Naval Officer Records of the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts,

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no use restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Naval Officer Records of the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts, 1778-1792. [Cite specific accession used], State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Creator:
Library of Virginia.
Preferred citation:

Naval Officer Records of the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts, 1778-1792. [Cite specific accession used], State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Naval Officer records include the following: Returns of goods imported and exported, 1778-1789; Office of the Searcher permits and returns, 1787-1789; Ship registrations, 1785-1989; State Boats Liberty and Patriot, 1782-1789; and Miscellaneous, 1782-1789.

The duties of the naval officers required them to examine goods and clear them for import or export. Entering and exiting vessels include shipments to and from ports in other states, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean. Entering vessels often included imports of ballast, cheese, chocolate, cloth, coffee, cordage, flour, glass and glassware, hemp, iron, molasses, nails, oil, oranges, sails and rigging, salt, snuff, spirits (ale, beer, brandy, cider, gin, port, rum, whiskey, wine), sugar, tea, and woolens, and occasionally may include items such as books, coaches and phaetons. Exports often included bacon, corn, flaxseed, flour, ginseng, grain, lard, lumber, oats, peas, pork and tobacco.

Returns, 1778-1789, include various types of returns, lists and accounts. May include returns for: Vessels Entered (imports), Vessels Cleared (exports), Duties Collected and Secured, Vessels Cleared - Hospital and Tonnage, Revenue Collected, Total Exports (exclusive of tobacco), Total Exports of Tobacco, Total Imports, and Total Tonage and Seamen, as well as Books of Bonds and Books of Duties. May also include correspondence, accounts with the Commonwealth, miscellaneous accounts and other miscellaneous documents. Returns may alternately be named as accounts, books and lists.

Includes returns for the Accomac District, Elizabeth River District, Lower James River District, Northampton District, Rappahannock District, South Potomac District, South Quay District, Upper James River District, and York River District.

Returns of Vessels Entered document vessels arriving in the district and typically include date, vessel name, master name, where from, and cargo being transported. May also include type of vessel and tonage, by whom owned, number of seamen, and from whence. Cargo description provides number of caskets, parcels, packages and other articles, with a general description of the goods. Later returns may include information on duties (paid, bonded, or deposited), where cargo is to be delivered, and to whom cargo is consigned.

Returns of Vessels Cleared document vessels leaving the district and typically include date, vessel name, master name, where bound and cargo being exported. May also include number of men and tonage.

Returns of Duties Collected and Secured document duties and taxes collected on entering and clearing vessels and their cargo. These returns typically include date, name of vessel, master name, from whence, bottom, (tonnage), tax amount, amount of bond or cash received, number of men and tax, and amounts of tax collected on tonage, revenue, seamen belonging to Virginia vessels, and amounts of tax collected for certificates, Marine Hospital, redemption of military certificates, general fund, and goods rated ad valorum, and Impost, as well as any exemptions, duties arising from tonnage.

Returns of Vessels Cleared - Hospital and Tonage include date, day, vessel name, master name, where bound, number of men, tonage and amount of duties collected.

Returns of Total Exports (exclusive of tobacco) include date, commodity exported, quantity, for what place, and from what river or creek.

Returns of Tobacco Exported include date, marks, quantity, warehouse, vessel, to what port and by whom exported.

Returns of Total Imports include date, commodity imported, quantity, from what place, for what port of delivery and duties.

Returns of Total Tonnage and Seamen include vessel name, tons, where built, number of seamen and from what state or country.

Books/Lists (copy of) Duties Received/Collected and Secured include date, vessel name, master name, where from, bottoms, and duties arising from tonnage.

Books/Lists (copy of) of bonds include date, obligor, penalty, principal, and when returned to the Solicitor.

Other types of records that may be found include: Returns/Lists of Vessels Entered and Duties Paid include date, vessel name, master, from what port and amount paid; Returns of Duties on Tonnage, Coffee, Sugar and Dry Goods include date, vessel name, master, from what port, number of tons, value of good, sum due and when payable; Returns of Revenue Arising from Duties include date, master name, port, vessel name, duties imposed by revenue, and duties imposed by certificate; Accounts of Duty Goods Imported include date, vessel name, master name, where from, duties ascertained, duties bonded and amount of duties received; Accounts of Hospital Money Received from vessels entering and clearing include date, vessel name, master name, where from or where bound, number of men, and total amount of hospital money collected.

