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Overview of the Records
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Repository: |
G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport |
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Creator: |
Churchill, Brown & Manson Company |
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Title: |
Records of Churchill, Brown & Manson Company |
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Dates: |
1866-1871 |
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Extent: |
600 pieces |
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Abstract: |
The collection contains mostly incoming correspondence from Cuban exporters. There are numerous letters from the Cardenas firms of D. Ruiz Toledo, Smith & Co., and L. Soler & Co., C. Uhrback & Co., and Alfonso & Blanchard. Tow Matanzas firms and one in Sagua La Grande are also well represented. There are several letters to Churchill, Brown & Manson from their Boston office, and letters from customer and/or agents in St. Louis, New York and Canada. Monthly balance sheets are included, along with some bills of lading, cargo invoices and other miscellaneous bills. |
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Identification: |
Coll. 162 |
History of Churchill, Brown & Manson Company
Churchill, Brown & Manson Co. was active in trading primarily with Cuba. The main office was in Portland, Maine, but in 1867 an active branch office was started in Boston, Massachusetts. The company did extensive business in Cardenas, Cienfuegos, Havana, Matazas, Sagua La Grande and other Cuban ports, as well as some Puerto Rican ports, in the importing of sugar and molasses into the United States, and in exporting lumber, shooks, hogsheads, hoops, boxes, barrel staves and food stuffs to agents and dealers in the Caribbean.
James M. Churchill was the senior partner of the firm and apparently the dominant member of the company. (Mr. Brown is never mentioned, but one letter from an underling in Boston to his counterpart in Portland speaks disparagingly of Mr. Manson’s competence.) Letters from Cuban agents to the main office in Portland mention Mr. Churchill’s visit to the island in January and February 1871 with friendly warmth so that it is entirely possible that he was the J. M. Churchill who was the agent in Cardenas in 1863 and who made out the bills to be paid by E. P. Treat & Co. of Frankfort, Maine (Coll. 30). (Treat managed a barque JAMES M. CHURCHILL in 1867.) The firm not only dealt in the export of the materials in which sugar and molasses were to be imported, but it also contracted for shooks, staves, etc., from individual manufacturers on a yearly basis, storing such material until needed for export. It also dealt with midwest firms in buying flour for resale in St. John, New Brunswick, along the coast of Maine, along with other foodstuff, in Cuba. It would appear that weekly or biweekly advices were sent to a dozen or more sugar and molasses dealers and agents in Cuba as to the prices their products were bring in the Boston, New York and Portland markets. In turn, those dealers and agents sent quotations about the price and sales of sugar and molasses in Cuban ports and the prices that wooden containers were fetching in the local markets.
The letters give a good picture of the seasonal fluctuation of the sugar and molasses business in Cuba at that time from the harvesting of the cane in late November-December, the processing of the cane syrup in various forms, (muscovado, clayed sugar and molasses, treacle, “melado,” “centrifugal,” “refined,” “grocery,” etc.), the packing of the product destined for export into barrels and boxes ready for shipping and the ending of the season in April or May of the following year. Natural disasters – the drought and resulting fires of the sugar estates in March 1867, and the two serious hurricanes of October 1870 – affected the price, quantity and quality of the produce. This was also a time of unrest and rebellion against the Spanish government in Cuba. In November 1869 two or three estates had been burned and field hands carried off in the Cienfuegos district, while a “partial slave conspiracy” had been discovered and put down in Sagua La Grande and armed men had to protect each estate. Most of the vessels mentioned in the letters, invoices and bills of lading were American schooners, brigs and barques. Churchill, Brown & Manson Co. did not appear to have owned or acted as agents for the majority of these vessels, although most of them were from Maine ports. The firm seems to have maintained storage warehouses for both the imorts and exports as well as acting as agents in their sale.
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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:
Churchill, James M.
Corporate Bodies (Including Vessels):
Alfonso & Blanchard (Matanzas, Cuba)
C. Uhrback (Firm)
D. Ruiz Toledo (Firm)
L. Soler & Company (Cardenas, Cuba)
Smith & Company (Cardenas, Cuba)
Places:
Cardenas (Cuba)
Cuba–Commerce–United States
Havana (Cuba)
Matanzas (Cuba)
Montreal (Quebec)
New York (N.Y.)
