Thomas Williams established copper and brass works at
Holywell in Flint. Products made from the copper and
brass at these factories were used mainly for the African slave trade. The
importance of this trade can be seen from Thomas Williams petition to the House
of Commons in July 1788.
" A petition by Thomas Williams Esquire, on behalf of himself
and his co partners in the manufacture of Brass Battery, and other Copper ,
Brass and Mixed Goods, for the African Trade at Holywell in the county of Flint,
Penclawdd in the county of Glamorgan, and Temple Mill in the county of
Berks...setting forth, that the Petitioner and his Co-partners have laid out a
capital of £70,000 and upwards to establish themselves in the aforesaid
manufactories, which are entirely for the African market...and that the
Petitioner has lately been informed that a Bill is now depending in the House,
for the purpose of regulating for a limited time, the shipping and carrying of
slaves in British vessels from the coast of Africa, which ... will greatly hurt,
if not entirely ruin, the British trade to Africa in the manufactories
aforesaid, whereby the Petitioner and his partners would lose the greatest part
of the aforesaid Capital"
The importance of the slave trade to the copper industry had
been recognized as early as 1713 in Bristol. By 1726 the record of Slave trades
in Liverpool showed that Copper was a very important secondary cargo for the
slave traders. In 1771over 300 tons of brass and 50 tons of copper where export
from Britain to Africa. While in 1776, 220 tons of Brass and 600 tons of copper
were exported to the West Indies. By the 1780's over
1000 tons of copper per year was being sent to the west Indies.
At least two vessels "Prince of Wales" and "Polly to Bonny" were in contract to
carry slaves. the ships outward's cargo also included. " Padlocks and collars
for blacks or dogs"
In the main manilas or bangles and neptunes and salt
evaporation pans were the main cargo on the outward journey to Africa. For the
West Indies a large part of the export goods were in form of copper bottoms and
plates required for sugar boiling and rum distillation equipment.