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Michael Becher

Michael Becher (January 1704-December 18 1758) was a Bristol born English Slave Trader, and Merchant. Becher was from an established Bristol commercial family, and he took over his father's slave trading firm

Early Life

Born on January 1704 in Bristol England Died on December 18,1758 at the age of 54. He was buried in St.Marks, Bristol, England  Career  He was an established Bristol commercial family, and took over his father's slave trading firm. He interests in the west India trade which was active during the periods between 1728-1749 and 1754-1757. He had partaken in 19 slave trading voyages between the years 1727-1753. Becher was the primary owner of all of the voyages and was the sole owner of 14 of the voyages that took place. He never invested in any other type of slave trading other than his own company. The slave voyages that Becher had completed occurred during 1731-1740 mainly taking place in Jamaica.

Michael Becher was apprenticed to James Day in Bristol on the 1st July 1732. I was puzzled until apprentice records revealed that he was the son of Edward Becher of Southwell, Notts [a brother of John Becher of Bristol]. He became a Bristol Burgess on the 26th July 1736 as a Merchant. I have not found a death for him.

He belonged to a company called Ducommen, Becher & Co. They owned or part owned Galleys named Jason, Southwell, Peniel, Excellence & Anson, among others. John and Michael were both agents, co-ordinating voyages. The trade was a triangular one, with goods being taken to Africa to trade for slaves, slaves then taken to the Caribbean etc and finally returning to Bristol loaded up with sugar, rum, tobacco, molasses and cocoa.

Genealogy Michael Becher had a large family. His family consisted of parents John Becher and Hester Duddlestone. The parents gave birth to 8 children. Of the 8 children only 4 survived. The children that survived were named John, Henry, Michael, and William Becher.