Saint Louis (Mo.)
United States–Commerce–Cuba
Subjects:
International trade
Merchants–Maine–Portland
Molasses industry–Cuba
Shipping–Maine–Portland
Shipping–Massachusetts–Boston
Ships–Cargo
Sugar trade
Document Types:
Bills of lading
Return to the Table of Contents
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Coll. 162, Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.
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Indexes
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Index to Personal and Corporate Names
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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. Esquia & Co. in Box 1, Folder 2 of the collection. |
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A. Esquia & Co. |
1/2 |
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A. Goettel & Co. |
1/3 |
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A.H. Smith & Co. |
1/2 |
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Alfonso & Blanchard |
1/4, 1/5, 1/6 |
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Alfonso & Co. |
1/2 |
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Altes, Federico |
1/5 |
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Ariosa & Co. |
1/5 |
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Armstrong, John (Capt.) |
1/4 |
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Bakerman, Ruil (Capt.) |
1/2 |
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Barker, E.W. |
1/6 |
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Baro Gabilom & Bros. |
1/5 |
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Bates, George P. |
1/4 |
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Bayley Rollins & Co. |
1/6 |
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Bell, George P. |
1/3 |
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Bishop & Co. |
1/1, 1/5 |
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Blanchard, Alfonso S. |
1/4 |
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Bowerman Bros. |
1/5 |
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Brooks & Co. |
1/5 |
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Bunker, Edgar A. (Capt.) |
1/4 |
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C. Uhrback & Co. |
1/6 |
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C.L. Deetjen & Co. |
1/3, 1/4 |
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C.Z. Madan & Co. |
1/2, 1/3 |
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Carricaburn, Johnathan |
1/2 |
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Casey, A.L. |
1/2 |
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Choisnet, I.W. (Capt.) |
1/2 |
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Churchill, James M. |
1/4, 1/6 |
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Clark & Martin |
1/2 |
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Corbett, Daniel (Capt.) |
1/6 |
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Courtenay, William |
1/4 |
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D’Costa & Madan |
1/1 |
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Dawes, Samuel H. |
1/4 |
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De Ajuria, Ramon |
1/5 |
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De Satrustequi, Miguel |
1/3 |
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De Sulueta, Julian |
1/4 |
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Dinsman, Len (Capt.) |
1/6 |
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Draine & Co. |
1/3 |
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Duruty, Chaffraix & Co. |
1/3, 1/4 |
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Emerson, F.P. (Capt.) |
1/6 |
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Emmet, William J. |
1/2 |
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Estevez, Grovin & Bros. |
1/2 |
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F.K. Sowers & Co. |
1/2 |
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Fadden, ? (Capt.) |
1/5 |
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Ferrins, Juan |
1/2 |
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Font y Suris, Jose |
1/2 |
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Ford, Edward F. (Capt.) |
1/3 |
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Garcia, Tattavull & Co. |
1/1 |
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H.&A. Allen |
1/5 |
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Hamilton, Ebenezer (Capt.) |
1/1 |
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Hartley, J.V. |
1/1 |
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Hume, Manson (Capt.) |
1/2 |
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Hutchinson, James H. (Capt.) |
1/3 |
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J. B. Brown & Sons |
1/1, 1/4 |
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J. Burnham & Son |
1/2 |
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J. Henry Giese & Co. |
1/4 |
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J. Polledo & Co. |
1/4, 1/5 |
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J.C. Burnham & Co. |
1/2 |
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J.H. Lane & Co. |
1/2 |
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J.J. Muller & Co. |
1/1, 1/2 |
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J.K. Somers & Co. |
1/2 |
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James Moss & Co. |
1/4 |
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Jonathan Carricaburn & Co. |
1/4 |
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Jose Zayas & Co. |
1/1 |
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L. Levering & Co. |
1/2 |
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L. Soler & Co. |
1/4, 1/6 |
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Latasa & Co. |
1/5 |
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Latimer, Turrell & Co. |
1/1 |
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Laureano Pequeno & Co. |
1/4, 1/5 |
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Lauriano Sequilen & Co. |
1/2 |
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Lauriano Tequerro & Co. |
1/1 |
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Lazerac, P. |
1/6 |
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Libby, Thomas L. (Capt.) |
1/3 |
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Loring, Caleb G. |
1/2 |
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Manon Hermanos & Co. |
1/2 |
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Mantee Butte & Co. |
1/2 |
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Manuel Marques & Co. |
