Introduction
On 19 October 1843 Governor Moody reported “The Colony is divided into numerous Islands indented in every direction by deep arms of the seas; all conveyance will be by water, and the settlers will be nautical in their habits, they are so at present and it is natural they should always continue to be so though following pastoral pursuits in addition to sea going avocations.”
Not only were vessels needed for those who made their living by sealing and whaling around the Falkland Islands but with the isolation and inaccessibility of the Islands locally based vessels were essential to reach the outlying settlements and islands and also to maintain contact with the outside world. They were also vital for coming to the aid of the many disabled and sinking vessels which fell victim to the violent weather and seas of the South Atlantic.
These local vessels, which consisted of schooners, ketches, cutters and the like, were a mixture of condemned vessels and whale boats that had been fixed up or converted for the local interinsular and coasting trade, locally built cutters, ketches and schooners, ready-built second-hand overseas purchases and custom-builds.
Shipping information available in Volume E2, which is available under Government - Laws and Ordinances, includes the Charters of the Despatch (pg 45-54), Manney (pg 58-61), Page (pg 217-218) and Vigilante (pg 219 and 274); Protests of the Galen, Mary Gray, Christiana, Alonzo, and Strathisla.
These files are not a complete representation of the working vessels of the Falkland Islands but are some of those partly or fully researched by the Archives and will be added to from time to time. For those local vessels which were eventually wrecked refer to Shipping - Casualties and Wrecks.
Also included in these files are visiting vessels.
General
E9 - Vice Admiralty Court Minute Book Dec 1866 to Feb 1882.pdf(7.02 MB)
Internal Research
Local Vessels
Nimrod, previously the Ernest, 1858 to 1950.pdf419.89 KB
Plym - 1903 to 1945.pdf765.72 KB
Visiting Vessels
Helena 1852.pdf112.32 KB
Hermine 1885.pdf267.45 KB
Tynemouth 1862.pdf(4.2 MB)
Government Files
The Government file system was started post World War I; previous to this all correspondence was kept in manuscript books.
Customs
SHI-CUS-1-1. Draft custom rules - confidential character of proceedings in Ex Co.pdf495.86 KB
SHI-CUS-1-4. SS Falkland. Correspondence respecting entry of.pdf569.1 KB
SHI-CUS-1-5. Indent for Customs Officers Uniforms Stanley 1923-1924.pdf847.03 KB
SHI-CUS-1-6. Complaint regarding delay in entering and clearing ss Falkland.pdf1.23 MB
SHI-CUS-1-7. Mr A G Bennett Customs Officer behaviour of.pdf1.43 MB
SHI-CUS-1-8. Establishment of Contraband Control Service Base at Stanley.pdf4.12 MB
SHI-CUS-1-9. Issue to Capt D W Roberts of ss Lafonia of a packet licence.pdf1.89 MB
SHI-CUS-1-12. Time of arrival of ships to be reported to the medical officer.pdf178.45 KB
SHI-CUS-1-13. Complaint regarding Custom House supervision of importations at Stanley.pdf2.31 MB
SHI-CUS-1-14. Duties of Customs Officer.pdf627.19 KB
SHI-CUS-1-15. Duties of staff of Treasury and Customs Department.pdf289 KB
SHI-CUS-1-16. Reorganisation of the Customs Department.pdf2 MB
SHI-CUS-1-17. Pratique.pdf5.99 MB
SHI-CUS-1-18. Customs Legislation. Alteration in prices consequent on above.pdf493.51 KB
SHI-CUS-1-19. Customs Department. Accommodations for.pdf1.7 MB
SHI-CUS-1-20. Import duty on matches.pdf287.84 KB
SHI-CUS-1-21. Bonded warehouse and customs shed.pdf2.09 MB
SHI-CUS-1-22. Uruguayan trans-shipment tax.pdf2.71 MB
Maps and Plans
Vessels.pdf10.72 MB
Photographs
PC-046. Maud Sollis Album - shipping.pdf4.26 MB
Disclaimer
While every effort has been taken to ensure accuracy the Jane Cameron National Archives does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in these records.
Copyright guide
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