Maritime Resources in Norfolk 1580
The Stiffkey Papers
The records of Sir Nathaniel Bacon of Stiffkey hold many details of life in north Norfolk at the end of the 16th century. They include this listing of maritime resources available in the county. Vessels under 6 tons were not listed; at this date Cromer had three larger vessels listed at its port, in addition to smaller fishing vessels. We can perhaps associate these three, plus other visiting vessels, with the attempts of the time to maintain a pier or jetty.
NRO RAY 46, as printed in the Stiffkey PapersCertificate of maritime resources in Norfolk
1580, November [post 20]. An abstracte of the certifycate sent to the Lord Admyrall in Novembre 1580. This abstract should followe the certifycate. Comitatus Norfolk Shippes and vesselles above the burthen of 16 toonnes 109 Owners of all thos vessells 109 Shipmaisters in every the portes 180 Pylottes belonginge to thos portes 7 Shipwrightes & shipcarpinters 45 Maryners & other seafaring men 1,023 Gunners 7 Drumers 1 ------------- 1,263 persons besydes owners 109 ------------- in toto 1,372 Yarmouth Magna Shippes vessells above the burthen of 20 toonnes 61 Owners of all thos vesselles 42 Shipmasteres in Yarmouth port 42 Pylottes belonginge to that haven 3 Shipwrightes & shipcarpinters 30 Mariners other seafaringe men 343 Gunners 5 Drummers 2 ------------- 425 persons besydes owners 42 in toto 467 Shippes, vessels and persons bothe throughe out the whole countie of Norfolk & the porte, haven and towne of Greate Yarmouth as followeth, viz: Shippes and vessels above mencioned 170 Owners of thos vessells 151 Shipmaisters 222 Pylottes 10 Shipwrightes & shipcarpinters 75 Maryners & other seafaring men 1,366 Gunners 12 Drummers 3 ------------- 1,688 persons besydes owners 151 ------------- in toto 1,839 ------------- The names of the shippes or vessells with the burthens of the same and the severall owners of them within the countie of Norfolk Here wanteth the Lord Admyralles letter. Caster The fisherboate of fyftene tonne wherof Jeames Randall is owner. Eccles The fisherboate of eighte tonnes wherof Henrie Hydes is owner. Shipden alias Cromer The William of Cromer of 20 tonnes Thomas Fishe owner. The William of Cromer of 15 tonnes Thomas Fishe, W. Richarson & J. Daynes owners. The Margaret of Cromer of tenne tonnes Richard Bennet & Clement Magles owners Sheringham The John of Sheringham of fowrtene tonnes Edmund Hooke owner. The Peter of Sheringham of thirtie tonnes William Allison owner Waybourne The Peter of Waybourne of 70 tonnes Rose Rooke owner. The Rose of Waybourne of 60 tonnes Rose Rooke owner. Claye The Marye George of Claye of 100 tonnes Richarde Ralye owner. The Grissell of Claye of on hundreth tonnes Gyles Symondes owner. The Laverett of Claye of 80 [&] tene tonnes Gyles Symondes owner. The Beggers Gyfte of Claye of 80 tonnes Richarde Raylie, Edwarde Wilkenson & John Apporedge owners. The Richarde of Claye of 30 tonnes Richard Ralye & E. Monie owners. The Grace of God of Claye of fowrtie tonnes Christofer Newgatt owner. The Clement of Claye of fowertie tonnes Christofer Newgat owner. The Christofer of Cleye of twentie tonnes Ro. Dowell[&]Jo. Thornton owners. The Marye Fortune of Clare of twentie tonnes Robert Barker owner. The William of Claye of 20 tonnes William Chambers owner. The Clement of Claye of 18 tonnes William Crowe owner. Weveton The Marie Grace of Weveton of sixe score tonnes John Dobbe & Jeames Graye owners. The Marie Jeames of 80 tonnes Jeames Graye owner. The Marie Anne of Weveton of on hundred tonnes Hue Gynne owner. The Susan of on hundred tonnes Hue Gynne & Richard Weld owners. The Gyfte of God of Weveton of 100 tonnes W. Godscark & Jo. Podich owners. The Jeames of Weveton of 40 tonnes Jeames Graye owner. The John of Weveton of 40 tonnes John Podiche owner. The Marie of Weveton of 80 tonnes John Smyth & Je. Smyth owner. The William of Weveton of 50 tonnes John Smyth owner. The New Yeare of Weveton of SO tonnes Symon Bright & Jo. Bettes owners. The Christofer of