1/2 |
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Manuel, P. Pie & Co. |
1/4, 1/5 |
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Marforrod Trenard Co. |
1/2 |
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McAlevy, J.B. (Capt.) |
1/3 |
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McLean, W.M. |
1/2 |
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Mora Ponce & Co. |
1/2 |
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Morales & Co. |
1/1, 1/3 |
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More & Ajuria & Co. |
1/3, 1/4 |
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Morse, A.K. |
1/3 |
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Moses Taylor & Co. |
1/2 |
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Nichols, Edward (Capt.) |
1/6 |
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Noya & Hernandea |
1/3 |
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O’Callahan, C. |
1/2, 1/3 |
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Oxman, ? (Capt.) |
1/4 |
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Parker, ? (Capt.) |
1/5 |
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Parker, Greely & Co. |
1/1 |
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Parkinson & Co. |
1/5 |
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Parrivicino & Costa |
1/4, 1/5 |
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Perrin, Juan |
1/2 |
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Plassan, Ariles & Co. |
1/3 |
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Pomares & Morrill |
1/3 |
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Pomares, Manuel |
1/3 |
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Ponce De Leon & Co. |
1/3, 1/4 |
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Porteua, John |
1/3 |
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Robinson, Charles W. |
1/3, 1/5 |
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Rodnen, Graves & Co. |
1/5 |
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Rodriguez & Co. |
1/3 |
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Saldo, Fesser & Co. |
1/4 |
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Samuel C. Parsons Jr. & Co. |
1/3 |
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Sauvagean & Co. |
1/2, 1/3 |
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Shepley & Strout |
1/2 |
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Smith & Co. |
1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/6 |
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Smith, Carlos F.P. |
1/6 |
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Smith, Charles |
1/6 |
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Spring, Charles |
1/2 |
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Staples, Starwood & Co. |
1/1 |
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Starbird, A.D. |
1/3, 1/4 |
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Story, Jonathan M. |
1/6 |
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Swasey, ? (Capt.) |
1/6 |
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Thayer, Brigham & Co. |
1/2 |
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Thomas P. Stotesbury & Co. |
1/6 |
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Toledo D. Ruis |
1/1, 1/2 |
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Tomas Terry & Co. |
1/2 |
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Torriente Bros. |
1/2 |
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Traub, Parkinson & Co. |
1/1, 1/2, 1/3 |
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Ulmo & Deetjen |
1/2 |
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Van Norden, H. (Capt.) |
1/2 |
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Vanderkieft, Lapuerta |
1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/6 |
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Vidal y Toraya |
1/4 |
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Wade Bell & Co. |
1/4 |
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Wagner, ? (Capt.) |
1/6 |
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William Cruikshank & Co. |
1/2 |
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William Pope & Sons |
1/3 |
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Willington, George H. |
1/2 |
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Wyman, J.D. (Capt.) |
1/3 |
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Zulneta, Julian |
1/1 |
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Index to Vessel Names
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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 A.J. Ross in Box 1, Folder 3 of the collection. |
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A.J. ROSS (Brig) |
1/3 |
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ADELAIDE |
1/6 |
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AGRA (Ship) |
1/2 |
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AMELIA (Schooner) |
1/1 |
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ANNA M. KNIGHT (Brig) |
1/2 |
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ANNIE A. INGRAHAM (Brig) |
1/4 |
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ARIZONA |
1/1 |
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ARLETTA |
1/6 |
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BOCABEE (Brig) |
1/2 |
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BOWDOIN (Schooner) |
1/3 |
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BRAMHALL (Schooner) |
1/1 |
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C.F. YOUNG |
1/2 |
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CHARLENA (Brig) |
1/3 |
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CIENFUEGOS |
1/5 |
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CLARA ANN (Bark) |
1/2 |
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CLARA M. GOODRICH (Brig) |
1/6 |
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COSTARELLA (Bark) |
1/3 |
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CRIMEA |
1/2 |
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DARING |
1/6 |
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DAVID NICKELS (Schooner) |
1/6 |
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E.P. SWETT (Brig) |
1/5 |
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EDGAR CECIL |
1/2 |
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ELENA (Brig) |
1/3 |
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ELIZA A. COCHRAN (Bark) |
1/2, 1/6 |
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ELLEN P. STEWART |
1/6 |
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ETHEL |
