Whalers (Persons)

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of scant documentation for the Whaling Schooner Hattie E. Smith, a few pieces relating to each noted voyage. Much of this material was found in other whaling boxes, where it apparently had been misfiled with papers for other Osborn vessels.

Scope and Contents The collection consists primarily of materials related to the Beetle family of Martha’s Vineyard. The bulk of the correspondence consists of letters from Henry Beetle to his fiancée and later wife, Eliza Eaton Beetle, written while he was onboard ship during several whaling voyages. The letters include details of daily life aboard ship as well as expressions of homesickness and loneliness. Also included are miscellaneous family papers, photographs of Henry Beetle and his wife Eliza Eaton...

Scope and Contents

This collection contains minimal documentation for the first and last voyages of the Lion, with better, though decidedly incomplete, documentation for the middle two voyages from Providence. Papers include correspondence, bills and receipts, gauges of oil, financial records including interest and deposits, crew lists and expenses, stockholders’ meeting minutes, and legal documents.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains fairly complete documentation, excluding correspondence,for the four voyages between 1865-1876 under the management of Charles Tucker of New Bedford. There are scant papers remaining for the voyages managed by Samuel Osborn, other than the account books in the PPL collection.

Scope and Contents The collection contains correspondence between Master Charles S. Downs and agent Samuel Osborn, Jr. relating to the business of whaling and the condemnation and sale of the vessel. Also included are permissions for crew members to go whaling, signed crew agreements, outfitting notes, and a crew list. Bills and receipts are included from the time of outfitting until the sale of the vessel and return of its oil. Documents and consular copies of the transactions relating to survey, maintenance,...

Scope and Contents

This collection consists primarily of correspondence, mostly from Daniel D. Mowry to his family, but also from Captains James and Charles Nichols and Charles Nichols’ wife Carrie to the Mowry Family (Carrie Nichols was Ellen Mowry’s sister). Much of this correspondence was written at sea. The collection also includes a day book and hand-written poetry.

Scope and Contents

The collection includes nearly 800 logbooks, documenting over 1,000 voyages and ranges from the 18th to the 20th century.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains correspondence to and from Samuel Osborn, Jr., business records including notes on whales and lots of sperm oil, bills and insurance documents, and a small number of miscellaneous personal papers.

Of particular note are correspondences related to the Arctic whaling disaster of 1871 requesting compensation for the owners of the lost vessels.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains a small number of Penniman’s personal papers and ephemera, mostly unrelated to his whaling career, including a receipt for homebuilding materials, a menu, and a visiting card.

Scope and Contents

This collection includes the records of the second and third whaling voyages of the Perry including shipping papers, correspondences, protests, bills and receipts, and crew accounts. The bulk of the records reflect the voyage of 1877-1880. Of particular note are details about the death of Master George Nickerson and crew dissatisfaction between his replacement, Master Benjamin F. Nickerson, and the First Mate, Horace Sherman.