Jacob B, It is largely accepted by scholars that the art of chantying started to develop in the early days of the 19th Century, 1815-1819, with the beginning of the packet trades. The large Naval wars of the late 18th early 19th century winding down, there was a fast growth in merchant shipping. Ships quickly growing larger and crews smaller the chanty developed. 18th century references to sailors singing at work are very rare.