The Winterthur Library

The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Smith family

Title: Papers

Dates: 1764-1833

Call No.: Col. 509

Acc. No.: 77x546

Quantity: ca. 150 items

Location: 9 C 4-5

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Merchant mariner Edward Smith lived in Salem, Massachusetts, until 1790 when he moved to York, Maine, where he lived until his death in 1805. Smith had at least two sons, Edward Jr. and Israel O., who was very active in the York community. Their relationship to John Smith and Jabez Smith is unknown. The occupations of Israel, John, and Jabez are unclear, but they may have been merchant mariners and/or farmers.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This collection of papers contains letters, deeds, bills, receipts, promissory notes, an auction notice, and papers gathered by the Smith family between 1764-1833. Many items pertain to Edward Smith's shipping business during the 1770s-1790s. Edward apparently owned, or co-owned, a number of boats, including the Sloop Poley, the Schooner Freedom, the Schooner Betsey, the Sloop Nancy, and the Schooner Eagle, which made a trip to the West Indies in 1788-1789 under the direction of Edward, Jr. A number of the bills and receipts document repair work done to the various vessels, supplies brought on board for trips, lists of cargo, and such shipping papers as bills of entry and writs of attachment.

Other items belonging to various family members regard land use in exchange for services, rent, or transfer of land. Items addressed to Israel Smith include "one share of the York library," bills for the building of a new meeting house, an order for the school commissioners to pay for the school teacher's salary, and an auction notice for 300 acres of land along the Penobscot River. One letter reprimands an unnamed individual for stealing rocks and mowing private property. The many bills and receipts document the exchange of such goods and services as boot legs, strapping, lining, an axe, salt, sugar, molasses, various nails, candles, allspice, shoes, carding wool, wallpaper, cider, cart wheels, mowing, lamb, rum, boarding, stones, codfish, tobacco, sawing lumber, tea, boards, shingles, wharfing, cotton, corn, and cows.

ORGANIZATION

Organized by family member.

PROVENANCE

Purchased from Joseph W. Hammond, Greenville, DE.

ACCESS POINTS

Topics:

Merchant marine.

Merchant ships.

Merchant ships - Valuation.

Cargo ships.

Shipping.

Shipping records.

Ships - Cargo.

Ships - Maintenance and repair.

Ship's papers.

Promissory notes.

Rent.

Food prices.

Building materials.

Merchant mariners.

Additional authors:

Smith, Edward, d. ca. 1805

Smith, Edward.

Smith, Israel O.

Smith, Jabez.

Smith, John.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 9 C 4-5

Box 1:

Folder 1: Edward Smith

.4 Sailing orders, Capt. Edward Smith, master of the sloop Nancy, from his “friends and employers” Francis Cabot, Peter Frye, Edwd. Smith, and John Robertson, Salem, Mass., 1770

.5 Bill of entry for goods shipped at Salem on board the sloop Nancy, Edward Smith, master, and landed at any ports within Nova Scotia and east of Halifax, 1770

.6 Receipt, Robert Dickey, to Edward Smith and John Robertson for a cow and calf, Milford Haven [Nova Scotia], 1771

.7 Promissory note, Edward Smith to Francis Cabot, “for value recd. in a policy of insurance,” Salem, Mass., 1772

.8 Deed (printed form), Ebenezer Putnam, physician, to Edward Smith, mariner, to a small piece of land, Salem, Mass., 1772

.9 Bond (printed form), Edward Smith, mariner, to Ebenezer Putnam, Salem, Mass., 1773

.10 Receipted bill, James Eaton to Capt. Edward Smith

.11 Bill of sale, Simon Smith, yeoman, to Edwd. Smith, Salem, for “yoke of oxen four years old,” Penobscot [Maine], 1783

.12 Receipted bill, Wm. Lascomb to Capt. Edward Smith, “to blacking your ships, [illegible], and rails, to [illegible] glasses, to painting on bord the Lancocdock(?)…,” Salem, April 4, 1783 [very faint]

.13 Bill, Edwd. Smith to Joseph Carter for food, textiles, dry goods, 2 bells, etc., Penobscot [Maine], 1783

.14 Writ of attachment (printed form), Lachlan McDonald vs. Edward Smith, for six pounds owed Smith, Salem, 1784

.15 Promissory note, [Edward Smith? – name torn off] to Will Abbet, Salem, 1784

.16 Bill, Joseph Chipman to Edward Smith for the schooner Freedom, for 4 large single blocks and ash timber, n.p., 1784

.17-.18 Receipted bills, Josiah Dewing to Edward Smith for beef for schooner, n.p., 1785

