The Phelps Family and the Wine Trade in 19th Century Madeira

William Phelps moved to Madeira with his wife in 1784 to participate in the wine trade, along with a number of other British merchants. It was a family business in all senses of the word. Three of William's sons continued to produce and export Madeira wine until the 1860s. One of them, Joseph, lived there with his family for more than forty years and their diaries and correspondence reveal much about their social life, as well as business affairs. We have transcribed more than 500 letters written by three generations of the family. Selections from the letters form the basis of this present volume and are designed specifically to introduce English readers in Madeira to the role of the Phelps family during the 18th and 19th centuries. William's son-in-law, Robert Page, did much for the inhabitants of Madeira during the time he ran the 'House' and was honoured by the King of Portugal. Joseph and Elizabeth were also philanthropists who founded two schools and she planted many trees to restore deforested areas. Their daughter Bella brought Madeira lace and embroidery to the notice of the wider world at great benefit to the local people. All the family spoke Portuguese which was unusual for expatriots. The letters describe the rigours of reaching the island by sailing ship and coping with outbreaks of disease before an understanding of the cause was possible. There was a scandal in Madeira involving the English church in Funchal and the Reverend Richard Lowe, a famous naturalist whose religious views were based on those of the Oxford Movement. He managed to antagonise half the British community. The Reverend Lowe and Dr Ross went on adventurous trips with Elizabeth Phelps into the high mountains and the letters describe travelling by hammock up precipitous slopes and camping in rocky places. Singing and the playing of musical instruments were important to the family and formed part of the many social events that took place in Funchal. All Joseph and Elizabeth's eleven children lived into their sixties and beyond. Their later lives and careers are described in the final chapter.