This collection consists of correspondence, receipts, deeds, and other legal documents relating to the Epes family of Ipswich, Massachusetts.

Some letters in the collection are dated with more than one year. These letters were dated using the Julian calendar, not the Gregorian calendar in use today. During most of America's colonial period, March 25 was the first day of the new year. In 1750, for example, the year ended on 24 March 1750; the following day was 25 March 1751. In that time period, New Englanders were still considered part of Great Britain, which continued to use the Julian calendar until September 1752.