Whitehaven and Slavery
(Post in preparation).
https://www.nawe.co.uk/Private/1992/Live/attachment1/SLAVERY%20REPORT.doc
Monday 26 December 2022
Thursday 15 December 2022
Whitehaven Landowners, Merchants and Shipbuilders in the 18th Century - A brief overview.
Whitehaven Landowners, Merchants and Shipbuilders and the Woods in the 18th Century -
A brief overview. (Post in preparation).
This is a series of notes to act as an aide memoire.
In order to put more flesh on the bones of the John Wood (1717-88) and his brother William Wood (1725 - 1804) ands the Wood family of shipbuilders I felt it necessary to take a brief look at the main personalities involved in the development of Whitehaven.
The first mention of our John Wood that I have so far discovered is in 1751 when Sir James Lowther reached agreement with Henry Benn and John Wood shipwrights to enclose a parcel of land behind Tangier Street, facing the sea for the use of shipbuilding (Beckett.
William and John Wood and his family occupy buildings at Ropers Alley (Coats Lane). 1762 Census.
As shipbuilders and ship owners the Woods would have had direct contact with the merchants of Whitehaven.
What is still unknown is who the brothers were apprenticed to and whether they were involved in the tobacco or coal trade. The ownership of a warehouse alongside their house at Ropers Alley suggests that they were trading - possibly in tobacco from Virginia.
As shipbuilders it is almost certain that they will have spent time at sea in order to learn the practicalities of maritime practise. Who did they sail with? did they go to Virginia?
Their mothers name was Kelsick - as yet we do not know her relationship with Richard Kelsick.
It should be born in mind that I come to this subject in almost complete ignorance and that whilst I know a great deal about English Eighteenth century art particularly sculpture - economic history is something that I am not very familiar with.
In compiling this research the same names keep reappearing and so a list of the dramatis personae would seem appropriate.
Probably a good place to start this research was with Coal and Tobacco by Beckett ... 1981
Much of the information within comes from the Lowther Family Papers.
Whitehaven - 1660 1800, pub 1991. RCHM, is the most useful source for the architecture and development of Whitehaven.
A trawl of the Lowther archives would probably help substantially in this research, but it is far away and I have no real experience in sifting through what will be the numerous documents available.
.........................
The Landowners.
Sir John Lowther, 2nd Baronet FRS (9 November 1642 – 17 January 1706) predominant landowner at Whitehaven.
He served as Member of Parliament for Cumberland from 1665 to 1701,
and as a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty from 1689 to 1696.
For an useful essay Sir John Lowther and Whitehaven, 1642-1706. The relations of
a landlord with his estate. By Christine Churches pub. 1991 See -
Sir John Lowther, 2nd Bt,
by Alexander Browne, after Sir Peter Lely,
Mezzotint, circa 1684.
His finger is pointing to the town and harbour at Whitehaven.
...............................
Sir John Lowther.
Unknown Artist.
Beacon Museum, Whitehaven.
Image courtesy Art UK website.
.........................
Sir James Lowther. FRS (1673 – 2 January 1755) industrialist and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons for 54 years between 1694 and 1755. His ownership and development of coal mines around Whitehaven in Cumberland gave him substantial revenues, and he was reputed the richest commoner in England.
James Lowther (1673–1755), 4th Bt.
Jonathan Richardson, the elder (1667–1745).
The Beacon Museum Whitehaven.
Image courtesy Art UK website.
Sir James Lowther bequeathed his Whitehaven estates to Sir William Lowther of Holker who died a year later leaving his estates to Sir James Lowther of Lowther
......................................
The Curwens of Workington Hall.
Sir Patricius Curwen (1602 - 64).
Henry Curwen, founded Harrington Harbour c. 1750.
The Workington estate passed to John Christian (he took the name Curwen) (1756 - 1828) of Ewanrigg and controlled the estates 1788 - 1828.
.jpg)
He had married his cousin Isabella Curwen daughter of Henry Curwen in 1782.
