The Joseph P. Russell papers contain correspondence, accounts, and crew lists of five vessels owned or mastered by Joseph Russell, a Newburyport, Massachusetts, shipping merchant and master. These include the brigantine Harriet, ship Moses Brown, ship Rebecca, brig Sally, and schooner Tom Bowline. (See Appendix I for further information.) The ship Moses Brown's disbursement book also features shipping and personal accounts of Joseph Russell from 1818 to 1820. Of special interest are the stores inventory of the schooner Tom Bowline and the account of the brig Sally's capture by the British in 1808. The collection also includes: family business papers containing merchant correspondence of Joseph, his brother William, and their partner William Picket; Joseph's partner agreement with John Davenport; legal papers of Thomas Russell; and an account book of William Russell which includes accounts of the ship Russell and brig Lively.