.19 Note, Daniel Perkins to Edward Smith to deliver to Wm. Young “all my vaiges [wages] that is due to me,” Salem, 1785. With receipt of Smith on reverse, signed by Young

.20 Account, Edward Smith for expenses of sloop Poley, Salem, 1785

.21 Bill, Joseph Wigings to Capt. Edward Smith for single and double blocks for schooner Freedom, n.p., 1785

.22 Receipted bill, William Marston to Edward Smith for tar, Salem, 1785

.23 Receipted bill, Saml. Buffum & Co. to Capt. Edward Smith for making and repairing sails, etc., Salem, 1786-1788

.24 Receipted bill, Isaac Perkins to Edward Smith for trucking wood, n.p., 1786

.25 Bill, Joseph Wigings to Capt. Edward Smith for the schooner Fisher, single and double blocks, hand spikes, etc., n.p., 1786

.26 Letter, Edward Smith to Captain Edward Allen, advising him to sell [the schooner?] in North or South Carolina for 550 pounds, with commission for such a business, Salem, 1786

.28 Receipted bill, Saml. Brooks to Capt. Edw. Smith for shoes, handkerchief, food, jackknife, etc., n.p., 1787

.29 Bill, Joseph Wigings to Capt. Edward Smith for single blocks for schooner Beattsey(? i.e. Betsey?), n.p., 1787

.30 Bill, Simon Lamb to Schooner Freedom for fixing sails, Salem, 1787

.31 Bill, Samuel Rogers to Capt. Edward Smith for rails and posts, Salem, 1788

.32 Bill of sale, Thomas Manning, merchant, to Edward Smith, mariner, one third part of schooner Betsey, Salem, 1788

.33 Bill of sale, Addison Richards, gentleman, to Edward Smith, mariner, one third part of schooner Betsey, Salem, 1788

.35 Insurance policy (printed form), Edward Smith on the schooner Eagle, boats and cargo from Salem to islands and ports in the West Indies, Salem, 1788. Signed by Jno. Norris and George Dodge in the sum of 200 pounds each.

.39 “Invoice of lumber & sundry articles shipped on bord the schooner Eagle, acct. & risqué of Edwd. Smith of Salem,” n.p., n.d. Cargo included white pine boards, shingles, red oak staves, codfish, etc.

.41 Receipted bill, Israel Dodge to Capt. Edward Smith for wharfage, n.p., 1789

.42 Receipted bill, Jona. Peele to Capt. Edward Smith for wharfage of schooner and tar, n.p., 1789-1790

.43 Receipted bill, Jona. Smith to Capt. Edward Smith for anchor stocks, blocks, and making boat’s mast, etc., n.p., 1789

.44 Receipted bill, Thos. Newhull to Capt. E. Smith “to horned chairs to Tuesbury,” Salem, 1787

.45 Receipted bill, Abel Lawrence to Capt. Edward Smith for rum and molasses, Salem, 1789

.46 Receipted bill, S. & Wm. Cleveland to Capt. Edwd. Smith for food and nails, n.p., 1789

.47 Receipted bill, Thos. Ingals to Capt. E. Smith for a cathead and other work on schooner, n.p., 1789

.48 Letter, Ebenezer Blasdell to Capt. Edward Smith with request for “Samon twine” for “samon nets and led and small rigin,” Penobscot, 1789

.49 Receipted bill, John Gardner to Capt. Edwd. Smith for milk, n.p., 1790

.50 Receipted bill, Joseph Winn to Capt. Edward Smith for beef, Salem, 1790

.51 Receipted bill, Thos. Ingals to Capt. E. Smith for “graveing schooner Eagle and 4 days work,” n.p., 1790

.52 Receipted bill, Sam. Archer to Capt. Edward Smith for nails, Salem, 1790

.53 Receipted bill, Abel Lawrence to Capt. Edwd. Smith for rum, Salem, 1790

.54 Bill, Benja. Proctor to Capt. Edward Smith for making cart, etc., Danvers [Mass.], 1790

.55 Receipted bill, Folger Pope to Capt. Edward Smith for mending braces, traces, saddle, etc., Salem, 1790

.56 Receipted bill, Francis Roche to Capt. Edward Smith, Sr., for tobacco, n.p., 1790

.57 Bill of sale, Edward Smith to Ebenezer Bickford, Jonathan Peele, and Daniel Saunders; with letter indicating the sale of a vessel and the need for a young man’s help, Salem, 1790

.58 Receipted bill, Sam Archer to Capt. Edward Smith for hardware, paper, ink, fish, Salem, 1790

.59 Receipted bill, Wm. Archer to Capt. Edward Smith for rolls of [wall]paper and “bordering,” Salem, 1790

.60 Letter, Edwd. Smith to Elijah Blasdel at Old York regarding the sale of his vessels and requesting prices of food and scythes at York as he intends to move there, Salem, 1790

.61 Receipted bill, Sam Archer to Capt. Edward Smith for 1 iron dish kettle and 1 pair flat irons, Salem, 1790

.62 Receipt, Ebenezer Bla[s]dell from Edward Smith, York, [Maine], 1791.

