Series V. Curwen Relatives' Papers contains papers from members of the Curwen family and other branches of the family. The papers have been arranged chronologically according to generations. The papers were maintained by the Curwen family and reflect their genealogical awareness and necessity for maintaining all family records.

Subseries A. Curwen Family Papers contains material from 1664 to 1764, and includes papers of little known or less documented Curwen family members, such as Captain George Curwen (1666-1696), a sheriff of Essex County. His account book, Volume 17, is a copy of the volume in possession of the American Antiquarian Society.

Subseries B. Ward Family Papers incorporate the business papers of Richard and Miles Ward, the ships' and shipping papers of Richard, the personal correspondence of Abigail Ward, the personal and genealogical correspondence of George Atkinson Ward, and the undated will of Joshua Ward.

Subseries C. Barr and Carleton Family Papers contain mostly shipping and business papers of Samuel Curwen Ward's in-laws. The ships' papers of Barr include mostly legal documents from foreign ports, while the Carleton papers contain personal correspondence as well as shipping records.

Subseries D. George Rea Curwen Papers include not only personal and genealogical correspondence, but also genealogical charts, coats of arms of the Curwens, and notes of family history collected and researched by many Curwens.