Weveton of 50 tonnes Christofer Thurlowe owner. The Mathue of Weveton of SO tonnes John Graye owner. The John of Weveton of 45 tonnes Thomas Cliwell & Robert I.Cl.I Browne owners. Blakney alias Sneterley The Gregorie of Blakney of 80 tonnes John Dobbe & Ra. Ralie owners. The Grace of God of SO tonnes William Welde owner. The Valentine of Blakney of 100 tonnes George Barker owner. The Katteryne of Blakney of 80 [&] 10 tonnes Peter Page & Katherine Page widd. owners The Marye Fortune of 40 tonnes John Dobbe owner. The Fox of Blakney of fyftie tonnes Peter Page owner. The George of Blakney of 30 tonnes William Godscare owner. The William of Blakney of 30 tonnes John Pierson, Robert Pull and George Shilde owners. The Gyfte of God of Blakney of 60 tonnes John Pierson owner. The Peter of Blakney of 53 tonnes Robert Pag & K. Page owners. The John of Blakney of 20 tonnes wherof Thomas Barker & Edmunde Gylberte owners. The John of Blakney of sixtene tonnes Jeaferie Tansey owner. Wellis The Ambrose of Wellis of 100 tonnes Ambrose Fyske owner. The Symondes of Wellis of 80 tonnes Ambrose Fiske owner. The Clementes of Wellis of 8 score tonnes William Sabbe owner. The Jeames of Wellis of 80 tonnes William Sabbe owner. The William of Wellis of 60 tonnes William Sabbe owner. The Anne Frauncies of Wellis of 30 tonnes the seyd William Sabbe & William Congham owners. The Marye Fortune of twentie tonnes William Sabbe owner. The Barke of on hundred tonnes Nicholas Pomfrett & Fr. Todd owners. The Godes Gyfte of Wellis of 60 [&] ten tonnes Nicholas Pomfret owner. The Elizabethe of Wellis of 4 [score&] 10 tonnes John Howsego & Robert Grene owners. The Peter of Wellis of 24 tonnes John Housego & John Housego junior owners. The Margaret of Wellis of 40 tonnes William Washlebye and William Atkynes owners. The Barnabie of Wellis of 36 tonnes William Washelbye owner. The Good Grace of Wellis of 36 tonnes Thomas Dey owner. The George of Wellis of 34 tonnes Andrew Grogon owner. The John of Wellis of 26 tonnes John Congham & Nicholas Pomfrett owners. The Robert of Wellis of 40 tonnes Robert Wallet owner. The Mathue of Wellis of 20 tonnes George Archer owner. The Marie Anne of Wellis of fyftie tonnes John Frarye owner. Stykie The John of Stykie of twentie tonnes Thomas Man [&) Robert Poynter owners. Hitcham The Jonas of Hitcham of 60 & 10 tonnes Eustas Rolfe owner. The Christe of Hitcham of SO tonnes Eustas Rolfe owner. The Thomas of Hitcham of 20 tonnes Thom[a]s Skippon & John Ripas owners. Ringsteade The Comforte of thirtie tonnes Thom[a]s Read & John Read owners. The Harte of 30 tonnes Thom[a]s Read [&] John Read owners. Hounstanton The Hounde of 30 tonnes Thomas Houlderbye owner. Holme The shipe called the Marie of 40 tonnes Mr Henrie Veare & Gyles Godfrie owners. Brancaster The Marie Flower. Gyft of God of 40 tonnes. 30 tonnes Robert Dalaman owner. Burneham Debdale The Marie Sysley of Burneham of 20 tonnes John Shorte & Robert Smythe owners. Burneham Norton The Saker of Burneham of 20 tonnes John Smyth & Ed. Smyth owners. Kynges Lynne The David of Lyne of SO tonnes Fratmcies Shaxton owner. The Antlop of Lyne of fortie tonnes Francis Shaxton owner. The Grahound of Lyne of SO tonnes Mr Shaxton owner. The Jeames of Lynn of 40 tonnes Frauncies Shaxton owner. The Marie Fortune of Lynne of SO tonnes John Dytchfeld & William Battman owners. The John of Lynne of 30 tonnes William Batman owner. The Marie Jermin of Lynne of SO tonnes Richard Waters & William Cragge owners. The Thomas of 40 tonnes John Myller & Thomas Backhouse owners. The Mathew of Lynne of SO tonnes Richard Ritchese & John Kercher owners. The Jhesus of 40 tonnes John Benns & Robert Page owners. The Margaret of Lynn of 20 tonnes William Kyrby & John Hayes owners. The Charitie of Lynne of fortie 2 tonnes John Hayes & John Kercher owners. The Gyfte of God of 30 tonnes Bartholomew Wormell owner. The Gyft of God of 30 tonnes John Barker & John Spinckes owners. The Thom[a]s of on hundred 30 tonnes Thomas Claborne owner. The Faukyne of 60 tonnes Thomas Claborne