Started Sailing

Shipping Under Mark

by Dick Rodger

It says

It says "Shipping under Mark" followed by a group of initials

This might not be the right place to ask this question, but I wonder if anyone can tell me what was meant by "shipping under mark". I am reading about the early 19th century vessels that sailed between Britain and the West Indies, and this term was used, followed by a group of initials.

If you could throw some light on this I would be most grateful

Best Regards,
Dick

Comments for Shipping Under Mark

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Apr 28, 2010

Dick, I'm struck dumb...
by: Han

Hi Dick,

You witness a rare phenomenon: I don't know the answer to your question! I never encountered the term and I googled all day till my eyes were square: no answer, except that I saw your name under the same question on some sailor's forum and on this one. The only thing I can think of and didn't try yet, maybe later: there should be records of the trade on the West-Indies, you had an English company monopolizing that trade like the Dutch had.
If ever I find the answer, I'll give it right here, you can be sure of that.

Regards,

Han

Apr 28, 2010

Many thanks
by: Dick Rodger

Hello Han

Many thanks and profuse apologies for causing you so much Google bother. Since it is just possible that I may be reading the old writing incorrectly, can I send you a scan of the original section?

If I can post a graphic, great, but if not let me have an email address and I will send it by return.

Best

Dick

Apr 28, 2010

To upload photo
by: Alex

Hi Dick,

To upload your photo, make a new post in the forum and then I will add it to this topic.

Best Regards,
Alex Dotsch

Apr 30, 2010

Attached image
by: Dick

Hello all

Thanks again to Alex and Han for their kind assistance with regard to my question about "Shipping Under Mark".

I have now attached a JPG of the last line of a letter of 1817 to let you see the way the phrase was used. It relates to a consignment of goods to Jamaica.

Best

Dick

May 01, 2010

How to untie the knot?
by: Han

Hi Dick,

I see a remarkable difference between your first description of the text, and the actual words: "a consignment to be shipped under Mark ..."
Maybe the context shown in the scan offers the solution (I hope): by exchanging the word
"shipped" by "transported" and "consignment" by "parcel", it's easier to think the parcel has been marked with those initials. It's only a small change of viewpoint but for the moment I can't find another way to untie this Gordian knot.

Maybe it's too easy? Let's hear from you.

Regards, Han

May 01, 2010

Still more Mark
by: Dick

Hello again, Han

Yes, I can see your argument, but what is being shipped under mark is a very large consignment, ranging from sacks of dry goods to tools, rolling mills and 18 foot-long pipes, etc. It is, in fact, almost everything that is required for a sugar plantation in Jamaica. Since it now appears that the Initials stand for Jamaica/John F Graham (The "I" being a "J" in old script) it probably refers to the entire cargo of a particular vessel. unfortunately I can't find a suitable department in Lloyds of London that will rummage through archives for private enquiries, and the library/museum services in Kingston, Jamaica have been batting me around from pillar to post. Still, it's all good fun.

And while we are at it, do you know how to obtain a list of sailing vessels operating in 1817? When letters were posted from Jamaica at that time they wrote the ship's name and the captain's name on the bottom corner of the folded envelope. I think the captain's name was Cameron, but the ship escapes me. Would you like a scan of that too?

Best

Dick

May 01, 2010

Don't give up...
by: Han

Hi Dick,

O.K., let's have a try so send it; but you should realize my field of knowledge concerns types of ships and the way they're built. I know next to nothing about shipping, so please don't expect too much. The era the letter is about is just after Napoleon's time, trade-fleets from other countries than England were decimated and certainly not recorded in detail, so the chance of finding any other trace of this shipment lies in Great Britain or Jamaica.

Regards, Han.

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