John Balsall, Purser

I got my hands on the accounts of John Balsall, purser of the Trinity of Bristol. These accounts ended up being bound with other unrelated documents from years later and were discovered accidentally in a library. They date from 1480-81 and give an interesting look at the accounting of a merchant ship in that period. Seeing historical records of cargo and supplies from that period is interesting. The spelling and money math is both colorful and informative. It will take me a little while to understand the books, and some of the vocabulary is new to me as well, but it is good primary source material for content and feel of a ships accounts.

Bristol is on the West of England, above the Cornish peninsula, and figures significantly in trade and privateering in the Tudor age and beyond. There are very good records from the port and the university has a remarkable library. I have found some other great sources of information there on trade and privateering in the age of Elizabeth.