Between 1788 and 1812, the Treasurer of the Colony of New Brunswick submitted detailed accounts to the House of Assembly documenting the duties collected on goods imported through the port of Saint John, excluding ships that arrived from Britain. These annual statements recorded the date of entry, the name of each vessel, its master, port of origin, cargo, and the amount of duty assessed—revenues that contributed directly to the colonial treasury. More than simple fiscal records, these accounts provide a systematic ledger of commercial exchange that supported state formation in the province’s formative decades.

The table below represents an ongoing transcription of these accounts as recorded in the legislative proceedings. By converting these manuscript records into a structured dataset, this project seeks to make visible the commercial networks that connected Saint John to other American ports, the Caribbean, and beyond. The records offer insight into the circulation of commodities, the rhythms of seasonal trade, the fiscal foundations of colonial governance, and the ways in which provincial revenue was entangled with broader Atlantic economies.

At present, the dataset includes material for the years 1788 and 1789, with additional years actively being transcribed and standardized. As the table expands, it will allow for quantitative analysis of trade patterns, commodity flows, revenue generation, and shifting geopolitical connections during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Ultimately, this project aims to illuminate how customs revenue and maritime commerce shaped the political economy of early New Brunswick and situated the colony within the wider Atlantic world.

About the Data

How information was recorded by the Treasurer varied year-by-year, changing because of the type of cargo coming in, how it was measured, or the officeholder changed. Historic units of measurement were also inconsistent. For example, cargo could include casks of various gallon size while 1 Puncheon could vary between 70 and 120 Gallons. The column ‘TotalGallonsRum’ is a standardized field to provide a more clear cumulative amount. Other abbreviations and units of measure used are outlined below:

Cwts = Long Hundreadweight = 112lbs	Hogshead (Tobacco) = 1000lbs
Qrs. = Quarterweight = 28 lbs	Puncheon = 70 Gallons
Lbs. = Poundsweight	CD.1,2,3,4 = CargoDescription

Using the Data Table

The table is fully keyword searchable, while individual columns may be used to apply ascending or descending order by type of information. Searching ‘Jamaica,’ for example, will provide results for every time that word appears throughout the entire table. Researchers can then read through the individual ships, their cargo, and the amount of duty collected by the Customs House in Saint John.

