &
tongs 6sGoods:32.5 yds coarse linen @ 2 and 3d3.13.129 yds ordinary
Barras @ 8d0.19.418.5 ydsdrugget @ 2 and 6d2.6.315.5 yds shalloon @
2s1.10.6Parcel of mowhair thread buttons & thread lace 1.5.08
1/8 yds muslin @ 52.2.64 pr small gloves 4s135 yds stuff @
8d4.10.060 galls molasses @ 2 6.0.028 lbs powder @ `18d2.2.060 lbs
shot@ 3d0.15.0Negroes: Henry an old man & Bursten 16.0.0Maria
and her child 20.0.0George, Bristol, Cezar & Jupiter
[email protected]: 2 old horses10.0.08 cows & calves 12.0.04 old
sows & 12 small shoats 1.12.02 yearlings 12s7 ewes & 2 rams
3.12.017 lbs very dirty cotton 17sMisc. household furniture,
furnishings, tools---Total 473.6.6
Colonial printed money 1729 1748, 1780
Farmers, Settlers, Immigrants, Newly Freed Apprentices and
Slaves arrived by land and sea
TRADESMEN
1712 inventory of John Barras, (Shoemaker )deceased 1717. 3 guns
out of order, pistol and rapier, 6 pewter dishes, 3 pewter plates
and tankards,parcel of old pewter, iron pots, 3 pr pot hooks,
pestle, gridiron, forks, saucepan, old frying pan, 2 old wedges,
old bed blanket, rug 2 pillows, olds beds, old bolsters, old
pillows 3 blankers, rug, parcel of shoemakers tools, 9 quart bottle
and 2 pint bottles, saddle and bridle, looking glass and 2
gimblets, broad axe, adze, 2 falling axes, 1 grubbing hoe, weeding
hoe, parcel of old iron, 2 chests and 1 box, one coat, old box
iron, 2 heaters, old canoe, 2 pot racks, 2 ewes. Total value 21
pound 12.81710 Inventory of goods and chattels of Martin Quann,
(Blacksmith) feather bed and blanket, mat, desk , shirt neck loth,
2pr cotton stockings, 10 spoons, spinning wheel, 2 sifters, wooden
dish, 6 chairs, looking glass, 3 pewter cups,3 bedsteads, 2
barrels, 5 lbs wool, table, chest, butter pot, frying pan, pot
racks, razor and horn combs, 11 dz wooden trenchers, 2 piggins,
pail, weeding hoe, pair of wool cards, canoe, old iron mill, hoe,
old coat 2 jackets, 1 pr britches, old sledge, old hammers, old
anvil, green rug, old brass kettle, smoothing irons. Total 11 pound
5.10**William Tomson, (bricklayer )to be overseer of four servants
of Capt Jones, (John Wattson, Thomas Blangoe, Peter and Indian and
Dido a negro woman )for one share and or corn, tobacco, and other
sorte of grane yt shall be made upon ye sd plantation. If William
Tomsons wife Ann Tomson comes into this country she shall have her
accommodations allowed for her work. Barrow to put 5 cows on the
plantation for the use of the 4 servants and overseer. Tomson is
allowed to keep one sow and her increase and is to keep the
plantation in good order, putting up fencing clearing land, and
planting wheat. Agreement continues until the crop is made 28 Nov
1701.Mark Wheelers estate, (Tailor/Taylor ) 1702: 2 narrow hoes, 1
broad hoe, iron pistol, 2 pairs Taylors shears, smoothing iron and
pressing iron, fire tongs, old wedges, parcel of old iron, old
frying pans, iron pot, small pot and kettle, iron pot, pot hooks
and ladle, brass skillet, 2 old guns, 2 old tin pans, 3 pewter
dishes, 2 old pewter dishes, porringer and 6 spoons, 3 old plates
& basin, 2 old tin saucepans, earthen pot and 2 cups, pewter
mug, 5 bottles & jug, parcel wooden ware, cheese tub, 4000
nails, sifter 3 rugs, 5 blankets, feather bed, flock bed, tic &
bolster Total value 10.10.6
SEA CAPTAINS
Capt. Nicholas Thomas Jones 1700. received 1900 acres for
transporting 38 persons to Carolina by the Lords Proprietors. .
Himself, Cornelius Benington, Henry Lyle, Wm a negro, Richd a boy,
Rchd Baley, Pompey a negro, Pompey a negro boy, Betty an Indian
woman, Ann a mustee, Sarah and Betty Miles, Ellenor Scott, John
Lucas, Rchd a Sailor, Wm Barker, Tho Barnett, Jo Ming, Robt Quary,
Edmund Thomas, his wife, James Shelton, Geo Mas3ey, Ben Yeamons,
Jon Watson, Jon a negro, Peter an Indian, Dido a negro woman,
Thomas a negro, Thomas Howes, Peter Bonaway, Davis Sailor, Wm
Hutchison, Jane a woman, Matthew a negro, Jon FalkonerCapt Robert
Francis 28 June 1718. Pair of small blankets,7 club axes, broad
axe, coat, calamanco vest and 2 pr breeches, blue coat, drugget
vest, parcel of old cloaths, 12 ticken vest, 3 pair breeches, 2
pair osnabrigg breeches, 1 vest, 5 old shirts, 2 neck cloths
muslin, 3 silk caps, 5 napkins, 5 pr stockings, 3 perukes, 12 pr
shoes, bell & cutlass, 7 riding sticks 1 cane, silver seal, lb
allum, parcel thread and tape, 8/1/2 striped stuff, 20 cheques, 34
12 yds of Osnaburg, 5 pr shammy gloves, 6 knives and forks of
ivory, 7 knives, combs and comb cases, Hodders arithmetic, London
spelling book, pair of garters 7 cap, paper of wick powder, 1 doz
flints and stick of wax, large quarto bible, pocket compass, single
slate, gro. Brass buttons, 35 lbs shot, 1 cream of tartar, pair
halliyards, 6 lbs of pewter, 2 porringers, 1 quart pot, 1 plate,
old tankard and 7 spoons, pewter basin, trading gun, large trumpet
mosello gun, blanket, 8 quire of paper, old bedding, 5 old baggs,
deal chest, doz glass bottles, looking glass, 5 small vials, 10 old
books, the whole duty of man, old case of bottles 3 bottles,
girldel, 1 dz fish hooks, stone jug, old pair shoes, iron melting
ladle, glagalade, pair old thread stockings, one lancet, razor and
penknife.
