Transcriptions from original documentation

If you'd like to study the original transcriptions direct from the Registration Logs at the various ports, we've them here. The official register had commenced in 1786 and sailing vessels with a deck and over 15 tons had to be registered by law while all, however small, had to be registered if it was intended to sail them to a foreign port. John Collins' guide notes for the information are available PDF here

If you spot something which, when using the 'Vessels' database doesn't seem very clear - and there is much work to do to standardise entries - we would recommend you look at John's original transcription in the list below for clarification.

Click on an icon or title to download/view the file.

PDF218KbAldebrugh 1824 to 1845
PDF176KbAldeburgh 1786 to 1823
PDF451KbColchester 1786 to 1799
PDF603KbColchester 1800 to 1823
PDF510KbColchester 1824 to 1835
PDF882KbColchester 1836 to 1855
PDF603KbColchester 1855 to 1879
PDF402KbColchester 1880 to 1919
PDF415KbColchester 1920 to 1959
PDF412KbColchester 1960 to 1994
pdf231KbHarwich 1786 to 1823
John Collins' transcripts for Harwich registers
pdf231KbHarwich 1824 to 1835
John Collins' transcripts for Harwich registers
PDF357KbHarwich 1836 to 1855
John Collins' transcripts for Harwich registers.
pdf340KbHarwich 1855 to 1879
John Collins' transcripts for Harwich registers
pdf313KbHarwich 1880 to 1919
John Collins' transcripts for Harwich registers
pdf267KbHarwich 1920 to 1959
John Collins' transcripts for Harwich registers
pdf394KbHarwich 1960 to 1979
John Collins' transcripts for Harwich registers
pdf269KbHarwich 1980 to 1994
John Collins' transcripts for Harwich registers
PDF248KbIpswich 1786 to 1823
John Collins' transcripts from Ipswich registers.
PDF306KbIpswich 1824 to 1835
John Collins' transcripts from Ipswich registers.
PDF500KbIpswich 1836 to 1855
John Collins' transcripts from Ipswich registers.
PDF405KbIpswich 1855 to 1879
John Collins' transcripts from Ipswich registers.
PDF341KbIpswich 1880 to 1919
John Collins' transcripts from Ipswich registers.
PDF451KbIpswich 1920 to 1959
John Collins' transcripts from Ipswich registers.
PDF256KbIpswich 1960 to 1969
John Collins' transcripts from Ipswich registers.
PDF271KbIpswich 1970 to 1979
John Collins' transcripts from Ipswich registers.
PDF325KbIpswich 1980 to 1995
John Collins' transcripts from Ipswich registers.
PDF239KbLondon 1786 to 1799
John Collins transcripts from London registers. Partially complete, split between foreign going and coastal trade, and listing East Anglian-built vessels only.
PDF439KbLondon 1800 to 1823
John Collins transcripts from London registers. Partially complete, split between foreign going and coastal trade, and listing East Anglian built vessels only.
PDF583KbLondon 1824 to 1835
John Collins transcripts from London registers. Partially complete, split between foreign going and coastal trade, and listing East Anglian built vessels only.
PDF703KbLondon 1836 to 1855
John Collins transcripts from London registers. Partially complete, split between foreign going and coastal trade, and listing East Anglian built vessels only.
PDF285KbLondon 1855 to 1899
John Collins transcripts from London registers. Partially complete, split between foreign going and coastal trade, and listing East Anglian built vessels only.
PDF301KbLondon Coastal - East Anglia built built 1789
John Collins transcripts from London registers. Partially complete, split between foreign going and coastal trade, and listing East Anglian built vessels only.
PDF500KbLondon coastal 1786 to 1799
John Collins transcripts from London registers. Partially complete, split between foreign going and coastal trade, and listing East Anglian built vessels only.
PDF195KbLowestoft 1852 to 1855
John Collins' transcriptions of Lowestoft registers. See note in document that earlier records were generally kept at Yarmouth.
PDF130KbLynn 1786 to 1823
PDF274KbLynn 1824 to 1835
John Collins' transcripts for Lynn. Not yet transcribed beyond 1855.
PDF391KbMaldon 1786 to 1799
John Collins transcriptions of Maldon registers.
PDF502KbMaldon 1800 to 1823
John Collins transcriptions of Maldon registers.
PDF321KbMaldon 1824 to 1835
John Collins transcriptions of Maldon registers.
PDF328KbMaldon 1836 to 1855
John Collins transcriptions of Maldon registers.
PDF388KbMaldon 1855 to 1899
John Collins transcriptions of Maldon registers.
PDF433KbMaldon 1900 to 1959
John Collins transcriptions of Maldon registers.
PDF286KbMaldon 1960 to 1969
John Collins transcriptions of Maldon registers.
PDF354KbMaldon 1970 to 1974
John Collins transcriptions of Maldon registers.
PDF383KbMaldon 1975 to 1994
John Collins transcriptions of Maldon registers.
PDF122KbSouthwold 1786 to 1823
PDF242KbSouthwold 1824 to 1845
John Collins transcripts for Southwold up to 1845.
PDF48KbWells 1786 to 1823
PDF204KbWells 1824 to 1835
John Collins' transcripts of Wells registers to 1855.
PDF235KbWells 1836 to 1855
John Collins' transcripts of Wells registers to 1855.
PDF31KbWisbech 1786 to 1823
PDF214KbWisbech 1824 to 1835
John Collins transcripts of Wisbech registers.
PDF287KbWisbech 1836 to 1855
John Collins transcripts of Wisbech registers.
PDF141KbWisbech 1855 to 1880
John Collins transcripts of Wisbech registers.
PDF273KbWoodbridge 1786 to 1823
John Collins' transcripts of Woodbridge registers.
PDF185KbWoodbridge 1824 to 1835
John Collins' transcripts of Woodbridge registers.
PDF231KbWoodbridge 1836 to 1855
John Collins' transcripts of Woodbridge registers.
PDF196KbWoodbridge 1855 to 1880
John Collins' transcripts of Woodbridge registers.
PDF65KbYarmouth 1786 to 1799
PDF526KbYarmouth 1800 to 1823
John Collins' transcripts of the Yarmouth registers.
PDF1MbYarmouth 1824 to 1835
John Collins' transcripts of the Yarmouth registers.
PDF1MbYarmouth 1836 to 1855
John Collins' transcripts of the Yarmouth registers.