1794-1812
Gloucestershire Archives TS163
Minutes of Committee of Trade
Mr Joseph Newhall appointed Agent at Brimscombe.
Notice of increase on freights. Captain Wintle to return to Brimscombe to fit out trow Chalie for the Newport trade.
Mr Sills to go with Mr Newhall to Wales to inspect collieries and coal trade.
Price of Tenby coal lowered to meet reduced price of malting coal imported from London.
Draft of £700 on Mr Joseph Sills.
Transfer of £2000 to Committee of Trade. Payments itemised.
Coal contract, Messrs Blannin Saunders & Co., relinquished. £100 to Messrs Sargent Chambers & Co.
Purchase of coal at Newport. Messrs William Vaughan & Co., cargo of coal ordered.
Four guineas to Elizabeth Crawford of Oxford, widow of Edward Crawford, drowned while working a Company’s Thames boat at Wallingford.
Company’s trows to be registered. Captain Yates should make protest re accident to the Loveden in King Road.
Mr R Smith of Bath proposed to send malt from Abingdon to Bristol.
Report from Captain Wintle on working of schooner Chalie.
Mr Sill’s report on his journey into Gloucestershire and Wales.
Samuel Bird to look for crooked oak timber for the Bourne yard and build a second Severn trow according to Mr Black’s plan.
Enlarging stable at Inglesham. Thomas Toward to make pole irons and barge tackle for the Thames boats.
Benjamin Haines allowed 1s per day extra when absent from home on Company’s service.
Wharfingers’ accounts.
Order to forward all Staffordshire coal at Brimscombe port to Cricklade and Inglesham wharfs and all Newport coal to Abingdon and to find a proper person to navigate the Disney to and from Newport.
Order to purchase one wagon for Company use at Abingdon.
Schooner Swansea to fetch malting coal from Neath when no constant supply at Tenby.
Messrs Grazebrook’s freight from Bristol to Brimscombe.
Mr Vaughan’s debt on Joseph Sills.
Loss or damage caused by the sinking of the trow Loveden in Kingroad and the Wimbledon in the Thames.
Hambro Wharf, Thames and Severn Canal Barges. Company not accountable for accidents etc.
Wharfingers’ account
Messrs Grazebrooks’ letter on advance of freights.
Samuel Bird to procure proper seasoned English oak and elm timber for building two Severn trows.
Gross misconduct of Thomas Beesley, discharged as cost-bearer by Committee.
Order to build Severn trow at Stourport.
Fifty pounds each to John Lane and Matthew Chalie for hire of their boats. William Smith to pay drafts drawn by William Vaughn & Co. - £128 for coals delivered at Brimscombe, payable to Oliver Ridout.
Agreement for Company boats to pay at half passage when returning empty now expired. Application to Commissioners of the Thames for renewal.
Advertisement for regular service from London to Manchester and Liverpool by Inland Navigation.
Letter received from Mr John Holmes of Bristol re accident on board the Loveden in King Road caused by trow John of Monmouth running against her and staving a cask of oil.
Mr Thomas Lane to be requested to proceed against Mr William Lambeth, owner of the trow John for damages.
William Smith to pay Edward Jones for coals delivered at Brimscombe port.
Letter from Mr Brazier, Attorney at Law, Bewdley, claiming indemnification for seeds belonging to Mr Farmer lost by sinking of the Wimbledon. Company not responsible.
Additional £60 per annum to Mr Joseph Sills. Salary now £210 per annum.
Advertisement for Coal Trade at Abingdon Wharf.
Mr Sellwood and Mr Sills to attend meeting of Commissioners of the Thames.
Report on meetings. Resolutions to change towing path on Oxford Common from east to west side. Thames and Severn Company to advance £200 already promised. £500 total.
Mr James Webb appointed Cashier and Navigation Agent to succeed Mr Thomas Smith. £100 and board and lodgings.
Mr Sills to make arrangements with the banks.
Tenby coal at Abingdon to be reduced.
Mr Webb’s Bond received and approved. Reply to letter from Mr Robinson, Attorney at Law, re loss of seeds belonging to Miller & Sweet of Bristol by sinking of the Wimbledon. Company not responsible.
Letter from Mr J Lea, Attorney at law, claiming indemnification for goods belonging to William Beeker, James Biggs, William New, Samuel Farmer lost or damaged by sinking of the Wimbledon. Company not responsible.
Purton coal at Abingdon sold to Mr Thomas Fletcher. Wharf required at Abingdon for coals and responsible person to deal with coals there.
£100 per annum to Mr Webb and housekeeping at Brimscombe. £25 per annum for Clerks’ board and lodgings.
Mr Bird to provide elm and fir timber for Bourne Yard.
Captains to be provided for the Lane, Shadwell and Matthew (built at Stourport).
