Charles P. Clark Papers

Manuscripts Collection 135

Overview of the Collection
Repository: G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport
Creator: Clark, Charles Peter, 1836-1901
Title: Charles P. Clark Papers
Dates: 1846-1901, (bulk 1852-1862)
Extent: 1020 items
Abstract: Although the scope of this material covers the period of 1846-1901, there is very little included relative to Clark’s post-Civil War business and domestic life. The bulk of the collection covers his merchant shipping activity (1854-1863) and provides an intensive look into a maritime business enterprise. Items include various accounts, shipping papers, invoices, insurance policies, bills, receipts, bills of lading, port sales, etc., relating to Boston-West Africa trade, and in particular, the vessels SOMERS, ANTELOPE, and CLARINDA operated by Clark in partnership with Theodore E. Goodhue.
Identification: Coll. 135

Biography of Charles Peter Clark

Charles Peter Clark was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, August 11, 1836. He was the son of Peter and Susan Lord Clark, and the nephew of Daniel W. Lord. His parents represented the union of two prominent New England families, the Clarks, and the Lords of Kennebunkport, Maine.

As a result of a lengthy ocean voyage from 1852 to 1853, undertaken to improve his health, young Charles acquired a liking for the sea and maritime activity. It was not long until he purchased a small vessel and embarked in the West African trade from Boston, employing a captain while accompanying the vessel as its supercargo.

In 1857 Charles P. Clark & Co., a shipping enterprise that operated vessels in the West African trade, was formed. This venture was dissolved on January 26, 1860. For the next 2 ½ years Clark, evidently in partnership with Theodore E. Goodhue, operated the ANTELOPE, CLARINDA, and SOMERS on the Boston-West Africa route, carrying dry goods, ironware, flour, lard, and even firearms, to Liberia for palm oil and other items. In February 1862, Clark sold the brig SOMERS to William Ropes & Co., but acted as their agent for the vessel until he entered the Union Navy the following October.

Clark was discharge from the service in 1865 and subsequently spent a short time as a merchant in St. Louis, but he soon returned to Boston and became a partner in a shipping firm.

Clark was hired as a clerk for the Boston, Hartford & Erie Railroad, and thus began a career that would, by 1877, bring him to the presidency of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company. He retired in 1899 and died two years later while vacationing in Nice, France.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Available for use in the Manuscripts Division

Restrictions on Use

Various copying restriction 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.

Persons:

Goodhue, Theodore E.

Corporate Bodies (Including Vessels):

Antelope (Schooner)
Clarinda (Schooner)
Somers (Brig : ca. 1854-1862)

Places:

Africa, West–Commerce–United States
United States–Commerce–Africa, West

Subjects:

International trade
Shipping–Massachusetts–Boston

Document Types:

Bills of lading
Insurance policies

Occupations:

Shipowners–Massachusetts–Boston

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Coll. 135, 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 a Capt. Alexander in Box 4, Folder 8 of the collection.
Alexander, ? (Capt.) 4/8
Amos, J.R. 4/8
Anderson, S.F. 4/8
Askins, ? 4/8
Aspinwall, James S. 4/2, 4/8
Beach, F.E. 4/9
Bennett, E.R. 4/8
Bishop, Robert R. 4/9
Blatchford, E.W. 4/9
Bosworth, Bayard 4/9
Bridgman, William H. 4/9
Briggs, Thomas 4/8
Buchanan, James 4/5
Buckland, Edward G. 4/9
Capehart, Hannah 4/8
Carlton, Thomas 4/8
Caulfield, ? (Capt.) 4/8
Clark, C.L. 4/8
Clark, Charles Peter 4/9
Clark, Edward L. 4/9
Clark, James 4/9
Clark, John 4/9
Clark, Susan Lord 4/9
Clark, Susan S. 4/8
Cleaver, ? (Capt.) 4/8
Coe, L.W. 4/8
Colston, ? 4/8
Cooper, John W. 4/8
Deshon, James 4/8
Dodge, Henry C. 4/9
Dunn, ? (Capt.) 4/9
Edison, Theodore 4/8
Emery, Belle 4/9
Emery, W.H. 4/9
Franklin, William 4/9
Gibson, J.T. 4/8
Goodhue, Theodore E. 4/8
Goodwin, ? 4/8
Goodwin, Fred R. 4/9
Goodwin, Lizzie 4/9
Jackson, Henry B. 4/8
Kendall, ? 4/8
Kimball, ? (Capt.) 4/8
Lincoln, Abraham 4/5
Lord, D.W. 4/8
Maling, ? 4/8
Mathews, W.G. 4/8
Maury, C.M. 4/8
McLain, W. 4/8
Miller, ? (Capt.) 4/8
Moore, R. 4/8
Parsons, ? 4/8
Payne, B.A. 4/8
Payne, James S. 4/8
Potter, Ellis A. 4/8
Ralston, G. 4/8
Rankin, William (Jr.) 4/8
Randamie, C.L. 4/2, 4/8
Randamie, J.A. (Madame) 4/2
Roberts, H.J. 4/8
Roberts, J.W. 4/8
Roye, ? (Capt.) 4/5
Seward, William H. 4/5
Shattuck, J.H. 4/8
Stewart, G.C.B. 4/8
Stodder, Louis N. 4/8
Tiffany, Dexter 4/9
Tyler, ? 4/9
Waring, C.M. 4/8
Warner, ? 4/8
Weston, ? 4/8
Williams, Luther 4/8
Wilson, B.R. 4/8
Wilson, J.L. 4/8

