Board of Trade and Secretaries of State: America and West Indies, Original Correspondence
Item
Country
GB
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
eng
Contact information: postal address
Kew, Richmond TW9 4DU
Contact information: phone number
0044 020 8876 3444
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
Reference number
CO 5
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (official language of the state)
Board of Trade and Secretaries of State: America and West Indies, Original Correspondence
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
Board of Trade and Secretaries of State
Date(s)
1606/1822
Language(s)
eng
Extent
1450 bundles and volumes
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
This series is part of the subdivision of the Colonial Office fonds that comprises correspondence with the colonies, entry books and registers of correspondence relating to the administration of individual colonies. This series includes original correspondence and entry books of the Board of Trade and the Secretaries of State, together with the acts, sessional papers and miscellaneous records relating to British colonies in North America and the West Indies. The subseries comprising the Board of Trade's original correspondence includes records on the naturalisation and denisation of Jews living in New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island in the 1750s-1760s (CO 5/1070; 5/1071; 5/1276).
Administrative / Biographical history
Before 1696, matters concerning the colonies were dealt with primarily by the Privy Council and its committees. The first special body convened to advise on colonial questions was the Commission of Trade, set up in 1625. From 1696 to 1782, colonial affairs were the responsibility of the Board of Trade and the secretaries of state in partnership.
The secretaries of state were always lords of trade. Their involvement in colonial affairs was initially slight and only developed in the 18th century. At first, either secretary might be concerned, but eventually, it became established that the colonies were the responsibility of the secretary of state for the Southern Department. He was the channel of communication between the Crown and the Board of Trade but depended on the board for effective action in many fields of colonial affairs. In 1768, a third secretary of state, the colonial or American secretary, was appointed, and the colonial functions of the southern secretary were transferred to him. From 1769 to 1779, he was also the president of the Board of Trade. With the loss of the American colonies, the Board of Trade and colonial secretaryship were abolished by an act of 1782.
Until 1801, colonial affairs were in the hands of the Home Secretary. In 1801, he became Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The restoration of peace in 1815 and the increased demands that the acquisition of new colonies during the war had imposed meant that his colonial responsibilities became paramount, and by 1822, the office included four Geographical Departments dealing with colonies in different areas of the world.
The secretaries of state were always lords of trade. Their involvement in colonial affairs was initially slight and only developed in the 18th century. At first, either secretary might be concerned, but eventually, it became established that the colonies were the responsibility of the secretary of state for the Southern Department. He was the channel of communication between the Crown and the Board of Trade but depended on the board for effective action in many fields of colonial affairs. In 1768, a third secretary of state, the colonial or American secretary, was appointed, and the colonial functions of the southern secretary were transferred to him. From 1769 to 1779, he was also the president of the Board of Trade. With the loss of the American colonies, the Board of Trade and colonial secretaryship were abolished by an act of 1782.
Until 1801, colonial affairs were in the hands of the Home Secretary. In 1801, he became Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The restoration of peace in 1815 and the increased demands that the acquisition of new colonies during the war had imposed meant that his colonial responsibilities became paramount, and by 1822, the office included four Geographical Departments dealing with colonies in different areas of the world.
Sources:
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
Records are arranged by colony or province.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2023
Published primary sources
Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies, 1574-1739 (HMSO, 1860-1994; CDROM edition, Routledge, 2000)
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| The National Archives | Collections (official language of the state) |