The following advertisements of vessels TO BE SOLD were selected from
the _Virginia Gazette_ as showing types and sizes of watercraft in
use.
1739, MAY 4. ... a small shallop about five years old in Yorktown,
will carry between 400 and 500 bushels of corn. William Rogers.
1745, ... by the executors of Mr. Thomas Rawlings, a ship carpenter,
lately deceased, the frame of a snow which was to have been built by
the said Rawlings on account of Mr. John Hood, merchant, of Prince
George County, of the following dimensions: 60 feet keel, 23 feet 8
in. beam, molded, 10 feet hold, 4 feet between decks. To be sold at
the plantation of the deceased near Flower de Hundred. Also, a
sizable, useful boat and a vessel called a schaw.
1745, JUNE 18. ... To the highest bidder, schooner belonging to the
estate of the Rev. Adam Duckie, deceased, trimmed and well-fitted with
sails and rigging, some parts new, close docked, carries 50 hogsheads
of tobacco ... Also, a 12 hogsheads flat lying at Hobb's Hole.
1746, MARCH 27. ... The sloop _Little Betty_ lying at Suffolk town in
Nansemond county, burthen 50 tons, with her sails, anchors, furniture,
tackle, will be sold on Wednesday, 9th of April.
1751, SEPTEMBER 26. ... by the subscriber living in Norfolk county, a
new schooner, now on the stocks and will be launched by the last day
of November next, or sooner if required; the dimensions, 49 feet keel,
21 feet beam, 9 feet 6 inches hold. She is a well built vessel, her
plank being well seasoned and sufficiently secured with iron work,
being to be finished to a cleat, at 50 shillings per ton. William
Ashley.
1754, JUNE 20. ... the brig _Lucy and John_, burthen 80 tons together
with guns, rigging, tackle, apparel and furniture, at York Town,
Friday, the 26th instant, to the highest bidder. Thomas Dickinson.
1755, MAY --. ... at public auction May 22, at the landing of Mr.
Thomas Scott in the borough of Norfolk, a new ship on the stocks,
dimensions: 62 feet keel, 23 feet beam, 11 feet hold, and 4 feet 6
inches 'tween decks. Joshua Corprew.
1766, JUNE 27. ... at Norfolk, a ship on the stocks, dimensions: 63
feet keel, 23 feet beam, 9 feet 8 inches hold, 4 feet 4 inches between
decks, together with the rigging, sails, cables, anchors, etc.,
provided for her. She will be completely furnished and ready to launch
by the 20th of next month. For terms apply to Thomas McCullock.
1766, SEPTEMBER 19. ... On the 16th day of October next at public
auction to the highest bidder ... a new ship about 170 tons burthen,
well calculated for European or West Indies trade, and built with the
best white oak complete and ready for launching with the full stock
and rigging complete. Apply to administrators in Norfolk for William
Irving.
1766, SEPTEMBER 26. ... To be let on charter for Europe the snow
_Nancy_, John Ardis master, now lying at Norfolk, a new vessel,
burthen about 270 hogsheads. Apply to John Greenwood.
1766, NOVEMBER 6. ... a new ship, 180 tons, built of white oak, for
the West Indies or tobacco trade. Apply to Joseph Calvert, or to
George Walker at Hampton.
1767, MAY 7. ... a new ship now lying at Suffolk wharf, burthen about
350 hogsheads of tobacco, well built with best white oak timber and
plank. The purchaser may have long credit for part of the money. Any
person inclinable to purchase may be shown the vessel by applying to
subscriber, living in Kingston Parish, Gloucester county. Thomas
Smith.
1767, MAY 11. ... a new ship of about 236 tons, well calculated for
the tobacco trade, built of the best seasonal plank and timber, and
can be launched in a little time, if desired. Two month's credit will
be allowed for two-thirds or three-fourths the value. Any person
inclinable to purchase may be shown the vessel by applying to
subscriber, living in Kingston Parish, Gloucester county. Thomas
Smith.
1768, MARCH 15. ... a well built snow, carpenter's and outside work
finished, dimensions: 51 feet keel, 21 feet beam, 9 feet clear lower
hold, 3 feet 6 inches between decks. Norfolk, executors of Joshua
Nicholson.
1768, JUNE 9. ... a new schooner that will be launched in August next
or sooner if required; burthen 71 tons, and will carry about 3000
bushels of grain; built of the best white oak plank and timber. Also,
for sale, a sloop, 25 tons, one year old, together with her sails,
anchors, etc. Apply to Edward Hughes, living on the head of East river
in Gloucester county.
1768, JUNE 16. ... at Rocket's Landing, one-third, one-half or the
whole of a schooner to be launched in a fortnight. Samuel du Val.