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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 A.E. Stevens & Co. in Box 4, Folder 9 of the collection.
A.E. Stevens & Co. 4/9
Alexander & Yates 4/8
C.H. Grant & Co. 4/8
Dana & Co. 4/5
E.R. Ware & Co. 4/8
Fisher & Co. 4/5, 4/8
Gossler & Co. 4/5, 4/8
I.M. Beebe & Co. 4/5
J.B. Brown & Sons 4/9
Johnson, Turpin & Dunbar 4/8
Kimball & Brookhouse 4/8
Lazell, Perkins & Co. 4/8
Lee, Higginson & Co. 4/9
Page, Richardson & Co. 4/8
Payne & Gates 4/8
Pierce Bros. & Flanders 4/8
R.S. McGill & Brown 4/8
Taylor, Tipper & Co. 4/8
Townsend & Watrous 4/9
W.H. Ropes & Co. 4/5
Waterbury Brass Co. 4/8
Williams & Mathews 4/8
Yates & Porterfield 4/8

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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 steamer AMERICAN in Box 4, Folder 8 of the collection.
AMERICAN (Steamer) 4/8
ANN (Brig) 4/8
ANTELOPE (Schooner) 4/8
ARMENIAN (Schooner) 4/8
CITY OF BOSTON (Ship) 4/8
CLARINDA (Schooner) 4/8
CLEOPATRA (Steamship) 4/8
D. GODFREY (Bark) 4/8
EDWARD (Bark) 4/8
EUSEBIA (Brig) 4/5
GEM 4/8
GLASGOW (Bark) 4/8
GREYHOUND (Bark) 4/8
LINCOLN (Ship) 4/8
MENDI 4/8
MOSES SHEPPARD 4/8
PALMAS (Schooner) 4/8
SOMERS (Brig) 4/8
STEVENS 4/8

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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

 