Date (DayMonthYear)	ShipName	VesselType	PortofDeparture	CountryofOrigin	ShipMaster	CD.1	CD.2	CD.3	CD.4	TotalGall.Rum	TotalGall.Wine	Pnds.	Shil.	Penc.
12-07-1788	Patty	Sloop	Boston	United States	Canby	27 Barrels of Flour						1	10	4.5
14-07-1788	Lucy	Sloop	New York	United States	Knapp	39 Barrels of Flour						2	5	4.5
02-08-1788	Mary	Sloop	New York	United States	Daun	20 Barrels of Bread	62 Kegs of Crackers	113 Barrels of Flour				7	4	6
05-08-1788	Ranger	Sloop	New York	United States	Bennison	77 Barrels of Flour						4	1	9.5
06-08-1788	Barret	Sloop	New York	United States	D-ah (?)	20 Barrels of Bread	39 Barrels of Flour					2	8	9.5
09-08-1788	Betsey	Sloop	New York	United States	Manchester	28 Barrels of Flour						1	8	0
09-08-1788	Patty	Sloop	Boston	United States	Canby	16 Barrels of Bread	2 Barrels of Midlings	18 Barrels of Flour				1	7	0
09-08-1788	Endeavour	Sloop	Boston	United States	Malcom	30 Barrels of Flour						1	12	6.5
13-08-1788	St. John	Schooner	Barbados	Barbados	Dory (?)	85 cwts. of Sugar	15 Puncheons of Rum			1050		17	17	6.5
24-08-1788	Charming Sady	Schooner	Boston	United States	Howard	64 Barrels of Flour						3	11	8
24-08-1788	Triumph	Brig	Antigua	Antigua	Reid	61 Puncheons of Rum				4270		38	2	6
26-08-1788	George	Schooner	Jamaica	Jamaica	Stanford	2039 cwts. of Coffee	214 cwts.; 3 qrs.; 24 lbs of Sugar	45 Casks and/or Puncheons of Rum		3040		56	10	0.5
26-08-1788	Hope	Schooner	Grenada	Grenada	Gedding	16 cwts.; 3 qrs.; 21 lbs. or Sugar	58 Casks and/or Puncheons of Rum			4060		37	3	3
30-08-1788	Rebecca	Schooner	Philadelphia	United States	Rankin	20 Barrels of Correll	8 Barrels of Flour					0	19	2
30-08-1788	Lucy	Sloop	New York	United States	Knapp	4 Barrels of Bread	111 Kegs of Crackers	38 Barrels of Flour				2	13	8
05-09-1778	Sally	Schooner	Boston	United States	Leavitt	24 Barrels of Flour						1	5	6
05-09-1778	St. George	Schooner	Halifax	Nova Scotia	Posstlethwaite (?)	12 cwts,; 1 qrs.; 0 lbs. of Sugar	1 Casks and/or Puncheons of Rum			60		1	10	9
05-09-1778	Nepture	Brigantine	Jamaica	Jamaica	Woodbury	819 cwts. Of Coffee	40 cwts.; 3 qrs.; 21 lbs. of Sugar	28 Casks and/or Puncheons of Rum		1910		24	4	10.5
09-09-1788	Hawke	Schooner	New York	United States	Dawson	16 Barrels of Bread	160 Barrels of Midlings	117 Barrels of Flour				13	0	6.5
10-09-1788	Ann	Schooner	New York	United States	Williams	83 Barrels of Bread	222 Barrels of Midlings	250 Barrels of Flour				16	18	11
10-09-1788	Mary	Sloop	New York	United States	Raisbeck	100 Barrels of Crackers	16 Barrels of Midlings	188.5 Barrels of Flour				11	9	0
10-09-1788	Patty	Sloop	Boston	United States	Canby	42 Barrels of Flour						2	7	3
24-09-1788	Ranger	Sloop	New York	United States	Bennison	29 Barrels of Bread	70 Kegs of Crackers	27 Barrels of Midlings	83 Barrels of Flour			7	4	5
25-09-1788	Catherine	Schooner	New York	United States	Atkins	24 Barrels of Bread	25 Barrels of Flour					1	18	5
14-10-1788	Delight	Schooner	Grenada	Grenada	Stanton	8 Puncheons of Rum				560		5	0	0
21-10-1788	Betsey	Schooner	New York	United States	Manchester	40 Barrels of Bread	65 Barrels of Flour					4	6	5
24-10-1788	Betsey	Brig	St. Christopher	Saint Christopher [Saint Kitts]	Longford	51 Puncheons of Rum				3570		31	17	6
24-10-1788	Lucy	Sloop	New York	United States	Knapp	27 Barrels of Flour						1	11	2
