17 th CENTURY

Although impressment was rife during the English Civil War it is perhaps most convenient to resume this narrative at the Restoration, that is to say from the year 1660, when the Monarchy was re-established in England after the Commonwealth imposed by Oliver Cromwell and his New Model Army. Yet even during that period of Republic, there is evidence of Hull being threatened by impressment.

“Occasionally the pressgang only secured a haul of useless lands-men, who had to be let go. The local authorities in the seaports were often themselves ship-owners, and it was hard to make them deprive themselves of sailors in order to man the fleet of the State. Colonel Overton, governor of Hull, found it necessary to threaten to send the Mayor and constables of the town to serve against the Dutch themselves, if they did not show more zeal to forward the press.”

[Admiral Blake by David Hannay, Longmans, Green & Co., 1886; pp 102]

“The impress service, or more commonly called the press gang, was employed to seize men for employment at sea in British seaports. Impressment was used as far back as Elizabethan times when this form of recruitment became a statute and later the Vagrancy Act 1597, men of disrepute (usually homeless vagrants) could be drafted into service. In 1703, an act limited the seizure of men for naval service to those under 18, although apprentices were exempt from being pressed. In 1740, the age was raised to 55. Officially, no foreigner could be impressed although they were able to volunteer. If, however, the foreigner married a British woman, or had worked on a British merchant ship for two years, their protection was lost and they could be impressed.”

[Library and Information Services, Fact Sheet no. 78, Impressment; Royal Naval Museum]

In the latter half of the 17 th century, England was at war, no longer with itself, but with the Dutch. The political reasons for this can be found elsewhere, but such was the demand for recruits to man English ships of war, that:

“All through the early months of 1665 the Navy Office and the King’s captains were seeking for seamen. On January 15 th Pepys, with Coventry and three admirals, was one of a little delegation of five who had pleaded before the King and Council that the Turkey Company’s ships might be prevented from leaving the Mediterranean, since of 30,000 sailors needed to man the Navy 26,000 had to be found from the merchant marine. In the eastern counties, where the war was popular, there was no difficulty in recruiting, but elsewhere the press-gang brought in far from satisfactory material – poor landsmen “fitter to keep sheep than to sail in such great ships”, who when caught as quickly deserted, so that Coventry in despair wrote that nothing but hanging would man the fleet.”

[Samuel Pepys, The Man in the Making by Arthur Bryant, Reprint edition, Collins & Co., 1952; pp. 255]

The same work continues later to say:

“To this harried period we owe one of the greatest passages of the Diary. Among the chief problems of the Navy Office in getting out the Fleet was the want of men: many of the unpaid seamen, recruited from the roughest elements in the population, were deserting; one traveller described how he had overtaken four or five hundred of them tramping up the London road. The press-gang was kept so busy that the streets were empty of all but women, and the very messengers from the [Navy] Office were seized as they went about their business – a great tyranny.”

[Ibid; pp300]

There survives in the Temple Newsam catalogue, within West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, a considerable number of documents appertaining to impressment, by and for, one Arthur Todd. With regard to Todd himself, according to the Temple Newsam catalogue, he was the agent to Arthur, 3rd Viscount Irwin in his capacity as Vice Admiral of the County and City of York. Irwin was appointed to this position in 1692, and a number of documents relating to his work as Vice Admiral are preserved amongst the family papers from Temple Newsam. It is with very great pleasure that www.yorkshirehistory.com has been granted permission to reproduce those papers pertaining to Hull and its immediate area by West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, to whom go my most sincere thanks for their help and co-operation. I have been asked to point out that the documents themselves will in fact remain in copyright until 2039, however, it is possible to publish material of this date without infringement of copyright if the identify of the current copyright holder cannot be ascertained before publication. Any further inquiry concerning these documents or any other within the collection should be made to West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds at: http://dserve.wyjs.org.uk

To my knowledge these documents have never before been published in relation to impressment and Hull.

The first document WYL100/PO/4/G/6 are the Accounts of Arthur Todd for impressed men received at Hull and delivered on board T.M.S. `Humber', Lyones Rypley Captain; it is dated, 2 Mar 1693 and/or August 16 th 1693. It comprises a long list of names of those impressed, the date, charges paid, by whom impressed and other columns of data. For anyone with a liking for suck lists, this can be accessed HERE It is far too long to be included within the narrative. It is however introduced by the following:

“Two documents of Arthur Todd … … to the R. Hon’ble Arthur Lord Visc. Irwin Adm’l Vice Admiral of the County of York Etc. for imprest men receav’d at Hull and by order from the Rt. Hon’ble the Comisioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of England delivered on board their Maj’ties ship the Humber Lionel Ripley Capt’n as … March 2 nd 92-93”