Old Lock Owners on Thames exceed charges on passage of Thames & Severn Canal boats. Complaint against owner of Iffley Lock.
Freights Bristol to Stroud, Gloucester to Bristol.
Resolution on Mr Phillips’ Life Insurance rescinded.
Samuel Bird to prepare timber for building two ice boats.
Application to Commissioners of River Thames re manure.
Two Staffordshire and Worcestershire boats to be sold.
Claim for indemnification for damages by the sinking of the Wimbledon in Jan 1798.
Messrs Jacobs & Co’s proposal for building a salt warehouse at Brimscombe referred to Mr Thomas Lane, Company Solicitors.
Newport coal to be reduced. Payment of bills.
Two Staffordshire and Worcestershire boats, 9 & 10 sold to Mr John Smith for £70.
Freight reduced on less hazardous or low priced goods to Bristol and Stourport.
Letter to Committee of Proprietors of the Stroudwater Canal complaining about an action of Edward Haines and requesting he may have directions not to impede the passage of vessels pressed by the circumstance of the tide in future..
Mr Sills’ report re meeting of the Commissioners of the Thames.
Accounts audited. Mr Williams appointed Agent at Worcester.
Letter to Commissioners of the Thames re charges. Loss of business to other channels. Lowering of freight charges needed. Thousands of tons of flints pass annually by sea to the Potteries in Staffordshire. Boats waiting in London, quantities of goods at Brimscombe. Goods sent by sea or land to avoid delays. Improvement on Oxford Common but more remains to be done. Waste of water, millers should be confined within legal bounds. List of tolls taken by Old Lock Owners. Problem of lighters, carrying part of other boats’ cargoes, not paying full tolls. Payment on empty boats. List of tolls claimed on the River Thames by Old Lock Owners.
Agreement with Mr Thomas Fletcher to allow 2½ per cent discount and 3 months credit on Smith’s coal and other coal at Abingdon. Terms for best coal at Newport and men to navigate trows between Brimscombe and Newport.
Mr John Smith at Stourport dismissed. Commissioners of the River Thames to consider Company’s report.
Thomas Lane requested to state a case on how far coals may be brought down th River Thames short of the jurisdiction of the City of London.
Oak timber to be purchased for use of Bourne yard.
Messrs York & Worthington agreed a freight of 27s 6d per ton long weight for low priced heavy goods from Stourport to Manchester to accompany the Company’s freight from London to Stourport, reducing the total to 55s per ton.
Mr Alnutt at Marlow to mark and number Company’s Thames boats.
Mr Worthington to receive list of heavy articles to be conveyed from London to Manchester, Liverpool etc at reduced freight
Contract with Mr Jones of Newport for 2000 tons of coal. Mr John Baker of Brimscombe to take 500 tons. Mr Morgan Parry, Clerk to Newport Canal Company to superintend loading of Company’s vessels there.
Supply of smith’s coal from Bristol to be replaced by small coal from Vaughan’s & Jones’s mines at Newport.
Thomas Bagnall allowed advance of 3s a week.
Agreed that 6d a week extra per ton be allowed for haulage from Framilode up the Severn in cases of contrary wind, to avoid cargoes being delayed.
Boat builders in Bourne yard allowed 3s a day, March to November, 2s 8d in the winter months, and no apprentices to be taken on without special order of Committee.
New open dock to be made at Bourne yard under direction of James Webb and Samuel Bird, estimate £102 15 3.
Mr Skey to transmit the Company’s business at Stourport.
Mr Bradfield to question farmers around Abingdon re orders for coal ashes from London at times when upward freight is scarce
Mr Lane – no legal objection to coal passing up the T & S Canal and the River Thames to Henley or Reading. Mr Fletcher indemnified in such cases.
Joint concern with Llanhiddel Coal Company in conveying Newport Coal to markets in the Thames.
Tonnage of 5s per ton to be charged on all goods carried upwards by the Company’s vessels, instead of 5s 7.5d.
Very long letter to the Old Lock Owners re facilitating river trade.
Application to Navigation Committee of City of London for T & S Canal boats to pass upward when empty at half price between London and Haines.
Advertisement for Thames & Severn Navigation.
Matter of Arbitration – Thomas Beesley.
Agreement with Mr R S Skey re Company business at Stourport.
Mr Sills to investigate flints at Gravesend.
Mr Bradfield to allow use of lightening boat to persons buying coals.
No Minutes.
Bounty of 2s per ton on Newport and Bilston coal sold at Lechlade, conveyed to Burford, Wantage, Witney and Farringdon.
Letter to Mr Loveden re his debt.
Fire engine to be provided at Brimscombe port.
MR Sills to consider establishing a rope yard at Brimscombe Port.
Letter to Commissioners of the Thames re allowance on flints to Old Lock Owners.
Notice to shippers of hemp.
No Minutes.
Arrangement with Samuel Bird of the Bourne yard.
