John Palmer Papers

Manuscripts Collection 53

Overview of the Collection
Repository: G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport
Creator: Palmer, John
Title: John Palmer Papers
Dates: 1775-1839
Extent: 1 box (113 pieces; 11 vol.)
Abstract: Included in this collection are letters to John Palmer at Newport during 1776 from family and friends. Two diaries kept by John Palmer between 1775 and 1777 provide insights into the Revolutionary Period, as do the 2 sea journals from the Privateer REVENGE. Present also are logs and journals for the Snow BLACK PRINCESS, Schooner LITTLE REBECCA, Sloop COUNT D’ESTAINGE, Brig BETSEY, and the Ship READYMONEY. Most of the material after 1800 (about 10% of the total) involves other members of the Palmer family.
Identification: Coll. 53

Biography of John Palmer

John Palmer (1747-1810) was a Revolutionary War soldier and mariner from Stonington, Connecticut. During 1776 he was with Col. Babcock’s regiment at Newport, Rhode Island. Later, from 1777-1778, he served aboard the Stonington privateer REVENGE. Following that he served aboard several merchant vessels out of Stonington and New London on West Indies trading voyages between 1779 and 1785. Records indicate that he was master of the Snow BLACK PRINCESS.

Top →

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.

Top →

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 search the catalog using these headings.

Corporate Entities:

Betsey (Brig : 1785-1786)
Black Princess (Snow)
Count D’Estainge (Sloop)
Little Rebecca (Schooner)
Readymoney (Ship)
Revenge (Privateer)

Subjects:

International trade
Privateering
Shipping
Voyages and travels

Places:

Newport (R.I.)–History
Rhode Island–History–Revolution, 1775-1783
Stonington (Conn.)–History
United States–History–Revolution, 1775-1783–Naval operations

Document Types:

Diaries
Journals (accounts)
Logbooks

Occupations:

Ship captains–Connecticut–Stonington

Return to the Table of Contents

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Coll. 53, Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.

Top →

Indexes

Index to Personal and 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 Elisha Babcock in Box 1, Folder 1 of the collection.
Babcock, Elisha 1/1
Babcock, Hezekiah 1/3
Babcock, M. 1/1
Babcock, N. 1/7
Babcock, Robert 1/1
Belsher, John 1/1
Brown, Joshua 1/1
Burrows, Henry 1/4
Burrows, Noyes 1/4
Chesebrough, Amos 1/1
Chesebrough, Nathaniel 1/1
Chesebrough, Rebecca 1/1
Chesebrough, Zeb 1/1
Coldman, Edward 1/1
Conkling, Joseph 1/2, 1/3
Denison, Eliza 1/7
Denison, James 1/1
Hancox, Joseph 1/1
Hancox, Zeb 1/1
Hewitt, Silas 1/1
Hilliard, Joseph 1/1
Hull, Charlie 1/7
Lewis, Asa 1/1
Marchant, Henry 1/2, 1/3
Miner, Clement 1/1
Miner, Ephraim 1/3
Miner, Lucy 1/7
Nichols, John 1/4
Nichols, Sarah 1/4
Noyes, Ephraim 1/4
Noyes, Eunice 1/4
Noyes, Joseph 1/4
Noyes, Lucy Ann 1/4
Noyes, Nancy 1/4
Noyes, Nathan S. 1/4
Noyes, Thomas 1/1
Palmer, Abijah 1/1
Palmer, Allen 1/1, 1/2, 1/5
Palmer, Benjamin F. 1/4
Palmer, Bridget 1/1
Palmer, Daniel 1/1
Palmer, Dolly 1/4
Palmer, E.H. (Mrs.) 1/4
Palmer, Edward 1/1, 1/3
Palmer, Elijah 1/3
Palmer, Eliza 1/4
Palmer, James 1/1
Palmer, Jonas 1/1
Palmer, Mary 1/7
Palmer, Moses 1/1
Palmer, Nathan 1/1
Palmer, Noyes (Jr.) 1/1, 1/3
Palmer, Noyes (Sr.) 1/1, 1/3
Palmer, Peleg 1/1
Palmer, Prudence 1/1
Palmer, Reuben 1/1
Palmer, Samuel 1/1
Palmer, Sarah 1/3, 1/5, 1/7
Palmer, Zebediah 1/1, 1/3
Pendleton, Amos 1/1
Pendleton, Benjamin 1/1
Prentice, Samuel 1/1
Rossiter, White 1/3
Searle, Mary 1/3
Smith Sons & Anderson 1/3
Smith, Oliver 1/1
Stanton, Andrew 1/1
Stanton, Ebenezer 1/1
Stanton, Lodowick 1/1
Stanton, Lois 1/1
Stanton, Robert 1/1
Stanton, Thankful 1/3
Thompson, Nathan 1/3
Thompson, Nathaniel 1/1
Tracy, Moses 1/1
Whipple, ? (Capt.) 1/1
Williams, Hannah 1/1
Williams, S.N.L. 1/4
Woodbridge, Joseph 1/2, 1/3

Top →

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 brig BETSY in Box 1, Folder 3 of the collection.
BETSY (Brig) 1/3
CALEDONIA 1/7
COLUMBUS (Privateer) 1/1
COUNT D’ESTAINGE (Sloop) 1/3

Top →

Detailed Description of the Collection

Correspondence and Miscellaneous Documents; 1775-1839.

Box Folder
1 1 John Palmer, correspondence received from family and friends. Images
2 Letter, bill, receipts, etc. Images
3 Correspondence to and from John Palmer; Inventory of Sails and Rigging aboard Sloop COUNT D’ESTAINGE; sending bills and receipts. Images
4 Bond, will, summons, and correspondence re. Palmer family. Images
5 Love letters and poems, and song lyrics re. The Revolutionary War. Images
6 Manuscript track of courses sailed by Brig BETSEY from Aux Cayes (Haiti) to “Little Island”. Images
7 Undated/unidentified correspondence and miscellaneous materials. Images

Volumes; 1775-1807.

8 Vol. 1; John Palmer’s cipher book. Images
9 Vol. 2; John Palmer’s pocket diary with typed transcription. Images
10 Vol. 3; John Palmer’s diary. Images
11 Vol. 4; Workbook of weights and measures, time and mathematics. Images
12 Vol. 5; Sloop REVENGE (Privateer) abstract log, Jul.-Sep. 1777, and journal Feb.-Jun. 1778, Joseph Conkling, master; contains Articles of Agreement for privateering voyage. Images
13 Vol. 6; Sloop REVENGE (Privateer) journal, Nathan Post, master; contains Articles of Agreement. Images
14 Vol. 7; Sloop FAIRPLAY journal, Mar.-June 1779, kept by John Palmer on a West Indies trading voyage; Schooner LITTLE REBECCA journal, Jul.-Aug. 1779, kept by John Palmer on a West Indies trading voyage. Images
15 Vol. 8; Snow BLACK PRINCESS abstract log, John Palmer, master (incomplete). Images
16 Vol. 9; Sloop COUNT D’ESTAINGE journal, kept by John Palmer for a coastwise and West Indies trading voyage. Images
17 Vol. 10; Brig BETSEY journal, kept by John Palmer for West Indies trading voyage. Images
18 Vol. 11; Ship READYMONEY logbook, for a West Indies trading voyage. Images

 

Top →