Office of the Searcher records include both returns and permits. Returns of vessels with their cargo include date, name of vessel, kind of vessel and number of tons, by whom owned, number of seamen, where from, general description of goods/merchandise, duties (paid, bonded, deposited), where goods to be delivered and to whom goods consigned. Searchers assisted Naval Officers and registered vessels as they arrived in port, examined and described their cargoes, and noted to whom the goods were consigned. Searchers also registered goods being imported overland.

Imports include such items as almonds, books, cider, crockery, furniture, hair powder, herring, linen, medicine, oil, pickles, rice, rigging, sails, salmon, shrubs, silverware, spices, tools, vinegar, wine and wool.

Searchers included: Corbin Braxton (York River / West Point), George Catlett (Port Royal), John Hague (Richmond / Rockets Landing), Mr. Hudson (Portsmouth), John Keesee (Yeocomico), William Lewis (Fredericksburg), James M. McRae (Alexandria), Andrew Nixon (Bermuda Hundred), Mr. Richardson (Suffolk), Christopher Roane (City Point, Petersburg), Richard M. Scott (Dumfries), Charles Smith (Northampton / Cheriton River), and James Warder (Bermuda Hundred).

Ship registrations, 1785-1789, include port, ship name, master, tons, where built and when, and the name of the owner and their residence and citizenship. Also includes several oaths related to the citizenship of crew members.

State Boat records, 1782-1789, include accounts, correspondence, payrolls and receipts for the Boat Liberty and Schooner Patriot, which were used by naval officers in the exercise of their duties. Accounts and receipts for provisions and supplies include items such as buckets, candles, canvas, clothing, cordage, cutlery, foodstuf (beef, flour, pork, potatoes, salt), guns, lanterns, lead, nails, oars, oil, paint, planks, pots and pans, rope, shovels, spirits (brandy, rum), tar, tools, turpentine, and twine. Also includes payments to tradesmen such as blacksmiths, bricklayers, carpenters, caulkers, ironworkers, and joiners, for repairs to and maintenance of the state boats. Payrolls include date, name, station, days and months of service, and pay.

The Boat Liberty was commanded by Lieutenant Micheal James, and Commodore James Barron mastered the Schooner Patriot and also served as paymaster and victualer for both ships. During its session begun in October 1788, the General Assembly directed that the boats be sold.

Miscellaneous records, 1782-1789, include a variety of records that were not filed with other series in this collection, and include such items as accounts, bonds, certificates, correspondence, returns, and ship manifests.

James River District records include the following volumes:

Manifest book, 1773-1775, consists of lists of lading including date, ship name, master, where bound, by whom shipped, and to whom consigned.

Book of inward entries and invoices, 1787-1789, includes date, ship name, master, cargo with amount, and amounts due for customs.

Elizabeth River District records include the following volumes:

Book of inward entries, 1789 Mar-July, includes date, ship name, master, cargo with amount, where built, where from, tonnage, cargo, where to be delivered, consignee, and amount due for customs.

Book of outward clearances, 1789 Mar-July, includes date, ship name, master, cargo, where build, bound for, tonnage and number of men.

Invoice book, 1789 Mar-July, includes date, ship name, cargo with amount, amount due for customs, and specie and certificate amounts.

Biographical / historical:

During the colonial period the governor appointed customs officials (naval officers) directly, but this practice ended following independence. During its session begun in October 1776, the General Assembly passed an act creating customs districts, providing for the election of naval officers to serve in each district, and for fixing duties and ascertaining fees. The governor issued commissions to the naval officers following their election by the General Assembly. Each officer was assisted by one or more assistants, called searchers, who registered vessels as they arrived in port, examined and described their cargoes, and noted to whom the goods were consigned. The naval officers and their assistants also were responsible for registering goods to be exported. The collection of customs by individual states ended in 1790, when the government of the United States assumed that function.

Naval Officer districts were created for the Accomac, Elizabeth River, Lower James River, Northampton, Rappahannock River, South Potomac River, Upper James River and the York River.

Naval Officers included the following: Accomac District (Eastern Shore) - William Gibb; Elizabeth River District - Lewis Burwell; Lower James River District (Hampton) - Jacob Wray; Northampton District (Eastern Shore) - George Savage; Rappahannock District - Hudson Muse; South Potomac District- Charles Lee; South Quay District - Thomas Bowne; Upper James River District - Beverly Dickson; York River District - Abraham Archer.

Acquisition information:
Acquired prior to 1905.
Arrangement:

Arranged by series.

Physical description:
23.85 cubic feet (27 boxes) and 5 volumes.