For Curwen Archive material see -
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/22905c20-22e6-4daf-8bac-648239eb758b
Henry Curwen married Isabella Gale daughter of William Gale merchant of Whitehaven.
..............................
The Senhouses of Maryport.
..........................
Merchants
The Gale family
William Gale.
Built c. 1733 - 151/152, Queen Street.
Number 151/152 Queen Street may have been erected for William Gale, a merchant who had ships trading with the then booming American tobacco growing colonies.
The house is one of the earliest large house in town to survive with its ground floor accommodation intact, it has latterly been owned by the Bonnar family.
The impressive house was occupied by William Gale until his death in July 1774. The back courtyard was originally the setting for the Gale's own warehouse and a counting house for counting all the money he must have made in meeting the new craving for tobacco. These buildings were restored by the Bonnar family.
.......................
Letter book, 1728 August-1731 July, Robert Carter Papers
(acc. no. 3807), Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library,
University of Virginia.
https://christchurch1735.org/robert-king-carter-papers/html/C28i02a.html
John Gale is referred to as a Glasgow Merchant
Rappahannock, [Lancaster County, Virginia].
Sepr. 2d. 1728
Mr. John Gale
Sir -- In mine by Capt: Bowman I gave you an Acct. of my
drawing upon you for my ballance and Since I have done it to wit to Colonel
John Tayloe for £99"10 which I request yor. paymt. of at time by his
promise the bill was not to be Sent away before the Ship I bought the Slaves
out of returnd She is not yet gon however it is not amiss to be early in my
advice I wish you happy & am Sir –
Yor. most humble Servt.
Per Dunlop.
....................................
............
From a Letter from Robert King Carter to Peter How and Richard Kelsick 7 July 1731.
https://christchurch1735.org/robert-king-carter-papers/html/C29g08b.mod.html
John Gale (ante 1671-1729) was a Whitehaven merchant whom Carter would write a number of times times between1720 and 1729. "Like his brothers John was engaged in maritime trade. Operating as John Gale and Company, he was named as the owner of the vessel Clotilda, built in England in 1726 and registered in Whitehaven in 1727 at 25 tons." His will bequeathed "his half-share in the ships Cumberland and Somerset , his share in the Sea Flower , and 'the whole ship Clothilda .'" The Gale family had many connections with the colonies, especially in Virginia and Maryland. (Gayle N.Mandell, "John Gale, "the Elder," (Ca. 1615-20-1680) of Whitehaven, Cumberland, England," extensive genealogical and historical notes available online as part of a well-documented study on the "The Gale & Gayle Families." )
_________________________
Walter Lutwidge - slave trader from about 1710.
Letter Books 1739 / 1740 YDX/1 and YDX/2 Whitehaven Archives (not yet accessed).
His letter books offer a valuable insight into his many business ventures. Lutwidge’s interest in the Slave Trade is demonstrated in a letter to John Hardman of Liverpool in 1749:
"It would not be Disagreeable to me to be concerned a little in the Guinea Trade from your place as I have Ships & no Employment for them that I am at present fond of (I mean the Virginia Trade). I would readily send at least one of them to Guinea in case you should incline to take me in for a share of your cargo as a quarter, third, half or as was most agreeable to your Self you to have the nominating the Captn & other officers as necessary, to be skilled in the Trade, people here being strangers to it"
The letter books contain much more detail about dealing in slaves. They indicate that Lutwidge made three journeys to buy slaves between 1733 and 1737 as he explains in his Scheme of Cargo to purchase 300 Slaves in Angola. The cargo he recommended carrying consisted of a range of goods including guns and a variety of fabrics; Lutwidge advised the value to be expected for each slave would be £6
..........................
Lutwidge trading in Virginia 1738 ship Walpole (son?)
see - http://www.holstonia.net/files/PattonPart1.pdf
....................
The following notes concern the early maritime records of
Walter Lutwidge are as follows:
“Stranraer [a port town in Wigtownshire, Scotland] Oct. 29.
