1794- another busy year for Hull

There was a lot going on in the year 1794. 

As reported in the newspaper in Kingston Upon Hull in the summer months it was a mightily troubled time. 

The aftermath of the French Revolution carried on and from Paris there was news of further public executions by guillotine with some 139 souls dispatched in just six days. 

The States of Holland and West Freisland expressed determination to retain their independence. 

The armies of the French were active across Europe with skirmishes in the Rhineland and the Prussians were besieging Warsaw. 

British troops were on alert for outbreaks of military action on a number of fronts both onshore and on the oceans. 

Even the mild mannered Swiss were engaged in a civil war in the Geneva Republic. 

Against this very militaristic background, for the people of Kingston Upon Hull there was a semblance of normality. 

Column inches in the press were given over to Notices of Auction Sales, Bankruptcy, Positions Vacant in affluent households and on the docks there were postings for imminent sailings to distant and not so distant destinations. 

The sail ship Rochdale captained by Edward Lake was taking applications for passengers and goods either to the Master direct or at the offices of shipping agents, Knowsley and Eubank. 

There appears to have been a bit of malicious local gossip possibly from competitor vessels as the following statement was issued 

"A report having been circulated that the above ship was not instructed to sail with the first convoy without having a full cargo, the owners of the Rochdale take this public method of assuring their friends that such report was groundless and unfounded- Hull August 15th 1794". 

A sailing to Cadiz and Malaga was the intention of The Leeds under Captain Tho. Hudson. With safety in numbers essential for the hazardous journey through enemy infested waters and territories as well as with the constant threat of being seized by Privateers it was the case of preparing to join a convoy. 

The Leeds was ready to sail for the Spanish Ports with the first convoy. 

The new Brig Prospect with Capt Francis Clark at the helm was sailing to Bilbao. At berthen weight of 180 tons it succeeded the Brig Ann. The shipping agent, Peter Atkinson could be approached for passage. 

Also for Bilbao but also for the Northern Spanish port of St Sebastian was the ship, Nancy. Her master, Abraham Ward went under the title of a constant trader. They would actively accompany the aformentioned Prospect on the next Southern Convoy. 

Closer to home in inland waters was the destination of Aberdeen for the ships, The Jean and Bell. Such was the inherent danger from weather, tides, rocks and reefs that the timetable for shipping was a bit vague merely stating that a vessel was expected any day and would sail again some 10 days after arrival. 

For all of the peril and stress of those turbulent times you would wonder why anyone at all would risk leaving the safety of their homes and hearths.