Stephen Smith Papers
Scope and Content
The Stephen Smith Papers contain approximately 150 pieces; i.e. manuscript letters, business accounts, genealogical research and newspaper clippings, all organized chronologically and filed into one document box.
The first 14 folders contain business correspondence and a few accounts relative to Stephen Smith's activities as a representative of Minturn & Champlin, New York shipping merchants. He often traveled to various ports in Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Far East. Several vessels and cargoes are mentioned, and during the War of 1812, several letters appear to have been written in code.
Miscellaneous business and family papers, ca. 1820-1859, are found in folders 15-23. Included are references to shipping salt and china ware, numerous school reports and essays by children, and letters between Smith family member. Folder 24 contains newspaper clippings, ca. 1850-1900, relative to the history of the Smith family.
All pieces in this collection are considered to be in poor to fair condition, and must be handled with care. Photocopying is prohibited.
Dates
- Creation: 1800 - 1859
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 Stephen Smith
Stephen Smith was born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts. His father Abraham (1747-1826), the patriarch of this Quaker family, was a blacksmith and postmaster
Sometime around 1797 young Stephen went to New York city to begin a career in business. Indications are that he may have been in partnership for a brief time under the name Smith & Champlin, but soon after 1800 he joined Minturn & Champlin, a New York merchant and shipping firm. Most of the records in this collection detail Smith's activities between 1800-1816, a period when he traveled extensively, frequently as supercargo, representing the interest of Minturn & Champlin in ports such as Liverpool, London, Canton, Manila, Lisbon, Cadiz, and Marseilles.
By 1820, Smith had moved to Syracuse, New York with his wife and children. He left the shipping business, and with support from New Bedford investors, he created the Onandaga Solar Salt Co. (1821). The papers offer little insight into this enterprise, but rather provides a look at Stephen Smith's family. There are many letters between Stephen and several of his 18 brothers and sister; especially brothers Obediah (a ship master), Elihu, Isaac, sister Mary, and his father Abraham.
Extent
1 box(es) (ca. 175 items)
Abstract
Correspondence, business accounts, genealogical materials, newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous papers. Includes business correspondence and a few accounts relating to Smith's activities as representative of Minturn & Champlin who traveled, often as a supercargo, to various ports in Europe and the Far East; miscellaneous business and family papers (ca. 1820-1859) including references to shipping salt and china trade porcelain; numerous school reports and essays by children, and family correspondence; and newspaper clippings reflecting family history. Correspondents include father Abraham Smith, brother Obediah (a ship master), and sister Mary O. Smith.
Index to Personal Names
- Alsop, John 1/15
- Alsop, Robert 1/12
- Barclay, George 1/11
- Barstow, Gideon 1/13
- Bears, Moses (Jr.) 1/8
- Bennet, Robert 1/15
- Bogert, John G. 1/8
- Brown, Robert 1/2
- Brown, William S. (Capt.) 1/7
- Bunker, Timothy (Capt.) 1/12
- Carrington, E. 1/6
- Carrington, Edward 1/5
- Champlin, John 1/12
- Champlin, John T. 1/3
- Champlin, Uriah 1/1
- Congdon, ? (Capt.) 1/2
- Congdon, Olivia 1/19
- Eldredge, Jonathan (Capt.) 1/4, 1/5
- Hackley, Richard J. 1/9
- Halter, ? (Capt.) 1/16
- Hathaway, Gideon 1/13
- Haviland, Catherine 1/15
- Hazard, Thomas 1/4
- Henry, Malcolm 1/12
- Howland, Catherine 1/15