Yesterday came into our Loch the Whitehaven Galley, Burden 150 Tuns, carrying
16 Guns, Walter Lutdwige Master, bound for Jamaica, laden with Beef, Butter,
and Tallow, from Dublin, with 40 Servants on board, and will proceed in her
Voyage with the first fair wind, they are coming here for that intent, this
Loch being the best Outlet to the Westward in Britain.” (Supplement, 16–18
November 1709, No. 288);
“Whitehaven, March
24. On the 19th Instant the Whitehaven Galley, laden with Sugar and Indigo,
Captain Lutwidge Commander, arrived at Ramsey Bay in the Isle of Man; She
sailed from Jamaica on the 6th of February last without any Company, and left
three of her Majesty’s Men of War, viz. the Kingston, Portland and Coventry,
and four Guinea Ships, at Port-Royal.…” (London Gazette, 28–30 March 1710, No.
4671);
“Whitehaven, May 31. This Morning arrived a Fleet of Light
Colliers, being twenty six Sail, from Dublin, under Convoy of the Seaford; And
this Evening the Whitehaven Galley, Captain Walter Lutwidge commander, returned
hither. In his Passage from hence to the West Indies, he met with a Sloop
call’d the Anne of Liverpool, bound home from Fial [Faial (Fayal) Island in the
Azores of Portugal] with Brandy, Wine and Sugar; which Sloop had been taken a
little before by a Privateer, and mann’d with Frenchmen; he retook her, and
brought her in here. The Privateer had put on Board several valuable Parcels of
Goods more than her own Cargo, which she designed for France.” (London Gazette,
3–6 June 1710, No. 4700);
--------------------------
Further reading:
Walter Lutwidge, Merchant of Whitehaven; author Frances
Wilkins, Publisher Wyre Forest Press, in
Paperback, ISBN10 1897725116
--
Walter Lutwidge & family are discussed in:- The
Forgotten Trade: Comprising the Log of the Daniel and Henry of 1700 and
Accounts of the Slave Trade from the Minor Ports of England 1698-1725 by Nigel
Tattersfield, John Fowles (ISBN: 9780712673433)
.................................................
House site granted 27 Nov. 1716.
Lutwidge built his house 1728 - an H plan Mansion, (Lons52 including (now) 75 Lowther Street on corner of Scotch Street.).(1728 dated rainwater head).
Bought adjoining site 1741/2.
The Lutwidge mansion one of the largest
houses in Whitehaven. View by Matthias Reed shows the rear of the house it is clear to
see the H shaped layout. The central range provided living accommodation with a
central staircase and courtyards front and back where carriages and carts could
decant their contents This is flanked by two large wings - the
one on the Scotch Street side which wasn't heated and was probably a warehouse. The
surviving wing provided more storage and office space. The wings actually look
longer on the original painting creating a square court. This property was held
by the family until May 24th, 1780, when it was sold by Charles, grandson of
Thomas, the first owner, with the concurrence of Admiral Skeffington Lutwidge,
the last heir of entail, for £1,260, to Sir Joseph Senhouse, then residing at
Arkleby Hall.
.................................
Share in the Whitehaven Rope Co.
Third share in the glass house operating in the 1730's.
In 1743, Walter and son Thomas importing tobacco from Virginia (Beckett).
Bankrupt died in debtors prison in Dublin in 1744.(Beckett).
Thomas Lutwidge (son of Walter) established Brewery in 1730 until financial difficulties in 1736.
Thomas Lutwidge 1670 - 1746.
No brewery at Whitehaven until Patrickson and Spedding Timber Co.(Beckett - date - 1750's ?).
.......................
The following notes concern the early maritime records of Walter Lutwidge are as follows:
“Stranraer Oct. 29.
Yesterday came into our Loch the Whitehaven Galley, Burden 150 Tuns, carrying
16 Guns, Walter Lutdwig Master, bound for Jamaica, laden with Beef, Butter, and
Tallow, from Dublin, with 40 Servants on board, and will proceed in her Voyage
with the first fair wind, they are coming here for that intent, this Loch being
the best Outlet to the Westward in Britain.” (Supplement, 16–18 November 1709,
No. 288);
“Whitehaven, March
24. On the 19th Instant the Whitehaven Galley, laden with Sugar and Indigo,
Captain Lutwidge Commander, arrived at Ramsey Bay in the Isle of Man; She
sailed from Jamaica on the 6th of February last without any Company, and left
three of her Majesty’s Men of War, viz. the Kingston, Portland and Coventry,
and four Guinea Ships, at Port-Royal.…” (London Gazette, 28–30 March 1710, No.