1768, AUGUST 4. ... a sea schooner, 80 tons, two years old. Also a
sloop, 50 tons, now on the stocks, launched in three weeks. Kingston
Parish, Gloucester county. Robert Billings.
1768, AUGUST 28. ... a new vessel on the stocks, double decked, about
300 tons, might be launched in 24 days. John Greenwood, Norfolk.
1768, SEPTEMBER 29. ... a new vessel now on the stocks, of about 176
tons, tobacco or West Indies trade, built of the best seasoned plank,
and can be launched in a few weeks. She may be made a ship, a snow, or
a brig as may best suit the purchaser. Apply in Norfolk. Edward H.
Moseley.
1768, OCTOBER 20. ... a double decked vessel on the stocks, 110 tons,
will carry a great burden and is esteemed a very fine vessel. Benjamin
Harrison.
1770, MARCH 7. ... the brig _Little Benjamin_ about 110 tons burthen,
double decked, has made but two voyages, is extremely well built and
completely fitted. Credit will be given until the 10th of December
next on giving bond with a good security to Ben: Harrison.
1770, MARCH 11. ... anytime between this and the 10th of April next,
the brigantine _Fair Virginian_, only one year old, just sheathed and
now ready for to take a cargo on board, burthen about 100 tons. Any
person inclinable to purchase such a vessel may know the terms by
applying to the subscriber in Charles City and be shown the said
vessel now lying near Sandy Point on James river. Cash or bills of
exchange any time in the April General Court, will be accepted for
payment. Robert McKittrick, William Acrill.
1770, APRIL 13. ... ready to launch being completely finished, a
schooner, 41 feet keel, 18 feet 4 inches beam, and 8 feet hold; her
beams, carlings, and top timber of cedar, and built by a compleat
workman. Any person in want of such a vessel may be supplied by the
subscriber on paying one-half the purchase money on delivery of said
vessel, and the other half in October next. Also, a sloop, burthen of
about 4000 bushels, will be ready by the first of May, and wants a
freight for any part of the West Indies. Any person in want of such a
vessel is desired to make it known to Carter Tarrant.
1776, SEPTEMBER --. ... the sloop _Industry_, now lying at
Fredericksburg, with her sails, rigging, etc. She will carry upwards
of 4000 bushels of grain. J. Watson and R. Dickinson are authorized to
sell her.
Although the following contracts for building vessels were made when
Virginia was no longer a colony but had become a state, they are
included here because of the descriptions of the vessels and the
interesting contracts:
(1) Contract between the owner and builder of a vessel in
Gloucester county on July 31, 1777:
It is this day agreed on between Mathias James of the one part and
John Fowler of the other part ... That the said Mathias James for
and in consideration of the sum of 35 pounds to him in hand paid,
the receipt whereof he hereby acknowledgeth, doth oblige himself
to begin, finish, and complete all the joiner's work properly
belonging to the sloop he is now building, in a neat, convenient
and workmanlike manner. The steerage must be sealed that the whole
shall be finished as soon as possible. In witness whereof we have
hereunto set our hands and seals, the day and year above written.
N.B.--There is to be no State Room in the above cabin.
Matthew James, John Fowler. Witness, William Lilly.
(2) Contract between the owner and builder of a vessel on November
20, 1779:
I, Joseph Billups, Sr., of Gloucester county, Kingston Parish, do
agree to build a boat 34 feet keel, with proper width of beam and
hold, for John Avery.... I do hereby oblige him first to pay me,
the said Billups, 120 gallons of good West India rum, and 300
pounds of lawful money.... The said Avery to oblige himself to pay
the said Billups 100 pounds per ton, to supply the said Billups
with suitable iron at ten shillings per pound.... To furnish him
with money if wanting to carry on the said boat....
Joseph Billings, John Avery. Teste, Joseph Billups, Jr.
Various statistics were given by different writers for the number of
Virginia owned vessels in the period just before the outbreak of the
Revolutionary War. In _Shipyard Statistics_ by H. C. Smith and L. C.
Brown, one of the articles that comprises _The Shipbuilding Business
in the United States of America_, edited by F. G. Fassett, Jr., and
published in 1948 by the Society of Naval Architecture and Marine
Engineers, there are given lists of vessels owned by the several
provinces in the years 1769, 1770, and 1771. Virginia is listed as
having in 1769, 6 ships, 21 sloops and schooners--27 vessels of 1269
tonnage; for 1770, there were 6 ships, 15 sloops and schooners, 1105
tons; and for 1771, 10 ships, 9 sloops and schooners, 1678 tons. We
notice that the report of 27 vessels for 1769, is the same number
reported by Governor Andros in 1698, which is rather surprising, and
shows how inadequate the statistics were, and how careful a writer
must be in using them.