.64 Agreement, John Norman of York with John Morriarty of Salem and Edward Smith of York, to receive a piece of land in Marblehead [Massachusetts] as a compensation for their services, York, [Maine], 1792.

.67 Account, Edwd. Smith, for house rent, n.p., 1795-1797.

.70 Letter, Edward Killin to Capt. Edward Smith, Senr., of York, regarding payment of rent and request of receipt by Solomon Lovekins, n.p., 1798.

.73 Letter, [Israel Smith] to Mr. Sewall regarding the settlement of estate of [Edward Smith], n.p., n.d.

.74 Agreement, Eveleth & Putnam, re settlement of [Edward Smith estate?], n.p., 1806.

.137 Receipted bill, Edwd. Smith to Capt. Timo. Wellman for boards, shingles and wharfage of same, Salem [Massachusetts], n.d.

.144 Letter. Edwd. Smith to unidentified individuals regarding how much hay the three separate places will cut so that he might know how much stock he will be able to keep, n.p., n.d.

.145 "Acct. of Sondry Disborsemints of the Scooner Freedom Since She Laft Sallem," listing oil, tallow, twine, nails, "douck for a tarrpoling," mending "speeking Trumpet," etc., n.p., n.d.

.148 Receipted bill, Thos. Durham to Capt. Smith for coffee, sugar, rum, water, etc., n.p., n.d. Receipt shows payment in lumber.

Folder 2: Edward Smith, Jr.

.34 “Settlement of the Trading voige in compy.,” accounts with Edwd. Smith, Edward Smith, Jr., and John Smith, Salem, 1788. Stock not listed

.37 bill of disbursements, Edward Smith, Jr., St. Cruse [Saint Croix, West Indies], 1789

.38 “Acct. of sailes and returnes of the schr. Eagle’s cargo as sold at St. Cruse,” 1789. Cargo included rice, lumber, tar, bacon, corn; return cargo was sugar. Signed by Edward Smith, Jr.

.40 “Portarige bill for schooner Eagle on her voige to the West Indies,” signed by Edwd. Smith, Junr., Salem, 1789

Folder 3: Israel O. Smith

.69 Receipt, Israel Smith for one share in York Library, York, [Maine], 1798. Signed by Edwd. Emerson.

.72 Short letter, John Smith to Israel Smith giving consent to settle matters of his father's estate, Barrington, 1805.

.75 Receipted bill, Israel Smith to Samuel Mudge for boot legs, strapping, lining, etc., Portsmouth [New Hampshire], 1806.

.76 Receipt, Benjamin Jacobs to I. 0. Smith in payment for axe, York, [Maine], 1809.

.78 Receipted bill, Theodore Blasdell to Israel Smith for blacksmith work, n.p., 1810.

.79 Receipt, Nehemiah Bean to Israel 0. Smith, York, [Maine], 1810.

.80 Receipted bill, Lloyd Hall to Israel 0. Smith for tuition of sons, n.p., 1812.

.81 Letter, J. Lyman to Israel Smith regarding sale of hay to Benjamin Woodward,

n.p., 1812.

.82 Receipt, John Tenny to Israel O. Smith, for sum subscribed by him towards the

building of the new meeting house, York [Maine], 1812.

.83-.84 Receipted bills, Marshall & March to I. 0. Smith for salt, tea, brandy, nails, etc.; n.p., 1812.

.85 Receipt, Jeremiah Brooks to Israel 0. Smith, York [Maine], 1812.

.86 Receipt, Micajah Lunt to I.O. Smith, York, [Maine], 1813.

.87 Receipt, [Israel 0. Smith? – name torn off] to John Ross in payment of note, Portsmouth [New Hampshire], 1813.

.88 Receipted bill, William Bishop to Israel 0. Smith for salt, sugar, candles, allspice, and cut nails, Portsmouth, [New Hampshire], 1813.

.89 Receipt, John Tenny to Israel 0. Smith, York, [Maine], 1814.

