Overview of the Collection
Biography of Charles Peter Clark
Restrictions
Index Terms
Administrative Information
Indexes
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Repository:
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G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport |
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Creator:
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Clark, Charles Peter, 1836-1901 |
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Title:
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Charles P. Clark Papers |
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Dates:
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1846-1901, (bulk 1852-1862) |
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Extent:
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1020 items |
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Abstract:
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Although the scope of
this material covers the period of 1846-1901, there is very little included relative to Clark's
post-Civil War business and domestic life. The bulk of the collection covers his merchant
shipping activity (1854-1863) and provides an intensive look into a maritime business enterprise.
Items include various accounts, shipping papers, invoices, insurance policies, bills, receipts, bills
of lading, port sales, etc., relating to Boston-West Africa trade, and in particular, the vessels
SOMERS, ANTELOPE, and CLARINDA operated by Clark in partnership with Theodore E.
Goodhue. |
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Identification:
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Coll. 135 |
Charles Peter Clark was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, August 11, 1836. He was the son of
Peter and Susan Lord Clark, and the nephew of Daniel W. Lord. His parents represented the union of two prominent New England families, the Clarks, and the Lords of Kennebunkport, Maine.
As a
result of a lengthy ocean voyage from 1852 to 1853, undertaken to improve his health, young Charles
acquired a liking for the sea and maritime activity. It was not long until he purchased a small
vessel and embarked in the West African trade from Boston, employing a captain while
accompanying the vessel as its supercargo.
In 1857 Charles P. Clark & Co., a
shipping enterprise that operated vessels in the West African trade, was formed. This venture was dissolved
on January 26, 1860. For the next 2 ½ years Clark, evidently in partnership with Theodore E.
Goodhue, operated the ANTELOPE, CLARINDA, and SOMERS on the Boston-West Africa
route, carrying dry goods, ironware, flour, lard, and even firearms, to Liberia for palm oil and
other items. In February 1862, Clark sold the brig SOMERS to William Ropes & Co., but acted
as their agent for the vessel until he entered the Union Navy the following October.
Clark was discharge from the service in 1865 and subsequently spent a short time as a merchant in St. Louis, but he soon returned to Boston and became a partner in a shipping firm.
Clark was hired as a clerk for the Boston, Hartford & Erie Railroad, and thus began a
career that would, by 1877, bring him to the presidency of the New York, New Haven & Hartford
Railroad Company. He retired in 1899 and died two years later while vacationing in Nice,
France.
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Restrictions on Access
Available for use in the Manuscripts Division
Restrictions on Use
Various copying restriction apply. Guidelines are available from the Manuscripts
Division. See also: Mystic Seaport's copyright notice.
Return to the Table of Contents
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:
Goodhue, Theodore E.
Corporate Bodies (Including Vessels):
Antelope (Schooner)
Clarinda (Schooner)
Somers (Brig : ca. 1854-1862)
Places:
Africa, West--Commerce--United States
United States--Commerce--Africa, West
Subjects:
International trade
Shipping--Massachusetts--Boston
Document Types:
Bills of lading
Insurance policies
Occupations:
Shipowners--Massachusetts--Boston
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Preferred Citation
Coll. 135, Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.
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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 Capt. Alexander in Box 4, Folder 8 of the collection.
