The Naval Office Shipping Lists for Massachusetts, 1696-1765

Location: McKeldin Library
Call Number: Microfilm F67.M4

Massachusetts (Colony) Naval Office. The Naval Office Shipping Lists for Massachusetts, 1696-1765.
2 Reels.

Description

British naval officers appeared in the colonies as a result of the passage of Great Britain's Navigation Acts, which represented an attempt to control colonial trade. The quarterly officers' lists detail all aspects of colonial shipping, including date of entry; name, construction and registration of ships; tonnage, number of guns carried, crew members' names, cargo on board, the last port of clearance and often the destination. By an act of Assembly, Massachusetts established naval offices in Boston, Salem and Newbury from 1682 through 1684. In 1691 the offices came under the control of the governor.

The microfilmed lists are arranged by Public Record Office reference file numbers with inclusive dates indicated. An index and bibliography are included on reel one.

Due to loss or destruction, many of the Massachusetts lists are no longer extant. Years for which there are relatively complete lists are 1686-88, 1714-19, and 1752-64.

The Public Record Office in London holds the original documents in files CO (Colonial Office) 5/848-851.