Series I. Shipping Papers consists of James W. Chever's shipping records, which include sales and crew accounts, invoices, disbursements, and correspondence for whaling and merchant vessels that he either owned and/or mastered (see Appendix II for a complete list of vessels in this collection). Included in the 1832-1844 account book are entries for James' administration of his father's, James Chever (1752-1839), estate. Henry Prince Chever's papers, covering 1843 until 1855, are also part of this series, and include ship's papers for Hannah (Brig), which was mastered by Henry and owned by his father and Thomas P. Pingree. The papers continue past Henry's death in 1853, while the owners of Hannah (Brig) attempted to settle their dispute over the sale of the cargo. Also included in this series is William James Chever's letter book, which contains his correspondence, as master of the ship, Ocean Eagle, with the vessel's owners, William C. Rogers and Company, and with foreign commission merchants. The letters discuss the sale of goods in Australia and China.

Series II. Genealogy consists of George Francis Chever's genealogical notebooks, which contain notes and biographical sketches on members of the Chever family, including both the English and American branches, Hollingsworth, English and Browne families.