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Alexander, ? (Capt.) |
4/8 |
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Amos, J.R. |
4/8 |
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Anderson, S.F. |
4/8 |
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Askins, ? |
4/8 |
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Aspinwall, James S. |
4/2, 4/8 |
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Beach, F.E. |
4/9 |
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Bennett, E.R. |
4/8 |
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Bishop, Robert R. |
4/9 |
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Blatchford, E.W. |
4/9 |
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Bosworth, Bayard |
4/9 |
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Bridgman, William H. |
4/9 |
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Briggs, Thomas |
4/8 |
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Buchanan, James |
4/5 |
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Buckland, Edward G. |
4/9 |
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Capehart, Hannah |
4/8 |
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Carlton, Thomas |
4/8 |
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Caulfield, ? (Capt.) |
4/8 |
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Clark, C.L. |
4/8 |
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Clark, Charles Peter |
4/9 |
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Clark, Edward L. |
4/9 |
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Clark, James |
4/9 |
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Clark, John |
4/9 |
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Clark, Susan Lord |
4/9 |
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Clark, Susan S. |
4/8 |
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Cleaver, ? (Capt.) |
4/8 |
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Coe, L.W. |
4/8 |
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Colston, ? |
4/8 |
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Cooper, John W. |
4/8 |
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Deshon, James |
4/8 |
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Dodge, Henry C. |
4/9 |
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Dunn, ? (Capt.) |
4/9 |
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Edison, Theodore |
4/8 |
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Emery, Belle |
4/9 |
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Emery, W.H. |
4/9 |
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Franklin, William |
4/9 |
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Gibson, J.T. |
4/8 |
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Goodhue, Theodore E. |
4/8 |
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Goodwin, ? |
4/8 |
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Goodwin, Fred R. |
4/9 |
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Goodwin, Lizzie |
4/9 |
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Jackson, Henry B. |
4/8 |
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Kendall, ? |
4/8 |
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Kimball, ? (Capt.) |
4/8 |
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Lincoln, Abraham |
4/5 |
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Lord, D.W. |
4/8 |
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Maling, ? |
4/8 |
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Mathews, W.G. |
4/8 |
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Maury, C.M. |
4/8 |
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McLain, W. |
4/8 |
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Miller, ? (Capt.) |
4/8 |
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Moore, R. |
4/8 |
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Parsons, ? |
4/8 |
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Payne, B.A. |
4/8 |
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Payne, James S. |
4/8 |
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Potter, Ellis A. |
4/8 |
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Ralston, G. |
4/8 |
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Rankin, William (Jr.) |
4/8 |
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Randamie, C.L. |
4/2, 4/8 |
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Randamie, J.A. (Madame) |
4/2 |
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Roberts, H.J. |
4/8 |
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Roberts, J.W. |
4/8 |
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Roye, ? (Capt.) |
4/5 |
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Seward, William H. |
4/5 |
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Shattuck, J.H. |
4/8 |
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Stewart, G.C.B. |
4/8 |
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Stodder, Louis N. |
4/8 |
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Tiffany, Dexter |
4/9 |
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Tyler, ? |
4/9 |
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Waring, C.M. |
4/8 |
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Warner, ? |
4/8 |
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Weston, ? |
4/8 |
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Williams, Luther |
4/8 |
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Wilson, B.R. |
4/8 |
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Wilson, J.L. |
4/8 |
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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.E. Stevens & Co. in Box 4, Folder 9 of the collection.
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A.E. Stevens & Co. |
4/9 |
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Alexander & Yates |
4/8 |
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C.H. Grant & Co. |
4/8 |
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Dana & Co. |
4/5 |
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E.R. Ware & Co. |
4/8 |
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Fisher & Co. |
4/5, 4/8 |
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Gossler & Co. |
4/5, 4/8 |
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I.M. Beebe & Co. |
4/5 |
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J.B. Brown & Sons |
4/9 |
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Johnson, Turpin & Dunbar |
4/8 |
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Kimball & Brookhouse |
4/8 |
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Lazell, Perkins & Co. |
4/8 |
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Lee, Higginson & Co. |
4/9 |
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Page, Richardson & Co. |
4/8 |
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Payne & Gates |
4/8 |
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Pierce Bros. & Flanders |
4/8 |
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R.S. McGill & Brown |
4/8 |
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Taylor, Tipper & Co. |
4/8 |
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Townsend & Watrous |
4/9 |
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W.H. Ropes & Co. |
4/5 |
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Waterbury Brass Co. |
4/8 |
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Williams & Mathews |
4/8 |
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Yates & Porterfield |
4/8 |
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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 steamer AMERICAN in Box 4, Folder 8 of the collection.