4671);
“Whitehaven, May 31. This Morning arrived a Fleet of Light
Colliers, being twenty six Sail, from Dublin, under Convoy of the Seaford; And
this Evening the Whitehaven Galley, Captain Walter Lutwidge commander, returned hither. In his Passage
from hence to the West Indies, he met with a Sloop call’d the Anne of
Liverpool, bound home from Fial [Faial (Fayal) Island in the Azores of
Portugal] with Brandy, Wine and Sugar; which Sloop had been taken a little
before by a Privateer, and mann’d with Frenchmen; he retook her, and brought
her in here. The Privateer had put on Board several valuable Parcels of Goods
more than her own Cargo, which she designed for France.” (London Gazette, 3–6
June 1710, No. 4700);
--------------------------
Further reading:
Walter Lutwidge, Merchant of Whitehaven; author Frances Wilkins, Publisher Wyre Forest Press, in
Paperback, ISBN10 1897725116 (not available anywhere at present).
--
Walter Lutwidge & family are discussed in:- The Forgotten Trade: Comprising the Log of the Daniel and Henry of 1700 and Accounts of the Slave Trade from the Minor Ports of England 1698-1725 by Nigel Tattersfield, John Fowles (ISBN: 9780712673433).
___________
Henry Benn Shipbuilder.
1762 Census at 8 Church St.
Declared bankrupt 10 Dec 1766.
___________________
Patrickson Shipbuilder.
In partnership with John Spedding.
________________________
Richard Kelsick.
and Kelsick and How(e).
For Kelsick and Howe and the tobacco business between Whitehaven and Norfolk and the Virginia plantations see - https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/21048
The identity of the members of the firm of How and Kelsick,
London is revealed by a power of attorney from Peter How and Richard Kelsick of
Whitehaven, County of Cumberland, England, dated 1740, by which they appointed
John Champ and William Jordan of Richmond County, Virginia as their agents.
(Richmond Co. Va. Records. Order Book 1 p. 152.)
.....................................
Kelsick is a Cumbrian name. The earliest Kelsick entry in the St.Bees Register is for Elizabeth dau. of William Kelsick bapt. – 10 May 1542.
It seems the early spellings of Kelsick and Keswick were interchangeable.
The complicated family history is not helped by the proliferation of Richards -
Richard Kelsick born 1687 - St Bees, Whitehaven, Cumberland
Death 1740 - Virginia, USA.
His Mother Isabella Benn - St Bees, Whitehaven, Cumberland.
Father Richard Kelsick - Virginia, USA.?
........................
The Robert King Carter Letters to Richard Kelsick, from Rappahannock, Virginia -
Robert Carter was a member of the Council of Virginia, acting governor 1726 -1727, and a political power in the colony.
see -
https://christchurch1735.org/robert-king-carter-papers/html/C31g07a.mod.html
https://christchurch1735.org/robert-king-carter-papers/html/C29g08b.mod.html
Letter book, 1728 Aug.-1731 July, Robert Carter Papers (acc. no. 3807), Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.
Letter from Robert Carter to Captain Richard Kelsick, July 8, 1729
Rappa[hannock, Lancaster County, Virginia] July. 8. 1729
Capt Richard Kelsick
I Heartily wish you a good Voiage and am
yr Humble Servt.
Letter from robert King Carter to Peter How and Richard Kelsick 7 July 1731.
Rappa [hannock, Lancaster County, Virginia- July 7. 1731
from
https://christchurch1735.org/robert-king-carter-papers/html/C31g07a.mod.html
Mr Peter How & Capt. Richard Kelsick.
