Jesup Wakeman, a resident of Fairfield County, Connecticut, was involved in western land speculation. Between 1800 and 1840 he bought and sold land in such places as Jesup, and Wakeman, Ohio (in Huron County), and in Cook County, Illinois. Three sons, Maurice, William, and Zalmon were also involved in the land deals, but did not seem to be as successful as their father. The sons also owned shares in the Schooner CAMBRIDGE of Southport in 1833.

Zalmon B. Wakeman became a shipmaster by 1838, and later was employed by the shipping firm of Dunham and Dimon in New York. Evidence indicates that between 1853-1864 "Wakeman-Dimon & Co." operated vessels in the south and Gulf coast coastal trade. This became "Wakeman, Gookin, and Dickinson" during 1864-1867. Together these firms operated 82 vessels, among them the Bark TEXAS and Brig EMPIRE, which traded between New York, Savannah, and Galveston. By the mid 1860's Zalmon and Sarah Wakeman had moved from New York back to Southport, CT.

The last Wakeman mentioned in this collection is Miss Francis Wakeman in 1882.