Hi Mick A few years ago now I helped transcribe the application forms for Letters of Marque, in the early years of the nineteenth century. Each describes the ship, the names of the Master, Mate, cook, Carpenter, surgeon and boatswain (this is from memory) and the guns- numbers and size and I think other weaponry (can't remember the terms exactly but small arms). The forms did not give the ship's destinations but did say for how long they were provisioned. As far as I know the database has never been made public but Chris might give you access if you email him at [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) Best wishes Clare >In the period 1775 to about 1825 what type of weapons if any merchant >vessels carry ?. > I am researching an area around Mutton Island Co Clare, north of the Shannon Estuary, Ireland. The Island was used as a hideout and storage facility for smugglers through the 1700s and up to 1820 when a coast guard station was built there, French privateers were regular visitors I even have a report of a 24 gun American Privateer 1777. The two most famous wrecks in the area are the San Marcus, Spanish Armada 1588 and the HMS Martin 1817, but there are also a number of large merchant vessels recorded lost in the area. I am looking specifically at merchant vessels crossing the Atlantic both ways and might have to dodge any of the above threats. Mick