1794-1812
Gloucestershire Archives TS163
Minutes of Committee of Trade
1798-1803. List of Tons of Coal Imported at Brimscombe
26 May 1802. Land at Wallbridge sold to William Watts for £21
29 Sep 1802. Hill Estate sold to Richard Harris for £1100
29 Sep 1802. Quar' House estate [Stroud parish] sold to Richard Harris for £1100
20 Oct 1802. Land and cottages at Wallbridge sold to T Gardner for £315.
24 Jan 1803. Watermoor Mill sold to William Brewer for £900.
16 Jun 1804. Puck Mill & land sold to James Smith for £350.
Cost & expenses of erecting a fire engine.
Minutes of the Committee at Mr Sills’ house at Upper Thames Street agreeable to a resolution passed 11 Feb 1794.
Thames Boats ordered. One each from Barnett of Abingdon, John Hamer, Pangbourne,
John Sills to order one boat each from Burgess, Abingdon, John Hamer, Pangbourne, and other approved builders. Boats to be called The City of Worcester, The City of Gloucester, The Stourport, The Cardiff and The Stroud.
1000 copies of letter re forwarding goods from Brimscombe ordered.
J Sills to question William Cooke, Boatbuilder, re lighter brought down by Lawrence and
to inform Mr Smith that Committee decline to purchase trow, the Brothers, belonging to J Yates Jun. Price of construction.
Letter from Edward Warner, Pangbourne, re boat nearly ready to launch. Mr Sills to order mast and covering etc in London.
Harford Partridge & Co. Bristol. Query re carriage of iron to Bristol. 30s lowest price.
Mr Stevenson to pay Mr Samuel Smith’s draft on Messrs Sills & Sons for £200.
Draft on Mr Stevenson for £120.15.3 to Mr Rolleston. Bill drawn by James Barber on Mr Stevenson for balance on coals sold to James Perry and paid by Mr Rolleston.
Information to Mr S Smith re regulation of tonnage of porter.
John Jackson of Henley appointed cost Bearer. Allen Blizard of Petersham gave £100 bond for his fidelity.
Agents appointed: Worcester-Mr Rowlands, Upton on Severn-Mr Clare, Tewkesbury-Mr Easthop, Glocester(sic)-.Mr Geo Harman.
Letters respecting freight and business of Canal to all Agents.
Letter to Edward Loveden re double tonnage at Buscombe Lock.
J Sills to see state of boat building at Abingdon. Warner to build new boat.
William Harper and ---Short, employed by Company, disabled by sickness To receive not more than two guineas each.
Mr Cooke of London and David Burgess of Abingdon to build two new Thames boats.
Mr Black and Mr Blake to apply to Christ’s Hospital for a boy to be apprenticed or placed with Company as a Clerk.
Streamers or flags, of one colour and with letters “Thames & Severn Canal”, to be made for use in Company vessels navigating Thames or Severn
Mr Black and Mr Chambers to write to Mr Reynolds of.Coalbrookdale re his proposal to send coal to Brimscombe Port and to other coal owners in Shropshire and Wales.
Mr Court had not arrived with his cargoes from Brimscombe Port. Other delays. In future he and other barge owners to give security for delivery of cargo at Hambro Wharf unless by agreement. Penalty five shillings per ton.
Mr J E Lutwiche applied to be Clerk at Abingdon.
Lighter between Abingdon and Lechlade to be bought.
Notice of Special General Meeting to appoint Treasurer in place of Mr William Stevenson.
Repairs necessary at Port Meadow and Sandford. Mr Sills to see Mr Samuel Sellwood re damage caused by neglect.
Mr Sills to order one or two boats or lighters to be built at Newbury.
Letter from Sam Smith. Complaint of short weight on sugar and currants delivered at Bristol.
Samuel Bird to build Thames boat.
Mr Harmar, agent at Gloucester, to recommend replacement for Mr Rowland at Worcester.
Mr Sills’ report on River Thames. To attend meeting of Commissioners of the Thames at Marlow.
Complaints of state goods arrive in at Brimscombe.
Wharfingers in London not to forward any goods by Company barges unless packages are in proper condition.