- Howland, Daniel George 1/15
- Howland, Gideon 1/4
- Howland, John 1/15, 1/21
- Howland, Matthew 1/8
- Howland, Peleg 1/12
- Jenkins, ? (Capt.) 1/12
- Jenkins, William 1/15
- Jennings, ? (Capt.) 1/15
- Kemp, John 1/1
- Kent, Samuel 1/1
- Lasher, John B. (Capt.) 1/2, 1/3
- Mayhew, Thaddeus 1/2, 1/3
- Minturn, Benjamin C. 1/3
- Moulton, Helen N. 1/19
- Mulcasto, Fernandez 1/11, 1/18
- Mumford, ? (Capt.) 1/6
- Post, Jonathan 1/10
- Potter, Deborah 1/21
- Potter, Samuel 1/21
- Red Jacket (Chief) 1/22
- Ricketson, Abraham 1/24
- Ricketson, Rebecca 1/21, 1/24
- Ricketson, Zirviah 1/21
- Rinelander, Philip 1/14
- Robinson, William 1/9
- Rogers, Henry (Capt.) 1/7
- Rotch, William 1/16
- Russell, Gilbert 1/15
- Russell, John 1/21
- Russell, William W. 1/10
- Russell, Wing 1/19
- Sargent, N. 1/19
- Shearman, Timothy 1/7
- Shepherd, Allen 1/9
- Smith, Abraham 1/2, 1/4, 1/7, 1/8, 1/10, 1/11, 1/12, 1/13, 1/15, 1/21, 1/24
- Smith, Amelia 1/19
- Smith, Arthur 1/21
- Smith, Asa 1/4, 1/6, 1/12, 1/13, 1/15
- Smith, Benjamin 1/21
- Smith, Christopher 1/21
- Smith, Daniel 1/21
- Smith, Deborah 1/8
- Smith, Elihu 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/9, 1/10, 1/11, 1/12, 1/13, 1/14, 1/15
- Smith, Eliza 1/10
- Smith, Elizabeth M. 1/15
- Smith, Francis 1/21
- Smith, George 1/21
- Smith, Isaac 1/6, 1/7, 1/8, 1/9, 1/10, 1/11, 1/12, 1/13, 1/14, 1/15, 1/18, 1/19
- Smith, Lydia 1/10, 1/19
- Smith, Mary E. 1/1, 1/8, 1/9
- Smith, Mary Olivia 1/19, 1/20
- Smith, Obediah (Capt.) 1/1, 1/4, 1/8, 1/9, 1/11, 1/12
- Smith, Rebecca Ricketson 1/24
- Smith, Rosa 1/19
- Smith, Sarah 1/13, 1/14
- Smith, Stephen 1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/8, 1/9, 1/10, 1/11, 1/12, 1/13, 1/14, 1/15, 1/16, 1/17, 1/19
- Smith, Thomas 1/19
- Smith, Zerviah 1/10, 1/14
- Taber, Daniel (Capt.) 1/10, 1/11, 1/13
- Taber, Deborah 1/15
- Tabor, Philip 1/21
- Tucker, Daniel Robert 1/3
- Tucker, Thomas R. 1/3
- Van Den Heavel, J.C. 1/4
- Vaughn, ? (Capt) 1/9
- Wasson, ? (Capt.) 1/8
- Wing, Joan 1/21
- Wright, ? (Capt.) 1/7
Index to Corporate Names
- Baring Brothers & Co. 1/7
- Buchanan & Birkham 1/6
- Champlin & Smith 1/1, 1/2
- Cropper Benson & Co. 1/7
- H. Meech & Co. 1/19
- Hall & Co. 1/16
- Hall & Russell 1/9
- John Lewis Brown & Co. 1/11
- John McVicker & Co. 1/1
- John W. Vicar & Co. 1/1
- Minturn & Champlin 1/3, 1/4, 1/7, 1/8, 1/9, 1/10, 1/11, 1/12
- Post & Minturn 1/10
- Thomas Mallett, J.J. Evans & Co. 1/9
- W.H. Page & Bement 1/13
Index to Vessel Names
- ABRAHAM (Sloop) 1/14
- AEOLUS (Ship) 1/2
- AGIONARA (Brig) 1/13
- ALBION 1/15
- ALEXANDER MANSFIELD 1/9
- AMERICA 1/9, 1/10
- BUSY (Sloop) 1/3
- CENTAUR 1/12
- CHARLOTTE 1/16
- ELIZA (Ship) 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/13, 1/24
- ENTERPRISE (Ship) 1/6
- EXPERIMENT 1/9
- FAME 1/6
- GOLCONDA 1/15
- HAMILTON (Schooner) 1/7, 1/8, 1/10
- HENRY (Brig) 1/13
- HUNTER 1/13
- INDIAN CHIEF 1/7
- LEVANT 1/10
- LION (Ship) 1/9
- LOUISA CECELIA (Ship) 1/9
- LYDIA 1/9
- LYDIA (Sloop) 1/2
- MANHATTAN (Ship) 1/2, 1/3, 1/13, 1/14, 1/24
- MANLIUS (Ship) 1/8, 1/24
- MARTHA (Ship) 1/10
- MILLER (Sloop) 1/12
- MILLWOOD (Ship) 1/7, 1/9, 1/10
- MONTGOMERY (Sloop) 1/12
- MOUNTAINEER 1/16
- NIMROD (Ship) 1/10
- OCEAN (Ship) 1/6, 1/9
- ONTARIO (Ship) 1/9
- ORION (Brig) 1/8
- PROJECTOR (Ship) 1/6
- PROSECUTOR (Ship) 1/24
- PRUDENCE 1/13
- RICHMOND (Steamer) 1/12
- RUSSELL 1/12
- SALLY (Schooner) 1/1, 1/12
- SPHINX 1/12
- SWIFT (Ship) 1/4, 1/5, 1/24
- TYBER (Brig) 1/12
- VIPER (Schooner) 1/11
- WILLIAM & ELIZABETH 1/7
- WILLIAM (Sloop) 1/12
Geographic
- East Asia--Description and travel
- Europe--Description and travel
- New Bedford (Mass.)--Genealogy
- Syracuse (N.Y.)
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- Stephen Smith Papers (Coll. 237)
- 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