The Benjamin Shreve papers are comprised of ships' papers, correspondence, account books, memorandum books, accounts, bills, and receipts, and printed items. The papers represent Shreve's activities as merchant, shipmaster, and supercargo on a number of Salem, Massachusetts, vessels from 1805 to 1835.

This collection contains papers of three notary publics of Gloucester, James Porter, Peter Coffin, and John Rogers, arranged chronologically.