4d in £ allowed for collecting freights plus wharfage etc sufficient compensation for salary increase.
Company’s trowmen have orders to call at Gloucester. Because of irregularity, boat to be prepared for trade between Brimscombe and Glocester. May be possible to lower Glocester freights.
Messrs Jonathan Sills & Sons to pay Mr Joseph Sills £352.1.2
Jonathan Sills & Sons debts £401.7.8.
Mr Holmes, agent at Bristol, reported loss on sugar and currants, caused mostly by Yates’ men between Brimscombe and Bristol substituting earth and sand to make good weight.
Mr Sills to examine outstanding debts on freight accounts with Jonathan Sills & Sons weekly.
Mr S Smith to finish boat for Gloucester and Worcester trade. Timetable to be set up as soon as possible.
Accident to the Success at Battersea Bridge.
Amount of damage to Mrs Stevenson’s goods caused by accident at Battersea Bridge to be settled with Mr Fanshaw.
Mr Richard Edgington of Abingdon requested to receive freights payable at Abingdon.
£700 to discharge Boat Building Account, Housing Accounts and damage caused by sinking of the Success at Chelsea Bridge.
Mr E Doughty of Bristol undertook the delivery of copper from Wales to different houses in London by way of the Thames & Severn Canal.
Repairs of the Ifley & Sandford pound Locks.
Mr Childs to be Company’s Agent at Worcester.
Wharfingers at Inglesham, Kempsford, Cricklade and Siddington to endorse on back of Trow Bills exact times Company’s boats pass or repass wharfs.
Mr Allnutt to enquire into legality of keeper of Sanford Lock’s demand of tonnage.
Letter to Committee of Oxford Canal to agree with application to Commissioners of Thames in Oxford District. Completion of Sanford and Ifley Locks.
Mr Sills to acquire let of wharf at Oxford.
Mr Stevenson to be paid £30, part payment for damage sustained on his goods at Chelsea Bridge.
Accounts not completed. Correct list of Canal Proprietors and their addresses.
100 tons of Tenby coal to be forwarded from Brimscombe Port to New Bridge.
Examination of account of Jonathan Sills & Sons and outstanding debts due for freights.
Claim from executors of John Miers re damage on packing boxes of tin plates. Committee consider Company exonerated.
Accounts of outstanding freights delivered to Mr Edgington of Abingdon to be delivered to Messrs Ward & Holland of Oxford.
Two accounts, Jonathan Sills & Co with John .Sperry, Brimscombe Port, with Committee.
Rate of freights to Bristol, hazardous and light goods 35s, not hazardous and heavy goods 30s.
Mr Smith to allow 6d in the pound to Mr Rowlands of Worcester for collecting freights.
Letter from Mr Harmar re complaint from Mr Knight of Northlands near Chichester. Several articles plundered out of 18 packages shipped on Company’s frigate, Master James Dark.
Letter from Mr Knight saying it was evident that the plunder had been committed in the water. Reward of £30 to be advertised in Gloucester paper. Mr Black to draw up advertisement.
Mr Loveden to pay £125 to Waldron Bingham Dent & Co. of Worcester. Fifteen guineas to Waldron Bingham Dent & Co. of Worcester for damage on 20 packs of skins sunk in Thames.
£20 to Mr Stevenson for loss of goods in sinking of a barge.
Mr Samuel Smith of Brimscombe complained about charging. Charges to be one shilling per ton on all merchandise excepting certain heavy articles at 8d per ton. List of prices on Sunday freights to be prepared. Notice: Company not responsible for any loss or damage by fire etc..
List of Proprietors who have not subscribed agreed £15.
Mr Sills to view state of Sandford Lock.
Dams at Sanford Lock washed away. Mr Harris to proceed with works as soon as possible. Extra allowance to head carters and bargemen between Abingdon and Oxford.
Mr Knight of Northlands near Chichester to pay £30.
Bill £365 3 6 from Messrs Child & Prince of Abingdon to Jonathan Sills & Sons. Loan from Committee members.
Doctor Disney to write to Mr Samuel Smith. Annual compensation to Thomas Bagnall instead of his selling coal at Brimscombe Port. Sale of Company’s coal at Stourport.
