Captains and Cargoes (Part 1)

The early 1880s to the early 1900s is a snapshot of time in the commercial life of James Smart. From relatively small beginnings moving coal along the Stroudwater Navigation and supplying local businesses, his trade developed in those years to the point where he was trading in all sorts of different cargoes from Cardiff to London and Bristol to Birmingham and all points in between.

Communication from the captains of the various boats tended to take the form of small postcards with short messages. These were often frequent and were sent from ports or locks requesting instructions or money. But sometimes they were letters with extensive details of loads, journeys, issues and general information that the captains felt might be useful.

Let’s take a look at one such captain; Henry Watkins.

Using a minimal amount of research on a well-known online genealogy site, it’s possible to discover some details about Henry Watkins. For example; we can see that he was born in 1843 in Frampton-on-Severn and that he was married for a second time in 1885 in Framilode to Elizabeth Dangerfield who was also to pen the occasional letter to Smart. But perhaps the most relevant fact from our point of view is that on the 1881 census he is listed as Master of the Severn trow Flora at Sharpness. The census also lists Fredrick Miles (or Milard) (born Bowbridge) as Mate and Selwyn Franking (born Chalford) as Crew.

2018.16/541 - Postcard of sharpness docks, postmarked 1919

The earliest records I have seen so far for Watkins are from 1887. By 1891 Alfred Meadows was Captain of the Flora and Watkins had a different vessel. This was most probably the Excelsior but I have not yet seen documentation to confirm this. He was still moving goods for Smart in 1894. He wrote both postcards and letters but where the postcards are franked, the letters give only the day and month.

Between January and May of 1893 Watkins visited the ports of Bristol, Avonmouth, Sea Mills, Newport, Cardiff, Chepstow, Bullo and Saul Junction. He put into port 15 times in that period. That strikes me as being no mean feat considering the weather in the Bristol Channel early in the year.

He carried various cargoes being mainly coal but also wheat, flax, sticks and just about anything else he could pick up at the various locations and seems to have been pretty much in control of what cargoes he took.

Here are notes from his postcards of March 1893:

March 6th. I am leaving Bristol for Cardiff then back to Avonmouth for grain.

March 13th. At Chepstow and partly loaded for return to Bristol.

March 22nd. Went to Newport but there was no water in the berth so came back to Avonmouth. Have seen Sharpe so we go to Cardiff for coal.

March 23rd. Are at Cardiff. Hope to be at Avonmouth on Saturday.

March 25th. We are going to Bullo empty.

It was a busy month for this captain.