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Slave Trading Records from William Davenport & Co., 1745-1797

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The papers of William Davenport & Co., 1745-1797

Within a few years of this first known venture to Africa, Davenport had clearly become a regular shareholder in slaving voyages and a recipient of profits from them. Davenport was one of the principal investors at Liverpool in such voyages
Professor David Richardson, University of Hull

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See this Liverpool slave trading company's accounts from their 1745 to 1797

William Davenport was a Liverpool merchant and British slave trader. From the late 1740s till the early 1790s, he invested regularly in the African slave trade and was a partner in slaving ventures with other leading merchant Liverpool families. 

Contents

Slave Trading Records from William Davenport & Co., 1745-1797...

The papers of William Davenport & Co., 1745-1797

Volumes & Documents 

Volumes

Licensed to access Trading invoices and accounts

Records relate to the voyages of the ships: 'Andromache' (1769-1776); 'Badger' (1772-1778); 'Dalrymple' (1766-1771 & 1772-1777); 'Dobson' (1769-1771); 'Dreadnought' (1772-1777);...

Licensed to access Miscellaneous other documents

Includes: account book for beads and coweries, 1766-1770; entry book, 1760-1775; ledger books for 1763-1775 and 1788-1797; letter and bill...

Insights

  • The majority of these records are the 'Trading invoices and accounts' for each of the company's ships between 1762 and 1783. These records list which cargoes each ship carried for a time between these years.
  • Cargo lists enable the reader to see how trade with the colonies changed over the lifetime of each ship and which cargoes had the highest values placed upon them.
  • The letterbook among the ledgers covers the years 1748 to 1761. This item covers instructions to the company's sailors about taking French and Spanish sailors with them.

Licensed to access Slavery Through Time: from Enslavers to Abolitionists, 1675-1865

1675   1865

Licensed to access Slave Trade Records from Liverpool, 1754-1792

1754   1811

Licensed to access Slavery, Exploitation and Trade in the West Indies, 1759-1832

1759   1823

Licensed to access Scottish Trade with Africa and the West Indies in the Early 18th century, 1694-1709

1694   1709
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