The grand chop shown here was issued to the Salem ship Astrea, whose supercargo Thomas H. Perkins kept a journal of part of the voyage to China in 1789, and who retained this document. The Astrea obtained her grand chop in early January 1790, but was so overloaded with cargo and extra crew that she delayed her departure from Whampoa until January 22 so as to build an extra shack on deck to shelter the men.4 The grand chop states that all proper duties have been paid for the ship and should not be required again if the ship is driven into another port by contrary weather. It also lists the number of crew members, swords, cannons, guns, bullets, and gunpowder aboard ship, and the date of issue.5 Removed from the T.H. Perkins papers
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