PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND EMIGRATION FACSIMLE OF A PETITION FROM NINE MASTERS OF EMIGRANT SHIPS TO GEORGE MACARTNEY, COLLECTOR OF THE PORT OF BELFAST, APRIL 1736, PTOTESTING AT MACARTNEY’S REFUSAL TO ALLOW THEIR SHIPS TO SAIL FROM BELFAST TO NORTH AMERICA. THE IRISH GOVERNMENT AND PARLUAMENT HAD FOR SOME TIME BEEN WORRIED BY EMIGRATION AND IN 1730 HAD TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO PERSUADE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO AGREE TO RESTRICT IT. IN 1735 A COMMITTEE OF THE IRISH CAUSE OF COMMONS SET UP TI INQUIRE INTO CONDITIONS ON BOARD EMIGRANT SHIPS LAUNCHED AN ATTACK ON EMIGRATION-PROMOTERS, OM (sic) THEY DENOUNCED AS ENEMIES OF PROTESTANTISM. HOSTILITY TO THE PROMOTERS RAN PARTICULLARY HIGH IN THE BELFAST AREA. OWNERS AND MASTERS OF EMIGRANT SHIPS WERE ARRESTED, AND THOUGH ACQUITTED AT CARRICKFERGUS ASSIZES, THEY COULD NOT PREVAIL ON THE COLLECTOR OF THE PORT OF BELFAST, GEORGE MACARTNEY, TO GIVE THEIR VESSELS CLEANCE PAPERS. MACARTNEY GROUNDED HIS OBJECTION ON A STATUTE FORBIDDING THE EXPORT OF WOOL FROM IRELAND, AND MAINTAINED THAT THE MASTERS OF THE SHIPS, BY PROVIDING THEIR PASSENGERS AND INDENTED SERVANTS WITH WOOLEN BLANKETS, WERE CONTERAVENING (sic) THIS STATUE. THE MASTERS, FACED WITH HEAVY FINANCIAL LOSS UNLESS THEY COULD OBRAIN PERMISSION TO SAIL, PROMISE IN THIS PETITION TO MACARTNEY THAT THEY WILL NOT TAKE ON BOARD ANY CRIMINALS, SERVANTS, APPRENTICES, CHILDREN OR DEBTORS WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE RELEVANT AUTHORITY; THAT THEY WILL PROVIDE HIM WITH A LIST OF THEIR PASSENGERS BEFORE SAILING; AND THAT FOR THE FUTURE THEY WILL NOT CARRY ANY EMIGRANTS TO AMERICA WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE IRISH GOVERNMENT AND PARLIAMENT. THEIRASSERTION THAT THEY WERE IGNORANT THAT THE GENTLEMEN OF THIS KINGDOM WERE OFFENDED AT SUCH TRADE MUST HAVE BEEN ade (sic) WITH TONGUE IN CHEEK. TO GEORGE MACARTNEY ESQ. COLLECTOR OF THE PORT OF BELFAST. THE MEMORIAL OF THE MASTERS OR COMMANDERS OF SEVERAL VESSELS AND SHIPS BOUND FOR SUNDRY PARTS OF HIS MAJESTY’S PLANTATIONS IN NORTH AMERICA FROM THE PORT OF BELFAST WITH GOODS, PASSENGERS AND SERVANTS. SHEW (sic) THAT YOUR MEMORIALISTS HAVING ARRIVED WITH THEIR SEVERAL SHIPS AT THE PORT OF BELFAST LADEN WITH WHEAT, FLAXSEEDS AND OTHER GOODS AND MERCHANDISE FROM AND OTHER PARTS OF HIS MAJESTY’S DOMINIONS WHICH GOODS AND MERCHANDISES YOUR MEMORIALISTS HAVE JUSTLY AND FAIRLY DISCHARGED IN THIS PORT. THAT YOUR MORIALISTS, BEING BOUND FOR AMERICA, HAVE CONTRACTED WITH SEVERAL PERSONS IN THIS KINNGDOM WHO ARE INCLINED TO GO AS PASSENGERS AND SERVANTS TO AMERICA, AND FOR THE ACCOMMODATING OF SUCH PASSENGERS HAVE BEEN AT VERY GREAT EXPENSE AND CHARGE IN PURCHASING PROVISIONS AND OTHER NECESSARTIES FIR FOR SUCH VOYAGES. YOUR MEMORIALISTS SHIPS ARE FITTED OUT, AND THERE SEVERAL PASSENGERS AND SERVANTS IN READINESS TO SHIP THEMSELVES WITH THEIR GOODS ON BOARD THE SAEVERAL SHIPS FOR WHICH THEY CONTRACT RESPECTIVELT, YOUR MEMORIALISTS BEING INFORMED THAT YOUR WORSHIP INTENDS TO PUT STATUE AGAINST EXPORTINGH WOOLLEN MANUFACTURERS FROM THIS KINGDOM IN EXCUTION AGAINST YOUR MEMORIALISTS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SHIPS IN CASE THERE BE ANY WOOLLEN BLANKETS OR BEDCLOTHES CARRIED ON BOARD BY OR FOR THE USE OF ALL OR ANY PASSENGERS AND SERVANTS, WHEREBY YOUR MEMOTIALISTS, INCURRING THE PENALTIES OF THAT STATUE, MAY ENDANGER NOT ONLY YHE LIBORTIES OF THEIR PERSONS, BUT LOSE THEIR SHIPS AND CARGOES. AT THE TRADE TO AMERICA WITH PASSENGERS AND SERVANTS HATH EVER BEEN HERETOFORE OPEN AND FREE FROM THIS KINGDOM, AND NO REASONABLE NECESSARIES OF BEDDING OR WEARING APPAREL DENIED TO THE PASSENGERS WHO HAVE HITHERTO SHIPPED THEMSELVES FROM THIS PORT, AND AS YOUR MEMORIALISTS WERE STRANGERS AND IGNORA (sic) THATR THE GENTELEM OF THIS KINGDOM WERE OFFENDED AT SUCH TRADE BEFORE YOUR MEMORIAQLISTS HAD CONTRACTED WITH THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PASSENGERS, YOUR MEMORALISTS HOPE TO……. THE REST OF THIS DOCUMENT WAS NOT PRESERVED, I HAVE TRIED TO MAKE CORRECTIONS WHERE WORDS OR PART OF WORDS WERE MISSING, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO READ. PERHAPS THEY SHOULD HAVE COME OVER AS NUDE’S, BUT I GUESS HE WOULD HAVE FOUND AN OBJECTION TO THAT TOO. GORDON CROOKS 12/1/2006