Mr Proctor to take as much water from Churn as possible without harm to millers.
Engine to work for a few days if useful in sinking the ice on the Canal.
Mr Brucebridge’s demand, £10 10s, for damage of goods unfounded.
Proper watch to be placed over vessels and cargo.
Differences with Messrs Mander, Tanner, Mawdesley & Smith re allowances for damage.
Details of Accounts of Thames Carrying Business etc.
Messrs Bolton & Watt to be paid their annuity for the egine. Mr Samuel Smith to pay same.
New Thames boat built at Brimscombe to be forwarded to London when ready.
Thomas Hooper, downward freight from Brimscombe port. Lading at Hambro Wharf.
Samuel Bird to build another Thames boat.
Committee to pay Samuel Smith £500 in favour of Joseph Sills.
Draft on William Smith, treasurer, in favour of Sir Edward Littleton.
£30 reward for discovery of damage on packages of goods going by Canal.
Apparatus to be made for fixing to boats as ice boats in seasons of frost.
Nathaniel Lawrence and William Quarrington appointed cost-bearers. Charles Lawrence their security.
Barnett’s bond, penalty £50, not to be immediately enforced, if he is needed at Sandford Lock.
Joseph Sills to inquire into state of the Newport Canal re supply of coals at Abingdon.
£161.17.8 to paid to Child & Prince of Abingdon.
Joseph Sill’s report of his journey to Abingdon.
Lighter bought from William Beesley.
Joseph Sills to purchase coal or flint.
Mr Chambers to inquire into price and provision of coal at Newport.
Joseph Sills to purchase five or six horses to pull Company boats between Abingdon and Brimscombe.
Mr Sills to write to Mr John Holmes re freighters of William Gammon’s oil. £62.12.
Caution against damages, carriage of wine.
Letter to Mr G Tomkinson of Chepstow re fees paid on Mr Wood’s 3 pipes of wine delivered at Chepstow.
Letter to Mr S Smith re delay in forwarding iron castings to Mr Alex Brodie, sent from Brimscombe to Mr Walker of Lechlade.
30 Jun 1795
John Mills Cost-bearer to be fined 10 shillings for crew breaking collar of gate and other damage to lock at Boxmeads Mill. Guard boards from cross bars of locks, out of repair or broken, to be repaired.
Accounts of Thames Carrying Co. examined by Black & Brownlow Bate Esq.
Boats to be lettered, numbered and listed.
Boy employed as clerk, wages £20 16, 4 guineas towards clothing, depending on his behaviour, £10 for occasional dinners etc, all per annum, £15 per annum towards wages of woman in the house.
Notice in papers. Company not liable for debts of cost-bearers.
Payment due from Commissioners of the Thames and indemnification for extra expenses at Sandford Lock.
Commissioners of Thames to pay £67.11.5.
Trows Loveden & Black to be raised and altered for the lower Severn coal trade as recommended by Mr Samuel Smith and Samuel Bird.
Mr Sills to receive demand for tonnage due from Commissioners of the Thames and to view ground offered by Mr Bradfield of Abingdon.
Mr Rolleston to write to Mr John Stevenson re leaving Company, 3 months notice.
10 Nov 1795
Joseph Lawrence, Cost-bearer of Company, to be dismissed. Charles Morss appointed.
Joseph Sills to deal with Mr Sillwood on behalf of Mr Bradfield for hiring of ground for a wharf at Abingdon. Bridge to be built for access.
Joseph Lawrence, Cost Bearer, dismissed - Charles Morse replaces him.
Joseph Sills and Mr Sherwood to purchase land for a wharf at Abingdon.
Messrs Chambers, Black & Rolleston to hire clerk at Abingdon.
Cost bearers of Thames boats to be advanced £30 when leaving Brimscombe Port.
Joseph Sills to write to Mr John Holmes re imposition in weight of hemp belonging to William Fox and weighed by John Rogers and to consult with Mr Bright re punishing such fraud.
Houseage and Wharfage on cheese to be reduced.
