History of the Saunders Family
The Saunders family were Rhode Island shipbuilders and shipyard owners from the early nineteenth century until 1960. John A. and Laura Saunders are family descendants with an avid interest in family history.
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.
Person names:
Saunders, John A. (1787-1832)
Saunders, John A. (d.1996)
Saunders, Laura S.
Corporate Entities:
Evelyn (Schooner)
Gypsy (Steamboat)
Hazel III (Launch)
J.A. Saunders (Steamboat)
Nonsuch (Schooner)
West Side (Steamboat)
Places:
Rhode Island–Industries–History
Subjects:
Boatbuilding–Rhode Island
Steamboats–Rhode Island
Document Types:
Bills of sale–Rhode Island
Clippings
Correspondence
Pilot certificates
Research (document genres)
Shipmasters licenses
Administrative Information
Coll. 262, Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
| Papers, 1879-1990. | |||||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Correspondence (A-K), written and received regarding the Saunders’ research into family shipyards and models ca. 1970-1975 | |||||||||||
| 2 | Correspondence (L-Z), written and received regarding the Saunders’ research into family shipyards and models ca. 1970-1975 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Clippings, notes, etc. regarding Rhode Island ferry boats ca. 1970 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Information regarding HAZEL THIRD (launch) undated | ||||||||||||
| 5 | Information regarding boat building on Narrow River, Rhode Island ca. 1987 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Sketches, coasting license (photocopy), and notes regarding NONSUCH (Schooner) ca. 1970 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | Photographs (copies) of Albert E. Saunders Sr. and George A. Saunders Sr. undated | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Letters, clippings and sketch regarding Saunders Skiff ca. 1984 | ||||||||||||
| 9 | Notes, clippings (photocopies), and sketch regarding Saunderstown, Rhode Island boat building undated | ||||||||||||
| 10 | Clippings, notes, articles, and research from the Wickford Standard regarding the Saunders’ family and their boats undated | ||||||||||||
| 11 | Research, “Vessels Built by Capt John Aldrich Saunders, 1808-1882” undated | ||||||||||||
| 12 | Miscellaneous research, notes, clippings, etc. regarding John and Laura Saunders’ work on family shipbuilding history undated | ||||||||||||
| 13 | Bill of Sale, EVELYN (Schooner), 1/2 share from Amasa Sprague to Martin L. Saunders 1879 Jul 30 | ||||||||||||
| 14 | Bills of Sale (3), WEST SIDE (Steamboat), GYPSY (Steamboat), and J.A. SAUNDERS (Steamboat); 1/3 share from Stillman Saunders to John A. Saunders 1905 Jan 17 | ||||||||||||
| 15 | Steamboat Pilot’s Certificate, Martin L. Saunders 1889 Jun 11 | ||||||||||||
| 16 | Steamboat Master’s Licenses, Harry L. Saunders; and John A. Saunders 1906 Nov 21; 1917 Jun 1 | ||||||||||||
| 17 | Master’s License, Inspector of Steam Vessels, District of New London, Conn. to Stillman Saunders 1907 Aug 17 | ||||||||||||
| 18 | Articles written by John and Laura Saunders. “The Saunders Family and Their Catboats,” “Early 19th Century Merchant Sail in Rhode Island”, “The Shipbuilding Saunders.” Early Public Transportation to the Islands of Rhode Island,1990 1976; 1976;1973 | ||||||||||||
| Research Card File – “Boats, Half Models, and Pond Models, Etc.”, 1878-1832. | |||||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | Files of vessels built, managed, or sailed by the Saunders family. Organized by name (approx. 12) beginning with John Aldrich Saunders Approx 300 cards in file. 1787-1832 | |||||||||||