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AMERICAN (Steamer) |
4/8 |
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ANN (Brig) |
4/8 |
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ANTELOPE (Schooner) |
4/8 |
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ARMENIAN (Schooner) |
4/8 |
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CITY OF BOSTON (Ship) |
4/8 |
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CLARINDA (Schooner) |
4/8 |
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CLEOPATRA (Steamship) |
4/8 |
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D. GODFREY (Bark) |
4/8 |
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EDWARD (Bark) |
4/8 |
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EUSEBIA (Brig) |
4/5 |
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GEM |
4/8 |
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GLASGOW (Bark) |
4/8 |
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GREYHOUND (Bark) |
4/8 |
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LINCOLN (Ship) |
4/8 |
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MENDI |
4/8 |
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MOSES SHEPPARD |
4/8 |
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PALMAS (Schooner) |
4/8 |
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SOMERS (Brig) |
4/8 |
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STEVENS |
4/8 |
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The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
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Papers pertaining to the Brig SOMERS; 1860-1863
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Box
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Folder
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1 |
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Brig SOMERS, 1st
voyage (BB): Shipping paper, insurance policies, invoice of merchandise shipped, and port sales
records; 1860 Aug-1861 Feb (38 pieces ) |
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2 |
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Brig SOMERS, 1st
voyage (BB): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1860 Jan-Aug
(45 pieces ) |
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3 |
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Brig SOMERS, 1st
voyage (BB): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1860 Sep-1861 Oct (39 pieces ) |
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4 |
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Brig SOMERS, 2nd
voyage (DD): Insurance policies and inventory of merchandise shipped; 1861 Mar (3 pieces ) |
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5 |
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Brig SOMERS, 2nd
voyage (DD): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1861 Jan-Feb
(45 pieces ) |
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6 |
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Brig SOMERS, 2nd
voyage (DD): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1861 Mar-1862 Jan (50 pieces ) |
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Brig SOMERS, 3rd
voyage (FF): Shipping paper, insurance policies, inventory of merchandise shipped; 1862 Jan-Jul (6 pieces ) |
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8 |
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Brig SOMERS, 3rd
voyage (FF): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1862 Feb (49
pieces ) |
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9 |
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Brig SOMERS, 3rd
voyage (FF): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1862 Mar-Nov
(22 pieces ) |
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Box
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Folder
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1 |
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Brig SOMERS, 4th
voyage (GG): Clark's receipts and accounts with W. Ropes & Co., for expenses incurred during
voyage. Clark sold SOMERS to Ropes and acted as agent; 1862 Feb-1863 May (41 pieces ) |
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Brig SOMERS, 4th
voyage (GG): Insurance policies, invoice of merchandise shipped, port sales records, bank drafts; 1862 Jun-Dec (47 pieces ) |
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Brig SOMERS, 4th
voyage (GG): Documents, regarding partial loss occuring; 1863 Jan-Apr (4 pieces ) |
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Brig SOMERS:
Insurance policies covering vessel in Boston harbor after 4th voyage; 1863 Mar-Apr (3 pieces ) |
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Brig SOMERS:
Unidentified bills; 1861-1862 and 1863 (5
pieces ) |
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Papers pertaining to the Schooner ANTELOPE; 1858-1862
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Box
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Folder
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| 2 |
6 |
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Schooner
ANTELOPE: Insurance policies covering a Boston- West Africa trading voyage; 1858 Oct 12 (2 pieces ) |
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7 |
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Schooner
ANTELOPE: Insurance policies, bills, and sales records for a West African trading voyage; 1859 Jul-1860 Jan (53 pieces ) |
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Box
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Folder
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1 |
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Schooner
ANTELOPE, 1st voyage (AA): Insurance policies, invoices of merchandise shipped, bill of
lading, and sales records; 1860 Mar-Sep (25
pieces ) |
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2 |
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Schooner
ANTELOPE, 1st voyage (AA): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1860 Mar (65 pieces ) |
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3 |
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Schooner
ANTELOPE, 1st voyage (AA): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1860 Apr-Oct (24 pieces ) |
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4 |
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Schooner
ANTELOPE, 1st voyage (AA): C. P. Clark's expenses while in Philadelphia and New York; 1861 May-1862 Jan (10 pieces ) |
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5 |
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Schooner
ANTELOPE, 1st voyage (AA): Unidentified invoices, bills, etc.; ca. 1860 (8 pieces ) |
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6 |
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Schooner
ANTELOPE, 2nd voyage (EE): Insurance policies, invoice of merchandise shipped; 1861 My-1862 Jan (5 pieces ) |
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7 |
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Schooner
ANTELOPE, 2nd voyage (EE): Bills, receipts, etc.; 1861 Mar-1862 Feb (43 pieces ) |