10-11-1788	Mary	Sloop	New York	United States	Raisbeck	124 Barrels of Flour						7	0	5
13-11-1788	Brothers	Sloop	New York	United States	Coleburn	55 Barrels of Flour						3	1	10
06-12-1788	Polly	Sloop	New York	United States	Burgess	16 Barrels of Midlings	156 Barrels of Flour					9	10	6
08-12-1788	Patty	Sloop	Boston	United States	Canby	4 Barrels of Flour						0	4	8
15-01-1789	Ranger	Sloop	New York	United States	Raisbeck	1 Barrel of Midlings	25 Barrels of Flour					1	9	11
02-02-1789	Sally	Schooner	Boston	United States	Leavitt	10 Barrels of Flour						0	11	10.5
16-02-1789	Betsey	Schooner	New York	United States	Manchester	18 Barrels of Flour						1	1	4.5
10-03-1789	Ranger	Sloop	New York	United States	Raisbeck	18 Barrels of Cornell	16 Barrels of Midlings	160 Barrels of Flour				10	19	7
23-03-1789	Lucy	Sloop	New York	United States	Knapp	70 Barrels of Flour						4	7	1.5
17-04-1789	Good Intent	Schooner	Antigua	Antigua	Flemming	84 cwts.;1 qrs.; 0 lbs. of Sugar	58 Casks and/or Puncheons of Rum			4060		44	13	6
18-04-1789	Pamela	Sloop	St. Lucia	St. Lucia	Boyd	22 cwts.; 3 qrs.; 0 lbs. of Sugar	71 Casks and/or Puncheons of Rum			4970		46	13	0
24-04-1789	King George	Schooner	New York	United States	Bennison	14 Barrels of Cornell	59 Barrels of Midlings	459 Barrels of Flour				30	7	8
01-05-1789	Liza	Brig	Grenada	Grenada	Beatly	10 cwts.; 1 qrs.; 14 lbs. of Sugar	83 Casks and/or Puncheons of Rum			5810		61	6	4
04-05-1789	Betsey	Schooner	New York	United States	Manchester	6 Barrels of Midlings	40 Barrels of Flour					2	14	4.5
04-05-1789	Sally	Brig	Barbados	Barbados	Andrews	14 Casks and/or Puncheons of Rum				980		15	2	0
05-05-1789	Phebe	Brig	Antigua	Antigua	Ryfam	17 cwts.; 2 qrs.; 14 lbs. of Sugar	17 Puncheons of Rum			1190		13	9	3.5
08-05-1789	Charles	Sloop	Barbados	Barbados	Brown	10 cwts.; 1 qrs.; 0 lbs. of Sugar	1 Puncheons of Rum			70		1	13	0
09-05-1789	Ranger	Sloop	New York	United States	Raisbeck	18 Barrels of Midlings	59 Barrels of Flour					6	19	0
23-05-1789	Triumph	Brig	Jamaica	Jamaica	Reid	112 cwts.; 0 qrs.; 21 lbs. of Sugar	49 Puncheons of Rum			3430		41	16	10.5
23-05-1789	Sally	Sloop	Annapolis	United States	Thomas	771 cwts. of Coffee	11 cwts.; 0 qrs.; 21 lbs. of Sugar	9 Puncheons of Rum		630		9	19	1.5
23-05-1789	Betsey	Schooner	Grenada	Grenada	Dana	8 Puncheons of Rum				560		5	0	0
25-05-1789	Jane	Brig	Jamaica	Jamaica	Bell	123 cwts.; 1 qrs.; 0 lbs. of Sugar	73 Puncheons of Rum			5110		57	19	0
25-05-1789	New-Fortune	Schooner	Jamaica	Jamaica	Donald	34 cwts. of Sugar	32 Casks and/or Puncheons of Rum			2240		22	15	2
26-05-1789	John	Schooner	Jamaica	Jamaica	Potter	200 cwts. of Coffee	24 cwts.; 1 qrs.; 0 lbs. of Sugar	12 Puncheons of Rum		840		10	15	2
26-05-1789	Mary	Sloop	New York	United States	Daun	40 Barrels of Flour						2	14	5.5
05-06-1789	Elizabeth	Brig	Antigua	Antigua	Bell	74 cwts. of Sugar	31 Puncheons of Rum			2170		26	15	6
16-06-1789	Nancy	Schooner	Barbados	Barbados	Handford	21 cwts.; 3 qrs.; 0 lbs. of Sugar	9 Puncheons of Rum			630		7	16	0
17-06-1789	Polly	Schooner	Jamaica	Jamaica	Strange	13 cwts.; 1 qrs.; 14 lbs. of Sugar	14 Puncheons of Rum			980		10	1	9.5
18-06-1789	King George	Schooner	New York	United States	Bennison	14 Barrels of Midlings	37 Barrels of Flour					3	2	1
