COLLETT, JAMES [SSNE 5404]
- Surname
- COLLETT
- First name
- JAMES, JACOB
- Title/rank
- Nationality
- ENGLISH
- Region
- Social status
- Education
- Religion
Text source
James Collett (1655-1727) emigrated to Norway in 1683 to take part in the timber trade. He returned to England on a number of occassions before settling in Norway for good. Even once resident, Collett did not swear fealty to the Danish king, or take citizenship for over 18 years. In 1700 Collett decided to return to England, but the vice-governor, Frederik von Gabel, suggested to the king that Collett should be persuaded to stay by being offered a title, but nothing came of that. However, after another request to leave in 1702, he was appointed to the Kommercerad. Some sources say the appointment occurred on 1 December 1703, but a letter from him in this position survives from 1 February of the same year. Thereafter Collett served as the factor in Christiania for the English merchants who traded in the east of Norway. In 1704, he and his partner Leuch (wife or brother-in-law) shipped timber from Christiania to Ireland. He also bought timber from them and saw it shipped to England. Between 1714-1715 Collett was selected to act as the Danish-Norwegian commissioner for the reception and transfer of contributions to the London Church. On average, Collett would charter between 12-15 vessels of 200 lasts. Collett married Karen Leuch and with her had three sons called Peter who died as infants. They also had the following children, James, Anna, Peter, Maria, John and Sara. James Collett died on 29 May 1727 aged 72 years old.R. Fladby, Norske Kongebrev (6 vols., Oslo, 1962), VII, p.293; A. Collett, Collett, en gammel Christiania slegt (Christiania, 1883), passim; J. Elgvin, En By i Kamp: Stavanger bys historie 1536-1814 (Stavanger, 1956), p.201.
Service record
- DENMARK-NORWAY, CHRISTIANIA, NORWAY
- Arrived 1683-01-01
- Departed 1727-05-29
- Capacity MERCHANT, purpose TRADE
- Arrived 1703-02-01
- Departed 1727-04-29
- Capacity MERCHANT CONSUL, FACTOR, purpose COMMERCIAL DIPLOMACY