Mr Thomas Smith to load each of Company’s Thames boats with 50 to 60 tons of goods on leaving Brimscombe port while there is sufficient water in Canal and Thames to allow such lading. Boats and lighters to be loaded to the full. Any deficiency to be made up with coal, when Company have wharf at Abingdon.
Willam Thomas Weeks appointed Clerk at Abingdon, salary £80 per annum and house rent.
Joseph Sills to go to Abingdon and provide ground for a canal wharf and house for himself. He is to write to Mr Blannin re coal and a proper vessel to navigate to Nuneham or Framilode. Also to Mr Thomlinson of Chepstow re providing a vessel.
Letter to Commissioners of His Majesty’s Customs. Seizure of trow Disney
Letter to Mr Sam Smith, desiring him to pay £400 or £500. Wharfingers’ Account, outstanding freight debts and Mr Joseph Sills’ Books & Accounts to be examined.
Mr Rolleston to pay Mr John Stevenson £10 for expenses incurred for an accident in Company’s service.
Wharfingers’ accounts examined and approved.
Agreement with Mr Phillips for land at Abingdon adjoining the mill.
Letter to Mr John Holmes re freight with Messrs Vaughan & Co.
Mr Samuel Smith to pay as much as he can and apply to Messrs Thomas Evans, Thomas Easthorp, Richard Gearing and Mr Hale for their outstanding freights.
Messrs Rolleston, Perry & Black had interview with Mr Hudson, Secretary of the Customs, re seizure of lading of trow Chalie. Property would be restored without further trouble.
Draft of a Memorial to Lords of Treasury re Severn Trade. Mr Black to be requested to advise with Mr Pitt, Member for Gloucester. Mr John Sargent to be asked to inform Mr Rose of the Treasury.
Application for return of tonnage paid on Company’s boat the Shrewsbury which lately sank in Marsh pound near Henley.
Balance of Books.
Joseph Sills to direct completion of wharf at Abingdon.
Mr Holmes to apply again to Messrs Thomas Saunders & Co. of Bristol for arrears of £25.14.4 for freight. Not connected with seizure of the seeds by Customs at Gloucester.
John Pidgeon, Clerk to Jonathan Mills & Jones to receive 3 guineas in appreciation.
Mr Black to prepare a petition to the lords of the Treasury for the liberation of the seeds seized on board the Chalie
Detailed freight Account, profit and loss.
Purchase of 12 horses for navigating boats between Brimscombe and Abingdon.
Mr Sam Smith to reimburse Messrs John and Matthew Chalie and Rev Dr Disney for money advanced by them for purchase of coal at Brimscombe.
Return of tonnage on the Shrewsbury, sunk in Marsh pound near Henley. Request for reduction of half customary tonnage going up river light. Application for usual allowance for raising ballast in neighbourhood of Abingdon. Abuses in collection of tolls. Request for Joseph Sills to attend Reading May Fair.
£200 paid for 12 horses.
Thomas Beesley, cost-bearer, given quantity of rope stuff from different Company boats.
John Hayes Pettit elected member of Committee.
Mr James Black reported on his visit to the collieries near Newport and other parts on the lower Severn. Report to be entered in the Report Book.
Mr Black to write to Mr Bird re custom of allowing seven days work per week in the summer.
£150 cost of works at Abingdon Wharf.
£508.6.8 to Rev Dr Disney for purchase of coal. Mr Smith to send to Abingdon one boatload of Purton coal by Beesley’s boats.
Claim of Attorney General against the Proprietors for beans etc, part of cargo of the trow Chalie. Mr Chambers to defend.
£50 each to Sir Edward Littleton, Rev Dr Disney, John Chalie, Brownlow Bate, George Aufrere for the hire of their boats.
Joseph Sills to obtain reply re half passage on boats passing up Thames empty and to inspect affairs at Abingdon.
Mr Sill’s report on meeting of Thames Commissioners re application for remission of tolls.
Committee of Trade. List of members.
Mr Samuel Smith to hire a sloop to supply Brimscombe port with Tenby coal. To write to Mr Thomlinson of Chepstow or others.
