Description:

Ships’ muster rolls from the 29th Sep 1776 – 29th Sep 1777; Society of Merchant Venturers’ archive.

Portladge Bill for the ship, the Brickdale, 1766.

The Portledge bill was a list of crew . On this one, the complexion of the crew is given for some reason. Two are described as fare, one James Moody of North Britain is described as Black. It is not known whether he was a free African sailor or just had black hair.

The muster roll is a list of all crew signed on for all or part of a voyage, which was used to calculate the money each man should pay to the Sailors’ Hospital Fund (insurance).

The Society of Merchant Venturers is a Bristol-based organisation, which was formed in 1552 as an elite body of merchants involved in overseas trade. The Society still exists today.

Date: 1766

Copyright: Copyright The Society of Merchant Venturers