Cosmopolitan Networks in Commerce and Society 1660–1914

SHERYLLYNNE HAGGERTY
that the relationship between them and the Blundells had deteriorated
to such an extent that Blundell junior and senior were gossiping
about the Rainfords in Liverpool and destroying their networks
there. We have to assume that because William Boats had been in -
volv ed in seven voyages consigned to Rainford, Blundell & Rainford
before this rift, and Thomas Seaman had been a captain on one of
those vessels, that they had formed enough of a personal bond to
withstand this obvious loss in reputation. This change in Samuel
Rainford’s networks is highlighted in Figure 11.2. It is immediately
obvious that he lost access to the important and interconnected slave
trade networks in Liverpool, and his own networks appear to have
shrunk because of this.
However, the Rainford brothers did not suffer a loss of reputation
in other circles. Throughout their early dealings, Samuel and Robert
Rainford were introduced to a wide range of Liverpool worthies and,
in deed, merchants of good note in other cities. These included
William Crosbie senior, Arthur Heywood & Co., William Boats, and
Moses Benson, all of Liverpool, Richard and Low bridge Bright of
Bristol, Hibbert & Co. of Manchester, and many merchants in Lon -
don. 67 Some of these weak ties eventually became stronger ones as
the Kingston house, and especially Samuel and Robert, built up their
networks in Jamaica independently of the Blundells. They certainly
had a wide range of people to whom they sold slaves in Jamaica.
Three hundred and forty-nine names are listed in their pocketbook,
many of whom were respectable merchants or well-known Jewish
shopkeepers. This does not even include those sales they made for
cash. 68
Gradually, weak ties were turned into strong ones, and Samuel
Rainford became a respected and trusted figure in his own right.
Figure 11.2 shows that while Rainford lost many of his weak ties in
Liverpool, those that lasted became stronger over time. As early as
1780 he acted as executor for Robert Holden in Jamaica and was
apparently also working as an attorney. 69 The extremely well-con-
67 Rainford, Blundell & Rainford in Account Current with Jonathon Blundell,
9 Aug. 1779 to 29 June 1782; 6 Nov. 1783 to 6 Nov. 1785.
68 These names have not been shown separately in Fig.12.2 because of the
large volume.
69 Royal Gazette, Supplement, 2 Dec. 1780; Morgan (ed.), Bright-Meyler Papers,
at 547.
334