Ship Registers

Posted Mon, 06/02/2008 - 11:55

Official registration of English shipping commenced in the 1660s although it was not made compulsory until 1786. Prior to 1786 the registers are unlikely to provide a comprehensive record of shipping although they are likely to have considerable value in providing data about the vessels identified in other sources. Most documents are held at the PRO and some earlier records survive amongst the State Papers.