1/6 |
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ETTA M. TUCKER (Brig) |
1/2 |
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EUREKA (Brig) |
1/3 |
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FANNY LINCOLN |
1/1 |
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GENERAL MARSHALL (Brig) |
1/2, 1/3, 1/4 |
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GERTRUDE |
1/6 |
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GOLD HUNTER (Schooner) |
1/3 |
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GRACE REDPATH (Bark) |
1/2 |
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H.S. EMERY (Bark) |
1/2 |
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HELEN HASTINGS |
1/2 |
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HYPERION |
1/4 |
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I.B. BROWN |
1/6 |
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J.S. WINSLOW |
1/6 |
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JAMES DUNCAN (Brig) |
1/6 |
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JOHN BYERS (Brigantine) |
1/3 |
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JOSEPHINE |
1/4 |
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KATE TROOP (Ship) |
1/2 |
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KELLY |
1/3 |
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KING BIRD |
1/3 |
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LAURA |
1/3 |
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LAURA MAY (Schooner) |
1/2 |
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LEILA M. LANG |
1/2 |
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LENA THURLOW (Brig) |
1/3 |
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LEWIS CLARK |
1/2 |
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LINCOLN WEBB |
1/1 |
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LIZZIE H. JACKSON |
1/2 |
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LOUISA BLISS |
1/5 |
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LOUISA D. (Schooner) |
1/6 |
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M.A. BERRY |
1/2, 1/4 |
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M.C. FOE |
1/1 |
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M.E. LIBBY (Bark) |
1/1, 1/3 |
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MARATHON |
1/6 |
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MARGIE (Schooner) |
1/5 |
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MARIA CROWELL (Brig) |
1/2 |
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MARIA WHITE |
1/2 |
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MARION |
1/4 |
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MARTHA A. BERRY |
1/5 |
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MARY A. HARMON (Schooner) |
1/5 |
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MARY C. ROOSEVELT |
1/2 |
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MARY DANA |
1/3 |
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MARY E. THOMPSON (Brig) |
1/4 |
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MARY LOUISE |
1/4 |
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MARY M. WILLIAMS |
1/5 |
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MATTIE ROSE |
1/6 |
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MECHANIC |
1/2, 1/4 |
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MENDOTA |
1/5 |
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MERRIWA |
1/2 |
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MINNE (Bark) |
1/2 |
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NEWCASTLE |
1/4 |
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O.P. BRADLEY |
1/3, 1/4 |
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OMAR ODEE (Brig) |
1/3 |
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ONTARA |
1/6 |
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ONTARIO (Schooner) |
1/6 |
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PHILENA |
1/4 |
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POINSETT (Brig) |
1/3 |
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POMONA (Brig) |
1/6 |
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PRAIRIE ROSE (Brig) |
1/4 |
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PROBEUS (Brig) |
1/3 |
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RABBONI (Brig) |
1/2 |
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SAN CARLOS |
1/6 |
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SAN IAO (Bark) |
1/2 |
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SARAH B. HALE (Bark) |
1/3, 1/5, 1/6 |
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SARAH E. FRASER (Bark) |
1/5, 1/6 |
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SINALOA (Schooner) |
1/3 |
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STOWER |
1/2 |
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THOMAS (Bark) |
1/4 |
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TROUBADOR |
1/2 |
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VESTA |
1/5 |
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W.H. TOWNSEND (Brig) |
1/1 |
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WALTER HOWE |
1/2 |
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WARELET |
1/6 |
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WINFIELD (Brig) |
1/2 |
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Detailed Description of the Records
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
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| Business correspondence and related bills, accounts, etc. 1866-1871 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
1 |
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Incoming business correspondence, and bills; 1866 |
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2 |
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Incoming business correspondence, accounts, bank notes, balance sheets; 1867 |
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3 |
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Incoming business correspondence, and bills; 1868 |
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4 |
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Incoming business correspondence, notes, bill of lading; 1869 |
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5 |
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Incoming business correspondence; 1870 |
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6 |
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Incoming business correspondence; 1871 |
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