John Turner collection
Abstract
The John Turner Collection contains nine letters, five of which Turner wrote to his wife, Polly, and four of which concern business matters. Included also are bills of lading, insurance policies, cargo manifests, orders, personal accounts, convoy instructions, and customs documentation including enrollments, receipts, and clearance papers.
Dates
- Creation: 1797-1804
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 John Turner
John Turner was a shipmaster and shipowner from New London, Connecticut. During the period covered by these papers Turner commanded the sloop FAIR AMERICAN, and the schooners FANNY, POLLY, and SALLY. These vessels carried livestock and provisions from New London to West Indies ports such as Martinique; Guadeloupe; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Turks Island; Antigua; New Providence Island; Bermuda; and Surinam. From ports like these Turner's vessels exported molasses, port, and rum.
Because of the difficulties existing between the United States and France during the period 1793-1800, United States naval vessels provided protection for American merchant vessels in certain areas of the West Indies. Turner probably sailed under the protection of one of the naval vessels in 1800; therefore, he had the printed instructions or signals for the convoy.
Extent
40 item(s)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- John Turner Collection (Coll. 31)
- 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