Probate Inventories of Victuallers in Eighteenth-Century Brisｔol

18セイキ　ブリストル　ニオケル　シュルイ　ショクリョウヒン　ハンバイギョウシャ　victualler　ノ　ケンニン　イサン　モクロク

オカベ, ヨシヒコ

Okabe, Yoshihiko

The Economic Society of Osaka University

オオサカ　ダイガク　ケイザイ　ガッカイ

Probate inventories

Victualler

Mariner

Bristol

Of the recent research on consumer activity, only a few study the food culture and the people responsible for it. This paper analyses victuallers in Bristol who engaged in the liquor and food business during the Eighteenth century. In addition, a victualler’s probate inventory is transcribed from the original manuscript in the Bristol Record Office to get an idea of their day-to-day life. Bristol experienced significant progress between the seventeenth and eighteenth century through international trade, the slave trade, and the industrial revolution. There are many unique occupations in the port city, for example, that of mariner. Victualler was also one of the largest occupations in Bristol, but the real image of them is obscured by now. There are few research studies on the people engaged in the liquor business such as victuallers, innkeepers, and alehouse keepers. Research conducted on victuallers using eighteenth century directories reveals that many victuallers not only ran businesses that provided food or other provisions to ships, but they also managed taverns. Some examples in probate inventories and directories show that victuallers were also recorded as butchers and mariners. These jobs were related to Bristol’s maritime economy and also had similar and cloth relationship each other. Like victuallers, mariners, one of the largest occupations in Bristol, also ran taverns. From the case study of the probate inventory of John Saunders in the Ecclesiastical Cause Papers at the Bristol Records Office, it is observed that he led a life of luxury surrounded my many consumer goods. He lived in a residence with at least nine rooms, a brew house, and a cellar. He also ran a tavern, and his bar was well decorated and mainly served ale. From this, we can infer that some victuallers belonged to the class of wealthy traders.