.90 Receipted bill, S. & J. Brooks to Israel Smith for shingle nails, etc., n.p., 1814.

.91 Receipt, [Israel 0. Smith? – name torn off] to Lydia Main for "Two Town Orders amounting to Twelve dollars," York, [Maine], 1814.

.92 Receipt, [Israel 0. Smith] to James Nowell in payment of note, York, [Maine], 1814.

.93 Receipt, [Israel 0. Smith? – name torn off] to Saml. Fernald.in payment of note, Portsmouth [New Hampshire], 1815.

.94 Receipt, Wm. Roberts to I. 0. Smith for making two pair of shoes, n.p., 1815.

.95 Receipt, [Israel 0. Smith? – name torn off] to Theodore Hill in payment of note, York [Maine], 1815.

.96 Promissory note, G. Moody to I O. Smith for two dollars which he promises to pay to Joseph Grant, York [Maine], 1816.

.97 Promissory note, [Israel O. Smith? – name torn off] to B. Brierley, Portsmouth [New Hampshire], 1816.

.98 Receipted bill, Nathl. Webber to Israel 0. Smith for carding wool, n.p., 1817.

.99 Receipt, Elizabeth Crosby received from D. Crosby (paid in cash, corn, grain, pork); verso: receipt, I. 0. Smith (? Name is crossed out) to Miss Sally Crosby in payment of note for town orders, York [Maine], 1817.

.101 Receipt, Geo. Emery to [Israel 0. Smith?] for cider, etc., n.p., 1818.

.102 Receipted bill, A. Freeman to Israel 0. Smith for legal fee, n.p., 1818.

.103 Promissory note, Israel 0. Smith to Asa Freeman, n.p., 1818.

.104 Receipt, Joseph Billing to Israel 0. Smith for cart w(h)eels, York [Maine], 1818.

.105 Promissory note, [Israel 0. Smith? – name torn off] to Thos. Safford, York [Maine], 1818.

.106 Promissory note, [Israel 0. Smith? – name torn off] to Thomas Safford, York (Maine], 1818.

.107 Order, Joseph Sewall and Theodore Bragdon, School Commissioners, to Israel

0. Smith to pay Samuel Junkins, Jur., for keeping the school, n.p., 1819. With receipt of Junkins on verso.

.108 Order, George William to I. Smith to send 1 barrel of cider, York [Maine], 1819.

.109 Order, Isl. 0. Smith to Mrs. Sewall to let Mr. Billing have one barrel of cider and charge same to him, n.p., 1819. With receipt of Joseph Billing on verso.

.110 Receipt, Nathl. Webber to Israel 0. Smith for carding twenty-seven pounds of wool, York [Maine], 1819.

.111 Receipted bill, Elihu Parsons to Israel Smith for mowing, York [Maine], 1819.

.113 Order, Lewis Grafton to Israel Smith to pay Hiram Shaw. York [Maine], 1820. With Shaw's receipt on verso.

.114 Order, Joseph Sewall, Daniel Crosby, and Theodore Bradgon, Jr., to Israel O. Smith, to pay Theodosia Bragdon for boarding John S. Sargent, 8 weeks at $1.50 per week, n.p., 1820. With receipt of Theodore Bragdon (for his mother) for $12 in full for boarding Sargent.

.115 Receipted bill, Nathl. Webber to I.O. Smith for wool carded, York [Maine], 1820.

.116 Promissory note, [I.O. Smith? – name torn off] to Lydia Main for keeping school “not being able at present to make out change,” York [Maine], 1820.

.117 Receipt, Benj. Colby to I.O. Smith for a subscription towards repairs of meeting house, York [Maine], 1820.

.119 Promissory note, Andrew Grover to I.O. Smith, to pay Joel Haley, York [Maine], 1822. With receipt of Haley on verso.

.120 Receipted bill, Geo. Melcher, Jr., to I.O. Smith, for coffee, tea, and “Poll. Fish,” n.p., 1824

.121 Receipted bill, Geo. Melcher, Jr., to I.O. Smith, for coffee, tea, and Poll Fish, n.p., 1824

.122 Receipted bill, Simon Lewis, to I.O. Smith, for rimming wheels, etc., York, [Maine], 1825.

.123 Receipted bill, Geo. Melcher, Jr., to I.O. Smith, for cod fish and tobacco, n.p., 1825

.124 Receipted bill, Gray, Childs, & Co., to I.O. Smith, for “loan of Paul Jones,” Portsmouth, N.H., 1825

.125 Order, Theodore Grant to Israel Smith for one dollar in payment of sawing (to be paid bearer), n.p., 1825. With receipt of Stephen Stackpole on verso.

