Joseph Williams Collection
Abstract
This collection includes accounts, agreements, bills of sale, bills of lading, manifests, sailing directions, registrations, clearance papers, letters, and government documents concerning coastwise, West Indies, and South American trade. Also included are letters and documents relative to the French Spoliation Claims. The bulk of the collection is concentrated between 1779 and 1798. The material is arranged chronologically and by vessel name. Over 20 sloops, schooners, and brigs are represented.
Dates
- Creation: 1779-1899
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 Joseph Williams
A Norwich, Connecticut native and merchant Joseph Williams began his career by selling necessities to Revolutionary War soldiers. In 1778 he married Abigail Coit and switched to privateering and the West Indies trade as well as other maritime enterprises.
Williams soon owned two warehouses, a shipyard and a fleet of over twenty vessels. He subsequently became actively involved in the government affairs. In 1783 he was appointed a lieutenant in the Home Guards. In 1796 he became brigadier general. Meanwhile his vessels began to feel the ill effects of the French Revolution. Many were either lost at sea or seized by the French. Williams' wealth declined until his death in 1800.
Extent
477 item(s)
Index to Vessel Names
- ABIGAIL (Schooner) 2/10
- ARGUILE (Brig) 1/4
- BETSY & POLLY (Brig) 1/8
- BETSY (Sloop) 1/8
- BLACKSNAKE (Whaleboat) 1/5
- CHATHAM (Whaleboat) 1/5
- GENERAL STARK (Sloop) 1/1
- HOPE (Brig) 2/16
- INTREPID (Brig) 2/5
- JOSEPHUS (Ship) 2/3
- LITTLE JOE (Sloop) 1/9, 1/10
- NABBY (Sloop) 2/1, 2/2, 2/3, 2/4, 2/5, 2/6, 2/7, 2/8, 2/9, 2/10, 2/11, 2/12, 2/13, 2/14, 2/15
- NANCY (Brig) 1/1, 1/2, 1/3
- NIMROD (Sloop) 1/7
- PEGGY (Brig) 1/8
- PILGRAM (Brig) 1/8
- POLLY (Sloop) 1/8, 1/13
- SALLY (Sloop) 2/7
- SURPRISE (Sloop) 1/5, 1/6
- SWALLOW (Sloop) 1/14
- VICTORY (Sloop) 1/12
- VIRGER (Schooner) 2/5
Genre / Form
Geographic
- South America--Commerce--United States
- United States--Commerce--South America
- United States--Commerce--West Indies
- West Indies--Commerce--United States
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- Joseph Williams Collection (Coll. 37)
- 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