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Papers pertaining to the Schooner CLARINDA; 1860-1861
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Box
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Folder
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| 3 |
8 |
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Schooner
CLARINDA, (voyage C): Insurance policies, invoice of merchandise shipped, sales records; 1860 Nov-1861 Apr (11 pieces ) |
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9 |
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Schooner
CLARINDA, (voyage C): Bills, receipts, bills of lading, etc.; 1860 Nov-1861 Apr (29 pieces ) |
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Papers pertaining to Charles P. Clark; 1860-1901
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Box
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Folder
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10 |
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Charles P. Clark:
"MM" Account; 1860 Mar-1861 Aug (9 pieces ) |
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Box
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Folder
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1 |
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C. P. Clark:
Miscellaneous accounts, bills, checks, receipts, transactions involving T. E. Goodhue; 1860 Apr-1862 Oct (27 pieces ) |
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2 |
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C. P. Clark: C. L. de
Randamie account; 1860 Feb-1861 May (15
pieces ) |
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3 |
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C. P. Clark:
Unidentified port sales account; ca. 1861 (6
pieces ) |
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4 |
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C. P. Clark: Checks
for various items written by C. P. Clark; 1860 Jul-1863 May (57 pieces ) |
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5 |
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C. P. Clark: Copies
of correspondence sent to Washington, D.C. relative to Liberian recognition; 1860
Jun-1862 Jan (10 pieces ) |
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6 |
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C. P. Clark:
Miscellaneous insurance policies; 1859-1863
(12 pieces ) |
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7 |
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C. P. Clark:
"Clearing of Palm Oil, SOMERS & ANTELOPE, first trade"; 1861 Dec (7 pieces ) |
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8 |
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C. P. Clark:
Domestic/ business correspondence; 1846-1863
(27 pieces ) |
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9 |
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C. P. Clark: Material
related to his later life and post-war railroad career; 1868-1900 (100 pieces ) |
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C. P. Clark: Death
in Nice, France; 1901 Mar 21 (53 pieces ) |
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11 |
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C. P. Clark:
Miscellaneous unidenified material; undated
(11 pieces ) |
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Volumes; 1855-1866
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Volume
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1 |
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Journal: C. P. Clark's
private journal of his passage from New Orleans to Liverpool on board ship MARY WARD; 1852 Dec 4-1853 Jan 9 |
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2 |
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Business record book:
contains invoices of merchandise shipped on board ELIZABETH, and the ELIZA, the ship
CORK and bark PETER, consigned to Charles P. Clark. Also contains currency and weights and
measures exchange tables; 1854 |
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3 |
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Ledger: Charles P.
Clark; 1857 Feb-Sep |
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4 |
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Ledger: Charles P.
Clark & Co.; 1857 Jul 1-1860 Jan 26 |
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5 |
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Journal: Charles P.
Clark & Co.; 1857 Jul 1-1860 Jan 26 |
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6 |
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Journal: Joint account
African business, Charles P. Clark and Theodore E. Goodhue; 1860 Jun 2 |
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7 |
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Bank book: State
Bank in account with Charles P. Clark & Co.; 1857 Jul 1-1861 Jun |
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8 |
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Bank book: State
bank in account with Chalres P. Clark & Co.; 1861 Jul-1862 May |
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9 |
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Check book: Charles
P. Clark with State Bank; 1859 Oct-1861 Nov |
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10 |
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Check book: Charles
P. Clark with State Bank; 1861 Nov 1-1863 May 25 |
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11 |
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Account book:
contains figures for ANTELOPE's first s/a voyage, T. E. Goodhue's remittances, cash, bills
payable, profit and loss; 1860-1863 |
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12 |
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Account book:
Amounts paid by C. P. Clark for voyages by Brig SOMERS and Schooners ANTELOPE and
CLARINDA, voyages AA, BB, CC, DD, MM, EE, FF, and GG; 1860-1863 |
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13 |
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Small expense
notebook; 1861 |
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14 |
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Small account book:
Charles P. Clark in account with Clapp, Fuller & Brown; undated |
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15 |
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Book of handwritten
verse, belonging to Susan Jane Clark; 1855 Mar 19 |
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16 |
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Letter copybook
(including index) of Charles P. Clark & Co.; 1857 Jun 18-1866 Jan 19 |
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17 |
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Letter copybook of
Charles P. Clark & Co.; 1857 Jun 22-1858 Oct 6 |
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18 |
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Account book of
Charles P. Clark; 1857 Oct |
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19 |
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Letterpress
copybook, belonging to Charles P. Clark; 1857 Jan 20-1859 Jul 16 |
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