John F. Harden Collection

Manuscripts Collection 111

Overview of the Collection

Repository: G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport
Creator: Harden, John F.
Title: John F. Harden Collection
Dates: 1831-1888
Extent: ca. 208 items
Abstract: Chiefly personal, business, and family letters (1849-1877) to Harden. Also includes ship-related bills, accounts, receipts, consular certificates, and general clearances. Topics include Harden’s activities as a commander of coasting vessels; his transportation of a locomotive to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; maritime trade; and cargoes, generally lumber. Correspondents include shipowners who engaged Harden as a captain, fellow shipmasters, and business owners.
Identification: Coll. 111

Biography of John F. Harden

John F. Harden was a shipmaster involved primarily in the coasting trade. He made voyages between Boston, New York, Washington, New Orleans, and Calais, aboard several vessels, including the schooners Adelaide and Vendori.

In 1860, as master of the bark IDDO KIMBALL, Harden was involved in trade with Britain. Later, in the period 1869 – 1871, he became captain of the brig LONG REACH and entered the lumber trade. The enterprise was a fairly large scale one, and consisted of shipping lumber between New York and Pensacola, Florida. There also was some lumber trade with Jamaica.

Harden’s father and brothers were involved in the business as well. Initially residing in East Thomaston, Maine, the family resettled in Rockland, Maine. The older of Harden’s two sons attended a business oriented school, most likely in preparation to enter the family business.

1876 marked Harden’s last command. He took charge of the ship GALATEA, which was chartered to transport a load of locomotives and railroad equipment from Philadelphia to Rio. After the owner sold the ship, Harden embarked on a search for new arrangement. But although earlier evidence showed that he was much valued as a captain, this time he appeared to have been unsuccessful in his search for a new position.

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Scope and Content

The John F. Harden Papers Collection consists of one ten folder box. The papers contain primarily correspondence. There are both personal and business letters. Much of the business correspondence is with shipowners who had engaged Harden as a captain. There is also correspondence with fellow shipmasters and business owners. There is a folder of business documents, including receipts, accounts, consular certificates and general clearances. The papers provide a glimpse into the life of upper rank seamen engaged in the maritime trade in the late 19th century.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Available for use in the Manuscripts Division.

Restrictions on Use

Various copying restrictions apply. Guidelines are available from the Manuscripts Division.

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Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the G. W. Blunt White Library. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the G. W. Blunt White Library. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should

Persons:

Harden family Harding family

Subjects:

Coastwise shipping–Atlantic Coast (U.S.)
Freight and freightage
International trade
Locomotives–Brazil–Rio de Janeiro
Lumber trade

Document Types:

Accounts
Certificates
Family papers
Receipts

Occupations:

Business people
Shipmasters

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Coll. 111, Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.

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Indexes

Index to Personal Names

NOTE: The fraction(s) indicate the Box and Folder numbers where that particular reference can be found. For example, the researcher will find information about Capt. D. Ames in Box 1, Folder 2 of the collection.
Ames, D. (Capt.) 1/2
Barks, Ephraim 1/2
Baron, C.L. 1/7
Bartlett, ? (Capt.) 1/6
Benner, Robert 1/2
Campbell, Gleason 1/4
Campbell, John 1/4
Campbell, Samuel 1/4
Fisk, M. (Capt.) 1/2
Goodwin, ? (Capt.) 1/8
Grant, ? (Capt.) 1/7
Hall, James 1/4
Ham, Joseph 1/6
Harden, Charles 1/6, 1/7
Harden, Freeman 1/2, 1/3
Harden, George 1/6
Harden, Heman 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/10
Harden, Sarah 1/2, 1/6
Hayden, John 1/7
Ingraham, John S. 1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/9
Jameson, ? (Capt.) 1/5
Keen, C.H. 1/1
Kimball, A.H. 1/3
Laurance, Edward (Jr.) 1/8, 1/9
Leeds, P. 1/3
Lemont, Alfred 1/7
Mallory, ? 1/6
McLellan, ? (Capt.) 1/3
Mill, Joshua (Capt.) 1/10
Oats, Lynn 1/5
Pendergast, ? 1/8
Perry, E.B. 1/2
Perry, O.H. 1/2
Pierce, William (Capt.) 1/2
Pillsbury, B.A. 1/8, 1/9
Pillsbury, John 1/6
Pillsbury, Sarah 1/2
Reny, H. 1/2
Robinson, David (Capt.) 1/2
Sawyer, ? (Capt.) 1/4
Sementa, A. (Capt.) 1/2
Snow, ? (Capt.) 1/2, 1/3
Taylor, ? (Capt.) 1/2
Thombs, ? (Capt.) 1/7
White, Frank 1/2
White, O.M. 1/2
Willson, William 1/5
Wolfe, D. 1/6