Order to purchase three lighters for Newport vessels navigating the Severn.
William Barnett of Abingdon to build a Thames boat.
One Bristol vessel like the Disney to be built at the Bourne yard.
Culm or small coal to be bought at Newport for trial of burning lime at Brimscombe etc.
Mr Webb to remit £800 for the purchase of Exchequer Bills.
Petition from Mr Grazebrook re abuses in Gloucester Custom House. Improper for Company to interfere.
Three cottages to be built under coppice behind warehouses at Brimscombe for workmen, cost not to exceed £200.
Sale of coal at Kempsford, employment of Agent not justified. Wharf and house there to be let to person in coal trade.
Agent to be appointed at Lechlade Wharf.
Letter to Stroudwater Canal Committee respecting Blunder Lock. Hearing that the lock is 'in a situation of much danger', we request the early attention of your Committee.
Details of an advance in the cost of carriage of grain from Lechlade, Cricklade and Cirencester to the Severn.
Advance allowance to Thomas Chapman, Captain of Swansea schooner.
Lease of wharf at Lechlade to be obtained from Mr Golding, £12.12 per annum.
Increased charge for freight to and from Stourport and Worcester to Brimscombe, to and from Brimscombe to Bristol, Newport to Framilode.
Increase in wages of wharfmen and watchmen.
General increase in freights.
Samuel Bird, boatbuilder to Company at the Bourne yard – salary £800 per annum, in lieu of present wages, 2s 8d per day. No more than two apprentices at a time.
Order for purchase of 2000 feet of oak and 500 feet of elm timber.
Mr Sills to engage a proper person to conduct a rope yard at the Bourn Yard and that Samuel Bird do superintend the manufacture of cordage there.
Night watchman at Bourne yard.
Order to purchase Thames boat, 90 tons, for use between London and Lechlade.
Supply of coal from Llanhyddle Company at Newport.
Bounty on coal to Burford, Wantage, Witney and Farringdon.
Increase on Newport coal, Cirencester, Cricklade, Lechlade, Abingdon.
Joseph Jeffery appointed Agent at Lechlade.
Mr Abraham Goulding to rent wharf at Lechlade. Mr Ross John Newman appointed Cashier and Navigation Agent at Brimscombe. Resignation of Mr Williams, Agent at Worcester.
Mr Holmes to furnish vouchers for payments.
Mr Thomas Lane Agent at Worcester.
Contract with Messrs Whateley & Co of Cirencester for sale of coal and boats.
Allowance to Messrs Cuff & Co. on cheese damaged in Company’s boats.
Flints purchased from Mr Matthews of Walgrave.
Agreement with Mr Whateley approved.
Contract with Mr Robert Jones, acting for Sir Robert Salisbury, for 2000 tons of coal at Newport and with Messrs Vaughan for 500 tons. Mr Edward Jones to allow 1s per ton on 300 tons of coal of inferior quality.
Subscription towards prosecution of thieves on wharfs.
Agreement with Stroud Water Company re letting wharf at Framilode; part of the wharf between the back of the warehouse and the Severn for the purpose of landing Newport coals.
Letter to Mr John Holmes expressing concern about him not visiting Brimscombe and about his outstanding debt.
Agreement with Messrs Whatley Brewer & Co approved
Coals imported from Edward Jones of Newport inferior. Unsaleable except at reduced price.
Letter from Mr J H Moggridge of Boyce near Gloucester re erecting limeworks in the neighbourhood of Stroud, having a coal work in his neighbourhood. Encouragement for his scheme.
Mr Sills to meet Mr Durnsford, Agent of Oxford Canal Company, re reduction of tolls.
Wharfingers’ accounts examined.
Freight of Newport coal to be 4s at Brimscombe
27 Jan 180
Increase on goods between Bristol, Gloucester and London.
Twenty guineas to Mr Denyer for commendable attention to Company Books.
Great increase in trade of Company. £50 to Mr Joseph Sills, in addition to his salary £160. £100 a year for additional bookkeeper.
New Framilode lighter, built by Samuel Bird, let to Mr Christopher Bowly until new Thames boat being built by William Barnett of Abingdon completed.
Examination of Balance Sheet and Wharfingers’ accounts.
Partition to be made in warehouse built by Stafford & Worcester Canal Company at Stourport. Mr Skey to use half as Company’s Agent there and to be paid for crane erected for Company.
Mr Sills to pay English Copper Company whole demand, £62 14s. 0d, for loss of copper.
Boat builders’ wages increased from 3s to 4s per day. Bird to take on another apprentice over 16 and to be allowed 3s per day instead of his son’s services 2s 9d per day.
Mr Bradfield's letter of resignation received.
No minutes
Proposal for towpath alongside Severn from Bewdley to Gloucester approved.
£500 to be sent to Mr Sills.
