Walter Lougher was a merchant slave trader who became well known throughout the Bristol Area. He became a well and respected person among his peers and he participated in many slave voyages around the world.
Career
editWalter Lougher was a merchant slave trader from Bristol, and as such was a member of the Society of Merchant Venturers. His vessels went on at least 34 voyages from 1722 to 1765. Slaves were purchased from various locations in Africa, such as the Gold Coast, the Bight of Biafra, and the Gulf of New Guinea Islands. The ships delivered slaves to many places in the New World including Barbados, South Carolina, Virginia, Saint Domingue, St. Kitts, Montserrat, and Nevis. In total, Walter Lougher was responsible for gathering at least 10,253 Africans, and the selling of about 8,227, which meant that between kidnappings and arriving at their destinations, 2,026 of the Africans were lost.[1]
Vessels
editLougher owned or co-owned a number of vessels, which were named America, Cato, Cato Frigate, Indian Prince, Indian Queen, King David, Marlborough, and Peggy. In 1752, the Marlborough was seized by some of the 420 slaves who, after some conflict, escaped to Elmina.[2]
1745 Letter to Parliament
editIn 1745, frustrated with Parliament, Lougher and the Merchants committee wrote a letter to parliament to request additional ships and aid on the coast of Africa and petitioned protection of Bristol Shipping against privateers. Lougher and the merchants committee were also frustrated that retailers of wine were not paying their duty on importation so they also asked parliament to make retailers of wine pay their duty on importation. It was ultimately declined by Parliament disappointing Lougher and the Merchants Committee. As he wrote to Edward Southwell that year, "I observe nothing could be done in the wine affair present as the Treasury were determined to admit no variation nor change in their bill…It is nothing new for the Londoners to endeavor as often as they have opportunity to lay what hardships they can upon the traders in the outports, being desirous of having the whole trade of the nation to center with them…" [3] Lougher wrote to Southwell, the MP for Bristol, often. He wrote to complain about shipping and costs, as well as the war with Spain and France.
Views on War with Spain
editIn Lougher's view the war with France was particularly damaging, causing in the absence of naval protection for Bristol ships on the African coast such a sharp rise in insurance costs.[4]
Properties
editLougher owned many properties through Bristol including St. Augustine Green and was associated with the church in some capacity. St. Augustine's Church is a Victorian Church of England. Lougher was also mentioned several times in the will of Thomas Coster in 1762, along with Jarrit Smith, Edward Richards, William Rous and Thomas Rous. Coster left the men twenty Guineas each, as well as two percent of his estate to be divided among them, and made them responsible for dividing Coster's properties and making sure they go to his daughter.[5][6]
Death
editWalter Lougher died on September 17, 1762, due to natural causes. His will dictated that he leave money for the minister and churchwardens, as well as eight poor widows.[7][8][9] [10]
References
edit- ^ Britain, Great; Rickards, Sir George Kettilby (1858). "The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland". His Majesty's statute and law printers.
- ^ The Slave Trade: The Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade by Hugh Thomas, pg. 464
- ^ Politics and the Port of Bristol in the Eighteenth Century: The Petitions of the Society of Merchant Venturers, pg. 61
- ^ Richardson, David. BRISTOL, AFRICA AND THE EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY SLAVE TRADE · TO AMERICA VOL.2 THE YEARS OF ASCENDANCY 1730-1745. Bristol Records Society. p. 15. ISBN 0-901538-08-6.
- ^ "Will of Thomas Coster". www.bittonfamilies.com. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
- ^ Archives, The National. "The Discovery Service". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk.
- ^ The Bristol Charities: Being the Report of the Commissioners for Inquiring Concerning Charities in England and Wales, So Far as Relates to the Charitable Institutions in Bristol, Volume 1, pg. 357
- ^ Archives, The National. "The Discovery Service". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk.
- ^ Charities, Great Britain Commissioners for Inquiring Concerning (1890). "Reports of the Commissioners (commonly Known as Lord Brougham's Commission),appointed in Pursuance of Various Acts of Parliament, to Enquire Concerning Charities in England and Wales, Relating to the County of Caernarvon 1819- 1837". P. S. King.
- ^ Arber, Edward (1875). "Introduction. A provisional list of London printers and publishers in the latter half of Queen Elizabeth's reign. Text: Entries of books to 25 June 1595; Entries of apprentices and freemen, calls on the livery and fines to 2 July 1605. 1875". Priv. print.