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Index to Corporate Names

NOTE: The fraction(s) indicate the Box and Folder numbers where that particular reference can be found. For example, the researcher will find information about Baker & Co. in Box 1, Folder 9 of the collection.
Baker & Co. 1/9
Baynon Wells & Co. 1/3
Campbell & Co. 1/4
David Brown & Co. 1/8
Erans & Co. 1/5
Hicks & Bell 1/8
Hurley & Co. 1/7
J.H. & E.F. Lewis 1/1
John S.Ingraham & Co. 1/1, 1/6, 1/9
Kiln Company 1/2
Lime Rock Bank 1/5, 1/6
Loud, Claridge & Co. 1/9
Molum & Son 1/4
Penergast & Co 1/8, 1/9
Robinson & Harden 1/2
Rockland Bank 1/2
S. Brown & Co. 1/4
Skillings & Co. 1/4
Vernan Brown & Co. 1/8
Weld & Co. 1/8
Williams & Co. 1/8

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Index to Vessel Names

NOTE: The fraction(s) indicate the Box and Folder numbers where that particular reference can be found. For example, the researcher will find information about the ship A & M in Box 1, Folder 2 of the collection.
A & M (Ship) 1/2
ADELAIDE (Schooner) 1/2
AID (Schooner) 1/2
ALBUN 1/2
ALLIE OAKEN (Schooner) 1/5, 1/6
ALLSTON (Brig) 1/4
AMERICAN CHEIF (Schooner) 1/5
AMITY (Schooner) 1/4
AMULET (Brig) 1/2
ANN LENMAN (Schooner) 1/10
ANN MARIA (Bark) 1/4
ARCTIC (Schooner) 1/5
BENGAL (Schooner) 1/1
C.S. PACKARD (Brig) 1/6
CALISTA (Schooner) 1/5
CAVALIER (Ship) 1/3
CELESTIAL (Schooner) 1/2
CHARLES COTT (Schooner) 1/5
CHASE (Schooner) 1/5, 1/6
DIAMOND (Schooner) 1/2
EAGLE (Schooner) 1/2
ELIZA JANE (Schooner) 1/2
ELIZABETH (Schooner) 1/6
EMERALD (Schooner) 1/2
ENTERPRISE (Schooner) 1/1
EPHRAIM WILLIAMS (Bark) 1/6
EQUATOR (Ship) 1/2
ESSEX (Brig) 1/5, 1/6
FOREST EAGLE (Ship) 1/3
FRANK JAMESON (Schooner) 1/5
GALATEA (Ship) 1/8, 1/9
H.L. SNOW (Schooner) 1/6
HOREA (Schooner) 1/2
HYNE (Schooner) 1/5
IDDO KIMBALL (Bark) 1/3
J.L. BOWEN (Brig) 1/6, 1/7
JENNY PITTS (Bark) 1/3
JULIA E. GAMAGE (Schooner) 1/5
KATE GRANT (Schooner) 1/7
KESTRAL (Bark) 1/9
LONG REACH (Brig) 1/1, 1/5
MARMORA (Bark) 1/2
MARTHA IANGEN (Brig) 1/2
MERCURY (Ship) 1/9
METRUS (Schooner) 1/4
MOUNT HOPE (Schooner) 1/2
NEVIS (Schooner) 1/1
NEW PACKET (Schooner) 1/4
NICTON (Schooner) 1/4
NILE (Schooner) 1/5
OCEAN EAGLE (Barkentine) 1/6
OCEAN STAR (Schooner) 1/5
PATRICK HENRY (Brig) 1/2
PEKIN (Bark) 1/9
PERSIA (Steamer) 1/3
PHIPSBURG 1/2
PIONEER (Schooner) 1/4
R. FOSTER (Schooner) 1/4
RICHMOND (Schooner) 1/2
S.F. SMITH (Schooner) 1/5
SAMSON (Bark) 1/2, 1/3
SARAH HAMILTON (Schooner) 1/2
SEA BIRD (Schooner) 1/4
SEA LION (Ship) 1/2
ST. PETER (Bark) 1/6
STUD & FRANK 1/5
SUPERB (Schooner) 1/4
VENDORI (Schooner) 1/1, 1/2
WELKIN (Bark) 1/2

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Papers; 1831-1888. Correspondence; 1849-1877.

Box Folder
1 1 Bills, receipts, accounts, Clearance papers. Images
2 Correspondence. Images
3 Correspondence. Images
4 Correspondence. Images
5 Correspondence. Images
6 Correspondence. Images
7 Correspondence. Images
8 Correspondence. Images
9 Correspondence. Images
10 Correspondence. Images