“…107 Tons Of Beer And Six Tons Of Canary Wine…”

Later this summer, we are spending a few days in Baltimore. Looking forward to it in many ways including things beery… including brewing history. We know a bit about Baltimore and beer already. See, in the 1620s there was a brewery at the first Lord Baltimore’s colony at Ferryland, Newfoundland. And in their voyage of 1633-34, the Ark and Dove apparently carried 107 tons of beer and six tons of Canary wine to what would be the second Lord Baltimore’s colony at St. Mary’s City, Maryland. It would appear likely, then, that the pattern of settlement in the latter might include replication of provision seen in the former for that necessity for the community, brewing.

But can I find a list of the ships’ stores? Not a chance. There is a book The Flowering of the Maryland Palatinate from 1961 that appears to have a reference at page 15. There may even be a list of provisions in this article from the state’s historical society. But Lord Goog is either not so wicked or has not yet found a way to make a buck at displaying these full documents to me. Drag. You would think that lists of ship’s stores from early modern period trans-Atlantic sailing would be the hot item of the internets. The 1670s evidence is there for northern Canada. But Maryland? No. I blame Gen Y. I often do. I know it is easy but that’s why blaming them makes so much sense.

One thought on ““…107 Tons Of Beer And Six Tons Of Canary Wine…””

  1. {Original comments…]

    Martyn Cornell – July 17, 2012 1:34 AM
    http://zythophile.wordpress.com
    Hmmm – probably it’s because I’m using a VPN that currently pretends I’m in Los Angeles, but Google Books opens its secrets to me:

    p15, The Flowering of the Maryland Palatinate

    “On September 28, 1633, John Bowlter, Purser of the Ark, gave his note for 105 tons of beer for the use of both ships, as follows: (13)

    “Received from Leonard Leonards, Brewer, 105 tonnes of Beare for the use of the right honoble the Lord Baltimore and other gentlemen as by the particular accompts doth appeare: 9 for the p according as by the noate of directions appeareth and also ffive Ton of harbour Beare received for the ship Arke and the pinnace Dove. I say recd by me £19/19/- (signed) John Bowlter

    Beere deld to the Ship Arke, Richard Low, Mr, for the use of the Right Honorable Lord Baltimore (14)

    28 in harbour beere ……………………………….£6 00 00
    More teen ton at 3lb p ton……………………….£30 00 00
    more thirtie five ton at 48sh per ton…………£84 00 00
    more sixtie ton at 40sh per ton………………..£120 00 00
    [total]…………………………………………………..£240 00 00

    In addition to the beer which seems to have been several grades, there were (12 pipes of Canary wine” as £14/10 per pipe or £174.

    (13) Public Record Office
    (14) Public Record Office; Md. Hist Mag vol 1 p354

    That all appears to be a pretty faithful reproduction of what was in the Maryland Historical Magazine article.

    Leonard Leonards pops up several times in Google Books: in 1622 “Leonard Leonards, brewer’s clerk” was one of several “aliens” made a “free denizen of England” by order of the Privy Council. In 1626/7 he was one of six “servants” of Peter Leonards, a (Huguenot?) brewer of East Smithfields, London, which was just to the east of St Katharine’s Dock, itself just to the east of the Tower of London. In 1644 Leonard Leonards was one of seven City of London brewers supplying beer to the Navy (his was the second largest order, at 1,000 tuns).

    A ton or tun, I’m sure I don’t need to say, was a cask equal to two pipes or six and two thirds barrels: the beer tun was 240 gallons, the wine tun somewhat less. (That is to say I CBA right now to look up how many gallons there were in a wine tun.)

    Alan – July 17, 2012 7:56 AM
    How’d you do that? How’d you crack the Google code??? I wonder if that “public records office” reference is to the Maryland archives.

    Another harbour beer reference. I get that ship’s beer is a form of small beer that is for the trip so the sailors don’t get loaded but harbour beer is something else. I was actually hoping for casks of malt.

    Craig – July 17, 2012 8:35 AM
    Just to make sure you don’t stick out like a sore touristy thumb—when in Baltimore, pronounce it’s name Bawl-mer.

    This is for your own protection—Marylanders are a ruthless people.

    Martyn Cornell – July 17, 2012 10:44 AM
    http://zythophile.wordpress.com
    Like I said, Google Books’ peculiar ideas on copyright mean often things aren’t visible from outside the US – hence my purchase of a VPN …

    The PRO in the references, I’d be pretty certain, is the one in London, now in Kew.

    dave – July 17, 2012 1:07 PM
    You could also go through an open proxy located in the US, but if you are going to be doing a lot of google book stuff you probably want to go Martyn’s route and purchase a VPN.

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