Inquiry to Purton miners re supply of second boatload or more of best Purton coal to fill two boats every spring. In case of deficiency at Brimscombe port for lading the Thames boats, they should be laded with Tenby or Purton coal to Abingdon.
£400 to Joseph Sills for part of the expense of making the wharf at Abingdon.
Survey of river by Joseph Sills and Mr Treacher.
Charles Bagnall, at his father’s request, admitted to the Compting House at Brimscombe during his good behaviour.
Loss of £16 2 7 on parcel of rags bought from John Holmes of Bristol.
Increase of two shillings on freight. £500 to Mr Samuel Smith for Purton Coal contract, another sloop for Tenby coal etc. Joseph Sills to purchase second hand Thames boat of 90 tons. Lists of Company’s boats to be corrected.
Temporary increase 2s per ton on freight. Company to take 1000 tons of Rock Pontypool coal to Framilode.
Examination of Wharfingers’ Account. Articles of H Nichols, Baylis and Dawson to debit of Freight Account.
Mr Thomas Smith to purchase 3000 cubic feet of oak timber for building large lower Severn boats.
Mr John Holmes not to charge increase of 2s on freight of trow Chalie on goods received at Hambro Wharf before 1 August.
Goods in care of Quarrington not expected till next week. 40 tons of goods forwarded to Abingdon by George Keates.
Transit of grain on Canal encouraged.
Price of insurance on life of Mr Phillips, lessor of Abingdon Wharf. Trow to convey coal from Swansea, Tenby and Neath to Framilode.
Mr Timothy Nucella appointed Clerk to Trading Committee. Salary 100 guineas per annum.
No business done
Mr Samuel Bird to report whether the Loveden, the Black, the Chambers or any other Severn trows can be altered to navigate to Swansea or if not, to Bristol. Report on additional hands needed in dockyard and at the Bourne.
Resolution re Mr Timothy Nucella, appointed Navigation Agent.
Disney and Chalie trows to have sides raised for Newport and Lower Severn trade. Similarly the Black and the Rolleston for the Bristol trade. The Loveden already altered. One of these to be improved with lee boards as an experiment.
Application to Commissioners of Thames to spend £200 on repairs.
Millers Willson Brooks and John Danbee to grind away flashes for navigation of the barges. Repair of defective parts of river, ditches and towing paths.
Mr Nucella’s report.
Mr James Perry to purchase Mr Tanner’s boat (cost £150 and £50 to complete her) and to have two Severn flats built.
Labourer to be engaged at Abingdon, 16s to 18s per week.
Letter to Commissioners of Thames re instant repairs required on Navigation.
Insurance on life of John Phillips of Abingdon.
Report on state of navigation of Thames between Radcot Bridge and Abingdon.
Mr W T Weeks, Agent at Abingdon, suspended for deficiency of cash in his account.
Mr James Penn and Mr R Bradfield appointed Agents to Company. Recommended by Mr T Fletcher in place of Mr Weeks. Joint salary £80. Security £500. Thanks to Mr Fletcher.
Timothy Nucella suspended.
Mr Black to give security for payment of duties on coal if claimed by the officers of Customs.
Abingdon Wharf leased by Mr John Phillips.
Samuel Bird to rig trow Chalie as a schooner.
Thomas Smith to provide 2000 tons of Tenby coal.
Mr Brent’s accounts at Cricklade to be examined carefully and Richard Millar to replace him.
Employment of three or four flats between Stourport and Brimscombe recommended by Mr James Perry in letter to Sir Edward Littleton.
Hearing of Mr Timothy Nucella.
Informing Mr Sam Smith of Mr Black’s and Mr Sill’s intended journey to Brimscombe. Exact statement of cash and debts required.
Mr Chambers and Mr Black to write to Mr James Perry re Severn flats.
Messrs Reynold’s complaint of delay in conveyance of goods.
Mr Edward Broughton appointed Agent at Worcester.
Examination of wharfingers’ accounts.
Price of Purton coal lowered at Abingdon.
£133 to discharge Mr Nucella’s salary etc.
Second payment of £50 each to Sir Edward Littleton, Rev Doctor Disney, John Chalie, Brownlow Bate, George Aufrere for hire of their boats.