18-06-1789	Britannia	Brig	Jamaica	Jamaica	Laughton	1 Hogshead of Tobacco	1605 cwts. of Coffee	87 cwts.; 3 qrs.of Sugar	54 Casks and/or Puncheons of Rum	3550		43	9	1.5
22-06-1789	Charlotte	Sloop	Jamaica	Jamaica	Chase	13 Puncheons of Rum						8	2	6
23-06-1789	Polly	Schooner	Turk’s Island	Turks and Caicos	Swain	NonDescribed valued at 76.10.0						1	13	9
25-06-1789	Mary	Sloop	Boston	United States	Daun	106 Barrels of Flour						7	11	10
11-07-1789	Hibernia	Sloop	New-Bury	United States	Leavitt	70 Barrels of Flour						4	11	8
13-07-1789	Patty	Sloop	Boston	United States	Canby	46 Barrels of Flour						2	17	6
15-07-1789	Sally	Brig	Philadelphia	United States	Robb	83 Barrels of Midlings	143 Barrels of Flour					14	8	3.5
23-07-1789	Ferret	Sloop	New York	United States	Darrah	25 Barrels of Midlings	149 Barrels of Flour					11	8	7
23-07-1789	Ranger	Sloop	New York	United States	Raisbeck	6 Barrels of Cornell	25 Barrels of Midlings	101 Barrels of Flour				14	19	6
24-07-1789	Ann	Brig	Jamaica	Jamaica	Whelldon	72 cwts.; 1 qrs.; 0 lbs. of Sugar	39 Puncheons of Rum			2730		31	12	0
24-07-1789	Ruby	Ship	Halifax	Nova Scotia	Robertson	980 Barrels of Flour						57	3	4
04-08-1789	Sally	Schooner	Shelburne	Nova Scotia	Ferguson	14 cwts. of Sugar	16 Puncheons of Rum			1120		11	8	0
10-08-1789	Lord Dunmore	Schooner	New York	United States	Burton	6 Barrels of Cornell	16 Barrels of Midlings	50 Barrels of Flour				4	5	6
10-08-1789	Pamela	Sloop	Grenada	Grenada	Boyd	40 cwts.; 1 qrs.; 0lbs. of Sugar	33 Puncheons of Rum			2310		28	8	3
10-08-1789	Good Intent	Schooner	Antigua	Antigua	Tisdale	4 Hogshead of Tobacco	28 cwts.; 2 qrs.; 0 lbs. of Sugar	26 Puncheons		1820		20	13	6
11-08-1789	King George	Schooner	New York	United States	Bennison	65 Barrels of Midlings	263 Barrels of Flour					20	15	4
13-08-1789	Fanny	Sloop	Boston	United States	Piemart	7 Barrels of Flour						0	9	4
14-08-1789	Polly	Sloop	Philadelphia	United States	Burgess	400 Barrels of Flour						23	13	2
14-08-1789	Patty	Sloop	Boston	United States	Canby	25 Barrels of Midlings	20 Barrels of Flour					2	13	1.5
19-08-1789	Jane	Brig	Antigua	Antigua	Rich	1 Hogshead of Tobacco	19 Puncheons of Rum					12	11	3
21-08-1789	Ann	Schooner	Jamaica	Jamaica	Horton	10 Casks and/or Puncheons of Rum				690		5	18	9
01-09-1789	Triumph	Brig	Antigua	Antigua	Apthorp	22 Puncheons of Rum				1540		13	15	0
01-09-1789	Ferret	Sloop	New York	United States	Darrah	50 Barrels of Midlings	15 Barrels of Flour					3	10	8
01-09-1789	New-Fortune	Schooner	Barbados	Barbados	Donald	51 cwts.; 2 qrs.; 0 lbs. of Sugar	13 Puncheons of Rum			910		13	5	6
03-09-1789	Sally	Sloop	Annapolis	United States	Thomas	5 Puncheons of Rum				350		3	2	6
04-09-1789	Charlotte	Sloop	New York	United States	Chase	50 Barrels of Midlings	50 Barrels of Flour					6	2	1.5
05-09-1789	Ranger	Sloop	New York	United States	Raisbeck	12 Barrels of Cornell	39 Barrels of Midlings	8 Barrels of Flour				2	7	7
12-09-1789	Nancy	Schooner	Philadelphia	United States	Handford	30 Barrels of Midlings	21 Barrels of Flour					2	16	5
12-09-1789	Bell	Schooner	Boston	United States	Bell	6 Barrels of Midlings						0	6	0
12-09-1789	Hope	Sloop	Jamaica	Jamaica	Woodbury	15 cwts.; 3 qrs.; 0 lbs. of Sugar	15 Puncheons of Rum			1050		10	19	0
12-09-1789	Joice	Schooner	Maryland	United States	Atkins	443.5 Barrels of Flour	6 Puncheons of Rum			420		29	12	5