We know from secondary and primary sources that ports in Boston, Salem and Halifax were major trading partners with cod-merchants operating out of Gaspé peninsula in Quebec, Canada. In particularly, Jersey’s most successful merchant Charles Robin who established a fishing firm in 1765 with his brother John Robin, along with other investors. Initially, the two brothers were agents in the family firm, Robin, Pipon & Co, but in 1786 on Charles’ return to the Bay of Chaleurs (after the American Revolutionary War) the firm was listed as Charles Robin & Co (CRC) headquartered in Paspébiac Quebec. Charles’ older brother, Philip Robin also operated Philip Robin & Co (PRC) with fishing stations in Cape Breton. The Robins would send ships laden with salted codfish from Canada via established triangular trade routes with primary markets in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, and later in South America with Brazil. On most voyages Robin ships would collect salt-fish and other cargo from agents and merchants operating in the main ports of Boston, Salem and Halifax who facilitated further access to markets in the New World, as well as supplying goods needed in the fisheries.
Today, I will be embarking on my final trip to North America (3-21 April) to conduct research in archives and photographic field studies starting in Boston, Salem and Halifax. In addition, I will be exploring other places linked with the Robin firms, such as Arichat and Chéticamp and other sites along New Brunswick's coastline towards the Gaspé peninsula where my project began with a visit in 2017. Since then I've travelled over 80,000 kms exploring Charles Robin's merchant networks in the West Indies, South America, Mediterranean and Baltic in the 18th and 19th centuries. It has been an incredible adventure and insight into the maritime history and economy of the island of Jersey which I'm planning on sharing in images and text in a series of 8 publications currently in production. Charles himself described in some detail his voyage from Arichat to the Bay of Chaleurs in his 18th century diary looking for new fishing grounds to expand his family's cod business. Ahoy!
Long wharf and shipping, by J.W. & J.S. Moulton, 1865. Stereoscopic views of Boston harbour and beaches and the Charlestown Navy Yard, originally from Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views. New York Public Library.