Scope and Content Note
The records of the Great Britain Board of Trade span the years 1682-1786. The Board of Trade, a government agency, was established to promote and regulate British overseas commerce.
The records consist chiefly of bound volumes of reports, correspondence, orders, instructions, commissions, and other material documenting British trade in Canada, the Caribbean, and in the American colonies. Geographical areas mentioned include Antigua, Bermuda, France, Jamaica, New England, Newfoundland, New Jersey, Nova Scotia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. The records chronicle British trade decisions and actions with respect to such matters as fishing, shipping, and whaling. A significant portion of the collection relates to British trade disputes with Spain.