And concludes with the following:

“March 24 th 1692/93

… at Hull of the hon’ble Commiss of their Maj’ies Customs by their hon’ble order dated 14 th Feb’ry last by the hand of mr. Jno Holland collect’d of their maj’ies Customs in Hull the summs of two hundred & fifty pounds by the appointment of the R’t Hon’ble rthur Ld Visc. Irwin Vice Admiral of the County of Yorke I pay … by mr. … … … I gave mr. Holland my receipt

Arthur Todd

There remains due upon account as above eight pounds twelve shillings

To my … July 15 th 1693 to be p’d

To mr. Hou…n … with eight shill’g

In my hands makes the 9 th due to them will balance the account.

Arthur Todd

The cover says:

“A copy of A. Todd Accounts. Sent the principal to London. Aug 16 th 1693”

Document WYL100/PO/4/E/5 (Samuel Hodgson's note that John Pashbie of Scarborough impressed by Mr. Carie, should appear at Hull) is dated 28 Mar 1694.

“ March ye 28 th 1694

Where as Mr. Carie of Beverlay hath Imprest John Pashbie of Scarborough I Samuel Hodgson of Scarborough … … it ye said John Presbie doth make his personall appearance at Hull at ye Nags head upon Friday or tusday next upon … my hand

Samuell Hodgson

Samuell Harpham

Robert Haynes”

Following on from this is document: WYL100/PO/4/B/10 For impressment of men for the Fleet of 23rd February last, which were to be continued. To Lord Irwin forwarded to Arthur Todd at Hull, 1 May 1694.

“By the Command for Executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of England, … etc.

Whereas by our Orders and Instructions to you of the 13 th of Feb’uy last, you are directed to Imprest several men in your Vice Admiralty for the service of their Maj’ies Fleet. And whereas several new ships lately launched, and those, as also at … fitting out for the sea, as well to join the Fleet, as to secure the Trade of this Nation, and there being a great want of men for them; You are hereby required and directed to continue … men for their Maj’ies Service according to our aforesaid Order and Instruction to you on that behalf for that ‘tis likely the Seamen will now discover themselves upon the Fleet going to sea, as no doubt they will do when the Fleet is abroad. Dated at the Ad’lty Office this 1 st of May 1694

To the R’t. Hon’ble Lord Visco. Irwin Vice Adm’l of the County of York, City of York, & County of the City of York.

Signed

For their Maj’ties Service to Mr. Arthur Tod at the Naggs Head in Hull.

This tells particularly of the need for seamen at the time, when their majesties, King William III and Queen Mary, England, were untied in the Grand Alliance against Louis XIV during the War of the League of Augsburg. Mary died on 28 th December, 1694, hence the duality of their majesties in this document. Secondly, it clearly names an inn or tavern known by the sign of the Nagg’s Head as does E/5. There are two known references to so named houses in the Old Town, both on Whitefriargate; however their dates are about a hundred years later, so therefore, this may well be another of the name completely.

WYL100/PO/4/E/6 ; is a Deposition of Arthur Todd concerning violence at the Three Crowns in Saltas [sic – Salthouse RGH] Lane, Hull, and brawling over impressed men, dated 20 May 1694.

“This I am willing to testify on oath

That Zachariah Pickford the one and … first Day of may 1694 – At Widd [widow] Shields house at the sign of the Three Crowns in Saltas [Salthouse] Lane in Hull; did threaten to lett five men go away in spight of all opposition (though himselfe was pay’d two days guard 2d for securing them) there was … … in the morning imprest … my Ldd [Lordships] … warrant for their maj’ies service this summers expedition at sea at a very great charge; one of which also said Pickford may… if cap’ed that morning; and being my selfe sent to secure the rest from being taken out of doors by him, after a little time he first catch’d my owne … by the wrong end and to strike at me then took up the tankard of ale to throw at me; but did neither and tho I pay’d him 2d for his food … … yet without provocation all by that time I could get from behind the table drew his sword & without any provocation at all from me, desiring him not to offer ye s’d Pickford such … to our of ye maj’ties officers a fierce blow cutt thro my hatt, wigg, & wounded me on the head, & threaten’d to stab me, when I closed in to save my self from more wounds; but Company came on & the blood was presently washed off my face, wigg, hands &tc / and then he called the imprest men again & bid them be gone away; but by persuasions I stayed them until major Basset dis-weaponed & commanded Pickford away.

Arthur Todd

This is not perhaps the most complete transcription, but if the letter is viewed, maybe someone else can make a better shift of it, I wait in eager anticipation.

Designed by Richard Hayton 2008
email richard@yorkshirehistory.com