Charles P. Clark Papers
Abstract
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.
Dates
- Creation: 1846-1901, (bulk 1852-1862)
Language of Materials
English Latin
Restrictions on Access
Available for use in the Manuscripts Division
Restrictions on Use
Various copying restrictions apply. Guidelines are available from the Manuscripts Division.
Biography of Charles Peter Clark
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. In August, 1870,
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.
Extent
1020 item(s) (4 box(es) x vols.)
19 volume(s)
Index to Personal Names
- Alexander, ? (Capt.) 4/8
- Amos, J.R. 4/8
- Anderson, S.F. 4/8
- Askins, ? 4/8
- Aspinwall, James S. 4/2, 4/8
- Beach, F.E. 4/9
- Bennett, E.R. 4/8
- Bishop, Robert R. 4/9
- Blatchford, E.W. 4/9
- Bosworth, Bayard 4/9
- Bridgman, William H. 4/9
- Briggs, Thomas 4/8
- Buchanan, James 4/5
- Buckland, Edward G. 4/9
- Capehart, Hannah 4/8
- Carlton, Thomas 4/8
- Caulfield, ? (Capt.) 4/8
- Clark, C.L. 4/8
- Clark, Charles Peter 4/9
- Clark, Edward L. 4/9
- Clark, James 4/9
- Clark, John 4/9
- Clark, Susan Lord 4/9
- Clark, Susan S. 4/8
- Cleaver, ? (Capt.) 4/8
- Coe, L.W. 4/8
- Colston, ? 4/8
- Cooper, John W. 4/8
- Deshon, James 4/8
- Dodge, Henry C. 4/9
- Dunn, ? (Capt.) 4/9
- Edison, Theodore 4/8
- Emery, Belle 4/9
- Emery, W.H. 4/9
- Franklin, William 4/9
- Gibson, J.T. 4/8
- Goodhue, Theodore E. 4/8
- Goodwin, ? 4/8
- Goodwin, Fred R. 4/9
- Goodwin, Lizzie 4/9
- Jackson, Henry B. 4/8
- Kendall, ? 4/8
- Kimball, ? (Capt.) 4/8
- Lincoln, Abraham 4/5
- Lord, D.W. 4/8
- Maling, ? 4/8
- Mathews, W.G. 4/8
- Maury, C.M. 4/8
- McLain, W. 4/8
- Miller, ? (Capt.) 4/8
- Moore, R. 4/8
- Parsons, ? 4/8
- Payne, B.A. 4/8
- Payne, James S. 4/8
- Potter, Ellis A. 4/8
- Ralston, G. 4/8
- Rankin, William (Jr.) 4/8
- Raudamie, C.L. 4/2, 4/8
- Raudamie, J.A. (Madame) 4/2
- Roberts, H.J. 4/8
- Roberts, J.W. 4/8
- Roye, ? (Capt.) 4/5
- Seward, William H. 4/5
- Shattuck, J.H. 4/8
- Stewart, G.C.B. 4/8
- Stodder, Louis N. 4/8
- Tiffany, Dexter 4/9
- Tyler, ? 4/9
- Waring, C.M. 4/8
- Warner, ? 4/8
- Weston, ? 4/8
- Williams, Luther 4/8
- Wilson, B.R. 4/8
- Wilson, J.L. 4/8
Index to Corporate Names
- A.E. Stevens & Co. 4/9
- Alexander & Yates 4/8
- C.H. Grant & Co. 4/8
- Dana & Co. 4/5
- E.R. Ware & Co. 4/8
- Fisher & Co. 4/5, 4/8
- Gossler & Co. 4/5, 4/8
- I.M. Beebe & Co. 4/5
- J.B. Brown & Sons 4/9
- Johnson, Turpin & Dunbar 4/8
- Kimball & Brookhouse 4/8
- Lazell, Perkins & Co. 4/8
- Lee, Higginson & Co. 4/9
- Page, Richardson & Co. 4/8
- Payne & Gates 4/8
- Pierce Bros. & Flanders 4/8
- R.S. McGill & Brown 4/8
- Taylor, Tipper & Co. 4/8
- Townsend & Watrous 4/9
- W.H. Ropes & Co. 4/5
- Waterbury Brass Co. 4/8
- Williams & Mathews 4/8
- Yates & Porterfield 4/8
Index to Vessel Names
- AMERICAN (Steamer) 4/8
- ANN (Brig) 4/8
- ANTELOPE (Schooner) 4/8
- ARMENIAN (Schooner) 4/8
- CITY OF BOSTON (Ship) 4/8
- CLARINDA (Schooner) 4/8
- CLEOPATRA (Steamship) 4/8
- D. GODFREY (Bark) 4/8
- EDWARD (Bark) 4/8
- EUSEBIA (Brig) 4/5
- GEM 4/8
- GLASGOW (Bark) 4/8
- GREYHOUND (Bark) 4/8
- LINCOLN (Ship) 4/8
- MENDI 4/8
- MOSES SHEPPARD 4/8
- PALMAS (Schooner) 4/8
- SOMERS (Brig) 4/8
- STEVENS 4/8
Genre / Form
Geographic
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- Charles P. Clark Papers (Coll. 135)
- Subtitle
- An Inventory of the Collection at the G.W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts Repository
G. W. Blunt White Library
Mystic Seaport Museum, Inc.
112 Greenmanville Avenue
Mystic CT 06355 United States
860.572.5367
collections@mysticseaport.org