This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Ship Dawson arrives from Mocha with Cargoes of Coffee and Pepper
News from the Downs notes the Dawson a 480 ton battindia ship capt Richard Benfield sailed for India June 15 1721 and has reached Portsmouth from Mocha and Bombay with large quantities of coffee pepper and Surat goods. Also reports a robbery seizure search for letters found 1000 guineas hidden in a leather belt on a Frenchman at Gravesend. A gardener at Chelsea shot himself accidentally while unloading his piece. A soldier David Batsee was committed to Newgate for killing a coachman. Also mentions a French king pardon offer to reveal English murderers and stock quotes for South Sea Bank and India stocks. Advertisements list furniture glassware and books for sale and notices of publications and a public notice about stolen hounds and a creditors’ meeting.