Gentlemen
I having the Opportunity of discoursing Captain Kelsick and understanding from him that you had sold some of my 30 hogsheads of tobo sent you in the Mazareen last year when he came away I have nothing to add to that matter in that matter only to wish you may meet with a good Market for them
Herein you have a bill of Loading for 20:hogsheads of tobacco more in the same Ship consigned to you for sale -Resting in hopes that both this and the last Parcel may return a
living price I am,
Gentlemen,
Your very humble servant,
Debts incurred by the forge and the decline in the tobacco trade may have contributed to his bankruptcy in 1763." ( Paula S. Felder. "Fredericksburg and Whitehaven Connection to English Port a Forgotten Chapter in Area's Colonial History Living-history Program," Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star , 7/2/2005, and Notes on a portrait of "Mrs Peter How and her Two Children, Peter and Christian," 10/16/2015 )
................................
Letter from Richard Kelsick d. 1760 Mayor of the Borough of Norfolk Virginia. to Benjamin Franklin, 10 April 1756.
see - https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-06-02-0188
.........................
Captain Richard Kelsick, Mayor of Norfolk, VA.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3717&context=etd
1740s Captain Richard Kelsick, the second or third of that name to trade in Virginia, established a permanent residence in Norfolk Borough. Soon after his arrival he married Elizabeth Hutchings, daughter of Norfolk's foremost merchant John Hutchings.
He further cemented his local connections by forming a partnership with local magnate Thomas Newton who furnished the bills of exchange for goods imported from the Whitehaven firms of Peter How and Matthew Gale. Kelsick thus assured his entry into the charmed circle of Norfolk Borough's oligarchy. Member of the borough council by 1748, he became alderman in 1751, the final step toward his election as mayor in 1755.
............................
The Cumberland Chronicle 24 May 1777 Whitehaven: Today "a fine vessel, pierced for 18 guns, called The Littledale, was launched out of Messrs. Speddings, & Co's yard, built by Messrs. Palmer, & Co. for Mr. Richard Kelsick."
.............................
Peter How(e).
Tobacco Merchant.
Howe Younger and sons bankrupt 1763.
..............................
The Gilpins.
John Gilpin, 1719, Queen Street House House (Lons 43 Queen Street).
...............................
The Speddings.
John Spedding and his son James.
JS Letters to Lowther YCOP/23 Whitehaven Archives
Carlisle Spedding and his son also James.
_______________________
Clement Nicholson - Tobacco Merchant.
Wednesday 7 December 2022
The 1838 Faed portraits of Kelsick Wood and his immediate Family and other family portraits
The Faed portraits of Kelsick Wood and his Immediate Family.
1838.
and a sketch profile of William Wood (possibly by Kelsick Wood).
(Post in preparation).
Currently these are the best photographs available, and as yet I haven't seen the backs.
I am most grateful to Ian Smith for obtaining them for me to post here. He discovered them about 20 years ago when researching the Maryport ships carver James Brooker.
At that time it was believed that Brooker was the carver of the three busts, of John Wood dated 1754, Kelsick Wood dated 1824, and the young Wilton Wood (1805 - 32) who died in the carriage accident. The photographs of them were provided to researcher Dr Crerar of Maryport by Mary Williamson. (we still do not know who this Mary Williamson was!) - Dr Crerar's files are at Carlisle Archives.
The Provenance of the Wood family Miniatures.
The owners would prefer to remain anonymous, but the miniatures are known to have previously been owned by John Wood II (1807 - 59), son of Kelsick Wood, thence to his son Wilton William Wood (1832 - 1921), thence to his son Kelsick Huthwaite Wood (1878 - 1920) who married Roberta Robinson, they had no children and the miniatures passed to other members of the family.
We still have no provenance for the six Kelsick Wood journals (annotated by Wilton William Wood), or the carved wooden busts.
Kelsick Wood (1772 - 1840).
............................
Kelsick Wood - a self portrait from one of his journals.
It is difficult to date - there is a reference here to the brig Charlotte built in 1832 suggesting that it was painted at that time.
.....................................