Papers pertaining to the Brig SOMERS; 1860-1863
Box Folder
1 1 Brig SOMERS, 1st voyage (BB): Shipping paper, insurance policies, invoice of merchandise shipped, and port sales records; 1860 Aug-1861 Feb (38 pieces )
2 Brig SOMERS, 1st voyage (BB): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1860 Jan-Aug (45 pieces )
3 Brig SOMERS, 1st voyage (BB): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1860 Sep-1861 Oct (39 pieces )
4 Brig SOMERS, 2nd voyage (DD): Insurance policies and inventory of merchandise shipped; 1861 Mar (3 pieces )
5 Brig SOMERS, 2nd voyage (DD): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1861 Jan-Feb (45 pieces )
6 Brig SOMERS, 2nd voyage (DD): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1861 Mar-1862 Jan (50 pieces )
7 Brig SOMERS, 3rd voyage (FF): Shipping paper, insurance policies, inventory of merchandise shipped; 1862 Jan-Jul (6 pieces )
8 Brig SOMERS, 3rd voyage (FF): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1862 Feb (49 pieces )
9 Brig SOMERS, 3rd voyage (FF): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1862 Mar-Nov (22 pieces )
Box Folder
2 1 Brig SOMERS, 4th voyage (GG): Clark’s receipts and accounts with W. Ropes & Co., for expenses incurred during voyage. Clark sold SOMERS to Ropes and acted as agent; 1862 Feb-1863 May (41 pieces )
2 Brig SOMERS, 4th voyage (GG): Insurance policies, invoice of merchandise shipped, port sales records, bank drafts; 1862 Jun-Dec (47 pieces )
3 Brig SOMERS, 4th voyage (GG): Documents, regarding partial loss occuring; 1863 Jan-Apr (4 pieces )
4 Brig SOMERS: Insurance policies covering vessel in Boston harbor after 4th voyage; 1863 Mar-Apr (3 pieces )
5 Brig SOMERS: Unidentified bills; 1861-1862 and 1863 (5 pieces )
Papers pertaining to the Schooner ANTELOPE; 1858-1862
Box Folder
2 6 Schooner ANTELOPE: Insurance policies covering a Boston- West Africa trading voyage; 1858 Oct 12 (2 pieces )
7 Schooner ANTELOPE: Insurance policies, bills, and sales records for a West African trading voyage; 1859 Jul-1860 Jan (53 pieces )
Box Folder
3 1 Schooner ANTELOPE, 1st voyage (AA): Insurance policies, invoices of merchandise shipped, bill of lading, and sales records; 1860 Mar-Sep (25 pieces )
2 Schooner ANTELOPE, 1st voyage (AA): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1860 Mar (65 pieces )
3 Schooner ANTELOPE, 1st voyage (AA): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1860 Apr-Oct (24 pieces )
4 Schooner ANTELOPE, 1st voyage (AA): C. P. Clark’s expenses while in Philadelphia and New York; 1861 May-1862 Jan (10 pieces )
5 Schooner ANTELOPE, 1st voyage (AA): Unidentified invoices, bills, etc.; ca. 1860 (8 pieces )
6 Schooner ANTELOPE, 2nd voyage (EE): Insurance policies, invoice of merchandise shipped; 1861 My-1862 Jan (5 pieces )
7 Schooner ANTELOPE, 2nd voyage (EE): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1861 Mar-1862 Feb (43 pieces )
Papers pertaining to the Schooner CLARINDA; 1860-1861
Box Folder
3 8 Schooner CLARINDA, (voyage C): Insurance policies, invoice of merchandise shipped, sales records; 1860 Nov-1861 Apr (11 pieces )
9 Schooner CLARINDA, (voyage C): Bills, receipts, bills of lading, etc.; 1860 Nov-1861 Apr (29 pieces )
Papers pertaining to Charles P. Clark; 1860-1901
Box Folder
3 10 Charles P. Clark: “MM” Account; 1860 Mar-1861 Aug (9 pieces )
Box Folder
4 1 C. P. Clark: Miscellaneous accounts, bills, checks, receipts, transactions involving T. E. Goodhue; 1860 Apr-1862 Oct (27 pieces )
2 C. P. Clark: C. L. de Randamie account; 1860 Feb-1861 May (15 pieces )
3 C. P. Clark: Unidentified port sales account; ca. 1861 (6 pieces )
4 C. P. Clark: Checks for various items written by C. P. Clark; 1860 Jul-1863 May (57 pieces )
5 C. P. Clark: Copies of correspondence sent to Washington, D.C. relative to Liberian recognition; 1860 Jun-1862 Jan (10 pieces )
6 C. P. Clark: Miscellaneous insurance policies; 1859-1863 (12 pieces )
7 C. P. Clark: “Clearing of Palm Oil, SOMERS & ANTELOPE, first trade”; 1861 Dec (7 pieces )
8 C. P. Clark: Domestic/ business correspondence; 1846-1863 (27 pieces )
9 C. P. Clark: Material related to his later life and post-war railroad career; 1868-1900 (100 pieces )
10 C. P. Clark: Death in Nice, France; 1901 Mar 21 (53 pieces )
11 C. P. Clark: Miscellaneous unidenified material; undated (11 pieces )
Volumes; 1855-1866
Volume
1 Journal: C. P. Clark’s private journal of his passage from New Orleans to Liverpool on board ship MARY WARD; 1852 Dec 4-1853 Jan 9
2 Business record book: contains invoices of merchandise shipped on board ELIZABETH, and the ELIZA, the ship CORK and bark PETER, consigned to Charles P. Clark. Also contains currency and weights and measures exchange tables; 1854
3 Ledger: Charles P. Clark; 1857 Feb-Sep
4 Ledger: Charles P. Clark & Co.; 1857 Jul 1-1860 Jan 26
5 Journal: Charles P. Clark & Co.; 1857 Jul 1-1860 Jan 26
6 Journal: Joint account African business, Charles P. Clark and Theodore E. Goodhue; 1860 Jun 2
7 Bank book: State Bank in account with Charles P. Clark & Co.; 1857 Jul 1-1861 Jun
8 Bank book: State bank in account with Chalres P. Clark & Co.; 1861 Jul-1862 May
9 Check book: Charles P. Clark with State Bank; 1859 Oct-1861 Nov
10 Check book: Charles P. Clark with State Bank; 1861 Nov 1-1863 May 25
11 Account book: contains figures for ANTELOPE’s first s/a voyage, T. E. Goodhue’s remittances, cash, bills payable, profit and loss; 1860-1863
12 Account book: Amounts paid by C. P. Clark for voyages by Brig SOMERS and Schooners ANTELOPE and CLARINDA, voyages AA, BB, CC, DD, MM, EE, FF, and GG; 1860-1863
13 Small expense notebook; 1861
14 Small account book: Charles P. Clark in account with Clapp, Fuller & Brown; undated
15 Book of handwritten verse, belonging to Susan Jane Clark; 1855 Mar 19
16 Letter copybook (including index) of Charles P. Clark & Co.; 1857 Jun 18-1866 Jan 19
17 Letter copybook of Charles P. Clark & Co.; 1857 Jun 22-1858 Oct 6
18 Account book of Charles P. Clark; 1857 Oct
19 Letterpress copybook, belonging to Charles P. Clark; 1857 Jan 20-1859 Jul 16

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