Falmouth Packet Archives 1688-1850 | home

N. Atlantic, Halifax & Bermuda

1755 - 1840 Note interruptions during winter & Cunard's branch packet service.

St. John's, Newfoundland

Interesting Links:

Bermuda Online by Keith Forbes

Institute of North American & Atlantic Colonial History

Nova Scotia's Electronic Attic which includes links to

The History of Technology in Nova Scotia

with special attention given to Communications and Transportation

Chapter 1, Before 31 December 1829

Chapter 2, 1 January 1830 to 31 December 1849

The above author states "This site will always be under construction"

So, I know there will be more content to look forward to and I use the services of Mind-it by NetMind, to receive friendly reminders by e-mail when the site is updated....there always seems to be more interesting reading!

Bermuda

Lest we forget: Dr. Jack Arnell passed away in April 2000.

Jack was introduced to me via the Royal Institution of Cornwall (RIC) as someone who had transcribed many of Miss M. E. Philbrick's card index records of North Atlantic packet sailings. We each went about our own research and, fortunately were able to cross compare our findings in 1997, so that we combined updated information.

A simple example of his help is illustrated thus

Sherborne Mercury (SM) Monday April 27, 1799. London, April 26.

New York papers* to the 17th ult. [March] bring an account of an insurrection in the county of Northampton by a body of persons refusing to pay a window tax. The President has issued a proclamation, declaring, that as they exceed 100 in number, and appear as an armed body of military resisting the execution of the law, they are guilty of rebellion and treason. He has ordered a body of military, headed by the Marshal, whose duty it is to enforce the tax, to proceed against them.

Lady Harriet (sic) left Falmouth on 12 Nov. 1798, and is listed (by Jack Arnell) as being at New York from 13 Feb. to 10 March, 1799. She arrived at Falmouth on 11 May 1799.

This proved helpful, because the packet clearly left BEFORE the article was published in New York on 17 March... (many clues make big picture...) and Jack's findings make analysis of passage times accurate, whilst narrowing down possible arrival / sailing dates at Halifax or Bermuda.

Although we never met, other than on the telephone, I found him to be quite amusing, particularly regarding IT 'advances.' Like Miss Philbrick, I feel sure, had he mastered the PC he would certainly have left us with a fantastic digital record of his findings, mostly philatelic. Some of his published work is listed below. His passing leaves those amongst us fortunate to have IT at our fingertips, more aware than ever of our responsibility to deliver, and share, the best from our respective local resources.

The Development of the Transatlantic Mail Service to Bermuda

by J. C. Arnell [kindly given to me by Arthur Blundell, 22.10.1997]

Bermuda Journal of Archaeology and Maritime History Vol. 1 (1989) pp. 25-42

Atlantic Mails, A History of the Mail Service Between Great Britain and Canada to 1889 by Dr. John C. Arnell.

The history, rates, markings and sailings. 1980, 412 pages, 58 color illustrations, cloth.

Steam and the North Atlantic Mails

by Dr. John C. Arnell

The transition from Sail to Steam and the impact of the British mail contracts on the Cunard Line. 1987, 300 pages, cloth. [Extremely useful.]

Bermuda Mails to 1865, An Inventory of the Postal Markings

by Michel FORAND and Charles FREELAND

British Caribbean Philatelic Study Group (1995)

North Atlantic Seaway, by N.R. P. Bonsor.

T. Stephenson & Sons (1955)

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RCG 3/9/1803: [Falmouth] Thursday 25th Aug. 1803, arrived H.M.S. Pheasant 18, Capt. Carew, with despatches from Halifax. [Mail is not referred to]

FP 9/5/1829: Since our last publication, sailed packet Badger for Halifax.

FP 18/7/1829: Badger touched on Sable Island*, no damage,arrived Halifax 3rd June and sailed the 4th for Bermuda. [* Isle Sabie]. [ID 317]

[Route,Falmouth-Halifax-Bermuda-Halifax-Falmouth, with branch schooner service Halifax-Boston-Halifax .(see Myrtle)]