The bust of KW after restoration.
The life size carved wooden bust of Kelsick Wood, signed by James Fell, 1824.
stripped prior to repainting.
Currently in store with the Winterthur Museum, Delaware, USA.
sold to the museum in 1969 by Norm Flayderman.
First recorded in 1939 along with the bust of his father John Wood dated 1754 and his son Wilton Wood II (1805 - 32) who died in the carriage accident, by Dr Crerar - with photographs taken in 1938/9 provided by a Mary Williamson (Crerar Files Carlisle Archives).
Wilton Wood, John Wood and Kelsick Wood
The tea trolley busts 1938/9.
Photographed in an unknown location - probably somewhere in West Cumberland.
................................
Mary Wood, 1772 - 1841) nee Inman, wife of Kelsick Wood.
The daughter of John Inman (1738 - 1827) and Agnes Postlethwaite (1746 - 1816) who were married on 1st Nov. 1796 at Crosscanonby (Maryport).
Sister Sarah Inman (1790 - 1859) married Joseph Sealby.
Her brother (Captain) John Inman married Ann Blamire
d. 1849 buried St Wilfred's, Davenham Northwich Cheshire.
It appears that the Inmans were involved in ship ownership in Maryport but there is much to research.
Mary Wood.
Above another page from the Kelsick Wood Journal annotated by Wilton William Wood.
Mary Inman (Captain) Kelsick Wood’s second wife (1772-1841) was the eldest daughter of John Inman (1738-1827) (iron merchant) and Agnes Postlethwaite (1746-1816), was born in 1772. She was baptised on 25 Jan 1772 at Burgh by Sands, Cumberland. Married KW 1 Nov 1796.
....................
Mary Inman and her son Kelsick Wood II (the Maryport sailmaker) appeared on the census of 1841 living at Strand Street, Maryport, along with Mary's sister Ann (Nanny) and two servants. Mary Wood, née Inman is described as aged 65 and of independent means. Ann Inman is aged 60 and of independent means.
Mary's son Kelsick is described as a shipbuilder aged 25. She died on 5 Nov 1841 at Maryport aged 69 years. These dates are confirmed by her headstone and the church register.
She was buried on 10 Nov 1841 at St. Mary's churchyard, Maryport, Crosscanonby parish (Maryport) Mary Wood, Strand Street, Maryport Aged 69 years."
For much useful information on the Inman family see -
......................................
John Wood (1807 - 1859) - son of Kelsick Wood.
Born in Carlisle.
Died on 8 Jan 1859 at Strand Street, Maryport, intestate, aged 52, after eight days of hematemesis. Hematemesis is the vomiting of blood.
Buried at Maryport Cemetery.
The inscription on his tombstone states
1807, DIED 8TH JANUARY 1859 AGED 52 YEARS
ALSO OF SARAH HIS WIFE WHO DIED AUG. 15TH 1851, AGED 44 YEARS
AND WAS INTERRED AT ST. MARY'S CHAPEL MARYPORT
ALSO KELSICK THEIR SON WHO WAS DROWNED AT SEA NOV. 11TH 1861 AGED 21 YEARS.
THOMAS TOLSON THEIR SON, BORN 2ND NOV. 1833, LOST AT SEA ON HIS PASSAGE FROM BOMBAY, TO ENGLANDIN 1865
AGNES MARIA THEIR DAUGHTER, BORN 24TH JULY 1842 DIED 16TH MARCH 1873.
MARY THEIR ELDEST DAUGHTER, BORN 26TH JUNE 1837 DIED 28TH JULY 1875.
FANNY TOLSON THEIR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER BORN 25TH MARCH 1848 DIED 21ST SEPTEMBER 1876
JOHN THEIR SON BORN 30TH NOVEMBER 1844 DIED 22ND SEPTEMBER 1913.
CATHERINE MARY THE WIFE OF WILTON WILLIAM THEIR ELDEST SON BORN 7TH JULY 1845 DIED 8TH NOVEMBER 1914.
