Description

Admin History:

These records resulted from an Exchequer Order of November 1564 requiring all customs officials in the various ports of England and Wales to make their entries in blank books issued by the Exchequer.

Description:

More commonly known as Hull Port Books these were copied from those held at the Public Records Office (now The National Archives). Entry books of the collectors and other officials, recording the details of tickets issued as receipts for the payment of the various duties on imports and exports; Entry books of searchers, waiters and other officials who were concerned with shipping movements and the inspection of cargoes, not with collection of duties; and Coasting books, which record the issue and return of certificates for the transit of goods by coast from English port to another. The certificates stated that the shipper had entered into bonds to unlade only at another port within the realm. Each entry in a Port Book generally contains: the name of the ship and its master; the names of the merchants (sometimes giving the merchants mark) and whether they were aliens; date on which duty was paid (not the date of arrival or unloading); a description of their goods; the amount of duties paid (in the entry books of the collectors); the ship's destination or port to which it was sailing next. The National Archives reference is included with each microfilm.