by Moira Kyweluk
Stocking the General Washington
I examined several documents pertaining to the stocking of the George Washington by John Brown during the heyday of Brown and Benson Company housed in the John Carter Brown library under Brown Family Papers Box 546 and Box 547 folders 7,8, and 9. Mixed in with these documents were several accounts of debts Brown and Benson owed for voyages to the East Indies, most notably to Welcome Arnold. But the most fascinating and easy-to-read documents concerned actual supplies brought on board the Washington for a voyage to India in November 1787 and a voyage to Canton in July. The records indicated both supplies brought onboard to maintain the ships as well as provisions, clothing, bedding and the like for the crew. By analyzing these documents, its is possible to construct some idea of how many sailors made up the crews, what items were considered indisposable for such a voyage, and even some of the goods transported by John Brown for trade in the East.
The Ship Washington Cargo
A folded sheet (possibly from a larger logbook) dated November 1 1787 inventories the “Ship Washington” cargo. This record indicated the Ship Washington was armed with cannon shott, as well as contained a great deal of iron, wine, and several anchors. The ship left port carrying 40 lbs beef, 40 lbs pork and 80 shares of “ship bread” (hardtack). Other records detail the stock supplies brought on the ship for trading, including portions of rum and chocolate transferred to the Washington by John Brown from another Brown and Benson ship, and twenty-five barrels of Madeira wine in the hold. These provisions and trading goods provide much insight into what was of value and in demand for trade in the East, as well as what John Brown considered important to stock on his private venture voyages. On a more personal note, lists also exist of all the clothing provided to the crew by John Brown for trans-atlantic voyages. One such list, dated November 1787 requests “4 woolen jackets, 40 pairs trousers, 9 check shirts, 6 frocks, 6 trousers, 6 pairs of shoes, 3 coats, and 3 blankets.” It would seem sailors on this voyage were well and warmly outfitted, even if they had to share the three blankets among them!
Provisions for the Ship Washington
A document entitled Provisions for the Ship Washington and dated 5 November 1787 documented all the stock supplied provided by one of the investors in the trip made by the Washington to China (Canton). Brown and Benson, the primary investor (referred to as “A buyer of a 1/8 share”) was to stock 1000 lbs codfish, 5 tons barr iron, 4 tons pig iron, 4 barrels rum, 3 wool caps, 3 blankets, 2 and 1/2 tons pork, 3 casks cheese as well as 2 spike gimblets, 1 large hammer, 10 gallons lamp oil, and 1 large iron soup spoon. Clearly, provisions were made both for the ships upkeep and the crews’ upkeep, and items were replaced as necessary.
Bibliography
Hedges, James, The Browns of Providence Plantations: The Colonial Years. Providence, Brown University Press, 1968
Primary Sources
"Provisions on the Ship Washington, 1787", B.546 F.8, John Carter Brown Library, Brown University
"The Ship Washington Cargo", B.546 F.7, John Carter Brown Library, Brown University
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