.126 Receipt, I.O. Smith and Theodore Parsons in settlement of all accounts, York [Maine], 1826.

.127 Receipted bill, A. R. H. Fernald to Israel 0. Smith for tea and fish, n.p., 1829.

.128 Receipt, William Goddard to Israel 0. Smith, Portsmouth [New Hampshire], 1829.

.129 Letter, I. 0. Smith to unidentified individual, reprimanding him for carrying off rocks meant for clearing the highway and mowing through his land without knowledge or consent, n.p., 1830.

.130 Promissory note, [I.O. Smith] to E.F. Sise, Portsmouth [New Hampshire], 1833.

.131 Receipted bill, E. F. Sise to I. 0. Smith for unidentified merchandise per bill, n.p., 1833.

.138 Receipt, Israel 0. Smith for manure fork bought of Capt. Henderson, York [Maine], n.d.

Folder 4: John Smith

.71 Account of notes dated Sepr. 3, 1798, and Sepr. 3, 1801, showing interest and payments, n.p., 1798-1801. Name of John Smith appears on verso.

.134 "Occupa(n)t of Edwd. Killing and John Smith,” with additional names on verso.

Folder 5: Jabez Smith

.65 Deed, John Bryant, yeoman, to Jabez.Smith, Esq., for one hundred acres of land in the town of Bow; Rockingham County, New Hampshire, 1794.

Folder 6: unidentified

.1 Bill, Thos. Dean to the estate of George Delon, for salt, n.p., 1764

.2 Due bill, George Delon to Richd. Thurston, n.p., 1769

.3 Note of compliments, Mr. Davidson to Capt. E. Smith, Malpec [Prince Edward Island], 1769

.27 Letter, Thos. Peach to John Norman regarding sale of land, Marblehead [Mass.], 1787

.63 Note of discharge. Ebenezer Blassdell for Mr. Will More and Mr. Jones [Kingeberry,] York, Maine 1791.

.66 Account, Nancy Gardner, for rent from June 28, 1794 to April 14, 1795, n.p.

.68 Account, Tho. Bragdon, showing amount of note and interest thereon, n.p., 1796-1800.

.77 Receipted bill, D. Baker for salt, sugar and molasses, n.p., 1809-1810.

.100 Account of Col. Lyman's note and interest, n.p., 1817.

.112 Account, Col. Solm. Brooks, for lamb and rum, n.p., 1819.

.118 Receipted bill, Capt. Norriss (? Perrin?) to William H. Prentice for stones, Boston, [Mass.,] 1822

.132 Scrap, noting Willeim Baron, Esqr. as debtor to [blank], n.p., n.d.

.133 "Estimate of division money,” B. S. to Crosby heirs, n.p., n.d.

.135 Receipt (scrap), Saml. Lunt to unidentified for sundries, n.p., n.d.

.136 Scrap, Nathl. Gordon's Tax $1.33," n.p., n.d.

.139 Account (scrap), for sugar, tar and cash paid under certain dates, n.p., n.d.

.140 note about beam

.141 "Mr. Carter Mamerandom [memorandum]," listing fabric, clock, indigo, "Sither,” 2 bells, shoes, duck for bed tick, blankets, and axes, n.p., n.d.

.142 List of goods "Mr Carter is to take . . . at the Prise pr fixt," consisting of part in cash, two cows, rum, molasses, cotton, coffee, and corn, n.p., n.d.

.143 Draft of auction notice for "A Farm Contg. 300 Acers of good Land. . . on the east side of Penobscut River. . . that will Cut hay sufficient to Keep 40 head of Cattle, 100 English sheep. . . salt and meadow hay, with several out building One New Wherehouse pleasantly situated for a trader," n.p., n.d. on verso, note relative to same.

.146 "Memo. of posts & Rails to make a fence of 5 Rails high, & 150 rods long," "all the above to be of good Ceder,” n.p., n.d.

.147 Letter, B. Smith to Capt. Ephraim Grant suggesting that he accept work of helping Capt. Blasdel in building a house and barn which would be more agreeable to his father than to discount the Note, n.p., n.d.

.149 Account, showing sundry goods received of David Felt; account of sales of "the above" goods sold to Treat & Pribble, n.p., 1798; on verso, account of trip wood with purchasers' names, n.p., n.d.

Folder 7: oversize (on shelf 9 C 5)

.36 Agreement (on printed form) between Edward Smith, Jr., master of schooner Ealge and seamen and mariners on voyage to the West Indies, signed in Salem, 1788. Form shows time of entry, men’s names, quality, and wages.