KELSICK HUTHWAITE WOOD, HUSBAND OF ROBERTA WOOD & ONLY SON OF WILTON WILLIAM & CATHERINE MARY WOOD BORN 21ST AUGUST 1878 DIED 25TH DEC. 1920
COL. WILTON WILLIAM WOOD BORN 23RD JUNE 1832 DIED 12TH JUNE 1921.
ROBERTA WOOD WIFE OF KELSICK HUTHWAITE WOOD BORN 2ND NOVEMBER 1893.
.................................
-1838-John-Faed-adj-lo-res.jpg)
Sarah Wood, nee Huddlestone, (1807 - 1851).
.........................................
-Huddleston-1838-John-Faed-adj-lo-res.jpg)
John Huddleston (this needs to be confirmed).
Perhaps the brother of Joseph Huddleston, former partner in Huddleston, Ritson the Maryport shipbuilding company fl 1830 - 1841.
.......................................
Kelsick Wood II, (1810 - 67) son of Kelsick Wood.
Sailmaker of Maryport.
Married Margaret Smith of Nethertown, Dumfies 8 Sept. 1842.
________________
William Wood.
Watercolour sketch.
This profile of William Wood, possibly by Kelsick Wood is still in the private collection along with the Faed portrait miniatures.
Friday 2 December 2022
Early Maritime Career of Kelsick Wood.
Early Maritime Career of Kelsick Wood (1771 - 1840).
I was first acquainted with this information by John Ferguson who had written about it in Captain Kelsick Wood ... Pub. Cold Harbour, 2021.
Kelsick Wood married Mary Nelson in 1791.1770 - 1792), daughter of Philip Nelson of Birkby, nr. Maryport (b.c.1740) and Ann Sibson (b.c.1740), on 6 Aug 1791 at Cross Canonby, Cumberland. They had one
child.
Kelsick married Mary Inman, daughter of John Inman and Mary Postlethwaite in 1796.
The Kelsick Wood Journal no 2, page 23. This Journal is one of the three still in private hands. There three more - one with the Maryport Maritime Museum, and two with the National Maritime Museum (one of these can hardly be considered as a journal - it is more of a sketch bookI have copies of all three of these journals.
Transcribed by Dr John Crerar (d.1954) of Maryport,
From Carlisle Records Office - Carlisle D/Cr/25.
Extracts from Kelsick Woods pocketbook transcribed by Dr John Crerar indicated
that in 1793 he was firstly in charge of the Maria a 189 ton vessel built by
William Wood of Maryport and launched in that year at a prime cost of £2144.
Its voyages and profits were set out by him as follows:
1793.
March 30 By 1st voyage to Dublin £133 -19 – 2
May 1 By 2nd voyage to Belfast 12 - 3 - 0
July 4 By 3rd voyage to Dublin 99 -15-11
Sept 2 By 3rd voyage to Dublin 111 - 2 -10
Nov 30 By 4th voyage to Dublin 58 - 6 - 6
1794.
Jan 10 By 6th voyage
to Dublin 94 -12 - 9
March 30 By 7th
voyage to Dublin 48 -15-10
Oct 26 By 8th voyage
to Belfast?
?? St Petersburgh to
Dublin ¦ 422 - 7 - 8
Nov 17 By 9th voyage to Cork 43 - 5 - 4
1795
March - By Limerick
& Liverpool 114 -13 - 0
Oct 1 - By Quebec
& London 725 - 6 - 5
1796 By Scheme Insurance ?? 168 - 0 - 0
March 30 By sale of
Maria 2500 - 0 - 0
£4532 - 8 – 3
1793.
To Prime cost of said vessel, built by William Wood,
Maryport £2144
To loss on voyage London to Dublin 139 - 9 - 2
Cost wood sheathed £11 - 8 - 9 per ton
To balance 2248 -19 -
3
£4532 - 8 - 3
Prime cost 1/16 £131 -10 - 0
For Profits by ?? 1/16 £283 - 5 – 6
………………………………
The Postlethwaite was built by WILLIAM and THOMAS WOOD of
African teak, which was stronger than British oak, at the Wood yard, Maryport.
