Latham Cross Collection

Overview of the Collection
	Repository:	G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport
	Creator:	Cross, Latham.
	Title:	Latham Cross Collection
	Dates:	1809-1854, (bulk 1814-1830)
	Extent:	ca. 250 pieces
	Abstract:	Bills, receipts, notes, 2 letters, freight lists, port documentation, disbursements, owner/agent accounts, and other papers, relating chiefly to Cross’ shipping activity as captain, 1814-1817, of the sloop EMILY, trading mainly with coastal ports, and to other business and domestic accounts. Also included are minor materials relating to the whaling industry and his activities as master of the whaling ships TIMOLEON and PERSIA. The vast majority of this collection is related to Captain Cross’s shipping activity with the EMILY, and other business and domestic accounts. Very few items related to the whaling industry.
	Identification:	Coll. 136

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Biography of Latham Cross

Latham Cross was an early 19th century merchant captain and whaling master from New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was captain of the sloop EMILY (1814-1817), a coasting vessel trading at various ports, including New York, Wilmington, Savannah, and St. Thomas. Between 1818 and 1823 Cross made two whaling voyages as master of the ship PERSIA. Portions of this collection seem to indicate that PERSIA made a trading voyage, carrying cotton and general cargo from New York to Le Havre and Lisbon in 1824, with Latham Cross as master. Records reveal that the vessel had return to whaling when she left New Bedford in August of 1825. Cross was subsequently master of the whaleship TIMOLEON (May 20, 1820-June 19, 1828) for a voyage to the Brazil grounds.

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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.

 Corporate Bodies (Including Vessels):

Emily (Sloop)
Persia (Ship)
Timoleon (Ship)

Subjects:

Coastwise shipping–Atlantic Coast (U.S.)
Shipping–Massachusetts–New Bedford
Whaling–Massachusetts–New Bedford

Occupations:

Shipmasters–Massachusetts–New Bedford
Whaling masters–Massachusetts–New Bedford

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Coll. 136, Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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

 

Business Papers; 1809-1854
Box	Folder
1	1		Receipts; 1809-1811; 2 pieces
	2		Receipts and account; 1812; 2 pieces
	3		Receipts and accounts, account with Isaac, George, and Thomas Howland of New Bedford, also ship TIMOLEON account; 1814; 5 pieces
	4		Receipts and accounts; 1815; 16 pieces
	5		Receipts and accounts; 1816; 30 pieces
	6		Domestic and business accounts; 1817; 30 pieces
	7		Sloop EMILY, shipping activity; 1814-1817; 61 pieces
	8		Receipts and accounts; 1818; 8 pieces
	9		Business and domestic activity; 1819
	10		Bills, accounts, receipts, etc.; 1820; 19 pieces
	11		Accounts and receipts; 1821; 9 pieces
	12		Accounts and receipts; 1822; 11 pieces
	13		Accounts and receipts; 1823; 23 pieces
	14		Ship PERSIA, accounts, bills, and receipts; 1824; 14 pieces
	15		Bills, receipts, etc., includes a letter from L. Cross’s son, William, received while aboard TIMOLEON, in 1827 (mentions vessel PIONEER); 1825-1830; 5 pieces
	16		Bills, letter, receipts, and auction list; 1831-1854; 4 pieces
	17		unidentified material relating to collection; undated; 17 pieces

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