Difference between revisions of "Merchants accounts"

Revision as of 14:21, November 26, 2012

Merchants accounts

Editorial history

21/11/12: CSG, created page

Purpose of page

The MarineLives project is seeking to link and enhance HCA 13/71, not just to transcribe it.

There is a lot to learn in HCA 13/71 about how merchants, masters and pursers worked with different types of accounts, such as partnership accounts and voyage accounts. There is little historiography on how accounts were drawn up and agreed, and even less on the book keepers and accountants who did the bulk of the work, though many merchants also drew up their own accounts directly.

All associates, facilitators, advisors and PhD Forum members are encouraged to contribute to this page from their knowledge of the material, and from their broader knowledge and interest in the topic.

• What can we learn about book keeping?
• What can we learn about drawing up and agreeing accounts between parties?
• What can we learn about disputes over accounts, and different approaches to resolving these disputes?
• What can we learn about the role of auditors in the above processes?

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Drawing up and agreeing an account between parties

An accounting dispute broke out after the death of the merchant Robert Barker. The dispute involved the accounts for a quarter part of a cargo of tobacco sent from Virginia. William Barker, the deceased merchant's uncle, gave evidence on behalfe of Sir Robert Barker, the deceased's executor, in a suit brought against Gyles Travers, one of the other parties involved in the tobacco venture. William Barker stated that the venturers brought the accounts "to a full periodd all but the summing up thereof", and claimed that they showed Gyles Travers was indebted to the deceased to the tune of six hundred and seventy eight pounds:

• "22. To the 4th Interrogatorie hee saith that there was an Accompt drawne

23. up by this deponent and the sayde Travers Barker and
24. Harvie in manner predeposed by which it did appeare as is predeposed
25. that the sayd Travers (being allowed accounting to this desyre the sayd summe
26. of 482 li- 10 s- 8 d for the quarter part of the sayd Cargo of tobaccoe)
27. was beside the same indebted to the sayde Robert Barker deceased,
28. in the summe of sixe hundred seaventy eight
29. sixe shillings nyne pence and further to this Interrogatorie hee cannot depose
30. To the 5th Interrogatorie hee saith hee cannot answere to this Interrogatorie
31. otherwise than negatively well knowing that hee this deponent and
32. the sayd Barker Travis and harvie did perfect the Accounts betweene
33. the sayd Barker and Travis in the sayd Barkers life tyme and brought
34. the same to a full periodd all but the summing up thereof. and found
35. thereby that the sayd Travers was indebted to the sayd Barker
36. the sayd sume of sixe hundred seaventy eight pounds
37. one shilling nyne pence."

- HCA 13/71 f.248r Case: Sir John Barker Barnett Executor of Robert Barker Sr against Gyles Travers; Deposition: 3. William Barker of London Esquire aged fiftie one years ; Date: 14/06/1656^[1]

Overdue payments to suppliers

• "37. Robert Gollop of the parish of Saint Olaves in

38. Southwarke Waterman, aged 32 yeeres or
39. thereabouts sworne and exámined.
40. To the fifth article of the said allegation hee saith and deposeth that
41. Mr Beniamin Barnes one of the owners of the shipp the Sisters
42. arlate meeting this deponent at Billingsgate, told him that hee
43. was going to Wapping to speake with (Mr hammond) (meaning
44. Richard hammond arlate) to knowe whether hee would agree with the
45. rest of her owners to bring Gregory kerry her master to an Account,
46. and desired this deponent to goe along with him, which hee did,
47. and meeting with the said hammond at a victualling house over
48. against the house of the said hammond in Wapping, the said Barnes"

"1. asked him to the effect aforesaid, and ˹amongst˺ further discourse ˹which˺ passed betweene
2. them touching the said shipp and master this deponent heard the said hammond
3. say and acknowledge that the said shipp ought him eight pounds already
4. or somewhat better for beef delivered for her provision, and that hee
5. would give order to his boy that there should be noe more meate
6. delivered to her use till hee were know howe to come by ˹that˺ the
7. money..."

1. ↑ HCA 13/71 f.248r
2. ↑ HCA 13/71 f.451r;HCA 13/71 f.452v