It was first registered on 10 April 1797. It was a rigged vessel with one deck
and three masts with a figurehead and Qtr Badges. It was of 258 tons, maximum
height 91 ft 0 ins, maximum width 26 ft 0 ins, square sterned and hold 26 ft 0
ins deep. It cost £3740 to build.
After it was launched in 1797 it had ten owners:
William Wood, Gentleman, Maryport - Captain Kelsick Wood's
uncle.
Philip Nelson, Gentleman, Maryport - father of Captain
Kelsick Wood's first wife.
Robert Ritson, Sailmaker, Maryport.
John Inman, Mariner, Maryport. (Father of KW’s second Wife)
Wilfred Smith, Mariner, Maryport.
Fletcher McKenzie, Mariner, Maryport - Captain Kelsick
Wood's brother-in-
law.
Richd Askew, Mercht, Harrington. - Richard Askew succeeded
Andrew Green at The Ropery, Harrington.
The firm becoming
Askew, Ellwood & Co. &expanded into ship building in 1783.
Robert Ferguson, Mercht, Carlisle - Captain Kelsick Wood's
brother-in- law.
Peter Dixon, Mercer, Whitehaven - married to Robert
Ferguson's sister Mary.
Joseph Stamper, Surgeon, Workington. - Dickinson & Jos.
Stamper, Surgeons, Brow Top, Workington.
The Master of the Postlethwaite is named as Kelsick Wood.
…………………………..
Kelsick Wood's pocket-book (CRO Carlisle D/Cr/25) regarding
the voyages of the Postlethwaite, for which he was the the Master (Captain)
records:
1797: June, Aug & Oct - Dublin, Dec - Kinsale. Profit
£268 -1s-9d.
1798: March - Waterford & Liverpool, July - Belfast.
Profit £233-18s-8d.
1799: Nov - Prison ship at Belfast. Profit £1016-3s-7d.
1800: Dec - Martinico (Martinique) & London. Profit
£85-2s-2d.
1801 & 1802: - no recorded voyages.
1803: Oct - Transport Service (Government). Profit
£3919-8s-0d.
1804: July - Memel (Baltic port now named Klaipeda, Lithuania).
Profit £24-11s-6d.
The vessel was then sold for £2800
Over six years of trading, the total generated income from
the Postlethwaite £8347-5s-8d.
………………………
The Cumberland Pacquet, 28 May 1798, reported that the
Postlethwaite, with Kelsick Wood as its Master, was bound for Belfast. On 19
Jun 1798, it confirmed that Kelsick Wood was the Master of the Postlethwaite, when
it reported on the 1798 Irish Rebellion:
"Rebellion in Ireland. .. .. .. Further particulars of
the engagement near Belfast on 12th and 13th inst. On the fifth day
the rebels had 900 killed; their loss on Wednesday was greater: the whole is supposed
to amount to some 1000s. Several vessels, belonging to our northern ports were
impressed to carry troops from Port Patrick to Belfast. The Clementina of
Maryport, is full of wounded rebels, who fled during the engagement of Tuesday,
and were afterward taken by the Highlanders sent in pursuit of them.
These are from authentic letters, written at
Port Patrick, the 14th and 15th instant.
Extract of letter from CAPTAIN KELSICK WOOD Of Maryport, to
Mr PETER DIXON of this town [Whitehaven]:- dated at Port Patrick 15 June 1798
'I was boarded by the Doris frigate, in the Lough, who
desired me, if I saw any colliers, to beg they would be on their guard as there
are a great number of pirates out - three of which have been taken and
condemned. They have plundered several.' "
Note: The Doris was a 36 gun frigate, launched Gravesend
1795, wrecked in 1805.
The Postlethwaite entry for 1798 specifies that the vessel
sailed to Belfast in July which is confirmation that Kelsick wrote a letter to
Peter Dixon from Port Patrick referring to this voyage, at the time of the 1798
Irish Rebellion. The following year, 1799, the Postlethwaite was acting as a prison
ship for the Irish rebels at Belfast.
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