The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE 19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Chase, Erastus B., b.ca. 1840

Title: Letter book

Dates: 1874-1878

Call No.: Doc. 76

Acc. No.: 79x304

Quantity: 1 volume (221 leaves)

Location: 31 A

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Captain Erastus B. Chase of Brooklyn, New York, kept this letter book as a ship's captain in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as later when he was a general agent for a gas lamp company. He commanded ships for at least 15 years. His wife's name was Ellen.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

Includes business letters written from the Pacific; San Francisco, CA; England; Germany; Ireland; Scotland; and Massachusetts. In them, Chase notes cargoes of guano and coal (April 1874-October 1875). Also, letters as General Agent for the Ellis Patent Gas Burner, Regulator, and Shade Combined, NY (May 1876-March 1877). Also, letters under the name of John S. Willard, Agent, Looking Glass Manufacturer, NY (March 1877-July 1878). Includes letters attempting to settle accounts after Chase sold his interest in the mirror and picture frame business in June 1878, intending to go back to sea. A few personal letters are also included, as are a pictorial letterhead for the Ellis company (acc. 79x304.2); and certificate appointing Chase as notary public in Kings County, New York (1878) (acc. 79x304.3).

ORGANIZATION

Chronological order.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.

PROVENANCE

Purchased from N. David Scotti.

ACCESS POINTS

Topics:

Shipping.

Guano.

Coal - Transportation.

Gas light fixtures.

Mirrors.

Letterpress copybooks.

Letterheads.

Certificates.

Shipmasters.

Commercial agents.

Notaries – New York (State).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 31 A

Name index to Doc. 76 (acc. 79x304.1-.3)

The names are in 79x304.1, unless otherwise indicated; the number after the name refers to a page number in acc. 79x304.1.

A. B. Thomson (ship) page 83

American Express 209

Avery 169

Baker & Humphrey 141

Baker & Morrill 14-16, 18, 19, 23, 30, 33, 36, 39, 41, 45, 48, 51, 62, 65, 70, 78, 115, 116, 160, 182

Baker, S., & Co. 13-15, 18, 20 75, 76

Bannigan, C. H. 160

Bannigan, Charles H. 162

Barlow, A. W., & Co. 131

Barczynski, Meyer 115, 116

Barsczynski, Meyer 79, 160

Bartholwisz, J. G. 172

Bartlett 127

Bean 169

Beersley (Capt.) 77, 79

Bent 101, 103, 105, 109, 111-113, 117, 132, 139, 146-147, 157, 189

Bent, Orrin 144, 153, 170

Blackford, B. F. 202-204, 206

Blume, E. 192, 207

Booth's Theatre 132, 135

Breed, Hubbard 88

Brenan 144, 145, 188

Briggs 150

Briggs, Robert 7

Brown, David 26

Bursley, David (Capt.) 115

Butler, Gen'l. 47

Carey, S. 196, 213

Carlton, P. C. 214

Charles (Chase?) (Brother) 150

Chase, Alonzo, 67, 154

Chase, E. B. .1, .2, .3

Chase, Erastus B.

Chase, Mr. 212

Chase, Mrs. 137

China (Steamer) 63

Coatsworth, J., & Son 122

Colby, H. D. 111

Colby House 111

Colton, Zahm & Roberts 185

Cousin (Chase?) 169

Cowpen Coal Co. 64, 78

Cushing 1709

Cuyatt 108

Darling, A. B. 18

Dawson, John, & Co. 27

Deaman, W. H. 193

Dearman, W. H. 212

Delmar, John on acc .3

Dexter, Edward 137

Dougherty 145

Dougherty, B. F. 146

Dougherty, John 130, 133

Dunbar 105, 109

Dunbar & Bent 109

Ellis & York 91, 93, 95, 99, 101, 103, 104, 108-111, 113, 117, 123, 127-130, 132, 134, 135, 139, 142, 146, 152-153, 157, 158

Ellis Patent Burner page 92, and acc. .2

Ely, Wm. (Rev.) 141

Ethiopia (ship) 76, 79

Evans, C. E. 177-180, 183

Fairbanks 20, 24

Fifth Avenue Hotel 96, 102, 109-110, 123, 128

Gleason, E. P., Mfg. 117, 127-129, 132, 139, 140, 152, 153

Grant 134

Hall, (Capt.) 165

Harding, E. K. 80, 84

Hayes 134

Helen Morris (clipper) 18, 116

Hoffman 127

Hotel Branting 93, 95

Howes, Isaiah 154

Hoyt 99, 107, 110

Humphreys, W. J. 155

Hunt, (Capt.) 67

Huntley, R. A. 83

Jewell, Field & Shepard 151

John W. Hunt (Brig) 66

Johnson, A. B. 195

Joplin, Hopper 64

Kaliski, John E. 99, [103, 107], 108, [110, 112]

Kantsky & Co. 180

King, P. F. 111

Kitchen 127

Koretz 100, 109

Lathan, J., & Co. 179

Lawton, Blaisdell & Co. [no page numbers listed]

Lederer 99, 101-105, 107, 108

Linnell, (Capt.) 66

Linz, M. 200

Lovell, (Capt.) 165

Magnus 129

Massey 188

Massey and Florence Sewing Machine 153, 170, 188

Maynard & Avery 164, 167

McClees, Chas. 190

McFaddin & Hatton 153

McGanns (?) 129

McKillop & Co. 207

Meeker, J. L. 215

Messenger 131

Millner, J. P. 187

Mitchell, Vance & Co. 117, 127, 140

Moore, A. 210

Morris [no page number listed]

Morris, (Miss) 205

Nellie 205

New York Hotel 111

Nye, C. H. 150

Paddon, (Mrs.) 148

Pennard 144, 145

Potter, W. A. 113

Pratt, F. S. 7, 8

Reed, E. M. (Mrs.) 201

Reed, M. E. (Mrs.) 208

Reiley & Co. 129

Rice, (Miss) 169

Richards 144, 145, 170

Roberts 141

Rogers, Sammis & Scudder 211

Russell, John H. on acc. .2

Ryan, J. B. 197

Sammis (of Rogers, Sammis & Scudder) 211

Schiller (steamer) [no page number listed]

Scofield Bros. 209

Scott, John O., & Co. 44, 52

Scudder (of Rogers, Sammis & Scudder) 211

Sears, Cyrus (Capt.) 85

Seavers, (Col.) 111

Sebasticook (ship) 83, 84

Settle, S. B. 120, 121, 125, 126

Sherman, Thomas 202

Shirlock 144, 145, 153, 188

Smith, Avery, & Maynard 97, 137

Solor, C. P. 2

Solscher, E., & Co. 63

Solscher, Louis 74, 75, 77

Stanton, O. W. 211

Sterling, J. C. 114

Stone, E. 190, 198

Stranaghan, John 72

Taber, Chas., & Co. 178, 181, 184, 186

Taylor, Elisha 202-204

Terraberry, E. 196

Thomson, S. 72

Thompson, A. B. (ship) 83

Thorne 144, 145, 153, 170, 188

Tilden 133

Tooker 144, 153, 170, 188

Uncle [Chase?] 202, 203

United Express 136

VanDuzer, J. R. [Vanduzen?] 197

Warner, J. M. 199, 216

Wheeler-Wilson 148

Wilkins, J. C., Van Ostrand & Co. 195

Willard, John S. 160, 177-179, 180-183, 190-200, 207-217

Williams, Lizzie 47

Woodward, C. W. 177

Young, T. F. [no page number listed]