Slaves
MERCHANT Thomas Sparrow lots # 8.9.10 front 32 Merchant of
Arundel Co MD sale to George Birkinhead Merchant of Bath Co. lot
#18 150 amount a negro man & woman Philander & Sarah, a boy
young Philander 1706. Also household goods including 2 boats and
livestock Other slaves first names in old Bath County Deed Book to
1729; NEGROES First Names Index p. 213: Ann (mustee) Andrew,
Barsue, Bess, Bristal, Bursten, Caesar, Charles, Cesar, Cezar,
Cupid, Diana (mustee), Dego, Dick, Dido, Frank, George, Gratia,
Hagar, Harry, Hector, Henry, Jack, Joan, John, Jupiter, Kate,
Lawrence, Maria, Manuel, Matthew, Minda, Mingo, Molly, Oliver,
Peter, Philander, Phillis, Pompey, Pamptico, Pungo, Richard,
Rustkin, Sampson, Sandy, Sarah, (mulatto), Scipio, Slocomb,
Stephen, Thomas, Tom, Tony, Tom, Wan, William.
TAR KILN
WEALTHY PLANTER-MERCHANTS1727 FAMILY OF 3 AT TEA
LUXURY GOODS FROM Philadelphia, Charleston or Williamsburg
A larger oval copy of the lockets miniature oil portrait painted
on ivory (1 1/45 x 1.1/8 in) hangs today in the 1751 Palmer Marsh
house.
Source The Descendants of Colonel Robert Palmer, Oren Alston
Palmer Jr. 2001.
The Palmers moved from Dumfries Scotland to North Carolina in
1753. The couple with their children initially lived on a 1200 acre
plantation out in the county with another 300 acres closer to town.
By 1764 they moved with their two sons William and Robert into the
two story, four bedroom home built by French merchant Michael
Coutanch on Water Street. Margaret had poor health for ten years
after moving to North Carolina and died in 1767. Her husband buried
her beneath this slate tablet, which can still be seen today at St.
Thomas Church. By then her husband had been posted to several
important positions by Governor William Tryon in New Bern. Col.
Palmer built a new house in New Bern, a few steps away from the
entry gates of Tryon Palace. The home today known is known as the
Palmer-Tisdale House. The gracious twin chimneyed Bath home
remained in the Palmer family until the 1800s. Robert Palmer moved
back to England for health reasons and his younger son William took
over the Port Collector position, the family home, the family
business and busy ships, warehouses, the Palmer wharf and last but
not least the largest colonial home in town.28
1713 runaway Carolina Indian boy about eleven years old to be
sold. 29
Servant Children Sisters Rachel 6 and Mary 11April 7, 1709 -
Marhue INGOE agrees with George BIRKINHEAD that her daughter Rachel
INGOE, serve George BIRKINHEAD until age 16, she being 6 years old
next May. George BIRKINHEAD to "allow sufficient meat, drink and
apparel and other things necessary to a servant and to pay her at
the expiration of her time what the law allows." Witness: Samuel
NORTON, Charles MAGER Acknowledged Bath Town, 7th of April
1709.
April 6, 1709 - Marhue INGOE agrees with George BIRKINHEAD that
her daughter Mary INGOE, serve George BIRKINHEAD until age 16, she
being eleven next July 20. (Terms same as above.) Witness: Levi
TRUEWHIT
GEO WHITEFIELD BAPTIZING COLONISTS
34
THANKS FOR COMING OUT TODAY!!Gill
Hi everybody. My name is Gill Hookway-Jones, I live in
Washington, learned to sail and canoe at Camp Leach and Camp Hardee
as a child, and have always been interested in Beaufort Countys
early maritime history. Most of you know my mother so I have
absorbed info about the history of Bath second hand for decades.
When I heard about the pending 300th anniversary of Port Bath I
wanted to learn more about the history so last year got busy
digging into resources and visiting the Raleigh State Archives. I
also became a Bath Historic Site volunteer and a volunteer with the
Historic Port of Washington Museum Project group. This slide deck
is from a slide show presentation about the History of Port of Bath
made in November to the NC Maritime History Councils annual meeting
in Elizabeth City. Most of the information I gathered last year in
the process of researching info for a couple of grant projects I
created for the Historic Bath Foundation about Port Bath in
preparation for this years 300th anniversary of the creation of the
Port of Bath. I hope you will enjoy it. My contact info is on the
last slide if you have any questions or comments youd like to share
with me. 34
1710 and 1715
1710 and 1715
1720 and 1730
1740 and 1750
1760 and 1770
1765 to 1780
Mens overcoats & the 3 piece suit: jacket, vest,
breeches
Sacque dresses, riding clothes, capes, and cloaks
Ladies hair styles, powder by 1750 , lace and lawn caps worn
throughout 18th c, higher with pompadour and one or two curls after
1760
