The Hale family papers are comprised of shipping and business papers of the Hale family and their relatives, the French family, the Little family, and Cyrus King.

The Ward Family Papers include the joiner and chair making account books of Miles Ward (1673/4-1764) and the shipping, business, and legal papers of Miles Ward (1704-1792) and his son Joshua Ward (1752-1825), in addition to the family papers of Joshua Ward (1776-1840). The remainder of the collection contains personal and business papers for the descendants of Joshua Ward (1699-1779), Miles Ward (1704-1792), John Ward (1707-1787), and Ebenezer Ward (1710-1791).