John Haskell Collection

Manuscripts Collection 265

Overview of the Collection

Repository: G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport
Creator: Haskell, John, d. 1827, Ship master
Title: John Haskell Collection
Dates: 1815-1827
Extent: 100 pieces; 1 vol.
Abstract: Primarily composed of ships’ papers and accounts during Haskell’s employment in the China and opium trade. The collection also contains Haskell’s correspondence with business associates such as his cousin Luke Baldwin Jr., personal correspondence with his wife Harriet, and final estate information.
Identification: Coll. 265

Biography of John Haskell

John Haskell was a ship master from Gloucester, Massachusetts. He served as mate and possibly supercargo aboard the Ship CANTON of Boston, Isaac Hinkley, master for two or three China trade voyages between 1815-1818, and was master of the ship by 1821. By 1823 he was master of the ship OPHELIA (J & T.H. Perkins & Sons, owners), and later commanded another Perkins vessel, the Brig DUXBURY.

John Haskell was married to Harriet E. Haskell and had a daughter, “E.B.” He and Luke Baldwin, Jr., a business associate, were cousins. According to a letter from his friend J. Hopkins, Haskell was actively involved in maritime affairs and Boston commerce. His career brought him into associations with many of the influential merchants of his day. John Haskell died in May 1827, leaving an estate valued at $2, 600.00.

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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.

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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.

 Persons:

Baldwin, Luke, b. 1797
Haskell, Harriet E.

Corporate Entities:

Canton (Ship)
Duxbury (Brig)
J. & T.H. Perkins & Sons
Ophelia (Ship)

Places:

China–Commerce–Massachusetts
Gloucester (Mass.)
Massachusetts–Commerce–China

Subjects:

Opium trade Ships–Cargo

Document Types:

Accounts
Letterpress copybook
Letters
Ships’ papers

Occupations:

Shipmasters

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Coll. 265, Manuscripts Collection, G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

 

Papers; 1815-1827
Box Folder
1 1 Accounts, ship CANTON (1st voyage), for merchandise purchased at Canton and later sold in Boston; 1815 Sep 11-1816 Apr 27 (10 pieces)
2 Recipe for a “compound for dysentery” by L.H. Welch, to Capt. Haskell, ship CANTON; undated (1 piece)
3 “Memorandum of Boston Prices for Canton Goods” by Whitwell & Bond; 1817 Jun 29 (1 piece)
4 Orders for ship CANTON (3rd voyage); 1817 Mar-Apr (15 pieces)
5 Invoices and accounts for ship CANTON (3rd voyage) for goods purchased at Canton, China; 1819 Nov (18 pieces)
6 Personal papers and accounts of Capt. John Haskell with Luke Baldwin, Jr. for 3rd voyage of ship CANTON, and with Blake & Cunningham for auction sale of China goods; 1818 May (5 pieces)
7 Ships papers, ship CANTON, including inventories of sales, provisions, dimensions of spars, lists of carpenter’s stores, chandlery, arms, and paints; 1818 (3 pieces)
8 Accounts of Capt. John Haskell of China goods with Whitwell & Bond Co. Boston; 1819 Apr-May (3 pieces)
9 Accounts of Capt. John Haskell, with Benjamin Rich & Co., and ship CANTON, Boston; 1820-1821 (4 pieces)
10 Bills of lading and receipts for ship CANTON; 1821 Jun (6 pieces)
11 Papers of John Haskell, ship CANTON. Includes bills of lading, receipts, and letters to his wife from Manila; 1822 Jan-Apr (9 pieces)
12 Receipts of ship CANTON at Singapore and Batavia; 1822 Jun (3 pieces)
13 Letter from Samuel Hopkins, Boston, to John Haskell, Gloucester, Massachusetts; 1822 Dec 30 (1 piece)
14 Ship’s papers, ship OPHELIA, St, Ubes; 1824 Mar (6 pieces)
15 Letter from Luke Baldwin Jr., to his cousin John Haskell, brig DUXBURY, Canton China; 1824 Jul (1 piece)
16 Inventory of estate of Capt. John Haskell; 1827 (2 pieces)
Miscellaneous papers; 1819, and undated
Box Folder
1 17 Account of Elizabeth Pierce with John Law, Gloucester, Massachusetts; 1819 Nov 8 (1 piece)
18 Miscellaneous, undated, and unidentified pieces; undated (10 pieces)
Volumes; 1819-1827
Box Folder
1 19 Letter copybook of John Haskell, ships CANTON and OPHELIA, and brig DUXBURY; 1819 Apr-1825 Mar (1 vol. )

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