Biography of Joseph Williams
A Norwich, Connecticut native and merchant Joseph Williams began his career by selling necessities to Revolutionary War soldiers. In 1778 he married Abigail Coit and switched to privateering and the West Indies trade as well as other maritime enterprises.
Williams soon owned two warehouses, a shipyard and a fleet of over twenty vessels. He subsequently became actively involved in the government affairs. In 1783 he was appointed a lieutenant in the Home Guards. In 1796 he became brigadier general. Meanwhile his vessels began to feel the ill effects of the French Revolution. Many were either lost at sea or seized by the French. Williams’ wealth declined until his death in 1800.
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.
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.
Corporate Entities:
Arguile (Brig)
Betsy (Brig)
Hope (Brig)
Little Joe (Sloop)
Nabby (Sloop)
Nancy (Brig)
Nimrod (Sloop)
Pilgrim (Brig)
Polly (Sloop)
Prosperity (Ship)
Surprise (Sloop)
Swallow (Sloop)
Victory (Sloop)
Places:
South America–Commerce–United States
United States–Commerce–South America
United States–Commerce–West Indies
West Indies–Commerce–United States
Subjects:
Coastwise shipping–Atlantic Coast (U.S.)
French Spoliation claims
International trade
Privateering
Shipping
Document Types:
Bills of lading
Bills of sale
Manifests
Occupations:
Merchants–Connecticut–Norwich
Shipowners–Connecticut–Norwich
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Administrative Information
Coll. 37, Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.
Indexes
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Papers for specific vessels; 1779-1792. Papers, Joseph Williams; 1782. Papers, re French Spoilation Claims; 1797-1899.
| Box | Folder | |
| 1 | 1 | Accounts, NANCY (Brig). Images |
| 2 | Papers, NANCY (Brig), including accounts and sailing instructions. Images | |
| 3 | Accounts, NANCY (Brig). Images | |
| 4 | Papers, ARGUILE (Brig), including bill of sale, agreements, and accounts. Images | |
| 5 | Papers, SURPRISE (Sloop), including outfitting accounts and a prize receipt. Images | |
| 6 | Journal, SURPRISE (Sloop). Images | |
| 7 | Accounts, NIMROD (Sloop). Images | |
| 8 | Accounts, POLLY (Sloop), BETSY (Brig), PEGGY (Brig), PILGRIM (Brig). Images | |
| 9 | Papers, LITTLE JOE (Sloop), including accounts, agreements, a bond and sailing instructions. Images | |
| 10 | Papers, LITTLE JOE (Sloop), including accounts and sailing instructions. Images | |
| 12 | Accounts, VICTORY (Sloop). Images | |
| 13 | Papers, POLLY (Brig), including registration, bill of sale, sailing instructions, accounts, and agreements. Images | |
| 14 | Papers, SWALLOW (Sloop), including registration, sailing instructions, clearance papers, accounts, and agreements. Images | |
| Box | Folder | |
| 2 | 1 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), including bills of lading, accounts, agreements, and sailing instructions. Images |
| 2 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), including bills of lading, accounts, agreements, and appointment to command. Images | |
| 3 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), including bills of lading, accounts, and an agreement. Images | |
| 4 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), including bills of lading, accounts, sailing instructions, and a clearance paper. Images | |
| 5 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), including bills of lading, and accounts. Images | |
| 6 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), including bills of lading, accounts, agreements, and sailing instructions. Images | |
| 7 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), including bills of lading, and accounts. Images | |
| 8 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), including bills of lading, accounts, agreements, and sailing instructions. Images | |
| 9 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), including bills of lading, and accounts. Images | |
| 10 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), including bills of lading, and accounts. Images | |
| 11 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), including bills of lading, and accounts. Images | |
| 12 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), regarding master and the molasses trade in Port-au-Prince. Images | |
| 13 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), including bills of lading, accounts, and sailing instructions. Images | |
| 14 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), including bills of lading, and accounts. Images | |
| 15 | Papers, NABBY (Sloop), including bills of lading, and accounts. Images | |
| 11 | Miscellaneous papers. Images | |
| 16 | Papers, HOPE (Brig), and PROSPERITY (Ship) regarding French Spoliation Claims. Images | |
| 17 | Papers, regarding French Spoliation Claims legislation, including letters and circulars. Images | |
| 18 | Papers, regarding French Spoliation Claims, including letters pertaining to re-submission. Images | |
| 19 | Papers, HOPE (Brig), regarding French Spoliation Claims settlement. Images |