owner. The Doritie of Lyne of 54 tonnes Thomas Claborne owner. The Swallowe of Lynne of 30 tonnes Thomas Claborne owner. The Thomas of Lynn of 54 tonnes William Garret & Syth Hollie owners. The Harte of Lynne of 34 tonnes John Lowe & Anne Mason, widdow, owners. The Lyon of Lynne of fortie tonnes William Girlinge owner. The Lyon of Lynne of 48 tonnes Mr Clemens owner. The Doritie of Lynne of 56 tonnes William Wollman, George Fayerle, John Spence owners. The Jhesus of Lynne of 60 & ten tones Thomas Leighton owner. The Marye Jeames of 60 [&] tenne tonnes Mr William Fincham owner. The Blacke Lion of seven score tonnes William Fincham owner. The Imanuell of 30 tonnes John Mason owner. The Katherine of Lynne of on houndred tonnes Henry Violet owner. The Swanne of Lynne of fortie sixe tonnes Thomas Grave owner. The ship called the William 60 tonnes Thomas Grave owner. The Marie Fortune of thirtie tonnes Thomas Grave owner. The Simoniowe of Lynne SO tonnes Thomas Grave owner. YARMOUTIIE South Leete Inprimis the shippe called the Marye and John of 58 tonnes John Grosse owner. The Christe 34 tonnes John Cocke owner. The John 21 tonnes John Cocke owner. The Jhesus 20 tonnes Willi.am Bolden owner. The Nicholas 24 tonnes John Bolden owner. The William 21 tonnes Robert Grose owner. The Dionise 60 tonnes John Grosse junior owner. The Daniell 76 tonnes John Felton owner. The Margaret 24 tonnes John Felton owner. The Fortune of SO tonnes Richard Smythe owner. The John 26 tonnes Richard Smythe owner. The Flie of 24 tonnes John Smythe owner. The Diones of 24 tonnes William Lyon owner. The Trinetie of 60 tonnes Rafe Wullhouse owner. The Meenekin 26 tonnes Rafe Wullhouse owner. The Peter of 26 tonnes Richard Ingham owner. The Osper of 30 tonnes John Smyth thelder owner. The John of 20 tonnes John Smythe owner. The Margaret of 26 tonne John Wheler owner The Marye of 22 tonne John Sallie owner. Nov[e]mber 20 South Midd The Hoope of 100 tonne William Musgrave owner. The Jane 0£ 60 tonnes William Musgrave owner. The Barbara of 58 tonne Thomas Monyman owner. The John of 22 tonnes Thomas Monyman owner. The Guyfte of God of 200 tonnes William Crowe owner. The Bartyllmew of 70 tonnes William Crowe owner. The Jesus of 36 tonnes William Crowe owner. The John 30 tonnes owner Richard Modie. The Marye Margerye 26 tonne John Thorowarde owner. The Margerie of 40 tonne owner Peter Paine. The Elline of 30 tonne Rafe Tompson owner. The Abygall of 30 tonne Gregorye Gose owner. The Daniell of 35 tonnes Henrie Stanton owner. The Peter of 24 tonnes Robert Palmer owner. The John of 24 tonnes Charles Elward owner. Nov[e]mber 15 Southe Midd The Marie George of 32 tonnes Thomas Modie owner. The Marie Peter of 20 tonnes Thomas Modie owner. The John of 50 tonnes Thomas Ewen owner. The William of 40 tonnes Thomas Ewen owner. The Richarde of 45 tonne Thomas Ewen owner. The Thomas of 36 tonne Thom[a]s Ewen owner. The George of 30 tonne Thomas Ewen owner. The John of 50 tonne John Reede owner. The Elsabethe of 40 tonne John Reade owner. The Anne of twentie tonne John Wakman owner. The Peter of 50 tonne John Bishoip owner. The shippe of 100 tonnes of Mistris Parfitt owner. Nov[e]mber 12 North Midd The Grace of God of 20 tonne Thomas Harres owner. The Salamon of 26 tonne Thomas Harries owner. The Guyfte of God of 100 tonnes Alex.sander Musgrave owner. The Jhesus of 60 tonne Thomas Hayward owner. The Daniell of 30 tonnes Robert Cooper owner. The shippe of 40 tonnes Thomas Musgrave owner. Nov[e]mber 6 North Leete The Blessinge of God 24 tonne John Harding owner. The William of 28 tonnes John []Soves owner. The Anne of 20 tonne John Soves owner. The John of Grayes John Parfitt owner. The John of 50 tonne John Hitchard thelder owner. The John of 50 tonnes the seyd John owner. The Anne Gallant of 60 tonne John Echard junior owner. The Anne Frauncies of 40 tonnes Richard Woodgo[d] owner.
Ed. Roger Virgoe and A. Hassell Smith, The Papers of Nathaniel Bacon of Stiffkey Volume II, 1578-1585, Norfolk Record Society Vol XLIX (1983), Norfolk Record Society
